In my spare time...

Well being that this is our blog I guess it's about time I did a post. As some people know last year I decided to join the Canadian Ski Patrol Systems, I'm not sure if I was having a "hero complex" or just somehow thought I needed more to do! So last spring I completed all my on hill training and I have spent the last 10 weeks juggling work schedules and family time. So that I was able to attend a 4 hour class every Tuesday and Thursday then do about 4 hours homework every week. Well now that all the training is over and I have passed the testing I know how to splint your broken leg or wrist, strap you to a back board and get you off the mountain in a toboggan. Hopefully my duties at Sun Peaks this winter won't involve too many serious injuries, but if they do happen we'll be there to help. Now all we need is some more snow! If you have some time check out the CSPS website www.csps.ca See you on the mountain I'll be up there every second Sunday starting Nov. 22.

...a moment of silence

I have listened to stories my Grandfather has told about living in the war with sheer amazement, not being able to comprehend the emotion of it all. Imagine hearing an alarm go off in your city and having to go running through the streets to a special underground shelter...and then not making it into the shelter in time, (or just out right refusing to go). So you watch the glow of bombs that litter the night sky and listen to the whistle of the bombs soaring through the air, praying that you and your family will be spared. Then deciding to risk your life and the lives of your family members to try and escape. You travel with no more than the clothes on your back through the mountains and to the border of the neighboring country, where you may or may not be welcomed. To be accepted is life...a strange life in a strange culture with a language and customs you don't understand. A life of sacrifice and learning and not fitting in, being the outsider from an enemy country. But life nevertheless, a new beginning. Unfortunately there are hundreds of thousands of families who share this story.

These stories are all I know of war besides what we all see on tv and in the movies. Taking full advantage of all of the freedoms that I have been so blessed to enjoy has come with ease. Never having experienced war personally makes it very simple to go about my everyday life without even a thought to the sacrifices that have been made for me to live with the basic liberties that are my right as a human being. The privilege to love my God, speak what's on my heart, bear and raise my children with the values I hold dear, to be educated and work, to love and be loved.

So let us pause, share a moment of silence to remember all of the men, and women who have selflessly given their lives so that we may enjoy ours freely.

In Honor of Monday Night

The whole universe was in a hot dense sleep...

the most hilarious show EVER...we think so anyway! Laughing our butts off as we speak :)

check it out

A Shout out to all my fellow holiday addicts.

Every fall as the weather cools and the stores fill with holiday cheer, it's almost as if I can feel the glitter of it all running through my veins. I can't help but be taken over with excitement the coming festivities brings. By the time November comes, it's like I'm wearing a holiday themed blindfold. My life becomes a collection of lists, full of ideas for decorating, gift giving, and party planning. For example I went to the supermarket today for cucumbers ( a salad must have) and left with a cart full of Christmas decorations! As I sit here on my couch just writing about Christmas I am getting butterflies in my belly...like the kind you get when your falling in love!!! How pathetic is that, however I certainly am not the only one.


Butterflies anyone? Well I suppose that's enough for today... but really I could go on forever!

Thanks to marthastewart.com for all the beautiful photos!

C'mon In!

I thought I'd invite you into my home today... I love my home, even though it is not very practical for a family (4 level split town home = millions of stairs). It has a very unique layout with super high ceilings, and I must say I haven't seen many homes quite like it. As you can tell from the pictures I really feel most comfortable in my home when everything is in it's place. Whatever the colour scheme I like for my space to be warm and inviting. The colours in my home right now are all very warm and neutral which is a really safe and easy palate for me. Anywho, enough jabbering... here's a peek!

Exterior...Tall and Slim, looks pretty plain from the outside. Nothing is as it seems.

Living room... here's a look at my beautiful ceilings! LOVE!

And the rest of my living room comfy cozy...

Kitchen & Dining room... once again it looks small BUT there's tonnes of counter space and all the storage you need!

The Big Backyard... Actually it's a cement patio...perfect for relaxing with a bevy! And it's on a green belt complete privacy... until the drunk naked neighbor hops the fence :s (A story for another day)

Our Bedroom... It's very simple and sparse. Who can relax in clutter? Not I!

The En suite... Now that I've experienced this luxury, I don't think I could ever go back. The down side... ANOTHER bathroom to clean, but totally worth it!

And Finally Simon's Room... Once again LESS is MORE.

Slide of hand

It may be hard to tell because this puppy is just sooo cute, but he is actually a real little boy! Who knew?

This Halloween we had made arrangements to go out for a night with friends... like the best of plans ours were foild by an ensuing empidmic. Instead we spent the night with our sweet son ... er...puppy ;) Which was absolutely delightful!

The long awaited day.

thanks to sunpeaksresort.com for the beautiful photo

I have been waiting for this day for a couple of months now... needless to say I am sooo EXCITED that it has finally arrived!!! Today our little family is going to take some time out of our daily grind to commemorate this very special season in our lives. Our long time family friend and photographer extraordinaire Karly Ford is going to help us with this wonderful project. We will be traveling up to Sunpeaks after lunch to spend our afternoon frolicking in a winter wonderland of a backdrop for our photos. These will be our first family photos since Simon was born, and he is nearly one year old. So we have a few very special milestones that we'll be capturing today.
If you are not familiar with Karlys work I strongly suggest you take a look. Of course I love to support local talent, but our supporting her has little to do with the fact that she is local, but more to do with the the simple truth that she is amazing!
Here is her website ... dive right in.
www.karlyfordphotography.com