back to the land of the web

We've been internet-less at home for over a week. It was the roughest week I've had to endure in a very long time but with many questions and a few frusterated words exchanged with the router and laptop I am so happy to say

"it's aliiiiiiiiiiiive!"

I have seen several signs that say that "a clean house is the sign of a broken computer" I only wish that was the case. Just think about what poor Milo had to endure and carry that forward to now.  We are starting to see why people don't talk about the 4's but I won't get into that right now as it is still too soon to talk about it...
I am just so happy to be back to the land of the living aka the web. Yay for determined hubby!

>^..^<

our "other mothers"

For the past year I have been wondering what the best way would be to teach Maribel what adoption means and how special it is and how special she is. I grew up knowing I was adopted and have seen just how special it is first hand and I wanted M to have the same understanding and love for it as I did/do so I started with showing pictures of her biological mother and her younger half brother. She loves that she has a brother which takes a bit of the pressure off Joe and I because we kinda suck in that department.

About a week before we left for Alberta Maribel crawled into my bed while I was getting ready for work and I said,
Me: Hey Maribel guess what? (we like this game)
Maribel: What?
Me: Guess who we’re going to see when we go to Canada?
Maribel: Oh who Mommy?
Me: Your baby brother Dayce.
She smiled super big so I continued

Me: And guess who else you’re going to see in Canada?
Maribel: Who?
Me: Your Birthmother, Tia.
She gasped her super happy excited breath and threw her arms around me and said, "I’m so excited!" While we held each other for that precious moment I knew telling her was the right thing. I wonder if my mother felt this when she told me I had another mother?

The Beautiful mother who blessed me with a beautiful daughter.

Maribel love's her Mommy Tia and that really made me so happy. I've wondered if some adoptive mothers have the hidden fear of the first meeting. No fear from me, just love and gratitude. So much gratitude.

Maribel and her little brother Dayce

This little meeting really melted my heart. They clicked right away and my heart was over joyed. She loves her little brother so so much.

Me and my birthmother Joann

That weeked we also had the chance to visit my birthmother which was also M’s first time meeting her kokum and the rest of my birth-family. She clicked with her cousins right away and just made her self at home with her extended family. My heart was seriously starting to overflow at this point.

Me, my Kookum, My birthmother Joann, and little Maribel

4 Generations

Now take a look at this photo and tell me that this could have been planned only by our Heavenly Father.
Adoption is such a beautiful thing.

Happy Mother's Day!

>^..^<

what’s green & orange & white and smells like coconuts?

I woke up to silence and a sniff of coconut yesterday. Silence is never a good thing when you have kids. The first thing I found was an empty plastic tube and my coconut scented hand soap laying on the bathroom floor. The vile used to hold green glitter. Keywords here: “used to.”

You can only guess which of our rats was actually willing, crazy, and stupid enough to just sit there and let it happen.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the look on his face while I was snapping the photos. You can see the defeat and humiliation in his eyes. Like he thought that maybe this time would be different. Poor Milo. It’s rough being Maribel’s favourite.

I hope your weekend was a good one and glitter free.

>^..^<

hoping for clear skies

There's a shuttle launch scheduled for today. They need good weather to make it happen since the President will be coming to this one. And since our favourite beach will be over crowded with sky watchers I'm thinking maybe a visit to see the Mouse is in order. Goodness knows I need a nice sunny weekend with my little stinkerella. This pic was taken last month while she was watching the dance show at Cinderalla's castle. I love seeing the look of 'magic' in her eyes everytime she sees the princesses. It makes it all worth it.

I hope you have a super fun weekend!

P.S. This upcoming month Skrap n' Chat is hosting a month long crop with weekly challenges, games, prizes and all sorts of fun. I'm really looking forward to getting some much needed scrapping done. My poor supplies have been neglected something awful.

>^..^<

so bright, so glorious, so...wet

You know that old saying, be careful what you wish for because I might get it? Well I wished it would snow while we were in Edmonton and boy did they ever get it. All 15cm of it. Yeah, I received a few hate-mails for it but I didn't care. It's been 8 years since I last saw snow and this was Maribel's first.

Because this was Maribel's first real encounter with snow I was curious to see how she would react to it since I have some friends who's kids aren't fans of the white flakes themselves. My sister likes to call it the "Devil's Dandruff." But alas I'm not surprised to find that Miss M is rather fond of ye ole white stuff.

Yup. My little stinky winky L-O-V-E-S the snow. She begged to play in it every millisecond and eat it. After catching her nibbling on a few questionable snowballs I introduced her to the fun part of snow; icicles.

But now that I'm back I have to admit, I'm a little relieved that I don't have to shovel sidewalks anymore. I love the snow but it came back to me the not so fun side of it, wet pant legs and socks that always seem to find that puddle of melted snow in the foyer.
At least I got my fix until next year. I'm just not sure if Maribel can hold out that long since she's already asking to chew on some ice cubes because they taste like icicles.

>^..^<

home sweet home

Returning from my visit home was a little rough this time. I came back with a little more then I bargained for; a sinus and ear infection that I would have rather have left behind. With the two flights taking off and landing my ears felt like they were ready to implode and brought my hearing to practically nil which came in a little handy when little whiny face was exercising her newly acquired skill to try to get what she wanted. Oh the joys of growing up. But even with all of that the trip was wonderful and the food…oh the food….

This place was the first food joint we ate at and the last. Of course there were several meetings in between…*drool* My mother in law is seriously considering opening up one of these in Orlando. Yup, she's hooked. Don't' worry, I also indulged in some amazing Poutine, Cadbury's finest chocolate, Bison burgers, and of course some yummy Haggis. Yes, I like haggis. But oh the sweetness that is in the delicious form of chocolate Timbits…now those are something worth having over, and over, and over......*drool* okay onto the real reason for flying home...

Aidan’s baptism: The whole reason I came home.
This particular baptism was very emotional for me. I was so blessed to be there when he made his entrance to this world and now to be able to witness his covenant with our Heavenly Father filled my heart so full of joy that it spilled over…in the form of tears. Of course to add to everything I was asked to give a talk, and yes I cried through out the whole thing. I can’t help it, I’m a boob when it comes to spiritual things. I just love this kid so much and to see my dad there along side him was so SO awesome.

Up next: Be careful what you wish for because people may not appreciate it as much as you do...

>^..^<

they say it's spring, it's you

Before we left I decorated the piano mantle so that our home would be ready for Easter when we came back. Delicious chocolate easter eggs sitting on some edible easter grass, a jar filled with fluffy pom poms, and already decorated eggs will be ready to welcome us when we return.

I had this idea to bring spring into my house with some puffy clouds made from stuffing and yarn. Maribel had fun pulling and clumping. The little clouds are hers. *heart*

We also made some pinwheels but our attempts to make them spin with the breeze failed pretty miserably so we just glued them down and stuffed them into a jug. At least we had fun together and that's what matters the most.

There's a big difference between Florida's spring and Edmonton's spring. One has sunshine and summer temps while the other has snow and cold breezes that can cut right through the i-thought-this-would-be-warm-enough jacket. But hey, it's still spring none the less.
>^..^<

sweet succulence

words are not necessary to describe the deliciousness that sits in this cup.

>^..^<

what's in my bag

This is my favorite bag right now. I love how perfectly spring it is and how I can smuggle chocolate from my super skilled candy sniffer aka my daughter. As you can see I'm all put of chocolate so instead it holds some touch up make up, lip gloss, keys, nail put polish my trusty phone, EOS egg shaped lip balm, Instax camera with some recent snapshots, wallet, my new favorite lip balm by Burts Bees, bobby pins, passport covered in Dear Lizzy fabric paper, my luggage tag a bestie gave me, pack this list notepad and glitter pencil.
Not shown i sthe stack of receipts and empty gum wrappers because that wouldn't make a pretty picture. *wink*

I so love these list notepads. I'm a list maker and they really take the guesswork out of "Did I remember everything?" as I usually forget something important like my cell phone charger or something...but not this time.

My Instax camera rarely ever leaves my bag other then to snap a few shots. Between that and my phone it's great to be able to capture the moment at anytime without having to lug around my pentax.


So here I am with a mere couple of sleeps left before I take the grand adventure of flying with my for year old who is probably more excited to be flying north than I am and that's saying something

>^..^<

muppets who wear glasses rock

My new glasses came in and I have to say that I feel smarter now. Mm hmm. Sure do. E=Mc2'd or squared, whatever the heck that means. Well alright at least I look smart. *wink*

When I shared with my darling sister a photo of that glasses I was getting she then proceeded to ask, "I had no clue you wanted to look like Guy Smiley?" ouch. Well since this was a rare opportunity to correct the corrector I had to share with her that Guy Smiley doesn't wear glasses. See... mnah so there!!!

So she then sent me a link to the Muppet's who wear glasses. Sibling love at its finest.

After looking through the selection of spectical wearing muppets I actually found one that has the same pair as I do...

*Don't forget to turn off the music on the side bar ==> ==> ==>*

Being a Muppet is pretty stinking awesome if you ask me but now I want a red phone...

>^..^<