Remembering

Right now I am remembering all the special memories I had with my grandma. She is at peace now and I am thankful that her suffering is over. I will always miss her. Take good care Grandma, I love you.
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Must be December

Life has been like a roller coaster for me. I am living hour by hour and on top of it it is Christmas. How are you supposed to get all the regular stuff done and get Christmas organized. I seem to be falling behind in everything. My Grandma is really sick, she has been moved home from the hospital. We are just waiting for a call. Super sad. She is a wonderful person and I will miss her. On top of that Andy's Grandma is in the hospital too. He spend the last few days in Ottawa. We didn't go to Ottawa this weekend like we were supposed too. Weather played havoc. Our trip to Hawaii is up in the air depending on what happens with my Grandma. Avery is sick and has been couch bound for 2 days. Not sure much more can be added to our household right now. I am not feeling in the Christmas spirit but have to get there for the kids. I am trying. Posting will resume with more consistency at some point. Wishing all my friends a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2009.

Proud Mom!

Today was the day, I have been waiting for it for a while but it has taken Avery a little time to come around. Today we got her long hair cut to donate to Beautiful Lengths. In order to donate her hair it had to measure 8" and she had to have enough hair to style after it was cut, they cut the hair straight across. It was a big decision to get it cut. She loved her hair long. Me not so much. Her hair just got to the point that is was not manageable anymore, tangles, arguments. You know the drill. But today was the day and a little parental bribe helped the situation (whoever said you shouldn't bribe your kids didn't have kids). I love her hair short and she is excited that she could do something like this. I am proud of her for donating it and doing something good. Way to go A! Thanks to Vivanne at Oz Hair and Skin for doing such a great job!

Visit with Santa

Each year Belmont Village organizes a Christmas celebration in the village. We have never made it before but it worked this year. Am I ever happy it did. Our visit with Santa was so relaxing and enjoyable. It felt so festive to be outside visiting with Santa. The old fashion carriage ride was very cool. This venue felt very real compared to the seeing Santa at the mall. I am even in the pictures!

Welcome December

So glad that you are here. Not so glad you decided to bring a cold for Meredith and I. I would have appreciated if you didn't give me that early gift. There are so many other things that I could have used - some extra time or perhaps a little sunshine! Nevertheless I know that it will be short lived and done before the weekend. My extra sleep and doses of hot beverages will be the fast cure. Thanks for thinking of me December!

Getting into the Spirit

I just finished a super cool advent calendar for the girls (can't show you yet, Andy's got my camera today). I didn't want to get them a fake chocolate calendar this year with the China milk scare. I knew that I wanted to make them something. I love the result. Andy actually said it was cool!!! I just need to fill it now, but I have a couple of days to spare. Christmas is going to be a little quiet this year because we are going a big trip. We are explaining to the girls that we can't have a big Christmas and go on a trip. It is about choices. I think that they get it. We will see. I think alot of people are cutting back this year. It is a good message for our kids. We have so much and do so much.


With the Bailey Fresh Foods finished for the season, I am feeling the loss. I do still have some produce left but it is not the same. For the first few times after it finished, I would go to the grocery store and leave with just a few things. I was in denial that I would have to go back shopping there. Andy says get over it, we have to eat. We can't live on carrots and squash and potatoes. I know, I know. But I just can't seem to buy the produce shipped from Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. For me it is a huge mind shift. I am trying hard to buy products from Canada, if you search you can find them and keeping the other stuff at a minimum. Olive oil, bananas, sugar and some necessary produce. I am loving that I have the fruits and veggies that I canned. So nice to open a can of tomatoes that are local. The efforts are paying off. Be conscious of what you are buying and what's in it!

I was at Mer's school today. It was so much fun. The kids made a huge gingerbread cookie. They rolled the dough and decorated the man. They walked it down to the kitchen and saw it go in the oven. When it was finished we walked back down to get it out. The kids were so excited, they could barely contain themselves. They could smell it as we were walking down the hall. The teacher opened the oven, and the gingerbread man was gone!!!! All he left was a note with some clues. The kids were shocked and surprised. When I left they had not found him yet. The look on their faces was truly priceless. Where was my camera? I love that the girls have such great teachers at their school. Thanks Mrs. W for the morning fun!

I heart ZUMBA

Have you ever tried it Zumba? It is a cardio class offered at the gym that incorporates dance moves into a cardio routine. It is so much fun even if I look like a fool. I love the music, the instructors, the energy and the fact that I am excersing but it is fun (boy do I sweat). The motto is ditch the workout, join the party. There is a whole lot of shaking going on but it is fun. If you want to try it with me, drop me a comment. I try to go 3 times a week but mostly make it to 2 times. I did a class today and it makes me happy.
Happy Saturday - Enjoy the snow.

Maybe You Didn't Know

that I love to curl (as in the sport on ice). I have been curling since I was 12 or 13. I curled all through high school and into University. Our team in University made it to the provincial championship. After school I curled competitively in town and played 4 nights a week. I love it. Since having kids and during the time I was pregnant I didn't play and missed it lots. I didn't have quite enough time to fit it in but now that Mer is at school I am able to play Thursday mornings and And and I play in a mixed league on Friday nights. Today during our less than stellar performance, I realized how much I missed playing with the ladies and playing for me. I love that I am reconnecting with stuff that is important to me and allowing myself the time to be able to do it (minus guilt). Of course there are many tasks that could be done during this time but this one is for me.

I am just finishing up a major consigned project for someone. It has been a lot of work. It has been the biggest project that I have done for someone. I am happy with it. She is picking it up tomorrow. I hope she likes it. Of course I am struggling with the value issue! Andy says get over and charge what you need to charge. Now onto the other 4 projects that people have asked me to do.

I received some happy news today when I opened my email. One of my layouts is going to be published in the Spring Issue of the Canadian Scrapbooking Magazine I am so excited. I have been submitting layouts for a couple of years now and this is the first one to get picked up. Yeah for me!

BOO

Well the much anticipated night is over and the crappy junk remains along with the good memories of a fun night. Have to say that I loved Halloween being on a Friday. Easier for the parents and the kids. This year was the first time that both of the girls were totally into it and loving every minute. The preparations started long before October 31st - there were costumes to pick and make, along with who they would go out with. Mer wanted to go out with the big kids this year. She wanted more stuff and that she did. The amount of candy that they got was obscene. At the count they were at 175 pieces each. That is a lot of candy. They also ended up with 7 full size chocolate bars each - who gives out full size chocolate bars anyways! FUN was had. On Sunday night after a great amount of indulgence the heavies stepped in and told them it was time for another sort. This time they had to give up 75 items each. Interesting to watch the dynamics and how they arrived at 75. There was sorting and counting and deliberating but they both made it. Although the amount that remains is still crazy.




Mer was a penguin this year - the two of us worked together and sewed her costume (I definitely get the mom with the most patience award for this project). She did a great job with the whole project. Avery was a witch and that was relatively painless getting her stuff together.

All that talk about candy and I have to say that it hasn't hurt me. What a change from a week ago when I would have eaten the whole bowl. This week - I don't want it. Yeah for me. This week I also reached a milestone in my weight loss/getting healthy journey. I hit one of my goals. Feeling really good about that. Feeling good about the exercise I am doing. (Today did an all legs class and am sure that I will not be able to walk tomorrow). With the goal that I reached, I was able to get out an archived pair of jeans that I haven't worn in a year. Double yeah for me!

One of the things I am bummed about this week is that Bailey's Fresh food buying group is ending for the season. I am truly going to miss all that fresh local food throughout the winter. I hope that I have but away enough stuff to enjoy through the winter and I can convince Andy to get a bigger freezer next year. Thanks to Nina and Wendell for all their hard work in bringing this yummy food to me and all the other members. I will look forward to the spring and all that our area has to offer for local foods.

Rambling done for the day - hope you are enjoying this gift of weather we are having today.

Excuse the Rant

Okay so I have been on this weight loss journey (I hate to say again, but AGAIN). I have been doing really well. I am getting to the gym 5 times a week doing a variety of activities - Zumba classes, cardio machines, weights, strength classes and mostly have been on track with the eating stuff. The last two weeks I have gained slightly but gained nevertheless. The gain is really throwing me off this week though. Every food that I see in the past two days has been fair game. The stuff I haven't wanted is sneaking into my hands. It just reminds me that the mind is a powerful tool. You let a little negativity in and it takes over. I am posting this right now to prevent me from scoring a little treat. And so the journey continues....

Rant over.

Special Birthday Wishes

To my father-in-law Rod. Wishing you all the best Rod. Can't wait to celebrate with you on the weekend.

Random Blog Worthy Material

I know I have not been doing a great job blogging lately. No good reason. I have had blog worthy material but have not sat down to get it out.

Andy and I had a great time at Mindy and Chris's wedding on Saturday. The venue was gorgeous and the couple looked awesome and happy. The meal was good and the table company was hilarious. Nothing like a few drinks to get the party going. It was great to have a night away from the kids while Grandma and Grandpa babysat. Andy and I actually had complete conversations with a beginning, middle and end without interruption. Not something that happens often. The Elmhurst Inn in Ingersoll was such a beautiful place to have the wedding and spend the night. The colours were so pretty. I am mesmerized by the fall colours this year. They are absolutely beautiful. One reason that we should be thankful for the summer rain. I have to say that unfortunately I didn't get many shots at the wedding. Here are a couple.




Totally loving my new shoes and jacket I bought this weekend for the wedding. Nothing like buying 2 pieces of your outfit, 1 hour before you are leaving. Thanks Lori for your help!

For part of Mindy's wedding gift I made her a He Said/She Said book. I am hoping she likes it. I had fun putting it together using the Making Memories Passport Line.





We have started spending parts of our weekends at the arenas with Mer in ringette and Avery in hockey. Ave won her first game on Saturday. It was so cute to see these girls hustling after the puck.

I have been taking an on line course by Cathy Zielske called Design your Life. I am enjoying it. Getting some layouts done and learning all at once. Of course I am already a week behind. I will post some finished pieces in a bit.

I am missing our fresh local foods that we have been getting from Bailey's Local Foods. Nina will be back up and running next week. I still have some carrots, apples and squash left but it will be good to get some new stuff. She is suffering from some by-law glitches - hopefully this works itself out.

Yesterday we had a pj day around here. Ave wasn't feeling great. We watched movies, baked cookies, read books, worked on Halloween costumes and made chili. It was good to be quiet for the day. The girls had fun too!

I am sending out special happy birthday wishes to my Mother-in-law today. Happy Birthday Judy, we can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend.

New Hair, Pumpkin Patch and A Couple of Scrappy Projects

We had a great weekend. Little bit of hockey, a fun birthday party with girlfriends, a visit to the pumpkin patch, yummy fall food and some new hair for me. On Friday I got my hair cut. The stylist wanted to straighten my hair. I was game - 2 hours later I had straight hair. I love how it looks and I can actually brush my hair! Kind of fun for a couple of days! Photo compliments of Meredith.

The girls and I went to the patch today to look for the best pumpkin(Andy has hurt his back some how - I hope he is feeling better soon). I think that we got one of the largest pumpkins there. The girls had fun. I took some pictures. I captured 1 with the two of them. They are not much for the posing ones anymore.




Happy Birthday to my friend Erin. We went to her house last night for a little party. We had so many laughs and ate some yummy Dana Shortt Food. I made this little project to celebrate her birthday.




This last project is the baby book I made for Peyton. I had so much fun working with the Bo Bunny Word book. The papers are My Mind's Eye with lots of fun embellishments.









Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Blog Stalker I AM

For those of you that know me you will know that I am a blog stalker. I love reading blogs. I like to read what people are saying, what they are thinking, what they are watching. I view it kind of like people watching but through the Internet. I like blog hopping to sites that they visit. I have my daily list of blogs that I visit. I like the inspiration I get from others blogs. I use them for information and education. I get annoyed when my favourites don't post. I share in my fellow bloggers happiness and sadness. Okay, I know that it sounds kind of crazy and it is, but I am interested. One daily blog stop that I make in the morning is to Kal Barteski. She was one of the instructors at Inspired 2008. I fell in love with her way of conversation and her artwork. The other day she posted this post. I have to say that I had that "ah ha" moment when I read her entry. What I was reading was something that I totally agreed with and related to instantly. I wish that I would have come up with it. I have always struggled with the word BALANCE and trying to find it. Balance is definitely the buzz word of the last few years, but for me I never achieved it. I always thought that I had failed. Harmony, what a better word. Everything working together, each element working with the other. With this word, there are no scales tipping in one direction or the other, but rather different parts of a pie fitting together. I have thought a lot about that word since Kal's post and I like it. Thanks Kal for another inspiration!

Done

With canning that is. I have finally finished all the canning and freezing that I had to do with last week's produce. It only took me an entire week. The peaches, pears and apples have been canned and the red peppers roasted and frozen. It feels like a huge relief to have that done. Andy actually made the applesauce on the weekend. I don't think that he will make that offer again!

On Saturday, Mo, Jenn and myself hosted a scrapping bridal shower for our friend Mindy. I had a great time, I hope everyone that came did to. I had so much fun getting ready for the shower, but I forgot my camera to take the pictures. I couldn't believe it. Hopefully Amanda will forward some onto me and I can post. At the shower we made a calendar for the couples first year. Maybe Mindy will post pictures on her blog. Thanks to everyone that came!

Oh The Smell

Last night Andy and I decided to tackle the grapes, after the Bailey Fresh Foods potluck and the kids were in bed and before Uncle Jalal got here. I purchased a 1/2 bushel of grapes with the plan to make fresh grape juice for the kids. After washing the grapes, the first batch went on the stove to boil. I can't describe to you how incredible the smell is. I wish I could publish that here! Not only does it smell good,the taste is amazing. This morning, I have just started batch 2. With this quantity of grapes, we are going to yeild 12 litres of juice that can be diluted 1:1. I am sure in the middle of winter, this juice will taste out of this world.

Each time I walk into my dining room, the smell of the fresh produce is incredible. It is my plan to get the juice done this morning and then start on the tomatoes this afternoon. Happy Canning to Me!

Busy and About to get Busier

My life, like everyone elses is busy. 2 kids, a husband, a house and all that entails keeps me hopping. On top of that this summer I have made a commitment to try and eat more and more products that are produced in our local area. That means at this time of year I am trying to can and perserve as much as I can. Tonight when I go to Bailey's Local Foods for my weekly pickup I will be coming home with a bushel of tomatoes, 1/2 bushel of peaches, 1/2 bushel of pears, 1 flat of juicing grapes and 24 kg of flour - hard and soft whole wheat. I will be a busy lady this weekend and then throw in 1 ringette practice, 1 hockey practice, 1 birthday party, 1 potluck dinner and an Ottawa relative visiting - that makes for a jam packed weekend. No wonder I don't get any scrapbooking done anymore! Have a great weekend and look for some local produce when you are out and about.

Conversation to Capture

When I picked Avery up from school today she came running towards me.
Avery "Mommy, finally"
Mom "Finally what Avery"
Avery "Homework. I finally got homework today. I am not sure why we had to wait a week"
Avery was going to a friends house after school and had to take her backpack with her so she could work on it with her friend.I needed to document this little conversation so that I can bring it out in 5 years! I wish I could bottle this enthusiasm.

Feeling totally productive in the kitchen these days. I have canned and frozen so much this year. I am actually out of freezer space so I have to can now. It is time consuming but rewarding. Yesterday And and I canned our 1/2 bushel of tomatoes. We got 7 1 litre jars. We are thinking we need about 3 more bushels to have enough tomatoes to make it through the winter. Not sure if it is possible but we will work on it. Today I canned peaches and made some fresh salsa. Later this week I will be making pearsauce. Love having all this fresh food around me.

Routines, Schedules and First Days

I love September and especially going back to school. I loved it as a kid, not so much as a teenager but definitely in University. I still love it as a mom. Not because the kids are gone but because I love the feeling of getting back to the routines and schedules and knowing what is going on. My personality is one that works well to have things in order. It also gives me the same feeling of a new year - the start of something new. Avery is in grade 2 and Mer in SK. Mer went today for her first full day. I have to say that I am a little skeptical of the all day every other day set up but we will get used to it. It is my hang up. I just think that they are still pretty little to be going all day. She was so excited to go to SK (she actually thought that she should be going into Grade 1) however at the door she was nervous. She looked back twice, she was at the end of the line, then the teacher came to the rescue, came to the end of the line and ushered all the kids in. I have to say that I have butterflies just thinking about her right now. But I know that she will do great.

Avery had no problem going to school. She was excited to start and was doing the count down. She went to bed on Monday night saying "I can't wait for tomorrow - it is going to be a great year". She expressed the same sentiments when I picked her up "I love school and I get to go back tomorrow. I have the best teachers." Just what every mom wants to hear. I am so proud of her!

Final Days of Summer Vacation

I have taken somewhat of a break this summer from blogging. I didn't do it intentionally but I just ran out of time. I am hoping for some more posts in the upcoming weeks!
The last weeks have been busy and quiet at the same time if that makes any sense. I have just been enjoying spending time with the girls. We have visiting with friends, getting some back to school stuff ready, going to the library, swimming at Grams pool, some scrapbooking and other house kind of stuff.
Last week my new little niece Peyton was born. She is absolutely adorable. So great to cuddle a little one again. The kids have been loving her too.

Last week we went on a little road trip to Mapleton Organic Dairy. That was so cool. On my vacation I read the 100 Mile Diet. (The authors are coming to Waterloo on Sept 16 - I will be going, email me if you are interested in coming with me)I have found it so intriguing. I have been preparing food to have over the winter. I can't believe how much time it takes. I have frozen peaches, berries, beets, beans and broccoli. I have made jam - blueberry, strawberry and raspberry and I have made dill pickles. It is my hope to can some tomatoes was well. I would like to make some spaghetti sauce and some salsa - does anyone have some good recipes? Yesterday I got 3 heads of broccoli to freeze. I got the shock of my life when I found the fresh broccoli to be covered in green worms. It really was an eye opener for me. I have never seen these bugs before on the broccoli bought at the grocery store. It shows to me that our food source is so tainted with pesticides and GMO produce. It definitely took some work to soak the broccoli in salt water and then pick off the remaining worms. But it felt good to know that it was so natural. Tomorrow I have a 1/2 bushel of beans to look after as well as some blueberries and some peaches. I know that I won't have enough stuff to last the winter and this is just a start for me but I am trying to make a conscious effort to buy local food. (If only Starbucks would have 100 mile Chai Latte!)
At the Dairy I bought and sampled some yummy ice cream. The kids had fun at the dairy - the highlight - having baby calves suckle on their fingers.

This month I joined Columbia Lake Health Club. I have been making an effort to get there. It has been hard with the kids at home but it should get better when the kids get back to school
Today I took the kids horseback riding at Conestoga Horseback Adventures this morning. It was an awesome experience for the kids. They loved it. I thought Mer might be nervous but she was right into it. Avery loved it too. The riding seemed to come to them so naturally. I didn't ride this time but I will next time!

This is Meredith sitting on Freddy - the largest horse in the stable.


Avery rode Sunman first and then switched around with Meredith.

Meredith rode Oreo to start.

Tonight we had our neighbourhood BBQ. Great fun and Great food. Everyone looks forward to this party. So many kids running around and just living in the moment. The adults have fun too!!
Tomorrow Andy and I will celebrate our 12th Wedding Anniversary. So hard to believe that it has been 12 years. Happy Anniversary And! I love You!

Finally a little scrapbooking fun!


Happy Labour Day Weekend to all my blog reading friends - have fun and enjoy!