Happy Mother's Day

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day today. Thankfully we seem to have been blessed with some wonderful weather to enjoy (and it's about time!) It's supposed to be 18C here in Winnipeg today.

I woke up (at 10:00am) to a quiet house. I thought it was around 8:00am and was shocked when I rolled over and looked at the clock. After getting up and out of bed I realized Allan and the girls were downstairs playing Wii. It was so nice to sleep in, in a quiet house! (And amazing how well the loud noises stayed in the basement and didn't travel upstairs.)

Allan and the girls showered me with gifts, Madison made quite a few trinkets at school, Annika planted a flower and decorated a pot (the flower type yet to be discovered!) and Allan had bought a beautiful bouquet of yellow lilacs (my favourite) and Season 1 of Seventh Heaven (geeky I know, but I love that show!).

Right now the girls are at dance class with Allan and I'm enjoying some quiet time. After dance Madison is having a friend over to play and I plan to do some yard work. Tonight Allan is BBQ'ing some steaks and we'll have a nice dinner.

Hope your Mother's Day is as great as mine! And thank you Mom, for everything!

Wow, how things have changed!

As you may or may not know - we are no longer moving to Regina. Not anytime soon anyways.

Long story but in the end the job Allan was to start ended up not being quite what it was supposed to be, and he was offered more $$$ to stay here. After a lot of thinking we decided here was the best place for us right now.

Regina is more $$$ to live than Winnipeg, we will make more $$$ here, my job is going through quite a few changes (for the better) right now and is exciting and Allan's job and proffessional opportunities were much better here. Add the great friends (some like family) and the great neighbourhood we're in, how much Madison loves her school and both girls love their daycare - well as you can see the decision wasn't that hard to make.

So here we are, looking at moving to a bigger house or building one in Waverley West and I am going to start a part-time course at the University of Manitoba, now that Allan's done. I will be taking the Canadian Institute of Management Certificate Program in Management and Administration. It's a four year program taking only 2 courses a year. I think I can handle that work load!

So - that's our big news for now. We'll be in Regina a lot this summer, I am even going to fly there Friday morning for the weekend, back in May and again in July and August! So if you're in Regina - we will see you soon!

Sarah

Our New Home!

Basement - Family Room
Basement Laundry / Bathroom
Skylight (Bathroom upstairs.)

Kitchen
(Main floor bathroom)
(Upstairs bathroom)
Annika's Room
Our bedroom

Entry Way
Front Hall
Dining Room
Dining Room
Dining Room

Main Floor floorplan
2nd Floor floorplan
Basement floorplan
View
Front Entrance

We have our new house in Regina, it's a Condo in Riverbend. I love the newness of everything, Allan loves the garage and the girls are thrilled to each have their own room. Madison will be going to W. F. Ready, which is the same Elementary school that I went to for grades 3-8, so that's pretty neat.

We're Famous

Annika and I are in the new Kleenex advertisement in the April 2008 issues of Chatelaine and Today's Parent. See if you can find us.

In Like a Lion ...

Out like a Lamb? I sure hope so anyways!!

I can't believe it is already March! We're currently house hunting in Regina - it's frustrating but I know we will find the perfect house - lets just hope it's before we have to move ;)

Registered the girls for soccer this weekend, Annika is very excited. She has spent two years watching Madison's games so she is ready for her time to shine. Unfortunatly because of the age groups, they play on different nights. Madison will be Monday and Wednesday from 6-7pm and Annika will be Tuesday and Thursday from 6-7pm.

This week is supposed to be around 0C every day and I am really looking forward to it. We are all ready for warmer weather and spending time outside.

Easter is in a few weeks - we're hoping Allan's parents will be able to come visit for the long weekend but nothing is confirmed yet.

I am thinking of going to Regina for a weekend in the end of April, I want to help Amber out with some wedding things, maybe look at some houses, etc. Then we're going to be there for a week in June to finalize any moving plans and most importantly for Allan's cousin's wedding.

This Spring should (hopefully) fly by!

Mosquitos, dandylions, sunburns ...

Yes I really am looking forward to these things! I *hate* winter!!

Allan is in Regina and was supposed to come home today, however because of a blizzard and closed highways he won't be home until at least tomorrow.

*SIGH*

C'mon Spring!

February!

Wow, it's February already - this year is flying by - like all winter months should!

January was a horrible month. We had so many bad things happen and I can only hope that February (and the rest of the year) are much, much better.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who needed them in January, please know we're still thinking of you, praying for you, here to talk, etc.

Allan left to go to Regina this morning - he has meetings with his practicum advisor, some people at the City, etc. I'm a little jealous that he is in Regina and I'm not, but I've invited some girlfriends over to fill the time!!

No big news - same old, same old here. Been busy helping friends plan weddings, filling up our weekends in Regina (wow - I already have plans pretty much every weekend from July 1st to September 1st - yikes) and deciding what the heck to do with my life once we get there! (School, work, stay home ...)

Take care - keep in touch!

Granny and Grandpa's House

The girls got a pony for Christmas
Annika can't quite believe it.
Molly the dog
Annika and Bailey
Annika and Molly

Grandpa reading The Night Before Christmas
Stephen and Phanie
Madison and her Wii
Annika's excited about something!
Wow, look at the haul!

Grandma and Grandpa's House

Angus and his new toy
Laura and the beagles
Alyssa - what did they do to you?
Madison and Alyssa
Madison couldn't get enough of Alyssa

Let the Christmas Photos begin!!

Christmas 2007 - First pictures are from Aunty Joey's house. Carter wearing Mom's necklace
Phanie, Stephen and Allan (who could not look more impressed)
Annika opening some presents!

Happy Holidays

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! We enjoyed a week in Regina and Saskatoon with family and friends. It was wonderful, but as usual felt rushed and we didn't squeeze in a visit with everyone we would have liked.

2007 was a great year for us, and 2008 is shaping up to be even better.

In May one of my best friend's, Amber, became engaged to her boyfriend Erik, and they are set to be married in August this summer. I am so happy for her and cannot wait for what is sure to be a wedding to remember!

Allan's cousin, Ashton, and his fiance Heather, also set a date for their wedding and will be married in Moose Jaw this May. We're excited for this, because with this family a wedding always means a huge reunion with an equally huge party!

In May I applied for, and got, a new job. I am still working for CanWest Mediaworks but am now the Customer Service Supervisor for the Calgary, Regina and Saskatoon markets. This brought me working daytime hours which is fabulous. I started this in June and it was so nice to have more time at home with the girls this summer.

Allan also started a new job this summer, working for Scatliff + Miller + Murray, a firm here in Winnipeg. He is loving it.

In September Madison started Grade 1. She loves school and is doing great. She excels in English and the arts. She was the first student to start bringing home chapter books and shares Allan's talent in art. In April she actually had a picture chosen to hang at the Superintendant's office at the school board.

Both girls started dance in September. Madison in her fourth year, Annika in her first. While Annika adores dance class, Madison is ready to hang up her ballet shoes and focus on gymnastics (which she also started this year.)

Allan was asked to TA an AutoCad course at the University this fall which gave him some great teaching experience. He was asked to continue this semester but because he wants to focus on his Practicum he turned it down.

As I mentioned, we spent Christmas in Regina and Saskatoon. Pictures are soon to come, I promise!!

To finish up the proposals of 2007, one of my best friends, Tara also became engaged to her boyfriend Adam on January 1st 08.

It's been a year to remember - that's for sure.

Cowgirls

Dance Class