bright nights christmas train

After the aquarium we decided to surprise the kids with the Bright Nights train in Stanly Park. It was very cold and rainy but the bonus was no lines or crowds. Dale doesn't agree with me but I didn't think there was a big difference between this lighted train ride and the one in Birch Bay.

'the aquarium'

If you read this blog enough you know how long the aquarium has been on our to do list. Yesterday we finally went. We thought we would be really smart and avoid the Black Friday madness in Bellingham and head north. The aquarium was perfect not too many people and  the new holiday 4D movie , The Polar Express was incredible! The aquarium is definitely a family favorite and we had a great time.

our thanksgiving turkey...

Amelia wanted to be buried in the snow while Dale was shovelling the driveway. Silly girl!

grateful for...

my Grandpa. I have been blessed with a lifelong close relationship with my Grandpa. I spent almost as much time at my grandparents as my own house growing up. My grandpa has been with me to celebrate all the major milestones in my life including walking me down the aisle on my wedding day. This summer when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer it was terribly upsetting but I also know that I have been incredibly lucky to have had all this time with him. My kids know him as Papa and love him dearly as well. Today I am incredibly grateful for the power of prayer and chemo as his tumor markers are down to 58 from 1300 in September!

grateful for...

sweet Linden. He has showed our family this year that miracles really do happen. Born at 27 weeks and 2 pounds 13 ounces he is growing into the beautiful person he was meant to be (I am not saying he wasn't beautiful when he was born). We have been amazed at his growth and development these past few months.  I love to see my sister loving being a mom. I am so grateful for you Linden!

first snow day!

We woke up to snow on Saturday! These pictures where taken approx 3 minutes after the kids woke up. They piled their snow gear on over top of their pj's and went for it in the backyard. The civilized adults drank their coffee and ate breakfast and got dressed before grabbing our sleds.

sweet snow story

Last night we were sleeping in the basement waiting for the hardwood to be finished. We noticed it had started to snow and made the mistake of telling the kids just after we had settled them into bed . Kids sleeping on the pull out couch together = lots of monkey business. They had to get out of bed and watch the snow and wanted to go out and play.We talked them into going back to bed and waiting  until morning. Dale and I had settled into bed to watch a movie when we heard the basement door open to the outside and little three year old girl voice whisper shyly... ummmm Santa. So sweet.

right now...{11.17.10 8:05 edition}

Outside my window...the wind is blowing . Leaves and assorted recycling are swirling down the street. Why are the windiest days always garbage days?



I am thinking... I should get my day started. The kids are still sleeping... I have lunches to prepare, people to dress, beds to make, dishes to do...but I'm not feeling very motivated.

I am thankful for...our health. Dale is petty much back to normal, kids are cough and snot free (please don't jinx myself for saying that out loud)


From the kitchen...my empty bowl of yogurt, orange and granola is needing to put in the dishwasher but that means I would have to unload the clean dishes out of dishwasher....


I am wearing...my pyjamas and bare feet.
I am creating...a Christmas nightie for Amelia.
I am going...to get dressed, tidy house, take kids to school, get lab work done before doctors appt tomorrow, take Amelia to dance class, pick up from early release, let garage door repair in to repair our broken door, make dinner, read with kids, send Dale and the kids to basketball practice, go to bible study...Wednesdays are our busy days.



I am reading...  Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda and it's pretty good. I finished Little Bee by Chris Cleave a few days ago and didn't really love it. Also read The Outlander by Gil Adamson for book club and did like it after the first few chapters.
*just glanced at Aiden's new library book titled What are the levels of government? People, power, and process. Now that sounds like an exciting topic for a second grader!


I am hoping....to have a good day.



I am hearing...the cans of sweetened condensed milk rattle on the stovetop where they are boiling for three hours for a hopefully yummy treat tonight.



Around the house... it is quiet and pretty tidy. * Aiden just got up and is flying his newest paper airplane.


One of my favorite things to look at...is my new kitchen and family room.



A few plans for the rest of the week...having our hardwood refinished AGAIN, early release from school, parent teacher conference and possibly snow???

fancy nancy fun

Today Amelia took great pleasure in dressing up as only she knows how to celebrate one of her favorite fictional characters. There was a Fancy Nancy story time at the local bookstore. It was pretty cute to see all the little ones dressed up in their fanciest finery.

rememberance day 2012

Thursday we spent the day in Canada celebrating Rememberance Day. The past few years that has meant spending the day with my Grandpa. We watch him in the parade and listen to the ceremony. Afterwards, we have lunch at my grandparents and visit. This year was really nice as we were able to spend time with family we never seem to see and watch the cutest lil baby melt every one's heart.

gratitude tree

I wanted to do this project in November to display our family's gratitude. The kids and I made the leaves out of coffee filters and watercolors and have about fifty premade (I'm hoping I run out and have to make more!) Right now we are getting the basic gratitudes out of the way but I'm looking forward to the more creative ones as the month progresses! Another requirement is the project didn't cost anything so we gathered the branches from outside, reused an old ribbon, painted rocks with chalkboard paint and pillaged the Costco stack of coffee filters.

ninja barkmulch

This is a story from first grade that I was reminded of while doing laundry today. I need to record this story so Aiden can one day realize how ridiculous his story was. Last year at the beginning of first grade when they are allowed to use real scissors unsupervised Aiden came home with a cut in his brand new jeans close to the zipper. It was so obvious that he had cut them with scissors but he was insistent it happened another way. Here's his version of the story...
Aiden: Mom, I was just standing at the playground and this piece of barkmulch jumped up and sliced my jeans.
Me: Really? A piece of 'ninja barkmulch' jumped 2 feet and sliced your jeans.
Aiden: Yes, that's what really happened
And I just left it at that because it was such a ridiculous story. Every once a while I warn Aiden to watch out for the ninja barkmulch and he replies "I will Mom"

career day

Aiden had to dress up for career day at school on Monday. So.. he chose a SWAT team member.

quick and easy/down and dirty...

memory keeping. That's what I'm into these days. I had made these mini books up years ago and now my Halloween scrapbooking is done in less than 90 seconds. A picture in costume each year - so fun to look through already...How can Aiden already have had EIGHT costumes! This childhood thing is going way too fast. Sigh.

Hallow's Eve

Once again we lucked out with good trick or treating weather. The kids could only hold out to 5:30pm and then we let them loose in the neighborhood. It was definitely a race through the subdivision and everyone was back home by 7pm. I like that. We had a lil pre funk before heading out and all the families dressed up. Dale was a nerd and I was a librarian but the pictures are a little fuzzy.