Cardston With Friends

We had a great opportunity to watch my friends two kids ( Sloan 5 and Jenkin, almost 2) for the weekend. I have been friends with Sara Williams ( Heninger) since we were just little. We had a great weekend in Cradston. Josh studied with a few study breaks and the kids and I had fun together staying busy. We were also lucky to have a big snow fall for the weekend so we had to have some fun out side. Since Papa Stewart lives in Cardston he came to visit us for a bit ( bringing goodies) and joined us sledding. We all had a blast with Sloan and Jenkin!

Swimming Lessons

This was Lincoln’s first time in lessons. From our Caribbean adventure Lincoln got very comfort in water and a good little swimmer. Lincoln was in private lesson at the University of Lethbridge. We decided to put him in private lessons so he didn’t have to do all the levels and be stuck with kids who weren’t as comfortable with water. Since he was in private lessons they were able to asses him and put him in the appropriate swim level. He was able to skip over the age 3 levels, the preschool has 5 levels, they started him at level 3. I only took him 3 classes then he moved on to level 4.  It’s nice they don’t make him take all 8 classes to pass one level. Lincoln really enjoyed his swimming lessons. At Lincoln's second class he's teacher told him he's a very strong swimmer, he's fast, very flamboyant, and has no fear in deep water. He has to work on proper techniques like kicking with his legs straight, rather then bending at his knees. When you keep your legs straight when you kick you, are doing more a efficient kick helping you to swim faster with out tiring yourself out.Before Lincoln's 3rd class he sees his teacher and another swim teacher in the distance, and he says "They sure look nice and pretty. Don't tell them that.” So cute! Lincoln's 5th class he more then mastered the back stroke, he swam 60 meters ( 3 wide of the max bell pool.. I can’t believe it. I’m so proud of my swimmer. They are only required to swim 10 meters. He is also learning the front crawl and side crawl.

Lincoln was excited to go to every single swimming lesson. This boy loves the water.

My Caribbean boy froze his first few swimming lessons so we got him a wetsuit. Canadian swimming  pools are so cold or we have just been spoiled.

For Lincoln's last lesson they got to have some fun in the canoe, which he loved.

Sliding down the canoe slide. Lincoln had a blast doing this.

Lincoln's swim teacher Devany. He even made sure to give her a huge. She was an amazing teacher for Lincoln.

We have Lincoln registered into more swimming lessons which start next week.

Family Day

Josh and I got back to Magrath late Sunday night right before the kids went to bed. We had a great weekend away but doesn't mean I didn't miss my kiddos. After we put the kids to bed we got to spend the evening in the hot tub with Scott and Melissa. It was a fun night visiting outside under the stars.

The next day it was Family Monday. What better way to spend the day then with your family. It was a chilly day but I still felt like we should take the kids for a bike ride/ walk, even if it was a short outing. We headed over to the Magrath fish pond and let Lincoln ride his bikes on the walking paths over there. I'm so glad we did as we all really enjoyed our selves. Lincoln had a blast riding his bike on his own on the curvy paths. It was chilly but so worth getting a bit of fresh air.

Our little family

Lincoln and Lacey with Nana & Papa Harker

When we got back we had some fun playing air hockey and ping pong in the basement. Lincoln gets right into both games and is quit competitive.

We then finished off our great weekend with going to Oshos with Nana & Papa Harker. The kids loved the traditional seating and also the food. Glad we all had a fun weekend with family.

Nana & Papa Harker's

While Josh and I were in Calgary, Lincoln and Lacey got to send the weekend at Nana & Papa Harker's house. This was Lacey's first time away with out me, so I was a bit nervous leaving her.

 Lacey survived and so did I. Lincoln and Lacey had a busy fun filled Valentine's weekend.

Thanks to Aunt Melissa for taking pictures of Lincoln and Lacey's weekend.

Saturday morning they headed into Lethbridge to the Home Depot craft day. They had a blast making their Valentine's flower pots.

Then off to some mini-golfing, which I hear the kids loved.


Then back to Nana & Papa Harker's to enjoy the hot tub and roasting hotdogs on the fire pit.

Sunday they got to enjoy more family time, made Valentine's cupcakes and did some Valentine's art with Aunt Melissa.

Calgary Getaway

For Valentine's this year, Josh and I got the opportunity to have a little getaway. This little break was much needed as this was the first time that Josh and I were able to get away with no kids since Lincoln was born, so almost 5 years. Crazy! We headed to Calgary for over nighter.  Lincoln and Lacey got to stay at Nana & Papa Harker's house in Magrath. Josh also got a much needed break with no studying. We did some shopping, had a nice dinner, got to explore downtown Calgary a bit and just enjoyed being with the guy that I fell in love with over 7 years ago. I'm so glad I have Josh for eternity. He's my husband and best friends. He means everything to me. I love how I can talk to him about everything. He's a great listener. I love how much he loves me, Lincoln and Lacey. I'm so glad to have him in our lives. I'm thankful for the great weekend we had together.

Peace Bridge with downtown Calgary in the background.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a couple things that I love about Lincoln and Lacey.

Lincoln can be very shy till you get to know him. He's a fun boy who loves life and having fun. He loves helping out around the house and being the big brother. Lincoln loves adventures and being outside. He loves his nightly snuggles at bed time. His favourite color depends on the day. His favourite food at the moment is dried mangoes, peanut butter nutella waffles and smoothies.

Lacey is wild and crazy. She's very much a daddy's girl. Which I find insanely adorable. Lacey loves doing exactly what Lincoln is doing, which at time drives him nuts. I love how much she loves up to her brother. Lacey's favourite color is PINK. She loves everything pink and everything needs to be pink. Her current favourite foods are bagels with lots of cream cheese, blue berries in yogurt and cereal.

I love these two, they make life so much fun!

Is it February?...

For Canada the past few days have been pretty nice out, well for February any ways. So we took the opportunity to enjoy some Canadian fresh air at the park. It was nice to get outside and just enjoy the afternoon with some of Lincoln and Lacey's friends at the park.

Cookies

To get into the spirit of Valentine's we maded heart shaped sugar cookies to take to some of our loved one and also to enjoy ourselves. Lincoln and Lacey had a blast. They loved putting sprinkles on each cookie. We had a fun night decorating sugar cookies.

Valentine Party

Lincoln and Lacey had a great Valentine's Party with their day home friends. Lincoln got Teenage Mutan Ninja Turtle cards for his friends and Lacey got Frozen cards. Lacey wasn't a big fan of her friends touching her bag while they were putting their cards in for her. I think she thought they were taking it from her. Lincoln and Lacey loved all the cards, toys and goodies their received. We had a fun filled day.

Middle pictures are the Valentine crafts we did for Valentine's over the last few weeks.

Immunization

We had to get Lacey all caught up on her immunization from being away. While we were in the Caribbean we did a couple of the 12 months shots in St Maarten, but they didn't offer one of the 12 month shots. We were following the Alberta immunization schedule and the Caribbean immunization schedule was different so they didn't offer the same shots. We also weren't overly happy with the nurse who did the shots at the clinic we were at. I know seeing your kids get shots aren't the easiest but the nurse had a very cold personality and wasn't very friendly. After that experience we just planned to get Lacey all caught up with her 12 month and 18 month shots when we got back to Canada. As we have always been happy with the nurses at the health unit here in Lethbridge.

We got back in December, when I called to make our appointments they were booking into February so thats when we scheduled Lacey in. She was 29 months when she got all her shots, she is now all caught up. Lacey did pretty good, well there was a lot of screaming and fighting trying to get aways from me while I was holding her as the nurse gave her, her shots. She did settle down right after as we were going to go get a treat for getting her shots. Lacey choose a cute TY pink owl. I wanted this to be a good experience to remember. She seemed pretty happy she got an owl for her owies. Lacey had to get three shots this time around but since she was squirming so much the nurse got the needle in but didn't get the drug in so she had to get an extra poke. She was only fussy/ irritable for the next two days. Lincoln was a bit put out that he didn't get a toy so he's been asking if he could get needles too. So we booked him for his 4-6yr old immunization on March 10th so we can go get him a toy afterwards.

Lakeview Park

During our bike ride Lincoln spotted a park. We sure missed parks while we were in the Caribbean so when we see a park in Canada the kids want to go play on it. We couldn't turn down some more fun as we were outside already having a great time. Lakeview Park is the park to the Elementary School that I attended. It was fun being able to play on the park that I use to when I was younger with my own kids.

Bike Ride- Learning to ride

Lincoln had a Strider bike that we took when we went down to the Caribbean. I think that it was the best thing we could have possibly brought him. He basically rode the bike more then he walked it felt. He loved his Strider. Lacey was lucky to get a strider style bike from a family that left the island. She loved it and having a bike like Lincoln. We had to leave both bikes behind when we moved home to Canada. It was hard, but know that they would get new bikes from Nana & Papa Harker for Christmas which made it easier. With it being a snowy winter we really hadn't had any time to play on the new bikes. They tried Christmas day for about 5 mins and not since. This last Saturday it warmed up a bit so we took the opportunity to ride bikes. Plus we got helmets the same day from Nana & Papa Yamamoto, so we were set. Lincoln's new bike was not a Strider but a pedal bike. He was great on his Strider and knew how to balance on it so we were excited for him to have the chance to try his new bike. We tried with no training wheels as he already knew how to balance, he just needed to figure out how pedal at the same time. He caught on fast, after only trying for 5-10 mins he got it. He was riding his own bike. He was pretty proud of himself (I was lucky enough to catch the look on his face as soon as he realized that he was on his own). Lacey loved her new pink Strider bike. Given that she already had a similar bike in Saint Martin she just gets on and goes. Did I mention she loves PINK and everything pink, so she lovers her pink bike, and helmet, and anything else she can get her hands on.

Today was a great day that I want to freeze in time, but of course we can't. I'm glad we were able to capture this special moment of Lincoln's first time riding his pedal bike.