Taste of Edmonton

What would you do....On a friday when you allowed your children to have a bit of down time from all the other activities that we have been doing during the week, the baby is sleeping much longer than his usual nap time and you still have groceries to pick up before the weekend crowd arrives?

You would go shopping in the afternoon with all the kids in tow, right? It took me much longer than I would have liked, but we all fared pretty well. Evan was so desperately tired, apparently that he fell asleep in the cart. (He was quite the spectacle that kids and parents were in awe of this funny looking scene and couldn't help but stare!)

I made it to my 2 usual stores Costco and Superstore and then headed home to take care of a by then cranky baby and a van load of groceries. By the time I unpacked everything and put it away, it was only a hour before Spencer was due to arrive home. Well, I decided that I deserved a break, but then by the time Spencer arrived home, I just couldn't get started again, to cook dinner. (Even the flowers that he picked up for me didn't do it!)

So we packed up the kids and ventured out to Taste of Edmonton downtown at Churchill square. The food we tried was delicious. Evan my pickiest eater settled for some noodles from The Old Spaghetti Factory. The weather was beautiful and we let the kids (except Evan, he doesn't like getting wet, if we are not prepared) get wet in the fountains outside of City Hall.
Megan picked BBQ Ribs and Spencer and I tried some Vegan chicken curry with rice that was 2 thumbs up from us and we got some sweet potato fries a mini cheese burger and a couple of coconut ice creams. Phew what a start to the weekend!

20 Minute Challenge

Well we have been up to a few things but didn't remember to pack our camera along to share the joys.

On Wednesday at 6pm we drove like crazy to make it out to our first 20 minute challenge put on by The Running Room. You receive a free running hat (it was red this year) and get to run/walk for 20 minutes as a group. There were a ton of people out with dogs and children in strollers. The weather was a bit iffy. But we decided to go ahead...besides those big black rain clouds weren't going to produce anything, any ways. So with Aaron in his stroller and Megan and Evan along side us, we started out on our 20 minute walk. We enjoyed seeing all the flowers, the skate/bike park, a baseball game, watching all the dogs and being with other families. We made it to the 1/2 way point and got our water, but Evan was easily distracted by a small park that we came across on our journey. Since this was a casual thing...we gave the kids 10 minutes to play.

We were almost done playing, when a few rain drops started to fall. So we quickly hurried to get back, but not before getting drenched. We were by this time doing a mix of walking, running, and carrying the kids. My poor Evan had long since taken over the stoller and control of the only blanket that we had (he hates getting wet, if it isn't suppose to be part of the activities). Aaron was riding on dad's shoulders while wearing his adult sized running hat, while getting wet, but didn't seem to mind. Megan did bring her jacket was doing fine. In the end Aaron got the stoller back but not the blanket and since Evan's legs weren't working and we didn't feel right just leaving him there Spencer ended up carrying him back, while Megan jogged beside me pushing Aaron in the stroller.

It was only a short lived sunny shower, but when you aren't prepared and there is no shelter to seek out, it always makes for quite an adventure.

Now we only have 4 mores years to participate in this challenge and collect each new colored running hat, before we can upgrade to a bigger better prize.

I've already used my hat and love it.

Devonian Botanic Gardens

So we are slowly venturing out and trying to do something each week and with only about one nice rain free day a week....it's not hard to want to be out doing something.

Our first adventure this summer was to check out the Botanic Gardens out by Devon. It is run by the University of Alberta. There are a few greenhouses with different vegetations and a butterfly house. Then through out the grounds, they have different themes...the Japanese Gardens, Alberta Gardens, Rose Garden, Native Gardens, etc.... We chose a beautiful day to go and we even picked up our cousin to come with us. It would be fun to take some pictures out there and even take a picnic lunch, since they do have picnic tables. They even have a tour that takes you all around the gardens and they tell you about each section. It is a 45 minute tour, which you get to ride around on a super long golf cart. Evan said that we should ride on that fun looking car, but I knew that my kids wouldn't last. So we enjoyed getting some exercise and vitamin D.

Our day didn't start out too great for Evan. We parked near a curbed tree/flower area in the parking lot and there were tons of ants. I was busy getting Aaron settled in the stroller and everything else together, while the kids enjoyed looking at and bothering the ants. Poor Evan was standing on the curb in one spot too long and ants started to climb up on him! If you ever want to hear a little boy scream like a little girl....that was the time. I quickly brushed them off and reassured Evan that he was ok and them distracted him with getting inside the gardens. Hopefully there will be no lasting effects....

They have various classes offered there throughout the year, a little gift shop, a cafe, and an ice-cream stand. We indulged with some ice cream after our tour.

Beautiful blue butterfly in the butterfly tent. (It didn't fly away cause this one had since passed on!)
Ben by the Japanese Pagota and Evan trying hard to be in the picture.

Some of the many statues that you can spot throughout the gardens.

Ben, Megan, Evan and Aaron sitting in a willow chair in the herb/healing garden. Does anyone else love the soothing benefits of gardening like I do?

p.s. every first Tuesday of the month it is half price. Check it out. We give this place 2 thumbs up!

Phew! What a week...

"At last two go home and the party is done. How many are left? Could there be only....one?

The house is a wreak and the couch has been frosted. The food's been devoured and Mother's exhausted. But one little monster is grateful and glad. It's the best birthday party that she's ever had!"

This is a quote from the book Monster Math by Anne Miranda and pretty much how I felt at the end of a very busy week.

Please read the above quote twice. Once for Evan's birthday party on Wednesday and the again for Megan's party that was on Saturday.

Here's the highlights:

Evan had 4 friends and a pretty good first party with friends involved. It took him awhile to warm up to playing with his friends at his house, but enjoyed it by the end. He started off his day in a real sweet way...finally a cereal that he likes...this is his birthday card from us.

They all played downstairs with cars, dinosaurs, transformers and a ball toss game. Then our first activity was to make candy kabobs....yummy!

We then had a car walk instead of a cake walk. That didn't last too long, remember the attention span of 3 and 4 year olds! They did enjoy picking out prizes though.

We enjoyed some hotwheel car cupcakes (every boy got one, they were on the white cupcakes, hence none are left in this picture)and opening presents. He received too many to list, but did get some of what he loves, cars, hotwheels track, puzzles, books, outside things, workbench, transformer...it was a successful party. Megan was such a big helper at this party. Aka the butler, she helped keep the peace and enjoyed playing and being part of such a fun party.

Happy birthday Evan! He has grown so much and is such a fun part of our family. He is confident and happy and is learning so much. We are lucky to have him as part of our family

Megan had 4 friends over and a Mario themed party.

She started her day off with a new sugary cereal....golden Grahams. (aka our birthday cards this year!)

The kids decorated t-shirts first then we had lunch outside in our back yard; we're trying to enjoy all the nice weather that we can.

We then played a few party games...the yoshi egg stomp, unwrap the gift with 2 wooden spoons by rolling dice and getting doubles then we played hot potato aka pass the clue box. Some kids won additional prizes, but all walked away with nice t-shirts and gift bags.

Then we enjoyed some lovely one up mushrooms and luma star cupcakes (megan whipped up the cake batter on Friday for me).

Then we opened presents. I won't list the items, because she got a ton of stuff, needless to say she got some of everything that she loves...webkins, super mario, books, crafts, a frog....

Megan is my big helper and a great big sister to her lovable brothers. She enjoys reading, playing computer and Wii, swimming and soccer. She is good at drawing and loves to make and do crafts. She is 8! I can't believe it and soon to be in grade 3. We love her lots and are glad she is such an important part of our family. Happy Birthday Megan!

It was a fun and successful party. Phew! What a week.

ps thanks Aaron for giving mom a few weeks break, before your big birthday. I just might be fully recovered by then. cheers!

Last day of School!!

Father and Sons Camp ...plus one daughter

This was a most enjoyable weekend....Spencer, Evan and Megan left Friday night for the our stake's father and sons camp. (Yes, Megan was the only girl). They had a great time. The camp site was just outside of Westlock. So it was a little bit of a drive. (Spencer and I packed up Thursday night and I finished off on Friday). They arrived after having eaten dinner in the car on the road, set up the tent and got all sleeping gear out.

Then proceeded to go on a canoe ride. Spencer said they finished canoeing around 10pm. Then had some smores around the camp fire, then off to bed.

The next morning was more playing at the beach and in the water. They even got a little boat ride thanks to a member of our ward who brought his boat out! They all had a great time.

I also enjoyed myself....I hung out with Aaron and cleaned the house. It was so quiet and peaceful. The house stayed clean for longer than a day. Heavenly!

Let the Birthday Extravaganza Begin...

Three cheers for Spencer's Birthday (or should I say 33 cheers?). He starts off our birthday party trilogy. A quite family party was all that he wanted, and it turned out to be less than that. Aaron was our party pooper, as he came down with a fever and was not in any position to be active. So I stayed home with him, as Spencer finally go to test out his new helmet on a bike ride to the park with the other kids.

After that we had some down time at home and proceeded to open presents and have mixed berries with a custard sauce on top in lieu of a cake. (Requested by Spencer)

He received some nice gifts....

A lovely card that evan made and a nice purdue tie...

Megan earned this shirt from her school, for having completed 200 nights of home reading. Way to go Megan! The front has the school logo on it. Now they have matching shirts.

This is from me and ok the kids too. A running watch. Spencer spent the rest of the day charging and reading the manual and discovering all about it. He has used it a few times and loves it. I'll be borrowing it some time too....thanks!