Wow..

Sorry no blog updates..life is busy busy busy then EVER.

We have 2 new littles ones in our home.

Yes, 2!

Wow-

A 2 year old and a 5 year (girls!).

They are a delight but wow, I`m adjusting to it, well-lets just say I`m really struggling with my new life.

Wow!

Welcome Home, Neighbors...Welcome Home!

Since our devastating fire (see Nov. 2008) our neighbors have been out of them home as well. Like us, their home was completely destroyed too. Well today, like hours away they get the keys to their brand new beautiful home! I'm so happy for them...the workers have been out doing the last minute things like power washing their house, etc and they are ready. I'm so thrilled to have our neighbors back...afterall they were our neighbors for 4 years before the fire. Their daughter is so excited to be home too. I just remember the day (See March 2010) when we got our keys to this house...it was amazing. We are blessed to live in an amazing neighborhood with amazing neighbors and being back here has been the best feeling. I am happy that they will be feeling that way too...they deserve this after a very long road of rebuilding their lives after a major loss...

My Thursday.

Wow, clean house :o)

Today and yesturday I have been cleaning like a madwoman. Its done now, and its noon! Plus I hung photos (see below) have supper thawing, bread baking and Kennedys bedding washed. Todays a good day! This allows me to go to the grocery store and get what I need and *maybe* enjoy a movie all alone while the kids are in school-oh wait, its early day (scratch that!). Tomorrow, I have a busy day. Baby E is here bright and early at 8am until 4pm. I will have a quick tidy in the morning then at 10am an offical from Children's Services will be coming to hopefully approve my house for fostering. Then, we will head out as its suppose to be a beautiful day...all the while while trying to prepare for heading to the lake for the long weekend! I hope the weather holds up for us, or it might be the last weekend of camping for us!

The kids are settling back to school great!

Nothing much new...meal planning is still awesome and making my life easier!

Hanging artwork!

Today I took the plunge (and marked it off my 'to do' list) and hung some artwork in the basement. We have had a pile of photos sitting for the past 6 months in the basement and since Fabian FINALLY dealt with the 'pile' of stuff in the basement (marked that off the list too!) I decided to do it today. I'm so happy with the pictures so far. We need a few more for down there (living area, Macks room and his bathroom) but so far=so good! It sure makes a house feeling lived in when the walls have stuff on it. Fabian will be impressed that I did it too...I *tried* to hang up the mirror for the front entrance with no such luck though, I will have to wait for Fabian for that one...otherwise, the house is really coming together!!!!

Bread!

I have been LOVING my bread machine lately. Maybe because its been fall-ish outside or something but I have been loving it. I bake a loaf a day, I try to have it so its done when the supper is done so my family can enjoy it with their dinner. Today, my mom and uncle are stopping by therefore I'm baking 2 loafs today-one for each of them. I really do love the smell of the homemade bread in the house, sure makes a home feel homey :o)

Lists lists lists...

I have tried to figure out ways to keep track of the groceries we need; but its been a great challenge for me. I bought the Smart Shopper, which is awesome you record what you need and the items comes up...its itemizes into categories of a grocery store (Dairy, dry goods, produce, meats, etc) and you press print and it prints off a list for you to take to the store. Its good because you can add things and record new things. But I still to my old ways; good ole paper and pen...and a dry erase board...we have 3 lists going at a time...crazy!

What do YOU do?

some photos of the pantry...

Pantry...This is the MOST favorite part of the house for me still! I absolutley LOVE my panrty...its so huge and perfect for us. I worried when we built this house that I would regret taking space from my scrapbooking room to make the pantry bigger-but I have not wished for my scrapbooking room to be bigger or my pantry smaller...its just right for us!

Sights of My Mornings...

Tv on, country music

My calendar and 'organization' station-but not very organized at all!

Chicken thawing for tonights (meal planning) supper...

Kennedys lunch kit, all packed up ...

My coffee maker...ready to go!

Bandit enjoying the sun peering through the windows...

Sun sun sun...oh how I love thee!





Bandit still enjoying the morning...

My scrapbooking room, cleaned and cheery to look at!

Canadian Family!

This magazine is a great one-I love that its Canadian and the resources and ads actually pertain to us :o)

Tonights supper...

Yummy meatloaf!

I took a slice of it, considering its not 'that' bad-the 'worst' part of it is the tomato soup for me and the bread crumbs. But 1 slice isn't going to kill me-I had it with cauliflower. It was a great supper! Kennedy took the photos for me today..it was a nice recipe and very very simple!

Beautiful moon!

The moon was just beautiful on our way back from Calgary! I had to shoot it, even though the car was moving (My friend was driving!)...

Calgary Trip!

can you spot Kennedy? Her friend is wearing a red shirt near the front of the rollercoaster-

The trip was so much fun! I posted about it on my general 'update'...I'm so happy that I was able to make it there this year. Mack opted to stay home with Fabian plus he had football but he didn't want to go anyhow. Which I do understand as my friend's children are young.

Magazine day :o)

Love when I get magazines in the mail :o) Makes me day!

Yummy!

This was a big hit in our house! The kids loved it as did Fabian. I love when they enjoy what I have prepared for them. We had this with some corn and salad. It was seriously a good meal :o)

Sorry for the blogging break!

I'm back! I have still been meal planning and in fact did another week of it since its been going SO good! This have been pretty busy around here.

Our trip- Our trip was GREAT! Kennedy brought Darius, her friend since she was 2 weeks old. They are 2 weeks apart (his mom and I were best friends since high school-pregnant together!) anyhow-it was wonderful. The first day we checked into the hotel nice and early. Then we went to Walmart and bought some drinks, food and snacks for the hotel. They both begged me for a Hungry Man meal (??) and so I told them 'thats supper then!" and they were super happy (at 5.00 each plus my Smart One=13.00 for supper for the 3 of us-can't go wrong with that!) so then we went back to the hotel, ate our frozen meals and relaxed for a bit then hit the pool for a few hours! We went to Calaway Park the next day (Tuesday) for 7 hours, they absolutely LOVED it. 50.00 for the 3 of us, unlimited rides-can't complain! Got back to the hotel (ate frozen meals again, their choice!) and swam for several hours. Then final day, we packed up and headed to the zoo for the day then drove home. It was a cheap little break. It was perfect having a room with a fridge and microwave. The rooms were only 99.00/night. We had coupons for the zoo and Calaway. Bought a case of water, juice boxes and Gatoraide at Walmart to bring with us to the attractions. We did eat lunches at the zoo and Calaway Park but it was pretty good. They had tons of fun, without breaking the bank.

Meal Planning- As I mentioned its going super good. I have loved all of the simple recipes so far. And its even more important now considering its back to school today plus football is still 4 times a week...I need to be very prepared to ensure the family is eating a good meal.

Weight Loss- I have been back on South Beach and doing really good. In addition to this, I have been walking 45-60 mins a few times a week. I feel great and since January have lost 25 pds so far. We are heading to Vegas this month (Sept 30th) so I really would be thrilled to loose 5 more pds to bring it to 30 pds. I can really tell from my tummy, which is where I wanted to loose the weight the most.

Baby E- well since having her another friend has asked me to watch her daughter (who is in kindergarten) and her son (grade 4). I figured 'why not'...so that may or may not actually start next week. Plus, Kennedys best friend is needing a place to go afterschool and I had offered to her parents that I would take her if they stick her on the bus with Kennedy..and now they want too. What am I thinking??? Mack, Kennedy, C, M, K all at 4pm!!!! What the heck Tara? Oh well, at least Baby E is only Mon, Wed and Friday's 8-3:45 pm. As well, don't forget soon we will be having a new one of our own (okay, not really!) but Friday the licensing officer comes to (hopefully) approve us for fostering...wow!!! Thats alot of kids...

Back to School- Mack, grade 9 and Kennedy, grade 5!

House- huuuuge 'to do' list...but whats new with that? You scratch off 2 items only to get 5 more...you can't get ahead.

Well thats a bit of an update...I will add some photos of the trip and meals...

On a mini-vacation...

I might try to blog, we'll see!

I'm heading on a minivacation with Kennedy and her friend until Wednesday evening.

It will be to an outdoor amuzement park and a wonderful Zoo!

We are looking forward to a hotel, no cleaning and swimming time!

Have a great few days.

I will be back to blogging my Meal planning...so ensure to come back :o)

Thursday.

Today I'm very tired. I have been taking Melatonin to help with 'back to school' and getting back into a 'normal' sleep cycle. But I think its cutting into my next day so I'm done taking it now I think. I have been dragging my feet like crazy today, so not like me. Plus not being able to get outside to walk or anything, I'm not use to being stuck in my house all day (the smoke-see below!) So today Baby E and I just hung out in the house, in the basement really. We did lunch and a snack...there was no way she was going down for a nap today as she came late (noon) and left at 3:45pm. Tomorrow she will be here all day (8-4pm) that will be different for me as we don't have long days usually but thats okay. Not too sure what we will do...probably indoor stuff again.

I wish I can say I was productive today. I made beds, put away the clean dishes, prepared for tonights supper, made a loaf of bread and did 2 loads of laundry...but I really wasn't as productive as usual. I'm planning on going to bed early tonight and tomorrow I will have more energy!

Not too much this weekend for plans...

Friday night-not sure yet.
Saturday- 1st Aide (Fabe and I)
evening- BBQ at a friends house
Sunday-Not much...Kennedy comes home :o)
Monday-Kennedy and I are planning a road trip with a friend and her boys...for 2 nights...

I can't believe back to (hell) school is in less then 2 weeks already! I'm so sad...life is so simple with the kids being at home all day no rushing around, no hussle and bussle of activity just calm and simple...

Oh well, such is life.

Smoke in the City!

Sadly, fires in B.C are out of control

(wildfires)...and today the smoke in Alberta is horrible. I can't imagine it in BC...this scares me for Kennedy with her CF. Not a good thing, forsure for her. The worst thing is, she is with my mom up north and outside pretty much all day...thankfully she has her puffers and I have been calling to ensure she takes them. I worry about her lungs...

The sky is just a bright yellow color. No clouds-no nothing. Sun is a big yellow/orange hazey ball in the sky. Its pretty bad. There are air quality warnings issued now...

The photo I posted is in front of our street and usually I can see clearly behind the houses in the end there, there is a road and more houses...I can't see anything past those houses...

Day 2 of Meal Planning: Chicken Hurry!

Chicken Hurry...

My plate of supper...no rice for moi.

I found this recipe online I believe and it turned out excellent. I used brown sugar splenda and it turned out wonderful still...I chose to swap it for 'real' sugar just as a better choice for the family. Fabe was a little hesitant as he isn't a fan of 'sweet' stuff but with the package of Onion Soup mix it turned out soooo yummy! We had it with mixed medley vegetable rice and green salad. Forsure a keeper for a recipe in our house..and sooooo fast and easy!

Good Mail Day!

I absolutely LOVE Better Homes and Gardens magazine! I was thrilled today when I checked the mail and it was in there :o) I look forward tonight to relaxing with a cup of tea and indulging myself in it.