Off to a Good Start.......

2010 that is. We spent New Year's Day (afternoon) at the outdoor rink. Brendan is a total rink rat and Joe loves to take him. This time, Livi wanted to go skating too so I tagged along. Can't miss a photo op now, can we?! I had my camera out a bit but spent most of the time just enjoying my family. Watching Brendan play goalie with his new pads/blocker/trapper that he got for Christmas, watching Joe's face beam with pride and happiness as he watched Brendan enjoying himself, watching Livi giggle as she skated circles around me..... it was just plain fun. I hope this is the start of a lot of fun, everyday happy moments together for the four of us. Here are some pictures I took:

I am so very lucky to have these 3 in my life! I hope 2010 brings us lots of fun and good memories. I hope it brings the same to you and your loved ones as well.

Enjoy your Sunday - here's hoping that is goes by super SLOOWWWW. I have no desire to go back to work after Christmas vacation. I could go for another week or two (or 5) off with my kiddos.

take care!

w.

Retrospection....and Happy 2010

So I was sitting here, surfing through blogs and admiring people's remiscing of 2009. Layouts they loved, moments they've loved...heartaches and sadness they have suffered. I thought to myself - what are my best memories of 2009?? And each answer involved my amazing children. We are so blessed to have such great children and it's been such a blessing to be off with them these last two weeks. Being a working Mom sometimes brings with it feelings of guilt for not always being their for your children. I also think it makes you treasure and soak up every moment that you do get to spend with them.

So, I went through my photos of 2009 (phew! I take more photos that I thought - what a process!) and compiled my favourite photos of each child for every month in 2009.

Brendan -

Olivia -

Coming to a scrappy layout near you shortly!

Happy New Year my dear friends. To those of you who have experienced tremendous sadness in 2009.......I especially hope 2010 is filled with lots of peace and amazing, happy moments.

Cheers to 2010!

Finally......

Finally got around to taking photos of my layouts that I've done this December. I'm currently on vacation from work and relatively ready for Christmas so here's hoping for more!

Kids are on break now too and it is so nice to be home with them! we've got gingerbread house decorating, a Christmas photo shoot and a trip to the movie theatre planned.

Olivia sang with her choir yesterday at school and Brendan played a wicked hockey game today!! Did I remember my camera for either? Nope........ :)

Happy rest of the weekend..........

A Final Farewell to So Sketchy...

I had the pleasure of working for Allison Cope's So Sketchy! DT for a whole year. Allison was super amazing to work for - her sketches are always inspiring and she's organized and grateful and just....wonderful. Allison has decided to close So Sketchy and move on to other projects which I have no doubt will be wonderful.


As a 'good bye', many past and present DT members had the opportunity to work with another So Sketchy! sketch. Here is the layout I created that was posted on the So Sketchy! site today:



Be sure to check out So Sketchy! all month for wonderful sketches and prizes. Allison sure knows how to go out with a bang! :) Thank you, Allison, for giving me a final chance to work with your wonderful sketches! Wishing you all the best girl! :)

New Blog Header....

and new colours! Fun! I needed a blog makeover. :)

I did my blog header with Shabby Princess' Happy Go Lucky Kit. Click on the name to download it - it's amazing!

Busy weekend ahead but hoping to squeeze in some scrapping tonight after I get home from dinner out with some friends. Joe and the kids are at home right now (p.d. day) and they just called to say they are putting up the tree. I guess that means Christmas will be here before I know it................. :)

A whole month...

..since I posted last. Life gets in the way like that. Just stopping in quick to add the layouts that I've created this month to my blog. A whole measly, 3 layouts. Actually - I've done 4 but can't share one of them just yet. Soon. :) Three isn't much but instead of scrapping I've been doing things like working, keeping up with my kids and their homework/assigments (can you tell it's report card time??), activities for both of them..... and I'm enjoying it all (well, minus work) more than scrapping. I love watching Brendan's games and volunteering with Livi's Brownies group. Tres fun. And this is what I want them to remember - me there with them and not sitting at my scrappy desk. There will be more time to scrap one day. :) I can scrap when they are in bed but most nights I just want to veg. So I leave you with three layouts above. I'm hoping to sit down tonight and at least start another! Here's hoping! :)

(Hey CoCo! You're in a layout!! You look BEE-YOU-TEE-FULLL!!!!!!!!!)

Happy 8th Birthday Bman!!

Dear Brendan,

Happy 8th Birthday! '8' is surreal to me. I know I say it all the time but truly, I can't believe how quickly time flies.

You had a great day today - we celebrated with cupcakes that had fun NHL jersies on them (official cake to come this Sunday at your party!). Robin also gave you a container of her infamous banana bread to take home with you because you love it! We had your dinner of choice - poutine and opened your presents from me, Daddy and Olivia. Olivia got you a new dragon Webkinz and we took you to TRU to pick out a special treat (which turned out to be a Ben 10 alien creature chamber....fun!). Last but not least, we surprised you with a Magic Bullet. Yes, the blender. Yes, the appliance I have received pictures and phone numbers from to entice me to buy it. The same appliance that will make me create meals in "just 10 seconds Mommy!" I still find it hilarious that an 8-year-old was so serious about such a thing. Your face was priceless when you saw it. Too funny. :)

Some things about you at 8:

- you are still our super jock - loving hockey and soccer
- you are still extremely competitive (though you've relaxed a lot in the last year)
- you are always right.....well, not really but you'll argue until you're blue in the face even if you know the answer is wrong! lol
- you have a big heart and surprise me with unexpected kisses or notes or help when I least expect it (you've even been known to show your sister a little love! gasp!)
- you are rocking school - A's and B's
- you've suddenly become afraid of the dark again and I can't figure out why
- your interests right now include anything that gets your mind thinking or relates to sports or 'fighting". You love to play street hockey and things about building (like Bionicles) are a big hit. So are Bakugan ,Pokeman and Ben 10. You are also still enjoying the Wii.
- you're super cute! (yes I can see your eyes rolling back and hear your little sigh)
- you're at that age now where I can easily embarass you (not that I'm trying!) in front of your friends
- you are a non-stop talker still....any where, any time! and I mean NON STOP
- i still can't get you interested in reading, even though you're super good at it and reading at a level beyond your age
- you started asking me once in a while to lay with you after I tuck you into bed (I totally love that. We have some cool conversations in the dark.)
- you love to play Club Penguin, Poptropica and Webkinz on the computer

Eight years ago today you made me a Mommy. And I couldn't be any more prouder of the little guy you are becoming You're the best boy in the entre world and I love you SO much!

I hope today was awesome and I hope your Olympic-themed birthday party is everything you hope it will be.

love you buddy,
Mommy xoxo