Hi again.
Quick post to answer Michelle's question:

"Now for the Icebox ones - I love the ones you can get in the bakeries with the cherries & walnuts. When would I add them, if it is the same recipe?"

Yep. You can roll them in whatever you want, so they are just coated in the cherries or walnuts (roll the logs you make in whatever you want to coat them with) or you can add them after the dough is all made. Either way works.

In the Kitchen: Crinkle Cookies & Icebox Shortbread

Well hey there.
We've been enjoying December.
Baking lots.
Spending time with family.

As per requested by a few people, here are two of my favorite Christmas cookies.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup cocoa
4 eggs
2 1/3 cup flour
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Powdered sugar
1. In a large bowl, stir sugar, oil, coca, eggs, and vanilla together. Mix well until smooth. In another bowl mix flour, baking powder, and salt together. Add to cocoa mixture. Refrigerate for six hours. (I sometimes cheat on this part. Just get nice and cool.). Roll into one-inch balls and Roll in powdered sugar. Cook for 12 – 14 minutes in a Preheat oven at 350 degrees.


Icebox Shortbread
2 sticks (16 Tbsp) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for rolling
1. With an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, vanilla and salt until very smooth. With mixer on low speed, add flour, mixing just until dough forms.
2. Diuvide dough in half and place each half on a piece of lightly floured parchment or waxes paper. Using the paper so the dough doesn't stick to your fingers, gently roll each half into 1 1/2 inch diameter log. Wrap logs tightly in the paper, twisting ends to seal. Keep in freezer or fridge.
3. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Unwraps logs wutg a serrated knife, cut dough into 3/8 inch thick slices. Place slices on baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.
4. Bake, rotating sheet shalfway through until lightly golden around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on baking sheets, 1 to 2 miknutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

mmmmmmm.
Regan is off school until January 2nd.
And I am going to enjoy EVERY moment I get to be with him.
Hope you are enjoying your Christmas season thus far too.

the big 29

Today I am thankful for my mom.
Now that I have kids, I understand more what my mom felt and did the day I was born.
Every year now I think about her. More.
And I am grateful for her and all she has done for me.

new adventure

So tomorrow I am meeting some ladies to look at my photography.
Hopefully it will lead to something.
Started this as a place just for my photos.
An online portfolio of sorts.
We'll see how it goes.

And it other news.... man this weather SUCKS!
:)

2 for 1

I recently read this cook book by Art Smith.
And i loved it!
I love to read cookbooks. And this one is especially good.
It has a quiz to help figure out what kind of a cook you are - at every level.
And then it has recipes suited to your style, time constrants, taste preferences.
I wanna buy it.
It talks about how family dinner is a time to be with each other.
To share and be together.
Nourishment for body AND soul.
And I agree with that 100%.

I love to cook.
A lot.
I love to feed people.
I think it would be cool to have a business where I list what I am making for meals that week and people can pick what days they want dinner ready for them. You know those buys working folks. Now that'd be coooool.
I'd just make more of what we are eating.

As for this past week. I made a 2 for 1.
Make something one night and turn the unused portions into a great dinner the next night.
Art Smith talks about that in his book.
But these recipes were from my favorite cooking magazine.
Everyday food.

Chilli Rubbed Steak, Mashed potatoes, and a homemade creamy dressing on romaine lettuce.












The next night you turn the left over steak into these great broiled steak and pepper sandwiches with garden vegetable havarti cheese. mmmmmmmm.


















If I cuold find my magazine I would post the recipes.... but some little child has carried if off somewhere (or I missplaced it.) hahahahahaha.

Just wanted to share some pictures from a play date with had with our good friends the Chutes. They used to live 3 doors down from us, but the went a built an amazing huge beautiful custom designed home.
Now they live 40 minutes away.
Totally sad about the whole ordeal.
But happy for them.
Since their house is beeeeeeeaaaauitful!
So much fun to be with them.

Teran


















Lucy Ann


















Mr. Alden


















Kenzie












Everyone is still sick around here.
In fact it has been 4 days of puking.
Eewww.
Hopefully sooner than later!

a little bit more

My friend Crystal tagged me last week.
Here are my answers.

1. First Name? Rhonda
2. Were you named after anyone?
I don't think so. There was a popular song that I think had an effect on my name.
But it was changed a week after I was brought home - I think it was Brenda!?
3. When did you last cry?
Today. Both kids were screaming bloody murder as I was leaving someone's house and I was carrying them both - one under each arm. I was a little frustrated.
4. Do you like your handwriting? Yep.
5. What is your favorite lunch meat? Anything but baloney. (ewww.)
6. Do you have kids? Yeppers. Alden Ryan is 4 and Lucy Ann is 1.
7. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
I think so.
8. Do you have a journal?
About 6. One for regular writing. A mother's journal. A gratitude journal.
A random thoughts journal. An art journal. A scripture journal. Wait that's 7.
9. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Who me.... never.
10. Do you still have your tonsils? Nope. Grade 8
11. Would you bungee jump?
Never in a million years. Did you know that like 85% of women pee their pants when they
try it? I'd be that 85% for sure.
12. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Not if I can avoid it.
13. Do you think you are strong? Some days more than others.
14. What is your favorite ice a cream flavour?
Anything chocolate. Love the Polar Bear tracks. mmmmm Ice Cream.
15. Shoe size?
12 ladies.... yes as in men's size 10. Me and Regan have the same size feet.
Totally sucks for buying nice girl shoes as they don't make them that big.
16. Red or pink? Mostly red with a little pink
17. What is the least favorite thing about yourself?
How much sleep I need to feel good during the day.
18. Who do you miss the most? My little sister Kelly
19. When and where were you born? Vanderhoof BC on November 30, 1977
20. What color pants and shoes are you wearing?
Blue jeans and no shoes
21. What is the last thing you ate?
A piece of Garden Vegetable Havarti cheese
22. What are you listening to right now?
Alden whining. It's been a looooong day.
23. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
I'd be green.
24. Favorite smell?
Lemon, fresh baked bread, babies after a bath. Fresh Nova Scotia rain.
25. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
My friend Leah
26. The first thing you notice when you meet people?
Their facial expressions - if they smile when they meet me, the look in their eyes.
27. Do you have a special talent?
A few. I can roll my tongue three times. I can juggle balls.
And I can do this neat trick with my lip - you'd have to see it to know what I mean.
28. Favorite drink? Milk. White. 1%. Warm or cold.
29. Favorite sport? It's a tie. Basketball and Ultimate Frisbee
30. Hair color? brown
31. Eye color? Green with orange specks
32. Do you wear contacts? Nope. 20/20
33. Favorite food? I love food. That's a hard question for me.
34. Scary movies or happy endings? I don't watch scary movies.
35. Last movie you watched? Mr & Mrs. Smith
36. What color shirt are you wearing? black
37. Summer or winter? Summer. I'm a wimp. I like heat.
38. Hugs or kisses? Depends who it's from. :)
39. Favorite dessert?
I love dessert. So um..... another hard one. There is always room for cheesecake.
40. What books are you reading?
Everyday Food Special Cookie Edition, Race Against Time by Stephen Lewis
41. What's on your mouse pad? No mouse pad here.
42. Favorite sounds? laughing kids and peace and quiet
43. Rolling stones or Beatles? Ella Fitzgerald
44. The furthest you've been from home? Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia.
45. If you could pick any two people to have dinner with, who you they be?
Regan and Kelly.

her royal cuteness is under the weather

Guess who is sick and creating an unimaginable amount of boogies every moment?
This is NOT how she is looking today. Thought I could use a reminder of her cuteness
as we suffer through her current very unhappy state.

"the t-rex is my favorite dinosaur mom."

stuff to share

Some neat things as of late.

1. My oldest brother Sean is a photographer-extrodanaire. We have matching cameras. Which is good for me.... since he knows way more than me and figures stuff out and then shows me what he learns. A perfect set up. :) And he just started a photo blog.

2. I love stamps. A lot. A real lot. And I just found this company. And i love them. So many i'd love to buy.

3. Alden is saying the funniest things lately. He is constantly cracking me up. And Regan.
Last week while driving home he says:
A: "Are we going to the mechanic's or the doctor's house?
M: "To the mechanic's."
A: "Great!"
M: "Alden, did you know that they are my parents? Grandma and Grandpa Davis are my mom and dad."
A: " REALLY?, well who are Regan's parents?"

4. I love the whole premise of this calendar. And I totally want to buy it.

5. This Friday me and Regan are going to hear this guy speak. One of the neat thing about Medical school.

6. Since's it been a while since I shared a page on my blog... he is a recent one I did of Alden.

halloween 2006

Halloween 2006 was... um... interesting.
Really cold weather
plus
a chicken unwilling to put on his coat and mittens
plus
diarreha
equals
not so much fun.

Good thing I took pictures before things went to the toliet.
(if you'll excuse the pun.)

I went down south to my mom and dad's on Monday and spent a couple days at home.
I wanted Alden to experience Halloween with cousins and grandma's and grandpa's.
It wasn't exactaly how I imagined it.
But I got some good photos at least.

Lucy as the bee. It was hardest to get a good photo of her!


















My seriously adorable niece Athenia.












I love this girl!
My sister in law Erin.
She is amazing.
6 kiddies.
And she is in school full time to be a nurse.
And she is only 28.
Amazing lady.


















Little froggy nephew Roman. Cute cute.












Not in her costume - but looking oh so cute.


















Alden made the most adorable chicken.
After trick or treating to the four houses we made it too...
he was frozen instead of fresh.



















A cute witch and chicken played cars












Cousin and Cute little witch Zyan.


















My Grandma Stasiuk was visting my mom's house....
and she was sharing her talents with us.
Her crazy quilt she was working on.
Which of course she quilted by hand.
What a piece of art!



















It was fun to be around with my mom.
Didn't get to see too much of my dad since he was at work.
I missed Regan.
But Alden and Lucy loved getting to play with their cousins.
On Monday night when we got into town, Yael and Seth were over at grandmas.
After they left Alden asked what happened to his cousins.
They had so much fun together!

goofy

It got all quiet upstairs a couple days ago....
and Alden had gone up to go the bathroom.
I got a little worried.
Went upstairs to see what was going on.....
found this.













Pooing completely naked.
With the bathroom door closed.
My boy is goofy.

have i mentioned...

that i love my new camera?
I just got some prints back today from Wally world... my first ones actually printed not from my home printer. And man. They look good.
Loving the colors and the clearness.
So cool.
Just thought i'd share that I am completely and utterly pleased with it.
I've got lots more to learn about it.
But that's the fun.

Some of my favorite photos from the past few days.

Yesterday at lunch.....
Me: "Alden, it's time for lunch."
Alden: "okay, the cars are hungry."
Me:" The cars?"
Alden:" Yep the are hungry for lunch too."


















I had to make a rule to have no toys at the table.....
but today we made an exception to the rule.
Cause apparently the cars were hungry too.
He would "feed" them bites before taking them himself.


And a few of my seriously adorable blue eyed girl.
Who by the way looks so big in these!





































Watching the trains pass by thru the fence.

15 Minutes of Fame

I was reading a website that posts blog challenges.
And the one for today was to post about your own 15 minutes of fame.

1. I was Miss CHS. (as in Miss Cardston High School).
Yes I think that is why Reg dated me. ;)
Oh the fame. bwaaahaaaa

2. I don't know if you've heard of the Great Canadian Barn Dance or not..... but when it was first starting.... i was on the commerical. Square dancing none the less.
Seriously exciting stuff.

I think that about raps it up.
Not much fame.
About 15 minutes of it. ;)

4 years old

I didn't get around to posting on his birthday - but Alden just turned 4 this past Sunday.
Pretty strange that I have a four year old.
Very strange.
Thought I would list 4 funny things he has said lately in honor of his big F-O-U-R.


















1. Yesterday while driving to the store:
A:"Mom, i've got good news and bad news"
M: "Okay, what's the bad news?"
A: "He didn't stick his tounge out."
M:" Um okay... well what's the good news?"
A: "He DID stick his tounge out.... see"
Then he stuck his tounge out at me.

2. On his birthday Regan told Alden that he used to be in my tummy.
So later he brought up again.
A:"Yep I was in mom's tummy... and it was dark in there."
Dad:"Oh really do you remember?"
A: " Yep. it was dark."

3. A:"Mom can you draw me an engine." He hands me a piece of paper.
M: "Sure how's this?"
A: "Draw Uncle Sean as the driver."
A: "Okay now we need a passanger car."
M:" Well who goes in this one?"
A:" Sonya, Kate and Aunty whoever."
M: "You mean Aunty Val?"
A: "Uhuh sure."

4. M: "Alden did you have any dreams last night?"
A: "Yep."
M: " What did you dream about?"
A: "Corn pops."

a photo shoot

Took some photos of my brother Brad and his wife Whitney and baby Roman this weekend.
It was so fun.
And they are so cute.
Here are my favorite shots thus far.

one year ago

One year ago today we were at the hospital right now.
In labour.
Right now.
Wondering who would be joining our family.
I was serious.
All about business as Regan would say.
Everything focused on the task.
The work.
And our lives were changed.
Little Lucy Ann joined our family.

some shots to share

I made a purchase today.
A big one.
Here are a few shots to.
;)

inspiration

On Saturday afternoon I went with my mom to a Quilt show.
My mom is a quilter.
I dabble in it.
But I wouldn't consider myself a quilter.
I sure do enjoy seeing them though.
The different designs and fabrics.
It is amazing.
There were so many amazing quilts.
Works of art.

When I got home I was so inspired to scrapbook.
I had to start two little journals.
One for stories I want to share.
And one for layout ideas.
Cause they are bursting inside of my head and heart.

I think that is the neat thing about art.
In all forms.
It can transfer into all areas of your life.
Art moves you.
Brings out that something in you that just aches to create.
Create beautiful things with paper and glue and photos
or with a pen
or with your sewing machine.
I love that part of me.
That is alive. And urging inside of me.
My own art. In my own forms.
My unique voice.
How great is that!

What inspires you?
And what do you want to create?
A web page?
A group of new photos?
A quilt?
A card?
A homemade meal?
Decorate a room?
That is art.
We all have it inside of us.
Let it out.

good good good

Since my camera is working today....i'll share some photos.

But first I have to comment on the GREAT lunch with Mary and Heather.
Such great ladies. I love making new friends.
And these two are quality. Real and genuine. And fun.
Just lovely. Lots of more time together I hope.
Not a single photo...... next lunch!

So cool to see some of their pages in real life too.
So many little things you miss online.
Embossing, subtle stamping. Little touches that make the page even better.

(This was yesterday's photos....... grrrr)














And for the photos as of late...
Thursday we went to the park with some wonderful new friends that live like 3 doors down from us.
The Chutes
Kenzie is 3 just like Alden.
And Teran is 18 months.
And Sarah the mom is just hilarious. Seriously one of the funniest girls I know.
Cracks me up constantly. And she isn't trying to be funny, she just is funny.
and the Rassmussens.
Carter is 1 just like Lucy.
Leah the mommy - so cute and outgoing.

































































This morning we took Alden on his CTrain ride. He was so excited. We made it a family affair. And I actually have only been on city transit once before - in Nova Scotia. So it was an experience for me too.
Some of my favorite photos from today.



















































































Aren't I just the luckiest girl around!

5 Weird things and....

My Friend Mona tagged me last week....
so here is my list.

5 Weird things about me (in particular order or weird-i-ness)

1. I HATE it when people click their pens. For some reason it drives me batty.

2. When I go grocery shopping, I have to line the food up. All boxes have to go together in a row. All the fruit and veggies. All the bread products together. And it drives me CRAZY when the till lady messes up my order. She needs to ring it thru as I placed them on the converyor belt thingie.

3. I HAVE to stack the dishes after we eat at a restuarant for the servers. After I have scraped all the leftovers onto one plate. You can't have food on plates unscraped. Ew. It used to drive Reg crazy when we were first married. But being the good guy that he is... he has come to accept this habit of mine. (Some times I even catch him helping me. hahahaaha)

4. Socks are not allowed in bed. EVER. Even if I am freezing.

5. I have size 12 women's feet. That is weird. (And annoying when I shop for shoes... If I have size 12 obviosuly I am tall enough to not want heels.) Yes me and my husband have the same size feet. It's really sad actually.



And yesterday Alden went ot his first Music class. And he loved it!!!
Wendy, his teacher, is fabulous! It is in the basement at a United Church and she teaches them all the basics of music and Each year the learn more. And evetually they learn to play recorders. Alden's age gets to place xylaphones.
After that me and the kiddies drove out to Cross field to visit my Grandma Stasiuk (my mom's mom) and my Aunt Ann. This was the first time for both Aunty Ann and Grandma saw Lucy. It was a good visit.
Lucy wasn't so hot on the idea of someone else holding her... so a little peek-a-boo was in order to make pictures possible.















Thanks for all the encouragement about the arguing..... it's just a stage. it's just a stage.

aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Me (to Lucy): here have your final bite Lucy
Alden: She doesn't want a bite

Alden: what day is it?
Me: it's Tuesday
Alden: it's not Tuesday, it's Friday (erupting into tears)

Me: Alden the TV goes off in 2 minutes.
Alden: ummmm
Me: Did you hear my words? Two minutes.
Alden: Yep
Me: Okay it's been two minutes. The TV goes off.
Alden: It hasn't two minutes, it's been three (erupting into tears)

Alden: what time is it?
Me: Quarter to 12
Alden: what does that mean?
Me: 11:45
Alden: it's not 11:45. (erupting into tears)

Seriously people....
Tell me it's a stage.
Every thing has to be argued.
I mean everything.
Even if I am not talking to him AT ALL.
Plllllllleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaasssssssseeeeeee tell me it's a stage.
Even if it's not.... lie to me.
Tell me it's a stage.

10 super super good things

1. This cutest shirt from Old Navy that Lucy is wearing today. I'd take a picture but my camera isn't working. (grrrr.)

2. First Meals. I love recipe books. I like to read them like novels. And I think this is the essential book to have when you have babies. They have a new Canadian edition out and it is even better. (kinda wanna keep the new one I got for a SIL and giver her my old one.... but I won't.)

3. Fresh peaches and strawberries. Both my kids (and me) love fresh fruit. We eat a lot of it. I mean a lot. I have been getting a 2 lb thing of strawberries and about half a dozen peaches and we eat them all up each week. mmmmmmmm. Too bad the season is ending soon.

4. My Regan. He sends me emails from school. Now that he is gone so much more than I am used to I really appreciate that he takes the time to send me little notes. Electronic love notes. How sweet is that!

5. I reorganized and cleaned-up and straightened our entire basement yesterday. I like to walk down their just to see how clean it looks. That feels good.

6. Rebecca Sower's blog here . Love her work. Love her journaling. Love her blog.

7. My bed. For our wedding my inlaws gave us a new bed. And for 4 years while we were in Nova Scotia sleeping on another (seriously horrible) bed I thought about it every night - on many occasions. And in the morning too. I LOVE my bed. A lot.

8. Alden uses the toilet. That rocks.

9. I got my hair cut. (With bangs Lindsay!) and I'd show you.... but my camera isn't working....grrr

10. This lady. MaryAnn Kohl. I am always always always on the lookout for fun things to do during the day to enrich my kids life. And as a kid my mom always did art. Art was/is a part of life. And I want to give that to my kids. I have looked at tonnes of books from various libraries about kids and art. Read lots about it. And I just found this little gem of a book this past week. This is not a borrowing book. This is a buying book. Just a little insight from her introdcution (which I think applies generally to everyone, not just two year olds and toddlers.)

"Toddlers and two explore art as a learning experience or an experiment, discovering what is stimulating and interesting....During the process, toddlers and twos discover their own independance, as well as the mystery of combinations, the joy of exploration, the delight of creating, and the frustration of challenges - all important pieces in the puzzle of learning. Whatever the resulting artwork... it is the only the result of "doing at" not the reason for doing art.... The art process allows... exploring, disovering and manipulating their worlds. The adult's job is simply to allow this process to happen." Good eh!

I challenge you to take time and think of some good things in your life.

potty training stories

While potty training Alden we have been talking a lot about pee and poo.
His first time going poo on the toilet, he was going in his diaper and I stopped him and put him on the toliet and he finished. But hated it.
The next time he went,
he told me his tummy was sick. I told him that meant he needed to go poo.
He disagreed with me, but I led him to the toliet anyways and he sat on it.
After 3 stories and lots of waiting, he went.
He kept checking the toliet to see what was in there.
After some came out, he looked down and said "mom they look like sticks."
I told him people call them logs.
(I thought he would think that was funny, hence more encouragement to keep doing it.)
So he looked again and said "Look 4 logs mom."
Then when Regan came home from school he told dad he did 4 logs.
He likes to mention the word logs every time he goes now.

Fast forward to Monday.
We were having the Missionaries over for dinner.
(They are 19-21 year old young men who travel all over the world to preach and teach about Jesus Christ for 2 years.) Typically them are in pairs, but we had three.
So we are sitting at the table eating our dinner (which I will have to share a recipe tomorrow from cause it was so stinking good!!!) and talking about what we did that day, how Grandma Steed came and took us to the zoo.
Grandma asked Alden what his favorite animal was and he said "Elephants. There were 4 elephants and one of them made a big poo."
He brought it up about 3 times.
Wonderful dinner conversation eh!

He also showed our last visitor his cool underwear.
At least he is excited.
And at least he is doing it.
We'll work on manners later.

notice anything exciting about this picture.....

Happy Friday Morning

Last night Lucy slept thru the night. She used to be amazing at sleeping. 12 hours a night. But teething has changed that. The last week I feel like I have barely gotten any sleep.
You know when you wake up and it feels like you just went to sleep.
Yep. Every day. Except this morning. It was great!!!
So after she woke up at 6:00 am and went back to sleep I decided that I had two options.
More sleep - possibly another hour.
Or get up and go swimming.

I got up.
Did 20 laps.
I am always worried that the lifeguard is watching me thinking... I am going to have to jump in and save that lady....
Hopefully the more I swim the more comfortable I feel.
But it was good.
Clear, bright morning.

And I got out of the house without the kiddies.
Even for just 45 minutes.
Time all by myself... (with other strangers...But they were adults.)

I also wanted to tell you about my lab coat buying experience.
Sometimes Regan gives me things to do.
We call them outings.
As a stay at home mom with two little ones, sometimes .... Well often I don't have any adult contact. Other than when Reg comes home at night.
So when he has an errand to do, I do it for him.
It works for us.
And I like to help him.
And he likes that I help him.

So after finding a place on the internet, who I called and gave me the address of another place, I loaded the kiddies up and we went for a little drive.
Uniforms by Karen.
Sounds great.
We go in and there were tons of those cartoon nurses uniforms.
um... not really what I am looking for.
But I ask the lady.
She looks at me and asks if it is for me.
I say no I need a men's white lab coat for my husband.
And she says "Well where is he?"
"At school."
"Why isn't he here?"
"Do you have any men's lab coats?"
"Yes, but what size is he?"
"Same as me."
"But men are built differently."
"I know, but we are the same... I can wear his coats."
She looks completely and utterly annoyed with me. "Yeah but men's arm lengths...and they have different....Well I don't see why he can't get it. All the other med students were here last week. Why wasn't he? What size is he? 34? 36? 38?"
"Can I see a 36?"
"How long"
"Right past my bum - however long that is?"
"Can't he come in tomorrow?"
"He needs it for tomorrow."
Looks at me with complete disgust. But gets the lab coats for me.
"You are going back to med school with two kids?"
"Yes."
"hmmmmmm. We don't have any 36.... But here is a 34 and 38."
"Great." I try on the 38 and it fits me. "I'll take the 38."
"Man he owes you. Bringing in two kids."
She rings me up.
"He really owes you."
"I'll be sure to tell him you said so."

Really it wasn't THAT big of a deal.
I left chuckling to myself.
Why does she care? Just let me buy the stinking coat.
It was definitely an outing.

We'll see what our outing to the library brings today.
Happy weekend!!!!

visiting home

For the long weekend we went down south to Raymond and hung out with Regan's family. It was great. It was the first time all three Steed grandkids were together. It was wonderful! Of course we have some cute cute photos taken by my Father-in-law.
Alden hamming it up in his new church clothes.






































And Lucy and Ali - cousins only 6 days apart.
Seriously cute!

We also made a quick trip out to Hill Spring so my dad could take Alden fishing. I have some photos of that - but I was using my brother Sean's film camera (gasp!) so I actually can't see how they are til I get them developed.

Today we have to find a new lab coat for Regan for Medical School. It's our outting for the day. We'll see what I can do with no Calgary phone book. :) It could be a small challenge!

Cheerio.

hello neglected blog

How have you been? good?
Good. Me too.
Regan asked me last night if I was giving up on this. I'm not.... I just haven't really made it a priority. At night Regan uses the computer to study - every night almost. So I can't get on to post. And during the day.... well sometimes I jsut can't get to it. Or I don't.

We've been doing lots of good things.

Alden went #2 in the potty. Seriously excited that it happened. I was beginning to lose hope that he would ever become potty trained. He is closing in on 4 pretty quickly. Daily in fact. He didn't do it yesterday, it was back in the pull up. BUT it did happen. So there is hope yet.

We (as in me and the kiddies) went to Banff to visit some goooood friends the Yawneys. Love the Yawneys. Mark and Regan have been friends for years. And they both married girls who get along with and like each other- a bonus. And we have two kids - same ages. So it is good. Jody and me and the kids played and went to the park. And visited. It was great. We will be back.

And I've been scrapbooking. A lot at night again. Now that my own space is up and Regan is busy at nights... and days... so I go down to the dungen... also referred to as my scrap space. I have decided that I want to get published. And some days I am not sure if I am good enough to, but I have never really put forth an effort - not really my style to stick my neck out. I have tried a few things, but never really sent a lot it. It is scary to me. And disheartening. But alas.... i want it. So i'll give it a go. And see what happens. More pages actually sent in to magazines.

I also started swimming. In the mornings. Gone 2 out of the last 3 days. This is big for me since I have a phobia of water. Deep water. I had a very very very scary experience as a child.... involving a mean older child taking away my floating device....then a black out in water. I am not that good at swimming - but I have started doing lengths. I need the exercise. I am so terribly out of shape.

(if you have made it this far - congratualtions.)

One more thing.... i am going to do some contract design work. I am seriously excited about this. More deets later!

Adios!

good stuff

Alden's toys are out and we got a sandbox from Uncle Sean..... he's happy
Lucy is crawling.... she's happy.
Regan is getting back into the school groove... he's happy.
My scrap area is arranged and the smell is waaay bettter around here... i'm happy.
Starting to feel like we live here.




Wanted to share this great family photo we had taken in Nova Scotia just a few days before we left. My friend Nichola took it. There are lots I just love. Love the colors and the great lifeguard chair.