Live it!

Cover Boy

i am more than a little excited to see Keaton on the front of Better Homes and Gardens "Scrapbooks Etc" magazine in the coming month. a friend got her magazine in the mail yesterday and told me it was OUT.  it seems weird that i will be seeing him on the newstand every time i go into Wal-mart or the bookstores. Weird and COOL. i am excited. i will admit it. just that his smiling face will be looking back at me. i will have to control myself when i see it in the stores and not be a fool and run around saying "this is my cute kid, this is my cute kid!". ha.

photo taken of K last fall. who knew where the photo would end up.

I showed Keaton and he got a huge smile and said "hey, is that ME??????????"

Hey, Aunt Sarah...

note to Keaton and Chloe's new AUNT sarah ... for when she returns from her honeymoon. thought this would make you giggle...

Keaton yesterday - collecting... collecting pennies and quarter... big smile on his face. I ask him what he is doing and he says: "I'm getting more money for Sarah" (in reference to 'kiss the bride'  from the wedding)

Get ready for more Keaton kisses when you get home from BC!

For Me???

my girl... growing up. roaming the yard - picking 'flowers'... FOR ME :)

my crazy hair girl. so serious - me trying to get her photo - she has no interest and instead just reaches out and hands me her flower. just a little thing. but another reason i loved her more today.

It's a beautiful life!!!

...and so it was yesterday. The wedding was beautiful. Sarah was gorgeous. Aaron was extremely handsome. They were happy, everyone had a great time. The day was beautiful (except for a quick rainstorm during photos) and I was reminded yesterday of how great FAMILY is... and how wonderful LOVE is :)

i took a ton of photos. nothing special; i had 2 kids to contend with at times and that in itself was a bit of a handful. i snapped away though and i got a few keepers. i thoroughly enjoyed the day...and the evening.

Sarah - glowed. her dress was breathtaking...so HER. simple yet with something really special about it. the sparkling crystals of the dress made her shine... but her smile outshone everyone and everything. Aaron - so collected and cool waited at the front of the church for his girlfriend of 15 years to become his wife. the whole thing was very touching and it was a beautiful ceremony. the ceremony was an hour and keaton got a bit restless at times but all in all did awesome for a busy crazy 4 year old boy. Mostly he wanted to go sit on Sarah's lap but i coudn't let him. After Sarah came down the aisle and the ceremony started, Keaton was sitting on my lap and he whispered in my ear: "Mommy, i want Aaron to find somebody else so that Sarah can be all mine". LOL. i knew he loved Sarah. He is crazy about her... but sorry little dude - she is now officially taken. i do hope though that you will find someone as fabulous as her when you grow up.

Chloe did not go to the ceremony. Too long... and she has entered the not-as-shy crazy wild stage ...aka: TWO.   

Mom met me after the church ceremony and dropped Chloe off. i did a quick change into her pretty white dress and tried to fashion her hair into cute ponytails ... to be honest, they looked pretty sad but alas: it was hot and it is hard to do a 2 year olds hair in the backseat of a van. she looked cute anyhow of course, just a little wonky in the hair department.

at the park we got rained on HARD. soaked. i was soaked...so much for perty perky hair. We waited out and sure enough the sun came out and Sarah got the weather she deserved for her photographs.

the reception was at the "Bohemian Penguin" and was an amazing venue for their intimate wedding. so them, so relaxed. very nice! the food was amazing and the kids were pretty good considering. keaton was anxious to dance, chloe went home with my mother at around 8:30pm. she was getting to be tired and a handfull ;)   Keaton made friends with all of Sarah's neices and nephews and was having such fun. He danced all night and was so good (a bit wild but oh well) that we let him stay. he ended up curling up in a chair and falling asleep at about 11:45pm.

beautiful day. beautiful couple. beautiful life! Love you Aaron and Sarah!!!! congrats!

(ps Sarah: i took 110 photos... i will burn them to disk for you when you return from your honeymoon)

DETAILS:

*Father's first time officiating a wedding. He seemed nerveous and i love this photo of him clapping so joyfully at the end of his FIRST wedding. Special!

*listening to the vows... watching Sarah. hearing her say the words "In sickness and in health"... and knowing she means it. It got me. sigh. I was all tear'd up. So was she. Aaron's back was to me... but i know he heard it and felt it.

*Sarah's brother played guitar and sang during the ceremony. "Morning has broken" and other songs. beautiful. unique. nice touch.

*Aaron and Sarah had a basket for money to be put into if people wanted them to kiss. tradition is people usually clink their wine glasses, they did this instead - all $$ went to charity - Cancer society, in memory of Aaron's friend Matt Walsh I'm sure.

(side note: Keaton developed his own game with this - he got money from us or others and then followed Sarah around...gave her the money for the basket in exchange for a kiss of his own. Sly little fox!)

*fun lively music. we danced lots. it was a blast. bride and groom dancing - having fun. keaton's first wedding. his first time at a dance. he loved it. he kept saying "Let's party!"

*Shaune looked so handsome. yum. black suit... my husband of 7 years. crazy in love still.

*chloe looked adorable, despite her disheveled (is that a word) appearance. first the ponytail incident; then rain all over us; then dumping water all over her dress.  WRINKLED messy damp little girl - and yet still, completely utterly adorable.

*keaton behaved really well but he did do some signature "Keaton moves"... including jumping on the slide projector guy's back while he was trying to do a slide show - keaton wanted a piggy back apparently and didn't seem concerned that (1) he didn't know this young man AT ALL; (2) this young man was busy running a slide show.   SIGH. what a character.

*beautiful quote cards on each table made from pretty papers and vellum... nice touch Sarah. really nice. gorgeous flowers.

*the wedding was perfect.

note: busy day. i feel like a rotten mommy that i didn't get one great picture of Chloe... just photos of her pouting and crying at the park because she didn't get her way. i love you Chloe... you just don't love my camera!

a funny...

ME (mom) making brownies this morning... Chloe has snuck off. Keaton is helping me and playing too....

Mom: "Keaton  -  what is your sister doing?" (as i hear banging and papers ruffling)

Keaton: "She is destroying the house."

Mom: "Typical"

Keaton: "Ya, she's a widdle (little) bugger!"

Going to the chapel...

No... not me silly. Been there... done that (7yrs...long time) - a wonderful amazing time in my life that i will never forget.

Tonight though we were celebrating Aaron (my husbands brother) and Sarah's wedding. Tomorrow after many many many years of dating (since Grade 9 and they are now 28 - you do the math) they will say "I DO" and tie the knot. We are all excited. Sarah has been a part of the Lightfoot family even longer than I.  When i started dating Shaune in 1993... Sarah was already a permanent fixture in the Lightfoot family. And I must say, there is noone like Sarah. I think she is such a sweet pretty fun geniune girl. No wonder Aaron is in love with her and has been for as long as he has. Tonight she was glowing... so happy. At one point during the party she said something like: "I just want to run around the back yard screaming I'm getting married tomorrow, I'm getting married tomorrow"  - i loved hearing her say that, hearing the excitment in her voice.   It took me back to our rehearsal party in the same backyard, with many of the same people and family gathered around us. So exciting!

We went to Holy Rosary for the dress rehearsal. Keaton was so excited to watch them practice. Chloe was a holy terror. Nutso. Crazy. i don't know what got into her - but she helped me decide that i was NOT taking her to the actual ceremony tomorrow. she proved she will not stay still, not stay quiet, not be happy for an entire Catholic wedding ceremony - heck... that is a long wedding and hard for most adults - ha! Shaune is in the wedding so i am going to take Keaton (who has a not-so-secret crush on his soon-to-be AUNT) and mom can watch Chloe - perhaps bringing her in for a bit of the reception. Playing that one by ear.

Keaton said as we were leaving the rehearsal party tonight:  "I'm so excited to watch Aaron & Sarah get wedding'd"  hee. so sweet. I'm kinda excited too. I love weddings... and there is noone i'd rather see get married than Aaron and his pretty Sarah. Congrats guys!

Some photos from the evening:

Best of buds

-found this photo of my dorky son and his dorky friend Curtis... i'm allowed to call Curt dorky because he is family and i love him to bits. he knows it too :)

these guys are the best of friends. i love watching them together. this photo was taken by a friend, at a bday party a while ago. total hams. totally copying eachother... totally in to eachother. they are bonded. they are very different yet they bring out good things in eachother (and probably some naughty things too). i am happy they are friends...happy that Keaton has somebody he loves to be with. who he looks forward to hanging out with... who he LOVES.

they:

-ride the 4wheelers/jeeps; swim together; run; fight over the swing; play pretend games; like Batman and Spiderman.

-will both be at the same school next year...not in the same Kindergarten classes, but on the same day...so they will spend recess together i am sure

-are family. Curtis is my 1st cousin Lori's son. Always loved her like a sister and now we are raising our kids together... it is a good thing :)

-are very different. Curt is big and smart and even a bit shy at times (although not much anymore). Keaton is little and busy and a tad obnoxious even at times. Curtis likes Thomas. Keaton doesn't at all. Keaton is a picky eater; Curtis loves asparagus. Curtis is more cautious and Keaton takes the lead. Night and day at times... but always friends.

i hope it will always be. i hope they can always act goofy together and be there for one another. Good friends are priceless. Keaton has learned that lesson early.

caught in the act (x2)

I love this little girl, but I must say... she is the messiest little bugger that ever lived. a path of destruction follows her everywhere she goes. she is quiet and sneaky about it and you would think i would of learned by now that the price i pay for checking email...is her finding SOMETHING to get into.

Yesterday it was a disgusting sticky mess created by her busy hands and a large tub of Shaune's hair wax/mud stuff. OMG. i peeked into the bathroom to see what she was doing and this is what i saw:

She observes me when i sit down at my makeup table to do my face or brush my hair. She is my little copy cat and she must of thought that the hair wax was face cream... so she proceeded to empty most of the jar's sticky substance onto her face and hands and neck. she was quite proud of herself and the thing about Chloe is that she knows she shouldn't be doing what she is doing, but she shows no guilt when she gets caught in the act. she gives me THAT look (see first photo) and then says something like: "Oh, so silly!" and giggles hysterically as i preach to her that she is a messy girl and wash her clean.

You would think i would learn, but again today the computer was calling my name, and so I snuck on to check email while she watched a favourite tv show. 5 minutes later i notice she isn't on the bed and is infact in the bathroom AGAIN in the same exact location.  i shudder to think what she has done this time, look around the corner and this time find her emptying an entire $20 jar of Body Butter onto her face and smearing it all over the desk. OMG. she gives me the same look again, holds out her hands - says: "Oh, yucky" and then goes right back to work rubbing it into her skin.

...and i photograph it and tell myself that these are the sort of things that will make me chuckle when i'm old and reminiscent.

i do love you, my messy Chloe girl!

good to be home

it is true...the best part about traveling and going away is the returning home.  i love that i get to travel and do the shows and eat good food and hang out with friends but when Sunday of the show rolls around - i am always bound and bent to get the heck home. missing the kids kicks in and i just want to get home and peek in their rooms and watch them sleep.

CHA was good. i didn't get around to the booths to see much but i hear there was lots of great new things being released.  Chicago was hot and muggy, very similar to the weather here and my eye bothered me the whole time i was there... i am assuming from allergies but who knows  :)

we had a GG breakfast and it was nice to see the old (wink) gals and meet a few of the new girls that have just joined our team.

i always love meeting and talking with the people. retailers and scrapbookers. it is so interesting to go to these things where people live and breath this hobby i love. where i live, it is my own thing. my close friends do not scrapbook. my family doesn't really "get it" and i rarely even talk about my 'job' and hobby. then i go there and i am surrounded by it... and it is kinda cool - and overwhelming too :)

AL booth had some cool things and the retailers were excited. Cathy had some killer rubons (stitched) that everyone had to have. i am so proud of her! loved hanging out with the gals and all the laughing we did. it is always fun to get together with friends and just be silly. we did that a lot on Saturday at my end of the table (eek!)

my flight home was a nightmare. i finally rolled in my driveway at 4am and i am none too impressed with American Airlines at the moment... but this too shall pass.  3 planes before they found one for us that worked. we were ready to take off when the 2nd of 3 failed to work... gulp. needless to say i was so happy when i was home in toronto and could see shaune rolling in to pick my tired soul up.

he did awesome while i was gone and as predicted the house was cleaner and more organized than when i left.   TICKS me off (ha, well, no it doesn't actually)

chloe woke up first this morning and even though i had just gotten to bed at 4am... i was extremely eager for the kids to wake up and crawl into bed with me.  i walked in to pick her out of her crib, she smiled - said "Momma" and put her thumb in her mouth - comfort. i could tell she was soothed and happy to see momma in her room. keaton woke up a bit later and walked into our room. i was sorta dozing and all i heard was "Mommy is home" in the happiest sweetest voice. he smiled all day and has hugged and kissed me at least a million times"

i am the LUCKIEST

weekend and highschool flashbacks!

wow, what a weekend. i took some time out of *Life* to go out with a couple girlfriends last night. Needless to say, we HAD FUN.  i can't remember a time in my *party life* since Grade 9 that i wasn't with these girl when the occassion called for fun and friends... maybe a *few* drinks and a lot of laughs. last  night was no acception and i had the best time. its good to get out. without kids. without husbands... just with the girls - to be *friends* and do friend things... i am so thankful that i can do this. i think it helps me be a better wife and mom. to have the freedom to be myself and be with friends and just be free a little bit. to rediscover my less serious side, and to be the girl only my closest friends know and love regardless.

we (Ang, Pam and I) went down to the Belleville's WATERFRONT festival and had a great time. we went to supper and drinks beforehand and got down to WF at around 10:30 i think.  Ang finally convinced me to leave at 1am and i am feeling the pain today. dont' do that often AT ALL. the bands were really rocking and it is always cool to be at an open concert like that listening to Independent Bands... cool sound. Ben Thompson band was first followed by Theory of a Dead Man.

Walking around we were mostly surrounded by huge crowds of people we didn't know. we did see some familiar faces from as far back as highschool but mostly we were 3 among a sea of younger, hipper, drunker people. lol.  It took me back to our highschool days, always there ... we never missed Waterfront. it was the biggest party of the summer. and we were younger and hipper and drunker back then for sure... Later in our pre-kids days... we would party at our house (our first home was located within walking distance of the Waterfront hoopla) and walk down. Now, we mostly go down early evening with the kids for rides and fair food. It is a cool festival!

Shaune was also away all weekend, partying it up for his annual "boys weekend" with his buddies from highschool and college. Jay and his wife are expecting in August and Chris/Pam are expecting twins in September so this was sort of a last bash for at least a year for these first time daddies...oh they are going to be busy ;)

I missed Shaune and realized that my new hero in life is any single mother. 2 days of doing everything for everyone all the time did me in. it is hard work being a mom and when it is just me i realize how much my husband does around here. thanks hon... it doesn't go unnoticed! and man... am i GLAD you are home!