Super Rainy Day

The birds are chirping, blue sky is showing - it's hard to believe we were under tornado warnings this afternoon! I waited out the worst of the storm while at work (since I work in Sherwood Park and would've had to drive through the worst of the hail/rain to get to my home in the west). By the time I left work, the rain lessened the further west I got, and the clear skies were finally making an appearance. Before I left my office sprung a leak though. I think water is pooling right above my side of the building and it made its way through the roof into my office. I cleaned up the worst of it and left a recycle bin there. Hopefully that did it.

It's been terribly cool in the house this week, but I refuse to turn on the heat. I have to laugh, because Scott phoned me at work yesterday while he was getting breakfast for the kids and he said "Hon, you may have to break down on this no turning the heat on thing...Ethan's lips are turning blue and he's shivering!" Poor tyke. For the record, it's much warmer today and there are no blue-lipped children. They're in their beds snug as bugs in rugs.

I'm tired this evening. No real reason, but I think I'll curl up with a hot chocolate and read a book for a few minutes before making a couple cards. I'm finding my resolution to not watch tv during weekdays really easy. The shows I enjoy are in fall and winter, so spring and summer are best for doing other activities!

I bought some new pants and a shirt on Friday. They're a bit trendier than the clothing I have been stuck in, so I'm hoping I can get out of my style rut and get into the now. ;) It's been so long since I've focused on what I'm wearing...I feel like I need to do that again. Particularly if I'm thinking of taking on a new role at work, one with perhaps more interaction with clients/executive management.  Probably a good time to step up and start looking the part. I think it goes hand in hand with losing that 25 lbs I found some time ago. Haha! I've been trying to eat healthier this week, but I still keep eating little impulse treats. I had a couple mars bar snack things today. Other than that I had chicken and kale salad. But the Mars bars kind of counteracts all the good I did today! Maybe tomorrow I'll be better.

Hope you're all having a good week. One more day for me this week...then on to some fun weekend activities. I'm looking forward to Amaluna on friday, plus we're going to have dinner before at this little Italian restaurant...should be good. Yay for summer plans!
Penny

Princesses, Princesses, and More Princesses!

We're a bit Princess crazy in our house. Lots of pink, lots of sparkles, and lots of princess movies and books. Annika loves the Disney princesses, so of course when we went to Disney, we knew that visiting Princesses would be on the agenda. 

Here are some of the shots of Annika with the lovely Disney ladies.

Belle

Ariel & Cinderella

Ariel

Merida (from Brave)

Fairy Godmother!

Aladdin

We had a good time in Disneyland, although it was SOOOO busy (but when isn't it busy there?!) Plus Ethan was feeling pretty rotten by this point, so the poor little tyke kind of just suffered through the day. We'll go again one day in a few years when Ethan is old enough to really enjoy it.

SO, update for you. My holidaying husband is not on an airplane right now like he is supposed to be! He's still in Palm Springs, and won't be flying out tonight, due to aircraft maintenance. Phooey! Poor guy, another night in paradise. LOL! Ah well, hopefully he makes it home tomorrow! I'm really hoping he still has a few days of vacation left so that we can go on our family vacay in August! :)

Hope you all have a good week. I've got breakfast made in the fridge, I'm just off to slice up a banana bread that Annika and I baked so they can have some at dayhome tomorrow. And then, I'm going to veg out for a few minutes before I do a bit more laundry - and then bed!! :)

Penny

January Vacation - San Diego Zoo

Ok, here are some pics from San Diego - what a FABULOUS zoo! I would love to go back for another visit in a couple years.

Deep thinker

Look at those razor sharp teeth

Beautiful

You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours

It's tough being me!

So cool!

We had a great time visiting the zoo...blows our little zoo out of the water, that's for sure!

Peace and Quiet

Hi all - remember me?! It's been a while, to say the least. Lots has been happening, lots of little things - nothing huge and dramatic. It's been busy at work for the last few weeks and so that has kept me hopping along with the kids and home life.

It's quiet in my house right now. I love early bedtimes! By 7-7:30 the kids are tucked in and asleep and I have time to fold laundry, clean up the kitchen, and tonight - blog!!!

Scott is in Palm Springs, CA right now on a much deserved boys trip with his buddies. I'm pretty sure he's having a blast. Tonight they ended up driving to LA and going to LA-Chicago playoff game! Talk about spoiled rotten! ;) I think they'll be golfing a couple rounds over the next couple days and maybe doing some shopping in between lounging in the pool and enjoying cold bevvies. It's tough to be them...poor fellas!

It's been busy for me lately, and I've been feeling rather run down. I've just been sick so frequently - it sucks. Around 3-4 weeks ago I had a flu, then a throat infection (felt like 10000 knives were in my throat). I got better after being on antibiotics for a couple weeks, then the kids both got sick - poor Annika had a stomach virus and spent all of one night throwing up in a bucket. Poor girl. So we didn't get much rest. Then Ethan got it (not as bad, mind you). I think we had a half week before I felt really off again, run down, sniffly, etc. Then I started coughing all night and not getting any sleep and then the sore throat came back. This time I didn't wait until I had to go to emergency (which is what I did the first time, lol)...instead as soon as I felt my throat starting to hurt, I booked an appt with my dr and went in. I'm on antibiotics again and some codeine for the cough. Last night was MUCH better and today the swelling in my throat is starting to lessen. Hopefully that's it for sickness for all of us.

We went to the International Childrens Festival last Friday before I started feeling super sick...here are some pics.

I threw in some others for fun. We've had a good spring/summer so far. There's lots going on this year...we've got so many things planned for our summer weekends already. Crazy how busy life gets, isn't it?
We'll be taking some time off in the late summer and going to the west coast to visit some of Scott's family. We may also hit up Canmore again since we enjoyed it so much last year. Might try some camping out this year, and will be visiting our friends (and Annika's BFF Jayla) while camping overnight in a couple weeks as well. Next week I'm going with some friends to see Amaluna, the Cirque production on right now. I've heard great things, so I'm hoping we really enjoy it.

I've applied for school. Yuck. Finally going to get going on it...will probably be a couple years of complete misery, but let's hope it's worth it in the long run. Sigh. I really don't want to do it, but I feel like I need to. Hopefully I don't become a big hot grouchy mess. Haha...my poor family!

Tomorrow I'm going to get my haircut and do some shopping. I'm really looking forward to it...just me. Might get some much needed new clothing, and pick up some other things we need before friend comes over for a sleepover!

Hope you all are having a wonderful June so far!
Penny