Playdough

Kelby, Ace & Scarlett having FUN with Play-Doh

I'm a big fan of toys that inspire kids creativity & imagination...and since we are in a carpet-less house, I'm fine with the kids having fun even though it might leave a mess.

Beginning the House Siding

It's nice to see a bit of color on the house.  We choose to put James Hardie cement board siding on the exterior in Mountain Sage color, the trim is in Navajo Beige color.

Here are Justin (our new employee) & Cory putting up the siding

We like the look & are glad we decided to go with it

Here I am cutting soffit, we complete each wall, top to bottom, before we move onto the next.

Fall Cleanup with Nana

Nana took the kids to her garden to help do some fall cleanup

Ace in gloves helped clean up the weeds Scarlett helped pick up potatoes
Nana & the kiddos

After their time outside, Nana brought the kids in to make leaf pictures...they sure had fun!

Snakes, snakes & more snakes

When we first moved into the the Little Winter Cottage, we found many snakes outside around the house.  Ace was very interested in checking them out and even kept this baby one as a pet.

Fall Photo Shoot

What a way to start off October, but with a great photo shoot with the kids. They were both in great moods (I really lucked out) and totally worked with me as I captured some great shots of them on this fine fall day!

I was so impressed with Ace & Scarlett for this photo shoot...it's been a while since my last one and it felt great to take photos again!

Visit from Great Gramma & Grampa Nash

We enjoyed a visit from Great Gramma & Grampa Nash.

Little Winter Cottage

We knew living in our camper was getting a bit chilly, so we bought a piece of property with a little house on it in Oxbow, I call it our Little Winter Cottage.

It's 600 sq ft, three times the size of our camper, has two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room & kitchen.  It's quite cozy and will suit us just fine till we complete the new house and are ready to move in.

My most favorite part of the house...the red door

I was excited to be able to decorate the house for fall

The kids enjoying their bathtub (the camper only had a shower)

In our little bathroom

Our kitchen with borrowed table & chairs from the Avery family (all our chairs were buried in storage).  Before we moved into this little house, I took the opportunity to paint a few walls with optional paint colors for our new house...this color made the cut, it's called 'jalapeno pepper' by Benjamin Moore

The living room was painted using a brown from our last house, I like it even better now that I see it

We have a large yard, 150ft x 250ft and plan to do a future condo development after we move out

Ace's First Day of Pre-K

Ace on his first day of Pre-K in Oxbow

Happy about his new Power Ranger lunch kit

And excited to meet his new friends...he loved his first day!

Movie & Popcorn Night

One of our favorite things to do as a family...movie night!
The addition of smarties to the kids' popcorn was an idea from this great show...they loved it!

Star Wars Birthday Party for Ace

Happy 4th Birthday to Jedi Ace

with a Star Wars party...since he's such a fan

He loved this blow-up light sabre found at Party America

(along with all other decorations)

Scarlett liked it too

Rich, Ace & Papa showing off their Star Wars tattoos

Darth Vader pinjata

Mommys tattoo

Star Wars cake

the good guys

the bad guys

Waiting for cake

Daddy helped with the present opening this year

We had a great little party dispite the fact that we live in a camper, the weather held out and everyone enjoyed the evening.

Toadstools

Very unique looking....yet very poisonous

Ace's 4th Birthday

Ace turning 4 years old was the first birthday we have celebrated for our family since moving to Sask.  Nana baked her specialty birthday cake: angel food with seven-minute icing and sprinkles.

Ace felt so happy and loved as we celebrated at Nana & Papas

Ace is very smilie these days...I guess that comes from being a photographer's child

Like any parent says, it's hard to believe how fast 4 years has flown by...all the more reason to enjoy every day with your children.

Great trip to Alberta

We had a great trip to Alberta...complete with 11 stops at Starbucks!

The kids on the drive home...they are excellent travellers

Our final Starbucks-stop in Regina...can you tell how happy I am?

Goodbye Earl Grey Tea Misto...until next time

Visit with Cory's Grandparents

This is how you're greeted when you go to Cory's Grandparents house...I just had to take a photo of this yummy breakfast that we had at their house.

The kids enjoyed a mini photo shoot with Gramma & Grampa Nash

Then we showed them photos of the construction of our new home

Ace did a little woodworking in Grampas shop

They spoiled us with a great supper...pork cutlets, yum!

and lemon meringue pie!

It was so wonderful to have an afternoon to visit and catch up...we left with full tummies too!

Visit with the Chibrys

Next on our visiting list was to see the Chibrys.  We always feel like we're a part of their family when we stay with them.  We left our mattress in their basement when we moved from Calgary, so it's like we still have a little part of us there.  Dee put down carpet for us in their basement and we joked that next trip, we might even get a lamp!

Here's our favorite babystiter, Shelby, who volunteered to keep the kids so we could have an adult meal/night out

Dee mixing me her favorite drink...and amaretto & coke

The kids had a play in the old park we used to visit on a daily basis in our old neighbourhood of Calgary

Supper at the Keg, Scott & Cory

Starr & Dee-Ann

Scott & his rather-large steak!

After our meal, we met up with Amber & her man Christian

The next morning we headed to Ikea

And Dee was so nice to host a playdate with all our old Fun Monday friends

Here's Megan & Payton

Scarlett & the little girls

All the kiddies

It was so great to visit with everyone & catch up

Ace, Kaeden & Scarlett

They were so nice to have birthday cupcakes for Ace

Am & Christa stopped by

We can't wait to meet up with the Chibrys again...thank you so much for having us!

Visit with the Macdonalds

Dee-Ann hosted a Friday playdate with about 20 adults & children that filled her home for the afternoon.  Among them were my good friend Kelly and her son Kyran.  Kelly & her husband Ross are expecting a baby girl in October and it was wonderful to see her before the new baby arrived.

Visit wit the Hills

The Hill family had us over for a Friday night supper.  They are expecting their second baby, a boy, in early November.  Here's Jenny & I...I just love pregnant bellies, Jenny looks great!

Soon to be parents of two, Adam & Jenny

Jackie

Thanks for having us over guys, even though our visit was short, it was so nice to see you!

Visit with Auntie Amber & Auntie Kimmy

We headed to Calgary on Day 3 of our trip and met up with Auntie Kimmy.

The girls headed to the mall for some shopping

and sushi

Mmmm

We met up with Auntie Amber

Scarlett had to have a nap since she shopped so much

Then we met up with the guys

and shopped a little more

Had supper at Kim's and stayed with her overnight

Chillin before bedtime (for the kids)

Thanks Auntie Kimmy for having us stay...miss you, miss you!

Visit with the Craigs

On day 2 of our Alberta trip, we headed to Airdrie to visit our friends, the Craigs...just before they headed out for Vegas.  We had a great supper, impromptu birthday cake and movie night with them as they had us stay overnight.

Brendan, as he takes off for school

Tara & I, making supper

Mmmm, fresh veggies from their garden!

Tara & Cory

Tangler & Curly

Me & the little girls: Jarilyn & Scarlett

They got a birthday cake for Ace

And he loved it!

Yum!

Charlie...growing lots

The Daddies with the kids before bedtime.

Thanks for having us guys, we had a great time!

Starbucks Bum

Our trip to Alberta means...

...I get to enjoy Starbucks

Yep, I'm a Starbucks bum!

(photo taken by Cory, without me knowing)

Visit with Gwama 'Wose'

We had a wonderful visit with Cory's Mom, Phil & Uncle Mark when we travelled to Penhold, AB.  It was great to see their new house and have a sleepover.

The kiddos and Gwama Wose 

(that's how the kids pronounce it)

Lots of fun in their new yard

Scarlett shared her cereal snack with all of Gramas kitties

Ace doing some surfing 

A flower from Gramas beautiful garden

Uncle Mark & Ace

Scarlett & kitty

Eating frozen raspberries

Cory & his Mom

Mark, Rose & Cory

New House Update

We are 5 months into the building process, about half way, and feeling good about how it's been coming along.  We've had to adjust our time line to accommodate some of the trades in the area, which will take us to an approximate February possession date. 

What's next, there's no shortage of jobs around here for us.  We'll be starting to do the siding & decks soon while the plumber is working on getting the heating and water lines in.  We're also waiting on the cement for the basement floor to be poured.  Cory & I work on the house during the day and then do our homework in the evenings...such as choosing flooring, cabinetry & interior colors. 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and take a peek!