:: We've Decided ::

:: Thank you all for reading and commenting on my blog regarding the area rug for our living room. I had an overwhelming response that number 2 was the perfect rug for us, so you will be surprised when we chose number 1 instead! Why, you ask. Well I like it better. Okay that's not really it...I do actually like it better, it feels better, does what I want it to do in the room (lay flat on the floor) and doesn't pull too much attention to itself. However Paul still really liked the other one. So, once we had the furniture arranged we tried each rug out and both decided that this one was truly our favorite :: :: I do understand that by 'designers' rules it should be a bit bigger, but this is all we have to work with budget wise and since we are limited to Homesense this is all they have to offer size wise. Plus, we don't need to cover up the floor as it's brand new ~ We just wanted to warm the room up a bit ::

:: So if anyone is looking for a super cute beige and cream area rug we are returning the rejected one to Homesense in Langley tomorrow ::

:: Thanks again for all of your input ~ it's so fun to have some of my readers interacting with me ::

:: Christmas Re-Cap ::

:: This year was one of the busiest one's yet...I guess adding two kids to the mix will do that to you. We had our fair share of struggles this December so I am happy to wave good-bye to Christmas for yet another year ::

:: Making Gingerbread Houses with the Bakers (ours was a Starbucks Shak a la Paul) :::: Since my younger brother and wife live on the Island in Duncan we had our Christmas celebrations with them the weekend prior to Christmas downtown Vancouver - Mom & Dad hosted the whole weekend, we stayed at the Westin Grand (so nice!), went out for meals, watched movies, enjoyed shopping, drank Starbucks, played games and most of all enjoyed each other ~ Thanks Mom & Dad! :::: Christmas Eve was spent with Paul's family at the Laderoute's house where we enjoyed a great brunch followed by gathering around the tree and giving gifts, and lots of belly rubs on Jen's belly of course (baby expected at the end of January) - After that we went to Pauls sisters in-laws (got that?) and chit-chatted at their annual cocktail party at their house in Vancouver, it was a nice day and we were happy to be home earlier than 11:00! :::: Jacob got his first & only train set from us on Christmas. He slept in until 9:40am (Praise the Lord!). Since he slept in we did our gifts first which was really such a treat! We had planned since toy boxes are horrible to get into, to set up the train set and have it running when he came downstairs. His expression was priceless! He LOVED it! We didn't give him anything else as we knew he would get plenty of other toys from his Grandparents and Aunts & Uncles. And it was our best move yet as he is still so taken with his train set...He fills the water into the tank and turns it on and watches it go through the tunnel...so fun! :: :: As I previously stated, Paul and I had our own little gift opening time and cup of coffee together on Christmas morning. It was lovely to be with the one I love in a quiet home with a great cup of coffee. Of course we weren't alone as wee Baby Cole was in his swing but he was sleeping so we thought he could stay ;) ~ I got Paul three shirts, all of his skin care for the year, underwear, a belt, hat, chocolate and the boys made him a print of their feet in a shadow box. I got AG shampoo and conditioner, my favorite hairspray, Alfred Sung "Paradise" perfume, patton like gum boots & a beautiful jewelery case (it actually hangs on my wall). We were both so spoiled not only from each other but from our parents as well....thanks Mom & Dad McC and Mum & Dad Lad we are truly thankful for all of our gifts! I received a camera from my parents but I want to upgrade it and so I'm going to take my money from Paul's parents and put it into more of a professional camera (if I can ever decide on one!) ::

:: Our one tradition that we have in our family is sharing a panettone on Christmas morning...it's Italian sweet bread and is so good...thanks to Lisa K for buying me one from Trader Joe's for my birthday, it was delish and full of dried cranberries! Yum! ::

:: HAPPY NEW YEAR ::

:: As I pack up all of the Christmas decorations and think back to the last year, we have really had quite a year...

* Found out we were pregnant early in February

* Bought a house

* Sold a house

* Went on vacation to Palm Springs

* Renovated a house

* Celebrated Jacob's 1st Birthday

* Celebrated 5 Years of Wedded Bliss

* Welcomed Cole Robert to the family

It was truly a very eventful year, however this year I want to dedicate more of my time being in relationship with my Lord & Savior...I find that as I reflect that I haven't grown leaps and bounds in my relationship with the Lord - of course I have learned things and been taught things but I want more and 2008 is time to press in ::

:: I received this from a friend this morning, I think it best sums up what I am feeling and what I want to be more like in 2008 ::

1 Cor 13 (paraphrased)

If I keep my house immaculately clean,
And am envied by all for my interior decorating,
But do not show love in my family –
I’m just another housewife.

If I’m always producing lovely things – sewing, art, scrapbooks;
If I always look attractive, and speak intelligently,
But am not loving to my family –
I am nothing.

If I’m busy in community affairs, teach Sunday school,
And drive in the carpool,
but fail to give adequate
Love to my family –
I gain nothing.

Love changes diapers, cleans up messes, and ties shoes –
Over and over again.
Love is kind, though tired and frazzled.
Love doesn’t envy another wife –
One whose children are “spaced” better,
Or in school so she has time to pursue her own interests.

Love doesn’t try to impress others with my
Abilities or knowledge as a mother.
Love doesn’t scream at the kids.
Love doesn’t feel cheated because I didn’t get to do
What I wanted to do today –
Sew, read, soak in a hot tub.

Love doesn’t lose my temper easily.
Love doesn’t assume that my children are being
Naughty just because their noise level is irritating.
Love doesn’t rejoice when other people’s children
Misbehave and make mine look good.
Love is genuinely happy when others are
Honored by their children.

:: So Happy New Year to you - I pray that 2008 is filled with the things that actually matter most! ::

:: YOUR opinion please ::

:: We have been saving some money to buy an area rug for our living room, we have quite a few gift cards for Winners & Homesense so we decided that we should try and find our area rug there. Yesterday we found this one for $179.00 ::
:: Today we found this one for $160.00 ::


::: We cannot decide which one we like more...the top one is made out of polyester, feels so good on the feet and doesn't have as much pile and is more of what we were looking for in that respect, but we think the second one is more our style (it is made out of wool and is a thicker pile but also feels so good on the feet). So we can't decide, can you help us??? ::

:: MERRY CHRISTMAS :: :: I WISH YOU WILL REMEMBER THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS ON THIS CHRISTMAS EVE; THAT YOUR HEARTS WILL BE FILLED JOY FOR THE GIFT THAT WAS GIVEN TO US, A SON THAT WOULD GIVE HIS LIFE THAT WE MIGHT BE GIVEN LIFE ::

:: AS I THINK ABOUT MY BOYS SLEEPING PEACEFULLY I WONDER WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR THEM AND YET AGAIN I GIVE THEIR LIVES TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, AS IT'S HIS PLAN I WANT THEM TO LIVE, NOT OURS...HOW HARD DO YOU THINK IS WAS FOR MARY TO KNOW THAT TRULY HER SON WAS GOD'S CHILD? I PRAY THAT GOD GIVES ME THE UNDERSTANDING AND PEACE OF MARY TO KNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE COVERED AND GUIDED BY HIS HAND ::

:: HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR FAMILY AND IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR ::

~ Christmas Decor ~

~ Welcome to our Home ~

~ Here are some of our decorations we put up for Christmas....I know ya'll are nosey like me and want to see where we will be enjoying our Christmas festivities, and if you're not nosey, tough luck...here's portions of our house anyway ;) ~

~ Family Room ~

~ View from our family room to our kitchen ~

~ Dining room centerpiece (it's actually the wreath I had on our front door - I've since upgraded) ~

~ View from our dining room towards our living room and front entrance ~

~ Starbucks Ginger-Shak ~

~ View from entrance into living room ~

~ View from living room into entrance ~

~ Thank you for visiting our quaint Casa ~

:: Celebrations with Michael & Coby ::

:: We had a fabulous time with Michael & Coby the other night enjoying great conversation, food and laughs in front of the Christmas tree...thanks for a fabby night guys, glad we get to do it all over again in another week (here's to planning Coby!) :: :: Family time after Jacob was sleeping ::
:: Delish dinner - us girls were happy we just didn't have to prepare anything :::: Our big boys getting ready to take a tour of Michael's new backyard (we hadn't seen it since they finished the landscaping)...Michael has an affinity to rocks just like Paul ::
:: Cole enjoying a nap on the couch ::
:: Prior to Kylee and Jacob going to sleep they had a blast cuddling and kissing on the family room floor - it was hilarious! ::
:: Sweet little Kylee ::
:: Yum Yum ::
:: our wonderful friends M&C ::
:: Merry Christmas M&C - Can't wait till the 29th! ::
:: Ps. You'll have to let us know how the MC gig went!?!?!? ::

:: Paul would kill me...::

If he knew I was up blogging, however the house is quiet and I had a rest this afternoon, so I thought I would sit and blog into cyberspace...but I should be in bed as my littlest one will be up sooner than later to feed and I can't pass that responsibility over to Paul (too bad eh?) So I will end this blogging fest to go to bed...hopefully I will be back tomorrow with a some photo's of the last couple days of Christmas celebrations. So fun!

:: I'm 1 Month Old ::

:: I'm 1 whole month and my Mama says that I's bigger than my brother was when he was a month cause this sleeper I'm wearin' is too small for me and she put me through lotsa pain trying to stretch it over my shoulders for these pictures....apparently Mama's are used to pain when they put clothes on but I'm a boy and I don't ever wanna experience that again! ::



(I'm a professional cheek grower, just in case you hadn't noticed!)

:: My Love My Love My Love ::

:: My Love runs deep, never ending, always enduring for these three guys...it gives me a lump in my throat just thinkin' bout how much they mean to me. I truly want to be a better everything when I think of them, a better cook, better housekeeper, better story-teller, better kiss-giver, better hugger, better cheerleader all in all I guess I want to be the best Wife & Mama that God intended me to be ::