summer fun

A few weeks ago I saw down and made my summer bucket list. I felt like last year we missed out on a lot of the things I wanted us to do. Time just seemed to fly.

So this year I am ready.

We have been doing a great job already at doing things. The zoo and aquarium may not happen since they are a fair distance away but I would really love to go so fingers crossed we make it happen!

So far we have been to the splash pad numerous times, berry picking and to the beach. Mav went berry picking last year and had a blast so I figured this year would be tons of fun and foolishly thought we would pick two full baskets. Well "I" picked two baskets and Mav probably ate a whole other baskets worth while I picked. Luckily they don't weigh you on your way in.                                        

                                               

The beach was tons of fun. I had no idea what to expect, I had a vision of it being a total disaster and waste of time but Mav loved it. He played in the sand and actually swam in the water. We have a puddle jumper for him and he is comfortable enough with it to try swimming on his own. Fully supervised of course. We packed a little lite lunch and then headed home after for naps. Everyone was exhausted.

  

                                              

Canada Day was also fun filled. We didn't do anything on the list but we did spent the first half of the day swimming in a family member's pool. Mav even jumped off the diving board! Only once because he quickly realized it meant his head going underwater and he is not ok with that. He did swim on his own again and jump off the side lots. We had tons of fun swimming with all the cousins, the festivities were over at nap time and spent the rest of the day/eve relaxing at home. 

                                     

This week should be filled with lots of fun adventures as well. I'm taking the boys to grandma's house for a few nights, we will be visiting friends and hopefully spending lots of time outside. 

In only a few short months I will be heading back to work, this summer is flying by already!

                                         

Rainy Day play

Have I mentioned that I hate Tuesdays? For some reason it is just the worst day of the week for me. 

Days like today have the potential to be major meltdown (mommy and kiddos) days; it's Tuesday AND it's a gloomy rainy day. 

We started out rough but quickly turned into tons of fun cutting up and taping cardboard boxes. We have tons of boxes, especially the huggies wipes boxes from Costco. 

They are the perfect size for making a little cardboard car for a seven month old and toddler :) 

Ty was loving it. This kid is always happy but he was ecstatic in that box. 

We also had a large box from Mav's new car seat. Last month we bought the same one for my car (and love it so we bought another) and I really wanted to do something fun with the box but hubby tossed it. This time I remembered to tell him my plans and turned it into a little house. 

 

Testing it out before I made the roof :)

It was such a fun morning! I didn't even need to resort to Pinterest for any more fun ideas the boxes have lasted us all day. Even after nap they were still fun! 

So potential crisis averted and we survived a Tuesday. The sun even came out and we walked to get the mail and played outside a bit before the storm came. 

They are calling for more rain this week so wish us luck! 

Sunday Social

 

1. What is your favourite scary movie?
 I do not like scary movies. Not one little bit. They terrify me, even as an adult I have intense terrifying nightmares after watching one. Especially the ones with zombies. Hate them all!

2. What is your favourite weird tv show you think no one else watches?
I wish I got to watch tv more... The shows I do get to watch are fairly popular (Big Brother starts next week!)Hubby pretty much monopolizes the tv and I tend to get my geek on with the computer

3. What is the song you can sing all the words to without any music?
These days pretty much any Raffi song or other random child song. Seriously these questions are making me realize I need more me time lol

4. What is your favourite book to re read?
Tuesdays with Morrie. Love that book. If you haven't read it I won't ask questions just go find it now ;)

5. The one website you visit more times daily than others?
Did anyone not answer facebook for this one?? hahaha I'm probably on there 10 + times a day. That's the my life on maternity leave :)

Summer Blog Challenge day 63

Must have features in your home:

This is a fun one :) I can't wait to own a home and make it all our own! I have soo many fun pictures on pinterest so here's a few from my home wish list.

http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.ca/2011/12/reader-space-crafty-and-colorful-closet.html

I'm planning on doing this in our current place :)

http://www.sunset.com/garden/landscaping-design/small-space-garden-makeover-venice-00418000070831/page6.html

Beautiful outdoor space

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42072247@N07/3901045597/in/photostream/

The brick wall!

http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/closet/p/8

I am speechless ...

I love day dreaming out all the features I love <3

Summer Blog Challenge day 62

Share an idea for a handmade gift:

Well with the baby shower for hubby's cousin coming up handmade gifts have been on my mind lately :)

Summer Blog Challenge day 59

How does your life measure against the vision you had growing up:

When I first saw this prompt I thought "perfect, easy and thoughtful at the same time". Thoughtful is right lol Im sitting here trying to remembered what I thought my life would be like, but I don't think I ever fully planned it out. Here is what I do know:

I thought I would be done having children well before I came close to thirty.
Reality I'm 28 and just getting started, I don't plan on even getting pregnant again until I'm at least 29 if not 30.

I thought I would marry someone I had known my whole life (grew up in a very small town) and live in said town forever.
Reality I left town asap and hardly ever even miss it, and I married my amazing husband who grew up in a town 5-6 hours away.

I thought life would be easy, and I would somehow be rich.
Reality we have had struggle after struggle, bad luck like no person should ever be dealt. Every time we start to get ahead we are knocked right back down. But life isn't fair, and life isn't easy so we keep on going and make the best of it and enjoy it the best we can.

Life may not be exactly what I had visioned but my vision was not totally lost. I am married to a man I love, I am a mother to an adorable little boy, I have a career and friends and family that love me as much as I love them.

I think I did alright.

;)

Summer Blog Challenge day 54

Music I'm listening too:

Lately I've been listening to a lot more Elmo and Old Macdonald than anything else :s
lol

When I do listen to music it's just been whatever's on the radio, half of which I couldn't tell you the song name or who it is. How did I fall so far out of the loop? I used to listen to music constantly, it was part if my everyday life.

Life changes I guess. And somehow I didn't even notice.

But back when I listened more regularly aka pre baby I often could be found listening to Incubus, Foo Fighters, Adele, and Natasha bedingfield to name a few. My iPod always had a wide variety of artists it all really depends on my mood.

What are you listening to? Any suggestions?

Summer Blog Challenge day 53

How to beat the summer heat:

This summer has been crazy hot so far. I remember the days of longing for summer to come so I can lay out in the sun relaxing and tanning, such carefree days. Not anymore.

MV loves being outside, and I've noticed on days we don't go out he tends to get a bit more irritable and almost "bored" with me. So in the mornings usually before 10am we spend time outside. At that time our backyard is heavily shaded by the house and there usually is a cool breeze, the temperature can be so drastically different from the front yard in the direct sun.

If we do go outside mid day it will involve water in some way, either our kiddie pool or swimming at hubby's aunts house. We have been doing pool days at least once a week its so refreshing.

We are lucky to have central air in our place, I really don't know how we would survive without it, especially MV the poor kid is a furnace just like his father! I feel bad staying inside but sometimes we just need to.

Dinners consist of BBQ everything, cooking inside is just crazy.

Sometimes we will go to the mall or other public places that have air conditioning. Anything to stay cool and keep me from going house crazy :)

As MV gets older I'm sure I will have to get a little more creative, there is a splash pad and a water slide and play area at the local pool. Going to the beach will be fun as well, I haven't tried it yet this year I'm a little nervous about how MV will enjoy it.

Oh and lots and lots of ice cream and freezies and popsicles are a must!

I hope everyone has been keeping cool!

Summer Blog Challenge day 50

What would you do if you won the lottery:

The main thing I would do is pay off mine and hubby's debts. After that I would go down this list and complete as many as I could depending on how much I won.

- buy a house or land to build our own
- buy new vehicles for hubby and me
- buy my mom a house
- buy hubby's mom a house
- open a large savings account for MV
- take a vacation
- become a stay at home mom
- have a hobby farm
- open my own dog bording kennel
- donate to charity
- invest
- travel
- buy really good Christmas presents
- relax

:)

Summer Blog Challenge day 48

Today's topic is to name five things to do in a power outage.

I don't feel like doing that so instead I'm sharing a picture :)

MV had his four month vaccines yesterday (delayed for multiple reasons), and since then he's been having mini rage fits where he just yells out for no reason. Hubby got a video of it today and captured this screen shot.

Oh and notice the two bottom teeth visible yet still not poking thru.

Summer Blog Challenge day 47

Random act of kindness:

I have been known to pay for the person behind me in the drive thru at Tim Hortons.


* I don't feel like blogging today so keeping it short and sweet.

Summer Blog Challenge day 46

Favourite room in your house:

I can't show you a picture, but my favourite room is the spare bedroom/"my" room.

When we moved in we decided hubby could make the garage and basement his space and I could have one of the spare rooms. At the time I was pregnant so we determined the smaller of the two spares would be the nursery and I claimed the larger.

Both spare rooms are at the front of the house so they get the morning sun and stay very well lit throughout the whole day.
I love how much light comes into "my" room, I love just sitting in there with a book, or doing some sort of craft. It's mine. All mine.
I can't wait to paint it, I am still deciding on colour, and right now I am looking for a small white desk and more storage options. Since it doubles as a guest room I like to be able to tuck my things away.

So the reason I can't share a visual right now? It's because that room is a disaster right now, I moved the furniture, and put everything on the bed. There's piles of things everywhere as I'm struggling to sort it all out.

I need a babysitter for MV for just one day so I can get it done, but currently there is noone else capable of feeding and putting him to sleep.

My goal is to have it organized how I want by the end of the summer. Fingers crossed!

Summer Blog Challenge day 45

Make up tips and tricks:

I am nowhere near qualified to even begin to write the title of this post let alone pretend I even have a clue when it comes to make up!

I hardly ever wear it
When I buy it I keep it for way too long
and I'm terrified of the makeup aisle at the store.

When I do wear makeup it's because of one of the following;

1. I'm so tired that I'm delusional in thinking makeup might help me look like I belong in the land of the living.
2. I have somewhere fancy like a wedding etc to go to.
3. I know that there will be lots of pictures taken for whatever reason and to avoid feeling underdressed I resort to makeup.

The makeup I own includes some mascara, a bronzer, eyeliner, and a couple colours of eyeshadow. I have no clue how to use cover up or those other skin tone products.

I wish I knew how to apply make up properly, and how to do al those glamourous looks. But also I really have nowhere to wear it.

Does anyone have any recommendations of sites to teach me??

Summer Blog Challenge day 44

Advice for my son:

Appreciate the people and the things in your life.

You are not entitled to anything so you need to work hard and then you will be rewarded. Entitlement just leads to negative feelings towards others, it can build into resentment and will cast a cloud of doom over your head. You dont want to be someone who wakes everyday and is unhappy with their life. In order to be happy with life you need to appreciate it, even if you do not have many possessions or the "nicest" things. Look around and you will see there's always someone who has more and there's plenty of people who have less. So give yourself credit for what you've achieved.
The people you keep in your life should also be treasured. There are simple ways to show them that you value their presence, you should make sure they know it. You never know how long someone will be a part of your life so don't take them for granted.
As you grow older I know you will be influenced by me and your daddy, and our views of life's situations can be very different sometimes. Just remember to enjoy the little things and when you are older looking back you will see them with nothing but the fondest memories.
xox <3

Summer Blog Challenge day 43

Ahh we just got home! So technically I'm late again lol oh well!

Then and Now Photos:

Summer Blog Challenge day 42

I still plan on posting days 40 & 41 but I'm tired and I don't feel good so here are some pictures for day 42

A vacation you've been on:

We've never been the vacationing type but a couple years ago my mom, brother and I drove across 4 provinces and spent a few days in Calgary and Banff Alberta.

After being in a car for four days a
and then spending the next few days with them I don't think I spoke to either for a few weeks. Luckily we flew home.

Here's a couple pics, I have over a thousand from the trip

Summer Blog Challenge day 39

Pet Peeves:

I used to have a lot of pet peeves, just little things that bothered me that sometimes I didn't realize bothered me until others pointed it out. lol

So I tried to think all day of what they were and if they still bothered me. But I find it's not until it happens that I really realize its a pet peeve.

So here are a few things, I know there must be more....

*Loud breathing. This one really bothers me for some reason. Makes me mad even, I just can't stand it.

*Fork biting. Makes me cringe and I blame my stepdad he used to complain when people did it.

*Joint popping, and teeth grinding. Enough said right? If not see above.

*Cap locks typing. It should only be used to eventuate a point or highlight a key detail. How do you even type a whole paragraph "accidentally" in caps? You can't so just don't do it :)

*People using the word ignorant incorrectly. I'm not going to define it now, but there's a good chance you are not using it correctly so look it up please.

I know there's more ... But if I told you all of them you might think I'm crazy. A

Summer Blog Challenge day 38

Lyrics that have meaning to you:

I considered posting our wedding song but decided to take another approach to this one. This song has been a favourite of mine for many years, I find that over the years the lyrics have taken on different meanings to fit my life at that moment. I think that really makes a song a great one personally, it grows with you.

Nelly Furtado - Try

All I know
Is everything is not as it's sold
but the more I grow the less I know
And I have lived so many lives
Though I'm not old
And the more I see, the less I grow
The fewer the seeds the more I sow

Then I see you standing there
Wanting more from me
And all I can do is try
Then I see you standing there
Wanting more from me
And all I can do is try

I wish I hadn't seen all of the realness
And all the real people are really not real at all
The more I learn, the more I learn
The more I cry, the more I cry
As I say goodbye to the way of life
I thought I had designed for me

Then I see you standing there
Wanting more from me
And all I can do is try
Then I see you standing there
I'm all I'll ever be
But all I can do is try
Try

All of the moments that already passed
We'll try to go back and make them last
All of the things we want each other to be
We never will be
And that's wonderful, and that's life
And that's you, baby
This is me, baby
And we are, we are, we are, we are
Free
In our love
We are free in our love

Summer Blog Challenge day 37

*I realize it's after midnight and technically I missed a day but I'm not asleep yet so it's still My Saturday ;)


Something you would attempt if you knew you couldn't fail:

....

....

....

....

Some of these topics requiring more thinking than I want to do this late at night.

....

....

I'm stumped.


I suppose even if I don't answer the question this still counts as my daily post ;) that is after all the point of me doing this challenge.

...ummmmmm....... *thinking really hard but drawing a blank* .....

I know!

I would quit Nursing and start my own business. I'm not sure exactly what kind of business, I haven't decided what I could do enough of yet to have a business but it's something I do daydream about :)

Alright bed time ! Night!

Summer Blog Challenge days 35&36

Day 35: A fear you have:

I find as I get older I become more fearful in general, I think maybe when I was younger I was oblivious to all the potential danger and scary things the world has to offer. I don't like talking about my fears actually, I feel like if people knew them they could abuse that knowledge. You might wonder who would do such a thing? I don't know but it could happen! lol

I will tell you one fear is of falling. I fall a lot, so I often worry about falling, especially if I'm up high, or my hands are full, near water such as a lake, or carrying MV ....


Day 36: A holiday tradition you have in your family:

Hubby and I decided we are going to start our own traditions now that MV is here.
We are very excited for this :) Holidays usually are stressful because they involve lots of driving and staying with family, busy busy busy.
One tradition we do enjoy is boxing day with hubby's family. His whole italian family. His dad, and siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

It's a lot of people, the location changes as everyone takes turns hosting. There is lots of good food and a gift exchange game. Its one thing we will for sure keep doing, maybe one day even host it ourselves. :)