it's a rough life

look at this boy.

it's a terrible picture. the lighting is all wrong, it's fuzzy and it's not the best angel. but i love it! i just uploaded all my pictures and found it. i don't even know who took it. but look at this pose. he looks so hard done by!



let me tell you about james. in the last month or so, he has come alive. even more alive than he was already, and he was a lively boy to start with. maybe he came alive because he eats now. from december through april he gained a pound. i really wonder how much he weighs now because he eats like a full grown lion.

the menu for james on a day like today
cereal; mine, his and alli's (he steals food)
a couple yogurts
oranges
toast
a bushel of bananas
leftover stirfry
rice chips
an apple
cucumber
snow peas
a hot dog (i know, quality supper tonight)
half the bun
a feezie
and a gallon of milk, most of which he insists on drinking during the nighttime hours.


and yes, he does kiss his mother with that mouth.

I have so many stories about his boy right now, I need to write them down, he cracks me up. I won't bore you with them here, but he is getting a temper and it is pretty much the cutest funniest thing ever.



Ok, on to other things.

I missed Father's Day. Well, I didn't miss it, I just missed it on the blog. I totally went ALL OUT for Derek this year. He got Sunday socks, 3 whole pair. I know, I know, I'm the best wife EVER! He feels so sheepish that he only got me lululemon gear for mother's day.

BUT, I'll take a moment to be slightly serious. Derek is amazing. There is no other way to put it. AMAZING. He is such a hands on dad. He plays and reads with them and loves them so so much. I'm so happy with the career he choose. I know he will be so happy with it and we will be able to have lots of family time together. (unless he is coaching...jks!) But here's the kicker, I'm pretty sure when Alli gave him the first pair of socks, then James the second, and the final pair from me, he was genuinely happy with each pair! How could he not be happy? He actually really did need sunday socks, and frankly, that's why I love him, he doesn't care if I get him stuff or not!

My workin' man, earning our keep around here! He loves to pose for me. But c'mon, look how hot he is! (he's gonna kill me if he reads this)

I have been so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful examples of fathers. I love my dad and appreciate so much and the many, many, MANY things he has done for me. ( and is doing for me right now, ie he has to live with me...AGAIN!) I might not say it or show it enough, but I know he knows how much he means to me. (even if I tease him about anything I can think of to tease him about)
And I'm so greatful for Derek's Dad. Derek had such a wonderful example of what a father should be on every level. Derek's dad has been more than a father in law to me over the years (you know how it goes in raymond; teacher, church leader, friend's dad etc...) and he is an outstanding person in every one of those roles. It's not by chance that Derek turned out so AMAZING! He came from this great family, and so did I. I feel like we are actually quite spoiled in the family dynamics department.
ok, ok, ok, that's enough sapp from me.






I took a quick trip up to Calgary last friday saturday. Susie and I went shopping. It had been about 3 weeks since a set foot in a mall! We were looking for dresses for the little girls and ourselves for the wedding. I totally miss my sisters already. We have always been such good friends. We NEVER fight and never have. (Brooke I know what you're thinking, i might have mean here and there, but we never fought did we?!) See, here I go again with my perfect family! So it was fun to see Susie again and Brooke is coming down for a WHOLE WEEK around the wedding! YAY!
Back to my weekend. Me and Sue had so much fun just being nerds together and talking because we never run out of things to say.

I also went to Erin's baby shower while I was in Calgary. She's not due until September, but her mom was in from Toronto so the party was a must. I love Erin so much and she is a genuine friend to me. She is a very kind and giving person. Erin and her twin Andrea are the sweetest gals and always make me feel so welcome when I'm around and don't know any of their other friends! I think she is only person I keep in regular contact with from work. I sure miss spending 12 hour days and nights together!

Did I mentions she is the cutest?!



I know, where is her baby belly?



ps I did the decorations, CUTE?! I totally stole the clothesline idea and others from other people, and rhonda made the little name sign of course, thanks rhonda!

Well, what a post! Pretty random. I must be feeling slightly sentimental tonight or something. I'm just throwing out the compliments everywhere! But I mean every word.

ridiculous

That is the weather, ridiculous. It was all of 6 degrees here today and windy and rainy, ALL DAY. Here's how happy we were about it to.



James stayed in his favorite pyjama shirt all day as a rebellion to the weather! I did put pants on for a trip to the library.


RE:

Regarding my earlier posts. In my fancy mosaic, you might recognize my celebrity crush. Yes, i have a secret love for Eric Dane, AKA McSteamy, from Grey's Anatomy. I get giddy when I watch him on the show. No joke, I can't stop smiling. Don't tell Derek. While we're on the subject, I also have a secret love for Aaron Ekhert. (sp?) There you go, I said it, I feel so much better now. Who is your secret celebrity crush?
And the wheat box. It has been brought to my attention of the short supply of wheat these days. Maybe I will be starving and hungry by the end of the year with this economy, BUT my faithful mother had a food storage ready to go years ago. Years and years ago. The wheat is 25 or so years old. If we ate that wheat, we may or may not die before starvation.


Note James' forehead here...



After a trip and fall right on the cement, oops! Poor guy had a giant goose egg.



I caught her playing in her own little world, love it!



I'm in trouble, I got caught!



On a final note. I decided to give in. I knew I would sooner or later. I'm reading Twilight. I'm sure I'll like it even though they are vampires.

waste it away

Here is my complete waste of time for the day. But it was a very fun and entertaining complete waste of time. Try it out! I always need a little distraction or down time (or waste of time) activity when the kids go for a nap. And since they BOTH went for a nap today, I get an extended waste of time!



I did that because I'm too lazy to upload my own pictures off my camera. I think I have some on there but I don't remember what they are.

Sooooo, Derek got a job! We are so so very excited! He will be teaching grade 6 in Cardston. I can't wait to be moving next to the mountains in the fall. It is a little sad knowing that we are gone from Edmonton forever. I was still hanging on to the idea of getting a job and moving back up there, but he had a few interviews and we felt this was the best move for us. Derek is still up in Edmonton finishing his last week of classes EVER! Then he is working construction right here in Raymond for the summer.

Well, my time wasting is over. My mom and I are making a quilt in case Rhonda has a girl. Sorry Rhonda, I'll do my best not to mess it up.

I hear Alli hacking away in her bed right now. What's with croup in June?


WELL...

My mom is on the phone and I don't trust myself with a quilt that isn't mine. So I will play another game.

You type your name into a search engine with the word is or wants and see what comes of it. For example "Lindsay is"

Lindsay is crying while eating.

I am totally eating licorice right now. Not crying, but not so good for me either!

Lindsay is very good indeed!

so true, so true.

Lindsay is a highly accomplished management professional

I do seem to manage these kids in a professional manor.

Lindsay wants to create a new fusionism which will make us stuffy conservatives lighten up and make pie-eyed liberals give up their enduring weakness for ...

hehehe

Lindsay wants to know!

I do want to know...

So I actually had to put in the spelling Lindsey because when I put in my spelling all the Lindsay Lohan drama stuff popped up. And oh dear, there is some not very nice things going on for her on the internet.

hmmmm...

Here's the ratty kids. Isn't this what summer is supposed to look like?!

The wheat box is a real hit once again this summer. Cleaner than sand, but still finding it in random places.








Well, I guess it's time for an update. I really don't have too much to say. I've been trying to muster up some creativity, but it is lacking. Moving is not interesting or exciting at all. But I'm sure my mom would say things are interesting around here lately and I'm thinking it is a bit exciting to be here, so I take it back. And now that the weather is semi nice (I've checked the Edmonton weather several times and it has been a thousand times nicer up there since I left, errr) we'd rather be outside playing than inside blogging right!

Here's the lowdown

*I packed and unpacked, BORING.

*Derek has made 4 trips from Edmonton to Raymond since the 24th with a side trip to Kimberley in there.

*BUT, it's all in the name of a job (and golf). No job yet, but soon...I hope...

*gas is EXPENSIVE!

*Thanks to my mama, Derek and I had a long weekend away with no kids in Kimberley. Sure, Susie and the other couple had their kids, but none for me! It was my first trip away EVER since the children arrived. So great.



*We've been out doing stuff in the yard with my mom. It only took the two of us 20 mins to decide to check the gas tank when the lawn mower wouldn't start.

*We haven't broke anything at my parents house yet.

*Alli remains potty trained. Phew.

*My hair is suddenly and very conveniently blonde for the summer.





*We did find a way to spend some money there in attempt to even out with the boys golf spending. Here's a cute pregnant Rachel with her little girl Halie, me (childless) and Susie and Sadie.



Kimberley is where we went for our honeymoon. We actually stayed just up the block from where we went on our honeymoon almost 6 years ago, awwww. This is the only time we got a couple pictures together, since they boys were pretty much golfing the days away. Either that or playing guitar hero, oh wait, that was me.

she lives!

So I am still alive. I've just been having a fun busy time taking over my parents house and moving in and taking off for a quick holiday. I have a few recent pictures scattered so I need a little longer to gather things up for maybe a massive post.

I saw this forever ago, but if you haven't seen it and you need to. it's a guaranteed laugh. if you don't laugh at this you have a stone cold non exisiting heart.


CLICK HERE TO LAUGH

i don't know how to post the actual thing on here so follow the link

ready to move

We're getting lots done around here...really...

james is one!

James is one today. WOW! What a year it has been. The other day Derek said, "Can you believe we have been sleep deprived for a whole year?" hahaha, it's not that bad...

Here's a few things James is up to these days...

~is so smiley
~waves at people when we are out in public
~claps his hands when I say Clap!
~torments his sister with a smile on his face
~loves to pull Alli's and my hair (must be because he has none of his own to pull!)
~is a walking disaster
~still not sleeping through the night (errrrr! but it's my own fault so i can't complain))
~says uh-uh instead of uh-oh (as he purposely throws his food on the floor from his high chair)
~laughs in my face when I tell him "no"
~LOVES tickles
~is obsessed with putting on his shoes and and playing with his feet.

I'm so happy James decided to join our family. And I'd like to know if it was him who had anything to do with the when! Ok, I'm going to do it. This is for me.

I've had so many emotions going on these past few days. I'm sad/happy/stressed about the move. Can't believe my baby is a year, and how happy I am that he is part of our family. And been thinking lots about my brother Ryan who passed away 10 years ago today. (note to self: never watch ps i love this time of year)

James was born on the very same day that Ryan died. And like I said the other day, I just knew it was going to be that day. I sooooo didn't want it to be, but I had a feeling that it would be, and was prepared. And you know what? It's ok. It's ok to be happy today.

When I was driving in the car with the kids today, Alli was "singing" along to the radio. So I started singing with her and we cracked up. As soon as we busted out laughing, I instantly thought of Ryan, and I knew it was just how he would want it to be. I know that is so cliche to say that, but I don't care, it's what happened. Ryan was a happy guy who laughed a lot with this great contagious laugh, I might even venture to call it a giggle. I don't have anything profound to say about today. I just wanted to acknowledge my brother. I love him. I miss him. I don't want to forget him. I know I never will. I think of him often. Maybe Ryan is just telling me I don't need to be sad anymore on this day. (so he pulled a fast one and sent me kid!?) Because I know I am going to be with him again someday and that brings such a peace to my heart. And maybe if we're lucky, James will have a piece of that crazy personality Ryan had. I hope so.



We had cupcakes with candles after supper today for James. Nothing fancy or exciting. James (actually Alli) just opened a little present. We decided we're saving what we are really getting him for after the move. Alli was out of control excited for his birthday. She has put together one thing. Birthday=Cake. So once again she had the icing off 2 cupcakes and was up until 9:00 bouncing off the walls. What kind of mother am I anyway?

Here's a jumble of pictures. One from every month! It's a lot. You can click on them to make them bigger.

May 2007, one week old.



June, first smile


July, a visit at Grandma's


August


September


October. He's gonna love me for that costume.


November. Learning to crawl and get bruises.


December. Merry Christmas! ok, this picture is kinda scary.


January. one of my favorite pictures.


February.


March. A rare snooze in public.


April. Woohoo, bathtime!