seven is heaven

Our Kate was so excited to ring in her seventh year that she got up for the day at 3am. You can imagine our fear - of what might lay ahead for day for party goers and family alike but luckily adrenaline seemed to pull her through. Well until 4pm, when she agreed to a cuddle with her Papa and dropped off for a well deserved nap. And this morning she woke very late and very sick. Seems she's caught the pneumonia that her Mama is suffering with.  Poor baby. So no skiing for the ladies this Sunday. It was boys only on the hill today.

We had a lovely morning and birthday party. Love not hosting the party at our place - it was a little gift to myself.

Let's take a peek...

 

The kids always love to wake up to a birthday table!

  

And Kate always loves to be surprised with silly string. Although this year Elliott and I seemed to get the brunt of the attack.

 Present time. A little stroller from her brother.

 She likes it!

 Nail Art from Grammie Janice and Grampie Paul. In her sick state I just painted ten little rainbows on her ten little fingers.

 And now for the best gift ever... A trip to Disney World this March break. Yahoo! I got a great video of the reveal but it's just too large for this site. Or I'm too limited in my technological abilities.

 Party time and a pile more presents form her buds, Aunty Candace, Lydia and Grammie Donna.

 Time to make some pizzas.

 Sugar time.

 

Lydia getting busy.

  

Kate getting silly opening presents.

 Awesome was the theme to this seventh party. Kate loves referring to herself as our awesome genius so I decided to go with it.

 

Our toothless Kate - the star of our day - happy happy birth day and a wonderful seventh year!

We love you so much.

  

A special thanks to the islanders who made the day trip in less than stellar conditions. 

Thanks so much - it was great to visit even if for a short while.

XOXO CAKE

what's up doc?

Tomorrow is a big day. I mean a really big day. A little, but awesome force turns a whopping seven years old. Kate Bronwyn Jorgensen - seven years old!

This means a couple other things:
1. Cody and I have been parents for seven years.
2. I'm old.
3. It's storming in the Maritimes. It's her birthday tradition and Mother Nature has not failed to disappoint.
4. I'm pinning and crafting up a small storm. 

So big day and we're having her party at the SuperStore Cooking School. Pure genius. I have to do NOTHING! Of course I have done many things - but none of them include baking or cleaning and I can't stop smiling. Actually I'm not smiling at all. I'm really sick. I think it's pneumonia. A little fluid on the lungs. Which I just can't understand - come on Mother Nature I thought we had each other's backs. I'm babbling. Probably because it's a snow day so I have had to have an afternoon glass of wine in order to "deal" better with Elliott and his theatrics.

Despite the pneumonia, I'm very excited, mostly because Kate and Elliott are so excited. We have a very special gift for her too. Spoiler alert - Kate can read now so I'm not going to spoil it here. You'll have to tune in soon to find out what it is.

Some pics from this month...

A couple shots form Cody's latest CrossFit competition held last week. It's called the Blizzard Beatdown and was the first comp that he participated in 4 years ago after having been in CrossFit for just a couple months. Brave!  His transformation is quite a thing of beauty. I don't know too many other forms of exercise that could command the level of commitment that you have given CrossFit these last years CJ.  I'm confident that you've made 4 or 5 or 6 classes every week of each of the last four years. Congratulations - way to go baby!

 He's the shirtless specimen in the lower left corner.

 Oh look - it was Papa's birthday too!

Our new Sunday ritual: walking the bunny hill with the kids pre-lesson.

So tune in soon to check out number seven! And wish me some good health will you?
Air kisses and hugs. AJ out.

the bunny hill

With great big smiles we spent the day on the bunny hill at our local Poley "Mountain". We finally made the commitment to get our kids downhill skiing so signed them up for a couple months worth of lessons. And wouldn't you know it... they're hooked.  There may have been some Elliott tears early on in the lesson that Cody and I pretended not to see from afar - heart breaking though they were. By the second half he was all smiles and neither wanted to leave the hill at the completion of the lesson. So after pushing them up the bunny hill for them to demonstrate their new mad skills we were able to talk them into making next week a much longer family ski.

 Two little beautiful beings.

 I love this sight.

 Our little buddy Pippa. Amazing that a three year old will strap on skis and go off with an instructor for the afternoon.

 Poppy who was part of the star power of Group #2.

Speaking of star power, our talented yet reticent ski-bud Roya.

The Papas taking in the full Bunny Hill experience by riding up the magic carpet.

Here's to at least seven more weeks of lessons and hopefully a life time of ski family memories.
CAKE

PS - This evening while chatting in the hot tub Kate announced that she wants to become a ski "counsellor" for a living when she grows up. Elliott immediately jumped on that wagon - he too wants to be a ski counsellor when he grows up. Beats a face painter!

celebrating what you want to see more of

For the first time in a long time Cody and I chose to ring in the New Year not with a hang over - rather in the charming company of our genetic prodigy.  As always it is so sweet to see something new in the eyes of the kids. Thus motivated our choice to start our evening at the local Japanese Hibachi Grill. We were confident that the kids would have a few laughs and smiles at the antics of the grill guys and they did not disappoint. It was a great start to a family night and a nice way to sign off 2015. 

Playing with fire never fails to entertain.

Then a little later on...

 Photos like this make my blog worth it.

 We're not sure where Elliott's hip hop moves busted out of - but we welcome them.

 Ringing in the New Year in style at 7:30.

 Me and my mentals.

Can you believe the lady in the middle had one beverage the whole night?

 

Game 1 - Mama down, leaving Cody to face some fierce Twister opposition.

 Game 2 - Rockin' it old school with a Tidily Winks.

 Game 3 - A tear jerker called Jenga. Poor Elliott is not the best when it comes to looooosing.

 Celebrating the girls Jenga win with an impromptu butt-bopping dance party.

Aaah 2016 - welcoming the first day in the first month of a new year with a hot cuppa and a big smile. Cheers to you Elliott; you rarely fail to make us smile.

So 2015, what did you teach us? One major take away for me is that as our family ages I would say Kate and Elliott need us more now than ever but in completely new ways. Primarily as good listeners.

To think about the world outside our warm family home is something that sets Cody and I at great dis-ease. If I was a person who prayed I know there would be much peace and improved environmental protection, health for the population and ethical governance to pray for. It overwhelms me as a person but much more so as a mother.

So... be the change that you wish to see in the world. Even that seems overwhelming. Change to living off the grid, raising chickens, cattle, a few pigs and a some good healthy seeds is intimidating versus the pure comfort of central air and the local grocer. OK. Shut up Aimee.

Keeping it a simpler start to 2016 - I wish my family and friends true health, thoughtfulness, energy, kindness, clarity and good sleep. We are all so fortunate. How long can it last? Ooops, I did it again. (copyright Brit Spears)

Much love - Aimee and the CAKE

an island christmas

Boxing Day celebrations were held at Candace and Paul's on the sweet little Prince Edward Island. Four generations of Jorgensens gathered for laughs, gifts, turkey, ham, scootering, roller blading and some perfect plum pudding. It was a lovely afternoon.

 A quiet cousin cuddle.

 Celebrating.

 Jorgensen man generation one and Jorgensen little man generation four.

Smiles over surprises.

 A big hug to Grammie for Rollerblades. A definite highlight to Kate's Christmas. In fact she's downstairs now zooming around the basement as I type this.

 Speaking of Rollerblades - this looks like a perfect opportunity to try them out.

Speaking of Grammie hugs this one is in celebration of receipt of a racing scooter.

Christmas 2015 and all I got is this lousy hipster. Just kidding.

Our stay was cut a little short as we headed home Boxing Day night in our effort to avoid driving in a post Christmas snow storm. Good we did as we did get quite a pile. Yesterday was so much fun with the long awaited snow.  Picture snow fights, sledding through our streets behind Papa's 4 wheeler and jumping naked in snow piles and then in the hot tub with the kids. A perfectly silly night.

OK. I think it's safe to say Christmas 2015 is complete. Two thumbs up.
CAKE

christmas 2015

OK. Not much to report other than a sweet calm Christmas morning with my main squeezes. A little throw up, a little Gravol, a little hyper Elliott, a little sunshine, a little plus degree weather, a little napping, a little playing, a little friendship, a little family  = a whole lot of merriment. You guys rock. 

Four hours of Christmas Eve fun!

Colourful clay and a day in pyjamas.

Twas the night before the night before Christmas and we had a lovely evening with Grandparents and Great Grandparents. Paul and Janice must have had a busy day with the kids because Kate snuggled in pretty close for a lot of the evening.

Our beauty.

My favourite power couple. 

Our buddy Roya.

This is what a Christmas Eve consequence looks like. Heart breaking but well earned.

That face. Love.

Siblings. Love.

Favourite Child mug. Thank you Mom - although I already knew.

Oh the enthusiasm. It's utterly contagious.

Another Barbie! And it's her first "delicate" one.

Thumbs up to American Girl dance suit from Aunty Rho and fam.

And our BMX racer. Not sure which boy in this house is most excited for this little red beauty. Best thing about this Christmas both boys got to get outside and give the bike a good test drive.

Love to all! PEI tomorrow yahoo! CAKE out