Beautiful Winter!

Even though winter comes with awful weather, I love how beautiful it can be. I snapped these shots East of Millarville last Friday.

Millarville Christmas Market

My best friend Kim & I have a tradition every year to visit Christmas Markets together. This past weekend we hit the first one in Millarville. We were very impressed with the market after having a disapointing year last year. I normally don't take the kids, but this year I dressed them up warm and off we went. They were great little sports while Kim & I shopped.

New Starbucks Cup

Just treated myself to this new coffee mug at Starbucks...I love all their holiday stuff this year (hint, hint). Isn't it cute!

Visit with the Allan Family

We had a great visit with the Allans from Medicine Hat: Pieter, Dawn & Daisy, yesterday when they came to stay with us overnight. The kids had a great time playing and tuckering each other out. After the kids went to bed, us parents were able to relax and have some drinks and a good visit...something we don't get to do very often, just the four of us.

They brought us such a cute gift, a dancing piano snowman! It's the first winter decoration of the season that we'll display in our house over the holidays. Thank you so much!

Dawn reading Daisy & Ace a story before bedtime

Ace trying to give Daisy a BIG hug!

Our Weekend Visitors

Nana & Papa Snider came for a visit on Wednesday and left on Sunday to get home in time for the football game (good job Riders!). Their visit was great, we always LOVE having them stay with us, and the kids really enjoyed their time with them. We didn't have set plans for their visit, so it was nice to just enjoy each day with them and take it easy. Here's some shots from our dinner out at The Keg...one of my parent's favorite spots to eat when they come to Calgary.

A really nice shot of Mom & Dad

Ace keeping himself occupied with a napkin

Scarlett & her cheerios

Adam & Amber

Us having a nice dinner, it's always nice to have a few extra sets of hands while in a resturant with the kids.

Trick or Treat

The kids had fun dressing up for Halloween this year. I had them in their costumes at 9am so that they could enjoy them all day. Instead of going door-to-door, we visited relatives & friends houses for trick or treating...since the kids are so little. They were both really cute, that's why there's so many photos (thanks Dee-Ann for taking some of these shots).

Happy Halloween

Snowy Sunday

Ace was excited to see snow out the front door this morning. I just loved how it stuck to our door & wreath...very pretty. Ace also tried the cold snow and has been asking to go outside for a play...we'll have to see.

In My Mailbox Today: Jenni Bowlin Kit #1

Today I received my first kit from Jenni Bowlin Studio...so exciting! It's an online papercrafting/scrapbooking kit website that ships beautiful kits to your doorstep each month. I love how everything is from seperate product lines, but coordinate so well together...they take the guess work out if it and just allow you to create.

Above shows the kit I received today and the online ideas are shown below for this month's kit on the website...I'm addicted!

Stampin' Up! Promotion

After 3 great years as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I've been promoted to a Consultant! I absolutely love stamping and what I do, so it makes me proud to have made this accomplishment.

Here's a photo of me back in 2003 with the founder/owner of Stampin' Up! Shelli Gartner...a great mentor!

And this is me & my upline Deb, also a great connection...without her, I would be oblivious to stamping.

Fondue Night

Saturday evening we enjoyed a fondue at our friends Adam & Jenny's home. It was so nice to see everyone and have the original 8 fondue members together...we've been doing this for 3 years or so. All of the other couples are expecting babies soon...we're happy to be out of that category for a while.

The food was great...especially dessert. Adam & Jenny did a fabulous job.

Adam & Jenny Hill - expecting baby #1 in March

Scott & Laurie Hansen - expecting baby #3 in December

Cam & Tara Craig - expecting baby #2 in March

Us - odd ones out, no hard feelings

Yummy dessert fondue!

Kim's Sleepover

Scarlett & I took part in an old fashioned girls-only sleepover on Friday night to celebrate my best friend, Kim's 29th birthday. It was so much fun: movies, food, drinks, birthday cake, old photo albums & quality time...what more could a bunch of girls want! And it was cool that Scarlett's first girly sleepover was at her Auntie Kim's place.

Birthday girl - Kim

Taylor (Kim's Goddaughter), Kim & Starr

Kim's Curious George birthday cake - made by 'moi', chocolate of course!

April, Danelle & Kim

Jessica, Daio (the only boy) & Kim

Kim & Jamie

Giggling over old photos...he he he

Our Anniversary

Today is our fourth wedding anniversary...yeah! Special days like today make us look back and remember that we are blessed to have such a great life and each other to share it with. To celebrate we enjoyed a nice anniversary dinner at Da Paolo Ristorante last Saturday evening followed by a movie.

Usborne Book Party

Tonight I hosted an Usborne Book Party for a few girlfriends. It was great to see everyone and the company has so many beautiful kids books to offer. You can check them out here. Most of my girlfriends brought their children and I must say that Cory did an excellent job of supervising all of them while the ladies shopped...even though Cory probably won't read this post, I wanted to acknowledge him for it. Here are a few our favorites that will be making it into our home library very shortly.

INSPI(RED)

Did anyone watch Oprah today...it was a goodie. Bono (from U2...I admire this guy) unveiled one of his biggest ideas yet—(RED)™! It's a revolutionary program designed to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Not everybody has the time to be an activist or put on their marching boots...so now you can shop to save lives! Go to JoinRed.com to find out how you can shop & support a good cause.



I want one of these! So stylin'

I Love Thursdays!

We look forward to Thursdays around our house. They are full of optimism for what we're going to get done on the weekend. Auntie Amber usually comes to visit since she has Thursdays off. They mean only one more sleep till Daddy's home for a few days. And they mean good TV night....my favorites are The Office & Grey's Anatomy.

To make this Thursday extra special, I was extremely productive today: got a whole lot of laundry done...and Scarlett helped (while Ace was napping), answered a zillion emails that have been sitting in my inbox, picked up a movie from Blockbuster to watch on the weekend (click for a coupon), made a new chicken casserole that our family enjoyed & got a start on my fall stamp-class schedule (should be out tomorrow). It was a good day as far as I'm concerned!

Little laundry helper Scarlett

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/3 cups water
3/4 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
2 cups fresh or frozen veggies
1/2 tsp onion powder
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Stir the soup, water, rice, veggies & onion powder in a baking dish.
2. Tip with chicken. Season chicken as desired. Cover.
3. Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes or until done. Top with cheese. Makes 4 servings.