Our Vegas Vacation...

Love the sights of Vegas...

<------- Our absolutely favorite place ever to hang out in Vegas...its So much fun there!!!!

Vegas!!!!!

Vgeas!!! We had a great time with our 5 days in Vegas...it was wonderful. Fabe and I just LOVE it there soo much! We slept in late, shopped, hung at the casino all night..it was great!!!! We can't wait to go back there again! Its just so fun!

Our room...

Superheros!

My little Superheros!

These are old photos, but this is when we were taking the kids to my sisters house in Fort Mac. My nephews absolutely love dressing up-its so funny! So Kennedy got right in there...so funy!

still here....

Been super duper busy with stuff! Last week I had to work ALL 5-days! Horrible, first time all summer. So I did that. Well actually it started August 6th I think....Friday...2 staff called in sick! I was reallllly gonna be screwed! So I called in my part time to come in full time, thankfully she did! Then Monday the SAME 2 staff called in sick AGAIN!!!!!! I was freaking pissed off! Now, the one girl starts at 7:30 AM and the other works until 5:30pm! So, I was screwed either way. So I worked 10 hour days for the WHOLE 5 days becuase on Tuesday I did up written notices as I'm NOT going to tolerate 'sick' days like this anymore...I understand sick..but the one girl has only worked for me for 4 months and she has had 20 (yes! TWENTY) days off (half days and whole days) in FOUR months....NOT okay with me! So they both got written notices and the one girl SLAMMED my office door and was bitchy...so I called her back in and asked her the problem and she started on something and I ignored it ( I have listened to 20 excuses!) and she walked out...LMAO! She is older then me, and she WALKED out...so she was DONE. I picked out a few resumes of people eager to work and interviewed and had someone in within a few days! And she is GREAT!

Last weekend, we were at the lake..it was nice and relaxing....I was very tired after my horrible week.

The daycare is almost full again, yeah!!!! The summer was pretty slow but man...we have soooo many kids now...only about 5 spaces left in the 2-4 age category and I'm hoping when I get back from Vegas they will be at least 1/2 full!

Today mom took Bandit to the lake with her for the weekend. Tomorrow we (fabe and I) are heading to Fort Mac to drop off the kids at my sisters house for the week. Then we will get back Sunday night and Monday we will do last minute stuff...like take Bandit to the kennel (I just hate that!!!) and I have a few things at the daycare to do...then, we will get everything ready for Vegas!!!!!! I keep saying we leave Monday because to me. 3am is Monday...but really we leave Tuesday. I plan to go to bed early Monday night, then off we will go to the airport! We will get to Vegas early in the day...and we will close the blinds and SLEEEEEEP for a few hours...today it was +42 there! So, I'm thinking we will have to sleep during the day and be up all night :o)))) The fun thing is, my cousin Kim and my Uncle Mickey will be there on Thursday. So we already have plans to meet them there at their room on Thursday night at 5pm. We will have drinks up in their room (they have a 'host' to serve us....) OOoooOOO-then we have dinner reservation at Voodoo or something...apparently Brittany Spears has been seen there in magazines several times...then we will hit up a piano bar! The only other plans we have is Wednesday is to shop! I'm doing all of the kids back to school shopping there!!!! We are each bringing an extra empty suitcase...I'm so excited...time with just Fabe will be great...and we need it. Since the fire, we have been on edge all of the time. The stress has taken a toll on us..we don't fight or anything but we just need 'down' time. We are busy trying to ensure all of our contents are on the 276 page letters and going through the boxes in the garage and checking on the house, picking out stuff at the appts, dealing with the kids, running the daycare, him working...its busy. So we are both looking sooooo forward to it.

We get back Sunday early morning (1am!) then we will come home...sleep. We have to pick up the dog by 2 and the kids at 2pm as well...then Monday is work...Tuesday is work and Wednesday is back to school and *ugh*...back to early mornings, no time with the kids....the long weekend we were planning on going to Sask to see my dad but he is going on a fishing trip...we have dog sitting arranged with my mom, so we were thinking of going on a road trip. We won't plan anywhere to go, we will just drive....Kennedy LOVES the idea...but I'm a total planner and like to have a list of things to see and where to stay, etc...but it would be kinda neat...maybe we will hit the states...we will see...we won't plan for anything (lol!) Well our new car has GPS so it might take us somewhere interesting (???)

Well I will write Monday...after the weekend and say good bye before we depart to Vegas!

Cabbage Patch Kids...

I stole this bag of 'garbage' from the insurance company and signed off on it...that I will keep it...

Obviously its not garbage to me, they are my cabbage patch kids from when I was a very young girl. They were stored in my spare room in the basement in a tote and the spare room wasn't touched...aside from smoke damage. But as you can see some of them have smoke damage but I stuck them all into the machine with some pine sol, laundry soap and fabric softener...and lots of dryer sheets and they are good now :o) Yeah, I love when I have things to remember my childhood...Kennedy was delighted to see that they were 'safe' for playing with.

House update!!!!!!!

Will be the fireplace wall....

The front entrance....

The kitchen...

The livingroom, love the big window...

The back of the house...

The house is coming along great! Not much new to report since the last post...but its coming along.

around the house....

This canvas picture I bought at Goodwill. I absolutely LOVE it...its sooooo beautiful. It was 9.99! Its framed, and I was thinking that I will get it re-framed but now I'm thinking I might just keep it as it is...in real life and up close...its beautiful!!!!!! I love it sooooo much!
The LEFT side of the garage....oh my!

The RIGHT side of the garage.....

Outside the house...I really really worked hard to make it pretty and it sure looks good now!

The neighbors love us, this house has been let go, but since we have moved in the grass is nice and the flowers, etc are beautiful...it looks soooo much better!

So as I mentioned below, the garage was FULL of stuff! What happened is the garage stuff from our old house, was saved and brought back to us July1st. Our insuranca refused to pay for its storage. So we got MAJOR boxes brought to us and when going through them we saw there was some odds and ends of 'good' things. As well, there are several boxes of kitchen things (pots, pans, dishes, cups, etc) however we have already replaced it all...obviously when the rental furniture stopped we needed kitchen things so we bought it...and now they gave us our back...nice timing. So we will wait until we are moved to see what exactly we want to keep and what can go...we will certainly have alot to donate at that time...

storage...

THE PROBLEM....the hole that the gophers have been crawling under...

THE CRAP...our crap!

THE CRAP- their crap!!!

The new unit!

The empty trailer :o)

So we had rented a storage unit...to store stuff in (lol!). But since we don't have a fenced yard here, no shed...our garage is FULL...so we need to be able to park in it come winter. So we rented this to put the garage stuff in and clear it out. As well storing new stuff in it, as we buy stuff. Well we went there a while ago and gopher crap in it!!!! I was sooooo mad!!!! We have brand new mattresses in it, we do NOT have more money to rebuy stuff. Grrrrr. So this weekend we had to go load it ALL back up again...then move to another unit. Just me and Fabe....took us 2 hours. How annoying to have to do this on a nice hot sunny Saturday afternoon!

Long lost update....

I WILL add pictures by tomorrow! I'm determined to keep updating this blog to make myself get back into it...even though I have virtually NO comments (sniff, sniff!) Our house is well under way now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will post photos tomorrow of it...but its going SO good. I'm thrilled to be able to walk into my house...just the mainfloor is framed so far but I can now see the rooms somewhat! Last night Fabe and I sat in the backyard...hearing the familiar sounds of the dogs behind us barking, kids playing, just quiet....it was soooo nice. We have forgotten how familiar the sounds are to us. I told Fabe 'just think, this time next year...we will have the yard landscaped, house settled into, and we will be back to norm" it just feels surreal. I can't wait to be back there...it will be SO nice. I am thrilled. The house is ALOT bigger then our old house, leaving us with a tiny backyard...but I'm fine with that. We will do a 'nice' backyard and enjoy it. It will be fine. The kids really don't play back there anymore, as they are out and about...Kennedy's friend M who lives next to us has a trampoline, big yard, etc so they can play back there and I will have my pretty yard. I mean, there is SOME yard...but not really a lot by the time we do a deck...we actually are going to take out the wiring we paid for for the hot tub...its just that tight...but I honestly don't care. We use the deck more then anything so we need to have it...we just need to leave some grass for Bandit but thats all...it will be more rocks, patio stones, decorative grass and aspen trees...a small little luxury...a place to enjoy. I would like a little pond too...if possible.

The kids went with my mom yesturday to the lake...and she took Bandit too! Its just Fabe and I this weekend but we have SO much to do. Our storage unit we got a while back, has been taken over by GOPHERS~! There is crap everywhere in there and I refuse to put more stuff in there as we don't have stuff to be wrecked, its brand new furniture! So today we have to go there, pack it all up again...move it to another unit...sigh......then come home and sort through boxes of stuff....not really the way that I want to spend my weekend....I would rather be with the kids at the lake...but we have to get it done...we have 1 weekend left to enjoy for summer....next weekend. Then the weekend after, we have to run the kids to Fort Mac for a week wth my sister while we go to VEGAS!!!!! Then we come home the following Sunday, and the kids will come back (on the bus!!!!!) the 3 of them! Then, Monday I work. Kids start school Wednesday, then Friday they miss school and we leave to Sask to visit with my dad for the weekend!!!! Its going to be crazzzzzzzy Sept! Plus, on top of that, the daycare is getting accredited (well hopefully!) so we have to ensure its 10000% spotless and running smoothly! Busy!!!!!!

I'm sad summer is going by so fast...but I have to say I do look forward to fall and early winter so we can move into our house :o)

Thursday!

Well today I rushed to get the kids all packed up and ready to go to moms house as she was heading to the lake for the weekend. I dropped off the kids and went to Tinas house for the WHOLE day! Felt sooooo nice to go hang at a friends house...I haven't done that since...oh gosh, Oct? It was so nice! But off my blog the ladies printed some photos off and MADE ME A SCRAPBOOK!!!!!! I was sooooo happy! Thanks guys!!!!!!

So I just got home, Fabe is with friends of ours looking at trucks...he is helping make a deal. Other then that, nothing new to report today!

Wednesday.

Today was a great day! I took Bandit for his 10:30am grooming appt. Kennedy and I went to Goodwill but there was nothing much really, she picked a book and I got a couple odds and ends. Then we went to the daycare to wait for Bandit to finish up (the groomers is next door!) Kennedy played with the babies (she LOVES them!) and I chatted with the staffers! Then we went home. I am totally into a book "Best Friends Forever" by Jennifer Weiner. I just finished another book of hers a few days ago but this new ones is SO good it was on my 'must do for summer' list. I also bought "A summer affair" by Elin Hilderbrand. So I have a few to work on. Which will be GREAT as this weekend there will be no kids and I can read, read, read at the lake. Then I ran to Sobeys to grab some food for here....I wanted to make my tatertot casserole but I couldn't find tater tots so I opted for spaghetti...fit for 3 teens boys and 2 growing girls...and a husband...and there are still leftovers! Tomorrow the kids go to my moms house for the weekend as they are heading to the lake...so I will drop them at her house. Sunday is the wedding and I HAAAAAAAATE dresses...but I have to get something. Ugh. We are car shopping now, as my car is getting too old and well I think its having some transmission issues too. So we need a newer-ish car. I don't want brand new but something a year or two old and I would like an import. So we went with the girls looking for abit. Nothing really stood out. Then we got home and 'ditched' the girls and Fabe and I took Bandit for a walk around the block. I am going to curl up with my book and read. Tomorrow morning will be busy as I have to yet pack for the kids and drop off the extra ones at their homes...

Have a good night.

Oh oh oh! Guess what? Today there is LUMBER at our house...they are going to be framing it very very soon (YEAAAHHH!!!!)

Tuesday.

The new shopping plazza! Its 10 mins from my current and new house!!!!(walking!)
Kennedy and her very hairy dog!

The nice new walking trail system!!!

Powerlines.....I love the look of them!

The new park! Its a HUGGGGE hang out for mommies....seriously you should see the mini-van lined streets on any given day!!!

So today I worked. Well, if you call it that. I went to work at 10:30 am as I had to drop off Kennedy at her friends house for a playdate. Then I went to work..it was pretty good. The summer has been slow. And I am NOT complaining, sure money wise its nice to be full and running with everyone there but the sumer has been SO nice being slow. I mean we aren't 'dead' but we have about 10 children missing who will be either returning in Sept or their spaces are full. The centre has been running really well, we have been full for a few months then summer came but Sept and Oct will be back to busy busy! I really LOVE owning my own daycare. Its great. I love the freedom. It was so stressful before at the start but now its just pretty smooth (MOST days!) the staff are pretty good with 3 of them taking turns calling in sick. Today I gave them a talking too, so we will see. Other then that, its good.

Mack has 2 friends sleeping over tongiht. His 2 best friends have been at our house pretty much all summer, and I don't mind one bit. I would rather them be here then out and about (at a mall, etc). Rikki has been here almost all summer too. She's great :o) So I have been averaging 5 kids and its been FuN! Honestly! I love having them all here. I told Fabian tonight at supper, as he was GUSHING about how great it was to have big suppers cooked each night...I told him 'well we just have to have 3 more kids and you will have it!" he said "And we will be broke!" lol. Too funny! Tonight for supper I made stuffing, singapore noddles, chicken, salad, corn on the cob and baby potatoes. We had garlic bread on the side...it was yummy! But a whole lot of food. We are use to supper for our 'small' family of 4! Tomorrow I'm going to make them tater tot casserole. I love having time to cook again. I bought some baking ware so hopefully I can get back into it again too. After cleaning up from supper, Fabe left to go buy a suit for a wedding we have this Sunday. The girls and I took a walk to the new Blockbuster to rent a game for Rikki and a movie for Kennedy. Its soooo nice having the new stores to walk too. It has Shoppers, Save On, Blockbuster, 2 banks and a whole bunch of empty bays which will be things soon. Its literally 10 mins walk from my old and current rental house.

Tomorrow Bandit has a grooming appt. and I will hit Goodwill as its been a week! And not too sure whatelse we will do. I'm looking forward to sleeping in a little.

I don't have to work for a whole week! The kids are going with mom to LLB this weeekend and it will be just Fabe and I. As I said we have a wedding but other then that, NOTHING planned for the weekend...I love it!

The Beach!

Kennedy and Rikki at the beach....they enjoyed it despite it being rather yucky...but kids will go virtually into anything...so whatever!

Our lake lot.

So usually when I speak of "the lake" I mean our lot at Lac La Biche. But this summer due to the fire and everything we rented a seasonal lake lot close to Edmonton. This has been PREFECT for us. Since we don't have time to waste with driving this year we are LOVING this. As well, since I don't exactly have a 'nice' yard anymore this is what I get to work on...the lot was HORRIBLE and vacant for a while when we took it over. But after a few weekends of hard work we got it looking very nice. We cut the grass out there about every 2 weeks and thats really about it. I invested in TONS of bird feeders from Goodwill and stock them often too. For Mothers Day Fabian bought me a 'Faulkner' chair and WOW- I can sit on it for hours and hours reading amoung the birds. Its SO nice being out there and the BEST part is that we are so close to the city. We have had to run a sick friend of Kennedy's to the city one time at 4am! We have forgotten the trailer keys and been able to run to the house to get them. Its been REALLY nice. My friend, Lisa is parked 1 lot away from me and just recently is Colette (another friend) and she is about a 5 min walk from our site. We enjoyed a campfire with them last weekend and we are hoping to again this weekend. The beach is...well, not the best...but Kennedy is really the only one who plays in it and she mainly enjoys the sand anyhow! Its a nice little campground and clean. So we have been spending EVERY weekend there since May and hopefully we will be there right until Oct!

More scenes from the lake....

Greetings :0)

Our firepit tucked in there...

Kennedy making a potion

I LOVE this photo of Kennedy and Bandit on the deck...at the lake.

Backyard fun!

The kids blew up the big waterslide and had a great time in the backyard...its a CRAPPY yard but oh well, they didn't care! They had super fun!