New Sign

Just thought I'd show you a new sign I made for the house.

I wanted to rearrange my photo wall and since I have so many travel photos up, I wanted a quote about travelling.

I found a great tutorial on pinterest for making canvases look like weathered wood, so I thought I'd give it a try.

This is what I came up with:

And here is the new photo wall:

Sorry about the awkward angle, I still have some decorations up (yes... I do) and I had to take it around them :)

How I did it:
Pretty simple. I covered the canvas in old pieces of newspaper and mod podged them on. I let it dry, painted it black (let it dry) and then sanded down the edges and the surface to rough it up a bit. I added some distress ink to the rough bits, and added my quote, which I cut with my cricut.
Done!

Hope you like it!

Gracie's Birthday Party

Gracie had so much fun at her birthday party! We had lots of good friends, good food, and well-behaved kids (no really, they were all great!) I think she enjoyed it.

My top moments from the party:

When I was taking her down from the table after she had a cupcake, she told me she was happy, and asked if I was, too.

Her reaction to seeing all of the people and decorations.

When Brad and I were out of sight, she wandered around the party yelling, "Mom!" or "Dad!" until she found us.

Seeing all of the kids running around the backyard, playing.

Gracie enjoying all of her favourite foods until she literally blew a button on her dress.

Gracie giving everyone hugs for the gifts. She was really happy with all of her new goodies. She got spoiled and she's had so much fun since Saturday playing with everything.

What a sweetie!

Welcome to the party!!

Gracie enjoying her sidewalk art sign

Balloons!!!

Best neighbour ever and Gracie

She blew out her candle on the first try!

and got right to business

Couldn't even slow down for a family picture

Cookie monster and Elmo....

decorations.... It was a Sesame Street theme ( in case you couldn't tell...)

decadent cookie cake...mmmm...

Opening Gifts

Berlyn and Gracie playing with her new puppy

London, Gracie and Berlyn. Notice Gracie's dress is about to burst... it fit much nicer pre-cupcake...

So much fun in the jumpy room!

Baking Cookies

Gracie is such a big help around the house, now. She likes to sweep, help put away dishes from the dishwasher, and now...bake!







She even cracked the eggs for the cookies. And I mean CRACKED them! I showed her how to do it and then gave her an egg to try. She really watched me and was eager to give it a shot, so I thought, why not?? She grabbed the egg and SMASHED it into the counter. Remarkably, I just pulled up the shell and swept the egg into a bowl and she didn't even get any shell in it :)

This makes baking a whole new experience. Only one mushroom cloud of flour erupted from the mixer when she turned it on while I consulted the recipe. I consider it a success!






Yes, she also Roars while she bakes....




Pre-egg sample...mmmm, butter and sugar....

More Layouts

I've had this paper sitting in my craft room forever, and I finally used it. I thought I never would, but I like it! Huh....



Who is this little girl toddling around? Man, she's changed since last summer.



Hope you enjoy!!!

More pics from LL

A few more shots of us in Lake Louise:





Throwing Rocks







The Boulder Throw:

Pics From Lake Louise

We had a great weekend in Lake Louise this August.

We visited old friends, old haunts, and got a fix of our favourite fish and chips. Good little holiday.

These are some pictures from Takakkaw Falls, in Yoho National Park.






Just a few of the family.....

Yummy Recipe

And the best part, it's EASY-PEASY!!!

Avocado and Corn Salad

6 cobs of corn, husked
1 1/4 cups finely diced red onion
2 limes, zested and juiced
1 tsp. salt
1 small green finger chili, diced (approximately 1 tbsp.)
3 large avocados, chopped in bite-size pieces
1/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro

Directions, Grill corn on the BBQ on high for 5-7 minutes, until you see charring, remove. Chop off corn, and add to the rest of the ingredients.

I noticed that on day #2, it got a little onion-y, so maybe watch for that... I think I'd use a little less onion next time.

Terrific Twos???

Gracie turns two in a few weeks, and I'm starting to understand what people are talking about.....

She's definitely asserting her independence, as this is the side of her I see most:



She does not like strollers or shopping carts anymore, unless she's pushing them:



She has found her voice, and can yell and scream with the best of them:



But, she's also able to tell me what's bothering her, be reasoned with, tease and generally make me laugh (luckily, she seems to know when I need to see these qualities... maybe she can hear my teeth grinding, and that's the signal to be cute??)

Layouts and Sale Info!!

My aunt is putting on a craft sale at her ranch this November, outside of Airdrie. We'd love to see you there. Until then, check it out on facebook and see some sneak peaks of what will be available.

Here are some more layouts to show that I have been crafty this summer, just too busy to show you what I've been up to.



Some pictures of the Malackos playing at the park last summer. That was the year of the slide. This is the year of the swing.



An Easter layout... I had these two random pictures left over, so I made an Easter Snapshots page.


And... have you heard of pinterest??? That is another thing I've been up to this summer..... If you have time to spare and love a diy (do it yourself) project, I suggest you check it out. If you lose entire days because of my suggestion, I apologize :)

Smile for the day

After I run errands all day with a very uncooperative two year old, I come home and clean the floors, and then sit Gracie down with a cob of corn..... so that I can crawl around on my hands and knees to pick up kernels and keep it clean for a few more minutes.

Why?

Because this face makes me smile.