
April 30, 2014
Spontaneity Isn't Usually My Strong Suit...

April 28, 2014
Weekend Shenanigans with the Tiny Humans...

April 24, 2014
Life Lately...

April 22, 2014
Procrastinators Unite...

April 18, 2014
Last 10 Photo Dump...
2// I made my Mama Bear's 'famous' rice salad on Tuesday. My Dad's side of the family requests that she make this for all of our get togethers. I'd been craving it for weeks and finally got around to making it on my EDO
3// Graycie got her hair did by Grandma in an 'Elsa braid' and had to model for me. Don't you just want to squeeze her?!
4// Poor Rae needs to live in a bubble. While visiting her Dad on the weekend his cat got spooked by a dog and scratched up Rae's face and arms. After a trip to the ER she made her way back to O-town. I sent this picture to my brother to show him that her injuries weren't quite as bad as we were imagining them to be
5// Picked up these NEW K-Cups while in Target last weekend to give them a whirl. Not quite as caramel-y as I would like but still pretty good. And of course it was drank out of my favourite mug
6// Laughing at myself over looking like I had been in an accident (so of course had to document with a selfie), when in reality I just had two of my tattoos touched up
7// Mama Bears brand new and FIRST EVER tattoo. Pretty sweet to watch your Mom get her first ever tattoo. (Unfortunately something my possible future children will never get to experience). It's a memorial tattoo for my Grandparents and she was a complete trooper while getting it!
8// Our amazing tattoo artist, DJ, working on Mama. He has done my last 3 tattoos, at least 4 of my brothers, one of my sister in laws, and now my Mama's.
9// Went for drinks with the siblings last Friday in GE, the village both my siblings live in. Stopped at Toni's house after to see Sally (one of the kittens) and had a look at these two favourite childhood books that found there way back to us. These were our copies when we were young, were given away (boooo) to our cousin's children when we were older, and then when our cousin's children's were older they were given back to Toni for Rae. I'm so happy they weren't just thrown in the trash, just looking at these books brings back so many amazing childhood memories
10// Last Thursday I invited Kenton and Kels over for supper (Toni and the girls were there too of course) while the parentals were away (they don't appreciate good Mexican grill) and made copycat Chipotle burrito bowls. HEAVEN IN MY MOUTH
So there you have it, my last 10 photos. Nothing to exciting, but that's small town life for you! I love the idea of this post, and will probably do it again in a couple of months to see the difference in life then compared to life now. Thanks for the great idea Kay!

April 17, 2014
I Never Thought I'd... (A Linkup)

April 16, 2014
World's Toughest Job...
Yesterday, while on my earned day off from work, I was browsing through Facebook when I saw a video being shared over and over and over again by friends and family, titled '24 People Who Applied For The World's Toughest Job Were In For Quite A Surprise'. I normally don't click on these links, for fear of viruses, yet with all the shares my curiosity got the better of me and I clicked on over to You Tube to see the 'surprise 'these people were in for
This is the video being shared, if you haven't seen it already:
Halfway through the video I started getting a suspicion that it was going to be about motherhood. I watched the entire video, smiled at the sweet words to these 'interviewees' mothers, them immediately showed it to my Mama (and my Dad happened to watch halfway through as well). We all agreed it was a great, inspiring video to show Mom's how valued they are. That night, while eating supper together as we do most nights, my sister brought up the video and we once again discussed how great it was. Not once did we discuss the fact that the video called motherhood the 'toughest job'. To us, it was just a sweet video to show the value of mom's everywhere
Today it has been shared over and over and over, once again, by more friends and family. Everyone had positive things to say regarding the video. Until. A friend of mine shared the video below, along with a comment that this video was in 'retaliation to one of the stupidest things seen on Facebook this week'
The friend of mine who shared the above video is one of my best friends since Kindergarten (and also a mother). However, just because we are close friends does not mean we always see eye to eye on things. In fact, we usually have differing opinion on almost everything. I commented back that if she was talking about the video about Mom's then she must have no heart (a running joke between us - not actually meant as a snotty comment). She responded that she was in fact talking about the 'Mom' video and that 'a Mom is farthest from the hardest job on the planet'. Her comment got a 'like' and another woman (also a mother) agreed with her. I'm not one to start 'wars' on Facebook or other social media sites, so I left my single comment as that and moved on to discover what else was new in the land of Facebook. However, I do have strong feelings regarding the video, and believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Here is mine:
Let me preface this by saying, for those who are unaware, I am not a mom. However, my job would share many of the same points on a job description as a Mother's would (you know, if motherhood came with a job description...). For those who don't know, I'm the Director of a childcare centre. I went to school for Early Childhood Education and spent many years working 'on the floor' (as we call it) with the children. Yes, now most of my days involve paperwork, phone calls, dealing with parent and staffing issues, and putting out small fires (not literally) to keep the Centre up and running, but I put my blood, sweat and tears into many years working on the front lines with the children. I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to devote your time to taking care of tiny humans
For those who feel that motherhood isn't the toughest job there is on this earth, maybe that's true. But every other job out there an individual can simply walk away from it when it gets to tough. When the pay isn't enough to equate the amount of work being put in. When co-workers, or customers, are just to much to deal with. A mother doesn't have that luxury. Sure, they can take a holiday or take their kids to a sitter or a daycare and get some peace and quiet and time away from their children. But they will never be able to 100% walk away from the 'job' of being a mother. (And if they do - they do not deserve the title of 'mother'). A mother's 'job' does not end when a child turns 18 and goes off on their own into this great big world. A mother constantly worries about her child and the decisions their child will make in their life
The 'toughest job' video did not single out stay at home mom's as having the toughest job. The emphasis was strictly on motherhood as a whole, whether you stay at home with your children all day or work outside the home, it is all tough. Nor did I find that the video dis valued the role of a Father. The video was made with Mother's Day in mind, not to discredit the job of fatherhood. Perhaps in June a new video will make the rounds regarding fatherhood...
Maybe my opinion on the subject is swayed by the fact that I was lucky enough to have an amazing and supportive woman in my life since birth, my Mama Bear. She's been my cheerleader, protector, caretaker, and has always supported me no matter what. Now that I'm 26 (and my two siblings are also grown) she is not 'retired' from the job of motherhood. It is a job she will keep until her last day, and one I imagine she will continue to excel at until the day she takes her last breath
Motherhood may not be 'the toughest job on the planet' but Mother's deserve credit where credit is due. This post is for you Mama Bear!
And as I said, I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinions. If you have a different opinion on this subject, please comment and let me know. This world would be a ridiculous place if everyone always agreed on everything
“People can tell you to keep your mouth shut, but that doesn't stop you from having your own opinion.”
― Anne Frank

This is the video being shared, if you haven't seen it already:
Halfway through the video I started getting a suspicion that it was going to be about motherhood. I watched the entire video, smiled at the sweet words to these 'interviewees' mothers, them immediately showed it to my Mama (and my Dad happened to watch halfway through as well). We all agreed it was a great, inspiring video to show Mom's how valued they are. That night, while eating supper together as we do most nights, my sister brought up the video and we once again discussed how great it was. Not once did we discuss the fact that the video called motherhood the 'toughest job'. To us, it was just a sweet video to show the value of mom's everywhere
Today it has been shared over and over and over, once again, by more friends and family. Everyone had positive things to say regarding the video. Until. A friend of mine shared the video below, along with a comment that this video was in 'retaliation to one of the stupidest things seen on Facebook this week'
The friend of mine who shared the above video is one of my best friends since Kindergarten (and also a mother). However, just because we are close friends does not mean we always see eye to eye on things. In fact, we usually have differing opinion on almost everything. I commented back that if she was talking about the video about Mom's then she must have no heart (a running joke between us - not actually meant as a snotty comment). She responded that she was in fact talking about the 'Mom' video and that 'a Mom is farthest from the hardest job on the planet'. Her comment got a 'like' and another woman (also a mother) agreed with her. I'm not one to start 'wars' on Facebook or other social media sites, so I left my single comment as that and moved on to discover what else was new in the land of Facebook. However, I do have strong feelings regarding the video, and believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Here is mine:
Let me preface this by saying, for those who are unaware, I am not a mom. However, my job would share many of the same points on a job description as a Mother's would (you know, if motherhood came with a job description...). For those who don't know, I'm the Director of a childcare centre. I went to school for Early Childhood Education and spent many years working 'on the floor' (as we call it) with the children. Yes, now most of my days involve paperwork, phone calls, dealing with parent and staffing issues, and putting out small fires (not literally) to keep the Centre up and running, but I put my blood, sweat and tears into many years working on the front lines with the children. I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to devote your time to taking care of tiny humans
For those who feel that motherhood isn't the toughest job there is on this earth, maybe that's true. But every other job out there an individual can simply walk away from it when it gets to tough. When the pay isn't enough to equate the amount of work being put in. When co-workers, or customers, are just to much to deal with. A mother doesn't have that luxury. Sure, they can take a holiday or take their kids to a sitter or a daycare and get some peace and quiet and time away from their children. But they will never be able to 100% walk away from the 'job' of being a mother. (And if they do - they do not deserve the title of 'mother'). A mother's 'job' does not end when a child turns 18 and goes off on their own into this great big world. A mother constantly worries about her child and the decisions their child will make in their life
The 'toughest job' video did not single out stay at home mom's as having the toughest job. The emphasis was strictly on motherhood as a whole, whether you stay at home with your children all day or work outside the home, it is all tough. Nor did I find that the video dis valued the role of a Father. The video was made with Mother's Day in mind, not to discredit the job of fatherhood. Perhaps in June a new video will make the rounds regarding fatherhood...
Maybe my opinion on the subject is swayed by the fact that I was lucky enough to have an amazing and supportive woman in my life since birth, my Mama Bear. She's been my cheerleader, protector, caretaker, and has always supported me no matter what. Now that I'm 26 (and my two siblings are also grown) she is not 'retired' from the job of motherhood. It is a job she will keep until her last day, and one I imagine she will continue to excel at until the day she takes her last breath
Motherhood may not be 'the toughest job on the planet' but Mother's deserve credit where credit is due. This post is for you Mama Bear!
And as I said, I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinions. If you have a different opinion on this subject, please comment and let me know. This world would be a ridiculous place if everyone always agreed on everything
“People can tell you to keep your mouth shut, but that doesn't stop you from having your own opinion.”
― Anne Frank

April 15, 2014
My Life in Numbers...

April 10, 2014
Wednesday Wedding Recap...
Champagne was served immediately following the ceremony while the wedding party had photos taken
CC had toys and colouring books and crayons to keep the little ones entertained. Graycie and Harlow plopped themselves down on the floor and coloured away while the adults enjoyed their champagne
Rae and Papa Bear - doesn't he clean up nice?!
Uncle Merrit and Auntie Cindy (with Bobbie and Paulette hiding behind them) doing their Welcome to the Family toast to Dylan
Kelsey and Kenton stole my phone and took a 'selfie'. I told Kenton I was going to tell everyone the reason his hair is so long is because he is growing it out for locks of love. The truth is the more we bug him about it the longer he plans on growing it
A decent picture of Mama Bear and Papa Bear only happens once every few years so this had to be showcased
Graycie Bear and Kirstin before Graycie snoozed the rest of the wedding away
Me and my favourite 3 year old
The beautiful bride, CC, getting ready for the bouquet toss. There's a super cute story that goes along with that tractor you see in the background. One of the flower girls rode in on the tractor pulling 6 month old Kace (the bride and grooms 6 month old son) behind in a wagon. The best part of the story is that CC won that tractor when she was 4 years old at an event in her hometown, and one of the other children in the running for the wagon was none other than 5 year old Dylan, the future groom
Dylan about to toss the garter
There he is, baby Kace. This little man stole all of our hearts. It's an 18 hour drive up to High Level where CC and Dylan live so this was most of the families first time meeting the little man. He is the happiest baby I have EVER met and I can't wait for the next time I get another snuggle
Toni and I had to take a 'selfie'
Me and Mama Bear - many, many drinks in....
Dylan's mom is originally from Australia and I believe 5 years ago his parents, sister and two brothers moved to Australia. This is his brother Rhys' girlfriend, Lauren. We met her in the bathroom, heard her Australian accent, and proclaimed her our new BFF
Hanging outside the venue with Rhys and Lauren, and Dylan's auntie. Kels and I may have invited ourselves to visit them in Australia, and to their wedding (they're not even engaged...)
Close to the end of the night - Rae lasted through the entire night of dancing
I love weddings and getting the family all together and this one was definitely one for the books. To say the next day was a struggle would be an understatement. To top it all off it was our only day to hit up West Edmonton Mall before we made the trek back home. Next time we need to have more time to recuperate from hangovers before being expected to go shopping and take the girls to Galaxyland!
Friday was a sad day having to leave Edmonton behind and start the long drive back home. We didn't get as much visiting in with our Alberta family as I would have liked, but we already decided that an Edmonton/Saskatoon trip is needed for this Summer
On the way back we stopped at Vegreville to see the 'Easter Egg'. Whenever I was little we always stopped on our way back from visiting our Alberta family, so Papa Bear made sure to stop so the girls could check it out. Photo credit for this one goes to Kelsey

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