10 year reunion

Last weekend was my 10 year high school reunion. Crazy!! They had it at Hudson's downtown and it was a much nicer time than I was expecting. Actually up until 4pm that day I wasn't planning on going. I figured I was 8+ months pregnant and feeling super huge, and that if there were any people I cared to keep in contact with then I already did. I had a couple friends who were planning on going, but also had doubts as to how fun it would be etc. but they helped convince me to go. A 10 year reunion only happens once, and if I didn't go I'd be afraid I'd regret it later, and if I did go, what was the worst that could happen? I could just go home early.

Anyway, it was fun. I LOVED high school, it was a great time in my life. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't go back, but I definitely have fond memories of Bev Facey High School. Lots of people I did actually care to see again were at the reunion, and although it had been 10 years and there wasn't a tonne of catching up, or re-kindling of friendships, it was nice to see everyone and catch a quick glimpse of what they had been up to for the past 10 years.

I didn't take any pictures of my own, but here are a couple that were taken of me throughout the night.

Just waiting

I'm realizing it's been a month since I wrote last... I've been waiting for something exciting to write about- a baby... but that is still about a month away. In the meantime, this is what we've been up to.

WW got a new bike for his birthday. It is so cute watching him ride, and he is getting pretty fast. He is still working on steering and pedaling at the same time, but it won't be long before he gets that all figured out too.

The weather has been amazing lately (except for the last few days) that we've spent alot of time outside. WW has been in the baby pool at my parents twice already and is much more willing to get wet than last year. He is loving the park, flying kites and planting/watering the garden.

BJ finished his shutdown at work, so we are glad to have him home in the evenings again. He works so hard for his little family, and is willing to do the overtime but we'd much rather have him at home.

BJ also tried a new pain relief technique called scraping. It's some ancient asian treatment where they help get stagnant blood moving by rubbing really hard with this little bone-like tool. When we got home and saw what his back and arm looked like, we couldn't believe someone would choose to do such a thing. He says it's pretty painful, but if it helps then it's worth it.

I've been working a little bit this month, but think I'm pretty much done at the end of this month. I'm still feeling really good, but it's difficult to bend over and I'm exhausted by the end of the day. I'm going to take some time next month for organizing/ de-cluttering my house and enjoying the last little bit of time I have one on one with WW.

We went earlier this week to visit with BJ's grandparents in Camrose. His grandma is sick with a dementia type disorder and has recently been moved into a care facility. It brings back memories of my own grandma who passed away with Alzheimers 5 years ago. It's hard to see them sick and really wish you could do more. BJ's grandpa is the most amazing man, and is so loving and kind to his wife, but I can't imagine how hard it is to see his wife this way. It was good to visit.

I'm going to try to find exciting things to write about for the next few weeks until the big D-Day. Maybe if we create exciting things to write about the time will go faster.

32 weeks-ish

We are nearing the end of pregnancy and I'm starting to worry about caring for another one of these teeny tiny beings. It has been a LONG time since I've been responsible for anything this small and that is scary. Lately though, I've been more scared of the birth than the baby afterwards. I was chatting to a friend the other night about it, and she made a very good point. With a first baby you are afraid of the unknown, you don't know what labor and delivery will be like... but with baby number 2 and on, you know full well what it's like, along with the recovery, "damage" and following baby care. I'm nervous!!!

Bike Riding.

WW got this great little tricycle for his first birthday, it starts at a little rocking bike, and then transforms into a tricycle with a handle for parental help. He is now almost 3 and has never been able to figure out the pedaling. Until now!!!!

We are thinking of getting him a big boy bike for his 3rd birthday. I'm thrilled that he will be able to pedal it!

Easter

We had a great Easter weekend this year. We had BJ home and were able to get out in the beautiful weather with friends and family. We started a tradition with some dear friends to go to Fort. Edmonton Park for their Easter celebration. It was a lot of fun this year because the kids were a little bit older and were able to participate more independently. They hunted for eggs, got tattoos, colored easter eggs, planted seeds, pet animals. Fort Edmonton puts on a great program, we'll be back next year for sure!

This creepy turkey seemed to follow us around, but I'm sure everyone in the whole petting zoo felt that way. WW was much more brave than I, I wouldn't have gotten that close.
These two are the best of friends. Here they are sharing their candy loot they get after trading in the eggs they have hunted.
Planting a bean seed, I just love watching these two together!
Easter morning. Ready to find the treats the Easter Bunny left for him. He had quite a pail full by the end.
Pure excitement. He couldn't believe that all the treats were for him. He showed us every one of them.

Sunday afternoon we drove out to Sedgewick AB. for Easter dinner with the Drevers. BJ's mom's side of the family. It is always nice to see them, and the food is always delicious.

Monday was with my side of the family. BJ had to work days, so WW and I spend the day at my parents helping with the meal, going for a walk and relaxing. Another delicious meal followed with some time spent with my side of the family.

I just love holidays! Great food and great company!!

Let's go fly a kite.

I just love days when BJ is home with us, he is just much more fun that I am. WW got this amazing kite last year for his birthday from my sister. It was a fish, and it really was the easiest kite to fly. WW fell in LOVE with kites. This winter they had more kites at Costco, and so WW and BJ picked up a new dragon kite to add to our collection. Everyday WW has asked to fly his kite! It is now warm enough, and the snow is gone, so out we went to fly his kite.

You should have seen his happy kite smile. I forgot my camera at first so I ran back home to get it, and then we tried to re-create the excited look on his face. Not quite the smile I had seen earlier, but so cute anyway. He was waiting patiently for his dad to put the kite together and get it up in the air.
It was the perfect wind day- BJ says we need to look for a Lazy flag, and that should be perfect. They ended up with the kite all the way up as far as the string would go, and then BJ hands the handle over to WW. If we are having trouble keeping the kite up WW still holds the handle and BJ fiddles with the string. WW is pretty proud of his skills.

The dragon kite!
My sweet boys, what a lucky girl I am to have them in my life!

After kite flying we hit up the park with WW's cousin JJ. We watch him about once a week while his mom goes to work. It's so nice to get the boys out in the fresh air. They both had their rubber boots on so we made sure to find a few puddles on the way as well. What a great day out in the sun!

Cleaning

I feel that cleaning my house is an unending battle. A HUGE frustration and I just don't see it improving in the near future. I'm definitely open to suggestions as to how to make my house immaculate full time without it taking me so much time.

Currently, I have one day a week that I spend the whole day cleaning, I clean top to bottom, complete numerous loads of laundry and it's done. It works o.k for now because it's just one day I buckle down and do my thing, but it never stays clean very long, and then once it gets out of control I spend another whole day cleaning.

I have also heard of these cleaning cards that I borrowed from a lady in my ward. There are certain things you do everyday- like pick up each room, and do dishes etc, but then there is only one or two other things that you spread out throughout the other days of the week so you end up spending maybe an hour a day cleaning, and you stay on top of it all. Plus there are weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks that fit in there too so your home is constantly beautiful and sparkling clean.

Now I'm all on board for the cards, because it's right up my alley with a list of things to complete and then you move on to the rest of your day, but I'm finding that I've been in my old habit of full day cleaning for so long that I have a hard time breaking it. That and some days are MUCH busier with other things or places to be that I may not get that days card done... and once you're behind it difficult to get back on track without cleaning the whole house top to bottom. See my trouble.

Now the other concern I have is that I really like a clean house, I find that my behavior, mood, and desire to participate in extra-curricular activities is affected by the state of my house. Yesterday for example, I was over sensitive, moody and not so nice, and I honestly think it was my brains response to the disorganization of my house. Today, I spent the morning scrubbing toilets and I'm happy as a clam.

I'd love to hear your systems for cleaning. Any suggestions would be wonderful for my home, sanity and poor husband (who gets the majority of my grumpiness).