Friday, November 13, 2015

We count ourselves as VERY lucky

Jim and I know how lucky we are for the family support that we have here in Powell River and if anyone out there is thinking that we take it for granted please hear this "WE DON'T!" We appreciate and love that we have many people that are helping us to raise our boys and that love to spend time with them, even offering to do it so we can have an evening alone together. 

On Friday night last weekend my sister invited us to go out for dinner with her to see Bill play at the Carlson Club. So of course we asked Nana if she would watch the boys for a few hours, but she of course insisted that instead of watching them at our house just for dinner that she would keep them overnight instead. This is often the way Nana rolls. She would prefer to have them at her house where she can make dinner for them, bathe them if she wants and then put them to bed and then be comfy in her PJ's in her own chair and not have to worry about driving home after we get home. We so appreciate it because we had a great night enjoying the $11 steak dinner that the Carlson offers on Friday nights! We came home early that night and snuggled on the couch and watched a show then went to bed early. 

Saturday morning we got up and went to pick up the kids for swimming and soccer then home for a few hours for Jordie's nap before packing them up for Auntie Ra to pick them up at 3:30. When I told Ang that we wanted to have our couple friends over for some drinks and to play Cards Against Humanity she happily (and suprisingly) said "I'll take them both overnight!" We were thrilled and they were both so excited to spend the night there. She's taken each of them overnight separately before but this was their first visit together. Little did I know about the awesome crafts she had planned for them! On Sunday morning we tried to sleep in but of course we woke up at 7:15 and had 3.5 hours until Ang was planning on bringing the boys home so we went out to our favorite restaurant Magpie's for some yummy breakfast and some quiet quality visiting time where we can actually talk (between James's non stop talking and Jordie's loud babbling it isn't easy these days!)

Too busy laughing till we cried while playing Cards Against Humanity to take any other photos! 

And the Reece's Peanut Butter Cheese Ball was so delicious and actually looked just like it did on Pinterest!

Today I wanted to spend some time in James's class and had planned to take Jordie with me but Nana heard the plan and said "just bring him here instead, it'll be easier for you". Well she's right about that, and it's always awesome to have time alone with just one kid, no matter what it is that you are doing. We are really very lucky for all of the help with the boys and we make sure to tell those around us regularly how much we appreciate them and their help. I especially understand how lucky we are when I look at some friends that have no family nearby and rarely get a special evening out with their spouse or morning away from their toddler! 

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Daily Photos – October 2015

I'm way behind this month on getting these photos uploaded to here! Anyways, here are October's daily photos. Some really cute moments were captured this month!
































Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Happy 35th Birthday Jimmy!

The boys and I made Jimmy a beer cake that consisted of a 15 pack of Lucky, 2 Hershey's chocolate bars, 3 packs of other chocolate bars, licorice all sorts and finally a pack of black Twizzlers (all things he loves and I don't really so this way I''ll definitely stay away from his stash!!)

Jordie and I went shopping on Monday evening while James and Jim were out at the movies and we had a ton of fun buying the stuff for the cake...and also creating it together too! Then both boys made their Daddy homemade cards too (James made his at 9pm after he got home!).

Daddy loved his cake this morning and I'm glad to have been able to give him something to show him how much we love him and want him to be happy. He is truly a wonderful man and me and our two little J's are so very lucky to have him as ours.

Daddy and his boys with the finished beer cake

Opening his cards

Eating Twix at 7am


Jordie and me and the making of the beer cake

This video was when we were still trying to make it on the round plate. I quickly realized this was an accident waiting to happen and so I switched to the rectangular cake pan instead!

And here he is showing off the finished product...and his awesome new talking!

This is his ta da face and motions!

Showing off his card

 Daddy's finished Lucky beer and treat cake

Jordie just really wanted to sit beside it the cake while I was taking pictures of it


James making Daddy's card after he got home from the movies

The finished product

Aunties (and sisters) are the very best!

The boys were with my sister for Saturday night so we could have a fun games night with our friends. She knows I'm a huge sucker for crafts and was so super sweet and planned this awesome project with the boys while they were there. 

When James walked up the stairs and I opened the door he yelled Merry Christmas and was carrying a big gift bag with these things in it. I actually felt myself tear up at the kindess of Ang in doing these with the boys. Definitely one of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever received!


He kept walking up to it saying "mine" and pointing at the picture and at his hands and feet! It was so cute! I was trying to take pictures of the canvases and he really wanted in the picture too!

THANK YOU again so much Andra for this wonderful gift! They will definitely be going up near our Christmas tree this year!

Friday, November 6, 2015

There were quite a few things I was looking forward to when James started Kindergarten...

 ...things like class field trips, being part of the PAC, making new Mom friends and of course the long standing ritual of school pictures!

 On the day of his pictures we went and got his glasses adjusted and my only request was that before they snapped the picture could he please push his glasses up on his nose so I could see his beautiful blue eyes. I stayed with the class that morning and he was so excited and ran to be at the front of the line so I knew he was completely wired and I wondered how he would do...and I have to say I am very pleasantly surprised at how cute these photos turned out. They are so James.

Seriously! SO ADORABLE I just want to kiss his cheeks! :)

Side note: I didn't know until my much more experienced mom friend Theresa told me that the photographers tell the kids to stick their thumbs in their pockets. I was surprised at the pose and that he came up with it so glad to hear he follows directions well! :)