Oh Justin Bieber....

We love this haircut.

New haircut

As you know,

We love Pike Lake.  It's perfect - it is close to the city (45 min from our house, 20 min from wal mart if all hell breaks loose), there is a lake OR a pool, min golf, a little store, and the greatest, yet most simple cabins ever.  They are like tents with walls, beds, and a fridge. 

We went twice last summer and promptly booked in for two weekends this summer (and yes, we are booked in for next summer). 

So our first trip was a couple of weekends ago.  We went with the Spagrud Smith clan and were joined by a gaggle of good friends during the day.  It was the start of what I hope will be a bit of a tradition - good friends coming out for the day and staying for  a wiener roast.  We also did a fish fry b/c we had about 3 trillion fish fillets to share.  Won't be doing that again anytime soon.  That was a lot of fish, and a helluva lot of frying on our teeny tiny fry pans.

Anyway, Sean (friend, photographer, and misguided Tragically Hip fan) took these pictures and shared them with me.  They are fantastic and I'm so glad he took them b/c I'm pretty sure I didn't take a single picture.  It's as if the weekend didn't happen.  Most are of the hot dog roast at the end.  The little girl is Sean (and Lara's) daughter Juliette, the baby is Natalie.  I think you'll find Denver in a couple and his brother Lakai, and Morgan's Georgia.  And the cute guy with the guitar?  He was playing all my old favorites, it was the best part of the night for me.

Georgia, Lakai, Maddie, Juliette

Best Friends

After almost two weeks apart, Maddie and Mackenzie spent the day together today!  When Mackenzie first arrived they were "bored" for about 3 minutes.  But they haven't stopped playing since.

I've been down in the kitchen puttering around and I can hear their chatter up in Maddie's room.  Here's what I learn:

Maddie is in labour.  But don't worry, Mackenzie is supporting her through it. 
"I'm so tired"
"You can sleep while they take the baby out"

Then I hear Maddie convincing Mackenzie to carry her "like a man".  (Insert image of prince saving princess here)

A few minutes later Mackenzie tells Maddie she has to make the bed b/c they are moving and new people will be living in their place.  I guess their current apartment isn't set up for babies.

I told this to Lisa, she told me to get some pictures.  Well,  it's basically wildlife photography - next to impossible and good shots are rare. But they were happy to pose with their new baby. 

After this shot, they were off on their MOE=BEEL.  (mobile?)  I'm not really sure where they were going.

Highway Girl

So, these pictures are taken near Roblin (aka Jewel of the Parkland) were I spent my teenage years (and met my soulmate). Anyhoodle, this has always been one of those stretches of road that seem to dip and sway but I guess this summer it went a little farther than usual.

I don't know all the details (I could look it up but frankly I'm too lazy right now). These pictures have been coming up on facebook - I didn't take them. I used to travel this road all the time when I would go and see my Grandma in Birtle. That drive (about an hour) is one of my most favorite drives - I always enjoy it and usually have myself convinced to move back to the area by the end of each trip. It's so beautiful. Not flat, but full of rolling hills, trees, fields, farms, and memories. I just love it. Always reminds me of how much I love the prairies. I am truly a prairie girl and so glad to be back.

Here are the pictures. Google if you want more info. Or call my dad.


p.s. 50 pts to the first person who gets my title reference...

Safe and Sound

Maddie is home now after spending the past week in Flin Flon with Grandma and Grandpa B and Uncle Britt. She had a great time and I'm sure wore them all out!

Uncle Britt took two days off work so he could take her to the beach. He also took her shopping and spoiled her rotten. She adores him so I'm glad they were able to spend so much time together.

But...what do two parents do when their pride and joy is away?
1. sleep in
2. eat supper at odd hours
3. go out for steak, baked potato, drinks, and finish all that with some dark chocolate pate
4. NOT listen to kid music in the car
5. sit on the deck from 4:30 to 6:30, drink a beer, read a book and NOT cook supper

Oh, Maddie we did miss you, and we are so glad you are home with us again...but...we're glad you were able to have the adventure away!

Good friends

I love that our house is on the way home for Keely and her family. It means I get to see her way more than I used to. And it's always so great to visit and spend time with her kidlets.

Raffi knows

"all I really need is a song in my heart, food in my belly, and love in my family."

this breaks my heart a little...

"Mom! I can reach the tap!"

STOP GROWING!

peonies

a bump in the night?

More like a loud freakin' bang.

Let me back up. We went home this weekend, arrived pretty late on friday night. Maddie went straight to bed and was sound asleep. I had some music playing in our room (she slept on a mat on the floor beside our bed) as well as the fan. As I was settling in for the night I could hear coyotes.

I says to myself: Jeepers, they are loud, I can hear them over the music and fan. Hmmm. Just as I turn the music off (so I can listen) I hear BANG.

Ken has shot the rifle into the air. (Shot gun? I don't really know the difference in sound. Probably shot gun?)

Anyhoodle. Maddie just kept on sleeping. I came out to see what was going on and Ken said the coyotes were pretty much right outside their bedroom patio doors. A little too close. But we didn't hear another peep from them after that.

Sammy, as you know, does not like many things. Her list includes (but is not limited to) hot air balloons, full moons, fireworks, thunder, yelling. Friday night we added gunshots to her list.

She spent the rest of the night tucked in safe and sound under one of Marion's brass and glass tables.