Thursday, May 29, 2008

Baby mine

I can't believe that this day happened a whole year ago. So much has happened and so much has changed in just one year though, so I guess it makes sense.
To think, he went from this...


to this...

Here's a little slideshow.

I love you Shea-Shea!!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The big boys

My boys are getting BIG! It seems to slow for awhile, and then all of the sudden it seems like they've grown by leaps and bounds.
Every birthday that my boys have, I've been hand-writing a letter to them. I write about what is new for them, what they've done in the year, what their party was like, their friends, their accomplishments etc. I hadn't written Liam's yet (for his fourth birthday) and needed to get caught up. I read over the last 6 years of Riley's life, and Liam's last 3, and can't believe how quick it really does go.
The boys are growing up. The biggest change has been that they fight a lot less. HOORAY! It seems that since Liam was old enough to crawl, that they have been so competitive and want to argue about everything and anything. I found it so discouraging and it wasn't what I expected it would like with two little boys. They are supposed to be best buds, right?!
Well, the gap seems to be closing a little, and they seem to share the same interests and the same toys a little better. They still have many "moments" throughout the day, but more or less, it is getting less challenging to have them in the same room.
While we were away on the weekend, Liam went for a bike ride with grandma and grandpa around the lake. Suddenly his training wheel fell off, and yet he kept right on riding! They couldn't find the missing nut, so they just took the other trainer off and he now rides a two wheeler!!


He is very proud and is doing very well.

Riley had a student-led school presentation where he got to show me all he had learned and done in the past while. He was very studious and serious and stuck to his outline of what I was to watch him do.

Counting by 5's, 10's.


Posing with his cute teacher, Mrs. Porter.


Showing me his artwork in the hall.


Showing me his bean plant.

He is now in an accelerated reading program, and is taking quizzes on the computer, about the books he has read. His class is going swimming every Tuesday for a month now, and gosh...it's nearly June and he's almost done grade one!! I can't believe it.
Liam got a new tin lunch box from his auntie Heather, and he can't wait to use it in preschool in the fall. He's so ready to get out of the house.

And, sob sob. I put up balloons and other decor for Shea's first birthday today. My baby is nearly one!!
Thanks for listening to me ramble about my boys...it's my job, afterall.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Over the river and through the woods.

So we buried Papa. It was more difficult than I thought it would be. I haven't lost a family member before, and it was hard to have known someone my whole life and see them go down into the ground, never to return. My sister and I kept looking at his dead body at the viewing... waiting for him to take a breath or open his eyes and make some funny comment. Just a weird, weird feeling to understand that someone is GONE...for good.
I had a hard time going to his house without him there. I kept thinking over the weekend, that man, Papa would sure love to be here...he would have enjoyed all the family, at once, crammed into his little apartment. He would have liked seeing the little guys running around. He would have loved having us visit...something I didn't do enough.
And so he's gone. It was hard, but I was so glad that I was able to go and get some closure in it all. I look forward to seeing him again, and I'm so glad he's not struggling with his health anymore.
I ended up going down with Greg and Shea, while the older boys stayed with grandma and grandpa. Shea did great, his antibiotics kicked in and he slept like a log all 3 nights and rarely coughed at all. I am so relieved that he is on the up and up. Greg left right after the funeral to join his brother in celebrating his 30th birthday party, so Shea and I were on our own. He was a little high maintenance, but at least he wasn't hacking and feverish and we just took it easy and hung out with the fam.

(Here we are standing in the tub at the place we stayed at...cuz we're cool like that.)

We drove home this morning, and now we're back to the daily grind. I hope this week is uneventful! Thanks for all who have been thinking and praying for us.

The boys, reunited at last.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

MIA

I don't know if anyone checks in on here, but if you do...I am still around. Life is just going at sort of an insane rate and I'm not keeping up on laundry, nevermind my blog!! We did take it pretty easy the last few days, enjoying time at the Enchanted Forest outside of Revelstoke, and going to the beach and then Kelowna yesterday.
Shea however, has been really sick. Whining and moping around, weak and not eating much. Low fever, lots of coughing. I finally got him in to the doctor today and found he has bronchitis. So he is on antibiotics and some other drugs via the air chamber. Hopefully it'll clear up soon so we can celebrate his first birthday with him being healthy! He isn't even 20lbs with all his clothes on. Poor little gaff.
Still smiles though...even after barfing on dad...

And yesterday we heard that my Papa died. My dad's dad. He had a stroke about 2 weeks ago, but was improving and in the rehab unit at the hospital when his heart failed...not known for sure yet the final cause of his death. So now we're trying to make plans to attend his funeral in Abbotsford. He was a sweetie, and I'm sad we didn't see him this past year, but I did manage to get a picture of him and Shea in August. He took us all out to McD's that day and enjoyed being with all the kids. Thankfully he is a healthy happy man in heaven and we'll get to see him there.
Shea is wheezing on me here as I type with one hand, but I gotta put him down so I can go get Riley from school.
I guess blogging will have to wait!! I still have laundry to do anyway!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Photobooth mommy pics








Lots and lots of love in this place.

Mom Day

I had a wonderful mother's day. These pictures were taken in the evening, when we went for a walk just up the hill from our house. There is a little field with ponies in it. My "city kids" worked up their nerve to feed the ponies some of the long grass by the road. They loved it, and named the ponies "White Spot", "Caramel" and "Buffalo Bill". Shea just happened to sleep through all of it, but he loves animals, so we'll have to go again.




Saturday, May 10, 2008

Playtime for mommy


Baby card
Originally uploaded by Sarah Dzines
I made some cards today...mostly for our special moms, but I needed one for a baby shower this week, so I did this one up. I used to make cards a lot when Riley was little. I was quite seriously into it, and that's when I thought up the name "SarahDzines" to write on the back of them. I bought a box of 500 square envelopes and I've used every one of them...hence I've made and given away/sold over 500 of them!! Once we added Liam to the family I barely made any...just the odd one for a baby or birthday. Since Shea, I think I've made just a few. I enjoy it, but I don't have a place where I can spread out all my tools and leave them there, so it's more work than fun at this point. The boys eyes go wide as saucers when they catch sight of my embossing powders, pretty papers, ribbons and cutters etc. It's almost as exciting as candy. I try to give them some scrap stuff to play with, but it gets pretty messy so I have to make them leave. Hence, the lack of paper crafting these days!

Happy Birthday Ava and Callie!!

My nieces both turned 2!

Ava at the end of April...
Newborn...

Now...


Callie today...
Newborn...

Now...


Pictures from her party are here.
Happy Birthday girlies!!!
Love auntie Sarah

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Tile ideas?

I'd love some pictures or links for tile backsplashes, if you have any. I'm looking for something fairly neutral beige or cream, then maybe some color or design 3/4 of the way up in a glass or colored tile?? Kinda like this idea??

Maybe not so pastel.
Or show me what you've got, if you like it.
Thanks!

Monday, May 05, 2008

Going green

Most of my pictures in the last bit have all had to do with the kitchen. I thought I'd better get a few of Shea. Also, I need to send my camera in for repairs before the warranty is up, so I'll be camera-less for awhile.

Here's Shea by the new green wall.


...with his new green sweater and booties from grandma...

...chewing a bacon dipper!

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Gotta love spring

Today is a sunny warm day. Ahh. I wait for this time of year with anticipation and am never let down. Thank you God, for seasons.
Kinda like those seasons of our lives. It is nice that those seasons come, but it is just as nice when they leave and another one arrives. Although I am sad that my baby is almost one, it is so nice to be able to plunk him down on the floor and have him play with his brothers and drink his own bottle. I will miss the baby stage with the boys, but I am loving the stage of running the kids to their different activities and not being stuck inside all day.
Greg has left to work in Calgary today until late Wednesday night. It shouldn't be too bad this time. I don't think I'll have to expect any 4 foot dumps of snow like last time, walking with 3 kids to school. I'm not losing my marbles being locked up and bored in the house as they have neighbors and toys outside in the lovely warm weather. Yay again for spring! As well, when I DO have to pack lunches, do dishes, make meals and clean up, I get to do it in my new kitchen...so that helps as well. Yay for handy-men!
Things are just all round chipper. Ask me again at 6:30 in the morning, and I might say otherwise.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Reno progress report

It's coming together! It has been a lot of late nights and many many overtime hours for my brother, but it's getting there...

Please see the rest on Facebook for now, as I'm really too tired to upload them.
I hope you love it!
Here's the BEFORE if you are forgetting already...