Saturday, June 21, 2014

OUr fAmiLy VaCatiOn Across Canada....to Brandon Manitoba~

 
As Parents I think sometimes we get wrapped up in the whoopla of  providing "the best" for our children..... What is the definition of "the best".... I assume its different for every parent, circumstance and situation... is it the most popular toys, the best equipment, the brand name cloths..... Elaborate holidays, vacations and events..... Or is it simply the basics... Good Food, A roof over their heads, health, love and acceptance......
I try to do a regular reality check... and sometimes I'll admit I fully get wrapped up in the... Only Laken has been on an airplane....we haven't taken them on a tropical vacation... Laken's skates aren't pre ordered from some fancy company..... Mark and I haven't been on a "couples Vacation yet" and then thank the sky above I return to reality..... Laken is four....Brett is two..... what are they going to remember..... Honestly? Event wise....probably nothing..... what they will remember is the basics... that they were never hungry, they had fun, they seen Dad and Mom having fun, they were loved and always allowed to be themselves.......
I try to always remind myself that ~“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
― Maya Angelou 
Because nothing could be truer for our Children... This June we headed off on our Family Vacation~ The full purpose of the trip was to watch one of my best friend's say "I Do" to her best friend...   I had big plans for this vacation..... Show my children how important is was to be a good friend.... that cherishing friendships is one of the secrets in life to finding happiness and that family is beyond blood.... I also wanted to prove to myself that no matter if you were on a trip to Saskatchewan and Manitoba or Disneyland it truly was what you made it... and I will tell you.... our little inexpensive trip vs a 10k trip to Disneyworld... was as Laken put it while we were in Regina...." This is the best Vacation of my Life, we need to come back to Begina....(yes Begina).... its the most fun I've had and I bet its better then any Disneyland I know! We have to come back"......Now I had to tell him we would probably choose somewhere else to go next time......I had to do an internal happy dance....Vacation Success!
Before we left I researched the crap out of each city.... and each hotel... My list of had to haves for hotels were.... preferably.. Water Slide, Heated Pool ( a must for little kids), theme room, and a restaurant that was family friendly.. I was successful in finding everything in my wish list... for no extra costs! I also researched the crap out of the cities with fun things to see! We hit the Science center in Regina and drove around the provincial building... along with other fun excursions... Fun was had by all and we got to watch Aunty Amy get married!! 
 
                                               On Our Way to Drop Molly off at the Kennel!

5am in the morning and we are on our way!!


Pit Stop in Moose Jaw!

Thunder Bird

Picnic Lunch


We've arrived in Regina and we are so excited to go swimming!!

The View from our room




Water Slide Fun!!






The Science Center

Back to swimming

On Our way to Manitoba to see Aunty Amy!



The theme room in our hotel room in Brandon


More Water Slides



Sound Asleep

Wedding Day!








On our way Home! Vacation Success!!

Brett Elizabeth Ann~ Turns Two and Melts our heart even more~

Brett at 9 Months with Big Beautiful Blue Eyes
 
Brett at Two Years Old



 
Sugar and Spice and Everything nice that's What Little girls are made of~
I remember the day we welcomed Brett into this world like yesterday..... Leaving my Doctors appointment on April 11th, 2012... with Dr. Adolph saying "See you in the next 12 hours.." and Just like Laken 12 hours after my appointment Labour Started... 5am would be contractions off and on and then full fledge Labour started at 8:30am, arrived at the hospital at 9:30 taken into the delivery suit at 10:20am and welcomed our Beautiful Baby Girl into the world at 10:59....
Brett is Fierce, Sassy and full of Love.... Never have a met a little girl who gives sweet little hugs like her.... who will grab your face hold it in her hand and tell you " I love you"... She's determined
driven and has no fear which will be the cause, I am sure of all my grey hairs... At two Brett speaks in full sentences, processes things at a level that has us in constant awe... Her Dad and Her Big brother are no doubt her hero's and partner's in crime. Her loves at the age of two are animals... of any kind... she loves the color blue, eats everything and everything.. Has a definite sweet tooth with a love for Jello....and anything that has speed...waterslides, fast cars, roller coasters ect....she's all about it...
I thought our life was complete with Laken and that Boys were so much fun and although I still feel that way, Brett has brought so much more then I could had even fathomed into our lives, little girls are a rollercoaster of high pitch screams and so much love.... She's developing all her own likes and dislikes, personality and all the fine quirks that make her, her... I am soo thankful and feel beyond blessed to be her mom . Mark and I cant wait to see what this next year bring and the little woman she's becoming! Here are a few pictures from her Easter themed Birthday...  Full of real Baby Bunnies from Petland and the Easter Bunny herself arrived! Thankyou to everyone who took the time to celebrate with us and who takes the time out of their busy schedules to love our little girl as much as we do! xox