A Day Spent As A Family!

This past weekend we were to head up to Camp Work Weekend (okay, well technically Steve was heading up for the weekend...the boys and I were just going to go up for the day on Sunday)....but due to some unforeseen excitement, we decided to stay at home as a family.  Which was a FANTASTIC decision for us all!

After Church on Sunday, we had lunch with Steve's parents, let Ryder have a quickie 1/2 hour nap, and then headed to the local Petting Zoo (note: if you are from Lloydminster and have never been to the petting zoo - you need to go....very cool for little Lloydminster!).  

Ezra had a great time!  When we were done, we asked him if we could go and he kept saying "no not quite yet".  So many unique animals to look at and it was a beautiful day to be outside as well.  

First stop was the retile building - full of snakes, crocodiles, alligators, lizards and more.  We "apparently" arrived at a great time - they were bringing a snake out for all to hold and/or touch.  NO THANK YOU!  And Ezra agreed with me...he was not at all keen to have the snake close to him.  Ryder on the other hand, who more and more each day is proving to be our fearless son, had no issues with that snake being close to him! 

They even had turtles out to touch, feel and feed!  

Again, our fearless son was all over this turtle idea!

After the reptile area, we headed over to the more "exotic/large" animal area.  This area consisted of lions, wolves, bear, raccoons, and others.   Tidbit of information that I learned in this area: lions only eat every 3 days (or at least 3 lions :) ).  

Checking out the Arctic Wolf (I was quite surprised by the size of this wolf.  I had always imagined/thought that they were huge....they are big but not as big as I thought they would be.  

Ezra was quite excited to go and look at "Grandma Farm's" horses...he couldn't really understand that they weren't Grandma Farm's...so we stopped trying to correct him :)

Then off to the Petting Zoo area that you can actually enter into the pens.  

First up was feeing the donkey....

Then over to the goats (which was my personal favourite!)...

Ryder wasn't too sure about sharing his grass.  

Then over to the "ugly" sheep - they really need to be sheared!

Then to the pigs!

And when your dad dares you to kiss the big fat pig on the ear and you are 2 1/2 years old...what else do you do....listen to him!  As your mom takes the picture and thinks in her head...DISGUSTING!

Over to the calves (there were 2 baby calves and also a buffalo calf...but the buffalo calf wouldn't stick around for a picture).  

Once we were done at the petting area...we headed over to the bird area.  Ryder LOVED the peacocks!  

And then we finished off our sightseeing with the camel and lamma's.  

Once we finished at the Petting Zoo, we headed home...with one important stop!  

Dairy Queen - after all, they do treat you right there!  :)

What a great day to spend as a family of four!

Up....Down....Up....Down

We decided to stain our deck last week....although it really has turned into a more time consuming project that either of us imagined.   Ezra is Steve's shadow (unless his Grandpa Oliver is around...then he is his Grandpa's shadow).  So since Steve was painting...Ezra also needed to paint (with his mom watching holding her breath! :) ).  He did really well...kept repeating...up...down...up...down...

Isn't my husband Mr Sexy in his get-up :)

Pre-Mother's Day Treat!

My dad called me one day saying that he felt that mom didn't have "life" in her step...which I completely agreed with!  She is an amazing mom, grandma and woman who is constantly putting others before herself.  It had felt like if she didn't have grandchildren around her, that she was dealing with calving or normal farming spring activities.  Mom needed a break and dad wanted me to come up with something (and keep it a surprise!).  I LOVE surprises and I even more love them when they involve mom because she HATES not knowing what is going on.  

Nikki and I booked the three of us into a full day at the local spa - facials, massages, pedicures, manicures, lunch, make up, and hair.  It was a glorious and relaxing time.  We then planned to take her shopping (which she doesn't enjoy!) and then out to The Root (a local, very cool, restaurant!) for supper and open mic time.  

Nikki arranged to have mom come in to watch her kids...LIE!  I was waiting for mom to arrive at Nikki's and once she did, we just told her to get in the vehicle....she sooo had no idea :)  It was great and drove her crazy!  We didn't tell her anything about the whole day...each step was another surprise.  

I'm so glad that we were able to be part of mom's day off....a completely free day where I got spoiled as well - my dad is the best!  

Chicks Dig Me!

My mom's chicks arrived a few weeks ago...so we headed out with the boys to have a look at the chicks shortly after they arrived.  Ryder was pretty nonchalant about it and Ezra, well, he was very different than last year.  Last year, he wanted nothing to do with them...this year...we could hardly get him out of the chicken house!  He sat down right in the middle and wanted them all over himself.  I love when mom's chicks arrive...it seems to be the "turning point" for me and I am assured at that point that Spring has truly arrived.  

ps.  Today (May 20), when we were driving home, we stopped alongside the road so that Ezra could see the baby gosling with it's parents....Spring truly has arrived!

AAANNNNDDDD This is What Happens......

We decided to head up to Edmonton on Wednesday afternoon and spend some quality one on one time with Ezra.  We are so thankful for our good friends, the Willis' who willingly accepted Ryder into their home for 24 hours (cold and teething of all - he's a BAD TEETHER!), so that we could have this time with Ezra.  We checked into Fantasyland Hotel - to the delight of Ezra we checked into the Truck Theme Room!.  Once we checked in, we quickly grabbed our swimsuits and headed down to the Waterpark to catch the last hour of swim fun.  Ezra had such a great time in the kiddie pool area going up and down the slide...and I loved that area as the water was warm!  Steve also had the opportunity to "enjoy" one of the new watersides.....his response when he was finished "WOW, that was a RIDE!".  

We are realizing how important it is to still spend one on one time with each child.  We were reminded of this during our time with Ezra.  He was such a patient, fun, loving, kind little boy.  Not that he's not like this all the time - he is, but he also adds in: winey, crying, pouting, and fighting with his brother.  It was so nice to have just him, to compliment him, to pour love upon him, spend time with him, and to realize how much he is growing up!  When we woke up Thursday morning, Steve headed off to an appointment and Ezra and I headed down to McDonalds for some breakfast.  Once we were done breakfast, we spent a bit more time in the hotel room and then headed to do some shopping.  

I told Steve that I was going to buy Ezra some jeans.  I have only ever bought Ezra jeans at Baby Gap - not because I'm that kind of mom - but because it's the only place that has skinny and long enough jeans to fit his skinny long frame.  I've always known that Baby Gap was a weakness for me...they have super cute boy stuff.  But yesterday, when we headed in there.....I tried to keep the blinders on...but just somehow my right eye was able to sneak a peak and WHAMMY I was sucked over to the little girl side.  I'm pretty certain that Ezra was bored, since he came up to me many times asking if I was done.  

So in conclusion, we learned the following during our time in Edmonton:

1) It is very important to spend one on one time with each child

2)  The water park is super cool when you take your child and see things at their level. 

3) Ezra will ask repeatedly to go back swimming...even at 7:15am!

4) Always check to see if you can open windows in the hotel room so that you aren't roasting while trying to sleep

5) Our bank account will always have looked better after going to Baby Gap when little boys were only involved.  Now, well, the picture below I'm sure explains things....

ps.  After our time at Baby Gap and showing Steve my many purchases...I realized that our baby girl is very equipped with many dresses.  Apparently, I need to start looking for pant and shirt outfits.  :)

Like Father, Like Son

Ezra - 31 Months

Like Father, Like Son.....

or as some say....

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree :)

Sleeping with his gun!

Playing in the Mud

Wearing a Helmet & Goggles while Riding His Bike