The King-Lackey's Take on Fall!

Chris and I came up with a easy to complete fall bucket list of activities we'd like to do as a family. Here it is:

The King-Lackey Family Fall Bucket list

Hayride at saunder’s farm
Pick pumpkins
Carve pumpkins
Collect a pile of leaves, then jump in
Roast marshmallows
Corn maze
Pick apples
Make apple treats
Make fall crafts
Decorate for Halloween (inside)
Go for a hike
Trick or treat
Go to the experimental farm
Read Halloween books
Watch some Halloween special movies

    

    So far we have watched some spooky shows, like Spooky Stories (with Shrek and other DreamWorks characters) and the Bubble Guppies' Halloween episode. We've read some new "scary" halloween books I bought for the haunting season. And we've done some decorating around the house, mostly cutesy but some spooky, including decorations we made ourselves. Cadence has been interested and eager so far, which is great! 

      Our yard is just chock full of trees so the jump in the leaves activity was the first thing we did. Chris raked up a pretty big pile of leaves for Cadence to jump in. Cadence helped a bit, and then we took turns covering her and then Paul in leaves. 

We went to Saunders Farm for the first time last weekend. We had so much fun going on the hayride, the bouncing pillows, the petting zoo and the different mazes they have set up. And it was such a beautiful day, so sunny and warm. We had a blast! 

This past weekend we went to visit my side of the family for Thanksgiving. My dad, step-mother, and grandmother all got together at my grams new place and had a family meal. It was very nice to spend time all together. I wish my brother could have been there too. Ah well. On our way to Montreal we stopped off in St. Eustache to pick apples. That was pretty interesting for me; all the orchards in our area are "closed" for picking apples and have moved on to pumpkins. Also, last time I took Cadence apple picking, our apples were pretty tiny. These apples were HUGE. And plentiful! We walked away with a 20lb bag for a small amount of money. Win-win!

We've got some big plans coming in the next few weeks, Halloween being right around the corner. I am watching trick or treating videos on Youtube with Cadence to show her how we are supposed to do it. Last year she didn't really understand and she seemed scared with all the decorations. Cadence has also been showing signs of being scared of strangers so this year might also be a bust. That's ok though! Halloween isn't only about one night, or the candy. Its just a fun and silly holiday that we can celebrate any way she likes. 

We also had the great pleasure of being guests at two weddings at the end of September. The first wedding was of Chris's younger brother Ryan and his new wife Hannah. The second wedding was of an old high school friend Emily and her new husband William. Both weddings were just so lovely, and full of joy. We are both so grateful and delighted to have been invited to share in their special days. 

Lastly, our biggest news (right now) is that Cadence is more or less potty trained! She came home from daycare one day saying she just had to use her potty. Of course we let her, and ever since then she spends her days in her new underwear, and will soon be dropping diapers at nap time too! She's had a few accidents here and there, but overall she's doing amazing and we couldn't be happier!

The Official King-Lackeys.

Chris and I are MARRIED! FINALLY!

We were married on Friday, August 2nd at 6:30pm at Bean Town Ranch. We had a fair sized group of family and friends who came out to bare witness to our vows and then to celebrate with us afterwards. There was dancing, fireworks and a lot of really good food!

Now we are home just getting settled in, opening and unpacking the gifts we received and writing our "thank you" cards. In the mean time, here are just a few pictures to tide everyone over.

Cadence's room 2.0

I have been meaning to write a post about Cadence's newly redecorated room but it has slipped my mind! Chris and I had been talking about redoing her room for awhile, I really hated that ugly green colour and Chris was on board for some ideas I had. So about a month ago, I bought some paint and started the process. Here are some shots with details. I'm pretty proud of all the changes I made; I did about 99% of the work myself and nothing caught fire or broke. Go me!

Ok so you can kind of see here, the paint on the walls is this weird lemon grass colour, there is a fuzzy green carpet on the floor, and her furniture is a pretty dark brown.

In this picture you can see some decals I had put up around the room also, to suggest a jungle theme for the room. 

First to go was the green paint. I painted a chevron pattern with mint and grey on the cupboard doors. Then I mounted a "full sized" mirror from children'd Ikea, a wooden owl from Loblaw's new line of kid-friendly decor called Jump Kids World, a bear print from Barefoot Books, and 2 of the 6 fabric covered cork boards I created. 

These are some owl-themed curtains I sewed quickly with custom fabric I ordered through fabric.com. A hem around the edges and then I left a 2 inch pocket in the top to threat the rod through. 

Her sleeping area has changed also.

Here are some prints I found for free on Pinterest, as well as a name print Cadence received as a gift for Christmas. 

I bought a new longer carpet from Ikea, pillows we had from our old bed set that I recovered with custom fabric also. Some toys/ odds and ends Cadence already had. 

I looked around online for some new bedding, as we were planning on moving Cadence in to a twin sized bed. I didn't see anything I liked so I ordered some additional fabric and made my own. 

Here you can see the other 4 fabric cork boards I made, and in the middle is a family tree made custom for Cadence awhile back that I had printed and mounted. On the cork boards I have pinned all the cards we received for Cadence's birthday. There are some paper pompoms in the corner, also from her birthday. 

Over on this side we have her change table/diaper area. Her dresser, book case and medicine cabinet have all pretty much stayed the same. I bought a moon lamp from Ikea, the fox clock is also from the new line from Loblaws. Just a little paint, some new books and a new change pad cover completes this side. 

Finally, around the light I added a paper star and lantern I found at Michaels, Michaels has this section of their store where they sell decor items for $5 or less. I found the star and lantern there for less than $3 combined. I also found some scrap book paper and accessories that I brought home, cut circles of and then hung around her existing ceiling light. Looks really cool I think!

So there we have it! It took a week for the paint, and then another 2 weeks to put together and install everything else. I'm very happy with how it all came together, and so far the only negative effect was that Cadence can see herself from her bed and it scared her the first few nights. 

Let me know what you think!

Cadence turns 2!

We have been very busy recently with wedding planning and Cadence's birthday last weekend. 

We had a pic nic themed party and invited our family and some friends. There was a lot of really tasty home made food, and everyone seemed to have a good time! Success!

This past weekend we spent focused on the wee one, doing all kinds of fun family stuff. We took Cadence to a small carnival on Saturday morning, then we invited Bob and Jane and Nancy over for a weenie roast and marshmallows! I bought a tent last week that we set up in the yard with an air mattress so after we were all cleaned up, we headed out to the tent for bed. And we stayed out until a little after 1am. At that point I couldn't handle the mostly deflated air mattress and so I called Chris to rescue us. 

We spent today lazing around, relaxing. Naps were had, treats were baked, and overall it was the perfect end to a lovely weekend. 

In other, work related news; we are both doing really well! Chris's business has picked up to the point where he has hired a 3rd man for summer help. Things so far are going well! I am also really enjoying my new job. The staff are so nice and helpful, the organization is positive and there is a lot of flexibility. So that's good x2. 

Wedding stuff is working itself out which is nice. Overall things are looking up for the King-Lackey family. 

Wedding, wedding, wedding.

As you can see from the count down we are less than 4 months away from the wedding! So far we are right on schedule with finding vendors for the big day, getting the little things done, and  having a realistic time line for what needs to be finished before we can say "I do".

Some people have been asking "WHEN DO THE INVITATIONS GO OUT?!?!" I used caps here to illustrate that some people are really freaking out. If we aren't freaking out, you shouldn't be freaking out either. Regardless, they are going out next week so everyone can breath a little, if you were holding your breath. And there will be, wait for it, RSVP's inside those envelopes! What a concept.

We are also all set with bridesmaids and groomsmen, and their outfits for the day. Those were quick, easy, and (for the ladies) relatively inexpensive. Everyone will look nice, smell nice, and smile in the pictures. We might be warm, it might rain and make us all look like drowned rats, but its one day and surely we can all manage for the one day.

Most of the little details are done or in the works to be done soon. Bouquets? Done. Lapel pins? Done. Accessories? Done. Table decorations? Done. All the paper work is also done. We just need to get some shoes organized and we are good to go!

One of the bigger things that needed to get done, for me (Lily) was a dress. I bought a dress about 2 weeks after we got engaged because I was nervous that I wouldn't have found one in 18 months we have been planing. Well... I got it 2 weeks after I ordered it, and I HATED it. It was nice enough to look at, but when I put it on it just hung too short. Its supposed to be for an average sized woman but I guess that where I bought it from, the women are much shorter on average. Anyways, I've tried to sell it a few times and no one is biting. Yesterday I took it to a consignment dress shop in Stittsville that Jane (my future mother-in-law) suggested we look at, and they wouldn't take it either! While I was there I tried on some of their consignment dresses, and none of them seemed to fit what I was looking for. I asked if they had any dresses in this particular style I had really wanted, and lo and behold! They did! I tried it on, and it was just so perfect. So I bought it! Chris will look so handsome in his suit, and I finally have a dress that I know will give him that "dang she looks so beautiful" face when I walk to meet him at the alter.

It's really happening folks! Even though Chris is committed, and I am committed to being married, it won't seem really real until we are holding hands walking together down the other end of the aisle. Which I am very excited about doing. I think Chris is too.

Wedding count down!

We are getting closer and closer with each passing day, closer to Cadence's birthday and of course closer to the big day. This summer will be very exciting! 

Memere's crazy stuff

One thing I've always noticed when I visit an elderly person are the things they surround themselves with. I know for myself, my home contains a mix of things that either speak to me, hold sentimental value to me, or that I will find useful in the future (holiday decorations, party supplies etc). And considering I'm only 28, my home is pretty packed.

And it always seems like a weird flea market when I go visiting. I'm always being offered little objects or pictures, decorations, blankets, whatever. We do the same thing in our house too though, if you come over you will probably be offered something to take home with you.

When I go to my memere King's house, its a small space but it is packed with all kinds of things that people bring her, or that she found somewhere and brought home with someone in mind. If she didn't have space for it at first, well you know she built shelves or found a way to hang it on the wall.

These are some pictures I took recently of some of her collections.

I found these sample sizes of alcohol behind bowls in the cupboard. Two of them are open. I asked my sober grandmother why she had alcohol, she said they were from the plane ride when she last went to Florida. That doesn't explain why they are open though. Just some of the many random things you could find in her cupboard.

This is a collection of wall hangings and cutsie sayings my mimi has collected. She tells me that most of them come from my aunts traveling. Or my brother, who also collects everything.  

This is a collection of small china that had no place in the cupboard, so memere build shelves into the tiny window in her dining/living room.  There are all kinds of little ceramic items on the shelves that she trimmed with red lace. For that extra classy touch.

This is another shot of the window, with other little items she has collected. This half is more angels/figurines. Note the lace curtain in the background. I feel like memere would be an excellent scrap booker. 

The sewing room. If you visit my grandmother, you are either sitting in her dining room or asking her to fix something in her sewing room. On this side are patches, thread, ribbons, elastic bands etc. Seriously you could find almost anything to fix/decorate/create a material masterpiece. Across the room are boxes and boxes of material and laces that she turns in to lots of cool stuff. Fun fact, my wedding dress is on the sewing table in this shot. 

These aren't the best images, or the best descriptions. But for anyone who has visited her house, they truly represent the experience. 

Happy New Year and a Happy Birthday!

First and foremost, happy birthday daddy! It's a nice, warm, wintery day. Get out there with Snuggles and profitez-en! 

I am very late to post this "year in review" type thingy, but I have been sick and we have been busy (as always) so you will take what you can get, and you will like it! It will  be brief anyways, since I am still sick.

Highs of 2012:

- We are still employed, Chris is doing really well with his company and I am doing ok with my job. 

- We found a daycare provider who is totally awesome, so sweet and great with Cadence. 

- We booked our wedding location and started wedding planning

- Cadence turns 1

- All of the dogs are still with us, with no huge financially draining medical emergencies

Lows of 2012:

- Cadence gets a chipped tooth and now looks like a deep woods redneck when she smiles

- Sickness in the family that was very stressful and nerve wracking for a lot of people (myself included)

- Facing some health hurdles for myself (Lily)

- Having to find new daycare 3 times!

- Adapting to having 2 working parents with a baby who is cranky a lot.

Things to look forward to in 2013:

- Cadence turns 2 ( I already have all the decorations, invites, menu planned etc)

- Our big day! 

- Spending time with family and friends as much as possible

And there we have it! Quick and painless! We hope everyone had a pleasant holiday season and that the return to work isn't as rough for you all as it has been for poor Chris (guy had like 3 weeks off, lucky booger!).