First Day Grade 8

First day of school - in a high school, for this Sammy girl! They spent their day in groups getting to know each other, loading up their lockers and finding out what clubs are available to join. Sam signed up for Leadership and Robotics. I warned her not to over commit, as her school work comes first but we will take it as it goes. All day social media was loaded with 'first day' pics but Sam would not let me take hers, she hates her picture taken, especially if I post it. I had to beg for this photo op after school when I took her for a milkshake treat. I even managed to get a smile! lol

My Teen

WOW where has the time gone. I haven't posted since Sam was in the 2nd grade. She is now 13 and starting grade 8. Hard to believe she has left her elementary school last month and going to be in a high school in a few days! We have definitely been through our ups and downs, which has kept me from my focus on writing. I have come back to this blog many times, staring at it blankly, seeing it abandoned for so long..wondering how I should word my next post. Since this is a new chapter in Sam's life I thought this was a good time to start, by adding some pictures from her grade 7 graduation and field trip to Victoria before that. She sure has grown up.

Sammy Specs

A trend has been set in Sam's classroom. One of her classmates started wearing 3D glasses with the lenses removed and Sam caught on. It's been like this now for 2 weeks. Everyday. lol

Anti-Bullying Week

Anti-Bullying week had us participating in wearing pink t-shirts, raising awareness across the globe in schools and everywhere else.  This is something I wish we had when I was growing up, as I was one of many who were/are hugely affected by bullies. It rings too close to home not to actively participate in this and it's so amazing to see so many banding together to try and help make this madness stop!

Happy 7th!

February was such a busy month, mainly because of so many birthdays...too many to count actually; Sam's friends, my friends, their husbands, their kids and not to mention mine. Then there was the move to our new place mid-month, which didn't go smoothly AT ALL but whatever! it's done and we're here and we're so happy!
Sam wanted her birthday party to be at the bowling alley again. I wanted something small this year, unlike the past few years. Just too much going on. As usual though, we had a fun time and I was surprised to see we have such great little bowlers out there!

Sam with her BFF's

Take 5 with Help Portrait

Now that Sam is in school full time I have finally been able to seriously look into getting my career started. After being 7 years on hold, I've been inspired to put myself out there again with my long time freelance business Take 5 Makeup . I am thankful for Facebook not only for the incredible reconnections with long lost friends, but for the networking with other entrepreneurs and moms with their own businesses - it's all in who you know. I have come across a few in the industry and was given the opportunity to be a part of an amazing event in December called Help Portrait. With help from photographers, makeup artists and other volunteers, we were all able to make this day very special for those who were
in need in our community. I am definitely going to be a part of this year's event again....what a blessing! It was such a great success and so incredibly rewarding!

My old high school friend Kelly far left, who also works in makeup, stopped for a photo op with one of the many wonderful ladies I made beautiful for her portrait.

Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Of course my Christmas tree is NEVER complete without my favorite ornament. I never forget where I came from :)

 

We had a dump of snow for December and that was about it for weather news for this winter!

All Sam ever dreamed of for winter was to make snow angels

Time Slips By

I have let this blogging thing slide by way too long. Life sure has been challenging the last few months and some days I just feel like I'm barely treading above water. Lots has happened since my last post in Novemeber, as the Christmas season slipped by so quickly, all of a sudden so did our birthdays in February. Now we are into March already and all I can say is I'm glad spring is finally approaching.

Sam and I made yet another move, this time closer to her school and back into the area. It's a cute and bright ground level suite with way more space than the condo. It's very homey and the people upstairs are so wonderful. Most of you already know as I've sent out emails with pictures. I'm so glad the move is over....it's such a pain and so stressful! We are definitely here for the long haul, until I can save for our own home which will be quite some time. (insert frustrated face here)

So to get you caught up with things I will put up pics in my next posts. From here I will try and keep up to the Blog...I used to be so good at keeping everyone informed!

November

Sam spent half of October and a bit into November pretty sick so she missed quite a bit of Halloween and Sparks celebrations. Her ear drum ruptured from an ear infection and that was part of it. The cough that came with it lingered on for a couple of more weeks and ended up getting worse. Now she's much better but I'm tired of being on lock down. Back to school now and all is much better. Besides catching up on lots of homework, she kept occupied with an amazing get well gift I found for her at London Drugs. A perfect steal for only $14.99!

Cardboard castle she can color!

When we moved into the condo, Sam got the small room which was really challenging to furnish with a simple bed and dresser. To maximize space, I bought her a loft bed second hand from a friend that also turned her room into a fantastic play area!

 She was also invited to a couple of birthday parties where one was held at a ballet studio. Tutus were made for each girl in their favorite color....Sam's was red.

And of course just sitting back for snuggle time with our Max is always a great way to spend sick days.....

My Spark

Sam is in her second year of Sparks in Girl Guides. I don't have any pics of her swearing-in ceremony until I get my camera hooked up, but I got one of them lining up for cake afterwards.

my proud Spark

Halloween

We've always known Sam to be not so girly and have a bit of a tomboy side to her. As she gets older I found that is changing more and more; this Halloween she wanted to be Tinkerbell. Here she is in her classroom party. (again my phone is not the best quality but I also have to learn to hold steady!)

Camrose Trip

The month of October was quite busy. Sam and I started it out with a 12 day trip to Camrose which was well overdue. Photos are taken from my phone, not the best quality but hey....

Dad and I

Sammy and Great Gram Hagen

The Hagen girls

Sam and I with her big bro Cody!

My special friend forever

This is the view on our walks we'd take staying at Dad and Pat's

Mitzi "roo" cat in her favorite spot

Mitzi's view

Sammy and Grampa stencil their Halloween pumpkin

ooooooo SCARY!

 Sam loved her story time with Grampa
 

Back to School

I cannot believe it's that time of year again and Sam is in grade one. My baby girl is growing up and she continues to surprise me and charm me in every way possible. I'm so proud of her, my little young lady.

First day grade 1

Second day grade 1

Floor hockey!

Summer Holidays!

Sam is finally finished school and is on her summer vacation for the month of August. it sure is going to be something to get used to with this balanced calendar concept. We only have 4 weeks for vacation and then school starts. This month we each had our own adventures....Sam had her time with Wayne and I had a great girls weekend with my BFF Jen! Samantha flew to Ottawa with Wayne on his business trip and got the chance to visit for a week with the family. The Cassidy's haven't seen her in 3 years, with the exception of 'YaYa', aka Wayne's mom.

Cousins Virginia and Cassidy

  

Auntie Ilo

Now, I have quite an amazing friend in my BFF Jen, She surprised me with tickets to see Janet Jackson's first world tour celebrating all of her 35 number ones. We booked ourselves at The Georgian Court Hotel, had dinner on Robson and even squeezed some shopping in before we got ready for the concert. Janet put on an incredible show, she looked amazing and we loved the video clips she had running during her change times. She even did a touching tribute to Michael which made me cry a little - everyone appreciated it.

Saturday was spent shopping at Pacific Center Mall, where we continued our shopping expedition. We had dinner at Earls in Yaletown, then took a cab to Gastown with some friends for some all-night dancing. We had such an amazing weekend. I love our girls weekends away. Thanks BFF!

              * pictures from my cell phone, not very good quality

Spa Day!

 

Samantha was invited to a birthday party held at The Sour Apple Nail Bar, her first spa experience! It is such a cute little contemporary lounge oozing nostalgia in an Audrey Hepburn theme, dripping with black and crystal chandeliers and photography. The girls decorated their own glasses to take home and played games, where Sam won a few prize packs of candy jewelry. Then they had their fingers or toes painted and Sam chose her favorite polish color electric blue. My girlfriends are planning our next girls event at this spa very soon!