first time to chuck e cheese

Yesterday we celebrated my niece and nephew's 4th birthday party at good old Chuck E Cheese in Langley.

When I was a kid, we celebrated a lot of birthdays at Chuck E Cheese in Coquitlam back in the day so I was super excited to document Charlotte's first trip to see the Big Cheese.

She met Chuck E Cheese himself and just stared at him with open eyes (and mouth - I think she wanted to nibble on his ears). The only thing that bothered her about the adventure was the noise. Holy hell - that place is LOUD - I did not blame her one bit.

I guess mommy is getting old. The whole drive home I tried to bribe her to NOT want a Chuck E Cheese birthday party in the future. But, of course, if she asks for it, I am sure she will get it. She's only 5 months old so lots (LOTS) of fun birthdays to come!

The birthday boy and girl.
They actually turn 4 today and I cannot believe it. Love them!

 

Our nephew Curtis (way too cool for school at 12 years old), Nana and Charlotte.
Of course the birthday party was right at nap time but little C is a champ
and had a quick catnap in our Beco carrier but was happy for the rest of the shindig.

 

 Daddy introducing Charlotte to the Big Cheese himself.
This is the dancing (electronic) Chuck E but she did meet
the walking mascot one too - I just didn't get a photo unfortunately.

 

Princess Charlotte. Daddy is already grooming her.
Mommy is in trouble.

 

My crazy family. And yes, I would love them even if they looked like this all the time.
Well, at least I would love Charlotte.

 

Charlotte on the way home. She was one tired little girl.

 

  I had to share the cupcakes that my sister-in-law's friends made. So cute.
The party was half "Minion" for my nephew and half "Princess" for my niece.

 

 And just for fun ... I think I was probably 5 in this photo.
I've been a lover of that mouse forever.
It is so not the same as it used to be but glad that the family tradition can live on!

some firsts for ms. charlotte

This past weekend we got a big dump of snow where we live. It doesn't usually snow this late in February so I guess the old groundhogs were right and we are in for some more winter (it is still snowing as I write this - we are at well over a foot now and that isn't normal for around these parts).

This isn't the first time it has snowed since Charlotte was born in October - we had a bit around Christmas but nothing really stuck and I don't even think we went outside with Charlotte on those days.

On Saturday, instead of getting our 4.5 month year old all ready to "play" in the snow, we just stuck her in the middle of the front yard to see what her reaction would be. She has never showed any signs of every being cold (she is quite the little sweat ball actually) - she actually seems quite comfortable while cold (except for in the bath - that is a whole other ballgame).

She was quite funny because she was actually smiling the whole time but I couldn't get a proper photo because she couldn't keep her eyes from blinking.

 

After our snow adventure :) ... we went to our good friend Lachlan's 5th birthday party at the Honeybee Centre. What a cool idea for a birthday party! (And this was the first time Charlotte had attended a kid birthday party so she was pretty excited.) Birthday boy and party guests got to have an educational lesson on insects, they got to explore the bug room, they made bug catchers, beat the crap out of a piñata (courtesy of the parents) and had a late pizza lunch. The kids all had a blast, learned a few things and birthday mom didn't have to clean her house ... win/win if you ask me!

 

Daddy and Charlotte were very intent on learning something new themselves:

 

Check out my friend's awesome Minion spread - complete with a fruit Minion: 

 

Don't worry Charlotte - next year we will really play in the snow like all the big kids. I promise! xo



another year older

I celebrated my 35th birthday on Sunday which is awesome but I have pneumonia which is way less than awesome.

I am going to hide away for the day and rest - hope to be back at this blogging business as soon as possible. Lots of ideas swirling in my head that I can't wait to get out. Thinking this blog is going to turn into a "Mom Blog" after all. More to come soon!

For now I am going to spend the day cuddling this little cutie who is 4 months old today! xo

great grandma's 91st birthday

Last Monday my mom, Charlotte and I went and visited Charlotte's great grandmother for her 91st birthday. Grandma was being wheeled down to lunch when she saw Charlotte and exclaimed, "Oh look! A baby!" Then she focussed on my mom and then me and figured out who we were and shouted, "Oh look! MY baby!" It was adorable. She kept telling everyone that her and Charlotte looked like twins (even though Charlotte looks nothing like my side of the family and everything like her daddy). It was a great way to spend the day, and I was so happy that all of us could be in one place together.

daddy's birthday

This past weekend was spent celebrating my husband's 36th birthday - his first birthday being a father so it was extra special. We enjoyed lots of cuddles, cake and sparklers, ate yummy Indian and sushi, and celebrated with both friends and family. It was a great weekend and a great reminder that life is only going to get better (and fun) from here with little Ms. Charlotte in our lives!

happy birthday to me!

For anyone who is a fan of Breaking Bad like me, I just had to include this Happy Birthday wish to myself today. Celebrating my 34th - birthday re-cap to come. Hope you all are enjoying your weekend friends! xo

family weekend - good for my soul

This past weekend my whole family was in town to celebrate my Grandmother's 90th birthday. My Dad's family (from California), my Mom's family and the Husband's family - all in one place on Saturday for dinner at my parents' house. Then Sunday we spent the day at St. Michael's (where my Grandmother lives) and had tea and cake with our extended family (on my Dad's side). I haven't seen some of these people in probably 10 years (since my Dad passed away).

The weekend was filled with laughs, hugs, smiles and memories ... it was just what I needed at exactly the right time and I am so grateful that we all were in the same place at the same time for such a happy occasion.

A few of my favourite shots from Saturday's dinner at my parents' house ...

My niece Sidney and cousin Charles hanging out. She is all cheesy smiles and he can't figure her out. Typical girl vs boy behaviour!

My cousin Abbey taking charge. She is so going to be a school teacher one day.

Beautiful Abbey. Her parents are in trouble in a few years! xo

The twins getting in on the hair salon action.

Charles saying good-bye to Ainsley. And yes - they just met that night but he didn't want to let her go. Their good-bye lasted forever.

And a few of my favourites from Sunday's celebration at St. Michael's ...

Charles wanted "GG" to share her cake. He waited so patiently all day after all.

Me and the beautiful birthday gal. LOVE! xo

Just the Bower side ladies: My cousin Danielle, my mom Dixie, my grandmother Janet, me and my aunt Janice. Such a beautiful group of strong women.

Two of my favourite men with the birthday girl: Husband Chad and Cousin Mike.

Happy birthday Grandma, Grandmother, GG, Aunt, Cousin, Sister, Mother, Friend ... Janet! xoxo

so proud of my family

The 2012 edition of Chance and Sidney's photo with Santa. They are so adorable - they make my teeth hurt :) Love them!

My Grandma will be 90 in January. Let the special happy birthday messages begin! 

"do I get a present too?"

I just had to share this sequence of photos from a birthday party we attended last weekend! Meet Ms. Julia. She is my cousin Suds' daughter with his gorgeous (and delightful) wife Sarah. Suds is a pilot and they live in Hong Kong but come home to visit family and friends whenever they can. The last time I saw Julia in person, she was literally just a little bundle of joy and now, she is a walking/talking little girl - crazy how that happens :)

Since Julia and her big sister Ella live in Hong Kong, I decided to bring them gifts to my other cousin's little girls', Abbey and Ainsley's, birthday party. This is what happened ...

"Hey Julia, it's present opening time!"

"Well what the heck? How come every other little girl has a present except for me?"

"Okay good. This makes more sense. Let the gift opening really begin!"

"Hmm ... this is tougher than I thought!"

  "Clearly I need a little help."

"I know! Nana will help me!" 

"Ah - this is better ... now let's see what we got here."

"That's it? Look at all the goodies the birthday girls got!"

"Whatever! I'm going  back to my swing where I should have stayed in the first place!" 

Big love Ms. Julia! xoxo

a belated birthday present

I just came back from a delicious Subway picnic belated birthday lunch in the park with my girlfriend Crystal.  It was only an hour but whenever we get together, it is like a counselling session for both of us - we talk, we listen, we remember - it is very therapeutic and really wish we could do it more often. The sun was shining and her little dog Charlie got some alone time to run around in the field - it was a great mini break in the middle of the day. She really enjoyed the necklace I made her ... it was sparkly and pretty - just like her! Now it is back to reality and off to set-up for a work event! Enjoy your Tuesday friends!

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happy birthday to my best buddy

A very happy 33rd birthday to my long time buddy Travo! Cheers to many, many more! xo

happy birthday mom!

via

Today is my mom's 61st birthday. She is my mom, my pal, my confidant, my heart, my frustration and my best friend all rolled up into one very special package. She just recently lost her own mother and has been dealing a lot with her feelings around that so I hope that today is happy and bright for her - she deserves only good things from here on out.

I love you mom! Tomorrow we go to get our hair did and eat some yummy food - it will be fabulous to celebrate with you! xoxo