hello there

So are you feeling negelcted.
Ignored?
Left alone.... lost without knowing what is going on with me?
Oh I am totally sure you are.
Sorry.
I feel like I have been running around just trying to catch up.

Last Saturday I had a sleepover for some girls.
At church I am the Activity Days leader - which is for 8-12 year old girls.
Kinda like girl guides.
So I had a final activity - we had a sleepover at my house.
It was better than I had hoped, well easier than I had hoped.
Only 4 of the 9 girls showed up.
And then they fell asleep during the movie at like 9:30pm.
So it was pretty easy! And they had fun. Worked out well in the end.

And the Saturday before that... i spent the day doing this....


















200 homemade donuts.
Well about 190 donuts and 10 longjohns.
Some glazed, some chocolate, some chocolate with sprinkles, and the long johns were chocolate with whipped cream filling.


















And.... no it wasn't just for fun.
We had a service auction at church.
Where you bid with points on service that others have offered to give.
They wanted us to contribute some service, but we are leaving,
so instead I told them I would make donuts.
My mom always used to have donut days when I was a kid.
And make them for my school.
She was called the donut lady.
And now I understand more how great my mom was to do that.
This is a shot of all of them before we hauled them off to the church.















The best part about it.... some good friend kids of ours that were there decided that the donut holes were called "regbits" (similar to "timbits" from Tim Hortons.)
I laughed pretty hard over that one!

And we have had a foster boy living with us.
A 13-year-old-never-had-any-rules-argumentative-clumbsy-dying-for-attention boy.
Yesterday the social workers came and took him to the airport to fly out to Manitoba.
To go live with his real dad.
Who is so very very happy to have him come.
And we couldn't be more pleased with how the whole thing turned out.
But it was tough. Really tough.
So I have been behind and over tired.... and perhaps a bit cranky.
I have a good husband.
Who would stop me from saying things to this boy that I would later regret.
It's good that it worked out that one of us would be feeling peace.
Even during the most frustrating of times.
One to say to the other, it's okay, just walk away...now.
That people, is one of the many reasons I love to be married.

So now that he is off, I have to start on the moving home process.
We've got to pack and take some more photos of things and people we'll miss.

Which brings me to item number 3 on my list.
The ocean.
I am a mountain girl.
I love the moutains.
And not these hills around here they call mountains.
I mean real mountains.
The rocky moutains.
And I miss them terribly.
But the ocean is something that is so beautiful in a different way.
I love the vastness of it.
I remember the first time we went to the shore and stood there.
Regan mentioned that if we got on a boat and started going we would hit Europe...
well that's just crazy.
Waaaaayyyy out there past all the sharks and big fishies....
is a whole other continent.
How cool is THAT!

A few shots from last year of alden at the ocean.














Now that we are all caught up... i'm off to make lunch and then pack some closets.
Only 25 days til we fly home.
And i've got lots to do.

number two

number two would have to be
the boardwalk
It is about 5 minute drive from our house
and we go there... a lot.
Many days walking around it,
throwing rocks into the water,
just being there.
Alden LOVES it. He will miss the boardwalk too.























And in other news......

Scraptivity had a big design team contest thingie
where 6 new members were to be added.
There were 85 enteries I guess.
Wow that is a lot.
The lucky 7 were
Denise, Ki, Jennifer, Connie Chantal, Sylvie and Sue!
So excited to work with these new ladies and get to know them all better! Congrats girls!

Now.... off to pack!!!

Number one

Since I am on a countdown now.... and countdown to move home, I thought I'd start a list.
If you didn't know I am a list maker.
Lists for everything.
Regan always asks about the lists, when they will start, what they are about.
I even make lists for other people, primarily other meaning Regan.
So this list is a ongoing list.
To later be used as a scrapbook mini album of course.
A list of the things we are going to miss from Nova Scotia.
And things we have learned and love.

Today is number one.
One of my favorite things in the world.
Lighthouses.
I love them.
I just think they are so beautiful!
And so not something that exists in Alberta.
Although maybe we could convince Waterton Dam to build one. :)

I have no idea why blogger is making the colors on my photos go so strange... but i can't get it to stop it today. hmmmmm. I'll try and fix it later!

potatoes, june kit and cute kids

There has been some things lately that have had me thinking.
About the need in this world for love.
For kindness.
More of it.
For everyone.

I don't think making fun of others is funny.
Not when it's me.
Not when it's about other people.
It's just not funny to me.
And I know that some people think that makes me no fun.
I sense that.
But you still won't see me laughing about it.
The thing is you don't know.
You have no idea how whatever you said affected that person.

And because of adults and how we are to each other and how we are to kids,
kids learn it.

Kids can be so brutal to each other.
It's not a new thing.
In fact it has always been around.
But I see so much in their behavior now that makes me sad.
Especially sad that we as adults taught them to act like that.
We allow it.
Too much.

I want to raise kids that are kind.
kindness first.
I think I need shirts that say that.

Things have been about to make me think,
one of which is this potato...
and I mean it must be a sign....right ;)


on a completely different and lighter note....
it's June.
Which means that a new Scraptivity kit is about.
And it is soo cool
Here are my two favorite pages I did with this kit.







You can check out all the fab work by the DT here.

And here are some cute photos from the past few days of the kids.
Alden "reads" every night in bed after we leave the room.
And a few nights in a row we have found him like this.


And beautiful Lucy.
She has been sleeping terribly the last few nights.
But she is still as cute as ever.

Well it's official

We got the call today.
Regan is accepted into the University of Calgary Medical school.
How stinking cool is THAT!
We are soooo excited.
So excited that we had blizzards to celebrate tonight.
(and I had a cheeseburger and reg had a donair!)
:)
It's been a big week for us and it's only Wednesday.

SOLD

yep.
Sold.
and we are HAPPY.
More than what we listed it at.
We had two offers and we got to pick one.
How cool is that!

Now that that is arranged...
just gotta
1. get into medical school
2. find movers to move us across the country
3. have a huge garage sale
4. buy plane tickets
5. purge all things we aren't taking or selling
6. pack up our entire house

and enjoy our last 55 days in the maritimes.
plus do a little scrapbooking.
:)

I want to take photos of all our favorites around here,
people, places, things about our house, outings.
Since we will miss a lot of things about living here,
just enough for a scrapbook,
but not enough to stay.

Murphy's law

So I'm selling my house right...

Friday morning Regan is getting ready to go to work.
Just as he is about to leave the front door knob falls off.
What the?
Yep just falls off.

Then a while later, our Real Estate Agent calls.
Our first showing is at 1:30pm.

um....
so I call Regan to bring to car home so I can go out
to find a doorknob.

so as he is getting ready to come home
I run around like crazy trying to get things cleaned up
call our neighbor and ask if I can send Alden over to play
since one kid less makes a quicker trip to the store
11:45am.

so I get the place all tidied up
send Alden next door to play
and reg comes home and I drop him back off at work
Lucy and I run in to Canadian Tire
(actually we drive)
about a 15 minute drive


instead of wasting any time I go straight to someone who works there
and show them my doorknob and say
"I need one EXACTLY to fit in this one."
Did the maritimer thing and tell him my whole story
of how the house is up for sale and I am in a crazy hurry.
so he picks me one out and Lucy and I quickly buy it and leave.
after asking the cashier to throw out my old one.


12:15pm
I get back home with the doorknob,
and try and get it in.
I can be handy, kind of
a doorknob should be easy to put in....
but
it won't fit.
at all.
not even close.
so I call Regan at work
HELP ME... I can't make it fit.


load Lucy back into the car and drive to Regan's work to get him
we come back home
1:00pm
Lucy is starting to get hungry
so as I feed her peas in her carseat
on the stairs, so we don't get anything dirty
regan struggles with the doorknob.


it won't fit.
at all.
not even close.

Regan says let's just put the old one back in and change it after the showing
um...
I threw that away
at Canadian tire.

so reg decides to try and drive back into Canadian tire to get one that will fit
I call our neighbor in a panic
I don't know what to do
call our real estate agent too
so she knows.

neighbor's husband Mike comes home
just happens to be home early from work this Friday.

1:25pm
he comes over with his doorknob from his front door
puts it on
and we go next door to spy on the possible buyers

regan and the possible buyers show up at the exact same time.
I call outside and tell regan just to go back to work
we'll explain later
he looks confused, but goes back to work.

after a 15 minute look at the house,
they decide they want hardwood floors,
not laminate
and leave.


Sunday we had three more showings,
I sure hope we get a bid this week.

new wheels

for alden that is.


I wonder if any car manufacturers are hiring.
Maybe I could work from home.
This model is cheap to make.
Probably won't be good in the rain, so Albertans should be able to enjoy it.
:)


Monday we went swimming as a family.
Lucy's first time and she loved it.
As did Alden.
He loves his wet suit from Grandma and Grandpa Steed.
And it sure is useful for helping him float!




Just wanted to share this cute photo of Lucy from the other day too.



No bites on the house yet.

tidbits

• our house is going up on the market on monday. i might post a link so ya'll can see my house on MLS. really it would be the only time any on my siblings (or reg's) will ever see it. lots of work to sell a house with small kids. i've done a lot the past two weeks and it looks like i will still be working lots til it sells.

• been taking photos of the kids and playing in photoshop. photoshop rules. it was part of my college education and i used to use it every day at work in the prebaby life, but i have kind of gotten out of it. felt good today to play with it. these are my outcome. got inspired to try from HeatherM's blog. Found a whole pile of brushes and stuff to use. there will be more to come. :)




• converstation with alden yesterday.

alden: "mom, i'm a big boy right?"
ME: "yes, and who is Lucy?"
alden: "a little special baby."


• I guess I should say one thing about medical school. if I could stick my tounge out over the internet I would. we are on the wait list. and no they won't tell you what number. and yes we are going to wait. we have been waiting for 5 years. so what's 2 more months. right?

As long as we can get a babysitter we are going to parenting seminar tonight from this guy . We've been to one from him before and he is great. So I really want to find a babysitter.

ode to my mom

my mother taught me
to sew
to cook
to paint and draw,
sculpture, charcol, pencils and water colors,
about color
about art and expressing myself
laundry and money managment
i have the power to change
that prayer can move mountains
how to create and try new things
that the best job in the world is being at home with my kids
how to have a good marriage
forgiveness
the true meaning of enduring to the end
how to work and not complain
to garden and grow things
to read my scriptures
to always put my family first
homemade is always best
to love myself for my kids
a soft answer turneth away wrath
to give love to everyone around you
to repent every day
i create perfectly because it is a part of me
to attend the temple
and hug my kids every day
that honest is always the best policy
what unconditional love feels like
doesn't matter how much is in the bank as long as your heart is full
i love you momma.
happy mother's day.
wish i could have seen you

i'm just wondering

if you all would do me a favor.
i'd like to see who you are.
you
reading this.
wanna just comment and say hello.
i'd like to see who you are.
Regan says I need to say something
controversial
something to get people talking
or posting

i'm just curious
what's in it for you?
you'll see.
could be something.

and on another note....
yes Mary, Peggy's Cove is close to Halifax.
It is about an hour away.
(if you take the highway route instead of the coastal pretty route.)


happy monday morning.

you've gotta see this place

Today we went to Peggy's Cove. It is one of the most beautiful places on this earth.
not that I have seen lots of the earth
but still
i know it is.

and you need to see it.
in person.
too bad for our families that we won't be here too much longer
so they can't stay for FREE anymore
looks like most missed their chance
(right guys??)










And Alden has been pretty goofy lately.
He was showing off his "pipes" to us the other day.
The poor kid has muscles like his mother.





Had a realtor come over today and talk with us
I have decided that selling a house
it's scary
and big



but further proof
that we are moving home.



and to all of you scrapbookers...
happy national scrapbooking day tomorrow.

we are having a C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-I-O-N at Scraptivity tomorrow
with challenges
and prizes
good ones.

so check it out.
i'll be there.

a new kit

thought I would share some of my new May kit pages from Scraptivity.
It is a fun fun kit this month. And I have been inspired to make lots of pages.


Got lots more here in my personal gallery at S!.

Purging lots of things and getting rid of things we don't want to move home.
Yep.....MOVE HOME.
Cool.

wedding photography

My friend Kelly got married yesterday and I did the photography.
I was TOTALLY nervous.
But I think it went good.
Here are some of my favorite shots.
Hope Kelly & Rob are happy with all the photos!

And yes I added a lot of photos.
I take lots of photos of my kids and stuff... but this is my first wedding.
I learned lots and I so hope I get the chance to do another one some day.

the kiddies

isn't my little Lucy so darling!!!
New outfit.
That's reason for a photo shoot... right.


Alden is three.
Really three and a half.
And no he isn't potty trained.
I've tried it all.
He doesn't care.
Treats
Nope.
Bribery
nope.
Peeing on a target
nope.
His own toliet seat.
nope.
Telling him he can be a big boy.
Nope.
Character underwear.
He peed on purpose on spidermans head.
nope.
Every person I meet tries to tell me how to do it.
Even the ones without kids.
Me: "all your friends go on the potty"
Alden: "I don't care mom."
Really I've tried it.
well...

at least they are on his body?!

spring has sprung

spring has sprung,
the grass is ris,
i wonder where the birdes is.

my dad always used to say that to us when we were younger.
and today as we were driving in the pouring rain
i thought of it
classic maritime spring weather
fog and rain
wet fog
cold rain
love the maritime spring
blech.

on another note,
my mom and dad bought a new house
i am so excited for them.
they are moving from our dear little village
Hill Spring
to the big city
big to them anyway
Lethbridge

it has more than 200 people
and that is big.

I am soooo very excited for them
So many changes for them.

As I have been talking with my mom about all these changes it made me think
(not that this is a new thought!)
i am so very glad we are going to move home
and be around when the changes occur.
That makes me happy.

Despite the maritime spring weather.

here they are

The rest of my entries in my {21} day challenge with Rhonna Farrer.








Plus a new page of Alden.

Happy Wednesday!!

The 21 day challenge is up and I did it. :) I am so pleased. Will be posting the rest of my pages soon. Been busy being a mom and enjoying my kiddies and easter and my wonderful hubby. Good times.
Been taking LOTS of photos. My kids are just too cute. And i like taking them. Hence the 5000+ photos in my iPhoto library. :)


Made this fun little project today. It matches something I made for Regan last V-Day. Gonna hang them right beside each other.

Alden's best friend Fraser Thomson moved home to Alberta this week. We are going to miss them sooo much. Love the Thomson's. Got some really good shots of them just being themselves. Fraser, Alden and Jane. The day after they left Alden cried to "move to alberta with fraser." If he only understood how much we are trying to move there.

As par tradition at my house. My babies at Easter have to have pictures with ears. I'll have to dig up Alden's from his first easter and comapre them. I know they look alike - Alden was just 3 pounds heavier. and 2 inches taller.

And a tender moment to share. Alden decided to do this all on his own. I took video too. It was a moment to remember. He brushed her hair and talked to her and played. And it lasted longer than ever before. It was wonderful.

Now I'm off to bed.
Happy Easter everyone!

Day 15

Just wanted one of my pages to have this quote. Simple but great message.

hello there!

Life has been stressful and good. So many things going on this past week. Deciding our future. When to move home. For what. So many things. But I have been doing good on my {21} day challenge. It is amazing how good this challenge has been for me right now. A good time to be focusing on my life and what I am supposed to be doing. Our family. Where we are headed. I really really thought a lot about a quote Rhonna had as inspiration this past week. "Our busy lives force us to focus on things we do from day to day. But the development of character comes only as we focus on who we really are." Russell M. Nelson.
Such an important message to remember who we really are and what really matters. My goal of daily prayer has really been helping me think about this too. And it has kept me sane in all this confusion and wondering what to do. Thanks Rhonna!!!








oh and i ran out of the little tabs that i am putting on the tops... so i'll add them later.

Just a page of Alden to end with.
Have a great day!