Capital Ex

On Saturday, we took off for Capital Ex. It is like a really big fair. The weather started off kind of bad, but we braved it anyway! We did all the indoor stuff first while we waited for it to stop sprinkling.
We found the kids area and tried to convince Claire to try out a bouncy house and a blow-up obstacle course. She refused the bouncy house and after four tries in the obstacle course (we're talking going in and turning around and coming back out) we gave up. That is how Charlie and I ended up on the slide with Claire!

Sometimes being a parent is just too fun! Ha!
We wandered around a little bit. There was a hall filled with every possible item you have seen on an infomercial. It was pretty interesting. Sort of. Charlie keeps talking about how we should have bought these magic ice cubes that turn regular drinks into slushies.  I don't think so!

We watched this guy for a few minutes. He was pretty good!
Then, we went outside to check out the rides. We told Claire she could pink one to ride, and it was a tough choice. There was a huge kids area with a bunch of rides! So, while she made up her mind we ate lunch.
After lunch we found a kids music show and when we saw that the crowd was small, we sent Claire up to the front row to watch.

At first she just sat and watched, but when the other kids got up to dance...she got into it! The musicians started singing a cowboy song and they were letting some of the kids sing in the microphone. Of course Claire was waiting in line to sing. She was supposed to be repeating yippee-yippee-ki-yi...but those words are hard to pronounce, haha!

At the very end of the show they let all the kids come up on the stage to dance. Just watch Claire bust a move! That girl loves to dance (and if you don't believe me you should see her trying to do ballet moves on the pew during church. It.is.embarrassing!)

After the show, Claire was ready for her ride. She kept saying she wanted to ride the log flume water ride but she wasn't tall enough. I'm not sure she would have really ridden it anyway. So she settled for the swings. And I think they were perfect for her.

Getting ready to ride...

WWWeeeeee!!!!

We decided it had been a long enough day so we started to leave, but on the way out we saw this water tank and this guy was getting ready to dive!

He is 80 feet in the air. Just 80 feet!!!

Luckily he made it into the tank!

Then, Charlie wanted Claire see the army trucks.

They tried to recruit Charlie, but he said he would have to bring Claire and they weren't interested! Ha! 

It was a fun day. I had been wanting to see Capital Ex for the last two summers, so I am glad we got a chance to try it out!

Grayson's First Birthday

So, I realize I am a week late...but....

Grayson is one year old! It must have been that fastest year ever because I am still in shock that it already came and went!
We had a nice Mickey Mouse party for him with our "family" here in Canada. The "real" family was present on Skype, although my parents were in Bermuda on vacation (poor them!)

I had a fun time making Grayson's birthday banner and tissue puffs!

We had the party at lunchtime and the menu consisted of Hot Diggity Dogs, Chili, Daisy's Garden Vegetables (carrots and dip), Toodles' Noodle Salad (pasta salad), Chips, and Le-Minnie-Ade to drink. There was also Mickey Mouse cake for dessert, of course!

I made little signs to go with the food :)

And of course we had a few goodie bags for the kiddies.
Charlie and I worked together on Grayson's Mickey cake. You can learn a lot about someone by making a cake with them! We had quite a time with this cake, but in the end it turned out great and we were pleased with it. My sister-in-law also was a great distraction because she went to the hospital to have my new niece when we started icing the cake and by the time we were done, Olive Elizabeth was born! I will never forget making this cake and checking on her progress the whole time. And of course Grayson will always have a birthday buddy! (We were so hopeful that Olive would come on his actual birthday, but she waited until the next day...but they can still celebrate together!)

Getting excited about guests coming!

Eating lunch...Grayson ate two hotdogs. He has turned into a little pig lately and eats a ton!

We Skyped with my sister and brother-in-law, my mother and father-in-law, and my niece and nephew...and of course my newest niece was there too! They were all at the hospital visiting the baby. And we all sang "happy birthday" to Grayson.

Then came time for the cake!!! I was so excited to see him dig in....and that is what he did!!

That boy loved his cake!

After playing for a while, it was time for presents.

I think Grayson was a little overwhelmed!

He got some help from Daddy...

And Claire presented her cards she was worked hard on.

Grayson liked all of his new toys. He even got Batman Little People! Yay, for some new "boy" toys!

Charlie and I got him a zebra riding toy and he really does like sitting on it!

It was a really fun day for all of us. We just love this boy so much and are so happy to watch him learn and grow! Happy Birthday Grayson!

Capital Ex Parade

Last Thursday was the start of Capital Ex here in Edmonton. It is a huge "fair" like event with lots of concerts, rides, and livestock. Captial Ex always starts with a huge parade and this year my friend asked if I wanted to go. Of course I said yes! I love a good parade!

We rode the train to the parade downtown, and boy was it crowded! We finally found a place where the kids could sit and watch.

Air Canada float.

There were over 100 floats and lots of country music...I know! Country music in Canada!

RCMP (royal canadian mounted police)

This float was the "big deal" of the parade. It was Edmonton's float and cost 80,000. I am still not sure WHAT it is!

Capital Ex float.

I think this one was my favorite. Gotta love a beaver float!

Ooooh and the dragons were neat!

Kermit?

The scarecrow festival's float.....scary!

BIG John Deere!

Yes, this is a bicycle! I couldn't even fit all the people in my camera lens!

The parade ended up being an hour and forty-five minutes long...that's a long time! When it was over it was past lunch time so we hurried to find somewhere to eat. The plan was to go into the mall across the street and eat at McDonald's, but after finding two different loooong lines for the elevator, we ended up at a hot dog vendor on the street. I had never eaten at a hot dog vendor before...and it was....okay!
We found some tables around the corner that just happened to be right next to a kids play area that was set up for Capital Ex. Claire was so excited to try it out!
So, after we ate we wandered over to the big blow up slide. Now, Claire is going through this "fear" stage. She has been afraid of lots of things lately, but mostly anything involving heights. And she definitely has never gone into a bouncy house to jump. But today was a different day.

She agreed to slide down the slide if I went with her...so up we both went!

And then she WENT IN and JUMPED in the bouncy house! But, the best part was when she insisted on going down the slide by herself and she really did do it!!

Cimbing up....(I am thinking she will turn around any second!)

And sliding down!

Look how proud she is of herself! Ha! I was really proud too! She was so excited that she went down the slide about 5 more times before we left.
After that excitement we took the train home. By the time we got there, we all needed a nap! Fun days are sure tiring, even to Mommas!

Claire's first VBS

Last week was Claire's first time being old enough to attend VBS. I was so excited for her, as I have such great memories of VBS as a kid.
While we were grocery shopping the night before, I mentione to Claire that her camp starts "Tomorrow! YAY!" And what kind of response did I get? A flood of tears! I was shocked! I looked at Charlie for help and he was just as surprised as I was. Claire apparently decided that she was going to have some separation anxiety because she wailed all through Wal-Mart about me leaving her while I reassured her that I wouldn't leave unless she was happy there.
Needless to say, when we got up on Monday and got ready, I was nervous for Claire.

I got her into the church a little early and we waited for her teacher to come. Claire was a part of the "preschool crew" which meant that she didn't attend the full week and there were special activities for them. Anyway, her teacher finally came and I knew immediately that Claire would be fine. She was super nice and Claire took right up with her. She did ask if I was leaving, but when I said "yes" she agreed to let me go. Woohoo!
As I walked away, I turned back to watch Claire for a minute. She just seemed so little to me with all of those kids!
And then I drove home and had time to myself while Grayson took a nap. Yes! Time to MYSELF! It was heavenly!
When I picked Claire up she was so excited to show me her stuff that she got and tell me all about her snack. Food is important to my girl.

She had to show me a dance with her box. I also asked her what she learned about Jesus and she said "Jesus was not afraid, Mommy. Other people afraid, but Jesus not afraid." I love hearing her talk about God! Nothing like the faith of a child!
So, the week went on and when Claire went back on Wednesday the children's director was asking for volunteers to go up on the stage to sing. Well, the stage was flooded with kids and after a song or two, Claire went up on the stage too! I was so upset because I didn't have my camera!
On Friday, sure enough Claire went back up on stage. She was loving dancing up there. She was supposed to be following the dancers on the screen, but she liked making up her own moves!

This is her typical "see my pretty dress" move!
So, camp was a success! She had a great week and I am looking forward to when she can attend the whole week because she missed learning about several of the "characters" that taught them lessons each day. Also, she didn't get her VBS t-shirt and that is a key part to attending VBS! You have to have a t-shirt!
On Sunday her leader called all the kids up to the stage to sing a couple of their songs from the week. Claire happily went up on stage, but she didn't stand with the other kids. She was off to the side and she did her OWN moves the entire time. I was mortified. I kept getting her attention and pointing to her leader who was doing to motions to the songs. She would follow him for a few seconds and go back to twirling on her own. There were a few snickers around me about Claire...
Sometimes it is embarrassing to be a parent, haha!

Party Hats

We have been in full-swing "party mode" the past week. We spent the weekend shopping for goody bag stuff, food, a cake pan, and party hats to go with the stuff I already bought! I went ahead and made Grayson's birthday banner and hung it up because I was worried it would get torn...there are a couple of little people around here who like to get into stuff! Ha!
With all of the decorating and talk about Grayson's party, Claire decided she needed to make party hats. She spent two days working on a hat for everyone in the family. It was really funny because she came up with the concept all by herself. She only asked for paper and one piece of tape for each hat. Then she decorated each hat with her princess foam stickers and some coloring.
The best part was when she made us all try them on!

Grayson wasn't sure what to think about his party hat!

"Just let me crawl!"

Daddy was a much better sport!

Here are the hats she made. She forgot me so she made me one later!

So proud of her hard work!

We are super excited about Grayson's party on Saturday! I can't believe he is almost one!