Live it!

Loving school!

Happy to report that Keaton is as enthusiastic about school now as he was last year. I was the slightest bit worried that once he had to go to school all day, every day... he would grow bored with it and start to not like it as much.

So far, so good though. He excitedly waits for the bus each morning and he excitedly gets off the bus each night. This year he finally starting to talk to me about school and what he is learning. He is especially excited that he is learning to read. We read every night and he is doing so good, I'm pretty proud of him.

He says his favourite parts of school are:

1) the other 'kids'... his friends. He has many I think but mentions Shelyn and Curtis the most. He has been happy that this year he is in a Grade 1 class with some new kids that he didn't know before. He comes home telling me new names once in a while. My social boy :)

2) his new classroom...in which he gets his own desk. He loves that he isn't at a group table anymore. He has his own desk to store his pencil case in and even has a locker...although he cannot even reach the hooks.

3) his teacher. He has been lucky to have great teachers in the past. Mrs. Kelly is no exception and she gets Keaton really excited about learning. He loves the play centers and learning tables and has confessed to me that sometimes he gets 'warnings' because he doesn't like to share the fun learning 'stuff'.

4) recess... always his favourite part. He happily reports that now he gets to go 'down the hill where the "one-graders" are allowed.

5) Pizza day... which is now also his show-and-tell day. Best day of the week for him ;)

You know, when Keaton started at school (one of the youngest in his class) I worried. I still do sometimes. But, for the most part... so far, Keaton and school have been a good mix. He has learned so much and comes home with a smile on his face. I hope he will always feel that way about school. I know he probably won't. I know I didn't always love it (chuckle chuckle). For now, I'm going to enjoy that he is so happy in school and take lots of pictures of him like this ...smiling and full of stories of another day in Grade One. :)

Right now...

Shaune is suiting Keaton up in all his new hockey gear. The time has finally come to introduce Keaton to our national sport. The poor lil' guy can't barely move in all the equipment but is already practicing his moves with his new stick. Shaune is going to have to tape him into all his gear so it doesn't fall right off (especially his hockey pants).

The smile on Shaune's face says it all... he is so happy and excited. Keaton seems to be too. His first day is this Saturday. It should be interesting. I'll be sure to post photos of this most important event in any little Canadian boys (and sometimes girl's) lives!

Let the fun begin!

Hey Sarah...

You really were such a pretty bride.

Glad to have you as a Sister-in-law :) and still thanking my lucky stars that I didn't permanently lose your wedding photos.

PS... supper the other night was wonderful!

Autumn Leaves

The Designing With team has released a new fun book about color "Designing with Color" and I am excited to say we are starting up a blog like we have for the "Me book" and the "Freestyle" book. The Color Blog will feature a weekly color-related challenge and for all that participate and link their responses to the comments section... your name goes in a draw for free s/b related gifts from Autumn Leaves.

So... hope to see you there. I just posted the first challenge. Each challenge allows one week for you to complete and post your layout or project. HAVE FUN!

The Designing With Color Blog: click here

The pool saga continues

More rain. But the show goes on. Day 4 & 5 consisted of the cement decking and allowing it to dry. The grossest part... a few baby frogs thought they were light enough to scale their way from one side to the other... umm, nope. Not such a good idea. I had to peel the little guys out the next morning :(

A baby snake also found residence in the pool and I had to net him and get him out --- eek. I don't mind snakes but they aint gonna swim in our pool, that is for dang sure. Keaton played with him for a while til I made him part company...ahem.

I am seriously ready for this pool thing to be done. I don't like making decisions about stuff I don't understand or cannot visualize. Just hoping I made the right choices in the end. Ready to have my house back now.

2 to share...

So, mid month at 2peas has come and gone. I managed to sneak 2 in... this funny one of Chloe that I don't much love the look of - but dang she is funny stuffing that chocolate in her mouth and trying to pretend she didn't (ever do that as you scarf down a chocolate bar before your kid or husband walks in the room, for fear you'll have to share... ya, I admit it. I need to start that diet again!)

This one below, I do like how it turned out. It brings back memories of our trip and reminds me of how much I miss being there. Keaton has moved on to other things like school and friends,  chloe mentions Jenn or the ocean once in a while... it is just me yearning to be back on the beach... lazing around. Next year maybe... my aunts and cousins are planning a girl getaway to someowhere in Florida. Perhaps I can talk them into St. George Island.

MOA Scrapfest

It was almost a week ago and I haven't had a chance to comment yet on this great show. The "Mall of America Scrapfest" in Minnesota was great... I had a fabulous time. The make and take experience had my mouth dry and me almost losing my voice, but the women (all of them) were fabulous and I loved meeting so many scrapbookers in one spot.

The location was a plus too... inside the largest shopping mall in USA... COOL. I could of blown a lot of cash-ola but I really was pretty well behaved and kept fairly good control of myself. LOL. The Hanna Andersson store was great for buying Chloe's snowsuit again this year... and in Minnesota there is no tax on necessities (clothing included!) and I got an awesome pair of Diesel's for a great deal... amongst other things. Keaton would of went wild for the Lego Land store and I was able to find 2 Star Wars kits he didn't already have.

The best part of the trip was hanging with friends and I loved that we were able to get Margie to come in one night to meet us for dinner at Tucci Benucci... delicious food and Margie is just one of the best people. Funny and sincere... I really wish she lived next door.

Basically, combine a scrapbooking trip with a shopping trip and it has to be fun, right?

It was.

Day 3

Because of a lot of rain our pool construction screeched to a halt a few days back. So... today was day 3 of the pool building and they got a lot done today. They have mapped out the cement walkways and put  the liner in the pool...along with some water to press the liner into place.

It is crazy how cold that water is but Keaton and I tested it out. BRRRR. We both did cannonballs into the deep-end and I could barely catch my breath coming back up ...it was that cold. So glad we got a heater for it so we can swim in it for a few wks once it is finished.

Anyhow, more photos here. I know this is boring, but it is exciting to us so I will keep updating...ha.   :)

Day 2

Things are moving right along, they put the cement bottom in and filled in around the outside walls. I think tomorrow is the most drastic day where a lot is going to be happening... he mentioned we would have water in it in the next day or 2. ACK.

There is a lot of landscaping to do - they are rebuilding/building on to our back deck and putting the hot tub within the decking. They have the gates and fencing to do and then all the cement decking around the pool. I want to do some fall planting and is it too cold now to put shrubs in? I'm not sure but i'd like to around some of the exterior areas of the fencing... to make it 'prettier'.

The kids are so excited. I don't think they realize that it is actually getting really cold out and the amount of times they are going to swim in it before we close it for the Winter is really not that many. Oh well... it will be all done and ready come spring time.

I am trying to take some photos each day so I can look back on the progress. I forgot to do that when we built the house.

Sharing some photos...

of Miss Chloe.

Why?

Because they make me happy. Adorable and sassy and so completely different at 3 than she was as a baby. I love her personality so so so much!

The pink: her signature colour. Everything is pink... partly my choice. Mostly hers.

The hat: because her hair is long and messy most the time. She hates having her hair brushed and I'm past the point of fighting about it with her. If we are home, knots and curls it is. The hat helps... and she likes to wear it.

The dress: she almost always has a baby doll dress on. She loves her dresses. I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Do you think she looks like Keaton? Lots of people tell me they do, but I've never seen it. She is distinctly different in personality and perhaps that is why I don't see it.

This photo is pure Chloe style right here...