This is what you get when you don't blog for 3 weeks

For all those interested, keep reading, but there will be a lot of information and a lot of pictures because I have a lot to cover. Since I'm not even sure who reads this blog, I am viewing it as a way I can keep myself motivated for journaling our lives. So, read on, at your own peril.


I am constantly amazed at what Madeline will do in her room when she has quiet time or nap time. If she isn't tired, she spends most of her time opening every drawer, unpacking every shelf and emptying every container. Lately she has also been moving her bed to the middle of her room. Her newest "thing" is taking off all her clothes. Most mornings we go to get her and she is naked. It's pretty funny.


We had a really good Spring break. We spent some time in Wetaskiwin and went swimming, we went to West Ed with Uncle Greg and took in all the fun rides. We broke out the bikes and the bike trailer. The girls fit so much better in it this year since Maddie is bigger and Claire can hold herself up so much better. We spent a lot of time having fun together and just being at home. It was very nice to catch up on projects and have that time to ourselves. Ryan and I even had a movie date in the middle of the day! We went to see Monsters vs. Aliens IMAX and it was my first 3D movie experience. It was great. Madeline started her Gymboree class and she loves it. It is a perfect fit for her. Ryan also got to spend the day at the Patrick farm playing paintball and quadding. Here are some pictures from the week:

Both the girls just love the Merry-go-round at West Ed

Here is Daddy & Maddie on the train.

Here is Mommy and Claire on the train.
Luckily Uncle Greg came with us so we could all go on a ride together
without fearing that our stuff would be stolen.

It's so much easier with an extra set of hands!
Here is our little vampire baby.
Our first bike ride of the year! They're pretty cozy in there, but it works great.
I caught this moment when none of them knew I had the camera.
Those are some of my favourite kind of pictures.

Ryan was giving Claire raspberries on her cheek and she was laughing up a storm.
I love her laugh - it is so contagious and natural.

I caught this sunset after an early evening rain.

It really made our gloomy alley-way look nice for a change so I had to document it!

Claire started her Little Bits Therapeutic horseback riding class last week. It was a very stressful experience. I was worried that she wouldn't be able to sit up on the horse and I was so focused on that worry, it didn't even cross my mind to be worried about all the gear she had to wear. We tried to put the helmet on her and she freaked out. We couldn't get her to stay still or stop crying so we were trying all different sizes of helmets, adjusting the straps, putting padding in and she kept getting more and more upset.

I was just so crushed because I thought this would be so good for her and I felt like it was going to be over before it had even started. Luckily Janelle was there because she was so patient. Luckily Linda was there because she suggested breaking the rules and sitting Claire up on the horse and then trying the helmet on Claire as the horse walked. It worked better than I had hoped. I was surprised at how the movement of the horse calmed Claire - I thought it might make her even more uncomfortable because it was such a new experience. The helmet still kept sliding down over her eyes, but they walked around the arena about 4 times before Claire was done. It was enough to give me hope. So now we have another week to get her used to wearing a helmet (and a soft-collar neck brace, as recommended by their physical therapist), before the next time we ride. Wish us luck!

The experience reminded me that I overreact too easily. Especially when it comes to my expectations of things. I lose my cool so easily sometimes. I was bawling in that Little Bits room when Claire was crying so hard, when she threw up because she was so upset. I had pinned so many expectations on this experience and it felt like it was all crashing down around me. I was ready to walk out of there and not come back. Often I'm prepared to deal with the big issues, but when sometimes little crops up, it sets me over the edge. Especially when it comes to Claire. Sometimes I feel like we already have so many things to overcome, why do we have to deal with this TOO???

I'm so grateful for calmer, more rational people around me who are willing to look at things in a different light before they freak out. I always look back on things and think, "Why did I get so upset? It all turned out just fine." I have to remember these feelings in the moment of crisis! I guess this is one thing that kids are teaching me - you can plan and plan and plan, but things can always change in the blink of an eye. Ryan is so much better at this than me, he'll always tell me that everything is going to be alright - maybe I should start believing him more often!

Speaking of crisis....just kidding. Ryan wants to buy...is going to buy...a motorcycle. I blame Trevor for all this because he had so many bikes and Ryan's gone out riding a few times and has caught the bug. I guess I can't put it off any longer. :)

We also had some good news on the home buying front...it is actually going to happen. I had thought that because I wasn't working outside the home that we wouldn't be able to afford much but after talking to a couple of different banks, we are feeling very encouraged. All we need to do is save a little bit longer and then we'll be ready to make the move. It is like a little glimmer of hope off in the distance, but I can see it now!

On a personal note, I need to lose weight. I keep recommitting and then things knock me off my feet like sickness or busyness, etc. I've been at the same weight for awhile now but I need to look better for Kathy's wedding, which is a mere 4 months away. I'm committed now to doing all I can so that I won't be the fat bridesmaid...well I still might be...but I'll try! I am exercising everyday, whether it is Curves or step class at the Kinsmen or bike riding or Jillian's 30 Day Shred at home. I am not going to eat anything after 7pm, no matter what! Instead of drinking juice or other things, I will drink water instead. I've gone to Sparkpeople and figured out a calorie and intake plan and I'm going to do it! (Well, I'm hoping that if I say it out loud and write it on my blog that maybe the shame of not meeting my pronounced goal will push me harder to succeed!) Anyone have any weight loss tips that have worked for them?

Well, after a week + 1 day Spring break, Ryan went back to school for 4 days and then we had a 4 day Easter weekend. I love the Elk Island School District. The people in our ward who teach for Edmonton Public always tease Ryan about how many extra holidays he gets, but I suspect it may be with a hint of jealousy. :)

We had a great Easter weekend. We got lots of stuff done around the house and the apartment building and had a nice visit in Wetaskiwin on Easter Sunday. We spent Easter Monday here - Ryan did so much work and so many errands, I'm sure he'll be glad to be back at school where I can't bug him as much. :)

Here are some pictures from Easter Sunday in Wetaskiwin.

Our Easter bunny comes on Easter Monday so the girls got their goodies this morning.

Maddie did have chocolate for breakfast but we only got her two
Kinder surprise chocolates, so don't judge too harshly.

We decorated Easter eggs after supper. I pre-dyed them because I could
imagine the cups of dye being spilt everywhere and it would be a bad scene.
So we just put stickers on the coloured eggs.
All Madeline wanted to do was smash the eggs because
she was convinced there was chocolate inside.
She was not impressed to find a boring old regular egg inside.

I hope everyone had a great Easter!