Tuesday, June 28th ~ Birthday Boy

Well Carter Russ(ell)...I can't believe it was 6 years ago today (this evening in fact) that your dad and my lives changed forever!  Words can't really explain the love that you feel for a child....truly an amazing feeling!The past 6 years have been a wonderful journey...we LOVE watching you grow and become your own person.  Can't wait for what the years to come have in store for us!

A few things about you as a person....
- you are a big helper and a great one at that
- always willing to lend a hand (you would even stay after school to help Mrs. P clean up from the days activities)
- you follow your conscience (I LOVE that)
- you are an emotional person...you wear your emotions on your sleeve
- you are an awesome big brother
- you were SO excited for the arrival of baby Corbin this year..and even helped change diapers from the get go
- you love to teach and guide those younger than you (you helped at B's ball all season and just the other day you helped B in the big pool realize that he could touch and walk from side to side on his own)
- you and B have your differences from time but are also best friends
- you LOVE to play "hits" in the backyard with dad and LOVE baseball for that matter
- you had a great first year in hockey
- your an outdoors kid
- you loved Kindergarten and are excited about Grade 1
- you like to play "Surviviorman" with B in the backyard and downstairs
- your favourite shows are on the OLN network and are Minute to Win It, Man vs Food and SurvivorMan
- you love to build things (the other day you went to Grandpa M's garage to build an airplane hanger for your guys lego, straight out of your head, you also made your Kindergarten teacher a bird house with Great Grandpa who said that you did pretty much the whole thing except for the cutting all by yourself).
- you don't hesitate to ride your bike to the store by yourself for me to pick up something we need for lunch


You are a great kid and I love watching you grow!! Hope you had a GREAT birthday....LOVE LOVE LOVE you to pieces Carter Russ!!

Monday, June 27th

Sunday, June 26th ~ Party #2

What another great day today was.  We had Carter's Birthday Party #2 today with the family.  It was a beautiful day and thus we enjoyed the weather and sat out on the patio. 

Our kids are so fortunate to have so many grandparents.  They have both sets of grandparents and two sets of great grandparents and a great grandma.  I actually didn't realize how lucky I was growing up until I started talking with Blair after we met about our families and how he lost his grandpa at a very young age and his grandma passed away in his teens.  I was fortunate to get to know four great grandma's and one great grandpa and still to this day have my grandparents around.  I have special memories of each of them.

Great Grandma S always had the cookies and tea on when we went to visit her and she always had beautiful flowers in her garden.  At her house there was a trap door to go down into the basement with a ladder that pulled down.  Every once and a while we would get to go down there and play...a highlight as a little girl! 

Great Grandma M I didn't get to know as well but I remember going to her house and visitng and always getting a snack. 

Great Grandma and Grandpa N...well as I grow older I realize that they were both quite the witty couple!! I loved listening to Great Grandpa N's stories from the past (he was born in 1902).  I loved hearing the stories from when they were young and first married and they lived at the house that my dad ended up growing up in.  All along the front used to be a big verandah and apparantly they would host dinner parties and dances for all of the neighbours in the country...I can just envion it now and it gives me a warm feeling inside!  They would always come out to family gatherings at the farm...grandma drove...that was her way..she "ruled the roost" so to speak but as I type this I have to giggle.  She was a neat lady, she would always let you know if she felt you had put a few pounds on or not or how you were looking.  She was a classy lady as she alsways had herself done up and put together.  I can see that old brown car driving down the lane now...not knowing if there was anyone in the drivers seat as she was so short and sometimes literally had to sit on a telephone book.  They really were great folks.  Grandpa N would leave $50 bills for Grandma (his daughter) by tucking them in the couch or different places (I think it was probably his allowance)...kind of his sneaky way of giving to Grandma. So many other memories I could type for a long time.  I feel very fortunate to have gotten to know them very well over the years and only now do I wish that we would have recorded the many stories and tales from their life while they were still around.

Sorry...kind of got off topic.....

All of Carter's grandparents were able to make it except for one...pretty lucky boy...even Grandma R (our dear neighbour from across the street at my mom and dad's place...she was like another Grandma to me growing up!), and his Auntie and Uncle on my side.  It was a great day filled with great visitng.  Blair had a couple of ball games following and the boys went with G & G B to watch and had a blast! 

Here are a few pics from the day...

Saturday, June 25th ~ Boobie Juice

I woke this morning (after being left to sleep in...thanks Blair for getting up with Corbin) to Corbin needing to feed (around our house we call it boobie juice).  After that the three boys and I were just chilling out in the bed chatting away. (Is there really any better way to start a day!!) 

Through our chit chat B informed me of the following:
B - "Mom if you and dad and Carter where away, I would just babysit Corbin for you and if he got hungry I would just see if my boobies were big enough to have boobie juice and if they weren't then I would call you!"

My response - "Well that's good that you would call mom cuz we don't want him to get too hungry"...really what can you say to that!!


The rest of the day was followed by typical Saturday housework, yard work and we managed to squeeze a trip to the pool (mom and the three boys) and a little fishing (dad and the two oldest).  What a GREAT Saturday!!




My little side kick as I was making salad tonight




Corbin helping with laundry (actually was chewing on it..thank goodness it was clean!)

 

I guess this is what you get when you don't do laundry all week.....



Friday, June 25th ~ Party Time

Today Carter had his 6 year old "Kid Party!"  He had a bunch of boys over and they played in the backyard in the sandbox...using the slip n slide...getting dirty...laughing lots...playing football...eating...eating...presents and most of all....lot's of FUN!  It was a great group of kids and I think everyone had a great time!!

We had Corbin outside too...started out trying to keep him covered from the nasty mosquito's but as you can see by his facial expression, that didn't last long and soon he was out of his stroller!!

He liked this a little better...inside and all bathed up and ready for bed!!



Wednesday, June 22nd ~ Busy Day

Today B had daycare but the other two boys and I headed to Estevan to do a little shopping.  I was on the hunt for an outfit for an upcoming wedding.  We succeeded and the two C's were GREAT shoppers.  As a treat to Carter and a surprise for B, I let Carter pick out two lego spinners....this is all B has been talking about lately!  He was pumped when he saw them!!

B also had his last night as learn to play tonight. I snuck out to snap a few pictures!  He had such a great year!



Bedtime came around and I guess either none of the beds in the house were comfy enough or he was too tired from the excitement of the day as we found B sleeping on the floor beside the bed in our room....

Tuesday, June 21st ~ Rainy Again

Today was....yet again....another rainy dreary day!  Even though it wasn't a wonderful day out, the boys said to heck with is and headed out to play in the puddles!! Of course by the time I grabbed the camera and was able to run outside, they had stopped playing the make believe games they had been playing but I still managed to snap one...

Sunday, June 19th ~ Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day to a wonderful dad!! We hope that you had an excellent day!

The day started with all three boys in the bed to wish their dad a great Father's Day!

 

This morning we had mom and dad over for brunch.  After that we had a quite afternoon.  Blair was to play ball however ended up rained out.  We joined the Swayze clan for supper at G&G's and had a little visiting with everyone!

Happy Father's Day Blair, I hope you had a great day.  You are so wonderful with the kids.  I couldn't have asked for a better partner is this journey of parenthood!!  Our kids are lucky to have such a great guy as their dad!!

Saturday, June 18th ~ Fishing!!

This evening the boys headed out for their first night of fishing for the season. 

With the wet spring combined with the copious amounts of rain we have had this spring/summer, needless to say they had trouble finding "just the right spot"!  The only thing they managed to catch was B's rod after he dropped it over the rail of the fishing dock!  I do believe they did have fun though....better luck next time boys!

Wednesday, June 15th ~ Learn to Play

This year has been B's first year in Learn to Play ball and he is loving it.  His dad has been leading the charge of the group of 3 year olds (with Carter close behing to lend a helping hand).  Today Corbin and I headed out to check out practice.  Here are a few pictures from the practice...needless to say they speak for themselves!!

Tuesday, June 14th - B Bop

Oh Brandon, there are days you make me giggle and today was one of them!  You and your brother wanted to wrestle all day long.  A couple of times that I asked you guys to stop...before you started to cry... you would say "But mom we aren't wrestling we are just using these (as you hold up the cardboard DVD cases that you were wrestling/playing swords with). So with that you two continued to wrestle most of the day off and on.

Tonight about 15 minutes before we were going to eat supper you brought me a package of pop tarts and asked me to open them, I told you that you couldn't have any then said ok only one.  You continued to jump around and whine about it.  I said to you "B stop jumping around and throwing a fit." Your response "Well mom just always do what I tell you!"  You are too smart for your own good sometimes!

Then as we were eating supper I got the cheese out and a knife.  As I sat down at the table and asked you if you would like a piece of cheese you proceeded to tell me that the knife I was using was the one that I gave you to cut melon with and then that you cut your finger with...indicating that it was all my fault you cut your finger.  The true story is that I had asked you to leave the knife alone however you decided to ignore that question and continued to cut away...until you cut your finger!!

You are our little B Bop....LOVE you!!

Monday, June 13th ~ The Park

This morning we headed to the park for a little outing.  The sun was shinning and it was time to take advantage of it! 

B had to bring along his lego men.  I believe in one of the pictures you can see them.  We all had a great time finally getting outside and enjoying some sun!

Sunday, June 12th - Cutie

I just couldn't resist putting this little guy in his bumbo chair....naked....to snap a couple pics of all his cute rolls!  Love you to pieces little man!  You are growing too fast.  You sure have filled out...a long cry from where you were 3 months ago!!

Saturday, June 12th ~ A little ball anyone?

Today Carter had a ball tournament in Alameda.  First game...9:00...ouch!  We made it...on time even!  It was a cool windy morning...surprise :( (so ready for some nice weather!!).  The kids had fun thought so that is the main thing. 

Brandon had to wear his "super fast baseball shoes" since we were going to the baseball diamond. 

Here are some pics from the day.

Friday, June 10th ~ DIPLOMA DAY!!!

Today was an exciting day at our house....well exciting and sad I have to admit!  Today was Carter's Kindergarten Diploma Day, which he was just pumped about and so were we actually.  But just a hint of me was a little sad today.  Carter has completely embraced school/Kindergarten and is so anxious to learn.  He has had an amazing teacher that always seems to be going the extra mile for her students.  The year seemed to zoom right by with the blink of an eye.  It has been wonderful watching him learn and progress as the year goes on.  I hope that this excitement and desire to learn continues for many more years!

Just before lunch I dropped B of at Great Grandma and Grandpa's and Corbin and I headed to the school to help BBQ and get lunch ready.  At noon all of the parents arrived and we had lunch with our little Kindergartners and then it was time for the diploma's.  Each of the students where beaming when Mrs. Paton called their name.  She had something nice to say about each of them.  Here remarks about Carter where along the lines as follows:
- one of her best helpers ever
- always helped out when there was a sub, that she could leave a note "If you aren't sure, ask Carter"
- was always willing to help clean up or do what was necessary

Such nice words to hear about your child!!

(I am really disappointed that my pictures did not turn out that well.  I had put my small lens on as we were in a small room and thought my big one would be too big....wrong and I had my settings all crazy for inside...had been taking pics outside the night before!  By the time I noticed he was almost done....grrr)

Thursday, June 9th ~ Paint...Paint...Paint

The kids have been wanting to paint all week so today was the day.  B had a little bird house to paint that Grandma B had left for him and Carter had a little bird house as well as the bird house he made for his teacher.

B was pretty into his painting, once he was finished with the bird house he was trying to get his hands on everything and anything he could paint...including blank pieces of cardboard.  I'm not sure the paint was even dry before he was out back behind the shed finding a place to hang it!

After painting his name on the bird house Carter made for his teacher, he headed outside to oil it.  He made the bird house by himself with some help from Great Grandpa Swayze.  Not only did they make one..but they had to make three...one for grandpa, one for us and one for his teacher!  Dad dropped the oil off this afternoon and so Carter was eager to get at it.  I tried to help him a bit and he would have nothing to do with that "I know how mom"...thus I left him be and he did a great job!