It was time.. about 2 years ago to get a new phone. What sealed the deal was the fact that Collin "dreamt" that he was a cell phone technician and decided to take apart my phone becuase parts of it were wiggly. He promptly woke up - hmm.. possibly I am not a cell phone tech?? Who knew.
So.. sad Jenny - had to go shopping. TORTURous.
It has a built in mp3 player which I l~o~v~e and can wirelessly play my music by FM transmission! Check it out!
I took these pictures of this great grey at my parents house.. only about 5 feet from their sundeck - very cool. He was hunting some smaller birdlings and stayed around for at least an hour.
When we went to drop the kids off for their 2 week adventure with Grama and Papa, we met them in Barkerville. The kids thought it was very cool, though for them and the other neices/nephew - it might as well have been called Gophertown. They spent so much time trying to get a picture or a feel of these little guys. Who are very friendly and will actually eat right out of your hands. So they had a great time. 
I have fond memories as well of the CANDY SHOP and got a snap of the kids in front with their suckers! It was a good time all in all. We spent 2 days in the town of Wells, BC which is just minutes from Barkerville. The kids went on to the Enchanted Forest, Crazy Creek, Miette Hot Springs & so much more..
Now they have a week to enjoy in Fort St. John and just hang out. We sure miss them but it's been a nice break for Collin and I. Today is our 8th Wedding Anniversary. WOW - hard to beleive that too. Things are great for us and we are looking forward to a lot more happy years together!
This weekend we are packing up the troops (the girls) and heading off to Barkerville, BC. This kids are set to spend 2 weeks with Gramma Gisele. WHOO HOO! They are so excited. I swear they have wanted to pack for weeks now.. everyday we get the countdown. I am so happy that they are getting this opportunity to spend so much quality time with them.. but I have to say.. only one question comes to mind.
WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITHOUT KIDS? I mean seriously, this will be the first time in over 9 years that Collin and I have "been without child(ren)". It's going to be odd, nice -- but odd.
We have no idea what we will do, we have been throwing around a few plans here and there but so far we have come up with nothing! I am sure we will think of S~O~M~E~T~H~I~N~G ;) that we can do!
Honestly I think it will be harder on me than them.. I will miss them!
I don't know if everyone out there has discovered ETSY or not.. it's like E-bay but for the earth concious. Everything listed is handmade or recycled. I love the concept and even more, I think there is something much better about things you know are handmade. It makes paying a price for something really feel worth it, feel like it took a real person a real amount of time.
I find that I can spend hours on ETSY looking for anything and everything.. so I am trying to also make some stuff so that I can open up my own ETSY store. I am crafty dammit and I really enjoy sewing (well small projects) which fits in nicely to the ETSY environment. I have started to make coasters.. shown below. I've also made a bunch of "Oh so hot" - rice bags to heat up.
Once I get it figured out how on earth to set up my store I will post a link here! If you've never been there - follow the link on my daily addictions list. It's fantastic!
About a week and a half ago, Blacky the rabbit got loose. Millie had been cleaning out her cage and accidentally didn't latch the gate - so in the morning.. NO BLACKY. There were no tears shed by Millie and she actually said "I'm not sad anyway, we would give her away when we move to town." So away we went on our merry life.. low and behold, the girls and I were out on a bike ride and a man in a van pulls up and says - "Are you missing a rabbit?" and hold up a rabbit with striking resemblance to our beloved BLACKY. *sigh* in the presence of the children I could not say "Hmm, nope sorry sir - no rabbits here!" So we again have our little compost-a-holic back in our lives again. The girls are happy, so I guess we are happy.
Also, we have had some lookers at the house but so far nothing as far as an offer has come in. Although we did have a couple last night that seemed a little interested so we will see how that goes. Collin said that he slept with his fingers, eyes, & toes crossed last night! Can't imagine how that would be comfortable - but whatever works, I guess!
We watched a beautiful great grey horned owl last night from mom & dad's deck. It was hunting about 10 ft from the deck.. very cool. We got lots of great pictures and the kids found it quite interesting. He stuck around for at least an hour then we left so who knows how long he was there.
We've had a good summer so far, the weather is finally nice here.. it's been hot!
The girls have been wearing bikini's for 6 straight days. It's so nice to be able to just relax and enjoy that the mosquitoes are too hot to eat us alive.
No luck yet on selling the house but we are still trying to be patient. Here's a little slideshow of a few recent pictures - enjoy!
This morning was typical of so many mornings in the last while - we slept in 25 minutes too late and everyone's schedule is just a bit off. Coffee did not get made, hair-do's excaped the brush, and socks - well they only have to match if someone can see them!
So of course along with all that comes a shift in mood by all as well - a little on edge, a little assuming and arrogant - Cue guilt trip to husband who leaves the house 15 minutes prior to us.
So in my/our frenzy to get to daycare/work on time.. I decide today is the day that I just can’t go without coffee any longer – I AM TOO WEAK FOR LENT. So I will go to Tim Hortons.
To my delight there is only 1 car ahead of me.. a small, beautiful, successful without children & living in Vancouver kind of car. I admire – get to the window and she says.. “free today ma’am, the gentleman in front of you paid for your coffee!” Did he feel my sexy glare at his “bumper”? Nonetheless – these small, rare Random Acts of Kindness are really what makes a persons day – something un-expected, and lovely. So thanks to you Mr. Hot Vancouver convertible – you made my day!
On the weekend we went for dinner with some great friends of ours, the girls always have a fantastic time at their house. It's so unique (with a circular staircase) they have so much to do; run around the acreage, check on the chicken & their eggs, ride the horses, play in the garden, watch the birds.. the list could go on and on.
The meal was fantastic as always and this time there was an additional treat of 2 other couples that came along as well. 2 of which I have met through work and their spouses (who we have not met) but were so lovely and great for conversation!
Heather was one of the women there - she (as you will tell from the pics below) is a great photographer! She got these shots of the girls while out on the range with our hostess!
*sigh* this of course re-affirms to me that I NEED a new camera - a lovely one like this one. So that my picture value could improve. I'd also love to take a course on photography too. Ooh and just in case SANTA is reading this -- I'd also love a digital video camera! Promise, I'll be nice.
It's been a mad fury of looking at houses to see what' on the market here, we are hoping that we can do a couple of things with this move. We would like to be closer (as in --IN TOWN) so that we are not constantly driving back and forth from town, we would like something that is not so difficult for me to look after whilst Collin is away at school for the next 3 years, and to get ahead a bit financially. We have been very fortunate with the last 2 houses that we've bought/sold that we've done work to them and made a bit of a profit each time.. and who doesn't like that?
So we are hoping to get into something that is mid-range (i.e. under $200,000) so that maybe, just maybe we could be mortgage free prior to needing a wheelchair!
The market is good here, but it seems that we are a picky bunch.. we want 4 BDRMS, 2 BATH, side by side parking, a place to park the holiday trailer & sundeck & a fenced yard. Who knew that would be so hard to find? We have looked at about 6 houses, and non are EXACTLY what we need, but there is one.. that we all just feel at home in.. but.. we are "Wishin' & Hope-in' & Pray'in & Smoke'in (well Collin is)" until we hear back about our offer. *sigh* it's hard to wait.. patience is not a virtue that I would say either of us possess!
If this one doesn't work out.. I just don't know.. guess we will have to make up a plan B!
UPDATE =
Well plan A did not work out, we can't come to an agreement on the price. We are both OK with it though - this was offer #2 on this same place so it just is not meant to be. We'll just keep lookin'
We might be selling our house and buying a new one.. that's all I am going to say for now.. oh and buying a holiday trailer again too... we will see. I will update once we know anything final!
Of all the people in the world who would like to inherit a tea set.. I can think of only 2. My sister Tracy, and her clone - Auntie Margaret! If it were up to them, their lives would be set in some Jane Austin movie and they would wear pretty dresses, get to town by horse & buggy and wear bonnets. To hang laundry on a line, work at a school house, etc, etc.. you get the picture.
((Side bar.. sister's married name is Austin.. co-incidence?? I THINK NOT~))
But au' contraire (sp?), people that ACTUALLY inherit a tea set.. the hippy dippy sister, the abstract, the 
rebel without a cause (cause really, who needs one?), the renegade... yes me, I, I have inherited the Royal Albert tea set from Oma.
Now with all my cynicism, you might think that I don't appreciate this - it's not true. I think it's lovely and full of heritage and looks great in my china cabinet. (Which is again another anomalie - how did I get a china cabinet prior to Sister Jane? Maybe all of these events symbolize one thing... am I growing up? Or do I secretly want to wear a bustle? Hmm.)
It is beautiful, and my girls love to have tea in it... so I thought it would only be fair to share it with you all.. so that you can enjoy them too! So thanks to Oma, the girls and I really do enjoy it, and can't wait to have "high tea" with you this summer.
Well Millie, who is a avid HATER of the spray/brush system, finally said... "That's it - I want a haircut!" 
So here she is post hair cut.. looking very POSH SPICE LIKE.. she loves it! She thinks it's pretty cool cause it's short but still long enough on the sides to have Fraggle Rock pony tales.. I am sure I can get a shot of that for you too!
Just came back from Kamloops and it was so fantastic to see Sherie - her and I have been friends since we were just toddlers. It is always good to see her and our kids love to play together. Sherie is just the same as she ever was!! Stylish, funny, carefree & just fun to be around. Thanks for the good time Sher!
Well.. it's been 6-ish weeks since I had my surgery done. It went by fast & slow at times. It was certainly harder to have so much sedentary time without Collin around to visit with. You don't really appreciate the adult conversation and interactions at work until you are away from them.
Collin is coming home soon. (10 more sleeps!!!!) We are all very excited to have him come back. The girls just adore Collin and have had aching hearts since he has been away -- and of course, my heart yearns to have my hubby back. And OREO too.. I still find her cuddled up on Collin's side of the bed sometimes when I get home from work!
I hope all is well with you all out there..
