'Tis the Season To Be Busy!

Everett on our ice cream date

This past month has just been crazily busy. The last week was no exception. Rather than wreck my brain trying to come up with something to post for this week, I am just going to share some of the fun things that have been going on with us!! I have been making more of an effort to be out and doing things with the kids (or even just doing things at home). It is going great and, although it doesn't help me rest up, it does help to keep the kids occupied and happy.... and not bouncing off the walls as much. :)

Who would have thought that Everett would love NY cherry cheesecake ice cream as much as I do!?! He definitely has my taste buds! While we were out choosing a birthday present for my cousin's babies (yes, she has twins too!!), Everett and I received an invite to join two of my sisters for ice cream!! What a nice little afternoon! Everett was bobbing up and down in between bites, eager for his next taste! He LOVED it!! What a cutie... Love him!!

Norah showing off our last 'big bake!'

Sorry for the picture quality on this one!!!
Norah and I have been taking up baking! She loves to help me add all of the ingredients and mix them together. She is becoming a pro at breaking eggs, too! (She does sometimes have a successful crack!).. I think one of her favourite things is when I break an egg, especially if it drops to the floor... She gets this little giggle and just laughs and laughs... I LOVE it! So refreshing.. I find it really funny that on days when I feel like I'm at my wit's end with the kids, if I make an effort to change it up and do an activity, that it somehow also calms ME!



Norah riding a pony for the first time!



On the weekend, my mom accompanied myself, Norah and Everett down to the Cottam Horse Show, which is hosted by the Cottam Rotary. I grew up in the small town of Cottam, which is between Windsor and Essex in Ontario, Canada, and I have NEVER been to the horseshow (so long as I can remember... maybe as a very young child??)... What an AMAZING event this was! Norah was able to have a pony ride (TWICE!!) and for FREE!! She loved it! The ladies that were taking her around were quite entertained by her. When asked her name, she told them that she was "Norah, the CowBOY"... and then proceeded to tell them that she already knew how to ride horses.. yes, she has quite the imagination.... I'll have to remember to tell her that hockey stick horses don't count! They had numerous vendors, barrel rides (barrels with wheels pulled by a lawn mower), and bouncy castles! Oh, and I almost forgot.... AND HORSES! Unfortunately, the weather was a bit dreary, so the turnout could have been better, but it worked out great for us, because we were able to check things out without huge crowds. This was such a fun day, and it has really encouraged me to make it out to more of our local festivals! In our area, there is almost one every weekend within an hour any direction. Little ones, like the horseshow, are truly a hidden gem that families need to get out and discover!

Another thing that we did this past week was something that could truly define us as daring. We went on one day road trip into Toronto, which is approximately 3-4 hours away... depending on traffic, weather, and how fast my hubby drives. :S.... hehehe. :)  The trip was wonderful! The was two purposes to going. It was my bff and her hubby's birthdays this month, and they are such blessings to us that I want to be sure to take them out for birthday dinner. I so wish that they lived closer, but, since they don't, I figure what better way to show them that we love them than to make the trek and take them out! Good company is always great!! Along with the birthday theme, I had also arranged to pick up some decorations that I had purchased from another twin mom in Ottawa for the boys' birthday parties. Toronto was the half way point, and we were lucky that she was able to have someone drive them that far so that we could complete the pick up. (And no, I am not giving away birthday secrets for their party just yet... although I will say that it will be PHENOMENAL!).. :) The trip was fantastic... the way home... not so much. :( It rained almost the whole way home, and then when we were about half way home, the 401 (which is the major highway down here) was shut down because of downed power lines... across both lanes... So, we ended up on a detour, which took us about an hour to move what would have been about 10 minutes on the highway....That was not fun... The trip was an overall success though, and I'd totally do it again... if the weather is going to be better! (also, it was SOOOOOO HOT that day!!)

Another issue that has kept me busy and lacking sleep the last week is that my little guy Andy has been a bit 'off'. We've been watching him and we did take him to the doctor's just to be sure that nothing is wrong. Likely just not feeling well because of teeth, but better safe than sorry..... he's still adorable as anything though. :) He missed out on the horse show, but he did make it to Toronto with us. He did great.. my little man. :)

Hope you enjoyed a glance into my life .... I think that most people's heads would spin if I told them what the next few weeks hold for me... so I won't.. but, you may just get another glance if I don't have the time to sit down and ponder anything inspirational to write.... so I guess my inspirational thought for this post would be that time with kids is the most important... even when you are busy, they still need to be involved. :)

Pictures above. L to R... Norah playing in the bouncy castle at the horse show, Being stuck in traffic... note the long lineup if you look closely, Andy not feeling well. :(