Wednesday

We need your help :) Rene needs to start a business for his new job with Talisman... Got *any* ideas for the business Name? His 2 so far are: Opti tech or Petro tech (Opti, for optimization...) I'd love to hear any suggestions you might have, and it doesn't have to have anything to do with Petroleum or Optizmization either :)

Looking forward to reading some of your ideas!

Rene & Adg

Just had to share

It's so cool how my kids somehow know when I'm upset about something. I was on the phone with my mom this afternoon, and looked over at my scrapbooking table... on it was some kind of lego creation. Jaden tells me it is a #1 trophey for the #1 mom in the world! awwwwwwww how cute is that! So if you'll excuse the mess, I had to take a picture (also posting one of me and Alix from the wedding, and one of Great Aunty Winnie, Grandma and Great Aunty Grace!) No news so far today on anything regarding Grandma. Should find out more Friday. Her surgery is next week though. Our house is looking more and more ready for us. I can't wait to be moved, and have all the 'house stuff' behind us.

What a Day...

So much going on... my head is spinning. If you know me well, you know I like to put it all out there, and then I feel better. So this blog I have is meant to vent, praise, discuss, argue, and so on. It's my own personal therapy. If somebody reads this, that's fine... if you don't...that's fine too. So my news for the day:

Well, first off.... I had all kinds of odd dreams this week. Last night was no different, and my super husband let me sleep in this morning... and I didn't wake up until 10:45!!! I can NOT remember the last time I slept so long! Crazy!! When I woke up, got ready and started to make lunch for everyone, I was still tired. So the gears started to turn (dreams about babies this week, talking about baby names, being so tired, life is so crazy, what usually happens? I felt nauseous smelling shampoo this morning.... GREAT!) I figured that I must be pregnant. How could this happen? (well... you know what i mean..) So i share my thoughts with Rene, and he's all "well you wanted another baby, maybe now's a good time... GOOD TIME?!?!?!?!" So i couldn't help myself...made an excuse that we needed some bread and cheese, and I went to Walmart to pick up a test, or 2. They should seriously consider selling these in bulk!

Right after lunch, Rene get's THE call we've been waiting for. Talisman is offering him a contracting job. Same kind of work, only he'll be contracting. He'll get paid to have a truck, so we are thrilled!!! What does this all mean to me? We can get a trailer in the spring, and camp next summer! (with a new baby?.. quick calculations... baby would be due in May... that could work..) So he's excited... and although the timing is off, we would have much preferred a job change in November or December...but oh well. So rene goes up town to look for a truck, and of course a new one will be around 45,000.00!!! C-R-A-Z-Y... our heads are spinning!!!!!!!!!

My mom calls me this afternoon with really sad/bad news. My grandma went to the city today, and was officially told that she does have breast cancer and it's in her lymphnodes (sp?) She had this last year, and I guess it has spread. So they asked that she spend the night in the city, so they can do an ultra sound tomorrow, and do more testing. I really do hope for the best, but I'm very worried that they might find that the cancer is terminal, and all over. They did mention Chemo.. but Grandma is 83, and isn't taking that well. I'm so upset, yet I know this happens to people all the time. I don't know much about cancer, and I guess now is my time to get educated. My poor grandma, it's not fair that anyone should have to go through this. The Dr. says my grandma's daughters (my mom included, and then me..) have a ONE IN TWO chances of getting breast cancer now. This is awful... and I'm still not completely absorbing this information... later.

Took the pregnancy test, and it was negative. Phewph... but always a bit of a disapointment, and any girl will tell you that. But no, it is for the best, at this time! Although a pregnancy can sometimes give you something to focus on, then you worry less about all the other things happening around you. Anyways, no May baby for sure now.

I ended the night with a Stampin Up hostess appreciation thing> It was fun... and I always like visiting with some older ladies..they are so funny, talking about their children... who are all around my age. It was a good distraction from all the chaos today.

So please, if you are reading this, say a prayer for my Grandma. I'd really appreciate it. And you know what, it wouldn't hurt, to please pray for my family too. Prayers are always welcomed...and i'm feeling rather overwelmed with my life at the moment. I'm sure tomorrow morning will feel different. I am just anxious to get over this hump, where school begins, the new job begins, and we are comfortable in our new house. I promise to say a little prayer for all of you as well. I know we aren't the only ones dealing with stress right now. G'night all... Love ya!

(still want to write about our awesome weekend, will do that tomorrow, when I can also include some pictures)

My Blue Eyed Girl

Had some fun tonight, making sure I could scan a 12X12 scrapbook layout!

And so it begins...

They say if you have a goal, write it down. So here's my new one. Rene and I are beginning our workouts together now. We have a plan...and hope that life let's us stick with it. Get the kids in bed at 8:00, and then it's downstairs to work out for an hr...EVERY night! :) I know it's going to be tough to stick to while we make our move over to the new house, but we'll do our best. We are going to look for a babysitter, to watch our kids Wednesdays, starting in September, so we can join the Volleyball fun league. We both want to get active, and get into good shape, and so why not do it together..the kids are now old enough that we can do it! It's funny though, he has to buy all this protein powder, and Creatine... to bulk up. After a work out, he has to eat, and then there's me... less is better! Makes it tough!!! Anyways, that's me today. We'll be heading into the city on Friday to buy our light fixtures, and then to Plamondon for my cousin Nick's wedding. I'm looking forward to it, fun to dance and get together, listen to music, and well yeah... have a few drinks (Rum and DIET coke.. and only 2!lol) I'm counting the days until I have my new camera in my hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And goint to NAIT for that course. Super crazy excited :) Have a good night, or good day everyone! HUGSSSSSSSS!

FINALLY!

Gosh, it's taken me *ALL* day to figure out how to scan a scrapbook layout! Here it is... more of a test then anything! Thanx for looking :)

Fall Fever!!!

I can't shake it! I have fall fever in the worst way. You know what I'm talking about... when the days are still hot, but the nights are cool. Feels so good to wear those old comfortable sweaters. I know what you are thinking... it's only August, and I am getting hit early. I know everyone is busy, but don't you get the feeling that lately life is speeding ahead!? I don't think it's just me. I think everyone is feeling this way. Tonight I was talking with Rene, and we realized so many things about the changes in the past 2 years. For one.... housing. It is absolutely CRAZY, when will it stop? When will all of this stop? Do you think we are heading into a recession? Will a world war then take over? I don't know, but it does scare me sometimes. If I allow myself to really think about it. History repeats itself, we know that. Another thing that is going on around us, there are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many jobs! I remember going to college in Edmonton (1998) and I could NOT find a part time min. wage job. I went to a few interviews..but it was all about who you knew. Such a different story now! How long will this last? Walmart is closing early, because of a staff shortage... People who do have a job, have to pick up so many extra hours to pick up the slack for the staff shortage. The line ups are unreal everywhere you go too! Maybe it's good, maybe it's not. But it is an obvious observation. Going back to Fall Fever, I think that a big reason I have it so bad is that I have this hope that my life will just slow right back down... but I'm starting to have my doubts. What do you think?

... okay I know I rambled, if you are still reading this..wow, I was all over the place with this one, and I'm pretty sure I have already made a blog entry about my fall fever.. but anyways, Have a good Sunday! :) Leaving you with a picture of my Mini Me :) Technically this is a terrible picture, i just can't believe she dragged out her "backdrop, baby and camera" and did this:

Any Offers?

I'll be starting a course at Nait next month, and would love to know if anybody is willing to be photographed? I know I live far away, but if you can meet me in either Plamondon or Edmonton.... I'd love to get some practice. I will be holding my new camera in less then a month! *SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAM* Along with allowing me to take your picture, I will ask that you sign a release form, allowing me to use it in my class, or on my blog. Obviously there is no cost, unless you would like to have any of them printed for yourself, then you will be responsible for making your own prints.

Anyone???? Thank you!!!

I'm going scrapping tonight... Garage Saling tomorrow... Have a wonderful weekend!

I WISH that they would always cooperate this way!

After I promised a game of tag (Freeze tag AND TV tag) Jaden and Avery let me take a few pictures of them by the fence. There is a challenge at the site I go to, to get a picture of your child on a chair in the grass... we are going to go take more tonight after supper, but wanted to share these ones! :)

HOUSE COLORS!!!!

OH MY GOSH, our paint is now on the walls.... we are getting closer and closer to our move in date! Guess that means i should start packing!!! Here are a few pictures I took tonight... some of you know how much i debated on going THIS green, but I do like it. I'm sticking with it now. Can't wait to see our cupboards, they come in any day now :) Hey, I sent out my application and money for the NAIT course... I'm really really looking forward to it, even though going to the city once a week might be a pain for most people, but I'm going to have fun with it!

BTW: we have cable back! Some guy was stealing it from us, and they cut our cable off instead of theirs.... and yup, crediting us for the week we didn't have it.

This first picture is from the front entrance/living room... looking into the kitchen. It looks more yellowy on here though.

The picture where you can see a window and door, is looking into the kitchen/dining room.

Fall... it's just around the corner

With Fall approaching, I can't help but feel excited. Don't ask me why, but I LOVE FALL! I have loved summer, but there is something about fall that rejuvenates me. I still haven't figured it out, with the leaves and trees dying... I feel more alive then ever.. I know it doesn't make sense, but when do I ever make sense? Right now, I am holding a my application to NAIT for September... and I'm still not sure if it's something I should do. I REALLY want to...but the time/money... am I being too selfish?!? I'm a mom now, and walking into a college is very intimidating, although it is part-time, there will be others my age? The first class I'd like to take is every Wednesday night for a month. The course is Taking Control of Your Camera. Oh well, enough time spent on it, I'm sticking it in the mail today, and I'm just going to close my eyes.... and hope that it works out just fine. I told Rene that this year, I'd like to go from taking family pictures around the house, to taking professional looking photos, and possibly start a business next year. He said he backs me up. This year, I'd like to gain some experience, and LEARN all I can. Wish me luck... I need it!

Leaving you with a few pictures of Jaden and Avery having breakfast this morning :) They didn't turn out very well...but I wanted to get some every day pictures of them doing this together.

Gonna miss this house...

We spent the last 5 days in Plamondon, and it sure is nice to be home. Don't get me wrong, we always enjoy it there... but the driving back and forth, the messy vehicle from travelling, the unpacking/packing, and the laundry... that part of it really sucks. As always though, it was really nice to spend time with our family and friends there. Our reason for being there this past weekend, Rene went down to help my dad build his garage. *sigh* it is amazing to see what a group of people can accomplish in only a few days! I was totally impressed by how hard they worked, and so proud that my husband helped with it. So Dad, I'm posting some pictures :) It was also really nice spending one on one with Grandma. We played 'UP' 4 times, and it was fun... even though she won each time (I'd like to say i let her win... but gosh darn it, i'd be lying!) She even brought me a bag of tomatoes to bring back home... what a sweetie. Spent some time with Destiny at the park, and it's always nice getting together with her, since she has a little boy and girl as well. Can't wait until Rylynn is old enough to play too! We also had a play date at Rebecca's... and it was perfect timing... all that bouncing on the trampoline helped Avery have an extra good nap on our way home. Sunday night we went to visit Alcide and Tracy...and Dorien/Nat, Monique/Sebastien were there. Had an awesome supper, and the kids LOVE playing with Jeremy, and his toys ;) I'm posting pictures of Jaden and Avery showing off their ummmm musical talent?! hehehheh....

On another note... we came home to find our house has the primer, and first coat of paint!!!! OH MY GOSH... I didn't think it would be SO GREEN! lol... i'll have to take some pictures tomorrow.. I think I like it?! Something to get used to for sure, and I was happy because our builder is going to do black rod iron hand rails going into our house, and going down to our basement! awwwwwwww Rene just got called out to work... poor guy needs a good few days off... Maybe for his bday!? End of September... we are either going to Edmonton or inviting friends here... we'll see... oh man, I've gone on and on...and not sure this post makes any sense, as I was interrupted 4 times... okay, time to go read and get some sleep! G'night!!! Bah, one more thing... anyone like the new Justin Timberlake song?

The Promised Pictures...

Pictures of us at the pool last night, and a few from the last week... Have a good weekend! There's a picture of Jaden drawing his first letter "J for Jaden" You can always see the pictures larger by clicking on them, I load them 'small' so that those of you with freakin dial up don't have to wait all night for the pictures to load! Take Care!

Short and Sweet

Hey all.... hope that everyone is having a good week! We've had Rene's sister with us since Sunday, and having such a good visit. Sebastien is a real sweetie, even got to hear him laugh a few times, and we were with him for his first trip to the pool. He loved it! I'll post some pictures later today. We are taking off to Plamondon, AGAIN, for the weekend. I love the summer. but travelling to Plamondon twice a month is starting to suck... and come fall it will be kind of nice to just stay home on Rene's days off. Our house is coming along..they start painting it on Monday!!! The electrician is going in and putting plugs half way up the wall in the living room so we can mount our big lcd TV on the wall! I'm so excited to decorate and enjoy the new place =) We'll have to have a poker night or something, so those of you nearby can come visit with us, and check out the new pad. Have a good week! Won't be back until Sunday night, or Monday! Ba byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee xoxoxoxo

I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations

Tanya, thanx for this email.... I LOVE IT!

JUST A MOM
A woman, renewing her driver's license at theCounty Clerk's office was asked by the womanRecorder to state her occupation.She hesitated, uncertain how to classify Herself."What I mean is," explained the recorder, "doYou have a job or are you just a...?""Of course I have a job," snapped the woman."I'm a Mom.""We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,"housewife covers it," said the recorderEmphatically.I forgot all about her story until one day..IFound myself in the same situation, this time at our Own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a careerWoman, poised, efficient and possessed of a highSounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or"Town Registrar.""What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The wordsSimply popped out."I'm a Research Associate in the field ofChild Development and Human Relations."The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in Midair and looked up as though she had not heardRight.I repeated the title slowly emphasizing theMost significant words.Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncementWas written in bold, black ink on the official Questionnaire."Might I ask," said the clerk with newInterest, "just what you do in your field?"Coolly, without any trace of fluster in myVoice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing Program of research, (what mother doesn't) in theLaboratory and in the field, (normally I would haveSaid indoors and out).I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darnedFamily) and already have four credits (all Daughters). Of course, the job is one of the mostDemanding in the humanities, (any mother care toDisagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 isMore like it). But the job is more challenging thanMost run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are More of a satisfaction rather than just money."There was an increasing note of respect inThe clerk's voice as she completed the form, stoodUp and personally ushered me to the door.As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my Glamorous new career, I was greeted by my labAssistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I couldHear our new experimental model, (a 6 month oldBaby) in the child development program, testing outA new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on Bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official recordsAs someone more distinguished and dispensable toMankind than "just another Mom." Motherhood! What aGlorious career! Especially when there's a title on The door.Does this make grandmothers "Senior ResearchAssociates in the field of Child Development andHuman Relations" and great grandmothers ExecutiveSenior Research Associates"? I think so!!! I also Think it makes Aunts "Associate ResearchAssistants".Please send this to another Mom, Grandmother,Aunt, and other friends you know.May your troubles be less, your blessings be More and nothing but happiness come through your Door.

I have discovered GROOVY GIRLS!

Oh My!

I spent the evening at my friend Ang's tonight. Her daughter Brooke is now 6. Her and her friend were so bored, and I thought I would be a help if I could get them out of the adults way, and get them playing something in the bedroom. And so I met THE Groovy Girls... OMG, why didn't they have these when I was little? For anyone who doesn't know what they are, I'd say it's a mix between dolls and barbies, and so cool! From the furniture, to the clothes, and accessories, I played with these dolls way longer then I planned. Love how the accessories aren't so small that they get lost, everything is kind of super sized. It was so fun, getting down at their level...and listening to how they played their girls. We pretended to have a movie night...and Brooke says "Oh girls, I totally forgot my lipstick, what guy will want to kiss me without lipstick?" lol.... where do they get this stuff? It was adorable, and I got to see how innocent, and pure little girls are. If only we could keep them at this stage longer then they actually do, and protect them from the bad in the world. I realized that these girls are 6. Not all girls are as lucky as them, to have these types of toys to play with... It's sad, there are girls this age who are in the middle of war, poverty, violence... yet here we were playing, in a warm house, right after a warm supper. I'm so happy to be living in Canada, and proud to be raising my own kids, sheltered from all of that. I want to give them a childhood, a darn good one at that! And that scary stuff doesn't only happen outside of Canada. I am still shaken at the pedophile, Whitmore, who took off with 2 young boys. This happened in a small town of 1,000... and way too close to home.

wow, enough with the rambling... sorry, feeling somewhat emotional tonight I guess! heehee.... I'll write about happier things tomorrow!

Adrienne

Anybody Reading this?!?!?

Okay, first off, WHO IS READING MY BLOG? I have no idea, and I'm getting very few comments, come on guys... say something!? LOL Here are a few pictures from Jolan's grad =)

Hope you had a good day Jolan, sorry if I was in your face too much with the camera, but I had a lot of fun, and still can't believe one of my little brothers has graduated! Can't wait for you to come to Whitecourt and get your tattoo! (in case any of you didn't know, this was my grad gift to Jolan) Enjoy the summer, because in Sept, you are back in school, Congrats Bro!

Love Adrienne

Rishe n Shine

Okay, so I did it! Yeahhhhh for me! 2 mornings in a row, I, ADRIENNE, woke up to an alarm clock, and ran on my treadmill at 6:30am! I feel so awesome, having it behind me now! So this may become routine, I sure hope so! Good Morning, and have a great day =) I'll be back later to post the weekend Grad Pictures!

Yup, also a Shop-a-holic!

Decided at the last minute today, that a trip to the city might be a lot of fun. I had a good excuse too... my mom's friend was having a garage sale, and opening it early for us =) So I picked up 2 silk trees, and 2 lovely rustic pictures, perfect to go in the new house! Then we went to the mall...and I had brought the kids, because Rene is working. Alix also came along... and my kids were actually very well behaved, it was so nice! We went for supper at Kelsey's, then to St.Albert Centre. LOVED the sales at Please Mum =) and bought Avery some head bands, and a Dora brush. Jaden got his first school back pack, since he starts playschool in September. Of course, he chose Batman. I'm getting so excited to move into the new house, but even more excited to DECORATE! I have boxes now labelled... "Party Lite NEW decor." and "New bathroom set" eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeks, I can't wait! They started to mud/tape the walls today =)

Spent last weekend in Plamondon, for Jolan's grad, and it was awesome...will write more, and post some pictures tomorrow... am too tired right now. Tomorrow morning I return to my regular morning run on the treadmill.... I'm looking forward to it in a way, but dreading it as well... I know it will take probably a week before it becomes routine again. I'm trying to convince Rene that we'd have a great time in the Dominican in January, so I feel motivated again to continue shedding pounds. Aight, time to catch some sleep... night!