THE TIME HAS COME!!!!!

Just a few more hours and its here!!! JUST LIKE SNOWFLAKES will be going live on January 1, 2007. The store and the kits won't be up and running for a couple more weeks yet, but we want you to get a feel of the site and what we want to do!!! Come check us out - see what we are up to and where we want to go! This is an exciting venture for us and we hope that you will come and try us out. Give us some feedback - tell us what you think! Just make sure you come and check us out! Can't wait to see you there.

So here it is!!!

Here are the first of my creations from our first kit! I am so excited about it. I have always loved these bottle caps and have never been able to find them in the lss, so when we decided to do this as our first kit I was really thrilled about it. I can't wait to show you the rest of them. They are very cool!

So, how was your Christmas? Did Santa bring you everything you asked for? We had a really nice Christmas over here. Chris bought me accessories, including a new lens for my camera - its on special order so we are still waiting for it, but I CANNOT WAIT to get it. The kids were spoiled (as is usual) this year again. They got everything they wanted on their list and then some. We also had a nice Christmas Day dinner with another family in our church from Winnipeg. That happens mostly every year - we spend Christmas with another Winnipeg family who didn't go home and spend Christmas with their family either. We had alot of fun and the kids enjoyed it too.

Then yesterday we took the kids to the Royal Alberta Museum. They had some really cool displays called: Lego Ocean Adventure and Bob the Builder: Build it Project.

Malachi really loved it - it was neat to see all the cool things they made out of lego. They had a hammerhead shark, dolphins, squid, and as you can see octopi and stingrays. They also had portions of a submarine made out of lego and the kids could put on underwater gear and pretend that they were under the sea.

They also had a cool Bob the Builder room where the kids could ride the machinery, play with Bob's tool and draw blueprints for Bob's new project. All in all the kids had alot of fun. I will have to post pictures of the Bob the Builder room and some more of the other lego stuff later. It was really cool. I really wanted to take the kids to see this lego stuff because this is the last time that the Lego display will be touring Canada. After that its going into retirement. I am waiting to see when it goes to Winnipeg - hopefully we will be in Winnipeg when it is there and then the kids can go and see it one more time.

And finally, even though I always break them, I am going to try AGAIN to make some New Year's Resolutions. I figure ONE of these years I am going to have to try and keep them anyway. I just got a membership at a gym and I am determined that I am going to work out and lose that 50 lbs that I have had on me for the past year. I need to be in shape - whether I ever get to the size I would like to be (ya, like when I was 25-lol) is only a pipe dream, but I really would LOVE to be in better shape.

So tell me, what are your New Year's Resolutions? Do you make them? Why or why not? Share them with me - I would love to see how you are doing with them later this year!!!

I don't make New Years Resolutions - I have hopes!

Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual New Year's Resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them. Mark Twain

Merry Christmas!!!

This has been a really busy week! Finishing up the stocking stuffers and taking the kids to Toys-R-Us so that they could buy themselves something from Grampa(cuz he sent them money) and doing the usual Snowflakes stuff has made life crazy. I must have been in some alternate universal delusions because I tried to get into our Walmart the other day!! I was in line for about 1/2 hr. How crazy is that - and I was in the shortest line. My mistake, thats for sure.

This is what I have been working on for Snowflakes this week. I am SOOOOO EXCITED to be opening up in the next couple of weeks. So here it is - a sneak peek of the yummy things we are working on. Oh wait, I can't show it to you until the 1st. Sorry, you're gonna have to wait a little longer!

I am also really excited about tonite. A few weeks back I mentioned that our church is doing a Christmas dinner for the community and tonite is the night. I am excited to see how many people will come. For some people this is the only Christmas dinner they are going to have, so I think this is going to be a really excellent experience for all of us.

To all of you I want to wish you a very merry Christmas. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful holiday with your families.

May the light that shone in Bethlehem shine in your hearts this Christmas season.

Lots of wisdom today!

I saw this on a friend's website today and it says alot to me. I hope it says the same to you!!!

Maya Angelou said:

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life'."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.""I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Christmas underway!

So, the parties have started. Last weekend was the first one - the IKEA party. Man, I never knew a Christmas party could make you feel old, but there wasn't a person at our table that was over 25. Everybody in Chris' department are between 19-25. Makes you feel like an old woman, let me tell you.

My gf kindly offered to babysit our children for the evening so that we could enjoy ourselves. Not a great photo, but it gives you the idea of how we looked that night. All in all, it was a pretty fun evening - even though we didn't win the big screen tv, satellite radio or any other fabulous prizes they were giving away.

Kiana is really excited today. We are going to the premiere showing of "Charlotte's Web" It doesn't come out in theatres until the 15th, but our landlord got these great tickets and thought we might enjoy it. I loved the book when I was a kid so I think we'll really enjoy it.

Malachi got me started on a new project for him. He is really interested in this new project I am undertaking and had this great idea for a new mini-book for him. Only its turning out not to be so mini. These are some of the photos that I have been taking for the last couple of days:
















He decided that it would be a good idea to recreate all 6 of the "Star Wars" movies with his lego. So, I have taken about 50 pictures of them. Now we are in the process of writing the story. Once that is finished, he decided that I am going to create a mini book for him of the pictures and the story together. He is so excited you wouldn't believe it. Its quite a project, but he's so excited that I just get swept into it with him. The photos are in the wrong order, but you can tell who lost the battle based on the photos above.

But the most exciting thing was the kit pieces that we got from our wholesalers on Friday! YUMMMY!!! Scrapbook stuff is always yummy, but when you get it in the quantity that we did, you just want to swim in it. Its really real now! Here's a sneak peak and just one of the yummy things we received in our box of goodies! Can't wait to show and share more!

TADA!!! HERE IT IS!!!!

This is what I have been working on for the last little while! Anam and I were looking for a place where we could get some great mini-kits and couldn't find what we were looking for, so , after complaining about what we couldn't get, we put our minds(and a wonderful financial gift from my parents) together and this is what we came up with: JUST LIKE SNOWFLAKES. Our website itself isn't live yet, but the blog is to get the word out and get you all (hopefully) as excited as we are for our new venture. Please come over there, visit us and tell us what you think!

Its here!

Christmas has come to our house a little earlier than normal this year. Usually we wait until 1st Advent to put up our tree, but this year we decided that we didn't want to wait any longer. Its cold and snowy outside that the kids have been begging for weeks to put them up already. They LOVED putting up the tree this year. My tree looks like Disney and Star Wars threw up on it, but I figure I can have my stylish tree when the kids are older. They love all the decorations that they have on the tree and they can't seem to get enough of it - they are constantly sitting next to it and admiring all the ornaments.


And I got my Christmas cards done too. I have totally impressed myself as I am really on top of things this year. Usually I am rushing to get my cards done so that I can stick them in the mail the first week of December, but I got done early this year. As is the situation with my Christmas shopping - thats all done too. Now I can really sit back and enjoy the Christmas season. And its filled with exciting things that will bring even more Christmas spirit into our hearts. Chris and I are going to the "The Nativity" next weekend. I really would like to see it and I think its important to support movies like that when they hit the theatre - maybe then they'll do more of those and less of some of the other garbage thats out there. Anyway, the kids are also really busy practising for their Christmas program at church. Kiana is an angel and Malachi is playing Malachi the prophet. They both have solos and are very excited. We also have the IKEA Christmas party this weekend. That's always alot of fun and IKEA does a fabulous job of putting out a great spread. But the most exciting thing we are doing this Christmas is a big Christmas dinner. Usually our Church has a Christmas dinner for ourselves and we just enjoy being together. This year we have decided to put together our Christmas dinner but to serve it to the community. Its really exciting to know that we will be providing dinner for others instead of focussing on ourselves this season. I mean that's what Christmas is really about right - its all about the giving.

Time to catch up!

Whoo - its been a busy week, but finally I get a second to catch up. Life has been really busy but really good the last few weeks. First of all, dad is back at work again and is happy that the pacemaker is in and doing its job. He gets his license back in the next week or two so he's really excited about that. He is settling into normal life again - which hasn't happened since last spring when all these problems with his heart started.

I have been scrappin' like a dog the last little while. Between cjs and Christmas Cards and SS Swap stuff, an Edmonton Rush album and our "new project" life has been crazy. I can't wait - only 12 more days until our secret is revealed. I am looking forward to it - can't wait to see how it is accepted. I really want this to work.

And we welcomed another member to our family a couple of weeks ago. Hank's brother wasn't coping well, now that Hank was gone, so the owner asked us if we could take another little kitty. So, Jack came to live with us too. I will post a picture as soon as I have one, but he doesn't sit still long enough for me to actually take one. He's a pretty skittish kitty, so he's hiding more than he's out right now. But he loves his momma so he spends nights in bed with me while I sleep. The kids are thrilled to have 2 cats and its really helped Kiana get over her terror of animals.

I am working on a chipboard album for my new "project" and had to look thru some old slides of me and my sisters. I came across some photos that just made me smile and brought back some great memories.
The one on the right is: me, Tanya and Nanette. The one on top is Tanya and I. These photos bring back some great memories. Can't wait to show you how my chipboard album turns out. Have a good day!

Memories are the most beautiful pictures our minds can paint that cannot be erased.

Finally get to catch up

Its great to be able to catch up over here - its been awhile. There are alot of things going on in my life right now, some of which I will share with you and others that I have to keep a secret for just a little while longer. My dad is having his pacemaker inserted as I am typing this. Hope all goes well for him. He is pretty excited because that means he gets his drivers license back next week. He no longer has to depend on other people to drive him around.

My sister called earlier this week - she's having another baby! This is #5 for her - she is a brave woman. I don't think I could have 5. But I am soooooooo excited for her. It's so exciting to know another niece or nephew is on the way.


Worked on a new layout yesterday. It's called "He Says" and its all the wonderful things my husband Chris says about me that I am learning to believe about myself. Its the first step into seeing who I really am.

Been working on a couple of things behind the scenes too! Keep watching my blog - hopefully I will have an announcement to make in the next little while. I have a new endeavor that a girlfriend and I are playing around with and would LOVE for you to know about it. Keep watching.

Our Newest Family member

I would like to introduce you to our newest family member - Hank! We got him a couple of days before we headed to Winnipeg. We are all in love. Chris thinks he's like me - he's got definite attitude and when he wants to be cuddled, he is so sweet and loving and affectionate. But when he wants to be left alone, you just better do it! I actually got his name from a tv commercial with a human pretending to be a cat named Hank. Anyway, that's our new baby. We decided to get a cat because Kiana has such a fear of animals of any kind that perhaps a cat would help allay those fears just a little. It's been really great for her - she actually seeks him out to touch him. She is really becoming brave.

Now that I am back I can finally get back into the groove. I have alot of things that I want to get done before Christmas and now is the time to find my mojo. We got our Christmas shopping done yesterday - Chris is the only one that I have left to shop for. I am so glad that we got finished early - I hate the rush of the stores come holiday time. I still want to check IKEA out for their Christmas decorations - they always have a great selection of unique things.

Finally, I just want to say thanks to everyone for their cards, flowers, emails and phonecalls after the death of Oma. It's been a difficult time, but I appreciate your friendship during this time.

Well, off to find my mojo - have a lovely day everyone!

Wakeup call!

How many cares someone loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone. Coco Chanel.

That's what I got yesterday! Let me tell you, if you have a friend that has enough courage to tell you things that you don't necessarily want to hear, but need to hear, you are a lucky person. Fortunately I have just such a friend. I have been unhappy in my skin, in my life for a while now and couldn't put my finger on what I could do about it. Then I went to a friend's for tea and she started asking the hard questions. She pushed me to dig deep inside me and forgive myself, accept myself, but more importantly to accept the life I have in front of me. It's not a mistake, it's not something wrong, it's different and it's beautiful. I don't have to try so hard to be what I think other people want me to be. I don't have to bend over backwards to try and get people to like me and I don't have to accept bad behaviours toward me. What I see in the mirror is not the same thing other people see. I am not nothing - I am actually something.

To that friend I say thank you. And to everyone else who is reading this, I apologize from deep in my heart. I apologize for being obnoxious, for trying too hard, for trying to be something that I'm not. Today, I am going to start to try and really like the person that I am. Because I don't like the person that I am turning into!

Until you make peace with who you are, you will never be content with what you have. Doris Mortman

UGH!!!!!

I knew there was a reason that I hated coming back here - and this morning I woke up to it!!! SNOW - and not just that but freezing rain!!!! We had to run our car for about 15 minutes before the doors were thawed enough to get in!!! And try scraping the windows - FORGET IT!!!! LOL - Chris was freezing - we just wore our leather jackets out here and it is just a little too cold for that now!!! I'm not sure Edmonton is any better, but its easy to say it is when you are away from home!!!

Well, dad's surgery was successful so now we wait. That's always the hardest part - the waiting. I really don't want him to have another blackout, but thats the only way they are going to figure anything out! Anyway, he's taking it easy for the next few days and then we'll see. i will keep you all up on what's happening. But tomorrow we leave. As happy as I am that we are going home, its kind of a downer cuz I would love to stay here and keep an eye on my dad. But, we have to continue with our lives and hope that he will have a loooooooooooong life to come yet. Anyway, enough doom and gloom - i come home tomorrow!!!! I will be updating with pictures when i get home. Talk to you soon ladies!!!

Well, we're here

we are in Winnipeg and the cold has set in here too. It really feels like fall - but boy is it great to see my nieces and nephews again. My dad has surgery on Tuesday. They are implanting a microchip into his hand. When he feels another blackout coming all he does is push the button beneath his skin and it will record what is going on in his body. The hope is that this will cause them to finally figure out what is causing his blackouts and why. Hopefully it won't take long and the drs. can finally get to the bottom of it.

Thanx to you all for continually coming and reading my blog and my saga of whats been happening in my life. I really feel the love and support from you when you read and comment here. Sometimes I think that this blog is all doom and gloom, but you women are amazingly supportive and I am so grateful that I have you here to support me.

I will be in touch thru here again soon. I miss you all and can't wait to catch you online soon.

Thanx again to you all - I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Well, I didn't make it,

This day and your life are God's gift to you., so give thanks and be joyful always.

and thats just one more thing to add to an absolutely fabulous week!!!! Can you tell I'm being sarcastic?! I (obviously) didn't make the top 20 of MMIdol, Kiana is dealing with a bully at school and now the parents are harassing us and we have to get the police involved. And dad blacked out again yesterday. That's 5 since June and they STILL don't know what's wrong with him. But at least we get to go back to Winnipeg for Thanksgiving and see him again.
On that note, I decided to come up with 10 things that I am especially thankful for today!


1. My wonderful children who crawl into my bed and wake me with kisses in the morning.

2. My amazing husband who calls me no less than 3x a day to remind me that he loves me.

3. My two beautiful nieces Brianna and Aliyah who LOVE their Tante Mona so much and are counting how many sleeps until I get to come visit again.

4. My friends - their unconditional love and support is something that gets me thru anything.

5. The fall - even though its getting colder, I LOOOOVE the beautiful colours that God created in the fall.

6. Autism - it has taught me to love the little things and appreciate all the wonderful things that life has to offer!

7. God - my faith and love for God and continuing search and knowledge of him!

8. My sister Nanette - its great to have a sister that I can confide and share with. Someone who thinks the way I do (sometimes) and we both deal with things in a similar manner.

9. My dad - for our football phonecalls that last 3 hours during a game and for his love and support. And for his adoring love of his grandchildren.

10.Life - just that I have the opportunity to walk this path that has been chosen for me, meet the people I do and experience what I experience. It makes me the person that I am!


What are you thankful for?!

I did it!

Pretty sure that I won't get into the top 20 but you're never gonna know if you try right? I'm talking about the MM Idol. My 3 projects were due yesterday at noon. I had to enter 2 los and an altered item. I altered some ceramic tiles and turned them into coasters with my Gel-a-tins stamps. This is what I ended up coming up with:





The announcement is on Monday! At least we don't have to wait too long. I have decided that I want to do more of this and try to get published. I have made connections who are willing to help me and if I don't take the chance now, I never will! Tell me what you think about this - give me criticism - tell me whats wrong with it. I'll never get better if I don't know what I am doing wrong.

Pictures of Scrapfest

Had a really good time at Scrapfest last weekend! Met some really great new ladies from out of town that I hope join Scraptivity real soon. At the crop on Saturday night, we participated in a scavenger hunt and our table won!!!We got some cool stuff and got the chance to get to know these fabulous new ladies Laura and Jessie - they are really sweet and I am so glad that they decided to join our Scraptivity family. I also had the chance to meet Heather M, Carla(goonette) Leslie, Rosalie(altabrat) and Altafarmgirl while we were there. It was great to finally put names and faces together since we all know each other online already!
Taking classes from Ali was amazing. She is sooooo funny and sweet and kind. Not to mention uber talented! I didn't get alot done in one of her classes because I just enjoyed chatting with her so much!


I also had the opportunity to meet a few other women that I have admired for a long time. From the left you see Caroline Lau as well as the lovely ladies that design at Fontwerks-Kate Teague and Melissa Diekma. And of course the lovely Kah-Mei, owner of Fontwerks herself. What a lovely bunch of ladies. Caroline is as ute and sweet as she appears online and the Fontwerks ladies were wonderful and helpful and of course uber talented.

After reading Rhonda's blog

All things come from God. We should use our blessings as blessings to others. Ardith Knechtel

I decided to take her advice and celebrate the good things in my life today.

1. Chris! My wonderful husband and his phone calls during the day to tell me that he loves me and he misses me.

2. The enthusiasm that Kiana has for life. She woke up this morning excited about the rain. She has a positive outlook on EVERYTHING!

3. Malachi's kisses and hugs. He crawls into bed with me each morning and wakes me with a kiss on my nose, each cheek and my eyes. He is soooo gentle.

4. Lea and Anam. They are great friends and so much fun to be with! I looooove Anam's english - it makes me laugh and I learn new words every day. Lea is sweet and kind and has such a big heart for her friends

5. Ali Edwards - I get to go to Scrapfest tomorrow!!!! I look forward to learning from her and improving my work.

6. A clean house - its great to have my house in order and ready so that I can go away tomorrow knowing that my home is ready for dh and kids to have a ton of fun in and really mess up while I am gone! In our home a messy house created by dad and the kids means there has been a TON OF FUN going on over here!

7. Family - I am so excited to be spending our Thanksgiving holiday with my family. This is our first thanksgiving with my parents since Chris and I have been married. He actually got it off from work so that we can be with my family.

8. My dad! With his health having been bad lately, I have learned to appreciate him alot more. I love the 3 hours we spend on the phone every weekend while we watch the Blue Bombers play football on television. I love his emotional side and the fact that the little things in life make him cry. I love how much he adores my two kids. I have never met a grandfather who makes his grandkids such a vital part of his life.

9. New clothes - with having put on ALOT of weight lately, I have had to buy new clothes. As unhappy as I am with my size, I think I still look pretty good. And buying new clothes ALWAYS makes you feel better!

10. Winning a draw - I got $100 in free product at the lss. Cool - I was able to pick up some things that I normally wouldn't have. What a great feeling to win something!


I got tagged by Sue!

5 WEIRD THINGS ABOUT ME!

1. The plastic cups in my kitchen have to be stacked in a colour coded order: pink, yellow, orange, lt. green, dk. green, blue. No other way!

2. I iron my undies

3. When I windex the mirrors in my house, I have to wipe them 7 times, not 8, 6 or 3. If I do them more or less than 7 times, I have to wash them again.

4. I LOOOOOOOOVE to eat cooked tomatoes in ANYTHING. I also love tomato soup and salsa but I HATE raw tomatoes. I cannot even tolerate the smell.

5. I am physically afraid of corn. You know, corn on the cob, kernal corn. I will not touch or go near any food that contains corn of any kind.

Alright - I am tagging Anam, Rhonda, JennD and Heather M

Getting older

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. Sophia Loren

Well, here I am - another year older. My sister Tanya called me the other day and said "Do you realize that you are now closer to 40 than you are to 30?" Thanx for reminding me?! But surprisingly enough I am enjoying getting older. When I turned 30 I was really quite sad about it and it very much depressed me, but today I woke up thinking "Hey, I am a hot chick for 36. it could be much worse" So what do I want this year? What do I want to do? What do I want to accomplish? This year I want to work hard at getting published - I would LOVE to have just one publication under my belt before my 37th birthday. I want to be meaningful - I want what I say and do this year to REALLY mean something. I want to give my kids the strength and the freedom to let me go(just a little) and to exert a little more independance. I want my faith to shine and to really mean something. I want to love God in a newer, deeper way. I want to be an open vessel to change and to be the person He wants me to be! I leave you with this photo - I think it portrays my maturity and outlook on this year quite well.

Never forget

I got an email from Tante Nell today. We NEED to remember - its important that we think and pray for our Canadian Soldiers every day. Whether we agree with the war in Afghanistan and Iraq or not, Canadian and American Soldiers are fighting for our rights each and every day!!! Where were you on 9/11? what was going thru your mind? what were your thots? I remember getting Kiana ready for school and when I saw the news and the first plane hit I remember thinking "What kind of IDIOT pilot didn't see that building? What are you, STUPID?" And then the 2nd plane hit and I remember feeling utter fear and "we are NEVER going to be the same again!!!! WE are at war!!!!!"

Anyway, if you can, please watch this video. Post to me and tell me what you think. We have men and women who are courageous and are worth remembering. We need to support the families of the lost and remember that, no matter what, they are fighting for our freedoms. Whether we agree or not! Support our troops!!!!
Canadian Forces Tribute

I LOVE YOU!

To love is to find pleasure in the happiness of the person loved!

10 years ago today I married the man of my dreams! You doesn't always read my blog, but I wanted to come here and tell you how much I love you and the last 10 years that we have been together. You make me laugh with just a look, you know just what to say when I am sad, you are my strength, you think I am beautiful even when I am at my worst and you make me feel strong even when I am weak. You have given me 2 beautiful children that I adore. You have been my champion, my defender, my lover and my friend. You have been strong even when others felt it was wrong for us to be together. For a long time it was you and me against the world trying to show the world that we should be together and that we WOULD make it. I hope that we have 50 more years together - you make my life complete.