Update....

I was doing so well with blogging earlier in the year, I don't know what happened. I've been wanting so badly to write lately, so here I am! At last. Christmas is just 2 weeks away now. Hard to believe the year is almost over already. The time is just flying by...I have no idea how it came to be December so fast! It's funny how my last post was about the day we all went to Presq'ile, because oddly enough, that's the day life changed. Shane, Chloe, Alexis and I, were inseparable until then. Best Friends Forever. But that day, Shane met Shannon, Maryanne's friend, who brought Julian, her son, on our big adventure to the board walk, and only a few short weeks after that, they were dating and me and Shane barely hung out after that. Needless to say, things were definitely not the same since then, and other than me babysitting Chloe sometimes now, me and Shane barely talk anymore. It's sad, really. But that's life, and life goes on. And, in the end, Shannon won and took mine and Alexis' best friend's right from underneath us.

It's hard when kids are involved. When to me, it's not just about me and Shane losing our best friend status in an instant, it's about Alexis and Chloe needing to be together and being the besties they were the second they met each other. I tried all summer really hard, to make sure that the girls still always saw each other. Invited us places, to make sure the girls always got to see each other, but as time passed, it just got harder. Shannon got crazier, more mad, complained to Maryanne more about me and Alexis going places with them, when it was supposed to be a "family" thing for them to do together. In time, I got used to it, knowing that things would never be the same again, and I understood it a little, but poor Alexis. If it weren't for me babysitting Chloe, my girl would have lost her best friend completely by now. Sad. Because I love that Alexis loves her best friend. I love how she loves being around someone as much as she loves being with Chloe. But at the same time, I know Alexis loved Shane. He is so good to her.

I guess it just sucks looking back at everything, because Shane was one of the only friends I really hung out with on a daily basis. I miss his friendship. But on top of that, I miss all my other friendships too lately. This summer, my friend Alisha, who was there in the room while I gave birth, decided I sucked at being a friend and gave up on me. Some friendships pick up after months of not talking, but apparently not all of them. It sucks knowing I lost her. It also sucks seeing all your friends moving on with their lives, getting married, buying houses, having more children and having less time to even talk with you as much as before. But they are just living their normal busy lives, it's not like it's their fault, and I completely understand that! :) It just sucks sometimes, when you feel like the only person who really is there is my 3 year old daughter, who can't even understand the happiness in my successes....and believe me, they come few and far between. On that note, I recently won my first photo contest! I entered 2 pictures into the Quinte West Photo Contest this year. It was the first contest I'd ever entered, and when I saw all the other pictures, I thought for sure there was no way I would win. But, who knew? Someone thinks I'm good enough for first place! It definitely boosted my confidence in photography, and helped me believe in myself a little more, which I know I desperately needed. This is my winning picture! :)

As my prize, I got $300 worth of coupons to spend in Quinte West, which sounds awesome, but there was only certain places I could spend my money. It's not like I could have went Christmas shopping for Alexis, unless I wanted to get new tires for a car or get 10% off a mortgage. But lucky for me, there was a great place to buy something I've always wanted. A new guitar!

So off I went to the music store, and bought my first damn guitar! It's not an amazing guitar or anything, but it's still mine, and that counts for something! And on top of that, I signed Alexis up for 4 free piano classes in January! It's awesome that they are free, because I wanted to put her into piano but don't want to waste my money if she isn't going to enjoy it. So now, we have a free trial to see if she's into it! If she is, I think there might be piano lessons in her future! My girl has always been into music! I remember when she had just turned 2, she was playing her little keyboard and singing a song she made up that sang "Gramma's house! Gramma's house!" It was so adorable! She loves singing, playing her mini grand piano, playing guitars and the drums! So hopefully she will keep on loving it! I'm so excited that Christmas is almost here! I love Christmas with Alexis! I wish I could buy her the world this year, but financially, it's just not happening. Last year was amazing, simply because I got pack pay on baby bonus because of claiming single, and Santa went freakishly insane on the gift giving with her. But this year, $3000 didn't just fall into my lap, so no insane amount of presents this time. But I know she will love when I have bought her, and I am going shopping again in a few days while she is at Matt's. I decided this year, since I knew I wouldn't be able to buy that much, that I would start teaching her that Christmas is about giving, and so we made a list together, of all the people she wanted to make a present for, and the list was huge! 20 people are getting picture frames painted by Alexis and 1 or 2 pictures of her and the other person together (depending what I had in stock)! Let me tell you, they turned out beautifully! And she thinks that everyone is going to love them! (as she always says!) Here are a few of her presents! (the one of just her is for Matt, as I don't have any pcitures this year of them together...)

She even helped me wrap them, and she was so proud of herself!

From September to December, Alexis had gymnastics classes once a week with Braelyn! They are over now, unfortunately, but I'm thinking I might put her back in them again, if Maryanne wants to put Alyssa in it, and that way we will be able to get there. Alexis loved her gymnastics class! At first it was tough. She didn't want to sit in the circle and do the warmups or listen to the teachers, but by the end of it, she was the first one sitting on the black circle, waiting to do warmups and standing in line, waiting for her turn on the balance beam and the bar! I am so proud of her and how good she got at everything she learned! She was so good at summer saults that she was jumping into them, and even one of the teachers said she had never seen a 3 year old do that before! Proud Mommy moment! :)

I really wanted to put her into ballet this year, but the dance school in Belleville doesn't take kids till they are 4. Maryanne and I are going to put Alexis and Alyssa in Ballet next September when they start school. Alexis loves dancing, especially Ballet, and I wish they would have taken 3 year olds, but I guess we can wait for it. I want Alexis to experience and learn everything that she possibly can. I want to be able to give her everything that she could possibly dream of. I want her to feel like she has an amazing life, and that no matter what, I tried my best to do what I can for her. When I was young, I took ballet classes from 4-12. It was the only thing I was allowed to be in though. There was no brownies or girl guides or soccer. Oh, I had singing lessons for a little while. I want Alexis to be in everything and find her own groove. I know I don't make a lot of money, but there will always be a way for me to make sure that she is in Brownies and Dance Class and Piano lessons or gymnastics. I will figure it all out, because somehow, I always do when it comes to her! Well, 2am...better go to bed...

Much Love and Hugs xoxo

Life is Good

Life is Good! Lately it feels like it's been amazing day after amazing day over and over again! :) Plus, the weather has been incredible lately, summer has begun, and adventures are happening quite often! We've been busy lately, going out and doing something new each and every day, and Alexis loves going to bed now, and when I tell her it's bedtime and she has to sleep allll night, she asks where we are going, because clearly, the answer, always determines if it deserves a whole night sleep without waking for milk or not! And for the most part, sleep has been awesome for her, because my answers for the next day, have clearly been exactly what she's wanted to hear, for full night sleeps! Matt went on vacation for a week and is now working this week, so I got to have my baby for longer than usual lately, which I am so happy about! Alexis has been such an angel since she got home from Matt's the last time she was there, and I never want her to leave again, knowing that possibly when she comes home the next time, he will send back the devil in her like previous times. And, I am not looking forward to being without her for a whole 5 damn days... But, Life is Good! Potty training has been a little tough, but Alexis is finally coming around. A few accidents here and there still, but a lot of it is because she is stubborn and doesn't want to leave what she is doing and fights going to the bathroom. But I'm sure that's how every kid is! And she still wont poop on the potty and just goes in her underwear, but I'm sure she will get to that soon...I hope!

We took a day with many of our friends and went to Presqu'il to the Boardwalk. It was such an awesome day, getting all the kids together and going exploring for an afternoon! The kids had so much fun together, running and throwing rocks in the water at the Lighthouse for hours! It's day like that, that make you sit back and realize just how great life is and how blessed you are to have everything that you have in life....not that days we stay home I don't feel that way, but you know what I mean! It was just friends, sunshine, and the smiles on our kids faces!

There's nothing better in the world than seeing your baby have fun with other kids, no matter how old they are, they all somehow still love being around each other!

I can tell already, that this summer is just going to be amazing! Fun things on the agenda all the time, play dates, the park, the beach...you name it, we'll do it, as long as it's in a range I can afford! But fun doesn't always cost money! I'm so excited for this whole summer! Alexis loves hanging out with Chloe and her Daddy Shane, more than anything else in the world! I love that she has a bestest friend, where as soon as I mention her name, Alexis is all smiles and excited to go be with her! We went for a short walk through Hannah Park one night. It didn't last long, because the bugs were bad, but the girls still had fun!

One evening, Shane and I decided to take the girls to the beach for the first time this year! We thought we'd go take a walk along the beach with our feet in the water, but little girls just love to dive right in the water with their clothes on! And hey, why not?! We just weren't prepared for it haha! Definitely should have just taken their bathing suits...but running through water in your clothes is just as fun! haha

The beach was so beautiful that night! The water was so calm and the breeze was just right, and it was just magical. We could have stayed there all night!

Alexis got to experience The Big Apple! And although for most of the time we were there, she was pretty cranky and didn't want to co-operate with me, and I fell and rolled my ankle (or at least I think that's what I did to it), it still turned out to be an alright day, even though by the end of it, I could barely walk! But the Girls loved going in the apple and running around on the Mini-Putt course and seeing the Llamas, even though they were sleeping the whole time! I'm still happy Alexis got to go there and see it!

The end of the long weekend, we decided to take the girls back to the beach, this time with bathing suits and with Maryanne and her girls! The more the merrier, right? And boy, was it a fun one! Watching all the girls play together, is so much fun! How they all somehow come together every once in a while and build castles or pretend to make hot chocolate and pies! It was so hot that day. I got the worst sunburn I think I've ever had in my life, and swear to never go in the sun again without sunscreen! I'm still feeling the burn :( But how much the girls had fun that day, is all worth the stupid burn.

Well, I spose that's it for tonight. Work tomorrow. Bedtime for me. :) More awesome adventures to come!!! xoxo

Easter

Easter was a blast this year for Alexis! I love that she is getting old to enough to understand the fun holidays such as easter and the joys of hunting for easter eggs, although not quite old enough to understand and be excited the night before that a holiday is the next day!

She had So much fun looking for easter eggs and putting them into her bunny basket that Gramma had given to her! She was so excited every time she found an egg! The smile on her face was just priceless! Best feeling in the entire world! And although being a parent on a regular basis is worth it, holidays always put the cherry on the top!




As much fun as it was for Alexis, as her Mommy, I had just as much fun watching her look and find things! She was on a mission and nothing was stopping her! And as proud of herself as she was for finding each and every egg, I was just as proud of her!


The Easter Bunny brought her new paint, bubbles, play-doh and some m&m's and candy! I think the Easter Bunny knew she wasn't much for candy and chocolate, but she loved opening every single egg and finding more candy! Every egg she opened, she said "Oooohhhh, more candy!" and loved finding some bouncy balls and some easter magnets for the fridge in some of them! He also brought her some water wings and a ring for the pool for the summer!




Before going to our Easter Dinner at Uncle Andrew's, Gramma and Grampa came over to see all of Alexis' new stuff and to bring her an Easter present! When I told her they were coming over to bring her a present, she said "But the Christmas Tree isn't up!" So cute! She assumes presents are just for Christmas time!
She enjoyed opening her present from Gramma and Grampa, although it was just a huge bag of clothes for the summer and some chocolate and some art stuff!

Uncle Andrew and his girlfriend Hilary hid some chocolate for Alexis at his house, and she had so much fun hunting for them there also!





On Easter Eve, Alexis and I went to Shane and Chloe's house to decorate Easter Eggs! It was the first time Alexis got to do this, and the girls had a blast dipping their eggs in colored water and then decorating them with stickers and coloring on them with markers! Definitely a fun time for them!



And they turned out beautifully!




Alexis is coming home tonight, despite the wishes of Matt's girlfriend Alex. And yes, I understand she is just trying to be nice so I can recover, but I miss my baby so so so much and I know she'd rather be here with me too. I am so excited to see her! I can not wait!

Adventures!

On Tuesday this week, I had the joy of getting my gall bladder removed. Surgery went smooth, and recovery is going okay. I made sure that surgery was on a week that Alexis would be at Matt's, knowing that I wouldn't be able to do the easiest thing with her while I was recovering. She came home today for a few hours, and we went to visit my family who was down from BC and Ottawa, and they were all so happy to see Alexis. But when the few short hours of her being home with me, came to an end, she was so very unhappy. Alex decided to take her for the weekend for me, so that my recovering could continue without my having to parent a 2 year old, and although I know it's good for my recovery, it's not good on my emotions or for Alexis'. Alexis was devastated to leave home again, after being away from me since Monday (5 days gone already), and she wasn't afraid to express how unhappy she was, when it came time for her to go. She said she didn't want to go and she wanted to stay here with me. And she cried. A cry that I had never heard come from her before. A real, unhappy, emotion-filled cry. A cry that made me cry, so hard. I didn't want her to go, just as much as I knew she didn't want to, and I hated having to kiss her good-bye again, after only being with her for 5 short hours. When I kissed her good-bye in Alex's truck, she was hyperventilating, which made me feel 1000 times worse, and when they drove away, I cried so hard, my stomach hurt.

Alex wants to keep her until Sunday. I want her back tomorrow night, and I am going to make Alex bring my baby home to me. I appreciate her wanting to make sure I am feeling way better before bringing her home to me, but this is the longest me and Alexis have been away from each other since I went to the Dominican when Alexis was 6 months old, and I hate it more than anything.

Matt told me today when he was dropping her off that Alexis randomly started crying yesterday and when he asked her what was wrong, she said she missed Mommy. To hear this, made me happy, but it also hurt me, to know that I was going to be sending her off again, even though she wanted to stay with me. And Alex told me, when she was picking Alexis up, that all week, Alexis kept saying "Mommy out of the hospital, I go home to her now!" I love that she loves me so much! Frig, I miss her and wish that she never had to go to Matt's again. Stupid surgery keeping her from me for so damn long :(

A short re-cap in pictures of our fun the last month!




Braelyn and Alexis hanging out by the water together





I love how cousins have a natural bond! Their friendship means so much more than just a friend! They've grown up together and will continue to grow up together and love each other, not just because they have a relation to each other, but because they will have known each other since the very beginning. I love how they love each other!


The last few weeks have been awesome! Shane and I have started our adventures with the girls, since the weather has been awesome! I Still can't believe we had summer in March, and wish that the summer weather stayed with us the rest of the year. There's nothing better than doing fun stuff with your kids, whether they be small adventures or big ones. Some families can afford to take their kids on annual trips to Disney World or take awesome vacations to fun destinations where they stay in hotels for a weekend or a week, but our adventures are small and cheap, but still extremely fun for my girl and her best friend Chloe!

We started our adventures off this year, with taking the girls the Glen Miller Rock. A walk through the woods, over a bridge to see a giant rock was so much fun for the girls! They got to see frogs in the water on their walk over the bridge, and called the Rock "Makka Pakka's house" from In the Night Garden, and they had such a fun time! Free and worth it!





After that, we took them to Mount Pelion! Alexis LOVED climbing the mountain from the bottom to the very top! And when she got to the top, she jumped up and down saying "We did it! We did it!" What an accomplishment for a 2 year old! The girls had fun sitting on the cannon on top, and climbing the tower! Alexis didn't want to leave, she loved the feeling of being on top of the world!




Every time Alexis sees the flag on top of the mountain, she asks if we can go climb it again! Apparently, she loved it up there more than I thought she did! Definitely a very fun day!

A few days later, we took the girls to see the Ostriches on a farm. Sure, not the most exciting adventure in the world, but something different for the girls to check out! They also got to see goats and horses!



There are going to be a ton more adventures this summer, even if they are as small as going to see ostriches! Just knowing that my girl will love every single one of them, makes them all so worth it!
We are planning on taking them the the Big Apple, The Toronto Zoo, the reptile Zoo and strawberry picking. Possibly the Peterborough Zoo too...who knows. Shane wants Alexis and I to go to Niagara Falls with him and Chloe this summer too. We'll see! Either way, should be a fun and adventurous summer! I can't wait!