Thankful :)

Although life continues to be busy and eventful I try to take some moments and be thankful for what I have.

Norah continues to have an amazing personality that cracks us up daily. Her latest thing is she likes her hair to be curly....but no curling iron. So we've been doing the braid thing before bedtime and that seems to keep her happy :) She loves to dance and to help us make meals. She is quite the pancake flipper ;)

Zachary is just a blessing to be around. His heart is so kind. This morning as we were walking out the door he asked me if we still had his lunch box from last year. I said yes....why? He told me that one of his classmates had lost his....and that even though it wasn't Spider-Man that maybe he'd want his Thomas one. I instantly welled up with tears. How on earth is a 5 year old boy so thoughtful, giving and kind? We searched out the kitchen, found the lunch box, washed it and took it to school for Sam ( who happens to be a special needs student ). I just think of this entire 'good deed' and am so thankful to have him around. I will take what Zach has taught me today and pass it on :)

Just another week

Well.....it was busy as usual. School, dance, swimming and skating took up most of the week...the other time was taken by me catching up with work and recovery cleaning from the week before. Lets hope we can relax a bit now....yeah right.

We skated Friday morning again with Zach's Kindergarten class. On the way to the arena Norah gagged on her granola bar and it all came up....everywhere. Luckily it didn't make it over the seat onto me...but it did cover the back of my seat pretty good....I know...too much information. We had 30mins before skating so I rushed back home and changed her. I was worried she got that flu but she kept telling me she choked....I was on edge all day. Turns out she did just choke....lucky for me I only had one clean up. So.... We skated and had so much fun. Zach's buddies are such good kids and a pleasure to be around :)

Yesterday Norah fell asleep in Dudley's bed....it was the cutest thing ever! I tried to take a photo but it was pretty dark. She even pulled the baby gate across; just like we do at night for Dudley ( he wanders and then cries at the bottom of the stairs.....worse than any of the kids! Lol)

Nothing else too exciting. The kids are currently watching Madagascar 3 while I write this....it's a household favourite.

Well here is a photo of right now....must have been a busy week....no time for photos! Lol

Busy...Busy...

What a crazy week! I'm surprised I actually came out alive! Lol
The week started with Ballet for Norah, Tuesday both kids have skating lessons in Taber, Thursday was Travis' birthday, Friday was the Kindergarten classes skating (in which Travis took the morning off and we both helped out), Friday afternoon swimming lessons, Saturday Zach attended a birthday party and Sunday I had my Bridal show...phew! We made it!

I feel like its never ending chaos but its the good kind. These next few weeks we'll be concentrating on getting a few things done around the house, passport photos, and I have a ton of work to catch up on. Although all the sports activities will be repeated this week I feel as though the birthday and wedding show took a lot of prep time.

Anyway, here are some photos that captured the week :)

Oh Brother....

If I survive this week it will either be a fluke or a Christmas miracle. School, sports, Travis' birthday and only my biggest bridal show of the year. What happened to December? I swear I blinked and it was gone.
Anyways... I've managed to squeeze in some snapshots of dinner shenanigans, skating, dogs and regular day activities.
On a good note...after 3 days of hand washing ALL the dishes, Travis decided to try it....well it worked. Only minimal leaking but I'll take it!

First day back

It was tough to get up and get going this morning. I was getting used to the kids coming into our bed in the morning and just snuggling and chatting. However...it was also good to see how excited Zach was to go to school; he just loves it :) Norah wished she was going too but she'll be back on Tuesday.

Not a super eventful day....ran some errands and Norah started back up at ballet. They are all just so cute! Class didn't start until 4:15 but she was dressed and ready to go at 3. I managed to distract her and left at 4 :)

When dinner time rolled around we used the plates the Boylans gave the kids for Christmas....so much fun! I loved decorating them :)

On a side note....our dishwasher broke....good times. More on that tomorrow.....

Day Trip...destination Medicine Hat

Well it was long overdue. The Boylans (Joey, John, Nena and Emma) were supposed to join us on Dec.22nd for Zach's 5th Birthday Bowling Party and evening Christmas Celebration. But...poor little Nena was sick. And I don't mean "cough cough" sick...like vomit sick. Poor little princess :( So...she finally got over that bug and we found a day that worked for all of us to do our Christmas. We thought maybe we'd stop in on our way to Moose Jaw at the end of the month but they just HAD to be in Hawaii for 3 weeks during that time...as if! ;) So we drove up today (beautiful and sunny) to have a visit and do presents. Auntie Joey and Uncle John spoiled us as usual. I should really remember this for next year and start saving now...although now I have a gift card to take Travis out for his birthday next week....does that count as me taking him out? hahaha

We went for a great luch at Local in Med.Hat. If you haven't been there you HAVE to go! I have Celiac so there were menu items that could be made gluten free..even Nachos! Yummy :) Travis loved it because there was Football on.....and it was hard enough to get him to leave the house on Football Sunday..I know some of you feel my pain.

After Lunch we headed over to the new crossfit gym...Gas City Crossfit. Joey and John have played a huge role in getting this gym off the ground for their friends and Joey is a trainer there. It was great to see it in person...although now Travis wants to get a tractor tire and flip it down the street for a workout...stay tuned for updates on that one! LOL

We headed home on a very quiet drive while Norah slept and Zach watched Thomas. I managed to make 90 flowers on the drive...pretty impressive thanks to Jod-I for helping with step one while she was here...only 12 steps to go! LOL

We got home and immediately the new jammies were on and the kids were pumped to play their new Penguin Pirate game; even though Norah decided she liked it better without the teeter totter part (which is the point of the game). She was so proud to get all the penguins onto the ship :)

So here we are...still full from an amazing lunch and we've decided dinner is going to be grilled cheese and tomato soup :)

Tomorrow is back to school for the kids and Travis...another few University courses lined up (will it ever end??) Nothing too crazy planned but I'll probably take them to Crazy Cakes after school...just because :)

Just a regular day...

Nothing too crazy going on today. Made up for two days of a granola bar breakfasts by making pancakes and pulling out the TV trays in front of cartoons :) They were pretty pumped!
We had a low key morning so I put on a movie....Barbie mermaid tale....it's a favourite right now. Norah continues to suck her thumb when she has her blanket.....someday I will have to be meaner with that; right now I'll just keep reminding her. Zach has an over obsessive problem with carrying around as many stuffed (stuffies) animals as he can. I had to make him take some out of his bed....he is now down to 4 pillows, 3 JJ's (monkeys), 3 blankets, 2 angry birds, 3 bears and a donkey....I know.....no words, only emotions! Lol
They are a crazy bunch but I love them :)

42 Lessons Life Taught Me....

Came across this on a friends page...I know...I shouldn't be on facebook.....but this was really worth sharing on here :) Some of it is soooooo true!!!

Written by a 90 year old

This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!! Make sure you read to the end!!!!!!

... Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 42 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it..

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

11. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
 
12. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it...

14 Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

15. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

16. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

17. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

20. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

21. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

22. The most important sex organ is the brain.

23. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

25. Always choose life.

26. Forgive but don’t forget.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does..

31. Believe in miracles.

32. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

33. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

34. Your children get only one childhood.

35. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

36. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

37. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

38. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

39. The best is yet to come...

40. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

41. Yield.

42. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift." 

A Beautiful Day in Lethbridge

+8 today....what else can I say?
Took the kids out for a walk to get milk and then we tested their new scooters they got from Santa. Zach did great! He managed to balance and glide a bit....which is amazing since we are still with training wheels on his bike. Norah did well too. She opted to switch the scooter out half way for her Princess bike :)

After dinner we de-Christmased (is that even a word?)...took down the tree(s) and everything else. The best part about putting everything away is the house looks so big!!! And clean :) (unlike my office right now)

Hopefully tomorrow brings sunny weather and happy kids. I have a big bridal show on the 13th I'm preparing for so I need to wear them out in the day to get a quiet afternoon of work in :)

And so it begins....

Well here I am......starting a family blog. I thought it was time. My goal is to post once a month but I'm hoping more often. My reasoning behind all of this is to connect better without the distraction of Facebook. For some reason I get on there and end up looking at some random connected friends photos of their dog or what they had for breakfast...totally not necessary. This way I can write more about what we are up to, post a lot of photos, and not worry about losing an entire afternoon. Travis does not have faith in me that this is the solution but I think it's a step in the right direction.

So....for my first post I vow to share what is important, talk about the kids and probably work. Let it begin....Happy 2013 to you all :)