Have You Heard??

Does anyone recognize those piercing baby blues? Take a closer look and I'll give you a hint. She was a 'prairie' girl once upon a time, but only on the plains of Wisconsin. If you scroll down to the end of this post you'll see a more recognizable photo, if you haven't already guessed that it's one of my favorite childhood actors from Little House on The Prairie! Yes, it's Melissa Sue Anderson who played 'Laura's' sister! Although Melissa Gilbert was my absolute favorite...lol...

Ok so what am I trying to get at? I was so excited this morning to wake up, grab my coffee and sit down at my computer to read that on Canada Day she will become a Canadian citizen!! Now if you're a HUGE LHOP fan like me you can appreciate how I'm feeling right now, as I'm sure you're quite excited now, yourself! Apparently while shooting a mini series in Montreal she fell in love with the city and is bringing her family up here. Welcome to our homeland Melissa!

oh yeah and please let us know when you have Melissa Gilbert to visit..PLEASE! lol

Blame Facebook!

Ok I've been neglecting blogger and my yahoo! mail and there's only one to blame...the insane crazy networking world of Facebook! I've been meaning to post about it but I'm so easily distracted by it that I hardly ever get on here anymore! I've kept in touch with people from Ottawa, found my high school network and found old childhood friends whom I never thought I'd hear from again! It's incredible this site has 100,000 Canadians ALONE that are signing up everyday, according to CBC a couple of months back. It has a six degrees of separation concept, you can find people when you weren't even looking! Even my next door neighbour found me on here and although we can just step out onto our porches to say hi, we find ourselves obsessed with messaging one another about whichever... and sometimes late at night! I've even introduced the neighbour across the street, my friend who said she wouldn't get sucked in, my sister and even found a blogging buddy on there! It's a way to see what everyone's doing every day if you ever want to be that nosey...but everyone else is doing the same! Create your profile, tell people what you're doing at the moment (Heidi is ______) post photos, have food fights, 'poke' someone, look through your friends' list and discover they know someone you've known all your life!! Nutty world man and I'm totally addicted. So pardon me for the lack of posts....you know where I'll be.

Having said that, I need to update you with some things. My mom and Rick were here visiting last weekend and left on Father's Day. We had a great visit even though it was short, but that's the fun in being back home - we can see each other almost whenever. Mom spoiled us big time with gifts when they came to the door, plus took me and Sam shopping all day and we got clothes clothes and more clothes! Mom brought back 3 beautiful water color prints and frames from Florida she had specially matted so I can add it to my coastal themed guest room. Everything is looking better and better as the time goes on. Thanks so much for everything mom and Rick. I have been overwhelmed with so much generosity these days and I say that because I wish I had the money to return the favour. It's just that my mom and Rick and Wayne's mom have helped us out so much and always spoil us. One day I'll be able to do it.

Sam's been potty training so well these days, she usually tells me before she has to go so it won't be long before she's all set for pre school. We're not puting her in until next year anyway. It'll just be great to finally get her out of diapers too.
Wayne's been on business trips for the last couple of weeks. He goes back to Winnipeg next week then to Edmonton 2 weeks later. I've really got to find something useful to do with my days than putter around the house (and being on facebook...LOL!) I was thinking that now I have a car I could volunteer and even bring Sam with me. I was also thinking of puting her back into swim lessons...I really want her to get back into activities I had her in when she was under a year. I was always at playgroups and swimming. I'll figure it out.

Richly Blessed

In the last couple of months we've been blessed so much in our lives by people and by the gifts coming to us in so much abundance!
We'd like to send out a HUGE thank you to our friends Sue and Len for the living room couch and sofa we got over the weekend. You've helped us out in so many ways we didn't think would be possible for a long time! We wouldn't have a car for me either if it weren't for you! I'd also like to thank our wonderful neighbours Shana and Don for the 5 dining room chairs you showed up with today! They match beautifully! You've also helped us so much in getting our lawn in order and even added the great patio set to lounge in! I thank God everyday for so much He's given us. Not only he's guided us back home to BC, but with that He's made sure that we have such amazing people in our lives. We've been truly and richly blessed and today I sit back almost speachless.

Gross Post

Mommie is very proud of Sammy pooping in the potty a couple of days ago...yay! She seems to have stopped digging it out of her diaper too. Now she tells me, 'mommy? Poooop?' pointing to her diaper after she's pooped already. At least she's telling me, but i'm trying to get her to tell me before she does it. The other day she did. So I took her upstairs and put her on, gave her one of her books to read to distract her (now THAT was funny to see and I couldn't go get my camera for it). It took about 10 minutes or less and she got up and clapped at herself and I did a dance and praised her and praised her and all was good in the world of pooh.
Now she gets potty treats that I keep in the bathroom drawer (out of her sight).Since then Sammy's been talking about 'pooh'...."I pooh" she's so proud of herself.
She's really started to even talk more in the past few days too. Yesterday I put her shoes on to go out and she said "My shoes". Finally she's puting some words together! The she tells all her friends about Max getting hurt a couple of weeks ago, "kitty's boo boo".

Max by the way somehow got himself into a situation outside while on his leash, that he had to get out of fast and managed to break off all his back claws. I didn't even notice until he came crawling to me limping, then I saw the blood so I checked him out and even discovered one claw exposing flesh !! Eww! I made a vet appt. then cancelled it once I realised I had it under control with my own home care and work experience. Max is in good hands and has almost healed. Hallelujah!

So back to Sammy. She tries to say "I love you", although it's a mouth full for her, she gets the "I"...then there's some kind of gibble gorf babble, then "eeww". It's usually how she talks when she tells you something..like when I mentioned her talking about Max' boo boo..all you hear is , "Dax"...(gibble gorf babble)...."boo boo". It's most likely she's trying to say "has a". it's too funny and all her friends giggle, but they appreciate it.
She's never really been attached to a certain teddy bear or stuffed toy, but about a week ago she's chosen her (not one) but THREE toys to always take to bed with her. She's named them all...her elephant "Ellie"...her cat "Kitty" (how appropriate) and her horse she insisted on calling "shoopy" (Snoopy) after her latest favorite video to watch "It's the Easter Beagle Charlie Brown". She's always asking to watch it and when I put it on, nothing else matters.
Also the toddler tantrums and melt downs continue when she's told no or when she's had enough play or just in one of those moods. Trying to reason with her goes out the window so we try to ignore it until she's 'over herself'. Sometimes she just ends up in a time out. Ah, lovely days.
She still sleeps with us, as we do not have a bed for her yet. We're planning to get one very soon so we can kick her out! lol and try to get her back to normal sleeping. It's been way too long sleeping in our bed and the longer it keeps up the harder the transition. Man, this and terrible twos AND potty training might not be a good mix.

So over the weekend we were richly blessed with furniture from Sue and Len, the same friends who sold me their car. They got some new furniture and GAVE us their old ones, which match perfectly with our floor and color selections....SO we finally have living room furniture and I once again have something else to obsess over besides painting....decorating! Oh I love a new home! Will post pics of course when I finish.

Patio Stones

Here is what I've done so far in the back yard at my front gate with the patio stones. I should have taken a 'before' pic to show you what it used to look like. The entrance was sloped upward and bumpy, grassy, weedy and uneven and was really odd to walk on. I've dug it all up and leveled it out, put the stones in and a step (which I'm really not finished with yet). I also want to lay down some stepping stones and spread some shale around it. My next plan is to spread more shale where the cedar trees are.

Wayne is always so busy so he said I can design the back yard and build it myself, except for the deck, which we'll put in next summer. So here it is...my first stab at 'landscaping' if you can call it that..lol