Good luck Laurence!!

This is the incredible dessert that Laurence has been practicing constantly for the last couple of weeks - and today is the big day - he is in a competition at NAIT for the Canadian Culinary Federation.  His team have to make a set menu of soup. entree and dessert, and Laurence is doing the dessert.

He won't find out the results for a few weeks but I hope his day is going wonderfully and that he knocks those judges socks off :)  

Now if only he made things like this for me at home ;)  

Friday Fill-ins...

1. In New England the Fall is STUNNING. 

2. I'm glad we don't get  LOTS of snow all in one day!

3. Ahhhh, coffee :)   

4. Hanging with just my kids is my favorite thing to do nowadays. 

5. Last night, I had a dream about looking for someone...and making a picture of a bridge in a class with little pebbles and beads stuck on...and wanting to be back in high school. 

6. Relaxing, which is the perfect way to spend a Friday. 

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out on Whyte with a Meerkat, tomorrow my plans include taking Sam and Abby to a birthday party and Sunday, I want to go to the Chinese New Year celebrations at WEM!

Self portraits :)

Albertas Winter Walk Day....

Today was Winter Walk Day here in Alberta - an initiative to get people outside and walking for at least 15 minutes.  I registered online as Sherwood Park and Area Homeschoolers, and organized for people to meet at the community centre for an afternoon walk as part of the Walk Day.

There were 23 of us in all and we logged over 1200 minutes of walking in all as a group.  :)  

It was very cold in the wind to begin with, but by the end the sun was out, the wind had stopped, and it was lovely and warm!

I'm so glad we took part.  I think things like this are important to support :)  

Sea Monkeys :)

Sam was given Sea Monkeys as a birthday gift, and they are now about 10 days old.  They are doing sooooo good so far and are getting quite big!  :)  

Poor Keegan!!

Going through my box of old pictures yesterday, and I found this one of Sam as a bay with the little teddies he was given.  He still has them all, but the one he is attached to is Keegan - a little bear that his Dad chose from the hospital store when he was born!  Keegan is now looking a little tatty, has lost his bow and is a completely different colour - but he has been well loved, taken all over the place - even England!!  And has been through the washing machine several times!!

I love that sam still has Keegan and that he remains an important part of his life:

Yesterday afternoon I had to pop something round to a coffee/ playdate at a friends - we were invited but never actually made it there - but I needed to drop something off.  While there, my friend D gave me a belated gift...when I opened the bag I was speechless!  Such beautiful and thoughtful gifts!  Wow she knows me well!  Wonderfully perfect words to go on the wall 'Make Each day Your Masterpiece'.  A candle for my baths - I always light candles while I soak in the bubble bath!  And this candle smells incredible - I can't describe the delicate, milky, vanilla-y scent!! And a 5 year journal called 'Jane a Day' :)  On each page there is a quote from Jane Austen!!!  Sooo gorgeous!

Really gorgeous gifts that are so very 'me' and my taste :)  

So grateful - thank you D xxx

Tuesday at our place!!

Yesterday I got to look after this little cutie!!  He spent the morning with us while his Mom took his brother skiing :)  It was soooo much fun having a little one around the place again!!  

Exhausting, but a lot of fun - wow you forget how much hard work they are - always on the go, and needing help with so much - but he was so good and so much fun :)  

Monday....

Monday was another lovely sunny and warm day.  We had the windows and back door open and I enjoyed my coffee on the deck:

Abigail had her French class, and so while she was there, Sam and I took the recycling to the bottle depot:

I can't believe how much like me he looks in this picture:

After the bottle depot, we went to Lets Play for an hour or so.  Sam played while I art journaled and wrote my '52 Lists' journal.  We both enjoyed looking at the aquarium too:

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...warm temperatures, darkness, wind blowing...
I am thinking...that I should go to sleep.  that today was such a rollercoaster day with some lows but several highs - and despite a lack of sleep, we all got through the day.
I am thankful...for wonderful friends who support each other, children who make me proud - and make me laugh!  Good health for us all.

In the kitchen...today we made jacket potatoes and cheese salad for dinner.  Susie has been baking cookies, Abigail made a cheesecake and a chocolate cake.

I am wearing...my black/ polkadot nighty

I am creating...two art pieces to be auctioned off for YESS.  

I am going...to Whyte Ave to shop for vintage clothing - with a Meerkat :)

I am wondering...what tomorrow will bring.

I am hoping...for some good news tomorrow.

I am looking forward to...date night with S on Wednesday :)

I am learning...to switch off.

Around the house...getting all decorated up for Valentines Day :)  

I am pondering...this poem:

How to Make a Beautiful Life"

Love yourself.
Make peace with who you are
And where you areAt this moment in time.
Listen to your heart.
If you can’t hear what it’s saying
In this noisy world,
Make time for yourself.
Enjoy your own company.
Let you mind wander among the stars.
Try.
Take chances.
Make mistakes.
Life can be messy
And confusing at times,
But it’s also full of surprises.
The next rock in your path
Might be a stepping stone.
Be happy.
When you don’t have what you want,
Want what you have.
Make do
That’s a well-kept secret of contentment.
There aren’t any shortcuts to tomorrow.
You have to make your own way.
To know where you are going
Is only part of it.
You need to know where you’ve been, too.
And if you ever get lost, don’t worry.
The people who love you will find you.
Count on it.
Life isn’t days and years.
It’s what you do with time
And with all the goodness and grace
That’s inside you.
Make a Beautiful life…
The kind of life you deserve.

~Unknown

A favorite quote for today...   'It's because of people like you that we have a middle finger'
One of my favorite things...the photo album folder on my phone - filled with my favourite pictures from the last two years or so :)  

A few plans for the rest of the week:  babysitting a little cutie, get together at friends, dinner date with S, swimming, Shania staying over, pub quiz, Whyte Ave, birthday party.....

A peek into my life...the kind of text I get from friends:

Log cabin in the snow :)

Abigail made this little 'log cabin' for her doll, and as the weather was warm yesterday she put it on the deck and sat her doll in a cozy sleeping bag with hot chocolate :)  

I think she did a great job - she did this all by herself yet again :)  

Painting chairs :)

I am currently working on a project that will hopefully benefit  YESS - Along with several other Edmonton artists, I am painting two chairs that will be auctioned off in March with funds going to YESS.  The chairs are little Adirondack style chairs.  I am doing both of mine in quite different styles to each other, but I'm really enjoying this project!!

I gave one a pale blue/ grey wash.....

I will add more pictures as I work on them :)  

A walk in the park

Snapshots from a walk around the lake with Rosie yesterday:

arts and crafts time.....

decorations and art on a Valentines theme, and another face as part of the 29 Faces challenge :)