Last Day of work

Thank goodness, I'm just wiped. I've got so many errands to run after school today, let alone all the prep for tomorrow that I need to do. Tonight is the kids' Christmas concert and we have to be there early. That is totally ok so then when they are getting ready I plan to take a few test shots with my camera just to make sure I've got the right settings. Hoping for some very cool shots.

Thursday is the kids' last day of school, so parties and goodies are being sent. Had to rush around and find a last minute santa for playschool cause the orignal had to bow out. Then Abby and I are heading into LLB to see Daddy and bring some treats to work for him and his crew.

Still waiting on 3 gifts (2 are coming this week and 1 will be late but its all okay) need to wrap a few more, clean the house, make some goodies all in a couple of days. The craziness of Christmas abounds.

Just leaving with some pictures of a mini Christmas album I made for Scrappershaven. I think this will stay with my decorations and come out only at Christmas.

Some new pictures

Yes, its been a long while. But you try loading pictures on dial up ;)

A week or so ago the kids and I went outside for some much needed fresh air. After the weeks of way too cold weather they sure had fun playing in the snow.

Hoping to be able to post some more picture soon. 3 more days of school before Christmas break. Whoohoo!

Friday and stuff....

The peace of this house right now is delicious. Kids are in bed, I'm here with my BIG cup of coffee and things are coming together. First few things, bills are being paid off (whoohoo), Christmas presents are starting to show up in the mail, I've figured out what I'm going to do for my parents and my correspondance course is going well.

For those that didn't know I'm in the process of taking a Braille correspondance course to continue working with my student who is legally blind. I've been frustrated at first because I'm seriously working on a brailler from 1957. No joke. I've finished my first 3 lessons and they went out for marking. I got them back in the mail this week and I seriously didn't want to open the envelope. Big chicken I know. So I took a deep breath, opened it and I got an excellent mark. Breathing a sigh of relief, because I need to have an accuracy mark of over 95% to pass the course.

On more happy news....I got my new lens!! I won a fluke auction on ebay for a 50mm f/1.7 prime pentax lens ($45 w/shipping!!!!!) and I got it yesterday. It took some monkeying around with settings but man its freaking cool. Time to get the whole family dressed and take some Christmas card pictures. Ron will love that ;) he's worse than the kids to take pictures of. You'd think by now he'd be used to a camera in his face, hee hee hee.

Anyhoo, I'm off to scrapbook with my sil because of the snow day...got to love living close to civilization. Have a great weekend!

Let the booing and hissing begin!

As of 10 am this morning I'm offically done my Christmas shopping. Pausing here for the swearing @ computers ;) no really I'm done. Between ebay, sears.ca and futureshop.ca I'm just waiting for it to come all in. I figured I better give adequete time for shipping so hopefully things will arrive on time.

On a side note...I've offically signed up for high speed internet. Whoohoo!!!!!! I'll be getting a call as to when they are coming to install. Too cool. Now more pictures can be posted with less wait times, less swearing and fewer cups of coffee. (ok maybe not the coffee, let's not get crazy)

Offically a great day!

No butts about it...

We had a great time at the POPWA Fall Show. I just loved this picture of the birds' tails and it was just too funny. This is the way that most of the competeters bring their birds with long tails (a seperate catagory) this way they won't break their tails in transport. Some actually steam the tails to smooth them out. Next picture is part of the whole room (arena) just so you guys can get an idea of the scale of it all. The last picture is Ron handing in the yearly won trophies from last year. He won Grand Champion and Impeyan Pheasant with his Impeyan Male. (I'll find a picture of him later). Though we didn't win this year we still had fun and there's always next year!

Heading out tonight....

This weekend is our annual return to Lloydminister for the Prairie Ornamental Pheasant and Waterfowl Assoication Bird Show. Don't worry we never say it all at one time ;) Not that I'm into birds all that much, what I do like is that its a weekend that Ron and I get to go away and just spend time together. Plus my parents get my kiddos, which they love. The only bummer is that I'm going to be missing taking a very cool card making class (sorry Donna!) cause we are leaving tonight. I still have a ton of stuff to do. Between laundry and packing and having to be parent helper this morning at playschool...I'm swamped. On the bright side, Donna has my scrapbooking order this morning :) I'm going to have to start putting together some page kits and pack up my scrapbooking stuff...did I mention that I get uninteruppted scrapbooking time at the hotel? I tell ya its bliss. Quiet, no cooking or cleaning, time with my wonderful husband, some shopping and scrapbooking. My kind of weekend. I'll post some pictures when I get back on Sunday!

Ethan's birthday fun

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while, I've been pretty busy. Despite working 3/4 time, it seems like I have more to do. Go figure. First off we had Ethan's 8th birthday this week. I can't believe how much the time goes by so quickly. I've been a mom for 8 years, how is that possible? We had a family birthday at our house and of course Grandma Hilligas made him a awesome Star Wars birthday cake. How cool was that for my little Star Wars fanatic? I made him put on his Halloween costume to take some pictures of Darth Vadar and the cake.

Then we took the kids and met up with Dena and Jonathan (and their kids) at the Royal Alberta Museum for the lego/bob the builder display and such. The kids loved it and it was so cool seeing the neat things that they made out of lego. The girls liked the bob the builder section better cause they could play more. If anyone has young kids I totally recommend this exhibit for them, it rocks! Plus its on display till the end of January if I'm not mistaken. Sorry that the pictures are all out of order!

Yes, bad blogger here

I admit I've been lazy or just too busy, not sure but I haven't been posting too much. I'm having frustrations with my computer and seriously need my brother to take a look at it or else I'm going to be tempted to buy a new one. Hanging on a tiny internet thread waiting until the end of October so that I can get high speed. Trying to plan my dear Ethan's birthday, poor kid always seems to get shafted when it comes to stuff like this, just because he doesn't have the social base that his sister has. My little introvert. Breaks my heart sometimes.

Getting nervous and excited to start my course, worried that I won't figure Braille out. Keep some fingers and toes crossed for me.

Ron started a new job and it seems to be going well, can't wait to see what the new paycheque is like ;)

Trying to get pshyced up to do Christmas cards and am having a hard time just because I'm seriously insulted by my stamp dealer, going to switch to someone new. Learned some very cool new techniques at a class I took a couple of weeks ago, need to put it into practice.

Yea, got my Star Trek Deep Space 9 dvds, am working my way through this series now. So glad I didn't get a bootleg copy this time.

Too cool

I went to my parent's place this past weekend and my sister and I went to check out this little store in Two Hills called Cranberry Collectibles and guess what I found and just had to have? I think that it is going up in my scraproom when I decorate but honestly I'd love a t-shirt like it ;)

Guess who I met??

I went to Scrapfest yesterday and I met Ali Edwards!!! I was just besides myself with nervous excitement. I took her mini book class and it was just awesome! She talked to me a few times, signed my book and was sweet enough to take a picture with me. She was so sweet and easy to talk to. When she'd stop by your table, she'd crouch down and make eye contact and talk to YOU not looking around and seeing what else was going on. Her voice is a lot deeper than I expected but wow. She is just too cool and I had a great time yesterday. I had an awesome day scrapbooking, shopping and having fun with Donna, great conversations. So, so, so worth going.

Trying again...

Ok, I'm trying the newly resized pictures now. Today is a perfect play-on-the-computer-scrapbook-and-stay-warm kinda day. Ethan is off to school, Abby is watching Dora and I'm enjoying a wonderful, I've had too many cup of coffee. Definately thinking about making another pot. Gotta love these days off :) Planning on finishing up some scrapbook pages and doing a smattering of laundry, have a roast in my crock pot that totally makes supper a breeze tonight. Add salad, will eat!

I'm getting really excited about Scrapfest on Saturday, get to meet Ali Edwards (insert giddy smiley here) Yes, I admit I'm a great big dork. But you know what? I don't care ;)

On another note we've just got word that we should be getting high speed interet by the end of October. Can I hear an AMEN!!!??? (ok I've tried 3 times and it won't let me load the pictures...grrrrrrrr!)

Pumpkins and Ethan

Just wanted to share some of the fun pictures that I took of Ethan and our pumpkin haul! Ron had to put them in the back of the truck to bring them from the garden! We got 17 in total, just crazy! Had to fake a birthday picture of Ethan. I like to take a picture of the kids on their birthdays but never get a good fall picture for Ethan. So this year I faked it. Techniqually he isn't 8 yet but close enough :)

Ok tried like 3 times to load pictures and its not working :( sorry, trust me they are great. I'll have to figure out how to make them more pleasing to blogger.

New camera picture

Couldn't resist :)

Its HERE!

I got it, its in my hot little hands and I have to say, my hands are sore ;) Picked up my camera yesterday and set everything up, attached the lense (which was easier than I thought), put the memory card and batteries in and when at it. The camera is heavy, lots heavier than my old one. The reason my hands are sore is that I'm scared to loose my grip or drop it. Love love love the pictures it takes. Love the sound of a real shutter. So glad I got the Pentax with the stinking huge LCD monitor. Thrilled about the extra lenses. Can't believe how fast this baby focuses on a moving subject!!! Will post more later, off to work.

Weekend's Over

Whew! What a tiring weekend and its not going to stop yet. After not finishing up the pheasant project and having sick kids, Sunday was a relaxing day. The Club barbeque was pretty good, I got to take a bunch of great pictures. So Ron got to do what he liked and I did too :) I got some amazing pictures of some Australian Geese (have to check with Ron on the name of them). They were so cool, grey birds, pink legs, black feet and a lime green beak. Though they looked more like a New Zealand bird to me, I'll post pictures later. Very cool to get into the pens and get pictures without wire in the way. I even caught some swans fighting. I love this photography thing. 4 DAYS TILL I GET MY CAMERA!!! I'm so flippin' excited!!!! I bought new batteries, got my camera bag and a new memory card, I'm SET baby!

On a side note, I got a ton of great new clothes from a friend of mine and honestly have more clothes now than I've ever had, and they fit!!! Loving the new slimmer look.

Still working my way through my Star Trek Voyager series, now on the end of season 5. Going to have to start looking for Star Trek Deep Space 9. What else am I going to watch during my scrapping time? ;)

I put up my design team assignments for September up on Scrapper's Haven. Had so much fun with this set of products. I even made some scrapping home decor! Check it out at www.scrappershaven.ca under the gallery in my name.

That's all for now, have a great day!

Flippin' Dial up :(

Dial up is seriously going to be the death of me. I'm sure that I wait about 85% of the time waiting for something to either load or download. Soon this will all change.

I didn't get a chance to see Grandma yesterday because Abby had a cold and the last thing I want to do is expose her to Grandma who is recovering. So I will go today afterschool.

Almost done the pheasant project, will finish it up tonight. Can't tell you how much I want this silly thing done and overwith.

I made the most incredible healthy zuccini bread last night, only one loaf left already, very good. Yes, its GI Friendly ;)

Got my camera bag and memory card yesterday. I ordered a red backpack style bag that's big enough to fit the camera 2/3 extra lenses and a flash or another camera body. I figured that I'd rather have a bit more room at the begining then run out of space and have a buy a new one later. 6 more days!!!!!

Have a great day everyone!

So much...

This weekend, week and upcoming weekend has been and will be crazy. From starting work and camping at the trapline (too much fun) to work this week, a project that has to be done for Saturday, playschool stuff (somehow I ended up being president) and a scrapbooking day on Sunday. Whew!

The trapline was lots of fun, quading, getting dirty and lots of photo opportunities. I managed to get a bunch of Grandma and some in really cool b&w. I'm planning a mini book so I need to get more pictures of her. I also got some very cool photos of my dad. Usually he's the one behind the camera. Speaking of which my little Canon S1 IS did pretty well in the bush, I'm not giving it up when I get my new one. 8 DAYS!!!! Whoohoo! I'm very anxious to get my new camera, pins and needles here.

My Grandma is in for surgery this morning, if you could spare a prayer or two it would be greatly appreciated. She is having a masecotomy done (not sure of spelling) and its freaking day surgery!! Are you kidding me???? But because of her age they are keeping her overnight. This totally burns me, removing part of her body and DAY SURGERY?? Crazy world.

Off to get the kids up for school and head out for our day, hopefully leaving some pictures. :)

Gone until Sunday

Work has begun. It was pretty good all in all, definately a different pace from last year :) I got to go visit my grandma yesterday after school and we has such a nice visit. We laughed about skunks, talked about work, and discussed the possiblity of us having #3. She gave a bunch of recipes for zuccini, which I have by the truck loads, one of which was in FRENCH! She made me read it anyway and I could 8) shocker I know, it was for pea soup, incase you're wondering. After I left, my heart felt so good, we talked about the surgery and how she's coming to the trapline this weekend. She sounded so good, not at all like I've been expecting. In my head I had her all portrayed as being sickly and weak, and she's not. Boy am I glad.

That being said, I'm off to work, then heading out camping to the trapline for a few days. Ron's mom is staying with the kids and we are going to go up to the Athabasca River. I've never been there but have been told of the glory (insert eye rolly smilie here) So my camera is charged with extra batteries, memory card empty and ready to go. See you on Sunday!

Musings

I'm feeling quite rainy today. Must be the weather. Really not so good news about my grandma, cancer in her lymphnodes, sugery next week. We are all praying for her but my heart is so sad. I have never met such a wonderful, loving, understanding paitent woman. Anyone who knows my grandma will tell you the same. So any prayers that can be spared, I thank you.

This is also the last day of summer for us, school starts tomorrow and I think we are ready. I need to go into school today to set up my classroom. My classroom! I get a whole room (to share) for teaching scrapbooking. Very cool, no more hauling all the stuff on a cart and working in the lunch room.

I'm excited in a way to start back up to routine but will be sad leaving my baby at the sitter's again. And boy does she milk it! Good thing I have Thursday's off, that will be the new "Mommy & Abby day" :)

Last couple of days of freedom

Well, its back to the ole' grind tomorrow for me and school for poor Ethan on Thursday. Where did the summer go? I have say that this last weekend before school was lots of fun, cousin's wedding, my birthday, family visiting. Great fun. Big thank you to my best sil who gave me scrapping supplies for my birthday. I see a mini album of my grandma from that K-ology set. Too much fun stuff to play with and not so much time anymore :)

Today is going to be peaches. Canning peaches that is, we're heading over to my sil's in a while to play and do some canning. Hopefully some of my ebay stuff will come in the mail. Why does some stuff come in so fast and others take so long? Bizarre postal service. Off to go get dressed and ready for the day, have a great one!

Decisions decisions

Ok I've got a problem. I've got the ok for a camera and now I have a decision to make. The Canon Digital Rebel XT (8mpgs, kit lens 18-55mm) or the Pentax K110D (6.1mgp, kit lens 18-55mm + extra lens 50-200mm) The pentax is slightly cheaper but I like how it feels and the extra lens would be nice. I would have to get new memory but I would be getting extra for the canon. Any thoughts?

$15 FIND!!

I'm so excited about getting a chance to dress up and go out. Did I mention that we just about *never* go out? We've got my cousin's wedding this weekend, my birthday too :) and I've been trying to find a great dress to wear. I did have one that I got altered to fit cause it was a great deal, $15 on ebay Eddie Bauer dress. The classic little black dress. Well since I bought it in like May it now way too big, about 2 sizes. So since I couldn't find anything the last time I went to Edmonton and Sears was a no go. I had my dh's cousin fix it for me. And it looks really good. However, I was hoping for va va voom. So on the advice of my sil I went to winners. Everything in the stores right now is all about Fall and darn it! Its still summer. There I found 4 dresses that were great. I ended up buying 2 because I couldn't decide and they were cheap.

I've decided to wear the magenta one, very sexy, figure flattering and shows off nice pretend cleavage and shoulders. Honestly I want to look sexy. I mean I've lost nearly 60lbs and darn it I look great and want to show it! So I'll post pictures after the wedding.

And its NOT a video game

What a great trip on Saturday. My dad took the whole family fishing up to Wapa lake. I was orginally planning on staying home with Abby and enjoying some carefree scrapbooking time but dad really wanted us to go. Ethan was even excited. Usually he gets so frustrated with fishing, the whole coordinating the casting and all. But he's been practicing on the lawn with a hookless fishing hook. He was getting the hang of it too. So we go fishing and low and behold I caught a fish! The first one...I have NEVER caught a fish in my life. But we threw him back. The day was pretty successful with Ethan catching 4!! He was so excited and just vibrating with the fishing mojo. He's still talking about it 2 days later. Glad that he's excited about something other than a video game. Plus Grandpa let him drive the boat. How cool was that?

Feeling unworthy

I've been on this design team for about a month now and loving it. Really enjoying the work and fun that I've been having scrapbooking. We've now added 2 other members to the design team and I'm so feeling unworthy of the talent that they possess! Good grief they've been published multiple times and I'm just this little nobody scrapbook instructor! I'd love to be published too but I guess that means I should submit right? ;)

Go check out the gallery at www.scrappershaven.ca and see what I mean.

Incredible night!

Ron and I had such an incredible night for our anniversary. Thank you so much Rhonda for offering to take the kids for the afternoon/evening. We so appreciated it. We decided to stay home and cook supper together and just enjoy. Ron was such a good sport and let me take a ton of anniversary pictures of us, which turned out so well. I can't believe the difference in us from last year to this. So obviously the top picture was last year and the bottom is this. Man, is it hard to upload pictures on dial up :(

So here's to us! Eight years of wonderful marriage and now healthy weight loss. Love ya hun!

So much to share

What a great weekend. Had a blast visiting with so many people. From a very fun birthday party where I got to play photographer to a great visit with my dad. I so totally am loving photography, just check out Tara Whitney's blog to be inspired! If I could take pictures a fraction of the way she does I'd be in my glory. Definately can just taste the new camera, need it to take pictures of my niece, right Rhonda? We tried really hard yesterday but how to you get a little running fairy to stop and smile for the camera?

Anywhoo, this is short cause I need to get ready for a fun evening (our anniversary!) Will post more later.

Can you believe it?

I'm totally shocked at how fast this summer is going! There are only 18 more days till I go back to work. And big surprise, I still haven't gotten an EI payment. The rate its going I'm going to be getting paid in October. This and the continued ebay drama is not what I'd like to be exeperiencing right now.

On another note Happy Birthday EMILY!! My niece turns the big 2 today. My how time flies.

I'm still trying to find a dress for my cousin's wedding at the end of August. I ordered one from Sears but a no go. Tonight I will see if Missy can alter one for me. Right now its 2 sizes too big, not sure if it is doable. Did buy some shoes that are too cute for words and make me feel very pretty. We'll see what I can do with them.

Have a great day all!

Blogs, marriage & happiness

Ok I love to read many different blogs. I really enjoy scrapbook designer ones just because it inspires me and hey I like scrapbooking. This morning I was reading Rhonna Farrer's blog (awesome stamps by the way) and she had a quote on her site : LEARN TO BE HAPPY. I'm not sure if she said it or someone else. But she talks about people, herself included, who always say "I'll be happy when...or things would be better if..." She says that you need to learn to be happy or content with the way things are.

I remember when I was a young newlywed with a baby and there were times that I was depressed or "not happy" and I expected my wonderful hubby to make things better. This was so wrong. Its not his job to make me happy. (although he does) It's my job to handle my feelings. He was not responsible for my happiness, I was. Once I figured out that things were so much better. Now I focus on doing little things for him and he in turn does little things for me. Stuff like making a nice supper that he enjoys makes me happy. Him bringing me home a little pot of hens & chicks unexpectedly is so undeniably sweet, which makes him happy. I know its such a cliche but the give and take of a marriage is important.

My psa for today

Ok I admit it, I hate water. Always have. Give me a glass of milk or pop or coffee anyday. I will seriously go for days before I drink an actual glass of water. But...being on the GI Diet has made me drink water and tons of it. Even after 11 months of being on this eating plan I have to force myself to drink water. I sit down with a big 30 ozer and drink, drink drink. Twice a day. I have found if I don't I gain weight...serious water weight. So I make myself drink. But here's the little secret, I FEEL GREAT! My skin is so smooth, my feet are not so horrible and I feel beautiful. Plus I loose that water weight. So water and me are hooked up for good now. If only I could get the exercise thing going...

The weekend report...

What a weekend. It sure goes by fast. Between computer issues with the internet and definately not enough time with my hubby. I'm finding that I appreciate him so much. I honestly couldn't ask for better. He helps me with the kids, is patient and kind, and helpful around the house. I wish all wives had a wonderful man like I've got.

Today we had a really nice quiet day, my sister in law and best friend came over with her daughter to play in the water. I love that our girls play so well. Of course Abby had issues with water in her face (insert eye rolly smiley here) But I have to say, LOVE YA Rhonda! Yup, you're probably all red and mushy too. I do treasure our friendship, not many people can say that their sister in law is as close as we are. So I'm sending you out a big cyber hug cause everyone needs a hug now and then!

ebay anonymous

Here I come. Seriously been addicted to ebay lately. I've got 12 packages coming in the mail. No kidding. Of, course 3 are for Ethan. Poor guy is just dying to get something in the mail. So he and I went on ebay and won a few auctions for Star Trek and Star Wars micro machines. Yup, he's totally my boy. Trekkie alert! Gotta start them young.

And yes the other packages are all for me. Hey, I earned that money and I needed the clothes. Whoohoo! No fall clothes that fit. What a shame. So I'm getting some jeans and pants for school. And just some general good deals on fun stuff. I honestly have a hard time paying full price for anything anymore. Why should I when I can get jeans for 99 cents? Mind you the shipping... but its totally cheaper than driving to the city.

So I admit it, I'm addicted. But I can stop at anytime, honest ;)

One little thing

It's so funny how one little thing can totally change your life and affect those around you. When I started this weight loss journey, I wasn't thinking of anyone but myself and now 11 months later there are so many family and friends around me that have joined me. Seriously thinking about starting a GI Diet support group.

Even me, being almost at the end of my goal, need some support. I totally wasn't drinking my water and put on 3 lbs, which totally sent me spinning into a loop. What if I can never get down the weight that I want? Will I ever be stable (weight wise) as we all know that mental stablity is something entirely different :) ? But after having my butt kicked by various people I'm back on track and have lost those 3 lbs again.

I find it funny the reactions of people who see me now. And for those I've talked to about this I don't apoligize, hint, hint Rhonda! Some people are so happy for me and others haven't noticed, or pretend not to notice. I've gotten the "oh, you look taller" comment. Makes me want to say, "Uh, honey I'm not taller, just not fat anymore" I've been told that the Canadian sizes are not the "true" sizes. By the way sources tell me that US sizes are bigger than Canadas. Hurmph, taller my butt! Sorry teeny vent there.

But there are those who are extremely supportive and I thank you for that. I find it funny the closer I get to being my goal weight and the more I see others loosing weight from this plan, I'm a little jealous. That's right call me crazy but it feels good to have someone comment on how you look and the wow you've lost weight shouts. Now I've been seen by everyone and everyone knows so me being smaller is old hat. It's really weird being so close and almost done. Like a part of my life is over and while I'm embarking on a new one, I kind of miss the old phase. So patting myself on the back now, GREAT JOB GIRL! Bring on phase 2!

The WHY question?

So many questions lately.
Why do my children fight when I have no patience to deal with them?
Why is it that Ron and I can't make a decision about what to do about a vehicle?
Why is it that there is never enough fun money?
Why is there never the sizes you need for clothes when you shop, doesn't matter if you are a 16 or an 8?
Why does the post office take forever delivering a package but your bills come early?
Why can't they make everyday clothes as comfortable as jammies?
Why is it even though you make a grocery list, you forget something?
Why does my coffee get cold before I can drink the last of it?
Why do I keep finding dead frogs in my basement?

Ok, nuff with the silliness...off to have a great day!

Seriously needing a break...

Ok we are offically into the half way point of summer, one month gone and one to go. My kids are driving me batty! So I've dug out some of Ethan's extra phonic, printing and math books. He is going to get a refresher soon. And Abby will work on some stuff like counting and shapes and letters. They need some quiet time. Or more acurately Mommy needs some quiet time.

On another note...Happy Birthday Honey!!! Today is Ron's birthday and we will be having people over on Friday (everyone working during the week) so tonight I'm going to make a nice supper and hopefully the kids will be behaved. Maybe I'll get them working on a card or two for him.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night, the monthly scrapbooking night! I went and got some pictures developed yesterday (only 100 out of the 577 that I needed) and I was seriously happy with the quality of developing. Very happy. And I'm pretty picky about that. So looking forward to getting a new camera though. Maybe this fall. So I've got to put together some page kits and get ready for tomorrow night. Today I will finish up my altered item for Scrapper's Haven, just need some journalling tidbits. Feel free to check out the website to see my stuff. Happy day to all!

What a weekend!

I'm almost glad that its Monday! We were so busy this weekend, moving furniture and rearranging stuff. I finally got my scrapbooking room under control. Looking in there I have way too much stuff! Time to ebay some surplus. Speaking of ebay, just scored some really great deals on jeans and star trek dvds. Very cool, especially since I've got a tv and dvd player in my scrapbooking room. This makes me so happy :) Now I can watch star trek and scrap my little heart out. My wonderful dh is heading to the city for work today so he's stopping by costco for me to get me new jeans, should be interesting. Once the kids are awake and functioning we are off to LLB to do errands and pick up groceries for a birthday party we are having for Ron. Mexican food, pinata, sugar free candies ole` ! I'm also hoping to get some pictures developed for my scrapbooking night on Wednesday so we'll see how much damage they can do there in town. It just takes way too long to upload them here in dial up land. So I'm off to get the offspring out of bed and dressed to begin the day...

I admit it

I totally have camera envy. Don't get me wrong, I love my little S1 IS but it so doesn't thrill me anymore. I get frustrated with the horrible low light capablities and the fact that I've missed some really great shots at times where I needed some speed. I want a new camera. I've already put the wheels in motion. Step 1. Buy Ron a really awesome table saw that will be all the saw he'll ever need. (This way I've paved the way for me getting an awesome camera) Step 2. Mention the drawbacks to my camera every few days/weeks. Step 3. As for a dslr for my 30th birthday.

The only problem is that step 3 isn't for a whole nother year! :( Wonder if I can win some money for a new camera? Hey its a thought ;)

Housework and all that stuff

You know I thought that with me being off this summer from work I'd have a clean, organized house. Apparently I'm not that kind of a person. Don't get me wrong I like a clean house but man, to get the gumption up to do it is another story. As I sit here and veg, I have a huge pile of laundry to put away, floors to sweep and mop, kitchen counters to clean and don't get me started on the basement. I really need some house elves I decided. Then I could watch TV, play with the kids and scrapbook without feeling guilty ;) But alas, I don't think its going to happen. Off I go to find something else to distract me from the mess...

Fun news!

I've been asked to be on a design team for a scrapbooking store! I've already created one of my first projects and need to do 2 more. Was planning on having some pictures developed at Costco but aparently my 577 pictures would take more than 1 hour :0 So I'll upload them at home. Please check out the website www.scrappershaven.ca its a great store with up-to-date scrapbooking supplies and great shipping prices. Love this place.

I've decided that...

New pretty jammies make me sleep better :) I took the kids to the city yesterday (had to pick up my modem) and I hit the jackpot at La Senza. Seriously good deals there. I'm currently sitting in my new comfy jammies feeling oh so pretty. Even with the bed head. We had a really great day yesterday. Hooked up with some amazing deals at The Children's Place, school clothes and such for the kids. I tried to find a dress for my cousin's reception at the end of August and I bombed there. Nothing that I tried fit, all too big. That was way too cool, yet not. So I bought a cute skirt and sandels that I can use. Went to costco and found cute cute Kenneth Cole jeans, looked at the size 8s and said no way are they going to fit me so I bought the 10s. I get home and the 10s are way too huge. Should have bought the 8s. Problem is that my Abby lost my reciept so I'll see if my sil wants them and I'll go get the 8s. It funny cause my mind still sees me as bigger than I am. I wonder how long that will take to change?

Whoohoo!!

I'm finally hooked up again!! This no net thing was a serious torture tactic for me. I got my new modem last night and installed it by myself, thank you very much. Took the cover off the tower and plugged the thing in all without the help of a man. Yay for me. I'm now sitting down to a couple of hours of serious catching up to do. Emails, ebay stuff and blogs await me.

So apartently I have an addiction...

During our last bit of a thunderstorm I was blessed with a shot to my computer. Sadly the modem didn't make it. I can't believe how lost I feel without my internet connection! Pretty sad. So my mornings on the net with a cup of coffee are being replaced with coffee and a Star Trek: TNG DVD (big score from ebay) I so need my net back. Thankfully I'm boring a few minutes at my bil's to check email and such. I'll keep everyone posted when I get a new modem.

Ahhh coffee in the morning...

Got to love the peace and quiet of an early morning. The best part is fresh coffee in the pot and kids still in bed. I'm so totally loving my kids getting older. Yes, I get misty eyed looking through their baby scrapbooks and ooing and ahhing over how much they've changed and grown, but there is something to be said for a little independance. This totally goes along with the balance thing I've been trying to achieve. It's so good to find a bit of me the person again, instead of me the mommy all the time. Those with young kids you know what I'm talking about.

This year marks an inportant stage in my life for many reasons, first of this the completion of our family. Its going to be the four of us and we are quite content with this. Second, is the weight loss thing. For those who didn't know I started a weight loss challange at work in September and it gave me such a boost that I've continued though the rest of the year. As I get closer to my goal (4 more pounds whoohoo!) I find myself thinking though the many excuses I told myself for being unhealthy and extremely overweight. Its funny how things that start out to be kind of selfish turn into a selfless process for those around me. Point in case, I didn't want to be fat anymore and now its turned into getting my family healthy and my kids having a healthy body image that will follow them into their teen years hopefully. I don't want my kids, especially Abby having to be that fat teenager. I know what that was like all to well and its not something that I want repeated.

So enough rambling on about food I need to go and refresh my coffee :)

Our newest rescue

I never would have dreamed that we'd have a kitty. My husband has never been what you'd call a cat lover... in fact he has refused all contact with any member of the feline family since he was a small boy. However, he came home from visiting his parents with our kids and heard this tiny mewing in the bushes by our house. After an hour of coaxing, he welcomed this new little kitty into our house. When I came home from scrapbooking, I was greated by "can we have a kitty, daddy says its okay?" So welcome to the family Maxi.

Ethan is the one who named her. Before we knew she was a girl, her name was Max. When we discovered her gender, she became Maxi. It seems to fit her seeing how she has a letter M for a marking on her forehead. So now Ron is her favorite and everytime you pick her up she is purring away. Surprisingly she is very affectionate for a cat dispite Abby trying to maul her ;)

In the begining...

there was nothing, now who'd a thought I'd have a blog? I've been going totally crazy reading other people's blogs and now decided to do one of my own. Yes I will give you credit Adrienne, you did get me thinking I could do this blog thing, thanks, by the way. I hope to just enjoy this space to talk without interuption. Something that doesn't happen too often with 2 kids.

Just to introduce myself a little, I'm a mom of 2 kids, Ethan (7) and Abby (4), wife to Ron and an avid scrapbooker. Definately will be elaborating more on that. I'm a self professed home body, shopaholic and Trekkie. What a combination.

I'm going to try and post fairly regularly and see where this goes. Enjoy.