Hibernating and Other Random Bits

So I had to go and pick up the passpsorts today from Canada place. Now usually I can manage to get into the city without incident. For some odd reason it seemed that all the morons were on the highway the exact same time I was...can you imagine?? Anyway, I was driving down the highway minding my own when I happened to notice that in the outer right lane there seemed to be alot of people moving out of that lane, it was explained when I got closer, a grader driving 50km/h , well not my probelm I'm in the outer left of a three lane highway...not an issue. Unless you happen to be the poor sod (me) who has some guy driving a tractor trailer try to run you off the highway by crossing 2 lanes of traffic, on a major highway without shoulder checking, signaling or slowing down, and thinking he owns the highway.

Now I'm not sure if you remember my last mishap with a tractor tailer, when I had the huge ginormous tear taken out of my new van and the front passenger tire ripped off last spring? I'm not too fond of big rigs. I live in a city where you can't avoid them but I tend to be a bit cautious around them for obvious reasons. Three of them being present in my vehicle with me at that time, and this time as well (I'm sensing a theme here, maybe I should avoid the highway all together?). So here we are happily driving along, me listening to Ninja Turtles part 2 in the back ground when I happen to see said turd bag veering into me. Now I was about 3/4 of the way up his side just behind his cab, he could have seen me if he had looked into his mirror he was in the outer lane!!! I saw the look on his face in his mirror when I leaned on my horn and veered into the shoulder as he missed my van with the side of the trailer by inches. I was too busy watching him, the row of cars behind me and the ditch all at once.

In essence he tried to run me off the road because he didn't want to slow down behind the grader. Jack Ass!!! So I had to slam on my brakes veer into the snow on the shoulder and fight to keep my van, with my kids in it, on the highway and manage to not cause a huge accident behind me at about 100km/h. Which is how fast we were all still going when he tried to do this. He jumped 2 lanes! I mean they don't own the highways...whatever. I swore and heard Leigha repeat it verbatim, not good since lately when you say the word "fart" to her she comes out with "fuck" and now she has moved forward in her language skills to using the same foul word as fork. Lovely if we go out in public don't you think? I'm not noticing too much she will get over it. Neil on the other hand thinks it's a barrel of laughs and gets her to say it over and over for fun. So it is his fault if she has a foul mouth when she is older not mine.

It threw me for a loop tho. I ended up unable to figure out how to get to Canada Place and driving around ultimatly backtracking in order to get to where I should have exited in the first place to spend 10 mintues in the building to check names, birthdates and places, faces and such, sign my name and gone. It cost me a whole $2.50 to park in the parkade, less time than it took to get out of the van, haul the kids in, get passports, and get out. But that's one chore off the books.

So we picked up the passports for Disney (9 days and counting!!!) and I took the kids to rotten ronnies for lunch for being so good at Canada Place. I fibbed a bit and told them that if they weren't good they would be arrested for misbehaving and couldn't come with us next week. They were angels up until the last few minutes when I had to read them the riot act about manners and not running up and down the wheelchair ramp as they weren't in wheelcahirs and it was rude.

As we were driving back into the Sherwood Park to go to the McDonald's with the play thingy we passed a farm with horses in it and I pointed them out to the kids. Leigha got all excited "cows!!". (I'm so proud of her :p) and  Nathaniel asked me the funniest thing..."mommy why aren't the horses hibernating?" I honestly had to stop and laugh a bit. I said the first thing that came into my mouth "they don't have holes big enough for them". I corrected myself and explained to him that they don't hibernate but are out and about all winter like dogs and cats, etc. I gave the example of a family friend that has 2 horses and asked him if they were hibernating. I think he got the idea after that. It was comical.

And The Band Played On...

As I've written before I grew up with music ingrained into me from a young age. It was always playing in some form whether that be in the car on the way up to the lake, in the house while we were doing yardwork, or, and I remember this especially, at Christmas time. We were never allowed to watch TV on Christams morning EVER, so I grew up listening to varying types of music.

For a while it was whatever my parents were into at the time...Phil Collins, Genesis (yes even tho they were about the same...kinda but not really), Peter Cetera,  Elton John (love him to death), Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young), The Irish Rovers... need I go on. There is a trend forming. tThere was tho horrible time my parents went into the Gregorian Monk phase and we were all forced to listen to them day in and out...I'm going to be honest here, they are wonderful to listen to for a time, but endlessly, they get REALLY annoying.

On an aside... when Neil  was in Germany in high school he actually stayed in a monestary in ?Hamburg and heard them when they were chanting. They weren't able to go in and see them in person as they were in prayer but apparently it echoed throughout the whole building and was phenomenal.

I developed a varied musical taste early on and since I sang in a formal choir from the time I was 10 until I was 17. I was given the opprotunity to be exposed to music most children my age weren't. I sang with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra on 2 occasions. We performed Handel's Messiah in 3 languages in my choir "career", the complete messiah in German we actually did once when we were paired with an adult choir. I sang in some many different languages and in many different venues in and around my city. We performed in festivals and competitions and even won awards for our singing.

My sister Laura and I were given the opprotunity to audition along with 23 of our choir mates for the chance to perform in Andrew Lloyd-Webber's performance of Joseph and his Amazing Techinicolor Dreamcoat in 1997. We actually were one of the 2 choirs chosen to do this and spent our summer with Donny Osmand....No he was not that cool from what I remember, and yes we did get to see Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice, but in a crowd of 50 kids how does one "meet" a song writer?

We had a blast and still speak fondly of it. We even have a VHS tape of the "actions" we performed on stage during the show that we did after we ended the run in August of 1997. It was hands down one of the best times I can remember in my lilfe. I'm sure Laura will agree. If you look at the photos tho you will see two very young girls with bad teeth (me, so me in that case) and wonky clothes (both of us no matter what she says). I still have the song books and notes that we took during the 2 months of rehearsal it took to prepare for the show, my signed poster ( I have Donny Osmands signature!! :p), and my denim jacket and shirt that is signed as well...I wonder if they will be worth something once he's dead?

As I got older my taste in music changed with the time. I learned to play a mulitude of brass instruments including Trumpet, Barritone, Tuba and Trombone ( I sucked at trombone) and managed to survive 3 years in band in junior high but didn't pursue it after those years. I was never into New Kids On The Block in the early 90's when they were the "in thing". Honestly, I never even knew who they were :o I know how could I not being in that age group? I didn't sorry :( I remember the first CD I ever bought was Matchbox 20, I didn't even have a CD payer when I bought it, it was the "cool" thing to do at the time....slave to merchandising. I think I was in grade 10 befre I ever opened the package and listened to it for the first time at home, sad I know.

Since I was exposed to so many differing types of music and was able to appreciate it I began to delve into it with a fervor as I got older. As Neil will most assuredly tell you, Yanni became on of my favorites if only for the mastery of performance and the music in of itself. He is a truly magnificent performer, even if he is a bit wierd.... I went thorough my whole Beatles phase in high school about when their anthology came out, and always managed to migrate back to Country as my mainstay. As long as it's not the twangy stuff...cannot do the twangy, unless it's bluegrass, but  that's another aside totally.

If asked to list my favorite songs I'm not even sure where I could start.... I'm IN LOVE with Elton John and more so since I saw him live last fall. I grew up on his music and since I love to sing to almost anything it works well.

On an aside I DO NOT sing in public unless there are 2 things factored in....1) I am consuming large amounts of alcohol...very unlikely as I don't drink very often because I cannot do the whole.. have one more when I am tipsy. I go from "happy" to puking in a blink, not good. 2) I am with my sister Laura as I usually sing better when there is someone else to hear for pitch and since I sang with her for many years we ae good at it, and she is better at it than I am. I detest Kareoke bars as I mostly hate hearning off tone singers, they hurt my ears. I am very polite no matter what but prefer to stay away lest I make a face and then they cry....very messy when drunk people cry.

Moving on...I started liking Kentucky bluegrass even tho I am an Albertan, maybe it is the tones of the music and the interchanges. It gives me goosebumps which is mandatory in my books to rate good music. That and if it can get me teary then it is a keeper.

When Neil and I got married 6 years ago our wedding song was so easy to pick that I almost laughed...Allison Krauss' version of  "When You Say Nothing At All" originally done by Keith Whitley.

Do you want to hear what we walked down the aisle to? You'll have to skip the traditional "Star Trek" interlude at the beginning so once you hit about..38 seconds it starts.....stop at 2:45....





? Like it? I had it timed so that at every crescendo my girls came in and then a brief pause and and at 2:04 I walked in...kinda crazy? ( ha Neil actually recognised the music :o ) By the time I reached the front of the church, got myself together and kissed my dad we ended at 2:45. You can stop it there...we did because then you get into the whole "Star Treckie" stuff and unless you are into the theme music...by all means go ahead.

Then I found Linda Eder purely by chance one day as I was channel surfing. If you have never heard of her you should check her out. I can't find a good you tube video of her that really goose bumps for me, but she is awsome. And of course my mom got me hooked on Enya for the soothing quality of some of her stuff and her music is fun and uplifting and....well I could go on forever about my love for music. I'll leave you with my wedding "march" or invasion as the case may be.

When I had Nathaneil I received a Lullaby CD of classical music at my baby shower. I've payed it for both the boys since they were small at bedtime always on repeat. When we moved just before I had Leigha, I lost it :( It wasn't until very recently that I found another one at the funniest of all places..Walmart :p I've begun to play it for Leigha at bedtime and we have found that she falls asleep much faster and stays asleep alot longer at night. I may have found some common thread with my kids as well. I remember when I was pregnant with all of them how rowdy they would get when I blasted any music anywhere :) I love it that thye already have an appreciation for music, we only have to put somehting on and they begin to dance and Leigha actually sings :o

I'll ask this of all of you...what music moves you and gives you goosebumps and tears? I'd love to hear your songs, what did you listen to as a child?, what do you play for your kids?

25 Random Things About Me

Alright so after having all the "notes" floating around on Facebook and adding them to my "notes" page I thought I'd add some onto my blog space for those of you without access to my Facebook site....sigh...I don't think I know 25 random things about myself that no one else knows yet. I suppose there may be something but do I really need to put it out there?

1. My middle name is Elizabeth and no I was not named after the Queen, my mom wanted it for my first name and my dad said no. Some disagreement ensued and thus it became a middle name and so I was named Meghan (I do believe there was some discussion about my first name being Margaret? (Thank Heavens they decided not to as I HATE the nickname Maggie)

2. My husband is incapable of saying my name correctly. In fact most people say it wrong. I hate explaining it to anyone as it just makes matters worse. I remember the week before our wedding trying to get Neil to practise..it just made it worse. In the end he still said it wrong and still does, even 10 years later;)

3. I have always sung. I sang in a choir from the age of 11 until 16 and continue to do so but only in a group, never solo. I have done solos but only under duress:) I am very shy and tend to over examine the way I sing. I sing best with my sister Laura:) I also never told my parents I was auditioning for the choir until I was accepted:o

4. I have a passion for musicals and have been to as many as I can and see almost any that have been on film. This is thanks to my mother who passed on her passion of musicals to us. I have passed this passion on to my children who have thus far showed a love of music and I hope they continue to do so in the future.

5. I really do Love Andrew Lloyd Webber live:) And I sang in one of his productions in about 1992/1993ish with my sister and 23 of our choir mates. We auditioned and won the chance to perform in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Donny Osmand...No he is not that cute in person:) I even met him and Tim Rice,sorta..kinda hard to meet him in a crowd of 50 kids:)

6. I have always love medicine which is probably why I am a nurse. I have a passion for natural health and would love to pursue a health field in that realm if I could figure out a way to get there from where I am now.

7. I love kids and always wanted 4. I would have another one in a heart beat...don't tell Neil:) Tho last night we did agree to a "kid break" and to discuss it in a year and "see where we are then". Who knows:)

8. I didn't get my drivers license until I was 21, sad I know. By then I was engaged, had purchased my first home and was working full time:o My mother-in-law had her dads car shipped from Toronto on a train for me:)

9. I learned to drive in one weekend in Neil's standard. He took me one Friday morning to get my learners and taught me to drive at the lake on the gravel roads. I refused to take left hand turns and would panic when I had to for weeks for fear of stalling the car:o

10. I made my youngest sister Kelsey take drivers training with me because I was too chicken to take the class by myself at 21 years old:o

11. I graduated from my nursing course in 2001 after 14 months of straight classes. I graduated with a 80% average or B- overall which is better than I ever did in High School:)

12. I have always loved little animals and have always had a hamster. Neil hates them but tolerates them for me. I currently have a Russian Black Bear the boys have named Mickey after my last one Bruin passed away last spring. I think they are cute. I once had one in Junior high that lived to be almost 5! I also had one that got into the outside walls of my parents house...she was wacko.

13. We adopted the two dogs we have. Abby came from our best man in our wedding after he could no longer take care of her. She has numerous mental issues and I think is probably the most expensive animal we will ever have. Tasha our other dog lives with my in laws as she makes me crazy:) She was a pound puppy save, but is a good dog all around.

14. I have been with Neil for almost 10 years now. We met May long weekend 1999. He has always smelled like rubber tires, concrete, sulfur or dirt for as long as I have known him as he has always worked with his hands in an outdoors job.

15. Neil and I got married in September 2003 after being together for 4 years. We were married in the same church his family had attended for many years. He proposed to me at the Legislature grounds after renting a limo, and taking me to La Ronde downtown for dinner. He had even arranged to have his truck picked up and taken back to his place:o

16. Neil and I were surprised to find out I was expecting Nathaniel in November two months after our wedding. I had been told two weeks before we had gotten married I couldn't have kids so this was a complete shock to us. More of a shock to my doctor when I saw him in December and told him I was pregnant:o

17. Our kids are all 21 months apart in age. Born Even months, Odd days, Even Years..get it?

Nathaniel August 7 2004, 08/07/04....Ryan June 29/2006, 06/29/06... Leigha April 03/2008, 04/03/08..very odd that and so is mine Meghan October 17/1980, 10/17/80. The only odd man out is Neil... February 22/1979, 02/22/79.

18. I love text books. I collect them. Especially medical ones that pertain to natural medicine. I love to look up the why to be able to bombard the doctor when I see them.

19. I read all the time and usually have at least 1 or 2 books on the go at any given time. Currently I can be reading any type of book and will read anything that someone gives me. I am easily distracted tho and if it isn't catching in the first 100 pages will put it down again:(

20. I have an intense fear of falling and thus with heights. I dislike bridges and will not cross them if I don't have to. If you ever have to be in a car with me across a bridge..like the high level in Edmonton I tend to speed across it and talk faster than I usually do (I know it's really faster than normal). It came about in grade 6 when I was on a suspension bridge in Nordeg down in Rocky Mountain House and the kids I was with rocked it over a river that was running high and fast...freaked the crap out of me forever. I have had the fear since then. This also applies to man hole covers.

21. I love music. I can usually be found humming or singing. It is not unsual to hear music playing while I am cleaning and especially while I am driving. I have a varied range in my musical taste and love all types of music as long as it gives me goosebumps. I think that all good music should move you in any way..with me it gives me goosebumps, always has. I especially love playing music loud...I'm very sorry for all my neighbours:)

22. I suffer from motion sickness and thus cannot sit in the back seat of a vehicle for any length of time without becoming ill. Makes me a very bad airline passenger, cruise passenger, and backseat passenger. When we travelled to Scotland with my in-laws in 2000 I actually forced my Father-in-law (we weren't even married yet!) to pull over at the next bed and breakfast otherwise I was going to kill him! I was so violently ill that day. Turned out to be a blessing as it was the best place we stayed at the whole trip:)

23. I learned to water ski when I was 12 years old. But I cannot swim as we never learned as kids. Whenever we were in the lake as kids we always had to have life jackets on in the water as soon as the water hit my thighs (I was the oldest kid and the tallest) so thus I never learned to swim properly. I had taken lessons but never farther than the red cross...so third level:o I could probably not get my butt out of the water now on skis if I tried tho:o

24. I love to be outdoors, preferably doing nothing. I am one for being stationary and just being. Reading books outside in the shade while the kids run and burn off energy is my idea of a great time. I am not an active person by nature. Possibly because my job is so active as is my home life. I prefer my down time to be just that...down.

25. I like to think that I am crafty. I may be. I have wonderful ideas and love when they come into fruition. Right now I am scrap booking, plan on teaching myself to sew..big project as I was tossed from a sewing class in high school for asking too many questions. Learning how to make a rag quilt as well as showing my neighbour how to make a fleece blanket for her bed:o (and I thought Carmen was busy:p)

This is just 25 small things about me. I'm amazed at how easy it was. I could probably think of some more, but hey then that wouldn't leave things mysterious:) What about you? Anything about you that I would find interesting?

A Rock and A Hard Place

I love to read I can literally devour a book in days depending on the length it can be up to a day or so before I am done. A book of about 500 pages can be about 2 days if I have the time:) I love the adventure it takes you on and the characters that develop. Maybe that's why when Carmen sent out the idea for a book club I joined up. I'm stuck, not literally, but I signed up for Carmen's book club exchange and I have one week to get a book in the mail to Calgary to the gal I am to exchange with. Now the criteria is this.... 1. It has to be a new book. No dusting off a book you never read off of your bookshelf and putting it in the post. It is a gift you are sending somebody :) 2. You must be willing to ship internationally. We have people interested in Canada, US, Germany & Australia! (Not an issue it's only going to Calgary) 3. You have to be willing to purchase said book and have it posted to arrive to the receiver's destination by Valentine's Day. Ah, isn't that sweet ;) So my problem is this what do I get someone I have never met? I have a huge book collection ranging from eclectic (Anne Rice and Diana Gabaldon ) to Children's Classics and the like and everything in between. I love to read and only tends to hold onto those authors that I really love. So only have about two that I am really attached to or ones that tend to run in a series. Now the only information Carmen sent me about the gal receiving my book is this: Unfortunately, "Lady" is the only person participating who does not have a blog. She is one of my good friends though - some info on her is she is a teacher, has a toddler about the same age as Grace, is active in sports, and enjoys card making and knitting. You are probably safe sending her a book you would think that I too would enjoy :) Not too helpful in that I've seen Carmen's book collection and I can't remember what is on it. I'm running out of time to get it in the mail I only have until Wednesday:o She does have a blog list on Her blog site with a list of books she's read and those that she has enjoyed but it doesn't help if I haven't read those as well. I know I can always fall back on an old favorite but what if she has read it? I know very few people who haven't read Outlander and the associated books that go with the series. Tho now that I think of it I'm not too sure if Carmen has read it? Any suggestions out there. I'm not sure who all reads this other than Cindy and Carmen as they are the only two who regularly leave comments. Are you all shy?? But I could really use some ideas on some books, chances are I've read it and according to Carmens anything goes;)

Some Small Successes

After months of mishaps and Blunders. More steps backwards than forwards and so many bumps in the road we feared that we many have to call in a search party to help us navigate the road ahead of us for fear of losing ourselves, we can finally say that a light has been seen in the Pollard household. Lets start at the top of the family...Neil...well honestly nothing has happened with him other than he has managed to master diaper changes with Leigha without having to cover his face;) I know her diapers are enough to clear a room but he honestly must have lost his sense of smell at some point in the last month;) He is a self nominated master chef and has become a very good meal planner on his feet and is a demon when we grocery shop in Sundays. Most of our meal plans come from his on Thursdays when we sit down to plan the next weeks meals and I can honestly say suppers have become less of a challenge in the past few weeks. He even does the laundry and takes out the garbage:o Nathaniel has mastered his alphabet and numbers on sight and spelling. He now just has to learn to write his name and learn how to recognise his phone number and of course to write it. We came upon the 1 year mark on potty training and are really proud of him for that. Now if we can get him tying his shoes and doing up his pants we will be set:) He is still the quiet one and doesn't realise that he outweighs Ryan by a good 20 punds:o Ryan these past weeks has been our most challenging. He has taken it upon himself to start screaming when he doesn't get his way. "NO" screamed at the top of his lungs and repeatedly is often heard despite our interventions, ignoring, time outs or anything has no effect. Quite the annoying thing. And I cannot wait to have it gone for good. But I cannot see it leaving any time soon as he is a very aggressive child with a volatile temper. A good combination of both Neil and Myself as I can see aspects of both our families in our middle son. Tho with research I can see where he will flourish with the correct outlets and we are striving to get him into extra cirricular activities. I only wish they weren't geared to over 3 years of age:( Ryan's new success this week has been potty training:) I know it may be too soon to jump up and down but he has gone three days now with only 1 accident:o Wow! He works on a bribe system quite well so far it works and he will do anything for a cookie or gummie snacks:) Yeah Transformers:) If I can only get him to stop coloring on my walls:o Now for Leigha...we are now one week post-op and so far......no puking. It may be too soon to tell but so far she is able to tolerate small amounts of thin fluids with no complaints and no coughing. Last time in November she was unable to do this so we may be looking at success. The real test will be in two weeks after the swelling is gone and the steroids are absorbed as well. But I am remaining optimistic and hoping that this time we are lucky and it stuck, literally. Her scan last Friday went well but we will have no results from that until next Friday February 6th when we visit with our Pediatrician. Tonight at supper I gave her some milk in a regular cup and she literally jumped at the cup, not a cough at all and she loved it. So next week I should be able to start lowering her thickener and see how she does. If we can get her to regular fluids and drinking normally I will be so happy. Finally having her drinking normally:0 The next step will be getting her into the Glenrose for her swallowing therapy to get her gag reflex under control and not have it so touchy. Right now her reflex is right behind her front teeth and is set off really easily, by touching her lips will cause her to wommit:p So if they can get her over that a bit and move it back further in her mouth, more like a normal person. Then we can introduce regular foods into her diet ones that have a more solid consistency and no more of the pureed stuff :p. Yeah for Leigha:) So the kids are astounding me all over this week:) That and tonight we got final approval to move our accounts out of the ATB!!! So as of next week we will be gone for good. Tomorrow we have an appointment with the new bank to sign all the paperwork and move all the accounts and the good part they do all the work for me! Even moving all the pre-authorised things:0 I love it. I think that if it all goes well I may die of shock:0 I had an awesome visit with my sister Laura today who came over to help me out this morning while I had an appointment in the city. I got a parking ticket and got lost in the downtown core trying to find the darn place. Tomorrow is another day and I hope that this weekend will be awesome as well. My Grandfather Michael is back at home and recovering well from his battle with pneumonia and Neil's Baba is also battling the same bug in Calgary's Hospital. Some thoughts to help them continue with their healing. I miss them both and feel terrible that I am unable to stretch myself in multiple directions to see them all and help out a bit. On a crummy note my Dad got an unexpectedly early retirement last Wednesday and worked his last day last Friday. So some good thoughts for my parents right now would be welcome. I am sure there are many out there at this time who are feeling quite lost in this world of uncertainty.

6 Days and Counting...

Only six days to get it all together:( Friday January 9 th we leave at 430am for the airport to fly into the sunshine. Ft Lauderdale, Florida that is, where I hear the norm temperature is +30 Celsius. I can't wait after living in the deep freeze these last few weeks I am totally looking forward to becoming a lobster as I ultimately will no matter how much SPF 50 I apply.

This will officially be the second vacation that Neil and I have been on by ourselves in almost 10 years together. On our fist "holiday" we went with Neil's parents in 2000 to Scotland and I believe I really got to know my in-laws to be then:) Oh the stories I could tell:). May will see Neil and I "celebrating" 10 years together, with 6 of them being married as our anniversary in September this year will be #6. So much has happened in those years. Three kids, two dogs and not a grain of sanity between us:)

We officially began seeing each other in May Long Weekend in 1999:) Time flies after so many years. We have been through many ups and downs over the years and it has made me sit and look at all we have accomplished together. We have a beautiful family and a place to call home. Food on the table and a place to lie our heads at night. We are blessed and I wonder what the next few years will hold. I've added photos for everyone to see the changes

Here is a picture of our first home. We bought it in February 2003 and moved in Easter weekend April 13 2003. As I moved right from my parents place it was quite the adjustment for me. I had received my driver's license the previous December, purchased my first home, planned and got married and then got pregnant all in one year:) In the time we lived there, I removed the tree under the master window-with a truck and very large chain:) And watched the cedars grow to touch the eaves, expanded the flower gardens and even watched some things try and grow there. Neil will have to tell everyone about the large rocks I had him move from the lake to put into these flower beds:) That's love I tell you.

This is Neil and I on our wedding day. September 6th 2003. It was a balmy 32 degrees Celsius that day. Very beautiful out with only a hint of clouds:) I remember being so nervous on the way to the church. Honestly the nerves set in while I got my hair done. I can remember the hair salon as a gal I went to high school with did my hair that day. I never said more than 5 words to her that morning:) I won't put in the picture of me looking like a deer caught in the headlights as I walked down the aisle with my dad. The last thing my dad asked me was "are you sure?" as he had asked me on the 25 min trip from my parents place in Sherwood Park to Fort Saskatchewan, I think my sister hit him at one point and that started the flood gates officially. I remember Laura, Kelsey and Lauren singing stupid songs on the drive but don't ask me what ones.

A long picture of us with our bridal party:) I had my two sisters Laura and Kelsey and a long time friend Lauren standing with me. Neil had his good friends Chris, Jerry and his old roommate Dale with him. It was truly a great day:)

It seems like a blink to where we are now. Moving into our second home March 2007, the birth of Leigha in April. Ryan's 2nd birthday and Nathaniel's 4th.

Leigha has this past week or so has: 1) Learned to climb the two stairs in the family room and not fall down them again. 2) Said Daddy to Neil when she sees him-she did that today:). 3) Is able to pull herself into a stand at the side of a couch, chair or dangling foot. I am watching Ryan begin the first steps into being potty trained, and watching as Nathaniel begins to write his name for the first time, or at least make the attempt at it. The only worries I have is how much of the newness I will miss out on. When we drove to Whistler in 2005, I missed out on Nathaniel's first steps. He actually walked to the door to meet us when we came home 10 days later. He also had contracted measles while we were gone so I felt horrid that I wasn't there to baby him while he was sick.

But I know there will be new steps that I will be here to watch as well and am glad that my father-in-law Puff will be there to enjoy the time with his grand babies:) Only a truly insane person would voluntarily take a week off to babysit my kidlets:) And I love him for it.

In retrospect I think that I can honestly say that despite all the bumps this past year and all we still have to accomplish with the kids we are truly blessed and lucky to have them and each other....Who knows if I can convince Neil maybe there will be a number 4???

Some New Years Reflections...

Carmen got me here to these pondering questions and I think they have made me think and reflect on this past year. Here we go:

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

The birth of my daughter in April:) I was speechless when they told me in the OR after being awoken after the emergency c-section. The most wonderful moment in between the blackouts:)

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

Finding out how sick my little girl really was and how difficult it was to get someone to listen to our concerns about her.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

Watching the boys and their growth this year. Watching Ryan turn from the little boy into this child almost before my eyes. And seeing how Nathaniel has become this small child who has so much behind his eyes.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

The adjustment from nurse to mother and the instincts it took to step back and allow others to take the "nurse" role in order to help my child.

5. Pick three words to describe 2008.

Turbulent, exciting and emotional.

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2008 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).

Emotional, stressful and a great learning curve (not three but you get the idea)

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2008 (again, without asking).

Crazy, Stressful and wow:)

8. What were the best books you read this year?

The Other Bolyn Girl, The Bible for Dummies.

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

Caughleigh, Neil

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

Learning to let go of the image of who everyone else expects me to be and become the person I would most be proud of instead.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

Learning that it is okay to step back and accept help, I don't need to be the hero all the time or be in control.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

Accepting that things are not in my control and to let God make the right choices and guide me to them.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

I haven't yet:)

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?

Learning that the true friends in life won't judge my errors or stumbles but will love me for who I am inside instead.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?

The vision I have in my head slowly making itself appear.

16. What was your most challenging area of home management?

Moving at 8 months pregnant:) The organisation it took to get it all done by myself was overwhelming.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

The energy it took to make others happy for the sake of "what may be"

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

Developing my relationships with my children and re-establishing the relationship I have with Neil. Learning to become one together.

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?

To love who I am and accept that I can only change that which I accept and want to change the most. 20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2008 for you

A roller coaster ride with all the surprises and scares along the way. As I read back I noted a theme in my meandering thoughts. My hope for 2009 is to grow in who I am and learn to be proud of the person that was created.

*That and I would really LOVE to have healthy kids:)

Over and Done...Finally

Well it's come and gone finally:) I don't think I will ever be this exhausted again. It seems that as the days went on I had less and less sleep:( So today I am walking in a cloud wondering where on earth all my dishes have gone? I had help in the kitchen and so far am short 8 teaspoons, 4 salad forks and a miscellany of other things:( I know I'll find them but...not tonight. Christmas was a wonderful day up until I had to begin cooking for Boxing Day:( I spent most of Christmas day in the kitchen slaving over the stove while Neil played with the kids:(

Neil and the kids and I spent Christmas day at my Mom and Dads in Sherwood Park and both my sisters and their significant others:) were in attendance as well. Too much food but what can you do? Eat until you pop that's what:) It was an early night as we had an early start that morning with Neil up chomping at the bit to open gifts:P

I managed to get it all done and we had a wonderful dinner surrounded by family last night, with Neils' brother's both arriving in time. Kyle came from London ON with wife Sarah in tow and flew in Christmas day:o They had no flight concerns so that was nice for them, no hold ups anywhere. Then we had Ian and Rochelle with the baby in from Calgary as well as an Uncle and Aunt from Airdrie and Neil's Baba. It made for a very cramped dinner table but there was plenty of good food and conversation to go around. I am still sifting through left overs. I hope to have it all consumed before they all leave:) Tomorrow we begin construction of my sewing/scrapbook room:) With all the extra bodies in town I am using it all to my advantage:) We hope to get it all framed this week so that we can lay the flooring on the weekend and have it drywalled and sanded ready to paint in two weeks. Gives me a plan of action after our cruise (we leave on Jan 9...so excited) So I am now preping the room and moving the "stash" that we had packed up there so we can measure and buy studs and drywall and get a move on it:) The kids are all still sick and the boys are on antibiotics with Leigha shortly after. I hope to have them all well and on their feet before we leave so I am making Turkey soup and all the healthy stuff and forcing them to eat good food until we leave. This is hoping they get better soon. So until tomorrow I am off to watch Transformers and then bed where I get to sleep in until 9:) I can't wait.