Run For Water

Just one last update from an event this spring/summer and then hopefully I'll be able to find something interesting and current.

One of Kenton's favourite sports is track and running. I also took up running a few years back, although I've been doing it less and less lately, so it was time Kenton and I entered an event together. The Run For Water was perfect...it was 10k, in Abbotsford and was for a great cause.

Camping Trip #3

Camping Trip #3 was a girls-only camping trip. There were supposed to be four of us, but two weren't able to make it, so it ended up being just Dana and I. No problem there, since we are the life of the party anyways!
We stayed at Golden Ears Provincial Park...beautiful!! This is definitely a park I plan to camp at again, in fact I plan to make all my reservations here next summer. A beautiful lake, secret little spots in the woods, hiking, trails and lots of trees!
We went for a good long hike every day, played games and enjoyed crantinis...so relaxing and fun...just what us girls needed.

Dana and I on one of our daily hikes

One of our secret spots...a beautiful creek set back in the woods


The bridge between campsites...we definitely stayed in one of the nicer ones!

Can't wait to do it all again next year!

Camping Trip #2

The second camping trip we did this year happened to be during our biggest heat wave of the year. This means no fires and many trips to the Lake throughout the day. My brother and his wife just bought a tent trailer this year, so we went out to Rolley Lake with them. I've been wanting to camp here for awhile now and really liked it. The lake was a nice temperature and size for swimming in, although the beach was a little bit rocky. We love provincial campsites...they don't offer power, but all the big trees and space make it so beautiful. I hope this camping trip turns into an annual event because I had a great time!

The men planning out something...

The kids...probably waiting to go to the lake

Scott, Krystie, Peyton and Zoe chowing down

Awww...Christopher and his little cousin, Peyton

Everyone's cutie...Zoe

Camping Trip #1

The highlight of my summer is always our camping trips. The biggest one (and the best) is when we go camping with the Larnder family. This year we went to Maple Bay out at Cultus Lake. There are some things that are guaranteed when we all get together...such as laughing, card playing and a nice slushy drink, or two...
Other things, such as going to the beach and having a fire, depend on the weather. This year we were lucky enough to do both.

Heading to the beach

Chris tossing the frisbee around

Me and Kenton relaxing on our floaties

Christopher and his friend Dylan eating breakfast

Our annual round of mini golf

Well, that's a quick overview of Camping Trip #1. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Getting Back Into It

Well, now that summer is over and everyone is getting back to being on a schedule, it's time to make an attempt at this blogging thing again. I'm in the process of getting some of my recent pics downloaded and then hope to do a bit of a recap of our summer. Hope to see you soon!

My BFF

It always amazes me how there can be one person in your life who you will not be in touch with for weeks at a time, but when you finally meet up again, wether it be in person, online or via telephone, it's like time hasn't gone by at all since the last time. That would perfectly describe the relationship between myself and my Best Friend since childhood. I try to always be a positive, happy person, but in those rare moments when I feel discouraged or a little down there is one person who can always bring not only a smile to my face, but a laugh into the room. She is a happy, positive, easy-going, giving, loving, inspiring, Godly woman...and she is my BFF...Sonya. Thanks for all the great times girl, and to many, many more!! ;)

Adventures in Babysitting

This weekend, one of my cousins is getting married in Vegas. My brother was asked to be in the wedding party, so I volunteered to look after my two little nieces. They are three and one. So far, they've been perfect angels...

Baking!

We've done a fair bit of baking in the last few days...chocolate chip cookies, banana bread and peanut butter cookies. The boys have said they wouldn't mind if their cousins came over more often!

Extra! Extra!

This morning when you open up your papers, you will see a familiar face.
It was like Christmas morning for Kenton when he went to the front door to grab the morning paper. :)
On Thursday morning, I went to take Kenton to the Abbotsford News office to submit his speech as a letter to the editor. I hadn't even been home for five minutes when the phone rang and a voice said, "This is Vicki Hopes from the Abbotsford News and we'd like to do an exclusive interview with Kenton." It was explained to him that if he decided to do the exclusive, he could not submit his letter to all the other papers...it didn't take him long to decide!
So, off we went to the News office for Kenton's interview. Later that afternoon, they sent a photographer by to shoot a few pictures. They wanted the shot by the cameras since Kenton mentions it in his speech, so to get a good shot Kenton had to stand on the photographers Jeep. It was very interesting.
We were out for the day when the article was posted to the internet, but when we got home there was a message from Global TV asking if they could do an interview.

*Since then, Kenton has been on the front page of the Province and has met MP Ed Fast and Senator Yonah Martin. Way to go Kenton!

"Bacon is nice...but these guys are not..."

This year, for Grade 6 speeches, my eleven-year old's topic was "The Notorious Bacons". He made it to the quarter-finals, which meant that he presented his speech to the entire gymnasium. He received a beautiful ribbon for his efforts and caught the attention of a few influential persons in our city. A few of our local law enforcement officers heard his speech and asked to forward it to the chief of police and also asked him if he would please consider forwarding it to all the local newspapers, including the Vancouver Province and Sun. We are extremely proud of him!

Tonight, at Sunday dinner, he got up the courage to ask our personal surveillance/swat/bodyguard team for a photo-op!

Believing God

Tonight I skipped Book Club and went to a bible study I was invited to. It's a ten week program of watching a series of DVD's by Beth Moore and working through a workbook. The homework looks really intense, but good. There is 5 lessons to be done each week, each one taking approximately one hour! In the past, I haven't really enjoyed bible studies, but I'm really optimistic that this will be a good experience. After all, life is all about the experience and this year's goal is to challenge myself! I'll keep you all updated....and I welcome any input any of you have for me. :)

Happy Birthday Chris!

Today I want to wish my husband, Chris, a very Happy 39th Birthday!
Love you lots!!

( This is the delicious tuxedo cake we had... )

Beautiful!

My Valentine's flowers looked too beautiful sitting on the counter in the sunshine not to share with everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Our Valentine's Day was just a nice, ordinary Saturday. Something I haven't had in awhile. I worked for a few hours this morning, then went to watch Kenton play soccer. It was soooo cold out there! Later on, I went for a run since it was so nice and sunny out. I definitely warmed up quickly. :) After a warm shower, I caught up on all my blogs, then it was time to make dinner. I had bought steaks earlier in the week, so I had saved them for tonight. Along with potatoes, mushrooms, yorkshire puddings and some veggies...it was the perfect dinner. Now Chris has gone to drop the kids off at friends' and get me some chocolate! I'm looking forward to a nice, quiet evening....

My sweethearts....

Third Annual Girls Ski Trip

This weekend four of us girls went on our third annual ski trip. The past two years, we have gone to Manning, but this year we went to Baker. I love Baker!

We rented a condo in Glacier, Washington, which is less than 30 minutes away from the top of the mountain and about 30 minutes away from home. How much more perfect can you get? The condo complex had a pool and hot tub too.

We left on Friday around lunch and headed down to Bellis Fair to pick up some new running shoes, then we headed back to Glacier and checked in. Later, we went for dinner at a little restaurant attached to the local corner store, then went back to sit around and chat over a few glasses of wine before turning in early for the night.

The weather on Saturday was absolutely gorgeous. What a perfect day of skiing! We even accomplished a few black diamond runs since the conditions were so great. On Sunday, two of us went skiing, while the others decided to take it easy. :) It was another great day...beautiful weather, great fellowship, and a few new undiscovered runs.

Next year's trip promises to be even better!

Ms. Independence

The last few days I've been busy learning little things that I've always wanted to know how to do by myself. My husband is the computer whiz around here, so whenever I've needed something I've just asked him to do it for me. But the last few days, I've had to learn on my own and I'm glad.
One of the projects I've been wanting to find time for is arranging all our photos from the trip with took with the kids last year and making it into a movie. It took me about a day and half to scan in a bunch of pics, arrange them, put in transitions and then set it all to music. I've already done a power point presentation, so the movie wasn't anything new, but burning it to a cd was an accomplishment.
Another thing I've never done myself, unbelievably for nowadays, is download songs to my mp3 player. It actually was really easy. I've learned a lot about limewire and where your songs get stored on your hard drive and all the rest.
So, that's what I've been up to the last few days. I love this little machine more and more each day...

A Rebel At Heart

Well, now that NaBloPoMo is finished, I was going to be rebellious and not post tonight, just because I don't have to...but I wanted to!

A few weeks back, Sonya had this on her blog and now it's time for me to make good on my part of the bargain...

Be one of the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post, and I will send you a handmade gift! How much fun does that sound? You then need to post the Pay It Forward challenge on your own blog and make a gift also for your first 3 commenters and so on it goes. :) The gift can be in any price range you like and you have 365 days to send it.

I've always been a great fan of this movie and the entire concept, so my goal is to do a Random Act of Kindness once a month and blog about it. Sound like something the rest of you would like to get in on? Can't wait to hear all about it!

I Made It!

I've always been known as a random blogger, so I'm extremely proud of myself that I blogged everyday this month...and I've got to say that I really enjoyed it. Of course, there were nights I didn't really feel in the mood, or I was too tired, but it was a great accomplishment. I look forward to being a more consistent blogger in the future and making many more friends.

Ten Things I Like...

Ten Things I Like that Start with "D"....

1. Daisies...they are one of my favourite flowers.

2. Dawn and Dusk...and anything else that has to do with the sun.

3. Donuts...I love them way too much for my own good.

4. Dad...he's a great guy!

5. Diamonds...and any other bling.

6. Dance shows...I know...pretty corny, but I love them!

7. Dark chocolate...any kind of chocolate really...

8. Dana...she's a great friend of mine. :)

9. Decorating...interior, Christmas, etc.

10. My favourite colour ends with "D"...red!

I'm Tired!

My back is throbbing,
My head is bobbing.
My skin is bumpy,
I'm feeling kinda' lumpy.
My eyes are puffy,
My hair's lookin' scruffy.
My mind is in a fog...
so that's it for tonight's blog!

Domestic Day

Today, I had the day off and spent it doing domestic chores. (I did sneak in a quick lunch with my mom though) Actually, every once in awhile I really enjoy being able to play the "stay-at-home mom" role. I turned on "Regis and Kelly" and "The View", although I didn't actually watch much, and proceeded to do a bunch of laundry, vacuum, bake banana bread and make an old favourite for dinner.

My dad used to make goulash after church on Sundays...goulash being shredded potatoes and onions with eggs cracked over top. I hadn't had it for years, so decided to make it with italian sausage added in and cheese melted on top. I thought it turned out pretty good.

Now I'm going to go finish off my day by watching some TV and sampling my yummy banana bread. I've been told my recipe is a good one, so I'm going to share it with you.

Banana Bread

1 cup white sugar

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 egg

dash of salt

splash of vanilla

3 medium bananas

1/2 cup margarine

Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Enjoy!

Sebastian

Our new kitty, Sebastian, has definitely been making himself at home. The first few days we got him, he was scared of us. Now he searches us out to pet and cuddle him, and we're usually happy to oblige! He has also become very playful...