It took us awhile but we finally got Austin to a Mooseheads game. I wan't really sure how the outing was going to go. Oz hadn't napped and G had been out helping his sister in the morning so I had him a little worked up (playdoh and hockey will do that to my kid!) I fed him some lunch, got him dressed and once G came home we jumped in the car and headed into the city. I think G and I were more excited than Austin. He didn't really understand until....

DE GOWIE!!!!

 Oz spent most of the game in awe. We were in the second row from the ice and had a great view! His jaw dropped and he cheered and shouted at the players. The biggest problem that we had was that between periods Austin wanted us to get his skates and hockey skates because according to him it was "Austin's turn to pway hockey". The statement was followed by tears before we were able to distract him with Hal or a game on the ice. He made fast friends with the ladies sitting in front of us. In fact one of them game him her bell so that he could cheer even louder!

Checking out the hockey mans with Daddy.

 We need to do this with him more. What a great memory and a great family afternoon. Nothing crazy, just fun times together. I love my family. I wish I had something deeper to say but really, it's pretty simple. I have an awesome husband, a great little boy and another baby on the way.  Life is good!

Catching up: First day of Spring

I'm behind, but I promise I will catch up! Not too long ago  it was the first day of Spring. It was a gorgeous day, G had to work, so Austin and I went adventuring!

Oz eagerly got into the stroller (I was so worried he'd fight it and want to walk on his own), I grabbed my camera and we were off.

Bird's nest (we scared away the birds when Oz called out to them)

Home from a walk with Mom!

Austin took this one....pretty good!

Here come the tulips!

This plant didn't even grow last year so I'm impressed!

I cannot wait for the spring weather to set in. We've had some chilly wind and snow since spring started. I just want to get outside!

4 more sleeps!

You'll notice that my blog has gone pink to the extreme... That is because in 4 days I will be participating in Bust A Move to raise funds for a world class breast health centre right here in Halifax.

I want to thank all of my friends and family who have helped me raise money for this very worthwhile cause. I am always impressed and humbled with your generosity. People think I'm a bit crazy for participating in this at 7 months pregnant but I really think that 6 hours of exercise is nothing. When I think about the battles the women and men who have breast cancer go through for their lives, it is the very least that I can do.

Sadly, we all know someone who has been touched by this terrible disease. The wife of a former coworker of G's found out she had breast cancer shortly after finding out she was pregnant with her first child. I can not even imagine the roller coaster that Cara and Simon rode...the incredible beautiful high of finding out that you have created life and that a baby will be joining the family, and then the blow of hearing that dreaded word..cancer. How do you wrap your mind around something like that? I can not even begin to put myself in their shoes. Thankfully their beautiful baby boy is doing so well and Cara is still in treatment.

Cancer has claimed more than its share of my family (my grandfather and my great uncles on my Dad's side) and has impacted more than one friend. I am glad to be doing something, anything, to help people dealing with cancer.

If you've been thinking about making a donation and haven't yet done so, I encourage you to visit my home page and donate online. Every penny counts. Gifts of $10 or more get you a tax receipt!

You can make a difference in the life of someone who needs you. Donate, participate, volunteer.

Post a comment and share a story of someone you know who has been touched by cancer. Inspire us all to do our part!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Thanks Kelly for snapping this pic!

And a very happy birthday to my awesome sister Janice! Hope that you have an awesome day!!

Bust a Move with Paula? Yup and I'm bustin' the Bump too!

Only 16 days to go before Bust a Move 2011!!! I can't wait to participate in this event. Yup....me and the Baby belly are going to join hundreds of other people in a six hour work out banaza to raise money to establish a world class breast health centre right here in Nova Scotia.

Last year I worked my butt off to raise $1000 in order to participate. I worked out 4 days a week leading up to the event and then, the weekend before, I had just about the worse gallbladder attack ever. I begged and pleased that it didn't need to come out right away and managed to persuade the over worked, overbooked surgeon to let me make an appointment to schedule the surgery. All was good. I was back on track to join my team mates at the event...until.....

I ate French Onion Soup.

Maybe it was to cheese, or the red wine in the broth but either way one hot, delicious bowl of cheesy, onion goodness later, I landed back in the ER Tuesday night, was minus one internal organ on Thursday morning and was forbidden from participating in Bust A Move on Saturday.

I was crushed. I really, really want to join in and so I signed up again this year....and then found out I was pregnant. I've talk to my doctor and she said I could do it as long as I took it easy. So I'm going to!

Below is a message from Paula...I'm so excited! STRAIGHT UP! I can't wait for the 26th!

Sunday

I love Sundays. We rarely make plans and try not to have to rush around anywhere. These pictures are from last and it was 1pm...lol.. did I mention Sunday is also a pj day?

Sundays are made for playing play doh and reading stories. Austin puts on his purse (otherwise known as an apron...don't ask me when apron turned to purse) and joins me in the kitchen. We make muffins, fruit salad and get supper ready. Oz loves to play at the sink and sing the washy washy song as water flies everywhere. And I don't care. It's water. The mess can be cleaned up, memories are more important!

Organic apple juice and playdoh!

Oz loves helping me cook

Today is Sunday and we've got another day of memory making ahead of us.

The whirlwind tour of Corner Brook

Corner Brook has the biggest Winter Carnival East of Quebec. And these people take Carnival seriously. One year the carnival torch was carried from Marble Mountain to Humber Gardens for the opening ceremony...only problem was that the weather was so bad that the torch kept blowing out and needed to be re-lit several times and visibility on the road was so poor that the Carnival Van hit the runner (Danny Kane) a few times before they finally arrived for the big show.

In 1998, I competed for the ultimate prize....the role of Winter Carnival Ambassador. For two weeks a slew of of local teenagers compete for the two top spots. One girl and one guy would have the honour of representing  the young people in Corner Brook. We build a snow sculpture, did some volunteer work, went curling (I spent more time on my arse than I did sweeping the rocks down the ice) and then we had a grand finale show where the winners were chosen. I was in complete disbelief when I won. I actually turned turned to one of the other girls and congratulated her! I thought she was a shoe in and I never imagined that I would actaully take home the title.

For two weeks I attended every Carnival event possible. We ate a ton of great food, danced, judged contests (seriously if I had to hear Ace of Base one more time at the lip sync contest I was going to lose my toutons!) and got locked out of my house at 3am one random night! The first day back to school after it was all over, I fell asleep in Chemistry class and I don't think my teacher was too impressed! The drawback was that I had to wear this crazy coat that, while festive and historic to the Carnival event, was not exactly my style...

Yup...the embarrassing coat fit over my bump and my mom made me wear it!



The point of that ramble is that this year is the 40th Anniversary of Carnival and they invited the past Ambassadors back to attend a reception to mark the occasion. My flight was suppose to leave at 11:30pm and didn't get off the ground until 1am. At 4am my sister and I crawled into bed and woke up in time to head to the spa. That evening I went to the event and it was great  fun! My cousin Laura was there and it was great to spend some time with her before we both headed to a bingo party...yup a bingo party!

Carnival Queen of '76, Ambassador '98 and 2000



Leif cutting the cake

So much fun being home!

More pictures and stories to come...

Our visitors from the West

A few weeks ago, our busy house got a little household got a little busier! In the early hours of February 13th, Gordon made two trips to the airport to pick up 1 university friend, 1 adorable baby boy, 1 man with giant hands and a chocolate lab. Yup Laura, John, Eli and Scotia came for the night!!!!

Austin and Eli had a great time playing and Scotia seemed to enjoy throwing his bone around the house. It was great to hang out with Laura and John. And of course I took too many pictures (although is there really such a thing?)

Dude, we were on a plane all night...I need a fix!

Who needs a real dog, I can pull this one around!

Our favorite Halifax pub!

humm...sweet potato fries with currie mayo or fried pep?

Banana.....I like food!

The face that matches the most annoying sound in the world!
Actually the sound was not annoying.. see for yourself:

It was awesome having little Eli around. I loved watching him try to stuff a full cracker in his mouth and laugh and giggle at Austin as he played with him. Austin love EI and had to hold him in his lap a few times. I was too busy freaking out about him dropping the little guy to snap a picture, so you'll just have to trust me that it was beyond cute! Austin is going to be a great big brother.