Here is a link to an article that I am quoted in regarding the school program that I have been working on.
Powell River Peak: Teaching Life and Love
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Gotta have one of these!
Have you ever heard of invisibelt? I hate wearing a belt because of the bulk. Plus I can never find one that works well for me. Then today I hear about invisibelt. It is now on my wish list. And they have one for when you are pregnant. I'll have to keep that in mind if we ever decide to take the plunge again. Don't you want one too!
Best Morning Ever
Monday morning Emily climbed onto our bed and snuggled in. Minutes later Collin was next to the bed and asking to be picked up. Landon grabbed him and in he came too. Giggling and laughing insued. Emily started a sing along which went on for 20 minutes. She sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star solo, turning to each person and singing it to them. What a great moment as a family. I love my family!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
7 Years
Seven Years ago today Landon and I were married for time and all eternity. I am so grateful for this man who loves me unconditionally. We have grown so much over this last 7 years and I look forward to the rest of our lives together and then on to eternity.
Love you Landon!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
My Dream Bag
Some women dream of an expensive purse. I dream of this....
Oh how my life would be easier. The Kemby Sidekick. A carrier and bag! One day I will own one. Problem is by the time I can afford one I won't need it but hey I can dream....
Oh how my life would be easier. The Kemby Sidekick. A carrier and bag! One day I will own one. Problem is by the time I can afford one I won't need it but hey I can dream....
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A good laugh
Are ever in need of a good laugh?
I am on a daily basis. I have found this great site, Leca, Unplugged which fills this need. She makes me laugh. I love her adventures through parenthood. Right now she is doing a great giveaway for her birthday. Go on over, check her out!
I am on a daily basis. I have found this great site, Leca, Unplugged which fills this need. She makes me laugh. I love her adventures through parenthood. Right now she is doing a great giveaway for her birthday. Go on over, check her out!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Twins!
My twin nephews are here!
Aren't they gorgeous! Haylee looks beautiful as ever!
Born Tuesday May 18th at 10:25am and 10:28am.
Weight 4lbs 12oz and 5lbs 4oz
Congrats Fife Family!
Friday, May 14, 2010
I'm Finished!
Two years ago, this month, my friend and co worker Glynis were discussing our concerns about the students we were working with. (Me Special Education, Her Counselling) Students did not seem to have the skills or even empathy to interact with each other in a positive light. We knew we needed to do some lessons around valuing diversity. I had just finished some professional development around Understand by Design and so I had the great idea that we could make up our own curriculum based off of the province's Social Responsibility standards. We went to our principal who thought that it was a great idea. He asked us how much release time we would like to create the program. We said half a day. He literally started laughing at us. He told us we were crazy. He told us to put together a proposal and send it into the school district and ask for 10 days. We put it down thinking if we don't take them at least they were budgeted in. The proposal was approved but for only 5 days a piece. With some creative manuvering by both Fred and Jamie (principals of the schools we were working at) we were able to get ten days. (Sometimes the counsellor was unavailable for the day and sometimes we shared a substitute.) Fred was right, we definitely needed at least 10 days. In 10 days we were able to create 4 Unit Plans and 4-9 Lesson Plans for each of the first three units in the Kindergarten-Grade 4 program and the Grade 5-Grade 7 program. (44 different lesson plans) And the sad part was that the fourth unit was what we wanted to do in the first place. It was on Valuing Diversity and Defending Human Rights. We took a couple days in the summer to get the 4th unit together. Our two schools pioleted the program for the 2008/09. We were asked by the district to have it up as soon as possible in digital format for the district to share with all the other elementary schools. Well today I finished all but the Bibliography for both program. I have created every handout and found every picture which are included in the program. I think I am a little cross eyed since I have done most of handouts in the last 48 hours. The finished page count astounded me.
K-4 Safe and Caring School Program-150 pages.
5-7 Safe and Caring School Program-163 pages.
I am so grateful that we are done!
K-4 Safe and Caring School Program-150 pages.
5-7 Safe and Caring School Program-163 pages.
I am so grateful that we are done!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
My Dashing, Handsome Husband
I will not hold you in any more suspense. Here is my handsome husband in his dashing suit!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Collin's First Hair Cut
Emily's first hair cut was a 6 weeks. Collin was almost 14 months. Landon has wanted it cut since Collin 10 months. But the curls forming was the final straw. Collin has been "blessed" with three cowlicks on the back of his head. His cousin Tyson will sympathize. I cut his hair with 1" hair trimmer. Instant mohawk. Landon stepped in and buzzed his head to 1/2". And it barely lies down. I will definitely have to be getting some tips from Aunt Nomi on how to cut his hair in the future. My baby now looks like a little boy. It was just one haircut but there is no going back. Enjoy the pictures!
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| A scrapbook design by Smilebox |
Comedy of Errors also known as our trip to Montreal
We are back safe and sound from our 36 hour adventure to Montreal and back. So that I will always be able to remember the wonders of the trip here is my recap.
**Disclaimer: This may not be short but will probably leave you shaking your head and laughing out loud**
Wednesday: I get home from work and start packing. I realize that I haven't picked up my criminal record check from the RCMP station but figure I will pick it up on the way to the ferry in the morning. As I carefully went down the checklist I realize that I can't find the paperwork that my inlaws so nicely have filled out for me. I think, "Don't panic, it's here somewhere." I started casually going through my files, Nope. Hmmm, let's try the paper next to my bed. Nope. Okay maybe I left it in the glove compartment in the car. Nope. Maybe next to the phone. Nope. In my top drawer. Nope. Starting to panic now. Called to Landon who starts to help me. I grab the basket off the top of my dresser where I keep all our paperwork. As I put it on my bed Emily says, "Mommy look bugs!" I see hundreds (no exaggeration) of ants running for cover where my basket had been sitting. I pick up the basket and realize to late that they were on the bottom eating the wicker (still haven't figured out why.) So now there are another few hundred on my bedspread. Frantic I call for Landon to bring the vacuum cleaner. Next 10 minutes are spent sucking up every small ant we can find. (Have I mentioned lately that I am tired of my house which is falling apart????) Back to the task at hand. I am now frantic. In tears. I say to Landon, "The stupid thing is that we will get back and I will find it somewhere and remember I put it there to keep it safe and so I won't forget it." Landon stops, turns around and seconds later comes back with a white envelope with the paperwork. That statement triggered the memory that I had asked him to put it in his sock drawer and help me remember it. He didn't know what he put in there so that was why he hadn't gone looking in there sooner. Ahhh relief. Landon casually says, "What time is our flight tomorrow?" I say, "4:30" Landon asks me to double check. I sigh and pull out the itinerary. We fly out at 12:30. Which means that we need to catch the 8am ferry not the 12pm. And that I can't work Thursday morning and I had been planning to. I run to the computer shoot off some emails explaining the situation and go back to packing. Then it hits me. My criminal record check. The office at the station closes at 5pm. Its 6pm. They don't open till 9am. I'm gone by 8:10am. I call the RCMP station and get patched through to Comox. They can't guarantee that an officer will give it to me but encourage me to go to town and find out. Our station is locked up at 5pm so I use the phone outside the building which again patches me through to Comox. They patch me back through to Powell River. They agree to open the door and talk to me. The officer kindly listens, walks away, comes back and hands me my form and says have a good evening. Relief. I head home, finish packing the kids, myself and take everything to the front door except for the carry on for Landon and I. It's our only piece of luggage and I want to finish putting my makeup in it in the morning. I place the x-ray and the DO NOT Open envelope from my medical examination from Vancouver next to it. Off to bed.
Thursday: Wake up at 6am. Shower. Get ready. Wake up Landon. Wake up kids. Pack car. Ask Landon to grab the carry on. As I am packing the car I leave Emily and Collin outside to play in the driveway. Next thing I hear is Emily crying. I can't hear Collin. I go running. Collin is just starting to stand up. He had decided to go back down the walkway into our house, missed a step and fallen into the grass which is still got half an inch of water in it. (Have I mentioned that I basically live in a swamp???) Emily is crying because Collin fell. Collin is crying because he is soaking wet. Don't have time to change him so I give him a hug and a kiss put him back down and lean into the car to finish putting everything in. THUD. Collin Screams. He has walked right into the edge of the car door. Instant goose egg. Long thin purple bruise instantly forming. Yeah I felt like mother of the year. Landon comes out we get kids into their seats and head to my mom's house. Drop kids and their mountain of luggage off. Collin is still sad and I feel rotten that I have to run to a ferry. Ferry ride is spent reading a book. As I get into the car to depart I turn to Landon and say, "Did you pick up the x-ray and envelope when you grabbed the carry on?" Nope. Drove directly to a pay phone. Call my brother Matt. Ask him to find my mom (she was going grocery shopping at 9:30am with my kids, and by this time it is 10am) and have her see if she can put the envelope on the plane out of Powell River to Vancouver. I have enough time to take a shuttle to the second terminal and get back to the main terminal to catch our flight to Montreal. We hang out in Courtney and arrive at the airport at 11:00am. I call my mom. She had just gotten home and hadn't talked to Matt. She hangs up, bundles the kids back into the car and heads to the airport. We board a flight to Vancouver. Arrive. Call mom. Package will arrive at 2:10pm at 2nd terminal. We eat lunch, take the shuttle. Pick up package. Take taxi back to main terminal, arrive at our gate at 3:00pm. Depart for Montreal at 4:30pm. 4 and 1/2 hours later we arrive in Montreal. Its midnight. Take a taxi to Travelodge in downtown Vancouver. Lights out at 1am.
Friday: Up at 6am. Shower. Get dressed. Gross continental breakfast. Walk 10 minutes to US consulate. Wait outside for 15 minutes in cold wind. Get in front door. Wait another 20 minutes to get through security. Wait in line for another 20 min to get our "number". (Met a very nice girl from Sao Paolo Brazil in the line up to get our number. ) 9:00am, sit in the waiting room. Watch a documentary on Obama. 9:50am. Read a book on the US. Learn Landon is supposed to have been filing income tax in the US for the last seven years. Oops. 10:20 am. Move to the section for US citizen services because there is more room to sit on the floor which is more comfortable than the chairs. Jet lag kicking in. Look out the windows so we can see the cool architecture. 10:45. Meet a really nice black family which is applying for a visa to move the US. Their youngest was the same age as Collin but looked like she was 2. The boys were 10, 8, and 6. They looked like they were 12, 10, and 8. Very well behaved and very nice. The kids hung out with Landon and I. McGill University was doing a sports exhibition in the lot next to us. We watched them from the 19th floor. It was fun to listen to the commentary provided by the boys. 11:30. Our number is called. We go to the window. I had my in laws fill out the wrong form. I forgot my Xpress post envelope for them to send my passport back to me in. Pay the money needed for visa. Sent back to waiting room. 11:50. Called to the interview room. Found out we didn't have the proper stuff to prove domicile. We can mail it later. I wanted to cry. Left at 12:10 with a list of things to mail to Montreal. Walk back to hotel and pick up our carry on. Take taxi back to airport. Wait for our flight at 4:30pm. Land in Toronto and have 10 minutes to get to our gate for flight back to Vancouver. Land in Vancouver 4 1/2 later. 30 minutes to get to our gate for our flight to Comox. Arrive at 10:30pm. Pick up our car and find a hotel to stay in. Asleep by 11:30pm. Ahhhh sleep.
Saturday: Sleep in until 9am. WOW! We had a wonderful continental breakfast and headed into Nanaimo for some shopping. We picked up a new suit for Landon. He has wanted one for years! The seamstress was taking in the waist on the pants and hemming. We head to the mall for lunch and to pick me up a couple of Mother's Day gifts. We go back for the suit only to find out that the seamstress had not hemmed the pants she was waiting for Landon to come back and try them on. She was on lunch break when we got there. At 1:50pm we said we had to go so we could catch the 3:15 ferry (80 minute drive away). We left with the pants unhemmed. Landon drove like a maniac and I slept so I wouldn't freak out about how fast we were driving. We arrived at the ferry terminal just after 3pm and drove onto the ferry. I love my husband. I read more on the ferry and we picked up our kids at 4:30pm.
I don't think the kids even missed us.
**Disclaimer: This may not be short but will probably leave you shaking your head and laughing out loud**
Wednesday: I get home from work and start packing. I realize that I haven't picked up my criminal record check from the RCMP station but figure I will pick it up on the way to the ferry in the morning. As I carefully went down the checklist I realize that I can't find the paperwork that my inlaws so nicely have filled out for me. I think, "Don't panic, it's here somewhere." I started casually going through my files, Nope. Hmmm, let's try the paper next to my bed. Nope. Okay maybe I left it in the glove compartment in the car. Nope. Maybe next to the phone. Nope. In my top drawer. Nope. Starting to panic now. Called to Landon who starts to help me. I grab the basket off the top of my dresser where I keep all our paperwork. As I put it on my bed Emily says, "Mommy look bugs!" I see hundreds (no exaggeration) of ants running for cover where my basket had been sitting. I pick up the basket and realize to late that they were on the bottom eating the wicker (still haven't figured out why.) So now there are another few hundred on my bedspread. Frantic I call for Landon to bring the vacuum cleaner. Next 10 minutes are spent sucking up every small ant we can find. (Have I mentioned lately that I am tired of my house which is falling apart????) Back to the task at hand. I am now frantic. In tears. I say to Landon, "The stupid thing is that we will get back and I will find it somewhere and remember I put it there to keep it safe and so I won't forget it." Landon stops, turns around and seconds later comes back with a white envelope with the paperwork. That statement triggered the memory that I had asked him to put it in his sock drawer and help me remember it. He didn't know what he put in there so that was why he hadn't gone looking in there sooner. Ahhh relief. Landon casually says, "What time is our flight tomorrow?" I say, "4:30" Landon asks me to double check. I sigh and pull out the itinerary. We fly out at 12:30. Which means that we need to catch the 8am ferry not the 12pm. And that I can't work Thursday morning and I had been planning to. I run to the computer shoot off some emails explaining the situation and go back to packing. Then it hits me. My criminal record check. The office at the station closes at 5pm. Its 6pm. They don't open till 9am. I'm gone by 8:10am. I call the RCMP station and get patched through to Comox. They can't guarantee that an officer will give it to me but encourage me to go to town and find out. Our station is locked up at 5pm so I use the phone outside the building which again patches me through to Comox. They patch me back through to Powell River. They agree to open the door and talk to me. The officer kindly listens, walks away, comes back and hands me my form and says have a good evening. Relief. I head home, finish packing the kids, myself and take everything to the front door except for the carry on for Landon and I. It's our only piece of luggage and I want to finish putting my makeup in it in the morning. I place the x-ray and the DO NOT Open envelope from my medical examination from Vancouver next to it. Off to bed.
Thursday: Wake up at 6am. Shower. Get ready. Wake up Landon. Wake up kids. Pack car. Ask Landon to grab the carry on. As I am packing the car I leave Emily and Collin outside to play in the driveway. Next thing I hear is Emily crying. I can't hear Collin. I go running. Collin is just starting to stand up. He had decided to go back down the walkway into our house, missed a step and fallen into the grass which is still got half an inch of water in it. (Have I mentioned that I basically live in a swamp???) Emily is crying because Collin fell. Collin is crying because he is soaking wet. Don't have time to change him so I give him a hug and a kiss put him back down and lean into the car to finish putting everything in. THUD. Collin Screams. He has walked right into the edge of the car door. Instant goose egg. Long thin purple bruise instantly forming. Yeah I felt like mother of the year. Landon comes out we get kids into their seats and head to my mom's house. Drop kids and their mountain of luggage off. Collin is still sad and I feel rotten that I have to run to a ferry. Ferry ride is spent reading a book. As I get into the car to depart I turn to Landon and say, "Did you pick up the x-ray and envelope when you grabbed the carry on?" Nope. Drove directly to a pay phone. Call my brother Matt. Ask him to find my mom (she was going grocery shopping at 9:30am with my kids, and by this time it is 10am) and have her see if she can put the envelope on the plane out of Powell River to Vancouver. I have enough time to take a shuttle to the second terminal and get back to the main terminal to catch our flight to Montreal. We hang out in Courtney and arrive at the airport at 11:00am. I call my mom. She had just gotten home and hadn't talked to Matt. She hangs up, bundles the kids back into the car and heads to the airport. We board a flight to Vancouver. Arrive. Call mom. Package will arrive at 2:10pm at 2nd terminal. We eat lunch, take the shuttle. Pick up package. Take taxi back to main terminal, arrive at our gate at 3:00pm. Depart for Montreal at 4:30pm. 4 and 1/2 hours later we arrive in Montreal. Its midnight. Take a taxi to Travelodge in downtown Vancouver. Lights out at 1am.
Friday: Up at 6am. Shower. Get dressed. Gross continental breakfast. Walk 10 minutes to US consulate. Wait outside for 15 minutes in cold wind. Get in front door. Wait another 20 minutes to get through security. Wait in line for another 20 min to get our "number". (Met a very nice girl from Sao Paolo Brazil in the line up to get our number. ) 9:00am, sit in the waiting room. Watch a documentary on Obama. 9:50am. Read a book on the US. Learn Landon is supposed to have been filing income tax in the US for the last seven years. Oops. 10:20 am. Move to the section for US citizen services because there is more room to sit on the floor which is more comfortable than the chairs. Jet lag kicking in. Look out the windows so we can see the cool architecture. 10:45. Meet a really nice black family which is applying for a visa to move the US. Their youngest was the same age as Collin but looked like she was 2. The boys were 10, 8, and 6. They looked like they were 12, 10, and 8. Very well behaved and very nice. The kids hung out with Landon and I. McGill University was doing a sports exhibition in the lot next to us. We watched them from the 19th floor. It was fun to listen to the commentary provided by the boys. 11:30. Our number is called. We go to the window. I had my in laws fill out the wrong form. I forgot my Xpress post envelope for them to send my passport back to me in. Pay the money needed for visa. Sent back to waiting room. 11:50. Called to the interview room. Found out we didn't have the proper stuff to prove domicile. We can mail it later. I wanted to cry. Left at 12:10 with a list of things to mail to Montreal. Walk back to hotel and pick up our carry on. Take taxi back to airport. Wait for our flight at 4:30pm. Land in Toronto and have 10 minutes to get to our gate for flight back to Vancouver. Land in Vancouver 4 1/2 later. 30 minutes to get to our gate for our flight to Comox. Arrive at 10:30pm. Pick up our car and find a hotel to stay in. Asleep by 11:30pm. Ahhhh sleep.
Saturday: Sleep in until 9am. WOW! We had a wonderful continental breakfast and headed into Nanaimo for some shopping. We picked up a new suit for Landon. He has wanted one for years! The seamstress was taking in the waist on the pants and hemming. We head to the mall for lunch and to pick me up a couple of Mother's Day gifts. We go back for the suit only to find out that the seamstress had not hemmed the pants she was waiting for Landon to come back and try them on. She was on lunch break when we got there. At 1:50pm we said we had to go so we could catch the 3:15 ferry (80 minute drive away). We left with the pants unhemmed. Landon drove like a maniac and I slept so I wouldn't freak out about how fast we were driving. We arrived at the ferry terminal just after 3pm and drove onto the ferry. I love my husband. I read more on the ferry and we picked up our kids at 4:30pm.
I don't think the kids even missed us.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
And We're Off!
After a whirlwind evening of chaos I am tentatively saying that we are ready for our quick trip to Montreal. We drop the kids off at my parents at 7:30 am tomorrow morning, 8:00 ferry to the island and 12:35 flight to Vancouver, three hour layover and then off to Montreal. We will arrive just after midnight their time, run to our hotel for 5-6 hours of sleep. Then Friday morning at 8am we have to be at the US Consulate and we've been told that we will be there until about 2 pm and then back to the airport for a 6pm flight back to BC arrival in Comox around 9pm. My mom has agreed to keep the kids until 4:30 pm so we can sleep off our jet lag and get a few hours of shopping in on the island before catching the 3pm ferry home. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. But if all goes well, Friday afternoon I will be the proud owner of a immigration visa which will allow us to move in July. Please keep us in your prayers.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Easy Turtle Bars
I am not a huge chocolate fan.
Certain chocolate bars I love but chocolate cake, brownies, chocolate icing, etc, were not a big part of my life until I met Landon. He is the opposite of me. I have slowly started eating more chocolate because of him. Yes I blame him. :) Now caramel and pecans on the other hand have always been an addiction to me. Mmmmm. I love going to Dairy Queen and getting their Turtle Blizzard. As long as there is not a lot of chocolate in it I am in heaven. (I know many of you are so good at eating healthy and organic and I really admire you. One day I will be just like you but right now, mmmm ice cream...) I found this recipe the other day and thought, "Something for both Landon and myself." It is heaven! I am going to share this wonderful recipe so that you chocoholics have one more dessert. :) And I will admit that what I really love is that I get to use chocolate cake mix so that its basically no fail and quick!
Easy Turtle Bars
1 package chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup milk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
1 jar (12 oz) caramel ice cream topping
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 13x9 inch baking pan with non stick cooking spray.
2. Combine cake mix, butter, and milk in large bowl; stir until well blended. Press half of mixture into prepared pan.
3. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until crust begins to form. Carefully remove from oven. Sprinkle chocolate chips and half of pecans over partially baked crust. Drizzle with caramel topping. Drop spoonfuls of remaining cake batter over caramel mixture; sprinkle with remaining pecans.
4. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. (Caramel center will be soft.) Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.
Enjoy!
Certain chocolate bars I love but chocolate cake, brownies, chocolate icing, etc, were not a big part of my life until I met Landon. He is the opposite of me. I have slowly started eating more chocolate because of him. Yes I blame him. :) Now caramel and pecans on the other hand have always been an addiction to me. Mmmmm. I love going to Dairy Queen and getting their Turtle Blizzard. As long as there is not a lot of chocolate in it I am in heaven. (I know many of you are so good at eating healthy and organic and I really admire you. One day I will be just like you but right now, mmmm ice cream...) I found this recipe the other day and thought, "Something for both Landon and myself." It is heaven! I am going to share this wonderful recipe so that you chocoholics have one more dessert. :) And I will admit that what I really love is that I get to use chocolate cake mix so that its basically no fail and quick!
Easy Turtle Bars
1 package chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup milk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
1 jar (12 oz) caramel ice cream topping
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 13x9 inch baking pan with non stick cooking spray.
2. Combine cake mix, butter, and milk in large bowl; stir until well blended. Press half of mixture into prepared pan.
3. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until crust begins to form. Carefully remove from oven. Sprinkle chocolate chips and half of pecans over partially baked crust. Drizzle with caramel topping. Drop spoonfuls of remaining cake batter over caramel mixture; sprinkle with remaining pecans.
4. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. (Caramel center will be soft.) Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.
Enjoy!
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