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!!