Embracing Change

I bet you've missed me!  After 2 weeks of new posts every single day, I figure you must be going through withdrawl.

We've had a busy week back.  We've had many changes in our childcare situation and more to come.  Our nanny of 8 years went on maternity leave while we were away on vacation and we needed to shuffle around our childcare while she is away. Luckily James has a pretty flexible job that can help bridge the gap until our university student nanny starts at the end of April.  This would have been all good EXCEPT Grady didn't have school this past week and needed childcare.

While we love our alternative school program, the alternative school schedule can cause a problem if you need childcare.  There are no camps for weeks were your school is the only one out!  In comes Grandma.  

Grady was so lucky to spend 5 days just him and Grandma.  And I know he wasn't the only one that enjoyed it....  They would drop Cooper off at school and head out for the day.  Some days that meant watching the same movie you've already seen more than once, and some days it meant a trip to the science center or Big Fun Play.

Along with a change in childcare we are going through a change in chores.  The work once done by our nanny is now reallocated around to the rest us.  Mostly me.  The week was full of new after work routines and chasing after the kids to pick up their jackets and put away their laundry.

While the change had been long anticipated, the arrival of it has proven to be an adjustment for all of us.

James is going into work late and making lunches and I am trying to keep the household up and running.

I'm really excited for the kids to have a university student watching them this summer.  I am hopeful it will be full of bike rides, slurpees, soccer, baseball in the field and much much more.  

While I am not one to invite change into our lives, I am choosing to embrace it, mostly because I have no choice!

Weekend Wrap Up

What was supposed to be relaxing weekend turned out to be anything but!

With James away for 'work', normally the kids and I would stay pretty close to home and keep the schedule relatively clear.  Then my Mom told us that she was going to come and visit while James was away to keep us company and help out where she could.  From there, the agenda filled up pretty darn fast!

We kicked off the 4 day weekend with parent teacher interviews for Cooper.  Can I just take a second to brag on my youngest son?  Cooper is a November baby and we had the tough decision of deciding whether to push him through school starting at 4 or 5.  It was a tough decision and one we didn't take lightly.  In the end, we decided to have him do an extra year of preschool and start kindergarten 2 months before his 6th birthday.  That last year of preschool was tough but in the end I couldn't be more happy with our decision.

Cooper is now in Grade 1 and and doing SO well at school.  He is a leader in his classroom and relied upon by his teacher for extra duties.  His teacher had nothing but good things to say about him and I am so so proud of how well he is doing despite being silly with his bestie on a regular basis outside the classroom... and let's be honest, probably in the classroom to.

While Saturday was spent getting up at 6:30am for 3 on 3 hockey, the rest of the day was pretty low key except for a major meltdown that resulted in cancelling all the play dates and staying home all day....  Needless to say, I was more than happy to depart for Ellen for a kidless evening with my Mom.

I've have many people ask my my thoughts on the show and I really enjoyed it.  She was witty, told great stories, and most importantly, she danced!  My only complaint was that it was too short.  The show started at 6pm starting with a few songs from The Tenors then 2 different people introduced Ellen and then she finally came on stage dancing.  I was secretly hoping that she was going to dance through the crowd.  But she didn't.  In the blink of an eye, the lights were back on and the show as over.  It was 7:45.  It took me as long to get out of the parking lot as it did to watch her.  For reals.  But what I did see of her I enjoyed and I loved experiencing this with my Mom.

One thing I did take away was that her big break through was on the Johnny Carson show in  Nov 1986 and it was about a conversation with God about fleas.  If you haven't seen it before, here is the clip.  I didn't think it was that funny but maybe it was in the 80s?   She talked about how she wrote if after her then girlfriend had died and how it was unfair that she was gone but yet the world still had fleas.  You can read a recent article about it here.

Sunday morning I ran the eye ball the wall and had recorded a personal best time, but it wasn't without pain unfortunately.  I decided to save this for a post on it's own....

After the run and a lot of rolling of my leg we headed to McMahon Stadium for Coopers first soccer of the season.  It was our first nice spring weekend and it was nice to spend it watching a soccer game.  The sun was out and the shades were on.

You'd think after a 15k run and a  soccer game would call it a day, but no, not us....  Straight from the soccer game we headed to inja nation.  It was the one thing we promised my Mom we would do this weekend and we saved the best for almost last.

My Mom is a cross fitter so she is one strong 60 something year old.  She tried the warped wall, did the obstacle course and raced Grady up the climbing structures.  For the record, Grady won, but he was impressed.  She is a one fit Grandma and I love that my kids see that age (and gender) are no reason to let you stop what you want to do.

Monday night Mom and I finished our time together by doing a spin class.  It was tough and if you look close you can see that my shirt is almost completely covered in sweat!

So there you have it, from a quiet weekend to one full of activity and fun.  You know what our weekend was missing?  Sleep.  We stayed up too late every night and then I slept in Tuesday morning for work.  I'd say that's the sign of a pretty good weekend!

A Weekend with my Mom

A few years back my mom and I started a tradition of doing a run together.  It started out with her being my motivation to do an organized run and now it is me that motivates her to continue running.  She has always been my fitness motivation from the time she dragged my brother and I to the aerobics classes to she taught.  She continues to amaze me by joining her local crossfit cult gym where she lifts more than I could ever dream to.

This year we decided to do the Melissa's Road Race in Banff. While it was our first time, it is rumored to be the last one ever so I'm glad we squeezed this run in.  Last year we opted to bring the whole family with us for our one night getaway but this year we decided to keep it just her and I.

We had many laughs.  Starting with my mom wearing her shirt backwards most of the morning from the time she tried on a few things at Lulu.  I didn't even notice until we sat down for lunch and the waitress commented that we had ran in the race.  I took one look at her and noticed immediately that her shirt was backwards.

We didn't only laugh at her, I had a few moments myself.  I may have forgotten which locker was mine and/or my locker code.  I had to get the front desk to open 3 lockers before I found mine.  Not to mention that I forgot my phone in the pocket of the robe that I put in the bin in the change room.  No need to worry, the phone was quickly retrieved after the bin was emptied but before it was sent down for washing.  #closecall

Often when my mom and I spend time together we not only laugh at each other but we also get annoyed.  She was annoyed when I wouldn't go to the hot tub after dinner because I was tired and I was annoyed when she wouldn't go in the morning when I wanted to.  She put up with me checking my phone constantly waiting for the kids teams on Sunday and I put up with her using her flashlight to read the menu at the restaurant.

I am so thankful for this time with my mom.  I don't have my own daughter so these are the only mother daughter trips I will ever have.  I love that we have fitness in common.  She taught me how important exercise is in my life by leading by example.  Good thing she taught me that because she certainly didn't teach me to shop.  I am teaching her a thing or two.

I hope I am just as fit and active as she is when I over 60.  And as long as she is willing to run with me I will keep this tradition of our annual trip going strong.

A Weekend in Review

To say this past weekend was busy would be an understatement.

We excitedly welcomed my brother, also named James, his wife, 4 kids, and my mom on Thursday evening ready for a weekend of fun.  After an hour of play we had to head to the rink for Grady's hockey evaluation (which are thankfully over!) and a parent teacher interview for Grady right after.  You see, James was leaving for the weekend on Friday morning and wanted to get one interview in before he left.   The night was so busy I didn't take a single photo, not one.

Friday morning started with Cooper's interview where we finally got a chance to meet his teacher.  We walked in to find our neighbors had the appointment before us, the time I tried to get.  So happy that our kids have each other and Cooper and M are in the same class for Kinder just like Grady and A were.

After the interview we loaded all 10 of us into 2 vans and headed to the zoo.  My kids are odd and don't generally like the zoo but today seemed to be an exception.  Out of all the alive animals they could enjoy, they like the dinosaur exhibit the best.  I must admit it is cool as the dinos move and roar.  The first time we saw them Grady refused to go near them, this weekend it was Kippy that was somewhat terrified.

You can see him sitting in that pink wagon (he has three older sisters...) but not for long. As soon as that dino started to roar he wanted out of it and wanted to be safely nested in his mommy's arm.  I don't blame him, they look very real.

We tried to get a cousin pic but it proved to be easier said then done.  Some of us started in our winter jackets (Grady) but as the day went on the wagon quickly filled up with jackets.  In this one the sun had just started to peak out and ruined my picture.

This one is much better, but Madi is missing.  The colors at the zoo were phenomenal.  Such a beautiful fall day.

I really enjoyed the tigers and the baby gorilla.  The picture honestly doesn't do the size of it justice.  It was so tiny and was quite alien like.

Cooper insisted on riding in the wagon.  Believe it or not we've never had one.  Probably because both of my kids rode in a stroller until they were 5. For real.

From the zoo we headed to the mall and Grandma distributed each of the kids some spending money.   It took the girls all of 10 minutes to spend it all  in one store whereas my kids wondered toys r us for ages before finally deciding on an Imaginext toy and pokemon cards.

Between the zoo and the mall I racked up over 20,000 steps that day.   Good thing because I also drank beer and ate many brownies!

Saturday was a blur.  Grady had his last eval skate and this guy had his first skate with his new team.

He was all smiles to get on the ice and be reunited with his hockey buddies from last year as we had 3 repeats.  The best news is that someone volunteered to be manager of the team before I was coerced.  Yay for not being in charge!

After 3 hours at 2 different rinks we headed to Calaway park to meet up with the cousins.  We barely got in the gates and Grady spots the face painting place and insists we wait in line.  I was impressed with how quickly the guy worked and I came out with one cute fox and one scary skeleton.

We've never been to Calaway in the fall and Cooper was loving all the Halloween decor.  He stopped at every skeleton to look at them and insisted on getting his photo taken.

We finally met up with James and crew and he is on the phone with Visa because he lost his credit card.  Again.  We separated so they could go on the log ride and we could go on the pirate ship.  After waiting for 40 minutes for one ride and the kids were acting horrendous I texted him and told him we were leaving.  In the end, we should have just stayed home since we saw them for all of 3 minutes.  Oh well, can't say we didn't try.

After Calaway we had an early birthday celebration for my Mom who turned 61.  I forgot to take a picture of the cake that was half pink and half blue to make all the grand kids happy.  Kippy is kind of sitting where the cake would sit if it didn't have fire on it that could easily be reached by said 2 year old.....

And just like that the weekend was done.

I love how the kids finally remember each other and look forward to the visits.  The boys were excellent hosts.  Cooper set up a slide down the stairs using our sleeping mats and would hold it for his younger cousins to ride down.  He was drenched in sweat by the time the evening was over.

Grady hosted a party in his room complete with snacks, juice boxes, and beer for the adults.  My boys aren't used to be around younger kids, especially not girls so I was super proud of how polite they were. For the most part.

These weekends mean so much to me.  Seeing the cousins get along and seeing my brother with my kids is just so special.  As they get older they interact more and more. For instance, brother James played video games with the boys, even if they didn't tell him how to do the super moves and didn't always share.

I really look forward to these weekends and am so thankful that he and Chantelle are willing to make the 6 hour trip with 4 kids.  Even if they do have to recruit Grandma as the nanny.

I hope you guys had as much fun as we did.  Until next year....

My first 10km

This weekend my mom came to town for our annual run.  We decided this was our 4th annual but this year was extra special because it was our first 10 km race.  A few years back we tried a 10 km on our own and we ran in my area full of hills and my knee just didn't cooperate so our run turned into lots of walking.  I was so disappointed in myself.  This year, we owned that race.

When I say we owned the race, I certainly don't mean we were the fastest runners by any means.  But, we finished, and we finished together!

You see, while I am the queen of cardio, my mom is the one with muscles.  I run for my exercise and she lifts.  Very different skill set.  She can lift double what I can and probably doesn't complain nearly as much as I do.  So committing to a 10k was a huge deal.

I was so proud of my 60 year old Mom.  We ran 10 and walked 1 minute through the whole race. There were hills, big hills, and training in SK gives you zero hill training.  Then to top it off when we decided to listen to music, her ipod wouldn't work. I didn't dare tell her I was listening to my tunes the whole second loop!

My mom has always been my fitness inspiration, from her teaching aerobics when I was young, to encouraging me when I decided to get fit myself.  Not to mention that she joined cross fit in her 50s, will go so spin and barre classes with me, and is taking a rowing class this summer.  I hope that I am as active as her when I am her age.  She proves over and over that age is just a number.

As long as she is willing to run with me, I will be right be side her.  While she has always been my biggest cheerleader, I hope she thinks that I am her biggest cheerleader as well.

Some of our other cheerleaders include James and the 2 kids.  The parking lot was so crazy busy that James decided to just drop us of and come back for us when we were done.  In the end he found a spot and the kids cheered for us as we left and as we crossed the finish line.  We were so happy to see them.

I loved the run so much that I am already looking for another run to do this summer and Grady has committed to running one with me.  I'll run the 10km and he'll run the 1k.  I love that he is showing interest in running, even if it is a short one.

When we weren't training we managed to cram some fun into our 24 hour get away.  We did a lot of walking around the town and found a few gems, like this Canmore Rock I'd never seen before.

We had breakfast at A&W because that is where Grady wanted to eat.  Not exactly my idea of a good pre-run race, but whatevs, it was food.

We made a reso at one of our favorite restaurants, Crazy Weed.  My mom is hard to please food wise and she gave this 2 thumbs up.  Technically, I didn't ask her but assume that she didn't complain that she enjoyed it!

We made 2 visits to the hotel pool.  It took Grady over 30 minutes to get the courage to go down the slide.  When he finally did, we couldn't get him off.  Cooper said the pool was his favorite part of the weekend while Grady said it was the playground.

Grandma got lots of special time with her grandsons.  With the electronics tucked away while we explored the city there was lots of time for Grady to quiz Grandma on fires and scorpion and get her opinions on whether either of them lead to someone dying.  Poor Grandma...

Its not very often I get a pic with my hot hubby. I was so happy that we decided to make it a family outing and that he was there to cheer us on.  He doesn't say it in words but I love how he supports my fitness endeavors and doesn't complain (much) when I spend money on a trainer and cute gym clothes.  Ha!

The playground has a great exercise area surrounding it for the parents (and kids) to keep active.  It really is one of the best playgrounds that we've been to and we made 2 trips to play there in our short visit.

Overall, it was great weekend.  I feel very proud of both mom and I for choosing to challenge ourselves this year and for stepping out side our comfort zone.    It was so worth it. Not to start thinking about which run we want to do next year....

Happy 60th Birthday Mom!

This past weekend we made a surprise trip to Saskatoon to celebrate my Mom's 60th birthday.  It was a fun filled weekend full of family, fun, and a little chaos.  How could it not be with 12 people and a dog staying in the same house.  I will give you the detail soon soon but here is a group shot of her birthday supper courtesy of my selfie stick.  Also, how did we take group shots without selfie sticks? 

Inspired

This week was both easy and hard for me.  Easy because I knew exactly what I wanted to write about and hard because we are having the busyest week after vacation that I had to find time to sit down and write it.

My biggest source of inspiration comes from my mom.  Always has, and probably always will.  

My mom inspires me to be healthy.

 I've talked about this before but if it wasn't for my mom and her support, I never would have found it in me to get fit and lose weight in my last year of high school.  My mom wasn't pushy, she didn't even suggest that I needed to lose weight.  She showed me how to be fit.  For as long as I can remember she has always been active.  From teaching aerobics when was younger to doing crossfit now - always moving.  

If I asked her to go for a walk, she never refused.  When I finally made the decision for myself to be fit, she bought all the supplies I needed to start, no questions asked.

Even now, I turn to her for advice on health and diet.  Most recently she introduced me to my shake which I now have every morning for breakfast.  She has inspired me to watch my sugar levels and eat more protein.  I love that we have this shared love for health and exercise, I obviously get it from her.

My mom inspires me to be a better parent.

I grew up in a single parent household and I am amazed by all she was able to do with us, especially now that I am a parent myself.  When I was young, I remember countless trips to the pool, the rink, the lake, sleepovers, play dates, bike rides and the list goes on.  As my kids get older and are starting up in these same activities I'm in awe of how my Mom did it all.

There are so many times I get frustrated with the kids and James and I tag team while the other parent cools down.  She didn't have that.  James and I often divide and conquer to get the kids to their activities while she did it all.  She was super mom as far as I am concerned.  Did I realize that at the time? Of course not, what kid appreciates what their parents do for them? Ha!  As I look back I appreciate it more than she will ever know.

Tonight I will have a glass of wine and toast my Mom and all that she inspires me to be (as if I wouldn't have had a glass of wine anyway!)

Shoes to Shiraz | Two Teens and Their Mama | The Blondissima 

R Squared  | Confessions of a Frumpy Mommy 

  Daily Style Finds | Quilty Joy Joy

Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After | Foxy's Domestic Side
Puppies & Pretties | Making the Most of Everyday
Mishaps & Mayhem of Solitary Life | A Lovely Little Wardrobe

An InLinkz Link-up

Run for Woman

My Mom was here this weekend specifically for us to run in the Shoppers Run for Woman.  This was Grady's first year participating in the Kids 1Km and I couldn't be prouder.  It is pretty clear how Grady felt about it.

It all started last year when Mom and I ran and James and the kids came to send us off at the the starting line.  Grady was so pumped for us and immediately said that was something he wanted to do.  So this year when we registered I didn't hesitate and registering Grady as well.

Since Mom and I were both running the 5km right after the kids, we decided that James would run with G.  You can see James in the photo as the only guy wearing a hat.  Grady is wearing the white shirt in front of him.  

You can't really tell in the photo, but Grady is holding James hand and pulling him along.  You see on the way there he declared he was going to win the race.  Slow down cowboy, it is not a race, it is a run, a fun run where we are just happy to finish....

Despite not finishing first he was thrilled to get his very first running medal.

He didn't win but he was quick to ask who did!!  I couldn't be prouder of him.  Fitness is such an important part of my life and I would really like to pass that passion down to the boys.  After the race to told us that he would like to do another race but next time a longer one.  You got it!

Next up, Mom and I prepped for our run.  All smiles as we took off across the starting line.

Can I just add that I am not only proud of my almost 7 year old son for running the race, but also of my almost 60 year old mom who never ceases to amaze me.  While she is way stronger than I'll ever be, running isn't her favorite.  But you would never know it, she rocked it out there.  She convinced me to enter my first run ever a few years ago, and now we motivate each other to stick with it. 

Truly a great sunny morning with the family supporting a great cause.  Until next year....

My Fitness Inspiration

My Mom is my inspirtation to be fit and healthy,

As long as I can remember, my mom has always been active.  When we were little she taught aerobics at the gym.  She would practice her routines in the hallway while James and I were going to bed.  We even got to watch her classes from the back of the room if we were lucky, or unlucky.

She played racquet ball, windsurfed, played on a softball team, biked, ran and mostly recently took up cross fit.  My almost 60 year old mother is a regular at the Crossfit gym where I grew up.  I am so proud of her.

The year I turned 17 I decided I wanted to lose weight.  My mom supported me by buying me anything I needed fitness related.  I got a new step for aerobics, and eventually we bought a second one so we could do the tapes together.  She bought me runners, workout wear, and even made me one sports bra.  My husband made me throw it out not to long ago.  Ha!

My mom was always my biggest supporter.  She didn't just watch from the sidelines, she participated.  We did aerobics together, went for long walks, and ate fruit for dessert countless times. She was my cheerleader.

Now it is my turn to be her cheerleader.  My mom has been doing cross fit for the past couple years and through it has gotten to be the most fit person I know.  She is strong.  She can lift more weight than I dream of lifting and will be the first to point out if your form is bad.  She always tries to teach James something new about exercising and is more than willing to tell you all about her food challenges.  It isn't just a gym, it is a lifestyle. 

While my brother will argue that it is a cult (lol), I have seen so many positive changes in my Mom, not only in the way she looks but also in the way she feels.  She is strong and confident.    The picture below was taken by me in Hawaii.  She did a handstand competition and wanted to take a photo doing a handstand against a palm tree.  My mom looks better in a bikini than I do!

Through this crossfit journey she has encouraged me and my family to make small changes that can make a big difference.  

My Mom was named crossfit member of the month in May 2014 and just recently voted member of the year via social.  Through the help of many of you via facebook she managed to get the most votes.  Thank you for helping my mom earn the title that I know she deserves.

Congratulations Mom on a job well done!

Paulette is very dedicated and is a great asset to everyone at Saskpro. She loves to think, process and share with others! Amazing!! Keep up the great work Paulette!

Here is what Paulette had to say about her time at Saskpro:

When did you first start CrossFitting? Feb, 2012

Favourite WOD/Movement: Let’s just say 2 most memorable moments so far that put a “ I feel like a kid again” smile on my face were: first time I tried a 20” box jump instead of a 12” and doing a handstand. Who knew that would be possible for me. I’d love to bottle that feeling.

Least Favourite WOD/Movement: That’s easy, Turkish getups and/or burpees. Why oh why is it so hard to pick yourself up off the floor.

Tell us about your sports & fitness background: My claim to fame was back in 1984 when I approached the City of PA and started a noon hour aerobics class at the Rec Centre (now Margo Fournier Centre). I actually taught aerobics for about 4-5 years back in the day.

How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel? I googled CrossFit and on a whim dropped in and decided to go for it. First workout in my log book: SWOD Snatch & Power Cleans 5 sets of 3 used 11# Bar. WOD 2min on/1min off for 20 skips, 7 box jumps(12”box), KB swings 10#. Did 10 2/3 rounds

OMG hadn’t looked at that in awhile. What was memorable was coming home and saying “ DO YOU KNOW WHAT I JUST DID!” 77 jumps onto a 12” box! Told everyone I could.

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF? Lost weight, lost body fat, lost inches – gained strength and lots of knowledge!

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? The unexpected thing is CrossFit is not just about “exercise” It becomes a lifestyle.. We do goal setting, nutrition seminars, awareness of giving back to the community, charity fund raising, celebrating successes. I’ve learned “Life is about balance”. It’s about making the best choices for ourselves given the choices in front of us.

Any advice for people just getting started? Yes. Welcome and I hope you enjoy your time here. Focus on technique, strength will come. Remember we were all beginners at one time.

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I like to dance but mostly do so in the privacy of my own home, like to sing but can never remember all the words so I hum a lot.. I’m happy to say I have motivated my kids to step outside the box and be willing to try something new and my grandkids to realize you are never too old to hop skip and jump!

Canada Day Weekend

I'm behind. I know, I know. I desperately trying to catch up and I hope to be up to date by the end of the week. In the meantime, let's travel back to what we did over the long weekend. Technically it wasn't a long weekend since the holiday this year was on a Tuesday, however we took the Friday and Monday off to enjoy an extra long weekend to go and visit my family.

The purpose of the trip was to celebrate the life of my uncle Rob, my Dad's brother, that passed away in the fall after a long battle with MS.  The service was nice and I got to see 3 of my cousins I haven't seen since I was a kid.  It was uber hot that day so after the service we went to Dad and Sheila's for burgers, drinks and a swim.

The rest of the weekend was full of fun.  I'll let the pictures do a lot of the talking.

There was hockey.  Of course.

We attempted a geocashe that is about a block from my mom's house.  It was our first fail.  We just couldn't find it.  James read after that someone tried to find it a month ago and couldn't find it either.  James and Madi gave up super fast while James, Grady and I stuck it out.  We are all disappointed to be unsuccessful.

We swam.  The kids love swimming at Grandpa Lorne's.  I loved it as a kid to.  My Dad keeps the pool super warm which makes it much more enjoyable for the adults.  Grady is getting so good in the water and Cooper has come along way to.

We hotubbed.  This visit the kids could go in on their own and we just stood on the outside.  They like to go in a lot so it is a welcome change to have to go in with them.

We blew lots and lots of bubbles and played in the back yard.  Taiya and the boys played great together and James even texted the next day to say that Tai was asking about her cousins.  Love to watch their little relationship blossom.

Kiptyn and Grandma watched from the safety of the shade.  Look at those squeezable little cheeks!

We visited some parks. This particular day was beyond hot and we forgot sunscreen and water.  We just weren't accustomed to the hot weather yet!

We ran through the sprinklers at GGs and played in her motor home.  GG has a fantastic yard with lots of flowers and a great little deck to visit on.

The kids rode home from GGs in their underwear since they were soaking wet!

We ran through the sprinkler.

We had lots of laughs. I think Cooper was spraying Grady with water in this photo and loving every moment of it.

The kids played in the paddling pool.  Often running between the ice cold pool to the extra hot hot tub.

Then it started to rain and we decided to go and spend the day at the lake anyway.  The lake was infested with caterpillars.  They were on all the trees. They were starting to make cocoons.  Grady was all over it since they learned all about the process in school.  My mom refused to walk under the trees as she was scared one would fall on her.

Since it rained all day at the trailer we got creative and played Charades.  It was a hit with all of us!  We would tell the kids what it said and they would act it out for the others.  Except Cooper would just act out whatever he wanted.

We also played some cards.

A picture to prove that I was there to!

We went out to Joel's place which is like a kids wonderland with a full rink in his backyard and a trampoline!  It was super windy out this day so we couldnt' stay as long as we would have liked.

The hitmen fans.  Blaire left her jersey for me to wear this season at the hitmen games.  Joel used to play for the hitmen so she has her very own jersey!

The kids are finally starting to pose together and I couldn't be happier.  Love these boys!

We also set off fireworks. Something you don't see in Alberta often. 

We set off one set at the lake and one set in the city across the street from my moms.  The kids had never watched fireworks so they were super pumped.  Notice it is daylight.  The kids don't stay up late enough to do them at night but they enjoyed them just the same!

Finally, we set off on our journey home on Tuesday morning with a planned stop at Deena's place just outside of Saskatoon. Well, James and I got lost and ended up 45 minutes off track so instead, we met for lunch at A&W with 6 kids in tow!  We snapped a quick selfie in the parking lot.

We crammed a lot into our super fun extra long weekend.  The lakes in SK are beautiful and worth a stop if you are ever in the area.  I have such fond lake memories growing up and hope to pass a few along to my big city kids!