Happy New Year!

First off. Wondering where I have been??

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

How has everyone been enjoying your new year so far? I have enjoyed the holidays, even though I worked the entire holiday. It is my job, I chose it. I knew that when I started this career that it involved working holidays. My family also knew that.

It was my year to host Christmas and of course I also had to work. Thank goodness for my Mother in law. She got everything ready while I was at work. We had a house full which made for an enjoyable Christmas. There were 14 of us in all.

The kids had a ball. The got enough (some would say too much) stuff but I think it was the first year that they have actually played with everything that they got. They got things that they wanted so I think that, that made a big difference. Things on their list that were big hits were, DSI for Ty and imaginext. Dalton's big thing was his remote control helicopter, and a couple new video games. Both of them got the stampede Nerf gun so all I have been doing is picking up darts. Here area few pictures of Christmas morning, before everyone arrived.

We had real fun with Dalton this year. He has been looking so forward to going downhill skiing this year. There are usually two school trips in January. One is around $30 the other is around $65. I told him that we would pay for the cheaper one and that if he wanted to go on the second trip he would have to pay for the second. So he has been saving his money to go. Even though he was finding things that he could have better spent his money on so he thought. But he didn't, he saved it.

On the last day of school before the holidays, I called the teacher in charge of the school trips and arranged to have Dalton's big ski trip paid for. It would be one of his Christmas gifts. So she made up a big gift certificate for him and it was to be brought home to me. He always brings important stuff home from school. Guess what. This time he forgets. The one and only time. Figures right? Lucky for us the janitor was in the school so I could get it out of his desk. So Idecided after that I was going to have a little fun with him.

I wrapped it up three times. First, in a small cereal box. Then a Kraft dinner box. Then a nutragrain box. Finishing off with a pizza box. The outside box was labeled "Dalton's coolest Christmas present". After he took off the first wrapper, he had instructions that he had to follow. I will try to attach the video if I can. ( success I think) We were more amused than I think he was, but at the same time he was thrilled to death. So now you can get some amusement too.

I think we all ate too much, snacked too much and didn't get enough exercise. The kids spent a lot of time outside in the garage with their Dad. Riding skidoo's in the earlier part of the holidays. Now all the snow is long gone with our high temperatures and rainy weather.

Our New Year started out with a bang and a scream. Literally. We had company for the evening, friends, played cards, had a drink, some snacks and some laughs. Good time had by all I think. We headed to bed around 1:30am. Then around 3am. I heard a bone shrilling scream. I jump up to find Dalton standing in his room crying and bleeding everywhere. He had fallen and cut himself quite badly on a remote control skidoo. I quickly rushed him to the bathroom found him a rag and saw how bad the cut was. It was about 3 1/2 inches wide and flesh was hanging out. Quite a nasty cut actually. So we cleaned it up, got a tight sock and bandaged it up. He cried and tried to be tough, but he is only 10 and it was a dandy.

I cleaned up the blood on the carpet. Quickly. Got him out to the van and to the hospital. We waited from 3:30am until 5:50am. Then they came and stitched him up. Ten stitches in all. It amazed me how long it takes when no one came in or out from the time we got there till the time we got called in yet it still took 2 3/4 hours to be seen. New Year's Day was a write off. Dalton and I laid around all day napping. Pretty isn't it??

So now that we have all gained 5 or so pounds from the holidays, it is time to get back at it. I got a new elliptical. New to me that is. So I am excited to get at it. I have to figure out a way to find the time again for myself with working, being a wife and mother, kids’ activities and actually getting time to fit it in with some sleep. I am determined to get it done and to be down at least another 40 pounds by the end of the summer. I haven't got "big" goals but I feel that they are actually realistic. That is an average of 5 pounds a month. If it is more that is good but if I make the 5 a month I am thrilled. If I continue to be realistic than I will be successful and not beat myself up about it.

Do you believe in making resolutions? I don't. I figure if you want to do something you shouldn't have to wait for a new year to do it. Promises that you make to others are important however, it seems that promises we make to ourselves aren't so important. With that said....

I will make the best of this healthiness journey in 2011. Not a promise. Not a resolution. A statement to my family. A lifestyle for my family. An investment for my family.

How will you start out your 2011?

Do you make resolutions??

New toy.... LOVE IT!

So I got me a new toy. A mio watch. I love it. It tells me how many calories I have burned after I exercise. You set it before you go with your heart rate and then randomly several times during your exercise and it calculates how many calories you urned. The more often you check your heart rate the more accurate it is.

Today when I walked I burned 584 calories. 6kms in an hour. I like it. It was seen on the Dr.Phil show. It was on sale at Canadian tire so that was also a bonus. I have been watching for a while now for something like this. keeps you motivated. Helps you burn.

Some have a polar watch... Do you have one? How do you calculate your caloric burn?

Look out Billy the kid....

When Darin is home we try to spend sometime together as a family. He doesn't get holidays per say because he is a seasonal employee so if he wants time off it is unpaid time. So this happens rarely. But it has been known to happen.

This is one of the things recently that we went to as a family. A town not too far from us has a wild west weekend. So we decided that we would take to boys and see if they would like it. No question, they did.

First thing.... cowboy hats.... Good price really only $10.00 each.

Then the parade..... this was just one of the things they had... The stage coach.

Then a little drink at the Saloon..... Tyson had to fight off the show girl..."awww shucks he's cute".

Then a little panning for gold as the sun got hot!! Look Mom I got some!!

Then a visit to the petting zoo.... goats, crocodiles, and lemurs....oh my!

They even had the worlds smallest pony.... only a foot and a half tall!

Tyson thought the best part was the pony ride!

Then the boys waited for the train that only passed through once a week...... long wait! Tyson was not impressed when the actually thought he had to wait a week!!

Then the old west shoot out!!

Then we waited... and waited.... For what you might ask...

(Doesn't Ty look just like a farmer in this pic..exclude the buzz light year. He loves John Deere and the hat so suits him. My little cowboy!)

The Wild West bank robbery...Billy the kid and his gang robbed the bank...

after a little chase, shoot out,and round up the gang was arrested by the sheriff and his deputies...

Billy the kid.., you ask..... He didn't fair out too well..

All in all the kids had a good time. They had a great day.

happy birthday Grandma

This is a very old picture as you can tell by the size of Tyson and Dalton however I like this picture.

Happy birthday to my mother in law. Not only is she turning 65 today but she found out that her boss is closing up shop and so she is retired. She intended to anyway but now she has earlier than she planned.

Honestly, I don't think she is complaining.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!

WE LOVE YOU!

oh and happy retirement too!

Hey fattie wanna get a burger??

Have you ever had one of those days where you have been running so much that you finally take a day to stay home? I did today.

I had all of Dalton's wet camp stuff to go and wash, laundry to put away. Our regular laundry, the stuff from the cottage to finish putting away. The dog is shedding in a big way, so vacuuming is a must. I have dishes from last night. Beds to change since everyone has been away. I haven't dusted in a month. Needless to say I am sure that you get the point.

So after supper I finally sat my fanny on the couch and just was too tired to move. I had everything on my list done. And a few extra things. I though that I was just too tired to venture out on a walk.

So there I sat when Darin asks...." not going for a walk?".

I say...."gosh I am tired, I had a busy day."

Darin says...." Hey fattie wanna go get a burger?"

( most people right now who are reading this, their jaw just dropped but for anyone who knows Darin you are probably laughing because you can totally hear him saying that)

I say... "thanks smart ass!"

Darin says.. " I knew you'd get sick of it and we would grow old and fat together".

I said..." Old maybe but not fat, again smart ass!"

Darin then says...." are you mad enough yet to go for your walk?"

I smiled, kissed him, thanked him and got my shoes on and left for my walk. Then had a swim afterwards.

One thing about Darin, he has such a suttle way to make a point doncha think??

guess who came for dinner..

Scott and Colleen came for dinner. Dalton made Scott a marble cake for his birthday last Friday. The boys were so happy to see them. Dalton was so proud that he managed to swirl the cake perfectly.

It was great. We all had a piece, some of us even had 2! We had roasted potatoes, salad, corn on the cob ( which was Divine) and steak on the BBQ it was the perfect super!

Love you Scotty, Happy Birthday!

pick up Dalton & cottage

Today we headed out early to pick Dalton up from camp. I have to be there around 11 am to get him. So we headed out early to go so I could drop Darin and Tyson off at terry and Steph 's cottage. It is about 10 or so minutes from Dalton's camp.

So then I headed out to get Dalton. As always he was a challenge to find, running with his friends and doing last minute crafts, packing stuff, etc. He was excited to see me and after the short get together service so we can enjoy a taste of what they have been up to all week and have lunch together we headed back to the cottage.

I wanted to go and get my walk in so after a swim, I changed and got on my way. i was sort of sorry after about the first 10minutes but there was no way I was turning back once I had set off. the reason you ask? I think I fed every horse fly in Sharbot lake. They were non stop at me but it just encouraged me to walk faster. It was ridiculous! Seriously. terry said I could have warned you but you were gone before I realized it!!

When I returned, they had started supper. I knew we were having beef ribs for supper that was one of the reasons that I didn't want to miss my walk. they were so stinking good. But you know what? I so paid for it later. Now that I don't eat that way (greasy food) so much anymore, I though I was going to die. I was awake at 2am wishing I could get sick so I could feel just a bit better. Can't see me eating them again for a long time!

So there was a new pup at the cottage this year. He name is Abby. Terry and Steph have had her only a few days now. Max had to be put down. he was a great dog and adored by all. But they couldn't let him suffer any longer with his breathing condition and heat and humidity made it worst. Steph was just so lonely without him that she got Abby. These are a few pics of how spoiled she will be and what a nut she is already.

Seriously have you ever seen a dog sleep like this??? How crazy is that?

The funniest part of the whole weekend was the crazy pup. We would fill up King's water dish ( our dog, the Shepherd in the background) and she would play in it.

I posted the video of her and she would do this every time we filled up the dish and she noticed it! Crazy pup.

Thanks for the weekend Terry and Steph as always we had a great time on the boat and in the lake and in general with you guys!