Bumbershoot!

This year's family vacation will be to Seattle, Washington on Labour Day weekend. Are we crazy? That remains to be seen. Patrick got us 3 day passes to this event months ago. Not sure we'll get to enjoy a lot of music but the whole thing is just packed with fun anyhow! My favorite parts are the outdoor markets, fountains, sights, people watching and especially the ART exhibits. I can wait! I hope we end up staying in Bellevue again near the temple. Last year we enjoyed the Econo Lodge with the clear blue clean pool and the delicious waffles you get to make yourself in the lobby. I remember it was pretty reasonable and pretty close to the Auburn Supermall!

Finally....

I finally awoke pretty well rested after two whole weeks of coughing, sneezing, sinuses full, ears plugged and the whole bit. The post nasal drip now gone I am starting to feel normal again except for the morning sickness. Now if I can just keep my breakfast down and get to bed early enough. I am back to work today and glad to be so but missing the children. Noon comes fast and I will be tired before I know it at this point. Now some sunshine would be in order since it is August!

August

I have been way too busy to blog but here's a quick catch up. We have been out of it with a cold and flu thing, mostly me plus I am still dealing with the fall I had at work. My ankle has come a long way and is pretty good until the very end of the day if I have done some walking or chasing. We have been eating tons of fresh berries and trying to swim a bunch so I can exercise my ankle and the kids just love being in the water. Patrick's new favorite dinner is burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, anything with beans and cheese or tortillas lately. We have been spending a bunch of time at the parks near our house so I don't go completely insane watching these children inside our small apartment. My temper is quite short and the nausea comes in waves most of the time. I just threw up my breakfast and it was all pink from the blueberries that were in my cereal. I am home from work sick today but was debating if I should really stay home because then I have to watch my children. Hmmm, I said, what is easier being sick at work or being sick with them hooting and hollering in the background and coming to me with all their needs. Good thing they like yogurt and can get it themselves. Jessica got baptized and she was very happy and just glowing! I don't know why but I thought refreshments at baptisms just appeared magically. Elder Fisher was able to come from Surrey and baptize her and most of her family came and showed her their love and support. I am glad they can understand her righteous desires and if nothing else I am sure they have noticed all the positive changes that she is making for herself. Anastasia turned two and is doing some potty training in the midst of all this. Dr. Warner who was very surprised and chuckling confirmed that child #3 is on the way and will make his or her debut in April or the end of March. We didn't nail down the dates yet because I was the last patient and he forgot to calculate I think. Anyway my calculations are always closer. I am so very very tired right now I can barely drive home from work each afternoon. I am hoping that will pass and eating won't cause so much of a problem soon. Patrick is excited and keeps bringing home 2 litre containers of Ginger Ale. He still loves being a dirty stinky janitor and his work is keeping him very busy plus he started jamming with his brothers again. 'The band' meets at least once a week and i am glad glad glad he can do some singing again. I know he really enjoys it and it gives him a break from reality to lose himself in the music again. We haven't hear from Lolo {pat's dad} since he left BC and I think I am the only one worried about that but Lola is having a hard time with it. I think it's sinking in and she is having some trouble knowing what to do with her feelings of late. Also we are slowly but surely painting and getting the other apartment ready for us to move into. Bunk beds are finally set up and it will be good to get our bed all to ourselves again. That's all for now because I have to go take care of the children now, blog you later....

Summer is here!

when it's not raining....

Latterday Saint Temple, Langley, BC

Here's a photo of what the temple will look like. Today the children and I went to the site to see where it's going to be. There was a children's activity where Stake Leaders spoke to them and afterwards they got juice boxes and granola bars and to plant some wheatgrass that they can take home and nourish and care for and then eat if they want. I have lots of those wheat berries in my cupboard. I am not sure why I didn't think of that! Ours might not grow because they had a pretty rough trip home. Let's just say I had a lot of vacuuming to do INSIDE the car upon our return. The children were given permission to go to a rock pile and help themselves to a rock {and they were much larger than I expected} to bring home. Their rock and plant should remind them of why we have temples today. For more information on this you can visit www.lds.org
My children had a very good time just being outside in such a wide open space. Exploring and digging a little and picking leaves and Marvin even made a trap for me to fall in, like I need another fall. I think I overdid it out there as it is but ice is helping. They just didn't want to leave! So, we dillied and we dallied and hung around with some wonderful members from the Spanish Ward. There were some benches made like when you go to camp with parts of trunks on each end holding a board. We sang some primary songs while Marvin pouted because I wouldn't let him wave around super large sticks. Their voices were beautiful. I just hummed when they sang in Spanish. Anastasia was cuddling up to all of them like she'd known them all her life. I have seen them all before but didn't know any of their names. They were all calling her Dora because of her haircut and apparently she resembles Dora the Explorer. The strange thing is she was so tired and didn't mind the singing. She usually cries a lot if you sing to her or near her or with her when she's tired. She will just have a fit if you try to sing her a lullaby. Sometimes she even wants it but it's just too much for her I guess. Anyway I wish I had brought my camera but here's a few photos I didn't take.

New Glasses

I spent some time hunting around for glasses today and just refuse to pay and arm and a leg because I need those. The children helped as you can see. We had fun but it was kind of stressful with them there. I didn't choose the ones I like the best but I did find some that were good quality, comfortable and a good value. I was surprised at the colour I ended up with because I so didn't want black but people with tight budgets can't be choosy. They won't be ready for ten whole days. Anastasia broke one arm off my glasses a while ago which wasn't too tragic since I really only wear them before bed and in the morning but it was somewhat inconvenient since anytime I bent my head to read or pick something up they swung off my eyes. Well the other day she somehow got her hands on them again and I suddenly heard, "Mom, broken." and when I turned around she had them in her little hands outstretched. Then I only had the front of my glasses and it doesn't feel very good to shove my contacts in first thing in the morning just so I can see what I am doing. It is also difficult to read with one hand on your nose. Anyway I hope I made a good choice. I was glad to find such good prices at Costco and there was a coupon to boot. Marvin will be next for getting himself some eye wear. Here are a few of his choices. He is attracted to the ones with Sponge Bob stickers on the glasses even though I told him the sticker won't be there when he brings them home. Anastasia won't have any trouble with glasses because you can absolutely loves them. She only seems to break other peoples.

Congratulations Davina & Daniel ! ! ! !

WoW Davina and Daniel tied the note on June 9th at the Cardston temple in Alberta. This weekend they had an absolutely delightful reception with bubbles and deserts and flowers galore. They looked really good and the live 3 piece band was so good. They made excellent choices and cute little red gingham picnic table cloths we all sat on and got to take home! It's wonderful to see Davina realizing her long awaited dreams come true and doing it with such style too. It was located at Redwood Park in Surrey
What a serene and pretty location. There was a playground hidden on the side but the children were content for the most part to wander in the woods and come in and out periodically. There were two chocolate fountains, one dark and one milk I think. There was plenty of fresh fruit and I loved the mint flavoured water. Davina, you are absolutely fabulous! Daniel you seem extremely unique and fun as well. Good luck and God Bless you in your new adventures.

Mmmmm Dairy Queen

Mondays is the $2.99 banana split special at the Dairy Queen in New Westminster. That's what Patrick wanted to get after dinner last night. He had been thinking about it all day and called us on the drive home to suggest it. He had to work an extra long day and loves to daydream so I can imagine him thinking about one of his favorites * i c e c r e a m * Wow the children wolfed their dinner down in a hurry because they were looking forward to some thing different besides getting right into bed after dinner. We brought my mom and sat outside the New Westminster Public Library to eat our treats. That gave us a chance to collapse, I mean relax while the children ran around up and down the ramp and all over the place making us all 3 more tired just by watching them. It was a fun way to unwind in the heat. There's benches there and it was so nice out. My mom was so thrilled to be invited and spend some downtime with her grandchildren. Also I had to use this chance to take even more photos of my family. Now Pat's talking about making ice cream. That means me making it and I realized I haven't got that ice cream maker out in a while. He's gone to the store right now to get some cream and I am sending him telepathic messages since his cell phone was left behind to charge about getting some rock salt too. Maybe I should try making it in the vitamix. We'll see.

Maka fekes...

True to the Faith
Let us resolve here and now to follow that straight path which leads home to the Father of us all.
President Thomas S. Monson
Many years ago, on an assignment to the beautiful islands of Tonga, I was privileged to visit our Church school, the Liahona High School, where our youth are taught by teachers with a common bond of faith—providing training for the mind and preparation for life. On that occasion, entering one classroom, I noticed the rapt attention the children gave their native instructor. His textbook and theirs lay closed upon the desks. In his hand he held a strange-appearing fishing lure fashioned from a round stone and large seashells. This, I learned, was a maka-feke, an octopus lure. In Tonga, octopus meat is a delicacy.
The teacher explained that Tongan fishermen glide over a reef, paddling their outrigger canoes with one hand and dangling the maka-feke over the side with the other. An octopus dashes out from its rocky lair and seizes the lure, mistaking it for a much-desired meal. So tenacious is the grasp of the octopus and so firm is its instinct not to relinquish the precious prize that fishermen can flip it right into the canoe.
It was an easy transition for the teacher to point out to the eager and wide-eyed youth that the evil one—even Satan—has fashioned so-called maka-fekes with which to ensnare unsuspecting persons and take possession of their destinies.
Today we are surrounded by the maka-fekes which the evil one dangles before us and with which he attempts to entice us and then to ensnare us. Once grasped, such maka-fekes are ever so difficult—and sometimes nearly impossible—to relinquish. To be safe, we must recognize them for what they are and then be unwavering in our determination to avoid them.
Constantly before us is the maka-feke of immorality. Almost everywhere we turn, there are those who would have us believe that what was once considered immoral is now acceptable. I think of the scripture, "Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness."1 Such is the maka-feke of immorality. We are reminded in the Book of Mormon that chastity and virtue are precious above all things.
When temptation comes, remember the wise counsel of the Apostle Paul, who declared, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."2
Next, the evil one also dangles before us the maka-feke of pornography. He would have us believe that the viewing of pornography really hurts no one. How applicable is Alexander Pope’s classic, An Essay on Man:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.3
Some publishers and printers prostitute their presses by printing millions of pieces of pornography each day. No expense is spared to produce a product certain to be viewed, then viewed again. One of the most accessible sources of pornography today is the Internet, where one can turn on a computer and instantly have at his fingertips countless sites featuring pornography. President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: "I fear this may be going on in some of your homes. It is vicious. It is lewd and filthy. It is enticing and habit-forming. It will take [you] down to destruction as surely as anything in this world. It is foul sleaze that makes its exploiters wealthy, its victims impoverished."4
Tainted as well is the movie producer, the television programmer, or the entertainer who promotes pornography. Long gone are the restraints of yesteryear. So-called realism is the quest, with the result that today we are surrounded by this filth.
Avoid any semblance of pornography. It will desensitize the spirit and erode the conscience. We are told in the Doctrine and Covenants, "That which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness."5 Such is pornography.
I mention next the maka-feke of drugs, including alcohol. Once grasped, this maka-feke is particularly difficult to abandon. Drugs and alcohol cloud thinking, remove inhibitions, fracture families, shatter dreams, and shorten life. They are everywhere to be found and are placed purposely in the pathway of vulnerable youth.
Each one of us has a body that has been entrusted to us by a loving Heavenly Father. We have been commanded to care for it. Can we deliberately abuse or injure our bodies without being held accountable? We cannot! The Apostle Paul declared: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? . . .
"The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."6 May we keep our bodies—our temples—fit and clean, free from harmful substances which destroy our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
The final maka-feke I wish to mention today is one which can crush our self-esteem, ruin relationships, and leave us in desperate circumstances. It is the maka-feke of excessive debt. It is a human tendency to want the things which will give us prominence and prestige. We live in a time when borrowing is easy. We can purchase almost anything we could ever want just by using a credit card or obtaining a loan. Extremely popular are home equity loans, where one can borrow an amount of money equal to the equity he has in his home. What we may not realize is that a home equity loan is equivalent to a second mortgage. The day of reckoning will come if we have continually lived beyond our means.
My brothers and sisters, avoid the philosophy that yesterday's luxuries have become today's necessities. They aren't necessities unless we make them so. Many enter into long-term debt only to find that changes occur: people become ill or incapacitated, companies fail or downsize, jobs are lost, natural disasters befall us. For many reasons, payments on large amounts of debt can no longer be made. Our debt becomes as a Damocles sword hanging over our heads and threatening to destroy us.
I urge you to live within your means. One cannot spend more than one earns and remain solvent. I promise you that you will then be happier than you would be if you were constantly worrying about how to make the next payment on nonessential debt. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read: "Pay the debt thou hast contracted. . . . Release thyself from bondage."7
There are, of course, countless other maka-fekes which the evil one dangles before us to lead us from the path of righteousness. However, our Heavenly Father has given us life and with it the capacity to think, to reason, and to love. We have the power to resist any temptation and the ability to determine the path we will take, the direction we will travel. Our goal is the celestial kingdom of God. Our purpose is to steer an undeviating course in that direction.
To all who walk the pathway of life, our Heavenly Father cautions: beware the detours, the pitfalls, the traps. Cunningly positioned are those cleverly disguised maka-fekes beckoning us to grasp them and to lose that which we most desire. Do not be deceived. Pause to pray. Listen to that still, small voice which speaks to the depths of our souls the Master’s gentle invitation, "Come, follow me."8 By doing so, we turn from destruction, from death, and find happiness and life everlasting.
Yet there are those who do not hear, who will not obey, who listen to the enticings of the evil one, who grasp those maka-fekes until they cannot let go, until all is lost. I think of that person of power, that cardinal of the cloth, even Cardinal Wolsey. The prolific pen of William Shakespeare described the majestic heights, the pinnacle of power to which Cardinal Wolsey ascended. That same pen told how principle was eroded by vain ambition, by expediency, by a clamor for prominence and prestige. Then came the tragic descent, the painful lament of one who had gained everything, then lost it all.
To Cromwell, his faithful servant, Cardinal Wolsey speaks:
O Cromwell, Cromwell!
Had I but serv’d my God with half the zeal
I serv’d my king, He would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.9
That inspired mandate which would have led Cardinal Wolsey to safety was ruined by the pursuit of power and prominence, the quest for wealth and position. Like others before him and many more yet to follow, Cardinal Wolsey fell.
In an earlier time and by a wicked king, a servant of God was tested. Aided by the inspiration of heaven, Daniel interpreted to King Belshazzar the writing on the wall. Concerning the proffered rewards—even a royal robe and a necklace of gold—Daniel said: "Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another."10
Darius, a later king, also honored Daniel, elevating him to the highest position of prominence. There followed the envy of the crowd, the jealousy of princes, and the scheming of ambitious men.
Through trickery and flattery, King Darius signed a proclamation providing that anyone who made a request of any god or man, except the king, should be thrown into the lions' den. Prayer was forbidden. In such matters, Daniel took direction not from an earthly king but from the King of heaven and earth, his God. Overtaken in his daily prayers, Daniel was brought before the king. Reluctantly, the penalty was pronounced. Daniel was to be thrown into the lions' den.
I love the biblical account which follows:
"The king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
"And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice . . . O Daniel, . . . is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
"Then said Daniel unto the king . . .
"My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me. . . .
"Then was the king exceeding glad. . . . Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God."11
In a time of critical need, Daniel's determination to remain true and faithful provided divine protection and a sanctuary of safety.
The clock of history, like the sands of the hourglass, marks the passage of time. A new cast occupies the stage of life. The problems of our day loom ominously before us. Surrounded by the challenges of modern living, we look heavenward for that unfailing sense of direction that we might chart and follow a wise and proper course. Our Heavenly Father will not deny our petition.
When I think of righteous individuals, the names of Gustav and Margarete Wacker come readily to mind. Let me describe them. I first met the Wackers when I was called to preside over the Canadian Mission in 1959. They had immigrated to Kingston, Ontario, Canada, from their native Germany.
Brother Wacker earned his living as a barber. His means were limited, but he and Sister Wacker always paid more than a tenth as tithing. As branch president, Brother Wacker started a missionary fund, and for months at a time he was the only contributor. When there were missionaries in the city, the Wackers fed and cared for them, and the missionaries never left the Wacker home without some tangible donation to their work and welfare.
Gustav and Margarete Wacker's home was a heaven. They were not blessed with children, but they mothered and fathered their many Church visitors. Men and women of learning and sophistication sought out these humble, unlettered servants of God and counted themselves fortunate if they could spend an hour in their presence. The Wackers' appearance was ordinary, their English halting and somewhat difficult to understand, their home unpretentious. They didn't own a car or a television, nor did they do any of the things to which the world usually pays attention. Yet the faithful beat a path to their door in order to partake of the spirit that was there.
In March of 1982, Brother and Sister Wacker were called to serve as full-time ordinance workers in the Washington D.C. Temple. On June 29, 1983, while Brother and Sister Wacker were still serving in this temple assignment, Brother Wacker, with his beloved wife at his side, peacefully passed from mortality to his eternal reward. Fitting are the words, "Who honors God, God honors."12
My brothers and sisters, let us resolve here and now to follow that straight path which leads home to the Father of us all so that the gift of eternal life—life in the presence of our Heavenly Father—may be ours. Should there be those things which need to be changed or corrected in order to do so, I encourage you to take care of them now.
In the words of a familiar hymn, may we ever be
True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God's command, Soul, heart and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand.13
That each of us may do so is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I keep remembering and rereading this talk by Thomas S. Monson and rereading it. Something about it is really powerful for me. I love anything about Tonga and think President Monson is the cat's meow {hence Lucky picture at the top}. It was on the back of our Primary newsletter a few months ago and spoken in General Conference April 2006.

Canada Day

July 1st 2007







H A P P Y C A N A D A D A Y ! I feel so privileged to live in this fabulous and free country with it's beauty. Today I sang the entire O Canada song and I had forgotten how long it is and how much meaning and truth there is in it. Also I was pleased to bear my testimony during sacrament meeting and my little boy was and angel throughout the whole meeting. Thanks Avalon, I think Marvin has a big crush on you. After church we went to Jericho Beach and met up with Hien and Ha, their children and some of their friends. I have never had a Vietnamese style picnic before. The food was great. Thank-you Pham family for all the efforts you put in to make the picnic a success. Next time we'll bring more bubbles and more cookies and we'll eat more watermelon. Like Marvin's hat? He got it at a birthday party on Friday evening. Maybe he was hoping for some rain. The weather and the location were beautiful! Wow I had forgotten how lovely it is down there. The children had so much fun in the sand and water. That is the reason our little boy is wearing the giant poncho/blanket. He kept getting wet and oh boy do we have a lot of sand in our bathtub!
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land
Glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee;
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread and Lordly rivers flow!
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western sea!
The land of hope for all who toil,
The true North strong and free!
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies,
May Stalwart sons, and gentle maidens rise.
To keep thee steadfast thro' the years,
From East to Western sea.
Our own beloved native land,
Our true North strong and free!
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our Dominion, in thy loving care.
Help us to find, O God, in thee,
A lasting rich reward.
As waiting for the better day,
We ever stand on guard.
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!


Isn't this cute!
The new Fall~Winter Stampin'Up! Idea Book and Catalogue is here!
Blog you
L8R

Last Day of Kindergarden

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Instead of our teacher Miss Tanja Mitchell receiving small gifts from everybody, a couple of parents collected money from all the parents and purchased her a gift from her wish list. Marvin and I die cut some globe shapes at Remember Me and added patterned paper and circles for each child to put his or her name on. Then we added some ribbon and sponging and magnets to the back, so we can stick to the white board. We did a card to match.

Today is the last day of school. Yipee! for Marvin! We'll be frequenting the playground every afternoon and filling our schedule with playdates now that school is out. I know he's been asking and asking and asking me and anyone else who will listen to him to take him to the beach. I suspect he wants to muck around in the sand and the water, exploring and collecting dead animals, rocks and shells.
Blog you Later...

Road Rage

I always hear about road rage but rarely experience it firsthand. Why do people feel the need to get so angry and lash out at others about things that are so small and insignificant. Yesterday afternoon as I approached the exit off Lougheed Highway to enter the #1 westbound I proceeded with caution because I was aware of my left turn signal being out. Thank-you Patrick for changing the bulb last night. I used my arm to signal and the motorcycle a few vehicles behind me may not have seen that. He decided he needed to weave in and out of the traffic to catch up to me at the light to tell me I was a dumb ass and then went on to extole the virtues of my driving and was quite irrate. He was on one of those sporty bikes. The children were in the backseat so I didn't want to set a bad examle. He continued to drive beside me and berate my driving skills. I told him to have a nice day and then he sped off up the freeway along the shoulder passing as many vehicles as he could. Marvin was quite interested as he couldn't hear what the cyclist said but he could see something was going on between us. My first thought at that point was pertaining to sex. It occured to me that he would dare have done that if I had been a man or even if there was a man in the car. I felt bullied. For some reason I keep thinking about it even though I am trying not to let it bother me. As I drove to work this morning I was more aware of motorcycles. It came to my mind yet again and I wondered why I didn't just close my window. Next time that's what I will do instead of tolerating abuse. I can't believe it never occured to me to just close the window. That's funny.

Weekend

We celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary at Nitobe Gardens near University of British Columbia. It was so beautiful and had been so long since I had been there. I was met by a bunch of very fragrant white lilies and a smiling man in black. The tea ceremony was going on as well. The flowers and trees and company was delightful. A
B I G thank-you to UnteeIris aka Malaya for taking the children all day long, no small feat especially when you don't have toys at your house and have a bunch of errands to run. She said she knows why we're always late for family dinners now and how hard it is to get out the door and remember to feed yourself with two little ones in tow. We so needed that whole day for ourselves to dedicate to each other and walk around like smiling goons holding hands.

Pots and Petals on the Patio

Saying Patio makes our tiny square balcony seem huge. Well with the amount of action it has seen in the last three years I'd say it has a huge history. It is my husband's refuge from the world. Also he has much better luck keeping things alive OUTSIDE. This year we're getting the children in on it too. Marvin planted beans at school and they're doing really well. Also we planted a sunflower in a teacup and it needs something bigger now! His kindergarten class went on a class trip to learn about gardening at Carol's house on Cherry Street. Drive by in the lane and you can see where the whole class planted their sunflowers in a U shape. They will be a sunflower house attached at the top later in the summer. What a great idea. Thank-you Carol and Dylan for generously providing a part of your lovely garden for all to love. Her yard is lovely and it's so much fun for the children to get be outside and just get dirty. Anastasia just tramples everything without noticing, plant wise. This spring on yet another after bedtime run for the elusive fresh french loaf {for sandwhiches} from the 6th Street Safeway{ours doesn't have a bakery, yet}Anastasia and I picked out some flowers to bring home for Daddy. She was thrilled to be invited to help plant them in the window box too. She didn't want to carry the plant in the grocery store but we'll forgive her for that since it was 9pm. Almost every week/school night now Patrick makes 4 delicious sandwiches. Since he's been frequenting Commercial drive for classes and treatments of various types he has fallen in love with an Italian deli and there delicious meats and Italian cheeses. Our favorite right now is the cambozola. Wow these sandwiches are so good. The kids just get cheddar and meat or pb&j Some mornings I eat my sandwich on my 8:30am coffee{only}break when I just can't wait and haven't had breakfast. Back to our gardening adventures. Marvin also planted some johnny jump ups{purple violas}in an old plastic spiderman toy container. It's very deep and he's quite proud of it. My nasturtium is taking over! I had better make some salad. The fresh herbs are always enjoyable as well. We don't have too many this year. My grandma's garden is looking nice with lots of purple and white flowers right now as well. It's not a big beautiful greenhouse like the one Randy and Deana built but it suits us just fine. We are so lucky to have so many friends and relatives with nice yards for us to visit when the weather is good. I am also glad there are so many lovely parks right in our neighborhood and little city of New Westminster. The favorite recently is Sinclair Park {formerly known as Lillian's secret McDonald's park}. We all know it has something to do with the three lovely young Ballard girls, Marvin. This week we've been to Hume Park and Queen's Park as well. Summer's here and we're lovin'it!

MORE about Jessica!

I think her last year of high school was very special. I know she's grateful for all the love and support shown by her family and friends. She is lucky to have you all pulling for her. She sure surprised us by improving her attendance and grades. She worked really hard this past year and had some fun doing it. It has been good to see her having fun with her classmates and exploring new relationships. She is a very special, sensible, beautiful young lady. I know we're all proud of her accomplishments-academic, social, emotional and personal and her development throughout this final year of secondary school. For the digital Scr

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

June Fifteenth..

Wow my little girl is 22 months old, Marvin just turned 6 and today my mom is 64 years old. We took her out for shoes and fish last night. This year she didn't order the lobster. My financial self was glad. My holidays have started and Jessica has graduated. Father's day is around the corner. We'll be cooking up a bunchof ribs and using the barbeque sauce Marvin made at school. Also Patrick has requested a big batch of chocolate chip cookies, the ones that are chewy in the middle. I got some milk and dark Callebaut chocolate so they should be good, just have to find the energy now. Sundays can be busy and tiring depending on the CTR 8s and CTR 7s and their energy level and attention span. I am still wearing my CTR ring too. The lesson is on the Atonement and we'll probably play hangman first. I am not sure if the children know the meaning of the word but we'll see. We also enjoyed a visit from Nathalie and Nathan while they came down for Jessica's graduation. It was nice to see everyone at that time. Wow Michelle is so cute! Also I included another mini album I am working on using double lined doodles set from Stampin'Up!