Favourite Photos of 2013. We spell "favourite" with a "u" here in Canada.

OK, I am not going to lie, but getting back into this blogging thing is kinda like...ummm...hard.
I mean, what do I write about?
What do people want to read?
How can I stay authentic to myself while making everyone happy?
The stress is creating zits and pimples on my middle age face.

*snort*

That is hilarious because I always have zits on my face.
Just breathing causes my skin to break out, but whatever.
Maybe one day I will talk about zits....
....and poop....
....and maybe other gross bodily functions because that stuff is hilarious.

But today I am sharing my favourite photos of 2013.
Just because.

Sooooooo I went through the few thousand photos I took last year and picked out my very favourite from each month.
It was hard.
Not because all my photos were wonderful, but because each photo reminded me of the exact moment I took it.
Each moment=my life.
I cherish the moments/people/animals/memories even if some of them were horrible.
I don't care what anyone says.
There is nothing I treasure more than my photo,s and,  if you're one of those people who takes a picture and never prints it, shame on you.  One day you will regret it and so will those younger than you who want to know all about the moments in your life.
Deep thoughts.
You're welcome.

So here goes.....

Jersey the Dog.
Still alive after his many health and behavioural issues.
Actually, I think this photo was taken before the memorable corgi attack at the pet store.

My baby girl who still looked like my baby.
Something happened throughout the rest of the year.
She grew up.
*sniff*

Saying goodbye to my Daddy's beloved motorcycle with a gazillion photos.
"Biker Bob" as he was known in his biking circle of friends, loved this bike and had many plans for his retirement with this beauty and his Biker Babe {aka my Mommy}.
Enough about that because it makes me sad.

A moment between my oldest boy child and Duke the horse.
I remember this exact moment and the joy he felt as he led Duke up and down the driveway all by himself.

Middle child.
He is handsome.

My baby brother became a Daddy.
I fell in love with my niece.

My son with his 97 year old Great Grandfather.
The Great Grandfather who still packages up cookies and candy for the kids every time they visit.
The Great Grandfather who loves his Great Grandchildren more than anything. My kids only living Grandfather.

My life in one picture.

The first day of school.
There were no tears. There was no stress. Only excitement about the year ahead.
My heart was happy.....because they were.

We have a patch of trees out in the horse pasture that I love alot.
One day I plan on having a pretty sitting area there so I can sit with my girly drink and bon bons and just hang out with the equines.

Disneyworld.
Just making more memories.
This memory included some moans and groans and "Mom, you're taking too many pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

This is my niece whom I fell in love with in June.
In December, I loved her even more.

And, just because I like to change things up once in awhile, I am throwing in one more photo.
I tagged along on my hubby's business trip to Alberta and fell in love with the province.

Dear Lake Louise.
You're pretty.
But cold.
I would've stayed longer if I wore better shoes.
And wasn't afraid of bears eating me.
Love Vikki
Happy 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Hello from Heaven

Confession.
I have been struggling.
Struggling to remember my Daddy while moving on without him.
It sucks balls.

I remember three summers ago while out on the lake for a boat ride, just after my Uncle passed away.
My dad was upset that his brother was going to miss out on fun times like that.
He was going to miss spending time with his family.
He was missing out on life.

Three years later, while out on the lake for a boat ride with my Dad's family....us.....I think the same thing.
My Daddy is missing out on this.









But then when I look around, I see a butterfly fluttering around the boat....in the middle of the lake.
Every single time we venture out onto the water.
My Daddy is there with us.
Not missing out.


Do you believe that butterflies are signs from those who have passed on?
Do you believe they symbolize re birth?

5 Years Old

5 years old lover of messy faces and dirty fingernails
lover of messy hair
lover of cutting hair to "make it look more pwitty".

fruit eater
milk drinker
broccoli lover peanut butter addict

outdoors lover
trampoline jumper
singer
dancer
fashion diva

reader
artist
story writer
...and teller

independent
stubborn
brilliant
social butterfly

unicorn obsessed
Sofia the First obsessed
Barbie....Disney Princess...
and Doc McStuffins obsessed

"OH MY GOSH" sayer
lover of independent play
imaginative imagination owner
nose picker
dandelion picker

problem solver
joke teller
cuddler
burper
tooter
swinger

5 years old

Dear Time
Please slow down.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli  

5 things about me....and la familia

True story.
I have just sat here for 10 minutes trying to think of something to share with you that you don't already know.

True story.
You guys know too much about me.

1.  Jersey the dog has started obedience training.  I am pretty sure that taking him into the pet store where his class happens is the closest I will ever get to Hell.  People, he is bad.  The barking, the jumping, the tryingtoattacksmalldogs.  Hell on Earth.

I am convinced he will fail.

{This is Jersey.  Laying in the shower.  Whatever.}

 

2.  Tomorrow is Rowdy's birthday.  He will be 9.  I am not OK with my children growing up.  I am not OK with my 9 year old boy having bigger feet and hands than me.  I am not OK with him almost being as tall as me.  I am not OK with the amount of $$$ we spend on groceries and he isn't even a teenager yet.

 

Group hug.

3.  I love peanut butter and Cheez Whiz sandwiches.  There.  I said it.

 

4.  I am back seeing my therapist and I think I almost scared her away with my mental instability.

Apparently I am a mess.

Apparently missing my daddy has taken a toll on me.

Apparently I need reflexology.

And massages.

And yoga.

To release the pain and help with my mental healing.

Mumbo jumbo if you ask me, but I will do it if it makes me feel a tad more sane. 

 

True story.
I went to reflexology and the nice lady knew I was a mess just from touching my feet.

5. Princess started gymnastics.  She is determined to learn how to do a cartwheel but her flexibility is...ummm.... just like her dad.

That's it. 

That's all I have for now.

 

Ciao.

 

 I bet Mama Kat isn't messed up.

What We Do in Canada.......

Apparently I am becoming a person who used to blog.
Don't cry.
I am still alive.
Just a tad busy and overwhelmed with everything I need to get done.

My basement is a write-off.
We bought a new filing cabinet last January and it still sits empty.
My photo albums are way behind. My recipes are scattered throughout my kitchen. We need groceries.
I have two recently spayed barn cats living in a cage in my basement temporarily.
I own three children.
And a dog who is determined to send me to the crazy house.

But.......we went sledding.
It was fun.
And my back still hurts.

I am tired.

Holy euoihfndklbfkbnhjdsla I am tired.
I think I could sleep for the next week.
Christmas is grand but, man it is alot of work.

One minute your house is clean, your tree is pretty and overflowing with gifts.....
....the next minute it looks like a bomb has hit right smack dab in the living room.

We survived.
There were many smiles and giggles.
A few tears.
Lots of "THISISJUSTWHATIWANTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
and "I wish it was Christmas every day!!!!!!!!!!!!".

While my family opened their gifts and squealed with excitement, I etched the moments into my mind.  I never, ever want to forget these moments because, I know in just a few years it will all be over.

Kelle's friend said it best.  All of these moments are a scrapbook in my brain.  And as my kids ripped open their gifts, smiled/squealed/laughed/played, I recorded those moments in my brain.

Treasures.
My family, and the moments.

Here are just a few of the moments captured.


{I plan on buying my kids matching Christmas jammies until they are 75}

{"Mom, this is just what I wanted!  Santa listened to me!"}


{Dear Me.  Remember this moment always.  Love Me}


{Dear Me. Remember this moment too. Love Me


{Cant she stay 4 forever????}

{Jersey probably would have said "I love you Santa" if he could talk}   Other things that happened * we ate alot of spinach dip toottoottoottoot * Princess drank alot of fruit punch which means every picture we took of her includes a red moustache * turkey coma * Momma got an iPad It's OK.  Be jealous.  I would if I were you. * one of my kids loves his new plaid shirt and work socks so much, he wants to sleep in them..... and wear them everysingleday     And how was your Christmas???????

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli