Face Painting and beach fun!

This past weekend my friend came out for a night. We decided it would be fun to go to the Bridge Street Bazaar for a little walk and check out the vendors and have some lunch, and when we got there we saw that they had face painting booths. Once we found the one we liked best, we had the kids faces painted. They both sat very still and were so good that the lady was excited to paint them both. She wanted to do something little on Alexander's arm, but I convinced her that he would sit still if she did his face. I was very happy that she took my words for it because his face was ADORABLE! She is a GREAT face painter. I wish I had thought to get her card! We found a little vendor and had some lunch, and Mackenzie saw the bouncy castles, so off she and Jill went to go play. She loved bouncing and sliding! I was also lucky enough to find a few perfect presents for my parents for Christmas! YES I have officially started Christmas shopping! 2 down, a zillion to go!

After a rest at home so Alexander could nap, we went to the beach. Unfortunately, the swimming was warned against due to bacteria, but with 2 splash pads, 2 play structures, and the beach to play on, the kids had a great time anyways!

Cottage playdate #1

My niece and nephew were up at my parents cottage for a week so I figured it would be a great time to have Alexander's first cottage playdate that week. Jill, and Shannon were in for the playdate as it's relaxing for them too, so everything was set! We headed out in the morning and got there just in time for a swim. The kids LOVED playing in the water. Of course this year again, Shannon and Jill didn't get all the way in the water, so I was the only playing, but it was fun. We got the moms a little wet with water guns and had them on the run for a little. After a short swim, we had a wonderful lunch provided by my mom the consisted of sandwiches, fruit, veggies, deviled eggs, chips, and cheezies. It was DELISH! When everyone was sufficiently satisfied, I decided Alexander was in a good enough mood to go for a short boat ride before he had to go for his nap. This year the girls were brave enough to drive the boat and seemed to think it was neat. They also liked to look out the back and see the wake that the boat left. When we got back, Alexander when down for his nap and the girls and I went for another swim. While we were swimming, my parents set up the tube that gets towed behind the boat, so the kids could have a quick ride. Mackenzie is still too young so Lilly and Rhiannon got to go together and had a blast! I went with Tanner and it was so much fun! After the tube rides, we all got dressed and my mom had a surprise for the girls, S'MORES!!! I have not have s'mores since I was at Girl Guide camp so it was a YUMMY treat! Last but not least we celebrated Alexander's 8th Monthday with his cupcake. Seeing as he is not yet allowed to eat his cupcake, Lilly and Mackenzie got to share it. It was a great day spent with wonderful friends!

Alexander's first Canada Day

Canada Day this year was especially exciting as it was Alexander's first! We got all our gear together and started the day off by spending the early afternoon with Dave, Olivia, and Quinn. It was nice to just chill with them, have some lunch, and lots of desserts. An old friend Karagh came by as well and we were able to catch up quickly before moving onto our next destination.

Next stop was the day celebrations in Carleton Place. There was not all that much for Alexander to do, but there was a petting Zoo, and music, and it was such a beautiful day that we were able to sit and visit woth friends. He LOVED the animals very much and enjoyed feeding and petting them. He had a lot of fun playing with our hats and waving the little Canadian flag.
After all the fun in the sun, we went home for Alexander to have a MUCH needed nap, and we enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner, courtesy of friends, Dominic and Cathy. When dinner was done we woke Alexander up from his nap and got all packed up again and headed back down to the beach for the fireworks. I was apprenhensive at first because I was afraid that the noise of the fireworks would scare Alexander, but he LOVED them! He couldn't take his eyes off them! It was a wondeful day filled with great friends, great food, and great fun!

Teddy Bear Picnic

Carleton Place Teddy Bear Picnic came to the rescue! When we got home last night from Ribfest, my little 6(ALMOST 7) year old neighbour came up to me and told me matter of factly that "there is a Teddy Bear Picnic here tomorrow", and the told me simply to "just Google it". After getting over the inital shock of being to to go Google something by a 6 year old, I thanked him, and did what he told me to. I went inside, looked it up, and indeed there was a picnic here, so we went today! It was very small, but they had lots for the kids to do. They had games, a BBQ, decorate your own cupcake, B*A*S*H, mini putt, a bouncy castle, face painting, and items to bid on! Everything was purchased with tickets, and tickets were $1.00 each, so we bought a bunch of tickets and the first thing we did was get Alexander's painted. He sat like a champ while it was being done, and he seemed to like it. We then went to the Fire Truck. I knew he would love it since it's in his blood. Even the lights and sirens did not phase him! There wasn't really anything else that Alexander could do, so we put the rest of out tickets in for prizes and low and behold we won tickets to Saunders Farm! Woot! It was a WONDERFUL day! Face painting

Lovin' the fire Truck

With the Mascot

Mommy's little Puppy!

Lovin' Stan's car!

Ribfest - Good food, Good friends

We were planning on going to the CHEO Teddy Bear picnic today, but it was cancelled because the ground at Rideau Hall was too soggy to support all the people and rides. So instead we went to Ribfest and met up with some good friends. The weather was not the greatest but we were able to meet up with everyone we were hoping to, unfortunately some for less time than others, but understandable considering it was rainy. We took a walk around first as we were ther before everyone else.

Alexander at the Eternal Flame on Parliment Hill

Newly renovated Congress Center

Jen and the kids were the first to get there, and with 4 hungry growing kids we decided to get food and eat rather than wait. This is the company we decided to get our lunch from(it had the shortest line!)

YUMMY ribs, brisket, pulled pork, beans, coleslaw, and bread

We got to our tabel at 73 West outside on Sparks Street(thank goodness we did because it rained a little while we were eating. Will we were eating Dave, Olivia, and Quinn arrived and we ate and chatted, and passed around the kids.

All of us(minus Mike) digging into the delicious meal!

Alexander wanting Daddy's beer

Dave, Olivia, and Quinn

Olivia and Quinn

At this point we were all done eating and it started raining pretty hard. Jen and the kids, and Davie, Olivia, and Quinn decded it would be best for them to go home. Shannon, Marc, and Lilly had just arrived so we decided to buy an umbrella and wander around for a little with them, and keep them company while they ate.

Shannon, Marc, Lilly, and Alexander

Busker who did fire eating, and unicycle while juggling swords

It really was a wonderful day, and we are very glad we were able to see everyone, get out of the house, and have a great afternoon, even if we did get a little wet.

OUCH! Running doesn't like me!

So...I ran Monday night, as promised on here, and I couldn't complete what I set out to do, but I did about 1/2 of it, and walked the rest. I need new shoes. My feet cramped up so badly that I wanted to take my shoes off and walk in my sock feet. So, I am going to see what the Dr. says about my xrays tomorrow, and then my plan is to go to Bushtakah and get a proper fitting and then get the right shoes. I really want to continue running and improve. The way I feel tonight, sore...REALLY SORE, I think it will really help me loose the weight I want to and maybe even become a good hobby to keep me in shape and healthy. If the Dr says it's ok, and I get new shoes, I will run again tomorrow night and see how day 2 goes!

Trying to lose weight - how to do it?

OK...so this weight that I put on when I was pregnant with Alexander is NOT coming off, and it's making me angry. I have been wearing my maternity pants up til yesterday when I finally cracked and bought a pair normal jeans at Old Navy. I am sick of not fitting into my normal pants and we can't afford for me to join a gym, swimming laps would be great but again it costs money, I have been doing Zumba on the Wii, going for long walks, and I have been trying to eat better. NOTHING IS WORKING. Seriously I didn't lose even an ounce this past week. So, I am thinking I might start running. Now, this is a big deal for me because as a kid I was not a runner, as a matter of fact I couldn't run. My asthma wouldn't let me do it. So, I am going to try again. I have found a site that has a program designed to have someone running 5K in 9 weeks, and I am hoping that maybe I can do it. Now I that I have posted this on my blog, I will have to be accountable for actually following through. First run today...at some point...when I decide to get off my butt to go.