:: Trains Trains Trains ::

:: On Saturday morning we headed out to South Surrey to Art Knapps to visit the trains, plants & birds - Jacob had a great time running {or pretending to} about and seeing what new thing was around each corner! Paul on the other hand had a great time dreaming of the day he too could have a train set up in our home. We had a great time adventurizing around! :: :: Later on that day our neighbour dropped by and brought Paul a box full of model {still working} trains! Most of them are in the original boxes and in super good shape...such a blessing & what a day to recieve such a blessing. Just too perfect! ::

:: Long over-due ::

:: I just realized that with all of the renovations I didn't post any photo's from Mother's day - Ugh! I guess I just had too much going on. So here are some pictures from our Mother's Day Brunch at Fort Langley Golf & Country Club with my Mom & Family ::

:: More Canada Day Celebrations 2007 ::

:: On Sunday afternoon we headed to the Beach with Matt, Lisa, the girls and Aienoa (sorry if the spelling is wrong - she is their student from Spain). We had a great time getting sun, playing in the sand, flying kites and of course enjoying picnic like food! ::

:: Here are some of the pictures from our day ::

:: Welcome Baby Cooper ::

:: CONGRATULATIONS! ::

:: My cousin Dan and his wife Cari welcomed Baby Coooper Daniel into their lives last Tuesday in the early hours of the morning via c-section ::

:: He has two older sisters; Jordyn who is 16 and Lexi who is 12 - He is truly a blessing from the Lord ::

:: Three generations, My Uncle Ron, My Cousin Dan and Baby Cooper :: :: Congratulations Dan & Cari - We could not be happier for you! ::

:: Canada Day Celebrations 2007 ::

:: Tonight we joined my parents along with my SIL, Lindsey for a BBQ to celebrate Canada Day - I have pictures from our events yesterday but I will have to download those later as these are from my Mom's camera :: :: Quirky family self portrait ::
:: My boys :: :: "Not only am I cute...I'm Canadian too" ::
:: Our little family - less the bump :) ::
:: Our almost walking boy ::
:: Happy Canada Day! ::

:: these feet... ::

:: are made for walking -- well today Jacob took his actual first steps from one side fo the family room to the other ::

:: If I were to guess I would say that he will be walking by Monday, we're excited but also a little wary as everyone says "you'll regret wanting him to walk" but I don't think we will (I know my back won't!). He is such a good little gaffer and obedient most of the time, plus he has been getting into stuff since he could crawl (at 7 months) so I really don't think it will change that much ::

:: But keep checking in on us to see the progress of our little {big} walking boy ::

:: What would you buy with $120? ::

So here is my predicament; I won “The Pot” of $120 at our Happy Housewives event on Tuesday night. Now to most this wouldn’t be a predicament, but here are the rules:

You must spend 100% of the money on yourself…not your home, your children, your husband, your pet…YOU!!! You must share with the group what you did with your money the following month. If you win the draw, you will then host next months event.

Hosting the next event is not my problem – it’s spending all the moola on me and in the next month! Now you all must be thinking if I had a $120 to spend on me it would be gone in a second at the spa and lunch out with a friend…right and normally I would jump on the opportunity to do the same. But with this money I want to get the biggest bang out of my buck – so I am stuck, do I buy one big thing or a few small little things.

:: Shawna Factoid ::
You may not know me that well and that’s okay – but one thing about me is that I am cheap okay maybe frugal is a better term for me. I don’t often spend money on myself except if it is totally on sale or a really good price and typically these things are found down in the States. And often times you can find me handing something back to the cashier at the register. Now Paul is not that way at all – he says buy quality the first time and you will never have to replace it, true, I agree --- however that’s not fun for a girl who’s fashion, style and size (depending on post/pre/pregnant body) changes with the seasons!

So here is my predicament – what do I buy something “big” or a few small things?

Here are a few items I have in mind:

:: $100 @ Lululemon ::

:: $15 @ Target ::

:: $41 @ Mac Cosmetics ::
:: $17.50 @ Target ::

:: $20 @ Target ::

:: $20 @ Target ::

:: $16.09 @ Target ::

** A few other things I would like to invest in, a pedicure (or two if I got them done at the beauty school), stampin-up stuff/Michaels craft supplies, buying myself a Starbucks gift card for treats when I'm out running around and maybe even a cute trench coat (for Fall) to go with the boots :) **

P.S. I asked the group if I could spend it on a double stroller as that would be a luxury item to me – but they voted no as they said I would probably buy one anyway!

Any suggestions or thoughts as to what you might buy with the money if you had it would be greatly appreciated!

:: I need to post this so I can put it in my profile - dumb blogger, or dumb Shawna - I'm not sure :) ::

:: Cold Turkey ::

:: Well, almost a week ago we went "cold turkey" on Jacob and his soothers - one morning he woke up and decided that he no longer wanted to give up his soother...so he remained in bed as he doesn't get his soother unless he is going to sleep. He didn't like that so Paul and I decided that it was probably time to take away the soothers all together. Jacob has never used his soother for any other time than nap and bedtime, however if this attitude continued we would be in big trouble as he was becoming more dependent on it. And I don't want to have to worry about having two different sizes of soothers in my purse once the second baby comes along, so the soothers disappeared ::

:: To date we have been successful in remaining soother free and he is now falling asleep at all naps and bedtimes with out the aid of the soother. It was a little rough for the first few days (a lot of crying) but once the third day came along he was fine. I knew if I made it to day three we would be successful - so on day two I just kept on saying to myself...I just have to make it to day three....one more day! He is so cute about falling asleep now, he will close his eyes really tight (almost like he's squinting) and he smacks his lips together and plays with his tongue and then yawns and that's it - he's out. It's a new routine for us but it seems to be working well and he is sleeping like a dream ::

:: Now I'm soother free for 4 months and then we will be back at the soother game with the next one - oh well, at least I get a bit of a break :) ::

:: Happy Father's Day :::: Daddy's are the best and my babies father is truly one to be celebrated ::

:: Paul is many things to both Jacob & I and this Father's day we could not let a moment go by without telling him how thankful we are for his devotion, honesty and of course love ::

:: Paul you are more than I could have imagined in a Father to our children and to top it off you are my best friend ~ Thank you for doing life with me ::

:: All our love, Shawna, Jacob & Baby ::