Happy 5th Birthday Vanessa!

I can't believe my baby girl is 5 years old... that just sounds so old. I remember being 5 years old myself!! It has been a great year with Vanessa. She has been so busy with skating lessons, dance class, gymnastics and swim lessons - loving all of them. She attended the Montessori 4 days a week too. The school year has just come to an end and she walked away with awards for "Good friend", "Great Improvement" and "Best Behaviour".

I have had some really cute conversations with her lately... it's so funny to hear what goes on in her mind. One morning she asked me "How did you know my name was Vanessa?" My answer was, "Daddy really liked the name so I agreed to call you Vanessa". She looked so surprised and said "Wow that was really lucky because my name really was Vanessa". Good guess on our

part. LOL!

Today as we were driving along she asked "Do I have babies in my tummy?" I told her "No, not exactly but one day when she was older, after she decided who she wanted the daddy to be she could have a baby in her tummy". She thought about this for a bit then said "I wish I was older now because I really want to see my baby girls, Ashley, Rosebush and Ella". LOL! She plans to one day move to an island with her girls and learn how to talk to animals. (Not a completely original thought- sounds very much like the plot to Barbie the Island princess) She is very entertaining to say the least.

For her birthday this year I took her to get her ears pierced then straight to Iain's office for a special BBQ lunch with him.

That evening her cousin Nolan and Auntie Melanie came by for cupcakes and to exchange b-day gifts (Nolan birthday is 2 days after hers)

And finally this past weekend we celebrated with her friends at "Fairytale Palace". Vanessa was in heaven getting to dress up and be the centre of attention with all of her close friends.Vanessa is a feisty, sweet, girly girl that loves her brothers and being with her friends. I am truly enjoying watching her grow up. I can't wait to see what this next year will bring.

Fathers day and wedding fun

Another fun filled busy weekend. Saturday Iain and I were invited to a wedding so we headed into Burlington to enjoy a very nice night with close friends and family. The parents of the groom have been friends with my parents since high school and every year since I was 11 years old our families (along with 3 other families) would rent cottages for a week in August together. I've known all of these people pretty much since the day I was born (or they were born given I'm the oldest of all the kids) Always so nice to see everyone... here we are- all grown up. :)

We always like to get a picture of the family when we're all dressed up together too...

Sunday we had a gorgeous day to celebrate some of the great dads in our life. The kids were so excited to give Iain the crafts they made at school. Vanessa made Iain a painted rock that says "My dad rocks" lol! Troy made him a cardboard necktie with a poem on it and Ty made him a

pop-up card.

After Ty's lacrosse practice we gave Iain some free time to spend with his bicycle and I took the kids over to my parents place to visit and swim with my dad.

We ended the day in our own backyard having a BBQ with Iain's sister and dad-who was trying to teach Ty how to golf.

It was a very nice weekend with family and friends.

RTCC weekend

For about a year now Iain has taken up a new hobby. Bicycling. He actually sold his motorcycle and purchased a decent bike and threw himself into it- shoes, helmet, computer gadgets, and the outfits... well apparently they are very comfortable b/c it certainly isn't a fashion statement he is trying to make. lol! He has been training all winter long on his indoor trainer and more recently has been able to get outside to cycle. A few weeks ago he did his first organized ride with a neighbour of ours. Over 100 kms up and down the hills in Muskoka. It was all leading to this past weekend though. The Ride to Conquer Cancer - Toronto to Niagara Falls - 220 kms in 2 days. He left Saturday morning at 5am, in a thunderstorm, to drive to his departure spot downtown Toronto...it was not looking good as far as the weather was concerned but Iain was still so pumped to do this. By the time he departed at 8am the rain had stopped and he had a dry, comfortable ride into Hamilton - where he spent the night, in a tent, with a stranger, listening to other people in nearby tents talking, snoring and passing gas. LOL! He figures he got about 3 hours of sleep but was up at the crack of dawn to tackle the last 115 kms... unfortunately in the rain.

Sunday morning I got the kids up and we headed into Niagara Falls to greet him at the finish line. We stood there for 2 hours cheering others on as they finished - ready with camera in hand to get a picture of Iain's big moment crossing the finish line. Of course 2 hours later the kids were getting restless and started acting up so I turned my head for a few seconds to let them know I wasn't happy and as I turned back around I just barely saw Iain riding past the finish line... ARGHHHH!! I was so upset! I completely missed the photo opportunity but at least I got to see him finish what he had worked so hard to accomplish. He was so happy to find us and spend the day with the kids and tell us all about his ride. It was a great day and I love that the kids have him to look up to for his ambition and perseverance and his desire to tackle new challenges... because Lord knows those are not my strengths.

I made him pose at the finish line...

He is already talking about doing it again next year! :)

Swimming in May!?!

I'm realizing that almost every post lately is about the good weather. What can I say? We do love the sun!! Last year I could count on one hand how many times I took the kids over to swim at my parents place and this year we have already been swimming!! On Sunday while Iain successfully completed his first big bike ride (110 km in Muskoka) the kids and I spent a beautiful sunny Sunday by the pool with friends. Hopefully a sign of things to come this summer.

In un-weather related news... Vanessa's dance recital on Saturday was adorable and she was the best dancer out there. :) Ok so maybe not the best dancer exactly but that girl has huge enthusiasm and is in her glory dancing up on that stage (no pictures were allowed during the show but I got a couple backstage)

Today is a very exciting day for the kids... their joint birthday present from Nana and Papa arrived and was installed in our backyard this morning. I can not wait for them to get home after school to see it... It has been entertaining Troy all afternoon.

Watching and waiting anxiously...

Its only a matter of time before I get out there on the swings. It looks like so much fun!!