Glorious Galaxyland

Last weekend, Cam and I took Isla to Galaxyland in West Ed. There are 4 or 5 rides that Isla can go on with a chaperone... the best part?? It's all free! The merry-go-round, train, cars and balloon ride are all rides that babies under the age of 2 can go on without paying a cent! I do think I have blogged about this previously, but it is worth mentioning every time. It really is so much fun and Isla absolutely loves it! Her face lights up with delight and joy when we walk in and she just beams on every ride. It's the cutest. Cam and I probably have more fun than she does! She's the best.

And that's the Schellenberg's taking Galaxyland. 

Annual Canmore Weekend

In 2009, two of my closest girlfriends (Kayley & Monica) and I started an annual tradition of escaping our lives for a weekend and making our way to Canmore. The first year we did it was at the very end of 2009 when I was 8.5 months pregnant with Isla. This year, we went in early February and what can I possibly say?? It was such an incredible weekend of food, laughter, conversation and fabulous company. We decided to go for two nights this year... in which we also decided that for each year, we increase our time away by one day. So in twenty years, we will be taking a 20 day holiday together. The 3 of us agreed that this idea was brilliant. Our significant others may not agree.

We kicked the weekend off with some wine, some appies and a night of great conversation in our beautiful room at Falconcrest Lodge in Canmore. We were up until 1:30 am, catching up on each others lives. We started Saturday off with some delicious coffee and breaky at a little coffee shop and then proceeded to shop the quaint little stores on the main strip. We had massages booked at Rapunzel Salon and boy.... what can I say? A-MAZING. All 3 of us had such relaxing, refreshing and muscle melting massages. They really were the best. After we were all sleepy and dishevelled, we trekked to Banff for some lunch and some more shopping. Upon returning to our hotel, we took some hot chocolate to the hot tub and spent some more time relaxing. And of course, after all of this, a nap was in order. For supper, we went to THE BEST restaurant ever. Honestly, it certainly was one of, if not THE best meals I have ever had. The restaurant was called The Trough, in Canmore, and I highly recommend it. We had scrumptious meal, great wine and shared a delectable creme brule for dessert. We did a little dancing and then headed back to our room for some more chatting and some rest. Sunday was a lazy day consisting of a delicious bagel brunch and a drive home.

All in all, an absolutely wonderful weekend away with some even more wonderful company. Yay for girlfriends!

I managed to only bring out the camera when we were at dinner, so here are some photos of us.

Kayles & I bundled up.

Mon & I in the beautiful snow in front of The Trough.

Us 3.

 Us 3 again.

Kayley & Monica. 

Thanks girls for the great weekend! Looking forward to next year already!

2 'Babes' in the pool

Last week, Isla started her swimming lessons at Fountain Park pool in St. Albert. The program she is in is called 'Babes'... haha, cutest name ever. After a day of 1 year shots (she had 3 needles in her arms in the early afternoon), we thought swimming would be really good for her as she loves loves loves the pool. However, we were wrong. She whined the entire swim lesson until I decided to escort my delightful child out of the pool 5 minutes early where she cried the ENTIRE time we undressed her, the ENTIRE drive home and the ENTIRE bath until we put her to sleep at 6:30pm. She slept until 7:30am. Needless to say, I hope she enjoys the rest of her lessons or this could be a long 8 weeks. We will definitely see how tonight goes. However, Cam looked on with the camera in tow. Here are some highlights.

smiling before we hit the water

'washing' with our sponges

 going for a ride

learning to kick and float on our backs

Despite her grumpiness, I just loved this lesson. She is just growing up so so so fast. I can hardly believe that she is 13 months old. 

Anthro = Awesome

So, I started my new job last Saturday. What can I say? It felt strange saying "I am going to work" as it has been 13 months since I had a 'job' (don't get me wrong, being a stay at home mom is the hardest job out there). I still think it will take time adjusting to not having a free schedule all the time, but it is good for me. I thoroughly enjoyed my first 2 days and I think it will only get better from here. The girls all seem super great and it is really lovely to work with people who inspire you, compliment you and make you feel like part of the family! And of course, the clothes are amazing! I have already made some great purchases and I can't wait to make more! haha. If you are ever in the mall, come and see me!

Party Time

Last weekend, Isla attended another birthday party of one of her friends (she has loads more friends than me). Nolan Wakulchyk was turing 3 years old! We headed out to his place where we enjoyed lots of sledding, sunshine, trails, snacks and Toy Story 3 birthday cake! I absolutely love having a family... these birthday parties are always SUCH a blast for Cam and I to attend. We get to hang out with our friends while Isla interacts with her friends; a win-win situation. It's such a great excuse to get together with all our friends and talk and eat and laugh and play. So great. Here are some photos:

 Friends Kevin and Luci

 Twinsies: Martin and Isla

 eating snow.

 so sweet.

 the herd: Beckett, Kinley, Martin, Nolan, Easton, Atticus, Luci and Isla

Front Row: Kyla, Lyla, Everlea, Torin and Tayven

 A conked out Isla 5 minutes after leaving the party: she had so much fun :)

And, an added bonus photo: We had a toe painting party... Cam painted my toes while I painted Isla's toes. Same color. 

I am employed.

So, I am officially an employee again. Nope, not teaching. I just got a very part time job at my favorite store ever, Anthropologie in West Ed. I haven't started yet but I do have a training session on Saturday. I am really excited about it and I think it could be a great opportunity to meet some people and to contribute, at least a little bit, to our household finances... plus the discounts are REALLY great. I will be working 2 evening shifts a week and no weekends so I can spend time with my family. I hope everything works out great :)

I. Am. Bad.

I cannot believe a month has gone by since my last blog... A WHOLE MONTH. Ridiculous really. What have I been doing in that past month? Lots and nothing... all at the same time.
I always find the month of December to be incredibly busy, exhausting, fun and did I mention busy? I do know that it is January 14th, and no blog post, but January has also been super busy for us too... hence the lack of blog posts. My New Years resolution is to blog more regularly (well not really, I never maintain NY resolutions, but if I did, this would be it). I thoroughly enjoy blogging because I thoroughly enjoy my life.
Well after Vegas brought us Christmas... ISLA's very FIRST one! It was incredibly exciting and magical to watch her discover lights, wrapping paper, ornaments, boxes, plastic and to see her play and explore each and every new toy, article of clothing, book etc... that was given to her. We had an absolutely lovely Christmas with our daughter and the rest of our families. There were lots of festivities, filled with food, love, laughs, gifts, snuggles from Isla, pictures and videos (a new video camera was Cam's gift). Here are some photos.

Isla trying to eat her new monkey, Casey.

 In awe of Elmo. Thanks Uncle Brock & Aunty Sue. 

 All dressed up for church, Christmas Eve. 

 The Schellenbergs. 

 Christmas morning in her new Sesame Street Chair.

 And in her new wagon.

 with her cousins at Momo's house. Not a fan of Claus' hat.

 Listening to the Christmas story.

 Her little car. She loves him very much. 

Reading a new book with Dad. 

January brought Isla turning one. I know, she is one. Where did the time go? Honestly... it feels as though I blinked. Here she is... my one year old. What can I say about her? It seems as though in the last month, she has really 'grown up'. We can see her personality more and more and boy, is it a good one. She loves to laugh and smile at everyone she sees. She also loves to wave... it's her favorite thing. She waves at everyone and everything, including the TV and dogs and cats. She pretty much eats everything we eat and we are starting to wean her from formula and on to regular people milk. New favorites: peanut butter and strawberries. We have taken to calling her 'little monkey' because that is what she is. She climbs on EVERYTHING. Yesterday, I discovered sitting on top of our side table, how she got there remains a mystery. Also, she has an adorable rocking horse and today, she climbed onto it herself and then proceeded to stand on the seat and rock back and forth. She is nuts. She has 8 teeth now but I can feel (and see) more coming, due to the excessive drool stains on her 14 shirts she goes through daily.  She is the sweetest thing ever. She LOVES LOVES LOVES music and books and will sit with a pile of books for hours. She loves her daddy very much and tolerates her mommy. She is the center of attention, ALWAYS, and is always hamming it up for everyone around her. She knows her head, ears, bee-bo (belly button) and her toes and she will point to them when we say them. She knows several other words: shake, splash, wave, no and a few more. Every day, we see her learning new things and it really is the most incredible thing. She is a sponge. Her favorite thing is to copy people and to try and do what they do. She isn't QUITE walking but I feel as though it's close. She took 5 steps today... BY HERSELF!! It was amazing and one of mine (and hers) proudest moments. I love her. A Lot. For her birthday, we had 2 parties. One family party, where I made lasagna (yes, domestic me), cake and we just hung out here with Isla. We had a 'kid' party where we did a Sesame Street party, complete with amazing cake and cupcakes that I did NOT make, a pinata and lots of kids. 15 to be exact, not to mention, 20 adults or so... maybe more. It was an amazing success and I think everyone had lots of fun! Isla loved the tissue paper and really enjoyed the cake and pizza she got to dig in to. It was the cutest. More photos. 

 Her present on her chair. SO cute. 

 The birthday girl in her birthday hat and shirt. 

 Her first cake and sparkler experience.

 Us teaching her how to blow out her candle.

 MMMMMMMMMM cake.

 loving the boxes. 

Her Sesame Street cupcakes. AMAZING. Thanks Kennedy! 

 And her Elmo Cake. 

 THE BEST.

 Some of the kiddies eating their lunch in the 'picnic' area.

 Us opening gifts and Isla receiving her first 'name' item.

 More cake and more candles.

 Us: "CHEESE". Isla: "CAKE".

 Laughing.

 Luci getting a crack at the pinata.

 The goods.

And, the kids. 15. Isla... shirtless.