:: Small Pleasures ::

:: FYI ::
To all you Bath and Bodyworks fans, they have their soaps on sale this week....such a great deal. I have yet to come across a person who doesn't like their stuff - they have fabby scents that make any stinky boy smell like roses, well maybe not roses but you know what I mean! If you get a chance to run down State side this week...make sure to stop in and pick some of this stuff up. They are great to have on hand for those unexpected little gifts, just cross your fingers and pray that the person receiving it doesn't think they stink! Okay, enough of that...take it or leave it they are on sale for a killer deal so enjoy!

:: Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies ::

:: This recipe is from one of my most very favorite recipe books...when in doubt just go to the "best of the bridge" - I hope you take time to try and bake these, your husband, children, friends and any one else who gets to them before you will love you for 'em! :::: The Ingredients :::: Cream Butter, Vanilla & Sugars, then add Egg :::: Add Cocoa & Milk ::
:: Add Flour & Baking Soda :: :: Now comes the Chocolate Chips ::
:: Drop onto cookie sheet and bake @ 350 degrees for 12 minutes ::
:: Voila -- you have super amazing Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies! ::

:: Here's the official recipe ::

1 3/4 cups Flour
3/4 tsp. Baking Soda
1 Cup Butter or Margarine
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1/3 cup Cocoa Poweder
2 tbsp. Milk
1 cup chopped Pecans or Walnuts
( I didn't have any so I didn't include this)
3/4 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together flour and baking soda. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together butter, vanilla and sugars. Beat until fluffy. Beat in egg, then cocoa, then milk. Mix in flour until just blended. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls on (it says greased cookie sheet, but I have a pampered chef cookie sheet so it's already seasoned, so I don't to that part). Bake for 12 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

:: Enjoy ::

:: Chubby Cheeks ::

:: Cole and I had a date on Saturday and ran out to Costco...Just the two of us! Apparently he enjoyed this time without big brother because when we returned home he had nothing but smiles for me...ah he is such a breath of fresh air ::

:: Organizing the Garage ::

:: We attacked the garage a couple of weekends ago to get organized -- I was tired of parking my van in the garage and having to go through a maze of crap, when we have ample storage for our stuff in the garage on shelves, hooks and in cupboards! So here are the "before and afters" - Our boys were so good, Jacob hung (literally) in his orange beetle while Cole reclined in his swing ::

:: Before ::

:: After ::

! Disclaimer !

:: Okay, so you remember I told you to go and buy that area rug from Home Sense in Langley if you wanted it, well don't! No I didn't keep it but I wouldn't recommend that you go and get yourself tied up in that store ::

:: Maybe it's just my post baby state, my uber young appearance(ha - that was a joke), or my blond hair but I swear I have a sign that follows me around that says "Make life tough for this girl, she'll luv ya for it!" ~ I can't even start to explain the story surrounding my ridiculous return run-around this morning, but I will tell you this I was at Home Sense for an hour and a half and I wasn't shopping, and my tears were not tears of joy ** Oi! ::

:: 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 ::