tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57329472012-02-14T23:59:08.803-06:00Mommy AllisonI am experiencing the joys of being a Mom of three. I love it so very much. I also enjoy being a wife, doing lunch with anyone who wants to join me (harder now with the kids!), taking pictures, and sports, namely soccer and wakeboarding. I've also taken up running in the past three years and have ran in two half marathons.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.comBlogger4861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-13681067602004615012012-02-06T01:30:00.003-06:002012-02-06T02:08:47.541-06:00Becoming Accountable...I'm going to give a more "official" review of the Accountable Kids program in this post. We started a couple of weeks ago, and are just moving into the second "step" tomorrow. Up until this point, the kids have had "core" chores - chores that are expected of them each day because they are a part of the family. They earn tickets for each "set" of chores they do - one in the Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-77183672570251596742012-01-29T23:23:00.002-06:002012-01-29T23:44:32.854-06:00I was just reading a friend's blog, and she mentioned that this year, she wants to talk about good books she's read. And since I recently asked for suggestions from people for good books to read (and received many awesome suggestions), I thought I'd pass them on. Let me start by saying that up until, oh, 5 1/2 years ago or so, I would devour books. I mean, devour. When I started driving, I asked Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-38208083982685881262012-01-24T18:10:00.004-06:002012-01-24T18:14:41.853-06:00So Accountable Kids is going well. Particularly with Jared. This type of thing is right up his alley - visual and goal-oriented. Ayda...not so much. She just doesn't care about moving cards and getting tickets. Actually, giving the warning that I will take a ticket away does usually change behavior, but doing the chores to get tickets...eh, may or may not happen. I am going to do a formal Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-32225290100870762372012-01-18T01:02:00.002-06:002012-01-18T01:09:31.900-06:00Going Public...After privatizing my blog a few years ago, I'm going public once again. The reason for the change is a new "program" I'm doing with the older kids, called Accountable Kids. They have a really good rebate program for blogging about them, as long as the blog is public. And I have to have 5 followers - anyone know how to get that as an option? I mean, I know I have people that read myAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-29479146020932766582011-12-15T00:19:00.002-06:002011-12-15T01:13:06.306-06:00A bit of an update...Maisy and her cousin, Suri. Suri is 5 weeks older than Maisy.Jared eagerly put on his own robe for a photo op!Sister!!Jared playing at his first piano recital!I do believe that Maisy will have the same long, gorgeous eyelashes that her siblings do...Our little Maisy is 2 months old now. She weighed 13 pounds, 10 ounces at her check-up. And was 23.5 inches long. 97th Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-5226095041264633082011-11-22T00:20:00.003-06:002011-11-22T21:58:58.433-06:00Introducing Maisy Grace...again!Can you tell her limbs are a bit chilly?! Poor thing. But I still love this picture.Safe with Daddy.We have a picture like this for each of the kids. I could post the one of Ayda, but unfortunately, we didn't get the CD of Jared's newborn pics. I'd have to scan the one we have, and at this point, that is just too labor intensive! :)Daddy and his girls.Family of Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-81255116148021047322011-10-22T00:43:00.002-06:002011-10-22T01:22:52.687-06:00SHE'S HERE!!!Once again, I've posted the pictures in reverse order. Sigh. Anyway, our beautiful daughter, Maisy Grace, was born on October 14 at 1:42 in the morning. She aspirated blood from my placenta which ruptured during labour - yeah, not fun. It was pretty serious and scary...she was intubated and rushed to the NICU. Thankfully, she is a feisty fighter (all her nurses agreed on that!) and Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-77055291186953969912011-10-03T00:47:00.003-06:002011-10-03T00:52:56.245-06:00Yup, still here, still waiting. Still praying. I'd post pictures from last week when I was 37 weeks, but the camera is in the truck, waiting to make the journey with us to the hospital, and I don't feel like going to get it. But I am now 38 weeks and it's time. Seriously. Time.Oh yeah, and I really like my new template. It's got the fall colors, but with a twist of happy, warm sunshine. Kind of Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-16916433141695103522011-09-27T22:41:00.002-06:002011-09-27T22:42:31.660-06:00Well, I'm ready. Anytime Baby! For a few reasons, I ask for prayers that Baby does make his or her appearance soon. Seriously - I would be so much less stressed this fall if Baby came soon...thanks.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-53405339130359902612011-09-22T21:19:00.001-06:002011-09-22T21:21:20.976-06:00When I was pregnant with Ayda, she was already here by now. Weird. And ready - yup, super ready. Any time after Sunday would be perfect. My in-laws were here today, helping set up the nursery and clean the house, which was SO nice. I have plans that I don't really want disrupted tomorrow night and Sunday, but after that...bring on the baby!!!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-55794915773395236642011-09-16T00:11:00.003-06:002011-09-16T00:46:16.279-06:00Firsts...There's the bus!!Climbing the steps...Jared's first day of Kindergarten - so grown up!First girl cousin on Ryan's side - and Jared in his glory holding a beautiful baby!!Ayda - so proud. She did SO good.This is what happens to Ayda's hair on the trampoline!Ayda's first day of preschool. She loves it.These totally got mixed up again, and I haven't the patience to rearrange them right now.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-1427010374924973862011-09-09T01:26:00.002-06:002011-09-09T01:36:35.340-06:00Baby's heart rate on Tuesday was 150. This kid is throwing me for a loop! And sure enough, after two days of feeling like this is a girl, I am right back to having no idea. And that is fine by me - it doesn't matter to either Ryan or I! I was holding a friend's newborn boy today and it got me super excited. I can't wait!!!!Things are starting to change, which I guess is good. Feeling "looser" in Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-64762339055389470822011-09-01T11:49:00.002-06:002011-09-01T12:24:05.225-06:00Just sitting at the cabin, having a "normal morning with the kids, except our location is not home. It's grand. Nice to have the little change, this last week of summer. Seriously, is it September?! I'm watching "This Is It" - the movie/documentary about Michael Jackson's rehearsals for the tour that he never even started. I don't know how I feel about him as a person, who knows what did or Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-84361209558535645442011-08-19T10:26:00.002-06:002011-08-19T10:31:43.334-06:00Most of you that read my blog won't fall into this category of people, but I just want to throw it out there again, that once this Baby is born, please don't post anything on facebook until Ryan and I do it ourselves. It always amazes me how many times some random person will throw up a "congrats on the new little boy" or whatever on someone's wall, before the parents have even had a chance to Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-20800779596585465732011-08-12T10:04:00.002-06:002011-08-12T14:20:17.941-06:00
I have a sinus infection. Yuck, yuck, yuck!!! The worst part is that I can only take Tylenol, which really only takes the edge off of the pain for a short time. And I really don't want to be taking anything if I don't have to, but right now it's a matter of being able to function. And of course, I am also on antibiotics. Which is also a "gamble" with pregnancy, but weighing the pros and cons, IAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-86263197940011461082011-08-03T23:59:00.002-06:002011-08-04T00:06:55.192-06:00Somebody, PLEASE come up with a cold medicine pregnant women can take. This is driving me batty - completely batty. I can't breath, nor can I taste anything. Makes sleeping difficult (for the 6th night in a row) and makes eating unenjoyable. Is that a word?On a different note, I went to check out bridesmaids dresses with my future step-mom (Terry) and sister-in-law (Karen). It was...well, Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-4828284149994360272011-07-26T09:55:00.003-06:002011-07-26T09:58:07.045-06:00Okay - who's the mean person that predicted a baby that weighs more than Jared?! ;) Seriously, I know I grow 'em big. That's another reason to hope for an early arrival. Although throughout this pregnancy, I've always measured a cm less than the week I am - and generally one is supposed to be the same cms as weeks along. So maybe?!?! But I am not expecting a small baby. Not at all!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-78491070998588754192011-07-23T16:26:00.003-06:002011-07-23T16:29:43.152-06:00I've added some polls to the side bar of my blog. Feel free to take a guess!!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-26355212621767300792011-07-14T15:17:00.002-06:002011-07-14T15:27:21.833-06:00So...maybe a bit of a slower pace of life is necessary right now. Tightness, crampiness and Braxton Hicks have begun. And I'm only almost 27 weeks. Sigh. Could be a long rest of the pregnancy. Wondering if this means I won't have to try too hard to have this kid early, but also expecting him/her to come late. Because you have to expect that or else you're in trouble when it does come late!!And onAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-66364730112542009362011-07-05T01:33:00.002-06:002011-07-05T01:40:25.274-06:00I had a dream that we found out we were having a girl. (No, I am not putting any faith in the dream - I dreamt that both Ayda and Jared were each gender throughout my pregnancies with them.) But when I called Ryan's parents to tell them, his Mom was super non-excited ("oh, thanks for letting us know") and Ryan's Dad was upset that Jared wouldn't have a brother. Neither of these reactions are Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-75715311864328116562011-06-19T00:48:00.003-06:002011-06-19T00:59:59.463-06:00Really? Has it really been that long since I last posted?! And I still don't have a new pregnancy pic to post. Seriously. That annoys me. I just keep forgetting until it's too late at night or I'm out driving or something. Having the lovely heart burn these days. It's wonderful...ughh. At least a couple of Tums cures it pretty much right away. But if it starts getting worse, I'm in for the Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-75454634071905591552011-05-29T21:35:00.001-06:002011-05-29T21:35:21.636-06:00I guess I need to take a 20 week belly photo, as that's the stage I'm at! I've been feeling fairly good, except lots of tightening in my tummy. I have no idea if it's just my body going "well, I've done this two other times, so I'm just prepping for what I know if coming" or if I am doing too much or what. It's not a contraction/braxton hicks, in that it's constant. When it started a couple of Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-14552532311678859772011-05-24T21:35:00.001-06:002011-05-24T21:37:00.447-06:00Heart rate at today's ultrasound: 148. And no, I didn't cave and find out!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-9804690883015334102011-05-21T23:54:00.001-06:002011-05-21T23:55:31.768-06:00Special day today: Ryan felt Baby move and kick. At exactly 19 weeks. Always fun to share that stuff with your husband!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-71632995849170080662011-05-18T23:50:00.002-06:002011-05-19T00:01:41.609-06:00I had been a bit worried about this Baby, because I hadn't felt a lot of movement. And I knew it was illogical to worry: I am only 18 weeks now, my placenta is in front, etc. But I just feel like things are going too well this time, so something is bound to go wrong. As it turns out, I was worrying for absolutely nothing! I have an extremely "active little stinker", as the ultrasound technician Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-84601343084367344182011-05-16T00:53:00.003-06:002011-05-16T01:11:46.815-06:00This is me at almost 17 weeks. I was so diligent about taking pictures with the other two kids, and have simply forgotten this time around. Hopefully, now that I am obviously pregnant, I'll remember more often!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-65424929894949787162011-05-06T02:34:00.003-06:002011-05-06T02:48:09.128-06:00Ughh, can't sleep. Not good when I have lots going on tomorrow. But there is a lot floating around in my head, which makes it super hard to sleep. At this exact point in my pregnancy with Ayda, I was not sleeping either. In fact, this night was an extremely unrestful, worrisome, angry and teary night. This night, this very hour during my pregnancy with Ayda I was experiencing hour 25 with Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-19729106219670583222011-04-29T16:56:00.004-06:002011-04-29T17:13:08.056-06:00We got the new car seat and stroller for the Baby yesterday!! I am super excited about it. I was actually a little emotional when we sold our old stroller, but ever since Ryan put the new one together last night, I have just been pumped about the new one. I really did like our old one, but I wanted a double stroller because we do plan on #4. And when Britax launched a sale on the B-Ready and the Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-26021405074751382012011-04-24T23:02:00.002-06:002011-04-24T23:04:29.709-06:00I think I felt Baby move tonight. It seems like it might be too early, so I can't say for sure, but it certainly wasn't gas and it was pretty distinct - distinct enough to get my attention while I was watching Celebrity Attention. Pretty freaking awesome. I had forgotten just how freaking awesome.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-49443471097701811662011-04-14T23:23:00.002-06:002011-04-14T23:26:24.395-06:00Day 31 - the best thing about being youHmmm, that is a tough one. There is the true but cliche answer of "the best thing about being me is that God created me". Like I said, that is true, but I get the feeling that's not the answer looked for. But I don't know what else to say! Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-8163728143522979542011-04-14T23:12:00.003-06:002011-04-14T23:23:07.876-06:00Day 30 - what is your favourite song?Oh boy, this is a tough one. There are so many songs that I love, that evoke very different and very strong emotions. I love music and I love songs and it's hard to pick just one. But the two that immediately come to mind have helped me through the past 3 1/2 years since losing Mom. And since that has been the single-most life changing event for me, it's the Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-85764352983514335632011-04-14T23:09:00.002-06:002011-04-14T23:11:55.828-06:00Okay, time to finish what I started!Day 28 - a picture of you from last year and today; how have you changed since then I am skipping it. I can't find a recent picture of me and am not looking exactly stellar right now for picture taking. I look pretty much the same today as I did a year ago today. I'm boring like that.Day 29 - in this past month, what have you learned?I have learned that I don'tAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-34260364074842114572011-04-10T22:55:00.002-06:002011-04-10T23:00:42.402-06:00I've started a new blog for book reviews. I got the idea and the link from my cousin, Jamie, who just started doing this. Basically, you sign up, pick a book, they send it to you, you read it and then review it on your blog. I think you also have to link your review to their website, which is www.booksneeze.com. I started the new website strictly for that purpose (also a great idea, Jamie!), so Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-37769704834550623072011-04-04T20:38:00.000-06:002011-04-04T20:40:08.425-06:00Day 27 - why are you doing this 30 day challengeI'm doing this in an effort to stay consistent with my blogging. Will I be able to continue blogging every day after this? Probably not. It's obviously easier when a topic is given to me each day! But I hope it still inspires me to be more consistent than I have been recently.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-26371127790768257752011-04-04T20:30:00.002-06:002011-04-04T20:38:43.584-06:00Day 26 - what do you think about your friends?Obviously, I love my friends! But the thing that immediately comes to mind is the support I received when my Mom died (and still receive). And then following that shortly after, when my water broke with Ayda at 16 weeks. I always knew that I had great friends, but my truest and greatest friends came shining through during those times in my life. When Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-48466556543504582142011-04-04T20:21:00.002-06:002011-04-04T20:29:51.928-06:00Ahhh - I'm behind. I'll catch up today.Day 25 - what I would find in your bag- cell phone- wallet- kleenex- receipts (blasted receipts!)- McDonald's toys (snuck in there by the kids - no, by Jared)- earrings- ultrasound pictures of the little one- purse holder- pens- hand lotion- lip gloss- lip balm- a couple of gift cardsAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-7885576246472484112011-04-01T13:17:00.002-06:002011-04-01T13:25:40.504-06:00Day 24 - your last 5 facebook statusesOkay here they are!March 31 - "Watching a show about the best 150 songs of the 80's - so fun!"It turned out to be a infomercial, but it was still super fun to watch!March 26 - "Wow - that was a fight I didn't think I'd be fighting this evening! (On facebook, with someone I don't know, about Babywise.) Just really ticks me off when people who don't know me Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-52257926551168561292011-03-31T23:52:00.003-06:002011-04-01T00:03:53.355-06:00Just wanted to give a little baby update among all the daily posts in my blogging challenge. I'm not feeling any better. I thought I was, as the first couple of days in the week were way better. And then I woke up this morning. Ughhhh. Back to making sure I know where the garbage can is in each room - or the quickest way to the bathroom. I haven't done much throwing up, but lots of gagging and Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-69081961016520611792011-03-31T23:39:00.002-06:002011-03-31T23:49:36.532-06:00Day 23 - something you crave for a lotPepsi. Hands down. Ever since I was pregnant with Ayda. Although it has lessened this pregnancy. Probably because of how sick I've been.I also crave the sun. And I don't get nearly enough of it. Actually, let me clarify. We actually live in the sunniest spot in Canada (we get the most sunny hours per year), but the winter sun doesn't count. It is great to Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-35654884296332181902011-03-30T23:27:00.002-06:002011-03-31T00:01:05.559-06:00Day 22 - what makes you different from everyone elseI don't know if there is one thing that makes me different from everyone else. But there are some things that a lot of people don't understand that I like, which makes me different from a lot of people. Here are some that I can think of:1) I like to run. I know that there are others that like to run, too, but most people that I talk to do NOT Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-53102747751940079402011-03-29T23:04:00.006-06:002011-03-29T23:40:27.368-06:00Day 21 - a picture of something that makes you happyThere are a lot of people that make me happy, but since the title asks for something that makes me happy, I will post a picture of that. I love going to the spa. It really does make me so happy. And yes, I love Beverly Ashdown spa, here in Saskatoon, but I also love Just For You, Paramount Day Spa, and Spa Ahava. Oh, and Salacia Spa at Elkridge.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-13199820939560603022011-03-29T23:04:00.001-06:002011-03-29T23:04:39.826-06:00Day 20 - someone you loveJust one? Ryan.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-14950642623347195342011-03-27T16:22:00.003-06:002011-03-27T16:26:29.216-06:00Day 19 - nicknames you have and why you have themSome people call me Al, and that's been the most popular one my whole life. But lately, probably since Ryan and I have been together (so I guess it's 10 years, not just lately!) more and more people have started calling me Allie. When I get called Allie, I feel like it's definitely a more intimate name and that when people do call me that, they Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-30384655281824795012011-03-27T16:12:00.003-06:002011-03-27T16:22:09.884-06:00Day 18 - plans/dreams/goals you haveI started this one yesterday and felt very "undreaming" as I wrote it. One of the plans in our future I am not really at liberty to talk about at this point, and it's the biggest and nearest one. And we don't know what will come of it, or if a different route will have to be taken. Sorry, I know that's vague and vagueness usually drives people crazy. My other Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-90483330317231446552011-03-25T14:16:00.002-06:002011-03-25T14:25:17.256-06:00Day 17 - someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and whyI had to really think about this! When my cousin Jamie did this day, she said her husband, and that thought certainly crossed my mind, too. But of all the people I considered, the one that stuck in my mind isn't even a real person! I would love to trade lives for one day with Monica Gellar/Bing from Friends. And you know why?Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-11483400545076649692011-03-24T20:53:00.003-06:002011-03-24T21:05:35.247-06:00Day 16 - another picture of yourselfI guess I could have used this as a picture of my and a friend (or two) - I just didn't come across it for some reason when I was searching through pics. Anyway, this is my friend Kelly, myself and my friend Chelsea at Niagara Falls in September. We were there for the Canadian Arbonne Conference. We were bring sprayed with mist from the falls at the time this Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-64147762224250892902011-03-23T22:51:00.002-06:002011-03-23T22:57:11.070-06:00Day 15 - put your ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play1) Tune In - Newsboys2) They Don't Want Music - Black Eyed Peas3) All For Love - Hillsong4) Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice (oh yeah!)5) Breaking the Habit - Linkin Park6) Sugar - Lenny Kravitz7) In Christ Alone - Newboys8) When the Rain Comes - Newboys9) Three MC's and One DJ - Beastie Boys10) Looking For Angels - SkilletI don't actually feelAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-13083320788913333882011-03-23T08:39:00.005-06:002011-03-23T08:58:49.201-06:00Day 14 - a picture of you and your familyI couldn't find the most recent picture of my family, so this one is from June last year. And I included one of my side of the whole family. That one is kind of far away, because we blew it up so it didn't matter. Anyway, that's my family...for the next 7 months, anyway! ;)As you can see, I did find our most recent family picture (December 2010), but I Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-8442049865703430822011-03-21T23:01:00.003-06:002011-03-21T23:07:49.982-06:00Day 13 - a letter to someoneDear Baby,Please, pretty please, can you stop making me feel so awful?! Maybe I'm asking the wrong person - maybe I should be writing to my own body, but I would think that you have some sort of pull in this area! Because I'd really like to get back to my normal self - you know, the self that was motivated, not nauseous, at least somewhat awake, and not achy? But even Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-19359181748341542562011-03-20T21:56:00.002-06:002011-03-20T22:00:37.051-06:00Day 12 - how you found out about blogging and why you have oneI had to go back to my very first post ever to find out how I found out about blogging! It was through my friend Nevada, and my sister-in-law, Carrie. They each had a blog, both of which I had been reading. When Ryan and I moved to Australia for a few months, I thought it would be a great way to keep others up to date on what we were Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-25568384370308814072011-03-19T14:10:00.004-06:002011-03-19T14:33:14.180-06:00Day 11 - another picture of you and a friendI searched and searched for another pictures of me and a friend. I found zero. Isn't that sad?!But then I thought, well, Ryan is my best friend, so that has to count! So here is a picture of him and I in Costa Rica. I sadly admit that I take Ryan for granted too much. He's just always there and I can rely on him. Not that I don't love him or like being Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-83235037152602569652011-03-19T00:02:00.002-06:002011-03-19T01:33:38.433-06:00Day 10 - songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, anxious or madHmmm, okay, I'm going to break this down by emotion and see if I can think of one or two songs that always gets played at those points in my life...Happy: Any Usher song - he is so fun, Skillet, United, lots...Sad: "Held" by Natalie Grant, "When the Tears Fall" by Newsboys, "All That I Can Say" by the David Crowder Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-59964189744734828262011-03-16T22:59:00.002-06:002011-03-16T23:08:45.200-06:00Day 9 - something you're proud of in the past few daysI just created an awesome website for a little business/non-profit organization that a friend and I started up in November. It's an organization that showcases Moms/future Moms who have home-based businesses. We started with doing a couple of basic showcase/trade shows type events, that went well and were fun, but we are now working on a Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-23111229934147273122011-03-16T22:57:00.002-06:002011-03-16T22:59:49.581-06:00Day 8 - short term goals for this month and whyGosh, I don't really have any short term goals for this month at the moment. The couple that I can think of aren't exactly things I can publish online/talk about, at least not right now. Basically they are getting some things finalized. Sorry, that was a boring one. But I'm catching up for a couple of missed days, so I have one more post to do - Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-24872203752800267552011-03-16T22:47:00.002-06:002011-03-16T22:54:40.300-06:00Day 7 - a picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on your lifeI already wrote this one and my computer lost it - grrrr. Anyway, once a woman becomes a mother, her life is never the same. So my beautiful children have had the biggest impact on my life, by far. I love them so much and am so thankful for them.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-78995251056144194492011-03-11T22:32:00.002-06:002011-03-11T22:49:35.269-06:00Day 6 - five favorite TV showsThis shouldn't be too hard:#1 - Criminal Minds. I love this show, and I think it's because of the personalities of each character. They all care, and I love that. I also love that they don't delve too much into each character's personal life. I like it when shows just focus on the point of the show. And look what happens when you do start messing around with personalAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-26274797625227126252011-03-11T15:49:00.003-06:002011-03-11T22:32:51.793-06:00Day 5 - a picture of somewhere you've beenI really wanted to put a picture of Australia here, but we were there before we had a digital camera, so I only have film of our time there. So here is one from last year when Ryan & I went to Costa Rice. It was a desperately needed time away for the two of us and it was glorious. This picture is of Ryan and his surfing instructor, walking back to where Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-72119750469296889812011-03-09T22:29:00.002-06:002011-03-09T22:35:26.799-06:00Day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t haveHmmm, there are a few habits I wish I didn't have, but I think right now my two biggest are my addiction to pop (nope Jamie, I didn't just copy you - we both carry this vice!) I love pop, especially Pepsi. Up until I was pregnant with Ayda, I liked pop, but it wasn't an addiction (okay, maybe my first year at Briercrest it was - my parents had given me Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-76193352822211197922011-03-08T23:15:00.003-06:002011-03-08T23:43:46.365-06:00Day 3 - a picture of you and a friendOkay, Cherie will probably hate me for posting this, but I really like this picture because it was taken at the end of the first half marathon we ran together. We really had a great time training for it, as well as running it. We did another one the next year and I hope there will be many more to come! Love you, Cherie!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-1645880433599069392011-03-07T11:53:00.003-06:002011-03-07T11:57:05.630-06:00Day 2 - the meaning behind your blog nameUmmm, this one is pretty self-explanatory! I'm a Mommy and my name is Allison! Not really original, and until I had to write this post, I actually forgot that my blog even had a name! Ahh well. It still explains me pretty good. And even though my identity isn't based on my kids, they are certainly what consumes my days. Sometimes I feel like that is not a Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-50370202880325820962011-03-07T00:24:00.001-06:002011-03-07T11:53:22.658-06:00Day 1 - recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself:In case you don't know, I'm the one on the right. I had no recent pictures of just me. I guess I could have cropped and all that, but I really just don't have the energy to do that right now! Okay, here are the 15 interesting facts. Well, I hope they are interesting, anyway. They may turn out to be just facts about me. :)1. I Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-57732672848166070032011-03-07T00:21:00.002-06:002011-03-07T00:24:01.331-06:00I was reading my cousin's blog (thanks Jamie!) and she got a great idea from a friend of hers to do a post a day with a different "theme" each day. I think the idea was to do a post a day in March, but I'll just add a few days in April to make up for it. Here are the "themes":day 1- recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourselfday 2- the meaning behind your blog nameday 3- a Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-42979624310385546782011-02-14T00:15:00.002-06:002011-02-14T00:30:03.180-06:00I thought I'd better post something. So here I sit with the blinking cursor in front of me, trying to think. I'm sure a lot of people that blog feel this way: you think of all sorts of great posts during the day, but when it comes down to it, all interesting thoughts escape you. Ayda is definitely potty trained. And I am loving it. She has the odd accident, but usually only if she can't get her Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-62687113013375316042011-01-13T22:45:00.002-06:002011-01-13T23:07:06.631-06:00I Think She's Got It!Pretty much exactly a year ago, Ayda decided she wanted to copy Jared in his potty skills. Every time he sat on the toilet, she would follow suit. At the beginning, she didn't produce anything, but slowly she started peeing every time. I was thrilled and thought, "Awesome - an easy one after the battle with Jared!" I guess I forgot to knock on wood. She soon lost interest in Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-75301617117064222562011-01-02T02:24:00.002-06:002011-01-02T02:34:03.585-06:00To add to the Ayda stories...Today, I was putting Jared down for a nap (lots of late nights=naps for the big boy), snuggling beside him and fully intending on napping with him. Ryan was in charge of Ayda's nap. I had almost fallen asleep when I heard lots of noise coming from her room. I tried to ignore it, hoping Ryan would hear, but alas, I eventually had to get up to check it out. I walked Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-45819459865386673712010-12-19T23:47:00.002-06:002010-12-20T00:17:19.106-06:00Ayda Is 3!!!These loaded in the wrong order again. This is the end of the party. Ayda opening her presents.Blowing out her candle.Ayda's cake - I'm pretty proud of it! And yes, I made the whole thing (well, Ryan iced it and figured out how to make the chocolate plaque of Ariel's head stand up - which was really important!!) It was really fun, and the best part of it was that I could do it over a Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-10013236630339382152010-11-18T02:21:00.001-06:002010-11-18T02:22:41.272-06:00So it turns out that Mulan is a boy kitty. He is now named Astro. He's still super cute, loves to play and cuddle...Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-80437463913942629532010-10-31T22:55:00.002-06:002010-10-31T23:23:36.509-06:00Introducing Mulan!Jared is absolutely enamored with her. She's helping Ayda get over her fear of animals!She often finds peace by placing herself between Ryan's or my feet. Must get tiring sneaking away from kids who are constantly picking her up and getting too "in-her-face"!But she is absolutely adorable and we are happy to have her in our home! She was a rescue-kitty: her mother kept dropping Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-939655449480490842010-10-02T23:22:00.002-06:002010-10-02T23:46:20.973-06:00Jared's First Day of Preschool!Jared's been going to preschool for a couple of weeks now, but this was his first day. He is loving it, but was definitely apprehensive the first couple of times. Just needed to warm up. Ayda, however, was in the classroom like a dirty shirt. She definitely would have stayed if she could have. I can't believe that he's in preschool already. Next kindergarten, and Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-12841354126109653762010-09-14T00:30:00.003-06:002010-09-14T00:41:16.012-06:00I know, I know. I have been terrible for blogging. Not sure if anyone even checks it out anymore. Sorry. Anyway, tonight we witnessed an ambulance pass us by, and both of the kids agreed that they want to be ambulances when they grow up. (Yeah, I think they mean paramedics, but you get the idea! They are 2 and 4 after all!) Anyway, all of a sudden Jared says, "No, Ayda will be the doctor and Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-17212533852084285162010-07-08T00:56:00.002-06:002010-07-08T01:19:00.189-06:00More of Ayda......because we just can't get enough of her and she just keeps suppling us with more of her! My Dad has a really big tin of popcorn from Kernels in his office that he keeps full for the kids. I was doing something else while they were having a snack, and when I went back to check on them, they were playing with something else. I was asking them about their play, when Ayda casually Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-83953627218864330102010-06-12T22:23:00.002-06:002010-06-12T22:28:45.994-06:00Oh Ayda...A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Fun Factory with the kids. We were getting ready to leave and I was looking for Ayda. I checked in the "normal" places, such as the video games and ball pit. Nope, not there. I turned around just in time to see her strut out of the boys bathroom, naked from the waist down. Ummmm?"Ayda, where are your pants and Pull-Up?""I peed on the floor.""Where?""IAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-27428329286919406512010-05-20T14:57:00.002-06:002010-05-20T15:03:51.820-06:00Mom would be 53 today. It's hard. Ayda was a klutzy mess yesterday, spilling things left and right. She has more of Mom in her than I realize. Of course, Ayda is worse, but Mom was a spiller. Has anyone ever told you of the time she spilt a can of blue paint on the light gray living room rug?! It wasn't funny at the time, but we sure mentioned it at certain, opportune times after...Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-61379551050098103452010-04-17T00:02:00.002-06:002010-04-17T00:31:21.274-06:00Every time I hear the song "All That I Can Say" by the Dave Crowder Band, I am amazed by how powerful and honest the lyrics are. It has so accurately described how I have felt so many times since Mom died. Yeah, I'm guessing a lot of people think it shouldn't hurt this bad anymore. Or wonder why I can't get over it. Or forget that I don't have my Mom anymore. It's easy to think that way when you Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-6133319329405117312010-03-29T23:49:00.002-06:002010-03-30T00:05:55.306-06:00Welcome Wyatt Marcus!!!My newest nephew, Wyatt Marcus, born March 28 at 4:30 in the morning. He weighed 8 pounds and 3 ounces, and measured just under 21 inches. He is so beautiful. Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-49056469233438275842010-03-15T02:20:00.001-06:002010-03-15T02:22:29.516-06:00Why are sleepless nights guaranteed to bring pain? Or maybe the pain brings sleepless nights.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-2336411420804124342010-03-10T01:50:00.002-06:002010-03-10T01:50:53.814-06:00"GIVE ME BACK MY BOOGER!" - Jared Longueil, after his Mommy helped him blow his nose.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-70665666208860045592010-03-09T22:26:00.001-06:002010-03-09T22:28:01.396-06:00Precious Layla Grace entered the gates of heaven early this morning. She was 23 days older than my Ayda. www.laylagrace.orgAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-39320469827909954102010-02-25T23:39:00.003-06:002010-02-25T23:56:06.843-06:00I've been crying a lot lately. Lots of things around me have brought me to tears. Watching Joannie skate both programs in Vancouver did it. Both times. Boy, has her incredibly terrible situation trudged up feelings and memories I'd rather forget. Well, maybe not forget. But not think about so deeply very often. I also linked to a blog written by a family I don't know at all, who's 2-year old girlAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-71803406314895015772010-02-09T21:57:00.003-06:002010-02-09T22:11:07.152-06:00I just mailed Jared's preschool registration today. Really?! I have to think about preschool already?! I guess that season is fast approaching. I shouldn't be surprised - the kid looks like he's half done kindergarten already! You have no idea how many times I've been asked which school he attends. "Umm, he's 3." "Really? I would have thought he was in kindergarten, maybe even grade 1!" "Yeah, I Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-25619470463262878832010-01-27T00:11:00.002-06:002010-01-27T00:19:01.424-06:00I can't get pictures to upload again (possibly because I'm uploading on facebook at this moment?! although that doesn't really make sense...) so just an update with words that we made it home. Both the flight from Costa Rica last night and the flight from Toronto this morning were without incident. We got into Toronto at 2AM this morning, slept a bit on that flight, then finally turned out the Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-28938018606329064572010-01-24T22:18:00.003-06:002010-01-24T22:50:05.134-06:00A few more before we come home...Hey, I know my golf course etiquette - I was being really quiet!After our last surf.Ryan & his personal instructor walking back to our stuff - the current was so strong we had to keep walking back to the other end of the beach after every few waves.Had to include the drinks, of course.This was one of a very few pictures that we took from this angle - actually onlyAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-12493787286148143712010-01-21T23:22:00.002-06:002010-01-21T23:29:04.388-06:00Besides being able to see directly up my nose, not a bad self-portrait of us.This is what we see when we walk out of our hotel room - our courtyard.Do you see it?!I haven't put most of our pictures onto the computer yet, so this is it for now. Room service just arrived, so gotta go snack!!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-52812223020208622822010-01-17T21:27:00.002-06:002010-01-17T21:36:50.872-06:00I can't get my pictures to upload. So no pictures right now. We are in a hotel in Toronto, getting ready to relax in Costa Rica. I am so excited. My goal is to sleep, finish at least 2 books (3, depending on what activities/excursions we participate in), and get a super-wicked tan. I can feel my spirits lifting already - guaranteed, if I wasn't a Christian, I'd worship the sun. And if I didn't Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-51077196091530466232010-01-02T00:42:00.002-06:002010-01-02T01:00:39.409-06:00Ayda's Party #2Reverse order again...ughhh. Anyway, opening a gift.Gift from Grandpa - dress-up shoes!!!Kids at the second party.Had to put one of Dillon with his "make-up" on.This was what the inside of her cakes looked like. They tended to lean more and more as slices were cut away... both of them eventually toppled. Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-5854162406203245982009-12-20T00:27:00.003-06:002009-12-20T01:05:19.462-06:00Ayda is 2!!Ayda, December 24, 2007 - 5 days oldAyda, December 19, 2008 - 1 year oldAyda, December 19, 2009 - 2 years old!!Happy birthday, Ayda!! Okay, so I'm 27 minutes late, but I had zero time today to post. I was thinking back to this time 2 years ago - we had just recently moved up to post-partum from L&D (it took A LONG time to move - she was born at 5:19pm and we had to wait for 7:00 shift Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-7362726497652150982009-12-03T00:53:00.002-06:002009-12-03T01:12:51.995-06:00Yes, I am currently too lazy to go get the camera and put them onto the computer. I am quite comfortable where I am, under a fuzzy blanket while Ryan tickles my back. (On a complete side-note, if I had lots of extra money, I would hire someone to tickle my back whenever I so desired. I wonder how much money that would require...) Anyway, Jared has been bugging us to make his and Ayda's Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-13504037058428691802009-11-10T00:31:00.003-06:002009-11-10T01:32:35.853-06:00So I made my decision. I should say, we made our decision, since Ryan is involved in parental decisions! The kids are immunized against H1N1. It was a tough road for me, weighing all the pros and cons. Everyone seemed to have an agenda for their side and I felt serious pressure from whomever I talked to that had an opinion - no matter what that opinion was. I felt that I wasn't getting all the Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-7482363060759143292009-11-04T23:53:00.002-06:002009-11-05T00:49:34.676-06:00Just some October fun...Jared & his friend, Natalie, making a fire with Grandpa Unger at the cabin. That is now Jared's favorite activity. This was Thanksgiving weekend - snowed all day, every day.Yeah, I know. Those eyelashes.Ayda, my bumble-bee for halloween. She kinda reminds me of a character out of a Dr. Suess book. Cindy Lou Who, anyone?Whoops, this one is supposed to be after the next one.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-2596397419281170722009-10-05T00:38:00.002-06:002009-10-05T00:48:41.408-06:00New Do'sOh, but first our success story! Jared has been officially potty trained for a few weeks now, but this was what did it for him: stickers on a prize chart. The VeggieTales Pirate Ship was the big prize at the end. He got his first two stickers, had one accident, and that was it! He was sold on pooping on the potty! ("Mom, I don't poop in my underwear or my pull-up anymore!") He'd been Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-82879103411711771392009-09-30T23:09:00.002-06:002009-09-30T23:20:55.421-06:00Things Ayda has put into her mouth in the last four days: 2 urinal pucks (yes, collected by her from a urinal - I can't even think about it), 1 Electrisol dishwasher tablet (that I know of), 1 (at least) Cascade dishwasher tablet, 1 small bottle of aromatherapy oil. Actually, she sucked on that last one. And succeeded in getting a mouthful of the stuff. Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-45371495477282276542009-09-29T00:12:00.003-06:002009-09-29T00:21:17.139-06:00When You're coming back againwould You bring me something from the fridge?Heard the rumor that the end is nearbut I just got comfortable here.sighlet's be bluntI'm a little distractedWhat do You want?Headaches and bad faiththey're all that I gotfirst I misplaced the endingthen I lost the plotLong among the free-ranged sheepwhere the big birds sharpen their clawsfor the time we stuck with the Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-31965564184997228212009-09-26T23:06:00.003-06:002009-09-26T23:20:15.896-06:00We will be attending the funeral of Ryan's Grandpa on Friday. He died peacefully this past Friday, surrounded by his daughters. It was exactly a week from diagnosis to death. We are all thankful for how God spared him from suffering. Even to the end, he was cracking jokes, and when not medicated for pain, alert and interested. You'd think he was sleeping, so you'd whisper something and quick as aAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-4684598722455125022009-09-24T01:01:00.002-06:002009-09-24T01:21:09.509-06:00Here we go again. Death, dying, died, dead. Ryan's Grandpa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on Friday. Not fun. Now to be fair, he is 96 and actually quite content with his situation. I think he's tired and ready to go home - to his proper, eternal home. He was moved to palliative care last night and he's doing much better there. The staff at St. Paul's Palliative Unit is amazing. I remember Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-27648686017994352312009-09-10T20:27:00.002-06:002009-09-10T20:28:31.370-06:00Mommy: "No Jared, you may not get out of the cart and walk."Jared: "Mommy, we need to talk about this." In his most serious, grown-up voice. Hmmm, has he heard that before?!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-80767342615506715772009-09-02T22:42:00.001-06:002009-09-03T00:02:30.978-06:00A fun questionnaire that my cousin Jamie had on her blog. I like to do these on occasion, so here we go!1. What color is your toothbrush? Clear and green...I think.2. Name one person who made you smile today: Jared ("Grandpa, you smarty-pants!")3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Sleeping :)4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? Sorting laundry5. What is your favorite candy bar? Twix (Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-15641943914806211352009-08-30T22:50:00.001-06:002009-08-30T22:53:39.618-06:00The siding project has begun!!! Actually, the nook is now fully sided. That's the part that sticks out. So the only lower part left on the back is the garage!! Thanks to everyone who has helped and will help in the future!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-86940470459072086602009-08-17T23:37:00.002-06:002009-08-17T23:53:52.044-06:00Of course, the one time I don't bring my camera down to the beach with us is the time I really wish I had it. Jared was filling and dumping out a bucket of water, and after a few times of "regular" dumping, he was trying to throw it out, you know, the way you would throw out dirty mop water. Ayda was intently watching this all, but happen to be right in the line of fire. Yup, a cold stream of Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-4639748482022060982009-08-16T21:33:00.002-06:002009-08-16T21:41:13.595-06:00I have been trying unsuccessfully to post pictures of the kids during a particular mud fiasco that occurred last week. If you are on facebook, you've probably seen the pictures there. I am going to stop trying, because it just doesn't seem to be meant to be. Basically the kids had free run of the oodles of mud in our yard, while Ryan did some roto-tilling around our trees (which, by the way, are Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5732947.post-6846412135157926492009-08-03T13:04:00.002-06:002009-08-03T13:51:53.348-06:00Ryan's cousin and her little family stayed with us for a couple night this weekend, because there was a family wedding. This is their little girl, Molly. Jared LOVED her and probably would have held her 24/7 if it was possible. It made me happy to see, because at some point in the future we will have more babies, and he will be a great help! Ayda, not so much! Actually, I think it has more to doAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01077151478637719706noreply@blogger.com2