Rain drops on roses...

Has it been raining where you are???? It has been pouring in our little city and I am torn. I absolutely love the rain... I love cozying up inside with a good book, a cup of coffee and a blanket and I love going for walks in the rain and then coming home for a nice warm bath. However... there is a little boy in my house who loves to be outside and a mommy who has been going crazy not being able to take said little boy outside! So as much as I love the rain, I am ready for some nice weather to come back so we can go play outside!

Being trapped inside has got me anxious to finally make our house look like a home. However, with our tight budget, (bye bye mat leave), I've had to be thrifty and creative, but it is a challenge I gladly welcome!

Our dining room table adorned with some beautiful iris' and random things I have collected over the years.

My mom let me rummage through her old picture frames and these were the ones I chose. I gave them a fresh coat of white paint and arranged them in a little grouping on our wall... now to choose the perfect photos!

Pictures and paintings we have gathered over the years. It was a big space to fill but I love how they all come together!

My new kitchen clock! $5 at Walmart! I love it!

Some kitchen items, including a strawberry tea cup that my mom got me for mother's day... she has one with flowers on hers! And even though we call them tea cups we prefer to fill them with coffee!

Some new items to my kitchen... cream and sugar dishes... $3 each at Winners! Such a good find! And then white and yellow canisters were from a thrift store in Courtenay for $3 each as well! I love how the yellow and blue play off of each other.

Today was the worst day for rain... it poured and poured and poured! I could not believe how much rain came down and how long it lasted! After the rain stopped we decided to brave the wet world and get some much needed fresh air!

Rupert found a puddle.

He decided to stay a while.

Wet butt.

Clearly could care less that he is completely soaked. A boy after my own heart!

Rupert's favorite spot on our street... the storm drain! Endless fun dropping rocks down in between the slats.

All clean after a nice warm bath, watching Curious George with daddy.

After the huge downpour we were sitting on our couch and turned around to see sun light streaming into our dining room... crazy beautiful weather!

Am so glad that Rupert seems to enjoy the rain, or at least the effects of rain as much as I do... we will definitely need to invest in some rubber boots and muddy buddies before the fall! Wishing you all a lovely day whether rain or shine!

Late, awkward and happy...

Well this is a late post... but better late than never! Colin's beautiful sister Emily got married a few weeks ago as the ashy clouds parted and a lone plane made it's way from Belgium carrying her now husband!

The reason I call this post late, awkward and happy is because well for one obviously this is a bit of a late post... being as the wedding happened quite a few weeks ago... secondly I say awkward because I'm still not always super comfortable taking photos with lots of people around... I don't know why I just feel super awkward, so that being said there aren't that many photos... thirdly I say happy because we had a wonderful time! And that's another reason there aren't too many photos is because, particularly at the stagette, I was just enjoying the moments with our family and forgot all about my camera! Which brings me to a question that I have yet to answer... how do you balance capturing moments with living moments? I want to document every little moment in Rupert and our family's lives... but I don't want to miss getting to experience the moments with them because I'm fumbling with a setting on the camera! Anyways here are some moments I managed to catch.

{beautiful bride to be}

{what's a stagette without some fruity drinks and some beautiful girls?}

{so Sex in the City... even though I've never actually watched it before :D }

{mowing down on some delicious pub food}

{sorry Steve, this is Megan's first love...}

{hottie photographer}

{creepy paraffin wax hands}

{more creepers}

{pretty toe nails of the bride}

{sisterly toes}

We celebrated Rupe's birthday with the rest of our family while we were over for Em's wedding... delicious cupcakes were purchased from a sweet little bakery called Tracey Cakes, Islanders you must go if you are ever on the mainland! Delicious!

{who has to convince their child that cupcakes are yummy? we do apparently!}

{Thomas' (the groom) mom making delicious pork tenderloin... my mouth is watering just thinking about it!}

{mmmmm.... your eyes do not deceive you... that is pork tenderloin stuffed with mozzarella, fresh thyme and dijon mustard wrapped in prosciutto!}

{beautiful sisters! french manis and starbucks... what a great way to start the day!}

{Thomas' dad helping with the day's festivities!}

{the reception dinner table... so pretty! Man we have some talented people in our family!}

{And this is why we had to come home early... ew!}

So it's a bit of a random mish mosh of photos... if you want to check out some photos of the actual day... please visit my sister in law's blog...

http://starbucksandsippycups.blogspot.com/2010/05/em-and-thomas-ceremony-and-reception.html

go there anyways... she's got a great blog and is crazy talented both in photography and writing!

Or got to their photographers blog and friend Ashley Kitchen at

http://www.snapblog.ca/

She is also crazy talented!

cont'd...

Well as I said in my previous post, our trip to my mom's was very much like a mini holiday... I even got little breaks from the precious little boy! On one such occasion I took my camera and went for a walk...

One of my favorite places in Courtenay is The Old Church Theatre. It's a beautiful old church that has been converted into a theatre that I've actually danced at when I was younger. I love the vines and I love how every season they change and transform the Church into something different. My favorite is fall, but Spring is still beautiful!

I love blossoms!!!!!!!!!

This is the train station right down the road from my mom's place, Colin and I frequented it many times when we were dating and I am so excited for Rupert to take his first train ride! He is going to be absolutely thrilled!

Rhododendron bushes down by the air park.

Boat house at the air park.

The last day of our visit was a Saturday and what does one do on a Saturday morning in Courtenay? Why go to the farmer's market of course! So with basket and bags in tow we headed out to gather some local produce and goodies!

Our delicious finds... cucumber, peppers, arugula, basil, onions, tomatoes, squash, spinach, organic spelt pasta and ground bison meat.

Very excited to create in the kitchen! What did I create you ask? Well... I made a delicious pasta dish with the spelt pasta... In olive oil I fried up tomatoes, basil and garlic with a little bit of fresh squeezed lemon juice then I poured that over the boiled spelt pasta and served it with a little bit of parmesan cheese over top! Oh my goodness it was soooo delicious! Also had an arugula salad on the side... mmmmm...

I did all the veggies up in the slow cooker and then mashed them as a base for Rupert's meals. That way I can add little bits of meat, pasta or rice to it. It actually made a lot so my freezer is stocked!

And we made Sloppy Joes with the Bison meat... just like hamburger meat only way better for you! And more flavor too :D

The Farmer's Market atmosphere.

Another one of my favorite places in Courtenay! 5th street! Filled with cute little shops and lovely people, I never visit without a stroll down 5th street.

Heading home there was a very tired little boy in the car. So serious a face!

Our drive home was beautiful. Blue sky, white billowy clouds and rich greens... love.

Sleepy boy, precious feet.

Thus ends our mini holiday to Courtenay, looking forward to many more to come!