Summa time...is over...

I really need to get better at this blogging thing, that way I wouldn't feel the need to post massive stories about all that's happened! So I will give a brief overview our family's busy summer with a cute lil slideshow to top it off! Then I SWEAR I will get better!!

So...Waterton was first. We stayed at the Dahl cabin for a few days along with the Dahl's, the Balderson's and the Clements (yes, it was full!!). It was so much fun, and we did all the usuals like skipping rocks for hours, walking to the falls, indulging in big scoop ice cream and checking out the Prince of Whales hotel! Such fun, and Bella loved being around all the cousins and playing!

Next came Magrath Days, a tradition I hope we never miss! The parade was of course awesome, except for the water ballooning of small children! It was awesome to see family and catch up! We had our own fireworks show as well as the town's one so it was an exciting weekend for all! We even met some new friends from Calgary (thanks to Amy and Mike!) that we're excited to hang out with! Good times all around I tell ya!!

Our anniversary always falls on Magrath Days so a couple weekends later Mason took me to Banff for a night! It was our 1st night away (together) without Bella and it was AMAZING! We stayed at the Banff Springs and had a fabulously indulgent 24 hours or so together! Short but sweet, we loved walking around the massive hotel and the grounds, and the food was to die for!!

Mason's sister Karli and her 4 kids as well as Mason's mom stayed with us the week before we went to Banff. It was a chaotic but hilariously fun time, and Bella was so sad when they all left!! She even got her ears pierced with her cousins Liv, Ava and Madisyn...I definitely had a "i'm a bad mom" moment, but she recovered quickly and looks so adorable!!

I threw a baby shower for my close friend Naomi and her new baby boy Tristan. He is so freaking adorable, and the shower was such a success!! Anyone who knows me knows I love throwing parties, and any excuse will do!! It was so much fun, and the wonderfully talented Dorienne made the most amazing cupcakes and cookies!! Bella just loves Baby Tristan, she can't stop giving him hugs and kisses and wants to be near him all the time! I just love it, and can't help thinking/hoping that she'll be like that with a baby sibling too!! (no, that was NOT an announcement...)

Bella's best little buddy FINALLY came home from New York a few months ago too...Sadie!!! Although they've been busy too, we've managed to get together a few times and these 2 little girls play so well together! Susie and I took them to the zoo, and even though we got rained out it was a blast just watching them hold hands and walk around together looking at things! I love that we have such good friends with a baby Bella's age, it makes things so much fun!!

Last but not least, we just went to Edmonton to visit my family and go to the Fringe Festival. I haven't been to Fringe since our 1st year of marriage, and I LOVED it! We went in the afternoon and then again in the evening and it was so much fun! Fabulous performers and delicious treats, plus it was perfect weather!! Bella had such a good time with my little sister, Rachel, too. Rachel loved playing with her so much, I think it'll be fun for her to be the cool auntie when she's older!! (she is only 11)

That about sums things up...thanks for reading (if you made it all the way!!)...I LOVE summer and I'm so sad it's ending! I will be milking every last sunny day and spending it at the lake in Auburn Bay if anyone's interested in joining me!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Busy July!!

It's already been a busy month, but there is much more yet to come!! Last Tuesday I made the drive all the way to SLC with my manager and we came home on Friday. It was short but sweet, and although I didn't get much shopping in (boo!!) I saw tons of amazing dresses and got a lot of inspirational advice for Beautiful Bride!! I'm so excited moving forward, I really feel like it's about to just take off and be the cutest boutique in Calgary...so feel free to SPREAD THE WORD!!

After Utah it was off to Waterton for the weekend...cute pictures to follow!! It was fun to hang out with family and relax. We did all the fun Waterton things, including a couple of trips to Big Scoop and of course playing tennis!! So much fun and we had such fabulous weather, even Bella got a light little tan despite the spf 100 (exageration) I put on her!! Now Bella and I are hanging out in Magrath for a couple of days, playing with the cousins and avoiding reality for as long as possible!!

This weekend is a very good friend of mine's wedding and I'm soooo excited!! We are going to spend the weekend in Edmonton, which I'm looking forward to as well. Laura has been waiting for her Mr. Right for so so long, and they literally are made for each other!! So adorable, I can't wait to see her.

That's all the news for now, I'll post pictures when I can! Also check the BB Blog soon for some new dresses that just came in!!

Utah bound...

I am leaving for Utah tomorrow!! Yay, I love it there! Only thing is...it's for work AND I have to DRIVE!!! I am so nervous b/c it's just me and the manager from the store...and a looooooong drive! I haven't driven that far w/o Mason before, so we'll see how it goes!! I'll post pictures of some the gorgeous dresses we'll be getting! That part I'm excited for, it's a huge bridal show and is always a ton of fun!!

I'm going to miss Bella (she's staying with her grandma in Magrath for the week!) and of course Mason...then it's off to Waterton for the weekend, so a fun filled week for us for sure!!

hmmmm...

Question:
Why are people so cliquey (if that's even a word)??

Seriously, especially in the church it feels like. It is SO hard to fit in and SO hard to make new friends and be involved in things. I am SUPER grumpy today b/c quite honestly I AM SICK OF IT. So, sorry if this bugs anyone, it's just how I'm feeling today. I don't think MOST people realize how they're being (I say most b/c there are some who do it on purpose, let's be honest)...and I am sure I have been guilty of doing the same thing sometimes. You get into a groove and you're comfortable....well my groove has been disrupted and I am irritated!!! I don't even know why I'm posting this, maybe just to make people think about the way they treat others. There are many people just dying for an invitation to something, you might not think they'd be interested but they probably are!!! And you might think they're too busy to hang out with you but let's think about WHY they're too busy....there are no better offers so why not stay busy??!! Okay, I'm done venting. Sorry. Hopefully nobody takes this personally. Seriously, please don't. I'm just grumpy.

OH CANADA...

We had such a fun Canada Day this year!!! It was my 9th Canada Day as an official citizen of this great country...I love it!! Canada is truly home now, I would never ever move! It's beautiful and although the cold gets to me at times I do love snow! Plus the people are amazing...we are lucky to call this home. In fact whenever I travel people get so excited when they hear I'm Canadian...just goes to show how AWESOME we are!!

We went down south just for the Raymond Day parade...Bella loved it and it was fun seeing everyone and hanging out with family!! Here are some picture of the day...

Pictures...

Here are a couple of Bella "cleaning"!! Don't mind the outfit and hair...mid morning and we're just getting started!!!





Here are some of my funny little love...the ones where she is laughing uncontrollably are due to her dad being CRAZY for her!! So much fun!!

18 Months Old!!

Seriously, I can hardly even believe it!! I think I am now officially the mother of a toddler...crazy!! I always wanted to be a mom...right from when I was a little girl. I was always the one that hated anyone's feelings getting hurt and I would "mother"/"smother" (!!) the poor kids who got left behind sometimes. Being a mom has changed me...in BIG ways. From the moment she was born, life became about her and for her. She is amazing!!

Things my big girl is doing now...talking!! Well, tons of babbling but we have some words in there!! Hi, no, momma, dadda, yeah, no, shoes, ball, good girl, cold, bye, stinky, uckies (yucky!!)...I'm sure there are some I'm leaving out so I'll add them later! She smiles and waves at just about anybody and is a dancing queen let me tell you!! I love dancing to funny little commercials with her, she is hilarious!! She also loves to clean...yep u heard me!! She grabs the broom and the dustbuster and pretends she's cleaning all the time!! She also loves organizing...she is so particular about all her stuff being in certain spots and piles and I often open random cupboards to find things stashed in there!!

She is a total momma's girl and clings to me constantly...she is usually just right there next to me throughout my day, which is fun sometimes but hard to get things done at other times!! Now don't get me wrong, this girl LOVES her daddy too!! As soon as we hear the garage door open we run downstairs together and she just giggles and waves, so happy to see him!! She is soooo good at giving hugs, they are the best, and her kisses are awesome too!! I could go on and on about my little love, she brings me the most joy and sometimes frustration, and she is all ours!! It's amazing how lives have changed and how better they are. I can't even imagine what it was like without her!!