Friday 29 May 2015

Zoo Field Trip

Em and I went with Gracie's Kindergarten group to the zoo in April. What a blast! There were 70 kids and about 20 chaperones and we had fun.

Lucy's still kickin' around.

The kids raised from animal to animal and tried to see the animal before the rest of their group.



Gracie was really close to the lynx cage, looking in, when the lynx pounced towards her and hissed really loudly, it's back all arched up like a cartoon cat. It knocked her over backwards it scared her so much!


Who doesn't love the zoo?

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Terrific Twos

Emma has come cannonballing into the Terrible Twos recently, but I've got to admit, I never found two all that terrible. 

It's actually a great time because you start to really communicate and see their personality.

I do understand that there are reasons that people have called it terrible...


Two year olds seem to get into everything. What you can't see here is she's a good three feet from the ground. I stood back for a bit to see just how high she could go. I pulled her down before she was ready to quit.


But they quickly rebound and show you how adorable they can be. All soft and loving in tutus and tiaras.


They run. And run. And run. 
Everything is a new adventure, so you need to get between experiences fast. Make haste, mommy! Let's go.


And because they must move at high speed and their coordination is still shaky and their legs are still learning to balance their giant heads, they will take tumbles. 
Who else but a two year old could gash their inner ear on a tumble, but hurt no other part of their body? 


And then there's more down time, when they're quietly reading a book. 
Always trying to be big like her sister. Always.


But big sisters will do this to your hair because you trust them. 
Two year olds may trust the wrong people...


But don't call them pushovers! 
No sirree. They're loud, rambunctious and a little crazy. Be wary.


And then they're a fish.





Sunday 24 May 2015

Mother's Day

It's old news, but our Mother's Day was great!

I got spoiled with gifts, and hugs and breakfast out.



Gracie brought these beautiful flowers home from school for me!


We had a fantastic Greek supper with friends and played in the sunshine.


These two were cute!





We made ice cream pie...


What could be better?!

Friday 22 May 2015

Marrakesh Layout

Here is a two page layout from Marrakesh. 

I used a lot of little elements on this one, my go to kraft cardstock, frames, tape, stickers, brads, flowers, patterned paper, doodling pens, die-cuts, alphas, and 8 pictures.


You can see them a little bigger below. 



Hopefully you're enjoying the little things in life today. 

Wednesday 20 May 2015

Vancouver Roadie!

What a trip! We made it to Vancouver and back with a potty-training two year old, a rambunctious 5 year old, and two squirmy parents.


Everyone got comfy in the car.


We saw mountain goats, elk, bears, deer, horses, cows, sheep, ponies, trains, a pirate ship and a submarine..... Those last two are questionable but the girls swore they saw them. 


We had so much fun a the Aquarium in Vancouver with Brad's cousin Rob as our guide. He used to work there so was full of info.




Beluga whales, pregnant sea horses (did you know that the male sea horse carries the eggs in its arms sort of like a kangaroo's pouch, protecting them until they're born?), seals, dolphins, an octopus (did you know that two or more octopus are referred to as an octopod?), otters and tons of other creatures were on display. 

I learned lots at the aquarium!

Emma made a real friend with Rob. Who knew he was such a kid magnet?


We played at lots of parks. There are some great green spaces out there and we made sure to check out all of the playgrounds in them.


We checked out the horse races. Taught the girls how to bet and how to pick a winner. 

Haha! Or maybe we taught them that you can see these magnificent animals run for free and that we have no idea what makes a winner.


We met up with my cousin and her hubby and new baby. 



We toured Granville Island.


We met up with so many Malackos!


We played with second cousins we'd never met before.



And we ate lots of bad for you road food. 
Mmmm... donuts!

Wednesday 13 May 2015

Happy!

I love this paper from My Mind's Eye! 

Thanks Treasured Memories for the fun challenge kit at the last crop, where I made this layout. 


It makes me happy!

Monday 11 May 2015

May Happenings


Busy, busy, always busy.

Here are a few pictures of what we've been doing.

Biking.

Taking a break from biking.


Climbing.


Painting.


Making new friends.


Does this give anyone else a heart attack?? I'm looking at you mom. 


He's a big pushover and loves kids, just not bad guys...

Hope you're enjoying the sunshine (and snow?? What the heck happened Wednesday up here?)

Sunday 10 May 2015

Happy Mother's Day!

To my mom, my hubby's mom, their moms, my friends and their moms, my kid's friend's moms, my playdate moms, my crafty moms, my teacher moms, my sister-moms, everyone's moms... 

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope you got spoiled with love and hugs and macaroni crafts and homemade cards and gifts you'll use and some you won't and food and drink and sunshine.

Moms are the best!

Here's my favourite poem about how good we have it mommas! Doesn't it just make you want to squeeze them??

I am your parent you are my child
I am your quiet place, you are my wild
I am your calm face, you are my giggle
I am your wait, you are my wiggle
I am your audience, you are my clown
I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down
I am your Carrot Sticks, you are my licorice
I am your dandelion, you are my first wish
I am your water wings, you are my deep
I am your open arms, you are my running leap
I am your way home, you are my new path
I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath
I am your dinner you are my chocolate cake
I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake
I am your finish line, you are my race
I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace
I am your favourite book, you are my new lines
I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine
I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo
I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you
 Author: Maryann K Cusimano

Sunday 3 May 2015

And now for the brights!

From pale and muted to bright and busy, I don't seem to have a style anymore. 
More of an anything goes free-for-all over here. 
Creativity. Huh. 


Also, have you noticed I love triangles in the corners? 
Whoops. Over-used that trend. 
Haha!

I know I've talked about Dallas Clayton before, but he is kind of neat to check out now and then. He seems to provide me with little pockets of happiness whenever I look at his blog.

Friday 1 May 2015

My Heart is Full

I still love the pale on pale trend. 

Muted colours layered together looks so calming and classy to me. 


This one looks better in person, I think, when you can see more dimension, but I still like how it turned out.

A rare picture of Brad and I, no girls in the photo, or on the layout. 

Whoa!