Spring Cleaning

Well, it's been a busy six weeks since we moved. We've been unpacking, and painting, and setting up, renovating and doing yard work. It's been a lot of work but we're really enjoying it.

And of course, Charlie wants to help us do everything.

Here she is up on Daddy's ladder helping hang pictures. She loves helping out her Daddy - and yes, she is actually started calling him Daddy instead of Bob!!!!

Charlie loves her new house!!! She doesn't ever want to go "bye bye" - she'll start crying and say "no, me home" and she gets so excited when we pull up to our house. "home, home, home". I love that she likes her new house. Her favorite thing about it is the front yard that she's able to play in whenever she wants.

And of course, our family would not be complete without Liam, and so neither would this post. Liam is growing so fast - literally, as fast as the weeds in our yard! He had his first bite of food tonight - (but that's another post). His favorite thing is his Jolly Jumper and of course, his sister.

Could it be Christmas?

Remember when you were a kid and Christmas Eve was soooo exciting waiting in anticipation for Christmas morning? We'd stay up all night, and then get up really early Christmas morning and one of us kids would go upstairs with our eyes shut and fumble to find the Christmas tree lights and plug them in and run back downstairs. Then, all five of us kids would go up the stairs, holding hands with our eyes closed, to see the lit up tree and array of stockings and gifts all at the same time. Those were magical moments and has made Christmas my favorite time of year. But, I'm totally getting lost in memories when Christmas has nothing to do with this blog. What I'm trying to say is that I am THAT excited on the eve of owning my own home. The count down is on, 12.5 hours left before I can pick up the key and it's officially ours.



Drum roll please..........

So the big moving day is Thursday and we would love all the help we can get. 12 hours 20 minutes... (I'm not going to get any sleep tonight)

Things I Am Grateful For

I have so much to be grateful for and today I thought I would give thanks for my blessings (we'll see how many I can list before Charlie gets into something)

1. Bob - he is my best friend, my rock, the love of my life.
2. Charlie - she makes me laugh and smile even when I am in a terrible mood.
3. Liam- I love to just hold and cuddle him and I melt when he smiles at me. He's doing this new thing where if he's looking at me and crying he'll start smiling even while he's still crying...crazy child.
4. My parents- they are always helping me and my family sooo much and are just always there for me and supporting me in everything. My mom is my best friend and I love that we talk every day and my dad makes me laugh and always has wise words of advice. Recently, my Dad just helped us soooo much buy our first house that my mom picked out for us!
5. My siblings - I love each one of them for different reasons. I love living so close to Addy and hanging out with her. She is always doing so much to help me out and I am soo touched and it means so much to me how much she loves my children. I also know that when I don't feel like there is anyone in the whole world that will understand what I'm feeling, I can call her and she gets me. I miss Justin. I love hanging out with him and wish we we lived closer. I really hope that when he's done school, he'll move back to Lethbridge. My sister Jenee amazes me. I'm so proud of her and all of her accomplishments - she lives an amazing life being sure to experience everything and try everything and I admire that. Jon, is the kindest, most gentle, sensitive soul you would ever meet. He is a deep thinker, questioning everything and I think he's extremely talented and love to listen to him sing and play the guitar. The song he wrote me is my favorite song ever!
6. My parents-in-law. We've been living with them for the past 6 months and they have been great. My father-in-law is cool. I enjoy hanging out with him and like that I can just be myself around him and the relationship is easy. I like that- we've got this understanding between us and it's nice. My mother-in-law is a tremendous example of faith to me. She is one of the kindest people I know and appreciate her example. I always hear people complaining about their in-laws and I always say I have the best parents-in-law ever.

Well, I could go on, I could mention my new house, and my family's health, and my husband's job, and vehicles that work, and my love for the gospel but I better find Charlie and see what she's into....

Somebody's Turning 2!

My little girl is growing up so fast!! Next Sunday (April 5) she'll be two years old!!!

I miss her letting me just hold her all day long, but appreciate so much the little moments throughout the day when she seeks me out to wipe away a tear, or show me a picture she coloured of Bob and the baby or crawls onto my lap for stories, or dances silly for me or just wants a quick hug or kiss before she runs off to play some more. And every time I kiss a tear away or turn her cries into giggles by a quick hug and tickles, I wish I could pause the moment forever and know it would always be so easy to heal the hurts.

And then there were two...

Liam was born in January and life has been absolutely crazy with two kids under two - everyday I ask myself, "What were we thinking?"


But then when I look at him and hold him, all the craziness is worth it!
(Thanks for the pic, Sean)

Liam is almost three months old and is just starting to smile and coo and interact. His sister is in love with him and always needs to know where he is but she hates it when he cries and yells "Baby stop!!" over and over until Bob and I can quit laughing at her and do something to settle Liam. (Thanks for the pic, Rhonda)

COOKIE MONSTER

Last night Charlie and I made cookies at grandma's house. Charlie is having so much fun here with my younger sisters that she is going to be crushed when we go back to Lethbridge in a couple of weeks. She has started to cry for them when they go to school in the mornings and watching out the window for them in the afternoon. And when they are home she is sure to be trailing close behind them where ever they go.

My Girl

Of all the pictures I have of Charlie Ann, this is my favorite. It takes my breath away every time I see it. My brother-in-law, Sean took it about a month ago at Grandma Stasiuk's birthday party lunch.

We've been practising words with Charlie trying to get her to talk a bit more instead of just grunting. This week we've been working on saying "I love you". She makes me laugh though. She'll repeat "I" and then "love" but when you ask her to repeat "you" she gets mad and says "NO! love".

She is growing up so fast and gets more beautiful everyday. I could sit and watch her for hours as she plays and explores. She is my whole world!

Getting Started...

So maybe to get started I'll answer the 50 random questions that I see on everyone's blogs right now.

Fifty Questions.

1. Do you like blue cheese? Nope.
2. Have you ever smoked a cigarette? Nope...but I've had dreams I have and hated it.
3. Do you own a gun? Never... this is where Bob and I disagree. He loves his brother's guns and wants his own.
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Hey, I went there this summer.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Only if I have to take off my clothes(hey, you asked).
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I try not to think about them and then they're okay.
7. Favorite Christmas Song? Forgotten Carols.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Diet Coke unfortunately, no lectures please- I know it's bad.
9. Can you do push-ups? Yep but only a few.
10. What is your favorite movie? Girl, Interrupted.
11. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? Wedding rings but lately they are causing a terrible rash!!!
12. Favorite hobby? Scrapbooking.
13. Do you work with people who idolize you? Just Kalie :)
14. Do you have ADD? No, but my husband does.
15. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? Appearance.
16. What’s your middle name? Laine, after my grandma Elaine.
17. Name three thoughts at this moment: When will Charlie wake up? What to do tonight? Excited to give Bob good news when he gets home.
18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday: Card reader, t-shirt, and ice-cream sandwhiches.
19. Current worry right now? Buying a house.
20. Current hate right now? Not getting "me" time.
21. Favorite place to be? Vacation with my family.
22. Favorite person? Bob.
23. How did you bring in the New Year? Trying to induce myself - didn't work though - had the baby 9 days later.
24. Where would you like to go? Anywhere.
25. Name three people who will complete this? Maybe, my sister-in-law Cheryl.
26. Whose answer do you want to read the most? Your mom's.
27. What color shirt are you wearing? Black- Bob hates that I always wear blue or black.
28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, I hate it!! Only cotton.
29. Can you whistle? A little.
30. Favorite color? Depends on what it's for.
31. Would you be a pirate? Nope
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? Silly kids songs that I can't get out of my head from singing with Charlie.
33. Favorite girl’s name? Charlie Ann
34. Favorite boy’s name? Liam
35. What’s in your pocket right now? No pockets
36. Last thing that made you laugh? Charlie
37. Best bed sheets as a child? Can't remember - but I remember my favorite blanket with a big bear on it - still have it.
38. Worst injury you’ve ever had? Car accident #3.
39. What is your favorite snack? Ice cream sandwhiches.
40. Favorite thing to do on Sundays? Nap.
41. Who is your loudest friend? My sister, Addy - love you!!!
42. How many dogs do you have? None, but one may be coming.
43. Does someone have a crush on you? Bob can't give enough of me :)
45. What is your favorite book? A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
46. What is your favorite candy? Chocolate
47. What is your favorite sports team? Don't have one.
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? I'm invincible and will never die so it doesn't matter.
49. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Trying to shut off my brain so I can sleep.
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? Awesome- my kids slept til 9:45am - we needed that!