Leg Warmers

My friend Rita gave Ali these leg warmers and I could squeal they are so cute!

I had to buy this white dress so I could put together this outfit with these darling leg warmers, her newborn ruffle bloomers & hair bow, and her birthday bubble gum necklace!  She looked so cute at church!

When I was pregnant with her I bought her 5 other pairs of leg warmers, so this week we had leg warmer palooza!

Monday- A Star is born!

Tuesday- Hello Cupcake!

Wednesday- Flowers & stripes forever!

Thursday- Hey pretty butterfly!

Friday- Damask and dots.

(I do not want to sit on this wall any more!  Len was behind her in all of these photos supporting her back so she wouldn't fall.)

I can walk now, woo hoo!

This outfit doesn't have leg warmers, but this is what she wore to church the following Sunday and I just had to share.

She looked so cute in her crazy pig tails, and she just pranced around in her little tutu skirt.

Thanks for letting me play dress-up with you Ali!

Mini-golf

For August's parent-child date, Len took Noé out.  They went mini-golfing then got Blizzards at Dairy Queen, yahoo!

Summer-long Slumber Party

This summer my kids had a slumber party together every night we were home, except for Saturday nights (they would stay up too late and be really tired Sunday mornings for church).  They had a system worked out for rotating through the coveted positions on the sectional and the less desirable places on the floor.  They would watch a kids movie on Netflix each night, then conk out.

Hiram would stay up with the kids, but once he was tired he would put himself in his own bed.  He's a smart kids and knows that a bed is way comfier than a floor.

But the silly goose was sleeping sideways on is bed, and where are his blankets?

Ali is still too little to join in the slumber party fun, but I love how she's all snuggled up in the corner of her crib.

After she heard me take the previous picture, she rolled over and put her little bum in the air.  This is my favorite kids' sleeping position- they just look so precious!

Soon enough Hiram and Ali will join in the slumber party and I hope my kids do this every summer!

Good Friends!

In honor of my birthday, my dear friends took me out to dinner at Nando's then we went to see the light show on Parliament Hill.

Thank you Jackie, Laura, and Mary!  I am so grateful to have you as my friends!

The kids got to play with their friends Liam, Talia, and Ruby several times this summer too.

Hooray for good friends!

A day to celebrate

To celebrate my 40th birthday, Leonard took the day off from work to take me on a date again.  This year has been so fun with his birthday date, our hot air balloon ride, and my birthday date- we should turn 40 more often!

 

We went downtown to play tourists and rode on the open air double-decker bus.

 

Taking a "couplie" from our seats at the back of the bus.

 

First stop, Parliament.  This is the Centre block and there are also East and West blocks on each side of Parliament Hill.  The Peace Tower is the clock tower that looks similar to Big Ben in England.

 

The National War Memorial was originally built to honor Canadians who fought in World War I.  It has since become a memorial to "all Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have served Canada in time of war in the cause of peace and freedom--past, present and future."  Unfortunately, it is also the site where Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was killed last October, so sad.

 

The Fairmont Chateau Laurier was built during the railroad tycoon days, and someday we are going to stay there!

 

This War of 1812 monument was built 3 years ago to commemorate its 200th anniversary.  It's interesting to me as an American married to a Canadian that both of our countries see themselves as the victors in this war.

 

The 14 flags of Canada- 10 for the Provinces, 3 for the Territories, and 1 for the Nation.

 

Ottawa, Ontario is the capital city of Canada.  However, it really is Part A of the capital and Part B is Gatineau, Quebec.  This is the back of Parliament across the river from Gatineau.  The round building on the left is the Library of Parliament.

 

Cute maple leaf on top of the street lights.

 

The traffic lights in Quebec.  Every time I go there I feel like I am in a different country.

 

Back on the Ottawa side of the capital region, here is Leonard's place of work- the Lester B. Pearson Building.

 

The guards on display outside of the Governor General's residence.

 

It was such a lovely day to have a birthday!  Looking back at Gatineau across the Ottawa River.

 

The beautiful Notre Dame Basilica.

 

The Rideau Canal, is a great place to visit in the spring during the Tulip Festival and in the winter during Winterlude when it becomes the longest outdoor skating rink in the world!

 

This is the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument in Confederation Park.

 

Back to the beginning, Parliament Hill.

 

I had to take a picture of my lion-hearted husband in front of these regal lions outside of the Ottawa central post office.

 

We turned the corner and saw this guy ready to party with us.

 

What a cutie in his birthday hat!

 

We visited "Territorial Prerogative" on our way to D'Arcy McGee's for dinner.

 

We came home to have dessert with the kiddos.  These peeps are still my favorite gifts ever!

 

We had the yummiest coconut cream cake, simply divine!

 

If my birthday was any indication, I think my 40's are going to be fantastic!

Another Four Decades

How did I turn FORTY?  Seriously, this life is just flying!  Don't get me wrong I am glad to have made it to 40.  I remember when I was younger my mom telling me that she still felt 21 inside and she didn't recognize the old lady in the mirror.  Now I understand!  I hope I have at least another 60 years left though, so please don't call me "middle-aged" until I reach my next decade, ha!

 

I spent my 10th birthday with my Dad.  We went to see "Back to the Future" at the movie theaters, went to the park to feed the ducks, then went over to our friends' house where I was surprised with a fun party!

 

I spent my 20th birthday with my Mom.  She took me to the salon and I had a day of pampering.  I got a mani-pedi, facial, and my hair done in this fancy up-do.  I was supposed to go to a wedding reception that night, but I got a horrible headache and ended up staying home.  I was all dressed up with nowhere to go!

 

I spent my 30th birthday with Kaleb and Noé in Las Vegas at a pool party with our family and friends.  Len was supposed to be in language training in China when we bought our plane tickets.  His work decided to send us to Taiwan a year early instead, so the kids and I took one more trip home to see everyone before we headed to Asia.

 

I spent my 40th birthday with my sweet hubby and kiddos.  Len took the day off work and we went on a date (I'll post more later), then we came home to have a yummy cake with the little ones.

Happy birthday to me!