trying again

... - shocking - ... ! can you believe it???? i'm seeing what i've written on the screen! wow. so much to say! can i say it all before blogger disapoints me again? Better begin! Okay, well... two weeks ago was Atalie's very first birthday - my only regret is that I didn't initiate a round of "Happy Birthday" before she attempted to "blow" (touch) out her candle. Otherwise, it was a great day spent with friends and family. She was overwhelmed with gifts and has been exploring her new toys ever since:) Our trip to Lethbridge was all too short - and too quick! I was driving to and from town all weekend long, running errands, grocery shopping, getting a haircut/colour (which i discovered my stylist cancelled and didn't bother to inform me. ugh. thankfully a kind girl happened to have a moment and fit me into her bookings... the short story)... then there's always visiting to be done, which is the highlight of course, but seeing so many people makes for less quality visits unfortunately. The next weekend (last) was Kev's big 30th party, which was kept a surprise for a whopping 3 months, all the way up to the moment everyone yelled, "SURPRISE!!!". Can you believe it?!?!? These people are awesome! Best kept secret yet:) We had a bbq, a fire, lots of birthday cake, a million pots of coffee, and lots of good friends/family to share it with:) :) All in all, a great day! This coming weekend my family is coming to visit us for Easter... yea!!! We're doin the whole turkey dinner thing, lots of lounging, some games or movies perhaps, and likely a visit to the hotsprings:) Always promising. Atalie however.... has been one miserable little one year old this week. She's been teething like crazy - I think there must be more than one coming in. Plus she had a fever on and off for a couple days, even today a bit. Tylenol has been her best friend, although I try to only give it when she seems unable to bear the discomfort. She's mostly just lethargic and needs lots of attention, hugs, cuddles, story books, other means of distraction, and much much more... she doesn't eat much either and milk is her 2nd best friend. I've spent the last few days sitting and holding her while she sleeps b/c otherwise she doesn't sleep well, has too short of naps, thus is very very very cranky and I can't get anything done anyways... so I enjoy the moment of cuddling and usually nod off with her:) To top it all off she had four needles (4 big pokes in the legs!) on Wednesday. Her sweet chubby little innocent legs! She screamed like never before and was probably wondering why I just sat there, holding her down and letting it all happen... poor little pook. What a mean mommy! Anyway, life goes on (thank goodness!) and soon she was thrilled to shake the little "distraction" bell sitting conveniently nearby for all the poor little babies who cry during these episodes. In other news, we are moving ahead with preliminary plans to build a house. (how was that for a newspaper headline aye? ehh??) I've been working my butt off the last few weeks to come up with numbers and figures for estimates, running to and from the bank, the realtors, kev's work (which is a 1/2hr away on a nasty backroad, just so he can sign papers), the floor store, the hardware store, checking emails, sending faxes (at 1.50 per sheet!!!!!), photocopying plans, drawing plans (apparently I, along with my Father and husband, are now architects), picking siding, shingles, da di da di da... the list goes on. Busy! Much stress at times. We currently sit patiently waiting (really, actually, patiently) to hear back from our mortgage lady at the bank. We're waiting to hear if CMHC (the bank has to go through their insurance company before approving you when you put less than 25% down on any mortgage) will approve our budgeted amount, compared to our financial means. The numbers we've come up with were WAY higher than expected, but we think we can afford the payments if approved. Besides, the bank makes you give estimates of every last material and labour cost, even if you're planning to do it yourself. Thus, you end up with a much larger mortgage than necessary - which is okay, b/c this means there's room for error or changes along the way, as we'll be saving money in the labour area. When all is said and done, we can even put what we don't use back into the mortgage to shrink it down a bit... but when you think of all the possibilities: a deck, a finished basement for guests to sleep and kids to play in, a garage, a garden shed, a fence (whoda thunk a fence would ever take priority?!), a little sod, a nice sectional to watch movies on (we have one couch right now), etc etc etc... it becomes very unrealistic that any of it will be put back. So that's that. We should hear back by Tuesday or Wednesday. Pray please:) Thanks. Well, I'm off to bed as my daughter wakes daily at 7:30am -which isn't bad if you go to bed when she does, but it's a little late at the moment. Good night!

Just wanting to drop a note to all the faithful blog checkers to say we're still alive and well:) but our computer still isn't cooperating...

Crapy computer. Rrg.

Yes, our computer is a piece of dung (to avoid profanity) to say the least. I think if we have any money to spare at the end of building our house, we will be looking into getting a mac. Anything more reliable than our junker will be fantastic! So, I'm currently on a friends computer, as I'm watching her son and atalie today and tomorow. Thus, I'm able to blog again. What a relief! While I'm here I should really update you all in our buying/building decisions. In current events we have decided to purchase a lot in Canal Flats and build our own home. It will be the same lot and house plan you may have already seen in one of my previous posts (the little red house with lots of windows, and the big empty grassy lot... ring any bells??). We have kev's bike up for sale and today will be the first day it is appearing in the Autotrader BC & Calgary. Hopefully the calls start flooding in!!! Pray pray pray!!!!! Once it sells and Kev has shed some tears, we will be able to put a downpayment on our mortgage and begin the building process. It's a long road ahead though - let me explain that - it is a detailed lengthy process which will be crammed into a short amount of time (august is our optimistic deadline). We're also hoping to work some miracles in the tax department when filing this year. We have learned that if we want to avoid large fees and possible interest, we must claim the $ we made on our condo in Kelowna... which means we will be using our savings to pay the crumby government. Oh well. That's what we had it saved for - the "just incase" we had to pay. But in the optimistic side once again, we are hoping to reclaim some gst from a first home purchase, along with the usual 'small' refund. This may lessen our amount owing in the end. Maybe. Anyways, we are excited and nervous about the whole thing, trusting that God will provide each step of the way (and perhaps our parents as well:)). The idea of living in canal flats does not excite a person but the end result of owning a new home does, and hopefully a good return when selling in the future. In other news Atalie's first birthday is soon approaching. March 26th to be exact. We'll be driving to Coaldale for a quick weekend away to celebrate with family and friends next weekend. Then the following weekend is Kevins birthday... who is turning 30:) Then my family will be coming to visit us for Easter the weekend after that! Much excitement:) :) I am 16 weeks along today. I'll be going for an ultrasound in a couple more weeks, which is about when Atalie gets her 12month shots & checkup. Lots of doctor visits around here! Good thing they're free!! (yes, i think of all you in the usa). Okay well I smell stinky diapers and must be back to my babysitting duties here. Thanks for checkin in!

Never mind. Down again. Last time was a fluke. Dangit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It works!

This is so odd. I've been trying and trying to get my blog working for a couple weeks now, and all of a sudden it pops back up as normal. ??? Yeah!!! Thanks for the note natasha - so odd that as soon I published your comment it snapped back. Good on ya! I'll be posting again soon;)

Cutie Pie

Saturday morning and this pook had us up at 7am sharp. No waiting around or sleeping in here.