HaPpY HeArTs!

As I sat down this morning with my coffee in the LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE mug... 
I realized that is exactly what I have been doing for the last 5 days! Apparently it did not leave much time or space for BLOGGING!


"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."
-Mother Teresa


"When you spread around joy and happiness, then life all round becomes a grand, contagious celebration."
-Anna Trimiew


"The miracle is this--the more we share, the more we have."
-Leonard Nimoy

Jana and her proud parents at her first charity event sponsored by her store.
HEARTS FOR OUR HOSPITAL 

A Grammie D crafted card for Beau's first birthday
 

Beau with his "Grandpa Arvid" at his birthday celebration here yesterday 

Beau loves balloons...
Here I am holding him with one of the many he had at the party! 

Beau loves his Poppa Brian, too! 

Beau got several great gifts...and his sister helped with the unwrapping and showing of the cards! 

Beau wasn't as into the cake as we thought he might be!
Many cameras were on hand to capture this milestone moment in time. 

A little birthday Hug for Beau from his daddy  

My niece, Rowen with Mariah and Beau on his new little plazma car he got from us... it was a hit! 

These little cars can hold up to 225 pounds in weight... so fun for grammies too! 

Beau with his Grandma Nancy 

Nels with Beau and friends... Shelane, Buzz, and their new baby, Braxton! 

Mariah had been at the Farmer's Market earlier yesterday so still had
 the traces of a KITTY CAT painted on her face!
Here she is wearing my PJ top turned into a little dress!!!
SPOT the FUN! 

Poppa sure loves his Mariah! 

Beau loved being the centre of attention at his first birthday party! 

Yummy cupcakes from "The Cupcake Conspiracy" ... this was his Birthday cake! 

Lots to CELEBRATE for sure!

This has been a hectic but ever so fun week  around here.

Jana and her partner, form her store, Melissa, along with a friend, Leslie, decided a while ago to host a fund raiser for the
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
of SASKATCHEWAN.
Their event was called
"HEARTS FOR OUR HOSPITAL"

It was held last thursday night and raised an estimated eleven thousand dollars for the hospital. It was a very classy event held at the Radisson Hotel. The evening had appetizers along with a cash bar, a presentation on the hospital, a speaker, two musical acts, and a silent auction. We were very proud parents of Jana indeed, on doing such an amazing job of this event and raising so much money for a good cause. They plan to make this an annual event, as this first one was a huge success.

With all the lead ups and preps to that event, I had Beau here a bit more this week to help Jana do the running around for her event.
In that time I was able to get some cute
"PRE" birthday pictures for my
"BEAU"-THDAY CARD crafting!

Friday night we took Mariah to her final swimming lesson and she passed from
"SEA OTTERS" into "SALAMANDERS",
so we took her out for pizza on the rooftop of the Athena restaurant to celebrate
that on Friday night!
We always enjoy time spent one on one with her, what a little sweetie she is, and so grown up all of a sudden!
OOPS forgot to put a pic of that in the blog... maybe next blog!

Yesterday we hosted a little birthday celebration here for BEAU. His first birthday isn't actually until August 8th, but with this being the long weekend, his Edmonton grandparents and Auntie Ingrid and his great Uncle Bruce from Vancouver were all in town.

We had 22 people at the party in total and had a great time. The party started at 6:30 and our final guests left just before midnight. Lots of "LIVING, LOVING and LAUGHING"
took place throughout the evening.

I took 129 photos at the party and 4 videos, too... so it was hard to make a selection of pics for the blog to give the non FB readers an idea of the party fun! Unfortunately, neither of my brothers could make it, but were invited.

Today the beat goes on as we have some friends invited for a barbeque here this evening.
I left the balloons all hanging for todays supper to keep the FESTIVE SPIRIT rolling!

I have lots to CELEBRATE,
The last few days have been just great.
From raising money for a good cause,
To sharing love with the in-laws!
Blowing up so many balloons,
Listening to some kiddie's tunes...
Crafting cards, and wrapping gifts...
Feeling like I've given some lifts,
LIVING, LOVING, LAUGHING, too...
That's what HAPPY HEARTS will do!
My life's been great... infact it's fun,
Soon our baby BEAU will be ONE!

LiFTED SPiRiTS!

As I sit down to do this little blog this morning I am drinking my morning Vanilla flavored coffee out of my red mug with white dots that says...
"LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT"


"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you will land among the stars." - Lester Lewis Brown

BEAU had lifted spirits yesterday out in the sunshine going through the Dora Sprinkler! 

Mariah wanted a picture from the top of the stairs on Friday when her and her daddy came for Beau.
Her spirits are always flying high! 

Just a cute moment in the hallway on friday Mariah telling Beau abut her day as she had some of her favorites... "Yellow Chips!" 

These two guys keep my spirits high! 

Beau playing peek a boo... or should I say...
"PEEK- A- BEAU!"
It's no wonder we need new blinds... he has pulled about half of this set out!!! hehehe 

My little "drueler"... putting this toy on his head for a hat...
He always makes me smile... and laugh! 

Lately it just takes a BALLOON on a ribbon to help keep BEAU'S spirits high! 

BEAU is truly a little water baby... he couldn't get enough of the Dora sprinkler yesterday! 

BEAU met a new little buddy yesterday when our friends from BC popped by for a visit...
meet Morgan's son, QUINN. 

This little guy always picks me up!


Yesterday I thought of mom as I often do on a monday! Mom passed away in the early morning hours of the morning on a MONDAY... the 25th of October. Yesterday was not only a monday, but it was a 25th as well. It is funny how things like that bring memories... But I just got up and took Shuffle for an early morning walk in the park and my spirits felt lifted...it was as if mom was there on the walk with us! 

Yesterday was Brian's first day back to work after 2 weeks off. It was another babysitting day for me with Beau here all day as well.

I hadn't seen my friend Gailene for a while and she popped by for a visit. She mentioned how much Beau had changed in looks since she last saw him. I guess I don't notice it as much as I see him so often. (And take several pics of him every time I do see him!!!) He is becoming a real little toddler, now, though... walking around babbling always...
He really helps to keep my spirits high! It was fun to reconnect with Gailene.

I also had some more visitors yesterday, too. I used to hang around with neighbours Joan and Ken who once lived down the block form us. They now live in Abbotsford, BC. and have for years. They randomly popped by yesterday,  with their daughter, Morgan and her husband and son, Quinn who was born last December. He is a few months younger than Beau.
It was nice to catch up with them for a bit, too!
Friends are always good to help lift spirits.

This morning I plan to get to the gym ... long over due. It has been at least 3 weeks or longer since my feet have set forth into the gym doorway... so this body could use a little work out for sure... and BODY FLOW is a good class for not only the workout ...
but for the way it lifts the spirits, too.

Later today I plan to help my friend Brenda with some packaging of studio schedules to send out to her dancers for the fall program. I'll look forward to a visit with her then as well.

Beau has been so into balloons lately...
he just loves them... it is something we can all learn from!
Sometimes just the
SIMPLE LITTLE THINGS
make life more SPECIAL!
It often doesn't take that much to
LIFT SPIRITS!

"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way. "
-Eileen Caddy

"The guardian Angels of life sometimes fly so high as to be beyond our sight, but they are always looking down upon us."
-Jean Paul Richer

Today my horoscope told me to make myself available to someone in need... so I hope I can lift some one else's spirits today, too!

Memories are what it takes
to make a day take flight,
Happy thoughts are good to help
the day go by just right.
Sometimes it takes people to help our spirits fly,
Little ones can lift us up and often they don't try!
Watching Beau walking
and babbling with a balloon,
It's like he is trying to sing his own wee tune!
Seeing friends... that I haven't seen
in a long, long time...
Just sitting down to write my blog...
and finish it in rhyme!
These are things that lift me up,
and keep my spirits high,
And also knowing there are angels...
watching from the sky!

FRiENDS... FAMiLY... FooD... and FUN!

"That is the best- to laugh with someone because you think the same things are funny."
-Gloria Vanderbelt


"Laughter is an instant vacation."
-Milton Berle


"A Loving heart is the truest wisdom."
-Charles Dickens

Here are Brian and the kids today on a lunch break at our Blackstrap boating adventure! 

Mariah happy on the boat today 

Nels on the boat today 

Jana and Mariah tubing today on the rocky waters of Blackstrap! 

A little beach break to build some castle in the sand! 

Jana and her kids enjoying the park area of the Blackstrap beach 

Mariah and her poppa eating some yellow chips! 

Me with my friend Lynne in Regina yesterday having
 a little toast to the guys as they made us a delicious supper!
CHEERS!

The guys doing a CHEERS with their BEERS! 

One of the yummy dishes to barbeque...
prepared by the hubbies while Lynne and I
enjoyed an afternoon of shopping in Regina yesterday!
YUM!!!

And a fun game of KAISER followed the delicious barbeque supper on the deck.
Did you know that the card game of KAISER was a SASKATCHEWAN game???
Here are Lynne and Mike shuffling the cards and ready for an evening of laughs! 

Here was Mariah when she came with her daddy to pick up Beau
 on Friday after our day of babysitting...
Mariah was modelling the BEE hat I got a week or so ago!
She BEE so cute in it! 

Beau was into a yellow balloon on Friday when I babysat him...
he also enjoyed some Cheese sticks! 

Every where Beau went...  so did the yellow balloon!

I  had a FABULOUS weekend of Friends, Family, Food and FUN!

Friday when Beau came for his day with Grammie and poppa... he came with a yellow balloon on a ribbon. He was so attached to this balloon and entertained by it all day!
My brother Brian popped by for a visit in the afternoon, too, and we had some chuckles watching Beau babbling as he toddled around with the balloon.

Saturday we got up early and took a road trip to spend a day with our good friends, Lynne and Mike in Regina. They used to be our next door neighbours years ago.
We have remained super friends ever since.

The girls did an afternoon of fun shopping while the guys went out and got some delicious ingredients for a fabulous barbeque supper. Both of the guys love to cook and they
are good at it, too!

Lynne and I went for a little walk after supper to work off some of the big dinner before getting into a game of Kaiser with the guys. We always played that game when they lived next door, and continue that fun every time we get together! It is a great card game apparently created in Saskatchewan. We always play girls against the guys... The girls won  the first round while the guys won the last 2...
( but they might have cheated!!!)
Lynne and I are often busy visiting while we play and don't pay close attention!!!...
but it is all fun regardless.

Today we got up early and after a great breakfast in Regina, we headed off to meet Jana, Nels and the kids for a day on the boat at Blackstrap. They met us there with the boat, when we were on route home from Regina.

It was rather coolish and very windy, but Jana and Mariah braved getting out on the tube behind the boat. Brian and I had picked up some lunch to have as a picnic there after boating and we had a little play on the beach before heading back home.

Today is my sister-in-law, BEV'S birthday.
I just called her and had a little visit with her and wished her birthday greetings on the phone.

So life is good... it was a FUN weekend for sure filled with all the things I enjoy a lot...
FRIENDS, FAMILY and FOOD...
and when added together it was FABULOUS!

Brian has taken the last 2 weeks off and heads back to work tomorrow.
I will do another Monday of Babysitting BEAU.
I always enjoy my babysitting days with my little man... hard to believe in 2 weeks from today he will be a year old already!
Time sure flies!

Family, friends, food and fun...
Makes me feel like I have won!
Smiles, chats, and laughs galore...
Who could really ask for more?
A family day out in the boat,
Splashed around on tubes that float,
Building castles in the sand,
A weekend filled with FUN so grand! 

BERRY Grateful!

My SEIZE the DAY calendar says this today...


"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world."
-Author Unknown


"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."
-Anthony Brandt


"Not what we give, by what we share,
For the gift without the giver is bare."
- James Russell Lowell

Here is the sign on the way into the ever famous BERRY BARN
I had lunch there today and I was "BERRY" grateful for the visits
and delicious food
 in such a beautiful atmosphere! 

Here... Left to Right is...
My cousin's wife, Alena, my hubby, Brian,
my cousin's son,  Daniel, and my cousin, David.
Taken in front of the BERRY BARN RESTAURANT

Me sitting with some statues out front of the BERRY BARN! 

Another pic in front of the restaurant...
I was BERRY GRATEFUL a nice gentleman offered to take a pic with all of us, and also GRATEFUL for my cousin and his cousin who TREATED us to lunch! 

Inside the BERRY cute restaurant and also joining us was my cousin David's uncle, Dale and his wife, Mildred. Dale officiated the services at both of my parents funerals. He is such a warm and kind human being, and I felt grateful to share time today with not only him and his wife
but also with their son, Ray as well. 

Out back of the BERRY BARN...here I am doing the famous five finger wave
under a shrub which backs onto our river. 

On route to and from the Berry Barn...
these are some BERRY SWEET GIRAFFE statues! 

My feet used to "BEE" real TAPPY... and now they will "BEE" also HAPPY!
My friend, Brenda from the BSOBAD Dance studio where I work,
 brought me these "HAPPY SOCKS"
back as a gift from her recent trip to Chicago,
 where some of her dancers competed. 

Here is a little card I crafted yesterday and sent off in the mail to my
AWESOME FB FRIEND, ARLENE,
 who is celebrating 38 years of marriage to her hubby, BRUNO, today.
I know Arlene reads my blog regularly so she will get a sneak peak at the card I made...
as I know the mail won't be there for her in person on time.
She will have to read all the sentiments inside it,  though, when it arrives!

Here is my daughter Jana with her little Beau playing with our doggie, Shuffle.
This was taken this morning when they dropped by briefly. 

Here is Poppa Brian enjoying some time this morning with Beau. 

Here is a beautiful bouquet of flowers I picked up at Costco today...
always nice to have fresh flowers to brighten up the house!


I am constantly reminded how lucky I am in so many ways. Today was a BERRY sweet day... as I joined a cousin who was in town.
We met at the BERRY BARN restaurant.

It is a great place to go and especially on a beautiful day like today. You can see by some of the pictures I included in this blog above...
just how picturesque it is.

Yesterday was a rainy and cooler day, but I rather enjoyed the chance to stay inside and do some long over due tidying and crafting in the basement.

Yesterday I also met my friend, Brenda for a lovely latte and catch up visit. I hadn't seen her in nearly a month. She just returned from taking a few teachers and 50 some dancers to Chicago to compete in a dance competition.

She brought back a BERRY SWEET gift for me... some adorable yellow and black polka dot  "HAPPY SOCKS"... I know my feet will surely BEE  "HAPPY" in those!

Jana and Beau dropped by this morning for a quick little visit to drop off some tickets to a fund raiser event Jana is involved with next Thursday. Her event is called
"HEARTS FOR OUR HOSPITAL"
It is in support of the
Children's Hospital Foundation
of Saskatchewan.
Brian and I are looking forward to going to that in support of a very good cause.

Tonight I look forward to the results show of SYTYCD on TV... it was an awesome show last night... and I will be BERRY sad to see any of the dancers getting voted off tonight.

Once again I want to take time to say thanks to all my blog readers old and new alike...
I am grateful that you care to
"TAP" into my SIMPLE life and read about what makes it so SPECIAL to me!

Today was really BERRY sweet...
And always fun to have a treat.
We went to the BERRY BARN for lunch,
Then off to Costco for flowers, and a bunch!
Nice to connect with my cousin, as well,
And also his relatives, that was sure swell.
Lots of things to make it a fun day,
It was BERRY fun... in many a way!