You Skeptics!

It is installed!

For all you out there who didn't know we are a family that

purchases products from infomercials!

Let me clarify...my husband purchases these items!

We ordered the Magic Mesh last summer, you know the screen with the "stratigically placed magnets" that allow you to walk through the screen and it will close behind you.  I could pretty much repeat it word for word :)

Anywho this screen was too wide for our deck door so I had to do some alterations hence why it was only installed today and not last summer.

It's up ... it works ... and there may be another one still in the box lying around the house somewhere...

because if you order one ... they will send you another....

you just pay the extra shipping and handling :)

Mardi's Skirt

Here is the first item of clothing I have ever knitted!  It is pretty simple and thankfully that is what I chose as my first project!  I am very pleased at how it turned out.

I finished it at 12:30am and left it on the couch...

As you can see Mardi left me a note on it for when I woke (!)...

Love her!  She rocks!!!

He is FAMOUS!

My son is famous...

Three weeks ago Jack and I were at the optometrist office getting some new glasses (shocking I know!) and we were asked if it would be ok to have Jack come back in a couple of weeks to take his picture.  They told us about this project they were starting where they would take pictures of their young patients with glasses, make them into laminated boards and hang them throughout the office.  This way kids needing glasses in the future could see other kids and maybe even kids they know on the walls sporting glasses.  Jack just grinned...until we got into the truck!

I think the gears were just smokin in his mind because when we got into the truck he told me that this meant he was going to be famous!  Not only would he be famous but I would have to treat him differently?!  Not sure how many Entertainment Tonight's he has watched but he knows that when you are famous people do everything for you (not sure how this is different than the life he is already accustomed to!).

So yesterday we were called to the office for his photo to be taken.  After it was done he said that now people will be stopping him and asking for his autograph!

This led to today's role playing...

Jack found a box that he said would be perfect for his papers, his autograph papers.  He hired his sister to cut all the papers he needed and she agreed to be his assistant.  She was running around calling him "Boss" because they wanted Jack to remain anonymous so people weren't screaming "Oh it's Jack"!

This is his name tag that he constructed - tape secured!

And here is the autograph I asked for - you may get one as well however you need to come here (his safe place, away from paparazzi) his home!

Lino Update

Today the insurance adjustor came to look at our wrecked linoleum.  The flooring man was unsure if they would cover this or not, but I found out today they are going to!  Trust me I do not want the mess and destruction of new flooring but we decided that if we are going to put this house on the market in the future we had better fix it right.  A feather in my hat when the adjustor said that there was no doubt that this was a accident as my home looks like a show home :)  He said that he has been to homes where the house and the floors are a disaster and the damage is questionable.  So after a trip to the flooring store to attain a date for an estimate to be done and a quick look at some new flooring options I have the ball rolling.

Lino and Pumpkins!

So there is no correlation between linoleum and pumpkins ... or so I thought!  Last Thursday we had our carpets cleaned - one of the happiest days of my life!!!  They really weren't too dirty but after 7 1/2 years of living here they definitely needed some TLC. 

 I managed to move all of the furniture that could be moved on Wednesday however I left the entertainment unit plugged in so the kids could still watch tv that night.  On Thursday morning I asked my hubby to move it into the kitchen - I left just enough space in there for it.  He slid it in as far as it would go - he then had to use a lot of force to move it, but it wouldn't budge.  He kept trying until I came along and said I would help so he pulled it back and that is when we saw the damage!  The lino in the kitchen now had several gouges in it.... SHIT.

So today I had a flooring repair man come to have a look, needless to say he cannot fix it.  He would be able to remove and replace the 12 x 12 square if we had extra lino lying around .. but we don't.  So I have called our insurance company to see if that would be covered or not under our home insurance and am still waiting to hear back from them.  However after talking to my husband we decided to try and fix it ourselves!  He figures if I can make a pumpkin hat for a baby I can repair some gouged linoleum.  I am willing to try...so Home Depot here we come...we need lino glue and a brand new exacto knife!

And here is my pumpkin creation - cute!



Let Me Count the Ways!

I am one very lucky girl - I am sure there isn't enough room on this blog to list it all but I am going to try!

• I have the most amazing husband!  Mine is BETTER than yours!  heeheehee This guy has overcome cancer - fought it and kicked it's ass to the corner!  He has hit year 9 of remission - yay!!!  He has such an amazing work ethic - he provides for our family so that I am able to stay home and raise well mannered, respectful kids that both he and I are extremely proud of!  He has so much love - for me, his kids and people in general.  He is always willing to lend a hand and really knows the meaning of right vs. wrong.  I have hit it out of the park with this guy for sure!
• My kids are fantastic!  My daughter is so smart - she loves school, reading and helping her class.  She has such a caring heart and is so helpful around the house too.  She has a love for her brother too - even though somedays she has her fill of him :) She is such a great friend to so many at school too.  People can definitely learn from her in that department.  My son amazes me every day!  Since being diagnosed with epilepsy, having not such wonderful tests done to him on more than one occassion he still smiles.  I am amazed how his body handles his medication and how he is "cured".  He has finally found his love for school and is enjoying the new venture of home reading immensly!  I am so proud to be these kids' Mom!
• I am surrounded by an amazing family outside of these 4 walls as well.  I have great in-laws that raised the amazing man I call my husband.  They enjoy their grandkids so much - giggling at every little thing they do.  I have fantastic parents as well.  Last night they took my daughter shopping for her birthday in Calgary, ran her all around the city for her to buy what she wished for, took her out for supper then brought her home full of smiles!  I also have the great grandparents still!  I am truly blessed to have these wonderful people in my life - thankfully they were so young they were like another set of parents for me and my sister - only ones that spoiled us more!
• I also have a large group of great friends!  You know the ones you don't have to talk to every day and you can just pick up where you left off, I also have the "every day" kind too - lots of friends!  I still am friends with all those people I went to school with most even from kindergarten!  I am thankful that all of my husbands friends were mine as well - we have so many that we don't seem to spend enough time with the ones we got.  I recently hightened my friend expectation and lowered my numbers - you know the ones that owe people money and ignore it and the ones that are such followers that they can't have an original thought to see through the shit...yeah those ones.  Feels good - they needed to be kicked to the curb. 
• I am blessed with an amazing house that my husband and I designed - we would now change a few things, but that will have to wait until the forever house is built on that beautiful quarter that we have put our name on!
• I am thankful for the vehicle I drive, it is not new by any means but it is fantastic.  Without having brand new vehicles we can afford other things, we just have to baby the older ones we have.
• My hubby and I have been able to raise a cow herd to a remarkable number.  For a family living on one income we also have been able to invest in our future and our kids future with a field full of cows.  I am so proud of that since that is how I was raised.  We also are still able to dabble in the farming end of things - keeps us in the ag industry and that is something close to my husbands heart.  We are so lucky!
• Our family is so blessed to be a part of an amazing school that our kids are lucky enough to attend.  I have made a lot of friendships there - teachers, parents and the other kids in my childrens' classes.  I think it is the best school - I will even argue with you on that one - but all I hope is that everyone loves the school they belong to as much as we do!  I am also lucky to volunteer so much of my time there, thanks husband and your amazing job!  I love all those little people calling out "Mrs. Kitchen!" and running for a hug :)
• I am thankful at this time of year that we are able to put gifts under the tree for our family, a fantastic meal on the table for whoever comes by, and leave a gift on Unit 57 for all the cancer patients and their families today and for years to come.  We KNOW who to be thankful too, HOW to be thankful for where we are and what we have and are willing to give and help others when they need it.

I am amazed at our life and the lives of those close to us.  Not only are we surrounded by amazing individuals and families but we are a part of their lives, I like to think they have rubbed off on us along the way!

Merry Christmas to all of our friends - stop by for some Christmas cheer through the Holidays!

Here's What's Cookin'!!

There is one reason I am happy to see the cold weather here ... hearty meals!  I LOVE to cook but nothing makes me "put on a meal" like when I know my hard working husband has been outside battling the elements all day!  I love to feed him - there is nothing he looks more forward to than whats cooking on the stove!  I found this recipe in a magazine a while back and tried it first out on the crew moving cows.  They loved it!  I again made it on Monday night ... needless to say there were no leftovers.  I will double it next time :)  Chicken Stew with Lattice Puff Pastry

Thank You Pinterest!

 This is BEFORE I found a "closet-turned-mudroom" picture on Pinterest. 
I was so excited about this idea that I showed my hubby and he was all on board. 
We have always hated this closet in our laundry room because it was only deep enough to hang a child-size hanger and our kids have never mastered hanging their coats up on the rod!  So this the AFTER pic which is still cluttered but it is way more practical! 
We love it!



10 Years...

Well we made it ... 10 years of wedded bliss! 

We were lucky enough to celebrate our anniversary in New York at a Yankees game ~ great idea I had!

Besides the 5 day holiday together I am very lucky to have this guy in my life. 

We now have 18 years under our belts which officially makes it more than half of my life has been spent with this guy by my side. 

Fabulous days and difficult days -

enough to author a short novel! 

 I wouldn't change a thing.

10 years and counting... xoxo

Devastated

I come here to post, to speak from my heart, our family is heartbroken...devastated.

You know when you hear on the news of an accident and your first thought is "so sad", followed by "I hope it isn't anyone we know".  Well those thoughts have never rang more true than they did Wednesday morning.  Hearing on the news about a child losing their life in an accident has never hurt more than it does right now. 

Our dear, dear friends were in an accident Tuesday afternoon and the result was the loss of their precious 21-month old baby girl.  Baby Ryan as she was known to all of us.   I can honestly say I have never cried so much, never.  I am so thankful for my husband, his incredibly huge heart and his ability to know where we needed to be yesterday, taking the rest of the day off of work.  I am also thankful for my children's grandparents and their willingness to drop everything to come and care for our children.  And I am thankful for the hours we were able to spend with our close friend, the grieving father, on the first of many days he needed to be surrounded by friends.  But most of all I am thankful for what I hold so dear to my heart ~ my family ~ my wonderful husband and the two angels I call my children.  Life is awfully short, take the time to hug those babies in your home and I pray that NOTHING like this ever happens to any of you. 

God bless you "prettiest angel ~ baby Ryan". 
You took the best...take care of her. 



What's New Around Here!

Well there have been a few small changes that have occured at the Kitchen house!  It all started with Mardi wanting a new hair cut....there is an adorable little girl in her class with an adorable hairdo that Mardi thought she would like.  I figured it was fine - her hair, she can do what she wants...however her Dad did not have the same outlook.  He eventually caved because he didn't have a leg to stand on - I wanted Mardi to do what she wanted and if worse came to worse and she didn't like the cut she could grow it out again.  Needless to say we all loved the cut and I think it is here to stay!

Then there is Jack!  The poor son of mine was in desperate need of eye glasses!  So those came in on Tuesday.  You have never seen such a smile on his face, not only was he so excited to be getting glasses but I think he can actually see now!  Poor thing - bad parents!  He has been the happiest kid the last two days and I am sure that is why!  So happy that he is so happy!



Summer is Officially Over!

Well the day Mardi has been waiting all summer for is finally here! 

She started the countdown of 63 days as soon as she got home from the last day of Grade One! 

Little did she know that she would eventually lose count and actually enjoy summer!

This morning our house was filled with one excited little girl and her not so excited brother as his first day isn't until tomorrow! 

Mardi was quick to get ready and into her carseat and off for her first day of Grade Two!

She had mentioned a few times how she wanted Mrs. King for her teacher this year, but I had no idea who Mrs. King was, until last week!  Once I met her I wanted Mardi to be in her class too! 

So I did a little behind the scenes work to ensure she would get her wish!

This morning as soon as Mrs. King got up to call her students Mardi said "I hope I am in her class". 

She waited quietly to hear her name and I think before Mrs. King finished saying "Kitchen" Mardi was across the gym!  No "goodbyes" for us she was so excited to be heading upstairs with her new

teacher and classmates!

I hope she is having a wonderful time so far! 

I can not wait to hear all the stories from her first day!

Let Grade Two begin!!!

Look What I Found!

I just uploaded all the pics from my camera on to the computer - and I haven't done so in a while!  Once I came across this one it made me giggle and wish we were gone camping again!  I was trying to take a great picture of Brian and Haley when out of the blue little Miss Kim popped in the photo!  What a wonderful weekend us crazy 4 moms, one poligimist dad and 10 kids had!  Can not wait to do it again!

Here are a few more of my favorite pics I took! Enjoy!

My Mother's Day Gift

OK besides my great kids...I got the perfect gift for Mother's Day!  Thanks to Kim for telling JD what I wanted and telling him to just let me go pick it out! 

After assembling it I realized that my scrapbooks only fit in a certain way...which leaves me to believe that I need another one in order to display them all.  Next time they are on sale I will just treat myself to its twin!

Thanks kids for making me a "mother" so I can milk one more gift from your father during the year!

Influenza House!

How can my kids go from this...(yesterday @ noon)

to this??? 

(Mardi's smile is deceiving, but her wet hair isn't from a shower...FEVER!)

She started to fall apart late afternoon yesterday...fever, chills...

then her brother started crying about a sore tummy at 9pm.

This started our whirlwind of a night!

Before I could pour the Tylenol in the cup he was

throwing up all over his bed.

This continued until now...8am he is finally sleeping peacefully.

Mardi was only up twice last night running to the bathroom -

she is so self sufficient!  LOVE HER!
 At least she was able to stomach
some medicine...and Jack well he was introduced to
suppositories! 
Thankfully I still had some kicking around - those things have a long shelf life! 

Once Dad woke this morning he headed to the convenience store

before heading off to work to stock us with

gingerale and movies!

And this is what I will be doing all day...

3 pukey bed changes of blankets!

Too bad Mothers Day is behind us...I am sure I could have milked

this for some diamonds! Heeheehee!

"A" Layout!

Here is one layout I accomplished this morning... and by doing this I realized the reasons I

DO NOT scrapbook at home with my kids!!!

1.  There is no way I can ignore them! Even though they play together so well

and have fun pretending they are dogs(?) or horses(?)

I find I can't concentrate enough on my layout...I am always wondering

which kid is going to get hurt first!

2. Interruptions!  I can not be a mom and focus on what I would like to do

at the same time!  Unfortuately you can't shut off the need for Mom to get something

or to help you...even if the door is 3/4 shut!

3. Too much noise.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE the constant chatter at a scrapbook

table with a bunch of friends but kids noise is too much to handle along with

my iTunes playing in the background!  Nothing seems to drown them out!!!

4.  The mess!  I am a messy scrapper and not only does my husband miss my desk

when I have my crap out ...but I do too.  Yes "Type A" personality affects hobbies too!

5. There is no one (Kim or Haley) to ask where I should put that embellishment,

or what I should title a layout....I am on my own! Not only that

but who do you scraplift from? Maybe these are the

MAIN reasons I only like to scrap with my girls!

Snow Day!

All right so this is how I selfishly spent my snow day!
Thankfully the kids had scads of things to keep them busy while I made imitation Silpada jewelry!
Nothing against Silpada- but this set retails for $266 and I made something similar for around $40!

And then this one which is my "brown" take on their black set.  This price I never looked up

but I am sure my remake is around $20.

Yay for a jewelry makin' snow day!

Happy Easter!

What a time the kids had at the George Lane Park Easter Egg Hunt!  Besides having to be dressed in winter clothes to avoid the nasty wind there was a lot of playing, hunting and having fun!  We were lucky enough to see several kids we know from school and we were able to hunt for eggs with them too!  After the egg hunt there were hotdogs and pop for everyone!

What a great way to spend a Saturday!

Easter Time!

So today starts a 10 day stint of my kids being under the same roof - together - all day!  Could be interesting!  Today started off with the first of a few Easter activites I have up my sleeve!  Gramma came up to help us decorate 24 easter eggs - and what fun we had!  There was glue and glitter, paint and crayons, stickers and foil!  What a wonderful mess!

Tomorrow the kids are signed up for the easter egg hunt at George Lane Park - which they are still unaware of!  So that should take care of tomorrow - run them out of energy at the park for a couple of hours then home for naps!

Sunday we start with finding the treats the Easter Bunny has left at our house, then we drive to G&G Kitchens' to see what is lurking around there, and then finally we go for a huge egg hunt at Granny and Pops'!  They will definitely sleep that night!

Monday finds us looking after a neighborhood kid for the day - there safety in numbers!  They should keep themselves entertained!!

Tuesday and Wednesday are still open!  Will have to do some brainstorming for those days! 

By Thursday the "father" is around and he is on duty for the rest of the week/weekend!  Then before I know it we will be back to routine and waiting for the school bus to arrive.

Hope I remember to enjoy this week of doing what we want when we want - before next Monday hits!

Happy Easter EVERYONE!

I'm Baaaack!

So I have been terrible at blogging for a couple of months!  I find that my boring day-to-day life is nothing that anyone would be interested in!  Same old school routine, skating lessons, parent council meetings, and housework!  I am however lucky enough to go scrapbooking tomorrow!  A couple of weeks ago I did get to spend the weekend away at an amazing retreat and it was there that I started my 2007 album!  Now don't think that I am really that up-to-date, in fact although I am 3 years behind I also skipped doing a family album for 2006.  I figured that that was the year that Jack was born so his baby album should suffice for our family one, however I have ran across some milestone things that Mardi did that year...like being a flowergirl for our cousins' wedding!!!!  So needless to say I will be backtracking and completing a 2006 album ... someday!

So tomorrow I will be trying to complete my album I have gotten so far into.  I am only going until 4:30pm as I will be rushing home to see the Brier final!!!  Nothing, not even scrapbooking, will keep me away from the tv and the Canadian mens final in curling!!! 

GO TEAM ALBERTA GO!!!!!