Proud Soccer Mom!

We are in our third week of soccer now and Abbey & Michael are starting to really enjoy it. They weren't too sure about it at first but are really starting to come around. We bought the cutest little cleats for them. Michael's are red and black Nikes and Abbey has pink and black Adidas'. They are ADORABLE!!! Abbey loves her cleats but hates the soccer socks. She only pulls them all the way up when she sees Coach Steve on the field. (I told her that all the very good players wear the special socks so she should too...it seems to have helped!) Anyway...the two coaches are super nice and both have their own children on the team. They plan fun drills and the parents get really involved.

Here's Coach Steve giving instructions. When he blows his whistles they stop, put their foot on the soccer ball and listen. It's so cute to watch.

Here's some action pics taken at last week's practice.

At the end of practice, they all huddle together and chant Hip Hip Hooray for the white team. All the players love it! Here they are cheering!

After soccer, the team gets freezies and we all go play at the park. I'm pretty sure that's every players favourite part.

Soccer Stars!

Soccer season started last week for the Kingston/Greenwood Soccer Teams. We signed Abbey and Michael up in the four years old or younger category, and even though we will be away for most of the summer, it was just too cute to pass up. Steve's away in Manitoba right now so I took the kids to their first practice last week. Here they are excited to hit the field.

"Coach Steve" and his wife run the team and they both seem very nice. Abbey and Michael are on the white team and they play in the field behind my school which is a six minute walk away....very convenient!

First practice, they were hard at work running drills, practicing skills and actually tried playing a game (picture 10 kids all running after the ball like little sheep!!!) ha!ha!

At this age, there's LOTS of parent involvement...SO...picture me getting not one but TWO soccer balls kicked at me at once. I got such a great workout but I'll be happy when Steve gets home! The most important thing is that Abbey and Michael seemed to enjoy it so it'll be a fun activity before we leave for Ontario.

My little soccer superstars....Abbey #1 and Michael #10!

Backyard Fun!

When we found out we had been re-posted to the Greenwood base (which means another 3 years or so here) we started looking for play structures for Abbey and Michael. Both of our neighbours have them and they are so kind in letting us use them whenever we want but I really wanted MY children to have their own. Anyway, Grand-papa and Grand-maman come in to save the day (and our bank accounts) to purchase the most amazing swing set EVER!!! It has everything!!!
So, we rented a truck and off Steve went to pick it up in Halifax. A ton of boxes later and an instructional DVD that stated it took 15 hours to put together, he was hard at work assembling. (with his trusty assistants...my Dad and Michael...and frankly we're not sure who was more helpful lol!) Here's the play by play pics...

Day One...just pulling in from the trip to Halifax with the goods!!!!

Here's Day Two (very keen and working late into the night) and Day Three (making lots of progress). The picture below is the end of Day Three and it's really starting to take shape!

This is Day Four....the fun stuff starts going on. Abbey and Michael can't wait to play!!!

Day Five: FULLY ASSEMBLED! Thank goodness Steve is good at doing this kinda stuff. The instructions were daunting to say the least but all the hard work paid off. The kids LOVE it and we are getting so much use of it already (despite this crazy cold spring weather!) Thank you SO SO much Grand-maman and Grand-papa. You sure do spoil us!

Spoiled...

This is a very old/late post but I had already started it and really wanted to blog about my birthday so here it is anyway...better late then never right?!?

What a fantastic birthday! Where to begin!?! The night before my birthday I received a HUGE box from my parents (and you know that's always a good sign!!! ha!ha!) Well they didn't disappoint! Whoa! I was BEYOND spoiled! Everything fits perfectly! My favourite is this red jacket that makes me feel like a million bucks (with the LuluLemon stuff coming in at a close second) but I really just love it ALL! Thanks Mom and Dad! Here's me (wearing my NEW red jacket) out for supper!!!

My birthday morning started with a phone call from my parents, my in-laws and Steve (who is in Texas) and when Abbey, Michael and I came downstairs, Barb (our caregiver) had a cake with candles and gifts for me to open! Fun...but then I was late for school. oops...I don't think you should have to work on your birthday anyway! ha!ha!

My classroom door was decorated with cute pink balloons (I have yet to figure out who put them there but they sure did make me happy!), my colleagues were so sweet (beautiful cards, Wunderbars, Coke...they know me well lol!) and my class was wonderful!

I couldn't wait to get home at the end of the day because when Steve called this morning, he told me to lift the cover on the water cooler for a surprise after work. So I ran home at the end of the day to look under the water cooler cover and sure enough, there was a nice card from Abbey and Michael wishing me a happy birthday but there was also instructions on where to get my second surprise. A scavenger hunt! Fun! So off I went to the dining room to get my second clue. In the second drawer on our china cabinet, I found Lindt chocolate and another clue. I then had to go to the basement and look under a side table where he had glued another card and instructions to my final clue. By then I was really excited so I was running up to the bedroom skipping every second step. The final destination was Steve's underwear drawer and tucked way at the back I found a Bulova box with the most beautiful watch in it. Could my husband be any better?!? He had planned it all before leaving on his trip! So sweet! Love him!!!

So...the night continues!!! I'm outside playing with the kids and my caregiver arrives to babysit because my friend Mary and I were going out for supper together!

Just as I'm coming in, a huge bouquet of tulips was being delivered. I LOVE tulips! They are such happy flowers and they remind me of the Tulip Festival which is always SO much fun in Ottawa!

So Mary and I are chatting all the way to New Minas and I'm thinking we're going to have a nice quiet meal together and maybe catch a movie. Well, to my surprise, Mary had planned for the whole gang to meet us there! YAY! I cried! It was such a fantastic night! I'm so lucky to have such wonderful friends here! Thank you so much for making my birthday extra special Mary! I had a blast!!!

So, here's the "gang" or "KDS Sorority" hee!hee! from left...me :-), Mary, Lauren, Sarah, Pam, Stephanie, Jaimee and Sara! Fun bunch for sure!!

So with all this excitement and spoiling, I'm wondering how I can plan that Steve is away on my birthday next year?!? ha!ha!

All Better!

It's been a while since I updated this but if you would have seen the state I was in last week you'd understand. Ugh! It all started Monday night...I had whole body aches (think arthritis, fibromyalgia, bursitis all in one...okay maybe a little exaggerated but you get the point) but I went to my Card Making group anyhow. Steve warned me against it but I love my card group, it's a fun bunch and we always create such amazing things. Anyway, I just felt awful and even more awful when I got home (NEVER EVER EVER eating cream cheese anything again!!!).
I oofficially knew I had the flu! Yikes! but it all made sense...of course I had the flu. Steve was set to go away for two weeks and you know how I love to make things difficult for myself. I was sooooo sick, I had it all if you get my drift. UGH UGH! On Tuesday though, Steve came home with the mail and I was delighted to find a beautiful card and gift from my best friend TANYA. I cried when I read her card...partly because of her kind words but also because I so needed that pick me up in between pukes! Love you T! xo

So I was off Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday but I dragged my butt in to school Friday for only God knows why (teacher guilt....almost as bad as catholic guilt!) but by Saturday the flu had been downgraded to a cold and I was able to function. It was a rainy blah day so off to Roo's we went to meet up with our friends Sophie, Jackson and MARY!!! The kids always have a blast together (and the Mommy's do too!!)




Here are the kids on a little merry-go-round in the mall. Amazing how happy $1 can make them! :-)







Sunday was great and then the weekend was done already! Where does the time go?!? Monday, was well, Monday....are those ever really that good?!?

Today I started my day off with a cute little bag sitting outside my classroom door...I knew in an instant that JILL had been by! (and it's always fun when she does that!!!) She made me tons of beautiful cards for my birthday that I can't wait to use. She is so creative! This picture doesn't even begin to do it justice but you get the hint.

Thanks Jill! You are so thoughtful! (and I'm honoured to share my birthday with you too!)

Now to tonight, I was having my friend SARA over for supper (I cooked, she's brave eh?!?) and after we were finished she took Abbey and Michael in the other room and came out singing "Bonne Fete" holding a cake. DQ...my favourite! So sweet and very much appreciated!

I may not be celebrating with my parents or hubby but I sure feel loved...and my birthday isn't even until tomorrow!!!!

Thank God...

it's the weekend! This week was never ending for sooo many reasons. First, I haven't really worked a full week since the end of February due to my vacation, Easter break, snow days, etc. so it dragged on and on. Second, Steve was supposed to come home from Alabama on Monday night and was delayed (and delayed and delayed...) and finally arrived Wed. afternoon sans luggage. Brutal! One piece arrived today but his beloved golf clubs are still M.I.A.

Although the weather wasn't great this week, me and my outdoorsy children were out and about every day...rain or shine (or major wind!!!) ! I took a few pictures of Abbey and Michael playing (using the school's camera...yes, mine is still NOT fixed but that's a whole other rant!!!)

This picture was taken Tuesday... I think?!? Abbey and Michael jumping in the puddles at the end of the driveway. The three of us walked to the mailbox with our umbrellas. Quite a cute sight! They were able to avoid the puddles for the most part but by the time we made it back home, the temptation proved too great and with me cheering them on, they jumped and splashed as hard as they could. Fun to watch (but even more fun to do I'm sure!!)

Here's Abbey and Michael on their two-wheelers. They are so good on them now! I had them stop long enough to take this picture. Most of the time I see this....

and they're off! It's so nice to live on such a quiet street! I can't wait to go on family bike rides...that's a far way off but it's something to look forward to! For now I'm happy jogging behind them yelling "Arrete au coin!!!" (that's "stop at the corner" for you Angie E. hee!hee!)

Happy Girl!

Those of you who know me well know that I LOVE my Reality TV and I LOVE my Country Music!!! Tonight, my two loves came together!!! Happy Night!! Dolly Parton was the special guest on American Idol! I sang through the entire show (with two of my other favs close by...Wunderbar and Coke!) YAY!