2009 Year in Review

I'm sure we're all thinking the same thing...where did it go? It sure flew by fast...another year has come and gone and with that it allows for some reflection on what was and some anticipation for what lies ahead.

2009 holds some great memories for us...our first family camping trip was a highlight. The excitement of purchasing supplies and packing up...the fun we had along the way...even more so once we got there. It really was an awesome time!!
I look forward to more of those kinds of adventures in 2010.

A major highlight for Brian and I was our trip to Vegas...it really can't be summed up into words. It was not only jammed packed with things to see and do, but it was like the honeymoon we never had...it was great for our relationship..just us...away from it all at home. We are extremely grateful that my Mom took the time to come stay with the boys and is willing to consider it during Spring break so we can go again.

Once hockey and school sports ended, baseball for Carsyn and soccer for Gavin started. This kept us busy right till the end of school.

I had a great weekend in Winnipeg meeting up with friends to scrapbook and just hang out in June...seems this has become an annual event for me. One I look forward to more than the girls know.

We spent a lot of time hanging out in the backyard pool during our summer vacation...I am not sure I have ever looked more forward to those 2 months off than I did in '09. I love my job at the school but after being a stay at home mom for so long, returning to the work force full time/working with the kids I did...it was a much needed break. It allowed me to be more prepared for going back in September.

The boys are growing up so fast...Zack started shaving this fall! He has also completed his drivers ed course but has not quite gotten around to booking his road test...not sure if that's teenage laziness or nerves. A definite highlight for him was being selected for a club volleyball team he tried out for in the city. It gets stared in January and runs till May. Reilly is still playing hockey and becoming quite the player. he also made the Jr. boys volleyball team with the school. He had his first crush and fell pretty hard when that ended. He's such a shy quiet "nice" guy that I am almost certain this is the first of many heart breaks for him. Carsyn had a rough start to 5th grade...maybe adjusting to the "big' school wasn't as easy for him as he thought. Good news is, he seems to be settling in finally. He also started with electric guitar lessons this fall and is loving that...me not so much when he's practicing at home...lol! Mix that in with Gavin's drum lessons and the noise level in this house increases substantially! Gavin is experiencing great success in 2nd grade and is loving not having me work in his class this year!

Brian is still sub contracting and away from home a lot. It's getting harder on all of us instead of easier and is going to hopefully change this a bit when he renews his contract at the beginning of the new year.

All in all, '09 was good to us and we look forward to what 2010 holds.

May the New Year be everything you want it to be and more!!

t'was the night before Christmas

and I wanted to wish you all the happiest of holidays with those you hold close to your heart. May you share many memorable moments filled with love and laughter.

Would I blame you if you all bail on me...not one bit!
I can't say how sorry I am that I have not been around much...sheesh...I just don't know where the days go. Well, I do but I won't bore you with those details.

So, it's December...anyone completely ready for Christmas...shopping, baking...cards...the whole works all done? I've started the shopping...barely but I do have a good idea of what I need to buy it's just a matter of finding the time to get to the city to pick it all up. Good thing we get out of school on the 18th...it might be the 19th that I get it all done...lol. Gotta get through Gavin's birthday tomorrow and then we can shift gears and out up the tree and other decorations. I have been listening to some Christmas music though and it sure has me in the mood to celebrate the holidays. We're doing secret Santa's at school too...this is going to be so much fun...better get my thinking cap on and come up with some clever ideas to reveal myself.

Some of you may have heard that we have a new pink baby in our family...my niece Deklyn was born on November 4th...I am sooo excited to shop for her!! She is too cute!! Can ya tell I am a proud Auntie...lol

Well, have to keep it short and sweet...things to do...the most important of which is to stay warm...man the weather sure changed quick...brrr!!

Take care everyone...I miss you!!

Boo from our Crew '09

Hope your Halloween was filled with lots of treats and few tricks...we had a great one this year. The weather was warmer than it's been in years so the kids were out in full force around town. It was awesome...I love seeing them all dressed up. Here are a few snapshots of how we celebrated this year











Things are well here with all of us...knock on wood, we've all been pretty healthy...hoping to keep it that way!
Carsyn's guitar lessons are going well and Gavin started drum lessons today. I sat in on the first lesson just so i was in the know about the things we should be practicing at home and how to go about it...the sparkle in his eyes while he was playing and after the lesson was over melted my heart! Guess Brian better get on finishing insulating and drywalling the garage so it can be used as a music/rec room cause if we have to buy a drum set in the near future (right now he practices on rhythm pads) I do not want that noise in the house...lol!
Reilly and Zack's volleyball season's are coming to an end soon. However, basketball starts right after...no resting in between. Hockey is in full swing so that keeps us busy 4 days a week without anything else going on. I am so looking forward to Brian being home for the winter so he can help out with transporting the boys too and from.
Anyway, I have been a horrible blog friend and for that I apologize. I hope to have some time this weekend to visit them all and catch up.
I hope you are well and staying healthy...hugs!!

a Cornucopia of things

sheesh...time flies! Not sure where the last threes went since I had the chance to post on the blog. Oh ya...I've been running between volleyball for 2 boys and hockey for one of those same kids..dealing with a son who hasn't been making the best of choices, working full time and attempting to keep the house some what clean. Seriously, people who tell me I'll miss this when their gone have got to be pulling my leg right?
I tried to take a day to scrapbook and managed to get a few layouts done for an online crop...felt sooo good to connect with my creative side and get a little me time (one might even say a sanity break...lol)
forgot to add the journaling when I took this pic but have sinice done so...it was about Brian playing craps the very first time in Vegas. It was something he wanted to do sooo bad...too bad he wasn't comfortable enough to try it until the last day...lol

this was for a challenge where you had to scrap down the middle of the page only...it's the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney (yes I am still scrapping our trip to California)

I really wanted to get a clse up of Reilly's freckles (which I love) and he didn't want his pic taken but I got then anyway (gotta love a zoom lens)

lastly, this is M&M World in Vegas...no journaling required really but I am happy with how it turned out...

We are currently trying to decide what everyone is going to be for Halloween...do you have costumes for you and/or your kids? I only have 2 kids that need costumes and Gavin is thinking he might just wear Carsyn's old karate uniform and go as a black belt (which I would have to make but that's easy). Carsyn wants to be something creepy/scary so we'll see what we can find that would be appropriate for school. I really wanted to be Smurfette but am having a hard time finding what I need so instead I Might dress up as either Mario or Luigi (already bought a self adhesive mustache from the dollar store just in case...lol)
Also need to get the fall yard work done but with the friggin cold weather and snow we've had this week it might all have to wait till Spring!
Brian and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary on the 7th and are going out for dinner and to a movie *gasp* this weekend...looking so forward to that.
We also have hockey and volleyball but plan to make some time to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner...just the 6 of us and be grateful for the good stuff in our lives. I hope you can do the same with those you love!

back in the saddle

Wow...2+ weeks have just flown by!
The boys and I are all settled back into the routine of getting up and going to school...things are running pretty smoothly I must say. The boys are happy to be back into sports and seeing their friends...the school work I'm sure they'd be happy without. I have a busy schedule again this year although it's not as insane as last year. I pretty much spend my mornings in grade 1 and my afternoons in grade 4...it's quite the difference from the one to the other!
Sure am glad I spent some time at the start of the summer to get this house and stuff a bit more organized. Also picked up a 7qt crockpot and have started putting it to good use too. One thing that suffered a bit with me going to work full time all of a suddenlast year was suppers so I am hoping that the new (and much bigger) crockpot will help us eat a little better with not a whole lot more effort.
I am happy to report that the speed bumps we hit are a distant memory so that is an added bonus for a little less stress in my life! Although, hockey starts on Wednesday and that's always full of drama so ya never know....lol!
I've had a chance to do a smidge of scrapping but I'll wait till the next post to share...I know you are all wanting to see my new bathroom. So, without further adieu...here it is!
this is the new chocolate brown "damask" shower curtain shown with the sun shining through the window to show it off

this is just a shot of the mirror (which will change at a later date, along with the vanity) The picture needs to be hing back on the wall above the toilet and I bought a glass shelf to hang above the pic to put some little details things on...

this is the shower curtain with the light on (not sure it looks any different though...lol)

this is the new fixture...

It's hard to see the color on the walls...it's called "alpine mist"...it's a very soft greeny blue...think spa-ish. I bought all new towels in this color as well as a free standing toilet paper holder (cause the one in the wall was drywalled over...lol), a free standing hand towel rack that sits on the counter and the set also came with an over the door towel holder...all in chrome to match the light. We are looking for some new flooring too.
I just realized, I didn't show you what it looked like before..and those pics aren't on the computer (I didn't take any before the reno started but I have some from when we first did the bathroom after moving in 4 years ago). Whoops!
The kitchen has been at a stand still for a bit...need to paint the back splash still and put new hardware on the cupboards. Still not sold on the color but it is growing on me each day.
So,with that, I need to go get the boys' agendas and paper work that needs to go back to school tomorrow ready as well as some pre lunch packing done. I think we have 2 boys with volleyball practice tomorrow, volleyball Tuesday and Friday, hockey Wednesday and cross country on Thursday. Hockey Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well...so glad Brian is home this week!

life is a highway

and we've hit some speed bumps!
hey guys, just wanted to let you know that I'm still kicking around.
We have lots of stuff going on in our lives right now...some good...some not so good. None of it is terminal or anything like that we've just had some life stuff come up out of nowhere and are trying to deal with them...some days it's easier than others.
For those of you that have made friend requests on facebook, you wouldn't know that a couple of weeks ago, I posted that I wouldn't be continuing with facebook. It just wasn't my thing I guess. Plus, I am having a hard enough time posting on the blog while I try to keep my head above water.
I'll be back soon with a summer review, the bathroom and kitchen pics some of you are waiting *patiently* for and a start to our school year.
I hope you are all well and settling back into the grove of school, work, activities...ya know...life.
Miss ya all sooo much!!

never fear...I'm still here...lol!
Just been busy doing a bathroom reno...that is sooo close to be doing finished.
It's so pretty and calming...the soaker tub is sooo awesome! Even though the bathroom isn't 100% complete, Brian did encourage me to try out the new tub and I gotta say...I'm in heaven! I for see a lot of down time in my future!
I am so excited to report that I scrapbooked...first page since mid June. It felt so good to get in touch with my creative side even for just an afternoon.
It's hard to believe that we are going back to school in 3 weeks. I haven't bought any school supplies or clothes and from what I saw at the stores today...I'm wishing I would have bought them all as soon as school was out in June...it was nuts!
We'll be busy with eye appointments, shopping, finishing the bathroom and working on the kitchen (finally picked a paint color for the cupboards) that the rest of our summer is going to fly by.
Hope you are all enjoying your summer and making some great memories!

well...some scrapbooker I am! Would you believe I didn't take one single picture of our site set up? I was browsing through the almost 200 pics I took and not a single one of our tent and screenhouse set up...sheesh! Luckily, I mentioned this to my mom and she went around and took a snapshot or 2 of everybody's set up so I need to wait for here to either email it to me or bring her camera with her when she comes for the long weekend.
I can share with you (although it's probably in my best interest not too) the pics Brian tried to take of me making breakfast our first morning of camping...


He had to have one of these toasters thingies that go over the camp stove (cause his parents had when he camped as a boy...lol) so I had to take a pic of him making toast...

On Thursday night it was only us, my Mom and Bud as well as Bud's son and family so it was kinda quiet and a fairly early night I think.
Friday, more family started to arrive and I was thrilled to hear my cousin Kevin was going to be coming along with his youngest 2 kids who I hadn't met yet. Seems that when Kevin makes it home, I don't and vice versa. My early evening, a lot of the sites were full and a good time was had by the campfire. Everyone really enjoyed the belated Christmas gift we gave Mom and Bud too...Ladder Golf...it it so much fun and great for people of all ages.


Carsyn too an interest in playing crib so after half a day of lessons, he was ready to take on some of the more experienced players in the family. It was great that so many of them taught him too as they went along. It's now one of his favs.
Saturday, we took the boys to the man made swimming hole they have at this campground and the boys and Brian had a ball. I didn't take my camera the first time and man...it's too bad I didn't. Zack asked the boys to bury him in the sand...done. Then, while he was stuck there, they built what was supposed to be 2 boobs on either side of his head and then tried to build him some boy parts...OMG...I am not sure I have ever laughed so hard in my life!!!
I did get a lot of great shots of the boys splashing and goofing around with their Dad but I think it's only fair to have Brian's permission before posting his bathing body on the net...lol!
Being the Saskatchewan Roughrider fans that almost all of us are, we had to support our team (even though it was a lost cause that day) so we set up near the truck radio to listen to the game...

Also, Saturday, was the big family reunion supper. Lots of locals just came out for a visit and supper...it was really nice to see them.
This was also the day that every friggin mosquito in Canada decided to converge on us...I kid you not, there were millions. I guess it had been really hot and hatched them all and nothing we did or put on made them stop. We tried several different types of Off and we still got eaten alive. The boys looked like they had chicken pox when we came home they had so many bites. On top of that, they had these bugs that I called Darth Vader bugs cause they were big and black and sounded like a light saber when they came flying past your head...they were horrible. Only at night and obviously attracted to the fire cause that's where they were the worst. They were totally creepy and at one point on Sunday night, I had my hoody on...tied up tight around my head and a badminton racket in my hand swatting the dam things. Brian, being the ever so funny man he thinks he is, threw one at me...I thought my cousin, her boyfriend and my Aunt were going to pee their pants laughing. Not long after, he went to catch one and missed and in the process, it hit me in the cheek...needless to say, he was a tad chilly when we went to bed cause I was not about to snuggle after that.
Monday, we packed up, said our goodbyes...see ya next years and headed home.
All in all, it was a great trip. Lots of great family time as the 6 of us and with my extended family too. The family average for the first time camping was 7.5 and we will do it at least one more time this summer but not right beside the Trans Canada highway and hopefully with out as many mosquitoes and no Darth Vader Bugs (which turned out to be Spruce Beetles by the way).
Oh, and how could I forget...Zack had his first beer courtesy of my 18 year old cousin and his Dad (my Uncle that used to pull for me before I was 18)!!


I have mixed feelings about this occurrence by the way.

I guess if you look at the pic where we are listening to the football game, you can see our tent on the left and screen house on the right to kinda get the idea.

So, that's the camping trip in a nutshell.
Sorry you had to wait so long but it's late now and I gotta get to bed. Swimming lessons early in the morning for Carsyn and Gavin and a late night tomorrow with Zack's final drivers ed class.
On the upside, it is the August long so enjoy some summer fun with those you love! We'll be renovating our bathroom...can't wait!

ponder this...

Question of the day:
If a pair is 2 then why are jeans and undies called a pair?
This is what the boys were discussing at the lunch table yesterday...lol
camping report coming later today...just haven't had the time to sit here long enough to type it out...pics are on the computer now so that's a step in the right direction...lol!

hi-ho-hi-ho...a camping we will go

The 6 of us are heading out this weekend to a family reunion (for my side) in SK and we are sooo excited to be camping for the first time as a family. Some may look at us like we are off our rockers cause we are roughin' it in a tent but we can't wait. We've had a practice run setting it up and taking it down...same with the screen house we bought for eating and hanging out in if the weather sucks. I've spent quite a bit of time on the net and found some great tips & tricks as well as a campers checklist which helped in the purchasing of stuff that is needed and useful without getting all caught up in buying everything but the kitchen sink. I did cross the line perhaps when I discovered that the dollar store had tea towels/dishcloths etc in colors that matched the tent..same with the plates/bowls/cups. If nothing else, our site will look pretty. I'll share some snapshots when we get back. It's going to be so much fun.
This will be the highlight of our summer so far as the weather has been kinda off and on so we haven't enjoyed as much time in the pool as we usually do in July. Speaking of pools, Carsyn and Gavin start swimming lessons next week when we get back.
Zack is also starting drivers ed...15 hours of in class instruction followed by a test he has to get at least 80% on and then he moves onto the actual driving part of the course. Holy cow expensive but worth it in the end....we think!
I've been busy this last 10 days getting things purged and organized around in here in the hopes of going back to work full time at the end of August easier...it's been a lot of work but very much worth it. Where does all this crap come from anyway cause I am sure I did this about 6 months ago!
I wish I had something far more exciting to share but I don't.
Thanks for stopping by though.

true patriot love

We had such an awesome Canada Day celebration.
It started with these...maple leaf shaped pancakes topped with strawberries and whipped cream...delicious! They were very time consuming though so we only each had one shaped one and the rest were round.

After breakfast, we headed off to the parade. These are a few of my favorite shots...


then it was off to the neighbors for lunch, games an visiting. Spent the whole afternoon there. The Dad's took the boys around town to see some of the displays that were set up etc. I came home to cut the watermelon into maple leafs, after my neighbor used the cookie cutter to make these sugar cookies.


Enjoyed a bbq supper...waaay too much food was enjoyed by everyone. The kids played in the pool and enjoyed some ladder golf while I mixed up some virgin strawberry daquiri's for them (followed by adult pina coladas and margaritas) in our margarita machine. Everyone stayed up and enjoyed the fireworks...




It was relaxing and fun filled family time...loved every minute of it!
How did you celebrate our great country?

16 years ago...

on this day, I became a Mom for the very first time.
I snuck downstairs, into Zack's room this morning and gave him a kiss on the forehead(he was sleeping and I had to go to work)...much like the one I gave him the very first time I saw him. It's hard to believe that he was once about as long as from the top of his head to his shoulder and now, he is 6'1"!!
If I could slow time down, I would...just a little but since that is not possible, I plan to enjoy every minute I have left with him under our roof because if the last 16 years could go by this fast, the next 2 will be here and gone before I know it.

Happy Canada Day too everyone. I hope you can enjoy some celebrations with people you love tomorrow.

I'm so excited

but I kinda have to hide it!
I was asked yesterday if I would like to work again at the school next year...of course I said yes!!! (not all EA's have found out yet if they will be working next year or not...hence the hide it part)
I'll be in one room, primarily with 2 students instead of 5 rooms and a number of students. Plus, I have more than 24 hours notice to get things in order knowing I'll be working full time. Now to make the most of my summer off!!

What happens in the Peg

and Miami (MB) stays there!!
Well...most of it anyway!
It all started with a great flight on Friday morning and ended with a kinda bumpy ride home where at times I thought I was leaving my heart up there when the plane dropped!! In between, I laughed a lot and chatted up a storm. Met some new friends for the first time and chatted with others from last year like no time had passed. Enjoyed a lovely brunch with a group of gals I think are pretty special and met some new members of the group too ;) I even managed to get some scrapbooking done....most of it for the school but that was the goal of the weekend. Came home tired and not looking forward to our incredibly busy week ahead but...the end is in sight...school is almost over and then I'll have some down time. At least a week anyway...lol! The end of the school year is always a busy time but it seems more so when you work at the school...I had no idea how much goes into all that some teachers do for year end.
Nothing else too exciting to share really...sorry for the short sweet post but I need to go water plants, dry a load of laundry and get to bed. the day started extra early with a field trip we had to leave for at 7:30am.
Hope you are all well and having a chance to enjoy some hot sunshine!

goin' to Winnipeg

and not because I got on the wrong flight and was really supposed to be going to Hawaii...lol (think Fountain Tire commercial)
Although, with the crappy weather we've been having here (and I hear it's more of the same in the Peg) Hawaii is sounding pretty good. Although, my best scrappin' friends aren't in Hawaii.
I am sooo excited to beading East and meeting up with some pretty cool gals for the weekend. Lots I met just last year for the very first time IRL and some will be newbies this year. There have been friendships made, babies born, new vehicles bought and trips taken...sooo much to catch up on. It's going to be a fabulous weekend!!
Brian will be home with the boys for some guy time and they are pretty excited about that too.
Time is of the essence with the end of the school year very quickly approaching. I am making memory books for Gavin's teacher...one for each kid in the class and she wants them done by next Friday!! In all, there will be 16 pages in the book but some are photo copies of their writing or whatever but still...at least 10 of them need to be scrapped...I'm starting to stress a little!! Needless to say, I haven't had much time for my own scrapbooking as of late so I have nothing scrappy to share :(
Soccer and ball are done next week too so that will allow a bit more free time in my life although I am trying to help Zack and Reilly study for finals and more Provincial Achievement Tests...if it's not one thing it's another hey!
I really need to pack some scrapping stuff...it's so hard to figure out what to take when you are traveling that far. Need to go shopping for some clothes and the guys would like some food while I'm gone too. That takes care of tomorrow night...plus it's Carsyn's birthday...he's hitting double digits!
Before I know it, it'll be Friday and I'll be miles from home not thinking about any of it...can't wait!

busy...as usual

well, here we are almost at the end of May and the weather is finally feeling like Spring! As much as I love the warmer weather and seeing my crab apple tree in full bloom, it also means a lot of other things that need to be taken care of and projects to complete. Time is already of the essence with having 3 boys in activities all on the same nights of the week, working full time, Brian gone for 10 day (or more) stretches that it is difficult to get everything done in a day let alone tackle the yard...weeding, watering and decorating! We still have high hopes though of getting that cobble stone path way done before our July 1st barbeque. We at least have the mold for it so that's a step in the right direction! I highly doubt my garden gate will get done though by then but that's ok. How are you all doing with your yards? Plants coming along...any big projects you have in mind? So much to do and so little time to do it seems to be the deal around here...when and how did our lives get so busy? Seems most people I talk to feel this way these days.
Speaking of busy, I have to go get ready for my 3.5 hours of volunteering for baseball today. I know this wasn't much of a blog post but thanks for reading and visiting anyway...lol!
ps...the ACTIVE game is a great workout...not that I have had as much time to use it as I would have liked so far but I do really enjoy it...making your own customized workouts is awesome!!

I love long weekends!

No school yesterday so got some scrapping in before taking kids for haircuts and then into the city shopping. Here are 2 recent layouts for challenges that were issued during 2 online crops...hooray...another Disney page completed based on a sketch...

and another challenge was to use a song from the 80's as a title..here's what I came up with...


After shopping with the boys for jeans and things (mostly lego) we did the Costco thing and then met Brian for supper at our favorite Chinese buffet. He brought the younger 2 boys home and I kept the other 2 and we headed to WM for some more camping gear and a few odds and ends. Came home with a CSI game for my pink Nintendo DS that I got for Mother's Day.
Decided that Zack needed to try driving on the highway so I pulled over on the 4 lane and told him to get behind the wheel. He is license eligible at the end of July and has hardly driven even around our small town. He is going to be taking drivers ed but still..he needs more practice with us. Any time I thought about letting him drive I was almost sick to my stomach with nerves and you know what...it was all for nothing. He did amazing...ended up driving onto the 2 lane and all the way home actually. He even parked perfectly out front. I was sooo proud of him and I have faith he will be a great driver with more hours behind the wheel.
Today has been spent doing yard work and planning for more yard work...is it ever really done? We are going to make a cobblestone pathway from our front gate to the back yard...from scratch! I found a mold and all it takes is some ready mix concrete and we'll be good to go. I promise to share some before and after pics. The yard is really starting to come along and it will be so nice to sit back and enjoy it more...next year...lol! I also have a really cool idea for a gate that I am hoping to get done this year too.
Reilly is writing Provincial Achievement Tests (do other provinces do this?) and he found out he got 93% on his math part A. Way to go Reilly...we are sooo proud of you. The principal also sent a letter home last week letting us know that Reilly has achieved honors in Science. I sure hope this continues for the rest of his schooling.
Carsyn just spent 3 days and 2 nights with the grade 4's in Drumheller on a fielsd trip. They have been learning about dinosaurs and finished it up with an excursion to the Royal Tyrell Museum, the Hoodoo's and stuff. He had a blast.
Gavin is loving soccer. When he wakes up on soccer days, it's the first thing out of his mouth...I have soccer today (with a big grin and wide eyes)!
Brian is home on days off this week so he is going to build my "flower bed" from my Grandma's antique bed frame and then I'll plant some flowers in it. Can't wait so see how it looks. He'll also be going into the city on Tuesday to get us a copy of this:

EA SPORTS Active

this is going to be so much fun to play...we can't wait!

Enjoy your long weekend!

the time has come

for me to spend more time outside than in and on the computer.
The weather, for the most part , the last couple of weeks has been so nice that I am spending any "spare"time outside. Either puttering in the yard with flowers/weeding, finishing some projects from last year and of course starting new ones, just enjoying coffee on the patio or playing with the kids...it's been awesome!! On the flip side of that though, it leaves less time for the computer and scrapbooking. We're also running to soccer and baseball with Gavin and Carsyn. Zack and Reilly are starting to write exams. Brian is working out of town pretty steadily so I really do have little time to myself these days.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to summer vacation!! Actually, I am almost as excited for the May long weekend....just some time with no where to go and to do how much or how little we choose.
That being said, I did manage to scrapbook a smidge here and there over the last couple of weeks...I just haven't had time to take pics of the layouts to share.
I've been pretty consistent with my workouts too...which feels soooo good! Not quite bathing suit ready but hey...these things take time...lol!
I'm trying to type and think so fast and get you all caught up on things...even if it's the coles notes version (I'm sure I am forgetting some of our more exciting stuff...lol)
Zack is going to be taking drivers ed soon as he is eligible for his license at the end of July.
We bought a huge family tent (and will pick up things like a screen house, stove etc) and are looking forward to a family reunion in July. We also have plans to camp with friends a few times this summer. If we like it, we might upgrade to a trailer next year...we'll see.
I am off to Winnipeg in June to visit with some fabulous people I know and meet some other online friends in real life..I can't wait!!
I know it might not seem like much to post about for as busy as I say we've been but really, we have been and are but most of it is just daily stuff that carries over to the next day and so on. I'm sure you know how it goes...not enough hours in a day!
I hope to make blog rounds soon and catch up on some emails.
I am not ignoring anyone...I promise!
love ya...take care,

To all the Mom's out there

Before I was a Mom
I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.
Before I was a Mom
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies.
Before I was a Mom
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on
Pooped on
Spit on
Chewed on
Peed on
Or pinched by tiny fingers
Before I was a Mom
I had complete control of my mind
My thoughts
My body
And my mind.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child
So that doctors could do tests
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby
sleep.
Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
Could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my
body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry
baby.
I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
Could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
Every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay
I had never known the warmth
The joy
The love
The heartache
The wonderfulment
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before
I was a Mom.

Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Last day in Vegas

well everyone, here it is...our last day in Vegas.
After getting to sleep so late Wednesday night, we had decided to sleep in and take things a bit slower paced today. Until we both woke up earlier than we thought and decided to get ready, pack up and head to the Bellagio for brunch. My Paris margarita was still partly frozen so what the heck...has some while getting ready...when in Vegas right...lol. Managed to check out and leave our bags with the porters and scooted off to brunch. It took forever to find the restaurant inside this place and when we did finally get there, the line up was sooo long. We were actually worried we might not get in to eat before brunch ended. Turns out we did and it wouldn't have mattered cause as we were eating our breakfast, they were starting to put out the lunch buffet. If a person was hungry enough and timed it right, you could go for breakfast and lunch buffet.
Here are some pics from the Bellagio...
this was a light in the lobby...it's soo pretty (and it's actually really big too I just zoomed in to show the details)

these are all from the Bellagio Gardens...so beautiful



love these watering can fountains

and this snail made with different kinds of flowers

this last pic I took just for my Mom who loves butterflies. They have a butterfly habitat there actually and I took more pics than this for her.

It was after this that my camera batteries died and I don't have a lot of pics to share from the rest of our day. We didn't do too much that we hadn't already done in the previous 3 days.
I managed to turn the camera on and snapped a quick pic of this 27 foot tall chocolate fountain...

and this is a shot of the store where it is...I was so upset I couldn't get the camera to stay on long enough to get a picture of the desserts they make here..it would blow you away

never mind...we figured out how to add a video of them. I will make some stills to include in our scrapbook.


After we wiped the drool off our chins, we went back to Bill's where Brian finally tried his hand at craps.


This is something he had wanted to do since we booked the trip back in January but was too nervous to try up until now. Mostly because the tables were usually pretty full and with people playing with more money than he was willing to risk.
That and the fact he had never played before!
We popped back into the Paris for one last look around and then headed back to Caesar's Palace to play the exact same Village People slot machine Brian got lucky on day 2. After getting lucky yet again, we made our way slowly back to TI to get our bags. The porter got our bags and snagged us a cab and that was it...we were off to the airport. Had some extra time after security so we had dinner, picked up some last minute souvenirs for friends and the kids.
After boarding the plane, it hit me like a brick wall how tired I was. After taxiing to the runway and sitting there for 20 minutes waiting our turn to take off (they mus line the planes up nose to tail I tell ya), we were on our way home. Thrilled and exhausted!
I slept most of the way home on the plane while Brian watched a movie.
After landing, gathering our bags, clearing customs and heading back to park 'n' jet, we were in the truck. Stopped at the nearest Timmie's, grabbed a coffee and hit the road. Again, I slept most of the 3 hour drive home. Finally pulled in the driveway at 3:45am Friday. Crawled into bed at 4.

I'll post some odds and ends that may have been missed in this 4 day trip report as well as everyday happenings and goings on.
Till then,