Reese's Preschool Graduation

It has arrived.  Reese has graduated from preschool!  I'm sure she went from being 1 to 4 ... I'm sure she skipped a few years somewhere, somehow.  

Our baby will be going to Kindergarten in September.  We are all signed up for our Kindergarten Orientation in mid-June and she is excited!  I am not so excited, although in reality she will only be gone from home for 1 more morning a week!  So really, Kindergarten won't be much different than Preschool, in terms of hours away from home.  Grade 1 will be a different story and I'm just not prepared to even think about my baby being in Grade 1!!!

Preschool graduation went as it should - the kids sang a few cute songs, received their 'diplomas', gifts from their teachers, bounced in the bouncy house, had their faces painted, ate delicious snacks, ran around like animals, had a blast and took numerous cute photo's!!  

We're so proud of Reese and how well she has done at preschool.  She's loved her preschool class and teachers and has made some great friends, who we will try to keep in touch with! 

Here are a few photo's from her very last day at preschool:

Reese, ready for her preschool graduation :)

Quick pick with Blake and Em :)

Reese the graduate!

Big smile, while performing "I'm a Little Graduate!"

Reese with our awesome preschool teachers, Mrs. Chong and Mrs. York

Besties - Erin, Reese and Maya

Gorgeous face painting!

May Long Weekend

We're back from another great May long weekend camping trip to Cross Lake Provincial Park!!  This year our group consisted of the Cameron's, the Stecyk's, the Smith's, the Streadwick's, the Scott's and the Richter's!  The weather was good ... so long as it doesn't snow on May long weekend, I am happy ;)  But with that being said, snow is not uncommon on May long weekend!!  We had a bit of wind and the temps didn't get up high enough to tube/swim/water ski but no snow and no rain, so we'll take it!!  The kids had a blast, biking, running, playing and hanging out with friends and cousins!  The adults had a great time too, eating, drinking, visiting, walking, pushing the kids on the swings, joining in the baseball games, etc.  The kids got out on Grandma and Grandpa D's boat and even caught a fish or two!!  They were hoping to get in the water but it was too cold!  We have a weekend planned with my parents in August, so I'm sure they'll get lots of boat/water time in at that time!  I love May long weekend. It's like the official kickoff to summer for our family!  Here are a few photo's from our weekend:

Cal and Brad cook up a great breakfast that could feed a lot of the campground!!

Great games of baseball played this weekend.  Loved throwing the ball around and seeing my kids and family having as much fun as me :)  Sure miss this game!!!

Bike ride with Grandma!  Em mastering her new bike, with a lot of help from Grandpa :)

Heading out fishing!!

Happy 8th Birthday, Blake!!

I'll never forget when we learned we were expecting.  I was so scared for the first little while, scared something would happen but after a few weeks I started feeling really sick.  And weird as it might seem, I was very happy to be sick!!  My Dr. told me it meant the baby was growing and doing well.  I soaked that up and enjoyed every second of hugging the toilet bowl because I knew, as long as I was sick, baby was fine :)  I also remember the moment Blake was born, I immediately did not feel sick!  It was crazy!!  And that is also the moment I became a Mom.  Of course I thought I 'kinda' knew what it would be like to be a Mom but I really had no idea.  We are now parents to an eight year.  I feel fine with this but I think when Blake hits the double digits, it might be hard for me to accept ;)

Paused for a photo!!

Blake had a great birthday party on Sunday afternoon.  We tossed a few party ideas around.  At first he wanted to play laser tag but we told him he would have to cut down the guest list a little bit if he was going to play laser tag!  He then quickly changed his mind to playing floor hockey, like he did last year!  So after a few phone calls we found a venue that would work with our crazy busy schedule and booked Servus Place in St. Albert!  Blake wanted a hockey/Pokemon themed party, so the kids played floor hockey for the 1st hour and Pokemon for the 2nd hour :)  I decided to hire our favorite baker, Bake My Day, and ordered up 1 dz hockey cupcakes and 1 dz Pokemon cupcakes!  The party was fun, everyone had a great time and the birthday boy was excited to be surrounded by his besties!!

Everyone enjoying a snack and a cupcake :)

Hockey and Pokemon cupcakes!

New bike with gears!!

On Blake's actual birthday, we had my family over for dinner and Grandma D's carrot cake (Blake's favorite!)!  I asked Blake what he would like for supper.  I told him I could make anything he wanted ... he came up with Tuna Casserole or Pizza (he specified not homemade pizza, take out pizza!)  The girls aren't crazy about tuna casserole and I wasn't sure if my nephews would be either, so take out pizza it was.  Blake tried out his new bike from Grandma and Grandpa and we had a great dinner with my mom, dad, Lindsay, Jeremy and the boys! 

 

Blowing out his candles :)

Mason approves of Grandma's carrot cake :)

Before bed all the kids and Grandpa D played some baseball in the front yard!  Blake's a bit confused with which hand he catches with and which hand he throws with ... he says he catches AND throws with his left hand ;)  He writes left-handed, plays hockey right-handed and golfs left-handed.  So I can see, there is some confusion there!!  Maybe he's ambidextrous?!  Ever since we realized he was left-handed, we've joked that we're going to encourage him (actually I think we used the word push!) to be a left-handed pitcher in the MLB!!!  They are very high-paid and don't actually have to pitch very often ;)  lol!

Blake loved all the phone calls, text messages and FB birthday wishes he received.  It's so nice to see him feeling loved and enjoying his special day.  He sure is a special boy and deserves all that love + more!  Thank you to everyone who sent Blake a birthday wish!

We're so grateful for our happy, kind, loving, smart, handsome boy.  He brings so much joy and love to our lives and is the best big brother!!  I'm not sure how we got so lucky, but I thank my lucky stars every single day.  I know there will be a day when Blake will no longer want me to hold his hand and sing him his bed time song and so I soak that up, every single night that I can.  He's going to be taller then me before I know it but he still likes to be held sometimes and as I hold my almost 70 lb boy, I just can't believe how fast he has grown up and I can't help but think of what the future will bring.  I have a feeling it won't be all that much different - he'll still be kind and loving and smart and handsome and the best big brother and son in all the world :)  Just bigger and maybe not quite able to curl up on my lap!!  Love you beyond words, Blake.  We're so proud of you and can't wait for your 8th year!!

xoxo

Run, Cal, Run!!

On Sunday the 26th, Cal ran in the EPS 1/2 Marathon.  It started and ended at Hawrlek Park.  Cal didn't train as much as he would have liked to but did train some and so he was very happy with his time, coming in at just under 2 hrs.  He's a superhero in our eyes ;)  I can't run 5 km never mind 21 km!!  The kids and I met him at the 1/2 way point, we hoped our high fives and cheers would give him the ammunition he needed to keep pushing on!  And seemed to have worked ;)  We were then off to the park, to meet him at the finish line!!  Way to go Cal, we're very, very proud of you!!  xoxo

Waiting on Dad, at the 1/2 way point!

HIGH FIVES!!!

Sooooo close to the finish line!

Way to go, Cal!

Running to see Dad!

Enjoying a sunny day in Hawrlek Park

Proud of my hubby!

Ice Breaker Lacrosse Tournament

Blake played in the Blues Ice Breaker Lacrosse tournament this past weekend.  They played 3 games and although they didn't come out on top on the scoreboard, they all learned a lot and had fun!  And the best part of all (for our family, anyways!) is that Blake won MVP in the second game!!  We were SO proud of him!  His third lacrosse game ever played and he rocked that field!!!  He played so well and it was a well-deserved honour :)  

Receiving the MVP water bottle, as chosen by the opposing team!

1st Lacrosse Medal!

Life Lately!

Here's a little update on life in the Cameron house:

Hockey and ringette ended and power skating and lacrosse started!!  Along with the regular swimming lessons and dance classes :)

We are LOVING the awesome weather.  The kids and I usually spend 30 min - 1 1/2 hrs at the school playground every day after school.  It is so fabulous.  They typically play either baseball or soccer with school friends, the girls included!  I just love it and feel very happy that they are able to have this time.  I just know I will look back on these days and be thankful we had this time, it is worth all the material sacrifices + more.  On dance days and swimming days we play until it's time to leave.  On the other days we head home for homework and relax time (for the kids ... for me it's usually a last minute scramble to put supper together ;)).

Cal is very busy at work and has also taken on another part time job ;)  He is helping a friend coach two power skating sessions on Monday nights.  Blake is in the first session.  It's great for Blake because his school friends are also in the same power skating class.  During the hockey season they play for different clubs, so he was very excited to be on the ice with them!  And of course he's having fun, there's not a minute of hockey-related activity that kid doesn't like ;) 

Lacrosse is going great!  Blake's improved so much since the first practice!  He loves it and is looking forward to his tournament this weekend.  He had his first game on Tuesday evening.  It was a lot of fun to watch and cheer the kids on - much the same environment/intensity as hockey!!  And it didn't take long for the girls to find fellow lacrosse sisters to run the rink with!

Dance is getting to the fun part of the year - competition, picture and recital time!  The girls tried on their costumes last week and o.m.g. - to die for.  Cuteness factor overload ;)  In about February dance became a bit tedious, it's a lot of practice time for the first 5-6 months but when April hits, the fun factor raises!!  The costumes come in, the older groups enter competition season (Em competes in 1 competition), professional photo's are taken in full costume/makeup and the year end recital looms!  We're looking forward to Em's competition on May 10th (what better way to spend Mother's Day?!) and both the girls dancing in the year end recital at the end of May!  This will be Reese's 1st recital and I can't wait to see her on stage :)

I'm still busy with the Preschool Board.  It keeps me quite busy but will be winding down in June!!  School Council is also busy at the moment, with the planning of a Spring Pasta Dinner and Silent Auction.  It will hopefully be the 1st of many and I'm sure next year will be easier, after getting the first one under our belts.  I have stopped Cameron's Closet and a friend has taken it over.  I don't miss it one bit and have no idea how I would it it into my week, if I was still doing it!!

Cal is running in a 1/2 marathon soon and is still loving his November Project mornings!  He's met a lot of great people through NP and enjoys their weekly "Grumpy Old Men" coffee dates after NP, on Friday mornings!!

Blake and Em have a Spring Concert coming up and we're all looking forward to the return of my parents!!  They will be back from vacation soon and although on one hand it is hard to believe almost 2 months has passed, on the other hand is has flown by. 

Here's to the beginning of Spring and all the lovely things that follow!

xo
Tracy

What a Rush!!

Blake and some of his Wizards teammates had the opportunity to play during 1/2 time at the Edmonton Rush game.  And of course, take in the game! 

We had never been to a Rush game before.  We've heard the games were fun, that music is played throughout the game and it is loud.  But we weren't quite prepared for the party atmosphere it was!!!  It was A LOT of fun!!  Great time and very cool for Blake and teammates to play during the 1/2 time :)

Have I mentioned how much I love this game?!  Looooove it!!!  And Blake's loving it too ;)

Playing where the pro's play!