Friday, June 10, 2011

YEP.....




...at last!!

I was just thinking about some of our favorite things we are looking forward to doing this summer and here's a little list I came up with:

*NO school for 2 months!
*going to our family cabin
*jetskiing
*trying fishing for the fist time at the lake in our "new to us" fishing boat with the kids
*bonfires and marshmallows
*summer jello shooters
*my 'sippie cup' at the beach
*soaking up some warm sunshine and getting a tan
*doing some bike riding with the kids
*lots of swimming
*SLEEPING IN!
*catching up lots of scrapbooking
*going to Nova Scotia with Courtney for dance ( for a week )
*possibly a quick little family trip to the States for some shopping?
*going to a bunch of parks
*picnic lunches at Patricia Beach
*late night movie nights with popcorn
*eating home made fries at the lake chipstand
*AND TONS MORE!!!!!

..are you ready for summer??? 
...what are YOU going 'to do'???

...be back soon...
:)

Monday, June 6, 2011

here i go again...




really...???  since May 18???
welll...Golly Gee Jack Joe.

OK.
so May long weekend a group of us went out to Miami,Mb for a VEGAS themed 3 day crop!!
Lori, who owns a cute little scrapbooking shop called
Love is in the details, in Miami, was our wonderful hostess!!!
...anyway...after checking in at the Super 8 in Morden, we were off to get to work and lots of fun at the crop in Miami....we were greeted at the door with personalized name tags for the weekend...even the gold necklace is all little dice!  So cute! And a fun little program of sketch challenges...

...i don't have any very good pictures to share with you of the full costume ( once my friends upload theirs I can copy and paste here to show you ) BUT...
ELVIS WAS IN THE HOUSE!!!!
hahahahaha...so much fun!
Elvis was even asked to pose with lots of groups for photos on the 'gambling strip'....(wink)

...Elvis and Tracy...

...Grams and Tara...

...I don't think i need to tell you their names...hahahaha....so awesome!!

...my mommy...


...and LOOK...
Tracy even got a TATT at 'Miami Ink'...HAHA!
,,,and this gal is Lori, our wonderfully creative and friendly hostess!!
Thank you for such a bang up job and welcoming hospitality....we had a ball!!!!
:)
...somewhere during the next week, the kids sucked me into new water guns...i shoulda known that tyler wouldn't be able to resist squirting The Mom....


...and also during that next week, it was crunch time to get all my food planning, cooking and preparations done for my own upcoming 2 day hall crop - Scrap into Summer - on May 27/28...
...my mom willingly came over to help me stuff and roll all my cabbage rolls ( i think we made just over 100 )


...and courtney was most happy to help make some newly inspired RAINBOW CUPCAKES that i learned about from another friend in scrapbooking...couldn't wait to try them out!!
( and FYI...courtney is a cupcake making Diva...she's all over making them - ANYTIME!! )

...may 26, a thursday night, we ( mom, mike and i ) were off to the hall to get the tables all set up and decorate so it would be one less thing to worry about friday afternoon!!

...i had NO time to take any pictures over the course of my event, so IF anyone has time to upload them on Facebook or your blog so I can copy and print them I would love you forever!!!!
...this was part of a late night friday night snack...stove popped popcorn in sand pails...minus the sand!!

...and also over the course of that weekend...by late saturday night when I returned from the event, it was becoming obvious that our little bunny Oliver was in some distress....tummy troubles.
Sunday he was pretty lethargic all day and his poor little tummy was gurgling away...
he had mushy poo's and was barely eating anything...and hiding in his little house.
he was in trouble.
so monday morning i called the vet and she said to bring him in immediately.
so i did.
and he had no fever.  and a fecal analysis showed no blood or parasites...so she started treatment as 'unknown gastro enteritis'.
:(
...we had to only feed him hay and also 3xdaily syringe feed him this Critical Care food which was NO FUN at all, for any of us.  i had to wrap him up in a towel ( a bunny burrito ) and Mike would slowly feed him with the syringe...i can't tell you how many times this week we've had to keep re-wrapping him up because he would escape!!  I was covered in food and bunny hair by the time we got done!! HAHA! 

...the hopes were for solid poops, and giving him meds ( also by FUN syringe ) for pain and anitbiotics...
SIGH.
it's such a sad and helpless feeling when they don't understand why you are doing these things to them and you only want to help them get better.....

...last wednesday was courtney's band concert...so i made the kids help out in the kitchen with getting dinner ready...and YES, tyler is really cooking cut up chicken breast on the stove!!!  His first time COOKING!
and here's what we made for our main course...
Chicken and broccoli garlic alfredo....YUMMY!!

...and miss courtney's band concert went great...
good job kids!!!!!
:)

...on thursday, we were back at the vet.  Oliver was just showing no real signs of improvement, and he was getting so stressed out from his syringe feedings...and no solid poopies yet.
:(
so we had to bring him in for Xrays.


...now we were onto something...
true diagnosis:  Gastro Intestinal Stasis 'the silent killer' of bunnies....
fortunately we were on this problem very early to treat it and get him on proper meds...
and today ( Monday  June 6 ) i am happy to tell you that after a long and scary week it looks like Oliver is well on his way to a full healthy recovery!!!
He still has 2 more days of meds, BUT he was allowed to start eating his usual pellet food last night and this morning...and we are getting solid poopies once again!!  ( not quite normal yet, but getting there!! )

So. Happy and Relieved.
:)

...Hmmm....
...friday Mike decided to start reno-ing the bathroom.
so...with being short on time as we were having a bridal shower here on sunday..the race with time was on!!
here's a couple before / during pics...i will post the after ones soon!!

...saturday, while mike was painting, mom and i went to get the rest of the groceries for Erith's bridal shower that we hosted in our house yesterday afternoon!!
so saturday night was more food prepping and cleaning up!!
AND...of course a pizza party while the Hockey Game was on....
GO CANUCKS!!!
GREAT game....GREAT OT goal Burrows!!!!
WooooHoooo!!!

...and here's some pics from the shower yesterday...
we played a little game with the girls called "toilet paper brides"....each TEAM had to choose who the bride would be and then design her gown / headpiece out of toilet paper!!!
FUN!
Team Dianimal won...( the gal on the right! )


...the dresses in the making....hahahahaha!!!

My brother Curt and his fiance Erith's wedding is coming up fast on July 23....their wedding colors are yellow and blue....so i bought yellow gerbers for the table ( for her to take home later ) and Miss Courtney iced all the cupcakes for us with yellow and silver candies!!!
( and thank you to Tara for the use, once again, of her cupcake stand!!!  - giggle )



...and that, my friends, is what you call one mother of a catch up!!!!
HAHAHA...
...be back soon...

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Here's today's new list of...


CURRRENTLY...

Drinking:  Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea ( YUM )
Eating:  waiting to go to my Moms for homemade hamburgers
Reading:  Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli ( Courtney's library book -  I finished it last night...so sad )



Wearing:  lime green button shirt w/black tank top, black capri's...and barefoot! WoooHoooo!!!!
Feeling:  anxious, excited and hopeful!
Weather:  a beautiful +23degrees, warm and sunny
Wanting:  more hours in the day
Needing:  to seriously catch up my 365: Project Life album ( YIKES )
Thinking: ...i LOVE James ( American Idol ) for all he was trying so hard to be...he can and will still do it, but I think he was done WRONG with last weeks elimination.
( my opinion leans heavily towards the controversy started by his ex-stepdad selling STAR magazine a story of James' childhood...I agree that the producers of the show fixed the decision, and was not based on votes at all last week because once again , the producers don't want their Idol winners having any skeletons in their closets...look what happened to Adam Lambert for example....)
Enjoying:  some quiet time reading on my swing in my backyard!
Wondering:  how the heck i am going to cram time into packing up for this weekend?  HA!

...and what's up with YOU currently???
:)

after a loooong delay in finally attending, i took courtney yesterday after school to see the Titanic exhibit!!
it was pretty awesome and humbling at the same time....
happy to report that based on our Boarding Passenger names and facts,
we
were
both
survivors!!!!

(whew)


...okay...off to moms for supper we go, then to dance, then the good 'ol hockey game tonight...
GO CANUCKS!!!!
:)

...be back soon...



Monday, May 16, 2011

Two things....


okay...welll, actually three things!


1) THANK YOU to my sweet, sweet BFF Nikki for taking me out for a spontaneous breakfast this morning...i LOVE out of the blue surprises that work out and finish with a smile!!
MUAH!
( ...a breakfast which also included a run out to Bath and Body Works and Old Navy...heeheehe )


2)  i found Heaven. 
oh ya, baby.  i did.
over the Christmas holidays, i was given a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates...you know the kind, with the 3 different balls wrapped up??  well, i am like a cat to catnip with the silver foil wrapped milk coconut ones...
AND today, while checking out at walmart, i looked up and
LOW AND BEHOLD...it was like a light from the heavens shining down on them, angels singing in harmony, a frozen happy moment in time...
THERE. THEY. WERE.
hahahaha....for the record, i didn't waste time, i bought TWO packages and they are GONE!
Mmmm....
if you EVER want to butter me up for something...this is my catnip!!! (wink)

...which leaves me with thing three..

3)  i was told that lots of people were having trouble leaving me a comment on my new blog, so after investigating my settings, i have unlocked the comments open to anyone and everyone...
it was previously set to other account holders only....so the problem should now be solved...
comment away my friends...comment away!!

...be back soon...
:)

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Captain's Log...Day One!

Well, hello...
welcome to my NEW blog!!!
Us:  Documented.
most of you won't be surprised to learn that last week, i ran out of memory in my blogger album account ( HAHA ) so that meant either starting to delete a bunch of my first, original posts to make room or buy more memory for a year at a time...
BUT, creative soul that i am, decided that i do NOT want to delete any of my older posts, dating back to 2007 when I first started my blog, and that the only practical decision would be to just start a new one!!!
i still look back on my old, old posts...it's really a journal for me, and i love seeing my family's lives there, in photographic therapy, and reflect on where we were, to where we are now in our lives....how can one erase those memories???
so, here begins Part Two in my blogging world!
i will be making some changes and updates to the blog as i become more familiar with the new change, but for now, i just wanted to update this last week for you!
this was taken during my snuggle playtime visit with Oliver last night...he is my little buddy, that's for sure!


...I am going to go back to share a few things from Mother's Day with you...since that's the day that i discovered that i apparently take too many pictures for Blogger to keep up with me!
HAHAHAHA!!
these were my school gifts that tyler had made for me...i LOVE my little green book, and the butterfly remains on the fridge!

...and my fun card that courntey made me...
(i think it's pretty funny that she is clipping R-Patz pics from her Teen Magazines to add to my cards lately...)

...and for supper, tyler had asked if i could make homemade meatballs and rice-a-roni for supper...
so since it was Mother's Day, and now i had to cook, i made him help me roll all the meatballs! 
a boy should know how to cook, anyway!

...we had Mom and Airiel come and join us for dinner too...

...adding on another favorite - corn on the cob and spinach salad!

Hmm....
on May 10th's dance lesson, courtney had a real good hornpipe and jig workout with her teacher...

...and during her lesson, i got a text from TYLER on mike's blackberry!!!!
what a kid!


...also on may 10 was my niece Airiel's 20th birthday!!!
i just loved looking at all her old baby pic's, and selecting this one to share on Facebook as well!!

heheehee!
...my, how 20 years fly by...
Happy Birthday again, kiddo...we love you lots!!
x0x0

...may 11 was an exciting day...well, for tyler anyway!
i joined his classroom on a field trip to Assiniboine Park Zoo!!!
i haven't been there since i went with courtney's class in grade 1!
i guess it was time...

...and then that day was his much anticipated big bowling banquet to wrap up his first year in bowling!!
it was held at St. Emile Hall on St. Anne's and he was most excited to get going!

we had a buffet style dinner, which was most enjoyable and then on with the presentations...
much to all of our excitement, tyler walked out with a whack of awards...i was starting to feel a little guilty after a while...but he has worked hard and accomplished so much in his first year, and we are very, very proud of you little man!!!  keep up the great work!
tyler bowls as a bantam bowler and in his division, he won:
-Most Improved
-Family Twosome with Mike ( parents scores didn't count )
-2nd place roll-off's - Championship Division
and...
Bowler of the Year for Dakota Lanes Bantams!!!

...however, sad news for me the next night on American Idol...
...you all know i've been rooting for James Durbin since auditions, and last thursday night,
he was the next Idol cut from the competition.
soooooo sad for him, i cried right along with him.
BUT....he is sooo talented, i know he will be going on to recording in the near future...
this won't be the last of James Durbin!!!!!

ROCK ON JAMES, ROCK ON...
x0x0

...i really don't give a rat's butt who wins now of the three left.
i don't like any of them in particular, but this is all only my opinion!!!
i will only watch the finale, in hopes that Steven Tyler stays true to his word and sings a song with James!!!
and i promised myself to never get sucked into another season of American Idol again...
it's frustrating enough with my other obsession...
So You Think You Can Dance!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

...be back soon...
:)