The Senftmers

Introducing...

2008-06-28T22:42:00.014-06:00

I won't even get into why I haven't posted until December 14th! Well, I don't really even have an excuse as to why...so we'll make a fresh start!

If you look to your right, you'll see one of the main sources of blog neglect...her name is Kasey! We finally decided to take the plunge and bring home a puppy, and let me just say that it hasn't been very quiet since!

I'm actually enjoying a quiet moment right now, with Finn behind me on the chair and Kasey sitting at my feet, snoring away. Not sure if anyone has noticed the reason behind her name...I threw it out as a joke towards Steven when we got her. For all of you Mr. Dressup fans, we now have a Kasey & Finnigan!

Here are some of our favorite Kasey pics so far...more to come!

Oh Christmas Tree!

2007-12-14T15:04:00.000-07:00

Christmas is a few short days away & I think that this is the least that I've ever been ready, ever! We thought we were doing well when we bought our Christmas tree on November 25, little did Steve know that he had to make a fresh cut to the trunk...oops! Last Sunday was spent dragging the old tree outside, cleaning up never-ending needles, and putting up our other (artificial) tree.

So, the new tree is up & I have to say, it looks pretty good! I would like to think it's because of my mad tree decorating skills, but it's really because the cats finally decided to leave it alone this year. Enjoy the pics!

Take A Little Trip With Me!

2007-10-30T21:43:00.000-06:00

I'm doing the happy dance...no more city transit for me! Simply put, I got my license today (only took ten years, but whatever)! Steven is on his way home (shut down, yet again) but it will be nice to celebrate this with him!

Lessons Learned

2007-10-29T21:21:00.000-06:00

The wedding is over, Steven is gone for 3 weeks and I am sitting here twiddling my thumbs. Well, I'm actually typing right now, but you get the idea! It's time to brush off the dust & cobwebs and look at the "to-do" list that I've been pushing aside for the last 6 months or so.

License to Drive: Yes, it was a popular movie back in the '80's, but that isn't what I'm getting at. At 26, I'm a bit backwards in the fact that I have a car, but no license. My road test is tomorrow (#3 to be exact) so hopefully you'll see me cruising around in my lovely grandma-mobile soon!

Guitar: My fingers hurt, a lot! Hitting the chords aren't as easy as I thought, because I was blessed with short little fingers that don't stretch very far. My goal is to at least play something without having to stop constantly for a break.

Writing: More of it...'nuff said!

There is so much more that I would like to do, but I think that it's best to stick to these 3 for now. My short little fingers are crossed!

Changes

2007-09-21T10:04:00.001-06:00

A lot has changed in the Witmer/Senft family in the last week! For starters, I'm now a Senft (you just have to say it quickly without thinking about it)! Our wedding took place in Canmore on September 15, and we couldn't have asked for a better day! We lucked out with awesome 20 degree weather, clear skies and a bit of mountain breeze to keep us comfortable. I can't wait to see how our pro pictures turned out, but the ones below are keeping me satisfied for now.

On September 14, there was another reason to celebrate! Stacey, David & Caleb welcomed Grace Erin Allen into the world at 9:30 a.m. Steve & I were looking over the paperwork for our marriage licence when Dave called me with the news, and of course the waterworks came! The registry agent was looking at me funny until I told her why I was crying (happy tears of course)! Grace is beautiful, we can't wait to watch her grow and explore her new surroundings. A big congrats to the Allen family...we love you all so much!

So, here are a few pictures to highlight the wedding....I'll be posting more as I get them. Enjoy!

What A Burn...

2007-08-30T20:06:00.000-06:00

Many people that know me know that I am prone to accidents. On my first date with Steve, I sprained my foot (first time ever). I always have bruises that appear out of nowhere, and I constantly ram my knee into our glass coffee table (always the same spot too)! I'm constantly tripping over something, sometimes the cats~mostly myself though...will it end?!?

Given my clumsy history, you would think I would avoid anything potentially dangerous this close to the wedding. You know, walking, running, things that are hot, my cats! But noooo.....

I am so not domestic & I try to avoid ironing at all costs. But alas, I had to iron the wrap that I bought for the wedding...Canmore gets chilly you know! Anyway, I was putting the iron down to go check on something, and of course I trip on the iron cord....gah! How I burned the arm that I was ironing with is beyond me, but my wrap is wrinkle free (maybe I can use it to cover my arm)....

And no mom...I don't have any rotten lemons to put on it (I can hear you already)!

A Lot to be Happy For!

2007-08-28T21:45:00.000-06:00

The decision came after many nights working on the playlist for our wedding. Steve decided that my PC was indeed a dinosaur. Fifteen minutes is way too long to have to wait for your computer to start up even for the most patient person. So...we welcomed an iMac into the family! I had a brief moment that I missed the dinosaur, but it quickly passed. I love my Mac sooo much more!

Anywho, the countdown is officially on till W-Day (oh who am I kidding...I've been counting down since I was 5). Last weekend was my shower, and I'm sure Steve was glad to be away at work because it was full of girly fun! In addition to a few umm...unmentionables...I received some cookbooks, and some towels in the shape of a wedding cake, very cute! Thanks to all the lovely ladies that came out for the day, I had a great time! Here are some highlights...

The Takeover

2007-08-20T11:52:00.000-06:00

"Wow, update much?" Since the discovery of Facebook, I've been neglecting the blog, and I've been getting that comment a lot! Social utility tool...bah! More like shameless addiction!

This summer has been pretty busy for us & I cannot believe how time is flying. Just under a month till we say "I do" in Canmore, and also the same amount of time until Baby Allen graces us with their presence (hopefully sooner than that though)! Here are some highlights from the summer, and I *promise* that I will update soon!

Gone Fishin'!

2007-06-28T09:37:00.000-06:00

Steven & I went to the Senft family reunion last weekend in Lumsden, SK. While we were there we stayed at Rowan's Ravine Provincial Park with everyone and it was a great time! It was really nice to see everyone and the weather agreed with us (well, for the most part!).

On Sunday, everyone had left except Colin, Allison & Garret, so we rented a boat and went fishing for the afternoon, and the boys went fishing againt the next morning. They all caught something...even Garret (he played with the frozen minnows that we were using for bait)!

Adventures in Dino-Land!

2007-06-10T20:06:00.000-06:00

See, this is what happens when you don't blog consistently...you get stuck in the mouth of a massive T-Rex...yikes! Steve has been home for spring break-up, so we've been busy traveling the countryside (and doing some home renos too)!

We decided to re-do our main bathroom, so for those wanting to see some pics, well, it's not quite done yet! The hard stuff is done (tiling, new tub surround), but now we are doing some finishing touches. Steve did some abstract art pieces today, but we are waiting on another picture and a new light fixture before the big reveal.

Last week we went up to Calgary and just missed the massive storm that they had, as we went straight to High River to see Dad and Marie-Lou. We had a great visit with them, and the next day we went into the city to pick up some new things for the bathroom, and of course, made a trip to Ikea! We then went up to see mom and Brayden in Caroline and had a nice supper & laughed over some old pictures that we had dug out. The next day we had breakfast on mom's deck and then headed for home.

Well, if anyone knows us at all, they know that we can't just come straight home! No, we decided to stop in Drumheller. I'd never been there before and Steve thought it was necessary for me to climb up the World's Biggest Dinosaur! We also hit the Reptile Museum (not for the squeamish, especially if you dislike snakes, like me!) and the Royal Tyrell Museum, which was great to see.

That's all for now, I should be posting more regularly now that we are home and in the midst of some wedding plans....almost 3 months to go!

Worth It? Very Much!

2007-04-17T13:55:00.000-06:00

For Christmas I asked for a gift certificate to get a tattoo. After putting it off (for months!) I decided to suck it up and get it over with. So without further ado, here it is! So much pain but very worth it in the end. I had been looking for a long time for something that I liked when I saw this whimsical little guy on the cover of James Blunt "Back To Bedlam" cd.

I also had my nose pierced about a week before I had my appointment, which was also painful but not as bad as a needle jabbing into me for an hour and a half! I think I'm done for a while...pain & I do not get a long very well. Steve thinks I should have a few more tattoos though...we'll see!

Melissa

Road Trippin'!

2007-04-14T21:40:00.000-06:00

Steve & I had to go up to Canmore to go over some wedding details with our planner. We were able to get a lot done while we were there and we are looking forward to September when it all comes together!

Yesterday we headed into Banff and went on the gondola there. I'll just say right now that I am not a fan! But the view from the top is amazing and well worth it. After Banff we decided to keep on going and stopped in Radium Hot Springs and went on a hike in
Kootenay National Park. The area is beautiful and we were so glad that we had our camera with us!

After Radium, we headed to Fernie where we stayed the night and woke up this morning to come home. We stopped in Sparwood, home of the World's Largest Truck. Of course Steve wanted to climb in, but there isn't any way to do that! We then continued on our way and stopped by The Frank Slide and our last stop was in Waterton.

Take A Look At Me Now

2007-03-18T10:31:00.000-06:00

What's this, two posts in two days? Shocking! You may see a new addition to the Senftmers blog....take a look to your right.

It's called Facebook & right now I am a tad excited about it. I found it last night & it's a great way to catch up with old friends from high school/work/college! A friend of Steven's sent us a link to it last night. So yes, I spent Saturday night finding people I haven't seen/talked to in years. It's great, I've already got a message from a good friend from my homeroom in high school...holla Dionne!

So, take a look at Facebook (you can click on the link on the right). Who knows...maybe you'll find someone that you've forgotten all about! And, if you join...add me as a friend...because it's a nice thing to do!

Later,
Melissa

March Un-Madness

2007-03-17T14:04:00.001-06:00

Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone! The sun is shining and its a *balmy* 18 degrees...until tomorrow, I think we might have some flurries. Urgh...make up your mind...I want to go sandal shopping!

Anywho, not much going on right now. Let's face it, March is a snoozefest! Steve has been away since the first, and he comes home tomorrow! I guess that's exciting (for me anyway). He'll be off for a while for spring break-up, so we plan on going on a few road trips. Wynyard, and the even more exciting Nisku are on the list of places we need to hit.

We also plan on heading up to Canmore (where our wedding will be). We have to meet with our wedding planners/suppliers, as the big day is just under 6 months away! I'm judging on how much time I have left by looking at my sister's ever growing tummy...she's due on our wedding day!

So, I guess March might be boring, but there will some very exciting events sneaking up on us in mere months.

Until next time....
Melissa

They're Just Big-Boned....Really!

2007-02-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Steve & I took our big babies to the vet for their annual check up. Getting them into their kennel is event enough...they cry & scratch at the walls like it's prison!

We arrive at the vet and I go to take the kennel out and make Steve carry it because it weighs a ton! I didn't think the cats weighed that much...until they get on the scale. Minou gets on the scale first and the doctor informs us that she weighs 10.5lbs. No big deal (so we think) until she tells us that last year Minou weighed 9lbs, and she has gained the equivalent of 60 human pounds in one year! Needless to say, she is on diet. So is Finn, because the little pork chop gets on the scale & weighs in at 12.4lbs. EEK! No more grazing for them...they are now on a new diet to get slim and trim! They aren't very happy with us right now, but we are determined to get them down a pound or two for next year's trip to the vet. Maybe the next visit won't be so embarassing!

Love Child!

2007-02-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, so some of you might know that today is Steven's birthday! A little known fact about Mr. Senft is that when he was born, the nurses brought him to his parents with little hearts attached to him! There isn't a picture of that, but this picture is from Steven's first birthday, and he still loves his cake that much! Send some warm birthday vibes his way...he's at work right now and it's freakin' cold where he is!

Steven sent me some flowers today, so I thought that I'd share them with you! Have a great Valentine's Day everyone...love ya!

Let Her Eat Cake!

2007-02-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

It's my mom's birthday today so I just thought I'd do a quick shout out to her (Holla!) If you frequent her blog at all, stop in and wish her a happy b-day. Or eat some cake on her behalf...whatever suits you!

Melissa

Cupcake Challenge

2007-01-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

Warning....this post may lead to severe cupcake/sugar/chocolate/all things bad for you in general cravings. I am not responsible! Just some musings on what I saw on tv last night.

Ok, so there is nothing....and I mean absolutely nothing on last night! So I think..."well, maybe the Food Network has something on, let's check that out...". I should have never turned it on...because I think it led to the most instense craving I think I have ever had for anything! It was the Cupcake Challenge (for an underlying reason I think)! Six teams are challenged to make the tastiest cupcake and they also have to create a mostly edible showpiece to win X amount of dollars. It was an hour full of chocolate, sugar, more chocolate, icing, and I think even more chocolate. The teams had six hours to complete the task at hand...the picture here is the showpiece that won.

After the show was over, all I wanted was a stupid chocolate cupcake! But, I was good* and I didn't have one. Here's to intense cravings! What would we do without them?

Melissa

*Please note that there was not anything remotely cupcake like in the house, which was the only reason there was no partaking of anything that resembled a cupcake. I did have a chocolate turtle though....mmmm....delicious turtle-y goodness!

McParty Time!

2007-01-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

A little late on the post, I know...as most of this stuff relates to last weekend! Since Steven was home last week, we had a lot of catching up to do with family and friends!

Last Friday we went to Kalee & Benny's for a visit...the guys watched a hockey game & the girls talked, and talked, and talked....it's been a while! After the game was over (and only then!) we decided to go to the Lava Lounge for some yummy pub food and drinks. Good times...we should do it more often!

On Saturday, we went to Caleb's birthday party at McDonald's. It was fun to see him take his first bite of cake, but...as you can tell from the pictures, he's not a big fan at the moment! We think he's more of a McNugget & fries kind of guy!

After the weekend, the rest of the week flew by! Steve & I booked a few things for our wedding and then before we knew it, it was time for him to go back to work. He'll be home in 11 days (urgh, that sounds like a lot)!

That's all for now!

Another Birthday!

2007-01-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

A year ago my sister Stacey & her hubby David welcomed Caleb into the world. Happy Birthday Caleb! It sure has been a fun year getting to know you and we can't wait to see what this next year brings!

Over the past year, Stacey has sent us sooo many pictures...it was hard to pick, but these are a few of our favorites.

Happy Birthday to Us (The Senftmers!)

2007-01-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

Our blog is one whole year old! Ok, we actually started blogging on January 8th/06, so it's more like one year and two days....let's not get technical! Anyway, it's been quite the year and we are looking forward to another year of posting. I'm sure that there will be lots to yak about!

I got my camera back this week (thanks Shauneen!) and snapped some pics of the guitar that I got from Steven for Christmas. One of my resolutions for this year was to learn to play, and so far, I rock the E & A chords....don't laugh...it's a work in progress! I'm going to start a list of songs that I want to learn, and if anyone has some suggestions, let me know.

Steve is home tomorrow & we have a busy week ahead that will be filled with birthday parties, bathroom renovations and some Big Macs (weird combination...I'll explain later).

Until next time!

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

Once again Christmas and New Year's is over and gone in a flash! Santa was very good to Steven & I (and the cats too)! I think the theme of Christmas this year for me was the "gift of music" as I received cd's, dvd's, and of course, my spankin' new acoustic guitar! I'll post pics of it later, as I am sans camera at the moment.

Steven received almost everything on his list (except the much anticipated PS3...sorry honey!) and was very happy with all his gifts. My sister gave him a game that he really wanted for his PC...seriously, this game has 6 discs to it, and will take him a good 6 months to finish it!

Mom & Brayden were here as well & were with us on Christmas morning and we opened some gifts here. Later in the day we went to John & Shauneen's for more presents and some delicious turkey goodness. Played some games, ate some pie, and went home stuffed!

On Boxing Day, Steven & I went to the farm in Wynyard to spend some time with his family. More presents and more turkey/perogies/cabbage rolls/treats in general! It was great to see the family and friends that we haven't seen in a long time. Later in the week we spent an evening making deer sausage (fun with intestines)! Anyone that wants some, let me know!

Our New Year's wasn't too exciting, as we travelled home from the farm yesterday. We were supposed to come home on Saturday so we could spend New Year's with Kalee & Benny in Consul. However, I spent Saturday laying in bed with a bucket attached to me, because I had the flu...not fun at all. Steven also had to leave early today to drive up to Slave Lake, so it was probably best that we stayed home. So, we had a Six Feet Under marathon and ate some yummy treats and went to bed after the clock struck midnight.

So, today I should be putting away the tree & all the decorations, but instead, I'm playing with my new presents. My dad gave me a webcam for Christmas, and I've been adjusting that and then decided to update! Might go to Stacey & Dave's later for a visit....should be fun!

All the best in '07!

Melissa & Steven

2006-12-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

My First Christmas Present!

As much as I would like to think that Santa left me one of the cats under the tree, I know that Finn is just waiting for me to leave the room so he can attack!

But anyway....

My sweet nephew Caleb (with a little help from Mom & Dad) gave me something from my new favorite store; Basketry Bug. Thanks Caleb! Uncle Steven and I will enjoy it very much! It has a little something for all of us, even the cats. That store has just about anything that you can think of, and they put together some really beautiful gifts. I'm actually giving someone a gift from there, but I can't say who because they frequent this blog quite often!

Well, should go, Steve & I are headed to the farm on Wednesday for an early Christmas with his side of the family, and we won't be back until Christmas Eve. I have presents to wrap & laundry to do, not to mention keeping some unnamed suspects out of the tree!

Merry Christmas!

Melissa & Steven

2006-12-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

Christmas All Over Again!

Where did it come from! All of the sudden I feel caught up in Christmas commercials & my favorite holiday flicks (National Lampoon anyone?)

So, in the spirit of the holidays, Steven & I thought that it would be a good idea to go to West Edmonton Mall to do some shopping. We had a great time, but at the end of the day we were very happy to put up our feet! We saw one of the actors from Corner Gas (Eric Peterson, who plays Oscar on the show) was on the escalator behind me in the HMV store...going up! As some of you might know, I really hate escalators and I try to avoid them whenever possible...but anyway!

Now the decorations are out and the tree is up (the cats have already had their way with it!) Don't let the picture fool you...it's a rare moment that they sit under the tree ~more like in the tree. The house is feeling very warm & cozy, and soon there will be yummy treats to eat (mmmmmmm....delicious tryptophan goodness!) Happy Holidays!

2006-10-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

Home Again

October 31....at the beginning of this month I could not wait for October to be over. Now I can't believe that it is! There wasn't a week that went by without some up or downs (more downs that ups).

Right after Allison & Colin's wedding I caught a cold that turned into larangytis by the end of the week. This meant no talking for Melissa, which also meant everyone making fun of me because they all know how much I like to talk! There was also a lovely barking cough that came with it...but thanks to some antibiotics and Steven taking good care of me, I'm all better.

In my last post, you read that Steven & I were packing up to go to Wynyard to be with his dad (Darius) and the rest of the family. As some of you know, Darius was diagnosed with cancer (Soft Tissue Sarcoma) at the end of August. Sadly, Darius passed away on October 23, 2006. Steven & I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, love & support during the last few months and through this difficult time.

So, now we are trying to get back into a routine at home. Steven left for work yesterday & I had an interview at the hospital for a secretary position in the Speech, Language & Hearing department. I'm headed off to Calgary this weekend to meet mom for the James Blunt concert & then meet my dad the next day for a visit. It should be a good weekend....I'm looking forward to it! Steven will be back in town next week, so we look forward to seeing everyone then.

Until next time....
M & S

2006-10-18T16:09:00.000-06:00

Rocktober So Far...

Steven & I went down to Strathcona one day and played photographer. It was such a beautiful fall day, so we spent the afternoon playing with all the settings on our camera.

A belated blog congrats to Alli & Colin on the big day! Steven & I had so much fun at their wedding, what a great day it was (I have a lovely bruise on my leg to prove it)! It was really nice to see all of the family together and it got us really looking forward to our wedding next year.
Not much else that is new...Steven & I are packing up the fifth wheel & the cats to go to Wynyard for a little while to be with his family. I'm sure I'll have more news to post when we come back!

M & S

2006-09-25T18:58:00.000-06:00

Cute Caleb Pics

Hi everyone, just thought that we would share this link with you! Clickhere for some cute pics of our nephew Caleb.

M & S

2006-09-17T14:40:00.000-06:00

Should Be...But I'm Not!

I'm sitting at my computer, the weather is drizzly and cold, and I should be studying. Instead, I keep finding other things to do...like laundry!

363 days and counting as Steven & I have set the date for our wedding. It seems like it will be really far away, but I know that time will fly. We have a lot of things keeping us busy at the moment. I'm writing my CSC test on Halloween, so I've been studying whenever I can a get a spare moment in.

Steve & I were at his parents' farm in Saskatchewan a few weeks ago, as his we found out that his dad is sick. Steve is there right now, helping around the farm and being with his family as much as possible. Then he is off to work for a few weeks, and hopefully will be working around Medicine Hat soon.

Well, should get back to the books! October 31 is six weeks away and I need to really put the pressure on myself to finish! On November 3 Mom, Stacey & I are going to see James Blunt in Calgary. That should be a good stress buster!

More later,
M

2006-08-12T22:16:00.000-06:00

Yikes!

I've neglected our blog for the last few months...maybe there should be an alarm or something when it's time for a new update. I respond to sound...the cats, my alarm clock, my Outlook calendar at work (by the way, also has a cute little cat for my alerts....it's the office assistant).

Anyway, Steve & I have been pretty busy this summer. Between work, courses, and weddings, there hasn't been much time for anything else! I've started working on my Canadian Securities Course (soooooo interesting, really!) and will write my first..yes I said first...test at the end of October.

Last weekend was Kalee & Benny's wedding...that was way too much fun! Steve and I were in the wedding and had a great time at the Delorme Ranch! Thanks once again to Don & Connie for hosting! Thanks also to Kalee & Benny for letting us be a part of your special day....we love you both :)

I have so much more to talk about, but I don't want this to turn into a book! I'll post again soon...really I promise! Stay tuned...

M

2006-05-24T20:48:00.000-06:00

I Said No Pictures!

Have you ever heard of the saying, "Dogs have owners, cats have staff"? I think this applies in our case! Steven & I have always known that our cat Minou, was a diva...but this picture proves it!
Some of her other diva-like behavior includes:
-Drinking her water out of her dish with her paw
-Sleeping on her giant pillow under the kitchen table all day
-Making sure Finn isn't around if she wants to cuddle with us
-No toy will do, she only enjoys playing with candy bar wrappers

We also have Finn (or Finnigan when he is in trouble) the other man of the house. We think that he's part dog, because when we give him toys, he rips them to shreds by chewing on them. He also enjoys the candy wrappers...preferrably the Hershey Kisses kind. He's not really picky, but Minou is teaching him how to drink his water with his paw, among other things. Finn also enjoys playing in the toilet, especially if there's toilet paper around. We'll walk in the bathroom to find artwork on the walls (he must take after Steve).

That' s all for now....click here to see some more cat footage. Enjoy!

2006-05-22T16:05:00.000-06:00

What's New?!?

A lot has happened over the last few weeks! CIBC Wood Gundy offered me the full-time Sales Assistant position, and I will start on June 1. I'm very excited about the job as it is something totally different than what I am used to doing.

Steven is away for the next month or so at work, so it's just me & the cats again! Last week we took the RV up to Nisku (by Edmonton) because he had to take some courses for work, so we were able to do a little bit of camping. I then went on to Caroline and was able to go up in a plane and see the results of the Burnstick Lake fire. Mom, Reg & Brayden almost had to leave because of a 1 hour evacuation notice, as their house is very close to that area.

Came home on Friday with Mom & Brayden to even more scorching weather...not complaining though, I love it! On Sunday we met John, Shauneen & the boys at Echodale park for a BBQ and bocce. Later that evening, mom & I played Name That Tune at one of the pubs with John & Shauneen and we won a $50 gift certificate to use at the pub. There were 30 songs to name & we had 29 right. Lots of fun had by all....and we were able to see the Oilers win....woohoo!

2006-05-04T15:20:00.001-06:00

Camping in Style!

Steven & I bought a schmancy new (not really.it's a '93) 5th wheel last week! It's mostly for when he's away at work, so he doesn't have to stay in smelly motels. Good news though...the company he works for signed a contract to keep them working for the next few years. I'll post pics of it later.

I had a "pre-screening" interview on the phone today for a Sales Assistant job at CIBC Wood Gundy which went well...I have a formal interview on May 9. I would be assisting Investment Advisors with everything adminstrative, plus provide investment info to clients. It would be a new experience, I've never thought of this industry until lately...fingers crossed!

More Later!
M

2006-04-19T20:05:00.000-06:00

Punta Cana Pics

Hello all! As promised, here are a few more pics from our trip. We're off to Saskatchewan tomorrow to visit some friends and family. Enjoy!

2006-04-12T14:41:00.000-06:00

We're Baaaaaaaaack!

We arrived home last night at about 9 p.m., with plenty of pictures & presents for all! Punta Cana was amazing, we had a blast! The cats were very happy to see us after being left alone for over a week, and they've been following us around all day.

I received a special gift of my own on the trip...see the picture? Steven & I are engaged! The spot below is where he asked; it's a spot where a lot of the animals hang out (flamingos & ducks & parrots oh my!) It was funny...because after I said yes, all the ducks started to quack like crazy to congratulate us!

I'll post more pictures & stories about the trip later as I am up to my eyes in laundry; just thought that we should share the good news as soon as possible!

2006-03-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

Who Knew?

I was out today shopping with Stacey & Caleb and bought some new threads for our trip...at Superstore! They have a new clothing line there for men & women (tees, tanks, skirts, pj's etc.) for pretty reasonable prices, nothing is over $39 bucks. I bought a really cute skirt & tank top, plus some cargos for under $50. I love buying new clothes (as many of you know!) but I also love getting a good deal. Yay bargains!

More later,
M.

PS...9 more sleeps 'till paradise!

2006-03-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hola Punta Cana!

It's official, Steve & I have booked our trip to the Dominican Republic. We leave on April 4 @ 3:10 a.m. from Calgary. Yuck time, but look at where we'll be when we wake up! Mind you, I probably won't being sleeping, because I'll be too excited/nervous. We'll be staying at the all inclusive Secrets Excellence Resort & Spa in Punta Cana. Kind of a cheeseball name, but the resort is really beautiful!

TripAdvisor is a great resource with helping us decide where we wanted to go, as it has reviews, forums & pictures from people that have been there. I plan on posting a review there when we return from our trip. Also, we found some fellow Canadians that are going to be there the same time as us, and this is there fifth time going to Secrets!

Just waiting now for Steven to come back from work so we can work out all of the details with packing & all of that good stuff. He has to have one more Hep B shot before we go, which makes a total of 3 for him & only one for me...aahh travel!

More later!
M

2006-02-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this post on Steven's fancy dancy new laptop! I'm getting less afraid to touch it now :) Anyway, thanks Mum & Stace/Dave/Caleb for the supportive comments. It really means a lot to me, especially when others can negative and/or cynical.

Anyway, we bought some cool software to help us with our business plan, so that may be my next project for a while, until I find something part time. Steve's been working a lot, and is looking forward to some much needed time off. Everything else is pretty normal & regular, quiet evenings at home with the cats (no...I'm not a crazy cat lady lol). Take a look at the charmer here...he's really not that beastly!

I'll try and get some new pics up soon, Steve & I really need to get some new pics of us...we only have two different shots I think (blah!) Maybe I'll dabble in some novice photography!

Later!
M

2006-02-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

Is it absolutely terrible to have writer’s block before you even start to write? That is my dilemma at the moment. To be more realistic, I do have more than one dilemma; actually several! However, wanting to become a published writer, this is the most daunting of all. I'm on a quest to write something, I just do not know what to write.

I feel as if I have a million ideas in my head that need to be organized, and I'm not quite sure how to go about it. There is the obvious answer to brainstorm, which I have tried with minor success....but how do I turn my jumble of ideas and words into a great literary piece?

I stand firm in my belief that this is something that I can accomplish. I often think of great writers and what the world would be like if they decided to keep their creative forces to themselves. There would be no Shakespeare, no Sylvia Plath, Dr. Seuss or countless others who reached into their hearts and minds to give us the opportunity to delve into a world different than our own; or one we can relate to.

2006-01-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

Aaah...the wonderful world of travelling. It sounds so glamorous, so easy....so I thought! Steve and I are planning a vacation to Varadero, Cuba in April. Of course, we have to acquire passports and all of that good stuff, which is easy for Steve but not so much for me. You see, I was legally adopted by a step-parent oh, let's say 12 years ago, maybe even longer than that. All documents that have my birth name are no longer valid (ie. birth certificate). I now have to complete a legal name change, receive a new birth certificate, and then proceed with the passport application. Fingers crossed that this all goes smoothly! I keep having nightmares that we're at the airport and I don't have a passport!

Also, I've noticed that a lot of our friends and family have decided to go on vacation as well...what can I say...we're trendsetters! I can see myself on the beach, with an ice cold umbrella drink :) Stay tuned...

2006-01-12T15:40:00.001-07:00

The wait is over! Caleb John Allen made his debut on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at 1:10 a.m. 5 lbs 15.05 oz, 21 inches long. Mom and baby (and daddy too!) are doing great and should be home shortly. Welcome to the world little one! The adventure begins...

2006-01-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

The waiting game has officially begun....
My beautiful sister Stacey, is about to give birth to her first baby....a week ago! She was due on New Year's Day, but alas, the New Year's baby has come and gone. She was induced today and now the waiting game begins.

Why does it seem that this is the longest few days of my life? I'm not pregnant, so I can't even imagine how she must feel...with a human growing inside of her, getting bigger by the day (with no desire to come out, I might add)! I'm the proud auntie though, and I really cannot wait to see what my sister and her wonderful husband have created. I'm awaiting a phone call to tell me when to come to the hospital, and I become very anxious every time that the phone rings. Soon enough, I tell myself, soon enough....

See you soon little one! Can't wait!

2006-01-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hello all! We've decided to join the wonderful world of blogging! There has (and will be) so much going on in the next few months that we might as well keep everyone updated. Weddings (no not ours!) babies & more! Stay tuned...