This was fun

http://friends.imagini.net/vdna.php?uid=253122-ed93&srv=iwebhd6

More house stuff.

Our painter is almost finished with the inside of our house. Just the master bedroom to go, then we are done! The colors that we have chosen so far look fabulous! We are beyond happy with the results. I have order a new table for the entrance way, and am waiting for it to arrive. The downstairs bath is done with a new tile floor, a new vanity with a matching mirror. The only thing that it needs is a hand towel and a picture for the wall. It looks great. We still haven't found a contractor to finish the master bath, but will spend some time making phone calls this week to hopefully find someone and get it done.
Vacation plans are underway for this summer. I have reserved a trailer to be delivered to our spot at the lake! Much better then the rental motor home that we had to drive last year. The convenience was great to pack up at home and go, but the drive wasn't so great, and then no van to get the kids around anywhere once we got to the lake. It is a 24 foot trailer fully hooked up for us to drive in and have it sitting there waiting!

Little things

I always forget about the little things that the kids do to make me smile-how they can make me laugh with the little things that they do and say. The way that kids pick up things from the people around them. I was thinking about this today cause it made me smile-the way that Stuart was breaking sticks to put into the fire over his knee while at the cabin....Spencer picked up a stick and broke it over his knee-just like his daddy. Claire giving Madeline good night kisses (and I mean kissssseeesss!) There were at least 30 given before moving to her own room.
I keep telling myself to write more down as they happen, but never seem to do that. I am sure that this is all book material, and that the kids will laugh and even get teary eyed as we tell them these stories as they get older.

Easter

We had a fabulous Easter weekend. We booked in for 3 nights at Tigh Na Mara in Parksville. It is about a 3 hour drive away and is in right on the beach. We had a 2 bedroom cottage. On the way up to the resort we stopped at Gramma and Grampa's house for a little Easter egg/bunny hunt followed by hot dogs for lunch, then a trip to Jumping Jimmies for some running, jumping, sliding fun! The kids had a blast! We headed up island further that afternoon to the resort. We checked in, checked out the cabin then headed out for some dinner. After dinner was a nice walk on the beach-the tide was out so far, and it seemed like we could walk straight out forever! Sleep didn't come quick for the kids that night...even with all the activity and excitement that day! They found it a lot more exciting to each have a bed mate for the night! They still woke up early the next day. We headed out in the morning after a quick breakfast and went to Coombs. Coombs is known for the market with the goats on the roof. Unfortunately there were not goats on the roof as they only go up there in the summer! The kids were disappointed, but they did some good used book store shopping followed by more shopping that scored them some new toys. We headed from there to Butterfly World. We saw some gorgeous butterflies, some turtles, lizards, tarantulas, birds, and some really pretty flowers. The weather had turned bad while inside Butterfly world, and it was just pouring with rain! We headed back to Nanaimo for some lunch and shopping in the mall. The kids scored again with new clothes, hats, shoes, umbrellas.... This was spoil the kids weekend! Back to the cabin for some play time in the woods, walks and snacks. Sunday am the Easter Bunny had visited our cabin and left a good supply of chocolate Easter eggs, a new pair of Crocs sandles for each of the kids and some stickers. The resort also had another hunt for the kids which mom and dad came to watch. We headed to the beach afterwards -the weather seemed to let up long enough for a nice walk, shell picking, rock turning to check for little crabs and sand mountain building! Brunch afterwards was good, then we said goodbye to Gramma and Grampa again. We had a swim in the pool that afternoon followed by Root Beer floats and toast for dinner....we were all tired of eating out and just wanted to laze around in our jammies!
We all had a fabulous time, loved the rustic cabin, the walks on the beach and seeing Gramma and Grampa.

There never seems to be enough time to do everything that you want/need to do. Maybe I don't manage my time well enough, or maybe I am too busy!?! I am lucky with my job though because I am able to leave when I want and show up basically when I want....just have to make sure that my job gets done! I would like a clearly defind job position. Right now I feel in limbo of what my job really is. I show up, talk a bit with different staff/management, maybe help a bit with what needs to be done, and then move along to the next location. May sound defind to some people, but it is not to me. I feel useless at times, and find it hard to really accomplish anything without a little bit more roles. Not what I thought that I would be doing at this point in my life. There are some great things about working for family, and other not so great. I know that people don't want to hurt other peoples feelings, but our job and company has almost turned into a joke. There are no roles or clear resposibilities for anyone we all just show up, do a bit here and there and then leave. Not so fullfilling at all. I am looking forward to our convention this year, and have to start shopping for a couple of different outfits-one being a costume for Carnival night! I have seen some great ones on the internet, just want to make sure that it is the right idea before I order one for myself.

I enjoy going to the gym. I love to sweat, and feel so good afterwards. Running has been going good as well, and I really like the group of ladies that I am running with this year. This week we ran, then ate snacks that everyone brought and then did some line dancing and salsa dancing! What fun :) This Sunday is my first race of the year. It is a 5k run along the water front in Sidney. It was the first race that I have ever done, and this will be my third year doing it. Bazan Bay 5k is a flat and fun course! I hope that it is not raining for it. The kids will be staying the night on Saturday at Nanny and Grampy's- just an added bonus for us. We also have cousin Scarlett's first birthday this Saturday at Cory's house, then a seperate party for her on the Sunday at Steve's house.

The kids have made great stride (or strokes) with their swimming lessons. The older kids are half way through their fourth time at Yellow Seahorse, and we were told that they have finally passed, and will start working on the next level! WTG Spencer, Bryce and Madeline!
We met with a contractor today regarding the bathroom and roof. Looks like in the next little while we will be: painting the rest of the house, redoing the master bathroom, removing mold out of the attic (yuck!) and getting a new roof!! Yikes! Luckily we found someone that we like, and he has some great ideas for getting it all done.

Update

A lot has happened since the last time I blogged. Thought that I would be better at keeping up with it.

We are motoring along in the house...kids are growing, family is growing-with the announcement of my best friend and cousin being pregnant! I can't wait to meet him/her.

The kids are registered for kindergarten in the fall, and I can't believe how fast they have grown. Claire will start preschool in the summer program right after she turns 3.

We have ripped apart the master bath and currently looking for a contractor to come in to work on it. What a mess of unfortunetly rotten wood, drywall and tile. We hope that the water damage hasn't spread anywhere else in the house.

Easter plans are taking us on a 3 night get away to a cabin on the beach in Parksville. Stuart and I have been to Tigh Na Mara before, but this will be the kids first time. They have an easter egg hunt for the kids. Mom and dad will be joining us for at least part of the trip if not all of it. The kids are excited to be spending time with Gramma and Grampa.

I am back to running, and looking forward to doing the Times Colonist 10k in mid April. I will also be doing the half marathon again in the fall. I would like to beat both of my times for each of the runs.