Butterflies and Birds

This Summer, we have been feeding the birds in our backyard...as well as a few chipmunks and squirrels.  Arabella loves seeing all the birds come to the feeder.  We have to be very quiet.  We even had a next or two in our backyard.  It is so nice to hear the birds chirping, we just love it.  Arabella's favorites are the cardinals.  They are very pretty.  We even had a momma cardinal who let us get pretty close to her one night....

But I think the butterflies in our yard have stolen the show.  They are all over most of our plants and there are so many of them.  Arabella loves it.  As soon as you walk out our back door they flutter all around you.  She even had fun one day this week trying to catch one or two...but she scared them off for a little while so she gave up!

Arabella's Photos

Arabella got a hold of my camera  a few times...much to Jay's dismay...and she started to snap away.  I think it is funny to see some of the pictures she has taken.  Some of them are pretty good and artistic and they are in focus.  Maybe she is a budding photographer...

Canada Day Celebration

Happy Canada Day....over a month ago!  Yikes, I am really behind on this blogging.  Canada Day is celebrate on July 1st and in much the same manner as the 4th of July!  We went to a BBQ at our friends, June & Mike.  They always have the fun bashes!  The guys played golf in the morning then in the afternoon it was time to join up with the rest of us for some fun pool time.  We enjoyed hanging out, playing in the pool and eating yummy food!  However, we didn't make it to the fireworks...since it gets dark here so late in the Summer (after 9:30 pm sometimes), the fireworks don't usually start until 10:30!  At that point, Arabella was way tired so we called it a night and went home after a great day!  Thanks again June & Mike for a fun filled day to celebrate Canada!

Expanding...

It's official....we are adding another member to our family!!

This was taken way back in May...so YES, that means I did the Spartan Race 8 weeks pregnant.  I know, crazy, but I felt good and took my time.  If I had any issues at all, I would have stopped.  Now that is one story we are going to be able to tell the baby! Arabella is so excited that she is going to be a big sister! She can't wait for January to get here!

So far, things are going good.  I am 17 weeks and not having any issues.  I'm still working out and and eating well.  The only real adjustment is to the different in maternity care here than what I was used to in the States...that and not being able to sleep well!

Birthdays, Birthdays, And More Birthdays!

There was a part of the beginning of Summer that every time we turned around it seemed like there was a birthday party!  First was Allyson's, then Kiera's, then William's, then Emma's...there were even a few that we missed!  We had so much fun at all of them.  It was great to spend time with friends (that seem a little more like family) and to enjoy the fun, food and festivities.  Since the weather was warm, many of the parties involved pools and bounce houses and being outside, which is always welcome since our Summer can be so short here! 

Allyson's Party...

And Kiera's...

And Emma's...

And finally William's...

 

Father's Day

We had a low key day celebrating Father's Day.  Arabella made Jay a stepping stone for the garden that said "Dad Rocks".  It came out really cute and Jay liked it.  It has a special place in our garden.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing and having fun at home.  Arabella and Jay had fun running through the sprinkler and playing with the water in the back yard to cool off.  Happy Father's Day, Jay!  Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for our family!  We love you!

Spartan Race

On a warm and sunny Sunday morning  in June (which seems like forever ago), I joined other members of my gym to take part in the Spartan Race at Mont-Tremblant.  Since March, I had been training for the race.  It was a lot of hard work but I did it.  The race which was supposed be just 5K ended up being 7.2K and it took us about 2 1/2 hours to complete.  I had been wanting to do a race like this for a while so when the gym was putting a team together, I decided to join it.  In the beginning, I was excited, then I changed to be thinking I was insane for signing up for something like this, but towards the race, I felt prepared and ready to go.  Even if I wanted to throw up the morning of the race!!  My friend Bram and I decided at if we were signing up, we would make a pact that no man or woman would be left behind and that we would do the race together, even if it meant we took all day.  It was good to have a partner like Bram through the race,  but also during training since we pushed each other and made sure we were doing what we were supposed to be doing.  In the end, I am so thankful to my fellow Monkey Bar Gym teammates, our trainers (Louise and Wendy) and for being able to complete the race.  Jay and Arabella were there to cheer me on and it was great getting a hug from Arabella as I came out of the woods wet and muddy and ready to tackle more obstacles.  She ran along the sidelines with me when she could.  Towards the end, I let Bram go ahead and I stayed back with another of our team members, and our coach/trainer Louise who had completed the course before us, cheered and walked with us to the end.  She gave me the encouragement that I needed at the end to get over the last few obstacles at the end.  It was a huge accomplishment and I cried once I crossed the finish line.  I know it might sound crazy, but I am looking forward to the next one.  Thank you Jay & Arabella for being my biggest cheerleaders and for supporting me along the way.

 Getting my numbers "Sharpied" on me!

 Our Monkey Bar Gym Race team!

 Waiting to take off...I was so nervous here!

 Coming out of the woods.  So happy to see Arabella and Jay!

 Bram, Pat and I keep going!

 A much needed Hug from Arabella.!

Almost there!!

After I finished, Arabella did the kids obstacle course.  She was so excited to do it and did a great job.  She missed the actual kids race because they were on the sidelines cheering for me.  But once I was done, we headed to the area where her race was set up.  We cheered her on and she even got a medal at the end.  She loved doing it and I can see her being a little Spartan Racer in the future!  Great job Arabella!

We finished her race together!!  Way to go!!

Bram, Arabella and I after our races!  We are Spartans!!