HOLIDAYS ARE COMING TO AN END

4 more sleeps until Clara and Sam are back at school!  Christmas is packed up in Rubbermaids, labeled neatly with their contents, and stacked nicely in the soon to be very organized basement.  

Valentines Day count down has begun.  Clara loves this holiday, like her mother.  Here she is with her foam Valentine house from Michaels.  She loves these foam kits, and buys one for every occasion.  Note: it is highly recommended to use a glue gun instead of the glue included in the kit, particularly if you have a "passionate" child like mine.  Less breakdowns, more foam fun.  And this is an interesting tidbit as well...foam can pass through a baby's digestive system and come out looking exactly the same as it went in.  Will pooped out a little foam heart yesterday much to the kid's awe and delight.

The kids got their haircut today.  I love Clara's hair like this.  She tried to grow it out like Rapunzel but it was looking a little stringy.  

And Sam picked out a birthday present using the money that Papa and Nana gave him.  He was very decisive and wanted the Skyrail, glow in the dark, motorized, 200 piece, 5 yards of marble track!  He though it was "super cool."  And of course, he wanted to put it together as soon as we got home.  There is a reason why it says ages 8+ on the box.  It probably has to do with the 200 pieces part.  Holy cow.  Anyway, after spending over an hour trying to put the rail together and following the instructions and getting really frustrated (but not turning into the "crazy lady" even when Sam suggested we wait for Dad cause he is "much more better" at fixing things), I realized "they" put the wrong manual in the box.  The manual is for the 270 piece Skyrail. Honestly.  

This post is mostly for my husband who is away and might want to hear some details of our day.  Love you! 

LOST

OFFICIALLY LOST: Black motorola cell phone.  In very used condition (has been dropped a lot and has food and stuff crusted on it). Last seen on the top of Grouse Mountain on December 19th, 2008. Please phone me at home if found, although chances are, I won't answer if I don't recognize your number.

My mom was kind enough to lend me Josh's phone until I either find my phone (this is not looking promising) or replaced it.  As I was cleaning up Will's toys last night, I discovered this:

That is Josh's cell phone in the tunnel of balls.  Kind of funny?  My mom probably doesn't think so.

THE CRAZY LADY

Well, I think I got carried away with New Year's resolutions once again.  Over a few days, my list has grown to overwhelming proportions and consequently I have turned into what my husband and kids call "the crazy lady."  I am manic over here wanting to accomplish things in a day that should take at least a year if not more.  But today I have decided to slow down, come back to earth and be kind to my loved ones.  And I'm going to simplify my list (my family has always followed a TO BE, TO DO, TO HAVE format).  So here it is:

TO BE: more grateful 

TO DO: organize the basement (and the house. That's realistic, isn't it?)

TO HAVE: a studio where I can do creative things

Project number one is to actually hang the pictures that have been leaning against the wall for most of 2008 waiting for their home up off the floor.  I hung this up with Sam's help.  It is a silhouette of our family I made for Jake for Christmas.  I love how it turned out!  

I'll add more to this post later.  The kids are hovering waiting for me to take them to Science World.

THE ROYAL BALL

Yesterday Clara helped celebrate her cousin, Maddy's 6th Birthday by attending a Royal Ball.  

We have no shortage of princess gowns and accessories over here so that part was easy.  But yet another snowfall made it a little more difficult, at least to get there.  Here are some pictures from the first 10 minutes.  I took advantage of having no kids and attempted shopping at Metrotown (very big, very scary mall) with Annie and Dana.  

I have to quickly add how special and amazing it is for Clara to have a cousin a mere 3 months apart in age.  And Hannah, her other girl cousin is only 12 days apart (her mom and I actually had the same due date but she budged like my friend Annie).  Maddy and Hannah are her dearest, most bosom friends.  They honestly run toward each other at first sight and twirl each other around in an embrace.  Warms my heart.

 

We picked up her other bosom friend, Sophie, en route

2 princesses making their way to the door

Here they are, in all their princess glory

That's Sebby...the brother and my sweet nephew

Good job on the decor Jules!

Their beloved Grandma sitting on the throne

Going home...

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY MADDY

WE LOVE YOU!

2008...ONE LAST TIME

I've been trying to figure out how to put together a collage for my posts with much frustration.  However, I did finally find this create a mosaic here.  I thought it was time comsuming to change the photos around once I uploaded them but it is sort of what I imagined.  

So HAPPY NEW YEAR one last time!

ROAST CARROT & BRIE SOUP

This soup recipe is one of my standbys and always enjoyed.  Sam and I made a batch for our contribution to New Years Eve dinner at my mom's.  We made it with vegetable stock since my mom has sworn off animal.  I sometimes start with 4 cups of stock and then add more if it needed at the end.  

I'm trying to experiment with photoshop...hence the collage.  And yes, that is Will holding a knife.  I wasn't going to include it in fear of the grandparent's comments, but Jake thought it was kind of funny?  He grabbed it while I was taking a picture, but I swear it was for a split second.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Look who decided to walk today...

On another note, I have just spent the last 3 hours trying to put together a year in pictures collage for my New Years entry but photoshop and I and this blogger platform are not getting along currently.  

So instead, here is a picture of Clara, my lovely bride.  I pray that all your dreams are realized and that you continue to live life fully. (She wanted me to take a picture of her in the snow because it was "romantic").

I am so excited to see what will come our way in 2009.  No doubt it will be a year full of living!

And to my husband.  I love you so much and I am feeling very blessed to be sharing this life together.  Here's to an amazing year!