Winter Walk

It's really nice when we get a nice warm, melty day to take a walk in the park during the winter. It's also fairly dangerous lOL so it takes a particular winter day to do it!
The park in town is wonderfully maintained, beautiful, and full of steep trails and stair, drop offs, waterfalls, cliffs, etc. Walking there in the winter just about drives me crazy since I dont always know where the paths are going, I often end up on really steep ones LOL

On Saturday we had one of those perfect days. It snowed and then rained the night before, and was very warm (like 8+ degrees). Taylor and Holly and I decided to walk in the park. Annika stayed home. I'm really glad she did. It was all I could do to get Holly up and down safely :)
So it was icey. BUt not as bad as it had been. And it was slushy and very very wet.

We parked at the top of the park and walked in from there. That way we started up, and didnt have to climb right away. It also bypasses the playground which I had no intention of visiting.
This part of the park is groomed for the skiers. That makes it really nice to walk on :) The kids thought the tracks were quite funny :)
The kids had to stop and look at absolutely everything! Sticks and berries, moss on trees, and this tree stumo that has been the resting place of a squirrel or chipmunk, from the look of all the pine cones and nut shells there.

We turned off before too long onto a trail that went deeper into the park. The kids wanted to Investigate the Forest heheheh so off we went :)

This lead to many trails along the "valley" of the park there the fences and stairs, and waterfalls are. We walked up one side of it to a little covered bridge at one end.

We spent a little time here while the kids checked out everything in the Gully. Taylor thought this was a good time to toss snow balls at me. How wrong she is! LOL!



Around the corner we walk out and off a cliff...well no not right off, but holy it was steep and icey! LOL

And then right down some steps that were so icey, the kids wend down on their bums. Then they complained endlessly about the wet. LOL

Now we were down a step and to the first of the waterfalls there. They were frozen of course but we could hear the water underneath the ice. Taylor wanted to go out on the frozen water and slide down onto the frozen pond. NO.
Then the dizzying view down to the next waterfalls. The kids didnt actually make it down to there, it was too slippery and they chose to go up instead. I ran down and snapped a photo and then back up, where we took another set of stair higher.

Still some clowning around to do up there! LOL they were wet and uncomfortable but not in any hurry to get back to the car ;)
Now we went across some really slippery trails to Jacob's Ladder, a steep long set of steps at the best of time :) We went down there into the flat of the park and it was kind of a relief to be off the hills. We walked along one side for awhile, past the river.

On the side of the hill they decided to make many snow angels LOL til they were just perfect :) It's much easier on the side of the hill!

they played beside the river for awhile, tossing snowballs in to see if it was really frozen. LOL It wasnt thick but it was frozen.
At the fork they could have gone right, into the heart of the park with the playground and bandstand, or left, up another trail, to behind their school, where we take the road back up to the car. That's where we went.
Holly spent a lot of time on the ground. She fell many times in the last 1/2 hour, getting tired I think but it really was icey.

Back at the car, we stripped out of went winter clothes before heading home.

Guest Design Team Position at LIITD

Those who suffered through the Love is in the Details Design Team contest with me will remember pain and agony at the loss. Ok I exagerate. But I did get offered a Guest Design Team member position for the MOnth of March as a part of that contest! So near the end of February and AWESOME pizza box arrived full of goodies, the LIITD monthly kit!
With this kit I was able to and still am creating awesome pages and projects! I keep getting new ideas and have to put them on paper and post them!
I would love to show what I did! So if you've a chance, wander over to see the awesome layouts that I and the other DT/GDT members have done! It's really inspiring and there might be some ideas you can take away :)
LIITD Gallery
Thanks for looking!

A near Disaster Averted

We Almost had a disaster. We have certainly had a few weeks of sadness.

Annika's Treasured toy, Shelley, disappeared. There was no "I remember her "here" and then cannot remember her after that" so there were few places to look. She just was there one day, and when we looked for her a while later, she was not.

Annika was SO sad! She cried at night, she pouted by day. She did not want a new Shelley, because that was not Shelley. But I certainly would have bought a new Shelley and did that whole "abuse it to look used" thing that parent's might do. If I could have found another Shelley. But not even in stores was there a Shelley to be seen.

It's been a few weeks. Shelley is mentioned Every Day. Annika had actually accepted that we would never never never find Shelley, despite my assurances that we were looking and she had to be in the house somewhere because we never took her out. Annika would heave great big sighs and say "Shelley is gone forever. I'll never never never find here. I'll never never never have another friend like her". It was really desparately sad.

And then. Today, Scott was cleaning up in the Nook. Apparently the cats had knocked some things over, and he was picking them up. And on the chair, under some boxes, was Shelley. He came sneaking over to me and showed me Shelley who seemed lonesome but not really too neglected, and we called Annika down. I got the camera ready Hehehheeh!

That first sight of Shelley was Priceless. the photo says it all! LOL She was overjoyed!
Afterwards she was so silly it was hard to actually take her photo.
She and Shelley rolled around the couch like a couple of long-separated best friends. LOL

I don't think we dare to lose Shelley ever again! She's a cherished friend! And she is certainly attached to Annika...they are at a sleepover now with Nanny and she HAD to take her along! Here's hoping Nanny understands how we need to guard this toy LOLOL!

Taylor Turns 9

We did have Taylor's party a week early for the weather, but on Monday, February 26, 2007, at 11:54 PM, Taylor turned 9 years old! Where did this 9 years go? We have done So much in this time, I just cannot believe where and what we've been up to!
I had her, went to school, graduated, we all moved to Manitoba, bought a house, stayed for a few years, had Holly, moved home, bought another house, had Annika, and here we are...she's 9 years old! We're so lucky that they have been 9 healthy, interesting and busy years!!!

So!
Here is a new 9 year old Taylor :) She's actually not too dramatic this morning, taking on the birthday pretty low key :):):)
On Sunday just before we left for a stampin class, Grammy gave Taylor a CD player/radio, for one that got broken last year.



Taylor opened some of her Family presents before school. She was very excited about them all :):):) She opened some headphones, a Cadoo game, a sweater, and some "older girl" underwear :)
While the older girls were at school, Annika helped me make Taylor's cake. We had to go buy it after preschool, and then we came home to make it. I taught her how to crack eggs, and fished the shells out of the cake ;) she did not like it when the eggs splattered on her. I could not convince her to put them at the bowl LOL!
When the cakes were burnt...I mean done, Annika tested them with the tooth pick. She enjoyed that and poked them full of holes.
After School Holly came home not feeling very well so she had a nap and when she woke up, Grampy was here for cake and ice cream! She didnt eat all her supper or her dessert :(

Blowing out the candles is always such a fun time :) Taylor didnt blow very well....she must have lots of boyfriends ;)
The rest of the presents from us, and those from Nanny and Grampy, then came out. Taylor got 2 books, Bridge to Terrabithia, and one of her Fairy series. (some weird name) lol.

She got 2 pairs of pants and a Fly Pen game from Nanny and Grampy, and some Fly Paper hehhee and she got a tshirt, shirt, sweat pants, more Big kid underclothes, and sweater from us. She made out Very well!
Nanny was here then for cake, and we all had our treat :)

And her birthday is over for another year! Next year it's double Digits! YIKE!

Heheheheheh

Cat and Burd :)

The Pink eye

Ya Annika says My eye feels Funny LOL. Next day, it's pink and gummy and swollen :( Treating the eye infection for a few days until it was improved. Then it was stopped. And wouldnt you know it? it's back again yesterday and today. Treating again but I bet since we stopped too soon before, it will be harder to get rid of. You would THINK I know better? ha!

A Concert I was SO thrilled to go to!

My mother decided that for Taylor's 9th birthday (which was last Monday) that we should take her to see a concert at the Metro Center, the Bare Naked Ladies! Ok I am ashamed to say I have never seen them live. I love their music but I have not seen them live. I didnt even know they were going to be in Halifax. What did I miss? LOL How did I miss that news?
Anyway...Mom decided we should go, and we should take Taylor. So I kept this a secret, and Mom got tickets to the show. She was not at all pleased with the seats, as they were far away, but it was all good, there are NO bad seats in the Metro Center.

During the preceding week, my mother's Aunt Geege died. I was admittedly a little concerned that this would put a wrench in our plans. She went to New Glasgow during the week and actually I suppose this just made her closer, not really inconvenient at all!

Friday night, we sent Taylor to a sleepover at Cara's, and Annika and Holly went to Katelyn's house. This was fun for them, although there were some sleeping issues with Holly and Katelyn, Annika won a new Webkinz for going to sleep first (this was already midnight tho so it's not like it was an early night)lol. Scott and I went to Stellerton to the Funeral home to pay respects to Geege and to visit with family who was gathered there. I met loads of my mother's cousin's who i had never before and saw a lot of them that I knew. It was good to go.

Saturday morning we were very tired. We went to get Holly and Annika and then we stopped to see a house we considered buying (no decisions made of course, no hurry :)) then we picked up Taylor and brought them All home to nap. They all were very tired.

After the Funeral on Saturday Mom came over to get Taylor and I, and we went out for supper (this was the only part of the plans that was put aside, we had Subway instead of the Keg like we wanted) and then we booted it to Halifax for the concert.



At this point, Taylor still didnt know where we were going! We kept her in the dark right up until we were IN the Metro Center. Then I let her see the tickets :)

She was clued in by this point and started to remember some of the songs we made her listen to all week LOL.

The opening act was really good, it was Tom Swick who I have actually heard of and he did a good show. At one point he made me laugh when he said "there after I screamed my ass off I have to sing a slow song" or something like that I dont remember.

A short break while they prepared the stage. It is actually kinda funny, the seats seemed half empty and the stage empty, then the lights went out, a curtain dropped, and THERE they were. The Bare Naked Ladies in the Flesh! LOL! It was awesome...there was a pause, then "It's Been...." and the crowd went nuts while they sang Taylor's favorite, One Week :):):)



The concert just got better from there! LOL Anyone who has been to their concert knows. LOL between some songs they carry on a little running commentary, making jokes, rapping spontaneously (maybe) and picking out people to talk about LOL. They were FUNNY! and the songs are just SO much better brought to life :)

I really also enjoyed the light show and totally used up all of my camera card taking photos of the different lights. (shh yes I know I know but I am a SCRAPBOOKER! I NEED PHOTOS!) lol












They came back for 2 Encore's and this is where they finally did If I had a Million Dollars :)
After we left it was snowing a little, but the closer we got to Truro the worse it got! It was a long long long long drive home lol. Sleep was gooooood!

nothing going on last week

Someone commented to me that "gasp" my blog was out of date. There's just nothing interesting going on here at all! LOL



BUt I can post a few interesting things and one hugely awesome thing LOL!
Here for watching entertainment is STILL UNNAMED BURD.
Anyone care to hazard a guess as to whether this is a She burd or a He burd? I would love someone else's opinion...