from my new favorite TV show...

Flight of the Conchords on HBO, Sunday nights. We don't have HBO, but so far all episodes are available on the internet, either on HBO.com or YouTube... these two best friends have moved from New Zealand to New York to make it big with their band. When one gets a girlfriend (Bret, in the pink shirt), the other (Jemaine) has a hard time letting go...

My favorite line is the barely audible "I always see you there."

Do it NOW!

So, I was in my laundry room, noticing the boys' backpacks hanging on their hooks, with their lunch bags kind of peeking out. I thought to myself, "I should take those lunch bangs out of there and wipe them out and put them away for the summer" and then I thought, "oh, forget it, I'll do it on the evening of September 3rd". But then I decided to do the responsible thing and take care of it then and there. Brodie's felt oddly heavy for an empty lunchkit... and so did Adams... and then gthere was the smell.

It was at that point I realized I was living every mother's nightmare... my 11 year-old was obviously making his own banana liquor on the side, starting with fermented bananas which he was planning to keep in his backpack until the process was complete.

In short,if your kid has a lunch bag still in his backpack from school, check it now, just incase they forgot to eat their snack on the last day of school.

Brodie, never wanting to miss out on a good business venture, was apparently going to make his own wine.

Who Needs a Deck?

For the last "several years" (Joel insists it's only a year, I say three) we've had a unfulfilled dream of a deck in our back yard.

Things you should know before reading further:
1) Joel works a LOT more than 9-5, so his spare time is precious and so are his kids, and so is havings a little R&R so that he stays sane with the pressure of his job.
2) While he would love to learn how to do "BUILDY" stuff, he would admit to a very low natural skill set in the "handy" department.
3) I try really hard not to be too naggy about stuff around the house that takes ages to cross off the list or doesn't get done due to 1 & 2.
4) I have still clung to the dream of a deck and have been purchasing items for it when they're at the end of season (since i've had 1-3 end of seasons to pick up deals... depending who you ask.) and have had several large boxes of furniture in the garage for (1-3, depending who you ask) years.

Well, this spring came and went, and besides that fact that I had a written and witnessed contract that I would be sitting on my deck June 1st this year, we are, sans deck. Time ran out for Joel and I did get a quote for having the deck built, which came to the amount of $10,000. GULP. Not this year, thanks.

So, we've agreed that this year we would tackle the first step to the deck, which is to get a pad for the hottub (which is currently taking up 2/3rds of our small concrete patio, leaving us with virually no where to sit in our back yard.) And that this summer we (and when I say we I mean Joel) would move the irrigation lines around to fit the deck that is coming next summer, along with making our patio pad a little bigger. Bored of this story yet?

Anyhow.... yesterday I was in a "be part of the solution instead of bitching about my lack-of-deck", so I went on a tear... cleaned the shed, cleaned the garage, and got those several boxed out of there and assembled my own darn patio furniture to put on my "pretend deck".... I've always wanted an outside livingroom type space in my back yard, and deck or not, I can still have it... I'll just consider the grass (where it's not dead) to be green shag. I might get a tent next week and set it up in the shade, since the hot tub is supposed to end up in this spot soon.

Anyway, this is where I will be hanging out, in my outdoor with green shag living room. Come by anytime! (ok, call first)... and please note that if we were 18 inches higher we could see the lake.... next summer.

My Favorite Thing about the end of the School Year...

is possibly reading Brodie's journal. I can not for the life of me find the entry regarding square dancing.... a comment along the lines of it being boring and "grose". However, this post-Easter entry is pretty funny... I mean come on!

This weekend we did a quick trip to Seattle for a visit with Joel's brother Dave and his family. In our 48 hours we took in a Mariners/Jays game; went to the Seattle Zoo; ate at a revolving sushi restaurant; enjoyed DIP 'n DOTS; a 45 minute power shop at Target; Pike Place Market where Joel accidentally bought copious of smoked salmon, (anyone want any?); and fish & chips by the ocean. It was a nice little get-away and we were home Sunday night so we could still have Monday at home to get some stuff off the to-do list, and a foiled attempt at getting dinner from Marathon to celebrate Jay & Cher's big move out of the basement. Pizza it was.

a couple more pics from our weekend... love the organutan.

I think I'm in love...

My good friend Mrs. Cheryl got this link from her best friend Cathy Z. I love these two guys and there are plenty more videos on youtube... enjoy!

That New Puppy Smell

My kids are really enjoying the neighbor's puppies... purebreed labs...

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Fresh Bread - A Full Life

"My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." John 10:10

Do you ever wake up and instantly have a thought on your mind that you just can't shake? This morning that happened to me, and I was consumed by thinking about the marriages around me, the new ones, the long time ones, the solid ones, the fragile ones... and my own. I was thinking about how when two people are willing, God has something so incredibly special to be celebrated in a deep relationship. I was thinking about how thankful I was for the "deep love" I share with Joel. And then I read this verse, and was reminded that experiencing DEEP LOVE is part of the FULL LIFE that God dreams for each of us

Deep love... love beyond the surface, beyond the fun, beyond the frustrations, beyond the miscommunications & misunderstandings, beyond the shifting feelings... that is one of the things that makes life full. Deep love, whether for a spouse, a child or a friend - what a thing to be celebrated!! and protected and invested in.

Personally, I believe that depth of love is only shared by a few people in your life... it's not experienced with everyone you meet, even that people you really, really like. But if we are willing to open ourselves up to it, we can have it, in our relationships with a short list of people that come into our lives.

Jesus said he has come that our lives may be full, and it's no coincidence that he was all about relationship. Deep love, modeled by Jesus' life & death, is offered to each of us, so we can experience all the fullness He dreams for us.

A full life has nothing to do with what's parked in your driveway, how many vacation photos you have, how new your furniture is, or whether or not your kids are on the honor roll. It's about knowing your are engaged in a deep love.

My heart if full, thanks to the DEEP LOVE of Jesus and a handful of people who I share this kind of love with.

Have a great day, and don't let the deep loves in your life go through the day without being celebrated, protected & invested in!

Brain Mush.

This is what happens to you when you lay around watching TV and your computer screen for 2 weeks solid:

Yesterday I was in the store looking at dried fruit, and I saw a package with a picture of grapes on the front.

1st thought: Dried Grapes!! THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!! Oh, I'd like that!
2nd thought: Idiot, those are raisins.

So, I think it might be time to go back to work a little.

It's funny because it's true.

I LOVE this SNL sketch... it really is that simple, isn't it?

Snl_dontbuystuff
Uploaded by shosterman

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PRIDE

Even thought I didn't get to actully RUN in this event, it was so much fun to be there and cheer and take a few pictures of my running friends!
I'm sooooo proud of everyone, especially Cheryl, Audrey, Mel & Colleen, who JUST finished their learn-to-run course with Stephanie and ROCKED THE PAVEMENT!!

To see the pic's, go to
solesistersrun.blogspot.com

(there is a link on the right hand column of this page)

Driving Miss Daisy

It's a GREAT DAY people!

1) Kicked the habit, gave up the smack, totally off the dope... My name is Dawn and I am a FORMER pill popper.

2) Drove myself somewhere! Two days ago as we were discussing my upcoming Physio appointment, I suggested to Joel that I could maybe drive myself. His response was an... "ooohhhh, uh, I don't know about that. I'm not sure you could handle any sudden movements... I think you've lost your 'sudden'." But, today I thought I was probably up to it, & decided I'd do a small test to the corner store to buy some milk so I could continue on my Chai Latte binge... Of course, that meant that within 2 blocks of home I had to drive through a school zone right at kindergarten drop off time, but hey, I love to live on the edge. (No kindergarteners were harmed in the making of this blog.)
So, with that small sucess under my belt, I did, indeed, drive myself to....
3) My Physio Appt!
Having never been, I really didn't know what to expect. What I got was a good working over and a nice assessment. He figures that I have... really weak hip flexers, (a muscle group) and so my back muscles overcompensate for what those muscles SHOULD be doing and eventually they had enough and the overworking caused them to spasm. So now I am left with a couple of little joints that aren't really moving at the moment, which is what I have left to work on. After he beat me up a little (in the nicest way) he gave me some excersizes to do and some stretches. He also warned me that since I've never had a treatment before, he doesn't know how I'll react and might FEEL beaten up later. BUT, he also said that I should be running again in about a month... and that it is a common situation with runners, wih solutions. YEAH!!!!! I think I feel better just knowing that! I'm so happy. I see him again in a week.

4) Generally feeling 10 x's better than yesterday... getting a few little things done here and there, taking breaks, trying not to push it... as he said, "I still need to protect my back" while it finishes healing, so with that in mind, no heavy lifting, and when I feel it getting tender, listen to it & take a break from what I'm doing.

So, there you have it! Mystery solved!
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR CARE & SUPPORT & WELL WISHES!
I hope this is the last blog entry dedicated to this gimped up chapter of my life!

My Field Trip to Irony

I left the house today!! Tres exciting!

Alexis picked me up and drove me the 3 blocks down to the school. (I could have walked... if I'd left yesterday). There was a special event for the grade 5's... a graduation ceremony for their "D.A.R.E." program. (Drug & Alcohol Resistance Education)... there were speeches, there was an explaination of the program, the steps the kids have learned to deal with drug & peer pressure issues, there were essays the kids wrote about what they learned and how they will handle these types of situations... there were long lists of why drugs are so bad..., there were certificates & medals, there was cake, there was a lot of hooplaa and it was excellent.

Irony: The whole time I was sitting there, all I could think about was getting home to take drugs.

Now I'm home, I've had a hit, and I'm read for a nap.

Admitting it is the first step.

Baby steps, right?

Marry Well.

Just a note to the girls who are out there, still "looking"...

Find a guys who....

Can find the humour in all kinds of things,
Who loves to serve you,
Who loves kids, and is a bit of one himself,
Could care less about being "cool",
Cares a lot about integrity,
Is humble,
Can laugh at himself,
Can make sure you are laughing at yourself,
Can tell you the truth,
Can hear it,
Can adjust your pillows 3098 times without complaining.

In the last 5 days, I have been reminded that for all the mistakes I've made along the way, I've made one very good decision. I have married well. Joel rocks.


How's the back? (Cuz I know you're all dying for a fourth exciting entry about this thrilling topic)...
Well, yesterday was frustrating but today was very good!
I was able to get out of bed with relative ease today, Chery brought me a Chai and we sat outside for an hour this am, which was so nice... even though the porch chair was low and back, I managed to get out of it unassisted! I surveyed the house, (then tried not to think about it), retired to the couch until evening, with a visit to the INVERSION TABLE (strap-in-your-ankles-and-hang-upside-down)... that didnt' last long... then Julie visited me, my parents stopped by, and then mark & Cara came for a visit and a game... I sat in a big girl chair at the table... which was a nice change, but I'm feeling it a bit now. "Irregardless" of the drugs and the inability to reach the whole board, I sill kicked butt. (Oh, and someone thought it was funny to hold the cards JUST out of my reach when it was time for me to steal one from him... tuanting the infirm-- tsk, tsk... now I question saying all those nice things about him...)

So, my plan for tomorrow is to try and get an appointment with a Physio here in Westbank.. see where we go from there. Also on the agenda, a supervised walk to the mailbox kiosk, which is one driveway and across the street away. I'm estimating 20 minutes. Should I pack a lunch?

Gel Ice Pack, $5.99

Robaxicet, $8.99
Cable TV, $30
Laptop, $1000

Going to the bathroom by yourself, Priceless.

This was a BIG afternoon, folks! I managed to shower (feels sooooo good) and then actually make two, count them two, trips to the bathroom without help!!

The day didn't start so smoothly... Joel got me to the bathroom, then ran into the office for an early meeting... after the kids left I was lying her eand started to black out... Cheryl happened to call just then so zoomed over to babysit me. I've been on the verge of fainting every single time I've gotten up to go to the bathroom, but when it was coming on while I was just lying there... that was freaking me out.

But, by afternoon I was feeling good, I was much more mobile and finally made the big trek (albiet a very SLLLOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW trek) to the ensuite all by myself!

SWEET FREEDOM!!!!!!!!

I think I'll venture downstairs tomorrow, and though the thought of the state of the house does frighten me, I'll be brave!

have a great friday night everyone!

Hour 20

BIG NEWS! I just brushed my teeth AND hair!
So, if anyone wants to come visit me, I am a vision of loveliness.
I'm thinking I might have a shower tomorrow... whoo hoooo!

(By the way, thanks for all the phonecalls & e-mails & facebook messages.... i feel the love!... although not one of you is willing to come give me a spongebath... geeeeessshh!)

I just made my 4th trip out of bed, and although it was still a painful and awkward venture, it is a tiny bit better, which is really super good news to me!

My male nurse and I have been having a good time and he's keeping me laughing. I just asked him if he would get our vacuum cleaner out of our room so I didn't have to look at it... I'd planned to do our room on Wednesday night after my run... we decided that actually, I could still vacuum, I'd just need him to hold me up.

Sometimes you just have to make your own fun.

This sucks so bad, but at least I have good company & support (literally & figuratively)

Plus, he looks so cute in his white stockings and duty shoes.

Hi, I'm High!

It's 11:32pm.
I am in bed, thanks to Joel.
I have gone to the bathroom, with help (thanks honey)
I am not in pain unless I try to do something silly, like move anything other than my fingers.

Rewind to 7:40pm...
There we were, Donna, Carleen & I, enjoying a warm night, testing out the race route in East Kelowna... excited about the 10K we are running out there June 10th. Two kilometres in, everything is absolutely fine, I'm in a perfectly normal, straight ahead, flat stride, when what I can only describe as a FLASH of pain in my lower back comes out of no where... "Oh, oh. oh....." I come to a stop... my friends know something's bad... they each grab an arm as I start to buckle...

I try to catch my breath, we're there for a minute, them holding me up as I try to get oriented to what happened and what I'm going to do next... I figure my options are
1) drop to the ground and go fetal
2) keep leaning on them indefinately
3) wait for the pain to pass and start running again

A car stops and asks if we're ok... I still think #3 is an option, so we thank them for stopping and tell them we're ok.

After about 5 minutes I realize that since I can not move, shift weight, straighten or bend, Option #3 may be off the list.

So we decide we need Carleen to get a ride back to her truck so she can come back and pick us up... the run is clearly over, as pretty much all I can do is breath or cry. It was mostly crying.

SO the girls try to flag down a vehicle...
picture us... three women, obviously out for a run on a country road, one of them is obviously in trouble (as her friends are holding her up)... and we are clearly unarmed in our tanktops and shorts (who knows what we have stashed in our waterbottle belts???)

Can you beleive 4 or 5 cars passed us (a couple of women drivers) before finally a car with 3 nice young men from Alberta stop and take Carleen to her car. We couldn't beleive it.

So, after some interesting maneuvering to get me into and out of Carleen's truck (it's a big tall one) and a lot of whincing, crying, and help from D & C to get me home and on my couch... nicely drugged up, ice packed and pillowed... they were able to leave me alone until Joel made it home 20 minutes later. And not a moment too soon a I had to pee and that was a whole 'nother show. After which I fainted, getting to my bed.

So, here I am, wondering what I'll feel like tomorow... hoping and praying that I'll feel a LOT better, that my running days are not over, thankful Joel can run into the office early early, grab his stuff and work at home.... just incase I need to go pee again tomorrow.

p.s. I love drugs.
p.s.s. THANK YOU THANK YOU DONNA & CARLEEN, you both rock, and Donna, you're going to be an AWESOME nurse... that's not the drugs talking.

GOTTA HAVE IT!

Does anyone (and when I say anyone, I mean anyone, especially our Japanese friend Kelli) have a recipe for SUNOMONO salad? You know that really fresh tasting cold noodle dish? I've seen recipes for it on ALLRECIPIES.COM, but thought I'd ask if there was a tried & true one out there anywhere... i've got me a bbaaaaaaddddd cravin'!

TAG, I'm it...

as per tag by Tara...

One word answers only... no explanations.

Yourself: happy
Your Partner: humble
Your Hair: growing
Mother: funny
Your Father: softening
Your Favorite Item: laptop
Your Dream Last Night: vivid
Your Favorite Drink: chai
Your Dream Car: undecided
Dream Home: waterfront
The Room You Are In: bed
Your Fear: germs
Where You Want to be in Ten Years: wise
Who You Hung Out With Last Night: neighbors
You're Not: musical
One of Your Wish List Items: vacation
The Last Thing You Did: snuggled
You Are Wearing: pyjamas
Your Favorite Weather: warm
Your Favorite Book: entertaining
Last Thing You Ate: snickers
Your Life: blessed
Your Mood: relaxed
Your Best Friend: Joel
What Are You Thinking About Right Now: food
Your Car: van
What Are You Doing At The Moment: multi-tasking
Relationship Status: married
What Is On Your TV: MAD
What Is The Weather Like: warm
When Is The Last Time You Laughed: tonight


I'm tagging Mel, Cara & Karleigh to do this little "quiz" too!

The Upside of Addiction

Fact: Facebook is as addictive as crack.
Question: But is it all bad?

Thanks to the... hem hem... SEVERAL hours I have spent in this black hole of a website, I am delighted to have discovered the following:

People I never forgot from grade 4 remembered me too.
What all kinds of highschool & college friends are up to these days and where they are.
That the "cutest boy in grade 5" from Slate River School in Thunder Bay, Ontario now lives in Vernon.
Highschool friends from the 80's look normal today.
Not one of my guy friends has hung on to their mullet.
And most importantly, that the people I was closest to a couple of decades ago, are still people I can freely chat with today, and cheer them on in their present life, even if they are far away.

So, in short: kids... crack ain't that bad.

Later Skater

Cheryl & I took the boys to the skatepark yesterday. Tramatically, the event ended with some girls chasing the boys, stealing Lucas' bike and telling Adam they love him. Color the boys unimpressed.

Creep Fairy

Ok, so now that my kids are beyond believing in the toothfairy, they asked me the question, "So what did you do with all our teeth?"
My answer made me stop and think. I had to ask myself if I was a little morbid or something.

"I have them in a box in the closet."

I'm not a "keeper" but I do have a large box for each of my kids with little momentos of their lives... special cards, my favorite baby outfit... and, um, teeth.

My question to you is, what have you done with your kids teeth?
Have you done the sensible thing and thrown them out or do you, too, have body parts in a box in your closet?

WARNING!

Never EVER EVER EVER do what I have done.

I'm serious, if your friends say to try it, don't. It could ruin your life. It is unbelievably addicting and sucks you in, and all you want is more more more.

Never go to facebook.com

It is internet crack.

I have just spent the better part of the last 4 days with my fingers glued to the keyboard. Yesterday I had to groundmyself for a 5 hour period just to get some other things done.

And people ask me why I don't drink. Can you imagine THIS addictive personality with a hangering for the hooch???

Creative Momentum

Here's why my family has not been able to sit at the kitchen table for a few days! I've been so stalled on making anything lately... feels good to be scrapping & playing again... hopefully it will last for a while!

The NOTE TOTE is my answer to a birthday book/card holder... the LO is, I think, one of my favorites... just love the photos... Now, I'm trying to do the "ABC's of Me" challenge... the hard part is finding more than 2 photos of myself!!

A Momtastic Day

We had such a great brunch on Mothers' Day at Vintage Hills golf course... I've always had great food there and it's an awesome summer patio... AND, we were all together and EVEN HAD A GROUP PICTURE TAKEN which has only happened about once in the 8 years that all 8 of us have been in this family together, (and no offence Cara, but you were so much more princess-looking than I was in your wedding picture, that it's almost like that day was all about you!)

Here's to my mom, Brenda... a funny, funny lady, who's always up for an adventure or a moment to sit and relax. I love that I see pieces of my mom in me... and that when I look at my hands, I see hers too!

Tell me that's not my little boy.

It's Mother's day, but that can't be my son.
Adam had a race Friday at Rose Valley school... I love this picture of him as he ran past me... but he looks so grown up it's slightly disturbing.

Man,do I love that kid.
(And the other two as well :-))

This is one thankful mother wishing you a Happy Mother's Day!

Joel & I think we are funny. (subtitle - INSIDE JOKES AT OUR HOUSE)

1) When Joel makes the bed, he puts our oversized accent pillow on a diagonal in the middle of the other pillows. He did it once in an effort to be "fancy" and it looked ridiculous so I teased him about being so fancy and his eye for design. Now whenever I'm downstairs while he's getting ready for work he does that and when I walk in our room after he's gone I get a good little chuckle.

2) Whenever one of us thanks the other for doing us a "favor",(i.e. picking up milk on the way home, ironing a shirt, packaging left overs for lunch), the favor-provider offers back a "ummmm hmmmm" in an unimpressed tone, as if to say, "I did it and I'm not happy about it and I feel taken advantage of." (But we both know we don't mean it that way.)

3) Once Joel's mom was looking at a flyer from Sears or something and remarked with great intrigue and enthusiasm that this was one she should not miss... "I'd like to go first thing in because they say it's a SUPER SALE". (Of course the marketing people don't throw out those kind of descripters without really meaning it.) Now, whenever we see a store is having a sale, we say, "but is it a SUPER SALE?"

4) The Latest: If you haven't seen Saturday night live lately, you're missing my favorite new sketch "Bronx Beat", a local talkshow hosted by two burned out soccer moms. They have the best banter. Anyway, there is an episode where Peyton Manning is the guest, and they start flirting with him a little and then Jody says "You know how many times my husband has flirted with me? None times. None-point-none times. Unless you count going to the bathroom with the door opened." So now, whenever someone is in the bathroom with the door opened (which only one of us likes to do routinely) I say, "are you flirting with me?"?

I can't find that exact clip on the web yet, but here's another episode with Jake Gellynhall (I'm spelling that wrong)... you'll get the idea... for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2CITvRzTw8

The Good Life

ahhhhh.....

I've arrived.

I'm sitting in my bed, I've just watched an evening of TV, all the while playing "Settlers of Catan" on my new laptop!!

Now that I have this portable/wireless piece of technology meeting all my communication and entertainment needs, I may never get up again!

Things to do this weekend:
1) "BananaRama" with Adam's grade 5 & 6 friends... kind of a pre-youth group thing where we go around town measuring landmarks with bananas. That's our big Friday night.
2) Sat am run with the "sole sisters" ending at Bliss Bakery in Peachland. I highly recommend this place... their blueberry muffins are the BEST! I've missed 3 weeks with my running group and can't wait to sweat by the lake with them!
3) Do a little scrapin'!
4) Dinner out on Saturday night with our good friends Chris & Julie. We like to go to restaurants by the water so we can pretend we're on a cruise ship together again... we're off to the Wild Apple Grill this time.
5) Sunday we're hoping to get to Vintage Hills for Mother's day brunch with my parents & Mark & Cara... they were not taking any more reservations until they knew the weather would be good for the patio, so I have to call back tomorrow at 1pm. We've always had great food there and have done the M's day brunch before too, so hopefully we can get in!
6) Possibly plant some flowers? Is it too soon for Petunias??
7) keep playing with my camera... I still can't decide if I love it or not!

That's a pretty big list for a girl who might never get out of bed again!

Wishing you all a great weekend & a happy mother's day!

"Great Sucess!" - Borat

Well, here I am finally back at my computer with what I like to refer to as a "post-event-hangover"!

Yesterday was the store's "National Scrapbook Day Creative Retreat" and we hosted 45 people plus staff at an all-day crop with classes. It was a great day, everyone went home very happy, and I was able to fall in bed after an 18 hour day thinking about how much I love my job! I really do. It was made for me. Thank you, Gina!

When I woke up this am I had a pounding head-ache, a sore body, and my brain was spinning with ideas and thoughts and things I wanted to remember for next time we have a big event :-) Happens every time... thus my "hang-over". As soon as I get everything that is in my head written down I start to relax. Tomorrow will be post-retreat clean-up, number crunching, and getting to all the "normal" stuff I haven't done for the past 2 weeks in the office! And maybe even start planning our next event!

But for this afternoon, I plan to laze around, putter and play with the brand new laptop that Joel treated me to yesterday! And we get to end the day at the home of one of our favorite couples: Christoph & Karleigh.

Oh, and eat cheesecake. There's a lot of cheesecake left over!

Not at the Table

We had a little post-supper spelling quiz for Brodie who has a test tomorrow. Joel was reading his list to him (I am the usual quizzer)... and after about 5 words we needed to point out that "the way" we do it is to...

1) say the word
2) use the word in a sentence, and that sentence must also include the word "Booger"
3) repeat the word
i.e. WHALE. "The whale could not use his blow-hole because it was clogged with a large booger." Whale.

Fairly straight forward, no?

So Joel makes an attempt at words 6 & 7, which of course drums up quite a bit more interest in the whole spelling thing. Joel's poor mom is still finishing her dinner, not sure how to respond to our educational methods... when Joel announces "OK, we can't do this any more..."

See #8 for explanation.

THE BIG SURPRISE! Introducing...

After joking about it for a long time, Cheryl & I have decided to take our neurotic organizing to a professional level! Our homes are NOT perfect, but we have figured out that for us, and for most women, chaos & clutter is burdening & distracting. We've got some good ideas that have worked for us in keeping a little more control, how to eliminate what we don't need in the house and how to find what we do! We think we can help people who are struggling with clutter issues & disorganization, and we want people to be able to use their spaces well, and at the same time enjoy them and breathe without all the clutter!

We're really REALLY excited and will be helping our "debut" client next week... Mrs. Fern and her scrapbook room!

Thank you for your excitement... we hope to have our website up and running soon!
If you know someone who needs a room refreshing or rescue, thank you for passing our name along!

If you're curious... here's the scoop...

How it works?
It will be very case by case, but what we plan to do is... start with an in-home consultation ($50) where we look at the space and talk about what the client wants to achieve with it. From there we will provide 3 options for your project...

YOU DO IT: We’ll provide you with some written steps to tackle your particular project on your own. Sometimes, a little direction is all you need. (Free with consultation).

WE DO IT TOGETHER: We will prepare a plan with us leading you through the project. We’ll be on site to help sort, toss, tote, pack, organize, carry, clean... and keep you on track.

DREAM IT AND DONE: From paint to furniture, we work together to completely organize & refresh your space. Our philosophy is always to make the best use of your dollar, so even though this is a larger investment, we promise to find you the most economical way to get your dream done well. As part of your consultation fee, we'll give you a ball park cost, and if you'd like to pursue this project option, we will work with you on an itemized budget, then make sure all the pieces fall into place.


RATES
Consultation fee: $50 (will be applied as credit towards further Project Fees, should you have us come and work with you.)
Project fee: $50/hour for first 4 hours, $35/hour for additional hours.

Any storage units/bins, etc. are extra. We suggest you set a budget for those expenses as well.

SO, THAT'S THE BIG SURPRISE!!! WHAT DO YOU THINK????

Remembering Summer '06

sorry, I had to remove this for now until I can figure out how to have it without it bumping away all my other stuff on the right hand side...

Ready for your bikini?

Me either.

BUT, I did want to pass along the name of a wonderful girl I met over a year ago who is passionate about fitness and helping people suceed in getting there! Stephanie led the running course that got me going and now I'm meeting with her once a week in a very small group for intense training... she's awesome. She has that ability to push you to work hard without making you feel like a loser when you've reached your limit. I highly recommend her!

She recently finished her Personal Training program and is just starting out with her business, called, "ACTIVE 8 Fitness"

Here are some snippets from her newsletter...

Introducing Active 8 Fitness

Active 8 Fitness provides customized fitness solutions that fit into your busy lifestyle.

Don’t belong to a gym? No Problem! Active 8 Fitness focuses on providing you with a program that you can do at home, on the road, or wherever you choose!

8 week Learn To Run Clinic
$75/person or $130/couple.
Runs Monday afternoons, 5:30pm, April 16 to June 4, 2007
Meet at the wharf at Gellatly Bay (bottom of Gellatly Rd.).
Pre-registration required: active8fitness@telus.net

Join us for Accelerate Workouts
workouts that challenge your cardio, agility, speed, and provide for a whole lot of laughter!
Wednesdays: 9:05—10:00AM
Thursdays: 10:05—11:00AM

Buy a 8 times punch card and pay only $65!
Meet at the field at Anders Park, on Anders Rd. in Lakeview Heights


Activate your lifestyle with 8 Personal Training Sessions!
Active 8 Fitness is pleased to offer you 8 personal training sessions for only $300! That’s a $100 savings!
Includes:
Benchmarking & Fitness Assessment
Personalized Exercise Program
8 one-on-one sessions
Review of Progress

Tired of your current routine? Try a 3 session package for only $125.

Stephanie has had a lifelong interest in fitness and health. She began competitively swimming at the age of 5 and still continues to enjoy the sport today. After graduating in 1996 from Simon Fraser University with Bachelors of Business Administration and a minor in Kinesiology, Stephanie moved to the Kelowna area. In addition to getting involved in the business community, Stephanie began competing in local running races and took up the sport of triathlon in 2002. Stephanie has been a leader and guest speaker for several learn-to-run clinics over the past 5 years and enjoys assisting others in achieving their goals. In 2003, Stephanie was honoured with the YM-YWCA’s Young Woman of Distinction Award for her achievements in fitness, her career and volunteerism. Keeping busy is what keeps Stephanie going. In 2005, Stephanie was the Westbank & District Chamber of Commerce president. That same year, Stephanie trained for and completed Ironman Canada, and a 100km run to raise funds for Partners in the Horn of Africa. Stephanie also participated in the World Masters Games in 2005 for swimming and took home a silver medal in the 400m Individual Medley. In 2006, Stephanie decided to combine her business knowledge and her passion for health and fitness to start a personal training business.

Questions or comments? E-mail us at active8fitness@telus.net.

Puppy Love

The boy's were doggy-sitting for Gen on Friday... do these pictures scream "this boy need a dog" or what?

Fresh Bread - It just keeps coming...

You know those good days where you get up a little earlier and start the day right? This is what I read this morning in the quiet of the house and it got me thinking that even though my day will be peppered with disappointments & frustrations, that even though the phone could ring any second and my world could be turned upside down, that it will certainly not be a perfect day, I'm going to choose to proceed focusing on this... This is what I read and wrote in my journal on this gorgeous morning...

"From the fullness of His Grace, we have all received one blessing after another". John 1:16

7:10am... Already I can count blessing after blessing I will receive today...
- A beautiful warm home to wake up in
- a beautiful warm man smiling beside me
- two giggling boys doing who-knows-what in the bathroom
- It's hotdog day at school today so I don't have to make lunch
- a big mug of tea with milk and honey... more in the kitchen
- my kids have their choice of breakfast foods---and can eat until they are full
- I'm sending my husband out the door in a reliable vehicle on his way to a great job.
- I hear birds outside, not gunfire
- from where I sit, I can see the front doors of several neighbors who would do anything for me.
- My kids will ride their (new) bikes a few safe blocks to an amazing school where they will learn & play & succeed, (plus, did I mention it's hotdog day?? :-)
- after they leave I will have the luxury of an hour and a half to have a hot shower, check my e-mail, putter, bake cookies...
- I am going to work late today, because I have a flexible job that lets me help out at the school when I want to (cooking 300 hotdogs..., I guess I do have to make lunch after all :-) but it's a fun way to help out)
- My family will sit down to pizza tonight, a treat from the "O's"
- After the kids are in bed Joel & I will snuggle up and watch "must see TV" together... there will be no yelling, no shoving, no insecurity.
- And I will end the day warm & comfortable, beside my biggest fan, thanking my God for Blessing after Blessing.

I hope you all have a fabulous Thursday, noticing your blessing after blessing!

Just a Typical Wednesday

Things I did today...

7:45 Sprayed my son's hair with silver hairspray for "Wacky Hair Day"

9:05 Met with Stephanie for my personal training session (luckily, she gave blood yesterday and was slowed down by the experience, so I had a great workout without ever feeling like I might just drop dead there in the field.)

10:15 Worked with Cheryl on our big suprise.... OOHHHH, Don't you just hate us?? Soon, little ones, soon.

12:50 Had my very first Orthodontist appointment! I'm pretty seriously considering getting braces... will decide soon. I'm excited and scared.

1:30 Bumped into my friend Alexis at Quality Greens and we headed over to Starbucks... funny I'd just been thinking about her as I drove to QG's because she, too, had braces as an adult.

4:00 Cleaned the master bathroom, wondering why Joel can never put his toiletries in the drawer or the metal bucket I have provided to hold such tubes & cans & containers.

4:54 Dinner is ready to go, round 3 of laundry has started, the boys are jumping on the neighbor's trampoline, and I am enjoying a cup of tea as I blog, procrastinating some paper work I need to do here at home. 35 minutes till Arrested Development... perfect laundry folding entertainment.

5:28... back from blogging interruption... 8-year old came home crying, frustrated with himself for "losing at everything" and "because his body is bigger than all his friends" so he can't "manuever as easily and swiftly" (seriously, those were his words)as the other kids lately. Had a good cuddle, a good "everyone has a bad week once in a while/you can't win at everything/your body is growing and sometimes it takes a while before your brain can manage it properly/you're the only 8-year old I know who can play electric guitar/it'll be better next week/would a coke make you feel better?" conversation. Never let it be said that a kid can't be cheered up with a coke. Now he's living like a king, eating triskets, sipping on a coke, watching "Fairly Odd Parents". Oh, to bounce back that quickly from my own frustrations with myself! YIKES! 5:34... A.D. & Laundry await!

Hip Hop that would make Tupac roll over in his grave.

So, last week we got the notice that we were invited to our elementary school to watch our grade 5'er and his "little buddies" (in grades 2/3) in a "hip hop performance" as part of their Phys. Ed. program.

I really don't know what to say.
They all gave it their full effort. They were cute. They had fun.
But it was like a scene from a Saturday Night Live skit. You know the old one with Will Ferrell & (I forget her name).. where they are the music teachers and try to be cool singing "hip" music. It was that, only with dancing children.

It's astounding, what passes for hip hop in the suburbs.

(note: I believe Tupac was a rapper, but I can't think of any dead hip hop artists at the moment... they probably share the same musical roots or something, anyway.)

LIfe Experiment

You know how there are spenders and there are savers?
We have, for our entire life together, been savers.
We've lived on one vehicle for the better part of 15 years to avoid a car payment.
We've done the "load up on coupon day at extra foods" to save the $45 a month.
We buy most of our clothes at costco.
blah, blah, blah, blah.

Then this fall & winter came and we
1) bought a car
2) finished our basement (which is an investment, but still a heafty purchase)
3) purchase a lot of techy/media stuff for that basement
4) bought a hottub (second hand, but hey, it's still a luxury item.)
5) went on a trip (which we mostly paid for last spring when we booked it, but again, big ticket & luxury)

So, inorder to reset our spending habits (i.e. remembering what it's like to say "no" to things)... I did a little wallet experiment for the month of March.
Every Sunday I took $100 cash out of the bank machine and I had to live on it for the entire week. That meant trying to use up all the food we had at home, saying no to almost everything that was non-essential (a dinner out with the girls and a little bit of scrapbooking paper here and there being the obvious exceptions).

I wasn't sure how it would work. I knew I had a lot of food to eat through at home and it would be mostly suplimental groceries (milk & produce) that I'd have to spend on. But what other little things would come up? Would I be able to do it for just 4 weeks??

Week 1: I had 27 cents left at the end. Seriously. That week the little extras were to pay for a kid's haircut and buy a birthday gift for B's buddy.

Week 2: Monday I splurged a lovely dinner out with friends. By Friday I needed to pick up some groceries but that bill took me $4 over so I had to take an advance on my money for week three. Also, I needed to fill up the van with gas, so decided that I would not include gas in my $100. Handy how I can adapt my experiment, isn't it?

Week 3: Was doing GREAT until Saturday came and we made the deadly mistake of going into Kelowna. We stumbled upon an amazing deal on a sectional for the basement that we couldn't pass up, added 6 dining room chairs to the order, got our 11-year old his birthday present (a very nice bike), a pair of shoes for each of the kids, and a beding for the guest room. Cha-ching.

Week 4: Ended up $5 over... darn that Basic Grey paper!


I know I couldn't live like this forever (our freezer & pantry only had so much in reserves), and there were a two dinners out and a couple of shopping errands that Joel paid for, but it was such a good perspective re-set to my spending & saving. Every time I went to purchase something I had to see what was left in my wallet. Every dollar mattered. I couldn't help but put myself in the shoes of a single mom who has to reach for the no-name prepared mustard instead of the "fancy" mustard that we like, because saving a dollar matters. Or saying no to the kids about grabbing Wendy's instead of eating at home. It was a good little experience for them too.

This was a very good excersize for me. I'd encourage anyone to try it. It's nice to be in a place where you can comfortably say YES to a lot of things, the problem is, it's so easy to forget what saying no feels like, and you just stop appreciating the huge priviledge of saying yes.

Other benefits:
- I can now defrost my freezer!
- Our Mastercard bill will be next to nothing! (Oh, yeah, except for the couch, chairs, bike...)
- Didn't have room in the budget for ice cream & chips!

Cheryl & I have a Surprise.

And it will be revealed soon.
In the meantime, feel free to guess.

(I know, I know, you paid for the whole seat but you're only using the edge.)

She Laughs.

How about this (apparently) actual letter to the big kahuna of Proctor & Gamble

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your Always maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core(tm) or Dri-Weave(tm) absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favourite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from "the curse"? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my "time of the month" is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call "an inbred hillbilly with knife skills." Isn't the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine-hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers' monthly visits from "Aunt Flo". Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behaviour. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women.

In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps.

Crazy! The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... which brings me to the reason for my letter.

Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: "Have a Happy Period." Are you freakingkidding me?

What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be anything "happy" about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like "Put Down the Hammer" or "Vehicular Manslaughter Is Wrong", or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for have I chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bullshit. And that's a promise I will keep...

Always.

Best,

Wendi Aarons

Austin, TX

Hullabaloo at The Store

Today, over the course of one hour, we had the following people walk through the doors of the store...

1) Tara, in tow with her was...
2) One Justin, husband of Tara, home on a last minute leave from Iraq -- so good to lay eyes on this nice guy, (who patiently hung around the store for an hour while the rest of the events unfolded.)

followed by...
3) Heather
4) Kelli and
5) One irresistable golden retriever, Kelli's "Linus". Did that dog smell good and it was the softest, sweetest thing ever.

and then in walked...
6) Audrey with
7) Cutie Carson and
8) One "ROXY"... Audrey's new baby girl boxer puppy...what a lot of character! Her eyes are so huge and boxer-esc... she looked like those greeting cards with the distorted, over sized eyes... extremely cute!

and then in walked
9) Yolanda
10) Abigail
11) Lily

OH! And I forgot to mention that Andrea & her crew plus Tamara & Jaxson were already in the store with Me, Cheryl & Gina. And Min arrived before the gathering was over.

2 puppies, 7 kids, 1 poor guy, about a dozen women... it was loud in there.

You take those 20 friends, and add a couple of customers... it was quite a gathering!

Sure made for a fast day at the office! Good to see you all!

If I'd have known you were coming I'd have baked a cake, for goodness sake!

p.s. Harley waited in the car the whole time. So technically, 3 dogs on site.

Witnesses at the Scene Say...

"The other team was hiding in the back yard, and they wouldn't open the gate, so we were trying to get in, and then Matthew put his helmet on and ran into it to try to get it open, and we told Matthew he shouldn't do that, but he did it anyway..."

Mother of one witness has a feeling the conversation went more like this...
"We've got to get that gate open. I know! Matthew--you have your helmet on--try running into it head first!"

Ah well... one day when they're older they'll reminisce about the time Matthew ran through the K's gate head first with a helmet on.

How Stella got her Geek back

If you're ever wondering what a wild and crazy party at our house is like, this is it.

14 people, three game boards, plenty of food & drinks, a great mix of friends, one cute baby, four little boys locked in the basement with video games & chips, one couple in matching t-shirts that had "Catan, Ya feel it?" printed on the back, 7 prizes, some good healthy competition, little bit of strategy & a lot of luck, 5 hours and plenty of laughs.

We like to do this a couple of times a year, have a big tournament with this game we are all a little addicted to, Settlers of Catan. It's a fun game and at the tournament you get to play with almost everyone throughout the evening. Last time it was a 3-way tie for 1st place between Me, Julie & Mindy.
The guys all talk big but they didn't perform.
This time, there was but one winner.

So, if you're ever at a party with the cool kids and are wondering what the nerds are doing, this is it. If you like board games, this is a great way to get your geek on.

And, to my "Settlin'" friends, if you're ready for a rematch...
BRING IT, NERDS!

Your sincerely,
the Queen of Catan

They're Dangerously Delicious

Here's a recipe from my friend Patti...
I'd never made gingersnaps before... they were so easy and SOOOO good... too good... they're almost gone.

GINGERSNAP CRINKLES

With an electric mixer, cream together...
3/4 c margarine
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c molasses
1 egg

Combine the following then add to above...
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp EACH of cloves, cinnamon, ginger
1/4 tsp salt
2 c flour

Chill dough overnight or for a few hours.
Shape into balls & roll in sugar.
Place on pan, (don't press down)
Bake @ 350' for about 10-12 minutes (a little longer in my oven)

She said she usually doubles the recipe... I will next time!! It make over 2 dozen but 4 dozen would have been waaaayyy better!

Street Hockey Violence - A Photographic Essay

It all started with a friendly little game of Joel vs. every kid on the street.
That led to a friendly little check from Brodie to Daddy.
Which led to this.

Moral of the story: You can't always be mad when your husband isn't cleaning the basement like he's supposed to be doing.

Also, sometimes it's a good idea to stop what you're doing, grab your camera, and sneak outside.

Things I have Accidentally Stolen

January 2002 - Expedia never did charge me for a hotel I booked & stayed at in Puerto Rico

September 2006 - IKEA only charged me for one of the two woven mats I took through the cashier... they were rolled up together and I didn't notice.

Today - I was at Office Depot and they had SUCH A GOOD DEAL on those 12 x 12 plastic envelope file things for keeping your scrapbooking stuff... a package of 5 envelopes for $2.50!!! I went to open them up and now see that there is a sticker on the back of the package that reads "REMOVE WRAP BEFORE PLACING ON STORE SHELF"... I think they were supposed to be sold individually, but whoever stocked the shelves failed to remove the packaging.

Question: Will I drive back to Office Depot & return them... hmmmm probably not.
Fact: I know several of you are thinking "Can I get to Office Depot first thing tomorrow?"

Enjoy your moral dilemna.

TODAY...

TODAY...
This was a layout challenge for the store, creating a layout answering the following questions the day you read them... I've never done any "cutting out" but it was kind of a fun way to cover up the deadspace in the photo and not lose the gorgeous detail of this BOHEMIA paper... oh my goodness do I love that paper line.

Currently In My CD Player: The FRAY, John Mayer, Dave Mathews

Last Movies Watched: OPEN SEASON (funny, animated, great use of potty humour)Half Nelson (great movie about a sad story) Little Miss Sunshine (Loved it!)

What I’m Wearing: my “after hours uniform” Brown & teal Drawstring pajama pants, white ankle socks, brown tank top & brown hoodie

Favorite TV Shows: Studio 60, 30 Rock, The Office,

Last Time At a Restaurant & What I Ordered: Hectors’ Casa, Chicken & Beef Chimichanga

Books I’m Reading: Turning Angel, by Greg Isle The Book of James, by James from the bible

My Favorite Indulgence: Grande, non-fat, no-water, tazo chai, extra-hot, Soft Pitas from the greek house and their tzaziki

Latest Thing{s} That Made Me Happy: Sitting in the hot tub with any or all of my three boys

Latest Thing That Made Me Not-So-Happy: Relationships gone wrong, whether I’m in them or near them.

What I Am Looking Forward To Most This year: Figuring out if/where our family will go on our big adventure

self portraits

needed a picture of myself for a layout... I liked this one because it's a pretty decent shot when it's cropped but when it's not you can see that it's laundry day :-)

I wonder what the fish were thinking...

... when they saw this guy (with those teeth) snorkeling towards them.

Big Love

So, I had a Friday night to myself and wasn't feeling super great so I thought I'd just pick up a chick-flick and hope to heck I could figure out how to turn on our new TV. (I had yet to successfully do that without the assistance of my 10-year-old.)

I walk into blockbuster and what do I see???? BIG LOVE SEASON 1!!
There were only 2 episodes on it, but I'm quite intrigued and am thankful Joel is going to be out of town for a week (more on that later) so I'll be able to watch it without a whole lot of eye-rolling from my own Big Love. (He doesn't always get me and my choice of entertainment... then again you'll never catch me spending hours in front of the TV watching tennis.)

Speaking of my Big Loves... here are a couple more pics from our trip... I'll stick to the Disney/Knottsberry Farm leg today.

And, on another note, I've found a new binge. It's not good.
I have been craving Cannelloni for about a week, intended to make some, couldn't find the pasta at Extra foods so I bought a package from M & M meats. Then I stopped at Valarosa foods yesterday and what a neat store! They have every kind of pasta you can imagine, a deli, loads of canned goods, all kinds of interesting imported food and some frozen foods as well, including, you guessed it, CANNELLONI!

I poured a little rose sauce over it and baked up a couple for myself to enjoy in front of BIG LOVE and was it AMAZING!!!! I got the cheese one... but I also bought the pasta tubes to try to make a chicken/spinach/cheese batch. Anyway, there you go if you're on a special dinner idea hunt!

where to begin...

I have been wanting to post some pics from our trip but I just now FINALLY loaded all 677 onto our computer and went through deleting the really bad ones. I'm not sure about this camera... I got some nice clear daytime/outdoor shots, but the indoor ones are iffy and we could not figure out how to get a good night shot. I know we need to play with it more, but now that I'm looking at them on a screen bigger than the LCD, I'm not sure I'm as happy with the camera as I thought I was... hmmmm...

anyway, here are some bad pics, but they are of the surprise when we got to Mexico and the boys discovered that their cousins were at the restaurant! Despite the quality of the photo, you can still get a feel for the moment...

I'll post a couple more later.. I need to step away from this machine for a while!