Home again...

I'm not going to update with a proper post today - just going to say that I had a fabulous time with Val and everyone at the scrapbooking crop this weekend - thanks Val so much for inviting me! I have a ton of pictures to add when I have more time. Here is just one picture to share - taken just before we left.

Great fun, lots of singing, dancing, laughing, talking....and actually (shockingly) a LOT of scrapbooking!!! :) Great food too :) YUM!

Anyway - I LOVE this picture :) It sums up the atmosphere of the whole crop :) A good time was had by all :)

All ready to go, but.....

one lady has hurt her arm badly and had to cancel...and we are under snowfall warnings in the Edmonton area that could end up covering our area...so the whole retreat might get postponed!

Not the end of the world as my supplies would be all ready to go another time, but still a shame as Val and I were very excited to go! Still, these things happen!

Watch this space, and if I DO go, I am taking my camera so I can post some pictures of the fun when I get back if thats ok with Val and everyone!

Oh and FINALLY, I don't have to take my supplies in a laundry basket :) For the last 6 years I've been taking them in a laundry basket to crops but I treated myself to a cart. I guess it sure beats having to sort laundry today JUST to get the basket empty!!! :)

Thursday happenings...

Susannah and Laurence don't have school today and tomorrow, so we took Sam to Pre-K this afternoon and then headed to the swimming pool for a couple of hours. That was fun! Now I am sat here having a quiet cup, waiting for Lloyd to come home - he is on his way - and then he and I are heading into town for our date night.

The sun is getting lower in the sky, but its been a gorgeous day. I'm not sure what the temperature was, but it felt warm walking out of Millennium Place this afternoon and we didn't need our coats! So nice and Spring-like! Oh how I wish this was IT!

Lloyd and I are running to the scrapbook store for a few last minute supplies - tomorrow I am going on a scrapbooking retreat with Val - an all-night scrapbooking crop! Yes, I sleep over there! Well, maybe not even sleep!!! hahahaha maybe just scrapbook ALL night!!!! Its in the guest house of a friend of Vals out by Elk Island Park and there will be a few of us there and then more people joining us on Saturday! we are split in to teams and some are making supper on Friday, Val and I are making breakfast on Saturday and then some are making lunch on Saturday!! Child free uninterrupted scrapbooking time!!!

So I am off to get more supplies :)

Then we are going to our Indian restaurant for dinner and then to get the supplies I need to help make breakfast on Saturday and a few snacks etc I need for the retreat too :)

then home to watch a couple more episodes of Greys Anatomy season 4 that we are watching on dvd (please no spoilers). Tanya has been nagging me to get caught up, so we gave in and bought season 4 last week and have been watching on average 2 episodes a night for the last week! I really look forward to curling up with Lloyd every evening to watch but have to say I spend every episode in tears - its such a sad series this time!

Ok I have to start dinner so Chris can serve it up once we leave!

Chat later!

Finally it arrived!!

www.karenfosterdesign.com/ideas/index.asp?c=114

One of my birthday gifts from Lloyd finally arrived today! the 3d Karen Foster Countdown Calendar! I can't wait to alter this - but what shall I alter it for? Christmas....Summer vacation boredom buster......Halloween countdown.......travel trip countdown....or something else??????

Pictures from last week...

Workbooks...

Some of the books Abigail is using this year....of course we are also using much much more than this but these are just a few of the things we fall back on. I picked up the grade one books to be sure Abigail had covered the basics that she didn't do last year. She has flown through them - especially the math which she finds ultra boring and doesn't want to do but I said if she flies through it in a couple of weeks we will go and get her grade 2 and 3 as a 'treat'...and of course she loves this idea...so she is rushing through it. instead of doing a page a day or whatever she is doing she is doing several a day. She just wants to get it done. I know she doesn't need to do it but I kind of want her to do the basics again because I think her teacher really messed with her confidence and I kind of want to bring back the fun she had with math before - she used to love how easy it was and then in school she was struggling because her teacher was a dork! I want her to find it fun again and see it as puzzles again! To WANT to do it....so thats what we're doing!

I have been having fun going through the Education Station catalogue choosing things....I much prefer their south store to Scholars Choice. I think I'm going to go there next week and head to Ikea for breakfast. There are a few things I have my eye on for Abby from Edu Station....

Trying Chinese foods for New Year...

The children tried out some Chinese foods for our new year festivities last week! We also had some decorations around our display table to celebrate the new year. We have decided to extend our study of China for the rest of the year instead of just for New Year because we have been enjoying it so much! Susannahs friend Melissa was able to join us to try the foods. Most of the foods were made with sticky rice. The bread was filled with a pureed bean.

And plans change.....

So we were meeting Val at Kidz Quarterz this morning, then heading to MP for the running track and then swimming. Sam was fine until he got out of bed to get dressed and then his head started to hurt. He started crying. I gave him meds and he went back to bed. We tried again 30 minutes later. No better. More crying. Back to bed and then he started to feel sick. Then he WAS sick.

So we are home AGAIN. Stuck at home surrounded by workmen with a sick little boy when the weather is going to be so lovely!!! What a shame!!!

Journaling Workshop

Wednesday Feb 11th - 7pm - 8:30pm

Sherwood Park Library - Free!!

Not sure if there are spaces left, but if there are, would anyone be interested in joining me?

Participants experiment with four easy to use journaling tools while learning how and why journaling works as a vehicle for personal growth. Please bring a pen and notebook, your curiosity and a sense of adventure. Presented by Kathie Sutherland.

Let me know if you're interested and I can pick up passes!

Sam making his Valentine cards...

Sam was busy at work the other day making Valentine cards....

Get well card

A card Abby made for me last week when I wasn't feeling well. I'm hoping they are puffy sleeves on the dresses rather than four boobs!!! ;)

Valentine atc's

For a swapbot swap....

Friendship angel...

I was given this beautiful Friendship Angel from Val for my birthday. Isn't she gorgeous? As is Val!!! I'm so looking forward to scrapbooking with Val this weekend! I'm even looking forward to making breakfast with her on Saturday - waffles with strawberries! Mmmmm :) I've been packed ready since Saturday!!! Thats how excited I am :)

Val looks like Susan Sarandon. Especially as she looks in the movie Mr Woodcock.

9 ways to keep the romance.....

9 Ways to “Keep Courting” after Marriage

By Cheryl Moeller


There’s no better time than Valentines’ Day, to revive your courtship.
Courtship shouldn’t end with marriage. Keep courting!

(These are intended for married couples… to fan the flames of continued courtship)

1. Make a dinner for your husband where everything begins with the first letter of his name. For instance, if his name is Robert, you could make roast beef, rice, and radicchio salad. Serve red licorice and raspberry ice cream for dessert.

2. Add “I love you” to his calendar on the day of his birthday, every month. So, if he was born on December 15, write ” I love you” on the 15th of every month.

3. Clean the house. Pack a lunch for you and the kids. Leave a lunch behind for your hubby. Tell him his gift is a quiet house. He’ll get to be alone for a whole day.

4. Ask your wife to marry you on the anniversary of your engagement. Ask her in the same way you did the day you became engaged. Set the scene again. Relive the moment and celebrate! Look her in the eyes and pop the question again.

5. For Valentines’ Day, set up a mini Christmas tree in your bedroom, with heart ornaments and lights. Your heart ornaments can be handmade, with construction paper, doilies, and scissors.

6. Make a taco salad, with her favorite ingredients. Buy a bag of large taco chips to use as the silverware. Take a moment to feed her with a chip.

7. Go out with both sets of grandparents for a triple date.

8. Practice smiling throughout the day. It could be contagious!

9. On her next birthday, send her the number of cards that matches her age. For instance, if she’s going to be 38, then send her 38 cards to arrive on her birthday. Some of the cards can be homemade. Fill up her mailbox with your love and good wishes.

Happy Valentines’ Day from Cheryl Moeller Production. Bob and Cheryl have been married nearly 30 years and have 6 children, ranging in age from 9 to 26.

Family bowling day....

We all headed off bowling for the afternoon for our monthly bowling session. More details below!