Saturday Songs That Make US Sing Link-Up! I am in love...

...with Pink & Nate Ruess!

(And my husband too...of course. *geesh*  That goes without saying doesn't it?!? It doesn't?  I love you Daddy Dave. XoXo)

Becca?  You coming to the party this weekend???  Man I hope so!  

How about you?  Ya, YOU!  You don't need to be a blogger to post your favorite song of the week you know.  Just head to youtube.com and find the song you are singing, copy and paste the www. address below in the link box and add your name to the name box.  DONE!  You'll be officially part of the cool crowd, ok, not the cool crowd but of THIS cool party!  Come on...link up a tune for me to sing to too!

Come join me and Becca from Because I'm the Mommy (if she shows up this week) and link up to our Playlist of songs that make US sing!  Here are just a few guidelines or at this point...forget the "rules" and just link up!!!

1. Please Join the TWO of "Us" (we're so much more than just songs...LOL) If you're a new joiner please leave us a comment so we can join you back!

2. Pick A Song...any song that makes you wanna sing! Old-New-Country-Pop-Punk...anything goes. (Let's try to keep it family friendly if we can...LOL) If you want, tell us why the song makes you wanna SING!

3. Add your link to the "Playlist"

4. We'd REALLY like you to copy the Linky Code (just click on "get the code") in to your post so your blogger buds can join in on the fun or link back to the both of us so they can at least "find" the party, but you don't have to.

5. We'd love to see the video of your song (which can easily be shared via youtube.com) but if you just wanna list your favorite song of the day, we're "cool" with that too!  

I admit.  I have a girl crush on PINK and a woman crush on Nate!!  Love.  Love. LOVE this duet!

Bend It Like Beckham. I Mean Bowes...

Ok, so nobody gave me a heads up on how entertaining 3 year olds playing soccer would be?!?!?! Could it be because of all my friends, past and present, we are the only family that actually enrolled our 3 year old kids to play soccer?  Maybe.  But I highly doubt it.  

So, I am taking it upon myself to share, share sugar bear and tell all parents of 3 year olds to "GET THEM INTO SOCCER!"  You will not be disappointed.

It's great exercise.  The kids love running around in the fresh air.  It's a perfect way to "pass" the evening before bedtime.  It helps build the foundation of sportsmanship and love of sports (I think LOL!).  But if for nothing else...it will be the most hilarious, never-soon-to-forget, parenting experience so far in their short three years of life.

Ave & Bryce are always super excited on Monday's because that's soccer night.  You'd think they were semi-pro athletes if you were a fly on our walls because they get all "pumped" to kick the ball and score!  They can hardly take the time to finish their dinner before they are asking to get into their uniforms (which are 5 sizes too big which results in a whole lotta cuteness if you ask me!)...

Superstar Bryce- Player #9             Superstar Ave- Player #8

When we get there, they are honestly, superstars with the warm-up exercises.  Kicking the ball back and forth between pylons, listening very careful to the coaches instructions and following them to a "T" and then...when it's game time, all super-stardom flies out the window or up to the sky so it goes and this is when the real FUN begins!

Yup, those are my kids.  Holding hands and running everywhere BUT towards the ball.

Yup, those are my kids taking an unregulated break as the rest of team kicks a$$ out on the field.

Yup, those are my kids having the time of their lives as mama giggles & (shamefully, ok, not really shamefully!) displays a little 'Soccer Mom" in her.

Maybe your kid will Bend it Like Beckham but with any luck, they'll Bend it Like <INSERT YOUR LAST NAME HERE>!  LMAO!

Come Dine With Me. The Ultimate Girlz NIGHTS Out ...

I haven't been blogging lately because I have been busy having tons of fun with the ladies cleaning my house and tending to the children.  That's the truth.  The first.  Not the latter.

Are you familiar with the British show Come Dine With Me?  How 'bouts the Canada version?  Kay, well I am aaddicted take a moment or two from time to time to check these shows out.  I have wanted to throw my own fun version of this show with my girlfriends here in Calgary but since they are all too lame busy to have actually watched these shows, they had no idea what the hell I was talking about and never showed any interest.  So, I did what anyone would do...I convinced my mom and her Bays End Manor friends to "play along" with me AND WE HAD A TOTAL BLAST!!!! (You missed out Calgary friends...big time!)

Basically, here is how it all works (as copied and pasted from the Canadian website):

"In this ultimate and original dinner party series, five strangers cook up their idea of a perfect evening over five consecutive nights. The heat is on each competitor to out-cook, out-host and out-entertain each other for the chance to win the title of ultimate dinner party host and a $1,000 cash prize. With biting narration by radio personality Jamie Carr, find out whose recipe for the ultimate dinner party goes down best."

Sounds like fun eh?  Well, let me tell you...it sure was!!!  Only there wasn't a $1000 dollar prize AND there were 13 of us AND we had 3 teams AND we did it over a 6 nights BUT it was as close to the "real deal" as we could get it!

Check It Out...You may need to click on the "Click here to view this book larger" AND it may take a bit to load but the wait is WELL WORTH IT...I promise!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Start your own Shutterfly Photo Book today.

P.S.  Dear My Calgary Girlfriends:   If you would like to partake in this super-fun-awesome experience, you may be able to talk me into putting together a Calgary Come Dine With Me version in the near future.  Maybe.  Probably.  Oh who am I kiddin'???  Call me.  NOW.  Let's DO THIS!!!

Saturday Songs That make US Sing Link-Up! I'm back and singing...

...loud and proud!!!

My bestie Becca from Because I'm the Mommy and I have taken a couple weeks break from our weekly Saturday Link-Up.  I am not sure if she plans to join me this week now that I have officially decided that going even ONE MORE WEEK without a singing party is not an option for me.  My sanity depends on this Saturday Sing-A-Long.  No really.  It does. LOL!

So if she shows up this weekend, come join me and Becca from Because I'm the Mommy and link up to our Playlist of songs that make US sing!  Here are just a few guidelines or at this point...forget the "rules" and just link up!!!

1. Please Join the TWO of "Us" (we're so much more than just songs...LOL) If you're a new joiner please leave us a comment so we can join you back!

2. Pick A Song...any song that makes you wanna sing! Old-New-Country-Pop-Punk...anything goes. (Let's try to keep it family friendly if we can...LOL) If you want, tell us why the song makes you wanna SING!

3. Add your link to the "Playlist"

4. We'd REALLY like you to copy the Linky Code (just click on "get the code") in to your post so your blogger buds can join in on the fun or link back to the both of us so they can at least "find" the party, but you don't have to.

5. We'd love to see the video of your song (which can easily be shared via youtube.com) but if you just wanna list your favorite song of the day, we're "cool" with that too!  

This week I am channeling my "Inner Ninja" to tackle life and all it has to challenge offer me!  

(This song also gives me the giggles because I've been known to go a little "NINJA" form time to time...LMAO!)

The 'Bra-Wallet"...

I am linking up with Mama Kat for her Pretty Much World Famous Writing Workshop.

It feels good to be back and I couldn't have thought of a better way to celebrate my return to blogging than to talk about how I loose $hit all the time!

Assignment: The last thing you lost.

Ok, so to be totally honest, this story is not about the last thing I lost.  I loose things on a daily basis.  I do.  I R.E.A.L.L.Y do.  From the outside looking in, you might think I am one of the most organized, type A personalities going and that IS true when it comes to certain aspects of my life.  Mainly, planning parties and/or events, family scheduling and work related duties.  Otherwise, I am a total wreck in the organizational department.  Hence, I loose things constantly.

This story is about the last thing I lost that COULD have caused my husband to divorce me.  I am only kinda kiddin'.

Daddy Dave is annoyingly very organized when it comes to his wallet.  He has almost had a heart attack on more than one occasion when he has momentarily "misplaced" his wallet.  Which, by the way, is ALWAYS in the same location, without fail.  The first time he almost lost his mind it was a mad, frantic search for his wallet.  I'm talking ripping through drawers, tearing apart the house...it was, where it always is, in the left side-inner zipper of his coat.  How he managed to miss it (and continues to do so occasionally), I will never know.  Anywho, when he starts with the whole "I can't find my wallet" saga, I now roll my eyes and calmly walk to his coat pocket and "Voila" he instantly calms as the wallet "magically appears". *insert sarcastic tone here*

I, on the other hand am NOT that organized and while I have enough wallets and purses to open up my own small boutique, you will often find me carrying around this...

...with all my credit cards, ID and bank cards.  It's small.  It gets lost all the time.  It's quite frustrating.  More for Daddy Dave than me but I will admit, every time this little thing has done a disappearing act I vow to star using a purse.  I should probably note here that daddy Dave is convinced that if anyone gets a hold of our credit cards and/or bank cards that we will be bankrupted in a matter of minutes.  No joke.  He truly believes this.  Which might make you understand why the following "oopsie" was so significant...

Sometime around Christmas, I stopped even using that little wallet and started using what I have coined the "Bra-Wallet".  You know, sticking your cards and ID in the top of your bra.  Classy.  I know.  Don't ask me why but I think it allowed me some false sense of security that I couldn't possibly loose anything so close to my heart...LMAO!

AS IF!  This $hit really exists?
I guess I didn't coin that term after all?!?!?

I went grocery shopping one night before a meeting.  Long story short, when I arrived at my meeting I did the ever so in-conspicuous "Bra-Wallet-Sweep" to make sure everything was in it's place.  It wasn't.  The credit card was missing.  OMG!  I frantically searched the van with no luck.  I should probably confess here that the only other time I have ACTUALLY lost a credit card was when I was about 7 1/2 months pregnant with Ave & Bryce and it must have "slipped" outta my pocket (oh ya!  I was a "Pocket-wallet" person for a while too!).  Daddy Dave handled that VERY well and I am sure it was because I was carrying his children otherwise, I am sure it would have been D-I-V-O-R-C-E.

Since I was not "with child or children" I went straight into panic mode.  Daddy Dave had been riding my a$$ for years about using a proper wallet and purse and when he got "wind" of the new "Bra-Wallet", well, he almost lost his mind but I assured him that I didn't need him "policing" me and my wallet choices AND until I lost something he should just keep quite.  I wasn't very nice about it.  I wish I would have been nicer about it...LOL!

I hate eating crow AND I knew there would be some serious damage control needed if I had to tell him I had let the family credit card slip out of my "Bra-Wallet".  Because I was totally beside myself, my girlfriend called the store to see if I had left it there and when that was a big fat negatory, she left my contact information in the event it was "found".  I had pretty much come to the realization that I was going to have to face the music.  The dreadful music.

As luck or fate or my guardian angel would have it, I was 1/2 way home from my meeting when the store called to let me know that someone had found it in the middle of the parking lot...in the snow.  The lady on the phone was sure to tell me just how "fortunate" I was that someone actually saw it in the heaps of snow AND was "kind" enough to turn it in to the store.  She had NO IDEA how true that was.

Needless to say, the "Bra-wallet" is no longer something I use.  Ya I know.  It's something I should have never been trashy enough to use but from time to time I like to walk on the wild side...you know what I mean?!?!

Go get Your Inspiration On...

The Lost Art of the Thank You Card...

...the Thinking of You Card, the Get Well Soon Card, the Just to Say Hello Card...heck the whole lost art of the postal system!

I don't know about you but I still get giddy with excitement when I open up my mailbox and see a letter addressed to "moi" or to daddy Dave or the kids.  I get just about as giddy to see ANY piece of mail other than junk mail and/or generically addressed mail.  Even my bills with my actual name on it puts a smile on my face until I open it and the reality of having to pay the sum listed sets in. *sigh*

My point being is I LOVE mail.  I love getting it.  I LOVE sending it.  It's a lost art.  I am convinced that our postal system will eventually be one of those things we sit in our rocking chairs talking about with our grandchildren as a "Way back when I was a kid..." story.  You should see the "That ain't never gonna happen" looks when I express this "thought" of mine.  But how can you deny this possibility with most company's going "green", the ever so popular e-card services and the sheer lack of paper communication due to electronic correspondence convenience?!?!  (Don't get me wrong, I love my email too!)

But that's not what I wanted to rant talk about today.  I get sidetracked sometimes when a million thoughts are running through my mind.  Having not blogged in FO-ever, I have more than a few things I want to enlighten share with others.  LOL!

This morning I was reading one of parenting magazines on the etiquette's of children's birthday parties and one of the points stated that written thank yous are not necessary.  Sure, I get that they are not necessary but I do think they are important.

Disclaimer: Before I continue on, let me first say that I do not expect a thank you card from anyone.  That in itself would make a Thank You card less appreciated and valued.  Nor do I feel insulted or "judge" those who do not send Thank You cards.  It in no way reflects a person gratitude towards a gift I or my family have given them. This is not a post to slap the hands of those who do not send Thank You cards!

That being said, in my home, it does reflect the gratitude WE feel for gifts received and is a mandatory practice 'round here for my children.  Sure, they are only 3 year old and I am the one who is currently sending these off on their behalf BUT they are involved in the process as much as possible.  When I sit to write the cards, they are there asking a million and one annoying questions over and over questioning what I am doing.   When possible, they hand deliver these Thank You notes to people in person and they are my official "Stamp Stickers" when we mail them out.

I keep it real simple when they want an explanation.  "INSERT NAME HERE gave you INSERT GIFT HERE and you are now sending them a Thank You Card to express how grateful you are for their present."  When the ever so popular "Why?" question is asked over and over and over and over, I respond mater-of-factly, "Because that is the polite thing to do."

In my mind, it's not rocket science.  It's one of the ways in which I am trying to ensure my children do not grow up with a sense of entitlement.  While they are spoiled.  They are not spoiled rotten (at least I hope they are not).  I always say this about myself and hope my children will also say the same about themselves when they grow old and wise (just like mama);  I didn't want for anything growing up (or even now as an adult) BUT I appreciated everything I did/do have.  I was taught that you said "Thank You" for everything that was given.  Not just gifts but meals, rides, if someone held the door open for you, etc.  Everything.  

Gratitude...one of life's easiest lessons to teach.  In my opinion.

And so, as I cleaned my gift/party/storage room this weekend, I happened upon a box FULL of Thank You cards that I have picked up over the years.  I am talking, TONS of cards.  I think I bought some of them before I even had kids.  Some are very simple/generic and will be used for years to come.  Many of them are specifically designed for children.  The kind where, once they learn to write, they can fill in the blanks to express their appreciation for the MANY gifts and acts of kindness that are to come.  I am most excited about this.  The moment when my children will truly understand and participate in the lost art of sending a "Thank You" card.

Dr. Seuss 3rd Birthday Party!!

Ave & Bryce turned THREE years old last week back in January and I am JUST getting around to posting all the fabulous details...LOL!

For those of you who know me well, I am sure you are SHOCKED that it has taken me so long to post all the WONDERFULNESS of that day.  (You know, since I start planning all the details for their NEXT Birthday 11 months 30 days after their CURRENT Birthday...LMAO!)

I have taken an extended break from blogging for a variety of reasons but I was feeling a little "refreshed" this evening and thought I'd post pics of the kids 3rd Birthday Party...Dr. Seuss Style!

*Click on pictures to enlarge*

THE INVITE

Nothing sets the stage for a fun celebration than a really cool invite.  I made these online at  uprint where they will send you a digital file that you can print as many or as few as you need.

THE DECORATIONS

I love personalized banners and given how inexpensive they are, I feel that they truly add something special to a very special day for the kids!

I decorated the fireplace with with "fishies".  Ave & Bryce got a "Red Fish" & "Blue Fish" as part of their Birthday present and one of the games was "Guess how many goldfish in the container" (located in the center there).  Written on the Thing 1 & 2 cards read "One Fish, Two Fish.  Red Fish, Blue fish."

I printed out a bunch of Dr. Seuss  "wisdom quotes" from his books and posted them all over the house.

As silly as Dr. Seuss books are...

...there is some great "messages" in his writing!!

I also displayed all the Dr. Seuss books we had all over the house...

...including the washroom!  LOL!

Gotta have balloons!

Another little something I did was write cute sayings on Thing 1 and 2 cards.  This one is from the ABC book but in the washroom I wrote, "You Would Not.  Could Not.  Forget  to Wash Your Hands."

THE FOOD

The "spread" included: veggies, fruit, sandwiches, cheese, crackers & chips.

I colored the mayo green for the egg salad sandwiches  for the "Green Eggs" & made simple ham sandwiches to go with them...it was HIT!

The kids had a blast eating at their own separate kid size tables. (purchased at IKEA for only $25 a set which includes 1 table, 2 chairs)

THE CAKES

As always, the cakes are an important part of Ave & Bryce's Birthday.  

Keeping with tradition over the last 2 years, we got them a "joint" cupcake cake for all the guests with their picture on it.

And then they each got their own "Special" cake!  Being twins, I think it's important to make sure they each feel like individuals on their Birthday and this is one of the many ways I try to do that.

In the past I have spent WAY too much money on these smaller cakes.  These ones were from Safeway for only $20/each and I added my own custom decorations to match the theme.

THE GAMES & ENTERTAINMENT

At 3 years old, there wasn't many games I could come up with that I thought would be appropriate so the kids played in the playroom most of the time.

I did come up with one idea.  GO FISH.  The kids had to search all over the house for "colored fishes" (attached to envelopes) and bring them to the "pond".  When all the children had found a fish, they opened up the envelope it was attached to and inside was numbers.  The child with number 1 when first and so on and so forth...

...they dropped a "fishing rod" into the "pond" where I had Calvin (one of the older kids) hidden and he attached a box of Swedish Fish to the end of the pole and gave it a "tug" and each kid reeled in their "Catch of the day"!  It was a TOTAL HIT!

THE "LOOT"

Each child went home with the Dr. Seuss book "My Book About Me" where they will be able to fill in a variety of details about their lives over the next few years.  Kinda like a baby memory book, only for older kids.  Each adult and child also went home with a Dr. Seuss magnetic bookmark.

THE GUESTS

Adults and kids alike got into the Dr. Seuss spirit by wearing the famous...

..."Cat In the Hat" Hats!

Well, there you have it.  Another Year.  Another Birthday.  It's hard to believe how fast 3 years has come and gone.  I am already knee deep in plans for their 4th Birthday Party which is going to be a PRINCESSES & PIRATES themed celebration!

I figure I only got this...MAYBE the following 5th year (????) to choose the themes so, I best take advantage of it while I can!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ave & Bryce!!!

"The more that you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you'll go"

-I can read with my eyes shut!