Xmas Village

I have begun my christmas village with many thanks to my Aunty Leslie.  She gave me 5 of her houses.  I would like more but right now, my mine priority is finding somewhere they can go without Finley breaking them.....

Here they are:

Daddy Comes Home!

Greg got home Monday at around 230.  Finley was supposed to be napping but as soon as she heard Greg's voice she was so excited that she decided no napping was necessary.  I was happy to have him home as I desperately needed a rest.  Penelope is not teething as awesomely as Finley did that is for sure!

The following 2 photos are of Finley (wearing a new shirt I bought for her, it is super cute) and Penelope showing how happy they are to see Daddy!

Day 3 Without Daddy; Grey Cup

The whole reason we were without Daddy all weekend was because he was in Edmonton for the 98th Grey Cup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Montreal Alouettes.  Greg and I went last year when it was in Calgary between the same two teams.  It was great fun.

Anyhow, me and the girls headed over to my Aunty Leslie's to watch the Grey Cup and for supper.  It was a delicious supper and the girls had so much fun.  Finley loved watching Uncle Doug put up the Christmas decorations outside and kept looking at them all night long.

Finley wearing Aunty Leslie's shoes.  She had fun in the shoes!

Our dessert for the Grey Cup.  I wanted Vanilla and white icing cuz it looked cooler but Finley picked out the chocolate.

Penelope looking bored while watching a very boring Grey Cup

 FInley and Penelope with AUnty Leslie.

As you all know the Roughriders lost.  They really didn't play well and they lost it without a stupid penalty so it wasn't nearly as heartbreaking as last years to say the least.

But y'all need not worry, we'll be back next year in Vancouver

GO RIDERS GO

Day 2 Without Daddy

Day 2 Without Daddy was pretty uneventful. We didn't venture out too much.  We went to Safeway and to the library where Finley had a good time.  She really loves going to the library!

Finley was still getting over her cold and Penelope is starting to teethe and was very grouchy so we had a pretty mellow afternoon that consisted of watching Enchanted and playing with mega blocks.  

Here are some photos of our day:

30 Day Challenge: Day 16

Challenge #16: Your favourite princess movie

Without a moment of hesitation: CINDERELLA

I have loved Cinderella all my life.  I have it in VHS and on DVD and even have gotten all the sequels out from the library and burnt them so I can one day watch them with Finley.  We also have Cinderella in book form.  I've tried to read it to her but it's a bit too long for her yet.

The main character is of the movie is Cinderella.  Her mom and dad have both died and she is forced to live with her vain + ugly stepsisters and cruel stepmother and to make matters worse, she is forced to become a slave in her own home.

Cinderella's only friends are the loyal mice, the birds, the dog and also the horse. One day, an invatation arrives from the palace, stating that every eligible maiden in the kingdom has to attend to a royal ball, honoring the return of the prince and for him to find a wife.

Cinderella's stepmother lies to her, saying she can go only if she gets her chores done, and if she finds something suitable to wear.  She does all her chores, while her animal friends make a dress for her. Sadly, the stepsisters tear it up, and leave. 

However, Cinderella meets her Fairy Godmother, who sends her off to the ball, but she has to be back before the stroke of midnight, otherwise, the spell will be broke.  In her attempts to get back to her carriage before midnight, she loses a shoe. The prince finds this shoe and orders his assistant toss earache the entire kingdom to find the girl who belongs to the glass shoe.

The last house the assistant attends to his Cinderella's.  The Stepmother tries and tries to get her daughters to fit in the shoe but nothing works.  He is about to leave when Cinderella appears.  She insists on trying on the shoe and it fits!

She returns to the palace where her and prince charming live happily ever after!  

30 Day Challenge: Day 15

Challenge #15: Tell us your favourite junk food

My favourite junk foods are Coke Slushes, Salt N Vinegar Chips, Butterfingers + Twizzlers

I don't eat them all at once and in fact, I rarely have any of them anymore thanks to basement bootcamp and babies.

30 Day Challenge: Day 14 - Updated with Picture

Challenge #14: Do you have siblings? Talk about them or what it's like to be an only child


I have one younger sister: Kristy.  She is just slightly more than 2 years younger than I am.  She lives in Saskatoon with her cats Jack + Mooch.  She is a great sister, a wonderful friend and an amazing aunt to Finley + Penelope.  She is wonderful with kids and is not only loved by F + P but Madi, Tanner, Easton + Ashton as well.  


We are very blessed to have her in our lives and she is, without a doubt, my very best friend.

30 Day Challenge: Day 13

Challenge 13: Your thoughts or opinions about Mean Girls


Written by my most favourite + one of the most funniest gals around - Tina Fey.  I think it is hilarious and I enjoy watching it every once in awhile for a good laugh and to see what Lindsay Lohan was before her parents went crazy and she became addicted to all kinds of substances.  To think of all the potential she had at that point in her acting career.  So very sad.


The movie was well written and the characters were played by the most perfect actresses. 

It's Looking Like Christmas In Our Bathrooms!

I finally have 3 rooms that are officially decorated for the Holiday Season.  Our bathrooms.  I have decorated 3 out of our 4 bathrooms.  Next year, I am aiming for all 4 of them.  

These are photos of our main floor bathroom:

The following are in Finley + Penelope's bathroom.

I painted the walls back in September and they turned out really well!

This is our master bath.  Same ugly tile that's in the kid's bathrooms and what used to be in our kitchen.  Too expensive to replace the tile right now so I think I might paint it like an egyptian orange in the new year.

As you can see, I try to carry the Gingerbread Theme throughout my house, but it's really tough to find Gingerbread decorations at all!

I hope to have photos of the rest of our house up soon!!

Day 1 Without Daddy: We Did It....So Far

Early this morning, Greg left for Edmonton.  Ok, he left for work first, but Jack was picking him up from work so as far as we are concerned he was gone till Monday.  He is in Edmonton for the Grey Cup - tickets they purchased months and months ago with the hope that the Riders would be there.  

Finley made sure she was up to see her Daddy off while Penelope didn't see the need to get up so darn early.  She said her good byes last night.

Here are some photos of of Day1 without Daddy...

Finley hanging out watching Sesame Street while I started some laundry and did some cleaning...

Penelope had socks and shoes on when I went downstairs.  When I came up they were gone and I suspect that Finley had something to do with it as they were nowhere near Penelope's chair and I doubt she got up and moved them.....

Finley kissing the purple dude from Abby's Flying Fairy School - her favourite part of Sesame Street.  Once this was over, we got into the car and started driving.  I had to pick up some things at Planet Organic and then decided to pop into Giant Tiger where Finley got some crayons + construction paper + Penelope got a new teething toy.

Finley was acting all crazy and somehow I managed to get this photo which I absolutely LOVE.  It is so awesome!

Penelope clearly enjoying the little back time that she gets each day.  She's either always sitting in her Bumbo or lying in her Tumzee so she clearly takes advantage of this time....

Somehow this photo is in the wrong spot.  It was Finley dancing to the theme song of Elmo's World.  She saw the Sesame Street float during the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and went absolute banana's.

I put Finley's monkey in front of Penelope while she was in her Tumzee.  Penelope looks intrigued but Finley was not impressed and took it back immediately.

I asked Finley to bring over some baby toys for Penelope to see while she was in her Tumzee.  She did and then promptly took them and put them away.  She is not too fond of sharing her stuff....

I asked Finley what she wanted for lunch and I turned around and she handed me the bread and peanut butter.  She clearly wanted a peanut butter sandwich - 3 to be exact.  She ate 3 sandwiches, 2 oranges and a glass of milk for lunch.  She was clearly very hungry.

Finley had left some of  her tools in Penelope's chair and when I set her in, I gave the toys to her to play with.  As you can see, she was having a blast playing with them...

But Finley soon saw and yes, you guessed it, she took them away

We spent part of the afternoon coloring before both Finley + Penelope went down for a nap.  I was making formula and it was quite quiet and I had assumed Finley was just enjoying her coloring but it turns out she was eating her crayons.  Next time, I must pay closer attention when she is coloring.  Thankfully all the coloring was limited to the proper materials....

 More tummy time!  She enjoys looking at herself in the mirror.  Finley was the same way.

Finley watching Penelope play with some toys while on the Tumzee

Finley sharing her supper with Iggy.  Look at the cat hair on the stairs.  I vacuumed on Wednesday and you can't even tell.  So tempted to shave the cats sometimes!  I made a ham last night just so we could have leftovers tonight since I don't particularly like to cook but Greg emailed me and told me he took them to work today instead of his lunch.  I was not very happy.  So we had Boston Pizza instead.  I was so looking forward to those leftovers.

Finley and Penelope cuddling on the couch before bed.  Finley asked to hold her but soon got impatient. She does love her little sister though - most of the time...

Finley using the Tumzee as a chair to watch Kung Fu Panda's Holiday.  It was on the other night but she didn't get a chance to watch it

Finley in her grobag.  She wears a grog still mostly because she hates using blankets so she gets cold in the night.

She will use her Max Daniel blanket but she's getting too tall and doesn't cover as much but she has to sleep with it - it's part of her bedtime routine.  This was after 7 stories....

Penelope getting ready for bed.  She loves her mobile playing.  Thankfully I can put her down fully awake and she is asleep before the mobile quits playing!

So I we survived the first day without any help from anybody.  It is the first time ever I have been with the kids overnight by myself and will have to do it for the next 3 days.  Thankfully, both Finley and Penelope were very well behaved which made it so much easier!

Both girls are in bed and I am taking advantage of Greg being away for the weekend and watching Eat Love Pray with Julia Roberts.  So far, I am loving it.  Perhaps I will blog on that sometime next week.

Hopefully tomorrow goes just as well as today!!

30 Day Challenge: Day 12

Challenge #12: Your thoughts or opinions about Harry Potter


I was so anti-Harry Potter at the beginning. I thought it was not cool, very juvenile and not my thing.  But it all changed when I watched the first Harry Potter movie with Greg + Joelene.  I loved it.  I loved all the magic.  I was officially a Harry Potter fan.  I immediately read the first 4 books and eagerly awaited the next 3.  I was saddened with some of the events but loved them just the same.  


My only complaint is that other than the first movie, I have never liked any of the following movies.  I am not sure why, but Greg believes it is because I watched the first movie before I read a book and then read the books before the other movies.  Maybe, Maybe not.  I think it is because there is not enough magic in the movies like there is in the book.


My favourite house was Slitherin and I LOVED Snape.  I know, I know but I did and do!


Once all 8 Harry Potter Movies are released on DVD, Greg and I will have a Harry Potter Movie Marathon!

30 Day Challenge: Day 11****

Challenge #11 Your top 3 favourite bands


This is a tough one as I LOVE all kinds of music, how can I possibly just pick 3?  I can't, I just can't.


My most favourites that immediately come to mind are: Kenny Chesney, Our Lady Peace, Simple Plan, NKOTB, Motley Crue - my favourite all time.


My favourite right now?  Mumford + Sons, Band of Horses, Florence + The Machine, Randy Montana, 

30 Day Challenge: Day 10****

Challenge #10: Talk about your pets, or the pets you would like to have


I currently have 2 cats: Quincy who will be 12 in January and Luci who will be 6 in May.  We have a dog named Iggy*^ who will be 5 in July and a beta fish named Andy** who is like a month old or something.


We are quite happy with this bunch of animals but we would like to get another kitty or 2 for Finley + Penelope to call their own.  But that wont be for awhile.


^he is available for free if you want him....just kidding...or am I?
*yes he is named after Jarome Iginla.  
**formerly known as AndyFantuz.  It was changed due to length of name.

Lil Drummer Girl...

Finley got this amazing musical set from her Great Aunty Sandy + Uncle Lloyd.  It has drums, a piano + a xylophone.  She absolutely loves it and it was kinda funny that she started playing her drums while decorating for Christmas a few weeks back:

Playing to her own beat

Daddy showing her how to play Lil Drummer Girl on her drums

Getting ready to march...

Come they told me pa rump a pum pum......

Happy Holidays everybody!