weddings, family, and fun

What a fun family visit. It started out with a great day of shopping at the new HUGE mall in Calgary. ahhhhh, I miss my Canadian stores. I had so much fun and it was even better because JP (aka Jen my sister) surprised us and came down. We ended the day with a trip to Joey Tomatoes (Which I love). The only problem: Joey's is not child friendly and our children are very friendly. At one point Ockey took off (with his shoes and socks off) and ran around the restaurant with Eve hot on his heels (she also had removed her shoes, I didn't know this). So there we were, Me chasing Eve and Dave chasing Ockey. I must be alot faster because it only took me half of the length of the restaurant to catch Eve, while Dave had to make two full laps before he caught Ockey. I think that the entire place was glad to see us finish and go. Needless to say we tipped and praised our waitress like crazy (she was soooo good and patient)


This would be Asher enjoying his meal (they didn't have highchairs or booster seats).


We had a shower for Cammie and Eve was thrilled! She got to hand Cammie all her presents and was quite content on not taking any of them (they weren't toys). She was so impressed with the hat our nieces made Cammie too. I totally think it would have been a great veil for the wedding, but Cammie is a tad picky.


The Beautiful Bride.


I am sure that many of you know I am not a big fan of the use of a kilt for weddings, especially because they are often over used. However, when the groom is actually Scottish (not just from Scottish decent, but actually from Scotland), then I am ok with it. All the tartans did match (which I think makes it look better). If you wore a kilt to your wedding please don't be offended, it is my opinion only and you are entitled to your own.



Eve and Ellie having way too much fun.



Asher was handsome too. Although the shoes didn't last long.


The night before the wedding my niece Alysa put Eve's hair in 'rags'. The next morning Eve had an afro. It was a bit hard trying to figure out what to do with such curly hair, but we managed to work it out and I ended up loving it. Now I wish her hair was always that curly.



My two handsome men. Cute as a button and so good looking;)


my sissie Becky and my nieces Mekaiah (who is getting married at the end of May) and Samara (who better not be getting married for a LONG time!!!!)



My best bud Alex (When Alex was a baby I lived really close, and I spent so much time with him that often he would go to me over his mom). Alex is now 8!!!! Happy Birthday Bud!



The Cake. It isn't slanted, the picture is. That would be my great photography skills. I really liked the cake; however, I was in charge of setting it up the second day and totally botched it up. It looked so gross. Oh well, I have some great shots of the first day.



The Family Dinner (which I am not sure is traditional or just Southern Albertanal. No one else has really heard of them. FOod was yummy though. The decorations were great and I will NEVER do that again. I am hiring a wedding planner for my children. I don't think I have the stamina to decorate like that. It took forever!!!! Cammie don't be sad, I don't resent you, but never again for any of us!!! You were the last. Final! DONE!

Ahser's 2 birthday parties for a 1 year old.

Our buddy is 1!!! He is big enough to be 2 so we had 2 parties for him, one in Calgary with Mark's mom and one here in Houston with just us. Eve was a bit more into it and if it was up to her, he would have had a pink princess cake and Dora toys as gifts.




Eve is a little less excited about the birthday party right at this moment, I think she had a bit too much sugar this last week and bit too little sleep.


Hmmmm.... who is more excited about the cake?





Our party at home was very low key. I didn't feel like making a cake (can you blame me, I still haven't finished unpacking). We bought some muffins and icing from Krogers and that was Ahser's first birthday cake (honestly, it tasted better than what I would have made anyways)


I am all for letting him eat his own cake, but I am too lazy to have to clean off the icing, so our little birthday boy had an icingless cupcake (like he cares). Most of the muffin ended up all over the floor and on his head.



Present excitement. Eve ended up loving Asher's gifts more than he did. He was all about eating the card.

Happy Easter to everyone.
Eve decided to make her own Easter Bonnet this year (to save money she recycled Asher's Easter Basket, we have taught her well)



We thought it would be fun this year to make cupcake chicks. I hate boiled eggs and so decorating easter eggs is not my thing. I was also way to late and forgot to order the dyes for Ukrainian eggs, so the cupcake chicks were the best I could do. I must admit, they were way more fun than coloring eggs and tasted 10 times better. The kids loved them!!!!




Here is what they were supposed to look like.


Eve is smiling proudly with the one I helped her on. It took a matter of seconds before she devoured it; no hands were used, it was a full face plant.



Here is one of the more creative chicks (a mutant to some, a work of art to others). Amalie had a great time eating it, I think she replaced the eyes and whatever else the jelly bellies represent about 3 times.




The Easter weekend was such a blast, we got a little outdoor stove and had a wiener/marshmallow roast with our good friends. Ahhhhhh, it was so nice. Now we just need some outdoor chairs so it can be comfortable.





And we couldn't put a post up without showing our cute kiddies, I know that is why people are reading our blog anyways (not for us, but to see the cuties). We put up the playpen for Asher outside so he could hang out with us while we did yard work; well, Eve insisted she needed to be in it too. They are hanging out munching on Cheerios.




Our little buddy is taking after his dad and working out. He tried to lift it, we might have to start with some lighter weights.


Hmmm, I just love this picture.

Our babies look alike!!!

Today I took a few more shots of our kiddies. I was thinking that it has been a while for Asher, and since we have literally a zillion shots of Eve at all ages, I thought Asher needed some more.
I realized while I was loading them up, Eve and Asher look a lot alike. Here are some shots of them both at around 10 months.


So the first two are obviously of Eve, I realized all my photos of her are now off the computer and on a disk. I didn't realize I was so efficient. Darn it. These were the only two I had. The second one is earlier (she is chubbier in it).






Now Asher.




btw-Asher just started pulling himself up to a stand and walking around. I found him this afternoon standing in his crib walking back and forth. He pulls himself up at the stairs and is so proud of himself (I will have to get a shot of his toothy grin, it is pretty sweet).






I love this photo. Asher gets so bugged by Eve. She pulls him, squeezes him, tickles him, and generally bothers him like crazy. This is a perfect shot of him not appreciating 'the love'.

the tv stand

Before
After a long anticipated wait, here is the 'hunk of furniture' (as Mark called it). We wanted a tv stand for our new home. I had an idea of what I wanted it to look like and this is what I had to work with.
It was cheap, and heavy.






AFTER.
So this is it. After 5 coats of paint (sanding in between), intense freezing 6 am mornings in the garage painting before my kids woke up, and watching 2 seasons of 'Spooks', it is finished. We are now waiting for the tv to put on it, but I like it the way it is.



The doors, the bane of my existence. They took 1 hour per coat each! I had to use a small art paint brush to get in all the grooves. Don't look too close, you can still see where I messed up.


I wanted a white wash look on the top, and thanks to my friend Sarah (who is so knowledgeable in all things painting and re-finishing) I got the look I wanted.




OUr good friend Craig helped Mark cut down the doors on the inside so we can fit our cable box and dvd player. Thanks to Craig, Sarah, and Tammy (who encouraged me) for all the help. I really like it... so for anyone reading this, if you don't like it please don't tell me;)

cool wedding ideas

I still think that it should be custom to have another wedding (with the same husband OBVIOUSLY) a couple of years after your first. By that time you know what you want, you know what to focus on, and you get to wear another pretty dress. I don't even want any presents, just the pretty party. Oh well, here are some cool ideas for weddings. I am not super into country, but all these are pretty cute and I love, love, love the bouquet.








I thought this was such a cool idea for center pieces and party gifts. Who doesn't like strawberries and homemade breads. How adorable.