Six Years Together

Our engagement photo

Kyle and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary yesterday.  We celebrated our anniversary quite differently compared to previous years.  First we went to visit my grandma at her apartment in the morning.  For lunch we drove to Smoke's Poutinerie in the Exchange District and then headed home to get the girls down for their naps.  Once the girls woke up I put a load of wash on then a little while later I heard a loud bang and found the laundry soap had fallen off the shelf and exploded all over the floor in the mudroom. Ahhhh!  Kyle nicely offered to clean it all up, what a great anniversary gift!  After that eventful episode Kyle made some delicious smoked ribs on the BBQ for dinner.  We had hope to go out for dinner tonight to celebrate our anniversary minus our two girls but unfortunately we were unable to find a babysitter for them.  Hopefully we can go for a dinner date next weekend. 

I came across a fun idea on a another blog Modern Mom and I thought it would be fun to write something similar about Kyle and I for our anniversary. 

One of the best day's of my life 

How long have you been together? How did you meet? 

We have been married for six years and before that we were together for six years. We met in 2001 through mutual friends. My best friend Angela was dating one of Kyle's friends, Dustin. I went to the bar for my 18th birthday with Angela and she introduced me to all of Dustin's friends including Kyle. We started dating the following year. 

How did he propose?

We went for a canoe trip to the Whiteshell. It was early fall in 2007. It was a gorgeous weekend and we thought we would take advantage of the hot weather before the cool fall weather came. Once we arrived at Big Whiteshell Lake, we loaded up the canoe, paddled out on the lake. We arrived at the little island that is in the centre of the lake that we like to camp on, (I like it because it's less likely bears or wild life will be visiting us on an island) We made a yummy dinner and settled in to watch the sunset with our wine glasses full. Kyle had asked me to grad something near the tent and when I got back I noticed something was in my wine glass, a diamond ring. AHHH! I was so shocked and excited, I started crying and he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I don't remember everything he said to me because I was in a fog. I wasn't expecting it at all. I loved how it all happened and I couldn't stop staring at my ring the whole night. We continued on with our canoe trip, fishing and lounging in the sun, it was a fantastic weekend. 

What was your wedding like? 

Planning our wedding was fun and wasn't stressful at all. We seem to check everything off our list with little effort. Our wedding day took place on an extremely hot summer day. Our ceremony began at 2:00 pm at Captain Kennedy Tea House outside the city, right along the river. It was a nice intimate ceremony with our close friends and family. We then went off to take pictures and met our guests for cocktails at 5:30 pm and dinner at 6:30 pm at Rembrandts Bistro in Lockport. It was a great party and we danced the night away. We then flew off for our honeymoon a few days later to Kauai, Hawaii for a couple weeks. 

Our first trip to Europe 2007

Our trip to Chicago in 2004

What do you love to do together? 

We love to travel together when we have the chance. We have now traveled to Europe, Hawaii, New York, Chicago, Orlando, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Montreal and Banff. We still have many more places we want to see together. We love to go canoeing, camping and backpacking (though since we've had our girls it's been awhile since we done these things.) We also love to workout together, usually it's separate right now while one of us watches the girls but we love to stay in shape. We really enjoy cooking together too, Kyle loves to experiment and change up recipes and I will usually end up cleaning up the mess he's made. On a warm summer day we like to chill out on the deck with something refreshing and either read or have a nap. 

What are your favourite things about him?

Kyle is hard working and dependable. He always puts me and the girls first. He has learned how to balance work and family life so well these last couple years, it isn't easy but he makes it look effortless. He just became partner at his accounting firm this past winter and I couldn't be more proud of all that he's accomplished. He is able to keep me calm when I get stressed out and knows what to say at the right time. 

He is great at being romantic and planning fun things for us to do together. Spa dates, planning my 30th birthday party and sending me flowers at work. He also knows what to write in cards to make me cry every time. I love reading his cards! 

What are his favourite things about you?

He likes my tenacity because I never give up on something. He likes that I give everything 110%. He admires that I am selfless because I always put others before myself. He appreciates that I support him whatever he wants to do, such as playing golf or soccer, and going to Jets and Bomber games. 

Our family photo while I was pregnant with Claire

Elegant Wedding

We were so grateful to be invited to Keith and Elena's wedding this past Saturday, July 19th.  Kyle has known Keith since they were young and they played hockey growing up.  We loved Elena the moment Keith introduced us to her several years ago.  They were always happy to see us when we came to visit in Vancouver.  They invited us to stay with them back in 2012 when Claire was 6 months old and they were wonderful hosts.  Since then we have always kept in touch through email, text and phone calls.  They have come to Winnipeg to visit too.  I remember the day Elena called me to say her and Keith were expecting this fall I was soooo excited and happy for them I might have said some shocking words.  Keith had been an important part in our wedding back in 2008 and when he asked Kyle to stand up for him at the wedding Kyle was so honoured.  Then to top it all off they had asked if Claire could be a flower girl as well. 

Here is how the beautiful day unfolded. 

Abby and I getting ready

Claire slowly waking up from her nap

Claire hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa
before the ceremony

Kyle was picked up by Keith around 1:30 pm to go for pictures with the wedding party. I stayed back at the condo with his parents to get the girls ready for the wedding. 

Claire playing with her ribbon
before the ceremony

Claire woke up from her nap and we washed her hair and

 I styled it to make it nice and curly.  I painted her toe nails, she had been hesitant about it for several days but I finally convinced her.  We put on her gorgeous white dress that Elena's mom had sewn by hand and her brand new pink sandals.

Claire and Anelin

Abby hanging out before the ceremony

Claire going to daddy after
she walked down the aisle with me

Claire and Anelin playing
with their ribbons

Claire waiting just before walking
down the aisle

The ceremony began at 4:30 p.m.  Claire was suppose to walk down the aisle with Anelin.  Unfortunately, Anelin was carried down by her dad and Claire would only go down the aisle while I held her hand.  Kyle met her at the end of the aisle.  She wasn't too happy to do it and wouldn't smile for the photographer.  Oh she can be quite silly sometimes.  I think I may have brought her too soon to the venue and she was getting bored by the time the ceremony began.  Overall she did pretty good considering she's only 2 years old, I shouldn't be too hard on myself that it didn't go perfectly. Elena and Keith were happy with how both girls did so that's all that matters. 

Elena and her dad walking down
the aisle

Keith and Elena exchanging vows

Claire, Abby, Anelin with Elena's
mom Ene. (She made both girls dresses)

The married couple

The wedding venus was gorgeous.  The VanDusen Botanical Gardens on Oak Ave in downtown Vancouver.  The ceremony took place on this outdoor terrace with a glass covered roof.  Then they had the reception set up in their restaurant and the dance floor was in the back.  The ceremony was perfect, Elena looked stunning and Keith looked as handsome as ever.  Kyle and the maid of honour read a poem about love before Keith and Elena exchanged their vows together.

Claire playing with her baggie of goodies

Claire and I hanging out at our table

The goodies in Claire's bag

Kyle and Abby hanging out
before dinner was served

Abby having a nap in the stroller
after the ceremony

The ceremony was a nice length of time, not too long and not too short.  After the ceremony they had champagne and appies for everyone.  Keith and Elena went to take photos with family.  Then they asked the girls to come to the back to take photos with the bride and groom.  It was quite entertaining to see them take photos, we would get one of them to be looking at the camera and then the other one would look away or walk the other direction. 

Dinner was delicious!  They had waiters come around and take your dinner order, we had a selection of 3 items. Salmon, beef sirloin or chicken.  I ordered the salmon and prawns, it was so yummy.  Elena ordered Claire mac and cheese to eat for dinner, she loved it.  She even ate some of my salmon.  For dessert they served cheesecake with berries, it was homemade, you could tell by the crust.  It was amazing!  Claire was given a little baggie full of goodies to play with before dinner and during speeches.  It was so thoughtful and something I wished I had thought of for the little kids at my wedding.  Once the music came on Claire was right up there busting a move.  She is adorable when she dances.  After a couple songs we sent both girls home with Linda and Ray for the night, so they could put them to bed while we stayed at the wedding.  Kyle and I ordered drinks, I had a pinot grigio from a local B.C. winery and Kyle had a gin caesar.  We cheered to a fun evening without little ones.  It was a great day and evening and we were so happy to be a part of Keith and Elena's special day.  We both chatted on the way home about how fast the wedding seem to come up and then quickly be over. 

Trying to take photos of the
flower girls and ring bearer

I love this picture of the two girls
talking to Elena

Kyle with the maid of honour

The lobby of VanDusen

Elena, Keith, Brad at the head table

Yummy Salmon and Prawn dinner

Gorgeous Flowers from The Flower Factory

Keith giving a sweet speech to
his new wife

Elena's friend made this sign
for the wedding

Keith and Elena had a perfect day, the weather co-operated and everything ran very smoothly.  They were so happy and couldn't stop smiling the whole day. We are excited to meet their new little one in October. We are also traveling with them to Hawaii this coming January. We are looking forward to catching up them then. 

West Coast Travel

We flew out to Vancouver, B.C. Wednesday afternoon.  We were heading to Vancouver for our friends Keith and Elena's wedding that was taking place on Saturday.  The flight went smooth and both girls were well behaved.  It was Abby's first trip and plane ride.  Kyle and I were so proud of them.  Claire loved colouring, reading and watching Caillou on the iPad. Abby nursed and slept most of the way for both flights.  It couldn't have gone any better. Kyle and I were both able to watch movies in and out of tending to the girls.  I watched Gravity and American Hustle.  I can't even remember the last time I was able to watch a movie, it was great!

Abby happy for her first plane ride

Claire watching Caillou with daddy's earphones

After settling into the condo we rented on Homer Street in Vancouver's Yaletown we met Kyle's aunt and uncle from Victoria at the restaurant Blue Water Cafe for dinner.  It was a fantastic meal.  Kyle and I had eaten there many years ago.  The girls were so well behaved considering how late we kept them up.  I ordered the halibut, sushi and goat cheese salad. Claire ate some food of each of our plates. 

Dinner at Blue Water Cafe

Claire colouring before dinner

Abby and I walking around before dinner

It had been quite warm in Vancouver and our condo was extremely stuffy and hot when we arrived.  I was worried about how the girls would sleep because they are used to having AC, but surprisingly they did very well.  We were considering leaving our condo and getting a refund to go and stay at a hotel instead but saw that the forecast predicted cooler temperatures.  We had the owner of the condo bring us a couple more fans on top of the other three we had, it helped cool down the rooms. 

Thursday Kyle was attending his Keith's stag, golfing all day and drinks out at the bar in the evening.  Linda and I stayed back at the condo with the girls, we went out to get groceries for lunch.  It was a nice and relaxing day. We both slept while the girls were taking their naps in the afternoon.  Oh boy did I sleep for a solid 2 hours!  Kyle and his dad both came back to the condo after golf to watch the Bomber game.  I took Claire down to the pool for a quick swim before bed. 

The girls relaxing on our bed

Claire and grandma hanging out

I am so glad we brought this quilt for Abby to play on.
She actually started to show signs of crawling, knees up and pushing off.

Our room had a little hallway perfect fit for Abby's travel crib

Friday morning we went for an early walk to Starbucks for coffee with both girls.  There were a number of Starbucks coffee shops within walking distance from our condo.  We decided to head down to the water and take a boat ride across to Granville Island.  We wanted to go check out the Kids Market that was there and look into the other little shops as well.  Claire loved the Kids Market and playing with the games. She had a blast there! Abby enjoyed having a nap in the Baby Bjorn on her daddy.  I came across an adorable fabric shop called the cloth shop. I picked up some cute fabrics to use for quilting. 

While the girls were napping Kyle stayed back at the condo and I went window shopping around Yaletown.  Kyle went to pick up our car rental after I got back so we would have a vehicle to drive to Keith and Elena's as well as the wedding Saturday. 

The baby carrier came in handy.
Abby had a nice nap while heading over to Granville Island with her daddy.

Claire and Grandpa on the boat ride over to Granville Island

Going to the Kids Market at Granville Island

Claire with Grandma and Grandpa
She loved riding on grandpa's shoulders.

I was in heaven the moment I walked into this little store. 

Claire steering the little boat by the Kids Market

I loved checking out this cute shop called The Cross 
Adorable house, baby and kitchen items. 

After the girls woke up from their naps we travelled up to Coquitlam where our friends Keith and Elena live in a condo for a pre wedding get together.  Keith's parents were putting on a BBQ for all out of town wedding guests.  It was nice to meet some of Elena's other family members and friends.  The girls loved the party.  Abby needed a nap while we were there so she slept on the bed downstairs for a little while. Claire was also given a ribbon wand that she had to practise with for the wedding.  She met Anelin who was the other flower girl for the wedding.  It was cute because Anelin is only a few weeks younger than Claire and her mom's name is Shannon as well and we were both due the same day May 5th 2012 with both girls.  Shannon is Elena's sister-in-law from Ottawa. 

After the party we came back to the condo and put both girls down for bed.  We wanted to make sure they had a good night sleep because we would be keeping them up the next night for the wedding.  I will write another post about how the wedding went.  We had a great time visiting Vancouver, it's one of our favourite cities and we look forward to going back there again.  I think Abby loved her first trip and proves that she is a happy traveller like her big sister Claire.  Our next trip is to Kona Hawaii this coming January. It was great to get Abby's feet wet for travelling before that trip.  

On the way to Coquitlam I had to sit next to
Abby she wanted some company.

Claire loved singing the whole way
back to the condo.