A long time ago...

The last time I wrote on this blog was almost a year ago now!!  Wow time flies and wow things have changed!  I'm going to try to blog on a much more regular basis so wish me luck.  To start I'll recap what the last 8 months have been like.

I was newly pregnant with our third child and living in our small but comfortable home.

Our oldest turned 5 years old!  I still can't believe it's been 5 years we have had this beautiful girl in our lives.  We are truly blessed to have her.

Pat had his last birthday in our little home right before our big move.  They love to pose for the camera!!

We then bought a new house and moved into it (with lots of help from family and friends) on one of the hottest days of the summer (the humidity was insane)!  We were really excited and didn't want to wait.  We were only in the house for 5 days before we left on our holidays to the lake for the week.  We definitely enjoyed the laid back and relax life of living at the lake.  Some maybe more than others.

We did a lot of traveling in the next two months.  The girls and I went with my sister-in-law and her little man to see my sister and brother-in-law for 5 days.  So nice to have that time together!!  The kids could not get enough of each other and my poor brother-in-law had to listen to us three women talk and talk and talk and talk and talk!!  Gotta love sisters :)

We had some fun days at home enjoying our new space.

Our, now 5 year old, daughter started kindergarten!!  So we are talking all things school related and she is loving it.  

In September we had another amazing holiday through the mountains to BC.  A brother-in-law and (now) sister-in-law honored us with the opportunity to celebrate their wedding with them and enjoy some free days around a beautiful camp.  It was in the most beautiful place and was a perfect day!!  We spent so much time just being present with each other and relaxing.  Priceless.

At the merry-go-round in the Calgary Zoo.

Looking at the sites in downtown Jasper.

Checking out the water fall at Johnston's Canyon.

Cousins enjoying a pontoon boat ride at Rockridge.

Zipline at 7 months pregnant!!  SOOOOOO fun and safe of course!!

 Serena lost her first tooth!!

 I kept growing and felt great the whole time!

Halloween came and we had a little ballerina and Dalmatian puppy on our hands.  Too cute!

Our due date for our second daughter was just after Halloween and I said if I made to Halloween I would paint my belly like a pumpkin so I did.

Oct 31, 2008

And now this third pregnancy I was again due just after Halloween.  The girls wanted to do it again so we did!  They had so much fun and asked if we could do it the next day too.   

October 31, 2011

 Our second daughter celebrated her 3rd Birthday!  Now she's not our little baby, she's a big girl.  She was so sick on her actual birthday (puking and feverish all day -poor thing).  So she never even ate cake that day just blew out the candle.  I made her a better cake for her party that weekend and she was feeling much better. 

Then our littlest one joined us a week later (very quickly I must say but that is for another day)!

Since then we have just been adapting to life with three beautiful girls in a house that fits us all so well.  They can run and be crazy with their dad just to burn off steam and it is so good to see.  Lots of energy, lots of fun and lots of laughter!!  That's what makes a home.

Well I think that's enough pictures by now.  Hopefully I can post this many with one entry. 

This has been the last eight months and it has been great!  I can't wait to see what the next eight bring. 

Until next time, take care and enjoy the little things that make up this big crazy life!! 

So I'm growing a baby. Happy Mother's Day to me!!!

You read correctly.  We are having another baby!!!  I'm due middle of November!! 

Everyone in our family is excited.  The girls are noticing my stomach growing and they both understand that a baby is in there so I'm waiting for the questions of "how did it get in there?" and "how will it come out?"
Oh my. 

I have always tried to be as honest as I can with answering any and all questions they have.  I want them to know that if they ask me I will tell them the truth (maybe not every detail at that very moment depending on their age but the truth about the matter nonetheless).  The time will come and I will do my best. 

So about this baby growing business, who knew you could forget things after already having 2 babies!!

21 weeks with our first daughter

26 weeks with our second daughter

This I have done.
I feel like a new mom with all the same concerns and worries, fears and doubts.  Oh isn't this part of pregnancy grand.
When I come to think about it though, it wouldn't matter how many pregnancies you have.  













As a future mom to that helpless little being inside, it means you have to think of the huge responsibility that is to come with caring for, protecting, loving, teaching and nurturing them through out their life.  What a job!!!  The rewards and benefits with this job are by far the best!!  Numerous hugs and kisses, sweet little faces looking at you, smiles upon smiles, and every inch of their little bodies being the CUTEST part you have ever seen!   




Being a mom is HARD & DIFFICULT.  Sometimes.
Being a mom is EASY & SIMPLE.  Sometimes.

Being a mom means you are a hero and the judge and jury.
Being a mom means you have decisions to make and to live with.
Being a mom means you can heal pain with the power of your kiss.
Being a mom means you will be loved and not liked sometimes.
Being a mom means feeling pride and pain.
Being a mom means tears and so much more laughter.
Being a mom means the world to a little person and what a world you can create.


Wow doesn't it feel good?  Doesn't it make it all worth it?


I can't wait to meet this little one and feel all those feelings again.  I can't wait to see their little face and delicate features.  I can't wait to add them to our family in the flesh.  I can't wait to hold and kiss and love them.  I can't wait to see Pat hold them and love them like he does with our girls already.  I can't wait to see the girls with the baby and the love they will pour into them.

I can't wait.  I can't wait.
Although I will wait because it will be sooooo worth it!!

(p.s. I still can't wait though.)   

to be creative...

What does being creative mean to you?

There are so many outlets to showing your creativity.  Personally, I love to scrapbook, make crafts for kids and bake!! 

This is the process I am working though for my sister's wedding album!!

I find scrapbooking so much fun!!  It is challenging to figure out what kind of layout to use, which paper looks best, is it enough or too much embellishing and now what pictures do I use?!  Once that page or pages are complete you sit back and look at what you have done and oh my it is satisfying.  I always have to show my husband (he really doesn't care but he still looks at it and compliments my hard work) because who doesn't want to show people something they have taken time to create.  We are proud of our work!!

I also LOVE to bake!  I could really care less about cooking supper, but you tell me you need 8 dozen cookies tomorrow and it would be take out because the oven is busy!  This is not the most healthy creative outlet, so that is why I have more fun with it when I can share it with others and not keep it here at home.  We would be hard core sugar addicts!!

Cake Pops!!  I finally made them and they turned out great!

A bake sale needed some cookies so my daughter and I set off to work.

I can't find my creativity with cooking everyday meals but I would taste anything.  When it comes to baking desserts, cookies, treats, etc. I just love it.  Like those Cake Pops for example, I have seen them everywhere in blog land and kept putting it off.  Then I got asked to donate some baking for a local bake sale and thought, alright here is my opportunity.  I couldn't stop there though, since I really wanted to make heart shaped sugar cookies with my daughter we made those too.  The Cake Pop idea came from here and the sugar cookie recipe came from here.  Both were great tasting and so glad they left our house!! 

Since it is Valentine's Day we did a craft for our daughter's playschool group and they turned out great too!!

We made crayon hearts!!  Soooo cute!!!  I found the idea, again everywhere in blog world, but used these instructions here.  Really easy besides all the peeling of paper.  Boo.  I used our silicone heart shaped ice cube tray from Ikea and put in the oven for about 10 min.  I just watched them and made sure they were all melted.  They sat on the cupboard for quite awhile to cool down and then they popped out easy peasy!  Great idea for favors, birthday gifts, stocking stuffers, and a quick craft to entertain kids.  LOVE THEM!!


I truly believe everyone is able to create something.  It doesn't really matter what it is as long as you do the work and enjoy the feeling afterward.

And last by definitely not least, my two greatest creations.  My girls.

Obviously baby pictures of both but this is how I still see them! 
Aw. 
My girls.

gifted...

There are so many blogs out there.  Many days I could lose myself in them.  Decorating, crafting, parenting, DYI, recipes, photography.  The list goes on and on.  I sit truly amazed at individual's talents and bringing their visions to physically being present for everyone else to enjoy.  They are gifted and I soak up all they write and photograph.  It is inspiring.

My sister-in-law has been blogging for awhile (GO HERE) and boy do I enjoy it.  When she has a new post I grab my coffee and sit down to listen to her talk (I know I'm reading it but she writes like she is talking to you!). 

Reading her blog with my delicious coffee!

Laura writes so beautifully!  She has a fascinating life with 4 beautiful brown-eyed kidlets, a devoted husband and life experiences to last a lifetime.  There is so much knowledge in that gorgeous head of hers that I just drink in all she tells me.  We have our differences but who doesn't.  I feel like I have known her all my life (really only a 1/3 of it) or maybe I feel like she knows the real me sometimes.  I loved how she said she want dig deep and really get to know people.  Those are the conversations that are worth letting the laundry wait and who cares if the house is dirty let's get to know you the REAL you conversations.  I love those ones.  I love listening and sometimes I love sharing them.  My husband told me once that people find it easy to talk to me (sometimes I'm not sure why they are telling me such personal things but I won't turn them away) and I love listening to their lives.  Their hardships, their passions, their adventures it is all so important to who they really are and who they want to become. 

Laura is on a journey and who isn't.  Bless her heart for sharing all she has and all she will. 

Another blogger I know, more through others than personally, is Randi (GO HERE).  Her blog is about being a mother and all that goes with it.  Really she writes about it all!!  I love it.  I relish in her words, her thought and her opinions.  They are refreshing and honest.

Drinking some coffee and joyful words.

These women are sharing and it is powerful.  Randi has a funny approach to somethings and I love that side too.  She wrote about her pregnancy in our local paper and I couldn't wait for the next article.  I has already had our first daughter and so much of what she said was so relevant and honest.  Honestly is suppose to be the best policy right?!

More blogs are out there than it is possible to read.  So many ideas, thoughts, dreams and opinions.  Brilliant, honest, open and caring individuals write their hearts out or just enough to leave you wanting more. 

It is awesome! 

Thank you blog world for letting us connect to others and enjoy every ones gifts.

beatiful music...

Pat playing something beautiful.

My husband can play the piano.
No I mean my husband can REALLY play! 
Not just the few easy songs everyone can work there way through.  He can hear a song take a second and start playing it on the piano.  AMAZING.

I know lots of people that would love to play the way he does including me.  We were given his grandmother's piano and I believe he has played it for at least 10 minutes every day since (that was almost 3 years ago now). 

He can play so fast his hands are blurry.

He can whistle a tune and then just start playing it.  He has a ear for music far beyond what I even understand.  This is one of his many gifts and the girls and I are lucky to be able to listen to his creations. 

I don't think I tell him enough just how good he really is.  I think he would just brush it off and keep playing.  I love it when he gets so into the music he doesn't notice us stop and just stand there listening. 

Beautiful.  Amazing.  Gifted. 

I wish he would share his talent with others so they could have the pleasure in listening, in absorbing the notes to their very soul.  It has taken my breath away on many occasions and I feel honored to bear witness to it and all that he does.  If there is a piano or keyboard in the room he will get to it eventually, he'll start to play and then stop once he realizes people are watching.  He'll stop because they are listening although I don't think he sees that they are amazed to hear this beautiful music that he is playing and they appreciate it.  Everyone appreciates great music and live is always better. 

He is truly gifted. 
He is my husband and I feel lucky, blessed, and honored to know him and be in his presence. 
He is the love of my life and the father to our children.
He is who he is and I love him.  

the sweetest moments...

It has been awhile since I last posted (like 2 1/2 months)!  The other day though I was inspired.

The day started off not so great. Our 4 year old daughter was having some major attitude with me and I'm sure I was part of the problem too but none the less, major attitude. I yelled a lot, too much, where I should have sat down and tried to talk to her and find out what the real problem was (Captain Hindsight where were you?).  So by the time bed time rolled around I was happy and thankful that the fighting would stop (at least while they were sleeping).  I had read a couple stories to the girls and put them to bed together rather than their separate beds (this is so much fun for them and I think it helps them feel more comfortable too).  After the stories we sang a couple songs together and then I asked them to close their eyes while I held their hands and I sung/hummed a lullaby to them. 

The youngest fell asleep rather quickly but the 4 year old just laid there and stared at me.  The moment seemed to stop time.  We just laid there staring at each other with my humming in the background.  I don't know how to fully describe it.  It was one of the most peaceful and beautiful moments because what happen next was as she stared at me you placed one hand on my cheek and the other on the top of my head and closed her eyes.  I gently laid done on her lap and began to softly cry and hum at the same time.  I felt guilty and ashamed for the way I was with her that day and in that moment it didn't seem to matter to her.  She was holding me like I would imagine God would.  She had such grace and was so serene that I felt like I could barely breath.  She is my daughter yet I was the one learning the lesson in that moment.  I know God comes to us in the moments that matter and in that moment I felt like a child asking forgiveness for my actions from him and from my daughter.  I looked up at her to tell her I loved her and was so sorry for the way the day had gone and she was asleep.  The most beautiful little girl was asleep with a look of absolute peace upon her face.  I sat there and stared at our daughter and realized what is important is that she is happy and safe and loved in all of the moments in her life.  What else matters than that?

On another evening I was laying with our youngest daughter (who just turned 2 I can hardly believe it) at bedtime.  We had read our stories and were softly signing songs together.  I again asked her to close her eyes and lay quietly while I sung a lullaby to her.  She did for a moment and then opened her eyes and gently placed her hands on my cheeks and said, "love you mom."  Be still my beating heart. 
I told her, "I love you too, always and forever." 
She then smiled and placed her one arm around my neck and said, "my best friend mom."  What do you say to that? 
"Can I be your best friend always and forever?" 
"ok mom." 
"promise?" 
"yup." 
"thank you sweetie.  goodnight."
"goodnight."

My girls.  They are a part of my heart, my soul, my everything.  Thank you God for blessing me with them and giving me the job of raising these beautiful children.  Thank you for these sweet moments and all of the other moments. 

I am truly blessed.

remembering summer...

Tomorrow is September 1st and I already miss summer.  It could be because we didn't have the greatest weather with a lot of rain and chilly nights.  Summer is suppose to be full of sunshine, water activities and heat that won't let up. 

Having children has reminded me of the fun things to do like blowing bubbles.  What a joyful, relaxing, and mesmerizing thing to do.  We run through the sprinkler, splash along the beaches, build sand castles, lay in the hammock and so many other little things that mean so much.  We have enjoyed our dose of Vitamin D and are wanting some more.  As the song goes,

"Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun
Please shine down on me!"

Who doesn't love hanging out at the beach tanning, swimming or playing all day long.  I love the relaxed mood about it all.  Oh summer how I miss you already.  I'll fondly remember you and dream of next summer when we can go camping again and enjoy all those little staples of hot summer days.

On the other hand, I do enjoy fall.  Way less bugs, a little chilly but enjoyable, the colors are amazing, and it is still warmer than -30.  I guess I should welcome fall because it is here whether we like it or not.  So, welcome fall, please be nice to us and last a lot longer than summer did because once you go away we are going to be freezing our butts off again!!