Riley is 9!

(Check out the decor in the background...we're having a "Rockstar" party this afternoon!)

Christmas in the city

We just got home from 3 nights in the big city. We stayed in Heather and Christian's apartment on the corner of Homer and Davie St., right in Yaletown. It was literally right in the middle of a bunch of high rise apartments. We felt like quite the country bumpkins! It's quite a fun place to be and to walk around.
Now we are home sweet home. I'll leave you with more pictures to tell the story...

Merry Christmas!!

So much to say, so little time...
I'll leave you with pictures, and catch you later!!

Here we are already, at the countdown to Christmas, with the boys finishing up their school this week. It's been so busy with concerts, parties and things to do and buy.
Wow. Christmas is expensive this year!!
Here's a photo of my finished booties...

I have a few more things to finish up and other things I hope to make.
I got my wainscoting painted white, and the walls filled, sanded and primed the big spots...

I know. I know! It looks even more boring than before...but just you wait people...it's going to be great. I'm thinking it might not get done til the new year, as I still haven't found the perfect fabric to match the paint to, but it'll happen.
I'm just sipping on some Candy Cane green tea. I've been drinking a lot of tea lately, as my throat is starting to feel yucky and I REFUSE to be sick this Christmas! Everyone around me is snotty, but I will not go down!
Speaking of tea, my friend Lisa bought this for my birthday, and it has been great...

For loose leaf tea, on-the-go!! It makes a great gift idea too, if you need one!
Anyway...there was my babble with pictures for the day...hope you enjoyed it!

the big girl in the back

So my "Core, cardio and more" class ended two Mondays ago. I took last Monday off, and then this Monday, I braved a new gym with a friend and joined in her one hour step aerobics class!
Oh my word, I haven't done step aerobics since the 80's. Ok, well not quite, but let's see...an official class (I guess the Wii fit doesn't count), since 1998. That was the year I lived in Mexico and was working out almost daily at the Gold's Gym. I was the big white girl in the back who sweat like a dog and was trying my best to keep up.
My friend had warned me that her first time was almost pointless, as by the time she'd get a step, they'd be onto the next move and she felt like she was behind the whole time. I actually did ok!? There were a few moves I had to pretend I knew what was going on, but most I could handle with relative smoothness. However, hiding a beet red face was harder. Not from being shy either, but from pure over-heating. I don't sweat right, my face gets hotter and hotter, and it looks like I may just explode. Embarrassing. Oh well, I survived, and I'm sure it'll only get easier from here on in.

On the weekend we did a lot of setting up. Got bunks for the two younger boys and set them up (taking down two other beds and moving one over to the next room). Big improvement!! And then we got our Christmas tree and set that up along with the nativity set, my lights and garland in the kitchen, the little bell chiming guys, the stockings, wreaths, etc. I Love Christmas!!

Back to knitting

The winter has indeed come, with plenty of snow and cold. The boys love it, and actually, it was such a busy summer, that I don't mind staying inside and working on my room, baking or the odd craft here and there. Come February, I'm sure I'll have a different opinion of the snow and being stuck indoors!
Most days, when I pick up the boys at the school, they first take a few spins down the hill with their GT's. Today we stayed for two hours, met up with the cousins and then they came home with us for dinner.
One thing that started up again, is my "Knotty Knitters" group. A few friends and I get together once a week to work on our latest knitting projects and ask Pam our many knitting questions! I often have to call her up or go online to figure out what I'm doing! I just finished my first knitting item of the year...a little bootie for my niece. I have one more to go and then I'll take a picture for you. I love doing booties as I can finish them in two or three sittings and get back to normal life again! Knitting for me is like reading a good book. It gets really hard to put down! It's like you just have to do one more row as it's getting so good!! You can't wait to see how it's going to turn out!!
I've tried some new recipes out of a new book I got for my birthday. One was a chicken pot pie with phyllo pastry on the top! And tonight I tried a BLT salad made with cherry tomatoes, bacon, homemade croutons and a buttermilk salad dressing! Yum. I took a pic of the pot pie...I'll post it later.
Still slow going on the room. It is basically a blank canvas, waiting for some paint. Hopefully I'll get started this weekend.
Ok, so I'll catch up on the photos soon. Right now it's time to heat up my buckwheat bags and climb into bed with them!