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!