Family Fall Pics!

The kids and mommy
The kids and daddy

Do I LOOK uncomfortable? Bccause I was...lol!

I like this laying down one. This is the one that I will blow up and frame for the wall. The first one, my boobs were practially falling out!!!

Last year we did family fall pics at the dog park. They turned out so well that I got them blow up and framed for the wall. The pic is by the front entrance of our home. So many have said "who did those?" and when I tell them it was me and just with the timer they are shocked! But this year, didn't turn out as well. I will still get it blown up to a 8x10 and frame it. We never go for family pics, something that we just never seem to have time for. But at least, these are memories! I add them to the kids photo albums as well. Mack didn't want to come but we made him! As my mom use to tell me "sometimes in life there are things that you won't want to do, but you just do them anyhow". He's getting to a very tough age where he likes to hang out with friends (lots of sleepovers!) and while thats all fine with us, he needs to understand that family

comes first and foremost :)

More fall pics.

Can you tell that I love fall???

Although I am not looking very forward to the winter. I am enjoying fall. I have been getting stuff done around the house, preparing for winter. There is something about winter tho. I guess its just those cold mornings where you wake up and dread going outside. The crisp air, steals your breath at times. The part that I am truely dreading for winter is the fact that I can't have a car starter in my car. If you are a long time reader of my blog you may recall last year. My car was at the place for 2 weeks while I tried to get a car starter in it...they couldn't. So last year I hated it. Leather seats=cold butt! But last year I at least could use the van, but since we sold it I am stuck using the SUV. Brrrrrr! The truck has a starter, but its also pretty big to drive around. Hopefully, it won't get stolen with the key in it running (outside my work is my main concern) The mornings are fine because I park in the garage. I'm sure I will manage, but just be prepared for the big complaints from me ;)

Other then that, winter isn't too bad. The kids can sled. Skate. The house will be toasty and warm. Preparing for Christmas. Fire place on. Its kinda cozy in the winter...

Fall Pics...

Kennedy was only with me this time at the dog park so she is in the pics. Mack doesn't like to come anymore here, since his dog attack on our street. If only those people knew how much they affected him and maybe sending him home by himself bleeding and in pain with soaked pants (he peed his pants during the attack) MAYBE they might have taken more serious...oh and of course the handwritten note "Sorry- my dog bit your son and it broke skin and its bleeding. My husband isn't home and I can't leave my baby here alone. Please call us, we're very sorry!" and Kennedy came home flying in the door "Mack got bit by Jordans dog!!" and I ran outside and sure enough...grrrr...I still do NOT like those neighbors!!!! (VENT OVER!)

I love fall and taking pics in the fall. They are so beautiful. Anyone can capture natures beauties in the fall. Kennedy takes her digital camera with her to the places I go for pics and she captures some great pics too.

Even tho it is the season before the COLD bitter winter its so nice to know that you get one last taste of beautiful season.

Dr. Laura...

Okay call me stupid.

But I do like her.

I listen to her on the radio all of the time.

I confess, I bought the book "Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands" and it has some very valid points (especially the chapter on nagging!!!)

Anyone else crazy?

Our 6 month anniversary!

Already been that long (lol). Its been great. Not one thing has changed for us. We just each wear rings. Thats all :)

Oct.4th was 6 months :)

but this summer was 16 years together :) (holy CRAP!!!!!) We were 17 when we met

Dog park!

It was pretty cool. One day we went to the dog park and they had an agility course set up with trainers and their dogs. It was very cool to watch them. The trainers were getting all pissy about their dogs being distracted by the other dogs and loose dogs running up to them and their dogs..they were shooing them away and stuff..but Fabe and I said to each other what more do they expect being set up in a dog park and all ??? It IS an off-leash area.

Anyhow it was really neat to watch the dogs...very cool :)

Kennedy was with us, and she didn't want to leave. But it started to rain so we took off.

1st day of school.

Okay so what, I am REALLY behind on some pics...but whatever :)

Anyhow here are the children on their first day back at school. Both were semi-matching with brown tones. They looked adorable, as usual :)

Mack is in grade 6 and so far doing really well. Last year was a very hard school year for him. Many times I was so upset last year. His teacher suffered from Parkinsons and well, missed many days. Leaving the children with several subs and each one had their own view on what they should learning. Needless to say, his marks suffered greatly. Then the teacher went half time (in Feb!!!) and then the children were going to this class and that class...it was horrible. This year he is MUCH happier with school being settled in to a regular teaching pattern.

Kennedy is in grade 2. Her teacher is wonderful, Mack had her for grade 2 as well. Kennedy is really enjoying school and seems to be doing well so far.

Saturday.

So Fabe re-formatted the computer and now I can't seem to find my Picture Project for uploading my pics...I have some recent onces. I DO want to start blogging on a more regular basis..but yeah. I was going to start again today, but now I can't (lol).

So yesturday the kids went to Fort Mac with my mom for Christmas pictures. Every year my mom get a Christmas picture with her 4 granchildren. So they are up there this weekend. But they are heading home tomorrow and we will go to Fabe's parents house for Thanksgiving dinner (yummy). Last night I got into bed at 8pm watched a movie "Beautiful"...a pretty low budget) movie but it was good. I read over my decorating magazines. Then at 11:30pm we got out of bed and got dressed. The Brick had a midnight maddness sale. Normally, we would NEVER go to something like this. But the price of a couch set was realllly good. We had no kids, so why not.

So we got there and there was some people out there waiting. When the doors opened everyone was normal and not running or anything stupid. We got a sales lady and she quickly took us to the couch set, we were the first people to it (lol) and we told her "we will take all 3-pieces in beige" and she got on a computer and reserved one for us...done. So we now have a set for the basement...a couch, loveseat, chair in microfiber...with a 5 year warranty against stains, rips, etc...for 750.00!!!! It was well worth it :) Its perfect for down there. We are leather lovers and have 2 sets up stairs but down there its colder and I felt leather would be too chilly. Plus, Macks friends will be sleeping on it for sleepovers so I want something comfy. They will be delivered tomorrow. Then we need a media tower for it and get rid of the entertainment centre (cabin)...finally the stuff that we NEED is coming. We got a console table the other day for the front entrance. I just need to find a mirror for it and it will look great. And I am MOST happy about our bedroom suite. We got given to us our current bedroom suite. We said that we will use it short term until we could afford the set we wanted....well that was.....our old house....4-5 year ago. We have never had a 'nice' bedroom. Its been just yucky. Not comfy. Not nice. Just BLAH. We will get that anytime. We are donating the old one to my moms program. This week we will pick out bedding, duvet cover, sheets, nice pillows, bedskirt and curtains. I am sooo happy. We have needed this for SO long. Its actually pretty bad, I never show anyone our room because I hate it. Now I can paint a wall. Buy matching bathroom stuff so it flows nicely. It will be great.

Today, I was VERY busy! I painted Macks new room. Its a beautiful color! Its a smokey-grey color. Just so warm, but netural. Its like a steel grey. Its crisp and clean. Anyhow, compared to the HORRIBLE pink that was down there, its just so nice. But it makes it reallllly stand out that the closet and doors aren't yet painted (gotta get on that!). With white contrast (the trim) its just stunning the color. I bought him a dark grey and black striped duvet cover...it will look so nice. Once we move him down there, then we have to figure out his old room. Move the computer in there, I guess? It needs to be painted and I was thinking the same grey (its a light light grey now) but I am so in love with the dark grey. So I will do that. We need to get rid of his double loft bed (what a shame!)...and we will need to buy a futon or something so when guests are here...mind you we will more then likely give them the basement anyhow (Macks room will act as the spare room). He can sleep up here when guest are here.

Then, inspired by my friends Lisas dining room last weekend...I painted the bathroom upstairs a deep red color. I have primed it PLUS put on 4 (5??) Coats of paint...but its just amazing! I did only 2 walls in there. And the bathroom feels so big now. It will contrast so nicely with the gold-brown-beige fabric shower curtain....now I need new bath mats in there (does it end???) Plus, I need an area rug for the basment.

Anyhow, today at Home Depot I found the curtains that I want for the mainfloor. The patio and livingroom need to get rid of those STUPID plastic blinds (the long ones!) Again, another 'short-term' idea gone 3 years. Anyhow, the ones that I want are a burnt-orangey color. They have a pattern in velet on them...they are sooo nice. Then I can paint my orange color that I want so badly...it will blend so nicely with the sage green accessories and the cream couch set and dark wood....I can't wait :)

Anyhow. Today I am feeling Martha Stewart like...

Tara

Monday.

Well, today I worked and it was a good day actually :)

The kids started the bus today. Hopefully it will be okay for them the stop is further away then what I would like but I will meet them at it. I don't like the idea of getting them from school as it is sooooo busy and never any parking. So they started it today. They are only on it for like 20 mins or so then they are home. Mack has a friend that he has been riding the bus with since he started it 2 years ago. Its pretty good tho.

Tonight, we had a very lazy supper...(English muffins and jam, lol) and then we made up some smoothies....yummy :) they were strawberry and banana smoothies. So good.

I just cut up their fruit for the week, all in ziplock bags now. Ready to go...

Yesturday we went and looked at an acreage. It was 20,000 over our budget....but still worth looking at...OR SO WE THOUGHT!!!! Omg....can you say D>I>V>E!!!! It was HORRIBLE. And, its really sad because at one time it was beautiful. It was a 2100 sq foot bungalow. HUGE house...walkout basement on 3 acres. It on time had an inground pool off the huge deck (notice how I said, one time) the hole was still there with a structure around it...ugh. It was just BAD. I can't believe that they even are showing it like that! Omg!!!!! Needless to say, if the house was about 200,000 LESS then we would have considered it. Ugh, shivers!!!

Then, on the way back to Edm. We seen an open house sign. So we went with it. It was a nice house. A little small though. But still a BEAITIFUL set up and land was SOOOO well taken care of. LOTS and LOTS of trees. I want LOTS of trees, and this was it. But the house is too small for us. Its about 1700 sq feet 2story..well acutally a 1.5 storey. A nice house tho. So we came home and checked out MLS and Comfree. But nothing much out there right now.

I'm going to tidy the bathrooms and start ordering my Disneyworld pics....

Saturday..

Well today was a nice sleep in day. Mack was at another friend sleepover so Kennedy and I went to Micheals afterschool. I had 2 coupons to use up...she bought a whole bunch of stamping stuff to make cards for her friends. I bought some stuff too...including some of the scrapbook page frames...my new love rather then creating albums. So I did that...then we went to the bank...then dropped off movies at BlockBuster then we went to Rosies alone for supper. It was so nice, just her and I. I had fish and chips and she had 3 servings of mashed potatoes and gravy (her love!!!). We came home...Fabe got home. He took Kennedy to the west end with him and I curled up in bed with my book "kids are worth it"...good ole Barbara. They got home late, they shared a pizza (I stayed in bed). And we all went to bed. Today, I have cleaned on and off. The mainfloor is done...Ronda came over (Happy Birthday Ronda!) and visited with her 2 sons. She left her son (Our Godson) here for the night...tonight we are heading to Lisas house for supper. So Braxton will come with us. Right now he is in the bath, and I have a brand new Tommy outfit for him to wear tonight (he's so cute, I will take pics!). Kennedy is in the other bath. Mack on his computer. Fabe is still working, but should return soon. I will pop in the shower and head out.

Tomorrow, I am not sure what to do. Maybe Let's Play or...Fort Edmonton???something for a little while at least.

Oh yeah, because it is Ronda's birthday I got Braxton to paint her 2 canvas pictures....so fun to have a 2 year old around again!!!!

Well, thats about it.

Tara

Tuesday!

Well it was a pretty good day. I worked until 3 and grabbed the kids from school. A mom came over and made Friday sleepover plans for Mack, last weekend he was at his other's friends house for the whole weekend. I never see him...then Saturday my mom may take them. Thanksgiving weekend they are heading up with my mom to Fort Mac and I plan to use this time to paint. I would love to have Mack's new room all painted that weekend and maybe surprise him with a room set up for him :) We'll see.

Work was lazy today. I honestly got NOTHING done. How bad. I am thinking of taking off Thursdays again. I NEED to get back on track with WW and since the kids are off early that day anyhow, I might take it off. We'll see. I would love it...I know that. I really miss a day off a week. I'm not meant to work full-full time....you see, I am just not that kind of person ;) I really, really need to get back on track with WW and having that day to keep me on track was well worth it. Ideally October would be good to start it.

Tonight we had spaghetti for supper. I cleaned up, threw some laundry in and Kennedy and I headed to the dog park with Bandit. I took some pics of her only (since Mack won't come with us anywhere anymore!). I will upload them soon. I promise. Then, we stopped at Shoppers Drug store picked up some of KEnnedys meds...vitamin K and her liver meds. THEN, while there I forgot the dishwasher was full of dirty dishes and NO soap, so I grabbed some. Plus I bought the wrong scribblers for Kennedy and she needed the full page interlined ones NOT the 1/2 page ones. Grabbed those. AND, Mack needed poster board for his art folder for school. So I got that all done in one place. Finally something to scratch off my 'to do' list.

This weekend, Mack will go to his sleepover. Kennedy and I might find something to do...we'll see. Saturday, cleaning. Maybe they will go with my mom (not sure!) and if not they will come with us as we are invited to my friends house for supper. This is our friends that we went to Vegas with...the other 2 couples. We have not seen them since Vegas! CRAZZY! They want us to go to Cuba with them in the spring. They want to have a trip every year together..I'm not sure tho.

Vegas is terribly cheap to go to in Oct. Very tempting!!!! 947.00 including taxes, air and hotel...can't beat that!

Tomorrow Kennedy has gymnastics so I will hit GoodWill while she is there.

Thursday Fabe is off, fall family pics.

Friday...I already said.

Thats about it

Tara

ugh...

Horrible blogger here.

Sorry.

I've been busy.

We are trying to buy some new furniture here. We NEED (like NEED) a new bedroom suite so we have been trying to buy it. We found one, it is going to be 3 weeks to get it shipped here. As well, the basement has no couch anymore ( we took it to the lake) so we need something down there. But yeah. Just busy with that.

On the weekend we TOTALLY de-cluttered the basement. OMG, it feels just wonderful down there now. Mack is going to be moving down there this winter so we are preparing for that. The room NEEDS to be painted...as it is pink from *R*. So we will start that. Then, I have walls that need painting too. Ugh, I am SO not looking forward to it. I HATE painting. Actually I don't mind painting small rooms (bathrooms) and I like doing feature walls But I hate whole rooms...yuck.

Work has been (work)

Mack started soccer

Kennedy dropped dance (hold me while I cry) and went back into gymnastics

I feel a cold coming on.

We need to take family fall pics...hopefully the weather is good on Thursday as it is Fabe's next day off. We will do it again at the dog park....they were soooo good last year!

And thats about it.

R is here overnight, I will drop her at school in the morning.

And, thats about it

Tara

Tuesday!

Well today was my first day back at work and all was well. Actually it was VERY hectic because nothing was the way that I had left it prior to my vacation. I had mountains of work on my desk and it took me all day to catch up but I did it.

I got home from work, thankfully Fabe had supper cooked for when I got home. So we ate. Mack made plans for swimming with the neighbor boy. I offered to drive them then I would take Bandit to the dog park. Fabe and Kennedy offered to come along too. It was kinda cool there was a dog agility course set up. We watched it for a little while....it was neat!

We came home and soon it will be time to get Mack from the rec centre. Kennedy is in the bath. I'm about to do some laundry then go to bed early as I have to work fairly early to cover a morning shift (at 8am).

Tara

Congrats Sue!!!!

And Scott on the birth of their newest family member!!!!

Tara

Monday!

So today the kids went to school They are both in the classrooms that they so desperately wanted. It is so hard to believe that it is Macks last year at elm. school. OMG!!!!!

Since we haven't bought groceries yet, I brought them McD's for lunch at school. This was a nice treat for them.

Fabe is off today too. So after taking them to school together, we headed to Sobeys did a big shop there. Then, we went to WalMart and bought stuff there.

Fabe is sound asleep on the couch. I was on the phone for an hour with a friend...I will be leaving soon to pick up the kids from school...

Not too much planned for tonight.

Tara

Back to blogging.

Okay, back to school. Why do I always feel like the easy life is over with now, and back to the structure of everything. So I am back to blogging.

Florida was simply wonderful! We loved it.

The kids have their school supplies all ready to go for tomorrow (their 2st day!) and their outfits picked out. Kennedy is wearing a high school musical shirt (that she picked out in Disneyworld!) and Mack a new outfit thats spiffy! I will take pics.

Today, I didn't do much. Well I kinda did actually. I cleaned out the school closet (the kids backpack and coat closet). Washed their winter stuff and got rid of the stuff that they won't use this year. I cleaned out the car. Went through ALL of the shoes in the garage...went through Kennedy's clothes and hung up her new ones. We bought ALOT of clothes for them from the states...I LOOOVE their new stuff.

I have tomorrow off, to get them back to school. Fabe is off too, we will grocery shop and start cleaning out the basement. Mack is getting ready to move his room down there, but we use the spare room as a storage room...so we have to go through all of that! It needs to be painted as it is pink from R living here.

So thats the plans.

Tara

Fabe's family

Now don't I just fit right in???

LMAO!!!

Kennedy loved it!

She was totally into everything. Mack not so much...but forsure she is at the right age!!!