SuMMeRTiMe FuN!

"Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters."
-Margaret Peters


"There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness."
-Lady Blessington


"Anything, everything, little or big, becomes an adventure when the right person shares it."
-Kathleen Norris

Ah... this is the life!
Beau has his shades, a hat and the luxery of a soft chair
by the doggie along with the MUM MUM cookie to share!

Shuffle sporting the shades long enough for one photo! 

Beau enjoying the cool splash of the Dora Sprinkler
 by his little paddling pool in our yard on monday 

Mariah looking like a little summer time beauty
with her big flower in her hair. 

Mariah started swimming lessons yesterday at the Lakewood Centre.
This is in doors...and was super duper hot yesterday! 

Mariah singing her little Justin Bieber song...
U Smile ... I Smile!
This was before sunday's barbeque supper. 

Mariah pushing Beau on the swing
after sunday's supper...
a couple of happy little campers! 

A delicious barbeque supper on sunday...
 in this photo 4 generations 

Here is Brian and me boating together at Blackstrap this afternoon. 

Cutest little BEE ever!
 

Beau thinking poppa BEES so funny!

There has been a lot of activity around here lately and lots of it has been out doors in the sunshine.

It is amazing what 

SUNSHINE and GRANDKIDS 

do for the soul.

Sunday morning we joined Jana, Nels and kids on the outdoor patio for a Fuddrucker breakfast in the sunshine.

Later that day we planned to go boating, but the plan sort of didn't happen... instead we had a nice family barbeque here. Brian's parents came along with my brother Brian, and Jana, Nels, Mariah and Beau.

We have been really enjoying our deck and barbeque a lot this summer, and Brian is a good chef, I might add!

Yesterday was a babysitting day and with Brian into a second week of holiday time he was around to help and enjoy Beau, too. It was a scorcher out, so we got lots of use out of the outdoor water toys for Beau.

Mariah began her swimming lessons yesterday and appeared to be having fun when we popped by to watch for a few minutes. 

Today Brian and I went boating to blackstrap and it was a perfect day to be in a boat.  The sun was shining in a perfectly blue sky and there was no wind. I enjoyed that and it was my first time boating since we bought the boat in April.

This evening Brian and I went out to one of our favorite restaurants in the city for a few appetizers on the roof top of ATHENA.

Food and summer seem to go hand in hand

and  apparently my exercising has slowed down! YIKES!!!

I do feel I get some exercise though chasing after Beau when ever he is here. I have also enjoyed some early morning walks with Shuffle, 

through the park, too.

The park smells so fragrant at this time of year.

We have been lucky this past week or so to have lovely summer weather and it does make a person feel good. With this heat, though, our air conditioner keeps freezing up... so the house can get hot, as well.

There is always lots going on it seems and many photos being snapped as well... 

( sometimes I have a hard time picking which ones to use in the blog!) 

Therefore I have been posting a few more on my FB page but for those of you who aren't on FB... you will have to settle for the ones 

I chose for the blog!

I have SYTYCD taping on TV now... so will finish up this and go watch that. 4 nights a week I am entertained with dancing... and have been enjoying that as well!

I hope this finds all my "BLOG READERS" enjoying the SUMMER TIME and all that it offers!

Summer time is so much fun...

Especially when there is lots of sun.

There is no end to what we can do,

And lots of it involves eating, too!

So even though I exercise,

I eat too much which isn't wise...

But summer is a time to share,

With all the loved ones and show we care.

So from eating lots and kind of bloating...

To swimming and splashing and going boating,

I am loving summer time...

Yep... I sure am... it's so sublime!

You SMiLE... I SMiLE!

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure, but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is in conceivable."
-Joseph Addison


"Smiles grow and echo
Wherever they go...
They never die;
They simply multiply!"
-William Arthur Ward


"Laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of the heart."
Mort Walker


"Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects."
-Arnold H. Glasow

The cutest grandkids I could have ever asked for!
Beau is 11 months here and Mariah is 5 years old

Beau trying to make Shuffle SMILE! 

Mariah watching TV and having popcorn twists and a popsicle! 

A TUB FULL of bubbles and smiles!
Not little duckies on the kids heads...
Mariah said she needed the ANGEL one
 and Beau could have the DEVIL one! 

This little face makes my heart smile always! 

Mariah having a bowl of white ice cream,
her favorite.
This is a little avon ice cream bowl set
is  from way back in mom's avon selling days! 

Beau after a nap on friday...
not ready for the sisterly lovin just yet! 

Beau ready for bed on Friday night's sleepover! 

Mariah never tires of watching
"LITTLE MERMAID 2"
on the computer! 

Poppa Brian finally got the DVD player going so we could enjoy
the Justin Beiber movie together! 

Me with my two kidlets enjoying 

"NEVER SAY NEVER" 

The kids in the kennel watching the movie 

Beau ready to go when his daddy came
for him yesterday! 

Mariah working on Beau for another pose...
Beau wasn't having it this time!

I had a fun filled few days...with lots of
SMiLES!

I babysat Beau all day friday and Mariah joined after a day with her mommy at work, for a sleepover.

Mariah was singing a little song all day friday that went "YOU SMILE, I SMILE".
I thought it was so cute and later found out it was in the JUSTIN BIEBER movie
"Never say Never".

Brian drove his dad to a reunion in St. Gregor on friday so I was with Beau and Mariah on my own and also had Shuffle, till around 9 PM Friday.

 Mariah had a few too many SWEET snacks
and was a bit hyper!
OOPS... Grammie D has to remember not so many SWEETS for that little free spirit!

Sleep overs mean a little less sleep for
Grammie D...
Beau woke up at 4 AM for a diaper change
and bottle...and
Mariah was awake for the day at 6 AM!

Brian was the smart one and moved downstairs to sleep in the cool basement with Shuffle!
They slept in till at least 8!

When Brian got up he got the DVD player working and we enjoyed watching the Justin Bieber movie. I was actually impressed with the story of this teen idol and also impressed to see the influence his grandparents had on his life and success growing up,
instilling good values along the way!
I enjoyed his talents and music ... and can see why Mariah finds him cute, too.
As a baby, Justin kind of resembles Beau!

When Nels came for the kiddies yesterday morning around 10 AM... I was exhausted from all the fun we had... and ready to let them go back home again!

Today is Mariah and Beau's other
Grandpa's birthday...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA ARVID!

Brian and I also went to the farmer's market yesterday and the wake board event by the river...and later went to a barbeque at friends, Cal and Julie's . It is always fun to catch up with friends from the past!

Never a dull moment... and possibly today we may get out in the boat, too!!!

SMiLES
There are so many things
that bring SMiLES to my face...
Like having my two grandkids
with me at my place!
Watching TV and movies,
while Mariah does a dance,
She is a real free spirit...
and really loves to prance!
She also loves to boss around
her little brother, Beau,
One day when they get older,
that will reverse I know!
I love the happiness that the two of them create,
But after they've been here a while,
a break is also great!
Seeing friends from in our past is also really fun,
It's fun to reconnect again
and chat with everyone.
Doing things with family, makes me SMiLE too...
It is the many SMiLES in life,
that help me carry through!

RELAX & have FUN!

"Life is about sharing."
-Yoko Ono


"Through love, through friendship, a heart lives more than one life."
-Anais Nin


"The best way to wake up with a smile on your face is to go to bed with one already there."
-Richard C. Miller

Here is my sisterfriend, LYNNE, from Regina
with me at "LUSH" after a lovely hand massage!
Lynne used to always say "RELAX" when the kids were small...
so this sign was perfect as our background! 

Lynne and I sharing "HAPPINESS" and friendship
after a fun day of shopping! 

SHUFFLE is 3 years old sometime in July,
so we put on the party hat to make her feel special! 

SHUFFLE felt like a real honored "PARTY GIRL"
She enjoyed the party hat experience! 

Sharing another great barbeque on the deck.
Brian is such an awesome cook,
 Lynne and I felt pampered after coming home
 after a couple days of shopping to his delicious meals. 

We "BEE" celebrating a few different fun events and feeling a little BUZZ!
This was one of my BEE-lightful and silly purchases ...
Lynne and I are both DOLLARAMA- GRAMMAS!"

A special little gift from my FB friend EXTRA-ORDINAIRE, ARLENE, from BC.
Very cute G and D in Beatrix Potter  figurines to stand for "GRAMMiE D"
A sweet little glass bird in a cute box with a saying in it that read...

Thinking of You
I have you in my thoughts today,
And hope you think of me:
You are a friend who's very dear,
As you will always be.

Mariah and Beau enjoying some popsicles after their "MAX"ARONI!
I was out of purple ones, though... so Mariah had to settle for a pink!
Beau likes any color!!!
 

Brian enjoying time with his grandson this week off for him! 

My brother Brian over for another visit with Beau on monday!
Beau enjoying a little ride in a toy bucket with wheels!!!! 

More Grammie D- Beau bonding monday ...
I just love this little guy, he brings so many smiles!

I have had whirlwind of fun times the last four days since my last blog writing on Sunday.
Monday was another babysitting day and Brian had this week off so he was here to enjoy his grandson with me. My brother Brian popped by for a visit as well, then.

Mariah and Beau were here for supper then and enjoyed "MAXARONI" and popsicles before their mommy came to pick them up.
Tuesday was my 35th year anniversary of my engagement to Brian... (RAB as so many of my relatives know him as!) In honor of that occasion I posted a pic of our engagement to Facebook and it got lots of attention in comments and thumbs up! I posted the same one in my previous blog as well!
It is truly hard to believe 35 years have passed by already, but it has been an
enjoyable ride for sure.

My sisterfriend, LYNNE, from Regina was on a week off from work so came to the city for a few days of girlfriend bonding. She used to live next door to us, so we have so many memories that go way back, and now we have so much fun rehashing old memories and making more new ones to add to those!

We did some serious shopping and shared our grandma experiences, and enjoyed being pampered, too!

 We had a hand massage at LUSH in Midtown Plaza and then had a couple pics there as well.
Brian spoiled us with his fantastic cooking.
We went out for two solid days of shopping and came home to his delicious barbequed suppers.

We watched our favorite shows on TV... SYTYCD and America's Got Talent. We also went for a nice long walk in the park and had many laughs!

On Tuesday I received a wonderful little surprise package in the mail.
Isn't it fun getting mail for real?!

I have mentioned my Facebook friend, Arlene in past blogs. She sent me a little gift of friendship just out of the blue. I felt so special. In addition to the darling ornaments photographed above, she sent a nice letter, some recipes all including CHOCOLATE and some pictures of her family from her years gone by.
She is such a caring human being... and I am lucky to share her friendship on FB through words of kindness and love!

This morning Jana popped by for a brief visit with her kids while Lynne was still here before she headed back to Regina. Jana and Lynne's daughters Kristi, and Carly were very close growing up, not just by being our neighbours, but through dancing and friendship as well.
It was nice for them to have a little visit together, too, and share updates on Kristi's little girls and Jana's kids, along with the news of Carly's recent engagement.

Brian is hoping for some boating weather soon. Today is now warming up but it was pouring rain this morning and we woke up to avery loud crack of thunder!

My seize the day calendar says this today...
"That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great."
-Willa Carter

The last few days have been filled with a ton...
My girlfriend came for some days filled with fun!
So much we did... in so little time,
The joys that we shared , were all so sublime.
Also a week filled with grandkids, too,
And my hubby was home to relax for a few.
I also received some love in the mail...
From a friend who is there for me without fail!
A celebration week in so many ways...
And a week that had so many fun days.
It was all about things that I enjoy most,
And a week to raise my glass and just toast!

CELEBRATIONS and TRADITIONS Continue!

"Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and be loved is the greatest happiness of existence."
-Sydney Smith


"If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it."
Mother Teresa

This is my good buddy Linda and me enjoying one of the
MANY TRADITIONAL STARBUCKS
together, yesterday.
 I LOVE how the sign we happen to be sitting in front of says...
"SHARE, ENJOY, LINGER, TALK"...
and that is what we always do when ever we can get together...
let the "STARBUCKS TRADITION" continue!!!

Here is my nephew Brad and his wife, Janelle,
 one year ago today, at their wedding.
HAPPY 1st ANNIVERSARY to them today!

Janelle and Brad reading my crafted wedding card the day after their wedding
at their gift opening last year, July 11th, 2010.
Such a beautiful day out last year... and this year it is pouring rain here .

Mariah idolized Janelle at their wedding... infact to this day she still thinks of Janelle as a princess!
Mariah knows exactly how to find Brad and Janelle's wedding pictures on my iphone, too! 

Another celebration...
Above are my grandparents and my cousin Darcy and her husband, Jeff
 the night before thier wedding on July 10th, 1970.
This was my Grandpa's birthday... not sure how old he would been turning today if still alive,
but I am sure he will be eating cake in Heaven today!

I was the Bridesmaid for my cousin Darcy's wedding on July 11th, 1970.
Here we are in front of LakeView Church in Regina where their wedding took place. 

My grandparents on July 8th, 1972 at my Brother Bob's wedding.
This is my dad's dad on the left, and my mom's mom and dad on the right.
My grandma... (who I called "NANA or NANNY") was holding her camera...
It is funny how much better the quality of pictures have become since then.
Co-incidentally, Jana just texted me to say Mariah now wants to call me NANNY!

Here is my dad's dad, (my Grandpa) on his 99th Birthday...
on July 12th, 1990.
Here he is with my kids Jana (age 9) and Colin age (11).
(I love how the "Flourescent" colors were in then, and are now back in once again this summer!!!...
 Fun how traditions and trends circulate!!!)

My Grandpa with my dad's youngest sister, my Auntie Betty.
Here on Grandpa's 100th Birthday
July 12th, 1991
Love the party hats and atmosphere! 

One more special celebration at this time of year...
Here I am on July 12th, 1976 with my hubby when we got engaged.
We set the timer up on the camera and took this pic of ourselves!!!

I am constantly  reminded of all the celebrations, traditions and tends in my life as certain special dates pass by. I have always been one to remember special dates in my life... and now it is so much fun to recall them all again as I go through the many old photo albums of mom's... which I have in my "STOCK" in the garage!!!

I LOVE going through old memories and am so glad we have pictures to keep them alive!

Yesterday my friend, Linda, from Lanigan, came for a fun girlfriend bond with me. We traditionally always go to STARBUCKS and have a "FLUFFY" coffee of some sort...
yesterday it was a latte!
We try to get a pic together each time, too, in fact this past Christmas I created a book on the MAC computer iphoto program as a gift to Linda with the many STARBUCKS pics to date.
 It is amazing how many we have... lots have become pics on her birthday cards as well!!!
I LOVE the fun we have always... and the STARBUCKS TRADITION
we have created for ourselves, too!

I was reminded yesterday after reading an email from my cousin, Darcy, that today would have been my mom's dad's birthday. This year mom and her dad, (my grandpa) can share his birthday cake together in heaven.

Darcy and her husband will celebrate their 41st wedding anniversary tomorrow. I still remember their wedding like it was yesterday!
I felt so honored to be in the wedding party as Darcy's ONLY bridesmaid.
Happy Anniversary to them for tomorrow.

Today is my nephew Brad and his wife, Janelle's wedding anniversary.
Hard to believe a year has past since then already... Happy first to them as well!


July 12th also was a special date to remember with Grandpas... My dad's dad lived to be 100. What a milestone that was. We often had family reunions revolving around the birthdays for that Grandpa. His 100th was a big one with all the relatives on his side attending and many performing little songs, acts, skits, dances, etc.
So many fun memories revolve around the family reunions.
I just love looking through all the pictures to go with those as well!

Right now the dance studio I work with... "BSOBAD"
(Brenda's School Of Baton And Dance)
Is competing in CHICAGO.
I see by comments on Facebook, that they are all having fun and making many fun memories to celebrate, too.


This coming weekend my hubby, Brian, and his dad, Greg, are headed to a family reunion in
St. Gregor to celebrate the era of his dad. Brian has been studying up on all his history and background as of late, too. Must be the time we are at in our lives when we can really appreciate the family roots and find it so interesting.

Brian is loving recalling all his memories of his growing up years as well.

Traditions, celebrations, and
cherished memories
are what make our lives so special.

Nothing is more special than sharing
FUN, FUN, times!
Then putting all the memories into
words and rhymes.
There is so much in life to
remember and celebrate.
Fun to see old photos and
recall the times so great.
As I look back through pictures
in the albums that are old,
They bring back many memories ,
I value just like gold!
Sharing times so treasured with family
and with friends...
Make my life so cherished through traditions and through trends!

More CELEBRATIONS on the Calendar!

To start off my blog today here are the last 3 quotes off my SEIZE the DAY Calendar...


"Earth laughs in flowers."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson


"Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."
-Lao Tzu


"The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances."
-Martha Washington

Beau is 11 months old today!
I made this little sign and had a pencil as the handle... but he just wanted to chew on that!

Beau thought having the sign on his head was fun!
 

Here is my oldest brother Bob on his wedding day...
July 8th, 1972
Hard to believe 39 years have gone by! 

A family photo from his wedding day 

My brothers were tickling me here!!!
I was a bridesmaid and my other brother Brian was a groomsman. 

Here is Beau yesterday eating some grated cheese and saying "OH"! 

Beau by the computer... note my screen saver picture
is my two kids in the background! 

Beau was into pulling my glasses off yesterday.
Here he is doing his "GRAMMIE D" impersonation!!!

Mariah had her face painted at the 2nd Avenue sidewalk sale
 yesterday when there with her mommy.
This was when they came for Beau last night. 

My Mary Engelbriet Calendar for July says this 

My little crafted calendar says
"Laugh and the world laughs with you."
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(This was crafted earlier on this year so
Beau looks so young in this picture!!!)

Today is another reason for CELEBRATION.

39 years ago I was being a bridesmaid for my oldest brother, Bob. It was such a fun wedding and as I searched for the photos from it yesterday , I had such a great trip down memory lane looking through the old albums!

I was chatting with my brother Brian this morning, too on the phone and we had a laugh about his big hair days!
It is always fun to see all the different hair and clothing style changes of each passing era!!!

I also had a fun phone conversation with my good friend Lynne, this morning and she shared some good news too... but I think it is still a surprise.
I'm excited, though!!!

Beau has been sleeping for over 3 hours now... but he is now waking up, so need to tend to him... and back to this later...


I just got him set up with one of his favorites ... grated cheese and a mum mum cookie!
He is babbling at me in the high chair beside me while I hurry to finish this blog that I started early this morning before the phone calls!!!

It is so hard to believe that Beau is already 11 months old... just one month away from his first birthday, it seems like only yesterday we were counting the days until his arrival!

Jana and her store partner, Melissa are celebrating their 3rd year of sidewalk sales. This is the annual 2nd Ave. Sidewalk sale down town where they close off 4 blocks or so and all the stores put out their sale stuff! Jana said their first day for this year had far exceeded the first day of it last year, so that is good.

This weekend my nephew Brad and his wife, Janelle, will celebrate their first anniversary, too. That was a fun wedding last year.

Did you know that yesterday was officially International Chocolate day? My FB friend Arlene mentioned it... and well I had to celebrate that by eating a little extra chocolate!!!

So there always seems like something on the calendar to celebrate!

Today is a special calendar date...
It has a few reasons to celebrate.
My brother got married 39 years ago,
And today 11 months old , is my sweet Beau.
I have lots of memories from all of my past,
And also lots of pictures to help make them last!
Hard to believe how much time has gone by,
And it travels much faster with each year... hmmm... why?!
To me each day is a celebration of some kind,
And some days require more time to unwind!
But in the end, it is good to review,
All the little things that were so special, too!