It's Time!

Ok....sorry for making you wait, but we

were having such a wonderful Christmas Eve,
which we didn't want to end....

Sooo...I decided to make the draw this morning.

One little helper was more than eager to assist,
so, you all have him to thank!!

The first winner is... drum roll please

isn't my little helper just too cute..
don't mind he's still in his pj's
Oh right...he says pj's are too hot!
(sorry, he's not available!!!!)

Ok...on with it - the first winner is...

LINDSEY!

Lindsey...you've won the rice cooker, which will be hand delivered
to you this week, since I happen to know some very special
people who are coming up your way today!!
(but you can't keep them either)

And...our next winner will be...

DIANA!

AND... since this was so much fun,
I decided to draw one more name...

da-da-de-dummmm

BRENDA!

Diana and Brenda, you've both won a cookbook
and some PC tools, which includes
a mini spatula and mini whipper and either
a silicone basting brush or a skinny scraper
Contact me with your choices and I'll get those out to you.
(email address is in my profile)

So, thanks to everyone who entered my contest...I think I'll
have to do this again!
I enjoyed hearing about your brunch favourites and
look forward to telling you what we actually had!

Merry Christmas!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We'll be back later to announce the PC winners ;)

Goodbyes and Giveaways

First of all, there are some old friends we need to say farewell to...

They've been residing here for many years
and it's now time to send them on to a new home.

Maybe some little one will be more than happy to take them in,
for they've been good here - made many a little one happy!

Hope we don't miss them too much...

Here they are...all cleaned up and ready to go
Thanks for the memories!



Now in the spirit of giving....
I want to give away a few Pampered Chef products.
I love my Pampered Chef....ALL of it, I do!
And, since my time of selling it is coming to an end,
and my house is feeling smaller all the time...
I have some stock to give away!


First, a rice cooker


...now I haven't actually
used mine to cook rice yet, but those who bought it for it's intended use,
say it's wonderful.... ME? I make a pretty
awesome chocolate macadamia cake in it!
What can I say...I love chocolate!


The second is one cookbook (4 for you to choose from)
along with some of my favourite PC tools
(my choice...but will include a mini whipper
and mini serving spatula - two must-haves)



Now...all you have to do to enter is tell me....

What would be a must-have on your
Christmas morn brunch menu?

Come on now...I'm looking to add something new and wonderful
to our Christmas morning brunch.

I'll announce the winners on Christmas Eve!

Happy Birthday Smiley!!

Well, December brings with it a few birthdays in our family.

It wasn't necessarily our plan, but nonetheless,
three...yes...three
of our children arrived in the snowy winter.

Today, the one everyone called 'smiley'
gets her turn to celebrate.

Having birthdays at Christmastime
can be a bit challenging.
20 years ago, I forgot this very important day!
With the hustle and bustle of the season
we skipped right on by the 20th....but not today!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER


May God bless you and your little family
and may you always have a smile
and warm heart to share :)

We Love You,
Mom & Dad

Message for a Sweetheart!

We've been so blessed with our extended "little" family (the grandkiddies),
and TODAY, the littlest of our princesses turns ONE!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILLI !


And what a sweetheart she is...always ready with a smile and a
BIG WET KISS!!

We got to celebrate yesterday since her mommy and daddy are busy
hosting a Youth Christmas Party tonight....so that means...
we get to have the little ones all to ourselves ~ YES!!

Hope you've remembered to count your blessings.

Nana & Papa

So Confusing!

Ok...have to appologize...my computer has been down - 

it's been acting up for a while and we're working on some issues....and,

though I've finally figured out how to get into my blogger account,

the setup is all off!

Anyone else have a love/hate relationship with their PC??

However, it won't stop me from

SOON posting with that giveaway - so stay tuned!

Do you need this?

Oh my goodness....I should be at work, but my sil sent this to me this morning
and I can't help myself...I have to pass it on.

And, please....don't be tempted to stop after the first minute,
no-sir-ee....go right to the end and have a good one :)




I hope that was highly therapeutic for you...it sure was for me.
I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time.

Hmmm....now it's a good thing I don't have to answer to anyone
as to what time I arrive at work! (well, almost)

Hope you all have a wonderful, lighthearted day, and
SMILE!!

Help, I'm drowning!

My work banquet is coming up and I just can't seem to pin down what to wear.
We have been having 'theme' banquets for the past few years and
each new year seems to be getting more extravagant
than the previous one.
This year....we're going on a 'cruise'!

Apparently will have "hosts" with assigned seating, etc.
Not sure if I like that idea, but worse...I don't know what to wear!
I don't own any formal attire, and frankly, it's just not ME. The only pictures I've seen of cruises, everyone is dressed to the 9's.

Any suggestions people? This is one issue that would cause me
not to show up.....seriously!
I'm sure it will be loads of fun, but the stress of figuring out what to wear,
or even finding it...is more than I need right now.

Honestly, I'd be more comfortable with this...

....well, maybe

Goodness...where's Ginger when I need her?!

Wishes for Two

Two special people in our lives call this their birthday.

First of all, my father-in-law turns 80 today!

Happy Birthday Dad...

~ We love and admire you ~
~ you've been a wonderful example to your children ~
~ we wish you many more years with us :) ~

...then...what seems like such a short time ago
but in reality is 25 years already

an unexpected gift arrived...
your first granddaughter!

Stacey...you're a beautiful person

~ A daughter to be proud of ~
~ a wife who seeks to be what she was meant to be ~
~ and a wonderful mother to your children ~

May God continue to bless you both!

Love,
Mom & Dad

Check this out

Since I've been at a loss for words for a new post, or maybe I should say a loss for 'time' to post, thought I'd highlight what my daughter and her friend are up to.
Stacey and Andrea have recently launched an all-Canadian review blog called "Glimpse". Interesting that they picked that name, not at all thinking about my blog name...but I'm good with it...no worries.
Anyway, you need to go check out some of the products they've reviewed. The latest, which I am very interested in is Dream Pearl Soap. It's an environmentally friendly all-purpose, get-out-pretty-much-anything kinda cleaner, and it's not toxic! I can go for that!!
So, you may want to head on over 'cause she's givin' some away.

Time to come home **UPDATED**

**PTL! She's coming home tonight :)
thanks again to everyone for praying!!

Can I ask for a few extra prayers to be sent up for the little one today...
Her mommy and daddy would love to bring her home,
but until she starts drinking, she can't.
She's also over-tired as she hasn't been able to sleep much - I think
being in her own home minus an IV....will do wonders
You can read more on her mommy's blog,
but just need those prayers... thanks

Nana

This little one...

is as cute as can be,
and has already had a few milestones ...

...she made it through those first few teeth,
celebrated the big "1",
mastered the 'walk' (? wiggle) ...

and has proven to be a real trooper
having had her first (hopefully only) surgery

and, though she was feeling pretty lousy,
her eyes lit up when big brother walked in the room
and she gave him a smile :)

We're thankful for God's protection over her!

Please continue to pray for her recovery

Nana & Papa

What I didn't say, was...

I don't want to complain...not here, in front of everyone.
I'd rather you don't see that side of me and so, I'll save it for
...hmmm, who? - the one(s) I love??

But, if I did... I wanted to say...
~ this reno stuff is just too much and I'm... well... T.I.R.E.D.
~ please, can we move now?

I was gonna complain that...
~ I'm lousy at forever camping and I don't wanna anymore

and...
~ though I really have enjoyed washing all those dishes by hand,
and they're cleaner than any dishwasher could get them,
c'mon - it's forever since we tore out the old kitchen and, well...
I'm so DONE with fetching water from the tub!

I even wanted to wait...
~ to celebrate Thanksgiving 'cause I just did't feel like bathing with
the turkey, so it could get a rinse too...GROSS!!

I've been tempted to...
~ no denying it here...GRUMBLE

Instead... I should have remembered
and been thankful for this...

the hard work that began over a year ago

and, this...
helping hands that have been there over,

...and, over

and, this...
the valuable apprenticing that has happened
along the way

Just when...I was feeling ashamedly un-thankful...
this happened

look a little closer...

I have a SINK...a shiny new kitchen sink!!
AND
a bathroom sink

Thanks to our amazing friend/plumber!

Now, I can say goodbye to this...

and have a little more time for this...

I really AM thankful...forgive me, Lord!

A little lovin'

It's been so much fun to watch the little ones lately,

how they're growing..
how they interact with each other and especially with us :)

Here's just a little glimpse :)

always thinking

always movin'

two bundles of energy entertaining a very
tired mommy after a Youth Lock-In

enjoying the 'ride'

playing 'peek-a-boo'

giving grandpa some lovin' too..

and here's a little clip
I managed to catch the other day of
two of the little sweeties learning to 'share'?
I was glad I had the camera close by ...

O Lord, please grant that we may enjoy many more
of these precious moments!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Down to the crunch...**UPDATED PICS**

First of all, I have to apologize that I haven't posted pictures of the renos lately...my camera batteries are dead and I've put the recharger in a 'safe' place - but where exactly that is, I can't remember right now...so, not many pictures to speak of. Many things are displaced with the kit/DR areas being mostly cleared out. So, I can post a partial picture of the bathroom which I had already downloaded previously. The **tiling is not done in these photos, but it's the best I can give right now (sorry Kathy). Maybe I'll go pick up some other batteries to use until I find the charger. (**UPDATE - I picked up another battery charger - one we can also use in the vehicle...so here are a couple of better pics of the bathroom, with tiles done)

I love the paint colour (it's a greenish-brown)
and I wasn't sure at first about not having the listelli
trim around the top (long story - they were damaged & returned),
but I like it just the way it is.
We also did cork flooring, which I LOVE - it's warm!
the opposite wall, where the vanity will go..
and, you can't see it, but there's a shower to the left of the tub

OK...on to the issue at hand. We have really got to decide on our flooring NOW because the cupboards are coming in less than 2 weeks...but I am having trouble making that decision. We like the idea of bamboo (thinking 'green') and perhaps that's what we should do...because it is a real wood product, it's warmer that laminate. On the other hand, laminate is so durable and will stand up for years to come. Just one example...as hubby was putting up the door frame in the new bathroom, the phone rang. Thinking it was secure, he reached for the phone and the frame pieces parted ways and came crashing down on the adjacent bedroom laminate floor, nails down....not a mark! Impressive!! However, the look and warmth of the bamboo is alluring.
Then, I'm not sure what to do on the stairs, which go down off the main entrance. We'd love to follow through with bamboo on the stairs as well, but it's so hard should a little one take a tumble. Any suggestions here? We would do carpet down the stairs, but the carpeting at the bottom of the stairs is almost 10 years old (clearly visible from entrance) and would be difficult to match up...AND we don't want to replace downstairs carpeting right now. What to do....any suggestions?

What's going on?

There's definitely something going on...is it me? or my computer? ...WHAT?
Somehow I've (or someone else?) managed to erase all my bookmarks!!
And I wasn't trying to empathize with Stacey either.

You gotta understand I probably had in excess of a hundred (my son would say more) bookmarks, all marked and categorized for future reference...
..sites with fabulous recipes, home reno pages,
wonderful sites I go to for encouragement and uplifting, friends blogs,
gardening sites...Oh I'll miss that one!!...and the list goes on.
Some days I get so frustrated that I don't know more about these
"metal boxes". Honestly, I know I'd know if a prompt came up
and said, "Are you sure you want to delete all your bookmarks?"
Anyone else experience this?...maybe there's some sinister internal
program on this computer that says....'let's hide all the bookmarks
once they look too organized'

Well, there's no time now to try to fix this...so I guess I'll be starting from scratch.

Oh, and there's one more thing...why is it when I think I've got a
post ready and then go to post it...it's all re-spaced?
Can anyone tell me how to fix the margins
so that the way the post looks whilst I'm typing is the way
it actually comes out in the end??

In the meantime....we are painting....wish me luck!

17 Already!??

Where has the time gone?

How did we get from here...
(being the little guy with the guitar)

to here...
(being a hero for the little guy with the guitar)

Happy 17th Dustin!
Even though you don't hear us
say it often enough
...you know we're very proud of you.

Always choose to use your talents to honour
your heavenly Father...

It'll be exciting to see where He leads you!


Love,
Mom & Dad

Rainy Day Monday

Today... we were blessed with some much needed rain...

...what I really wanted to do was just stand outside
with my face to the rain and, just for a little while...
forget about all the cares and silly things on my "to do" list

But, since I didn't feel like re-drying my hair, (vanity? no.. lazy!),
I held back and opted to do some much needed baking
Ok, I'm not sure I really needed these, but lately have been craving them!!


I was also craving the smell of fresh-from-the-oven multi-grain bread,
which would have been so wonderful with some homemade soup...
but ended up with these and some homemade pizza instead

Sounds crazy... but I was disappointed in myself at the end of the day.

Next time....I WILL go stand out in the rain til I'm soaked to the bone
and maybe, if I'm lucky, there'll be a special someone home
to enjoy the moment with me :)

Thank you, Lord, for the rain!