Life as we know it

So life as we know it today has been absolutely crazy super busy!  Since I started my new job back in May, my whole thought of returning to my blogging has become pretty much impossible since I can't access blogger at work and nights are impossible (although I am making the exception tonight!).

The girls have been booming, Caitlin has returned to her camp for the summer and Madison is enjoying her last time at daycare since she will be starting "big girl school" very soon!  I don't know where the time goes, I just know that it goes by too darn fast!

I am loving my new job.  I'm getting settled into the routine of things although it's been very challenging.  My position is a new position, therefore, there hasn't been any training involved.  Kind of just figure things out on my own!  A little crazy and hectic too considering the team didn't have any support or assistance before so they are loving having me as well.  I must say though, I work with a great team and really welcome the new challenges the position brings.

We've been having a great summer weather wise and I wish I had more time with the family since I'm really missing being available to do more with them but we are making the best of the time we have with each other.  What I am really looking forward to is a much needed vacation and time together which we will very shortly have, we have booked a vacation and are leaving the last week of August, 18 days and counting down!

Hope all is well with my bloggy friends and that you are all enjoying the summer!

Mother's Day

It is so special to be a Mommy!  The love I have for my girls is endless and I am forever grateful and thankful for them!  Happy Mother's day!  We are truly blessed!

A Goddaughter

Back in January, Andy was given the greatest honour to be his best friend Ian and Ariana's little daughter, the beautiful Miss Kiera.  Ian is already Madison's Godfather.  Andy and him go way back to childhood.  We unfortunately don't get to see him as often as we'd like, since he is in the Armed Forces and lives about four hours away and is very often overseas as part of the UN as well.

It was so great that he was able to be home for the holidays, the boys actually just came in on Christmas Eve on the last flight home.  What a wonderful gift to have them home.  Not only is it already a really hard job being away in very dangerous zones, but being away from family and loved ones is also very challenging.

So over the holidays once Ian got back, Kiera had her baptism and was of course so happy to have her Daddy back home safe and sound, as we all are.

Here are some pictures from her big day.  This was my, as well as the girl's first time meeting her, and what a little doll she is!



 God Bless Kiera!

Thursday thought...

There's the age old expression that kids say the darndest things, or out of a babe's mouth, etc.  Well Maddie said the cutest thing this morning which of course brought out my roaring laughter, which needless to say isn't always welcomed, but I just can't help it since it's so darn cute!

So it went something like this...the girls were talking and somehow the subject of an upcoming Ped day was being discussed, when Maddie suggested that Caitlin could bring Roxy (our bird) to school on her next "Ped" day.  Caitie and I had to think about that for a second in our morning half woken up state, when we realized that Maddie was thinking that a Ped day is actually a Pet day, LOL, so cute!

Made it to ten!

Back on October 7th last year, we celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary, yes we made it!  We had always said how nice it would be to renew our vows on a beautiful beach somewhere with just ourselves.  Much less stressful than the first time!  Then, of course, how perfect that we had two little girls of our own that were just dying to be flower girls!

At the time, we weren't sure if it would be possible, but once I started trip researching, I found an amazing deal and on a whim, we just booked it and made it happen!  It was so nice, and also so special to do this together and especially as a family.  Here are some pics from our special day.

Caitlin had a smaller bouquet like mine and Madison carried the rings

 It was so picturesque

 I love this picture of the girls!

The gardener made this beautiful ring holder out of a coconut, Maddie just loved it!

So now...onto the next ten years!

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go!

As much as I was actually looking forward to a nice long summer at home with the girls, I have been actively job searching and after numerous and grueling hours of interviews and testing, a good offer finally came in that I've accepted! 

I have been looking for a while now, and although I was getting very used to my time at home, I haven't turned down any opportunities that have come my way, that was my logic.  Enjoy this time and if something good comes, don't pass anything up.  I had been with my company for almost ten years so it will definitely be a complete new beginning, and back to downtown, which is not that appealing, considering I worked only ten minutes from home, but I am actually looking forward to this new opportunity.

Besides, the commute may just get this huge butt back in gear!!

Crazy hat day

Last week Maddie had a crazy hat parade day at daycare.  They told us to go to the dollar store and buy some sort of hat.  I love making things with the girls and doing crafts and stuff, plus it's so much more original.  So...although Maddie was against making one at first since they were told to go and buy one, we managed to put together the below result.  It was just adorable on her and the daycare just couldn't get over it all day, so she ended up being really happy and even kept it on when we went shopping that evening!

Baby Girl is now 8!

So today is Caitlin's 8th birthday, my how time flies!  Where did the last eight years go?!  I know I definately feel about 20 years older, but it still feels like just yesterday when I was waiting in the hospital FOREVER (27 hours to be exact!) to get to meet her and hold her and call her mine.

She is growing into such a young little lady and we are so proud of her.  She is so kind, gentle, sincere, smart, beautiful and let's not forget a little bit moody, but we just love her to pieces and I am just bewildered by her all the time and am so fortunate that she is mine!

Happy Birthday baby girl, I love you!!!  XOX

Here are some pictures from her birthday party last week and this morning. 

  her MP3 player from Uncle Jamie and Auntie Sylvia

and let's not forget about our little baby girl!

Maddie turned 5!

Back in January, Maddie hit the big and defining moment of turning 5!  She woke up to a room full of balloons and a path leading to her presents.  She is our little Tinkberbell girl which I just love, Caitlin never took to her.  Mind you if I refer to her as my little Tink, or anything else for that matter, I am very quickly reminded that her name is nothing other than Madison!

She is at such a fun and amazing age and just comes out with something new every day, like big words, new attitudes, etc.  Here are some pics from her celebrations.

 Oma joined us for dinner

 

as did Nigel (our violin teacher and adopted family member!) 

Maddie's party with friends and cousins

I'm Back!!

So it has been almost a YEAR since my last entry!!  Seems like life has just taken over my every breathing moment!  I've decided that my blogging was something I really enjoyed and was a form of documenting our lives events, I am going to make an effort to get back to it!

Where to start....how much goes on in one year???  Well let's see...Madison is now a whole handful at 5 years old and is just coming out with the most amazing and hillarious things and is still my little baby girl no matter how much older she gets!

Caitlin will be 8 years old on Saturday already!  She as well will always remain my baby girl no matter how much older she gets, like it or not!  She's almost done with grade 2 and simply amazes me each and every day with all of the knowledge and skills she attains!

Madison has gotten accepted into Caitlin's school which is a huge relief and a great thing.  She's excited about going to Caitlin's "big girl" school although I know she will miss her little buddies at daycare.

Caitlin has finally learned how to take off on two wheels recently, she just wasn't ready to until now so we didn't push her.  Madison is now so excited to follow her sister on her new rollerblades.  They are both growing up way to fast for my liking, although I must say, each and every stage has such awesome things about them, and some not so awesome, but we won't go there for now!

So that's about all for now for my welcome back entry.  Here are some pics of the girls last weekend.  Now that the weather is finally decent, snow has finally melted, although believe it or not they are calling for some this week sometime, the girls want to live outside!

There's no stopping them now!