Saturday, March 31, 2007

The Legendary Easter Egg Hunt

This morning we awoke to gray skies, bone-chilling wind and blowing snow. Mmmm. Spring is in the air!

Being a hardy Canadian family, we braved the elements and participated in Butterfield Acres' Legendary Easter Egg Hunt. The children (bundled in parkas) searched for coloured "eggs", made a craft and visited lots of barnyard animals. Highlights included the baby chicks, a friendly donkey and a pair of ugly, ugly turkeys. The boys nearly froze, but they had fun trundling through the mud anyway. Baby Girl slept through most of the adventure. She was snug and cozy in the baby backpack.






Thursday, March 29, 2007

My Big Boy

My four-year-old is slowly learning to assert his independence. He can unbuckle his own seat belt, use the bathroom on his own, and grab an apple from the fridge when he's hungry. This morning he added a new skill to his growing repertoire --- he chose his own clothes and dressed himself.

Now, I'll admit, his fashion sense needs some development. The outfit he chose was a bit mismatched. He proudly wore a red 101 Dalmatians t-shirt with racing car printed flannel shorts.

The temperature outside today was maybe around 10 degrees Celsius. My little boy's long, skinny legs looked so cold! We stayed in the house all day and he never asked to change into pants. Hopefully I can convince him to dress in warmer clothes tomorrow!

It is fun to see my "baby" becoming a big boy. I can hardly believe how quickly the time flies.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Sacrifice at the Porcelain Volcano

"So buddy, what do you want to do today?" I asked my eldest son. I balanced precariously on the ladder of his bunk bed, tugging at the sheets and blankets. Baby Girl played contentedly on the floor at my feet.

"I dunno. Maybe we could go to the park?" he suggested.

"Hmmm. Maybe." I climbed down the ladder and set to work making the lower bunk. I realized my two-year-old was no where in sight.

FLUUUUUUUSH.

I heard the unmistakable sound of a toilet flushing downstairs. Strange. My diaper-clad toddler had no legitimate reason to use the washroom.

"Ummm ... where's your little brother?" I asked my son, "Do you think you could go check on him for me?"

"Sure, Mommy." My four-year-old raced down the stairs. I heard young voices, and then two pairs of small feet ran back toward me. I finished tucking the blankets under the bed as my sons re-entered the room.

"Hi Mommy!" my bubbly two-year-old exclaimed.

I turned toward my son and assumed my best stern mommy expression. "Buddy. Did you flush something down the toilet?"

"Yes!"

I waited for him to elaborate.

My son looked up at me with wide, blue, adorable eyes.

I sighed and asked the inevitable question: "Well, what did you flush down the toilet."

"It was only a palm twee, Mommy."

I processed this revelation. "You flushed a palm tree down the toilet?"

"Yes!"

"Well, why did you flush a palm tree down the toilet?"

My son gave an exasperated sigh. "It was bwoken."

Oh, yes. How sensible. Why hadn't I thought of that? Anyone knows that broken palm trees make perfect sacrifices to the toilet gods.

Apparently, our toilet can indeed swallow an entire palm tree without ill effect. Who knew? Later in the day I also learned our toilet can handle a plastic cookie wrapper and several stickers.

What's next? Boxer shorts? An apple? I'm seriously considering taping the lid of the toilet closed. (Although that solution presents a whole new host of issues ...)

Ahhh. Never a dull moment. Never a dull moment.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Spring (Fling) Reading List

My husband went to the library yesterday to pick up several books for me. One of the books he brought home was Kevin Leman's Sheet Music.

The book has been in our house a little more than 24 hours. My husband has read the entire thing through, cover to cover.

I believe I will cut my computer time short this evening. ;-)


Sunday, March 25, 2007

Spring Reading Thing ... An Update

I've been reflecting on my Spring reading list. You know, I think it is a little lopsided. I am slightly addicted to Karen Kingsbury's novels these days, but my goodness, I need not share my secret weakness with the whole world. I'm a bit embarrassed.

At any rate, I've added another non-fiction title to my list to help even the playing field. I recently spotted Me, Myself and Bob in the Christian Publications flyer. Our kids love Veggie Tales, so I am interested to read Phil Vischer's story. I placed the book on hold at the library tonight. (I may also be slightly addicted to surfing the library's online catalogue. What's not to love about choosing books from the comfort of my living room couch?)


Saturday, March 24, 2007

Oh the Drama

Only 25(ish) days until we depart for warmer climes. Our vacation to Mexico is quickly approaching. This morning our entire family had an appointment at the International Travel Clinic for ... (cue the ominous music) ... shots.

Our four-year-old son had been dreading this morning's appointment, but he knew that in order to go on the trip he needed to have a shot. This morning in the van we finally discovered why our son was so terrified.

Our little boy thought he was going to the clinic to be shot. With a gun. A great, big needle gun, apparently.

Oh, my.

The long and the short of the story is this: Our son did receive his needle. He screamed something fierce in the clinic room, but survived to tell the tale.

Mexico, here we come!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Culinary Delights

My two-year-old happily sat beside me in our favourite restaurant. As he munched his way through an order of (animal-shaped) chicken nuggets and fries, I picked up one of the nuggets and playfully marched it across his plate.

"What have you got here?" I asked, "Is it a dinosaur?"

My toddler looked at me with serious eyes. "No, Mommy!" he stated emphatically, "It's chicken."

...............

The children were bathed and clothed in warm jammies. My preschooler turned somersaults across the bed as he waited for Bible time. His two-year-old brother attempted to leap on the bed as well. In the process, he banged his shin against the side of the bed and burst into tears.

"Mommy! Kiss my leg!" he demanded as he pulled up the cuff of his pajamas.

I planted a kiss on my son's bruised leg and pulled him into my arms, preparing to listen to the Bible story.

He extended his index finger toward me. "Mommy..." he started to say.

I promptly kissed the end of his finger, thinking he had injured it as well.

"... I got a booger," he finished.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007


Ready, Set, Go!

My calendar tells me Spring has officially arrived. However, the view out my window this morning told a slightly different tale. Who ordered the snow? Where is the warm weather we've been promised?

I suppose I can patiently wait a few more weeks for Spring to truly arrive. In the meantime, I plan to dive into a great big pile of books! (Can life get any better?) In my opinion, nothing beats curling up with a good book on a quiet evening...

"Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier." (Kathleen Norris)

I especially enjoy reading books in series. I also get hooked on specific authors. A few months ago I discovered Karen Kingsbury's novels. (Where was I?) I'm thankful she is a prolific author, as I have many of her books yet to read. Right now I am working my way through her Firstborn series. I have also started reading Jan Karon's Mitford series, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Thoenes' A.D. Chronicles series.

Without further ado, here is my Spring reading list. Most of my selections are fiction. I have placed nearly all of the titles on hold at the library. (For one of the books I am number 78 in the queue. The library has a few of my other selections on order. I hope I get a chance to read them before the end of Spring!)

Fiction:

Ever After, Karen Kingsbury

Family, Karen Kingsbury (Firstborn Series, book 4)

Forever, Karen Kingsbury (Firstborn Series, book 5)

Like Dandelion Dust, Karen Kingsbury

Sunrise, Karen Kingsbury

Fifth Seal, Bodie and Brock Thoene (A.D. Chronicles, book 5)

At Home in Mitford, Jan Karon (Mitford Series, book 1)

A Light in the Window, Jan Karon (Mitford Series, book 2)

Non-Fiction:

I Like You, Amy Sederis

Sheet Music, Kevin Leman

The New Birth Order Book, Kevin Leman

The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems (By Teaching You to Ask the Right Questions), Tracy Hogg

On a related note, I also plan on committing several random acts of literacy this Spring. I've caught the BookCrossing bug, and I have a tall stack of books on my desk waiting to be set free!

I would like to thank Katrina at Callapidder Days for hosting The Spring Reading Thing. Please check out the Mr. Linky at her site here.

Happy reading! Welcome Spring!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Woolly Sheep

Today the boys and I made fluffy sheep to celebrate the first day of Spring.

This craft uses common materials --- toilet paper tubes, tissues, cotton balls, cotton swabs --- all things we found hiding in our bathroom. The boys loved gluing the cotton balls to the paper tubes. My two-year-old's sheep turned out especially well. He made most of it by himself.

My four-year-old, however, ended up ripping all the cotton off his toilet paper tube. He said he wanted his sheep to be bald.



Monday, March 19, 2007

Menu Plan Monday
March 19th

I met Laura from Org Junkie (another Canadian blogger!) at The Ultimate Blog Party. I've been enjoying her blog a great deal, and thought I would join Menu Plan Monday this week. So here goes ... my first menu.

Monday: (No cooking!) supper at chez Mom
Tuesday: Roast sticky chicken, mashed potatoes, french beans amandine, carrots and peas
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Vegetable lasagna, caesar salad
Friday: Chicken soup with alphabet pasta, homemade brown bread
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Sweet potato and cauliflower tagine, whole wheat couscous, spinach salad

Roast Sticky Chicken

This recipe is super-easy and the meat comes out moist and flavourful. I like to roast two birds at once; then I have lots of meat left over and can make soup with the bones. A note: don't try to make gravy with the drippings. It will be much too salty.

I found this recipe in Dining on a Dime by Tawra Kellam and Jill Cooper (p. 207).

4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. white pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 large (10lb) whole chicken, chicken parts, or one (20lb) turkey (double the spices for a turkey)
1 C. chopped onion or 1 sliced orange

Combine all the spices. Remove giblets from chicken. Rinse chicken. Rub the spice mixture into the chicken, both inside and out, making sure it is evenly distributed and down deep into the skin. Place in a 9x13" pan, seal with foil and refrigerate overnight. If using chicken parts just rub spices over both sides of parts.

When ready to roast chicken, stuff cavity with onions or oranges. If using chicken parts place pieces on top of onions or oranges. Roast, uncovered, at 250 degrees F for 5 hours. Roast chicken pieces 3-5 hours. Roast a turkey 8-10 hours.

After the first hour, baste chicken with pan juices every half hour to 45 minutes. Of you don't have enough pan juices after 3 hours to baste add 1 C. of water to the pan. The chicken will be golden to dark brown with caramelized juices on the bottom. Let chicken rest about 10 minutes before carving.


Sunday, March 18, 2007

A Round of Applause and a Great Big Kiss

I would just like to share that I have the most wonderful husband in the world. He is a man who knows his wife well.

Ben understands that I can get caught up doing things --- cleaning the house, cooking, shopping, running after the kids, making projects. He also knows that I am not exactly a high-energy person. I take on too much and then collapse from exhaustion.

My wonderful husband did a great deal for me today. I took a (glorious) two-hour nap this afternoon. He went grocery shopping, took out the garbage and recycling, attended a meeting at church this evening, and helped me clean out the basement. What a man!

Saturday, March 17, 2007


A Slice of Canadiana:
Why a Timbit is a Dangerous Thing

What is Canada to me?

Canoes, beavers and the maple leaf
Polite, friendly neighbours
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Rocky Mountains in my backyard
Clean water, rich soil, an abundance of resources
Vast stretches of land
Snow and ice and skiing and skating
Youth, innovation
A patchwork quilt of cultural diversity
A heritage built on Christian values and beliefs
From sea to sea to sea

And nothing tastes more Canadian than a steaming double-double with a donut on the side.

Every so often, out running errands or on the way home from church, our family will drive thru Tim Hortons. If the kids have been good we'll pick up a box of timbits for a treat. The line up of cars is always long, but as we sit in our idling van, talking and listening to the radio, we share a sense of camaraderie with the other vehicles. For a few minutes we pause, and together engage in a truly Canadian experience.

This morning Ben pulled into that familiar parking lot. The line wound around the building, at least twenty cars long. I flipped the radio dial to CBC, for the sake of the moment. Ben pulled up to the window and ordered (glory be!) the 40-pack of timbits, an extra-large double-double, and a large decaf mocha.

I think there is now one timbit left in the box (maybe two). Timbits may be small, but they are dangerous things. Perhaps Ben and I need to re-think our dream to purchase a Tim Hortons franchise. I doubt my willpower (or waistline) could withstand such a venture.


Friday, March 16, 2007

Every Computer Needs a Name ...

After a great deal of deliberation and careful thought, I have bestowed my new toy with the following name.

Henceforth, she shall be know as Blossom.

(Yes, of course my Apple is a girl.)


Thursday, March 15, 2007

Spring Cleaning

I've had a somewhat frustrating day. I started my morning with a fairly long list of tasks to accomplish. I worked steadily all day, but along the way I discovered more and more jobs around the house. Suddenly my list is longer than it was when I started out!

I feel stressed. It seems like I have a huge list of tasks looming before me. The two biggies on the list are:

1. Sort through everything in the basement, box it up, and cart it off to storage. (A contractor is coming to finish our basement in April. Yeah!)

2. Prepare our tax paperwork and take it to the accountant. (This is a pretty big job, as I'm about nine months behind in the bookkeeping for the business. Yuck.)

I'm also at bit stressed about my music exam in May.

We leave for Mexico April 17, and I feel like I must have all my studying / cleaning / bookkeeping / etc / completed before we go away. I really will need a vacation!

It's late and I'm tired. Life always looks a little brighter after a good night's sleep.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Works For Me Wednesday

Vegan Cooking
(Not to be Confused With Cooking Vegans)

We have a few friends who are vegan. They don't eat any animal products --- no meat, dairy, eggs. It's hard to invite these friends over for a meal because I never know what to cook.

I think I've found an answer to my cooking dilemma. A few weeks ago I tried the following recipe from Canadian Living magazine (May 2005). It was easy to prepare and tasted delicious. Even my brother-in-law, an avowed carnivore, helped himself to seconds.

The magazine suggests serving this stew with whole wheat couscous. (Gotta love couscous. Even my four-year-old can make it.) We enjoyed it paired with brown rice.

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Tagine

2 C. white pearl onions, or 2 onions, cut in wedges (I used regular onions)
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, minced (I omitted this)
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (I omitted this)
3 C. cubed peeled sweet potato (1 large potato)
1 can (540ml) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 C. vegetable stock
2 C. cauliflower florets
1 C. frozen peas
2 tbsp. minced fresh coriander

Place pearl onions in heatproof bowl; cover with boiling water. Let stand 5 minutes; drain and peel.

In large, deep skillet or shallow dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat; fry pearl onions, stirring occasionally, until golden, 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, paprika, ginger, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper; fry, stirring, for 1 minute.

Add sweet potato, chickpeas and stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in cauliflower; simmer, covered, until almost tender, 20 minutes. Add peas, simmer, covered, until hot. Sprinkle with coriander. Makes 4 servings.

................

For more great ideas check out Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks In My Dryer.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Crafts for Kids

Kids Craft Weekly is a terrific site. I have signed up to receive the free e-mail newsletter.

Isn't this cotton ball sheep adorable? I think it would be a great craft for Easter. You can find the instructions to make your own sheep here.

Photo Booth Fun

My son and I had a blast this afternoon playing with my new notebook. It has a camera built right into the screen. Very cool.

We took some great pictures in Photo Booth.




Happy Birthday to Me

I've had a great day :-). Where to begin? Let's see ...

  • 28 feels pretty much the same as 27.
  • My new MacBook is awesome.
  • The boys played with blue balloons all day long.
  • Pizza Delight cooked supper for me tonight.
  • I received several nice phone calls from friends and family.
  • Did I mention my new computer is awesome?
Please excuse the abbreviated post, but I am having too much fun playing with my awesome new notebook!

Monday, March 12, 2007

Last Legs

My finger sat poised over the publish button. I paused and thought, "Wait, I should add one more link." I opened a second window in Firefox, found the page I needed, and quickly copied the URL. Suddenly, the page vanished and my desktop appeared.

Where in the world did Firefox go?! More to the point --- where was my artfully crafted blog post?

Gone. That's where. Totally gone. Consumed by the monster that is my flaky notebook.

As I sit here grinding my teeth, I am comforted by one thought --- tomorrow is my birthday. A little birdy told me I may be blessed with a shiny, new Apple. (Was it a birdy, or was it a four-year-old boy? I can't remember.)

At any rate, I find it ironic that my battered, old notebook has chosen this day to betray me...

Sunday, March 11, 2007

A 23-Hour Day

How did our family do with an hour less sleep last night? Surprisingly well, actually. We were on time for church this morning at 9:30. Amazingly, we were the only vehicle in the drive-thru for Starbucks at 9:25. The parking lot at church was also suspiciously empty.

... I wonder how many people slept in?

On our drive in we passed through a speed trap. I'm curious to know how many sleepy people the police caught speeding to church. Very sneaky. What an awful way to start an already difficult morning.

Ben and I were scheduled to help in the nursery at church this morning. (It was a good incentive to arrive on time.) We laughed through most of our shift. One young toddler curled up under a table and promptly fell asleep. The little guy woke up, climbed inside a plastic toy bin, and sleepily watched the other kids play. The other kids in the nursery were very mellow as well.

The weird thing is, today has not felt like a short day. We spent lots of time together as a family, enjoyed long afternoon naps, and took a great walk before supper. The weather was gorgeous all day. Perhaps healthy doses of sunshine and relaxation have helped us adjust to the time change.

I suppose the real test will come when we wake up tomorrow morning, and the regular week begins.

Saturday, March 10, 2007


Mr. Potato Head Goes Intergalactic

For the past few days my two-year-old has only played with one type of toy. He thinks Mr. Potato Heads are very cool. He can't get enough of them. My son has spent hours re-arranging their faces, making up games, and singing to the potatoes.

(Although, he refuses to call them anything but tomato heads.)

My little guy is especially enthralled with Darth Tater. (He also has an R2 Potatoo.) I must say, few things are more entertaining than a two-year-old singing The Imperial Death March to Mr. Potato Head.

Bum, bum, bum ... ba-ba bum ... ba-ba bum ...

Yesterday I stole a few moments to catch up on my email. My young son brought his Mr. Potato Head over. He set the toy on the counter beside me and sweetly asked:

"Mommy, can you put on Darth Tater's bum?" (The flap had fallen off of Mr. Potato Head's backside.)

I then uttered one of those weird and wonderful Mommy-responses:

"Sure honey, I can fix Darth Tater's bum for you. Just let me send this email."

... With home-grown entertainment like that, who needs a TV?


Friday, March 09, 2007

It's Been Fun ...

The Ultimate Blog Party has nearly come to an end. Last time I checked, 917 guests had joined the festivities. Phew. That's about 900 more people than my house can hold. This party became much larger than I anticipated!

I would like to send a big "thank you" to the ladies at 5 Minutes For Mom for hostessing the party. They certainly did a wonderful job. I'm sure they were surprised by the tremendous response.

My, I am exhausted. It's a tall glass of water and early to bed for me. Daylight Savings Time starts this weekend, so I need to catch all the sleep I can.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Funky Bloggage

I really have crafting on the brain this week ...

Check out this very cool blog. I found Adorn only yesterday. (It's the crafty girl's guide to embellishing life.) I love this stuff.

Unfortunately, as far as I can tell Adorn magazine is not available in Canada. For my lucky American friends, a yearly subscription is on sale now for only $9.99. Sounds too good to be true. I am very jealous!


Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Works For Me: The Kitchen Edition

Lock 'Em Out!

In a home full of preschoolers, no kitchen cupboard is safe from curious little fingers. We've tried various types of latches and locks on our cupboards and drawers. Far and away, the most effective locks we've found are magnetic Tot Loks.

These locks are great. They are impossible to open without using a strong, magnetic "key". We keep our key stuck to the top of the fridge, out of the kids' reach. The locks are strong and sturdy. The locking mechanism is also easy to deactivate by flipping a small red lever.

I will admit, the magnetic locks took some getting used to at first. It was a pain to grab the key from the fridge every time I wanted to throw garbage into the pail under the sink. The peace of mind these locks afford, however, is worth that little extra effort. Our bottom cupboards and drawers are as safe as we can make them.

(How's that for shameless product endorsement?)

For more great kitchen ideas, check out WFMW headquarters at Rocks In My Dryer.

Monday, March 05, 2007

All God's Creatures, Great and Small ...


Sunday, March 04, 2007

Craft-y Musings

I finally received my first issue of Craft magazine this weekend. Ben gave me a subscription for Christmas. For the past five weeks I have been hovering over our mailbox, hoping, longing, for the magazine to arrive. (Who knew it would take five weeks? Calgary might as well be in the middle of the Great White North, as far the U.S. Postal Service is concerned.) I think the Hallelujah Chorus may have played when I opened the box on Friday and discovered my beautiful magazine nestled inside.

All I can say is this ... it was so worth the wait.

Craft is a quarterly publication. I will be waiting at least three more long months for my next issue to arrive. As such, I have decided to savour the magazine as I would a fine chocolate bar. A little taste here, a small nibble there. I've indulged in a handful of articles so far. I eventually intend to enjoy every word and image between the covers.

Carla Sinclair's opening editorial immediately struck a chord. (I may or may not have read it in our parked van, two minutes after I received the magazine...) The article is titled Copy This. Sinclair shares the premise that duplication and repetition are integral components of crafting. A knitter may repeat the same stitch thousands of times, a beadworker might produce a dozen copies of the same piece of jewellery, a seamstress may create a pattern for other crafters to replicate. Crafting is all about creating copies.

I am the type of person who enjoys mundane, repetitive tasks. When I read Sinclair's editorial, I finally found words to articulate one reason why I prefer crafts to (so-called) fine art. My studio major in art school was painting. I certainly enjoy the process of painting, but in school I didn't like the high brow pretentiousness associated with the painting studio. We were expected to create singular works of art. So much pressure! I can now see that my former obsession with painted grids was tied to my desire for repetition, and I sought security in grid-like lines and patterns.

I am also drawn to the practical nature of crafting. Crafts are meant to be used. They are intended to be handled, worn, manipulated. Fine art, so often, is inaccessible. We are separated from the art, either by a picture frame, a glass case, or by the artist's unfathomable conceptualism. Crafts are easy to understand; they are accessible, everyday art objects. A pair of woolly mittens warm my fingers, a ceramic pot holds my tea, I snuggle beneath a hand-stitched quilt. Crafts are a comforting part of our everyday lives.

The line between fine art and fine craft is blurring. The crafting revolutions speaks to the heart of our hectic, performance-driven, materialistic culture. Yes, I can buy a perfectly good blanket for my bed from Walmart. However, I might choose another alternative. Who cares if it takes me the next fourteen months to finish knitting an afghan? The process is just as important and the product --- the repetitive, meditative act of working with needles and yarn. I believe my afghan is a work of art, and I derive great pleasure from the simple act of knitting.

All this to say, Craft magazine resonates with my artistic sensibilities. I only wish it had existed a few years ago. Craft might have equipped me to better express myself. As an art student, I believe I would have enjoyed printmaking and photography. Both artistic mediums involve replication and the production of multiple copies. Craft has helped me find a new language of expression, and I now understand my artistic inclinations more clearly.

My magazine quietly sits on the arm of the couch beside me, patiently waiting. I think I'll now flip through a few more pages. Unfortunately, the danger is that I will be overly struck by inspiration. I might bite off more than I can chew. I already have several projects on the go, and many more bubbling through my imagination. When will I ever find time to finish everything? My life is full of baby steps ... baby steps.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Let's Party!

Tonight I intend to do some party hopping :-). I'm looking forward meeting some new online friends. See you at your place! (I'll bring along the cinnamon buns. Mmmm.)

Friday, March 02, 2007

Introductions

A warm welcome to all my party guests! I am looking forward to chatting with you :-). The weather in Calgary is quite cold and snowy today, so come on inside and enjoy a steaming cup of tea and a bowl of fresh popcorn. (Oh, and please excuse the Legos scattered across the living room floor!)

My name is Lindsay Inkster and I've been blogging for eleven months now. Little did I know that blogging would quickly become my favourite hobby! As well, I enjoy spending time with my husband and children, Bible studies, playing piano and crafting. For nearly all my life I've been a voracious reader.

My husband, Ben, and I have been married for seven years now. We were high school sweethearts (ahhhh) and are still blissfully in love. Ben is a computer programmer and runs his own web development business. We've been blessed with three beautiful children --- two boys (ages four and two) and an eight-month-old baby girl.

Family is very important to us. Since we started having children, Ben and I have been trying to disengage from the "rat race". We've consciously attempted to make family a priority and not get entangled within a trap of busyness. Both sets of our parents and siblings live within five minutes of our home. We know we are blessed! God willing, we look forward to our children growing up surrounded by loving grandpas, grandmas, aunties, uncles (and hopefully cousins!).

Random trivia...

Favourite colour: green (I also love brown, pink, and dusty autumn, "country craft" colours)

Favourite song: I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me

Favourite food: popcorn (cheesecake is a close second...)

Favourite pastime: reading (on my own, or out loud to my children)

Testimony: I was raised Catholic. I came to know Jesus in a personal way at summer camp when I was thirteen. Our family now attends a Pentecostal church, but I still hold the Catholic church in high regard.

Education: I completed my BFA at the University of Calgary. I finished half of the requirements toward my BEd and then realized I didn't feel comfortable teaching in the public school system. I started having babies instead :-).

Occupation: I'm a stay-at-home wife and mommy. I taught piano lessons part-time for eight years.

Favourite computer: I'm an Apple girl!

Thursday, March 01, 2007



Party Time is Almost Here!

I think I'm suffering from night-before-the-party jitters. Where has the time flown? I can hardly believe March has already arrived and that tomorrow the Ultimate Blog Party begins.

Are you interested in joining in on the fun, too? Head on over to 5 Minutes For Mom tomorrow. The party runs from March 2nd to 9th and everyone is invited! Joining is easy --- just add your name to the Mr. Linky hosted on 5 Minutes For Mom. Write and link to a special "party post" sometime during the week. Then get out and mingle with the other guests!

This party should prove to be great fun. It will be a terrific opportunity to meet other bloggers and visit new sites. 5 Minutes For Mom is also offering some pretty cool prizes!

See you tomorrow!