Oh man!

Very important, do not delete......I'm glad I found this out.
How to weigh yourself...

I can't believe I was doing it wrong all these years.

We must get the word out.

Holy freaking snow!!!

Hal and I have lived here since October of '99 and this winter has had the most snow by far!! We're only the beginning of January and we must have had well over 8 feet of snow so far, this includes what has melted/disappeared from the rain and warmer weather.

Our deck has a 7 foot fence and our dogs now look over the fence to the back alley!! We're going to have to either get the snow blower back there to clear it off or else start putting them on a leash to go to the bathroom.

On other news my ankle is starting to feel a bit better but have a long way to go to heal completely. Hal has been amazing through this all, tonight he even did the grocery shopping and you have to know Hal to know what an amazing feat this was, lol. This week Laura called to see what I was up to while being laid up and I mentioned that Hal was going to bring up my Christmas totes so I could get the xmas decorations and ornaments put away as they were driving me nuts.

That night Laura, the boys, Jackie, Kenna and Michelle all showed up to pack up all the decorations!!! It was humbling and wonderful all at the same time. I'm so thankful for their help. I know Shari if you were available you would have been here in a heartbeat.....how's the first aid course going? You will do wonderful!

Marianne and Deborah have been complete angels at work too and big kudo's to them for their patience and help! I love working there and am glad to have been given that extra kick in the pants from those involved in getting me to apply!

On the work topic i'd like to ask those who can to please say a prayer for Hazel. She's a wonderful, sweet lady who last week was hit on the highway after her bus broke down. She's been seriously injured and was flown from PG to Vancouver, with not being at work I haven't received an update but will call tomorrow to see if they have anything new to report.

Off to finish watching a movie and hang with the dogs....well my girl as Quade has gone to bed.

Here are some new pictures of the pets and please don't think Cleo has something contagious as her allergies are back and it's time to switch her food again.

Holidays and family of your heart!

Okay, i'm laid up and bored silly and am not allowed to do much so thought i'd do a mega blog....do you have your cuppa water, mugga joe or a stiff drink ready? K, well kick off your shoes, put up your feet and lets get at it, lol.

Christmas time is an extra special holiday for me and always has been. Our family had many Christmas traditions and it was a time for just that, family. With us family doesn't just mean blood family. We came from Nova Scotia to BC when I was 3 months old and because of that we have a lot of 'adopted' family here that are as much family.

When Hal and I moved here in '99 we came alone with our dog after living so close to our families from the time we basically left home. It was a difficult decision and as much as we thought we were prepared for the separation it was far harder then anticipated. December 99 Hal and I flew home to Kamloops for Christmas. The next year we were so blessed to have our dear friends Laura and Adam Taylor bring us into their family circle and to share Christmas with the Taylors. It was wonderful to be around a big family again and to see what their traditions were and hear them sharing there Christmas stories of years gone by.

Last year we were surprised by my Sister, Brother in law and nephews being here for Christmas with us.....how exciting again to have a houseful.

This year Shari and Doug invited us to spend Christmas Eve with them and to share in there Christmas morning with Kali and Parker. For some of you it may be hard to understand how this can make someone so happy. To have 'our Kitimat' family of Laura, Adam, Damon, Colton, Shari, Doug, Kali, Parker, the Taylors and Sharon and the girls open their hearts and homes to us is beyond amazing! It shows that family is truly in your heart and not what runs through your veins.

Christmas morning I wanted to cry so bad because I witnessed something that made my heart swell with happiness and pride but also a little ache. I now look at it that this would not have happened nor had the same effect had our lives been different.

Hal had gone upstairs to lay down for a bit because he had a fat head, lol. Well we heard Parker chit chatting and then he was quiet. A few minutes later we hear Uncle Hal say "Pen, come up and bring the camera." Shari and I snuck upstairs with the camera and here was Hal snuggled in bed with Parker beside him and Kali snuggling under the blankies beside Parker. She was playing hide and seek and Parker was grinning at Uncle and babbling away. My heart was so full of love for him, the kids and this moment.

Christmas morning was fun watching the kids enjoy their gifts and the four of us just chit chatting. We had breakfast and tried to do a quick tidy up but i'm afraid that poor Shari and Doug were left with the majority. Hal and I had to get our butts home and put that bird in the oven for dinner.

On our way home we stopped in at Laura and Adams to see how their Christmas was and to see how the boys scored! Walking in the door and seeing Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and the rest of the gang was so awesome too! Lots of hugs and holiday wishes, a visit with the boys and even playing Guitar Hero (holy crap am I bad, lol). I love those boy so much and my heart bursts with pride as well for the young men they are turning out to be. Laura and I had some laughs about the gifts we had given each other and a few minutes to just be. She's an amazing friend who has been by my side through so much and I hope she knows just how special she really is. I can only hope to be 1/2 the friend she has been.

Hal and I headed home to get the bird stuffed and try out the new vacuum (I'm so happy with it..more on it later!). Doug, Shari, the kids and her Mom were coming for dinner and it's something I thoroughly enjoyed!

Dinner was awesome and we finished off the evening with a game, omg we laughed so hard at Doug acting out Crash Test Dummy...it was perfect.


I'll have another post about the rest

Puppy dog kisses and Burglary

I am officially grossed out by my sweet little bundle of puppy!! Word of warning to anyone whom may be greeted by Quade with a wet kiss.....you never, ever, ever know where that cute little face has been or what it's eaten.

YUP YOU GUESS IT...QUADE IS A TURD BURGLER!!!! Not only has he been trying to get the Kitty Crunchies but I actually busted him feasting on Poopsicles in the back yard....BLECHHH!!

You know I wouldn't mind Quade cleaning up after himself if it was like these two examples:






Off to brush someone's teeth, give them a bath and basically just sanitize their furry body then out in the snow to find the remaining poopsicles! Ta Ta for now.

Merry Christmas to friends near and far!!

Snow pictures

I've been playing around a bit more with lighting, black and white and flash with all the snow fall. Some of the pictures are good, others not so good, lol.

I hope this stays for Christmas and we don't get any rain to ruin it!

Christmas Meme from Christy

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping
2. Real tree or artificial? Real
3. When do you put up the tree? Way sooner then this year, lol. Usually two weeks before Christmas.
4. When do you take the tree down? Just after Hal's birthday (January 3)
5. Do you like egg nog? Sort of
6. Favorite gift received as a child? New tobaggan and tape deck
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No but there was a really cute one through Avon years ago that I liked
8. Hardest person to buy for? The teenagers!
9. Easiest person to buy for? ME! LOL Hal is actually easy to buy for.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Prefer mail but this year there will be a few e-cards going out.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't say, it would sound worse then it was
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Can't pick just one.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually a few months before
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes I am sure I have (DITTO)
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything Christmas dinner!
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored
17. Favorite Christmas song? The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? It really depends. I'd like to travel to spend Christmas with our family sometime soon.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yeppers, Ms. Christmas here!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Depends on what i've decorated the tree with, have both
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve and the rest on Chirstmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? I sometimes have a hard time with the commercialism of Christmas.
23. Favorite ornament, theme or color? I adore snowmen! As for the Christmas tree a lot of the cherished ornaments are ones the kids have made
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey and everything that goes with it!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To be surrounded by those we love and for those we love but can't be with to know how much they are cherished and missed this special time of year.