Ahhh Bliss...

Mountains, Castles, Massages, Mineral pools, and sleep!! What else could a girl ask for!! Oh right, the worlds best husband!!!

Friday was my birthday, and we used that as an excuse to have a mini getaway...Since we have the beautiful mountains right in our backyard we decided to treat ourselves to a Romantic night away at the Banff Springs Hotel and boy oh boy did we have a great time!!

Friday, my thoughtful husband decided to take the day off of work so he could spend the day with us...he knows my favorite thing in the world is to hang out as a family...My brother, Sophie and Gabe stopped by with flowers and chocolate and a little visit...Then we went to go see our sweet little nephew Marko, who shares the same birthday as me...

Hard to believe he is already 8!!!

On our way home we stopped in for a quick visit at mom and dads house...mom had this delicious cake waiting for me when I got home...

Kirks parent arrived later that night, we went over the kid instructions and Saturday morning we left at 9am to our Mountain Oasis...

We stayed at the world famous Banff Springs Hotel...

Ohmygosh, this place is unreal...Built in 1888 this "Castle" like hotel is just oozing with character and old fashioned charm...

We started the day in their exclusive Spa for massages, then headed into the mineral pools and outdoor hot tub and melted into complete mush while enjoying the breath taking fall scenery surrounded by the Rockies...

We stayed on the "Gold Floor" which was recently renovated, and had a lovely Private lounge with all sorts of snacks, yummy food and all the drinks you wanted...

This was the view from our room, over looking the Bow River...

It was plus 25 outside, we ate lunch on the terrace basking in the warm sun and enjoying some fresh mountain air...

We napped, we ate, we laughed, we lounged in the hot tubs, steam rooms, and marvelled at the scenery and the amazing architecture of this old beautiful hotel...

We went into town for dinner, and laughed at how old I was acting by wanting to go to bed at 11pm...

I'm not sure why I look so gigantic in this picture...lets go with a bad angle?!!?

We missed the kids like crazy,

and our several phone calls kept reassuring us that they were just fine without us!!

Thank you my love for an amazing time...

...it was just perfect!

 

Family pictures

We had some family pictures done a few weeks ago and they are now up on the photographers website...They are only up for 7 days, go have a peek there are some pretty cute ones!

http://www.jodirenee.com/

Go to client section...Password is Slone

Alyssa's Big Week!

Eek this post is long over due...It was a busy week of colds, Alyssa's big week and a visit from Erv and Joyce...

We started the week with us 3 girls sick with colds...Little Leah was the first with runny yucky nose and a barky cough, thankfully she was still in a great mood and not too cranky...Poor Alyssa was pretty sick, she always gets a really croupy cough and we even had a midnight car ride with the windows down so she could catch her breath....I was also pretty sick and miserable all week...Thank goodness the boys didn't get sick...as much as we love our boys,  I'm not sure I could have handled them both being sick when I was sick as well....we are pretty much better now, still some lingering coughs and Kirk is feeling a bit off but not too horrible...

Last Monday was suppose to have been Alyssa's first day of Ballet class, but she was so sick poor kid didn't even want to go...I felt bad for her because I know how excited she was...

Wednesday was Alyssa's very first day of preschool...This day has been talked about for some time...other than being with her grandparents or Aunties/Uncles she has never been been left with anyone else, or left in a place without me...She did great, she had a bit of a lip quiver and came back out for a second but she just wanted her little school bag and then she went back in without looking back. She had a great time and has since been back 2 more times and we've had no problems at all...she loves it! I will admit, its probably been harder on me to know she's that big and now independent without me :( I did shed a tear leaving her at the school the first day... Its good for her though, she needs the stimulation and interaction with the other kids... 

  Yes, I'm that creepy mom taking pictures through the window!

 Thursday was Alyssa's first skating class...we couldn't get into the Saturday class with her cousin Sophie, so Papa Murray said he would love to take her to the Thursday class right before dinner...Not only was this her first class, it was her first time on the ice!!! She did amazing!! She was very eager and excited and Papa was great with her....She had a great surprise when her Momma Joyce and Papa Erv, along with Daddy stopped by to watch her...She had another class today and she did even better, skating all on her own (ok inching along at a snails pace!)..She was excited to proclaim to Papa "Papa, I'm doing it all by myself!"

Thursday night we had Momma and Papa back to our house for dinner and they spent the weekend with us...It was great to have them, it seemed like it had been a really long time since they were here...

Saturday we went to a carnival put on by Generations of Hope, which is the fertilty assistance fund that I volunteer for...I was so happy to show off my beautiful kids to my friends and the dr's who helped us create our dreams come true...We had so much fun, despite the freezing cold day!

Sunday we had dinner at Auntie Ronda's and the cousins all played nicely...We can't wait for the new baby in 3 months! Next year there will be 6 little ones...how fun will that be!

This Monday Alyssa was finally able to go to her ballet class...She was so stinking proud it, not to mention she looked adorable! She was a little apprehensive to stay by herself but she did go, and I was once again that annoying mom snapping pictures...I was the only one who stayed and creeped through the window...OMG it was so adorable, I almost wet my pants when I looked through the window and all the little 3 year olds were doing "The sprinkler" to some serious hip hop music that was blaring...so freaking cute! She came out and said she "LOVED IT"...She's been practising every day since...

All in all this was a monumental week for her in her little life (also for me to admit she's growing up!) and she rocked it! I am SO proud of her for not only trying all these new things for the first time, but for doing it with so much excitement and enthusiasm...Mommy loves you little girl!!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Well we are now definitely feeling like winter is around the corner, there is just something about fall that kicks everything into high gear and just feels different...

Alyssa has a big week this week, she is starting the first of many childhood activities and we are beginning a new chapter of our lives running around taking her to all these things...Mondays are ballet class, Wednesdays and Fridays she in Preschool, Thursdays she is taking skating lessons...She has never been left on her own before, only with Momma's and Papa's and Auntie and Uncle...she does have some seperation anxieties so I hope she can make it through this week without too many tears...

Kirk is starting his hockey season this week...I am on the Images of Hope volunteer committee again this year and we had our first meeting last week...Plus we have seasons tickets with my dad again for The Calgary Flames...So busy busy busy we will be!!

We had a lovely visit last week with Auntie Liz, Uncle Dennis, cousins Amanda and Greg and little Anna..This was the only picture we got, but it was great to see everyone! Of course Auntie Liz was happy to baby snuggle!

Last week I found a frog in the backyard while I was mowing the lawn..I made the mistake of showing Alyssa and brought him inside...This little guy is now a permanent member of the family and resides in an old fish bowl in the kitchen window..he's super cute, I'd really love to let him go back outside, but Alyssa has declared that she "Loves him" so Daddy said she could keep him...funny though I'm pretty sure I'm going to be the one taking care of him!

I was hoping all summer to take the babies to the zoo, so we finally made it before it got too cold...Everyone was well behaved and it was a fun family day

Leah even fell asleep in daddy's arms...

This picture is for Momma Joyce..Blake eating and loving his first Perogy!!

Little Leah just relaxing getting her back scratched...she would have stayed there all day!

Our little fashion diva..Loves to try on clothes and often declares "That doesn't go together" or insists on wearing her favorite clothes often..We went on a 3 hour shopping spree to get clothes for the fall and she had to try them all and was very particular with what she bought...

Leah and her Papa, looking awfully cute in her new headband..

Little Dolly...

Alyssa practising her moves for ballet class...

Daddy took her this weekend for some new hockey skates, he loved taking his first kid shopping for skates, they had fun walking around the house trying them out..Papa Murray is going to be taking her to skating classes on Thursdays during the day...

What better outfit to wear trying on skates than a pink dress!!! To match the skate guards of course!

The weather has been so yucky last night we went far a walk in our winter coats...

and the babies wore toques...Yuck!

Inspired...

If I had my child to raise all over again

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes of the watch, and watch with my eyes.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

~Diane Loomans~

I came across this quote today, and felt inspired...to be a better mom and live a better more fulfilled life...The truth is, at the end of our lives we will indeed wish we loved more, worked less, worried less and enjoyed these moment with our family more...