These Boys

Do you believe in soul mates? People who enter you lives and give you so much...open you up to new things...connect with you in a way you never thought possible.

The friendship and connection between these three boys...it has "soul mate" written all over it.

I thought that when I became a Mom that would be the pinnacle of love I would feel for another person. But I was wrong.

My nephews are so precious to me. I mean, they came from one of my Most Favourite Humans...with anything Amy makes I am 100% a Number 1 Fan.

It continues to blow me away how much I love them...and how much they love each other. This friendship will persist, even when separated by half of the world.

Photos taken in Jasper National Park, Alberta
July 2018

xo

If You Had A Superpower...

I got this paper from Nadine in my Treasured Memories Design Team package, and I was like...!!?!??!?!?!

And then I was inspired to ask my boys the question:

"If you had a SUPERPOWER, what would it be?"

Their answers were funny, and amazing, and not at all surprising.

Lucas: "I would make things explode! Myself too! Don't worry, I would survive!"

(he saw one of the stickers that read "Boom" and looked like a big explosion)

Evan: "Super Speed!"

(He was drinking a delicious pop when I asked, so he didn't have much to say. He did tell me that he would use his power to steal things, so I think he's really more of a Super Villain.)

Jacob: "It would be my awesome farting skills! Flames would shoot out of my butt and then destroy the whole earth! My farts!"

(He was definitely the most animated of the three! He also gave a battle cry and brandished a plastic rake...)

These boys are my whole world...

Photos taken February 28, 2016 in a Subway Restaurant in Sherwood Park.

Words captured May 7, 2016

Just keep swimming

My Dad's company rented out the WEM Waterpark one Sunday morning, and he picked up tickets for his kids, and their kids and we made quite the morning out of it.

It was literally the most "Family Fun" you can have in a bathing suit. This was one day I wasn't totally cursing my new shitty Bat-Camera. I mean, look at all these wet shots! I even got a couple of us going down the water slides!

These are the people I want to grow old with...
-Lisa

A Freaking Big Dinosaur!

The biggest tourist draw within the town of Drumheller has got to be the giant dinosaur at the Visitor Centre. And since we were playing tourist on the Thanksgiving long weekend we ended up there...twice!

Did I mention you can climb up inside it and look out it's mouth?

I love long weekends...

later loves

Pumpkins and Corn Mazes

Here are some photo highlights from our trip to Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm earlier this month. I left my memory card at home, so all these photos were taken by my Mother. (Hi Mom!) It was nice not to be always behind the camera for a change.

I might be a little biased, but I think my nephews are the cutest! And my little sister's pretty fine herself.

Dude was a champ at the pumpkin cannon. He listened to all the pirate's questions of the kids ahead of him and he was ready with his funny answers when it was his turn!

It was a beautiful fall day. The sun was bright, the air was cool, and there were pumpkins everywhere!

later loves

Love, Sweet Love

So I rarely scrapbook in this size. I stopped doing 12x2 layouts regularly about 3 years ago, and I've never looked back. But every once and awhile...I get the urge to step out of my box.

I actually completed this layout for Treasured Memories, but I don't work there anymore...so...I guess I have to find somewhere to put it! HA!

And this next one is just too cute not to share! I have the best nephews (and niece! and "nieces"...but that's a whole other post!). Candace gave me two Batman action figures one night, and I thought Jacob might enjoy playing with them. Well, that was the understatement of the year! The only time he put them down that night was so he could have his hands free to eat dinner.

I love moments like this because I know Jacob is going to continue to be this completely AWESOME person as he gets older. And I get to share in a little of that every time we hang out!

And that is all...I'll have something non-scrapbooking related for y'all tomorrow! I promise!

later loves

all of my layouts are posted on Flickr as well...that's here.

Tradition!

Date: Saturday, January 5th, 2013

Location: Boston Pizza, Mill Woods

Event: Traditional New Year's dinner out

Cast of Characters: Arlene, Heath, Lisa, Russel, Lucas, Amy, Sean, Jacob & Evan

This is a three year old tradition (I think...well, maybe only two...Mom?) and usually involves all of us heading out to the local BPs with our recently received Christmas Gift Cards! We gorge ourselves on appetizers and pizza/salads/sandwiches/burgers/pasta!

Mmmmm.....bacon wrapped steak.....

Yeah...we're the rowdy table.

We play with our super heroes & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and need Coke - and Diet Coke - refills every 7.35 seconds, and order funny things like noodles with no sauce and pizza with no cheese.

But we bring a cute baby, so that makes up for some of the nonsense!

I can't wait to see what happens next year when this little man can get in on the "Big Boy Action" on the other side of the table! And order off the menu!!

later loves

Light the Lights

Date: Saturday, November 17

Location: Churchill Square & City Hall. Downtown Edmonton.

Event: The grand and ceremonial Christmas tree lighting and fireworks.

Weather: Fricken cold.

The Square was filled with kids, parents, and grandparents. And some random teenagers. And these cool folks on stilts. And lots of people not dressed appropriately for the weather! It was chilly when we got there shortly after 4pm, and the temperature kept dropping throughout the night, until they (finally) got that damn tree lit around 6pm.

Lucas & Jacob joined all the other kids & irresponsible parents on the not-yet-flooded skating rink in front of City Hall. Patches of bumpy ice abounded, which was super fun for slipping on. And falling. Of course. No injuries...until later in the evening! It was busy inside City Hall, as this was the closest place to go to get warm!

Finally! The tree is lit. It is a sad, scrawny tree. But what it lacks in breadth, it makes up for in height...I guess. Followed by some fun fireworks. The boys loved this part. Lots of cheering. Even Evan was watching!

It was actually a nice night, despite the frigid temperatures (which I guess could have been a lot worse).

After all of that, we found out way back down to the LRT (oh man...that was a pain in the ASS!) and headed back to our cars at Century Park with what seemed like at least half of all the rest of the revellers. (The other half took the northbound train...). Then to Mom & Heath's for dinner. Family fun at its finest.

#freezingmyassoffinthenameoffun

later loves

Life is Pretty Awesome

Life is full of awesomeness! It sucks the big one that we tend to get so bogged down when some crappy happens. Ultimately, it's the moments of light within the fog and the "daily grind" that make all of this worth every minute.

Jill's wedding. Kara, me & Chantel pictured. Good times had.

 I am NOT going to let the negative shit that other people do effect my day and my mood and my life. Even if these people be family, yo!

Sarah & Charlie's Baby Shower. Charlie and Cheryl pictured.

I AM going to invite people over (stress!) and play games and drink drinks and enjoy the company. I am going to accept every invitation out for drinks, or shows, or games, or whatever!

I want to be a good friend, and I want my friends to know I love them. (I LOVE YOU!)

109 Street. Transcend "patio". Coffee date with BFF.

I am going to take photos, lots of them, even if the lighting is bad and there is a proverbial "white speedo" in the background. These are where my memories are grounded. These are the pictures that are going to keep me warm when I am old and (more) grey.

At Queen Elizabeth Pool. July 20, 2012

I am going to savour every moment with my Moms and Dads. And nephews and niece. And brothers and sisters. These people are my past and my future, and my future's future. I want to be able to tell these boys (and Griffin & Londyn) stories about the "good old days", and hug them, and give them all the love & Auntie-specific guidance they need to make their own way in this world.

Dude, Grandma, Evan & Captain. Still undecided on Evan's nickname. Good thing he's too young to notice!

I am going to do what it takes to make my life fit my idea of what my life should look like. I have come to realize in this stage of said life, that sometimes this is going to rub people the wrong way. What the heck is that all about!? I don't have time for that, so back off and let me walk my own path.

I am grateful for all of these moments...and more.

Churchill Square. Taste of Edmonton. Wide Mouth Mason FREE outdoor concert. Beer Gardens...need I say more.

Outtake!

later loves

Boys On Film

 I'm a pretty lucky lady, if I do say so myself!

Photos taken May 19/12 by Russ (on his new fancy smart phone...he's such a proud "Poppa") and my Mom. And can I just say it's a miracle that we all have our eyes open and only one of us isn't looking directly at the camera. I am - of course - excluding Evan from the tally because he's still just a baby and doesn't know any better!

And what is with my dang comb-over!? I need a haircut! At least I look really skinny...

later loves

Here Comes the Sun

My brand new nephew! He's so handsome! These are the first pictures I got of him in the hospital.

I wanted this page to be blue-for-boy, but also very light and fresh. Y'know...like a baby. I have been seeing a lot of layouts online recently that feature a layering of tissue paper. So I've got some of that, plus some Dear Lizzy cloud vellum, soft pale blue pattern paper and lots of white stitching. Oh and those tiny stars? Love those tiny wooden stars from Studio Calico! They sold right the heck out at TM!

Project Life update...I am done the first binder! It is very full, overflowing even. I think I am going to try and find a larger binder and transfer all the pages over.

I am caught up to last week with my photos, and getting all of that organized. I still have to get them into the page protectors (tonight!? maybe...), and I still have lots of journaling to do for April's pages. But I'm getting there. Aside from the size thing, and how I always seem to be way "behind", I still enjoy this project. It's been fun documenting the normalcy of our everyday lives and seeing what kinds of routines we follow and what unique things we get up to!

I am looking forward to hanging out with a good friend on Friday...here's a little sneak peek of her present that I've been holding on to for weeks now!

And here is another little peek in to my life. We love Lego in this house, especially these goofy Lego games. Lucas likes to change the rules and add extra boards and lives and pieces! Sometimes he explains it to me beforehand, and sometimes not so much!

Ah yes...that feels much better! Nothing "emo" here! I am feeling much better today in terms of energy levels and motivation and inspiration. Expect a bunch of related posts in the next couple of days!

later loves