HoLiDaY… CeLeBRaTe!

"If we took a holiday
Took some time to celebrate
Just one day out of life
It would be so nice…"
-Lyrics from Madonna song

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road 
and celebrate the journey."
-Fiitzhugh Mullan

"The holiday season is a perfect time to 
reflect on our blessings and seek ways 
to make life better for those around us."
-Terri Marshall

We got away on a wee holiday this past weekend
to Celebrate with our co-grandparents…
Nancy and Arvid in Edmonton at
their lovely and festive home.
They thought of every little detail
from flowers... to personalized cookies…delicious food
and so much more!

Before leaving the city on Friday, we had a quick visit
with My Auntie Betty and my cousin, Steve here on a little
holiday from the states.
We popped by my brother's place where they were staying,
and my nephew, Jeff, his wife and little girl, Jorja
were also over to visit then, too.

We traveled with Jana and her kids as well as Mariah's little friend, Drew
on route to Edmonton Friday afternoon.
The kids were busy crafting Thanksgiving garlands and other fun stuff
in the car, to help pass the time!
I was thankful I had thought to throw in some activities for the kids,
seeing as I was sitting back there with them!!!!

The girls made a real fun holiday out of the weekend…
From just snuggles with Jana… to fun visits… licking beaters…
helping set the thanksgiving table and making  table name tags…
and enjoying Grandma Nancy (NANA'S)
little special toys and trolls, etc… along with so much more!

Saturday the weather was fabulous and perfect for
a little walk with the dogs.
Nels came after work on Friday night
bringing their dog, Jazz.
So Jazz and Jeter loved the little dog walking adventure
together on Saturday!

Not only was the weather perfect for an outing…
it was so scenic and beautiful on the way with
the trees all changing colour.

Grandma Nancy is so at home in her kitchen …
cooking and baking up a storm and she is so good at it, too!
Even Jazz got in on the act and here is wearing an apron, as well!

When the girls weren't dancing… they were shopping!
Here they are in driveway before going to West Ed mall…
and they are seen going in with Grandpa Arvid…
They were doing a leg grab while trying on pants at
IVIVA…and thrilled with their matching
new purses from Zara!
Little girls love to dance and shop!

While the girls shopped… they guys went to the big rink at the mall,
so Beau could have a little skate with his Grandpa Arvid….
I took these pics through glass on the level above!

While in Edmonton we visited a dear friend of ours…
Courtney and her two darling little girls…
2year old, Lily and new born, Violet.
We had a special visit there… and I was honoured that
Lily called me GAMMA… so I spent most of the time
playing with her… how cute is she in her
little Halloween  fairy costume?!
So adorable!

What a lovely meal hosted by Nancy and Arvid…
for the family…
Nels's sister, Ingrid and his brother, Jens were also at the supper.
His oldest sister, Erica and her family were missing from the
celebration.

The meal was delicious and such a nice time to reflect
on our many blessings…
so much to be thankful for.
THANKS NANCY and ARVID
 for the wonderful CELEBRATION!

Also on the weekend… a little trip to the Cheese Cake Cafe…
how about those polka dot cakes?!!!
The grandparents had one table and the kids sat at another…
we all had fun and yummy food… but too full for cheese cake
when all was said and done!

The Grandmas and the Grandpas hung out…
Jana was helpful with Nancy in the kitchen…
and the girls
enjoyed the dogs and every thing else they did, together!

Beau had fun… whether in the car… or outside ringing Nana's special bell,
The girls helped Nana make pies…
and played some Trouble with Auntie Ingrid…
or AUNTIE INGRA as Beau calls her.
She also took the kids to the park a couple times…
and gave Jazz a hair trim, too,
 as well as taking part in lots of fun visits and sharing.

We checked our dog into doggie day care for the weekend, before going away,
But their doggie, Jeter and Jazz enjoyed all the attention they got all weekend.
Mariah's friend, Drew snapped a few family photos for us on some of our cel phones.
Beau got a new Halloween costume and was happy to model it…
meet "Kylo Ren"… a new Star Wars character, apparently,
one I was not familiar with!
He was pretty proud of his costume…and stayed in character
in the family photos as well!!!!!

I had so hoped to be home in time for my Auntie Betty's
Birthday Celebration on Monday… and trip out to visit my
Brother Brian in Harris, too… but my cousin
sent the top photos to me… as we missed those celebrations!

Yesterday my cousin Steve and Auntie Betty popped by here
for one more visit before leaving… they crammed a lot into
their little celebration vacation.
Jana came over briefly too.

Another couple highlights for us this weekend…
were meeting up with my Lanigan buddy, Linda… and her daughter, Teresa,
who now lives in St. Albert. We traditionally love to go to
Starbucks where and when ever we can.
The one by the rink in West Ed mall was super busy
this past Saturday, but we visited through the line up,
and the wait was worth it!!!

Both Brian and I were thrilled to see my father-in-law's
Barn Photos displayed in Arvid's office space in their basement.
We know Greg would have been so happy about that too!
Arvid and Greg did a few road trips visiting barns
together a few years ago… and share some
special memories of that.



Here it is blog time again… thanks for stopping by to check out what a busy week and weekend I have had since my previous blog post, too!


We had my Auntie Betty, from Chicago, and her son, Steve from Salem visiting over the weekend… but while they were here… we were on a little holiday to Edmonton… so everyone was vacationing  at the same time! I was thankful to have had the chance to see my out of town relatives a little bit,  in spite of us being away. It is hard to do everything and be everywhere at once. It sounds like Betty and Steve crammed a lot into their short stay while here.


We also did lots of fun adventures while away, too. Jana's in-laws… and our co-grandparents… Nancy and Arvid, had invited us to share in their Thanksgiving Celebrations in Edmonton. It was quite the road trip from start to finish with many fun highlights and memories to cherish for years to come. They were such gracious hosts and made it look easy to have a house full of guests while baking and cooking up a storm among many other fun things. Brian and I feel so lucky that both of our kids have such loving families connected to them through their partner's parents.


We were so grateful to meet Colin's in-laws, in Montreal last summer… Colette and Jean -Paul also hosted a lovely meal when we visited them in July. Just this past weekend… they shared another wedding Anniversary together… which Colin and Caro were in attendance at. I hear it was a lovely celebration, too. I wish I could share more memories of Colin and Caro… but Colin prefers I do not share too many photos of him… nor do I have many to share!
But I have to say we could not be happier for who he has chosen for his partner in, life… Caro… is a real sweetie.
We love her dearly and are looking forward to visit later this fall from her and Colin when they come here for a little vacay together to see us again.


Our trip to Edmonton was special on many levels…
Nels's family has become so close to ours… and we not only love Nels and Jana and their kids… but are happy to share the grand parent role with Nancy and Arvid.
Not only do we share the same grand kids… but we all adore that crazy adopted dog, JAZZ, who is the newest addition to the family.


Nels's sister, Ingrid, went to school with our son, Colin back in the day… so we actually go back to before the days of Jana dating Nels… we knew Ingrid first! She is not only a dear friend for us… she is such a great auntie for Mariah and Beau …and seems to enjoy every minute she can spend with both of them and the dog. She even gave Jazz a trim this weekend!
Ingrid also went to the Madonna concert in Edmonton on Sunday night… and said it was awesome and ended in her famous hit song, called "HOLIDAY"… which kind of gave me a little inspiration for today's theme title!


I did manage to make it to the gym today and that song, just happened to be in the mix at the gym class, too!
It is a good thing I made it to the gym after a week break from it… and all the calories I have recently consumed!!!
The class I went to is called New Body… I am always hoping for that new body any time… but hard to achieve!… hehehe
Life is a balance…
lots of celebrating with a bit of gym mixed in!
I enjoyed a coffee outing with some of my gym friends following class today as well… I have made many friends there and am lucky to not only have met them, but to have so many awesome instructors and classes
to attend at Good Life Gym.


I was delighted my friend, Linda, from Lanigan, happened to to be in Edmonton while I was there, too. We are in touch with each other daily via FB… but do not see one another often. I met her in the 90's when I used to teach dance summer schools and stay at her place
out in Lanigan for the week.
Her daughters, Kim and Teresa, both danced, too.
Teresa even did a few seasons of driving in to the city to dance at my studio in her high school years.
Now Kim has 3 little boys and Teresa has 2 little girls…
so not only do Linda and I have kids and dancing in common… we have lots of fun grandkid stories
 to share now too.
We seem to have a lot in common. I am forever grateful I met her and our friendship has grown over time.


Jana's friend, Courtney, went to school with her from grade 3-8 and the two girls, as well as Courtney's
 sisters all danced.
We became close friends with Courtney's family and have continued to stay in contact where ever we can.
I am guessing Courtney's two little girls might be dancers some day, too… and that tradition will live on as well.
We felt delighted to connect with her this weekend,
now that she lives in Edmonton… and meet her newest little addition to her family born in September.


We have so many special connections in life and I am always grateful for all of them in my life. This past weekend was a time to reflect on just how lucky we all are in life in which ever directions our journeys are taking us.


We have some more celebrations coming up in the next weeks as well… The 17th of November would have been my in-law's 65th Wedding Anniversary. I am sure Greg will celebrate it in Heaven. My sweet niece, Emily, from Vancouver will celebrate a birthday on the 18th.
My mother-in-law, Blanche will be hitting a milestone birthday, turning 90 on the 21st of October, and my hubby will celebrate his 63rd Birthday on the 25th.
Also on the 25th I will be recalling the day my mom earned her angel wings 5 years ago, hard to believe she has been gone that long. I still hold all the memories of both her and my dad so dear to my heart always. With Thanksgiving this  past weekend … I was recalling just how thankful I was to have them as my parents, and what awesome role models they were for me growing up.
They are with me always in my heart and my spirit.


I was feeling very grateful and blessed on Thanksgiving for many reasons… family, friends, good times and memories.
I consider myself so lucky to have all of those in my life.


It took me a while to filter through the nearly 400 photos I took since my last blog post, so this post is only a fraction of what we have stored up in the photo memory bank!

Once again I say thanks to Nancy and Arvid for being gracious hosts and thanks to Jana for driving us to and from Edmonton, too… it was a special memory.


Always celebrate the moments…
whether it is a holiday or not…
Life is the ultimate reason to Celebrate!


On that note… here is my rhyme of the day…

Be thankful for life's journeys every day…
Whether at home, or when getting away.
Enjoy little breaks and holidays,
You will find that they truly amaze!
Live in the moment and celebrate…
Whether or not it's a special date.
Make little things … add up in amount,
Make each and every moment count!