It's been awhile

but here I am again. Life has been nuts the last few weeks. Finishing up the last weeks of school and getting some projects finished for Scrapbooking Fanatics ScrapJam. We are also participating in another autism study through the University of Alberta. Busy, busy, busy!

Finished another great project for Scrapbooking Fanatics. This contest challenge was sponsored by Upsy Daisy Designs and we were asked to do something in which we describe laughter. Well, here is my contest entry:

I really enjoyed this particular project. It was alot of fun to do. Upsy Daisy was very generous with the product they sent us. I REALLY love them.

And we are getting ready to head back home for holidays again. It's always fun to go, but leaving the kids behind for two weeks is the real holiday for Chris and I. That's the only real time we get to spend together. The rest of our lives are devoted to our kids and making sure they have everything they need. What a wonderful break that will be.

So, what are your Canada Day plans? We will be watching the fireworks from our balcony. They are close enough to enjoy, yet far enough away that the noise doesn't affect Kiana adversely. IKEA is having a sale this weekend so of course Chris is working. Take care this weekend guys! Be safe and enjoy the long weekend.

HAPPY 140th BIRTHDAY CANADA!!!!

Upsy Daisy Designs

These are my entries for the Upsy Daisy Designs Contest that I didn't win. I LOVE these papers - they are toooooo cool. Love the fact that its a Canadian company too. The lo on the left is one I did for my dad for Fathers Day. These papers are just toooo yummy and I love the rubons too. Very cool!!!

Working on my next challenge for the SF contest too - have to do a lo that describes the feeling of laughter. Wow - how's that for a challenge. Should be interesting - and thanx to Upsy Daisy Designs for providing the papers and rubons for this challenge. Sooooo yummy!

And there are only 6 full days of school left until summer holidays. The kids are excited to be able to sleep in. I am having a heck of a time getting them out of bed every morning. I think they are just getting really excited about Winnipeg. They have a whole list of things they want to do when they get there. They love to hit Fun Mountain, Grand Beach(one of the most beautiful beaches in Canada), Tinkertown, the Zoo and Lake of the Woods. And Chris and I get to leave the kids behind for a couple of extra weeks, so we get a nice break after our holiday too.

Working out is going well too. Yesterday I managed to squeeze back into a pair of size 12 capris. Another week or two and they will actually be fitting comfortably again. It's nice to know that I might actually make it to the beach this summer without looking like a hippo!!! YAH ME!!!!

Anyway, Happy Hump Day! LOVE YA!!!

Interesting day!

So, I went on a field trip with Malachi's class today. We went to "Grandma's Place" - its a "chore" based museum. It takes the kids back to the 1930s and lets them experience life back then. Malachi loved it - they got to clean wheat and grind it into flour, they used an old washing machine, hung laundry and ironed it, made toast on an old stove and bought candy in the old store. They had alot of fun. Most of the kids thot the chores were fun, but one kid said "I don't DO chores - only girls do chores in our house."

And , as some of you know, I became an auntie on Tuesday. My sister Nanette had another baby girl. Her name is Ella Charity. I love the name Ella and can't wait to meet her this summer. The kids are pretty excited too - Ella is Kiana's favourite name - from the movie "Ella Enchanted".

Busy weekend here. Trying to get my challenge layout finished for the "Scrapfan Summer Jam" contest. This week you have to do a layout on your fear - be it a fear in your life or a technique that you have always been afraid to try. I am focussing on a technique I have been afraid to try. We'll see how it goes.

Hope you all have a glorious weekend and that you have beautiful weather to enjoy it!

Feeling good!

So, after 2 weeks of working out I am feeling really good! Usually by the two week mark of my workout I give up and quit, but here I am still going. I missed yesterday for the first time in two weeks and I REALLY missed it! All day long I had this nagging feeling that something wasn't right, that I forgot something. I realized that I just missed working out. What a great feeling.

So, my first challenge for the Scrapbooking Fanatics ScrapJam is finished and posted. Not sure its my absolute best work, but I'm happy with it. I LOVE the Rouge de Garance papers and was TERRIFIED to cut them because I bought the Limited Edition line and I was afraid that I would be unhappy with what I did or that I would regret cutting the paper, but I love it. You can check it out here.

And next week I am going to be an auntie again! My sister's baby is breech so they have scheduled a c-section for Tuesday morning. It'll be great when I go home this summer - totally surrounded by babies!!!

Today is another beautiful day - I am excited about the warm weather and the summer! I am so grateful for today because I am alive to enjoy it. What are you excited about today?! I'd love to hear about it!!!

Another glorious day!!!

It is another beautiful day in Edmonton - 28 degrees. I am loving the heat. I have been really busy in the last week or so too. I am waiting to hear back from a couple of design teams hoping that I can get a DT position again. Entered a couple of contests as well. The one I am really excited about is the " Scrapfan Summer ScrapJam" and the prize is a lo published in Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine. I was one of the 12 that were chosen to continue on. I am really excited about it. It'll run for the next 6 weeks and the winner will be in the Winter '07 magazine. I have also been selling off the remaining Snowflakes kits that I have in my house. They are pretty cool actually. One kit is a Corina accordian album with Luxe papers and the other is a Maya Road album with WRMK papers. They are actually selling like crazy.

I have also begun working out hard core. I have gotten quite large in the last 6 months or so and it is affecting my health. My doc told me that if I didn't lose the weight now, I would end up in a wheelchair. Hmm, let's see, Phlebitis and a wheelchair or working out 3-4x a week. The choice was obvious.

I want to leave you with these photos that I took at the park with my kids the other day. They are beautiful, but then everybody is when it comes to their kids I guess!

Bad Blogger

I have been a terrible blogger - haven't posted in awhile, but I am finally getting back here. We have had a beautiful weekend and since Chris had it off, we spent some time with the kids. Friday night we took the kids to see "Shrek the Third" They absolutely loved it - I was a little disappointed - not as good as the other ones. Saturday we took the kids to the park with my gf and her dd. They had alot of fun and I got to play with my camera a little bit. Today is a quiet day - church and hopefully finishing some los for the Upsy Daisy Designs contest. How was your weekend? Hope you have a wonderful day.

I love this photo of my kids - I can't believe how big they have gotten. And they still enjoy spending time with us - Kiana's almost 10 so I know that won't happen much longer. So I am appreciating every minute I have with them. I have been very blessed to have some really amazing kids - they surprise me and make me proud every day. These photos aren't from yesterday, but I wanted to finally post them.


Honesty is telling the truth to ourselves and others. Integrity is living that truth.

I'm an auntie again!!!

My ds Tanya and her husband finally had their 5th child yesterday! She was only a week overdue, but our family has been waiting anxiously for her to come. Her name is Adalia Stephanie. I am waiting for photos - can't wait to see her. I love babies - as long as I am not the one having them, and now I have another baby to spoil. I can't wait to get back to Winnipeg and see the little angel.

Malachi was disappointed. There are 7 girls and 2 boys in the clan of grandchildren so he was hoping for a little girl. My sister Nanette is due in 5 weeks so he's keeping his fingers crossed for a little boy. In the meanwhile, we are all very excited to have another little one to love in the family.

Happy Mother's Day!

I love this day - I love celebrating with my wonderful husband and beautiful children. I have been so blessed to be given these two amazing children. I have never enjoyed a day as much as it realizes that what I do is the most wonderful job in the world. Chris is making dinner, the kids each made me gifts at school and we spent the day together as a family.

I also called my mom today. This year, I looked at her really differently. If any of you had the opportunity to watch Oprah on Friday, Demi Moore was on and she discussed her dysfunctional relationship with her mother. She said something that was particularly interesting to me. When her mother was dying she said that she was hoping to get an apology for the childhood she had and the way her mother treated her. But when her mother died, instead of getting an apology, her mother took with her what was hers. Whatever wrongdoings her mother did to her she took with her and Demi no longer had anywhere she could push her anger, frustration or negativity. That was Demi's to hang on to. She said "Forgive, before its too late, because once they are gone, they are gone. There is nowhere to push your negative feelings." The other thing she said was that this mother's day she's going to ask her mother to forgive her for her "righteousness" as a daughter. What a great message for me - and my mom is still here so I have time to get it right with her.

So, tell me - did you all have a wonderful mother's day? To all my dear friends who are mothers I wish you a wonderful day. The job is long and hard but the most fulfilling thing you will ever experience.

When God thought of mothers, He must have laughed with satisfaction and framed it quickly - so rich, so deep, so divine, so full of soul, power and beauty was the conception.--Henry Ward Beecher

Congratulations

to my dear friend Melissa Buhler and her husband. On Monday May 7 they welcomed their beautiful daughter Taryn into the world. She is a stunning little girl. Congrats to you both -may she be a real blessing to your lives.

Good Monday morning

Here is one of just many projects I got done this weekend for NSD! Had a great cropping weekend and I got alot of stuff done. Haven't scrapped that much in a long time. All in all a fun weekend.

Ugh, I don't like Mondays and this one more so than most. I have a meeting with the Principal at school this morning. My dd and her bully have been going at it again but this time my dd was the one to start it. She called the girl and her family trash and now the mother wants to have a meeting with all of us. GREAT - just what I need. This kid has tormented Kiana so much that I think she had it coming, but I can't tell her or the principal that. Poor Kiana - she has to apologize to the little girl and who knows what else the mother will want from us. But only about 6 weeks of school left and then this will all be over.

Someone sent me this over the weekend and I just loved it, so I wanted to post it here:

TOP 10 TERRIFIC TRAITS OF PEOPLE WITH AUTISM

1. THEY RARELY LIE: To them truth is truth--a good word from them is the real deal.

2. THEY LIVE IN THE MOMENT: They truly attend to the sensory input that surrounds them. Many have achieved the ideal of mindfulness.

3. THEY RARELY JUDGE OTHERS: People on the spectrum often see through surface appearances such as size, wealth or colour to discover the real person.

4. THEY ARE PASSIONATE: They are truly passionate about the things, ideas and people in their lives.

5. THEY ARE NOT TIED TO SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS: Social expectations can be honestly irrelevant. What matters is true liking, interest and passion -- not keeping up with the Jones's.

6. THEY HAVE TERRIFIC MEMORIES: They are much more tuned in to details. They may have a much better memory than their typical peers for all kind of critical details.

7. THEY ARE OFTEN LESS MATERIALISTIC: They are often less concerned with outward appearance than their typical peers. As a result, they worry less about brand names, hairstyles and other expensive but unimportant externals than most people do.

8. THEY PLAY FEWER HEAD GAMES: Who was that woman, and why were you looking at her? I know I TOLD you I didn't mind if you went out, but why did you believe me? Most autistic people don't play games like these -- and they assume that you won't either. It's a refreshing and wonderful change from the Peyton Place emotional roller coaster that mars too many typical relationships!

9. THEY HAVE FEWER HIDDEN AGENDAS: If he tells you what he wants -- he is telling you what he wants. No need to beat around the bush, second guess, and hope you're reading between the lines!

10. THEY OPEN NEW DOORS FOR NEUROTYPICALS: For some of us neurotypicals, having an autistic person in our lives has had a profound positive impact on our perceptions, beliefs and expectations. For me, at least, being the mom of two kids on the autism spectrum has released me from a lifetime of "should" -- and offered me a new world of "is."

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Have you ever wondered

how you can be raised by the same people as other family members and yet be sooooo different? I mean, morally different?!?!? I have been thinking of that ALOT in the last couple of days. I don't understand how two people in one family raised in the exact same way, by the exact same parents could be as different as night and day. One is a functioning member of society, married to a wonderful spouse, great kids and a successful career. The other has spent the last 20 years in and out of jail, abandoned his wife and children, is a drug addict, has never held a job for more than 3 days and has such little moral conscience that he assaulted someone and left them for dead (thankfully this person is okay) without so much as a glance or a moment of guilt. And they were both raised by God fearing parents who, even though they made mistakes, tried their best. I just don't get it. What makes him so different than me? Why is he the one that turned out that way and I didn't. He's not my brother, but we were raised in the same way, we grew up together and he was like a brother to me. I just don't get it.

Enough of my dusty thoughts in my mind - what are y'all doing for NSD?! Anything exciting going on? Well, my favourite place to shop - Scrapbooking Fanatics is having a weekend of fun. I am really looking forward to hanging out there. They are starting Friday night. There will be some classes, prizes, challenges and more. Come and check it out if you have a minute - its a great place to hang out and it would be great to see you there.

Tell me, what are you doing for NSD?!?!?!

AMAZING HUSBAND!!!

Look at what my dh came home with yesterday:

I was totally shocked. I had spoken to him about wanting one for either my birthday or Christmas this year and showed it to him yesterday. The next thing I knew he came home with it. I couldn't believe it - what an incredible man!!! Needless to say, that'll be it for Christmas this year. I have been playing with it a bit. Its gonna take me awhile to get the hang of it, but I am having a ton of fun with it.

7 things about me

Alright, since Laura tagged me, I figured I would do this and pass it on.

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog! OK, here goes:

1. When I was 12 years old I was in a movie/documentary that was shown on television and in movie theatres in more than 4 countries.
2. I was on "Hockey Night in Canada" at the last home game that the Winnipeg Jets ever played. And I caught the puck. It was such a highlight for me that I still have that hockey puck
3. I obsessively collect anything to do with monkeys
4. I met Wayne Gretzky when I was in the 6th grade and sold his autograph for $50 after I got it cuz I didn't like him.
5. I am addicted to coffee - I drink about 2 pots a day
6. In person I am NOTHING like I am online - many of my scrappin' friends who have met me cannot believe how different I am in person
7. As much as I complain about my family, I have spoken to my parents on the telephone everyday since I moved to Edmonton 10 1/2 years ago.

Alright - I am tagging: Carmen, Julie, Rhonda, Stacy, Tammy, Ki and Tammy B.

Getting alot done

I am amazed with how much I am getting done these days. This is a lo that I did for my girlfriend - its her dd's 2 year photo. She is sooooo cute. The journalling is the song "In My Daughter's Eyes" by Martina McBride. The photo is so cute that I didn't want to add to much stuff to the lo and take away from the photo.

And a huge congratulations to Jen D. and her dh Jim on the birth of their beautiful son Angelo. He is a real cutie. I am so happy for you all and wish you lots of blessings. LOVE YA!!!

Please check this out!!!

Autism Speaks created a music video of the Five for Fighting song, "World", which features images of autistic children and their families. It is a truly moving video and was the work of Bill Shea.
The band is generously donating $0.49 to Autism Speaks for each time the video is viewed - the funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure. When you have a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and pass it along to your friends and family. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal. Click here to check out the video!

This is what I was working on today:
I love this photo. Its kind of a simple lo, but I like it. This photo speaks alot to me actually. It shows how far my sisters and I have come. I remember how we used to beat the crap out of each other and teased each other and just genereally annoyed each other. But now, we shop together and talk on the phone and complain about husbands and kids and friendship. We may still argue and fight and call each other names, but only we can do that. If anyone else does it they'd be dead. Anyway, I did it for a challenge for this site. Check it out - it looks like it'll be alot of fun!

It seems that for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential. -Dr. Hans Aspberger

Happy Easter!

Well, how is your Easter weekend going? I hope you are all having a great weekend. I LOVE Easter. Its the foundation of my faith and I love all the weekend festivities that it entails. Look what my kids just did:
We also got some sad news yesterday. A friend from back home was killed in a car accident on Good Friday. She was so young - only 25 and married a couple of years. She swerved to miss an animal on the highway and ran into a bridge abutment. She was killed instantly. Its so hard when someone so young is killed. I held my dh and kids and gave them an extra big hug.

I hope you all have a blessed Easter filled with lots of chocolate and fun!

Changes

So, we have been living in Edmonton for 10 1/2 years now and boy has the cost of living gone up here. It is unbelieveable what people will pay for a house. So, Chris and I have begun looking into moving back home again. Chris has applied for a couple of MPI Investigator and Auditor jobs. Keeping our fingers crossed - I think at this point it would be a good time for us to go back to Winnipeg. The kids would really thrive there - Kiana and Malachi's biggest improvements always seem to come after a summer in Winnipeg. It would be extremely difficult to leave our church family and our friends that we have made here, but at this point we need to think and do what is best for our family. We can still afford to live in Edmonton right now, but for how much longer?! It won't be long before we can't do it on Chris' income. And even though the kids aren't home anymore, Kiana's anxieties don't allow for me to have a job because we never know what her days at school are going to be like and when I am going to get a call to go pick her up because of her inability to cope. So, that's where we're at. Kinda scary to think about, but exciting at the same time. I'll keep you updated as we know what's going on!

Happy Monday!

Man am I tired! It was such a busy weekend, but alot of fun. My parents flew in on Thursday morning for the weekend and they left yesterday. We had to cram a TON of stuff into just 3 days. They flew in Thursday at 7:30 a.m. and took us out for breakfast. We took the kids to Chuck E Cheese for a birthday party for Malachi - a little late, but he wanted to celebrate with Oma and Opa. Did I tell you how much I LOOOOOOVE Chuck E Cheese(can you hear the sarcasm? ) Oh well, once a year for the kids is okay.

Friday we spent the day at the West Edmonton Mall Waterpark. Malachi loved the wave pool. Kiana was a little more wary and wasn't all that excited about being there. We couldn't get Malachi out of the water. Kiana was content to sit on her chair and watch us all play.

My parents spoiled Chris and I as well. They gave us money so that we could go out for dinner and my mom also took me shopping for some spring clothes. All in all, a pretty exciting weekend. But I am sooooo tired - I need sleep to recover from it.

Poor Kiana tho - she always has such a hard time when they leave - so we have lots of tears this week because we miss Oma and Opa so much!

So, this month is Autism month. Go over to Technique Tuesday and buy your autism stamps and support the cause.
Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week - got a couple of projects on the go and get my house back to normal now that my folks are gone. And today is the perfect day for it because its cold and snowing. UGH - I wish that spring would finally come.

On that note, I would love to know three things that you look forward to in spring - what do you love about spring? What can you NOT wait for?!

Here are 3 things I LOVE about spring:

1. Blooming flowers
2. The smell of the first cut grass
3. The sounds of birds chirping thru my open window as I am just waking up.

Ciao for now!

SHOUT OUT!!!

Need to do a great big shout out to my gf Sue and her two great DT members (so far) Kat and Tammy. Just Cre8 is a great new site that opened up. They have BEAUTIFUL kits and they also have a great community. Definitely a Canadian site worth checking out!!!

The proudest momma around!!!

Well, Malachi's birthday turned out to be much better than any of us expected. Every month they have assembly and certain students in each class get achievement awards. Most of the time they are for kindness, perseverance, friendship - basically awards surrounded around interpersonal and social skills. DD Kiana has gotten about 4 of them in the last two years- her autism is atypical and doesn't affect her interpersonal skills. Malachi on the other hand (because of his type of autism) has never gotten one. Well, this afternoon in assembly he got his FIRST EVER achievement award. The teacher explained that he had improved sooo much this year that he no longer needed an aide in school and that he was consciously trying to be more outgoing and trying to make friends and be social. He was so happy and proud of himself that he was in tears. He came running over to me crying and saying "Mommy, I'm so proud. This is the best birthday EVER. Are you proud of me mommy?' Well, this momma was in tears. He has come SOOOOOO far in the last year at school. He is such an amazing kid - and for this to happen on his birthday made the day even more wonderful.

On that note, I need to give a HUGE shout out to Technique Tuesday - what an AMAZING company they are. Autism is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Technique Tuesday has decided to make a difference and to help those of us who are touched by Autism. 50% of the proceeds from THESE PRODUCTS is going to fund autism research!!! So go out and support Technique Tuesday - buy these products in April!!! Hopefully they will help to find a cure for autism!!!! And thank you Technique Tuesday for stepping up and addressing an epidemic that affects 1 in every 150 children - including my 2 beautiful babies!!!

And finally a great big shout out to my S! friend - Michelle Engel!!! She got an Honorable Mention in CK's HOF 2007!!! YOU ROCK my friend - CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Thanx everyone for sharing in my excitement and joy today!!!

Happy Birthday Malachi!

My baby is 8 years old today - I cannot believe it.

He's growing up right before my eyes. He lost his first tooth last night too - you can see the space in his teeth. He has the cutest little lisp right now. And this morning he woke us up at 5:30 so that he could open his birthday presents - he wanted them before school. He's such a little man - wanting to be tough and grown up like his dad, but still needing the special cuddle time with his mom. It won't be long until he'll be too big for that, so I am just enjoying it as long as I can. My wish for you my son is that you grow up to be as wonderful, loving, caring and thoughtful as you are now.

Malachi decided that he wanted to wait until my parents come to visit so that he can share his birthday with his Oma who has her birthday next week. He decided that we are taking Oma and Opa to West Edmonton Mall Waterpark for the day and then we are going to Chuck E Cheese for dinner. Oma's birthday is on the 31st so they will have a birthday party and birthday cake together.

Happy birthday my beautiful baby boy! You will always be my beautiful little man!

Busy Weekend

Good morning - how are you all doing today? Whew - what a weekend - so glad its over though. How was your weekend?

I spent Friday night and Saturday all day scrappin - got about 4 los done. Spent Friday night at the online crop at my gf Jayme's place - Scrapbooking Fanatics. You definitely need to check out her place. She's got great stuff and she has amazing prices. (that's my little plug for this morning) It was easy to get stuff done because DH went to the Edmonton Rush game that night. Saturday, my gf came over and we scrapped the day away. She's new to scrapping, but she's already got the bug. She wants to scrap every minute that she isn't working. She's amazing - her dd is only 2 and she has the first year done and is working on year two. My kids are 9 and 8 and I'm not that far yet. So, we opened some champagne and scrapped the day away. Chris and the kids were feeling kind of under the weather but I medicated them and sent them to bed.
Sunday turned out to be a nighmarish day. Because Chris and the kids were feeling under the weather, I went to church alone on Sunday. I was doing worship so I had to be there at 8 a.m. and right before the service started, I called to see how they were all doing. Malachi was throwing up and had a fever of 106.2. Needless to say, I didn't do worship. I went home and took him to the ER just cuz his fever was sooooo high. Turns out he had an ear infection and after the 3rd dose of antibiotics he was fine. Man, everytime he gets a fever it scares me. He rarely gets them, but when he does they ALWAYS spike that high. I kinda knew it was no big deal, but because it was so high, I worry anyway. But looking at him today, he's running around and playing TMNT - you'd never know he was so sick yesterday. The wonders of antibiotics I guess.

And I finally did it - I finally got one. Got what you ask? A Purple Cow - I LOVE IT!!!! I have been eyeing it up for awhile now, but I finally got me one and it is amazing. It is the best cutter I have ever owned. Definitely worth the money you pay for it, let me tell you. Even the guillotine isn't that daunting. But my new favourite thing - for now anyway(LOL)

And, on a sadder note, Janet Kent died on the weekend. Janet was Chris' grandfather's partner. They had been living together for many years. She lived a long, full life and died at 97. Grampa Hall's heart is broken. She was a lovely lady and our lives were better for having known her.

So, whats up for the week for you? Me, I'm doing more scrapping this week. My gf wants to come over on Tuesday and scrap again. And Thursday is my ds' birthday. So its a busy week over here.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Beauty is all around us, from the smallest things to the biggest. All we need to do is look with the eyes of a child.

What a great day!!!

Hey all - how are y'all doing? We have got a beautiful day here today - its sunny and warm. It really feels like spring is around the corner. I am having an AMAZING day. I woke up tired, disappointed and sad, but after reading my bible and spending some time in introspection, I am feeling awesome!!!

How are you guys doing today? What have you been up to? I am scrapping like a mad woman this afternoon - trying to finish off 5 cjs and just getting them out the door. I am also working on my BOM today and some DT calls that I am entering. We got free tickets to go and see "The Last Mimzy" on the weekend. Malachi is really excited to see that.
We've also got to take the kids back to the Glenrose Hospital tomorrow and introduce them to their new psychiatrist. That could be interesting - Dr. Hapchyn has worked with Kiana and Malachi since they were 3 and 4. I am hoping that Kiana deals with the change well - you never know with autistic kids, thats for sure.

Tell me, what are you happy about today?

The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity. -- Neil Anderson

Good Monday Morning!

How are you all doing this morning? Normally I hate mondays, but the kids are home from school today so I got to sleep in until 9:00. Then my kids crawled into bed with me to wake me up. They decided that they needed to bake a chocolate cake today, so that's what we did. UGH - I love chocolate but not at 9:00 in the morning before my first cup of coffee.

Looking forward to a busy week this week. I did some photos for our church and they want power point presentations done, so I am working on that. I am also working on a power point presentation for my dad's 65 birthday party. That means searching through about 2000 slides and finding what we need. I am also working on an album for a friend - her ds used to play for the Edmonton Rush (til he got traded to Colorado) and she kept every newspaper article, picture, postcard and anything else that mentions him on it. Can you tell she's a proud mom? Anyway, not all her stuff fit into one album so I am working on album number 2 for her now.

I am also selling chocolates for the kids school. Kiana is sooooo funny. On Thursday the teacher gave each child in class a box of chocolates and started explain to them what the chocolates were for. Kiana(as per usual) wasn't paying attention and when she came running out of the classroom shouted out "Dad - look what the teacher gave me!!! AND ITS FREE!!!!! Just for me!!!" She thought that she had been doing so well in school that she got these chocolates all for herself to enjoy. She was heartbroken when she realized that not only could she not eat them, but she had to sell them to other people. Needless to say, thats a definite sbing moment!

Finally, I wanted to give a great big thanx to all my amazing friends. Your phonecalls and emails have been awesome and I love you guys. You all RAWK!!! You are the best friends a girl could ask for. Hope you all have a cool day and thanks for checkin' in. Love ya, bye!!!


Never count your friends on sunny days for they all will be around. Count your friends on the rainy days when the clouds are grey and lightning shakes the ground. It is then you painfully see the type of friend they really are.

So, after much thought and discussion

my dh did not accept the job that he had been offered. Initially they offered him $30 000 more in salary than he was receiving now, but when they went out for coffee it turns out that the salary was less that he was receiving now and that he had the "potential" to make more money based on commission. Needless to say, Chris felt that a guaranteed salary that is $20 000 more than they offered him to start with them was better than switching over companies. Oh well, Chris is going to be working with a headhunter, so hopefully something better will come along soon.

And I am busy planning my ds' birthday. He turns 7 in two weeks and we need to get something planned here. My parents are flying out for his birthday and we cannot wait to see them. I haven't seen them since my grandmother's funeral last October. They are only here for a few days, but we have already got a weekend full of WEM waterslides, Chuck E Cheese and lots of other great things planned.

Well, off to get some paperwork done! Hope you all have a wonderful day! Love to you all!!!


We know God wants his best for us - we just don't know how difficult His best will be. - C.S. Lewis

Have you ever?

i found this on renee's blog. i thought it was kind of a cool thing. highlight the ones you have done. let me know if you do this.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea(does a lake count?)
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland (this summer)
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
7. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie (documentary shown worldwide and on television when I was 12)
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music - with Fred Penner as a kid
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds (45.5 kilograms)
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

BAD BLOGGER!!!

I certainly am a bad blogger. I can't believe how long its been since I was last here. So much has happened since my last visit.

First was the Retailer's Event in Edmonton. Had a fabulous time - but BOY was it busy. 7 Gypsies, Heidi Swapp, Canvas Concepts, Cloud 9 Design, Bazzill Basics and Becky Higgins all taught classes. My favourite were definitely the Cloud 9, 7 Gypsies and of course Becky Higgins.

Amy and Nancy were great - they are very sweet and alot of fun. They are amazingly creative women who were very inspiring. They really know how to get you excited about what you do. The Cloud 9 stuff is really yummy, so it makes it really easy to love their stuff. Becky Higgins was amazing too! We each got a copy of her new book "Family History Scrapbooking" which is a great book. It came at a great time for me too as I am presently working on my dad's history album.

The whole weekend was really great and we met alot of amazing people. A very successful weekend in my humble opinion.

And now we get back to reality. The new Snowflakes kit is ready to go on sale and we are really excited about it. I love the colours of this new kit and I hope you do too! We are moving up to 50 kits for April so thats pretty cool too.

And, in other news, Chris has been offered a job in a new company! Thats huge for us, since he has been with IKEA for almost 10 years. The best part of this job offer is that it would be Monday thru Friday working 9-5. SOOOOOOO much better than 3 a.m. mornings, middle of the night phonecalls and shift work. Praying for the best solution for us. As soon as I can tell you all more I will. He has lunch with someone from the company tomorrow, so we will see what happens.

Love to you all! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Take the first step in faith - you don't need to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. Martin Luther King Jr.

Happy Valentine's Day

So, what are you doing for Valentines Day? What wonderful things do your significant others have in store for you? Do you do something for your kids for Valentines Day as well?

I finished Chris' valentines gift last night so we'll see what he thinks. Here is the first part of the Valentine's gift that I got Chris.

















I have a heart shaped MR album that I have to finish this morning. It has photos of us for the last 11 years together. The kids LOVE Valentines Day - they love to give Valentines to their friends and classmates. Today is one of their favourite days.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Valentines day and that the ones you love appreciate you all!!!

Where there is love, there is life. Mahatma Gandhi

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu

A new week

I for one am looking forward to a new week. The last week has been really busy and really exhausting. This week is looking to be no better. I have a husband who is looking at a new job offer and has meetings all week. I have two kids who are losing their best friends because they are moving to a new province and just aren't coping very well. I also have 3 parties and playdates this week with 5 other autistic kids. I am exhausted just thinking about it. But I am sooooo excited about next weekend - going to the Memories Wholesale Retailers Event. I think it'll be neat to meet Becky Higgins - would love to pick that lady's brain thats for sure!!!

I am seriously looking at entering MM Idol again this year. Didn't make it last year and I probably won't make it again this year, but I DEFINITELY won't make it if I don't at least try. Got a few other irons in the fire too - hopefully they work out as well.

How is your week shaping up to be? What are you guys up to? Tell me whats new in your life - I love hearing from you and what you are up to. Thanks for all the comments about your fears over the last little while - I appreciate the love and the honesty. Makes me feel not quite so alone.

Never a dull moment

at our house, thats for sure. This morning at 7 a.m. there was a knock at the door and a very large teenage boy was asking if he could come into my house and call himself a cab. Because Chris was in the shower, the kids were having breakfast and I had NO CLUE who this kid was I asked him to wait outside and I locked the door behind me. Talked to my dh in the shower and he told me to send him across the street to the corner store - they'd let him use the phone there. He was gone when I got back and so I called the landlord just to tell him what had occurred. The landlord went to find him and when he would not leave the building he called the police. Turns out the kid had just recently gotten out of jail, hadn't checked in with his parole officer and was carrying a gun. He had hoped someone would let him into their apartment and then he could rob them so that he could go home to Slave Lake.(at least that's the story he gave the cops) The police came to my door so that I could identify him before they took him away and asked me a few questions. The kids thought it was pretty exciting having the police come to the door to interview their mom! Not the way I wanted to start my morning tho. How are you all doing today?!?!

What about you?

Do you ever worry about anything? Are you ever afraid of anything? How does it affect you? Does it change who you are? I was made to realize that my fears change me - they make me a person that I don't want to be - that I am embarrassed to be. The person that others see is not who I really am. I come across as loud and overbearing. I become obnoxious - like I need to prove myself. The funny thing is I am scared and insecure. I am afraid to be around those who don't know me. Those who know me tell me I am kind, loving and giving. But others don't get to see that because of my fears. Tell me? Do you have any fears? What are they

Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you are right. Henry Ford

Good Monday Morning!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I had a pretty busy weekend. Friday night I enjoyed a crop at Scrapping Fanatics! That's my gf Jayme's place and its FABULOUS!!! I love hanging out there - but more importantly I love shopping there. Her stuff is awesome and so are her prices. Check out her store - tell her Mona sent ya! Every other Friday night she has a crop and gives away prizes. Lots of fun and great challenges too. Then on Saturday night Anam and I went to Canada's Crop for Kids crop. Didn't get much done, but then at crops I rarely do! I spent more time chatting with Janine and Trisha than I did actually getting something done. And then my poor boy ended up getting sick with the stomach flu. We all got it at Christmas and so when he didn't get it, we'd thot he'd got lucky and avoided it. Well, not so lucky for him he ended up sick all weekend. Thankfully he was doing better this morning and got to go to school.


Anyway, here's one thing that I did get done this weekend:
Next to my kids there is nothing that I love scrapping more than my nieces. This is my gorgeous niece Brianna. She is the cutest thing and I love her to pieces. Most everytime I call Winnipeg and talk to my sister, she and her little sister Aliyah ask if they can come to my house

for a sleepover. I wish they lived closer so that I could actually have them over. I am hoping

that one of these days my sister and her kids will
actually be able to spend some time out here with
them. Anyway, these are pictures from last year but I just love them. The colours are so brilliant that I just needed to play with them.

Then I got some pretty exciting news today. Anam and I are going to a Retailers Event on Feb. 17&18. Its great - Becky Higgins, Bazzill, Cloud Nine, Canvas Concepts, the Heidi Swapp team, 7 Gypsies, 3L Corporation, Creative Imaginations, Cosmo Cricket, EK Success, Fiskars, Heidi Grace Designs, Making Memories and Provocraft will all be there teaching classes or doing Make 'n Takes. They're all gonna have their new winter CHA stuff there too!!! I am sooooooo excited. Anam and I thought it would be a good idea to go to get the "Just Like Snowflakes" name out there and a little more recognized. I am really excited to go!

We build too many walls and not enough bridges. --Isaac Newton

So, I was tagged!

My gf had this on her blog and she tagged me. So, here goes:

A=Available - Nope
B=Best Friend - Lisa and Juanita
C= Cake or pie - cheesecake
D= Drink of choice - coffee or lemon tea
E= Essential item you use everyday - my computer
F= Favorite color - red
G= Gummy bears or worms - definitely bears
H= Hometown - Winnipeg, Manitoba
I= Indulgences - scrapbook shopping
J= January or February - February
K= Kids and Names - 2 - Kiana and Malachi
L= Life is incomplete without - my husband and kids
M= Marriage date - September 7, 1996
N=Number of siblings - 2 sisters, 1 sil
O= Oranges or apples - mandarin oranges
P= Phobias or Fears - losing my family
Q= Favorite Quote - We know God wants His best for us, we just don't know how difficult His best will be. C.S. Lewis
R= Reason to smile - my kids
S= Season - Summer - LOOOOOVE the heat
T= Tag 3 or 4 people - Alright - 1. Anam, 2. Ki, 3. Heather
U= Unknown fact about me - I was in a movie that was shown worldwide when I was 13. I even got paid for it.
V= Vegetable you don't like - any cooked vegetable.
W= Worst habit - biting my fingernails.
X= X-rays - knees, stomach, liver, teeth, head, back - you name it and I have had it x-rayed.
Y= Your favorite food - anything Italian
Z= Zodiac Sign - Virgo

We did it!!!

I think we did pretty good for our first kit! It was exciting to see how thrilled people were with our first kit! Can't wait to see how our next one does! We are doing our mail out on Monday! And the best part is that we are delivering to Canada, the US and Europe!!!! How awesome is that!!!! Thanx to all you ladies who have been checking us out and hanging out at our site. I love that you love what we are doing!!! I am so excited that people like what we have to offer. To be honest, I thot we would TOTALLY suck, but we don't!

So, we've got a quiet weekend ahead. I am working on the new kit this weekend. Chris and I have also decided to work with the College and Career age group at our church. They are looking for leaders so we have agreed to do it. I look forward to it - our 18-24 year olds are looking for leadership so we wanted to be able to offer it to them!!!

Hope you are all doing well - especially after that nasty weather we've been having. Gimme a shout - tell me how you're doing!

I found it!

So I finally got my mojo back!!! DOn't know where it went, but I finally found it. I got 4 los done in the last 24 hours. This one is called Striving and its based on Proverbs 31. The perfect wife and mother - that's what I want to be. I love the Blush papers - but then I love anything Basic Grey.


Then there's this one - its photos I took of the kids this year when they were decorating the tree. The paper is some scraps I had left from last year. Its a sketch I picked up from Pencillines. Its nice to be working on stuff again!

Kiana has been sick so I was kinda surprised that I actually got anything done between running for glasses of coke and cleaning up after a vomitous child. I will be so glad when all the flus and bugs are over. We've had 3-4 different bugs in our house - Malachi's been the only one lucky enough not to get sick!

Hope you are all well - if not, I hope you get well soon! Love to you all!!!

2007

Well, its finally here and I am really excited about it! This new venture has me excited, nervous and worried about what this year will bring. Will we be successful? Is this business gonna fly or flop? Are people going to want what we are selling? Only time will tell, but I am looking forward to the outcome anyway.

On that note, Lea and I are working on the kits today! Getting them ready for next week when the store goes live. Have I told you how much I love MAYA ROAD?!?!?!? Caroline has some of my most favourite scrappin stuff - her bottlecaps and ribbons are glorious!!! I can't wait to see what others think of this fabulous kit. I hope they love it as much as I do.

Have a wonderful day!!! Come visit us at JLS!!!

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?!