Hike (and testing my new camera ;)

melt your heart smile on that kid :)


Climbing trees!!


Wow....I'm kinda high...


I'm king of the world!


Model pose


Knotty Tree


Smug


I'm a lucky mommy

Cousin Road Trip

Baby Dakota, Bobbi and Michelle came for a visit!!

Under the Bridge

Climbing Trees

Michelle the Monkey

Jess the Monkey

Michelle and Tim Snuggles

Naptime

Wrestle Time (a.k.a. beat on Michelle time ;)

Fun day around Sarnia (a few times :)

The Animal farm

Look at the Pig!

Watching Michelle get chased by the angry Geese...while trying to take a picture!

Laughing at the Horsey

Fun in B&W

Michelle on the Beach

Michelle under the Bridge

Dakota

Kisses for my Baby cousin

Big Smiles

Mommy and Baby

Kisses for the Michelin Baby

I've been tagged

Wow, Kelly you sure made me think!! Caught me at a good time though because I'm sick -so I'm not doing much else today :)

Ten Random Things About Me:
1. I am only 5'2" and I hate wearing heels
2. When I was younger I owned 7 rabbits and they were all named Murphy (Females were Murphette)
3. I love fishing, but I am deathly allergic to fish - and I have once filleted a fish with a butter knife
4. I love Sunflowers - when I was younger my Dad called me his little sunflower because of my brown eyes and blonde hair
5. I'm not a real blonde anymore
6. I met my first boyfriend in line for the Drop Zone at Canada's Wonderland - and we were married with a baby 2 years later.
7. I write poetry and journals and love taking pictures
8. I tend to hold grudges too long and have a hard time forgetting anything
9. I have kept every letter or (personal) card I've ever gotten
10. I truly believe that a Bubble Bath with candles can solve any problem

Nine Places I've Visited:
1. Calgary, AB
2. Banff, AB
3. Edmonton, AB....(well, the mall...)
4. Vancouver, BC
5. Montreal, QC
6. Sandusky, Ohio (Cedar Point)
7. Muskoka, Ont (Algonquin Park and Emily's House :)
8. ummm...Toronto, Ont.
9. Yeah, I got nothin'....refer to #1 of next question!

Eight Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
1. TRAVEL!
2. Eat healthy and exercise because I want to - not because I have to
3. Start volunteering with the homeless and less fortunate again
4. Take a cruise
5. Have some of my photos published
6. Keep a more frequent Journal like I did when I was younger
7. Love deeply, selflessly, real and true
8. Leave a good mark or a memory in the hearts of all I knew

Seven Ways To Win My Heart: (Garnet's input on this question was that I should just put his name 7 times :)
1. Love me....my temper, insecurities, ups and downs and all the other crap that constitutes me
2. Respect me, and everything that I hold dear
3. Laugh - with me, at me, inspite of me, and make me laugh too
4. Be my friend as well as my lover
5. Think I'm beautiful and sexy especially when I don't feel I am
6. Listen to me....even when I ramble and blab
7. Keep it exciting

Six Things I Believe In:
1. God, but I don't believe you need Sunday, Church, hard pews, dressy clothes, fake smiles or old songs to know Him.
2. That everyone hurts, cries, feels, laughs, smiles, soars and falls....but not enough people share
3. Karma
4. That everyone deserves to be loved
5. That everyone has the chance (whether they choose to or not) to be a good person
6. Soulmates

Five Things I'm Afraid Of:
1. Not telling my loved ones enough how much I love them
2. Looking back on life with regrets
3. Not being true, honest and real
4. Not being liked
5. Scary Movies...but I watch them anyways

Four of My Favorite Things in the Bedroom:
1. My Bed (preferrably with my Husband in it ;)
2. My Computer
3. My 'Smell Pretty' Lotions
4. My 'Naked' Painting ("New Baby" by my friend Kim)

Three Things I Do Everyday:
1. Tell Garnet and Tim that I love them
2. Shower/Bath
3. Think about life

Two Things I Hate:
1. Judgments/Prejudices
2. Fakeness/Masks

One Person I Want to See Right Now:
1. Myself in 10 years


So I tag -- Charity, Michelle and Shanna (if you have time way down in Guatemala:)
(And I think more of my friends should start blogs so I could tag you all....you know who you are!)

Thunder and the simple things

A terrifying crash of lightening outside our home today made me think.

I found myself almost wishing the lights would shut off and we would have to resort to a few hours of darkness. I remember the blackout in August 2003. Garnet and I stayed up playing Monoploy and talking all night - something we would never have done if the internet, TV and lights were working. Isn't it amazing how fast we can fill our little lives - with things that we think are important?

I've been working more hours at my job this year - it's still not even close to full time but between that and all the running around it's filling my day up enough that the laundry and housework have piled up. Swimming and school and friends have kept Tim as busy as he needs to be - and Hockey hasn't even started yet!! Garnet has been working on the basement. It's starting to look so good -- I am amazed at what he is doing. He's a pretty smart guy.

The last few days Tim and Garnet have both been sick. Maybe their bodies are telling them to relax, take it easy.

I took a Vanilla Almond Bubble Bath, lit the Mocha candles, snuggled with my sick boys. And I wouldn't have minded if the power went out as well.

It's good to stop.
Hold the ones we love.
Do nothing but enjoy them and the sweetness of the simple things -- that bring peace amidst the chaos.

Fear

You can control a nation by fear....or a city. I am watching and dreading this Rita. It is scary. I feel helpless and angry and sad for all those people waiting for her down south.

But my God, people....my little city of Sarnia was watching in horror today for the gas prices to jump to $1.70. Someone called in supposedly witnessing a hike in a nearby city - and people went nuts. I live down the street from a 7-11 and I couldn't get out of my driveway today because the line up to the pumps was 100 cars long -- onto the street!!

I remember the Documentary "Bowling for Columbine" talking about the campaign of fear. ....and it's just this campaign of fear, and consumption, and that's what I think it's all based on, the whole idea of 'keep everyone afraid, and they'll consume.'

Weren't we Canadians supposed to only be concerned with the new speedbumps...and not fall into the trap of fearing everybody and everything? Maybe I'm too relaxed about it. The fact is I know the gas prices will jump. I've stopped believing in this 'democracy' thing long ago. I'll be paying $1.70 for gas soon enough - if not today.

And the worst part is that there are people fearing for their lives down south and we are worried about a few extra bucks to fill up our huge SUV's and mini vans.

Why are we so afraid of things we can't control....or stop....or change?

***** sidenote; the gas actually went down 2 cents in the days following this furry and was under $1/ litre.....

sometimes...

you know we're related by our funny pictures...i wasn't allowed to put this one of Hillary up until I had an embarrassing one of me.

i'm goin' for a walk...

uh...look over there...

The Western Fair

Brave little guy...he looks too small for the seat!


Riding the roller coaster all by himself


Mirror Adjustment


Flyin' High!


The Ferris Wheel view


The best part o fthe fair....Cotton Candy and Caramel Apples!!!

worried

distracted

happy 

Late Present

Garnet and I got a late anniversary present for eachother.......It's so awesome - expect a lot more pics!!!!!

(hilsy, you know what this means ;)

006179

you know what that means?

my counter says as of right now there have been 6179 visitors to my blog. ...and I know those are not all my mom.

comments are nice, people.

(obviously all those that have commented at sometime are exempt from this finger pointing post!...michelle, amanda, kelly...etc.)

A nice shot of us.

We rarely ever get our picture taken together and when we do it's even more rare that we both look normal. If we're not making faces, Garnet's doing something to make it a nutty picture. Hillary was lucky enough to catch us looking rather nice.

My man in uniform with his woman all dressed up ;)

The Wedding

Our friends Sandra and Wayne had a beautiful backyard wedding yesterday. It was a simple but gorgeous ceremony - I was honoured to be able to share it with them.

Vows


They're Married ;)


Cutie Justin


Handsome Christian!


The Happy Couple