Favorite Things 2010

1. There are a few things that a girl like me simply has to have out of necessity. One of those things is of course something I could not get by without...My Garmin. If you have lived in the same place for awhile, you may not need one, but if you move often and travel often, they are great to have. So, I would like to extend a toast to the creators of the GPS systems! Here's to you! Without this trusty staple, I would have been lost most of the time.


2. Favorite Things I have done in the past year:
Trip across British Columbia with Earle and the boys to Vancouver
Horseback Riding and Dog Sledding in Banff and Canmore

3. This photo is of a favorite artwork of ours. Earle's co-workers from the plant in Cochrane gave us these three paintings done by a local artist of three different places to see in Alberta. I love it!

4. This little device has opened a whole new world to me! The Cuisinart blending stick purchased last fall. They are only about 30 dollars and blend soups, smoothies, and puree just about anything. There is no transferring required and I love the practicalities of it!

5. A favorite new soup I have made quite a lot of this year is this Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Bisque...I follow the instructions but also add a can of Rotel and some Cajun seasoning.




6. My new favorite Tassimo flavor is the Caramel Latte Macchiato...only about 80 calories!

7. Earle got me this Kitchenaid Stand Mixer for Christmas and I really love it! I had no idea what I was missing out on with the hand mixer.

8. These were inspired by my friend, Nicola Mooney, who got something similar on the T.V. show, My Rona Home last fall. Earle and I were able to find a super sale at best buy when it was time to move and I was excited! Why not have a little 'happy' in your laundry room!

9. Okay, well this is a given. I went for a year while in Calgary without a cell phone...and it was really fine, not torture, but I was plotting for the one I would get upon our return. I have never even had texting on any of our cell phones before. I have to say, I do love it. It is so not a necessity, but boy is it fun to have!

10. A big favorite of mine this past year has been my camera. We had upgraded last year to a Canon Rebel and I really like it! We take so many pictures it was worth spending a little extra on. We find great joy at looking through our pictures and remembering good times that we have spent with our family and friends.

11. Favorite New Store here.... "Charming Charlie" Love this store!!

12. Favorite Epiphany...it has to do with strategies in making friends and getting to know people. I like to analyse things quite a bit, especially with all of the moves we have had. It is sort of like self-evaluation, I guess. It finally dawned on me that it is much easier to invest energy initially in people that you feel comfortable with immediately. You know, like you don't even have to try and conversations flow easily. If you feel nervous or anxious like you are having to try hard to say the right things it is probably not going to be the perfect fit at first. So don't waste the energy. Get to know the ones first that are interested in getting to know you...then some of the others will come over time. Basically stop trying to fit in! To be honest it is pretty freeing!

13. One of my favorite Bible verses this year has been:

Philippians 4:4-7

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

14. With each move Earle and I are reminded seriously how unimportant our 'stuff' is. I know I have listed lots of "things" above, but to be honest when you have to drop things and go, stuff is pretty annoying and can weigh you down! Don't get me wrong, I love having certain luxuries, but my favorite things are below! I love my boys...even if my favorite time of the day is sometimes their bedtime.

This post is inspired by Michelle Carlson's suggestion...I'm starting here because it seemed like the easiest. When I first thought about it, I was not sure if I had any favorite things that were different from last year, but when I started to think of some little things that made me happy, I could definitely think of a few. By the way, I think Earle looks super handsome in this last picture!

CB

A Woman of Few Words...

So I realize that my past few posts have been a little surface-like and you know...picturesque....which is fine because of course this is also my scrapbook. I am feeling the urge to write, but to be honest, I just don't have much to say. Can you relate to my mood? This of course is not a bad thing. I am sure some of you are thinking that I am not posting as much because I must be having a hard time or not adjusting...that is really not the case. We are doing well, I tell you, we really are. We are happily settling in and I think we have rounded the bend, so to speak, as far as all of the moving in/unpacking has gone. We are meeting people at church and also starting to get to know our neighbors, so those are all really good things. Also, I think that in times of major transition, God numbs us just a little for a little while...so we can take the jolt...you know, kind of like in surgery when we get administered anesthesia...so maybe that is what it is. Anyway if you want, I thought it might be fun to open it up for suggestions. Suggest something that you might want me to write about...muse me a little. Nothing on politics please! It could be fun...especially if it is a funny subject. I really don't expect any comments, but if you do, and I like it, I will try to work in a post just for you.
CB

No Fear

So we finally gave in and let the kid do the Euro Bungy at the mall. He has no fear. It freaks us out a little. He asked me this week about how you land when you skydive...you know for when he does it. Lord protect this boy!! Hope everyone has had a good week.

CB

I almost forgot!!

Okay, you know every year I have to post one of these pics of Collin to compare with today...always around his birthday and Easter. The basket he is holding on the Easter Egg Hunt is the same one he was in. Just a reminder to myself of how God is SO good! Collin is finally on the charts for his weight!! He is now in the 10th percentile! For us that is great news!!

Easter Fun!

We had lots of fun this year celebrating Easter! Our church had an Easter Egg hunt on Saturday with games and blow-ups and also the Easter bunny himself. Little did the Easter bunny know that he would be stalked by a small golden haired boy. Collin followed the Easter bunny around
for the majority of the time. I feel bad for the other moms that were trying to get pictures! Collin kept stepping into everyone else's pictures asking the Easter Bunny to give him high fives. After we left the Easter Egg hunt we had many questions like, "Where does the Easter Bunny live?" and "What is inside an Easter Bunny"..etc.

Earle says he thinks the idea of the Easter bunny is weird and a little creepy. I guess the Easter bunny is a little random. Seriously, a bunny that lays eggs??? I get the whole egg thing being the empty tomb..but the rest is interesting.

Ben had a good time at the picinic too....but was not so into the big fluffy creature this year. He was more into the treats and activities. I tried following them around with the camera to get their pictures on Sunday morning before church and they kept running from me. I finally caught them, but they would not look at the camera...so...the token picture leaves a little to be desired. Maybe soon, I'll put the same clothes on them and try to get a retake.

CB

Collin's Big #3!

Well, I have been horrible at blogging lately, but I had to put up Collin's birthday pics!
Beware of many pictures ahead! We did not have anything really special planned. To be honest, Earle and I are still pretty exhausted and finally crashing after all of this transition. My parents came for a visit and we just had a family party. Collin wanted a "bowling" birthday party. I thought that was pretty funny. I am not sure why, the only reason I can think that he wanted this was because of playing bowling on the Wii. The night before, Ben and I decorated a 'birthday party scene' in our dining room after Collin had gone to bed. I just had gone out to the dollar store and bought less than 20 dollars worth of stuff...but for a boy turning three and fantasizing about a birthday party...this was awesome stuff! I'll try to narrate through the pictures.


Waking up to see something special down the stairs.... A fun party set up just for Collin! Yellow is his favorite color..so we had lots of yellow!

He could not even believe his eyes!!

He is three!

My sweet baby boy! Yes those are M&M's in his hand...they are his favorite...and he likes the yellow ones.

Blowing out his candles to his chocolate bowling ball cake...that he requested. Such a funny little guy!

Hmm...

Love this!!

Opening presents!! Thank you Amanda and Ryan!

He loved his bubble gun!

REALLY loved it.

Why not bombard us from the upstairs?

A tiny boy throwing skeeballs is a life threat to anyone within his throwing circumference...although he loved it!

Getting ready to bowl! Oh my...birthday DREAM come true!

Later that week playing in the backyard with Papa and Cindy.

Dad took them to fly a kite...it was more entertaining for me watching my dad try to get the kite going...but we had a good time.

Happy Birthday my precious Collin! You are such a blessing to our family! I cannot imagine it without you! I love you so much!

CB

Visit to Kilgore

I love the picture above..so cute!!

I know it has been awhile since I have posted. Following my last post, we drove up to Earle's mom's house in Kilgore and spent the weekend with her. The kids had a great time and were able to expend quite a lot of energy!! Earle's mom, his sister Elice and her husband Chad spoiled the boys rotten and let them play until they were about to drop...or at least the adults were about to drop. Chad brought up his little moped for Ben to ride...Ben ended up riding it with Earle and myself, but was thrilled. The boys ran and played and climbed trees...at least enough for them both be a little tired back at the apartment the following Monday after the trip. Last week we remained busy..but it was sort of our crash week because we were just exhausted from the weeks before. We are super ready to be out of our apartment! We are on the downhill now...only a week and a half to go. My friend Rochelle has been so sweet and let us come play in her backyard countless times! It is great to be near her again! Also, a girl I had met at Harding, (I was her RA her freshman year..and she also went to TOCC a few years prior to us in Mandeville) Judy McDonough, has just moved here this past weekend with her husband and her three little boys. So it was nice to reconnect with her.

Collin was sick on Sunday, so Ben and I visited Cinco Ranch Church of Christ together. We had a great time and I was encouraged. I met a girl I knew at Harding..and also quite a few other ladies that have played the "corporate Gypsy" roll as well and moved with their small children quite a bit. A few of the have just moved here as well and live in the same area...so I am excited about the prospect of having that in common with some of the ladies I go to church with! We are ready to get into our house and get into a normal routine! I know I have not been on Facebook as much...I have been opting out of computer time and giving myself time for a nap..so hopefully I will get back into the swing of things soon. Also, it was kind of funny, but while we were watching the Olympic Gold medal hockey game...poor Ben was so confused with who he was supposed to route for! He thought our team was Canada! Well, I guess you Canadians have taught him well! :)

CB