Canada's Best Handymen

So this spring our kitchen window started bubbling and leaking with every rainfall. Not so good. We ended up ordering four new windows and my amazing husband and father in law started the work this weekend. It started by ripping out the kitchen window. I don't know if this picture does it justice it was pretty much dust down to the floor. Yikes!!!
Good thing we had Poppa here to help Ryan it was a long day and a lot of work for both of them.
Here is Poppa posing by his job. He ripped out pretty much the whole wall. I was kind of getting nervous by this point hoping the other three windows weren't so dramatic.
Now my job was to take care of the kids and keep them out of the way. Pretty hard when Abby adores Poppa and was so excited he was here. I did get her to the park for an hour or so and we read a few books but eventually she just sat on her bed coloring watching Daddy and Poppa do all the work. By the end of the day she was ready to join in on all the action and got out all her construction gear. Pretty cute she was breaking up the styrofoam from my new crockpot I bought.

By the end of the day we had three beautiful windows in place. The kitchen is going to take a lot more work so that is happening this week. I am so grateful to have such talented men in my life.

To top it all off at the end of the day I headed out to the Relief Society Broadcast which was totally amazing. My favorite talk was about minding the gap. Some awesome advice for us women who tend not to see the potential in ourselves. Now little Natalie was a gem all day with the hammering, sawing, and overall confusion she did amazing. I am so grateful for such a wonderful family.
How was your weekend?

Like Mother Like Daughter

I am grateful that Abby has picked up on one of my loves and that is reading. I love to read and although I don't have as much time these days to sit down and read we love going to the library together and just looking at all the books.


Last week we went to the downtown library with Abby's friend Kennedy and we had a great time. I love the downtown library there is such a large selection of books to choose from. I think it almost overwhelmed Abby.
The other day when Daddy came home from work Abby dragged him outside on the front lawn with a few of her favorites and I caught this pic of them. So cute. Her two current favorites are "When Pigs Fly" by Valerie Coulman and "Grumpy Bird" by Jeremy Tankard.
The Grumpy Bird is great for two year olds I always pull it out when she is having a moment and by the end of the book she is laughing. It is like magic.

Summer in September

It is amazing how great the weather has been since school started. Since no one in our house is in school this year it has been great fun to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Of course we hit the zoo. Grandma came along and spoiled Abby by letting her ride the horse. She was so excited and not scared a little bit. In fact the lady behind us reminded us that kids under 5 must be accompanied by an adult. OOPS! Grandma and I were so shocked at how much she loved being on the horse we forgot she isn't a pro yet.

We got started on a summer project tearing down our fence. While it really wasn't that much work since it was practically falling over. Well actually I wouldn't really know since Ryan tore it all down I just took a picture!! We are excited to have a fenced in back yard again hopefully soon.
We headed out on the LaSalle River for our annual canoe ride. I say annual since we only got out once this year and once last year. Abby had a great time and only lost her baby paddle once. It was super fun to relive the spot where we got engaged. Actually neither Ryan or I could remember the actual spot but hey we were on the right river and all the trees looked the same to me.
I love this shot of my two girls. It looks like Natalie is smiling at her sister as they share some story. Hopefully there will be many more shots of these two getting along this great in the future.
Lately Abby has started playing house and nursery. It is absolutely adorable. She puts all the stuffed animals on the bed and pretends to teach them. I love it. I remember doing it with my cousin as a kid and we had a whole primary of stuffed animals. It is so fun to watch and amazing how much she knows and catches on. We laugh at her silly antics and are like who does or says that since she pretty much mimics everything she sees.
Natalie is already two months old tomorrow crazy!!! She is such a cute kid and pretty easygoing. She loves her car seat. No matter if she just woke up from a nap she will fall asleep in that thing. Since she sleeps so good at night I have never had to use the car seat for that purpose but it is always good to know.
Today we headed out to the Farmer's Market/Spray Pad in St. Norbert. It was so much fun. Aunt Beth was so great and got soaking wet. Abby didn't want to leave until I said treat. We bought some popcorn at the market and she was so thrilled to have a "baby size" bag. That is her new saying for anything small it is baby size!
Well we feel all grown up today as Ryan called from work to tell me he has to go to Montreal for a few days for work. It seems crazy that he has a job and he gets to travel. We are so blessed.
We are on the countdown for our holidays in October. We are heading out to the beautiful mountains of Alberta, treeline farm, Cardston Temple, Calgary Zoo, and lot's of other fun stuff. Can you tell how super excited I am??? I haven't been outside this province in over a year!! YIKES!!!

Farewell to Jo

We are pretty excited for Joelle to be out of her house and onto university. Abby has her picture posted above her bed and every Sunday looks at the organ and says Jo?? Super cute. Seriously my niece is pretty amazing and although we are sad to see her gone we are excited that she is already having so many adventures. Abby will miss walking across the chapel every Sunday to go and sit with her favorite organ player.Good thing she is spoiled and has two other great cousins around to keep her entertained.

Summer Fun

It has been an interesting summer thus far. The weather here in Manitoba has not been that stellar a few nice days here and there. This past weekend it finally felt like a summer weekend with lot's of fun things to do.
On Friday my amazing husband came home and saw that both Abby and Mommy needed a break from each other. He suggested we set up the tent and Abby and he would spend the night outside in our backyard. Abby was so excited. I feel pretty lucky to have such a great hubby. I was so surprised when she stayed out the whole night. My baby is growing up.
On Saturday we headed out to the Morden Corn and Apple Festival. It was so much fun. It was a nice drive then we hit the festival. The crowds were pretty crazy and we really only spent time at the petting zoo but it was fun to get out and dosomething different as a family.
Abby was so brave and rode the horse by herself. She didn't even look at Mom or Dad during the whole ride she was just so excited. She also loved seeing all the different animals and petting them.
Natalie is doing great. She is an awesome sleeper so far and such a laid back personality. She seems so content and only cries for a reason. No all nighters with this girl. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful baby. We did a photoshoot with Grandpa and our friend Ruth just waiting to get some pics back. Here is one that Daddy captured of her in her blessing dress.
Tomorrow is canning day. Grandma and I are each doing a case of peaches. I am so excited to have them in my pantry for the winter. Everyone at this house loves peaches!!! Yum Yum!!

I love my two year old. She is cute and cuddly. She loves to go to the park, go swimming, and read books. Lately what she doesn't love is going to bed. It's a phase that is what everyone is telling me but it is one exhaustive phase. It sure makes me appreciate my Mom who raised seven kids I don't know how she did it.
Ryan and I had a special day on Wednesday that's right it has been four years already since we got married. We had Subway for supper(my fav.) then headed out to Bird's Hill Park for his last bike race of the season. I know we are super romantic. It was fun and it is great to see your husband doing something that he loves. I wish I was in the kind of shape he is. He is a great husband and I love him more and more each day. He is especially great with my lovely two year old when I am done. Kudos out there to all the single moms I don't know how you do it. We were hoping to go for a bike ride together tomorrow but alas Mother Nature is not cooperating. Rain Rain go away.
Tonight I got to go out for sushi with my good pals Romy and Joelle. Yum Yum. I love sushi and when you go with such great company of course it is a blast.

Whirlwind

I can't believe it is August where did July go? We had some fun times with family the last while. My parents were able to come out for a few days and we did some touristy things with them.
We headed out to Lower Fort Garry, had picnics, and just enjoyed each other's company. My sister and Mom spoiled me by picking strawberries for me and even making some into jam. I am ultra grateful because I love strawberry jam and the fresh strawberry pie I was able to make. Don't they rock?


We also had some fun times with Ryan's brother and wife who came out. We got to try flying this huge kite. Well I didn't try the first night because I was a wimp and then night two it was so windy my sister in law Beth almost got hurt bad and I wasn't too interested after that.
Natalie and Abby got spoiled by everyone and enjoyed every minute of it.

Lastly here is a picture of Abby watching the popcorn popper go. She loves it and gets so excited she is giggling every time Grandma makes popcorn. She is missing them right now as they are on their annual canoe trip. Yesterday she got on her play phone and was asking for Poppa (Grandpa) and today when I dropped off something for Aunt Beth she burst into tears because there was no Poppa or Grandma at home.
All in all we are enjoying a great summer and trying to have as much fun as we can.
Check out this pic. If only I could arrange nap times. This has only happened once or twice where they are both sleeping at the same time and boy did I enjoy that.