We're back...

After my self-imposed blog and Utah vacation to visit my parents we are back with our infrequent blog posts.  Hopefully they will get their grandparent butts in gear and move back like they have claimed in a year so they can continue to spoil my children!  I need someone to do the job.

Not much news of late but we did bring back a little friend from my brother Ryan and my sister-in-law Kaylee...Her name is Lilly.

 Some updated photos of the kids...I don't go very long without updating these but I just love my kids so much that I can't help but constantly take photos of them.  I have a serious dislike of taking photos of people (actually dislike is too mild a word for it...I HATE taking photos of people) and would much prefer my subjects to be of the nature or element kind but I do make an exception and have actually grown to like taking photos of my kids (but it only extends as far as my kids....sorry everyone else).

Sterling is getting so old and he is turning into such a handsome little man.  Loving it.

I can't believe how much they are starting to look alike.  It is crazy considering they looked like polar opposites when they were born!

Here is happiest little boy around.  You can't come into a room without eliciting a huge grin from his chubby little cheeks.  I am enamoured and completely in love with him.

 

4th Annual Hope Classic

It's that time of year again friends!  It is time to register for the 4th annual Calgary  Hope Classic run, walk and wheel.  

4.5 years ago I was lucky enough to go to the Hope Classic in Edmonton as we did not have a run in Calgary.  It was such a great run and just so much fun that I decided that it was time to have that same run in Calgary.  So 4 years ago I proposed to the Spina Bifida and Hyrdocephalus Association of Southern Alberta (where there are photos from previous runs) that we do that same here.  I was able to be a huge part of getting this run started in the first and second year so it is really close to my heart.  Please come and support our association if you live in or around Calgary!  It is a great value for $20 you get a swag bag, to be a participant and and huge free BBQ after, tons of door prizes, face painters -  all while supporting people like Sterling with so much spirit and personality.

June 1, 2013 at 10:15am

South Glenmore Park in Calgary, Alberta

Sign up below:

http://www.events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=9098

Winter fun and more!

We just got a huge typical Calgary snow dump recently.  So I sent out my husband and the two older ones while I was making dinner in order to get some well needed quiet and the kids got some exercise.

We got this gigantic chocolate bar after Christmas on clearance for $5...THe kids have been working on it for a couple months and we still have more than half left.

 Emy always falls asleep in odd places.  Got to love this crazy little girl.  She outright refuses to nap unless it is on her own terms.  If she is tired, she usually just says "I'm tired, I'm going to sleep" and walks upstairs right to bed.  What a contradiction for this stubborn little thing that is always at odds with everyone.

 I love my chubby boy.  I never had a chubby baby so it is kind of fun!

 The little man in action sans pants.  No pants are allowed anymore or else his rare temper will come out to play.  Apparently, crawling is some serious business.

 Sterling is so crazy big in his Stander.  I can't believe he is going to start school soon.

Skiing Days are Over

We just finished Sterling's last sit-ski lesson this last Saturday.  He is pretty upset about it because he loves it so much and he counted down to Saturday all week long.  I can't say that I miss having to get up at 5:30am, driving 2 hours to get to the hill, getting all geared up, waiting in the gondola line, taking a 20 minute gondola, sitting around two hours in the lodge while he has his lessons, getting back on the gondola, getting all the gear off, driving the 2 hours home and getting there at 2:30pm.  It was a 9 hour ordeal for a 2 hour lesson.  It always seemed worth it as soon as he was about to ski and we got to see that huge grin on his face. 

I kept having these nagging feelings that I really needed to put Sterling into sit-skiing the whole last year and that it was going to be a very important part of his life.  I finally realized a couple days ago why I kept feeling this way.  I asked him, "What does it feel like to be skiing and going really fast?" He replied to me "I feels really good, Mama.  It makes alright that I was born with Spina Bifida and can't walk".  It made me feel so good to be his Mama and that I have done something so good for him when I seem to fail my children in so many other ways.  I love my kids and they make it so easy to be loved.

It was costume and scavenger hunt day during his last lesson.  I made him a quick viking costume that would work with his ski gear.  Here is my little viking including helmet, beard and furry vest: 

 Sterling with his instructor Jenny (He is completely in love with her):

 Everyone that was involved with the Saturday AM skiing program.  I am so grateful that there are just such good people (The Rocky Mountain Adaptive Sports Centre and Sunshine Village) out there willing to be involved and help these kids to be able to have programs to help get them active and just have some winter fun!

Guess we will have to find something to keep him busy and happy until next ski program in January 2014!

 

One Ruler to Rule them all...

Oh man! I am letting my nerdy husband get to me in the form of lame title puns.  I'm so sorry for that, but it had to be done.

Anyway...I have seen these giant growth charts that look like rulers all over pinterest.  I usually try not to do projects that are EVERYWHERE but I really thought it was super cute and just a great way to commemorate my kids growth even after they have left the house.  In about 1.5 hours of super easy work I set to making one for myself.  Started out with a $5 piece of 6 foot pine.

Beat it up with a hammer, nails and a fork.  Stained it my favourite colour, minwax special walnut.  Let it dry overnight.

Taped off lines every 6 inches and then painted every other one an acrylic whitewash I made.

 Pulled tape off and nice clean lines, ahhhh.  I love a nice clean line.

Sanded the crap out of it to let the grain show through.

Added lines in sharpie with the help of a ruler. Then printed numbers which I traced using chalk on the back and pen on the front.

 DONE! I super love it and I also love the $5 price tag.

 Of course, I had to take photos of my kids since I had my camera out.  Emery in typical shy fashion...shielding her eyes so no one including the camera can see her.

 Brighton, my happy little guy, chubby belly and all.  He just started crawling and screams and gets furiously mad if I make him wear pants.

 My my crazy get so old Sterling!