Happy Family Day

So I've decided to make a tradition of a family pic on Family Day!!!

I digi-scrapped this with a very cool collab from Laughing Sun Designs and Farynar's Wings which you can buy at PolkaDotPlum.

My family dynamics have changed a bit but we are doing really well. I was blessed to have my kids with my today as it wasn't supposed to be...

But Mother Nature had plans of her own and I am thankful!

Today was a lazy day - some are still in PJ's. We have had illness running through the house so I think we all needed a down day. Yummy breakfast... later hot chocolate with chocolate dipped spoons from Reids (MMM) and shortly we will be having lasagne and garlic bread!!

Need a chuckle?

today is probably one of the hardest days of my life ... but I will get thru this as I have with other things in my life...

My boss sent this to me and it gave me the smile I needed...

Words for Women to Live By
1. Aspire to be Barbie - the bitch has everything.
2. If the shoe fits - buy them in every color.
3. Take life with a pinch of salt... A wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.
4. In need of a support group? - Cocktail hour with the girls!
5. Go on the 30 day diet. (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days).
6. When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.
7. Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your personality.
8. I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here.
9 Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.
10. Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you walk funny.
11. When life gives you lemons - buy some Coronas.
12. Forget about the perfect man - he's living in San Fran with his boyfriend.
13. Keep your chin up, only the first 40 years of parenthood are the hardest.
14. If it has tires or testicles it's gonna give you trouble.
15. By the time a women realizes her mother was right, she has a daughter who thinks she's wrong.
'Good friends are like stars... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there' 'Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live for today'. Now smile and send to any girl wasting time at work, suffering from a hangover, or just suffering from life , they might need a reason to smile!

Reflecting a bit on who I am....

Now that I'm 40 (something)... and finding myself at a new stage in my life - I'm faced with the thought of "who am I?"...

I've always been quite the individual but I seem to also be drawn in by people and their hobbies, lives, etc. and picked up bits and pieces for myself... but nothing ever is totally me ... or gets taken on by me wholly (had to spell check that word!)

What do I mean - sometimes I feel like a poser to some extent... I own a bus that I can kinda drive but not fix ... I own material that I would like to sew with but never find the time or energy, I own yarn that I end up giving to Grandma to knit, etc.

All of these are things I want to learn more about and need to learn more about if I plan on growing and learning. 2011 is going to be a year of completing things and learning new ways to do it! I've got a house that needs to be worked on as well so I'll be learning some skills there too I guess ... and gardening - oi the list goes on and on.

I guess this year my goal is to figure out me - learn about me - watch me grow (with abilities and mentally - not bigger LOL!)

Happy 2011

I'm starting another photo 365 this year ... Hoping I am more successful than last year!

Was a quiet night last night with some vino at my friend Judy's ... and some yummy leftover food ... always a foodie adventure at Judy's...

Today it's warm and mild out - raining - evening had thunder last night! Another year of no snow on New Years Day - all washed away!

Kids are all still in their jammies and doing something quiet ... me - just setting up my photo 365!

Hope you 2011 is a Happy and Healthy one... mine will be a year of focusing on my blessings and making it my best year yet!

Merry Christmas

from my gang to yours! Although the card's a bit different this year ... as life is a bit different this year ... I'm hoping you have a Healthy and Happy Christmas and that 2011 is the BEST year yet!

Friendship

I like to reflect on my wide range of friendships and how lucky I am to have met so many interesting people throughout my life. I have wonderful friends! I have some I've met online that I later met in person... and we've become very close; I have friends that I have had since Grade School; or High School... not so many that I've kept in touch with since College... Friends from work; through my vw group; church; neighbours... SO many!

For an only child I am very blessed to have so many friends I consider to be my family!

Ah the power of cookies....

I went to my first cookie exchange today... and what a great concept! Especially for those who don't bake!!! I'd like to blame my baking on the stove I have but I'm honestly not sure if it's me or the stove that burns the cookies.

So I decided to make chocolate dipped pretzels... and they were a big hit ... (whew). I in turn came home with a few bags of shortbread, some yummy peanut butter surprise cookies, lemon cookies, chocolate chip ... hmmm what else - some cute Santas... everyone really did an amazing job on their cookies! I was even begging people to save me their cookies because I didn't want to miss out on some of my favs!

But it's more than the cookies ... it's gathering with friends, hearing about their christmas plans and their decorations... taking time through the crazy season to sit back and enjoy for a few hours.

Last Christmas I read a book called The Christmas Cookie Club and it was one of those feel good Christmas books that you love to read over the holiday season. Sheila's party today was very much the same ... people there to lend an ear, a smile and a warm hug. Not everyone is Susie Sunshine over the holidays and but everyone loves cookies :)

I really enjoyed myself and hope it's going to become a tradition in "the hood" for many years to come! Thanks Sheila!