Fave Photo Friday - My new love of yoga

This photo signifies a new found favorite place for me! This is the gorgeous art work on the wall in the yoga studio at Coast Fitness. Tonight in between my two classes I took a moment to snap this picture to remind myself of the peace that I feel as I sit quietly waiting for my class to begin

Yes, a selfie! I rarely take selfies but tonight I was in the mood so I snapped this happy picture of myself before heading into my first of two back to back yoga classes. In the short time I’ve been taking classes I’ve come to enjoy them and enjoy the peace I feel from knowing that I’ve made the time, just for me. It’s something I have wanted to do for years, but finally I’m ready to commit to it.

Snapped this picture of a sign last week at Coast. For the first time in my life I’m ready to start putting me first sometimes, even if it is inconvenient sometimes. I will end 2020 healthier than I started it. To me it’s not about my weight right now, it’s about my health and feeling better about myself and feeling like I am more than just a mom and wife. I am important too. 

Throwback Thursday - It’s Baby Kennedy

Time is flying and two years ago this little lady was the cutest chunkiest little baby and this hat reminded me of when Jordie wore it when he was around her age. 

I still get snuggles in this chair almost every single night (some nights we snuggle on her new big girl bed instead)

Oh, this photo makes me realize how I am so not sad to never be in this stage again! She was so busy and got into everything!!

My wishes for my beautiful little girl

Here are my 10 life lessons for my sweet Kennedy Joanna.

(1) You are, and always will be, more than just what you look like on the outside.You are a beautiful human, on the inside and the outside.

(2) You can be tough as nails and soft and vulnerable at the same time. It is so important to be able to be both, in this tough world you are growing up in.

(3) You can be a girlie girl all dressed up in dresses with fancy hair, or rock that awesome pair of jeans and a hoodie, with your hair up in a messy bun, too.

(4) It’s more important to be a good, kind person than anything else in the whole world. Your Daddy and I believe that our biggest job is to raise good people and I hope we are doing that with you.

(5) You are so smart and so capable of doing anything you set your mind to! You are going places in this world my love and I can't wait to see where you end up.

(6) You are sassy and outspoken, but remember always use that in a respectful way to get your point across to those around you. Words can hurt and the pain can last a lifetime. 

(7) Use your words wisely and try to think before you speak. This isn't always easy but it's a very important life lesson to learn.

(8) Remember to work hard for all that you want to achieve and don't expect others to get you to where you want to be. Your work ethic determines who you are and how you are viewed in the world.

(9) Love those that matter unconditionally and let go of those that hurt you. So much easier said than done sometimes but never be afraid to fall in love because you never know when your forever love will appear. 

(10) Always hug your Mama tight and say I love you, no matter how old you get or how much she drives you crazy! I still hug my Mama tight and tell her I love her every chance I get so I think you should too! :) 

Big thanks to Auntie Sheri for this BEAUTIFUL new photo of our little KJ girl. And big props to Daddy for rocking the awesome messy bun hairstyle too! 

Tuesday Twins Day

Maddie came for a playdate on Sunday and when she showed up we giggled that they were matching. Kennedy's dress is on backwards, her skirt is too but the sparkly black tops and jean bottoms still looked so cute together! 

That picture above made me think about this picture from a few years ago of these two matching on another day!

And then this cute picture popped up from the one time they took swimming lessons together too.

And of course this cheesy shot from many years ago now!

Milestone Monday - 3 kids, 3 bedrooms

We did it! In just 15 days we went from hoarder basement to completed new bedroom for James! I can't wait to show the before and after photos but need another week or so to get everything all finalized. Once it's all done I'll finally feel like I can relax and enjoy it, but for now I'm going to keep going and get everyone settled into their soon-to-be reorganized and decluttered rooms! 

Last night was very strange for me to have James two floors away from me! He was nervous when he went to bed but was clearly exhausted and fell right to sleep and this morning said he'd slept great. 

Here he is all tucked in and ready for bed. 

Out cold and not even covered up in the cold basement. He's gonna love it down there! PS: Can't wait to get that ugly baseboard heater replaced soon! It's awful and covered in random paint and scratches from over the years.

This little lady got a bed upgrade in August and then yesterday we finally moved the mattress up to the top of the frame rather than being on the floor and she's so excited and says it's now a really big girls bed :) 

And this guy is in his own room for the first time since he was 2 and came out of his crib! He is back on the bottom bunk and is looking forward to making this room really all his. It's so strange to have them separate but I think it's going to be awesome in the long run!

Selfie Sunday - Me and my handsome big guy

We are in the home stretch of James's big room reno and tonight is his first night down there and I couldn't be more excited for him and for us for having pulled off this huge feat in just two weeks! I'll post some pictures after I'm in the city next week and can get the last of the stuff that we need for down there.

We went out to Walmart today and while we were out he asked if we could take a few minutes and grab some steamed milks from Starbucks while we were out. I love that he still loves spending time with me and whenever I get the chance to spend one on one time with him I try my best to make it special, even if just in a small little way.

I love this big guy so much and I'm so happy for him that he will finally have some space that is just his. Once I finally share the before and after pictures I think you'll be shocked at the progress that was made in such a short time!

A little sneak peek of his room color :) Here is a little snuggle that we had this afternoon. I am looking forward to having some quiet alone time each night with all of my kids now that they all have separate rooms!  

Difference between Mom and Dad

When a kid sleeps in the bed with us (which isn’t very often) I get almost no real sleep....but their dad? No problems apparently sleeping through everything....including a foot directly on his face!! There is no way I would EVER be tired or asleep enough to ever sleep through that! And how is that even comfortable for her to be asleep too? These two kill me!  

Anyone else like me and can’t sleep well when bed sharing?!?! 

Photo Friday - Faves from the week!

Starting off the week with this adorable photo of my three fave girls! I'm surprised I captured it actually with all the movement going on! 

This little girl is so lucky to have these big "sisters" in her life and I am fortunate to get to be in their lives too, hopefully in a way that matters to them when they are older. 

The snow hit and this kid was out there before school shoveling walkways and sidewalks. I love him and his big generous heart. 

A little late night play with Dad and Kennedy before bed.

My little snow bundle. Thank god this snow suit still fits from last year because for the little amount of snow we get I hate buying new snow suits every year for only a few days of use! 

This guy took 5 day old french fries that were in the fridge, threw them in the microwave and heated them up with a big scoop of my homemade potatoe/bacon soup on top.  He is so random sometimes it kills me. And somehow he doesn't get food poisoning which actually surprises me!

Thankful for this guy

He's on graveyard shift this week which is always tough but with a basement reno in full force before his surgery next week he has found himself running errands in the morning and then only sleeping a few hours in the afternoon/evening. Yesterday on zero sleep after working all night, he spent all day painting, picking up kids from school and the sitter, getting groceries, etc, all so that I didn't have to go out in the snow. I despise being cold and the snow makes me cranky. I love seeing it, but being out in it is not my favorite thing to do.

Then at 5pm he found out he didn't have to go to work, so he ate a quick dinner and then went outside for an hour and a half to shovel walkways and sidewalks at our strata. During his time outside I realized our KJ girl also hadn't been outside either all day so got her suited up at 7 to go out and play with Daddy for a little bit. She LOVED it and is clearly her Daddy's girl when it comes to snow!

I don't know how he was still functioning by the time he came inside shortly before 8. He had only slept maybe 5 hours the day before and then had been up since 4pm, so essentially awake for nearly 30 hours by that time. I could never do what he does!

I am thankful for his work ethic and how he will always sacrifice his own sleep and comfort if it means being able to be there for his kids and our family. I am a lucky wife.

Way back Wednesday

While going through our basement I found so many awesome photos from my past and will definitely be sharing more on this blog in the coming weeks/months as I do a big sort/organize/purge of all of my photos!

Going way way way back to my 16th birthday and a fun night with some of my best high school friends! Melanie, Theresa and our beloved and missed friend Jody, who died when we were all just 21 years old. I can't believe she's been gone that long already. I wish I'd said more and done more in the last few years of her life and it's a regret I will live with forever. I am very fortunate to have had some wonderful years with her in my life and so many amazing memories with all of these girls.

Scariest roller coaster ever! Six Flags Magic Mountain

This one was fun though! 

Some cute sibling photos I found during the basement clean out! 

Tana Banana in Grade 2

Baby Kimmy...the cutest thing is that kennedy now has this blanket and sleeps with it on her pillow every single night!

Toddler Kimmy

Grade 6 Kimmy

I'm thinking this is Grade 11