A daily thing

I love it. I love it too much. I love my diet coke.

It's my afternoon thing. It's my evening thing. It's my thing.

I know it's not good for me. I have given it up in the past (for 9 months each time) but I went back.

I love my diet coke.

Boooo!

A sppppoooookkkkky Halloween, with a TON of kids this year!! We broke all records with over 300 trick or treaters coming to the door. If this is a new trend, I better start buying now for next year!!

We had five pumpkins this year, all so I could roast seeds. I love seeds.

On Saturday, Bridget and Charlotte came over where we all made haunted houses from graham wafers. I told them they had to fit as much candy on them as possible, something a 7,6,5 and 4 year old had no problem with!!

While the original plan was for a pirate and Darth Maul to leave my house....the plans were changed on Friday afternoon. So a last minute kitty costume and an easy to put together hockey player and we were set for the night.

A fun night for all, with lots and lots of candy back at the house. I wonder how long it will last?

The pumpkin patch

If I am being honest, I go to the pumpkin patch for one thing. And it's not for the pumpkins. It's for the photos. I took well over 100.

I love the warm fall colours, and the kids love the excitement of picking out their own pumpkin. With a small window in the weather, the kids and I, along with Nicki and her family headed out to Richmond to the pumpkin patch.

The photos are my record of a great day, and this was a great one.

Girl Time

A rain wet weekend. And then, a small break with the weather. I needed to get outside. I needed fresh air.

I needed to get out of the walls of my house. I asked everyone if they were interested in a hike at the hatchery. I only got one taker.

So us girls headed out. We were greeted by a rainbow.

Some fish.

And some spiders.

She is just so cute, I love hanging out with just us.

We will come back, again and again.

Oh, I cannot leave without posting this photo. This is true K J spirit!

Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Lisa

and the rest of the girls at Skrap N Chat


#10 - I don't need to put on my nice clothes and make up to have a "girls night out"

#9 - These ladies "get" my love of paper and understand the shared agreement of not telling my husband how much said paper costs. The also understand the "need" to have your camera, the knowledge that buttons may look better on a lay out than on a jacket, and sewing machines can be used often and rarely touch fabric.

#8 - While it may have been paper that brought us together, we are thicker than the best glue out there when it comes to supporting each other

#7 - Lisa is like the sister I never had. She shares my good looks and love of life, but there is that connection of not having to explain everything to each other to understand exactly what we are talking about that makes her extra special.

#6 - My internet girlfriend Suzanne loves me every day at SNC, and I love her back. She is the reason I know internet dating works. <3

#5 - Through any tough days, the girls at SNC have support for all, and judgement on none. Now that is a rare and special thing.

#4 - The creative energy is endless, and my journey as a scrapbooker, photographer, story teller and woman is stronger because of my friends at Skrap N Chat

#3 - Sleep is over rated and I can find people to talk to at all hours (special shout out to my late night buddies Shannon and Dawn as well as others...and yes Lisa & Suzanne, you chat at night too, but I already gave you kudos)

#2 - I love to banter and Lisa loves to banter back. She takes it as well as she gives it. You gotta love that about a yankee eh?

#1 - The friendships, the lifelong friendships, that I have developed from all of these women is simply priceless. While I have had the privilege of meeting few, I have the honour of knowing you all. Thanks for being part of my daily world.

Holy September Batman

When the school year starts, you know it's going to be busy. When your second child enters into the school system, you know it's going to be busier. When soccer season starts, you know the next level of busy hits your system. When your second child starts soccer, it's all new territory. When you throw in a new sport of football, you are reaching the top of the chart busy. When your second child asks to be in Sparks and you volunteer to be the leader - well let's just say, busy isn't a descriptive enough word.

So being behind in my blog is just one aspect of my life I am behind on. Laundry is backed up too. The dog needs grooming, that will have to wait. The fish tank needs replenishing, but that too will wait.

Am I actually ahead on anything? No. But I do have a few photos from the past couple weeks:

Braydon's first day of Grade two. Well, second really. Chris forgot to take the first day photo, but really, day one was for an hour and he was with his grade 1 teacher. So I guess this actually is the first day of grade two. He is loving it so far.

Oh how Miss Kaylee has been waiting and waiting for Kindergarten to happen. SO excited, even if it took five days of slow (slugs travel faster) intergration..... Happiest K kid ever. She even said today, week two in, that each day just gets better.

First day BOTH kids going to the SAME location. For the five years the two of them have both been around, they have had seperate care during the day. Finally, they both go to the same school, for the same amount of time, on the same days. Happy Happy me.

Somewhere in the middle of all the stuff about the kids, I got a me night out. It was my 20 year high school reunion (will do a separate post) and I had SO much fun. Because I get myself into stuff I have no intention of being in, I was on the organizing committee. Here are my team mates, Paula, Kim and Chris.

Soccer season is upon us. Year three for Braydon, but on a new team. Year one for Kaylee. He is on team Solar, she is a Wildcat. I love that both my kids love sports, and I hope that their love of activity continues for many many years to come.

Go team Heal (her first goal). Now to catch up on some sleep!!

Friday -the last day (warning....heavy photo day)

And so the last day is already here. Time went so fast, too fast. So nice to be away, truly away from all the busy world we live in most of the time.

While we offered to take the kids out to the park or something special, everyone wanted to stay at the beach. And today, we would build our best sandcastle ever. At the end of the day, the kids like to get to the highest point of the castle and wait for the water to win......she always does.

It's been nice to have one on one time we each family member as the week went along. Some Kaylee time for me. Some Braydon time for me. Some Chris time for me, and even some me time for me. I polished off a 600 page novel and enjoyed every moment of it. I even snuck out to the LSS for just a couple pieces of paper....just for me.

One thing I did not get was a great photo of Chris and I....this is why....

The kids were also into letting me take photos of them today, of course of which I jumped at the chance. I know there will be a time soon where I am denied photo ops, but until that day comes, I will continue to take excessive amounts of pictures.

It's truly been a great vacation. We all enjoyed it, and are all looking forward to coming back soon.