phew, what a weekend

Phew as in, nice relaxing weekend pretty much a home.

Derek had a long weekend. And on Friday afternoon we thought it would be fun to go home for a surprise visit. We got ourselves all excited, and then I remembered some Sunday commitments I had. I tried and tried to get out of them, with no luck. So we were stuck up here for a freezing snowy weekend with no plans.
Saturday was a lazy day with this and that to do and then friends over for games.

Sunday, I led the relief society in a hymn in sacrament meeting and had my first Sunday teaching the Sunbeams. Six 3 and 4 year olds at the end of 3 hours of church, oh my. This will take some getting used to. Then we went over to some friends for a yummy Sunday dinner.

Monday was another snowy cold day. We wanted to do something fun, but then didn't really want to leave into the cold. So if you can believe it, Derek had a bright idea to clean out a few dreaded areas. So for about 4 hours we cleaned, cleaned and cleaned. It's crazy how many corners you can stash stuff in a little apartment. So after 4 bags of garbage, 1 bag of shoes and 2 bags of clothes, the closets and cupboards are organized, Alli's too small clothes are neatly boxed up, and even behind the stove and fridge is shiny just to give you an idea of how crazy we went. It's such a good feeling going to bed after a day like that, and a whole day later, it's still clean! (Next week I'll be thinking, Remember when it was so clean here?)

And today I had to go into my work at the hospital. I'm starting back casual next week and had to get some things taken care of. I'll be a working mom. haha (max of 8 hours a week I'm thinking, I don't want to overdo it)

Well, I've sure been slacking on the posts lately, no excuses really, just not much going on. The weather is too cold to be out for more than a few minutes. Alli has no snowpants yet, but when I get some, I'll see if she likes the snow. I take her for a 10 or 15 minute walk most days and she doesn't seem to mind the cold. So here are a few pictures here and there this past week or so.


The classic spaghetti for supper. Its a good thing Alli likes it so much since with my great cooking skills, we have something like this at least once a week. It's fun to let her go crazy and then throw her in the tub.



Here is a good one of her teeth. At least the front 2 are coming in now, so she doesn't have fangs.



And, Alli's FAVORITE toy these days. The Phone. She sits and smiles and laughs with it and pretends to talk. And if you take it away...TROUBLE. She freaks out, and she never really freaks out if you take anything else away. The funny thing is, when someone is actually on the other end, she is so quiet and hardly makes a peep.




Yes, Alli is wearing a bit of a Christmas shirt (so cute, gotta get lots of wear out of it), and yes since the first snowfall I have been playing Christmas music, and no Derek is not a fan of this quite so early.

if you made it through all my rambling, good for you. I am a little long winded at times I guess.

happy halloween

Here's lots of pictures because it's 2 days after



So is this the cutest trick or treater ever or what!



I saw this costume on the cover of Parents magazine back at the end of September when I got the issue and wanted it so bad. I went to 2 Childrens Place stores right away and what do ya know, nothing but cows for Alli. I went around to a few other stores a couple times and nothing was very exciting. I was just to crushed and didn't buy anything. So about 10 days ago I decided I better get something for her "first" halloween. (she was around for halloween last year, but we had only been home from the hospital for like a week, and I wasn't expecting to have even had her yet.) So I ventured back to children's place and at the end of the rack there was a glow. It was a glowing yellow costume. Only 1 left, size 0-6 months, I'm so glad Alli is below the 10th percentile! Then, to top it off, as I was buying it, it was half price! Does it get any better?

Well it was freezing cold out last night so we just drove to a few friends houses to show her off. But really, Alli wore the costume so good, she needed more than that. She never touched or pulled at the hat thing, or tried to take her feet off. So we went to the mall. Alli loved it. She was smiling at everyone and looking at all the costumes. There were tons of kids. And we got a little candy for ourselves too!

She's enjoying a sucker at the mall. No need to take off the wrapper, it's still a treat to her.




Alli and Derek eating their chocolate bars, once again, note her wrapper on.




We had so much fun, and I'm a little sad she doesn't get to wear the costume any more. Maybe I'll have to play dress up with her.

just a few pictures

Last weekend was great The wedding was beautiful, the bride the decorations the everything. So happy for Lyndsey and Dustin. But I failed this weekend with the camera, so I have a quick shot of Lyndsey with Jacklyn and me instead.



Here are the kiddies.

Jacklyns guy Luke is so cute. He is such a little man, and SUCH a good baby going out and about with the girls all weekend. Look at him, he's got a 30 year old lawyer wardrobe I tell ya, and I love it! This outfit is just the tip of the iceberg with all the sweater vests etc.



They were having a rough time posing, past their bedtimes and all wired. This one shows how they were really feeling I
think, kinda out of it.



Here's almost a good one of the both I guess. Alli wasn't really pulling out the smiles, more trying to run away in all the pictures.



I was sad I didn't get to see Whitney and Brittany's kids, but at least I did get to see them. I had so much fun hangin out with Jack, we spent lots of time together, just the 2 of us. I feel like its been forever since we had time like that. I guess that's what happens when she lives in Oregon and we only meet on busy occasions when we are in Raymond for something. We didn't do much, just same old chit chat for hours. But it was fun, like the old days. Me laughing at all Jacklyns jokes and her talking me into cutting and dyeing my hair, I love it.

Gotta go, but one more thing. Alli is walking. Well, if I stand her up and make her she can walk. But she never does on her own, she just sits down and cruises with the crawlers. Derek is really working on her. I know everyone says once she starts walking, you'll wish you never taught her, but frankly, she might as well walk. She crawls so fast and walks along anything she can hold onto, so I say why not. She is a year old and due for it.

pumpkins pictures!

Just a couple pictuers of Alli over thanksgiving with all the pumkins my dad grew. He grew 14 of them. They look so good. So good I had to bring 2 back with me to be carved soon. I got Alli's halloween costume yesterday, it's so dang cute I can't contain myself. I put it on her yesterday and she loved it. I hope she still loves it on halloween. I'm off to Raymond again for the weekend. Going down for my friend Lyndsey Hill's wedding. Thank goodness her sister lives up here and is coming down with me so I don't have to drive 5 hours with just Alli and me.







Ok, this is just kinda funny to me, I had to take a picture. Alli filled her pants for the 3rd time a day as usual, so I begged Derek to change it. This is what Alli turned out wearing when he was through with her. And I thought only moms played dress up with the kids!

last one

All the birthdays in the family are over for the year. Phew. We've had plenty of cake here and wherever we went over the past 2 weeks.

We had a party over the long weekend for Lucy and Alli turning one. Rhonda and her mom made the CUTEST cakes ever. (I even made cupcakes today and had the neighbors kids over to decorate and blow out candles for the FINAL party, no more, PLEASE) Honestly, the picture doesn't do the cake justice. Thank you 100 times Rhonda for probably the fanciest cake Alli will ever have for her birthday, unless we do a double again...



Lucy and Alli both got little walker toys so they will hurry up and walk!



Alli really enjoyed her first bite of cake as you can see. She ate her piece so fast and then tried to Lucy's.



(WARNING! a little bit of sentimental mom coming up)
I can't believe it has been a year. She was so little, and I was certain, I was having a boy. Right when she was born and the doctor said it's a girl, I thought they were all playing a joke on me. I really REALLY thought she would be a girl. Then the nurse asked what her name would be. I said I have no idea, I thought I would have was a boy. Looking back I have no idea why I thought that. (Now all I want is girls!) I couldn't be happier. Sure she makes me run crazy some days, but I wouldn't want it any other way. And what do you know, she is squirming around in her crib, so I better go before she wakes and makes me crazy! But here she is, one year ago. They grow up so fast...sigh...

so excited

for these two! My sister Brooke and Brett got engaged last Friday. Such a fun cute couple. They are getting married December 29th. Coming up quick, but the plans are in full swing. Brooke lives in Raymond, finishing her internship, and Brett is in Edmonton. Derek and I did that for 8 or 9 nine months (or longer seemed like forever at the time) when we were dating, not so fun.




Heading down to Raymond for the weekend again. Can't wait for Thanksgiving dinner. Derek has had a football game every long weekend since we've been married (also last year I was a day away from having Alli) so it will be fun to be home for once.

AND...we are having Alli's birthday party on Saturday with cousin Lucy. So pictures for sure next week!
Hope everyone has a fun weekend, and eats LOTS and LOTS!

happy happy

birthday! (to me)

"Birthday's are good for your health. Statistics say the more you have of them, the longer you live."

I think that is so funny. Had the big 25th birthday yesterday. I'm going to be spent on cake here pretty soon with Derek's last week, now mine and Alli's next week. Haha, sick of cake yeah right.

Everyone has been asking me what the surprise for Derek was. I got him a massage since he was a sick old man with aching bones and back. And I hate giving massages and am quite terrible at it too, so he wasn't getting one from me.

We got to go out for my birthday on Friday night. (baby free!) Just went out to dinner at a real mexican restaurant, I wish I could remember how to spell it. Sooo good. I love the mexican, and I'm not talking about the taco time kind.

So no pictures today. I really need to get out and take some fall pictures before it's over. We went to the pitch and putt in the river valley the other day and I sure was sad I didn't have my camera. It was beautiful, but it seems that fall is over really fast in Edmonton.