...from the weekend...

GASP!!!!!

the wonderful world of technology.

Grr.

I just typed out this entire post and my computer SHUT DOWN on me and it wasn't saved!!!

So.....to hilite, because I can't even remember everything i just wrote...

...the kids are getting super excited and wishing for more snow as mike built the base for our annual backyard Griffin Hockey Rink!

( with some alterations, and BIGGER than last years...)

...friday night was my monthly hall crop and my dear friend, Thelma Findlay, had created this stunning and beautiful December Daily for me to raffle off that night...with all proceeds being donated to the

Christmas Cheerboard!!

(here's a few photos of her amazing December Daily...)

...Thelma made a DD for raffling off last year as well for the Cheerboard, and the girls were most excited to see another new one this year!

...thank you to Miss Thang for lovingly taking the time and the expense of creating such a thoughtful and beautiful gift....we raised $82 this year and the lucky and happy winner was

Angie Ashuk!!!!

:)

...saturday morning courtney had a dance competition...

although a little under the weather still ( and to WHOM i can thank for now giving me a head cold - sick since sat.night....Grr....) anyway, she danced really well and won some new medals!

a huge thank you to Susan, her dance teacher, for always being so encouraging and supportive to all the girls...we love ya!!!!

...and we were also joined by mom, ( courtney's #1 cheerleader! ) and my friend Syrella....

it was nice to have warm, happy faces with us...thank you for all your support and for coming!!

( and sooooooo???  okay, she's a LITTLE taller than you syrella...not by much! -wink )

...although courtney was a little disappointed with some of her results, not a bad day overall...

four x 3rds and one x 4th.

keep on trucking, kiddo....your day will come!!

:)

...be back soon...

:)

...last night...

...courtney came home from her dance lesson ( that dad took her to for me - so i could rest up my foot in the evening ) -and brought home her note sheets from her dance exams on monday!

the medal tests are organized through the scottish dance teachers' alliance and most of the time, the examiner travels from Scotland to test the dancers...the girls always love chatting with the examiner at the end of the testing because they love to hear her accent!!

anyway...as i said in my post the day of courtney's exams, we were notified shortly after that courtney had done very well and received the highest mark you can get on both of her exams!!!

highly commended!!

well done again, miss courtney!  i know how hard you worked to do your best and it paid off!!

:)

...also, last night, while the house was somewhat quiet, i finished printing off photos on my Canon Selphy ( LOVE! ) and organized the rest of the pages to finish working on courtney's "teenager" mini album for her 13th birthday photo shoot!!!!

FUN!!!!

...the kids both had dentist appointments first thing this morning and i was happy to hear, once again...NO CAVITIES!  Yaaayyyyy!!!  And courtney was somewhat disappointed - once again - to hear that she is still not ready to get her braces on yet!  3 more teeth to lose first!!  ( but my wallet is happy we will get through chirstmas without telling her that 'guess what you're present is this year?'  Hahahaha!!! )

...tyler is looking forward to his "Bring a Buddy" bowling tournament this saturday through his YBC program - he is bringing a GIRL!!!  ( heeheehee - his longtime friend Kelly )

...and miss courtney is looking forward to her first winter dance competition this saturday morning as well!  this is the last competition until January...with the exception of her christmas dance concert coming up on Dec.4!!!!  ( family and friends...i sent out an email with the info for the concert...let me know if you need tickets or more info!!! )

....be back soon...

:)

a thought...

...thought for the day, especially when i get frustrated on

'what to make for supper tonight?'

with a picky eater son.....

don't you just feel like this somedays?? 

our kitchens are not restaurants, afterall!!!!

HAHAHAHA...thanks Sasha Farina for sharing this pin,

it made my day, while thinking about dinner planning...

...be back soon...

...just a couple things...





...this weekend was fairly quiet around our house.  i have been taking advantage of not having lots to do and getting my foot a good rest.  plantar faciaitis...not fun. 

i start physio tomorrow afternoon and am not looking forward to it.

anyway...saturday was a special day as my 2nd cousin Trish got married!!

it was a fun, fun happy day!

...and TODAY was miss courtney's semi-annual highland dance exams at the prairie theatre exchange in portage place!  this was her first time doing exams with susan as her dance teacher...so it was an exciting day for them both!

...and courntey had her dance pal kailey to keep company with as they were doing the same exams together!

...i want to thank susan for all her work and efforts with the girls in getting them ready for today!  ( i've heard back from susan since the exams this morning and was tipped that courtney's results were awesome!  YAY!! )

...and a tradition since her first dance exams at age 4 or 5...we always to "SWEETZ" candy shop in the mall after she is done to pick out a special treat for hard work!!  here's her choice of the day...



...we are looking forward to a quiet family night in tonight to watch the Jets game together...

( as i blog right now, the kids are in the back yard raking up the last of the leaves so Mike can start prepping for our backyard hockey rink again this winter!! )

...be back soon...

:)

...a special little tea party...

on saturday i had a fun little tea party luncheon for a few of my closest friends from my childhood, my younger days, and my current scrapbooking world of friends who have become like sisters to me!

(and of course, my mom!)

i wanted to make the special time to tell each of them how much i have valued their friendship in my life through all my FORTY YEARS...hahha...and to tell them how much i appreciate their shoulders to cry on, their hugs, their love and their support and continuous encouragement through all the trials and challenges i have leaned on them for in my life.

my journey with my friend lynn, courtney's former highland dance teacher, who has been a major part of my life, was actually the one who inspired the meaning behind this little tea party.

i don't want to come to a point in my life where it may be valuable time left, like i am sharing with lynn now, to tell these rocks in my life what a difference they have made being a part of my life.

to tell them how much i appreciate their love and what wonderful friends they have all been to me, and i know will only continue to be there for each other as we get old and grey!!!

anyway....i suppose my turning 40 last month was heavy in my heart and mind because i really did go through a period 'before the milestone' that time was running short, that time was precious, and was having all these bizzare dreams/nightmares about death and loss of time.

so i decided that this was going to be one way for me to deal with all these anxiety's and start by sharing my love and appreciation.

so, there you have it.

i am teaching myself through this chapter in my life, to be more grateful for everyone AND everything i have been blessed with in my life.

...and so begins Chapter One...with some fun photos to share along with it!!

x0x0

...i don't have my own personally picked and registered for china dishes, so i improvised!

i had a total blast 'thrifting' over the last couple of months and putting together all the tea cups and saucers, dinner plates, soup bowls and 2 of the 3 teapots...( one was already mine! )

...i wanted everyone's cup and saucer to be different, because we are ALL different as a person too, and washed and wrapped up each of their sets after lunch to take home as a keepsake from our special day together!!!

(dang, i loved this tea party stuff!!!!)



...our luncheon menu:

-homemade chicken noodle soup w/crackers

-mini sandwiches on pink and white bread

(egg salad, flaked ham)

-mini chicken salad croissants

-sliced garlic dill pickles ( that i made with tracy this summer)

-spinach,egg & bacon salad with creamy poppyseed dressing

-homemade Sugar Shack Maple Walnut Cheesecake

(my first time making a baked cheesecake!)

-and chocolate cake with raspberries, baked for me by lynn's mom

(and saved for today's tea party!)

teas served:

-classic orange pekoe

-decaf earl grey

-herbal blueberry & pomogranite

...i love these photos of my friends because they are all "in the moment" and not posed...

and completely and totally enjoying the moment too!!!

...( and i LOVE that thelma "Miss Thang" brought in her special tea party attire to share with us!! )

...now...

i am not saying to have a tea party or anything like that ( unless you really WANT to because, believe me, it was soooo much fun ) but i do encourage you to

'pay it forward',

the sentiment behind the tea party,

and tell someone you love them TODAY!

...be back soon...

:)





A Halloween P.S....

...i am meeting a few requests here...

i hosted my annual Halloween Hall Crop on friday, Oct. 28, and here's a few of the pic's that

i took from the event...if any of you who attended have some good shots, I would love to see some if you have time to email a few to me!!

(thegriffs@mts.net)

...tyler helping to get little treats ready for everyone...

...courtney painting a pumpkin for the "scrap a pumpkin challenge" sample!!

(so cute! )

...awesome yummy cupcakes from "C Cups" bakery for extra little prizes!!!

...Bahahaha....Tara and Jen...our sumo wrestlers...FRICKIN' HILARIOUS!!!!!

:)

                                     ....marnie, jill and diane (the tourist, the cowgirl and the shoffeur?)

...and karen and elaine...the angel and the devil...heeheehee...

                                     ....and the girls who dressed up for the fun of Halloween...GREAT JOB!!!

...and 'scrap a pumpkin' BEFORE and AFTER....

-again...great job everyone!!!!

:)



...I LOOOOVE our Halloween Crop every year...and I hope my 40 scrappers who attended enjoyed themselves again this year too!!!

:)

...be back soon...