door frame goes in -Day 15 (Tuesday Jan 25)

Came home from picking the kids up at school on Monday afternoon, to find a huge splinter of wood on the washing machine.   It wasn't there when I left the house... I wonder what happened.   I walked into the house and asked "OKAY where did the chunk of wood come from?"

The reply was....  "It wasn't on purpose, but I tried the door 3 times and it wouldn't open so I gave it a little push and it broke!"  SO I returned to the door and find the following pictures.

Alexander figured that if the deadbolt wasn't working right that pushing on the door would cause it to slide to the right and unlock!  Needless to say he found out that's not how it worked.

The door wouldn't lock and keep us safe, and Eric was on Nights... that meant no sleep for me.

Eric decided to stay home from work to see what we could do to fix it.  Jason came down from Toronto and we all went to home depot to figure out a solution.  We toyed with many options ; such as new steel door pre-hung, maple trim, oak trim etc

In the end we got 2 2x6x8's and the men worked all Tuesday on it.  

Eric had to take 2 nights off work, Jason took a day off to help us.

Alexander came home from school and as you can see from the picture was not helpful at all!

I added these few pictures of Skylar (no I am not obsessed with my cat)  He loves the washing machine. The minute you turn it on, he comes running, jumps on top and waits for me to start it.

Our machine is a front loader so the water comes in from the top.  If the dispenser area is open he can watch the water rush in.   These were all taken with him on top the washer while the guys were fixing the door.

A bit of Brightness-Day 14 (Monday Jan 24)

Yesterday, Sunday Jan 23 ended up being a day that I napped... a LOT, watched movies with the kids and Eric, and was just a general lazy bum.  I did take a picture with my iphone, but it was at 11pm and wasn't very good.  So lets just say I didn't do one.
To make up for the absence of yesterdays photo, I got creative today.  A friend of mine Jennifer McDougall (sister in law to my BFF Shannon Vahl) does project 365 and had seen this idea done on another blog.  So I decided today would be a good day to attempt it and see what I could do.

These photos are done with water and oil and a glass bowl or pie plate. Colourful paper underneath the raised bowl, natural lighting add to the photo.  Here are mine and Eric's favourites.

Enjoy!!

To the vet to the vet to the vet vet vet -Day 13 (Saturday Jan 22)

Vet day arrived for Skylar and Raven.  Liz came to help me take the hyper black lab and spunky Kitty to get their annual shots.
Raven is way TOO friendly at times and wants to play with everything that moves....although she forgets that she is a big dog and may hurt others.  I need help to keep her calm so I can focus on everything else.
When we arrived at the vet, there were 4 dogs in the waiting room.   I had to ask for Raven to be put in a room where she couldn't see them.  She was so HYPER.
Skylar just sat in his carrier and cried to get let out.

While we waited for the vet to come in, Skylar explored the room.  His favourite spot to sit was on top of the scales.  He watched the window in the door like a hawk, waiting for it to open.  This picture is taken with my iphone (couldn't take my camera with me) but still shows him sitting pretty and watching.
This is about all I was able to get Saturday for photos.  It ended up being a day of running around with my older children.

Sleeping like a baby-Day 12 (Friday Jan 21)

I wish I could just lay down and fall asleep like a baby.  Bum up in the air and comfortable.  Evan was so tired, that he woke up from his nap to re-adjust himself to this position and fall back to sleep.  On a cold snowy day sleeping like this for 3 hours would be heaven! 

Stretched out -Day 11 ( Thursday Jan 20)

I know another cat picture, but lately he's been my inspiration. He is so unique in colour, markings and personality!  I just have to shoot pictures when he is all cute.  This is his I am sleeping but you may pet my belly pose.  This silly cat LOVES to have his belly rubbed.  He also LOVES to sleep on Eric's computer chair.  I think his front paws crossed like he is hugging himself is so sweet

Keeping Busy - Day 10 (Wednesday Jan 19)

When you are 16 months old, playing with "toys" just doesn't always do it for you....

While I appreciate that my Mud room is now very tidy, unfortunately my livingroom got very cluttered.

Evan made sure he placed every boot where he thought it would look good.

He is so proud of himself.  Picture not shown ... the lunch bag and the mate to my red "wellie" in the shower!  They needed to be cleaned I guess!

Sounds of Silence (Day 9)

Quinlan has been going to his ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) specialist since he was 11 months old.  He goes every 3 months for a check-up, more if he has any issues with his ears.
Today was his winter check-up.
He has perfect hearing, his tubes look great, and no infections.... He goes again in May before summer swimming starts.
While Quinn was in the sound booth doing his hearing test, I decided to take some pictures.  Every time he hears a sound he is to "wave" through the window at the tester.   He looks SO serious in the following pictures, but he is really just doing what he is supposed to.

Taken with my iphone so the photos are a bit grainy, but you get the idea!

Crazy Cat (Day 8)

This is for Yesterday Monday January 17 2011.  I forgot to post again, but I did get a quick photo.

Typical school mornings are rushed with many fights over the bathroom.  It was Quinn's turn to shower.  I turned the Shower on for him and found that Quinn wasn't getting in like I expected.  He had to wait for Skylar to get in first!  This is one crazy cat.  He actually raced Quinn to the shower.   I have yet to see him go all the way in but I think this is something that will happen very soon.

Rubber Ducky and Birthday Party (Day 7)

When it is "bath" time in our house, it is really shower time.  With our upstairs washroom under renovation and no tub, all we have is the shower in our downstairs washroom.
Bekah has been showering since she was 3 years old.   On occasion when time was tight her and I would have a fast shower together.  Since she is such a big girl now she just needs me to turn in on for her and turn it off.   She still takes in her rubber duckies and often you hear them squeaking away in the shower.   Yesterday, she stepped out with this one suction cupped to her belly.   I thought it was the funniest thing!
To keep within certain laws, I took the shot with my iphone and kept it in tight so all you see is her belly button and the duck!
She has it down to a science.  "you have to fill the ducky up with water first mummy then squish him onto your belly!"

Yesterday was Eric's birthday.  Bekah and I went to the store and picked out his cake.  Bekah wanted the gummy worms and "dirt" cake and I wanted something a bit more sophisticated!  In the end we bought 2 cakes.  I normally make the cakes around here, but I was feeling a bit under the weather and overwhelmed.  I think its that time of year.. the January BLAHS!

Anyway, here are his cakes.  They sure were YUMMY!

The Number written on the cake is 35 years young!  Eric is now officially "OLD"  

Love you honey!

Winter Wonderland

Today it finally happened!  It SNOWED in Cambridge Ontario.  It snowed the most we have seen all season.   It was absolutely beautiful out.   I know most people dread the snow, the cold, the shovelling etc.  I just love to look at how beautiful and clean the world looks after a fresh snow.  Everything is so quiet.  It reminds us that there is beauty in everything even in a world sleeping until Spring.

My photo for today is of our front yard, before the dog was let out to "disturb" the newly fallen snow.  
We live in the city, but we look out into nature... a beautiful field that leads down to the speed river.  No houses to look at.  This is our view.   I am posting the picture 2 times.  

The first shot is as taken and the second is with a "warming" filter added to it.   They are both beautiful and I couldn't choose just one.

FEED ME...

Skylar is, well lets just say unique!  He knows what he wants when he wants it and will do whatever it takes to get your attention.  Whether it be climbing on you and licking your face to get your attention, streaking through the room fast paced and pouncing on you or throwing his food bowl on the floor.  
The later is what he does every single DAY!   IF he as much as sees the bottom of the bowl he will push it on to the floor for us to FILL up again.   I vacuumed up almost an entire food bowl amount off the floor in our hall yesterday.   I want to try and video tape him doing this.
My photos from today are photos of him after he has tossed his bowl.


                                    

This is the food bowl on the floor with bits of cat food around it.

 

Has moved onto waiting on the table his food goes on!

Moved on to waiting on the table that he gets fed on.

Eating out of the scoop as I am heading to the bowl with it.

Snow, Kids, a Stick and a Dog....

Today was a busy day for errands, cleaning and working on a family project.   At 3:00 I walked up to the school to gather up all the kids and bring them home.   Upon arriving they dumped their bags in the house and filed right back outside to play in the snow.   As I am typing this post, it is 4:17 pm and they are still outside!!!   I decided to take the camera out and get some great outdoor shots.  Raven our black lab cross has been so good lately that I let her outside off leash to play.   And play she did.  I can't decide which is my photo of the day for project 365 any one of these would fill the spot nicely!

Quinn found a stick, Raven wanted the stick, and a classic game of tug of war started.  I am not sure who had more fun, Raven or Quinn.  

 When Quinn got tired, Bekah thought that she would take a shot at it.   This is Raven jumping for the stick that is bigger then Bekah.

Raven running around like a wild dog in the snow as the kids try to get her attention.  This dog is fast!!! She just books it everywhere.  Thankfully she doesn't run into anything!

I am sure I will have some good sleepers tonight... LOTS of fresh air and exercise in the snow.

I see them...

... I can get them if you would only let me outside!!


Skylar LOVES to sit on the bench by the back window and watch the squirrels and birds.  My picture of the day is when Skylar turned around and looked like he was pleading with me to let him outside to get the squirrel tormenting him in the tree.

This is what he looks like most days as he is what we now call "squirrel watching"

These pictures are actually Wednesday Jan 11 pictures.  They were taken, I just didn't have time to get them posted :(

That Bleach Smell!

Today was a no daycare kids day.  This happens 2 days a week now as numbers are low.  Since we have managed to keep healthy for 2 weeks straight, it was time to bleach everything again!  I find it has been the best way to kill away all bacteria possible and make the house smell like an over chlorinated swimming pool!   Once I had cleaned everything from door knobs to toilets and all in between, I decided that baking would make the house smell much nicer.   Today I made pumpkin muffins.  The kids and Eric LOVE these goodies.   I am lucky if I get one before they are all gone.   The recipe is very very simple too.

Amy's Pumpkin Muffins
1 package of Oatmeal muffin mix
1 Can of pumpkin pie mix
1 egg

Preheat oven as per package directions for muffins.
Mix all ingredients together, spoon into muffin cups
Bake for 15-18 minutes

If you have some epicure cinnamon and sugar sprinkle some on top of muffins before baking!

My picture for today is the muffins as they came out of the oven.  The rest of my day was vacuuming and making supper etc.  

Time to Start again

Not sure if anyone is reading this blog anymore, but I decided that I would start posting on a regular basis again.  I think it will be easier for us to keep in touch with family and friends afar.

So one way I am going to do this is to start Project 365 again.  I tried this the year mum fell ill and as she got sicker my camera came out less and less.   It is already January 10th and I am 10 days behind... but I will start today and see where this adventure takes me.

Today when I went to let the dog out I noticed my front porch was covered in "papers".  Upon closer inspection I realized it was our mail.  Our regular carrier was on holidays and the new carrier was unable to find the big Yellow mailbox on our deck... so she hiked through the snow and dog messes to just dump it on the front front porch.  The kids normally let the dog out and rarely look around, so it was easily missed.
Thankfully Alexander's passport didn't arrive until today when our regular carrier was back and it wasn't lost.   We don't know if anything is lost or if I have recovered it all!
The photos were taken with my iphone due to it being on my person at the time.

Time to say Goodbye

Miss Bailey's Copper Adventure AKA Snickers, was our very big, loveable, energetic, and all around sucky dog!  We got her in September 1999 after choosing between 9 other puppies.  Madison was just 10 months old when we first went to see the litter of all chocolate lab puppies.    She was a welcomed addition to our growing family and loved by all.  Only one flaw that we tried to cure her of right to the very end and that was her ability to lick every inch of you as you walked in the door!!

This morning Snickers wasn't herself.  She was laying panting heavily and just couldn't get up.  We got the kids ready for school and called the vet after they were in school.  The vet had us come right away.  They did a few tests but things didn't look good.   Eric and I had come home while they did the tests and got a phone call about 1230 that she had a couple of tumors in her chest and abdomen and that she had seized on the ultrasound table.  She was heavily sedated but they felt that the "cancer" had spread to her brain.   The decision was made to have her put to sleep and not suffer anymore.   Until this morning she had be the same old Snickers.  It came on very quickly, for her a blessing.

Eric and I decided that the kids needed to go and see her at the vets to say their goodbyes.  There is nothing worse then coming home and finding out your parents have had your pet put to sleep.  We picked them all up at school.  Each one had time with snickers, they talked to her, stroked her, and hugged her.  There were many tears, and some laughter as the kittens next to her tried desperately to get our attention.  The kids had the whole vets office in tears.   Bekah asked for Snickers' collar to take home.   It was hard for us to stay with her as they put her to sleep so we took the kids and left.  

For 11 1/2 years she has been our companion, our household security guard, our extra pair of eyes outside with the kids, a sled puller, a lean on pillow for movies and an all around great dog.  She will be sadly missed.

RIP puppy girl, we love you and miss you.

Bekah Turns 6!

On Thursday May 20th, my baby girl turned 6 years old. She was so excited to be turning six, that she had been counting down the days for the last month!We did morning gifts and cake and cupcakes with the daycare kids that afternoon, and went out for dinner that night!

On Monday May 24th we had our usual family/friend birthday bash.  It was a huge success, the weather was perfect.  

We BBQ'd burgers and sausages, had many different salads and veggies.

Bekah's theme this year was tinkerbell.  We got her a pinata filled it with lots of candy treats.  Her cake was tinkerbell with cupcakes around decorated with mini tinkerbells on them.

She was spoiled rotten and a wonderful birthday.