Busy Busy Weekend

Started Friday morning with a Gentle Pilates class with my SIL Sheri. Followed by a great session of salsa making with our good friends the Schafer's. It was my first time making salsa from scratch and from home grown ingredients, especially those spicy peppers that give it such a great kick!




Jackson got in some great playtime with his Aunty Joy & Uncle Scott who are visiting from the coast, before going to bed to rest up for a full Saturday of fun.
It began with a morning run for our coastal Aunty & Uncle, followed by some prune plum picking for Daddy and Uncle Scott. Gotta stock up on that seasonal fruit while it's ripe.
Then we packed up to head to Rattlesnake Canyon for fun with the cousins, Sophie and Fynn.
Go Carts was the first activity of choice for the big kids. And the spectators got quite a show with those dare devil drivers in the hot seat!




Then time to hit the mini golf course for the bunch of us. Sophie had an excellent round with at least one hole in one. Watch out! Future LPGA contender in the making. Aunty Joy got her games mixed up just a little bit. Silly Aunty Joy!




I am so glad that Jackson has a little cousin the same age. Scott had often told me about the great fun (aka trouble) he used to have with his cousin growing up. We hope these two little monkeys become good buddies.





Then it was home after an exhausting afternoon of so much fun and fresh air. Jackson was so pooped after playing with the cousins. And on that note; Uncle Scott had his first experience with 'poop'. Great job on your first diaper change! Especially with our extra squirmy wiggle monster. Not bad, Uncle Scott, you are more than welcome to get as much practice as you want on Jackson. Notice how he pulled Jackson's pants off while still leaving the shoes on... now that's talent!



Sunday was yet another packed day of activities.
Nothing starts the day better than a great breakfast. So it was pancakes and peaches for everyone. Jackson downed six whole silver dollar pancakes and his small jar of homemade peaches. Man my boy can pack it away!



Then after our goodbyes to our coastal family, we headed to Jackson's second birthday party in less than three weeks time. Yes, we have a little social butterfly on our hands. If it weren't for our great family organizer calender we would never be able to keep track of all his important dates and appointments. It was the fourth birthday of our 'fire family' friend, Kael. An ice skating party for this big hockey fan was the perfect activity for the kids and parents. I have been picking up some great tips while at these past two parties. Kael's loot bags were simple but sweet. A new sippy/sports bottle (all cleaned and party ready to use) and a homemade hockey stick cookie for each kid with their name on their cups. I love it! Because half the time you end up with candies or toys that's you don't ready need. And at the last party we received a kid sized T-shirt transfer with instructions in the Backyardigans theme. Very cool!




I better start cracking on party favour ideas for Jackson's birthday, as I only have three more months left to plan his big luau extravaganza. Can't believe that he will be one already...
Every day Jackson is losing more and more of his 'babyness'. I love the little boy he is becoming, but I miss his 'littleness' as time steals a bit of it each day.

Got the World on a Swing...

Jackson was invited to his first birthday party last week. So much fun with the great Backyardigans theme and a great day of sun to play outside. We helped celebrate Kaysen's first birthday with our friends the Grahams. Jackson had his first taste of birthday cake. Rode in a super cool go cart and went down the slide of the jungle gym. A lot of first for our little guy on this day.



But he especially fell in love with this great toddler swing. He was so relaxed and just chilling as he rocked back and forth in the breeze. So we scouted out one of our own for the back yard. He has been in it everyday since we sent it up. He is so relaxed in it that he even fell asleep in it today for his afternoon nap. Such a great little investment for our little swinger!

A Day At the PNE Fair

As a little girl I remember all the excitement and anticipation that would build before our end of summer visit to the PNE Fair. And it was now my chance to share this experience with both Scott and Jackson on their first day of fun at the fair.



We decided to take the SkyTrain and public transit to alleviate parking to choose to go green. And of course it would be Jackson's first time on transit as we don't have this 'big city' technology in Smalliver. Jackson's favourite part of public transit is the public part. He does his best flirting and charming when in crowds. And he just loves watching other kids, they just mesmerize him!
Once at the fair, we met up with some friends to catch a few rides in Playland. Can't miss a ride on the . Still rated one of the best wooden coaster in N. America.



Then we worked our way around the park to some of my favourites which included but were not limited to some of these sites.
Iams SuperDogs Show, exciting for all ages.
Carny Food; First Mini Donut for our little man and Grandma P's favourite candy apple
Checking out the Farm Animals; love the M00-ternity ward and baby chicks
Shopping at the MarketPlace for Shammy's with Mommy; we would have loved to buy more but we were travelling light.
Daddy's comparison of the two big coasters; The Wooden Coaster always wins!
And Jackson & I checked out the Red Robinson Talent ShowCase for a little music in the afternoon.



We didn't know if we would be at the PNE late enough to catch the KC Bear Toontastic Parade as it was at 4:30 and Jackson might have had his fill. But our trooper held out long enough to take in all the cartoon characters. He especially loved the music and dancing and just people watching in general. So many great memories relived in that day and so many more new ones made with Jackson and Scott.

Tunnel of Fun

Caught some great pictures of Jackson playing with his cousin Travis. Jackson just loves to watch his older cousin. He will soon be chasing after him to play, play, play.
Here they are crawling through a play tunnel to the tent at the other end.
So much fun!

Uh Oh! Look what Jackson can do now!!!

I came downstairs this morning to discover that our little boy had been learning some new tricks during some playtime with Daddy. And he was more than happy to demonstrate his newly acquired skills. Where has my little baby boy gone? He growing up way too fast! At least we have all our photos and videos to document every moment..Thank goodness for technology!

Summer Catch Up

Love that I can just post a few pictures to keep you up to date on our summer happenings...


Scott & Jackson just chilling in the backyard. Wow! Look at our wild and crazy tomato plant in the background. We better get to tending those soon!


While visiting Grandpa & Grandma P, Jackson was very helpful at determining when it was time to cut the grass... Yup! it's about long enough now, Grandma, pull out the lawn mower...


Jackson & Daddy posing at Haynes Point. Look at my cuties!
And yes, his shirt does say, 'Rampage Jackson' on it, oh Daddy!


Grandpa P taking a shot at feeding our little eating machine.
Our boy loves his food! Just keep it coming Grandpa.


Jackson loves to watch the scenery pass by...we did a lot of driving this summer.
We are blessed to have such a happy little traveller who takes a lot of car naps.


Can't quite make out the writing on the hat...
L'il Fightfighter! Proud to be a fightfighter's son...

Sun Peaks Getaway

For our sixth anniversary we decided on a little getaway for the weekend. Actually, our real anniversary was the weekend before as mentioned in a previous blog, but Scott wasn't scheduled to be home until after that day so we booked our mini vacation for the following weekend. Neither of us had been to the Sun Peaks Resort so it was a new place for us both. No set plans, just relaxing and enjoying each other. And that we did!
As you can see from the pictures, Jackson felt right at home crawling all over our big room, tugging on the electrical cords, chewing on our shoes and pulling on the curtains.

Our first night we treated ourselves to a movie ordered in our room, (G-rated, Nim's Island.. I had read this children's book and was looking forward to some light entertainment) complete with sweet treats from this well known candy shop. Jackson was very excited about staying up a little later than usual and his first little taste of cotton candy. Yes, our boy is slightly spoiled but that's what this weekend was all about.

The indulgence continued with our in room breakfast the next day. Big fluffy, fruit-piled waffle, homemade granola with yoghurt and Canadian maple syrup. Even Jackson got a special little 'Frosty the Pancake' treat complete with watermelon arms and chocolate chip eyes and buttons. It was all so yummy and so decadent to sit in our pajamas while enjoying our morning feast.





Although the weather wasn't the warmest (more on the wet side), we enjoyed the local farmer's market right outside our resort in the main square. Freshly baked sweets and breads, home grown organic fruits and vegetables, handmade pottery and crafts, and locally raised bison and lamb. They are there every Sunday. A great way to buy local and buy 'green'.



We didn't get in too much hiking as we were not well prepared for the wind and rain, though you never would have known that we experienced that weather from the sunny photos I captured just after the morning market time. But no sooner had we headed out from our midmorning naps than the clouds had rolled in and down came the rain. We did manage to sneak in a few laps at the indoor/outdoor pool and a quick warm up in the hot tub before our big smancy anniversary dinner at the hotel restaurant that night.
Jackson was such a little gentleman with his flirty little ways with the waitstaff and good table manners while he enjoyed nibbles of wild mushroom risotto and peas from our lobster ravioli appetizer from our sumptuously delicious supper . And to our pleasant surprise, the hotel had sent a little anniversary dessert to our room along with a personalized card to commenorate our special day. Someone was listening when we were checking in... Wow! that's service.
All in all we felt very well taken care of and pampered. Just the outcome we were looking for when planning this celebratory holiday.