2010 would be comparable to what I would imagine being on a roller coaster would feel like...full of ups and downs, twists and turns... feeling like you are twisting into a knot...
bright spots for us included:
* a second trip to Vegas for Brian and I
* being asked to continue on at my job (after being let go)
* more camping...including a great time at the family reunion
* attending a cousins wedding
* getting some landscaping done
* lots of time just hanging with the boys
* everyone stayed quite healthy
* Zack getting his drivers lisence
* celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary
* watching the Olympics
dull moments included:
* Brian being forced to change jobs
* Reilly having 12 baby teeth pulled at once
* Zack getting his drivers license (LOL)
* being told there was no money in the budget to keep me on staff
* not getting as much done around the house/yard as I would have liked
* the boys being boys...they can be sooo mean to one another
* not enough scrappy/crafty time for me
All in all 2010 was decent...could have been way worse I guess!
I was kinda sorta successful with my 2010 one little word: Organize. Will be a constant work in progress I think! My word for 2011 is Change...I need to change the way I deal with change as this year is going to be full of them. Some totally out of my control so I better figure out how I am going to cope! A few are of my own doing...healthier lifestyle changes being at the top of the list!
I would love to hear what some of your highlights were last year and what you look forward too in 2011!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Blog much?
Obviously not since it's been 2 months since the last post!!
Wish that meant I had lots of exciting things to blog about now though...sadly, most of what's been keeping me busy is...well..life! It's busy but good!! I do complain now and then about it all but the truth of the matter is, I really do love it, so I guess I need to close my mouth and carry on...lol!
So,what is it exactly that we've been busy with? Volleyball mostly...both Zack and Reilly played for their school teams this fall with Zack helping to coach Reilly's team. That kept us busy at least 4 days a week plus tournaments on weekends...sometimes they both played so it meant running back and forth to both...if possible. Thankfully, Brian was home most weekends so we would divide and conquer. Both boys finished in the top two of their school leagues, which meant they went on the Regionals and Zones respectively. Each of them brought home bronze medals...the best thing about that was there was no way one cold bug the other as they finished their seasons on an even keel. Once the school season ended, club tryouts began. Zack wants to play on a club team so bad this year as it's his last year so rather than putting all his eggs in one basket and maybe not making the team he payed for last year, he wanted to try out for 3 different teams!! This was a lot of driving to the 3 different cities and some late nights but that's ok...it's what moms do right. He has a spot on his team from last year and has one last tryout for the team he really wants to play on...fingers crossed!! Reilly is trying out too but the age group is U16. He is really only U14 but since they have no team at the age, he is giving it a shot. He can hold his own on the court but we'll see if he makes it. He's happy just to have gone to the tryout for the experience.
Carsyn is waiting till January to start a weekly volleyball skills program in the hopes of making the junior boys team next year. Gavin would love too also but is a bit too young still.
Halloween was awesome this year...as you may know, it's Brian's favorite holiday. We found a new store called Spirit Halloween...it had the most amazing costumes and decorations! I was actually really surprised how many Halloween stores opened up this year. Here are some pics....
the older 2 stayed home to hand out candy and scare kids...lol
In school news, graduation prep has started for Zack...I am sure I was just at Kindergarten orientation...how is is possible he is graduating? Having a bit of a hard time with that. Last week, he brought home a book full of grad rings...he has designed one that suits him to a tee. He has also changed his thoughts on taking a year off of school to work. He wants to go straight to college and pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in either Bio or Chem. It's very exciting and sad all at the same time...definitely bittersweet!! The other boys are all doing well academically as well. My job is going great...any reservations I had at the start of the year regarding my assignment quickly vanished once we got going. I will be very sad if they don't ask me to continue with him though grade 2, 3 and 4.
Brian had switched jobs this summer to one that had him home more...loved that! However, he was not enjoying the work at all. So, we've gone back into business for ourselves. He is much happier and although it means he's gone again, I would rather have him come home happy on his days off. Besides, we've lived like this for a long time so it's not been that much of an adjustment.
In other exciting news (I think...lol), Zack passed his road test and is now a licensed driver!
Christmas is fast approaching and I am hosting this year...lots to get done between now and then. Thank goodness we have some time off the week before cause I am going to need a few full days!! Might not have been too bad but I started redoing the kitchen cupboards a couple of weeks ago and have had no time to get them finished...they look better than they did but primer white wasn't what I had in mine...lol! Need to get that done on top of all the usual holiday stuff.
No time like the present, so I guess I'll go and tackle something.
Wish that meant I had lots of exciting things to blog about now though...sadly, most of what's been keeping me busy is...well..life! It's busy but good!! I do complain now and then about it all but the truth of the matter is, I really do love it, so I guess I need to close my mouth and carry on...lol!
So,what is it exactly that we've been busy with? Volleyball mostly...both Zack and Reilly played for their school teams this fall with Zack helping to coach Reilly's team. That kept us busy at least 4 days a week plus tournaments on weekends...sometimes they both played so it meant running back and forth to both...if possible. Thankfully, Brian was home most weekends so we would divide and conquer. Both boys finished in the top two of their school leagues, which meant they went on the Regionals and Zones respectively. Each of them brought home bronze medals...the best thing about that was there was no way one cold bug the other as they finished their seasons on an even keel. Once the school season ended, club tryouts began. Zack wants to play on a club team so bad this year as it's his last year so rather than putting all his eggs in one basket and maybe not making the team he payed for last year, he wanted to try out for 3 different teams!! This was a lot of driving to the 3 different cities and some late nights but that's ok...it's what moms do right. He has a spot on his team from last year and has one last tryout for the team he really wants to play on...fingers crossed!! Reilly is trying out too but the age group is U16. He is really only U14 but since they have no team at the age, he is giving it a shot. He can hold his own on the court but we'll see if he makes it. He's happy just to have gone to the tryout for the experience.
Carsyn is waiting till January to start a weekly volleyball skills program in the hopes of making the junior boys team next year. Gavin would love too also but is a bit too young still.
Halloween was awesome this year...as you may know, it's Brian's favorite holiday. We found a new store called Spirit Halloween...it had the most amazing costumes and decorations! I was actually really surprised how many Halloween stores opened up this year. Here are some pics....
the older 2 stayed home to hand out candy and scare kids...lol
In school news, graduation prep has started for Zack...I am sure I was just at Kindergarten orientation...how is is possible he is graduating? Having a bit of a hard time with that. Last week, he brought home a book full of grad rings...he has designed one that suits him to a tee. He has also changed his thoughts on taking a year off of school to work. He wants to go straight to college and pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in either Bio or Chem. It's very exciting and sad all at the same time...definitely bittersweet!! The other boys are all doing well academically as well. My job is going great...any reservations I had at the start of the year regarding my assignment quickly vanished once we got going. I will be very sad if they don't ask me to continue with him though grade 2, 3 and 4.
Brian had switched jobs this summer to one that had him home more...loved that! However, he was not enjoying the work at all. So, we've gone back into business for ourselves. He is much happier and although it means he's gone again, I would rather have him come home happy on his days off. Besides, we've lived like this for a long time so it's not been that much of an adjustment.
In other exciting news (I think...lol), Zack passed his road test and is now a licensed driver!
Christmas is fast approaching and I am hosting this year...lots to get done between now and then. Thank goodness we have some time off the week before cause I am going to need a few full days!! Might not have been too bad but I started redoing the kitchen cupboards a couple of weeks ago and have had no time to get them finished...they look better than they did but primer white wasn't what I had in mine...lol! Need to get that done on top of all the usual holiday stuff.
No time like the present, so I guess I'll go and tackle something.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today, I am celebrating all the wonderful things I am thankful for...
* my 4 healthy sons
* my loving, supportive husband who has the best sense of humor ever
* my family and friends...I truly am grateful for the part each and every one of you plays in my life
* my health and what I've been doing to improve on it
* our home
* my job
* living in Canada
It's days like today that I need to have more often in my life...need to remember these things on the days when things aren't going so well and I feel like having a pity party. I have a lot to be thankful for each and every day...we all do!!
* my 4 healthy sons
* my loving, supportive husband who has the best sense of humor ever
* my family and friends...I truly am grateful for the part each and every one of you plays in my life
* my health and what I've been doing to improve on it
* our home
* my job
* living in Canada
It's days like today that I need to have more often in my life...need to remember these things on the days when things aren't going so well and I feel like having a pity party. I have a lot to be thankful for each and every day...we all do!!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
don't knock it till you try it
I'm talking about camping!
Up until the last year, camping was one of those things I did with my parents a few times and it was alright but I was also at an age where I wanted to be at home with friends on weekends and not packed into the back seat of the truck, with my brothers, heading off to who knows where just so I could camp. Once I was able to stay home for the weekend alone instead of going camping...I did!!
It was never really anything Brian and I discussed either as our lives blended together. Until last year that is...
You may or may not remember that I blogged about attending a family reunion last year and how it was a camping thing etc. Overall, it wasn't the greatest outdoor experience as the mosquitoes were really bad, the noise from the Trans Canada highway and those dam "Darth Vader" bugs. However, there was something about it that made me want to do it again (Brian not so much lol).
Fast forward to this summer...Zack was going to go stay with my brother for most of the summer and said brother had just bought a trailer so he suggests we meet part way and camp for the weekend. Sounds good...so we load up and go camping for the weekend. It was great fun...sitting by the fire, poker night in the screen house, just hanging with my family away from all the distractions of doing things around the house/yard and the techno world. I come home and start talking and looking at trailers...lol I enjoyed it so much! Brian decides he'd like camping more if we had a boat...I know the boys would love that so I'm good with the tenting and getting a boat instead.
Recently, the boys and I took a 6 day camping trip with my friend and her 2 kids...it was awesome! We went to this campground a couple hours from home...small, clean and quiet. There is a lake there and the boys spent hours floating in inner tubes, building sand castles and playing beach volleyball. We sat and played full card yahtzee while watching the kids play, had picnic lunches and laughed...A LOT!! It was incredibly relaxing and almost therapeutic for me. My boys had a blast too and now...we are hooked! I came home, started looking at trailers again as it would be nice to have a space always set up...especially the kitchen area. And having a place to go when the weather takes a turn for the worse is an added bonus. Brian's big reason for not liking camping is the poor sleep he gets on the air mattress so having a bed for him might get him to come along. Either way, the boys and I will be camping a whole lot more...with or without a trailer or my husband!
Up until the last year, camping was one of those things I did with my parents a few times and it was alright but I was also at an age where I wanted to be at home with friends on weekends and not packed into the back seat of the truck, with my brothers, heading off to who knows where just so I could camp. Once I was able to stay home for the weekend alone instead of going camping...I did!!
It was never really anything Brian and I discussed either as our lives blended together. Until last year that is...
You may or may not remember that I blogged about attending a family reunion last year and how it was a camping thing etc. Overall, it wasn't the greatest outdoor experience as the mosquitoes were really bad, the noise from the Trans Canada highway and those dam "Darth Vader" bugs. However, there was something about it that made me want to do it again (Brian not so much lol).
Fast forward to this summer...Zack was going to go stay with my brother for most of the summer and said brother had just bought a trailer so he suggests we meet part way and camp for the weekend. Sounds good...so we load up and go camping for the weekend. It was great fun...sitting by the fire, poker night in the screen house, just hanging with my family away from all the distractions of doing things around the house/yard and the techno world. I come home and start talking and looking at trailers...lol I enjoyed it so much! Brian decides he'd like camping more if we had a boat...I know the boys would love that so I'm good with the tenting and getting a boat instead.
Recently, the boys and I took a 6 day camping trip with my friend and her 2 kids...it was awesome! We went to this campground a couple hours from home...small, clean and quiet. There is a lake there and the boys spent hours floating in inner tubes, building sand castles and playing beach volleyball. We sat and played full card yahtzee while watching the kids play, had picnic lunches and laughed...A LOT!! It was incredibly relaxing and almost therapeutic for me. My boys had a blast too and now...we are hooked! I came home, started looking at trailers again as it would be nice to have a space always set up...especially the kitchen area. And having a place to go when the weather takes a turn for the worse is an added bonus. Brian's big reason for not liking camping is the poor sleep he gets on the air mattress so having a bed for him might get him to come along. Either way, the boys and I will be camping a whole lot more...with or without a trailer or my husband!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
leaving Las Vegas
Vegas day 6 (sort of)
We had a late flight back so it was kinda like an extra day...
We went for breakfast, back to the room to check out, left our bags at the hotel and then walked around doing some last minute things and some things one last time. Gambled a bit at Bills, walked over to the Bellagio and splurged on these...
it was a tough choice but finally we settled on Key Lime Pie for Brian and Carrot Cake for me
seriously, I have never tasted anything sooooo delicious in all my life!
Took the Tram to the Monte Carlo where Brian played some blackjack and I hit a few slots. Once our luck (and our money...lol) was running low we walked back to catch the Bellagio Fountain show one more time...
Wandered our way back towards Margaritaville late in the afternoon for one last plate of nachos...these are the yummiest nachos on the planet I swear...
It was time to walk back to Bally's, get our luggage and grab a cab to the airport..both of us a little sad but also feeling that it was time to go.
We arrived way early, not sure what to expect as far as line ups at security etc...turns out they aren't near as thorough when you leave their country as they are letting you in. Needless to say, we had lots of time to kill...I pulled out my ipod touch taking advantage of the free WiFi and hit facebook, blogs and forums while Brian put the last of his cash here...
In looking back, I see our last day (and a fair bit of our trip this time was bout food and drinks...thankfully I only gained 5 pounds!)
In discussion on the ride home, we realized we should have done 5 days the first trip and 3 this time. We jammed so much into last years time there that there were times this year we weren't sure what to do. We could have spread out all we did last year over a longer period of time. Oh well...ya know what they say about hindsight...lol
Not sure if we'll make it back next Spring break as we would like to take a family holiday before Zack graduates and maybe leaves home next June...we'll see!
We had a late flight back so it was kinda like an extra day...
We went for breakfast, back to the room to check out, left our bags at the hotel and then walked around doing some last minute things and some things one last time. Gambled a bit at Bills, walked over to the Bellagio and splurged on these...
it was a tough choice but finally we settled on Key Lime Pie for Brian and Carrot Cake for me
seriously, I have never tasted anything sooooo delicious in all my life!
Took the Tram to the Monte Carlo where Brian played some blackjack and I hit a few slots. Once our luck (and our money...lol) was running low we walked back to catch the Bellagio Fountain show one more time...
Wandered our way back towards Margaritaville late in the afternoon for one last plate of nachos...these are the yummiest nachos on the planet I swear...
It was time to walk back to Bally's, get our luggage and grab a cab to the airport..both of us a little sad but also feeling that it was time to go.
We arrived way early, not sure what to expect as far as line ups at security etc...turns out they aren't near as thorough when you leave their country as they are letting you in. Needless to say, we had lots of time to kill...I pulled out my ipod touch taking advantage of the free WiFi and hit facebook, blogs and forums while Brian put the last of his cash here...
In looking back, I see our last day (and a fair bit of our trip this time was bout food and drinks...thankfully I only gained 5 pounds!)
In discussion on the ride home, we realized we should have done 5 days the first trip and 3 this time. We jammed so much into last years time there that there were times this year we weren't sure what to do. We could have spread out all we did last year over a longer period of time. Oh well...ya know what they say about hindsight...lol
Not sure if we'll make it back next Spring break as we would like to take a family holiday before Zack graduates and maybe leaves home next June...we'll see!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
a good time was had by us
Vegas day 5
A bit of a sleep in for me, early morning blackjack with coffee and Bailey's for Brian is a great way to start the day where we had nothing set in stone!
Enjoyed some breakfast then a walk across the street to the Bellagio to catch the Tram on our way to Mandalay Bay (had to get off and back on at Monte Carlo and Excalibur but still saved walking all the way). Stopped and snapped some pics of the Botanical Gardens inside the Bellagio first...
Our actual destination was here...
since we didn't make it to get our pic taken here on last years trip, it was a must for us this time. It wasn't that far of a walk either (which is somewhat deceiving when looking at things on the strip...lol)
We head back on the Tram (which is free to ride by the way...in case you plan a trip...too bad we didn't learn about it last year)
Stopped in at the Miracle Mile shops in Planet Hollywood and purchased an aqua colored Vittorio leather purse I had eyed up earlier in the week...I love it!
Saw some street performers as we were making our way back to the room...
Had a snack of gourmet M&M's while we freshened up them headed back out to grab the bus for Freemont Street...soooo happy they changed the bus system back as we were there in no time. Went for a bite to eat at the El Cortez, which is a local casino that Brian had read good things about. It sure is no Vegas strip casino that's for sure but the food was good and cheap (compared to the strip restaurants). Gambled a bit here then headed off to the Golden Nugget...tried my hand at the exact same Happy Days machine I won on last year...it wasn't as good to me this time around. Went and hung out at Mermaids for awhile...Brian wanted to try the deep fried Oreo's this trip
While he was waiting in line and dining on his treat, I played some slots...won a bit so we ended up staying there for awhile. Watched the light show then crossed the street and went into Fitzgeralds...Brian knew they had cheap blackjack there and wanted to play. I sat at an old style nickel machine, plunked in about 60 cents and ended up sitting there for bout an hour and a half...was doing pretty good making some money, chatting it up with the 2 guys on either side of me and had the waitress bringing me Malibu and sprites quite regularly...it was sooo much fun! Brian didn't have as much luck with the blackjack so he came and sat with me for a bit...was bored so he took off to play some slots too...came back a few times with winnings, then was off to play some more. It might have been the most fun for the fewest dollars gambling we've had in Vegas! Caught the light show again a little later then headed back to the strip to catch the Volcano show at Mirage (it was being repaired on last years trip so we wanted to catch it this time).
When that was done we went inside the Mirage to BLT Burger and had milkshakes with liquor in them...I had a Malibu Barbie and Brian had The Knight Rider...who knew alcoholic milkshakes would be so yummy! Took our time wondering back to Bally's, checking things out and dodging the crowds...Vegas sure was busier this time around! Not sure what time we called it a day but it was a good one!
A bit of a sleep in for me, early morning blackjack with coffee and Bailey's for Brian is a great way to start the day where we had nothing set in stone!
Enjoyed some breakfast then a walk across the street to the Bellagio to catch the Tram on our way to Mandalay Bay (had to get off and back on at Monte Carlo and Excalibur but still saved walking all the way). Stopped and snapped some pics of the Botanical Gardens inside the Bellagio first...
Our actual destination was here...
since we didn't make it to get our pic taken here on last years trip, it was a must for us this time. It wasn't that far of a walk either (which is somewhat deceiving when looking at things on the strip...lol)
We head back on the Tram (which is free to ride by the way...in case you plan a trip...too bad we didn't learn about it last year)
Stopped in at the Miracle Mile shops in Planet Hollywood and purchased an aqua colored Vittorio leather purse I had eyed up earlier in the week...I love it!
Saw some street performers as we were making our way back to the room...
Had a snack of gourmet M&M's while we freshened up them headed back out to grab the bus for Freemont Street...soooo happy they changed the bus system back as we were there in no time. Went for a bite to eat at the El Cortez, which is a local casino that Brian had read good things about. It sure is no Vegas strip casino that's for sure but the food was good and cheap (compared to the strip restaurants). Gambled a bit here then headed off to the Golden Nugget...tried my hand at the exact same Happy Days machine I won on last year...it wasn't as good to me this time around. Went and hung out at Mermaids for awhile...Brian wanted to try the deep fried Oreo's this trip
While he was waiting in line and dining on his treat, I played some slots...won a bit so we ended up staying there for awhile. Watched the light show then crossed the street and went into Fitzgeralds...Brian knew they had cheap blackjack there and wanted to play. I sat at an old style nickel machine, plunked in about 60 cents and ended up sitting there for bout an hour and a half...was doing pretty good making some money, chatting it up with the 2 guys on either side of me and had the waitress bringing me Malibu and sprites quite regularly...it was sooo much fun! Brian didn't have as much luck with the blackjack so he came and sat with me for a bit...was bored so he took off to play some slots too...came back a few times with winnings, then was off to play some more. It might have been the most fun for the fewest dollars gambling we've had in Vegas! Caught the light show again a little later then headed back to the strip to catch the Volcano show at Mirage (it was being repaired on last years trip so we wanted to catch it this time).
When that was done we went inside the Mirage to BLT Burger and had milkshakes with liquor in them...I had a Malibu Barbie and Brian had The Knight Rider...who knew alcoholic milkshakes would be so yummy! Took our time wondering back to Bally's, checking things out and dodging the crowds...Vegas sure was busier this time around! Not sure what time we called it a day but it was a good one!
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