pre-vacation shenanigans

I have a tendency to overdo the crazy before a big trip. More so than usual. Ask Fitz. He has to live with it.

Last night the crazy included a fashion show. Fitz thought it would be a good time for more modeling lessons. Clearly a FAIL, but funny nonetheless. 

At least I have three outfits to wear for the next two weeks. 

I have also gone shopping with a pregnant lady whilst contracting (her, not me), washed laundry, organized our finances, cooked (and help consume) an entire package of bacon, and cleaned (most) of the house. 

Tomorrow I have a few loose ends at church to tie up and then I'm free! 

your attention, please

I filed immigration papers today. 

I'm in process! 

Yaaaaaaay!

It will be weird to look at a To Do list that doesn't list IMMIGRATION in fat letters across the top. 

Any prayers and/or well wishes that this takes less than the predicted two years would be greatly appreciated. 

i'm on a boat

We survive the weekend away with fifteen teenagers! 

This was our first trip with them and while we know that they are great kids, Fitz and I both tossed around the "what ifs". What if they completely rebel and run away? What if we lose one of them? What if one of them of them tries to do a back flip off a railing and cracks his head open on the sidewalk? 

But those paranoid questions were completely unfounded. No one tried to run away, we didn't lose any of them, and none of our kids participated in the crazy back flip stunts. I didn't even have to whip out the mom look once. They were just plain awesome. 

We're already looking forward to the next trip. Well, we will be after we get a little more sleep.

And perhaps the best part of the weekend - getting a call from Jala this morning asking if we'd like to join them on the maiden voyage of the season. 

Yes, yes please.  

I got my flippie-floppies and I'm on a boat.

just another thursday afternoon

Love the beach.

Love Fitz.

Love my crazy hair. 

happy anniversary Fitz!

success!

Lin's baby shower was fabulous.

Lots of friends, lots of presents, lots of food. Lots of love for baby B.

And one fantastic cake. I have every intention of visiting her tomorrow just to snag some of the left overs.

how does your garden grow?

I'll let you know in a few weeks!

We planted our "community" garden this morning (we're sharing it with two other families). It looks fabulous. As fabulous as dirt can be, at least.

Jay and Kay donated a portion of their yard and designed the layout. Jay built the boxes and rigged an irrigation system so no one has to water. Yay!

We planted raspberries and blackberries along the right side. Green and yellow beans, potatoes, and peas in the back row. Green onions and lots of green and red peppers in the middle row with broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach in the front row. Carrots and radishes are in the square boxes by the arch and strawberries are in the round pots in the front.

This is their smaller garden from years past. We planted the things that like to grow and take over - squash, cucumber, and zucchini - on this side so it wouldn't choke out the more delicate plants in the other garden. We snuck in a few rows of sweet corn on the backside between the wooden fence and the blocks. 

Now we sit back and wait. And weed. 

treasure hunting

We've been yard sale-ing. 

And by we, I mean Lin and I. Fitz tries to stay far way from these early Saturday morning walk-all-over-town-for-two-items shopping adventures. Unless it happens in Pine City, he refuses to acknowledge "yard sale" and "adventure" in the same sentence.

But my long list of things to buy for the house is slowly shrinking and it's happening on a microscopic budget so who can complain. 

The last two weeks have turned up...

     - a planter for my imaginary flowers..... $1.00 I'll add flowers when we get back from vacation.

     - a clay pot for more imaginary flowers..... $0.25 

      - a white bud vase for my imaginary buds..... $0.25 I'll add the buds after I grow the flowers.

     - a wooden serving tray..... $0.25 Needs painted... I'm thinking grey or navy.

     - an oil bottle for my dish soap..... $0.25 Makes sense, no? 

     

and the thrift of the year

     - an antique, solid wood, white pedestal table without a leaf because my house is small..... $20.00 And it fit in a Yaris!

On the downside, the table also came without chairs, but that's a moot point. People can't give away old chairs so I'll snag three or four this summer and then I'll have a charming little table set. 

And now I'm off to make a list of all the places I want to stop on tomorrow's fast adventure before we go plant our garden!

counting down...

6 days until our second anniversary
     has is really been two years? time has gone by so fast. 

9 days until our first overnight youth rally in Abbotsford
     hold me. I'm not sure I'm ready for this. 

18 days until we're on a plane to Halifax
     mini-fam jam! can't wait to see our Fitz family!

19 days until the baby sister graduates from university
     ps. we are super proud

24 days until the wedding
     in case you forgot :-)

25 days until Fitz's 24th birthday/visiting S-Kay and Dan
     poor Fitz has to spend his birthday in the car. 

26 days until I see my momma and dad
     the best prize at the end of a very busy month. 

take me home (mountain) roads

Because there are never enough pictures of snow covered mountains and glacial rivers...

Forgive the glare. It's the best picture I snapped through the car window while we sped by. The boys were anxious to get home.