Life Happens

Summer Reading

2010-08-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

I finished reading Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - it was very good. I liked Snow Flower and the Secret Fan better but this was still a great read. I have now started reading The Choice by Nicholas Sparks - a light read but enjoyable. I think I will reach my goal of 10 books by the end of the summer!

Thoughts on turning 42...

2010-08-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

• not really a good time to ask because I still feel crappy, thus old!

• I have a really great life and am very lucky

• my husband loves me - I love that he was worried about leaving for the week because I was sick and that he asked my friend to look out for me

• I am spoiled when it comes to gifts on my birthday (and Christmas too!)

• 13 years of marriage - it hasn't all been rosy but I wouldn't change anything

• I was 19 when my mom was 42 - my kids are 9 and 2

• my body is starting to "feel 42" - I need to take better care of it

• getting married on my birthday hasn't turned out so bad (I really didn't want to do it but I didn't want to wait to get married either) - Aaron always makes it more about my birthday

• I really want to work on personal goals for the next year - my life is good and I want to feel more like I deserve this good life

not feeling great

2010-07-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

I've been sick for a week now and it is really getting me down. It started with a fever/flu, moved to sinuses, then cough and now conjunctivitus (pinkeye). This last one is the worst as my eyes are itching, watery and very red. I went to the doctor today and got some drops so hopefully I will start to see improvement tomorrow. I'm worried that Lily is going to get sick too, she felt very hot this evening. It's hard to tell because it is so warm outside.

Heading to the island next week. It will be nice to have a different way to keep the girls busy. Aaron will be away again for my birthday but he bought me beautiful diamond earrings so he's forgiven - LOL.

Whew, where was I?

2010-07-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm a sporatic blogger, sue me. Not that anyone reads this except me and the odd time Aaron, LOL.

Anyway, Arden and I have challenged ourselves to read 10 books each this summer. I am getting ready to start #6. She is a little stalled but is reading 3 books at the same time. I'm not sure she is going to be the reader that I was at her age but hopefully it will come.

So far I have read:

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyers
Wicked by Gregory McGuire
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik
Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
A Boy of Good Breeding by Miriam Toews

My next read is Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

I love summer!

Where has the time gone?

2009-09-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

Wow! I haven't posted in a long time. It has been a great summer and now I am back at work full time. The first week back was very overwhelming and I shed more than a few tears. I just didn't feel prepared - especially because we couldn't even get in the building until 3 days before school started. It was crazy!

Anyway... I'm trying to win a free Cricut cartridge. They are giving one away free in celebration of their 100th cartridge "Winter Wonderland." I have to post a link to enter so...

Winter Wonderland

What's new in Poulinville

2009-08-11T22:01:00.000-07:00

• Lily is turning one on Thursday. This seems so hard to believe. We waited 8 years for her and now the time is just flying by.

• Lily is cruising around the furniture and is a little speed demon. She is definitely a more active child than Arden ever was. I think she will be walking by September.

• Thanks to HL, Lily's nickname is Sunny - as in Sunny Baudelaire from Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. She bites everything. I can just picture her hanging from the edge of the table by her teeth like Sunny in the movie.

• I went all girly girl today - haircut, manicure and pedicure. My toes look awesome! I just went to the nail place in the Chilliwack mall. I will definitely go there again. I really liked that I wasn't forced to chit chat the entire time - it was nice.

• I start getting paid this week! Yipee! But that also means that work is looming. I'm excited and a bit nervous to go back to work. There have been lots of changes at HSS in the last 3 years and I'm not sure where I am going to fit in.

• Only a couple of days until our holidays. I am really looking forward to the family time. I've got the passports and the baseball tickets in my purse already - they are the two things we can't!!! forget.

• We paid to have Lily's birthday up on the scoreboard at the Mariners/Yankees game. Hopefully we don't miss it so I can get a picture.

• It's been a great summer. Relaxing but I feel like we have made good use of the time. We have done some touristy things and Arden has played with friends and done some things like camp and bible day camp.

• One of the students I took to Scotland back in 2006 was killed in a terrible vehicle crash a couple of weeks ago. His service was last Friday and it was very nice. I have great memories of that trip. The student who was killed was Alex Lowe. The other 3 students who went to Scotland were Greg Webber, Kirstie Campbell, and Grace Mofoot. Alex had a really promising future. I was especially touched thinking about him and his girlfriend Larissa. It is so sad that they never got to see where their young love might take them.

Thoughts on turning 41

2009-07-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

• being 40 wasn't so bad - especially when polite people say I don't look 40

• what does 40 look like anyway?

• having a baby makes you feel younger - and apparently look younger to others

• I can hopefully retire in 16 years which means I have been a teacher longer than I have left to work!

• I still like getting presents even though I say it doesn't matter

• I keep thinking about my mom at this age - what was she like? what did she look like? - I was 17 and just graduating from high school when my mom was 41 but I remember her as she was the last few years she was alive not as she was then

• my dad never made it to 41 so I guess I'm lucky!

• I am sad that Aaron will be away again for my birthday/our 12th anniversary - I know he feels bad too.

• I think I am going to stop volunteering my age and just let people think what they want to think

Mickey body parts book

2009-07-25T23:12:00.000-07:00

I made this really cool Mickey Mouse body parts book tonight. I saw it on the Two Peas in a Bucket web site. The lady who made it gave awesome instructions and it turned out really cool! The photos are from the lady who designed it but mine looks exactly the same.

JK Wedding Entrance Dance

2009-07-24T21:21:00.001-07:00

OK, I'm totally in to posting stuff from YouTube right now. This makes me want to get married again - to Aaron of course - just so we could do this. He would love it - not that he likes attention or anything.

LOVE STORY (Taylor Swift) meets VIVA LA VIDA (Coldplay) - Piano Cello - by Jon Schmidt

2009-07-22T21:13:00.001-07:00

This is such a good video. I could listen to it over and over. Very cool!

Disney album DONE!

2009-07-18T23:50:00.000-07:00

I finally finished our 2007 trip to Disneyland scrapbook! Yipee!

Missing Arden

2009-07-14T19:15:00.001-07:00

I am missing her soooooo much. I am sure she is having a blast at camp but I miss my baby..... I have been away from her many times before but this is the first time she is away from me. I totally didn't expect to miss her this much. I sent her a card today and an e-mail. 3 more sleeps till she is home again.!

On the upside - Aaron went birthday/anniversary shopping today. I have wanted a family ring since Lily was born but thought they were really ugly when I checked them out - pearl, topaz and 2 peridot don't really go together very well. I hinted that 4 diamonds might be nice. He went to Lee's Jewelers in Abbotsford today! I am such a diamond girl - lucky me to have a husband who likes to spoil me!

Camp Squeah tomorrow

2009-07-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

Arden is off to Camp Squeah tomorrow for a week. She is very nervous. I bribed her a bit by saying I would give her $5 for our holiday if she didn't cry. Hopefully it works! I know she will have a good time, she is just nervous because she has never gone away for a week without us. She has been away from us for that long when we went to New York and PEI and I have been away from her when I went to Scotland and Ottawa. She has always been with family though so it is a bit scary for her. I hope she has so much fun that the time flies by. I also hope she will want to go again next year - that is the best way to know she had a good time.

summer cont.

2009-07-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

It has been a bit slower this week.

• Arden has been doing awesome in swimming lessons! A former student is her instructor and she likes that. She is in with kids at a higher level and she is doing as well as them

• starting to gather stuff for Arden to go to camp Squeah. I hope she enjoys it as much as I want her to. We got her a headlamp today which she thinks is pretty cool

• Aaron is coming home tonight and then we are going to watch him tomorrow. I also want to go get the new stroller on the way

• I'm bummed that the adhesive refills I had my friend order for me were the wrong ones. I was sure I told her the right number of my large sticker maker - there's $30 down the drain! I will stop at Michael's tomorrow to get the right ones. oh, I better print off a coupon!

• I finished a really good book - The Book of Negroes - and am now reading The Flying Troutmans - I love summer reading!

• I am really looking forward to our family holiday. I hope I can also get some nice clothes for back to school.

Makin' the most of summer

2009-07-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

So far it has been a busy summer. I am loving every minute of it. There is something so gratifying about making the most of your time. So far we have...

• visited Fort Langley - loved being able to touch and "play" with stuff. I also love the town itself - neat shops and good food.

• stayed over in Vancouver and saw the Jonas Brothers

• went to Granville Island on Canada Day

• visited with Mom and Dad Poulin

• visited with Nijhoffs as they head out on their 7 month adventure

• went to Casa del Rudance for a swimming and good company

• went to Hope Flight Fest and Arden got to go up in a small plane with some of the other cubs.

• I have also read quite a bit - loving The Book of Negroes right now

• we are also enjoying being able to go for bike rides now that Lily is big enough for her helmet - we went over to the Links tonight - had to walk back up the hill past Hazlewoods though - man, I'm out of shape (but Arden couldn't do it either)

• we are surviving without Aaron - but it is only day 2 - the sad part is we have to do it again at the beginning of August - I think I will NEED a nice piece of jewelry on our vacation to "make up" for all of the single parenting.

• tomorrow we are off to Crosgreys for a swim in the afternoon and next week Arden starts swimming lessons.

Jonas Brothers' concert

2009-07-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

I took Arden to this concert and it was awesome! We met up with Brooklyn and Sonya from Houston and had a fun day of shopping and then the concert. It was a great show! I was very impressed. Jordan Sparks opened for them and she was great too - I love her Tatoo song and her new one Battlefield.

Facebook

2009-06-28T23:41:00.000-07:00

I decided to go back on Facebook. I liked to be able to keep up with people without having to phone them. I am being a lot smarter this time. Maureen told me about the changes they made so that only friends can see your stuff. I am also not having students as friends - except for a select few former students.

Ok, I cut my finger today - on the dishwasher of all things - and I am having a terrible time typing.

Farewell...

2009-06-27T16:19:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson, Farrah Faucett and Ed McMahon.

Last day of school

2009-06-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

Arden is done grade 3! Holy Cow! It is clichéd, but man does time fly! It seems like only yesterday she was a baby or that we were sending her off to pre-school then kindergarten. She seems so grown up. I think Lily has matured her a bit. I am so proud of her. She does well in school and is a good person - which is most important to us. One more year at Coquihalla and then she is off to Aaron's school - WOW!

Yearbook fears

2009-06-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

OK, so I am going to be the Yearbook advisor next year and I am freaking out a bit. I am already being asked questions about deadlines, etc. and I know nothing. I'm glad Chris will be there as an advisor but it is such a huge responsibility. I am especially nervous about the students in the class - they need to be great kids with a good sense of responsibility - not just taking it because they think it will be easy. Because I don't know the kids this is especially difficult. There is a workshop in Vernon in September that I will attend but I wish/hope there is something before the school year starts so I don't feel so in the dark.

Will it ever be done?

2009-06-21T00:47:00.000-07:00

Went to my friend Bev's the past 2 evenings - until midnight - trying to get our Disney album done! I have now completed (except for journaling) the Disney part of the trip and am now working through SeaWorld and Universal Studios. I don't seem to make time to work on it at home. I am much more productive when I have a dedicated day either at home with my friends or at one of their houses. I am using the Cricut a lot on this project and have found some cool things on some of the cartridges. Tonight I was playing with Life's a Beach and Graphically Speaking - there is some awesome stuff on those two!

New Neighbours

2009-06-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

I'm soooooo excited. Our good friends H & SL just bought a lot right behind our house. It is awesome news! This means Arden's best friend will live on our street! I can hear it now, "bye mom, I'm going over to Emma's"

What's new

2009-06-15T21:49:00.000-07:00

The school year is rapidly approaching. Aaron and Arden will be done in another week and a half. It is hard to believe that Arden will be in grade 4 next year. She is such a little lady. Too much like me at times.

Lily is settling into a real routine. We were out shopping today and she really is a good baby. I said to Aaron that Arden was a good baby too so maybe we are just good parents - I think I like that theory, LOL.

Umpire season is in full swing. I miss being able to just sit and watch Aaron "do his thing." It is too hard with a baby and an 8 year old. Arden is very helpful with Lily when Aaron is away. I am grateful for this.

Lots of staff changes in the district. It makes everyone tense. I hope that my return to work in September will be ok.

Still enjoying our home and yard. Unfortunately our neighbour mows our lawn occasionally. I appreciate his gesture but he mows it too short and now our front lawn is looking yellow. I don't want to appear ungrateful but I might have to say something because the lawn was looking so great before.

Got three new Cricut cartridges on sale at Michaels on Saturday. I'm looking forward to trying them out.

Bev invited me over to scrapbook on Friday night. Maybe I can actually get my Disney album done!

Arden had two field trips last week. The first was to Hatzic Rock and the second was to Camp Squeah. The Sqeah one was great because she got a taste of what camp is going to be like. I think she is more excited to go now.

Aaron and I are really trying to lose weight and lower our cholesterol. We are eating oatmeal for breakfast three times a week and trying to go for a walk after dinner every night. I am feeling better already. It would be really nice to be down to that size 12 by the time I go back to work in September. I would like to be able to buy some new clothes on our summer holiday and it is much more fun when I can buy them in any store - not just the plus sized stores.

Got Aaron 2 awesome gifts for Father's Day and now I'm not sure if either of them will be here in time - frustrating!

I am in total summer reading mode. I rarely turn the tv on during the day. Got three more books at Costco today.

Had a family visit to the optometrist today. Our eyes are all healthy and Arden has 20/20 vision. My eyesight hasn't changed despite having to hold the book a little further away when reading. The optometrist said I will eventually need reading glasses but for now my light prescription for distances, driving, etc. is good enough. Aaron's eyes have changed a bit but he is still relatively the same.

Ahhh summer

2009-06-03T22:01:00.000-07:00

I love summer! Today it was around 33 degrees, a little hot but no way am I complaining. It makes sleeping a little uncomfortable but at least we have a ceiling fan. We will probably have to break out the portable fans and air conditioner this weekend.

Right now I am sitting on our front patio with my laptop enjoying the peacefulness of our neighborhood. I love this area. Our old neighborhood was so noisy with constant traffic. Here, it is so quiet. All I can hear is the odd train and the frogs in the Suckers marsh.

Birthday Wish

2009-06-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Aaron! I love you and I'm glad you had such a great day today.

"Bloglifted"

2009-05-31T20:24:00.000-07:00

I saw this on RK's blog and decided I needed it on mine too - thanks R.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.25 No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Jon and Kate watcher

2009-05-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

OK, I admit it, I love this show. I just watched the first episode of the new season and cried my way through the whole thing. It looks like their marriage is falling apart - probably mostly due to the fame they have acquired. I'm not going to go into all the details and my opinions of their choices but I just feel so sad for them. Watching a show like this always makes you feel a connection to the people and that always makes their sadness, your sadness too.

Feelin' like summer

2009-05-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

It really felt like summer today. It was so great. I mowed the lawn, Miracle "Growed" my flowers, and took Arden out to the Kawkawa Lake Resort for canoeing with the cubs. The kids had so much fun and some even went swimming. Arden did really great paddling the canoe - I was impressed. They all earned their water craft badge which was really cool. They also cooked hot dogs over the fire. The whole day just felt like summer. It looks like this weather is supposed to be here to stay for a while - yipee!!!

Scrappins' more fun without kids

2009-05-16T21:39:00.000-07:00

Had HL and BR over to scrapbook today. The three girls and Lily were here too. HL and I didn't get as much done as we would have liked as the girls needed our constant attention. Arden was being rude to her friend - not sure why - but I was very disappointed in her. She needs to learn about being more gracious and a better hostess.

It was fun to have my scrapping friends over though. It always brings out my inner Martha Stewart. I made muffins and a fruit platter for the morning, then we had shrimp melts and tomato and boccaccini salad for lunch. For dinner we had lemon and thyme roasted chicken with potato salad and cucumber salad. The cucumber salad was especially good. We had bumbleberry pie for dessert.

I did get quite a few pages done for my Disney album. All I have left are the photos from Universal Studios. Then I have to embellish the pages. Arden is spending the day with Jolena and her grandparents tomorrow so I am hopping to at least get the last of the photo onto pages and maybe even start the embellishing. Oh, did I mention Aaron is in Victoria for the weekend to the 20th Annual Umpire Tournament so I am on my own.

Because the girls were coming over today I did get the house cleaned on Friday which always feels good. Lily was great today, even had 2 naps - even if they were a little shorter than usual. I am so appreciating her better sleep patterns lately.

2009-05-10T20:43:00.001-07:00

You Are Times New Roman

You are formal and conservative. You're concerned with how you appear to others.

For you, maintaining a good reputation is important. You want people to trust you.

Elegant and classy, you always maintain your composure. You are never crass.

You are professional, competent, and upstanding. And it shows!

What Font Are You?

2009-05-10T20:41:00.001-07:00

You Are a Burrito

You're not a picky person. You're able to go with the flow and really enjoy life.

You have a taste for the exotic, and you're quite adventurous. You're willing to try almost anything.

You're very low maintenance. You don't mind getting a bit messy if it means having fun.

You aren't superficial or easily impressed. Someone has to be the real deal if they're going to impress you.

What Kind of Fast Food Are You?

2009-05-10T20:39:00.001-07:00

Your Birthday's Wisdom is Thought

You believe a mind is a terrible thing to waste, and you try to exercise your brain as much as possible.

You are intrigued by almost everything, and you are curious about the world around you.

You want to travel to foreign lands, read lots of books, and master many subjects.

You love to go on all sorts of adventures, especially the kind that don't require you to leave your room.

What's Your Birthday's Wisdom?

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T20:32:00.001-07:00

I miss you mom.

BC Scrapbooking Crop for Kids

2009-05-07T19:17:00.001-07:00

I am so excited - I registered for this event tonight. I love going scrapbooking for the weekend and this is only in Abbotsford so it is not too far to go. I'm not sure if I am going to do any classes but the registration for that isn't until June.

I am thinking I might go to Bellevue in November for the CKC - I could go on Pro-D funds for that...hmmm.

Accommodations booked!

2009-05-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

I spent the day today booking our hotel rooms. It always gets me excited. I even stayed within our budget which is pretty good for me. It is always surprising when we can stay in Boise for 2 nights for half of what we are paying to stay in Couer D'Alene for 2 nights. One of the most expensive nights is Moscow. I probably could have found something else if I used the tourist guide and phoned places but I like to see the pictures and information on-line. We are staying at the Columbia River Inn in Grand Coulee Dam which is a hidden gem in my opinion. The place we are staying at in Salmon could fall in the same category - of course these two places are the cheapest of all the hotels - go figure.

Now it's time for the really fun part - looking up places to visit like museums and theme parks, etc. I also like to find places to stop along the way. We are definitely going to Silverwood theme park and Boulder Beach in Couer D'Alene and I want to see the Crater of the Moon monument and the Sacajeweo (sp??) exhibit (that's in Salmon). Aaron is looking forward to the laser light show on the dam in Grand Coulee - Arden and I saw it in 2004 with my Mom. I'm not sure Arden remembers - I think she may have even fallen asleep before the show. In Missoula it would be cool if there was something to do with the Missoula Children's Theatre that came to Houston - I will check it out.

Vacation planning

2009-05-05T15:27:00.001-07:00

I have been working on planning our summer vacation yesterday and today. I love this process. Breaking out the maps, figuring out where we are going to stay and then finding attractions and hotels in the area. We are heading to Idaho for 2 weeks with stops in Leavenworth and Grand Coulee Dam on our way. Of course the whole vacation kicks off with a Mariners/Yankees game in Seattle - on Lily's 1st birthday non-the-less! I am getting excited. Now I just need Aaron to sit down with me for 5 minutes so I can run through the rough itinerary before I start booking accommodations. Our criteria for hotels is always a free breakfast (preferably with some hot items - love those waffles!) and a pool! Most of the time this isn't a problem but we might have to stay at a couple of places that don't have one or the other.

We are going to...
Seattle, WA
Leavenworth, WA
Grand Coulee Dam, WA
Couer D'Alene, ID
Moscow, ID
Boise, ID
Twin Falls, ID
Idaho Falls, ID
Salmon, ID
Massoula, Montana
Lewiston, ID
Yakima, WA

Lovin' the garden

2009-05-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

I am loving my garden right now. I keep going outside just to look at the flowers. Did a little Miracle Grow watering today. I love that stuff, it really works. It's too bad that it is supposed to rain for most of this week. The sun brings out the blooms which are much nicer to look at. I especially love it when the petunias start to cascade over the edge of the pots. I think the border of marigolds and allysum is going to look really nice - especially now that the bark mulch is gone.

Update

2009-04-30T13:08:00.001-07:00

• have been enjoying the nice weather - I feel rejuvenated

• got my pots planted - 8 in total - and they are looking great. I love it when the petunias start to bloom over the edges.

• dug all the bark mulch out of the front garden - I hate that stuff - it makes such a mess and the weeks still grow through it. I added some dirt to the garden and put plastic edging around it to keep the grass from overtaking the garden. I want to plant some allysum and marigolds as a border and then maybe some other flowers amongst the perenials that are already there - I am just waiting for my bulb order to arrive from the Cubs because I ordered some hostas and fairy lilies

• I am appreciating that Lily is starting to be more predictable in her sleep patterns

• I am excited to be making some birthday invitations for my friend TC - they are for her mother's 90th birthday. I plan to make them either tomorrow morning or Saturday - only 12 so not too big of a job

• even though I said I didn't care what I am teaching next year, I was excited to learn that I will have 2 blocks of English 11 and 1 block of Writing 12 - I am excited to bring back the school newspaper. I don't know what my other 4 blocks will be but as long as it isn't Learning Assistance I think I'm ok with anything

• Aaron reads my blog - that's weird

• I am going to Aaron's class tomorrow afternoon to make squash books with his kids for Mother's Day - this is such a great project and the moms always love it

• getting excited for June 30th to see Sonya and Brooklyn - I miss their friendship. We are going to the Jonas brothers concert that night but they are coming in at 8am so we can spend the day together.

• I didn't know I would miss Houston as much as I do - it makes me feel like crying sometimes when I think about it - it really was a great place to live and I made some good friends there that I did different things with, like golfing. My friends here seem to be focussed on scrapbooking which is nice but I liked having friends that I did other things with

• I need to get started making arrangements for our summer holiday. August 13th is the start with the Mariners/Yankees game - Happy Birhtday Lily!

Scrapbooked today

2009-04-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

Had a great day Scrappin' with the "girls". It was a fundraiser for a the Arthritis Society. I got 12 more layouts done for my Disney album. I now just have to do Sea World and Universal Studios. I also went "sans Lily" which was great. Aaron is such a super Dad, he actually got her down for 2 naps today without me having to come home to nurse her at all. I am starting to see some freedom coming my way.

sick.....AGAIN!!!!

2009-04-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

i am sooooooo sick of this. I have the exact same symptoms as during Spring Break. Poor Lily is a stuffed up mess too. We just keep sneezing and coughing on each other. I just want to feel well. I haven't even been to see my Grandma at the lodge for a month because we have been sick and I don't want to bring my germs over there. I have all these new clothes for her and haven't been able to take them to her. It is my Grandma's birthday on Sunday and I have to get over there. Hopefully we will be well enough then.

not good curly

2009-04-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

Well, my hair doesn't look as good when it is curly. Actually, I hate it. Hopefully it will look better after I get it coloured on Thursday. If not, next time I will try a different stylist.

New hair

2009-04-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

Lovin' the new haircut. I went to Green Apple in Chilliwack and a girl named Suzy cut my hair. I love that she straightened it after she cut it. Aaron hates my hair straight but I love it. I am going back next week for a colour and foils. I bought a straightening iron so I can try to straighten my hair myself -good luck with that.

Start of a new week

2009-04-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

Took the Trailblazer in for service this morning and then walked home with Lily. It is such a beautiful day and it was a great walk! I feel so good that I did it because I was going to just pick up the car from Aaron's school instead of walking.

It looks like the weather is shifting. It was beautiful yesterday and I cleaned out the Trailblazer after the bottle drive on Saturday. The back of the truck smelled like a brewery - yuck!

It is Easter this weekend and we are headed to the island. The weather is supposed to change to rain but hopefully it will stay sunny. We will do the Easter Egg Hunt at Transfer beach again this year. Arden really enjoyed it last year. Isabelle also wants to go see the Hannah Montana movie with Arden and I know she will love it. I am just looking forward to getting away for a few days. I also love shopping in Nanaimo because I always have good luck there!

Tomorrow I am getting my hair cut in Chilliwack. I am sooooo looking forward to that! I haven't had my hair cut since September!!!! I needed to find a new stylist because I wasn't happy with the cut I was getting here. I always felt like an old lady when I got it cut short. The curls just turned into a football helmet. Hopefully this new person will have some ideas of what to do. Like Heather says - I want Nick Aroujo to cut my hair!

Gettin' my groove back

2009-03-31T10:45:00.000-07:00

I have decided that I just need to get myself in gear. I am being stupid and lazy - enough already! I am tidying the house today - did a good cleaning on Saturday already. I have been to the dentist this morning and now I am going to get to work on shortening Grandma's pants so that I can bring her new clothes to the lodge - 3 weeks late! I couldn't go over there because we have all been so sick. I told Arden that a cough to us can be deadly for the seniors at the lodge.
I heard from an insurance agent in Vernon today about a policy that Dad had. I didn't know he had life insurance. The irony is that when I was growing up I distinctly remember him telling me about selling life insurance and that it was a waste of money? I'm not sure what is going on with the rest of his estate and I have no idea how much money is involved. It is weird to think about the money but the way I look at it is that this is what my mom is leaving me too. When Dad died when I was 13 everything went to mom to care for us and for our lives. Then when mom died everything went to Dad (Chuck). If we didn't get anything after he died it wouldn't seem fair because both my first Dad and my mom worked so hard all their lives. They would want us to benefit from that. We will see what happens.

grrrr..

2009-03-27T10:29:00.001-07:00

Still sick.
Still raining.
Still coughing.
Still a lazy bum!
grrrr....

Livin' in the sick house

2009-03-22T21:49:00.000-07:00

Well, another Spring Break has come and gone but his one left us down for the count. I got sick on Sunday and spent 2 days in bed. Lily was sniffly the whole time and then Arden started to feel sick on Friday. Poor Aaron had to play nurse and super parent all week. I had no energy when Fab and Jacquie were here - I honestly just wanted them to leave so I could go back to bed. I hope Aaron doesn't come down with this next because I still feel like crap and if he gets it as bad as I had it he will be a super baby. My throat is still sore and the coughing makes me sound like I am going to cough up a lung. I might need to go to the doctor this week to make sure I don't have strep or something. I'm not sure if Arden will go to school tomorrow or not. Whenever I'm sick I always forget what it feels like to feel well - I hate that.

Being a teacher is hard

2009-03-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

I don't think many non-teachers really understand this. Right now I am dealing with a bunch of well meaning volunteers for an organized children's program and they are oblivious to the problems with the organization of the group. I have other parents complaining to me and the leaders don't think there is a problem. I am very frustrated and mad. I know I have higher expectations because I am a teacher but these leaders don't have a clue. It is tough to lead a group of kids in meaningful activities. Part of the problem as I see it, is that these people are "free-er" with their own children so may be more used to the chaos, I however, need more structure, listening, and respect.

Up to my neck in "neckers"

2009-03-10T16:00:00.001-07:00

I've been making neckers for Arden's Cub pack all day today. I got this great green flame fabric. I have over half of them done. If I don't get them done tonight I will finish them tomorrow. The hard part was doing it with Lily deciding it was a non-nap day.

At home retreat

2009-03-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

Our "At home scrapbooking retreat" went really well on Saturday. We scrapbooked from 9am till 10:30pm. I only got 8 two page layouts done but it was fun. I actually just worked on family photos - from 2004! I still really want to get my Disney album done! I think I will ask Aaron to let me have a day during Spring Break where he just brings me Lily when she needs to be fed and then I can close the door on my scrap room and have some "me" time.

I'm not an overly religious person but...

2009-03-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

I read this on 2Peas and really liked it...

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough."

May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

Doing better

2009-03-02T18:06:00.001-08:00

Lily is doing much better today. I took her to see Dr. Nyirenda and she prescribed a puffer. She was a bit concerned because Lily was breathing loudly both when she inhales and exhales. It really seems to have calmed down this evening. Hopefully by tomorrow she won't sound like a seal.

Croup

2009-03-01T21:17:00.000-08:00

Lily has croup. I took her to the Emergency this morning at 6am and we spent 3 hours there. They gave her 4 doses of epinephren (sp?) through an oxygen mask but there was minimal improvement. The doctor then prescribed a steroid in liquid form. Her breathing did get progressively better during the day. The good thing is that she is in good spirits. She still wanted to play and ate a really good dinner and nursed well all day. She is sleeping now. I had to put her on the spare bed downstairs as she couldn't seem to settle in her crib. I am going to sleep on the couch down stairs in case she has another attack during the night. Hopefully she will continue to improve. I am still going to take her to see Dr. Nyrienda tomorrow. Hopefully this doesn't lead to chronic breathing/chest problems. It was definitely scary.

Nights in Rodanthe

2009-02-20T23:51:00.001-08:00

Great movie! Love how Nicholas Sparks movies translate to the big screen. I still think The Lake House is my favourite but this one was pretty good too. Aaron is in Vancouver for umpire meetings and Arden is at Emma's for her birthday. Sounded like a chick flick night to me. Watched Swing Vote too. Not really that great but ok. If tomorrow is as nice as today I am going to clean the house, open some windows and let the winter staleness escape the house.

Thoughts on being an orphan

2009-02-15T21:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I am officially an orphan. It is a very strange feeling. My dad died in 1981, when I was 13. My mom died in 2005, when I was 37. And today my stepfather died, and I am 40. Lots of emotions today. Yes I am sad but he had no quality of life so even if it sounds cliched, it is a blessing. I had my first dad for 13 years, and this dad for 26 years. It doesn't seem long enough even combined. I always get mad at my students (or anyone for that matter) when they don't appreciate their parents - one day they will be gone - there is a sense of security in having parents, now I am alone with my own family - weird feeling. I drove to Vernon today after my step-sister called to say he was experiencing heart failure. He died before I got there. I really wanted to get to say goodbye, and I felt a bit like I had let my mom down but hopefully she could see that I was trying to get there - even through snow on the Coquihalla. Gayle and I went out for lunch then we went to clear the stuff out of Dad's room. I got a couple of photos of him which made me happy since I don't have any since he had his stroke (or whatever it was) I really felt for Gayle, all three of her parents died at Noric House (where Dad was) - that is really sad. When she phoned Sean in Costa Rica he told her that his 4 year old daughter Serena had said this morning that "Grandpa died" - even before Gayle had gotten hold of him - very strange. We don't give kids enough credit.

Anyway, I hope Dad, Mom and Dad are all having a drink with Grandma and Grandpa Chesterman and Grandpa Sayers. I hope they are playing a good game of cards and are smiling down on all of us. I hope they see their grandchildren with a sense of pride, and I hope they save a place for me at the table.

Friday the 13th

2009-02-13T23:57:00.000-08:00

Actually, it was a good day. I went to Surrey to get Lily's passport. Had a bit of trouble with her photo - had to go get another one, but I had two people helping me who were awesome. They were so nice and really tried to get the first photo approved. We weren't totally sure that they would accept the second photo but I am being optimistic. After that I went to Langley to get some Valentine's gifts - t-shirts from Old Navy, and then to Clipper Street to take advantage of their BOGO sale on Bind-it-All coils. Next it was on to Costco (or the 500 dollar store as we call it) We then all went out to Papandreas for dinner - love!! Greek food and it was especially good tonight. So much for Friday the 13th.

Ouch

2009-02-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

OK, so I have this tooth problem. It started on the weekend. When I eat or drink something hot I just about hit the roof. The problem is I can't isolate which tooth it is. I went to the dentist today and there is nothing on the x-ray. We think we have pinpointed the tooth but now he put some sensitivity stuff on it to see if it helps. If not, .... root canal... AHHHHHH. It is my second from last molar on the bottom right and apparently there are three nerves in that tooth. It takes about and hour and a half for a root canal. I am afraid to eat or drink anything hot right now. The dentist said it really doesn't hurt once the freezing is done but an hour and a half with my mouth open - and that sound - I dread the sound of that drill already. I am strong, I am strong, I am strong.....

Too much stuff

2009-02-10T11:40:00.001-08:00

Holy crap do I ever have a lot of scrapbooking stuff. I have been sorting and organizing my craft room for the past two days and it is scary. I went through a phase where I would buy every slab from Costco. This has resulted in 4 Cropper Hopper vertical paper holders full of patterned paper. This doesn't include the "name brand" patterned paper that I have sorted separately. It is good to go through everything. I really want to start using this stuff. Doing mini-books has inspired me to use up this old paper. I also gave a 3 inch stack of this paper to Arden.

Lily must be having a growth spirt but she doesn't want to sleep. She was up 3 times last night and doesn't want to have a nap. Right now she is crying (screaming!) on the spare bed but she has been up since 5:30am and needs to have a nap - so do I for that matter.

Happy Birthday Bev!

2009-02-09T14:28:00.001-08:00

Happy 49th Birthday to my friend Bev. She is the best. Very caring and giving. She is like a (very young!) grandma to Arden and Lily. I hope she has a great year.

Movement

2009-02-08T21:48:00.000-08:00

Started to get movin' this weekend. Scrapbooked on Saturday and organized some scrapbooking stuff today. Tomorrow I am taking Bev out for brunch for her birthday. Last week I drove to the pool and walked to pick up Arden twice. If the weather holds I will keep this up and try to weave up and down a few of the streets to make the walk a bit longer. I am feeling a bit more motivated so hopefully I can get out of this slump.

Tuesday stuff

2009-02-03T14:46:00.001-08:00

Really feeling the need to be more active. I feel like a slug and am starting to look like one. The sun is shining today and I must take advantage of the good weather. I need to go for a walk every day. It has become too easy to sit on the couch all day. I hate how I am feeling about myself and then I get angrier because I don't do anything about it. UGH!

2009-01-30T22:24:00.001-08:00

You Are "Time After Time"

If you were transported back to the 80s, your life would be all about reflecting.

You're a serious, earnest person - and you couldn't help but think a lot about how things were back then.

You'd spend a lot of your time writing, researching, and learning.

You would either become a social anthropologist - or a crazy guru with a knack for predicting the future.

What's Your 80s Karaoke Song?

Bind-It-All fun

2009-01-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

Tried out my Bind-It-All today. Very cool! I made a mini book for Arden with pictures of her and her friends. Now I wish I had different wires. I bought the 1/2 inch wires but now I know I will need some larger sized wires. I think this was a good investment as I really like making mini books and now I can make my own.

Here she is...

2009-01-27T10:08:00.000-08:00

Scrapper girl returns

2009-01-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

My friend HL asked me to recreate the scrapper girl I drew a few years ago for our Fraser River Scrappers group. I think she is cool in a funny way. UGH! I can't get her to show up here but trust me, she's cute.

5th folder, 5th photo

2009-01-23T20:09:00.001-08:00

Saw this on a friend's blog so I was curious as to which photo I would find. This is from my April 2007 folder. I made these jars for Aaron's staff for Easter.

Feeling visual

2009-01-22T14:46:00.001-08:00

Some photos I love

99 Things

2009-01-21T20:41:00.000-08:00

From RK's blog again. She has some good stuff.

1. Started your own blog YES
2. Slept under the stars YES
3. Played in a band YES
4. Visited Hawaii YES
5. Watched a meteor shower YES
6. Given more than you can afford to charity YES
7. Been to Disneyland/world BOTH
8. Climbed a mountain YES
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch YES
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning APPARENTLY EVERYONE HAS
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty NOT POSSIBLE - YOU CAN ONLY GO AS FAR AS HER FEET
18. Grown your own vegetables YES
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train YES - IT SUCKED!
21. Had a pillow fight YES
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - YES
24. Built a snow fort YES
25. Held a lamb YES - UNCLE GERALD WAS A SHEEP FARMER
26. Gone skinny dipping YES
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse YES
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset YES
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise YES
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors YES
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied YES - UP NORTH
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke YES - BUT NOT WELL
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight YES
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling YES - BOTH
52. Kissed in the rain YES
53. Played in the mud YES
54. Gone to a drive-in theater YES
55. Been in a movie independent movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies YES
62. Gone whale watching YES
63. Gotten flowers for no reason YES
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma YES
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check YES
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy YES
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar YES
72. Pieced a quilt YES
73. Stood in Times Square YES!!!
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London YES
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle YES
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car YES
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper YES
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating DOES FISH COUNT?
88. Had chickenpox YES
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous YES
92. Joined a book club YES
93. Lost a loved one YES
94. Had a baby YES
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake NO, BUT I WAS THERE
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone YES
99. Been stung by a bee YES

Inauguration Fever

2009-01-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I'm not American, but it's hard not to get wrapped up in the historical significance of this day. Let's hope he can live up to the expectations. There is a sense of hope.

Shopping today

2009-01-16T23:49:00.001-08:00

Guess what I got today!!!

I am very excited to try this tomorrow. We also went to Ikea and got the 4x4 Expedit shelf for the girls' toys. It will be nice to organize this last bit of our family room.

Wednesday stuff

2009-01-14T22:52:00.000-08:00

I saw this cool photo on AE's blog. Checked out the website of isphotography. Very cool stuff. I especially liked this one

The lack of sleep thing is starting to catch up to me again. It doesn't help that my favourite time of day is late night when everyone is asleep and then I have to get up 3 hours later with Lily.

Hoping to spend the day scrapbooking tomorrow. I would really like to get that Disney album done - maybe even before Heather's all day crop so I could work on something different that day - maybe Hawaii or Scotland.

Going shopping with the girls and Bev on Friday. Heading to Ikea to get the 4x4 Expedit for the kids' toys. I also really need a bulletin/magnetic board for the kitchen. We are going to stop at a couple of scrapbooking stores too. I think I might buy a Bind-It-All. I think I could really make good use of this tool - especially when I go back to work in September.

I have been thinking about work quite a bit lately. I haven't even met the new principal. I think I will make some muffins to take over to the school and maybe I will get to introduce myself. I don't really care what I will be teaching but I would really like to at least have English 11. I think I really miss the social aspect of work. I am turning into a maternity leave couch potato.

Saturday stuff

2009-01-10T23:11:00.000-08:00

Scrapbooked today with the ladies. I got my December daily album completely finished. I totally love it! it was fun and looks great. I got a better start on my Disney album as well. I decided to go for a white background and it is working much better for me.

Lily must be having a growth spurt but without the sleeping that is supposed to accompany it. She is eating constantly which has made me a bit sore. Aaron is hosting poker tonight so after two attempts of putting her down in her crib I have put her to sleep in the guest room. I will probably sleep with her because I am afraid she might decide tonight is the night to roll over and roll right off the bed.

Arden was much brighter today but there is definitely still a problem with her "movements." Hopefully the tests and x-ray will reveal something this week. She came scrapbooking and seemed to have fun. I am getting a little more concerned about her weight as she seems so thin to me. I don't know if I am just overly aware because of her recent problems but she is skin and bones. If nothing comes of her tests I think we will follow up with a pediatrician.

Not feeling good about my body right now. I feel really bloated and uncomfortable. Hopefully the weather will continue to improve so I can start walking with Lily again.

2009-01-08T21:46:00.001-08:00

Your Word is "Fearless"

You see life as your one chance to experience everything, and you just go for it!

You believe the biggest risk is being afraid and missing out on something amazing.

Sometimes your fearlessness means you're daring. You enjoy risky activities.

And sometimes your fearlessness means you're courageous. You're brave enough to do the right thing, even when it's scary.

What's Your Word?

SNOW DAY!!!!!!!

2009-01-05T08:45:00.000-08:00

Snow Day?

2009-01-04T22:11:00.001-08:00

Holy crap! It is snowing like crazy. There is a big possibility for a snow day tomorrow - pretty funny since it is the first day back to school after Christmas break and they never used to have snow days when we lived here before. Now, if the busses don't run then schools are closed.

New Year thoughts

2009-01-04T08:37:00.000-08:00

I totally stole this from my friend RK's blog but I thought it was very meaningful and I liked what it said.

Ideas for an exceptional new year....
1.Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2.Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you must. Buy a TiVo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
3.When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to__________ today."
4.Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5.Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.
6.Make time to practice meditation and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
7.Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
8.Dream more while you are awake.
9.Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat fewer foods that are manufactured in plants.
10.Drink plenty of water.
11.Try to make at least three people smile each day.
12.Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
13.Don't waste your precious energy on gossip,energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
14.Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
15.Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
16.Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
17.Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
18.Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
19.Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
20.You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
21.Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
22.Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
23.Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy underwear because today IS special.
24.No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25.Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
26.Forgive everyone for everything.
27.What other people think of you is none of your business.
28.Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
29.However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30.Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31.Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32.Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33.The best is yet to come.
34.No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35.Do the right thing!
36.Call your family often.
37.Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: "I am thankful for __________." and "Today I accomplished _________."
38.Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39.Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

White Rabbit"

2009-01-01T11:34:00.001-08:00

Today I am appreciative that my daughter is feeling better thanks to a doctor at the hospital. It is so hard to be a kid who doesn't have the vocabulary to describe how she is feeling and then also have parents who think she is crying wolf most of the time. Poor kid was so constipated but at least things are "flowing" better this morning - LOL.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T00:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2009, I hope you are a good year. I will do my best to appreciate (my word for the year) myself, my family, my friends and my life. I am very lucky and I want to start living in a way that shows I appreciate how lucky I truly am.

ap⋅pre⋅ci⋅ate [uh-pree-shee-eyt] Show IPA Pronunciation
verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
1. to be grateful or thankful for: They appreciated his thoughtfulness.
–verb (used with object)
2. to value or regard highly; place a high estimate on: to appreciate good wine.
3. to be fully conscious of; be aware of; detect: to appreciate the dangers of a situation.
4. to raise in value.
–verb (used without object)
5. to increase in value: Property values appreciated yearly.

Word for the year

2008-12-31T14:02:00.000-08:00

A scrapbooker whom I really admire is Ali Edwards. She is very inspiring to me. She promotes the idea of coming up with a word for the year. I think I like this idea. Her word this year is "nurturing." I am considering "patience" but also like the idea of "appreciation." Since it is New Year's Eve these kinds of things are on my mind. I think both words represent many of the things I have been thinking about for the coming year. Hmm... something to think about for the last hours of 2008.

Thinking about resolutions

2008-12-29T21:58:00.000-08:00

As 2009 draws closer I have been thinking about resolutions. Like most people I rarely keep my resolutions...

Side note - I cut my thumb badly yesterday on the new mandolin I got for Christmas and it hurts like hell every time I hit the space bar.

This year I would like to keep my resolutions. I think I just want to work on bettering myself and the life I am leading. I don't think I will make resolutions like "lose 10 (ok 30) pounds" or "scrapbook something every week," although those are things I would really like to do. I think instead I will go for more general yet achievable resolutions. I want to make better use of my time everyday. I want to improve my relationships with people. I want to be more patient with my eldest daughter. I think I want to be more "real", I'm not totally sure what I mean by that but it's just a feeling I have. My health and scrapbooking also need to be part of my 2009 plan. I think that if I work on the time issue other things will fall into place. I think writing about things here will also be helpful. Only time will tell.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-28T14:32:00.000-08:00

Yep, my amazing husband got me an Expression for Christmas. Then we went to Michael's on Boxing Day and got 8 new cartridges - they were on sale for $39.99 each (that's like three for the price of one!) It was awesome - I am going to start playing this week. I even got some vinyl to do some word art on the walls.

OK, I admit it. I want...

2008-12-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

a Cricut Expression for Christmas. There, I said it out loud.

brrrrr....

2008-12-15T08:39:00.000-08:00

-30 in Houston today - but I still miss it. The weather network says we might be in for a white Christmas which would be great - it was always a guarantee in Houston.

It's a busy week. Christmas concerts, cards to send, cookies to bake and shopping to finish. Arden and I made pickled carrots and garlic yesterday. I hope they turn out ok.

SNOW!

2008-12-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

It's snowing!!!! I miss Houston.

Grandma

2008-12-09T22:33:00.001-08:00

Worried about Grandma tonight. She moved to her new room in the new addition to the lodge. It is beautiful over there but understandably she is scared and confused. It must be so scary to not know where you are. She was worried about not finding her room. I told her that the nurses will help but she was still very afraid. I am going to go see her again in the morning. I also want to make some scrapbook pages to hand in the case outside her door. Hopefully she doesn't have too rough of a night.

thinking...

2008-12-08T20:43:00.000-08:00

Not happy with the start I got on my Disney album on Saturday. It just doesn't feel right. I think I am going to take the two layouts I did apart and start over. I think I am not going to use a formula and just use the papers and embellishments on each page. The formula just isn't working for me.

Talked to Bill tonight. He has broken up with Jaime. It is too bad but can't say I'm surprised. That's another of his kids (5 altogether) who he won't be living with. I think he just needs to be single and hopefully avoid getting another woman pregnant.

I'm looking forward to shopping with Heather on Wednesday and Aaron on Thursday. We actually don't have that much more Christmas shopping to do. I figured out how to use my mom's leftover Airmiles today so I used them to get a few more gift cards. I just have one thing to get for Aaron and we have to get the gifts for the girls. I need a few stocking stuffers but those are never hard to get, except for Aaron's dad.

Scrappin' tomorrow

2008-12-05T22:10:00.000-08:00

Going to spend the day scrapbooking tomorrow. I love doing that. Hopefully Lily will cooperate as much as she did last month. I want to make a word book using my cricut but I think I need the Design Studio program. I can still do it and cut the ends out by hand which wouldn't be too hard. My goal tomorrow is to get the first four days of my December daily album done and to get started on my Disney album, hopefully 5 layouts. Once I actually get started on the album it will go faster, I just can't decide on a formula but tomorrow I am just going to go for it and not worry if it is similar to my New York album. That simple, clean line formula is my style.

Christmas cards

2008-12-03T08:46:00.001-08:00

I took some great pictures of the girls in front of the fireplace yesterday. I am hoping that one of them will work for a photo Christmas card this year.

Wow - just had a weird feeling when I said "the girls." I am still not used to the idea that we have two children. Even though Lily is challenging me as a parent, mostly with her sleeping patterns, I am so overwhelmed with the feeling that I am so blessed. I just had really resolved myself to the fact that we were only going to have one child and now I look at Lily and then at Arden, and I know that there is a higher power looking out for us. Part of me hopes that Mom had some say in the matter. I need her to know how much I love her and how sorry I am for the way I treated her at times - that guilt pops up whenever Arden and I butt heads. She is so much like me and I don't want her and I to struggle the way my mom and I did at times. I guess it helps me to understand how much my mom loved me - I just wanted to be independent to badly, just like Arden.

December daily

2008-12-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

Today I started to decorate the house for the holidays. It made me feel very festive. I took photos for my December daily album. I am hoping to get the tree up this week as well.

Tis the season

2008-11-30T22:22:00.000-08:00

That's right, only a couple of hours until December. WOW! I know I say it all the time but time seems to be moving so quickly. I just spent the past 2 hours setting up the advent calendar and wrapping the gifts for Arden and Aaron. We decided that Lily would join the advent calendar next year. That will mean 6 gifts for each of us instead of 8, which might be a little easier. Our advent calendar is more like a month long stocking but it is fun. I still need one more thing for Aaron but I will pick something up tomorrow. I hung the wreath on the door tonight as well. I am hoping to get the tree up this week too - it is more fun to have it up right at the beginning of the month so we can enjoy the tree. I love staring at it with all the cool ornaments we have collected over the years. We got a new tree this year that is 9 feet tall and I think it will be quite spectacular.

Arden is 8!

2008-11-28T21:59:00.001-08:00

It seems so hard to believe, especially with the arrival of Lily, but Arden is 8! I think she had a great day today and really liked her gifts - some pajamas, the Guiness book of World Records, and a rolling tote for scrapbooking. There was a mini melt-down at the end of the day but that happens when she gets tired. We even did a little Christmas shopping tonight at Moonlight Madness. It kind of got me in the Christmas spirit. On Sunday I have to pull out the Advent Calendar - December 1st is Monday.

Tomorrow we are off to High School Musical, the Ice Tour. It is for Arden's birthday "un-party". We are taking Emma and Jolena. I hope that Arden is a good hostess as she sometimes struggles when she has to share her friendship and it will also be a long day. We are going to the Olive Garden for "linner" after the show. Aaron is being a good sport, but secretly I am looking forward to the ice show. It reminds me of when my parents took me to Ice Capades every year as a kid. I loved it!

Another state?

2008-11-26T18:50:00.001-08:00

Aaron says Puerto Rico counts so make that 10!

Mother to an almost 8 year old

2008-11-26T18:46:00.000-08:00

It is "two more sleeps" until Arden turns 8. It is so hard to believe she is there already. Sometimes I look at her and she seems like a teenager - it is scary. Then I look at Lily and she is so young, it is hard to imagine her in the same place as Arden.

Arden and I are going to put the iron-ons on her goodie bags for her birthday party.

Two things

2008-11-23T22:28:00.001-08:00

First, I took off the cool paper background off my blog. It seems to have slowed down my blog and I noticed the same thing on my friend's blog. If there isn't an improvement in the speed then I might try it again.

I have been thinking about two things over the past couple of days, a Bucket List and how many states I have visited so far. I think the second comes from us deciding to go back to Idaho this summer and the first comes from reading other blogs and loving the movie. I think I will start by listing the states I have visited...

Washington
Oregon
California
Hawaii
Nevada
Idaho
Utah
New York
Florida

I have also been to the airports in Chicago, Illinois (twice), but I'm not sure that really counts.

I have been to every Canadian province but I haven't been to any of the three territories and my visit to Nova Scotia was just to the airport in Halifax and to the end of the ferry ride from PEI - but it was twice and I did set foot outside and I even have a photo.

BC
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
PEI
Newfoundland
Nova Scotia - sort of

I think I will start my Bucket List in a post all its own so I can add to it and tick things off. Is it crazy to add a few things I have already accomplished?

Grey Cup Sunday

2008-11-23T11:59:00.000-08:00

Having a Grey Cup party today. I made chili and some yummy nibblies for the afternoon. Lily has cooperated by sleeping in her swing for the past 2 hours. It is a beautiful day today so hopefully the kids will want to play outside for a bit. It made me miss living in Houston a bit when I checked the weather network and saw that it is snowing there today. Still such mixed feelings about leaving.

Fun shopping day

2008-11-21T16:30:00.001-08:00

Bev and I went to Abbotsford today to pick up our Christmas tree at Costco. Had to check out Linens and Things. Bought some more towels for our bedroom en suite and some more matching items for the girls' bathroom. Everything was about 20-25% off right now. The deals will get better as they move toward their closing at the end of January but the supply will definitely be decimated. We also went to Home Sense. They had some cool stuff that I still might go back to get. I would like a small Christmas tree to go outside our front door. The tree I got at Costco is really nice. 9 feet, and pre-lit. I also got 3 absolutely gorgeous pointsettieas. They were only $20 each and they are beautiful. It makes the living room look quite festive.

oohh, found a new blog thing to try

2008-11-18T22:15:00.001-08:00

Decided to follow the link on a friend's blog for cool backgrounds. Very cool. Decided to change up my template as well.
Heading to Chiliwack tomorrow to do some shopping. I need to get all the stuff for the Grey Cup party and I want to get some items for Arden's birthday. I have these cute draw string back packs to use for the "goodie" bags. I am hoping I might find some iron ons for them. I might go to Abbotsford on Friday to get the Christmas tree so I can go the Michaels then, I know they have some cool iron ons. Apaprently Linen and Things is going out of business so I might check there for some good deals as well.

I love routine

2008-11-17T09:17:00.000-08:00

I am starting to feel like my life is running on a bit of a routine again, thank God! I am trying to tidy the house a little bit every day so that it never gets out of control. Lily is starting to take naps at regular times each day which is a big help. Today I have put away laundry, sorted through Lily's clothes and tidied the kitchen. I am hoping to make shortbread today and do a bit of scrapbooking. I want to get my Disney album done before Christmas but I also need to make the 6x6 pages for Aaron's mom's album. One step at a time.

shhhh....

2008-11-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

Lily has slept through the night for 3 nights in a row. 8:30pm til 6am. Mommy is feeling so much more human thanks to those consecutive hours of sleep!

Rain, rain, go away...

2008-11-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

Now I remember one thing I did not miss when we were living up north. The rain and overall grayness of the days just gets to me after a while.
We went to Aunty Judi's for lunch today. It was nice. Wendy and Myles were there along with Jen, Kim, Jake and Danielle. Uncle John's brother Tom was there too. It was crowded and loud but nice to visit.

2008-11-08T21:37:00.000-08:00