sick and tired (but not of birthdays)

Kate's sick and I'm tired. She has a terrible cold and is dripping everywhere. Oh and she has a hate on for me and anything I try to do for her. I'm hoping she's doing a lot better before we have to board that plane on Friday.

Complaining out of the way, we wanted to wish Grandma Janice a very happy Birthday today! We're blowing you kisses. They're infectious but the thought is there.

Also celebrating a Birthday today is Aunt Darla. Happy happy birthday to you.

I was planning a party but Kate was not in the mood. So we had a pajama party instead - in both your honours.

I hope your days are better than ours! xoxo

a little early but what the heck

We got busy this weekend putting up the outdoor Christmas lights before any snow has a chance to fall and dampen our enthusiasm for such an effort. Plus Kate and I head to Calgary this Friday for two weekends and chances are that by the time we return we would be way behind the neighbors.

FYI - I couldn't figure out my camera so the shots aren't great but hopefully you will still be awed at the display.

Oooooh. Aaaaah.

This is Kate after a walk through the neighborhood tonight - pleased as her Pappa's lights are the best. At least so far.

Our son, I mean sunshine playing with her new favorite toy - a rogue piece of cedar from our swags.

She played with this for hours.

So to all our buddies a happy start to the holiday season. And more importantly a happy happy 5th birthday to our nephew Aidan. Aidan is traveling with his Mom, Dad and Sister somewhere in Europe where it's probably already the 23rd and his birthday. Kate and I can't wait to celebrate your birthday with you on Sunday. It's so hard to believe you're already a whole hand's worth of fingers old. We love you very much and hope you're on a warmish beach in Spain or somewhere glorious for your big day.

yeah visitors!

Cody's Dad Paul and step-mom Janice were down for the weekend and we had such a nice visit. Like her Momma, Kate loves it when the house is busy. On Saturday night we went out for dinner to celebrate Janice's upcoming birthday. Oh it was lovely, it felt adult and reminded Cody and me that we need to make more of an effort to do such things - even if Kate is in tow.

Sunday we headed off to Janice's parents for a great turkey dinner. Again Kate was in good spirits around the crowd and Grandpa used the occasion to try and get her to crawl, bribing her with Cheerios.

Alas, another failed effort.

I didn't quite make it in time but this was an effort to capture Kate chillin' out with Grandpa Paul. She had been quite content lying around but then lost it when she saw me and the camera.

Kate and I say "thanks for the visit we look forward to seeing you again at Christmas!"

two thumbs up for centennial park

Cody called it an early day yesterday so we headed off to Moncton's Centennial Park for a lovely autumn walk. It turns out that the park is totally awesome. It's big, has a couple off leash dog areas, bbq areas, kiddie equipment, a little man made lake for canoeing, a little man made beach, a splash park, skating rink and then the coolest tree course. And it's really only a few minutes away from our place.

The lake's ducks.

Through the trees is probably not the best view of the little beach/pool but it's the only one I have.

Aidan - check out this park, doesn't it look awesome. Behind all this equipment is another splash park.

The tree course is definitely the highlight - it looks amazing and has a few different courses at varying levels of difficulty. With that said, they all look challenging. Here are a few pics:

Kate's is dreaming of the days when she'll be manoeuvring through these tree courses.

The Jorgensen Sandwich is almost unanimous in its love of the park - I'm sure once Kate's a little older she'll look more enthusiastic. We can't wait to take some visitors there this summer. Lots of love - Aimee

november 11th

Our routine is pretty set here in Riverview so not a lot to report. I keep hoping one morning I'll wake to announce a tooth, a crawling daughter or a baby who sleeps longer than a 5 hour stretch, alas, to date, I wish in vain.

There is no doubt that Kate is busier and more agile. The other day I left her sitting nicely playing and then came back to find this...

She basically laid back and then did a backwards roll over the wall and into her old play gym. It was quite a feat for her.

She's gotten the hang of a few toys too. With her baby she always tells long stories and holds or chews on her little hand.

She's also been busy humming and shouting into the new microphone that her Aunty Candy bought her for Halloween. To her credit she usually knows which end to talk into.

She's also trying to figure out how to stand on her own. Grandma Donna bought her this little table last week and she has figured out how to get to her knees and work at the activities.

But for the most part she seems to be taking after her Pappa...

Chilling out to Coronation Street.

And goodness knows she would love to give his eastern diet a try too. For those of you who have no idea what you are looking at - there is a hamburger between those slices of white, gravy-covered bread.

As an update on our classes, swimming is going great. Kate loves it and doesn't mind being dunked once each class. We have only one more music class but we're going to sign up for some more. She's discovered music and is always bopping to a little beat. She's also a heck of a drummer and little shaker. I believe in the music business these skills are the equivalent of most groupies. Awesome.

On a completely different note, my Dad goes for knee surgery tomorrow. Dad, I want you to know I'm thinking of you and wishing you the best in the procedure and your healing. I can't wait to see, hug and kiss you in just over two weeks.

And on a final note, it is Remembrance Day and not to get political or cliche but I want to recognize the people who are in active duty for this, our beautiful Canada. As a mother all I can think of is that each person is someone's baby and it pains my heart to think of them in harm's way. To our veteran Melissa, Norm's smart, strong and beautiful daughter, a special shout out to you and your friends.

Peace and love, Aimee

hate is such a strong word

Hate is a strong word, but anyone who knows me knows that I use a lot of strong words and that I hate a lot of things. And when it comes to home decor the hate list gets even longer. With that said I don't hate all the things on my list when they appear in your house, just my own. It's like women and weight, they love and accept all their friends no matter their shape but have no forgiveness for themselves.

A few people have asked to see my house so I thought why not blog about it and heck why not start with the things I hate first - get them on the table right away - the glass is not always half full. Then I can move on to the areas I like and even love.

Overall we are really loving the house - it felt like home almost immediately. And we have been slowly working on the things that aren't us but like all things it will take time, and oh yeah, money.

So here goes...

A triple whammy - oak cabinets, the knobs on the cabinets and that light over the sink that matches no other fixture in the kitchen.

Oak lower cabinets and lino that's kind of teal. No it's totally teal.

More oak, this time our fireplace mantle in the family room.

A cloud of florescent light in the kitchen.

A very shiny half functioning fan in the family room. Please note, much to my dismay, this is Kate's favorite object in our house.

Bad fan #2 that was in Kate's room but has been committed to the basement.

A box of bad curtains that blocked out good light and great windows.

I don't know if I can count all the things that I'm not fond of in this our master bath. Am I sounding terribly spoilt? I hope not. I'm just stating the facts as I see them.

These photos do not do the paint colour in our guest room justice. It is the dustiest rose that I have ever seen. I think it goes without saying that our hot pink spread does not bring out the best in the paint.

We also have a huge room over the garage that we refer to as the west wing. It's a great room - really private and sound proof from the rest of the house. The only draw backs are a LOT of teal carpet and another very bad fan.

To end on a positive note we have had a painter in to refinish all the cabinets and the mantle and they look amazing! And the light fixtures are slowly being replaced - hurrah! I'll get to work at taking some nice photos and will get those up soon. Cheers - aj

a first halloween is a happy halloween

We took our little lobster of a daughter back to the PEI water for her first Halloween. Pappa and I also got all decked out for the occasion.

It's ironic that we were dressed to eat our young as just that morning Kate had us up at 3:30am for the day.

A close up of our girl.

We celebrated Halloween with Kate's cousins Daisy and Thomas, her cop of an Uncle and thieving Pirate of an Aunt.

Thomas the Train. It was so funny Carter actually pre-filled his loot bag before leaving home.

Miss Lydia the Skittles loving Daisy.

Why is the moustache reserved for cops? I think the local Bread Man should consider wearing one full time.

Aaar!

One thirsty Lobster searching for water.

Do these ladies look related? Close your mouths girls.

All the girls.

An island arrest reenactment.

Perhaps this was his offense.

My baby.

Kate and Meem sharing a laugh.

Kate with her Great Aunt Darla and Maggie the dog.

It was a busy but great first Halloween visiting with the cousins, Meem, Pap, Aunt Darla, Brenda, the Ramsays, Josh, Susan and Grandma Donna. Kate was an absolute trouper especially given the very early start to her day. She is a social little thing and seemed to love visiting everyone.

I also wanted to share a few pictures of my favorite western trick or treaters:

Our nephew Aidan the deadly Trex with his buddy Batman aka Jack.

Another of the Trex hunting solo - I think he had just eaten Batman.

My girlfriend Becky's oldest daughter Sophie the sweet Ladybug.

Becky's five month old beautiful little Mouse Lauren.

My girlfriend Carolyn's mysterious son Super Jude.

Photos yet to come of Marek Man.