Birthday Party!!!

Grandma and grandpa came for the boys' birthday party yesterday. Grandma made a wagon wheel pasta salad, guacamole, the traditional Bennett's birthday salad (fruit salad), and brought some ice wafers to use them as hay bale in the tractor's trailers.

Marc wanted to eat tasty burgers from M&M, so that's what we had with fries, veggies, strawberries. I made chocolate cupcakes with yellow icing on. Like I said in my previous post, our theme was John Deere.

Seeing the reactions on grandma, grandpa, Marc and Yann's faces made me feel so good. The guilt was gone about not giving them a bigger party with our friends. Marc loved everything, and said that this was the greatest birthday he ever had. Yann played with his balloons, and hung out most of the day with his grandma. He wasn't feeling too great since he has a cold, is teething and had 4 shots.

We all had a GOOD time. We sang the birthday song for Yann, and just enjoyed the fact that he is part of our lives. I am so grateful for grandma and grandpa who came earlier. Grandpa did some work in the bathroom. so Marc doesn't have to work after dinner. Grandma brought a bunch of food so I didn't have to make a lot on my own. She also washed the dishes after we were done. She is always so helpful when she comes to visit.

I was tired, and having lots of pain by the end of the day BUT I really loved seeing how happy Marc was to not only have a nice party but also seeing how happy he is to share the same birthday with his son. I love my birthday boys.

Thank you Pinterest for the inspiration, and thank you dollar store.

Rocking his party tonight onesie,

and eating his hair brush.

 Curtain made of streamers and some of the crafts

I made using constructions papers,

cardstock, my laptop and printer, etc...

 Center piece. The cupcakes and the toppers I made.

 Personalized cups.

 The banners I made. Sorry for bad pictures.

 Marc ready to go out and

barbecue his favorite burgers.

 My boys!

Grandma brought the tractor and trailers

that used to be Marc's when he was little boy. Now they belong to Yann :).

 My birthday boys!!!

 Opening presents!

 Thank you grandma and grandpa for the AWESOME present!!!

My birthday boys!!!

Marc and Yann's birthday is finally here!!!

It was supposed to be a day of celebration with family and friends to share it with BUT the past month and a half, things have been crazy at home with the bathroom renovations, getting Yann's new bedroom all set up and change things a bit in our soon to be here, bundle of joy's room. Needless to say, I have had a lot of frustrating days, and overwhelming ones just thinking about everything that needs to be done before we welcome a new baby in our home. To top it of, I am dealing with major back pains, insomnia (which keeps me up until 3 in the morning), and other health issues that just makes me feel so guilty not to be able to give Marc and Yann a great birthday party.

Although Marc has been really sweet and wonderful about it, I know how much He would have like to have a nice and special birthday party with his son. So, for the past couple days, I have used my insomnia to my advantage and spent countless hours making crafts to make their birthday a special one even if we are not having friends over. I made banners, and other simple things just to show them how much I love them and how important they are to me. I used a few things I already had, and bought a few more at the dollar store.  I also used my laptop and printer a lot. I was happy to craft away in the peace and quietness of the night while the boys were sleeping, even when I felt exhausted. I couldn't bear the guilt and had to do something.
I put up the last decorations tonight while the boys were in bed and can't wait to see how they react (especially Marc).

I love my birthday boys!!!

This year's theme is John Deere, since they both like tractors :))). Will put pictures of it all, tomorrow after the little party.

2012: A year in review!!!!

A year has ended and a new one is starting!!! 2012 has been an awesome year for our little family.

January: We welcomed our little boy. It was definitely the best day of our lives and a good way to start a new year. To top it of, our son and his dad share the same birth date.

February: We were blessed to have 2 baby showers to celebrate the arrival of our son.

March: Realising how crazy yet enjoyable parenthood is.

April: Marc received an award for Top Apprentice in the Province of Alberta, and coming out first of his class in College.
        Bought the air plane tickets for my brothers to come visit us.

May: Celebrated my first ever MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

June: My brother arrived in Canada and stayed for 4 months. GREAT time!!! Marc celebrated his first ever FATHER'S DAY!!!

July: Enjoy a fun filled summer going places to places with my brother. LOTS of camping!!! Found out we were having another baby.

August: Celebrated my 33rd birthday!!!!

September: My brother's last month with us. It was definitely a sad month for me. I just wanted him to stay with us.

October: Found out I was having a boy again!!!!

November: Decided to renovate our upstairs bathroom. Started it!

December: AWESOME month!!!! We celebrated our 10th anniversary. Yann had his first Christmas ever.

2012 was a GREAT year. We were TREMENDOUSLY blessed as a couple, and as a family.

Snowman!!!

Ever since my first Christmas in Canada, I have received presents with a snowman on it. At first I thought it was just a coincidence but then it became kind of like a curse then it turned into a yearly joke. Every year, I would wonder who or what kind of a snowman present I would get. My mother in law even made me a stocking for Christmas with my name and a snowman on it without even realizing it. 9 Christmas later since the first one, my mother in law decided to take the funny snowman "curse" and turn it into something adorable. I got me a real life snowman this year!!! And quite a cute one too.

My adorable little snowman!!!

Christmas Day!!!

Christmas Day was awesome!!!! Grandma out did herself this year. The food was REALLY good.
We woke up around 8 o'clock in the morning, had breakfast (grandma made Chelsea buns, yummy) and we then open the stockings and the presents.

We loved seeing Yann enjoying his presents. He didn't care much about unwrapping them BUT sure enjoyed playing with them. All of us had great gifts. My favorite ones are the surprised presents grandma had under her tree from my nephew and my mother. She gave Yann his present that my nephew nicely wrapped and gave to her while they were in Tahiti. Then saved the last gift to be opened for me. As she gave it to me, I was wondering who it was from. Then She told me my mom had bought it for me and wanted her (mother in law) to give it to me for Christmas. I CRIED, yes I did! It was the first time in a long time that I had a wrapped gift under the tree to open from my family in 7 years. I usually get a parcel BUT this was definitely a SURPRISE.

After the presents were opened, we played with Yann and his new toys, read books, and just visited with the family. We attempted to watch a movie too but there was too much distractions.

We had supper, visited and played some more then we came home and opened our presents under our tree. ALL in all it was a good Christmas day. Yann was spoiled with fun toys, books, clothes and educational things. I love the book grandma bought Yann untitled "Beautiful Savior" artwork by Greg Olsen. It is a great reminder of what Christmas really is about.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!

Opening his stocking at grandma's.

 Helping daddy!!!

 His favorite toy! Grandpa made him

a rocking horse!!!

 Opening his gifts from Tahiti!!! My nephew got him

3 books in French about Tahitian legends.

 

 Having a siesta with grandpa!

 Eating freshly made meringue

for the first time.

 One of his present he got from us.

Christmas Eve!!!

We changed our minds and decided to go to grandma's for Christmas Eve. Marc worked until noon that day, so as soon as he got home, we opened our stockings, grabbed something quick to eat, then packed the car and made a last stop before heading to Vermilion. I still made sure that my table was nicely set, so that we can use it when we came home.

We met uncle Joel's girlfriend and spent the day visiting, eating and laughing at grandma's. Most of us stayed up until 11 pm then we went to bed so grandma and grandpa can fill up the stockings and hang them.

It was over all an okay day for me, lol... I got a little bit bored. Yann on the other hand enjoyed his day.

My colors were green, gold and red this year.

Opening his first stocking!

 Both stockings are now empty!!!

 Holding one of daddy's stocking stuffer.

 Playing with grandma's

Christmas lights remote control.

 Playing in what used to be his daddy's crib.

 Playing with his stocking at grandma's house

before she fills it up with goodies.

Day 12!!! The end.

Day 12: This day was officially the day we celebrated our tenth anniversary. I can't believe we've been married for that long. I remember a few people who said that we would never make it pass the first year BUT here we are ten years later still going strong in our love for each other.

Grandma and grandpa volunteered to babysit Yann so we could go out and enjoy a nice time together. We left the house fairly early. Marc bought me a bouquet before we headed out for dinner. We didn't want to go back to the house, so I carried my bouquet with me in the restaurant and the theatre :). After a nice dinner, we went for a short drive then headed out to the the theatre to watch The Hobbit!!! We were going to crash our friends party but decided to go back to our house. We both missed Yann so much that we just wanted to go home and cuddle with him. I am so glad we did, poor little guy was looking all over the house for us, and screamed his head off for a good half hour. As soon as he saw us, he just smiled and gave both of us a huge hug. We visited a little bit with grandma and grandpa before they left. Yann wanted to play some more instead of going to bed, so that's what we did. We played. we chased after him, and finally all of us went to our bedroom for a family snuggle. Yann fell asleep then we put him to bed. It was a GOOD day!!! I am definitely grateful to have an extraordinary husband who always puts my needs above his. I am grateful that I became a mother before our tenth anniversary, hihi and that I am blessed to be able to have another baby soon. Life is awesomely good!!!

One of the many things that Marc does that makes him such an AWESOME husband is how thoughtful and caring he is. Ever since I had Yann, Marc has been doing the laundry for me. He takes it downstairs, puts in the washer then the dryer, brings it upstairs and even folds it and puts it away. Yann is almost 1 year old. If that's not awesome I really don't know what is. He is definitely a keeper. I do help folding the laundry from time to time though.

My flowers!!!

Day 11!!!

Day 11: We TOTALLY forgot about day 11!!! We had something planned but we got so busy with the bathroom renos, and running here and there to get materials that we just simply forgot about it.

HOWEVER, we did do something really awesome. Yann was invited to a birthday party, so we all got ready for this special event and made sure not to be late. We ALL had such a good time. The food was really GOOD, and everything else about the party was just GREAT. The treats, the party favors, the decorations and cupcakes was to die for. This birthday was definitely the highlight of our busy day, and I have to say the best birthday (for a 1 year old) party we have ever been too.

Day 10!!!

Day 10: Christmas lights!!! We went out and drove around the many neighbourhoods in Lloyminster to watch the Christmas lights. I sat in the back with Yann, so I can see the expressions on his face when we drive by the well lighted up houses. I love the Christmas lights. Some neighbourhoods were really awesome, ans some were quite boring. I like that Marc enjoys driving around town without ever being bored and impatient when we go and do that (year after year). We saw a few houses that had a nice nativity set in front of their homes. It is so rare to see that. I enjoyed being in the back with my son and see him marvelled at the lights. He keeps pointing at houses every time there was lights on them.

Our Christmas light tour lasted about over an hour then we came home. Marc then wrapped my presents, and we just played with our son.

I was too lazy to get out of the car

and take a proper picture. 

 Yann fell asleep on our way home.

Day 9!!!

Day 9: Well day 9 was a day for me to REST, and SLEEP a lot. I woke up EXHAUSTED in the morning, even after hours of sleep, so I decided to make this day about me. I am so grateful for Marc who managed to do some babysitting while his dad was doing the new wiring in the bathroom so I can just rest. Grateful for Yann who was really cooperative and actually went down for a few hours of nap time with mommy.  Marc was such a sweetheart and did every single house chores, breakfast, lunch and supper today. I just love him. Best husband ever!!! It was the first time I ever felt that tired in my life. I am glad I got the rest I needed. Sometimes, you just have to think about yourself and let people help I guess. It was a GOOD day for me.

Day 8!!!

Day 8: It's Marc's day!!! Marc's dad came to help him some more with the bathroom renovations, so it was just fitting that today should be a day for Marc and about what he wants to do. Marc is off for a little bit over a week too. His dad and him got a lot of shopping done for the bathroom.

After grandpa and grandma left, Marc took us out for fast food. Yes, fast food! We haven't had burgers in weeks, so we decided to go and eat some at Wendy's (the only fast food place I want to eat at with this pregnancy). From there, we went to Peavey Mart. If you are into farming toys and things like that, Peavey Mart is the place to go. A week before Christmas, they have a 40% sales on their toys, so we always go there to see if there's anything Marc can buy for his collection and now for the boys. We did find something for our new baby to come, and I found a Nativity set on sale too :).

From Peavey Mart, we went to Totem to see if they had any cute lightings for our bathroom. We didn't find any there, so we went to Home Depot and found exactly what we were looking for.

Before coming home, we went and did some grocery shopping. A real man's day, isn't it? I loved it though.

At Wendy's!

 Dipped his finger in the Ketchup,

and licked it!!!