The Candy Parade

The Anticipation

The Reward

You may or may not have noticed that the middle is missing. Actual pictures of the parade and candy scramble are missing. Sometimes I feel like I miss the event because I am too busy trying to photograph it. This year I opted to enjoy the happiness first hand, instead of through the lens of a camera.

I loved watching my kids get excited over the anticipation of the floats, horses and costumes. I loved seeing them clap and cheer and cajole people on the floats to throw candy their way, but most of all I loved watching Katrina take out little kids in her quest to acquire candy.

Take note that Russell can barely hold up his candy bag and his mom is standing closely by, guarding her prizes of sugary goodness.

I am in love

with this baby Even teething , she is the cutest baby I have ever had the pleasure of holding, cuddling, and rocking to sleep. I was too busy holding her or thinking of ways to get her back from her mama to spend time photographing her; as a result this is one of the few pics I have of her.

I think her mama should move in with me or let me have that baby. Either way I'd be happy.

I'm Losing It

This morning I wore my shirt inside out to the Farmers Market.

Gone in 60 Seconds

Have a great week-end!!!

Sharing Joy

I love the blog site

Kind Over Matter.

It's got beautiful photography.

Inspiring thoughts.

Beauty.

I love starting my day out gazing at pictures such as this one.

Picture by SaylaMarz

Court Reunion

Last week -end all the Courts gathered at Writing-On-Stone. It was beautiful, relaxing and joyful.

The cousin bonded.

The parents chit chatted.

The brothers exchanged funny stories about one another.

We had sing-a-longs, games and skits.

We ate gooey marshmallow, smores, caramel popcorn, cookies...

We built dams on the beach and filled 1000+ buckets of water.

In short we had a fantastic time.

Grandma's Jewelry Box

The other day my cousin and I were dipping into our grandma Strate's jewelry box. I remember as a kid being mesmorized by the glittery rings, necklaces, and broaches that were strictly off limits.

My sisters and I would sneak in to her room and have the most pleasurable time trying on all of grandma's jewels; feeling like princesses.

Apparently it's a feeling that doesn't go aways even after you reach the 30+ mark.

Feel free to call me Princess Angela from now on.

You don't want to mess with this woman

I've seen Jillian work the contestants on the Biggest Loser until they had sweat pouring off their body and that please somebody kill me now look in their eyes; but up until tonight I've never been on the receiving end of one of her work outs.

She kicked my butt.

I'm looking forward to the day when I will be able to get through a workout with Jillian. This woman is tough and I thought I was going to die.

If you ever feel the temptation to buy one of her DVD's keep on walking. Save yourself the agony.

the goodness of summer

Can't you taste this strawberry jam spread on a piece of freshly baked bread? Long after the strawberry plants are dusted with snow, we will still be savoring the sweetness of summer.
Start with a bowl full of plump juicy red berries.


Mash them down

Pour in a TON of sugar (which is why it tastes so yummy) and enjoy!

My parents have a garden. One that we hope to be able to share in the bounty of. Nolan and Jarom have each been assigned a vegetable to take care of. It's their job to keep it weeded and growing abundantly. They Love the weeding, well okay, not so much; but at least they are learning the time and effort it takes to grow a garden.

I came across these Topless Undershirts made by Blush the other day and thought they were pure genius - really who doesn't need a little bit of length under their t-shirt? I was trying to decide which one to order when I came across a tutorial on how to make it myself at Little Birdie Secrets.

In other news, the weather today is cold and windy so I think we will be hiding indoors. That is of course after I torture the kids by dragging them from shop to shop in an effort to get ready for our camping trip this week-end.

This morning we made Balloon Bean Bags (so easy and the boys have played with them nonstop) and this afternoon we are going to start phase one of Mini Pinatas.

It's true what they say... time does go by too fast.

My youngins are still in bed and the house is filled with quite serenity that will quickly fade as soon as their bodies are fully rejuvenated and ready for another day of action packed adventures.

One of my goals for this summer is to fully enjoy my kids, I've come to realize that they are growing fast, faster then I would like. I've noticed a real growth in maturity in Jarom over the last year that has sent my mothering into a realization that soon my boys will be older and not wanting the spend their afternoons going on escapades with me.

I want to soak in these moments we have together and etch them into our memories.

The primary scripture for this month is Mosiah 4:13

"And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably"

I thought it particularly fitting for our family as this is what went on for most of the morning.

My Parents Have Beach Front Property

Okay, not really; but if you're a kid I think it feels that way.

This grandpa and these two boys, as much as boys will help, shoveled 11 loads of sand into the backyard.

It is suppose to look like this all the time and will eventually become a beautiful patio, where we will all sip freshly squeezed lemonade and watch breathtaking sunsets.

But this is what it looks like. Filled with kids, weildings shovels, filling buckets, constructing sandcastles and pits to be filled with water.

My kids (and their friends) play in the sand, go for a dip in the pool, play in the sand some more and the ritual continues. I sit in the swing watching, once in a while leaving my life guarding perch to wrangle down a kids or two and toss them in the pool.

July 1st

We have a tradition as a family; as soon as we enter the road that leads us to our beloved Red Rock Canyon, I unroll my window and we all inhale . We breathe deeply as we soak in the smell of the forests; there is nothing like the smell of the woods to replenish your tired soul and bring joy to your spirit.

Tuesday night we did a quick hike up to Crandell Lake 2 km each way; Jarom hiked it like a pro.

Little pyros hard at work.

To celebrate Canada day we hiked up Mt. Galloway; a very steep climb; but worth every footstep as we were able to gaze down at the beautiful valley below us.

Noli showing me his love.



See how far up we climbed. Down below in the valley is our camp ground.

The hikers.

Cooling off in Red Rock Canyon

My favorite place on earth. It's beauty is overwhelming.

That's right - It's COLD glacial water.

Favorite Pictures of the Week-End

Saturday Spencer had to study for his 9th and final exam (YIPPEEEEEEEEE) on his journey to become an Architect. The kids and I left him to his studies and ventured out to our own bit of paradise - my parents.

Don't you wish you could savor a fresh burnt marshmallow right off the roasting stick? Kids know how to enjoy life.


I love that even though you can't see Nolan's face you can tell there is a look of pure joy in his expression.

Freedom

It's official - we're free!

Today was Nolan's last day of grade 4 (another post all in itself as I am not old enough to have a child one year away from Jr. High). Which mean - no more schedules, no more 4 trips a day to the school picking up kids, no more 20 minute crazy lunches - where I repeatedly yell at my kids to eat faster and stop fooling around. Oh the bliss of it all. I am so giddy I can barely stand it.

Instead we will be

Going camping with Spencer’s family at Writing –on-Stone
Visiting my best friend Anne
Hunting lions at the Calgary Zoo
Visiting Rachel and Paul and attending the Telus Center
Riding the rides at Callaway Park
Hunting Dinosaur Fossil at Tyrrell Museum
Floating in the lake
Laying on the shore while the boys fish
Having sore fingers from blowing up water balloons
Watching a movie projected on a sheet in the backyard
Learning to play tennis
Seeing 10 new species of birds
Scaling the cliffs at the climbing wall
Attending a baseball game
Hiking in the mountains
Performing random acts of kindness
Relaxing at White fish with my family
Water sliding
Canoeing
Swimming in the pool
Learning to throw a freebie
Making homemade ice-cream
Going on picnics
Water fighting
Going berry picking and making jam
Playing mini golf
Gazing into campfires and roasting marshmallows
Ripping up the court at basketball camp
Sipping freshly squeezed lemonade

Another Milestone

Do you sometimes get the feeling that my kids are merely humoring me by letting me take their picture?

Jarom's year of Kindergarten wrapped up yesterday. He is a grad and a oh so handsome one at that!

It was an emotional day for his mama as it seems like kindergarten is the last year I get to cuddle him before he starts his big move to independence.

My Favorite Memory

Ever since our kids were big enough to sit up in the tub, Spencer has supervised while he played his guitar and sang silly songs to the kids. I loved cleaning up the supper dishes and hearing him make up a song about them and then hearing the giggles of boys that always followed. It's one of those memories I know I will remember forever and it brings me pure joy whenever I think about it.

A Father's Day

Cute Boys

Great Dads

How delicious (literally - my mom is a great cook) it was to spend Father's Day with my Dad.

When I take away

this

and this,

and this.

This



and this


are the result.

On a related note, I've cleverly hidden the DS from the kids and am now unable to locate it. If anyone has possible suggestion of places I may have hidden it, it would be greatly appreciated. The person to guess the winning location will receive a Water Bottle Thingamajig.