HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm going to get right to it...cause there is lots to talk about! First off - Happy New Year to everyone out there! I hope that 2008 is the best year yet! Stay happy and healthy!

Ok, let's take a few steps back. Daryl arrived home just before Christmas after spending a few days in Whitehorse with Sherri and time spent visiting friends and family that he hasn't seen in a quite some time. Although the weather was cold (I was told) spirits were high as the holiday season came speeding ahead. December 22 saw the arrival of Twyla, Gil and Tia-pet for a too-quick over-night visit. We had as many of Twyla's family members over as we could think of that evening for a pre-Christmas gathering. It was great to re-meet everyone and to share some laughs. Gary - we are certainly coming this summer for a music jam session!

It was such a pleasant holiday season all-round, because for the first year that I can remember, Daryl and I didn't have to drive anywhere! With my parents living just down the street, and everyone else coming to see us - we couldn't have had a more relaxing time. Our living room furniture arrived just in time as well - so we all didn't have to sit on the floor!

Christmas Eve was a quite day as we prepared to cook a 3-rib prime rib complete with all the fixin's! It was delicious - and the ambiance and company was just wonderful. We have been so thankful for the gifts received over the years, including our wedding. We received a very special wine decanter from Holi and John that we use quite often - but on this special day, we opened a 1998 bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape that was purchased when Daryl and I were in France in 2002. Although I could only have a small glass - it was absolutely yummy! I'm a firm believer that life is much too short to drink cheep wine! YUM! Monkey loved it too!Christmas Day brought to our oven a 29lb turkey...for 4 people. Yes, we are still eating turkey - but it was the best darn bird you have ever tasted! On the 27th my mom and I made 8 turkey-pot-pies, which are all resting comfortably in the freezer, waiting for the next turkey craving!
Boxing Day was an adventure, as Daryl set out at 6am to Future Shop for our last Christmas gift - a new SLR digital camera. He arrived at 6:03am and they were already sold out of the model on sale...so we ended up with the newer version with more bells and whistles than we know what to do with...but it came with an amazing telephoto lens that can focus on the clock on our neighbours microwave over 500m away! Very scary! So, the first few photos here are with our original camera, and after December 26 they are with the new one...can you see the difference?

The next few days were spent continuing with the home renovations. Not that Christmas isn't special and a time to rest and relax - but there is only so much eating and talking that you can do! Daryl and my dad continued with the tile installation at the front entrance, first with the thin-set layer and under-lay, laying tile, grout and finally sealing the whole deal. It looks AMAZING! But then there was the hardwood to continue to the stair edge too. They both worked so hard, but the end results are fabulous!

Following the adventures upstairs, Daryl decided that he was in the mood to attack the last bit of flooring on the main level which required the removal of the old terra-cotta-type tiles, grinding the 30 year old concrete mortar and then laying the new hard-wood floors. We learnt our lesson from the dust disaster that happened upstairs with the electric grinder, so Daryl - not wanted to upset his pregnant wife, rented an exhaust fan to suck all the dust out of the house as it was generated by the grinder. Well done Daryl, well done! With only a minor clean-up to follow, I was in much better spirits this time! And, once again, the finished product looks just amazing! I can't believe how different and what an improvement it all makes. And who knew that adding furniture to our empty living room would actually make it look smaller!
Do I work him too hard?

Countdown

The countdown is on...for so many things!

First and most important; Daryl comes home in 4 days (done work in 1 but hanging out in Whitehorse for a few days) and we are all so very excited about his pending return!

Second; CHRISTMAS! I love Christmas just about as much as I love Halloween, and Easter, and New Year's, and Valentine's, and summer, and pralines and cream ice cream...ok, so the list is long, but I do love Christmas! I love the decorations, the parties, the food and the time spent with loved ones, both in person and in spirit for those that are far away. Last night, my parents had an open-house party where they had the chance to meet some of their new neighbours and to share some cheer. There was lots of food - we're coming up with ingenious ways to use ham, grav-lox salmon, yummy sausages and goat cheese in puff-pastry. Any suggestions are very welcome! I think I will make a baked macaroni, ham and cheese...and mom will make some ham & pea soup. YUM!

Third; and also quite important in our lives...MONKEY! Today marks the 1/2 way point on our journey to monkey-hood! I'm officially at 20 weeks and still feel amazing...not one complaint. I thought that I was having some internal gas issues, but it turns out that was monkey moving around, pushing his way around in confined quarters. It is the weirdest feeling, for those who haven't experienced this yet. A very gentle flutter at times, and a real push with a butt (or head) other times. I still don't have a belly - so I'm not sure where the 16cm little one is living...except squishing my stomach - as I've lost some of my appetite and have to eat smaller meals more frequently...I feel like I'm always eating! Oh well...still have only gained about 5lbs! I have a Dr's appointment on Thursday - just another routine check-up. I'm sure all will be super-duper!

Well, back to work! Have a wonderful day everyone!

MONKEY!

So, it's official. I am with child. I think that expression is lame. I've been getting a lot of grief from a lot of people about not posting any photos...but really, there is nothing to report!

Ok, let's go back a few months...not that far back...you all know about the birds and the bees...and this is a family blog-site! A while back I was doing some math in my head, cause I wasn't really keeping track of things with Daryl working away a lot...when I had the realization that I needed to pee on a stick. We went to the local pharmacy, bought the extremely over-priced box and I peed. I couldn't look at the results, both excitement and fear overtook my body so I pulled an ostrich and buried myself in the bed-sheets. Ok, I know that ostriches don't actually do this...but I'm trying to give you a mental picture here! Low and behold...pregnant! So, the excitement and fear exploded 10-fold and the games were set to begin! And here we are, 18 weeks and 4 lbs later...but we finally have proof!

Back about a month ago, at the last Dr's visit, I said that I needed proof, and boy did we get it! We heard the little freakishly fast heart-beat and I have had a case of the giggles ever since.

This past Monday, we went for our first ultrasound and actually SAW the little monkey.

Ok, let's talk about the name. I've had so many friends who have had babies in the past year who, justifiably so, have named their growing bellies wonderful things like "peanut", "sprout" and "sweat-pea", all very suiting and just adorable. For those of you who know Daryl and I, when this little one joins us (due May 5), s/he is going to be cute, and adorable as well...but we know that they are going to grow into a little monkey. Both Daryl and I pulled a Tarzan out of our respective cribs when we were wee babes (I was about 5 months old), and if you combine our energy and joking,teasing nature...you get a little monkey. My dad is quite upset with this nick-name...keeps saying "it isn't a monkey"...well, no kidding...not literally!

Anyhow, monkey it is...and just to prove it, when we had the last sound-only ultrasound in the Dr's office to check on the heart-rate, the little rascal decided to play hide-and-seek. This did not help my giggles...not at all. All we would hear was me snickering and laughing...we gave up and decided that monkey's heart was probably just fine! I think we're in trouble!

So, with a few weeks left until Christmas and us reaching mid-way in this journey called pregnancy...I'm feeling and doing just great. The Dr. said that I couldn't be in better health, and the fact that my only complaint is that I have nothing to complain about is a good thing. I've had no morning sickness, no weakness, or feelings or being tired or anything. And like I said, I've gained 4 lbs. But I did have a big breakfast...hum...

I've felt no kicks or movements...and what I thought was monkey turns out to be gas. Sorry Daryl! But rest assured, the little one is very feisty. When watching on the ultrasound s/he looked like s/he was doing flutter kicks...non-stop...on my bladder! There was so much movement and flipping and twisting and spastic fluttering that the tech had a hard time taking any photos. But what she did take are awesome...kind of. I see monkey in most of them...others I wonder what she was looking at!This one is pretty obvious...

No, it's not a boy...well, maybe it is...but that's just a leg.

This was taken when monkey decided to do a somersault...you can see the spine and head (to the left)...I think.

Well, that's the update for now! Certainly more to follow in the progression of our experiences of growing a healthily monkey!

Another Weekend Cometh

Well, here we are again, at the threshold of another weekend in the Loops. I have been away at conferences for the last while, and work is rushing full-steam ahead to the final hour. Today is officially my last day as the Transportation Engineer and Monday morning I will be the new Drainage & Design Engineer with the City of the Loops. WOOWEE!
As I just mentioned, I was attending a conference in Kelowna for the last week on the topic of Sustainability. It was excellent - an overload of information, however, but inspiring nonetheless. I had the great pleasure of having supper with Twyla and Gil (and baby Tia) one night, and meeting with Michelle for dinner (while she enjoyed a hot-chocolate!) another night. While I was away, Daryl returned on Wednesday from the Yukon to an empty house. Poor punkin! And yesterday (Thursday - for those of you without a calendar) he left for Tumbler Ridge, set to return this evening. So YAY!
As far as house Reno's go, we are planning on completing the main floor floors (tile installation and hard-wood flooring around) over the next week. I hope that the slate tiles we want are in stock. We don't need a huge quantity - so fingers crossed!
It is suppose to be a spectacular weekend, so I'm very excited. Lots of hiking and fall/winter preparations in order. I might even try and get the Christmas lights up! Photos to follow...I promise!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend as well!

Post Long-Weekend Post

Greeting and Salutations! What a wonderful long weekend it was in the loops, except that Daryl was away. I got so much stuff done around the house...maybe it was a blessing that he wasn't there! I made a honey-do list for myself on Friday and attacked with a vengeance. Only one thing remained on Monday night...I never got around to vacuuming the car...oh well!

I've never eaten so much cheese! On Saturday night (maybe it was Sunday?) we had a raclette/fondue with all sorts of yummy extras like potatoes, roasted peppers, pickles, mushrooms, garlic shrimp, olives...YUM YUM YUM! I thought I was going to burst...now I know why we only do that once or twice a year!

The weather wasn't fabulous, but there was lots of rainbow spotting going on!

I set up our computer table and the new (new-to-us) computer so we finally have a home office of sorts! YAY! Next step...internet at home!
I have no photos to share of this weekend...but here is one from the party in Kelowna...crazy friends!

The Hall

The halls connecting the front entrance to the bedrooms has been laid and looks amazing!I didn't want a simple 45 degree angle cut on the floors, but rather asked for a herringbone effect. Apparently, if we had this professionally installed it would have cost about $10,000 according to Daryl, due to the extensive time and precision required. I think they did a marvelous job...you wouldn't know they weren't professionals! What happens when you push just a bit too hard!

Guest Room

And this is the progress we've made with the other guest room and the hardwood floor installation. It looks absolutely amazing...and the room is open for visitors!

Guest Room

The hardwood floors have been installed in the guest room. WOOHOO!