Simple.

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”   Confucius

Two blogs = complicated.

To make things simple, this is my first post.  Since 2007 I have been posting about my family and it was time to put those post into the HH vault for me to print and journal for our family.   There will be pages dedicated to any tutorial or craft and other special posts that are in the HH vault.  If you have any requests, please speak now! I am making this blog open to the public and closing all other blogs. 

One blog = Simple.

Welcome to a fresh start :)

Signals, screaming, and a re-opening.

Nini, me, Cici, Mr. C self portrait, On our way to the library.

Talk about a lull on this blog!  Whew, if I didn't know any better -I must smell.  I am officially reopening my blog, as you might have guessed by my posting! I closed it down months ago because I just didn't have the time. I felt overwhelmed and a bit depressed. I didn't feel like I had anything to share of worth and couldn't get myself to write posts and when I did, I was too critical of them. Life is a little easier now, and that's why I am blogging again.

I didn't get a chance to write my weekend wrap-up post, but here are a few things going on right now. 

1. I am certain I now know at what age hand signals start creeping into family photos - age 8.  This self portrait we took tonight on our way to the town's library and then out to a freeze-out (this is what we call having ice cream in the winter).  This isn't the first photo with a peace sign in it. I'm all for peace though - don't get me wrong!

2.  16 months old is the age no on really cares if you run down the church hallways screaming, or the grocery store, or school - My boys love wide open spaces - it's hilarious!  The moment I put them down they just dash off screaming with glee.  If I did that, there would looks!

3.  Sorry about the adoption post I planned to post today, I just haven't been able to finish it -look for it on Monday's post. 

4.  Had a wonderful play date today with a new friend named Shannon.  Mr. T was in heaven.  He came right up to her almost two year old and started rambling his baby talk at him.  He was so cute!

5. I am almost, almost done with a children's book I started - about two years ago - entitled the leaf theif. I am so excited about it. I am determined to send it off when I am done.  Here's a sneak peek:  The leaf thief came on the first autumn night, scooping and raking every leaf in sight.  The town was shocked that the thief left no clues,ranting and raving, at this awful news.Each child slept with the same gloom each day, sad that their fall had been taken away.

How was your weekend?

Do you hate those hand signals in photos?

Do you think your blogging is better in the spring?

Week-Ends and Book-Ends

Our very Small Time Sugaring set-up



If you look at my comments from a year ago, I get at least 90% less comments.  I'm trying to figure if I should be upset or not.  I would determine that it is annoying when people view my blog and do not comment; but if one comments or not - I will still enjoy writing, journaling, and catching up with my blogging buddies!  What about you?  My new Week-End and Book-End posts will focus on journaling all the things I missed during the last week and posting about any new exciting books I've finished.

Week-End

1.  This year we've tapped at least 10-12 trees for sap and are shocked at what a fabulous year it is for sugaring.  We can't keep up with it - it's crazy!  We are very small time, but hope to get a bigger set-up in the next few years.  I think I'll have a blog-giveaway soon where I'll give some of our fresh maple-syrup away!

2.  Hawk and Mr. T joined Craig outside for a few minutes of sugaring.  It was all they could do before they had enough.  No worries, they will soon be helping a lot more - just  wait!  Both little guys I took the doctor last Friday where I found out they had ear infections, both them, in both ears.  It has been so nice to see them healthy and running around.  For awhile there, it was really rough to have them in so much pain and so sick.  I missed their little bright faces and smiles - glad to have them back and healthy!



3.  Worked on this Spring Daffodil Wreath



4. Setting our the big L's trap







 5.  Got really crazy for spring and purchased two of the yellow daisy dresses - too expensive, but they are so so cute and modest!  They were from Mini-Boden.

6.  I was called recently to be the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society of our ward. The Relief Society is grouped of the women in our church who are 18 years and older.  My part of the calling is to work with the activity leader and put together activities for the women.  This week was really crazy as we just finished our RS birthday celebration.  The boys also came that night - luckily we put together some amazing women who shifted out of the activity for 30 minutes at a time to babysit - it worked out wonderfully.  Although my boys really didn't want to stay - they were with me quite a bit! 

7.   Cici and Nini finished up their Mytroyshka doll embroidery book-marks.  Arent' they fantastic!? They did such a great job and they loved every minute of it.  I finished them off by sewing some ribbon on the back and hemming the top and bottom.  This was a really fun activity!

Book-Ends

I can't say I've finished any books, but I have a book I am loving and a few sitting in wait.  Distant Hours by Kate Morton by Tatiana de Rosney, I am 2/3 of the way through.  Sarah's Key is sitting in wait.  Writer Mama by Christina Katz and Get a Freelance Life by Marget Feury Ragland.  Reading time is spent between naps and waiting for kids to come out - it's bits and pieces - but I am determined to finish them.

I have, however, read 8 silly monkeys jumping on the bed and Snuggle Puppy - more than I could possibly count this week!

What books are you reading?
Have you had real maple syrup?

Saying good-bye to A HappyHeart Blog.

Michelle

When I went off to college I was certain that I wanted to major in the violin. I thought I loved to play it and I felt that I was good enough to be a great teacher someday. I played in the symphony, practiced hours and hours a day, and failed most of my other classes. It only took the 1st semester to realize that I didn’t like the violin as much as I thought and that I was wasting the hours away when really all I wanted to do was play the piano.

And so it is with my blog. I thought that I could keep up my blog, that it would have the same passion and joy in it that I had when I first started it in 2007. But like the violin, I don’t like my blog as much as I like my family and I definately don't want to fail - like I did my classes! I have loved posting on here and will not shut my blog down. I will be updating my blog through my blog header with recent photos or places we've been. I hope to come back to it someday when my boys have grown-up a bit and they don't need my every minute.

I still need to share with you the girl's baptism day photo which in true fashion, isn't the best photo - but certainly true to a long day and cranky babies.

I am certain that this is the right thing to do right now. I will be updating my blog header with photos I take of our family. I may also update my craft blog Crochetingagarden- just in case I get some crazy craft idea! You can also find me on facebook and through my email address at shecalledme@gmail.com. Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments and the beautiful friendships that I've made through this blog.

Goodbye, for now!

Michelle

Meeting an old friend.

A self-portrait in the rain @ Sturbridge Village.

I love getting together with old friends. It can be very comforting and warm-hearted to speak to someone that is part of your history and past. This Friday, I loaded the kids in the car and headed to Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts to meet one of these "old friends". The only catch to this meet was that we had never actually "met" face-to-face. We met through the blogging world sometime ago and became fast blogging friends. I lived in Montreal and she in the New England area, which made this blog meet perfect - as now we are both living in the NE.

I would have never of thought that blogging would have opened a pathway to meeting fantastically wonderful people like Amanda. I have had the opportunity to meet several "old friends" through my blog and consider it an honor to have been able to make that face-to-face connection. Here is a look at our fun outing through photos:

A door with a view.

The Sturbridge on sight pottery studio.

The "let's hide" before I take their photo game.

Goofing off in the old sturbridge school house.

Talking it up with the locals.

Playing games.

Amanda's kids, my kids (minus our babies) and our family friend all thrown in together...

My girls keep asking me when we are going to see each other again. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet Amanda. She was warm-hearted and I felt completely at ease, even though we had never met before this adventure. The rain came halfway through our walk through Sturbridge, but I would have to say - it didn't dampen any one's spirits.

Have you met any of your blogging friends?

The Remains of my Day.

Our first self-portrait!

Right now I have:

1. A stain on my shirt from feeding my boys their bedtime bottle.
2. Laundry needing folding on the couch.
3. Two healthy sleeping boys
4. Guilt from not exercising yet.
5. Sore feet, sore back, and blood shot eyes.
6. Two happy daughters watching their show and eating mac and cheese.
7. A husband on the way home from being out of town.
8. Dishes and bottles to wash.
9. Joy at what I have

10. A York Candy bar waiting for me when I'm done with it all...

It is 7:45 p.m. and Mr. T, is now snug in his crib with his brother by his side. I walk down to the kitchen and pull out a small pot for boiling water and prepare the gourmet meal of mac and cheese that I am positive they will like more than anything else I cook. This was one of those days when I did not plan in advance what we were going to eat! Mr. C was away last night and won’t be returning until late this evening. I still have to put the laundry away and clean the kitchen. My bedroom can wait and hopefully I will get to some painting and projects for finishing the girl’s bedroom – but it will most likely have to wait until another day.

Life, as I know it now, is full of little sleep, lots of labor, and chaotic order. I am naturally not an organized person and tend to take on too many projects and extend myself way too much. Lately, however, I know better. I know that if I pull out anything other than a magazine, it won’t get done and may not get put away. The magazine, most times, gets put aside and left for that very rare moment that both boys are asleep at once. This hasn't stopped me from trying a few projects, but as you might have guessed, they are unfinished.

My emotional well-being is good, but there are days when I’m not sure how I make it through without bursting into a fit of tears. On these days, I reach out to my family and try to get myself out and about. I also rely on the needed routine of the boys to get me through the day. Carrying twins has reeked havoc on my body. It is pain and exhaustion that make some days extremely difficult. I have been to a chiropractor and will be going to a few other appointments soon. My fingers are crossed that I will have some needed relief soon.

I feel extremely blessed daily as my day begins with a tiny voice saying "ma, ma" from his crib and another squealing happily (after their 5:30 feeding of course) and two other sweet voices asking me if they can go "play with their brothers". Wow, what a great way to start my long days filled with so many ups and downs. This is my life right now. I am sorry I haven't been more open with my readers, but I honestly can barely think straight right now, let alone write my emotions in my blog posts. It has been so much easier to write about what we do, rather than how we are and I have thought many times about shutting down my blog because of this. I always come back to it and believe that it is doing me good to continue writing.

This week in photos:

The Hawk frustrated he can't stand yet.

I found old photo of me and my girls a month before giving birth.

This week Mr. T sat up without falling for the first time.

I remembered to finally post this self portrait of Nini, Cici, Me, and Mr. C celebrating the end-of-school year at a batting place in Lemonister, MA

*******

Enter to Win...

... Favorite Things Goodie Basket

Hello everyone! To celebrate my 33rd week of pregnancy, I've put together some of my favorite things goodie basket for a fun contest blog giveaway. The contest will run from now until Friday, October 23 @ 10:00 p.m. EST. I've been looking for a contest widget to run my contests, but for now the winner will be picked by random drawing. Just make a comment and see how fast you can spread the word and the good news! For every person you refer to my blog and who enters my contest, you will receive a 2nd,3rd, 4th entry. No matter how few or how many, I will pick a winner by Friday night!

Goodie Basket Contains:

1 - Favorite Cherry Blossom Soap Bar. I love the smell of cherry blossoms and always loved walking the Mall in DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival.
2 - Pink Journal. I love to write, especially on that first page of a notebook or new journal.
3 - Dove Dark Chocolate. Need I say more!
4 - Scrapbook Embellishments. Reminds me of how much fun it is to finish a scrapbook page.
5 - Corn on the Cob Popcorn. I love the Adirondacks and this is just where I found this fun way to pop popcorn.

Have fun and enter if if this is your first time to A Happy Heart Blog!

Posting.

For those of you who are checking my private blog, I am truly sorry! I have been posting more to ahappyheartblog than to my private blog. I originally created this blog so that I could be more comfortable with writing about our infertility quest and events about Veronika and Elise. Now that we are pregnant with twin boys, I feel like I want to shout it to the world!

I will still post here, especially on more private matters or regarding my children. Please go here to get caught up with us. I will indicate on my public blog if I have posted anything else on this blog. So confusing - isn't it!

Can you believe it - twin boys!!!!!!!

10 things of consequence.

Bird Inside house

#1. The bird in the above photo, is it outside or inside? This little guy flew through the chimney and found it's way into these fake trees in our window. It felt quite at home, with no plans on leaving. We opened all the windows and doors and it finally flew out with a little bit of help from Craig!

#2. Today (Sunday) was a huge day for us at church! When we moved to Montreal we attended a branch; which a year later merged into Montreal Ward and a separate singles ward. Today, we saw another amazing testimony of growth in the Mormon church in this area. We are a huge ward spread across the entire city of Montreal center towards east island Montreal. Some of the people on the outskirts of our ward boundary traveled two hours by bus just to get here - quite the feat when you are bundling large families up to spend four hours every Sunday in the cold - plus the three hour block. Now, these people on the east side of the island have their own branch!

Last year, the Bishop of our ward began praying and fasting that our ward would grow large enough to allow our ward to be split. In a matter of six months, 40 new people moved in the ward and today marked the 21st new member baptism in 12 months. It was absolutely amazing to see the growth of the ward in such a short time frame. We are happy that travel time will be less for the new branch, but sad to see them go.

Enjoying Natalie's dinner.

#3 I have been so blessed to receive so much service from so many very busy women. You never really understand how "it is" unless you experience what others have gone through. Best rest sucks! But, it's all for a good cause. I had a particularly sluggish nauseating day. It was 5:15 and I was heading downstairs to put something together for dinner. Kristin, another ex-patriot from the states, called and said she had made an extra batch of chili and could she bring some. I have learned not to pause so much when people offer their help, and promptly said - "that would great!" Her chili and a loaf of bread made a great dinner and saved me from my ordering pizza for dinner. That same week, Natalie, brought by dinner to us. We sat down and ate her yummy lasagna for a couple of days - the girls were so infatuated by the taste - they kept saying " this is the best dinner ever!" What sweeties! Natalie thank you! One thing that I don't get much of, which one friend has been so awesome to give so much of is - time. She comes over several times a week and chats with me. Wow, another something I've learned I should always give freely - time to others.

Monday night, sans dad, self portrait

#4 Craig had an overnight business trip Monday to late Tuesday night. We enjoyed being cozy and watching a movie I had taped from TIVO called the Babysitter's Club. They have been so awesome, I am just more and more in love with these girls. Which is hard, because I already think they are great! We had a lot of fun trying to get Nini in this photo. We finally got one, but I had to show this one, since it took so many shots to get her to get herself in the photo!

Rolfe and the girls.

#5. "They are mere shadows of themselves..." said my husband this weekend. Rolfe, one of our little dogs, was diagnosed with diabetes two months ago. He's 10 and has completely lost his eyesight. You won't find a sweeter animal. Our other dog, Inga, is 15 and both dogs will not likely make it through the summer. We've been trying to prepare the girls for their inevitable departure from our family to doggy heaven. My emotions are much worse with this pregnancy, so I know that it's going to be very difficult to let them go. Inga we got on our 1 year wedding anniversary - they both we'll be missed.

#6. Blog love and goodmail. Claudia and Kim Sue have been so gracious in sending goodmail up my way in Montreal. Everytime I see one of these sweet envelopes - I can't help but walk a little quicker to the mail box! Also, I have had a chance to finally get some of my own goodmail out - watch for it!

#7. Check out this link for some of the cutest blog layouts I've seen in a long time. They are easy to use and free. She does accept donations, it's worth it!

#8. Perhaps it's this pregnancy, but I can't seem to take a "cute" picture for the life of me. My self-portraits have become ridiculous. I will show my new hair cut, when I can capture a good photo. Picky, I know, but a girls got to look good - right?


#9. Is probably the happiest for me. After over 175 shots - I am now done taking injections. My butt is, shall we say, utterly and completely sore - healing time will probably take three years! Although it was hard, I had an end, and it was completely worth it.

#10. I've finished the biggest book I've ever read - Anna Karenina! It took a month, but I did it! I'm now on to the Book Thief, The Shack, and many others that I've put off until I could get through Anna. I'm sticking to a few smaller books - for now!

Time for a change.

Cici and her first tooth

My life as it is currently going is filled with pulling teeth, snow, chilly weather, needles, scrapbooking, church callings, some lazy attempt at exercises, and trying to stay sane with these weird hormones going through me. If you haven't noticed already, my blog is changing a bit. Those who have followed my blog since it's inception two years ago, will know that I have made a concerted effort several times to take my blog private. I will be making the big switch soon, but in a way that I think is better than just saying "lights out".

I will continue blogging on this blog all the fun and exciting things about my life. Crafts, SPT's, and anything I feel like talking about will be open for anyone on this A Happy Heart Blog. To make sure that I continue to journal the more personal things and to track the ups and downs of my fertility treatments in a more private manner - I will be taking this to my 2nd blog called She Called Me. I will still be blogging about adoption and fertility on this site, but the day to day aspects of this process will be kept on our personal journal on the other blog.

Please continue to push the follow me button or let me know in the comment section your url so that I can better keep up with those following this site. Have a wonderful Sunday my friends!

Love,
Michelle :)

A letter to Claudia.

Dear Claudia,

Thank you so much for your dear goodmail and letter. It was a beautiful gesture of friendship that I am very grateful to have received. The magazine article and photos of the twin girls and their gorgeous dresses has given me some great ideas. I can't wait to get my sewing machine back from repair to see if I can't create something out of these ideas. The band aids were a nice touch that will come in very handy next week when the girls get a few immunization shots.

Love,

Michelle

P.S. I love your calligraphy handwriting!

Doodlebird Blog

101 about me on my 100 list should be that I have a hard time keeping myself focused on one thing. I feel like there is so much to do and things to make, that it's hard to stay on one thing. I decided long ago that I needed a place to organize all of my ideas and gain new ideas! Check out my first post and say HI!.

Meeting Barb.

Blake, Cici, and Nini

Earlier this year, Barb contacted me through email and said that her sister-in-law, Natalie, was moving out to Montreal. She gave me her email and we contacted each other and finally met when Natalie arrived in Montreal a couple of months ago. Lucky me! Barb came to Montreal this week to visit and I got a chance to meet one of the first "blogging friends" I ever met online!

We met-up down in Vieux Montreal "Old Montreal" where the buildings look like they are right out of Europe, the streets are cobblestone, and there are lots of little shops and places to eat. Jacque Cartier is at the center of Old Montreal and this is where we opted to meet.

It's hard not to feel impressed at the architecture down in this part of town and to have Barb, Ken, and Jaclyn and Natalie and her two children to enjoy it with -made it even better! We walked down the street making our way and their way into several stores. I didn't find anything to purchase, but I'm positive that Barb and Jaclyn did!

We headed back to feed the meter and ended up parking just almost next to each other. This sign above and the church below were right next to our cars. There is a funny story about the meters that is coming. The Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel below was absolutely beautiful! The condition that they have maintained this chapel in is just phenomenal - it felt like a new church, but it has been around for 350 years! I am such a fan of stained-glass - check out the one below!

While returning to our cars after eating I noticed ahead in the distance a man standing by my car. It was in fact a ticket policeman - grrr. I run as fast as I can in hopes of staying off the ticket, but the guy said he had already printed it and couldn't take it back!

These sweet little aprons Barb made for Cici and Nini! I was so touched that she thought of them, Cici was quite impressed with hers - and Nini, in true Nini fashion said, "It's nice, but do I have to wear it?!" It is always fun putting a "live" face to a blog! Thanks for a wonderful time Barb! ...now, who else is coming to Montreal?

A lesson in writing a mystery...

While pursuing the very small children's section at our local Blockbuster, we found an entire shelf just for Scooby-doo cartoons. We picked up one and took it home to watch. Despite the very telling and obvious end to every Scooby cartoon, I still found myself being wrong almost every time at who exactly was the villain. Was it the grounds keeper, the visiting friend, the rich owner, the lurking neighbor? ooooooh, the curiosity and staying power of these little mystery cartoon segments! It gets me every time!

In honor of Scooby's excellent mystery writing, here are six things it takes to make a great mystery from someone who has absolutely no experience in writing them:

1. Cheesy one-liners. Every a-game detective or lead character has to have something that only they say, a one-liner like "Scooby dooby doo!", even if it comes from a dog.

2. A side-kick. Mysteries need a good side-kick to keep the mood light in times of suspense. Scooby not only has himself, but Shaggy who helps in keeping this "real -man".

3. A smattering of could be villains. Not one, not two, not three, but four or more is appropriate for making a mystery stay mysterious and keep the people guessing. There are always a smattering of villains or could be villains in every Scooby episode.

4. A chase scene. I cannot remember how many and really have no interest in keeping track of how many Scooby-doo cartoons I've seen; but, there is a certainty that each of them will have a chase scene.

5 and 6. A Thelma and side-kick mishaps. I am certain that no mystery would be solved without Thelma's vast knowledge of everything and anything, and the mischievous mishaps of Scooby and Shaggy.

What did I miss?

Going private...

I have mulled this over in my head for several months and have come to the decision it is time to take my blog private. When I look back at the pictures of my youth I see several periods where there is nothing - no record of how I was feeling that day, what we ate for dinner, where we traveled that summer, and what my parents were feeling. When I look back on our year, I am so relieved to see that almost everyday is accounted for and every fun event and some not so fun are recorded. I plan on continuing blogging for the benefit of my family, but have decided that I need to make this blog private. I will probably make the switch slowly, hopefully by June 1. I have several of your email addresses, but not everyone's - so if you would like to continue reading my blog and keeping in touch with us, please send your email to candmalley@juno.com.

I am visiting the girl's school today for a talent show and taking them out for lunch! Thank you Claudia for your beautiful card you sent - it was really special and made my entire week! Thank you!

Happy Birthday Crystal!

Orderizing and GoodMail.

I know I've been posting like crazy, but I just don't want to miss anything! I am making great headway on my Me Room and can now see the floor. I've been working on putting all of our bits and pieces of our travels into one location. They are currently in bins and boxes throughout the house and in various cupboards. One of the things I've learned from all of this "orderizing" as I like to call it now - is there is no sense in having all of these items - if it's going to sit around in boxes. I have always had bit expectations for the things we've collected on trips, and although I've managed a few projects like this one - most still sit in all those boxes.

I kept a packet of the first hot chocolate I had in Europe. It was the best I have or will ever taste; partly because of the creme it was served with. The chocolate is circa 1998! The paper I kept from the first french pastry I ever had in Paris! I am putting all of these odds and ends into a binder, labeling sheet projectors like this 1998 Europe Trip. Very simple and effective for putting order to all my receipts, plane tickets, restaurant cards, magazines collected through the years.

Michelle M. at eternal corner sent this lovely goodmail! The necklace charm is so beautiful Michelle! The cards are perfect and...

the girls love, love, love those cute little yo yo's you sent! Look at Cici's face - so cute! Thanks for putting a huge smile on their faces and mine!

Somehow, my job as enrichment coordinator is going to turn me into a seasoned quilter. This is a puzzling fact, especially since I've never really made a quilt before. I made a few that were, shall we say, sewn without knowledge of quilting - but our ward will be putting out four quilts for June for the humanitarian services. The nearest quilting expert in our stake is two hours away - so my quilting will have to be done on DIY! Anyone with knowledge of quilting LDS services humanitarian baby quilts is welcome to extend your vast knowledge this way - please!

Do you keep odds and ends from trips?
How do you put order to them?
Do you yo yo, quilt?

35 and getting younger?!!

Today is my 35th birthday! It is also was the day we finalized our adoption to Cici and Nini five years ago! It is a great day, as you can see, for many reasons! This photo was taken on Friday before Craig took me out to see the wonderful new Narnia movie and to our favorite pizza place. I've been gone all weekend at the cabin with our family. The girls have been singing me songs all day - I woke up this morning to Happy Birthday to you, you live in a zoo... you get the picture! It was really sweet that they talked about it, planned it, and worked together to sing this song to me! So funny! I hope to post more about my birthday weekend soon!

A lovely thank you goes to Natasha for sending this wonderful birthday goodmail! Thank you so much, it so made my day last week and just so you know - the apron fits me perfectly - and it's saved my clothing on several cooking occasions! Thank you!

100% more umpf!

I am just amazed at how little computers cost. I realize it is still a major purchase, but compared with our first computer purchase, you get almost a 100% more umpf, than you did ten years ago. It's so amazing the amount of speed and memory in computers now. I used to work in Alexandria, VA for a computer company and I remember the cost of every computer component - even when it was bought in the major quantity it was purchased at this company. This goes for almost every technology - as I recall Craig and I purchased for $269.99 a VCR in 1993! It was the biggest purchase we made outside of car until we moved to the east coast and had to buy furniture! Now you can get a VCR/DVD combo for under $80!

My new computer!

So, as you might have guessed, I'm back! My life has, of course, gone on and I haven't been that amiss to be away from the computer-honestly! Here's what I've been up to:

Met Barb's (from blogville) husband's, brother's wife who moved here from Alberta to Montreal. We've been in email contact and finally got a chance to meet last Friday. She's a lovely woman and her children are absolutely wonderful! I took her to meet some other relocated women in the area and I tagged with her to a piano sale at a nearby university! We are definitely getting together again and will take a photo next time!

Friday night Craig and I headed to the Montreal Temple where a friend was going through for the first time. She's off to Saskatchewan to get married at the Regina Temple.

PUtting them to work!

Saturday we headed to the Acorn Cottage. Some of these photos are from last weekend as we spent both of our weekends working on the tree that had fallen during the winter. It was fun to see the girls really get dirty and do some good honest labor! I learned a lot about their peronsalities these weekends.

Whenever we head to the cabin, Craig itches for something that's fried and covered in gravy (reminds him of his mum's cooking) and so I put together these cube steaks, fried on an open flame, and then made gravy. It was really good - oh, and check out the new cast iron skillet!

Sunday I played for sacrament meeting and worked the rest of the time in my calling as chorister. That night we headed outside for a game of crocet - something our family did often growing up. After we were done, I spent a good 45 minutes cleaning the caked mud off our shoes and boots. Craig said I was a bit dramatic! OK, so maybe a little!



Monday I did some Visiting Teaching and Tuesday(today) I headed to the states to pick up our new computer. I kept the girls out of school as their was a field trip I didn't want them to go on. My aussie friend came with and took her three year old daughter. It was really cute seeing the girls play with her, they had such a fun time. When we got back I took the girls for a bike ride. Picture a busy street, one girl falling over, one freaked out because of a car coming - it was very stressful at first, but the girls managed to relax a bit and we ended up making it to a park several blocks away close to their old school. They caught up with friends and we made it safely home!

This week I also: watched Cranford, jogged, kept off my three pound weight loss and lost another pound, agreed to make 50 cupcakes? - not sure how I got roped into that one!-made sugar cookies shaped like flowers for May day, managed to stay sane with a husband on a business trip, and all that everyday good stuff that comes with being a mom!

How are you?!