Appetizers for Christmas

Along with 2 of my good friends, I learnt how to make some new and interesting appetizers tonight. A lady who owns a successful catering company did a cooking class in the community hall and we had a great time chopping, stirring, baking, and tasting! Brie Cheese with Almonds or Cranberry Sauce was a definite hit as was the Hot Buttered Rum!







Other items included Nacho Dip, Crab Rangoons, Salsa Cruda, Garlic Pita Chips, Maple Sausage Bites, and Chili Con Queso. Definitely was fun creating and tasting together!

Visiting

I had a great weekend in Calgary helping Heather and Jonathan, cuddling Helayna, shopping, having lunch with Darrin and Kelsey, babysitting, staying in Kelsey's parents condo (what a treat that is!), and visiting with Kim, Chris and Amyah. That's Amyah trying to crawl into Helayna's car seat - with a little help from her Dad!! Kim was the music teacher for our girls when they were in band many years ago and now she and Heather have become good friends. Their little girls are 7 weeks apart and I think all 4 of them will be spending many hours together, running along Calgary's trails - once the weather warms up!!

Honoured!

I was honoured, humbled, proud and ever so happy to see my amazing husband honored yesterday for his more than 30 years of commitment to diary producers and the industry in Alberta and Canada. He's been away from the board scene for 5 years but still the respect, admiration and thanks his peers gave him was so evident in every smile, handshake and hug.

You deserve every bit of this honour, Bob - congratulations from your #1 fan!!

A thought . . .

for the week of parent teacher student interviews:

"Teachers are those who use themselves as bridges,
over which they invite their students to cross;
then having facilitated their crossing,
joyfully collapse,
encouraging them to create bridges of their own."
Nikos Kazantzakis

Look at Me!

I went to see Meadow today and she's got new stuff to play with!! She loves to stand in this walker kind of thing and play with her toys. Her cousin Renee' is 10 months old so she can stand up and play right alongside her. The Elmo doll is her favorite thing to suck on these days.


And then downstairs she has a jumper that she can hang out in. Today she figured out how to spin herself around a bit and when she steps on the mat all kinds of sounds are activated. Being a child who likes motion and noise, she's pretty happy here.


How fast she is growing and learning new things. I just love how she coos and tries to talk - totally melts my heart!!

Where were you ....???

I saw this somewhere in Blogland this week and it totally made me pause and reflect. Wow - life marches on!

30 years ago - Newly married for just 4 months, living in a little tiny house on the farm.

25 years ago - Mom to 4 little ones - 5 months, 21 months, 3 years and 4 years old.

20 years ago - Our youngest one had just gone to kindergarten.

15 years ago - We had just come home from an awesome family trip to Disneyland.

10 years ago - It was my first year of teaching grade 3 fulltime.

5 years ago - We had sold our dairy cows that summer - big change in daily routine, especially for the winter.

2 years ago - Reflecting about how much I had learned and how much I enjoyed teaching after working with teachers in Belize that summer.

1 year ago - Planning a trip to Asia in the summer, wrapping Christmas gifts to send to Taiwan - no idea that we were on our way to becoming grandparents.

1 month ago - Preparing for Meadow's baptism.

Yesterday - Doing some Christmas shopping at Canadian Tire, after a long busy week at school.

Tomorrow - Going to visit Meadow and creating some card samples for our noon hour kids club to produce this week.

So ----- how about you? Let me know - I am so curious!!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

The hectic week of report card preparation is over! The envelopes with all the good news went home this afternoon - it was a very good feeling to pass them out. We had a little staff gathering
after school and a couple of retired friends stopped by. I am always amazed at how relaxed and happy they look - and how they don't miss it much at all. It's awesome to hear about their travels, grandkids and golf games!

Miss Helayna is 3 weeks old already! Oh, time is flying by! This picture was taken nearly 2 weeks ago as she slept on her Daddy's lap. I think it could be called "Peaceful Dreams"! I am looking forward to cuddling her again soon.

Darrin and Kelsey are coming home this weekend so we'll get to hear all about their little trip to Hawaii last week. And I must return to the studio which is undergoing a transformation to guest room for Kelsey! I hope you have a whole lot of nothing but relaxing planned for this weekend!!

A Project

One of my friend's at work asked me to make a travel journal for her neice who is off to Guatemala for a month long holiday. Of course I was delighted to say 'yes!' and then the panic was on when Helayna came early and we had to go to Calgary. Luckily I had thought about it alot and had some coordinating Studio K papers on hand so it came together in just a few days. There were 30 pages in it, 2 pockets (you see one here with the circles on it, and a map on the front inside cover to trace the path of her trip.

I used the S! sewing stamps, a little suitcase stamp from Hero Arts and a vintage sign one from the SU Parisian Plaza set. Ink is Nick Bantock Van Dyke Brown. I had several different rubons from Basic Grey and Karen Foster. The binder was 6 X 8 from WR Memory Keepers (anybody know where I can get more of these?) and I painted it with MM Meadow paint.

My scrapbook creating has been sadly lacking so it felt good to make this and I think it was liked by both the ladies (the giver and the receiver!) And she asked me to make some more books for Christmas - I am honored and delighted!

Back to my report cards I go-------

Operation Christmas Child

These are some of the 100 shoeboxes that our students and their families filled to send away with Samaritan's Purse this year! What generosity there is in the world! I just read some of the messages from kids who received boxes last year in places like Liberia, India, Chile and Thailand. It just makes me cry at how simple things like pens, pencils, and paper can make such a difference sometimes. One little girl wrote that she had never used a toothbrush or toothpaste before! I'm going to share some of the notes with the kids in class tomorrow so they know what an impact these little boxes can make in other places. Another Mom wrote about how she and her daughter prayed as they filled the box and how personally the little girl did it, praying right into the box and hugging it before they sent it off. Of course the messages of God's love and His caring are the biggest gifts that go with these boxes.

Good-bye little boxes - bring joy wherever you go!

Thought for the Day

"Life is like a game of poker: If you don't put any in the pot, there won't be any to take out."

(Jackie "Moms" Mabley, comedian)

I went with my mom and dad, sister and 2 nieces to see the play, Hana's Suitcase, this afternoon. It's based on the book by Karen Levine, who did the original radio documentary for CBC. It was such a poignant play to see on Remembrance Day! The ways that war affected, and still affects, children is mind boggling. My niece visited the Terezainstadt camp last summer when she was in Europe so she could really relate to the images. My parents were children when the war was going on and they have memories of family and neighbors being conscripted. My Dad talked (the first time I've ever heard this) about his oldest brother being conscripted and the trauma it brought to their family. He had a little picture of him with a buddy at training camp in 1945 and we stopped later to make some copies of the picture. Tomorrow the son of that brother and his family are going to visit my parents to hear what my dad remembers about that time. This man was just a boy of 5 when his father died in the 1960's so he has no memories of his dad's time in the forces. Apparently my parents even have his uniform! I can't imagine how surprised Gary and his family will be to see it. I love spending time with my parents and hearing about these family memories. It makes me realize just how much I do not know about our past.

Remembrance Day

Thankful today for
freedom
peace
plenty
red poppies
men and women who care
choices
calm
a day to pause and reflect.

(images from the web)

They are home!!!

Helayna, Heather and Jonathan are back home again!! All of her tests came back okay so they think she had a touch of the flu or a viral infection. Today she is feeling much better and everyone is glad to be in their familiar place again. Heather says she's even sleeping in the cradle - which she didn't much like last week!! I'll share more after I talk to them tonight.

Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts! It was a huge concern, with her being just 2 weeks old.

Update

Thank you so very much for the prayers and thoughts that all of you, from far and near, sent today.

Helayna was admitted to Calgary Children's Hospital late yesterday with a distended tummy and pain. Their family doctor sent them to emergency where they did a battery of tests and are now waiting for results. Today she is eating, sleeping a bit and otherwise pretty normally doing the things babies do but there is still the distention of the tummy. It seems to not be a blockage, there may be some infection but too many results are still pending to say for sure. They had hoped to do a spinal tap to check for meningitis but it's very difficult to draw a sample from such a little person, who doesn't like to hold still, especially when being poked! She remains in hospital where Heather is with her constantly. Jonathan did go home to sleep for a bit last night but was there all day today.

We know she is in the very best facility possible with doctors and equipment specially geared for little ones. And we pray that God will guide all of this and she will be okay. And it's still a worry! So if you could just keep them in your prayers for the next while, that would be so very appreciated. I will share more when I know more. ((( HUGS )))

Please

say big prayers for little Helayna and her mommy and daddy tonight.


I'll post more tomorrow.

Tagged

My friend Sue tagged me a few weeks ago and it had to go on the back burner until now.

1. FIRST NAME? Crystal
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I don't think so but I know my Dad named me.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Last night while reading Lisa Bearnson's account of her visit to the Amish community in Pennsylvania.
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes - I have to keep my handwriting relatively neat because I teach handwriting to my grade 3 students. Having said that, there are a few letters that I still don't like the look of!
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT? Oven roasted turkey.
6. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes! 1 wonderful son, 3 awesome daughters, 3 amazing son-in-laws, and 2 perfect (!!) granddaughters.
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope so!
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? This weblog has been a good thing in that regard.
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not as much as I used to, thankfully.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes, sir.
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I'm a chicken for heights but I did go parasailing when we were in Mexico and I loved that. It was so tranquil and peaceful. I think I might like to try skydiving.
12. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Always.
13. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically - not really, emotionally - sometimes.
14. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR? Kahlua Chocolate Fudge and Pumpkin Pecan
15. SHOE SIZE? 8 or 8.5
16. RED OR PINK? Both but lately pink's the color of choice.
17. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My body shape.
18. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grandparents.
19. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Wetaskiwin General Hospital, 1955
20. WHAT COLOUR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black yoga pants and brown fur trimmed moccasins.
21. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? An orange
22. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Amy Grant "Time Again"
23. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE? Orange
24. FAVOURITE SMELL? Cinnamon
25. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED WITH ON THE PHONE? our daughter, Melinda
26. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU MEET? Their smile
27. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Juggling - life!
28. FAVOURITE DRINK? Non-alcoholic - iced tea Alcoholic - salted Caesar.
29. FAVOURITE SPORT? Hockey, golf, curling, skating - I love watching all of them too!
30. HAIR COLOUR? Medium brown with caramel highlights (on top of a whole lot of grey!)
31. EYE COLOUR? Brown
32. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No, never have.
33. FAVOURITE FOOD? Pizza
34. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Happy endings, every time
35. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? What Women Want (love the bathroom scene where he's going to wax his legs!!)
36. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Olive green fleece jacket
37. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer, please
38. HUGS OR KISSES? Both
39. FAVOURITE DESSERT? Chocolate cheesecake
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Robin McGraw's Inside My Heart and the Nov./Dec. isue of Scrapbooks, Etc.
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? don't have a mousepad - mine is a marble mouse (seriously - that's what the box even says!)
42. FAVOURITE SOUNDS? Meadow's cooing - just makes me smile everytime!
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles all the way!
44. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Beijing, China
45. IF YOU COULD PICK ANY TWO PEOPLE TO HAVE DINNER WITH, WHO WOULD THEY BE? Princess Diana and Julia Roberts

Fun stuff to consider! Thanks, Sue.
And I'm tagging Rhonda, Carrie and Carm. Have fun, Girls!

A Few More from the Weekend!

A Baby Weekend!

Naomi, Meadow and I drove to Calgary this weekend to visit Helayna, Heather and Jonathan. It was wonderful to see our daughters and their babies together! Naomi marvelled at how tiny Helayna is and all her long hair. It seems she's forgotten that Meadow was indeed this tiny once upon 4 short months ago!! Heather is doing great - she doesn't even look like she was pregnant just 2 weeks ago! She is definitely sleep deprived but she's pretty good at napping when the baby does.


We stayed at a hotel and early bird Meadow was up by 7 a.m. and reading with Mom by 7:30! I love this photo - I think our granddaughter will be a reader - yes!!

And blogger is not cooperating so that's all I can show you right now. More later - I promise!!

Going to Calgary Today

I'm heading out the door to go check out some used baby items at a big community sale in Leduc this morning. I think I need to get a playyard (notice the new terminology!) for our granddaughters visits and sleepovers. And then Naomi, Meadow and I are off to visit Haleyna and Heather (oh, and Jonathan too!) in Calgary. Really looking forward to that! And it's supposed to be very warm in Calgary today - that's a good thing. Here's a picture of Kelsey and her mom when they went to see Haleyna on Thursday night. (This one's for you, H!)


Darrin and Kelsey flew to Hawaii yesterday for some R & R - I hope they have a ton of fun and come back with many pictures! Be safe, Guys!

The Power of 5

I saw this on someone's blog the other day - please forgive me for not giving credit - I simply cannot remember whose it was! Do you think I perhaps read too many blogs?!!! Anyway, I liked the idea so I'm sharing - and challenging you to think of 5 things you could share. And if you just lurk here (yes, I know some of you do!) then think about what you would say, even if I won't be able to read your mind!

Share 5 things about yourself that use the number 5 in them.
1. I work 5 days a week at school.
2. There are 5 in my family - 3 sisters and 2 brothers.
3. I was born in 1955. (Is that too much information?!!)
4. Our phone number ends in a 5.
5. I have 5 more continents to visit in my lifetime. (I think I better get going on that!)

So, that's something light and kind of fun to do for a change. Thanks for reading.

Oh, and on a side note - Bob's gone to Calgary to visit Helayna, Heather and Jonathan and to see Darrin and Kelsey before they leave for Hawaii tomorrow. (Insert sad face because I had to stay home and go to work.) But Naomi and I are going to go on the weekend, I hope. (Keep your fingers crossed and insert happy dance here!)