All dolled up!

It is very rare that Pat and I are both this dressed up at the same time so thought I would share a few pics from our friends wedding a few weeks ago. 

...And yes...I know his pants are too short.  I tried to get him to try them on after we picked them up but of course he did not get them on his a** until an hour before the wedding.  Sorry T!  Why is it that dressing a man becomes the woman's responsibility after you move in together?  Because I always feel like it is my responsibility when his shirt is not ironed.  Oh well, he still looks very handsome...short pants and all ;)

Awwwee!

Trying to do a cool photo booth pose and failing miserably!

These photos were taken by Fredericton, N.B. photographer Andrew Kelly.

Uncle Matt and Mike

As most of you know Jack has twin uncles. I never really thought much about how he would react to them…whether or not he would be able to tell them apart. I have known them for so long that I take for granted they look so similar. Jack now knows both of their names and can say both names he just mixes them up. What else can we expect I guess?? We went to visit Uncle Matt last night and Jack proved just how smart he is. After calling Matt Mike a few times and being repeatedly corrected he decided to come up with his own version and combine the two names ‘Maat-ike’. After thinking about this I am completely amazed. Yes - there is a chance this was coincidence however I am going to choose to believe we have one smart cookie on our hands who decided to combine the two names to make one (after all he can't get it wrong that way). Perhaps this could be Jack’s potential nickname for the two of them?? Time will tell.

One thing is certain he definitely gets his love of motorized vehicles from the twins. I can’t keep this kid out of the truck or off the lawnmower. He is 110% obsessed. I swear it has to be genetic.

Happy 29th Birthday Mommy!

Being the luckiest mommy in the world I got to celebrate my last bday party in my 20s doing exactly what I wished for....camping and relaxing with my family.  Hard to believe that next year will be the big 30 but I am ready.  Bring it!

Summer Lovin'

Mama's Boy

 A few pics to share that my sis took...

And to think I used to hate Mama's Boys??

 

Loves the water!

Buddies

BFFs

Cool Like Daddy

My God Son

ALL Boy!

He still melts my heart!

McCain family day fair

FUN!

Snack time

 

Pat's 31st

Off to the lake this weekend for Pat’s 31st birthday (our annual North Lake visit). It is hard to believe that he will be over 30 this year. It has been 15 years since our first kiss, 14 years since our Junior high prom, 10 years since we found each other again, 5 ½ years since we bought our home and 1 year since we had our baby boy.

Certainly we have had our ups and downs over time, like all couples do, but look how far we have come and what we now have together...a love that has endured time & change, a beautiful home that couldn’t suit us better, an adorable happy little boy, careers that make us happy and family all around.

Happy Birthday Honey. I couldn’t imagine myself doing this with anyone else but you.

xo

Bruins Baby!

It has been a day or two...Life took over this week and before I knew it here I am already half way through my Friday.
A few random updates from our family….

Jack has his first molar. It just poked through this week. Thank heavens! Now that I can see the tips of it shining through his gums I am back to getting a full night’s sleep. It has been rough in the sleep department for both of us for over a month now.  Makes getting up for work in the morning very difficult.

GG has made it home from her successful surgery in Halifax. We are all so happy to have her back and on the mend. My Aunt Karen came from Ontario to be with Gram for a couple of weeks so it has been really nice to visit with her. We are all enjoying having her around.

Not only is it Father’s Day this weekend but it is Tractor Pull weekend!! We always look forward to the party and the crowd the tractor pull brings to our little town each year. Mommy and daddy are getting a night out alone.  Should be a good time. We are really in need of getting our social life back. It has been a struggle to say the least but it is coming day by day.

Pat has started working his summer hours as his company can have very seasonal type hours/work. Summer keeps him busy, thin and very tanned. Hahahaha. I swear he loses at least 20 lbs every summer from working long hours in the heat every day. I have no clue how he does it????

As for mama – I have lost 20 pounds since Christmas! I am so happy that I am finally feeling back to normal and comfortable in my own skin (and clothing) again. For those of you out there struggling to lose the ‘baby weight’ my only advice is be patient, keep active…it will come. On the work side of life: Although being a working mom is tough I am loving being back at it. It is strange how much appreciation this past year off has given me for my job. It really made me realize how much I love what I do and who I do it with.

And finally...the Bruins won the Stanley Cup!!! Our father has dressed us in Bruins wear since we were born and of course he has done the same for Jack. We were all Bruins babies.  After waiting all of my life thus far, I finally get to hear Dad brag about his team (our family’s team now) and not curse them! It is great.

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers

Graduation, Dreams, Priorities, Life

A HUGE congrats to my sister Dani who just graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. We are happy to have her home this summer but will be very excited for her when she takes off in the fall for Vancouver to follow a dream. Set your sights high because you deserve the world! You make us so proud! Hugs and Love: PB&J <3

Of course all of this graduation talk had me feeling very nostalgic which got me thinking 'back'. It feels as though it has been an eternity since I was graduating from University with so many hopes and dreams. A 7 year eternity to be exact. 7 years ago did I ever dream I would be where I am now? NO! Crazy how fast time flies and the many changes that happen along the way.

THEN: If you asked me then if I would be living in Centreville I probably would have laughed. I doubt I would have guessed that I would be working as an HR Specialist and I certainly would not have told you that I would be a mommy. Funny how dreams change. How time and experience allows you to appreciate some things/places/people . How you see life in a different light. How priorities shift.

NOW: Today I am a mom living with my junior high sweetheart in a small country town and life really couldn’t be better. I love the advantages the country life has to offer (peace, nature, the relaxed pace, friendly neighbours, etc.). I love being close to my family and I love my job! I have discovered that I just love the simple life and all HOME has to offer.  Home is where my heart is.

The simple life = the quality life.

Go dream your dreams, live your life but don't be ashamed to admit that dreams change and always remember it is ok to go home.  Sometimes that is the best place for a person to 'be'.

I'm One!





Mommy's BIG baby boy turns 1

...And as you can see Jack is very proud to be ONE!  He had a great birthday party with family and a few friends this past weekend.  He really felt the love with all of the visitors and gifts.  Grammie Simonson outdid herself once again in the snack department.  What a beautiful spread she put on (as always)!  Jack even received his very first truck, yes a REAL one!  Grampie Simonson gave him a 1961 GMC.  It is very special to our family as it belonged to Harry Simonson who would be Jack's Great Great Grandfather.   What a lucky little boy!  Daddy feels pretty lucky too as he thinks he should get to drive Jack around in it until he is old enough to drive it himself.    Thanks everyone for making Jack's big day so special.

Here are a few of my favourite moments of the day:

Opening gifts

He loved everyone singing to him!



Jack's first sugar!

Clean-up time!

Easter Sunday.

It is my first Easter without my mom and Jack's first Easter ever.  Mom, Papa and Kenz are in Florida for this Easter holiday.  Hope they are having fun and nice weather.  They deserve it!  Grammie Kathy and Grampie Jim are in Cuba.  It is strange for Pat and I to be on our own for a holiday where we are usually running back and forth to at least 2 or 3 dinners.  GG had dinner for us Friday night.  So we are the chefs today.  I decided to make a beef stew as we have already had a ham dinner and stew is Jack's favourite right now.   Plus it totally helps that I can make it in the slow cooker and not have to think about it again until we are ready to eat.  I love slow cookers!  Definitely invented for busy moms on the go.

Jack was up bright and early this morning.  He found all of the Easter eggs the Easter bunny hid for him and had a blast with his Easter basket.  Kids are so fun.  Brings back memories of my own holidays at home.  Luckily the Easter bunny knows I am starting to get annoyed with the 'new' fancy toys that ALL have batteries and make loud sounds, so he brought old fashioned toys like shovels, rakes, blocks, etc...Jack was pleased too.  Happy Easter! Love; PB&J.

 



GGs.

Jack is blessed to have some of his great grandparents in his life.  He is actually named after 2 that are no longer with us Jack (Jim's Father) and Ken (Mary Lee's Father).  Today we woke up bright and early, bundled up and headed to Tim's to meet my family for coffee.  It was Great Grampie Gordon's 71st birthday.  Jack stole grampie's thunder once we arrived but I am pretty sure he enjoyed having us there.  As you can see from the photos Jack happily bounced from one person to the next until he made his way all around the table.

A special congrats to my grandparents who have just recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary.  Now there is a great set of role models!

Jack and the Birthday Man - Great Grampie Gordon

Great Grammie, Grampie Tony & Jack

Did I really let him eat off this tray?? -I did clean it first!



Family Fun!

We decided to get out and do something fun on our family day today so we rounded up the neighbours and headed to the Bowlacade in Woodstock.  We had a blast.  They even had shoes to fit Jack.  Such a great way to spend a few hours on a Sunday...

Bowling shoes for Jack too!

Kids first day bowling

Totally has the hang of it now.  We put the rails up so her balls wouldn't go in the gutter and guess where she wants to send them??

Baptism ~October 17, 2010

We had a beautiful service for Jack's Baptism. How much fun to have so many friends and family join in for his first big celebration.

God Parents: Jeremy (uncle), Brady (uncle), Sarah & Ashley Gray (my best buds)

My World.

My Family, My Life, My World! Just had some family photos taken by my sister. Jack is now 12 weeks old. Where does the time go? As hard as this life adjustment has been I wouldn't trade these 2 for the world!