Oh Christmas Tree....

We loved our Christmas tree this year. I wish it looked as good in pics as in real life. The glow of the tree is lost in the flash of the camera... Just excuse the plastic on the windows please!!

This is our tree... and yes, the decorations are all in brown. Molly and I went to Home Hardware's Winter Wonderland room and fell in love... even though the other couple in the store thought this was terribly ugly!! Sorry tree!

This is Molly's favourite ornament. Yes, Molly, when I die this is yours. Yes, she asked that.

Our lovely angel. Molly wanted the one with the big fluffy wings... I won. She is ok with that now.

Who knew that you could get so many ornaments in browns?? Brown sequins? Who knew?!!?

Bows, beads, leaves, pine cones... Too much good stuff!!

Our tree is still up. Molly won't let us take it down until everyone she knows has seen and admired it. The only one left to wait on is Tara. It snowed this week the day Tara and the boys were coming up. If they don't get up until summer, not to fear, we will wait. We have no choice! Molly has spoken!!

Its all a matter of perspective

The other day I was driving down the road and glanced at my speedometer. I thought I was going quite quickly on an 80 km/hr road, but the meter said 57. Its a digital speedometer so I can always know EXACTLY how fast I'm going. 57?? Somehow I could not get that car to go faster without feeling like I'm going too fast... you know??

I must be getting old... hope no one is driving behind me that I know. How can 57 seem too fast?

I slowed down to 50 because that felt MUCH safer. Maybe I was getting sick. Against my better judgement I just drove in the way I felt safe without trying to keep up to the speed limit.

Then it hit me... I hit the km/m button on the dashboard. Immediately I went from 53 to almost 90. Can you imagine if I insisted on keeping up with the "speed limit" in spite of my better judgement? I would have been going crazy fast and most likely ended up with a ticket or a crash.

Sometimes I feel the need to keep up with the speed of other families around me... not just the regular families with 2 jobs and public school.. but the other homeschooler families as well. I know in my spirit what the Lord expects of me, but think I need to keep up with "everyone else." What I don't see is that I am going at the right speed. I am not slower than "anyone else" ... I'm just not judging my life by the right criteria. Instead of looking at my life through God's standard.. I look through the standards of others. How ridiculous of me!

I just need to push the button, adjust the speed of my life in Christ and move on. All of a sudden I feel comfortable with the speed limits again. Life is good.

Right on Track

I'm sure y'all will be glad to know that it is January 12th and I am fiscally on track. I have not overspent... even on groceries!!
My bills have been paid before the deadlines!
There have been no new cataclysmic events.
Yes, 2010 is my year.
I am on my way to being healthier, wealthier (won't take much!) and wiser than in 2009.
I am meeting positive people and focusing on positive events...
and I may just drag every single one of you with me!!
Just thought you may want to know!!

Update on the kitchen

You know what's kind of funny?? This kitchen and dining room actually look a gazillion times better than before.. but there are still MAJOR problems with it.



This is walking in from the living room. Seems a mite empty of a dining room table, don't ya think? The way the living room is set up we would have to lift the thing over cabinets to get it in here ... Connor and I just couldn't do it!



This is kind of pretty... except for the extension cords that run... a) to the bathroom so we can have a light in there and.... b) so we can plug in the DVD player.

The kitchen... poor thing!! We have the stove and actually had a hot lunch and a hot supper... of course we had to eat on the floor.. well the little guys sat at the little tykes table at suppertime. The rest of us just sat around. We have 3 kitchen tables in the house right now... just can't get to them!

Note the saws and tools in the corner. Real safe, eh?

Yes, we put up our Christmas tree! Why?!? So we can enjoy the tree... haven't had a chance to before now. The window will hopefully be replaced this month so we can forgo the plastic. This is not a living room remember, its the dining room. It just has living room stuff in it instead of dining room stuff.

On another note, my daughter is 2 and a half hours past her curfew and I am getting ticked and a little worried. This boy is NEVER EVER EVER taking her anywhere again. He was late before and I told him if this ever happened again he would never see her socially again. He has a cell phone.. and knows I expect them to use it. Momma is MAD!!

Teddy is barking up a storm out there. I wonder what he is protecting us from??!!

Washer and Dryer

Here we are with our new washer and dryer.


The kids are very excited because, obviously, we have never cleaned our clothes before!!


Lets just see what happens when we get these machines going!!









Everyone, check it out!! The light came on and its starting to spin!!!

Connor realizes this is really quite boring, but the others haven't figured it out yet. Ok, now there is water going in.. we're groovin' now!!

This is the dryer. Its red.

Here is the washer. It is also red.

That means... These are the ones!! Thank you home depot delivery guys.

Someday my laundry room will be drop dead gorgeous. For now... well.. its not done yet!! Story of my life. Thankfully its not done yet either!

Weird day man!

Since its late... and I really don't want to play with this thing... we will pretend this is at the end of the post.. after I say I'm gonna post some pics, OK?? This is my new floor!!

This is what Mike does hoping to deter me from seeing my new floor!!

And THIS is the beginning of this rather mixed up post!!

Somehow today never did get to a normal kind of pace.

S'ok though!

Tonight my good friend, Kim Hughes, took me up to Moncton for a Monavie meeting. Some of you remember I "was on" Monavie drink for some months last year. My insurance company said I was the healthiest person they had tested... they retested me to make sure I really was that healthy.... and then lowered my life insurance payments $24 per month!!

I've been off it for awhile now and just don't feel so energetic. I've been coughing since before Christmas and I'm tired of it.... literally!!

I am so looking forward to getting back on the juice!! They even have a healthy energy drink!!! Lots of energy, no caffeine headache, no crash afterwards.... and it tastes great. I know this cuz Kim bought me one.... and Caitlyn 2 for tomorrow. One to get her moving in the morning and one to keep her going through the day. Pure health, baby!!!

And if you want in on this... let me know. shhhh... i can set you up...

Note to self... do not take an energy drink at 9pm ever again. I have lots of energy... its late.... lots to clean, but I can't because the floor in the kitchen can't be walked on tonight... or tomorrow so the glue can dry.

Oh oh oh!! I can take a picture!! Lets do that so you all can see my new floor... I feel like the squirrel in "Over the hedge" or is that "Under the hedge"??

(and this is where we pretend the pictures are... is everyone following?)

New Washer and Dryer!!??!

Today is the day for the new washer and dryer... or maybe not.

I was so excited to find the W/D set of my dreams marked down $900 at the Home Depot last week. They were to be delivered this afternoon. No problem... you remember what the living room looked like last night, right?? I had the morning to clean it and find a path through. ha ha ha ha ha ....

At about 8:30 am I had a phone call from the delivery guys. "Good news!! We will be there in an hour. We are leaving now."

Now?? NOW??? AAAGGGGHHH!!!
First things first.... "Kathy... please come and help me!!"

Kathy is a very good friend. We emptied that living room, put all my dirty laundry in bags under the stairs, cleaned up everything!! yeah... We put it all in the dining room. The whole time I am hoping we can get it all back before Mike gets here to finish the floors. yeah

We had 'er done and Kathy was leaving just as the delivery guys get here. All was well until the washer got in. "Um... excuse me... delivery guy. That is not my washer."

"What??"

"No, mine is red. That is white. Not my washer. At least you didn't bring in the dryer yet."

Some of you know my front steps. These men were not happy campers.

"But look. Your name, address and phone number are taped (big time!) to the top of this machine. Are you sure its not yours. You could just keep this one!"

"I want my red ones. Sorry."

They were happy I wasn't mad at them. Nice men, they were still smiling when they were reloading the set back onto the truck.

I will get my new W/D later this week.

And the mess?? Well, Mike got here just as the delivery guys were leaving... saw the mess... and helped me put it all back.

Its 11 am and I am done for the day!

I'm happy... I'm happy... I'm happy....

For those of you who wanted more pictures... this should scare the socks off ya!! My floor, alas, is not quite done... which meant Greco again tonight. The sub floor is finished and the vinyl is spread out... just not matched, cut, glued and sealed. Which means.... not done. Ack!

Don't you just love the mess in the mudroom??! Unfortunately the dogs food is back there in the closet somewhere and we couldn't be bothered. Good thing the kids are messy eaters!! Teddy can clean up the floor.

This is the back of the living room, at the top of the basement stairs. Yes, that is my Christmas tree... you will see it looking better in a day or 2 in the dining room where I will take time to enjoy it. I just will.

Here is the rest of the living room. Note the fridge and cupboards lying around. I don't even know what all the mess is. All I know is that I have no place to put any of it.

Why am I posting this stuff?? To make my friends feel better... yes, some one's house looks worse than yours!! I'll fix it .... like soon... Tomorrow they are delivering my new washer and dryer and they have to go through this obstacle course and down the stairs... you know, where the Christmas tree is!! Anyone busy tomorrow morning??? I need HELP!!

This is a deer antler on my table. I don't know who is the wise guy that took this pic. The dog keeps bringing antlers home. With a few more I can make a cool chandelier.... and paint it black... the guy from "What Not to Wear" has one in his house and its very cool.

This is the little ray of sunshine that keeps us smiling!! We love our Josh!

Ok!! Jack makes me smile too! He is a keeper!!!

Every time I feel overwhelmed and stressed I do what Justin does... mutter I am happy.. I am happy... I am happy... over and over in a meaner and meaner voice until.... I AM happy!!

Good night!

First day of School!

Today was Caitlyn's first day of school.... again!

Today she started at the Christian School in town. I am so excited for her. She had the advantage of already knowing quite a few kids there ... including her brother... and most likely had an amazing day. I am waiting for her to get home ... at any moment... and just spill.

For those of you who have never attended Christian school, it is different than most schools. Cait will be in a gr 9/10 split class which I believe has about 15 students in it. The school has K through 12th grade with friends mingling without regard for age. In fact Matt (8th grade) has good friends in 11th and 12th grades. Since class sizes are small, teachers are able to build a great rapport with the kids and really invest in their lives.

Where is she??

On a side note...

Did you know that I have another blog?? Apparently its in Chinese or some other far eastern language. I'm not sure what I have written in it... hope its not embarrassing....

Downstairs there is the noise of floors being worked on. The sub floor is being secured and soon... very soon... the floor will be down. As soon as the flooring is done and I find my camera I will post pics.

Happy New Year!!!

Guess what?!!! My little laptop is working again!! For how long we aren't sure. I may have to save my pennies to invest in something more reliable. But it works today!!!

We are all snugged in our house with the storm raging outside. At least I'm told its raging. Its too dark to see and is rather quiet. We are still enjoying living in the top floor of our house. Our 12 by 13 foot living rm/kitchen/dining/ games room is feeling a tad crowded.

Soon... like in a few days.... my kitchen and dining room will be ready for occupancy. The cushion floor would have been laid today if our worker guy didn't put his truck in my ditch. He did not have a fun afternoon! It will go down Monday. The kitchen cabinets will hopefully be done Mon or Tues and I can put some stuff away!!!! Here are some pics.



This picture is from standing in the dining room looking through to the mudroom... which is housing much of our kitchen stuff.



And this is the kitchen. Notice a lack of anything... anything... anything...
Like EVERYTHING!!! Try cooking for 9 in this. We are consisting on crackers, cheese, bagels, yogurt, and clementines... with the occasional hotdog cooked in the microwave upstairs. I miss cooking. sigh....

I'm told it will be wonderful when it gets done. uh huh