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!!!