HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIRDIE!

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday dear Birdie!

Happy Birthday to you!

Have a great day and hopefully we will see you on the weekend!

IN LOVING MEMORY!

~Grammie Shirley~

It's not the same without you!

Miss you always!

FIRST PICTURES OF OUR NEW PUPPY!

IT'S OFFICIAL....

.....SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE SUMMER!

We took the kids for lunch today and not only did they enjoy it but we also got to see one of the first Cruise Ships to visit. Then as luck would have it, we caught it leaving port when we went to pick Matt up at work. Pretty cool but we have seen bigger!

These ships go right by where we live!

ENJOYING THE WEATHER (Sunday)

OUR RENOVATIONS ARE COMING TO AN END!

GETTING READY FOR THE PAINT!

Kohl and Blake helping with the renovation mess...or is that... making a mess?!

MY DUST ANGELS!

Well the time has finally come! We are in the last stages of our new bedroom renovation. The past couple of days Matt has been getting the room ready to paint and now the walls are painted! The kids were up last night until 11:00pm watching "Camp Rock" so we thought we would put down a row of carpet to see how it will look and surprise, surprise Matt didn't want to stop so down went the carpet. We ended up going to bed at 2:00am but with the work being finished later today we will be able to go to bed EARLY! What do you think of the new carpet?

WE LOVE THE COLOR!

DOWN GOES THE CARPET 1 PIECE AT A TIME...

MAKING PROGRESS...

ALMOST THERE....

CHECK OUT THE NEW CARPET

(so much better than the concrete floor!)

Now we need the white baseboard molding and white ledge going around the room....oh and we can't forget the drop ceiling but that will have to wait for now :0(

FISHING AND RENOVATIONS....

WHAT A CATCH....

Yesterday we took a break from working on our bedroom and made some fish on fishing rods with the kids. I know Jay is missing but he wasnt to interested in making fish so he went outside with his friends. I guess that is what happens when they get older.... The fish turned out great and it kept the boys entertained the rest of the afternoon.

BACK TO WORK...

(Kids in training)

It doesn't matter what we get ourselves into the kids are right there wanting to learn and help. Blake even got creative and came up with own idea to use the toy spatula to spread on the crack fill. He was so proud of himself and hey it worked!

Streeeeeetch.....

Kohl's turn for his lesson on crack filling the walls.

Trinity likes to help clean up the mess. She takes over the shop vac. What would we do without her?! and of course Jay is off doing his thing....wouldn't want to get his hands dirty LOL

This is where the room was around supper time yesterday....before we went to bed the wall around the window had paint on it! YAY!!!!! One wall left to go then it will be time to put the carpet down :0) More pictures to come!

Trinity had her class field trip today and had a great time. She talked about it all the way home from the school. I am hoping to get some pictures from her friends mom of them down in the mine. I have never been to the miners museum and it sounds like we should check it out. The school year is coming to an end. All the class field trips have come to an end and this is the kids last full week of school.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADS!!!!

Wishing Daddy Matt, Dad Way and Dad Smith a great day! This is your day so enjoy it, we will be thinking of you!love you allMatt, Carrie, Jay, Trinity, Kohl and Blake

A GREAT DAY....

Kohl's class went on their field trip to the wildlife park yesterday and I went along and took Blake and my friend Jackie and 2 of her girls went along as well. It ended up being a beautiful day with just enough breeze to help keep the bugs away. Jackie and I took the kids ahead before the school arrived so that we could take our time with the kids but the gate was locked and by the time we got in and going the kids class caught up with us so we ended up joining the class. It wasnt long after that I was left behind as Blake held hands with Mrs.Cantwell, kohl's teacher.(Blake does this all the time, he's not even her student but is the teachers pet!) The kids got to feed some of the animals but unfortunately they were as fun and friendly like they were last year when we were there visiting.

Lunch time came so we ended up at the top of the hill and had a picnic. We sat with Jackie and the girls enjoyed some fruit and goodies before heading to the playground. Kohl sat with Blaire of course, these two kids have become such good friends that they are almost inseparable (she taught Kohl how to climb a tree the other day at her house and he scratched his belly and is so proud of it because he got it while Blaire was showing him how to climb the tree, too cute) anyway back to the field trip. Not long after the kids had some time to play they loaded back into the bus and headed back to school. We picked the kids up as soon as they returned and everyone was tired! Trinity goes on her field trip to the Miners Museum on Monday!

Pictures of the field trip below...

KOHL AND BLAKE VISITING THE WILDLIFE PARK

LOTS OF FUN!

Wednesday night we had a great time at the circus. This was the first time that any of the kids have been to one and they were amazed with the acts. OMG the prices were crazy so thank God we made a stop at the Dollarstore and bought them glow sticks and lots of treats. We didn't have the elephant rides but instead camel rides and Blake was the only one interested in that but I wasn't waiting in the line up let alone paying the $8 to ride. The kids favorite act was the fire breathers and Blake enjoyed it all and was amazed at the size of the 8000 lb elephant. It was a late night for everyone and we are still trying to get caught up on lots of lost sleep over the past couple of weeks. It will be so nice when the kids are finished school then MAYBE things around here will slow down.

DIGGING IN THE DIRT

Yesterday was actually a pretty nice day so I spent the morning outside with Blake. We still have some work to do to the yard before we can set up the pool so I dug up the huge flower bed in the back of the house and dumped the dirt in the corner for the pool. I managed to burn my back and it was a lot more work than I thought it would be but that part is done. All we have to do now is put sod down and we will be good to go. Blake had fun picking out worms as we came across them and this kept him entertained right up until the end. He would find them, put them on a rock then give them a bubble bath then they were placed out in the sun to bake. He thought that was pretty funny! We had a great day :0)

WHAT A WAY TO END THE DAY....

CALL 911!

So for Matt his day started going wrong right from the beginning. He was suppose to go to work for noon but then the phone rang around 8:00am saying that the district manager was there a day earlier than expected. Matt quickly got ready and headed off to work. I finished getting the kids ready for school and continued on with my day. Since this was Matt's night to work he was there until closing at 9:30pm and what a long day it was. Jay had guitar lessons so I had the van and we had stopped in to see Matt while waiting for Jay then continued home and got the kids in bed. Jay is a great help when it comes to picking Matt up at night, I will have the other kids sleeping and he will keep an ear open for then if they wake up and need anything. I was getting ready to pick Matt up and he calls saying not to rush down because there was a fire in the store and he had the fire department there. It was nothing serious! Lots of smoke (the garbage compactor was set on fire) I was sitting patiently waiting to here back from Matt and nothing so I called his cell phone and sat waiting and still no word. I was starting to get worried and all the kids were sleeping so I headed to Zellers. Matt was fine (covered in fire extinguisher dust) the the fire department was blowing the fans through the front door. I checked in with Jay at home and he was fine so I waited for Matt and waited and waited. He had trouble getting the fire panel reset and we finally headed for home after midnight. Jay was still awake and wanted something to eat so we stopped and got him McDonald's. Matt wasn't long going to bed when we got home considering he had to go back early this morning. I didn't go to bed until 3am....I got addicted to the bubble town game on facebook!

Today the kids only had half a day of school so we kept them home to have a nap. We are taking them to the circus after supper and it will go until around 10:30pm then Kohl will have a busy day tomorrow with his class field trip to the wildlife park. I will have pictures for you tomorrow!

I guess that is it for now. No pictures of the puppy yet...hopefully soon! Oh and the renovations are still going on around here, Matt is just putting up the last couple pieces of drywall. It's getting exciting and so close to being finished!

THE KIDS SCHOOL FAIR (Friday June 6th)

AN UPDATE ON BLAKE!

We have been pretty patient with Blake lately but also still sticking to what we say. I am starting to see a difference in him already although he still likes to shoot his mouth at me with smart a$$ remarks but I will work at that one too! There is no end is there LOL Anyway I did reward his good behavior the other day and took him to the park. He was so excited to get to join the kids instead of sitting and watching in the van. I guess this is something we will have to continue when Blake or the other kids for that matter don't want to listen. I just wanted to let you know that he did get to the park.

BLAKE WAS HAVING A BAD DAY...

Yesterday Matt had the day off from work and we needed to get some prices for the ceiling so we spent the morning at Home Depot. Blake was pretty well behaved during our morning outing but come the afternoon he was completely out of control. We figured since we are considering getting a puppy that we would start looking into the cost of the things we would need for a puppy and this is where Blake decided not to co operate. Anyway we had promised to take them to the park by the water when we were finished but I lost it when Blake hauled off and hit me GRRRRRR We took the other kids to the park and I stayed in the van with Blake. He was NOT happy about that, he had to sit there and watch the kids play. My God it broke my heart but something had to be done. He cried the whole time they were playing and it really hit him when the kids came back to the van to go home. He completely lost it again and screamed and cried, threw his shoes and the list goes on. So as we continued towards home I got Matt to pull into another park and let the kids get out and have more fun. Once again I stayed with Blake explaining to him why he wasn't able to go play with the kids. He was not a happy camper and didn't like me a whole lot at that time. When we got home he went to his room for a bit while we prepared supper then he came down from his room and apologized for not being nice then helped us with supper. I think he now knows I mean business and he can't behave that way anymore.

Now today was the school fair and I was helping with one of the games and I had to take Blake with me. He was pretty well behaved for being there all day so I promised to take him to the park tonight when we pick Matt up at work. I just hope I don't have to do that to him again but I think he learned his lesson last night!

Enjoy the picture slideshow

of the kids

at the park last night along

with

Blake's pouty face!

LESSON LEARNED THE HARD WAY....

BLAKE WANTS A PUPPY....

That's right we are considering getting the kids a beagle puppy from Grandpa! I mean seriously look at that face, it's the same look Blake gives us when he talks about getting a puppy, now how can any parent say no to that? Blake has already name her! Today her name is Breigh, we will see what he comes up with tomorrow LOL

No seriously we have been giving this A LOT of thought. Yes one day, No the next and today we both are leaning towards getting one. We know how much work they can be but we have survived with four busy children! We made it work with them and we will make it work with a puppy! We will make the final decision when we go home to visit at the end of the month.

ENJOYING THE WARM WEATHER!

Yesterday was beautiful and one of the nicest days since winter. I really think summer is coming! Yesterday Blake packed up his gear and puppies and told me we were going for a walk, no problem but Blake's walks are to daddy's work. I had just finished walking on the treadmill, had a quick shower and off we were. Yep a stroller full of puppies, no surprise there! After walking for 30 minutes Blake questions the where abouts of his puppy "Jetty"??????????? Great Jetty was missing. I knew at what point of our walk it would be so we turned around and headed .....up hill.... about 10 minutes and there was Jetty. Ok so did I continue up the hill back home or did I turn around and continue back to Zellers. Of course I went down the hill to Zellers!

Anyway that was our morning yesterday....the afternoon was still really, really nice so when the kids came home from school we spent the afternoon in the backyard. The boys were blowing bubbles and yes miss Trinity was DANCING....and Jay where else would he be?????off playing basketball with his friends. We had a great time and I even managed to get some pork chops and marinated steak on the BBQ before Matt got home. It was sooooooo goooood!

The boys and their bubbles...

Trinity dancing...what else would she be doing????!

Yep that is me BBQing supper! It was ready when Matt got home...

Matt having some fun with Blake!

Matt putting Blake up in our apple tree...I know where to look if he goes missing LOL

Matt was off this morning (Tuesday) and we got some more work done in our bedroom. We would have much happier to be outside with the nice weather again but things need to get done. Matt went to work after lunch and I took Blake to the wooden play park down along the water. I promised to go back after supper while Jay goes to guitar lessons across the street.

Blake is in training to put up drywall...

This month is going to be a busy month with school. Tomorrow Kohl's class is going to the fire department then Friday is the school fair. I believe Monday, nope tomorrow Jay goes on his field trip then only half a day of school on Wednesday (might be going to the animal circus????????) the next Thursday Kohl's class is going to the Wildlife park. Trinity is going to a museum somewhere but nothing confirmed as of yet.

I will post pictures of their trips as they happen.

We are planning a trip home to visit the end of June, the Friday the kids get their report cards and will be there for 4 days.

LAST BASKETBALL GAME.....

......boys vs girls! Oh and then PIZZA!

We finished the basketball season off with a game against the girls. I have to be honest that things weren't looking to good for the boys in the beginning but they turned things around and won the game! Now we couldn't leave it end like that so Nadine (coach) brought in pizza and pop for the team. It was a great basketball season and about half the boys will be graduating into Junior High in September.