Wordless Wednesday

My favorite Picture of Late

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Happy Birthday Tammy

This weekend was my best friends birthday. Her and her family were out camping so we went out and joined them for the day. I think Emma's loves the camping the most. She gets to spend all day out in the wild. She loves chasing squirells.



The boys did a little canoeing, Tammy and I did a little socializing. I'm sure I've mentioned it before in the blog, but I feel so so lucky to have their family as our friends. Even our husbands get along so well. When Tammy and I took our kids to Kelowna for a week, our husbands went golfing together. Tammy and I have a ton in common. First off we work together, so have similar personalities in that we both want to take care of people. We love shopping, the same music, saving money and generally the same TV shows. Our love for Barenaked Ladies becomes ten fold when we are with each other. It so nice to have someone to talk to about anything. Someone who gets what it's like to be a mother and a wife. Someone who I can drink wine with and will always let me have the last piece of chocolate.

happy birthday Tammy, I can't wait to live the next 10 years with you as my best friend.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Summer Reading.....

A couple of weeks ago Tammy gave me this book. I don't read a ton of books in the winter but in the summertime when vacation comes my way, I love reading. Especially when someone introduces to me to such a great author.


It was the best book I've read in such a long time. Probably since the Time Traveller's Wife. Ever since then I have been a reading-aholic. The Sister's Keeper is about a family who discovers their two year old daughter has a rare form of leukemia. They have another daughter who is the perfect genetic match for the daughter who has leukemia. The book is about the trials and tribulations of what happens when the daughter says she doesn't want to be a donater anymore. It is so well written and will make you be so greatful for health. Oh and you'll cry ALOT.

So after I was done that I decided to go out and buy more of Jodi Picoult's books. The one I finished last night is this one.



Also a phenomenal book. Not quite as good as my sister's keeper, but also excellent. It is about an Amish family, who finds a dead baby in their barn. There is a trial (as there often are in her books), about who killed the baby, an 18 year old Amish girl is the defendant. It is a very interesting look into a group of peopl (the Amish) who I know very little about it. Another great book.

What have your been your favorite books been this summer? Has anyone read these books?

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

The Second Worse Thing To Yell On An Airplane

Lucas, Auntie Karen and I flew to Kelowna this week for three days. The weather was perfect as was the company. Flying to Kelowna is the way to go, especially if it's just one person (Auntie Karen works for WestJet, so flies for a super reduced rate). It is a 45 min flight so that also adds to the happiness of flying. As we are flying over the mountains and making our descent into the Kelowna airport the sun is hitting the clouds just so, that the clouds are a bright orange color. Auntie Karen mentions to Lucas it looks like a fire. Lucas was so thrilled by the description that the whole way down he was yelling on the airplane:

"Look Aunt Karen, Fire, Fire"

Auntie Karen would agree, or try to explain what it was but again he'd yell: "Look Aunt Karen, Fire Fire"

Maybe a good thing, maybe not, we were sitting in the very last row of the airplane. It was great because it only has two seats, and then a little play area and Lucas could stand at the window. But I'm sure many people were craning their heads to the back of the plane to see if there was really a fire.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

The Angel

I was carrying Lucas into the house after he fell asleep from a fun filled morning at the beach Opa says to me:

You are carrying the angel

I thought it was so sweet. Especially because little sleeping kids totally look like angels, but to hear a man who doesn't really show him emotions say something so nice was such a compliment.

Till Tomorrow

More Kelowna

Well the weather here is perfect this time. We are enjoying lots of sunshine. We spent the day at the beach yesterday and were wiped by the time we were done. Lucas is having tons of fun with his Auntie Karen, who should have had her own kids because she is a kid at heart.

He has also started singing twinkle twinkle little star, although he doesn't get all the words.

More pictures and videos once we get home.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Jenn

Kelowna

Over the last week we have spent time in Kelowna. I love to be in Kelowna. My Oma and Opa live there and we are so fortunate to go every year. For those of you who don't know Kelowna is a beach spot in British Columbia. This year we picked a week that rained almost the whole time. We only had one day of sunshine. We did totally live up the one day, though.

It was great to see Oma and Opa again. I'm lucky that I have grandparents who I love that are still around. They take such a good care of us while we are there. It was interesting becuase I saw myself in them. My parents don't do a whole lot of entertaining and don't really encourage alot of people in the house. They love there family and love to spend time with us, but unlike me they don't have big parties or love it when people come and visit them. Oma and Opa on the other hand love to have us come and stay with us. I am so like that. I love to have people come and stay.

All in all it was kind of a disapointing trip, but only becuase of the weather and not the company. Luckily I am heading back there today.




Here is a picture of Lucas blowing bubbles and eating ice cream.


The kids looking at the grapes.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Monthly Newsletter- Month Twenty Three

Dear Lucas,

Happy monthly birthday baby! We spent this monthly birthday in Kelowna, which was expected because we have spent most of the time this last month galavanting around. We are trying to get in as many free flights for you before you turn two. =) You do love to fly, you love the airport and the takeoff. You love to look out the window for wind socks and press the buttons to turn the lights on and off. Most of the time you are a great traveller. There are always some hard parts (like tonight when you didn't want to go to sleep), but generally you are lots of fun to take around.



One of the cool parts for me when we go away is that you usually sleep in the same room as us. Most of the time you are still sleeping in a playpen, but it is so comforting as a mother to hear you breath while I am sailing off to sleep.







I can't think of any major milestones this month. It amazes me how much you know and how much you continue to learn. One example is barns. You have a play barn and we have probably read about barns in books, but no one had pointed out a real live barn until we were in Ontario driving to the beach and Aunt Lori pointed out a barn to you. Ever since then you have been quite good at pointing out barns. Even though it has been a couple of weeks since you've seen a barn, you knew exactly what a barn was today.



You have had so much family around lately. We've been to Ontario, Kelowna and Lexie has been down here. Its funny because sometimes you'll put them in a new situation where they don't really belong. For example when we were back to go to Kelowna I was telling you you'd see, Oma and Opa and you added in Auntie Lexie. Even though we had not mentioned that she was going. Also last weekend I said we were going to Grandma and Pop's for dinner and you said, with Grammie and Grandad. Who live in Ontario and cannot just pop over for dinner. I've always firmly believed that it takes lots of people to raise a child, not just the parents and this past month you have had a bit of everyone.





One of my favorite things you are doing lately is holding hands. You are quite obiedent to hold my hand and often come and grab it if you want to show me something or if we should walk a certain way. I totally treasure when it happens becuase I know that in not too long you will not be holding my hand. When we were in Ontario you did a sweet thing, by grabbing Grammie's hand and taking her to get some food. You are doing a good job at showing people you love them.





Another very cute thing you have been working on is making faces for certain emotions. The surprise face was the first one and the one you have perfected the most. You are also getting good at the happy face and the thinking face. And although you can make a mad face, you have not perfected how to do it on cue.




This week has definitly made me question my parenting skills. We went away with one of my best friends who has two kids that are a little bit older then you. She is a great parent and I often emulate her parenting skills, but sometimes I just felt inadequate. I do hope I am doing a good job of being your mommy. I hope I set fair boundaries and the right ones. I'm sure you'll let me know as we grow up.






I love you baby, looking forward to your second birthday!

love mommy

Kelowna

We are in Kelowna now. It's my favorite place to be in the world, besides my home. I like to think of it as my summer home. Usually I spend a couple of weeks here in the summer enjoying the beaches, heat (and air conditioning) and wine.

There will be not a whole lot of post this week, but I'll make up for it next week.

Jenn

Freakin' New Great Toy

Some samples from my new Nikon d40!




O Canada



Gotcha!




Happy Stampeding



He's real thinking face (the fake one is coming in the newsletter)

Emma in motion



The disappearing thumb