i have

an infection in the bronchial tree. Lovely. I finally went to get checked out by a doctor, after keeping myself awake for nights coughing, and coughing and coughing {well, really I went to the doctor for Miss S's coughing - turns out she is fine, I am not}. I just have not been able to kick this bug and it is driving me crazy.

When I get a cough it always seems to linger, so I was given an inhaler to use and some seriously strong prescription cough medicine. I am looking forward to a wonderful drug induced sleep tonight...

I think the kiddies and I will be staying in, today. It seems like a good day to snuggle in and watch a Disney movie, and watch the snow fall on the trees in our new yard. I love our new view. It makes me feel like we are in a cottage in the woods, and it looks so pretty with all the snow.

One last thing, that I am thinking about today, is how another one of my favorite magazines is ceasing publication. Simple Scrapbooks. I find this so sad. Renee mentioned it to me when we were out for coffee the other day, and I couldn't believe it, but here is the official announcement.

I have been a subscriber for years now, and I look forward to getting each new issue in the mail. They are now going to combine Simple Scrapbooks with Creating Keepsakes {another scrapbooking magazine by the same publisher}, however they usually feature two different styles of scrapbooking, so I am not sure what the new magazine will be like... And what will I be reading soon if more of my favorite magazines can't survive this economy...???

catching up...

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post...OK, yes I can. Things have been crazy around here! We have survived the move, but haven't taken any photos yet. It was beyond freezing the day of the move. We had to wear snowsuits and winter boots in the house all day, with the movers coming and going, there was not a warm spot anywhere inside. So now, of course, we have all been sick, sick, sick since the move and haven't gotten back to normal yet. Luckily we had great movers that worked quickly, considering they probably had frostbite! And we are so thankful to Jill and Ian, who even took time off work, to help us move and get settled! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

It is taking me way longer than I thought to get this house set up...most rooms are partially set up, the only totally finished rooms are the kiddies. I didn't want to take photos with the house still such a mess, but maybe I can find a way to show you bits and pieces {and you will just have to ignore the unpacked boxes, and rooms that don't have light fixtures yet, etc}...

Anyway here is a quick catch up on the last few weeks:

• packing, packing and more packing
• celebrating Miss K's 3rd birthday at her princess party
• I started taking Pilates classes
• K's mom came here for a few days, helping us watch the kiddies during all the packing and moving
• Miss S started dancing classes again
• moving on possibly the coldest day of the year so far. I think it was almost -40 with the wind chill
• dealing with appliances that never showed up when they were supposed to {still don't have our double oven, and we went for a few days without the fridge and dishwasher - we were keeping our food in the the garage - it was like camping!} and new furniture that came late
• R celebrating a classmate's birthday with a sledding party {there were just a few boys there from his class, and R went all by himself, and had a blast - his first non-parented party!}
• lots of playdates and playing at indoor play centers with friends to escape the cold
• lots of ordering food in and eating with friends, while we didn't have appliances!
• R recieving an award at school for being a good listener {in his words, his teacher never has to tell him to sit criss-cross-applesauce and put his hands in his lap} and standing in front of the gym full of students to do it {so proud of my shy boy for being able to do this, and for being a good listener - at school, anyway!!!}
• lots of watching the snow fall, and fall, and fall some more {but actually, the view of the snow falling in the trees in our backyard is really pretty!}
• me, escaping a few times with girlfriends, to do some shopping for the new house {even once across the border in NY} some crafting, some exercising, some coffee drinking...

So there, you are all caught up! And here we are, still sick, and tired, and tired, and sick. But we love our new house. And I will be getting back into blogging regularly, as soon as I recover from this latest crazy virus that has me just wiped out!

how cool is this?

I just saw a peek of the new Chatterbox line for 2009...and I LOVE this Artsy Album Stand {"to artfully display your artsy little books"}!


If you see one in the shops...let me know {just don't tell my husband}! Here is the link to rest of the Chatterbox catalogue.

Cheers!

spiders and snakes and...crocodilians, oh my!

Sound scary? It was for me. But apparently not for Miss S {this photo should come with a warning...I know I am going to get phone calls from my horrified family members}...

Yes. I know. That is my precious little girl with a snake around her neck. For real. I tried to keep her away {but she couldn't hear me from my hiding spot around the corner}.

We were invited to Q's birthday party which included a show by Little Ray's Reptile Zoo, right in Kelly's family room! The perfect entertainment for 4 year old boys {and Miss S and Miss A, I guess - who would have thought our two little girls would be right in there with the scary animals!}

If it makes you feel any better, I did not allow Miss S anywhere near this guy...

{seriously Kelly, I don't know how you slept in your house, after having him in it!}

or this one {Christine's boys loved it}...

I was OK with the tortoise {I think I could outrun him}...

Where was R during all of this? Sitting and listening quietly and calmly, not going near any of the animals, just soaking it all in...

As soon as the show was over he ran up to me and said "Mom, I want that guy to come to my birthday party. His name is Kevin". Then he went and grabbed a brochure from Kevin the reptile guy...thanks Kelly! His birthday isn't for a while...what are the chances he forgets about the scary animals in my house idea???

scrapbook monday

I am not scrapping tonight with the girls, because K is at the hockey game - watching Canada chase it's fifth straight World Junior gold!

So instead, I will post a couple layouts I did last night. I had the cutest photos of Miss S on my kitchen counter all week {until I finally mailed them out to family - they are on the way to you now} and I just could not resist scrapping them. I just titled them "Two" because Grandma swears Miss S looks like a five-year old in them...

Go Canada Go!

one little word

In the spirit of the new year and new beginnings, I have come up with my "one little word", Ali Edwards-style! My one little word 2009 is

calm

I need calm in my life. And I need it now! I am not naturally a calm person. I talk too much, worry too much and get excited way too easily. Whatever. In 2009, I am going to enhance my calm! When my kids are misbehaving...I will be calm. When I am exhausted and in over my head with life...I will be calm. After we move again and finally get settled...I will be calm. And now you can hold me to it.

You can read about Ali's one little word concept here. And this is a quote from Ali's blog about the power of one little word:

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2009?

It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities.

I am also going a step further, to have one little mantra for 2009. And it will be this:

{this is a reproduction of a WWII poster issued as a means of allaying public fear - I bought a red one last year on etsy to hang in my scraproom}

I think in order for me to remain calm, I will need my kiddies to also be calm, so I have decided that they should have a mantra too. And it will be this:

I need this print for Miss S's room. I love it! It was done by Jenni & Aaron of Every Day Is A Holiday, check out their etsy shop here.

What is your one little word?

auld lang syne

I cannot believe it is 2009. It has been a crazy year for me. And it has just gone by so quickly. Who knew that I would be here - across the country, away from family and friends and the place I grew up - in a new city, a new home, making new friends and a new life? Who knew it would be so fun? If you asked me a year ago, I would have said "Not me".

But here I am, at the end of a big year, and I'm doing OK. Actually, better than OK, I'm doing pretty good! The four of us are doing well, we are all healthy and happy, and having a good time. And now, home to me is where ever the four of us are... So all is good. Happy New Year!
To celebrate, the kiddies and I went to Jill & Ian's for a New Year's Eve party. Kelly & Patrick, Christine & Larry, and Jen were there too, and several other new friends. We went early for a wonderful dinner with adults and kiddies. After dinner and some play, kiddies were put to bed upstairs, and the adults carried on with the party! K arrived from work, just after I had put the kiddies to bed in a guest room, but in time to still hear the giggling, playing and having-way-too-much-fun going on upstairs! Eventually the kiddies actually fell asleep, and we rang in the New Year. We toasted with champagne, and eventually K and I took our still sleeping kiddies home!