First `DOUBLE-YOU` of the season

The 6 & Unders played in Oxbow tournament this weekend and earned their very first win of the season. It is so great to see how far they have come from their first skate in November when most of them could barely stand up. Ryan came hom from practice last week and said `You know. I love coaching. I am going to coach forever.`I think he can see how far the kids have come and as a coach and mentor that is so rewarding :)

Pre game huddle

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The final score

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The team all lined up waiting for trophies

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Hudson and  Graidan both checking out their hardware

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Somebody was tired after all that skating today!!!

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Quote

I got this cute little sign from my sister for Christmas and finally found a ``home`` for it this week.

Makes me smile:)

Goofy Gadget

I got this goofy little gadget from my sister for Christmas. It can hold my phone, our iPads, or whatever. It is so cute and it now finds its home at our `charging station` for the electronics. Thanks Aimee!

Love Day Treats

For a little spin on our reindeer noses we made here. I found using the railroad preztels rather than the round worked so much better. With the cirlce ones I found that once cooked the kisses seemed to fall out of the center in lots of them. This time I used Candy Melts instead of kisses as well. With them being flatter I didn`t have to pressed the M&Ms into them as much. They are delicious either way, but I prefer this method over the last :)

Love Day Decor

I sometimes wish I had a mantle in my house so that when I was changing up decor from one holiday to the next I  could then focus my energy into that space and spruce it up accordingly.....but I don`t. So, I think that means I have to get a little more creative. Not that those who are blessed to have mantles in their house are not creative but I just feel it would be easier....never mind ;)

It has been a couple of weeks since the Christmas decorations came down and I am longing for some changes so Valentine`s it is!

Family Night @ CES

This is the second time this school year that we have ahd the opportunity to visit Graidan's classroom a  family. Tonight, the wonderful, Mrs Beatty made Potato Bacon Soup with turkey and ham buns. For dessert we each got to make our own 'dirt pie" complete with yummy gummy worms. Following supper we made a winter craft where the Pre K kids got to practice the cutting skills and 'one snips' and make their own mittens.

Unfortunately Ryan got called out to work just as we were heading out to the supper so he wasn't able to join us this time.

Mid Week Play Date

Both Hudson and Graidan stood at the window watching for Hudson's best bud, Ty, to show up to play this morning. I seriously love play dates like this. They boys plays so extremely well that I do not see or hear from them for a few hours as they create, reinact, and make believe. Why, when you add one more kid to the mix does it make your job as a parent easier? It just does!

The 3 boys found it facinating that they were wearing "matching" socks (or at least very similar). As I got my camera out to document it Ty told me to take a picture with my phone so that I could send a copy to his mom and dad ;) Well, here it is guys! lol

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How convenient that we also have 4 iPads in our house now.....no fighting! (Not that these 3 ever would!)

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We have been so spoiled so far this winter that the cold weather was bound to catch up with us. It could have eased us into it a little nicer than this but nonetheless we have been very fortunate and could have been experiencing this months ago. Today the temps were -28 C but with wind chill factor felt more like -48 C! My poor windows were frozen up solid all throughout the house.

Graidan turns 4!

Even though we celebrated with all of Graidan's friends yesterday, his actual birthday is today. This morning he (with some help from his brother) opened his presents from us.

Graidan's 4th Birthday Party

My little man is growing up so fast....I simply cannot believe he is turning 4 already! This year he picked a Lego theme for hsi party and I have to say that I had as much fun putting this little shindig together as any of the others. We booked the bouncers for his party and the 12 little munchkins worked up quite a sweat and definately earned their afternoon naps today ;)

The invitations

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I built the number '4' and cutlery holder out of lego we had around the house.

Cupcakes were made and decorated at home but the Legos fondant toppers were prepared by a friend.

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I got all my customizable party printables done up by Anders Ruff. These juice box wraps with the Lego print was included in the files she sent me to download and print myself.

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These little 'Thank you' tags were also in my printables. Instead of treat bags I set up a colorful candy buffet where the kids could pick all of their own candy to take home at the end.

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I made this banner all by hand. Cutting the Lego dots with a 2" punch and affixing them with pop dots. I found the template for the Lego man online and then placed more printables from my package on their chests. I have to say I was quite happy with how it turned out.

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Candy buffet included mini chocolate bars all individually wrapped in Lego themed printables

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A very happy little birthday boy!

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Bucket filled with 'Thank you Gifts'.

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The gifts were all ordered directly from Lego website. The small box contained a full deck of playing cards. The bags came pre-packaged with 2 lego erasers, a pencil sharpener, 2 pencils and a coiled memo book. I then took the bag toppers from my custom printables and put them over the labels included. They were just too cute!

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Thanks to all who cam e to celebrate Graidan's special day with him. He is quite a lucky little guy to have you all in his life....as are we!

New Sleds

The boys both got new motor-less rides from Uncle Chris for Christmas this year. we pulled them behind the quad today and they giggled and grinned non-stop.

Redvers Rockets Hockey Tournament

This is the first tournament of the year for the boys (and I am sure it is the first of many to come). We have never played more than one game in a day with these little guys and by the end of the second game they were dragging ever so slightly.

Graidan playing net

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Graidan giving a wave to the crowd :)

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Sweet Baby Sleeps

Mmmmmmilk!

The amount of milk that we go through in our house is just not right.

I can go to the grocery store and restock twice a week and for a day after this is what our fridge looks like. The boys and Ryan drink sooooo much and I do not drink a drop ;)

Lego Party Prep

I let Graidan pick the theme for his birthday party this year from a few different ones that I had pinned on Pinterest. In the end he decided to go with a Lego theme.

I am not much of a cake decorator, or have never really tried to be. I recently bought some tips and decorating supplies to give it a shot. I asked all my Facebook friends for their favorite icing recipes and got an email from a friends with this recipe.

1/2 c vegetable shortening
1/2 butter or marg
1 tsp vanilla
4 c icing sugar
2 Tbsp milk

Cream butter and shortening with electric mixer. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time, beat on med speed. Once sugar has been all added it will appear dry. Add milk and beat on med speed till light and fluffy.

Yields 3 cups
Can be stored in an airtight container in refrigerator for 2 wks

I found that this icing didn't go nearly as far as I thought it would so I ended up making multiple batches to cover the 50 plus cupcakes I had to make. (some for school, some for the actual party and some for family birthday and errors).

In the first batch I used vanilla extract and then had another friend suggest almond extract as her preference so I tried that in the next couple of batches and found it to be my favorite as well. (Thanks Becky!)

In the end this is what I ended up with:

I then had a very talented friend (who normally does the boys birthday cakes) make these little Lego pieces out of fondant to put on top of the cupcakes.

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Aaaand the final product!

I have to say, I am pretty pleased with how they turned out

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