are you there?

I have this nifty little thing on my blog that tells me when people visit my blog and where they're from. It makes me feel good that people are visiting my blog. The only problem is it only tells me where you're from, not who you are. If you're reading this, leave a comment and tell me who you are! (please, just to satisfy my curiosity) Thanks in advance! (you could leave your blog address, then I can read what you have to say!)

Happy Birthday Ryker

5 years ago we were at home watching the World Junior's final game (Canada vs. ???). My water broke, it's wasn't a big gush, just like I had peed my pants. I wasn't feeling any contractions, so we decided to wait until the end of the hockey game (besides, the doctor wouldn't be there either, he'd be watching the game too!). Things didn't progress as expected, but by 330 Sat morning we had a beautiful baby boy! It's hard to believe that it's been 5 years already. Ryker is an amazing addition to our family.
This year the kids had to go to the sitter on his actual birthday. Ryker decided that he didn't want it to be his birthday when he had to go to the sitter's house. even when Chris dropped him off and said happy birthday, he said "we're not having my birthday today"! such a funny kid. Friday was bowling with Mom, Dad, and Ryker. then mcdonald's for dinner. tonight was dinner with family. Lots of presents, lots of fun! and now I have a 5 year old.

update...

Just wanted to update you all on my progress. I've been working very hard on one of my goals, not so hard on the others. I have lost 5 lbs to date this year! yeah me! want to know how I did it? I got a nice little infection from Ryker, strep throat. it has taken up residence in my tonsils and refuses to leave. I am understanding why Kayla has had some trouble talking (my mother in law thought she had called the wrong number when she called yesterday). My tonsils are like smalls rocks in the back of my throat and it hurts like crazy. (Sorry Ryker for giving you such a hard time about not swallowing your spit, as gross as that is, it hurts to swallow). I have spent the past 3 days on the couch doing nothing but watch old episodes of NCIS and eating nothing but chicken noodle soup and drinking gingerale (and trying to swallow tylenol/advil/antibiotic pills). I am slowly starting to get better, but not as fast as I would like. Chris has been awesome in helping with feeding the kids and taking them to the sitter (I was supposed to work 4 days this week, that didn't happen, but they still went to the sitter otherwise the house would be in worse shape than it is). What a way to start the new year!

I did have a great idea to try project 365 (take a picture a day for a year) but that went out the window. So now I'm going to try for project 52 (a picture a week for a year) I'm sure as soon as I get going on it, it'll be a picture a day, I hope. I'll try to post them for you all here when I'm feeling better!

new year, new me...i hope

It's the new year and I don't usually make new year's resolutions (probably because I don't tend to keep them and end up feeling worse). This year I really need to make some changes and I am hoping that by putting them out into blogger world anyone reading this will help me on my journey...
Since having 2 babies so close together I've had trouble losing that extra "baby weight". Now that my baby will be 2 in May, I need to stop blaming them and do something about it. Starting with getting a treadmill from my in-laws, I plan to use it whenever I watch TV, or when the kids watch a movie. I've been signed up for Weight Watchers Online, but not really doing anything about it...they've made some changes and I'm going to do the same.
Today I went to tell Ryker he spends too much time playing DS or iPod, then I realized that I need to be a better example...thus, I quit facebook. cold turkey, no going back, no matter what Chris says about me being back on tomorrow afternoon, if not tonight.
I've got more, but these are going to be the biggest ones. wish me luck!

Christmas is almost here...

a friend suggested an elf on the shelf to help the kids be "nice" in the time before Christmas. Here's our elf, we named him Munchkin, and he watches during the day and takes a report back to Santa at night. He finds a new place to watch each day (the kids really like finding him in a new place every day)


a few pictures of our tree...nothing special, but it's ours!



some new wall art I found!

here's my latest addition to my nativity collection. I made it for Super Saturday this year, it was super easy and looks great now (it is finished, I just didn't get a picture of the final project)


some of my other nativities...


This is my favorite nativity..


here's for you unbelievers...I believe (I've also been watching Miracle on 34th Street)

Christmas is in the air!

I am so excited for Christmas this year! I am done all my shopping. I've made chocolates. I've made crafts for teacher/friend gifts. We're going to make reindeer cookies tomorrow. I've even wrapped most of the presents!! I had to be on the ball this year, as most of December I am either working or on call (which means I can't leave Taber), which cuts into shopping time. Not that I like shopping in December, it's great to have it done before the crazy rush. (Tell me, who really wants to go to Walmart or Costco or anywhere near the mall on a Saturday in December????)


We are keeping it simple this year, my family is going to Whitefish to ski/play for Christmas. I'm excited to get together with everyone and spending some time away!
It has really helped me enjoy the season. I really haven't had any stress this year and I'm loving it. I'm also loving the smell of Christmas (thank you Scentsy, I just got my silver bells scent and I'm LOVING it!!)
I hope that you are all enjoying the season and taking time to remember Christ and his birth, as that is the whole reason for the season!
Merry Christmas All!!
Here's a few pics of my kids...not recent, but still great.

I love it when everyone has a nap, even better when they all have a nap at the same time!!


My girls LOVE their dad!


I heard once that Canadians eat more icecream/slurpies in the winter than in the summer!

latter day chatter

I recently stumbled across a great blog with tons of great ideas (she's on facebook too). I love all the great ideas she's got and have a few new "helpers" for sacrament meeting tomorrow. I can't wait to try them out. You can check her out too, just click here.