Life lately

I know I haven't been very good at blogging lately. Spring has sprung in our house and I'm in the nesting stage of my pregnancy. So I've been using all my energy to check things off my to do list. I love this time of year for getting projects done. Let's face it as soon as the hot weather hits I'll be at the pool! ;)

We have a few home projects on the go right now. I decided to renovate Chase's bathroom. Next weekend we're hoping to finish the project so I'll post pictures then. A friend of ours is also working with Chad to finish our storage space and garage. I'm SO excited for more shelving space! We're also still working on the kids playroom. This project is not moving as quickly as I'd like it to but 1 thing at a time. ;)

3 weeks ago Chad & I began the adventure of potty training Chase. I had read the 3 day method and a lot of it made sense. So I decided to try it. I was thrilled with how well Chase responded to it all. If you haven't heard about this method and you're starting potty training I would highly recommend it! On the first day we had 2 accidents but by the evening he was starting to understand. By day 2 peeing in the potty was a breeze. It took us until day 4 to understand how to go #2 in the potty but we got there. These past few weeks have been wonderful and Chase loves his Thomas the train underwear! ;)

My cousin is getting married this weekend and Chad & Chase are both in the wedding party! We're excited to spend time with family and enjoy another wedding. I'll for sure blog about the wedding! :)

Baby #2 is 6 weeks away! I have a lot to do before then. I tend to procrastinate when it comes to baby stuff. I have started researching double strollers and I did wash some newborn clothes. That's it though. The baby room I'll work on after the baby is born. Since we don't know what we're having I'd rather wait to decorate. I did Chase's room neutral. This time I'd rather have it more specific to a boy or girl. I had my 8 months check up this week and baby is doing great! My doctor informed me that it's a good size baby as he was examining me. Eek! So I'll just be drinking water and cutting out the sweets for the next couple weeks. No more milkshakes and donuts for this Mama! ;)

I'm excited to meet this little one! Also overwhelmed with lots of emotions about having 2 kids and keeping life balanced. I'm just savoring my one on one time with Chase and trying to do some special things with just him. I love my little man so much.

I hope everyone is enjoy their spring break!

The Grand re-opening!

For the past month I've been helping Chad plan out the details for his Surrey store re-opening. It's been fantastic working again and doing something I love...planning a party. ;) I'm definitely a career girl at heart. Don't get me wrong, I adore being a Mommy. I just feel really fulfilled having a mixture of both. I'm excited to work on more projects with Apex in the future. I took pictures before the event started. As you can see, the guests arrived early. About 15 minutes after I took this picture there was a line up into the parking lot. It was awesome!

We had Jones soda made up in Telus colors

Stephanie's Shower!

My cousin Stephanie is getting married at the end of this month. So we had a beautiful family shower at my Mom's. Everything was done in yellow and black the colors of the wedding. My Mom & Auntie Kathy did an amazing job of hosting! The food was so yummy!! As I went through all my pictures from the shower, I loved seeing the pure joy all over Steph's face. It's been a hectic year for her with finishing University, beginning her career, planning a wedding and watching her Mom battle breast cancer. Through it all Steph wears her beautiful smile! I love it and truly admire that about her.

I always love Nana's tender thoughts and words of wisdom!

Steph, I hope you truly savor the last few weeks of wedding preparations! It's such an amazing season of life. One I wish I could do over again. ;) Love ya!!!

My favorite holiday!

Valentine's day is my favorite holiday! I have so many awesome memories with my Chaddy. From high school to now he always has a way of making me feel SO special. This year was our grandest Valentine's ever!!! He TOTALLY out did himself! We got to spend a night at the Pan Pacific hotel downtown.
After we checked in & freshened up we headed to my favorite restaurant, Boneta's. It was so nice to laugh about past memories and talk about our plans for the future...grown up conversations how I love them. The next morning we had a couples massage and then went shopping and out for lunch. It was awesome! It felt like when we were dating.

I honestly know how blessed I am to have such a romantic, thoughtful husband! He doesn't miss a beat and he's always putting my needs first. It was for sure 1 of the things that I fell in love with when we first started dating.

Our very 1st Valentine was back in high school. I was super excited and remember my brain drifting off to la la land all day in class. Chad picked me up in the family car. :) He wore a red dress shirt and khaki's (pretty much a Gap poster boy back in the day) and I puffed up my massive Dharma hair, put a dress on and we headed into the city. I suffered with some interesting food allergies when I was in high school. Garlic was one of the worst things I could eat. When I did have garlic, either my lips would puff up or I'd break out in hives. Super attractive time in my life. ;)

Chad had made reservations at an adorable little Italian restaurant in Kitts. The lighting was low, the candles were drippy and I was head over heals! Everything about the atmosphere was so romantic. We got our menu's and panic started to settle in. My moment of bliss was over when I realized everything on the menu had garlic. I thought at first about just ordering something. Who cares if I have an allergic reaction? The only problem was Chad & I hadn't kissed yet and I'm pretty sure balloon lips and a hives covered girlfriend doesn't equal a good first kiss for any guy.

I remember Chad interrupting my state of panic asking if I wanted to order an appetizer. Then it dawned on me, maybe the kitchen could make me up something without garlic. A special dish. Sure, that would work. I couldn't be the only person with a garlic allergy in Vancouver. They probably saw this all the time. So I decided what I wanted and returned to my blissful state. When the server came to take our orders I told him what I wanted and that I needed that without garlic as I was highly allergic. The server kindly informed me that everything on their menu had garlic and there was no way he could guarantee a garlic free meal. Oh boy! Of course my husband, apologized and grabbed my hand and escorted me out of the restaurant. We headed to Earls for wings. I never forgot that moment though. I knew that Chad would always take care of me in this way by his simple and kind gesture.

I love my husband so much! This year and every year to come I will make sure he knows I'm better because he's in my life. Love you babe!!!

The next Sidney Crosby???

You know you're Canadian when you sign your 2 year old up for floor hockey! Chase plays hockey all throughout our house so I thought it would be good to get him out in the community and play with other little boys his age. He was so cute running around.

I just wanted to squish him!

Chase was also in love with the idea of a coach. As we drove to hockey that's all I heard about.

Caleb was also in the class. When did they get so big?!?

Honored

Chad & I have had the massive privilege of witnessing our friends and family get married over the years! Every wedding has something that stays with us. A piece of the bride & grooms special day that will stick with us throughout the years. After we left Devan & Amy's wedding both Chad & I said it was an honor/privilege to be a guest at this wedding. I felt like I was watching a very sacred moment between a family through a frosted window. Here's why...

Devan & Amy met the Spring of 2010. They had known each other casually in high school but lost track of each other over the years. Their lives had taken them down separate journeys. Each path strengthening them and making them both stronger. When their paths crossed again last Spring a spark was awoken in them both. Then, when Amy introduced Devan to her daughter Emma a family was born. Devan, fell in love with this little girl and as they dated he became determined to marry Amy so that Emma would only ever know him as Daddy! *yep, I'm crying* Shortly after Emma turned 1 Devan and Amy got married!!! Here are some highlights from their day.

Devan gave Emma a necklace as a symbol to her of his love. Not a dry eye in the room!

I fell in love with Amy as soon as I met her! She's an amazing woman!!!

The Hull's are always a TON of fun but when Kris got his wife's Nana out there dancing I was loving every second of it. ;)

The cousins

Lovely little ladies!

The 2nd week in January was filled with sugar and spice & everything nice for us! Two of my very dear friends welcomed baby girls into their families. I love this stage of life! From the announcement of pregnancy to the phone call that they're in labour...it's all so exciting!!!

Vince & Kristy welcomed beautiful Sierra Gonsalves on January 11th. Kristy has always been my friend who loved pink and anything that sparkles. ;) So I was over joyed to hear she was having a little girl!

4 days later the incredible Lundgren family welcomed Leksya! How beautiful does Melissa look just hours later? Melissa truly is my hero! After everything she's been through these last couple of weeks she's still thanking God for His faithfulness. She's an incredible woman that I admire greatly!

Chase thought Leks was really cute! I guess it's another option for him if things didn't workout with her big sister. ;) Love you Livy!!!

Thank you for letting us celebrate this milestone with you! We're so excited to be apart of your lives and to raise our wee ones together. We pray blessing & wisdom over you as you raise these sweet girls!