Good Monday Morning

and how was your weekend?! Mine was less than perfect - I was all hyped up for a crop on Friday only to have dh have to work. He put in a TON of extra hours this weekend so we didn't see a whole lot of him. Oh well, after 10 years with the same company I should be used to it.

So its Monday and back to work. This week is going to be a crazy one - tooooo much to do and not enough time to do it in. On top of my daily work routine, I have wedding invitations to make, a retirement album to finish, a wedding dress and bridesmaid dress to shop for, doctor's appointments, a gift album for my daughter's voice teacher, 4 cjs to work on and samples of music, centrepieces, decorations and wedding favours to prepare. UGH - I will be so glad when its all over.

Here are my Monday 7 today:

1. Friends - they are family that you get to pick!
2. Sleep - haven't had alot of it lately and I really miss it! Funny thing to be thankful for, but I love it when I get it
3. My kids - dh was working last night and they crawled into bed with me because I was all alone. I love that cozy feeling
4. music - I love listening to my music when I feel low and alone. Nothing makes me feel better
5. My job - there is no better feeling than knowing that you are getting through to someone who doesn't seem to understand what's going on around them
6. A great boss who appreciates your work.
7. A beautiful warm sunny day!

Hope you all have a wonderful week - and if you could send some love and prayers my way this week, I would really appreciate it. I need the extra support this week!

So, I finally got a few minutes to scrap yesterday. This is the May kit from my gf Jayme's website Scrapbooking Fanatics.

Have a good day!

Another Monday morning

Wow - I can't believe the long weekend is almost here. The year is flying by - we only have about 6 weeks of school left. CRAZY!!!

We had a wonderful weekend here. One of Chris' childhood friends was in town, so we had him over for dinner. Chris hadn't seen his friend Chris in almost 20 years and I had never met him, so it was alot of fun. Of course there was alot of reminiscing about all the stupid things they did as kids.

Mother's Day was wonderful. My kids made me some wonderful things for Mother's day. Malachi had his picture taken and he made a frame for the photo. He also gave me a card with a poem in it. Kiana made me a pitch pot and she wrote me a letter about all the things that she loves about me. It really made me cry because all the things that she loved about me were at times that I was at my weakest and my worst. Funny how those are the things that make her love me the most.

And, of course here is my Monday 7:

1. Weddings - I love weddings and I love that my dear friend Sue has found her soul mate and is getting married this summer. I am thrilled and blessed to be the matron of honor and I hope that God blesses them with many years of happiness. I am so thankful for her love and friendship.
2. Friends - I am so thankful for the amazing friends that we have. We are so lucky that God has blessed us with supportive, loving people in our lives
3. My work - I love going to work every day and having a great staff to work with. There is nothing better than having a supportive group of people around you.
4. My kids are terrific. I am so lucky to have kids that love me unconditionally and tell me virtually every minute of the day. My life is filled with their laughter and hugs and that makes everything okay.
5. Spring - the weather has been so wonderful the last few days. I love the sun and the heat.
6. Chris - I need to thank God every day for the amazing man he put into my life. He is my support and strength. A more amazing man I have never met.
7. Family - there is nothing more importan than family and I am so blessed to have an amazing one.


Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week. What are your plans for the long weekend? LMK!!!

Good Monday Morning!

Another week has started and it looks like spring is FINALLY here!!! The weather is warm, the sun is shining and I have finally pulled out my spring clothes. Its been a long time coming and I am so glad that its here.

The weekend was interesting - I spent most of it in bed because I have put my back out. Not sure what I did, but I am headed into the dr. today(hopefully) to see what the problem is. I'm in ALOT of pain and I can't really move.
We are also in the process of finding Kiana a new voice teacher - hers is moving at the end of June. Taylene is an amazing woman and we are going to miss her very much. I hope that she is able to help us find one as amazing as she is.

The most exciting news tho is the fact that we are finally in the process of getting our trip to Disneyland planned and booked. We are soooooooo excited.
So, here we are with today's 7. I was feeling badly because I didn't do it last week and I DEFINITELY didn't want to forget to do it today:


1. Common Sense - I always thought that common sense was something that everyone had. Today I am so grateful that I have been blessed with common sense and knowing what is right and wrong to do.
2. Beautiful weather - spring is finally here - I love the way it smells in the air. The weather is beautiful and I am so happy that I can finally put my sweaters and cords away.
3. Old friends - in the last week or so both Chris and I have reconnected with friends from the past. Neither relationship ended well, so to renew these friendships has been interesting. Funny how no matter what happened in the past, you can go back home again!
4. My amazing husband - he has been so worried about me and taking care of me. When he sees I am hurting he really does whatever he can to help. He is my strength and support - I can't imagine where I would be without him.
5. Babies - there is nothing more amazing than a beautiful little baby. I get more excited every day at the prospect of a new niece or nephew. October can't come fast enough for me.
6. Changes - I used to be one who HATED changes in my life - especially when it meant people coming in or out of it. But I have learned to embrace the changes and realize that people come into my life for a reason or for a season and that I need to love the time they are there and let them go when they move onto new and exciting adventures in their lives.
7. Today - I am so grateful that God allowed me to wake up and enjoy another day. He didn't have to give it to me, but He did. I thank Him for today and every day that He continues to give me.

I hope you all have a wonderful day! LOVE YA!

It's finally stopped!!!

Well the snow has FINALLY stopped and by late afternoon it even started melting a little. Hopefully that will be the last of the snow this spring.

My poor husband had his first accident on his bike yesterday. He was biking to work and was on the sidewalk(because of all the snow) when he hit a large hole. (He didn't see it because of all the blowing snow) He fell in with this right leg right up to his groin (he is 6 foot 5) and had a terrible time getting out. When he finally pulled himself out, he checked to make sure it wasn't broken and then headed off to work. By lunchtime, he was in so much pain that I had to take him in to make sure there wasn't serious damage. He has serious spraining/bruising on his thigh muscles and he needs bedrest for the next 3 days. It'll take a full month for him to heal but at least nothing is broken. He wants to go back and make sure that the city has fixed that hole because a small woman or a child could fall in and nobody would know they are even in there.

So, I am taking Kiana to the Kiwanis Festival this afternoon - hopefully she performs well. I'll have pictures and let you know how she does. Have a good day!

WINTER IS BACK!!!

I can't believe how much snow we have again! We got almost 2 feet over the weekend - and to think that a week ago we were at 24 degrees C. UGH - there are days when living in Alberta REALLY SUCKS!!!!

Anyway, we have a busy week here. The Kiwanis Music Festival is going on for the next 3 weeks and Kiana has competition all week. She performed at the Spring Scholarship Winners Concert on Saturday and had ALOT of fun. She looks so tiny when she is singing on stage, but she just loves it.

Since I missed last week, I wanted to be sure that I didn't miss my Monday Seven today:

1. Spring - getting as much snow as we did this weekend makes me so grateful for warm weather and spring. I loved the beautiful weather we had a little better than a week ago.

2. Feeling great - since starting on the Celiac diet I have never felt better. Its great not to feel tired and sick all the time.

3. Coffee - I can't imagine my mornings without it. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, but the smell of coffee is a sure way to get me going. There is nothing better than a hot cup of java right before getting my day started.

4. My crazy kids have been going shackwacky having to be inside all weekend(because of the storm) and at times I have wanted to kill them both, but I love them so much and am so grateful for them it overwhelms me.

5. I am so thankful that I am at home, safe, rather than driving the highways and byways of Alberta trying to get home after a weekend away.

6. My amazing husband - he had to walk to work today because I needed the car for work myself. I was going to get up to drive him, but he worked at 4 a.m. and didn't want me and the kids to get up that early.

7. Snow - I have to find a good thing about the storm this weekend and I must say my dd is like a kid in a candy store. She loves the snow and I love how excited she gets and how she can't wait to get out in this weather as soon as she can. She has been sitting with her nose pressed to the window waiting for it to stop blowing long enough for her to get out in it.

Well, I hope you have a wonderful week and I look forward to posting Kiana's results of her competition this week. Love ya!

PROUD MAMA MOMENT!

As some of you know, last September my daughter Kiana began to take Voice Lessons at Alberta College. She LOVES to sing and she LOVES to perform even more, so we know we have found her niche. Anyway, she competes 2-3 times a year at festivals. Yesterday, we got a phone call from the College telling us that Kiana won a $150 Scholarship for "Most Promising Student" thru the College. She thinks she is a superstar - I am just having a really proud MAMA MOMENT!

A late start this week

Man, this week has been absolutely mad!!! Spring Break ended and I was hoping for a good week. Then Sunday at midnight (15 minutes after I had gone to bed) my ds came down with a stomach bug and I was up with him most of the night. Thankfully my mom was here and was able to be home with him so that I didn't have to call in sick. And my dh is gone to Toronto this week, making life busier too. And tonite Kiana has a Scholarship Competition for Voice at Alberta College. It would be nice for her to win some cash, that's for sure.

Well, since I was sooooo tired and unable to do it before now, I am doing my Monday 7 today:

1. Weather - its finally getting warmer out here - by Sunday its going to be 20 C and I can't wait. Hopefully spring will finally be here.

2. My mom is here and I am so grateful. With Malachi having a stomach bug and a PD day on Thursday, I otherwise would have only had a 3 day week this week. Thanx mom!!!

3. Babies - I am excited and looking at baby clothes, wishing that I knew what my sister was having so I could start baby shopping. I LOVE baby clothes - they have some of the greatest stuff.

4. Relationships - I am so thankful that a friend that I had a falling out with over a year ago have been able to reconnect and I am hoping that we may be able to regain our friendship despite what happened. I've missed her alot and she was a good friend to me!

5. My craft - there is nothing better for me than getting my emotions out with paper and glue. Some days its really therapeutic for me.

6. Work - I love my job and I love the kids that I work with. They are a sweet bunch and I just love helping them.

7. Today - I am grateful that I have today - I don't know if I will have tomorrow, but today is enough for now!


Love ya, bye!

Monday Seven

just a little late:

1. Health - I am so thankful for my health, especially when I don't have it. I am thankful for the days that I feel good

2. Spring - I can feel it in the air - that means summer is near

3. Babies - I love babies and in October my sister is having her 4th. I love the smell, feel, and taste of a newborn baby. I am one excited tante!

4. I have been reading 2 fabulous books in the past week: The Shack(as mentioned in my last post) and So you don't want to go to church. What amazing books - they truly inspire.

5. My mom - she is coming to stay with me next week. Chris needs to go to Toronto so she is coming out to help me out. With me working, I love that she is flying out to do this for me. Thanx mom - I love you!

6. Chris - for keeping me calm and relaxed when I am scared and worried. He makes me see that sometimes I panic and worry needlessly.

7. Reminders - I have been so worried about my health in the past weeks, that I have forgotten who is in control of all that. I was on the Salt blog and I saw posted this verse:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.(Jeremiah 29:11-13). What a blessing to remember that I am not the one in control of my life and that whatever happens is the plans that HE has for me. I needed that today!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Amazing read!

I just finished reading the book "The Shack". Its a moving book that really made me look at my faith and my relationship with God. What a touching story of love, forgiveness and relationship through Christ. Thank you Welma for the amazing gift!

Happy Easter Monday!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and that it was a blessed weekend for you all. We had a very busy weekend - my mil flew into town for the weekend for Easter and for Malachi's birthday. It was a busy time. I can't believe that my baby is 9 years old. He is such a wonderful child - I am definitely blessed. Remebering back to the day he was born I remember how scared I was to have a son - I didn't even have brothers. I had no idea what to do with a boy. But he taught me along the way and so far we are doing pretty good I think.

We went to see "Horton Hears a Who" for his birthday - definitely a good movie for the kids. We also saw the movie "Enchanted" this weekend - really cheesy, but cute. Kiana got it for Easter and totally loves the movie.

And since today is Monday, its time for the Monday 7:

1. Airplanes - I am so grateful for airplanes because they can fly my mil back home today!

2. Doctors - I have been sick for about a month now and I am grateful for a wonderful doctor who is able to figure out what is wrong with me so that I can stop losing weight, start eating again and start on the road back to full health.

3. My children - you never appreciate and love your children more than when someone is picking at them - especially if that someone is their grandmother.

4. My faith - Easter is always a good time for me to reflect on my faith and what I believe.

5. Coffee - I am always grateful for coffee after an 8 hour fast for bloodwork.

6. A good book - there is nothing better.

7. Weight loss - whether good or bad, I am still kinda happy that I've lost 20 lbs.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

He is Risen Indeed!!!

I want to wish you all a wonderful Easter! He is Risen - He is Risen Indeed!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that today was a good day for you. I had another busy day at work. We are having a "Fairy Tale Tea Party" at school so we are busy planning for that. The kids are very excited about it - they made crowns and are all princes and princesses. They all look great. The weekend was pretty good too - watched "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" with the kids. It's a very cute movie. And this weekend we are fortunate enough to have my mother in law visiting us for Easter.

Here are my 7 for today:

1. I love new babies and I am so thankful that I am an auntie again. Chris' "brother" and his wife brought a little girl into the world today. She is 9 lbs. 4 oz. and is 22 inches long. We are so excited and can't wait for pictures.

2. The warm weather has returned. I am tired of the snow so I was so grateful for the warm weather today - melting all the snow away!

3. I have so many pictures that I don't think I will ever run out of things to scrapbook. Between my kids and my nieces I can never get enough. I love my hobby and all the things it allows me to do.

4. My dear friends - it's my girl Kelsey's birthday this week, so the girls and I are all hanging out and doing stuff with Wii and food and drink. A good time will be had by all!!!

5. The generosity of friends always amazes and surprises me. I got an email from a special friend who works at a bookstore and she got 2 new books for me. I am thrilled and touched that she felt I was special enough to buy some books for. Welma, you are a loving and thoughtful woman and I am glad you are in my life

6. I am thankful for Easter and the reminder of the great gift that my Father lavished on me. My faith is the cornerstone of who I am and I am so greatful for this reminder of the gift He gave to me.

7. My beautiful baby boy turns 9 this weekend. I can't believe that he's not a baby anymore. I love his smile, his laugh, his silliness but most of all I love his spirit and his heart. He is my heart and I am grateful for every second that I have had the title "Mommy"


Well, I hope you all have a wonderful day and I would love for you to leave me a note to say hi! Love to you all and I hope you all have a blessed Easter!

I know, I know

today is Tuesday and I'm doing my Monday 7 late, but I had a terrible cold last weekend and I ended up in bed until late yesterday. It was horrible - I had streaming eyes, a stuffed head, my chest felt like I had an elephant sitting on it and my nose was running like a faucet. Oh, isn't that a pretty picture?! Anyway, I am well enough to head back to work today. My thoughts are with my dear friend Marguerite today, who's grandfather isn't doing very well. Hugs my friend - hang in there.

So, here are my 7 for yesterday:

1. I am so grateful for my health. Being sick - no matter how minor an illness, makes you appreciate the days that I am feeling good. It makes me grateful to be alive!!!

2. Guitar Hero III - there is nothing that makes my dh happier than fun, silly video games and we were able to find this game for him for the Wii!!! You should have seen his face lite up - like a kid in a candy store.

3. Safe travels - my dh was able to make it out of Toronto on Friday before the storm caused the airport to be shut down. He got home 2 1/2 hours late, but at least he's home and not still stuck there.

4. Disneyland - as I am planning our trip I am excited about a place that makes my kids faces light up as if I were offering them the moon. There is nothing that makes me happier than knowing that I am making Kiana's "Dreams come true" (her words not mine)

5. Medicine - I have two friends back home who are having babies - one in the next week and one in the fall. Thanks to the advances of medicine both are being blessed with healthy babies and I am so excited and thankful for them. They have both tried for a looooooong time to have children and it isn't always easy. Bu their dreams are coming true and I am sooooo grateful for that.

6. Friends - I am so thankful for my blogging friends this week. You have sent me messages of love and encouragement here, my email and on your blogs. I love you all and I am so thankful for you and that I in turn can encourage you. I love you all!

7. My faith - in the last couple of days I have realized how lucky I am to have everything I do and that I owe it all to my gracious and loving God. Without my Father I am nothing and I am thankful every day for every breath of life He has given me and the blessings that he has filled my life with. If you are reading this - that means you! thank you!!!

Love ya, have a good day!

It's Monday again...

and that seems to be the only time I have to update my blog. But at least it gets done once a week. We had a busy weekend around here. Because Chris was going out of town this week, we spent the weekend with the kids. Took them out for dinner, did a movie and just hung out with our kids. It was a nice weekend at home. I did take some time out to have dinner with my dear friend Marguerite - it was really nice. I am teaching another class this weekend for my friend Kelly. She wants me to do a baby shower where the women are each doing a lo page and presenting it to her when they are finished. Should be fun.

Well, since it's Monday again, here are my Monday 7:

1. I am so thankful for parents who anticipate your needs and offer to help before you even realize that you need it.

2. I am thankful for a daughter who is being difficult. Kiana is having a hard time adapting to my work schedule and she is difficult because she misses me so much.

3. Hot lemon tea - nothing is more relaxing after a long day than sitting with a good book or a good movie and a nice cup of hot tea.

4. Telephones - I am so grateful that I can communicate with Chris every day while he is gone.

5. Books - there is nothing like a good book while curled up in bed to make you feel cozy and good.

6. Glitter - Kindergarten kids and glitter always make me laugh and feel good.

7. A great job - there is nothing better than being at work and loving the kids you're with.

Have a great week all! i love you all!

Happy Monday

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We had a crazy weekend. Our car broke down and needed to be repaired - $800 later its all done. Then my computer decided it had enough of its life and gave up. There is more money out to replace it. UGH - lots of money going out of my bank account this weekend that's for sure. But all is well in the world again, and I got my first paycheque so that helped a little too.

And since it is Monday, here are my list of 7 for today:

1. Having a great job that gives me a not so bad paycheque so it doesn't hurt so much when everything goes wrong all at once.

2. Weekends - there is nothing that I love more than sleeping in

3. 3 day weeks - Teacher Convention allows me to have Thursday and Friday off this week!

4. Banana Sour Cream cake - I'm not sure what I love more - the smell in my house when its baking, or that first bite after its ready to eat.

5. Two amazing kids who drive me amazingly crazy!

6. My girlfriends - I can't wait to hang out with them on Saturday.

7. Cuddling with the kids in the bed in the morning because my dh is heading out of town for a few days.


And finally, my children chose my dear friend Rhonda's name for the RAK. Rhonda, I don't have your snail mail, so if you could email it to me that would be great!

Have a wonderful day everyone! Love ya!!!

I've been tagged

so here goes the 5 faves:

5 things you cannot live without under $10
1. Rolo Chocolate
2. Tim Hortons Coffee
3. Thickers
4. Fresca
5. My favourite adhesive

5 favourite moves
1. Walk the Line
2. Memoirs of a Geisha
3. Moulin Rouge
4. Napoleon Dynamite
5. Save the Last Dance

Baby names you love(but won't use)
Girls
1. Olivia
2. Noor
3. Isabella
4. Faatema
5. Elizabeth
Boys
1. Ethan
2. Benjamin
3. Kaleb
4. Luka
5. Jake

5 songs you could listen to over and over:
1. I Come to the Garden Alone
2. You're Beautiful
3. Blessed Be Your Name
4. Your Faithfulness
5. It is Well With My Soul

5 people who influenced your life in a positive way:
1. Opa Hein
2. Ma Horsman
3. my dh Chris
4. Jesus
5. Juanita

5 things that stay in your purse all the time:
1. Wallet
2. Sunglasses
3. Keys
4. Lipgloss
5. Tampons

5 moments you knew changed you forever:
1. When Opa Hein died
2. My parents marriage problems
3. When I got married
4. When my kids were diagnosed with Autism
5. When Ma Horsman died

5 obsessions you have right now:
1. Scrapbooking
2. Photography
3. My Work
4. Our Disney Trip
5. Shopping

5 places you would really love to go:
1. Las Vegas
2. California
3. Cuba
4. Dominican Republic
5. Europe

5 people you would love to see do their top 5:
1. Sherri
2. Carmen
3. Rhonda
4. Mylene
5. Lacintha

Happy Family Day!

Its so nice to have a long weekend once in awhile. The kids actually let me sleep until 9:00 this morning. Its been a pretty great weekend actually. Kiana sang at a Family Day Festival on Sunday with 5 other students from the Conservatory. She was the hit of the performance - she was the youngest one there. She totally ate up the whole "cute factor" thing. She did very well and its was good for her. She really needs to get comfortable performing in front of an audience. And last night, dh and I watched "Knightrider" the movie. Man, I am such a dork!

Today is Family Day and we are all home. The kids are playing Wii and dh and I are doing our own things as well. Treasured Memories has a sale on, so I will probably be heading over there in the next few minutes. Then I am watching a "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" marathon - see I told you I was a dork!

And finally, here are my seven for Monday. Hope you all have a wonderful day - whether its a long weekend for you or not!

1. Sleeping in - I have really begun to appreciate this since I have been working. The weekend have become much more precious to me.

2. Slush - that means that spring is in the air. As messy and dirty as the roads are this weekend, I love the warm weather. I am hoping that spring will be here soon - and even if its not, I am enjoying the springlike weather for right now.

3. Being a dork - thanx to my dear friends for making me see its okay to be a dork and like dorky things

4. My husband - reminds me every day that not all men are assholes and jerks

5. Family Day and the realization in my child that family is important and that we need to be nice to each other ALL THE TIME!!!!

6. long hot baths - no explanation necessary.

7. chocolate.

Happy Monday Morning

So, I am starting my second week as a Teacher's Aide at school and I LOVE IT!!!! The kids are wonderful and my days just fly by. It helps that the teacher loves me too - makes working so much more enjoyable.

I had an interesting weekend too - I taught a class on Saturday night and I got some scrapping done too. I worked on my dad's heritage album this weekend. I will post more of what I did later.

And since today is Monday, its time to post my Monday seven:

1. I love kindergarten - the kids are so sweet and they still think you know everything and are the most beautiful person ever.

2. Warm weather - after the last couple of weeks that we have had, -13 seems balmy. I don't mind recess supervision in this weather.

3. Good health - thru rumours, someone thought my dad was dying of cancer. It reminded me of how thankful I am that my parents are alive and well and are of reasonably good health.

4. Our wealth - I have never considered myself wealthy, but I have the ability to give my children everything they need, as well as many things they don't.

5. Jack and Hank - some mornings there is nothing nicer than having kitty curled up next to you.

6. Coffee - always need to be thankful for my coffee.

7. First moments after you wake up - there is nothing more enjoyable for me than the first few moments after Kiana and Malachi wake up. They are full of hugs and cuddles and have that warm, sleepy feel to them.

And, finally, since Valentine's Day is this week, I want you to share something loving about someone in your life. Then my wonderful children will pick a name for a lovely RAK! Have a good day everyone!