Card Sketch #42...

...from '2S4Y', AKA 2 Sketches 4 You - a fun card sketch site that I stumbled across while on one of my daily blog hopping excursions. Here is the sketch as seen on the site:
















And here is my pretty literal interpretation x 2:



I love this sketch! It's quick, simple, and great for any occasion. I'm getting more and more interested in using sketches - for card making and for scrapbooking. There are a whole lot of great sketches and examples over at 2S4Y - go check them out!

Christmas Is For Caring...

This morning, Casey was telling me about a creative writing assignment that he had to do at school where he was to use the letters in 'Christmas' to write a word for each to describe Christmas. Casey told me in his earnest, almost solemn, way that he chose 'Care' for 'C' because "Christmas isn't just about the presents, it's about the care".

It is satisfying to me as a mother to know that my child understands the deeper, more important messages of the Christmas season. It is no surprise to me that not only does Casey know it, but he takes it very seriously as well. Casey is such a light in my life!

On The First Day of Christmas...

The Inspired Scrapper is kicking off a crafty 12 Days of Christmas - I created this cute set of marble magnets for my even cuter cousin, which I also shared at The Inspired Scrapper. Head on over there every day from now until Christmas for the Design Team's scrappy inspiration and eye candy!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Happy Friday! TGIF!! Every Friday over at The Inspired Scrapper a new challege/project gets posted. Today it was 'Christmas Cards', and it was my debut assignment as one of the Design Team members. It still thrills me to call myself that! Go have a look! So much Christmas eye candy!

For Today - Thursday, December 10, 2009

Outside my window...ideal conditions for - I don't want to say it, so I'm going to spell it - S-N-O-W!!! After careful consideration, I vote 'Nay!' - but don't tell my kids that!!

I am thinking...and thinking and thinking...I don't know when I'm going to be able to quiet my brain so that I can go to sleep...

I am thankful...for modern medicine, and for Tylenol 3's. Farewell, gallbladder!! See you again...NEVER!

From the kitchen...nothing to brag about lately. Still planning on a Christmas cookie bakefest, but...nothin' says lovin' from the oven like last-minute concotions!!!

I am wearing...a crazy mix of sloppy old cotton stuff.

I am reading...blogs. Lots and lots of blogs. I'm loving the blogs!!!

I am hoping...that my sister and her gorgeous kids and hubby make it up here for Christmas!!

I am going...to be faced with my fear of flying sometime this spring, rumour has it...

I am creating...Christmas projects for the Inspired Scrapper.

I am hearing...digital music channel 431 - Baroque! Love it!

Around the house....lots of outside stuff inside. Like, the sand table, roller blades, hockey sticks, baseball equipment...sporty toys for active boys! Active boys who are always going full speed no matter whether they are in the great outdoors, or in the dining room...

One of my favorite things...My big, fluffy, most-excellent-shade-of-blue blanket that Casey picked out for me for Christmas when he was three because he wanted me to always be warm. So sweet!

A few plans for the rest of the week...quit my job, scrap space playtime, quality time with kids.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...



My husband - wonderfully warm on cold winter nights! Super supportive, super helpful, super dad - I thank my lucky stars for him every single night!

Whole Lotta Love...

So we're nearing the end of the first week of December already - wow! I still feel like Halloween was last weekend. The Halloween candy has finally run out...I'm always happy to be done with it. No more candy battles.

The first day of December proved to be a sunny, clear, and cold one - my favorite kind of wintery day, and it started off in the sweetest way. Early in the morning, while it was still dark out and I was still in bed, I heard Cody start calling from his room, "I tode! I tode! I tode!". Cody has the cutest voice - he's sounds like a hoarse little toad. *Note to self: Must capture that voice on video/audio again soon!*. Then, pitter patter, pitter patter, (actually, more like - stompity stomp, stompity stomp), Cody makes his way into my room, still lamenting, "I tode! I tode!".

"Cody, are you cold?!"
"Yes!"
"Well, come on up here in bed with Mommy so that I can snuggle you up and get you warm!" (He half climbs/I half haul him up into bed with me).

After a couple of minutes, I hear Cody's little sleepy, froggy voice say, "We best friends!".

"Yes, Cody, that's right. We ARE best friends!".

"You da best mommma!"

(He's too sweet. I can't stand it!!)

"Aw, thanks, Cody!! And you're my very best little blue-eyed boy! I love you soooo much!!"

"And I yuv you so much too!".

Oh my word. Be still my beating heart!! Not even three yet. He is the sweetest combination of rough, tough, gruff, strong-willed and intense little guy, and sweet, loving, affectionate little charmer. Both my boys are very much this way. I couldn't be any luckier or any more thankful - such a beautiful way to start the day.

Send A Smile...

My son is napping (thank goodness!) and so I just poured myself a cup of tea and started randomly checking out my mega-list of bookmarked scrapbooking blogs. I came across a post on Jana Millen's blog with details about a card drive for six sick children. Such an easy and quick way to add a spark of sunshine to a brave little person's day. Go check it out!

For Today - November 27, 2009

Outside my window...are the Christmas lights my husband put up last weekend. I thought it was a bit too early, but I've adjusted!

I am thinking...about the projects I want to contribute to the Inspired Scrapper.

I am thankful...that November is almost over and yet I've experienced NONE of my usual late fall/early winter dark, grey, rainy day blues!

From the kitchen...nothing right now, but it IS time to start my annual Christmas cookie bakefest!

I am wearing...my typical at-home uniform - some type of sloppy old-school, non-trendy sweats (what would be called 'yoga pants' if they were new and I'd paid a lot of money for them!) and a hand-me-down fleece pullover from my father-in-law. There is no pretense of glamour here!

I am reading...assorted magazines passed on to me from my mom.

I am hoping...to have an incredible surge of energy, starting when I rise tomorrow morning and lasting me through the weekend! Or, actually, forever would be preferable...

I am going...to go to bed soon. Okay...soon-ish. Okay - hopefully before I sabotage my hopes of having the above-mentioned surge of energy by staying up until a stupid time for no good reason.

I am creating...order in my scrap space. Hopefully.

I am hearing...the damn Food Network! My husband loves this channel...and yet, as I look over at him I realize he is sleeping. What are the chances of me being able to turn the TV off without him waking up because of it?? Yep. Just what I thought. He's back, and so the TV natters on...

Around the house....small hints of Christmas, piles of laundry, a lot of assorted kid stuff. Seriously need to purge.

One of my favorite things...red wine. Like the kind that I am sipping right now.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Soccer, hockey, various household-related conquests, and the actual completion of some creative projects!

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...
This is a picture I came across tonight as I was looking through my photo files. What struck me about this photo is Cody's sweet, babyish hand...still kind of pudgy, short little fingers...so cute, so sweet...he's almost past the age where any baby remains,so this picture is pulling at my momma heartstrings right now!

Still pinching myself...

I'm still surprised to be able to say this...I have been chosen to join a truly amazing group of women as part of the design team for The Inspired Scrapper. I'm beyond excited about this opportunity! These women are some of Canada's most creative talents - to be honest, I'm half convinced that I'm experiencing 'imposter syndrome' - I can't possibly belong among these people that I am now rubbing elbows with! Talk about motivation to 'step up my game'! Thank you, Sonja, for this wonderful invitation! I am so looking forward to getting to know the team better, and I can't wait to get started on my contributions!

And The Award Goes To...

Me! :) It was such a treat to open up my email this morning and find that my friend Kerry at Kerry'd Away Designs has named me for this Kreative Blogger award. So sweet! Thanks, Kerry! Once the award is accepted, the nominee has to do the following:

•Thank the sender for nominating you.

•make sure you link to the person who nominated you.

•Copy the logo onto your blog

•List seven interesting things about yourself.

•Nominate Seven Kreative Bloggers

•Post links to their Blog

•Leave a comment for each letting them know of their nomination.

So, here's the part where I list seven interesting things about me...('interesting' might be a bit of a stretch, but...here goes!)

1. I write with my left hand, but my right hand is otherwise dominant.
2. I taught myself how to read when I was 3.
3. A photograph of me was part of an exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery way back in the late 70's.
4. I got my first migraine headache when I was ten years old while on a bus with my class on our way to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC for a fieldtrip. I panicked because I thought I was going blind.
5. I started driving when I was 14 years old, thanks to an older boyfriend. I drove the streets of Vancouver for three years before I got my license at 17 (I think this tidbit qualifies as more of a 'secret' thing about me as opposed to an 'interesting' thing - so don't tell anybody!!)
6. I've never, ever tried smoking - cigarettes, or anything else, and I've never, ever done any other kind of illegal narcotic or street drug, etc.
7. I have a fear of heights and a fear of flying. I hope to conquer both!

Whew! That was tough - I wasn't sure for awhile if I'd make it to seven!

Now, it is my turn to nominate seven fellow bloggers.

1. Stacey at Pretty Crafty
2. The amazing Debby!
3. Erica at A Pod of Perkins
4. Eleonor's Stamping Blog
5. Tanya!
6. Joanne :)
7. Carla

Go check out these talented and inspiring blogs! Thanks again, Kerry - this was fun!

OWH Veterans Day Blog Hop...

Hello - and welcome to my blog! Maybe you found your way here from the Operation Write Home's Veterans Day Bloghop. If so - I'm glad to be one of the stops along the way! If you found your way to my blog through some other means, today I am participating in a blog hop, which, as mentioned, is hosted by Operation Write Home, through their Homefront Blog. Check them out!! OWH is an amazing, inspiring, grassroots organization that collects and ships handmade cards to men and women in the armed forces deployed overseas. The OWH mission statement is as follows:

OUR MISSION
To support our nation's armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them.

As soon as I heard about this group, I knew I wanted to be part of it! It feels good to know that, even in the smallest of ways, I can do something, from way over here in my little corner of the world, to give something in return for the dedication and sacrifice that our heroic servicemen and women provide us. OWH has a Hero Blog that shares letters from these heroes and their families, expressing their appreciation and gratitude for the cards that they receive. It's so rewarding to read these communications from the people our cards reach. It's what fuels my motivation to keep gathering cards together and sending them off, and it gives me an airtight reason to ensure that I make time for my creative indulgences - a definite bonus! I'm in the midst of making as many Valentines Day cards as I can in time for the January 8 mailing deadline. January sounds like a long way off, but the way time goes hurtling along, I know I'll be down to the wire on these! I'm also going to write as many AnyHero cards and letters as I can. Don't know what an AnyHero card/letter is? Click on any of the links above to find out!

I hope to edit this post at some point today with some images of some of my cards, but in the meantime, I'll share this picture of my Grandpa, who was a veteran of WWII.

Now, I'll send you along to the next stop on our bloghop - without further adieu, go visit participant #70 - Chris, at There's No Place Like Gnome. Don't forget to leave a comment! Thanks for stopping by.

For Today...

"The beauty of the everyday moments". I've been interested in what The Simple Woman has been doing on her blog for awhile now, and I've been seeing her idea adopted on a number of blogs that I visit so I'm going to start doing it here. Seems like a nice way to pause at any point during the day, take notice of the moment, and reflect on it. I'm already certain that I will enjoy looking back on these entries.

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window. . . It's dark. It's late when I write this, but I can see what is outside clearly with my mind's eye - it's a view I have enjoyed for the last several years.

I am thankful . . . To be living in a country that has good medical amenities and accessibility.

I am thinking . . . .That I hope I am feeling a lot better tomorrow because I've got a lot to do around here!

I am celebrating . . . The amount of sunshine that we've been receiving in this little corner of the world!

From the kitchen . . . Homemade chicken soup, the way my Grandma used to make it!

I am wearing . . .Cozy fleece pants and a ratty old t-shirt. Hate to admit it, but it's what I usually slop around in while at home!

I am reading . . . A lot of blogs, and 'Breaking Dawn' by Stephanie Meyer.

I am hoping . . . That Casey is much better tomorrow, and that little Cody stays well.

I am hearing . . . The TV on in the living room. The TV is on way too much. Something to work on.

I am creating . . . All kinds of wonderful things...in my mind! Need to start getting these ideas from imagination to realization!

Around the house. . .Lots and lots and lots of work to do!

One of my favourite things . . . Quiet time in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .Rest. Recuperate. Get a date booked with a carpet cleaner.

A picture to share...

A Halloween Retrospective...

So Halloween has come and gone, and oh my goodness, it's November! November 1st, and the clocks have turned back. We've already taken all our Halloween decorations down...Halloween is not one of those holidays that can linger. It's been fun looking through the photos I took yesterday though - a few things struck me...

1. Where is Chanel? My daughter is not in any of the photos because she wasn't there. She had made plans with her friends. She's fourteen so it's understandable, but the idea of letting my daughter go off with friends on Halloween was somewhat nervewracking. It's dark, it's cold, there are ghouls and ghosts and goblins about with firecrackers and no curfews! The reality is, she had a fun (and uneventful!) time trick-or-treating with friends, then went to a friend's house for movies and a sleepover. A nice night, and perfectly suitable, for a teenager. It was a bit strange for me to not have her involved in our family activities. I missed her. But, it's one of those inevitable changes that all parents go through. For all the stages that get left behind, new ones come to replace them. Besides, that's what photographs and scrapbooking is for - I've got lots of great memories to look back at!

2. Casey decided to be a zombie this year. I had to wonder - what the heck does my six year old even know about zombies?! I asked Casey what he thought zombies were and he said they were dead people who were still walking around. I asked him where he heard about zombies. Of course, like so many things, he says he heard about it from a friend. An older boy. A seven year old! Ah, those playground lessons. A child's version of the information highway. We've all been a part of these sharings of wisdom at one stage or another. I have to admit, one of the first thoughts I had about Casey being a zombie was, "Inexpensive/easy costume! Yes!!". He could wear his dobok and be a Tae Kwon Do zombie. He was very excited about this. He was even more excited when the makeup kit we bought included a tube of fake blood. I was less excited about this! The kids wore their costumes to school on Thursday and I painted his face, but I told him that we would have to stop short of wearing the fake blood at school. He couldn't wait until Halloween - it was all about the fake blood! I'm not prudish, but the whole idea made me cringe a bit. Fake blood?! My sweet angel baby Casey was over the moon about fake blood?! It was very hard for me to paint a zombie face onto my little boy, but I got through it and seeing Casey so excited and proud about his costume made me feel pretty good. It's another one of those little milestones in childhood - the changeover from cute, cuddly costumes to grotesque, gory, and macabe ones!

3. Cody, my cute little crocodile. When asked what he wanted to be for Halloween, he told me he wanted to be a crocodile. Well, what do you know?! I just happened to have a crocodile costume in our dress-up box from a Halloween a few years ago when Casey was a crocodile. Again, I breathed a little sigh of relief, thinking about our family's piggy bank. Another thrifty, economically sound option. Then, I had a little case of the guilts. Cody is the child that gets all the hand-me-downs. Clothes, books, toys, costumes...Maybe he should have his own, unique, never before worn or photographed costume. I realized, though, seeing his excitement at getting dressed up for his little daycare Halloween party, and again in the afternoon on Halloween - making his crocodile roars and getting excited about scaring people - this is the kind of stuff that matters. He's two and a half years old! He's not putting the same values or judgements on all kinds of 'other stuff' - he's just excited and having fun! So, I shrugged off all my silly worries and just enjoyed watching him enjoy himself!

It was a fun day overall. We got together with some extended family, had a delicious and creative dinner of 'witches brew' (stew) and 'bat wings' (chicken wings) cooked up by my super helpful and super talented mother-in-law, and the kids got their treat bags stuffed! Now, here is what is, for me, one of those classic parenting dilemnas*. Trick-or-treating is certainly about the fun of choosing a costume, getting dressed up, and having fun running about the neighbourhood at night, getting excited about seeing all the other little ghosts and goblins (or cool looking Star Wars characters!), pumpkins all lit up, and homes and yards being creatively decorated. Trick-or-treating is also very much about getting all that candy! When trick-or-treating wraps up, my kids do the same thing that my brother and sister and I used to do when we were kids - come home, dump their bags out on the floor, and sort through the astounding variety of candy and chocolates that they collected.

*Dilemna - Management of the candy. The sheer volume makes me cringe. Words like 'juvenile diabetes', 'tooth decay', and 'childhood obesity' float around in my brain...We've got a pretty manageable system, I suppose - the kids can choose one piece a day. Well, at least, the two youngest kids. The oldest kid, the teenager, well - she is at the age where she keeps her haul in her room and it's up to her what she does with it. The truth of it is, she tends to binge for a good two or three days, works her way down to the inevitable motley mix of less desirable specimens, and then trashes them. Although my brain twitches a bit thinking about what she's just put her young, growing body systems through for the last 48 hours or so, it's over and done with in a pretty short amount of time. The younger kids are pretty agreeable and cooperative about the doling it out one piece per day over a month or so...when - oh my goodness, can you believe it?! They've eaten it all! It's gone! (wink wink nudge nudge). The classic parental disappearing act. Please tell me I'm not the only mom who utilizes this technique!

My favorite quote of the night: Cody and Casey are sitting on the floor at their grandparents' house prior to heading out to canvas the neighbourhood, just after I've finished painting Casey's face. Cody leans up against his big brother and says, "You're my best Zombie buddy!". So cute! Love the special bond those boys share.

Weatherwise, Halloween was a gem! Not a hint of precipitation. A sunny, blue-skied day settling into a crisp, clear, starry night. Not to mention the full moon! If I'd been magically bestowed with the power to script a perfect setting for Halloween night, I wouldn't have changed a thing!

Now, perhaps a few quiet, calm weeks to just relax before the inevitably frenetic rush towards the next big holiday? One can wish!

Red Friday...

What is Red Friday? Check out the Operation Write Home website or blog for more information. Here is a card I made using a very old Stampin' Up stamp (NOT a great photo!!) to include in a package of Christmas cards that I am getting together to send off before the OWH Christmas card deadline (all packages have to be postmarked by November 1st). Check out the OWH website and blog. Seriously inspiring, seriously moving, seriously all round wonderful!

To Everything There Is A Season...

Today is a grey, rainy day in Vancouver. It is also a bit cool. I think this officially ends what has been an outstanding summer here in Vancouver. I'm a bit sad about closing the door on summer, but because it really was such a spectacular season weather-wise this year, I have to be thankful for that much at least, and appreciate the good fortune of this lovely last stretch of Indian Summer that we have been enjoying up until now. Summer '09, we had a good run! Thank you for that! You will go down in the history books (and my scrapbooks!) as a winner! Truly, what more can we ask for? It's got to come to an end sometime, and given that today is the first day of October, I can't feel too much remorse! Besides, I don't like to focus on the negative. Remember the song, 'Turn, Turn, Turn' by the Byrds, from back in 1965, with words adapted from The Bible, book of Ecclesiastes? Click here for the YouTube link. It feels like a good song for today.

At work today, I left my building to head over to the nearby Starbucks. I hadn't yet had a caffeinated beverage and was feeling like my day, therefore, had not gotten off to a suitable start. My drink of choice through the summer months has been the Cafe Con Leche - also known as Iced Coffee, and I have not yet given up on this cold, refreshing beverage in favour of the steamy hot lattes just yet, so I suppose I haven't fully let go of summer...but I digress. This closing thought was not going to be about drinks or long goodbyes...I was going to end this post on a specifically positive, uplifting note. As I mentioned above, I do not like to focus on the negative, in any aspect of my life. I try to look out at the world with the determination that, to a significant degree, the success of a good day, or the failure to enjoy a day, is largely based on how we choose to see things. For example, I left my building today to head over to the nearby Starbucks. The outside world was somewhat dark, certainly gray, and enthusiastically moistened. A woman leaving the building at the same time as me stated, "What a crappy day!". I turned to her, smiled broadly, and said, "I prefer to think of it as lovely for the trees and grass!". She paused, looked doubtfully at me, and carried on her un-merry way. Apparently, she did not feel agreeable with me on this. Hmm. Oh well. I'll leave you with this:

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."

- Anthony D'Angelo

Conversations With Casey - 2 Years Later...

While trying to clean and organize my life (I am afflicted with the strange and frustrating 'Always Organizing Yet Never Organized' phenomenon), I came across a piece of paper on which I had scribbled a conversation between Casey and I dated August 26, 2007 - my sweet brown-eyed boy was only four!

We had been organizing (a recurring theme!), photos this time, when I came across this picture of me taken when I was three. The conversation went like this:

Me: "Casey, who is this a picture of?"

Casey: "Chanel? No! You!"

Me: "That's right - that's me when I was just a little girl."

Casey: "You look pretty there."

Me: "Oh, thank you, Casey!"

Casey: "You're welcome."

Me: "Look how long my hair was!"

Casey: "That's why you look so pretty!"

Ok. He melted my heart. He often does!

I also found it interesting that a four year old boy is already defining a girl as being pretty because of her hair. Ah, biology...that primitive, undeniable driving force! Being a mother to TWO boys is going to be an interesting journey. So far, I've loved every minute of it, and I don't expect to ever feel differently!

You've Lost That Bloggin' Feelin'...

...Whoah, that bloggin' feeling...you've lost that blogging feeling now it's gone, gone, gone, whoah whoah-oh-oh (ba boom, ba boom, ba boom boom boom...) - sung to the tune of 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling' by the Righteous Brothers.

I haven't blogged here since the end of July - almost a month now! It feels like a really loooong, time, and it's not because I've lost that bloggin' feelin'! Everyday I'm scribbling notes and thoughts and ideas all over any scrap of paper I've got lying around next to me (I know, I should use a notebook, and I do have one that I sometimes use, but I can't be consistent about it or I would totally ruin my reputation!). I'm almost always in a blogging frame of mind - at least, while I'm doing something else that makes blogging at that moment absolutely impossible, but - when I DO get to the point in my day where blogging could be a possibility...yeah, that blogging feeling is somewhat...absent. It's a twisted and dysfunctional dance I do with myself, and not just when it comes to blogging! But, that's a whole other blog post! (I will note this new idea down on a nearby scrap of paper and add it to the shoebox full of all my other idea-laden scraps of paper, to be fished out and re-examined at a later date...or not!)

I actually started this post NOT to talk about not blogging, but to make an actual 'real' post about something else altogether, but somehow along the way, the 'not blogging' discussion has become the discussion, and so my other blog post topic can join all it's friends in the aforementioned 'Box of Unrealized and Undeveloped Ideas' for another time.

In the meantime - Hey, look!! I updated my blog! Ahhh...it's great to be back!

Always, Sometimes, Never....

I got this idea from Eleonor's blog and thought it would be fun to do, so here's my go at it

I always:
Do the driving, whevever possible.
Have painted toenails.
Have to read before I go to sleep, even if I'm already exhausted or it's really late.
Prefer structure/routine/consistency to loosey-goosey schedules or spontaneity.
Wish my sister lived next door.
Require caffeine to start the day.
Wear sunscreen on my face - every day of the year.
Listen to music while I'm in the car

I sometimes:
Swear in front of my children.
Don't drink enough water each day.
Waste too much time on the computer when I really should be doing other things.
Get too much caffeine
Think about getting a dog
Find myself adopting other people's mannerisms/speech patterns/phrases etc.
Have dreams so vivid or realistic that I have to take a moment to figure out if something really happened or if it was just a dream.
Wonder if I've had undiagnosed ADD all my life

I never:
Bite my nails
Wear shoes on carpeted floors
Leave the water running when I'm brushing my teeth
Return movies or library books on time
Tried smoking or drugs
Am superstitious
Wish I was living any other life than the one I've got

Fun and Frolic with Paper and Glue...

Lovebug Scrapbooking is running a kit contest right now until mid-August and what a deal!! They have 5 small kits available for five dollars, or all five for twenty dollars. I bought two, and LOVE what I did with the Making Memories kit, if I do say so myself! I haven't had a very satisfying go at cardmaking or scrapping for what feels like quite awhile - until now! My 12x12 layout:






















From the leftover supplies, I was able to make six cards - adding nothing but cardstock and one ribbon! I still have enough left to make at least two more cards - sooo satisfying!!




"Art is not the bread, but the wine of life."
John Paul Richter

Positive Is As Positive Does...

I recently came across this blog, called Positively Present. The most recent post there is entitled, "100 Ways To Live In The Moment". It includes a great list of fun and creative ways to try your hand at living in the present. I've borrowed that list and re-copied it here - it's great food for thought! Head on over to positivelypresent.typepad.com and read more about this very positive and gratifying concept!

1.Ask someone about his/her life.
2.Write a handwritten note and mail it.
3.Make a promise (and keep it).
4.Look up at the sky and describe it.
5.Hug someone close to you.
6.Indulge in a long, warm bath.
7.Tell someone how much you love him/her.
8.Do something on your To Do list.
9.Apologize to someone you've hurt.
10.Re-read your favorite poem.
11.Turn off the TV for a week.
12.Relax in bed before sleeping.
13.Eat your favorite thing mindfully.
14.Ask someone an interesting question.
15.Take pictures of your favorite thing.
16.Go for a long walk somewhere beautiful.
17.Meditate for as long as you can.
18.Research an interesting topic.
19.Ask someone for advice and really listen.
20.Pay attention to your breathing for two minutes.
21.Answer the phone with cheer in your voice.
22.Make a decision immediately.
23.Close your eyes and image your paradise.
24.Mentor a young child (or an adult!).
25.Volunteer at a local charity.
26.Write a list of all you're grateful for.
27.Consider all possible solutions to a problem.
28.Take a different way to work.
29.Prepare your favorite meal for your family.
30.Offer praise to someone who deserves it.
31.Pay attention when others speak.
32.Watch a dog or cat (or baby) sleeping.
33.Prepare for tomorrow's work today.
34.Look at the details of a flower or plant.
35.Lie outside in the sun for a few hours.
36.Smile at yourself in the mirror.
37.Say "Thank you" and truly mean it.
38.Share your wisdom with someone else.
39.Do one thing that scares you.
40.Offer to help someone in need.
41.Watch a sunset or sunrise.
42.Visit a local museum and enjoy learning.
43.Organize your favorite photos online.
44.Send an email to an old friend.
45.Draw or paint something inspiring.
46.Host a party for no particular reason.
47.Tell yourself what you love about you.
48.Look for the positive in a problem.
49.Notice when the seasons are changing.
50.Imagine kissing your significant other.
51.Eat an ice cream cone outside when it's warm.
52.Share a joke with a friend and laugh loud.
53.Consider how feng shui might improve your home.
54.Spend a few hours alone, relaxing.
55.Make something from scratch.
56.List all of the things you've accomplished today.
57.Re-purpose something in your home.
58.Go to bed early. Wake up early.
59.Look for fireflies twinkling at night.
60.Pay attention to what your body is saying.
61.Make a very silly face at a friend.
62.Tell a child your favorite fairy tale.
63.Buy a gift for someone for no reason.
64.Watch a very positive TV show.
65.List the things you love about your body.
66.Take a road trip somewhere new.
67.Listen to your favorite song on repeat.
68.Smile brightly at the driver in the car next to you.
69.Write a love letter to yourself.
70.Kiss someone sweetly on the cheek.
71.Ask the question, "Why?"
72.Go for a run (or a quick walk). Move it!
73.Start a new, exciting project.
74.Spend a Saturday email-free.
75.Listen to and accept criticism with grace.
76.Speak cheerfully to your coworkers.
77.Look around you at how many colors there are.
78.Push yourself a little harder when working out.
79.Allow yourself to daydream.
80.Stop a bad habit (right now!).
81.Give yourself advice and follow it.
82.Turn off your phone for an evening.
83.Focus on what you're doing right this minute.
84.Speak to someone as if you really do care.
85.Treat yourself to a tasty snack.
86.Take three deep breaths before falling asleep.
87.Do jump jacks or jump rope.
88.Play with a puppy and watch how s/he romps.
89.Appreciate winter in summer (and vice versa).
90.Think about how amazing an invention is.
91.Hold someone's hand unexpectedly.
92.Wake up with a really long stretch session.
93.Pay attention to others' observations.
94.Watch how clouds move across the sky.
95.Listen to a bird's song (without being annoyed).
96.Introduce yourself to someone new.
97.Write down everything you're feeling today.
98.Think about why you love your favorite outfit.
99.Ask yourself, "What's awesome about this moment?"
100.Call someone just to say "I love you."

She Hates Me...

...Or so she says. Time will tell. I was thirteen once too, and I remember hating my mom. I just never thought it would happen with me and my daughter. I had reasons for hating my mom. What possible reason could my daughter have? I'm a cool mom. I'm a great mom! And apparently, I am a naive mom...

Aw, shucks...

Fellow blogger Jen gave me this cute blog award. Thanks, Jen! That's sweet! :) And back atcha!

My Current Obsession...

...is Cards For Heroes! I've seen the name around, on message boards, websites, etc. but I only recently just got curious enough to look into it further. All I can say is, WOW! What a great organization!! The website is very informative, very thorough - go take a look! To explain a bit about Cards For Heroes, I've borrowed their mission statement from their website:

OUR MISSION

To support our nation's armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them.

Doesn't sound like to much to ask, especially in the face of the enormous commitment and sacrifice these individuals are making for the good of their country and many others!

I was so fired up after getting onto their website that I've put together about two dozen cards so far that I'm going to send off, and I'm going to continue to collect them and send them when I've accumulated a good amount again. This is an American based organization, and I have looked about for a Canadian equivalent, and I have not been able to find anything. If anybody has any information about being able to support our Canadian troops in this way, please let me know! Regardless, I am going to and will continue to support Cards for Heroes.

I have amassed a large amount of cards over the years, either through taking classes or just indulging my need to cut paper and wield glue. I could easily assemble more cards than I could ever use just through my love for crafting, so now I've found the perfect finish line for my never ending marathon of scrapbooking/cardmaking! I urge you to visit the Cards for Heroes website - as I said, it is very thorough, and very touching as well. A seemingly very small gesture of appreciation and fellowship on our part can have such a postive, rewarding impact on these strangers overseas who are putting their lives on the line for us every day - how wonderful that we have the ability to take this hobby, this passion, of ours to a whole other level of meaning in such a simple way!

My Love Affair With Summer Continues...

Ah, summer...sweet, sweet summer! How I do love thee!

It is some kind of weird karma that made me a sun-worshipping, summer loving, redheaded and freckled pale person who couldn't get even the slightest tan to save her life and burns at the drop of a hat, even after applying the highest SPF known to humankind!

If summer was a man, I'd marry him!

If summer was a child, I'd adopt her.

If summer was an elixer, I'd drink it...

As it is, I declare summer to be my drug of choice and I am high on it! (*disclaimer: the writer of this blog is simply trying to drive home a point and does not, in any way, shape, or form, advocate the use of illegal, illicit, and/or ill-advised street drugs or prescription narcotics).

I trust that you get where I'm going with this?!

And yes, I am aware that technically, it won't even officially be summer for another couple of weeks, but I'm all about 'the early bird gets the worm', and 'Carpe Diem', etc. so I'm getting the jump on summer, it's happening now, and I am positively swooning!

The Joy of Gardening...

Well, we've got the first long weekend of the summer under our belt, and overall, I'd say it's been a pretty durn good one! The weather, for the most part, was fab!! So warm, so sunny...so much so that I didn't mind the rain today. It really felt like a 'warm summer rain' too...Ah, summer, how I've longed for your arrival! I did a significant amount of yard/garden work this weekend, and between the sun and heat, and then the rain today, it's incredible how much growing and blooming has occurred in just two days! Nature is truly amazing! I just love my yard and garden so much - I can't imagine what it would be like to own a house with a big yard in the front and in the back...oh the possibilities!! One can dream...

I've pretty much run out of room for any more perennials but I find it very difficult not to add something new each year...I think I'm going to have to invest in some large containers in order to fulfill my need to propagate.

Sidebar: When I first wrote that last sentence about 'propagation', I was going to be cheeky and follow with, "Stevie, honey, if you are reading this, don't worry! 'Propagate' and 'procreate' are not the same thing!", but then I looked 'propagate' up on www.dictionary.com and, lo and behold, it pretty much means the exact same thing! Oops! My bad! To me, propagate is a plant term whereas procreate is more of a human or animal term, but I was wrong! So just for final clarification, I used the phrase, "...in order to fulfill my need to propagate" in relation to my enjoyment of gardening and planting more plants! Nothing more! Okay. Sidebar over.

Finding more room for planting perennials is just one of the advantages of moving towards containers for gardening. The other advantage is that it makes it much easier to bring my beloved plants with me if we ever did end up buying a house. I hate the thought of having to leave any of my plants behind. I could probably transplant some of them, but others, like my Japanese maples and my magnolia are maturing and becoming quite settled. I don't know that they would survive any attempts made to transplant them. Oh well, for now it's a moot point.

One thing that I certainly fantasize about when it comes to owning our own home, is having my own vegetable garden, as well as a couple of fruit trees and some berry bushes. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of spending summers at my grandparents' house. They had a decent sized vegetable garden and I so loved going out in the afternoon with my grandma to pull up a couple of potato plants and some carrots, throwing the dirt-covered veggies onto the grass, hosing them off, and then bringing them into the kitchen to scrub, slice, and cook. My grandparents also had several fruit trees. My brother and sister and I would just pick up apples or pears or plums that had fallen to the ground and eat them where we were standing. I don't know that the raspberry bushes would have yielded enough raspberries to make a pie, but then again, we never gave them a chance to. We'd be out in the yard playing with the go-karts our Grandpa made us or building forts with lawnchairs and sheets and we'd frequently drop whatever it was that we were doing to run over to the bushes and stuff raspberries into our mouths - little bitty insects and all. We didn't care! We were children, it was our childhood, and ingesting small bugs was just part of the grandness of it all!

I want some of these experiences for my children. For now, though, as I said earlier, I really do love the yard and garden that I've got and I am looking forward to many happy days spent there this summer with my children!

Another 'Comedy Moment', brought to you by Casey...

I'm telling you...the kid cracks me up.

Early this morning, I was sitting on the couch in our living room, putting on my makeup with a little hand held mirror. It's how I 'get ready' every morning that I have to go to work. Whenever Casey wakes up, he comes downstairs and sits right up against me and snuggles to keep warm. It's one of my favorite 'everyday' routines. I hadn't had my tea or breakfast yet and my stomach started to growl, so I said, "Mommy's getting hungry! Did you hear my stomach rumbling?" Casey looks up at me with his beautiful big brown eyes and says, "Are you sure that wasn't your bum flute?" Sigh...another beautiful mother/son moment. By the time this boy gets married, I'm going to have SO much material to provide the MC with!

TGIF! What?! Wait a minute...what the...?!

All day today I have been thinking that it's Friday! If it was Thursday, I could live with that, but Wednesday?! I'm really ahead of myself. I actually had to put a big sticky note up on my computer screen at work that says "today is WEDNESDAY!". Sigh...It's a good Wednesday, though, and I don't work Thursdays, so I guess I'm doing alright! I'm probably all upside down and turned around because my sister and her daughter arrived here yesterday so we hung out at my place last night later than we normally would with the kids on a school night, so maybe that makes it feel more like "weekend mode".

My sister moved to the States over three years ago and hasn't been able to return home since. I say "home" meaning here, where she came from, but her home now IS the States, with her husband and children. It's been a long process for her to get her immigration status/legalities worked out, but finally, this past Friday, she got the news that it had all been approved, and so here she is, finally! We've been down to visit her several times, but it's good to have her here. Let the 'just hangin' out' begin! She'll be staying through Mother's Day. All I can say is, photo ops galore! Speaking of Mother's Day, I've got a request for Mother Nature herself. How 'bout some sunshine?! Please?! It's a special occasion! My sister - my best friend and her little daughter - our little niece, our little cousin - are finally here! We've got some ground to cover - places to go, people to see, things to do...using photographic equipment is oh so much easier when it's dry! Plus, it's just so much easier with the kids!



My fingers are crossed! Truly though, I'm just so happy to have these two oh-so-special people here that the weather is secondary.

Let the good times roll, rain or shine!

Earth Day Spotlight - Coyotes

This past Saturday was the 9th Annual Earth Day Event at Everett Crowley Park. Here is the event description, borrowed from the Earth Day Canada website:

"Everett Crowley Park was once used as Vancouver’s landfill. VanEast Parks Department in cooperation with Everett Crowley Committee Members and Community Volunteers have turned this abused site into the “jewel of East Vancouver.” Planting of native species and removal of invasive alien plant species is undertaken annually by the Community at each annual Earth Day Event and created a beautiful park for all to enjoy. The site has Viewpoints which offer stunning views across the Fraser River overlooking lush green market gardens and to the East a magnificent view of Mount Baker. Eagles, hawks and owls fly overhead, nature walks and birding tours are offered by the Committee. People of all ages now walk and play in open areas surrounded by towering evergreens. In 2008, 5,000 people came to enjoy a day of free live entertainment, learned new things, got down and planted and had a wonderful day in the Park. Educational booths offer information on how each of us can make small changes in our daily lives to help protect our environment for today and for future generations. We expect a large turnout this year to enjoy what has become an eagerly anticipated event."

All three of my children and I walked over around noon to see what was going on. This was the first year that we attended. It was wonderful! So much to see and do, and there were so many friends and neighbours there to wave to or stop and chat with.

The Stanley Park Ecology Society had an information booth set up which focused on "Co-existing with Coyotes". I found it to be very interesting - I've seen many coyotes in the city - from a distance as well as a few 'too close for comfort' encounters. The SPEC steward who was manning the booth had a homemade 'coyote shaker' that he was demonstrating and passing about. I had never heard of one before, but now that I've seen one, I've decided that it is going to be this week's craft project with the kids! Here is some infomation from SPEC's website:

The Coyote Shaker

Materials:
•Pop or juice can
•About 40 pennies
•Aluminum foil
•Duct tape


Instructions:
1.Place the pennies in the can
2.Cover the opening with tape
3.Cut a piece of foil and tape it around the can


Using the Shaker
Shake the tin at the coyote while slowly moving towards an area of increased activity. The shaker scares the approaching coyote in three ways, through:

1.Aggressive hand motion
2.Loud noise
3.Reflective light

The shaker easily fits in a pocket or bag.

Also from the SPEC website, "It may surprise some readers that the Co-existing with Coyotes program encourages people to harass coyotes. Coyotes are opportunists and always learning, it's a major factor in their success. By harassing a coyote that shows no fear of people, or follows your dog, you send it a message that they have been recognized and that they need to keep their distance. Without a reasonable fear of people, coyotes and other urban wildlife will often become habituated, thereby increasing the potential for conflicts with humans. The most common conflicts involve coyotes attacking pets."

Certainly a good perspective to keep in mind! Happily, I know two little boys with big imaginations and lots of energy for adventure who will be raring to head back to the park to make some noise with their newly constructed, SPEC sanctioned gadgets! I'll arm myself with my ecologically sound, reusable coffee canteen and my camera of choice and I'll be just as eager to head out, in pursuit of little boys' laughter, sunshine, and good photo ops! Fun for all ages!

Good Morning on Good Friday...

Good morning, good morning, what a good morning it is! The sun is shining, the birds are singing...and I mean, the birds are really singing!! They are quite a lively, busy, active little bunch around here! In fact, at times they sound almost lunatic - such a rapid, fervent cacophony they make. Some of my neighbours complain about their noise, but I love it. I welcome it! It always heralds the arrival of spring, and I will celebrate that always! True, the little winged wonders do start up on the early side each morning - sometimes while '4' is still the first number you see on the digital clock glowing beside the bed, but I will never complain. My mood, my energy, my frame of mind depends too much on the spring and summer seasons, and the weather they bring, to ever grieve any non sequitur like birdsong.

I feel very fortunate to live where I do. I believe that one of the things that British Columbia, and Vancouver, is recognized for is our abundance of wildlife, trees, and greenery. The neighbourhood I live in within Vancouver is almost a parklike setting. Woods and trails and ponds and creeks, all just above the mighty Fraser River. During the summer, I can look out my living room window and barely be able to make out the townhouse complex next door to us, or even my neighbours houses across from my backyard, for all the full, broad, mature (mostly deciduous) trees there are. They are a wonderful privacy screen, and they provide such great sunshade for the children out playing in the summer. It's somewhat startling, in the autumn, to have almost all the leaves fall away to reveal (gasp!) civilization! So dense, and so close - just on the other side of the fence!

I used to associate 'birdwatching' with either odd, antisocial, professor-type men, or your stereotypical 'little old lady' - ancient and frail, looking out her kitchen window at her generous array of birdfeeders, making sure all of her dear little birdies have their seed through the winter. Well, darned if I am not turning into a bit of a birdwatcher myself! How could I not?! I'll be sitting on the couch in front of the big window in the living room when a flash of movement catches my eye - what was that?! I turn and look outside, and a robin has landed on the balcony railing. A minute later - flash of movement. I turn my head. Two little chickadees are skipping about outside on the deck. I look out at the empty playground. Nothing going on out there. Or is there? The more I look, the more I see. Little birds swooping quickly by and out of sight....another robin hopping about on the grass...a couple of crows perched above, overseeing things and waiting perhaps for a sign that the robin might be on to something tasty...And farther above in the sky overtop of the neighbouring townhouse complex, some seagulls are circling about. Seagulls...well I'll be. There's nary a sea around here, and we're a bit more than a stone's throw from Kitsilano...I have seen woodpeckers, blue jays, hummingbirds, hawks, great blue herons, Canadian geese, bald eagles and more - on the ground, in the trees, and in the sky above - right in my backyard.

So here at my house, spring is springing, birds are singing - and there is no place I'd rather be!

All Geared Up and Ready To Go!

Today was opening day for Vancouver Minor Baseball. This will be Casey's third year playing. He spent two years in 'Blastball' and has now moved up to 'Mini Tad'. While Blastball has the kids hitting the ball off of a T-stand, the Mini Tads have graduated to a pitching machine, which means new equipment is required. At this level, the team supplies the batting helmet, but it was time for a new glove as Casey had grown out of his old one from last season (Cody happily inherited it), and the other new piece of equipment required at this stage is a jock. Sounds like a Daddy job to me! So, a few days ago, Steve took Casey out to look at getting a new mitt and his first jock. Casey wasn't quite sure what a jock is, so Steve gave him an explanation, involving what I don't know. Casey processed the information and then asked, "You mean like armor for your penis?" I can always count on Casey for a chuckle!

This Month's 'The Inspired Scrapper'...

I am so pleased to say that I was asked to be the Guest Designer this month for 'The Inspired Scrapper'. This fabulous blog is the brain child of Sonja McLean, a whirling dervish of talent and drive whom I have admired for a number of years now, since I first met her at a LSS. I alternate between 'flattered' and 'sheepish' to be included for the month among the very clever and accomplished Design Team members Sonja has working with her at The Inspired Scrapper. This is the layout that I did for this week's 'Rain' themed project. Thank you Sonja, and the rest of the team, for inviting me over to play!

Seven Up!

Fun, fun! My first tagging! I was tagged by Karla to do the following:

Go to the photos folder on your computer.
Go to the seventh folder of photos.
Go to the seventh photo.
Put the seventh photo on your blog along with a description.
Invite seven friends to join.

So here's what the mathematics turned up:



This picture was taken by me on December 21, 2008 - just a few days before Christmas. This Christmas was a white one, and then some! I don't remember there ever being as much snow in winter around here, ever. This isn't a fabulous shot - it's not artsy, or technically sound, or particularly evocative - but here it is, the seventh of seven.

So now - I have to tag seven people. I tag Margot, Eleonor, Rachel, Stacey, Sheryl, Carla, and Kat!

Alright, friends - post your pics!

A Lovebug Blog Challenge...

I'm so excited that Lovebug has a blog! I, like many other people I know, are addicted to blogs, so it's great to have another blog to check in on. For those of you who are not familiar with Lovebug Scrapbooking, it is the friendliest community of scrappers that I have ever encountered. Along with the blog, there is a forum, a store, and a gallery. A little something for everyone!

This challenge was a scraplift challenge, and the chosen layout was by Lys, aka 'iamalloverit'. Lys had turned out to be my 'secret Santa' this past Christmas, and I ended up using some of the chipboard she sent me - thanks again, Lys! I'm not a 'literal' scraplifter - I usually use the inspiration piece as a launching pad and then head off in whatever direction I end up going. With this layout, I kept the basic composition and the 'time' theme, and ran with it. Thank you Lovebug, and thank you, Lys - the blog's first scraplift challenge was good fun!

Just sharing some newfound goodness...

I am absolutely in love with the blogging world, especially as it pertains to scrapbooking, photography, and all things crafty and creative! Last week I discovered this lovely lady's blog o' plenty, and this week via her blog, I linked up to this creative wunderkind. The goodness just never ends, I tell you!

A funny email...

My sister sent me a funny email today that actually made me laugh, and because I could relate to enough of it, I thought I'd repeat it here:






BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN

Your Clothes:

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.

2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours,if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities:

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics , Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home:

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Swallowing Coins (a childhood classic):

1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.

2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.

3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

So how much did you find yourself relating to this?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Top of the morning to ye! Kiss me! I'm (1/16th) Irish!

Wishing everybody, green or otherwise, a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!








An Irish Blessing, to mark the occasion:

Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play-
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song-
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!

And one more, for good measure:

May you be half an hour in Heaven
Before the Devil knows you’re dead!

Sláinte chugat
(Good health to you!)

Cup Half Full...

Okay. Lying here feeling all sorry for myself is getting old, so now I'm taking a moment to focus on some positive things.

Positive Thing #1
In between naps, I have been blog-hopping, checking out other people's links, etc. and I serendipitously happened upon a blog called 'One Little Word'. OMGosh - I'm in love!! My boring, painfully long sick days have now turned into lots of free time to dig into this blog! Yay!

Positive Thing #2
Casey came home from soccer school super stoked, proudly sporting a new jersey, and not nearly as wet as I anticipated him to be!!

Positive Thing #3
My sinuses popped, relieving much pressure in my face AND in my ears - and I'm actually feeling clearer right now than I have in days!

Positive Thing #4
My husband. There will never be enough words, or enough time, to ever be able to come anywhere close to expressing just how amazing he is and how lucky I am.

Positive Thing #5
I just realized today that I have had this blog for over TWO years already!! How is that possible?? I was so skeptical when I first started it, somewhat sheepish about having it, but have grown to love it ever so much!! It has been so great, so fun...so here's to another couple of years of happy blogging in Jillville! :)

Frustrated!!!

So here I am again and still, blogging from bed. Dang it! I am no better today than I was almost a week ago when I first got sick, and I'm super p*ssed about it!! I would so rather be at work! I would so rather be cleaning the house! I would so rather be doing anything other than lying in my bed, stuffy and achy and tired and BORED TO DEATH!! Frustrated!! I promised myself that this was NOT going to be another self-indulgent post about poor me I'm sick boo hoo etc. SO - moving right along...

Let's talk about the rain! Ah yes, Vancouver's liquid sunshine. Such a classic Spring Break on the Wet Coast! Casey's in a week long half-day soccer school program and he is super excited about it! Of course, we signed him up for this before he came down with pneumonia, ear infection, etc. So now he's out in the elements, running around, exerting himself, soaked through from head to toe...I remember reading a long time ago a magazine or newspaper article called "Old Wives Tales Debunked!" or some such thing. The article stated that the whole myth about kids catching cold from being out in the rain and/or cold etc. was untrue - colds are caused by viruses, not weather. Okay, makes sense. But I still can't shake my sense of guilt about sending my newly recovered Casey outside for three hours on a day like today! He has been SO excited about it though - to tell him he can't go would probably be worse for him than the weather and us Vancouverites, we gotta be tough! We can't slow down or stop for a little rain! We'd cease to exist!! I remember seeing a t-shirt when I was a kid - it said, "Welcome to the Vancouver Rain Festival! September 1 to August 31!". It took me a minute to figure it out, but once I did - HAH! I loved it! And that about sums it up, doesn't it?! So that takes up back to Spring Break. I do feel disappointed about the weather. Between the rain and me being sick, there's not much fun going on around here for the kids. So, I have to toss aside most, if not all, of my plans with them for the week, but I'm still holding out for Friday. We have been planning on driving down to Seattle to spend the weekend with my sister and her family - my little niece is turning 2 on the first day of Spring! She's only seven weeks younger than Cody. We haven't gotten together with all the kids in months and months, so this trip HAS to happen!! I HAVE to be better by then! Rain or shine, it will be a splendid, excellent, super fun time. Fingers crossed!