Wedding Countdown

We are here in beautiful Charlotte! The preparations and parties have begun in anticipation for the big wedding. Do you know what else has begun? A whole heck of a lot of bribing to Hugh! "If you walk down the aisle we will buy you....ANYTHING!!!!" We love you Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Jamie!
xo

The Griswolds

The stomach flu finally flew away and so did we. We returned today from a mini-holiday just in time to leave {tomorrow} for our big holiday where we will watch my favourite brother marry my favourite future sister-in-law. Until then, here's a little chunk of love to tie you over...{Toes please...Look at those toes!}See you in Charlotte!
xo

Tossing Cookies II

One might think that a 12 hour 24 hour 36 hour {and counting} stomach flu might take a guy down...not our Hugh. He is a super-trooper-stomach-flu-pooper-duper. In other words, he wins the award for Best Attitude in the feeling crummy category. Between sipping on pedialyte and nibbling on soda crackers he:
Climbed A TreePushed his own strollerAnd played sack-of-potatoes with DaddyPerhaps the stomach flu didn't get our letter yesterday...or perhaps we were too polite...so here's another:
Hey Stomach Flu,
SCRAM!
xo

Ick

Still illin'
xo

Tossing Cookies

Dear Stomach Flu,
You may leave now.
You were never welcome in the first place...so please go...now...please.
Love,
Hugh

Cool

Now a mother of two, I have completely lost all my cool factor. Maybe I never had it...but I'd like to think I did. So I was quite certain a trip to the big city to get a big city haircut and colour would be my {one way} ticket back to cool. It didn't go quite as planned...my hopes for blond came out red...my hopes for a fancy cut came out as a simple trim. When the stylist spun the chair around so I could see the finished results, I looked down at Arlo who smiled the biggest gummiest grin back at me and I thought, 'Who needs cool? I have something better. Something named Arlo. Something named Hugh." And then I thought, "For the love of Pete, would someone please turn down that loud annoying club music. It's making me sea sick!"
Yep, my cool factor is long gone and I couldn't be more pleased!
xo

The Beach

The very second Hugh stepped onto the beach, he kicked off his shoes {worn on the wrong feet...always!}, grabbed his machines and ran. "Be careful. The sand might be hot." I warned. But it wasn't...it was just right. Hugh ran towards the lake with the kind of confidence seen from a recent graduate of swimming lessons. He let his whole body fall into the water as if he were falling into the arms of an old friend. He squeezed his eyes shut and squealed, "Weeeeeeeeeee". And tonight when my own eyes are squeezing shut, I will replay this momentand this momentand thisand thisand these tooover and over again because watching Hugh & Arlo at the beach brings me nothing but pure happiness.
Thank you beach.xo

Guest Starring Miles

The Cornival = A Celebration of Corn. Who knew corn could be such a party?
It was the hottest day of the summer and it didn't phase the boys one single bit...
Unfortunately for Hugh, he has inherited my trademark hot summer look: 'The Red Face'.
xo

4 Months

Sweet Arlo.
4 months old on this sweaty, sweltry, sticky August day. I gave your rolls special attention in the bath tonight as they were filled with bits and pieces. Was that the beginnings of a potato plant hidden beneath your neck fold?
This month you have enjoyed:
Lounging at the cottage
Sitting in the Bumbo Chair
Twinkling your toes in the Jolly Jumper
Chewing on your hands
Giggling at my singing {but c'mon Arlo, is it really that funny?}
Rolling over
and playing, laughing, playing, laughing, playing, laughing with your big brother!

4 months ago today we had yet to lay eyes on you....and now we can't stop staring!Happy 4 Months Arlo
xo

A Good Day

The past three days have been....trying {saying it kindly}. Between the tantrums of an over tired, over hungry, over zealous 3 year old and the tantrums of an over tired, over fed, over zealous 34 year old, our days have been the kind I wish not to visit again. Today I was determined to bring back the love...starting with a much needed Mummy break {a 3 hour snooze with Arlo}, followed by a surprise porch picnic {thank you Hugh and Daddy} and then a walk to the river to tap our feet to a bluegrass band playing from a boat. At the show, Hugh looked to be enjoying himself with his interpretive dance routinebut then with sweaty hair and a red face he said, "I don't like this music. It's not cool. There aren't any drums or a keytar."
For those who are not familiar with the keytar...click here {for a good laugh}. I was a bit disappointed from Hugh's reaction as I was really counting on him to learn the fiddle so we can start our own bluegrass band. I guess my banjo may just have to settle with the accompaniment of a keytar. But wait, there's always Arlo...he seemed to be having a dandy time!{and in case you were wondering...yes, I do have to lift up those neck rolls every night to clean...and kiss!}
Ah...it was a good day...
xo

Cool Tricks

Jolly Jolly Jumping Joy!
{Warning: Irresistible thigh folds below!}
xo

Guest Starring Miles

Something quite remarkable has happened...
On the cusp of turning 4 months, Arlo has been initiated into Miles and Hugh's building site. Arlo is very interested in the going-ons of H&M construction...but only today, did he get a chance to become up close and personal...and clearly he had lots to say! I'm wondering if he fancies himself as the 'foreman'? Bit bossy looking, don't you think?Thank you Miles and Hugh. You continue to warm our hearts...xo

Man Camp

I'm guest blogging with Peg tonight as Hugh and I invented a new tradition: Man Camp. That's when "dudes" take off for the day and do manly stuff. We didn't beat on drums or hunt a moose or anything - we went to Bingemans. Bingemans for the non-initiated (or those who prefer not to follow the link) is a waterpark/campground/playground/race track/arcade in Kitchener and Hugh just kept saying "I'm having so much fun!" He was having so much fun, even when that fat kid shoved him down in the sprinkler.

I've included a video featuring the song "Me and Julio" upon when hearing it at the water park, Hugh became convinced it was "Me and Hugh lay low":

He was filled with fun when he relaxed by the kids park pool:
He had fun playing games:
He was having fun when he was making faces for the camera:
He had fun with Pizza:
He really had fun napping on the way home:
*Editor's note: the photos and video lack actual swimming and splashing by the technical nature of the devices needed to capture such moments. It is not to be inferred or assumed that these activities did not occur - in fact, they did in abundance.

XODD

At home

And while Hugh & David were laying low at Man Camp...
Arlo and I twiddled our thumbs and waited in anticipation for their return....
xo

The Rain Barrel Strikes Again

A rainy, rainy, rainy, rainy day. Perfect opportunity for the Rain Barrel to practice for Uncle Jamie and Aunt Eleanor's wedding. This time we wanted to make it feel a little more real...a dress rehearsal of sorts...so we made flower girls. And we were most fortunate to have Hugh's friend Jasmine over to help the 'girls' walk down the aisle alongside Hugh. {The safety goggles are a nice touch. When you're the Rain Barrel I suppose it's very important to protect the eyes from falling water.}
xo