Project Life - Week 23

This by far is one of my least favorite weeks of my album. It
did not come together well at all, I tried to do to many of my
own details to it and I basically called it done and moved
forward. I told the stories I wanted to tell, and that's what
is important. The above photo is the left hand side,
and I will include the journaling card close ups at the end
of this post so you can read them easier.

The above photo is the right hand side, and at least has
a nicer flow to it the the other side, and I've managed to tell
a good portion of the weeks stories with just photo collages.

Project Life Week 22

This week is about basically one thing, MOVING!!!! and all the fun

and joys of such a process. NOT!!!! I did manage to get lots of 

photos though, and managed to tell a decent story of our hectic

 week, with the move, the clean up, and the shopping we all did

 to get the new house feeling like home. A whole lot of work, by 

lots of us, with special thanks to Tim's brother Jason,

 the boyfriends, Jeff and Daniel. and Amy's friend Kimi. Without your

 help, it would have been almost impossible for us to do alone. So thank you.

The photo above is the full spread of the week, and since it's also 

a month to month transition LO, the monthly divider is in there. I 

still have to do the month end review, and will add it later in a 

separate post showing all of the month end inserts.

The above photo is of the left hand side, and just lots of photos

telling the story of the week. I also have included a photo of the 

journaling card so that you can read it easier. ( for my mom).

It does make it easier to read the story with a closer look at the 

card. I never use my own handwriting, which I know is silly, but

I really do hate it, it looks too messy, and I have yet to get

over that hurdle in my memory keeping projects.

The above photo is of the right hand side, and focuses more

on the after part of the move, the more fun stuff like

shopping for new furniture, setting up the new place, 

and special gifts from awesome family. (Starbucks

mugs from Jason and Michelle.)

Below is a close up of this sides journaling card.

Getting some creative mojo flowing today

I have had this 7gypsies painter's tray  for a while now, 

and I love their sticker sheets, so I knew that I wanted

to use it for our latest vacation photos from California.

After deciding which photos I wanted to use, then

figuring out the right sizing, and printing them out, I

managed to put it together in a few hours, and am quite

happy with how it turned out.

This is a close up look of it standing up on the

table, and the lighting was a bit too harsh, but 

I wanted to show how I placed some of the stickers

so that they are hanging over the sides of the tray.

A few years ago, when Tim and I took the girls

to Long Beach, California for our first real

holiday, I came home and did a painter's tray

as well, so I placed this current one beside

it on the wall in our dining room. I love

how my ladder hanging on the wall, offers

a great display space for things that make

my heart happy.

My first outdoor Halloween decorating

I have never been lucky enough to have a front yard to decorate

during the holidays, so when we moved in our new place back in

June, I knew I was going to enjoy Halloween because it would 

mean I could deck out the front yard and stoop with all fun,

spooky things for the trick or treater's to enjoy. 

Today was one of those days where, although it wasn't a

sunny day, at least it wasn't raining like it has been, so

I set out for a few hours of fun and decorating. I figured that

most of the decorations I have collected over the years 

would withstand our climate and after a few hours, I had

what I believe, to be an awesomely decorated yard.

I was so proud of my spooky creation, that I had

Tim snap a picture of me afterwards, just call me

the nice witch on the block, hehehe!!!

The tree just outside our yard allowed me to hang not only

spider webbing, but also some shrunken heads I've had

for a while that I found at the dollar store.

I lined our fence with a string of leaf garland, and then 

topped it with some rubber pumpkins that I had totally

forgotten I had got last year on clearance after Halloween.

Add a few plastic rats and mice, and you already feel

a bit eerie walking up to the front door.

And well, why not be greeted by a scary, gruesome head

just resting on the hedges at the front of the house.

Up at the front of the yard, there is a pirate graveyard, 

protected by the heads of said pirates, protecting their

kin from grave robbers and the like. 

Unfortunately, they didn't do a great job of protecting the

graves and most of the bones have just been scattered

around the site, making a great feeding site for the

cockroaches seen walking along the bones. 

The front stoop is a mixture of things,

with my hanging pirate, my headless

horseman and a bit of witch things, like

straw brooms, a hat and a cauldron

full of eyeballs, and fingers.

Beware the angry, scary black cat that

feels a bit threatened by strangers.

A close up of those pumpkins on the

fence line, they also look a bit questionable

as far as their personalities, as they look a

bit suspicious to me.

I so can't wait until Halloween night, I want

to see those little tricker treaters enjoying the

spooky house and feeling maybe a bit

scared at the same time. Oh the fun of this

special time of year. 

Finally Fall has arrived

Now that fall has arrived, I am looking forward to finally

finding that balance between home, work and some

time for myself. This past summer has seemed so hectic,

crazy and without any form of normalcy at all. It seemed 

to not only fly by, but we worked so hard and so much

that when the sun was shining and we could escape from

reality for even just a few hours we were out the door, 

to seek whatever adventure awaited us.

That being said, and don't get me wrong, I enjoyed our

summer adventures, but I am a creature of habit, of

routines and I like order in my life, and I have not had

that these past 3 months, and now I feel that it's time

to return to things that make me whole, keep me sane

and make me feel at peace with myself and with those

around me. And the shorter days, cooler nights,

will help bring some of that back to me. Those nights

with warm hot chocolate, candles aglow and the 

fireplace going will help me regain some inner balance

that I've been lacking these past few months.

For those of you who know me well, you would be

very surprised to see the state of things around my

home right now, there is no order to things,

vacuuming and dusting are just a thought in the

back of my mind and my usually clean and very

organized home just doesn't exist these days.

So this simple leaf, fallen off it's tree, covered in

water droplets, that I took a picture of yesterday, 

helps me focus on what is to come, Fall, my favorite

time of year, and hopefully it will find me back

in balance with myself and my surrounding.

He loves me

Nothing say I love you then a random stop on the way home

by hubby after running some errands, and then when he comes

back to the truck and is standing by your door holding

a wonderful bouquet of flowers. How awesome is that?

I honestly was thinking he was in a snacky mood and ran

in to get his usual snack of cheese nibs, so while I was

cruising IG waiting in the truck, I had no idea I would

be so happily surprised in a few short minutes :)

When I asked him what they were for, he simply said, because,

you haven't had flowers in a while, and I felt like getting you

some. How sweet is he...and I guess I'll continue to

keep him around....lol...

Thank you dear hubby for always keeping me guessing

and for always showing me how much you care.

love you back.....xoxo

Tim's 46th birthday

The day started out with Tim's usual stop

at Starbucks for his Caramel Latte, and

one of our regular baristas, Brianna, wrote

on his cup sleeve, and then gave him his

drink free, yay! We then had to run and

do two quick things at two job sites then

Tim had to renew his driver's license,

nothing like leaving it til the last minute.

We then chilled at out local Starbucks in

the afternoon, with new drinks of course,

and enjoyed each others company, read,

and went online while there.

The girls and their boys came over for

dinner of burgers and salads, and then we

played a game of Pictionary, had cake, and

then after Jordyn and Jeff left, the four of

us played a game of Whoonu, :)

All in all, I am pretty sure Tim had

a nice relaxing day surrounded by

those that love him.

Goodbye Dad

I can't believe you left us, without even a goodbye, but that's the thing about death, it just hits when it wants and it's the loved ones left behind that have to sort through the heartbreak and shattered pieces to try and make sense of it all. Heck, I was just making fun of you the other day on mom's FB album for giving her one of your usual take the picture faces, and now you are gone, no more pictures to be taken, no more walks in the snow, no more visits out here to see us, all gone now...why, I can't even try to understand, but saying goodbye is hard, especially when I am now talking to you up in Heaven and not here in person. Just remember, through all the turmoils life has, the ups and downs, the good and the bad, you were always my dad, no else can ever take that away from you, and I love you with all my heart, but now, as you have moved on to see Susy up in Heaven, I must continue to walk here and hope that when my time comes to see you again you will be there to welcome me with open arms. <3

The testosterone levels start to balance

Now that both Jordyn and Amy have boys in their lives,

there is a much more even balance of testosterone in the

house, and that doesn't seem to bother Tim at all.

Jeff and Jordyn have been seeing each other for a month

now, and as I joked earlier today, I should start

charging him room and board, he's here that much.

But I haven't seen Jordyn this happy, so that

makes me happy too. He's a good fit to her, he's

patient, kind and totally gets her OCD and doesn't

push her or stress about the routines that are

a part of her regular day.

Daniel has been away traveling Europe for the

last 10 months and although they are technically

not committed to each other, we all know that's

just a silly thing that hasn't been said out loud is all.

Having only been back home for two weeks, he

too is starting to be a regular around here and

I haven't seen Amy smile this much in a long time.

It seems to be that lately I am always asking who's

going to be here for dinner, or who's coming over tonight,

and do I need to make extra food or not...lol...not that I

mind at all, it's nice to see those extra pairs of large sized

shoes sitting at the door, because it means the boys that

care about my girls are here, and that makes me happy.

Liar! Liar!

Amy is in the Creative Writing program at Capillano University in North Van. Tonight was the launch party for their literary magazine called the Liar. Not only did Amy work on getting the magazine published, she also had two pieces accepted, one a poem and one a short story. She also had a piece of artwork picked which is one of my favorites that she has done. When she got home tonight, I snapped a couple of pictures of her.



I am so proud of her accomplishments and enjoyed her reading me the two pieces tonight, even if I have no idea what her poem meant...lol. She is going to send me the copies of her poem and story so I can share them with you later.

18 years ago

I became a mom for the second time, and welcomed another baby girl into my heart. Who knew my heart would double in size once again...the capacity for love from a mother to her child is absolutely amazingly powerful. And through all the years of raising this baby girl to become the women she is today, one thing has not waivered, and that is my love for her. Our family became complete that day so long ago, and I am humbled and honored to have been choosen to be the mother of two such amazing girls. And no matter what Miss Jordyn, you will always be my baby girl. <3

20 years ago today

I didn't know it would be my last day not being a mom...I didn't know you would be born the next day and change my world forever...20 years ago today, I was very pregnant, nervous about becoming a mom for the first time and not sure if I would have a clue what to do with you. One thing I knew for sure, was that you were going to be a girl, and that we would name you Amy Elizabeth :) I was nervous for the experience of childbirth and of the unknown land that lay ahead as you and I and daddy would stumble into familyhood one little step at a time. Fast forward 20 years, and yes, they do seem to have sped by in all reality, and here you and I are in this photo, mom and daughter, a love I had no idea I was capable of, nothing stronger then the overwhelming feeling of keeping you safe, keeping you by my side, just being able to hear and see you each and everyday, knowing that I will not only always have you as my daughter, but also as my friend. So on this last day of your teen years, I just want you to know, that although I may have made mistakes, done or said stupid things, and maybe caused you some grief along the way, there is no one in this world who will love you more, then me, because you are my girl, and you always will be xoxo

So proud of you Jordyn

Today we went to Jordyn's school one last time,

walking in to the office I realized just how this

school has been there for both of my girls, has

provided them a safe place to be a teen, to make

friends, to learn how to be a responsible young

adult, and to give them the education needed to

succeed at whatever they choose to do in life.

This is the handfull of things we returned

home with today. Her 1st Class Honor Roll

certificate, the plaque for Outstanding

Acheivement in Yearbook, as not only did

she take the course, but then she also peer

tutored in it the second semester, leaving a

lasting impression on her teacher. We also

got both the pamplets from the awards ceremony

since we missed being able to go to it. Something

about seeing your childs name on print, even as

small as a pamplet, makes your heart swell with

pride. Her report card was also included, and she

graduated from grade 12 with straight A's for her

senior year. What's not to be proud of there.

She also was given a silver medal in the poetry contest

for her grade, and her poem was published into the

Sounds of the Swamp book, which she received today,

and because she was the silver medalist, her poem

was on the second page of the book. :)

I have taken a picture of her poem for you to read

if you wish, I had never read it before, I know, bad

mom, but it was so much better to read it for the

first time in the book. Another proud moment for

me as a mom.

so all that being said, I can't be more proud

of you Jordyn and all you've accomplished in

the 5 years of high school. Great job, and

can't wait to see what you accomplish next.

Happy, Sad, Jealous and feeling the Love

that is all the emotions that I felt when Jordyn texted me

this photo when she arrived in Toronto. My mom has been

so excited about her visit, and when she saw Jordyn coming

down the escalator actually ran through the gates and grabbed her

to give her a hug, all the while yelling, there she is... :)

She had the cab driver take this picture just after that so she

could capture the moment. And you can see how happy they all

are to finally be in each other's company again. And me, well,

no I am not there, and although I am happy they are having

this time together, I wish I could be there too. Now it's been

over 6 years since I saw my mom, and yes, I could have gone

out myself, but for the 4 of us to go is too expensive and I don't

like to leave my family to go somewhere by myself, so this is

the price I pay. I saw this picture when I was walking through

Clipper Street of all places, and well, I'm standing there looking

at it, happy, relieved she got there safely, jealous that it wasn't

me in the photo, and also feeling blessed that they are getting

this chance to be together. And what do I do, standing in the middle

of the scrapbooking store, I start to cry, yup, luckily I was the only

one around so I didn't embarrass myself too much, but the lady that

worked there did keep looking at me, so I eventually went up and told

her about the picture. So my fellow scrappers out there will understand

that when I do a LO about this page, it will be all about this story, not about

the picture or the people in it, for once, it will be about the emotions the

picture itself envoked on me. Love my family so much <3

27 years ago

I found my soulmate...did I know it then, heck no, would I have believed that at 16 I had found the boy that would become the man who would make me his wife, the mother of his children, the reason for which I would wake each and every day for, not a chance. What I saw was this cute guy going into the apartments pool every so often and I would see him from my friends window. And yes, on many occassions I would make sure me and that same friend would just happen to go into the pool just after him and his friend. And well, the rest they say is history. Wow, 27 years, that's a whole lifetime, yet sometimes it seems like just yesterday we met, fell in love and got married. But it was a long time ago, we are now the age my parents were, and my parents are now the age my grandmother's where when we met. Has it been easy, that's a big no, would I change things, yes, but not what you would think, I would change how I handled myself in certain circumstances, not the outcome or the learning experience or the ups and downs, because through all of that, it has taught me that love is strong, love can conquer all, and with the right person holding your hand and your heart, the world isn't so scary or hard to get through, it just means that those bumps and lumps are worth every scrape, every bruise, every tear, if in the end your are still hand in hand when the sun comes up again. All I know is that without him, there is no me, no wonderful daughters, no family, no home to come to each day, for without him, I would not be the person I am today. Thank you Tim, for being the only one for me, for holding me, for loving me, for putting up with me but mostly for cherishing me, like no one else can. I love you with all my heart from this day forward, for our past, our present and our wonderful future. xoxo

Finished Graduation Wall Gallery

With Jordyn's graduation now done, I was able

to finally finish my graduation brag gallery. I added

a photo of her in her dinner/dance dress and then

one from her commencement in her cap, love how it

has the year on the tassle of the cap. I then had one

spot still looking bare on the wall, so I made a frame

inspired by Ali Edwards. I used my cricuit to cut out

multiple hearts in corresponding pattern papers, and

then put the background paper inside the frame, then

with pop dots, put the hearts on the outside of the glass.

Jordyn's Commencement

Jordyn's Commencement Ceremony was held on

June 9, 2011 at Pacific Academy. Before heading over

we took a bunch of family photos out front of our house.

My baby is all grown up, and I have no idea where this

beauty of a girl came from. I was a very proud mom this

day and know how hard she has worked in school to get

good grades, be polite and respectful of her teachers and

peers, and how much of a personal stuggle she has had over

her 5 years in high school. This one evening of honoring her

may not balance out all the hardships of high school, but

she can know just how proud and happy we are for and of

her. Love you baby girl. Congradulations.

Ever wish you were anywhere but here

I get like this in the summer especially, I hate Surrey, really hate it, and when the sun is shining brightly, and all I yearn for is to be in the great outdoors, what are the options...takes over an hour to drive to a lake, or even into Vancouver to walk the seawall. Being outside is in my blood, I was born basically in the True North, were in summer and in winter we were outside, never inside, hell, I am surprised we didn't live in an igloo, lol, that's how much time we spent outside. But Ontario is built for that, anytime of year, you can enjoy outdoor activities. BC in all it's splendor, well at least the lower mainland area at least, is too much city!!! not enough green space. Sure parks are great, but camping is forever to get to and that's if you are lucky enough to find a spot to stay. Living in a basement suite with no outside space doesn't allow for backyard fun or get to gether's for bbq's. I'm just feeling like I've awoke from a long winter's nap, and summer is knocking at my door, but I'm not allowed to go out and play. I look at all my family that lives in Ontario, with outdoor adventures, and sometimes I wish we would have never left when I was a kid, maybe I'd have that cabin on the lake, or the boat to go out and spend hours in. But alas, I'm stuck in my basement suite, sad and lonely and blue. So much potential, and no time or money to do what I want.

Happy 22nd Anniversary my love

Thoughts on being married for 22 years! Seems like

a lifetime, and really, it's been more then half of my life,

that I've been married to this wonderful man.

I can't imagine waking up in the morning without him, or

laying my head down at night without him by my side.

He's more then just my love, my life or my best friend.

He's literally my everything, my heart, my soul, my

complimentary other half. I can't imagine my life any

other way, with any other person, without the other

half of me. Love is a strong word, full of meaning and

emotion, yet it just doesn't seem enough of a word to

describe the feelings I have for him. My life, maybe

really is the only word for it, for without him, there

would be no me, no wife, no mother, nothing, for he

makes me who I am, a better me, a loving me.

After all the rush and fuss with Jordyn's grad dinner and

dance yesterday, we finally managed to spend a little time

together to celebrate our love for each other, and although

some may think a romantic dinner would have been the right

thing to do, for us, it's more about being out, having fun together

and experiencing things that make us happy, so on this night

we went to the racetrack, won a bit of money and had a nice

evening out, and had Amy along for the ride. What a great day!