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.

make it home

Where should I start to explain the last few weeks..... um....

We've had some great great time with family.
Which has been wonderful.
Got to see and be with all my silbings and their spouses and families
Only one of Regan' so far - but soon we will see two others.
We have been blessed too spend time with lots of family.
And when I would start to worry about how we hadn't gone to the other side's home... I had to stop myself and say wait a minute.. We live here. We can see them another time soon.
How cool.

As for the housing situation.
I must admit that I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was for the change of lifestyle we made.
We weren't living high on the hog before on anything, but we had a nice house.
In a nice quiet neighborhood
With great neighbors.
And a huge deck....
huge yard....
three bedrooms....
a whole playroom.
And the best kitchen and a dishwasher.

We don't have that anymore.
Tonight in fact is the first night we are going to all spend in our new place together.
The first day we got here in stunk.
I don't mean like a little stuffy.
I mean I just about vomited walking in here.
My mother in law asked me if I would have rented this place if I would have seen it first and well probably not.

There are pet people out there. People who love their animals and think of them as children and would do anything for them.
And then there are non pet people.
I am in the later half.
I think animals are nice.
Hey I grew up on a farm.
I had my own horse and about 20 different cats and dogs.
But all that is a completely different post.
But anyway, I do not want any more pets. Ever.
I just am not a pet person.
I like animals - at someone else's house.
Although I'd take a horse. I'd love a horse again. But my yard isn't quite big enough.

So whoever lived in this place.... They had pets.
Dogs.
Inside dogs.
That she didn't take care of.

And I have super nose.
I can smell very well.
Super well.
Almost creepily well.

When I cleaned the kitchen last week... before we moved in... There was dog poo under the fridge. Along with dog food and huge mounds of dog hair.
More under the stove.
Pee in the heating vents.
That is enough to give you the level of grossness.

Needless to say I used 4 Liters of bleach in 2 days.
I bleached every surface possible.
And tried all possible smell removal products.
(I think Arm and Hammer Pet Odor remover was the best that I found by the way.)

We left for the long weekend and it stunk of bleach in here
We came back today and well... It was stinky again.
Nothing to the level of before.
But I can still smell it.


I guess overall I just hope I can turn this place into a home where I am happy to be for 20 hours a day. Since I am at home a LOT.
And a place where my kids are happy.
And that I am happy.
And that is stink free.

Got lots of boxes to put away.
LOTS of boxes.
And every box we opened Alden asked if it was his train tracks.
I think he missed them.

finally home.... kind of

There is something about having your own place.
Your own things.
And we do not have that "thing" or "place".
We are in limbo.
Finally in Alberta, but in limbo.

As for getting back here....
1. our movers called and said they couldn't pick up our stuff until the 17th... and we had scheduled it for the 15th. And as of today, they still haven't picked it up.
Minorly stressful.
2. Sunday morning we wake the kids up early (5:30am) to get to the airport on time for our flight which was to leave at 7:15am. While waiting by the gate, they announce that something is wrong with the plane..... and they have to get a new one. Which was going to take 2 hours. Which would make us miss our connecting flight from Edmonton down to Calgary.
So the solution.... was we were put on a direct flight to Calgary..... 6 hours later. So we were at the airport with 2 small kids for 7 hours, then we flew for 6 hours, then we drove down to Lethbridge for 2 hours. Needless to say, when we finally pulled into my mom and dad's house I couldNOT have been more happy. And the kids did so good for that day. Incredibly good. (There may have been gravol involved.)
3. we are trying to find somewhere to live in Calgary. And it is proving quite difficult. So tomorrow we are driving up there to see if we can find somewhere tomorrow.

Just because it's right, doesn't mean it will be easy.

today's page

Another of my baby girl.
I had some fun with this one.
I made all the pp too.






















Tomorrow's page will be Alden.
More packing to do.
And lunch to eat.
Later.

my break

I took a break today.
And did this.

Did I mention that I think Photoshop is coooool?
Since all my paper scrapping stuff is packed now.... I guess I'll be playing more digitally.
Fun fun.

I am grateful

This morning when I got up in my mostly empty bedroom
I realized AGAIN how close we are to going home.
And I am grateful.

Last night I was running errands....
donating clothes and unwanted items,
returning things,
practicing my musical number at the church,
depositing our profits from all our sold items,
picking up a little treat for Reg and I,
realizing how the things have fallen into place for us.
And I am grateful.


and I drove by the ocean.
Still.
(not too usual around here.)
Clear.
Deep and blue.
Unending... Or so it seems.
It really is amazing to see God's creations.
He is an artist.
Amazing and perfect in creation.
That is inspiring on so many levels.
And I am grateful.

Came home to my husband, who was working on his talk for church today.
He is so good.
And so wise.
Regan is truly one of the best people I have ever known.
Because of his quiet nature
people sometimes don't get to hear of his wisdom and knowledge.
But I do.
And I am grateful.

Holding a squirmy little girl
on my lap while I type.
Who loves to give me open mouth slobbery kisses
And who twirls her hair in her hand while she breastfeeds.
She has constant smiles for me
and for everyone else.
And I am grateful.

Peeking in on a still sleeping little boy.
Who tells me the funniest things.
And who tries to "help" his little sister when she falls over on the floor.
Who tried hiding yesterday in the bathroom
but forgot to tell anyone he was hiding so two panicking parents searched the yard, and the neighbors, until finally found him crying in the bathroom.
He wanted to sit on mummy's lap and
have my hands run over his arms while I "squeezed him tight" for 5 minutes.
at least.
I am grateful.

hi again

Have I lost all of my readers? :)
If not, you are good good people.

Since it is July 1st, there is a new kit at Scraptivity. And i LOVED it (as usual!)

Thought I would share my favorite layout I did this month. I love the photo that my oldest brother (thanks Seany!!!) took of me a while ago. I've had it forever but never used it.
And about a week or more ago I was thinking about progress and change.
And all the big things that happen in our lives and how those big things are there to help us grow. It is not in spite of the big trials but because of them. They help us grow.

And how hopefully we are learning and becoming better each day. That is what I want to do so badly. To keep getting better and better. And I have so far to go.
This layout was an out come of all those thoughts.




To make the title I cut the word out of thing chipboard then painted it with the paint. Then stamped with the stamps onto it. I think it makes it look pretty cool. Looks cooler IRL.

Down the side the journaling says:
to never forget
"the feeling of true forgiveness, so i always ask.
how it feels to not have enough food, so always be generous.
the pain of losing a loved one, so show empathy,
the way i felt on my wedding day so always put marriage first,
how lonely life can be so that i am always friendly,
my answers to prayers so i keep getting down on my knees,
how much my parents sacrificed for me so that i do the same for them,
how nice it is to receive gifts so that i am willing to give,
how much hearing thank you means so that i always show gratitude."

There are lots of great stuff by the DT here so check it out. (I have some more in there too.)

Less than two weeks til we get on the plane.
Sold the piano.
Still have to sell the Saturn, washer and dryer and a deep freeze.
BUT we have had lots of phone calls about the car - so we are hopeful.
Hope ya'll had a great Canada Day!