Halloween, Haircuts and Ballet, Oh My!

Wow! I cannot believe that it is less than a month till Christmas!!!

Here is a rundown of our last couple months...

Halloween... Grace was a Fairy Princess (for the second year in a row! At least it was a different costume right?) Kaia was a ladybug... still brings me the costume on occasion... Ben was a... wait for it... rigger. Super original! Loved it. I was a football player... Ben Roethlisberger to be exact. Out we went and it was super fun! Coulda done without the wind... but who are we kidding, we live in Lethbridge and if it isn't wind it is five feet of snow.

A couple weeks later we put up our Christmas stuff... (I know... I was eager!) Grace is super into the Christmas spirit this year and I love it!!! I am so happy that I have a daughter that seems to love Christmas as much as I do! And I keep trying to instil upon her the true meaning, so she sometimes lets me know, "Mom, we celebrate our brother Jesus' birthday at Christmas and he watches over us and keeps us. (... I think she means safe, being as that is part of her nightly prayers...) So His Father is happy about that."

I think she's getting it...

Last weekend we went to the mall to see Santa and his reindeer, and Grace was so excited!! It was so fun to see all the kids get really excited for their arrival. Nothing like a humongous crowd of kids singing Santa Clause is Coming to Town to get you into the spirit of things! Grace had told me she was going to be nice to Santa this year, because he was so nice, so off we went to sit on his lap. Yup, only stood in line for one hour and fifteen minutes. Well worth the wait though! I mean, come on! We got our picture taken with not just Santa, but Santa AND Blitzen!

Then that night we got home and Grace, (who had been asking for it for the past five weeks like every couple days...) asked me again if I would cut her hair. At first she wanted it "like Britty's" but once we got it to her shoulders she kinda changed her mind. We still ended up taking 9 inches off though, so it definitely is noticeable! I find it pretty cute, and she seems to really like it, BUT she looks older to me now, which I could do without.

And then last week, we got to go watch Grace and Sophie in their ballet class. So my parents, sister, brother in law, grandparents and I went into the studio and viewed their practice. SO cute! The best part for Kel and I was watching Grace and Sophie ensure they were side by side the entire time. Those two would not stop holding hands and the one time a little girl got in between them, Grace automatically sat down so the girl had to let go of her hand, Grace then stood up, ran behind her, grabbed Sophie's hand and pulled her to a different part of the circle. Yup, they still love each other, even living in different places didn't diminish their friendship.

Anyway, I am super excited for the next month, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and everything the season entails. Heres to hoping its the best one yet!!!

House, Ballet, Work... and Other New Happenings With the Wolsey's.

Well, it has once again been a really long time! We are now in our own house and almost fully settled in. I so appreciated my parents letting us crash there for a bit but wow is it ever nice to have your own stuff in your own space!!!

We haven't had too much new happen lately other than the big move. Work is going well for both of us, and the girls are doing really well at day home. Grace is in ballet and after a questionable start we seem to be doing great now! Every time she hears music now she feels she has to perform. In full get-up. That includes the slippers and bodysuit. It is really cute though, and I am really happy she loves it. Of course it doesn't hurt that her bestest best buddy Soph is in it with her! Kaia gets funnier and funnier every day, and we are super excited for when she gets talking for real, because we are pretty sure she is going to have quite the personality.

The other "big change" we have had is our new addition. Nope, I am not pregnant, Ben finally got a Mac. So I am typing this on his "baby" and truthfully? I don't understand too much about computers, but it looks really good, so I love it too. (Plus he is like a kid on Christmas morning

now- every day! So it can't be a bad thing!)

Our Little Ballerina....

Both our Little Ballerinas...

Gracie and her Papa

Kai and her awesome smile...(yup she still does it!)

Snow Day!!

Big Changes!!!

It has been a super long time since I blogged, and a lot has happened since the last one, so here is an update! Well, first of all, we are done with Calgary! Yay! It was fun and all but I sure am glad that it is over. We are staying with my parents until the end of the month and then we are moving into one of our friends houses here on the west side. Ben is staying on with Apx, they hired him as a service tech year round. It is quite a blessing actually, and I am happy to say my husband will now be working from Lethbridge. Now we will just have to adjust to being around each other so much! I am working at Eclipse again, and the truth is, I really debated going back at all. But, I truly feel like it was the right choice for me, and after two weeks, I feel like I am really settling back into it. Although I miss my girls, I feel like I am a better mom (and wife!!) by working and having something outside our home.

Now onto something that has been on my mind for the past month. In the first week of August, Ben's cousin Ken was killed in a motorcycle accident. It was the saddest thing and we, as anyone who loses someone suddenly is, were totally shocked. He left behind his wife, who is one of the strongest, nicest girls I have and will ever meet, and two little boys. At his funeral I was listening to what everyone was saying and it really struck me how fragile our lives are. I know what a cliche that is, but it really hit me. When my uncle died last year, I realized how much I needed to appreciate every thing life gives me, and all those around me. And the truth is, I really thought I did. But then something else happens and you realize that there is probably no possible way we could ever truly cherish something to its full potential until we risk losing it. (Or actually do.) The things that were said about Ken were so honest and so heartfelt, and I was so touched by the kind of person he was and the way he conducted himself, and it really motivated me to try and be better. It always bothers me a little to attend a funeral and hear people talk about the deceased as though they were perfect or describe them in ways that they weren't at all in real life. But at Ken's funeral, the things that were said were actually true. He really was one of the truly good ones and you were left with a feeling of being so blessed just to have known him. I know how blessed I am to have a loving husband who treats me better than I probably fully deserve, I have two healthy little girls who make my life the happiest place in the world and I have the best family and friends a girl could ask for. So through the sadness of losing a great guy, what I hope to take from the loss is inspiration from the life he left behind. Inspiration to be the best mom and wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend I can be. And at the very least, appreciate every day I get to share with these people.

Now, here are some pics from the past month. (we have really been all over the place!!!)

At Whoop Up Days... This one is for you Kel... (love you!)

We were in Medicine Hat visiting Ben for a bit, and we LIVED at the water slides. (It also reunited Grace and Soph, and Kaia and Ella, so that was good too!!)

K... here is Kaia's new smile... I think it is hilarious and hope she does it for the rest of her life!

Best Friends already!!
I really love this chick and am soooo glad to be back in the same city as her!!!

Our little fam...

And here is the story of our lives... Kai finally decided to be a big girl and walk!!

Goin' to the Chapel!

So as a lot of you know, my little sister Brit got married a couple weeks ago. It was a beautiful day and everything went really well. She was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen, and I truly mean that. It's kind of weird when your baby sis gets married and grows up, but I am really proud of who she has become. She is a really good, smart, caring and thoughtful person and I am so blessed to have her in my life. Its funny, because growing up we really had our moments and my mom would always tell us that we would become best friends when we grew up, something we never believed would ever in a million years happen. Well, lo and behold, mom did know best and I count on her more than I ever believed possible. We have never gone a day without talking to each other on the phone (sometimes two or three or four times...) and I have really missed her while we have been living up here.
Anyway, she got married on the 25 of July and I have to say, I am happy she married who she did. We didn't super hit it off right off the bat, but over the past year I have really grown to love Brad. He treats my sister so well, and he has truly become a part of my family. We went on a little family lunch the day after the wedding, and it was really neat to have him there with us, it felt right.
Anyway, here are a few pictures from the wedding... Mandy again, was our photographer... and we just love her to death!!!

Grace was the flower girl and took her role very seriously!

My beautiful baby sis...
The new Mr. and Mrs. Tyssen Our bouquets... gorgeous!

So cute!
Brit the Supermodel!

The Reception Tents Our Marvelous Ginnie made the best cake and cupcakes!
(...Edible Elegance! Its the BEST!!!)

My baby isn't a baby anymore...

Well, I have a couple posts I want to do, but this one is first and foremost. My little baby is now a little toddler. I don't really know when the threshold from baby to not-baby is, but I am pretty sure that Kaia crossed it. Its funny how you look at your little one one day, and then all of a sudden the next she isn't as small and helpless as she used to be. I am different from a lot of moms I know in the sense that I don't LOVE the whole baby stage. My favorite time in a child's life isn't when they are first born and all tiny and needy. (I actually really adored 2 and I actually find myself looking forward to each new age, because it seems like it just gets more and more fun!) So, sorry to digress, back to my point... I am not sad that Kaia is one now. I am excited, because it seems like the past three weeks have brought out this little personality and I am so excited to get to know my little princess a little better!

Kaia's Birthday Pary/My Sister's Wedding Rehearsal

So... my mom and dad got Kai a cake, and being as she is NOT a child to shy away from making a mess we were kind of anticipating a good show... we were in for a disappointment! She just kind of poked at it a few times and that was it. Oh well, maybe next year!!

So, I'm not bitter or anything...

So, here is a little bit of a rant. Okay, maybe not a rant, but I wanted to get this off my chest, so here goes. I was at the park yesterday with Kel and we had been there for almost two hours, so I think that that combined with the fact that it was waaay past dinnertime, made f0r a Grace meltdown. She and Soph had been playing really well together, and then Grace wanted to go on the swing one more time. So we got over there and there was a mom with her one year old on the other one. Anyway, my scaredy cat daughter felt that the baby was swinging too high next to her, so she started crying and wanted out. (Side note... last time we went two twelve year old girls were swinging next to her as high as they could and as a result the swing set was bucking a little bit...) anyway, I was taking Grace out as she cried that she didn't really want to stop, just wanted the baby to stop swinging so high. The mom next to us asked if I needed her to take Kai while I got Grace out so I handed her over, and we did the customary "how old is your kid, they are cute/big/generic comment." Anyway, as she handed Kai back to me, she looks at Grace and says, "Spoiled brat huh?"
Okay, deep breath. I know that people are entitled to their own opinions and thoughts. I am sure that we have all thought that at some point or another about another child. However. I also feel ashamed of myself, b/c I know I did it BEFORE I had children. Who of us, (and I am talking Mothers all around the world) can honestly say that their child has never gotten frusterated, tired, hungry, overwhelmed, ect and gotten upset about something?
The funny thing is, I was more offended than mad. Honestly, when a perfect stranger all of a sudden critiques your child, not only in front of you, but in front of them as well, it just catches you so off guard! It sort of brings out the mama bear in you and you kind of want to lash back!
I tried taking the high road however, and just walked away. But I just wanted to comment on here, that I am sorry to anyone if you have ever felt like I (or anyone else for that matter) judged you or your parenting unfairly. I so totally know that being a mom isn't always tea parties and bubbles. There are the times where you kinda want to drop kick your child through a window... ok maybe thats a little harsh, but you know what I mean. Anyway, what I am trying to say is props to all the moms out there. Our job is super fun, I love it more than anything- But it is work from time to time. And this particular mom isn't passing judgement on anyone.

Anyway, here are some more pics from the aforementioned trip yesterday and a couple others.

Park Time!!!


Gracie and Nana.. Blowing bubbles at each other

My Apx husband and his baby
The Girls now have nightly bath nights together, and this was right after one at my house...
Our other daughter...So cute!

Zoo- Take Two!!

I forgot to mention on my last post that our last zoo trip was awesome. We, (Kel, Randee, Me and our girlies) all went a couple weeks ago. I think I figured out the best way to do it now... middle of the week, around three o clock. The gates close at 5, so we get a couple hours in and its not super busy! Anyway, here are some pics from our trip...

What is sweeter than little girls?
My Little Fraidy-Cat
(She didn't like the mist coming out from the walls!)
One of my proudest moments! My little Kel, standing next
to her biggest fear. Snakes!
(You have to love the fake smile on her face!)
Here are the girls checking out the giraffes

So cute!
Checking out Grace's fave part of the zoo...

How freakin' cute is this kid!?
As long as Kaia had food she was happy!
Randee let me borrow her mobi-wrap and now I am totally addicted!
(As is Kaia!)

And by the end of the day my girls were a little reversed...

And here are a couple of Grace and Soph... these two are the sweetest girls!

They love each other!