Happy 2011

to all of my family and friends! Time has flown so quickly and so many things have changed in my life, the lives of family and the world. Recapping the year, it was a good one. We did so many things, alot of it work. One of the highlights was being a torch bearer for the 2010 Olympics. Such an honour!! My scrapbooking store is in it's 3rd year and we moved to a bigger spot in the mall, love it! We saw all of our family at some point during the year which was so nice. (Given how many we have to see that is a feat that we were so happy to have accomplished). 12 Grandchildren now that light up our lives whenever we get to see or talk to them. For now we will just say Happy, Happy 2011 and may everyone have a healthy, prosperous and fun filled new year! May we also see the world come together as we did last February.

Our Dear Jake

We lost Jake, one of the two Maltese dogs that we have. I think that most people find it very hard to lose pet. His sister Cassidy is now a pampered pooch that turns 14 in early March. She comes to work with me and has started to put some of the weight back on that she lost after he died. These are some of the last pictures taken of him. In the second picture he was in dire need of a haircut and bath but his health was just to fragile. He perked up for a few days and then passed.

He was almost completely blind, the vet said as long as he was comfortable, no problem. But you can tell in the first picture he was starting to use his legs for balancing himself. We miss you Jakester and always will.

Spring time brings the gardener out in me

Something I used to do ALOT was garden, both flowers and vegetables. Now, with my time being more restricted I yearn for the time to putter in the gardens that I do have and to start a vegetable garden once again. This past winter and spring had me looking at bulbs, seeds and bedding plants. I also took time throughout the year to take pictures of the flowers that were in our flowerbeds. Some of them start so early, it was pure pleasure.

What reminds me of my sister-in-law

My husband's brother and his wife live on Vancouver Island so we get to see them quite often. It is not very often that I can spot many of the "things" that they have in their home anywhere else. When I do I am immediately reminded of Aline and Jim. She has put together a beautiful home filled with old and new alike, but, most of all how warm we always feel when we visit them.

Work and Work

This is where I work, one helps to keep the other one going at times. I love scrapbooking. Having both jobs is what keeps me so very busy. This is where I need to be able to cut back in some areas but still have time to get everything done. The store is a dream come true :)

Happier Times

My brother and his wife in happier times. They are on their way to getting divorced after 33 years of marriage. Very hard on them both, their family and on us.

Back to Hockey

Not only does Meagan love watching hockey she loves to play. She is 3rd year university but still takes time to play her favorite sport. She is taking a breather (how do you sleep holding a water bottle!) during a hockey tournament she played in.


Back to the Family Hockey Night another favorite shot with Jonathan and Meagan in their Canucks Jerseys.


We were able to find my two stepsons outside GM Place and got a quick pic of the gang(sorry the friend is unknown)

Jonathan, Unknown, Christopher, Matthew and Meagan

Caught!

We joke with my daughter about this picture that was snapped of her. We are blessed to have a grown daughter who is practical in every way and enjoys having fun without overdoing it. She actually posed for this shot and was asked to smile. The smile is what got me.



So proud of my nephew who is a volunteer firefighter. He works hard while training and along with his regular job he is also has a black belt and teaches Tae Kwon Do. In the photo with him is his son.

Family Hockey Night

Not all of these are from 2009. Some special ones that popped into my head are being used and according to Project 365 that is acceptable, which is good lol because I would have posted them regardless.

I LOVE this picture taken just prior to going to a hockey game in Vancouver with my two kids. As you can see they are not fans of the team I am, which makes it all the more fun.

This guy "had my back" as he put it, we were in enemy territory cheering for a different team.

Time Flies

Not only has it flown this past year I have not posted my Project 365. I don't think I recall a year, except for perhaps one or two when we had the farm, that we have been as busy as what we have been. I will add more pictures, the dates will not all be exact. I haven't taken as many pictures, which goes hand in hand with being so busy. Even all of the kids have noticed that I'm not clicking away. It is my goal to be able to let some things go and enjoy visits, outings and getaways the way I used to both with all senses and through the lens of my camera.

I hope everyone is doing well. H1N1 is alive and well where we live and also where many of our family members live. I debated on getting the shot as I have a form of asthma which is on the list. I broke down and got both the h1n1 and the seasonal flu shot which I have never gotten before either.

Keep safe :)

Project 365

With all of the things going on in the world I am taking advantage of 2009 to set new personal goals, help others when I can and work more on many of the things that I love to do. I decided to take the dare from someone to do Project 365. We are talking 365 pictures. Trying to take one a day is sometimes difficult and at times hasn't happened, but then, after talking with a few people who are doing their own 365 I'm not the only one. It is a work in progress, getting better every day with remembering. I have to figure out where to put all of the pics thus far because if I don't get them off of my camera and document just a little bit about the picture I'm sure I will forget. I may have to put many pictures up in just a few blog posts so I get this done. I am determined! I'm also hoping to change the look of the blog, something else that will be entirely new to me. Wish me luck :)

New Years Day 2009(just barely)We stayed home with Meagan and Dennis helping us ring in the New Year.


Meagan is home for Christmas Break. Jake and Cass love Meg but Jake in particular just loves snuggling up with her, makes typing a little tough :)


We are SO not wanting to see any more snow at this point and for us this is alot of snow and more so, for it to stay as long as it has.


There is that "dollop" in the center of the margarine again, old habits die hard.



Removing the Community Christmas Tree from the front of the mall. With all of the commotion over the tree this season we/I are hard pressed to even think about doing it again even though it has been tradition for our mall to have the tree in our parking lot for over 25 years. Some people really don't have the spirit of the season no matter how hard you try to give it to them.

My "For Scrap Sake" blog

and site is finally up and running! I will continue to post the everyday life here from time to time, perhaps just photos. I invite you all to check out my new site, we are so excited that not only the store in the mall is up and running but soon the online one will be as well. You can find us at: www.scrapsake.com
Please bear with us as we continue to tweak the site and make it the best that we can!

It's an Empty Nest!

We drove our youngest child down to University this past weekend. Empty nest syndrome is alive and well in our house. Not as bad as I thought it would be although I'm busier than I think I have been in many, many years. We can talk via messenger, text messages and phone which makes it much more simple than days gone by. She is loving her new home, roommate and anticipating starting her classes next week. Life does go on.

Not surrendering summer yet

We haven't had much of a summer and when we did I was too busy to enjoy very much of it. I made the most of the time I had and am not ready to surrender summer just yet. We had a warm, muggy day on Northern Vancouver Island followed by drizzle and showers. We've had alot of that this summer, more so than past years and I believe we are making up for the phenomenal summer which I was fully able to enjoy last year. I'm hopeful for at least one more full month. Only mother nature knows for sure. Till then I will enjoy walking barefoot in the grass be it dry or wet.

Sisters

My Mom comes from a family of 12 siblings and is very used to having people around to this day. She has only one of her sisters out of all of the kids that live close by. My own brother and sister along with their families that could be there along with my Aunt and several friends helped Mom celebrate her birthday on July 28. We wish we could have been there as well. Happy Birthday Mom!

I've been RAK'ed

Random Acts of Kindness, they are all around us but when we receive one it is especially nice no matter how big or small. An elderly lady who frequents the mall and my office if only to open the door and say a warm hello, dropped off these beautiful hydrangeas which are in full bloom on the north Island. I have a small hydrangea bush where I have moved to but am missing the ones I planted many years ago. It was a simple but kind gesture that results in me smiling every time I look at them across my desk. Now that I am taking off for a few days I will pass them on to a friend that works here in hopes that she will enjoy them as much as I have.