Here and Now

a fishing we will go

It is definitely that time of year again. Time for fishing, and camping, and all that fun stuff! Monday night after super we took the girls out to the neighbors pond to do a little fishing. After only a couple casts Madison had a fish on, unfortunately she didn't get it out of the water, it jumped off right at the dock! Shortly after that I let out my first cast and hooked a nice one, I let Phoebe reel that one in and she thought that was pretty cool!

 

They were biting pretty good all night! Not long after that one Madde landed another one! She was soooo excited!

 

 

 

Of course after about an hour or so of fishing, the girls got a little bored, so they decided to spend some time running around the pond and playing in the mud.

 

 

 

While the girls played around Darren tried his hand at fly fishing. Unfortunately we couldn't figure out what flies they were after, so he didn't catch anything, but it's sure fun watching him try.

 

 

Now I'll leave you with one last shot of my baby girl, looking oh so cute :o) chow!

So much to talk about, so little time...

wow, talk about being busy! Ever since easter we've been just go go go! Last I posted was that hubby and I were headed to Cuba, and we did go, from the 9th to the 17th of May. It was AMAZING! I have some great pics from there, that I'll post in a separate blog post later because I just don't have enough time right now.

The girls are just about done school, and with that it's been busy for them too. They've been doing speeches, testing, and lots of field trips. Tomorrow is track and field, on the 8th, 15th and 17th Phoebe has field trips, then she's done school and Madde will be finished on the 26th. Crazy, I can't believe that in the fall Phoebe will be in grade 1 and Madde will be in Grade 3!! They're also just about finished up with swimming lessons, there's only 2 classes left, and knowing them, they'll want to go right back in again.

As for me, I've started kickboxing classes. I go every Monday and Wednesday from 9:30-11:30am and I LOVE it! Wow, what a work out! I went there the first day thinking it was going to just be another aerobics class, and boy was I wrong! I walk out of there every time feeling like every muscle in my body is tight and sore and it RAWKS! It's a nice mixture of kick boxing, circuit training, cardio and core exercises. I'll be doing that until the end of June and then we'll see what happens from there.

This past weekend I went to a scrapbooking retreat with my sister at a lake about an hour north of here called Pigeon Lake. It was GREAT! it always is! We went last year as well and decided to make it an annual get away together, so we'll be going again for sure! I hadn't scrapbooked in months so it was much needed lol! I actually managed to finish 5 pages for my album and 1 for Chrystals :o) It was a great time, the food is always amazing and I also managed to win a prize for being the LOSER at musical chairs lol!!

Now this weekend comming up we're having Phoebes 6th birthday party. I still can't believe she's 6! Her birthday was actually on the 27th of May but because I had already planned the retreat with my sister a few months back we had to bump Phoebe's party to this coming weekend. She doesn't seem to mind tho. Darren's mom and dad are coming, as well as some of her friends from school and Chrystal, David and the kids too. Then Sunday Chrystal and David are taking off and leaving the two littlest squirts here with me for a whole week! I'm so excited!! I can't wait to have them here! We'll be watching them while Chrystal and David take a much needed, well deserved trip to the bahamas!

A couple of weekends ago we took the girls out west to spend a day in the mountains on the trikes. It was a lot of fun, and a long, hot day! We got the trikes unloaded and headed down the trail around 10:30 in the morning, and by the time we got back to the truck it was 6:30! We stopped a couple times along the way, once for lunch, a few times for spitz, and a few times to pee of course lol! Little girls means little bladders :o) All in all it was a great day!

 

 

 

Now just because, here are a couple quick shots of my beautiful little 6 year old, I got a whole bunch of cute ones out of her the day after her birthday, but these two were a few of my favorite!

 

And I can't very well post pics of one without the other so here are a couple shots I took today of my beautiful, crazy, toothless little 7 year old... *grin*

 

Now I'm sure I forgot a whole lotta stuff I wanted to post about, but that's ok, that just means I'll have to come back real soon to post again :o) Like tomorrow, because we went fishing tonight after super and both Madde and Phoebe caught fish all on their own! I've got lots of pictures from that, I just have to get them from my camera to the computer, so check back tomorrow night, or maybe even WWednesday morning for more! TTFN!

So excited!

I have been living on cloud nine since yesterday afternoon! About a week ago now my hubby and I decided that we both needed a BREAK and a HONEYMOON (seeing as how we just celebrated 6 years and have never gone anywhere together!) We were planning for the longest time to take our kids to Disneyland. Well, when it came right down to it we all (even the kids) decided that they were not ready. We don't think they'll be able to walk all day long for 5 straight days! (they barely make it around the yard lol) and for those of you that know my girls, you know they are really, really LITTLE. So they both said they wanted to wait another year (shocking, I know lol). Anyhow, when that was decided we put off the idea of a vacation for a while, and then boom! Momma had a breakdown! So three days ago we decided we were going to go to Mexico! I was so excited, trying to pick the perfect resort and plan excursions... well, go figure... people started getting sick! Ugh! BAD timing! SOOO we made a last minute decision, changed directions, checked out different ideas and BOUGHT TICKETS! We are headed to Holguin, Cuba on May 9th! I'm so so so excited! We really NEED this time away, alone together, away from work, school, life etc. I can't wait! The resort we're staying at is called Sol Rio de Luna y Mares (I can't tell you what that says lol). It's so beautiful! Here's are some pics of it I got online.

 

 

 

Isn't it wonderful! Everyone I've talked to that's been there says that it looks exactly like the pictures! WOW! All that beauty, plus unlimited food, booze, and fun all included! White sandy beaches and teal blue ocean just screams ROMANTIC!

I'll be sure to post pictures as soon as we get back! I'm gonna have a busy week ahead of me, shopping, packing, making arrangements for pets etc. but I know it's gonna all be worth it. :o)

Chow for now!

Pretty ponies

Today was a busy day, more so than usual. Phoebe and I spent the morning doing laundry and house work... boring lol! Then we spent the afternoon outside. We cleaned up the yard, pulled some dead fall from the flower beds, loaded the truck with garbage, cleaned out Darrens shed and then went for a stroll to visit the neighbors horses. They recently got a new one because they had to put one down last year, so of course we had to head over with some carrots to introduce ourselves. Just our luck they were feeling friendly, but now so photogenic lol!

Here's a shot of their new pretty pony. Not sure what their names are, I suppose I should just ask one of these days... :-)

 

Here's another shot of this pretty girl.

 

She's just a baby still, and she's shedding. I'm curious to find out what color she's going to be when she's done :-)

Here's a shot of her partner in crime lol. The big galoot kept on putting his face right in my camera so this was bound to happen. *smiles*

 

And here is a shot of Phoebe handing out some pony lovin' haha! Actually, they thought she had more carrots, but either way there were some sloppy pony kisses handed out. :-)

 

*while I was typing this out Darren called me to come look out the window. Six whitetail does walked right by the yard, right down the road in front of our house. They used to come by all the time but it's been a while so it's nice to see them back. So I grabbed my camera and ran to get some shots, they're not the best, this is where a nice new super zoom lens would come in handy. *wink* Maybe the moose that used to visit will return someday too. :-) *

I love how Simon (our male kitty) doesn't seem to bothered by the visitors lol! Can you see them? They're back by the snow ;) SOOOO need a zoom lens!

 

 

That's it for tonight. :-) TTFN! Thanks for stoppin' by!

Easter

Here are just a few pics from Easter. My entire family was here and it was AWESOME! My parents, my sister and her family, and my baby bro and his lovely wife all joined us in our little home for a wonderful Easter weekend! There was lots of chocolate, lots of smiles, and lots of good food. I think the kids all really enjoyed it.

 

 

 

 

 

and just cuz I like it I want to share this picture of my sis and her hubby, the little posers lol!

 

and another pic I have to share, is a pic of Xanders boots, Aidan had the same ones, they were so stinkin' cute!

 

I didn't get a LOT of photos, even though I wish I had of, but I've got a lot of memories, and those are just as good. SO thank you to everyone that came here for Easter, it was a great weekend!

Baby Maddox

Ok, first off, just let me say, I am NOT a professional photographer at all! I just have a love for photography, so, with that, on with the post. I spent a week down south recently. While I was there I got to meet Julies beautiful, tiny, brand new baby boy Maddox. He is the sweetest, most itty bitty, tiny baby I have ever seen in my life! I was terrified while trying to bend him in different ways, I thought I was going to snap his little body in pieces. So I had Julie help me a bit with that. I just don't think our timing was quite right, he really didn't want to be naked, he peed on her curtains lol! and he was hungry. So we did what we could and I managed to grab a few shots, these are my favorite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry that the post is so picture heavy. I did like more that just these, but I don't want to overload my blog lol! I will be posting again very soon, most likely today, to share our Easter photos and tid bits so check back soon! Thanks for poppin' by TTFN!

Holly Snow!!

I'm down visiting my parents in what is supposed to be the sunny south. Here I thought I'd come to see green grass and birds chirping lol! yeah right! They have just as much if not MORE snow then we do! Tuesday my mom and girls and I took a drive to Waterton. We went up the Cameron lake road and here is what we saw at the end.

 

The natural drifts were OVER my car! So really, what else is there to do then have a snowball fight. Of course Phoebe and I tried to stay out of it, but Madde and my mom got pretty rough lol!

 

I don't know if my mom realized that Madde was real competition! She got Grandma in the side of the head a few times pretty good, then Grandma fought back!

 

 

The war lasted for about 20 minutes, it was pretty funny. Poor Phoebe tried so hard to stay out of the way, but Grandma got her.

 

 

 

So Phoebe got up and tried to get even.

 

It was a pretty good day considering the fact that it looked like Febuary and it was March 31st!!

 

 

 

another bag and some changes

So can you tell yet that I have way to much time on my hands lol! I made ANOTHER bag. This one is by far my favorite though! It's so versatile and the perfect size. I may still add something to it, like a snap closure or maybe a strap with a big button, I dunno yet. Anyhow, here it is.

 

It has 6 outside pockets, 3 on either side. Here's a photo showing the pockets.

 

The inside is pretty roomy too.

 

And just to give you an idea of the size. It's 8"x10"x4" here's Phoebe holding it. She really didn't want to be a model for me so she's giving the fake cheesy grin lol!

 

I {LOVE} it and will be using it for sure :) I think I may make some more to match outfits lol!

Ok, now for the changes part. There are going to be some changes coming soon, which, will mean I don't really need 3 blogs. So I'm going to be changing things around and combining my blogs. I figure there is no point trying to update 3 blogs all the time, so I'll put my photo blog, stampin' blog and family blog all in one place. That should mean more posts too technically lol! Anyhow, I'm not sure when exactly this will happen but I'm hoping in the next day or two. I'm also not sure if I'll be staying with typepad or going back to a free blog yet. We'll see. So anyhow that's it for now, just wanted to share my new bag and give a heads up. TTFN!

This is for you sis!

Ok, can you say ADDICTION! I am sooo addicted to my sewing machine it's not even funny! I could sit in front of it all day, actually, I did! haha! I managed to make Chrystal's bag today, and do laundry and clean the house! wow, super duper, I know! *grin* So here it is Chrystal, black, white and red. If you don't like it just say so and I'll try again *wink* if you do like it then GREAT! :) That'll be $75.00 haha! totally kidding! love ya!

 

 

 

Ok, I REALLY need to find a new place to photograph my stuff. That pink tinge on everything is really getting on my nerves! lol!

Next few things on the to sew list...

finish up the little dress for my girls, make them some super comfy flannel pj pants to lounge in, 2 more chair pads cuz I stopped at 2 which means Madde and I have sore tushies while Phoebe and Dad are comfy, a tote for Julie, and I bought myself a skirt pattern, that'll be very last though lol! I'm sure there will be more bags in there too just cuz they're fun to make! *smiles*

Chow for now!

95% love and 5% skills

I am soooo in {LOVE} with my new sewing machine! I feel like I could sit on it all day long and just create! I'm still pretty rusty with keeping stitching straight and what not, but that's ok with me. I finished up another project I was wanting to do. A good friend of mine had a baby back in January, I haven't had a chance to meet her beautiful new daughter yet but I will be at the end of the month and I'm soooo excited! When it comes to baby gifts I'm always at a loss on what to get. You just never know what people already have. So, I thought I'd make her a little something. I went to town yesterday and picked out the cutest flannel fabric, and, the softest, most incredible feeling fabric in the world! It's called Minky and I'm in love it it :). Anyhow, I got home and started on my very first baby blanket. One day and a whole lotta cussing later I finally finished the blanket. I think it's super cute, and soft, however the stitching is far from straight, and the cutting is a little off too. It's not perfect, but I made it with 95% love and only 5% skills so "not perfect" is probably expected.

 

 

 

 

 

So what do ya think? Not too terribly bad as long as you don't look too close at the crooked stitching. I think it would help if I invested in a quilting foot maybe?? We'll see. Now I've gotta go get my day started (at 10:30 in the morning lol) and then later on I'm gonna start on a super cute dress for my girls. I found the sweetest pink and brown material yesterday and I can't wait to cut it up! :) chow for now!