Trial Run

Shortly after this photo was taken at the Battle of the Bands event in Oxbow on Saturday night, we went for a trial run to have the baby in Estevan.

The baby was dancing all night to the music, we went home around 1am and headed to bed. At 2:30 I woke up not feeling right, having contractions and made the call to the first family member who could make it over to stay with the kids. My sister Christa & her husband Corey were over within 5 minutes, great timing since they were just leaving the dance.

We made it to Estevan in good time...realized half-way we forgot the camera, can you imagine ME of all people forgot the camera!!! We buzzed into the quiet dim hospital and went to obstetrics. The nurse was amazing, she monitored me and sure enough I was having contractions...just little ones. After half an hour nothing else was happening and we decided to go home. My body is definitely getting ready for this baby's arrival, just tonight wasn't the night. I felt so much better that I went in to get checked, especially with my history of the way Scarlett entered the world, I'm a bit paranoid we won't make it to the hospital.

Cory was happy to get a Tim Hortons coffee on the way home & I snoozed. We made it back by 5am. Needless to say, we were very tired the next morning...just getting us prepared for the sleepless nights ahead!

2010|8|14

We were given this dresser by Cory's Grandparents about a year ago. It has found a home in our entry way, I've been loving the yellow hint of color and place to display seasonal items. This weekend I had a chance to give it a little tlc...it's amazing what some sanding and new handles will do for a piece of furniture.

Before:

After, impressed by how it turned out:

38 Weeks

38.5 weeks and holding!

2010|8|13

We have been really into the refreshing beverages this summer. Tonight with our BBQ supper we enjoyed a pitcher of lemonade.

2010|8|12

While I was at a doctors appt today, our niece Kyra babysat for me. I love that the four cousins are able to play together.

2010|8|11

Received my order from the new Stella & Dot catalogue today. Here are some of the goodies I treated myself to...

2010|8|10

It was a crafty Tuesday around the house. The kids love to paint, so they re-painted some wooden birdhouses they found.

Couldn't resist this beautiful sky before a storm tonight...the light is exquisite!

2010|8|9

My friend Sheri & I have the exact same due date for our third babies. It's such a coincidence the number of things we have in common:

-we both moved to the area from Alberta

-we each have a daughter & son already who are almost the same age

-our daughters are in pre-k & dance together

Thanks Michelle for having us over for coffee and for taking these very-preggo photos of us. I wonder if we'll be in the hospital together???

Glad I had a chance to wear my Juno shirt from last Halloween.

2010|8|8

Playin' Star Wars in his room this Sunday afternoon.

Mike & Ashley - Happily Ever After

Today we attended Mike & Ashley's wedding. Mike has been a long-time friend since grade school and has been dating Ashley for 4 or 5 years now. It was such a happy affair and great to witness their commitment to each other. I had originally been booked as their photographer, but with two weeks from my due date, had to decline. I enjoyed sitting back & relaxing as guest at this wedding.

I love how Ashley is looking at Mike in this photo...Cory took these pics.

The kids had such a great time at the wedding dance!

I loved how their Daddy took them out to dance.

It was a great night. Congrats Mike & Ashley!

2010|8|7

This could quite possibly be the last photo of us as a family of four, taken before heading to Mike & Ashley's wedding.

2010|8|6

I love the happiness on their faces with this kitten, taken this morning as we visited a farm Daddy was working at.

Fun Stuff Friday

Some more fun stuff I've been into lately to share with you today!

Aren't these lampshades fun! I have some old boring lampshades I plan to dress up with this paper flower idea in the new baby's room...in pink!

This quilt-in-a-day tutorial looks so easy...would love to try it. Cloud 9 fabrics has a great blog with many more easy projects.

Purchased this knitted cocoon (in neutral color) on Etsy and have placed it in the diaper bag. Looking forward to taking photos of our new addition in it as well as adding it to my photography bag of goodies.

And also for this little one we're waiting on to arrive, I purchased these headbands from Four Munkees. I love that they are extra tiny for little newborn heads.

The kids have been asking for these all summer, this might be the week to try this recipe.

Finally decided on some new bedding for our master suite. It was prompted by a great deal we found on a king-sized bed and I was inspired by this bedding at Target.com...loving the grey & mustard colors.

If you're up for some event eye candy, check out Amy Atlas events & her blog, so fun to look at and great event ideas.

2010|8|5

One thing I know for sure, this house is definitely not spotless, and I'm OK with that!

37 Weeks

Getting very excited for her arrival!

2010|8|4

Yesterday Becky Higgins asked her blog readers to share their ideas for meal planning. I jumped at the opportunity to share our method of planning meals in our home and thought I'd share it here on my blog as well, where someone might find it useful.

Meal planning has become a Sunday ritual around our house. Our weekly list for three meals a day usually comes together in 15 - 30 mins, my family usually leaves me to myself for this time and it is bliss. I've been doing this for a year or so and find it makes our weeks flow much better in our busy household. I'm proud to say we eat almost every meal together as a family.

I start by sitting down with our weekly calendar and mark down our activities/outings/appointments at the bottom of a weekly blank page (I pick up stacks of these at Michaels). That helps me decide if meals need to be quick or if they can be a bit more elaborate. Then I go to the freezer, see what we have for meat and prepared meals. From there I just start inserting ideas for supper that fit each day...it is usually inspired by a meat we have on-hand or a recipe. I get alot of inspiration from food magazines for new recipes to try, I usually try one new one a week. Another big help for me is having designated nights of the week such as Taco Tuesday, or Pizza Friday...we also have Pasta Thursday.

I began planning our breakfast & lunch a while back also. I was finding if I planned for it, we had more variety in these two quick meals. And we weren't grabbing an un-healthy choices.

I make my grocery list along side the meal plan and then know what I am shopping for on Monday (as the stores aren't open here on Sundays). One other thing I do is keep a list of meal ideas that pop into my head for next week at the bottom of the current week's meal plan...that usually fills up quite quickly with requests from the kiddos.

There are so many benefits for us meal planning this way

-less food waste!

-budgeted meals are easy to plan for

-makes sure we eat many fresh fruits & vegetables

-my husband can help out easily by knowing what's on the meal agenda

-no more of the dreaded feeling 'what to make for supper???'

-I feel less stress in the food prep department, since I am the sole meal maker in our home

There is lots of room to be spontaneous too, if we change our mind on the fly, that's OK too...I always love a night off eating at a local restaurant or a family picnic on the beach!

I'd love to hear your ideas for meal planning!

2010|8|3

Our outing today was to collect rocks to color at home...the kids had fun finding their favorite rocks to color.

2010|8|2

A morning ritual of mine these past few weeks...a tall glass of orange juice in the morning.

2010|8|1

Dreams are the journeys that empower the soul ~ Unknown

2010|7|31

Loving simple summer fruit salads.