OPHS Grand Opening

This afternoon I attended the grand opening of the new school, Oxbow Prairie Horizons.  The event was very near and dear to my heart as I have been working on the New School Project Fundraising Committee as Secretary ever since we moved here 3 years ago.  We raised over $1.1 million which was used to enhance the school in many ways.  I would like to thank Ian Cushon for acknowledging each one of us who were on this committee, for we worked very hard and put in much of our volunteered time to accomplish this.  It has been a pleasure working along-side the other amazing women on the committee, they have taught me so much an in return I have gained their friendships.  I am so proud to be a part of something that will enhance our community and school years of the students attend this state-of-the-art facility.

It takes a village to raise a child - African Proverb

2011|4|13

Me & my sweet girls!

2011|4|12

We had my friend Sheri over for a coffee/playdate.  Cruz & Coco are getting so big.  Cruz's big brother Jace came up to me and said 'Coco & Cruz are going to get married one day'!

2011|4|11

I am so glad to see this face smiling again...she is feeling much better!

2011|4|10

This little one has her first cold...after it not going away for a few days the doc put her on the nebulizer...she seems to be content letting it work it's medicine.

2011|4|9

We were invited to attend tonight's 20th Anniversary Wildlife Supper & Auction with friends.  We took baby Coco with us while other family members looked after Ace & Scarlett.

A few more photos from our wonderful evening:

Michelle with Coco (baby fever) 

 Michelle, Cindy & Christy

 Curt & Cory

 Trent playing drink waiter for a bit

 Another well attended small town event!

Antiques & Auctions

We took a little adventure to an estate auction sale today (in Stoughton, SK) and were pleasantly surprised to win some bids (all under-budget) for wood furniture items.  I am so excited to re-finish these treasures and find spots in our home for them. 

Side note: I played along and started with my friend's 'Hello Challenge' at the auction.  My notes on how it went are in the comments.  Let me know if you decide to play along too?

2011|4|8

Made a few fresh baked apple pies for the Expressway Family Centers bake sale...yum!

2011|4|7

We played Bananograms for our family game before bed tonight.  

We had quite a few laughs making funny words together.

2011|4|6

I love capturing these moments...stumbling on Scarlett, printing her letters in a quite spot of our house...so special.

2011|4|5

Tonight I was proud to be a part of a community pulling together for a great cause: 'Fight For Fonstad' (you can read more about it here and follow Megan's journal here). Approximately 500 tickets were sold for tonight's Dessert Theatre Fundraising Event.  The new gymnasium looked grand, the students preformed wonderfully, and all of the volunteers did an amazing job; a successful night all-round.

Fight For Fonstad Foto Shoots

My friend and local Grade 2 teacher Megan was recently diagnosed with a rare lung cancer that targets non-smoking women. In response, a few of us local photographers are doing  ”Fight For Fonstad Foto Shoots” – 3 simultaneous photography shoots happening in Carnduff, Oxbow and Alameda. The idea is to have 20 minute blitz photo sessions and provide people with a CD of 5 professionally edited images of them and their families at a cost of $50.00 of which all the proceeds will go to help the Fonstad family in their fight against cancer.

Here's the Schedule in all three locations:

10:00AM-2:00PM ~ 20 minute shoots

10:00-10:20

10:30-10:50

11:00-11:20

11:30-11:50

12:30-12:50

1:00-1:20

1:30-1:50

You can contact Jocelyn Harvey for Carnduff

Jason Schultz for Alameda

And yours truly, Starlite Studio Photography in Oxbow

to book a photography session.  

All people are welcome to participate from individuals to groups. C’mon out and support a great cause!!! Check out the Fight for Fonstad Foto Shoot group on Facebook.

WOW...all spots for all three locations SOLD OUT in 24 hours.  Thank you for making this fundraiser a success!

2011|4|4

It's a polka dot rubber boot kind of day.

2011|4|3

Ace invited his friend Dominic for a sleepover this weekend.  Lots of play time, movie time and video game time for these boys as a treat.  They got along well and are already planning their next adventure.

2011|4|2

Feeling way more connected with this new gadget.

Canvas for Dee-Ann

Just last week, I created this mixed-media canvas piece for my close friend Dee-Ann.  She recently took the big step of leaving her job of several years to go out and explore her dreams.  {It's my way of expressing how proud I am of her...not just for this change, but for who she is!}  I struggle with her quest to be authentic, because I feel she is one of the most authentic people I know, I struggle when she wonders if she is 'enough', because I know she is.  With saying that I know this is who she is and I respect her and everything she is doing.  Creating this brought back many great memories we have shared as friends & neighbors and made me think of all her amazing-ness. Congrats on your new journey Dee & thank you for being you!

I loved every bit of creating this custom piece of artwork especially for her.  This turned out not only to be a tribute to my friend, but a re-discovery of a talent I had put away for a while...I'm so stoked, it feels wonderful to be BACK!

I hadn't put a brush to canvas in a long time...it felt so natural to be doing this again!

I am blessed to have *sparked* this creativity again.

I am thrilled by how it turned out and that my friend was touched by it.

Here's a look at how it all came together...

 the background...

 It felt so great to create into the wee hours of the night in my studio.

 Building the background.

 Almost done, I didn't quit till it was finished!

2011|4|1

Some test shots before I head off for my first dance studio photo session.  Scarlett was so sweet to be my ballerina model.  This afternoon I photographed 70 dance students...it was great!  Met lots of families, was comfortable with my new lighting equipment and had a great visit with family I don't see as often as I'd like to.

2011|3|31

Love making these super fast & easy mini envelope albums.  I taught this class tonight to a great group of women, I love to teach craft classes like this one.  They were surprised at how fast the album comes together and how easy it is to make more on your own.

 The binding...

Prep for the class...the women were amazed I cut all the papers & supplies to size.

2011|3|30

Stopped in at Obviously Chic today and my little fashionista was trying on heels...love it!

2011|3|29

Sammy & Scarlett at a playdate...not too sure how many wigs she's actually wearing.

2011|3|28

Scarlett & Coco in their matching outfits from Grandma.  I can remember my Mom doing this to my sister & I as kids...now I'm doing it too.

Did your parents ever dress you and a sibling in the same outfit?

2011|3|27

This weekend was the first time Scarlett had a friend for a sleepover.  Mercedes was our guest and the girls had fun playing & giggling girl style.  We ended the night with a popcorn treat and watched a classic: The Little Mermaid.  I can see this being the first of many sleepovers.

2011|3|26

Cleaned the basement today and realized we have alot of decor items to hang in our house.  Two years ago when we moved in, we were just happy to be out of the snake house and relax for a while after building our own home, that we relaxed for a bit.  I'm so ready to decorate now and find homes for these unique treasures.