Harry Potter

Wyatt has become hooked on Harry lately. We've been reading the novels together at bed time and are on book 3 already. My thought was he'd read the book then we'd watch the movie- bit we couldn't wait. We are almost through all the movies and my kids carry smoothie straws around like wands chasing and cursing each other. Stella even has one and chases the big kids around too. 

In the phot wyatt is frozen on the couch after a particularly horrible curse about butterflies that isla cast.

Cookies

Islas prescho does a Christmas bake walk to raise money for something ;)

The preschool families donate 4 dozen cookies and then on the day of the sale you pay $10 for a plate and walk around filling the plate with a dozen items. I went a little overboard and ended up with close to 10 dozen. Yikes. Better start giving them away before I eat them.

A little mommy

This little miss is growing up so much. She loves to help me, is so sweet and thoughtful with her siblings. Loves to cuddle and give kisses. The other day she wanted to be a mommy- helped make dinner and refused to play with the baby- (I'm not sure what that says about my parenting style :). )

She got this little princess bridal costume from my mom after Halloween, then my mom bright over the veil. She is all ready to get married. The lucky boy- Cohen Pratt. 

Happy Birthday Stella

What to get the baby who has everything? Earrings :)

She doesn't realize they are there so doesn't touch them, only cried for a second, and they make me happy because she looks so cute and girly. It's almost like a present for me.

Winter fun

Wyatt told me he wanted to play outside with Stella- so I shoveled and wyatt pulled Stella around the cul de sac. Stella loves being outside, she got a snowsuit for her birthday so now there's nothing stopping her from playing with the big kids.

Fall break

The county puts on some great camps for school age kids during the fall break. Wyatt went with his cousin Jude to a science camp and then a nature explorers camp at the wilderness center. It's nice to get them out and keep them busy or it becomes a very long week for me ;)

Fall break. Telus world of science!

We have a pass to the telus world of science. I don't go enough. The kids love it, especially Stella this time because I let her wander around out of the stroller. She loved exploring, and the big kids have lots to entertain themselves too.

Genealogy

My aunt jeanntte ( my moms older sister) has done an amazing job with genealogy on the Blue side of my family, but nothing has ever been done for the Mabey side. Last time my aunt was in town she challenged me to get started. So we registered for ancestry.ca and I was amazed how easy it was- at least for the first few generations. I even connected with a cousin of my dad's in England who gave me a lot of her information that she's worked to collect. What was even better were the pictures she mailed to me of my dad and his siblings in the 60's. It's hard to explain the feelings I get looking at them, but it's all part of who I am and where I came from. It's very touching! I will treasure the pictres forever and my dad's sisters have asked for copies too. I can't wait to find more!

Banff Winter Start

Kaycee convinced me to sign up for the banff winter start race November 2. It was promised to be a great girls weekend away and a quick run as an excuse to get us there. Although we didn't get as many ladies as we thought we would, it was still nice to get away. Until the snowfall warning- I am a big chicken when it comes to winter driving, and I almost stayed home but Brett checked the weather conditions and figured we'd be fine. We got there just fine, but it was snowing pretty good and wet and windy so our fun afternoon shopping around banff was kind if a bust. 

The race went well, even after being rerouted for a grumpy bear. I felt strong on the icy hills, which wad good after struggling so badly on the hills in the spartan race.

The next days drive home was so scary. We took it nice and slow and made it home safe. Took an extra hour at least. 

My mom suggested i not go, my mother in law called asking me not to go- not worth the risk she said. But... Like a rebellious teenager I went anyways- while driving from red deer home doing 40km/hr I sure wished

I had listened ;) I saw at least 14 cars in the ditch, and the majority of them still had passengers in them. It was crazy!

Halloween

Wyatt had the Halloween decorations up in early September this year, then the following weekend we were out shopping for his scary costume. He needed to be something scary this year because I think he got teased a bit in kindergarten when I still had him in one of those soft costumes from old navy. So this year he was a zombie! Isla was Rapunzel at preschool and a dinosaur for trick or treating. Stella was the cutest lion I've ever seen. She just LOVED being outside with the big kids. 

We ended up with way too much candy- Brett and I ate the majority because my kids are picky candy eaters. Eventually I told Brett to just chuck it because I couldn't stop myself :)

Wyatt was taking about next years costume the very next day. I think this may be his favorite holiday!

Stella Blue

Someone's birthday is coming up! She is a wild child and wants so badly to keep up with the big kids. We sure do love her to bits!

30 day challenge

After having Stella I found it impossible to get to the gym. I used to love the drop in boot camp classes they offered at millennium place, but getting three kids into childcare, paying extra on top of the gym pass seemed like too much. So I started doing these daily workouts on

Www.dailyhiit.com

And fell in love with this intense way to workout at home. I also started getting stronger ( real push-ups) and was seeing great changes in my body. When Brett saw that I was sticking with it, he let me buy the equipment that I needed to make the workouts more intense. At the beginning of July I decided I needed to kick my butt in gear and make 31 my best year yet- definitely not getting younger. So I do a bodyrock/daily hiit workout in the morning ( only 12-20 minutes- and they are new everyday with super motivating fitness experts leading the workouts) and a cardio something in the evening. I feel great!

Starting October 7- the bodyrock.tv (sister site to dailyhiit) started a 30 day challenge and I've encouraged a few others to try with me. It's day 5, and although I feel like I'm going to die during the workout, I feel amazing after! It's also motivated me to try and eat better so all my hard work doesn't go to waste!

Here's to 31!!

Stella is walking!

Stella was crawling a full two months earlier than my other two babies. And now she is walking early too. Slow down little one!

She just wants to be big so badly. 

(I can't get my video on here :( )

Fall

Wyatt had 'homework' this weekend to bring 15 different sized leaves to school for Monday. So we went for a little walk around the Strathcona Science.The colors were beautiful and I love crunching in fallen leaves. A lovely afternoon with my loves.

Grade 1

My buddy is in grade 1- wow! I'm so proud of him. He is a little smarty pants, a great friend, so helpful and such a good listener. My dad asked me once if I just lucked out having such great kids- and I said I lucked out having Wyatt as my oldest baby. He sets an amazing example for his two younger sisters. Just wish he could stay little forever. He lost two teeth last month, bring on the overstuffed mouth!

Girl time

With Wyatt in school all day, and Brett at work monday- Friday now. We girls get to spend a lot of time together. They are great little side kicks!

My little grown up

I'm flattered that isla wants to be just like me. She wants to be big so badly- she learned how to whistle (if you can call it that) and so now she's a self proclaimed grown up- if only that was all it takes....

She wants to wear make up anytime she sees me putting it on and Sunday I was lucky enough to have her apply my make up.

Best friends!

I was talking with a dear friend who said that the term 'best friend' may not apply anymore when you get older. That your husband should be your best friend. Well I'm so lucky to have some very dear (best) friends- two of who are these lovely ladies. Elesa is in Calgary, kaycee in Red Deer and I'm in Sherwood Park- one Saturday we all met in Red Deer for dinner and a fun evening! Felt like the old days!

Harvest Season

I love enjoying the fruits of other's labors. Apple from the Camps made delicious pies, raspberries made jam, and tomatoes from my in laws made salsa! I enjoy canning! Still working on becoming a domestic goddess!

31!

I'm catching up for my dear friend Sheri, whom I actually talk to the most- but she loves me so much she requested even more knowledge about me and my little family. (She also knows I'll thank her for the push in the future)  Trouble is, where to start? 

I turned 31 on the 8th of September. I feel like I'm slip and sliding my way QUICKLY to 40- good thing I've decided this will be my BEST year EVER!

Stella enjoyed my cake! I wish it was socially acceptable for me to eat cake this way!

Spring walk!

Brett was home from work today and we took the opportunity to enjoy the puddles and sun by taking a walk to 7-eleven. The kids did great and were rewarded with a slurpee for the walk home.

Library!

We took the cousins to the library yesterday afternoon to fill some time. After we'd had our book fill we took the kids for a cookie at the cafe. Soon enough wyatt wanted a drink from the fountain and all the kids wanted to join him. So holding hands wyatt took 3 younger kids safely to the fountain and back ( on the other side of the library) I was so proud of him being so responsible! It then became a novelty and we did lose a couple kids at one point. We did find my genius nephew at the info desk spelling my moms name for the librarian. So funny!

4 months

Stella is now 4 months old. We celebrated with immunizations and a check up. She is 14 lbs 3 oz and is growing right on track. The doctor thought I was having to nurse her too frequently so we even got the go ahead to try rice cereal. She is growing so fast!

Art camp

I knew spring break would not be a good experience if Wyatt didn't have something planned that he could look forward to. I ran into a neighbor a week before spring break who told me about these little camps at the smeltzer house. I originally signed up for two days worth, but he had so much fun that he went to 4 days of it. Drawing, painting, fabric and sculpture. Best $100 I've spent. Saved my sanity during what could have been a very long week at home.

Parent teacher conference

Brett and I had the opportunity to go to Wyatt's classroom and spend an hour doing stations and then having a little interview with the teacher. Wyatt wowed us with the work he's been doing and all he's learning and then we were thrilled with all the great things his teacher had to say about him. We know he's a clever kid, but for some reason there is something so different about hearing it from a professional that sees lots of kids. We are very proud parents!

Soccer

Wyatt finished his indoor season last month. He played every Saturday and has really come to love the game. A HUGE improvement from his first season in little kickers. He's lucky to have his best buddy Cohen on his team. Makes watching more enjoyable for us too because we have friends to visit with as well.