:: Reception Set-Up ::

:: Yesterday I (along with Mum & Dad, Jennifer & Michael, Kevin & Claudia & Stephanie) spent the better part of the day getting the UBC Boathouse prepared for the wedding ~ Jennifer had so many great things to use on the table and around the room that were "beach" themed, it was so much fun to set up! Hope you enjoy the pictures, we are almost ready to head back into Vancouver to primp & dress for the wedding, I will update the blog as soon as I have time ::

:: CONGRATULATIONS Jen & Michael on your new life as husband & wife ::

:: Up to my eyeballs ::

:: Well it's finally here, the long awaited week of the wedding for Jennifer & Michael. Such a fun time, but also so many little things to do, prepare and complete prior to Saturday (& Sunday, the second reception) ::

:: So this afternoon we have to pick up my dress (hopefully it fits now, this will be the 3rd try to get it to fit properly) then we pick up Paul's tux and we're on the way to the rehearsal followed by a BBQ @ Michael's Parents Place. Tomorrow is set-up downtown @ 2:00, Saturday 10:00 am head downtown pick up bride and go to her place to get ready with all the girls and Paul goes off with all the guys to get ready - the rest of Saturday is pictures and MOH duties along with the reception at the Vancouver Yacht Club. Then Sunday there is a second reception in which we all have to dress in our appropriate GM & MOH outfits again. During all this we are lending our child out to any open hands...just kidding, but he (our son) is be toted along with Grammie & Grampie for most of these days ::

:: So today I have to finish laundry, pack Jacob's multiple bags for the next few days, iron Paul's rehearsal attire, iron my rehearsal attire, pick up my dress, do my hair, finish the table name cards, tidy the house so it's not a complete disaster by the end of the weekend....hmmm, nope that's not it, I also have write a toast to the bride! ::

:: I'm going to sign off here so that I can get a few of the above done prior to Jacob waking up from his nap, so have a great weekend everyone and I will be back on Monday (probably in recovery mode) but I will have pictures from these glorious events, so stay tuned! ::

:: To Jennifer & Michael, Congratulations on your wedding day ~ I hope all of the planning and details make your day extra special, you deserve it! Love *S ::

:: Jen & Me ::

:: To celebrate Jen's (Paul's Sister) upcoming wedding I took her out to Pure Nail bar on South Granville followed by a light lunch at Picnics (by Meinharts) and then a whole bunch of shopping that quickly made our afternoon race by! ::

:: Then we headed to SalaThai (Jennifer's favorite place to eat) and I have to say it was amazing food. After that we met our Mom's and headed to Earls for Dessert (sorry no pic's, it was all too tempting and so we forgot to take pictures!). At Earls we each gave Jen a little piece of lingerie (this was a surprise to her and she was SO delighted). Then we went and saw the movie Stardust, it was a cute fairy tale and transformed us to another non-wedding, non-baby world...even if it was only for 2 hours! ::

:: I had a great time treating you all day Jen, hopefully we can do it again soon! ::

:: Harrison Hot Springs ::

:: Over the long weekend we headed up to Harrison to stay with our friends Michael & Coby and their kids, Riley, Halle & Kylee at Coby's Parent's place. We had a great weekend; we arrived late friday night (around 9ish) and then got up to a deluxe breakfast followed by a day at the beach, then we had a great dinner of salmon and all the fixin's as well as my social apple betty (although I missed that because I wasn't feeling well) ::

:: Sunday morning was a lazy morning around the house then we headed into Harrison (the live just outside of the town) for a walk and enjoyed some Ice Cream at Baskin Robins. I was having some contractions in the afternoon so we cut our walk a little short and headed back home. Once we returned home the little kids went down for naps and we all visited and prepared for dinner. After dinner we packed up and headed home, we figured we have such a busy week this week with Jennifer & Michael's wedding that we had better head home and get some things done around here on Monday ::

:: But it was great while it lasted ~ Thanks for a great time guys, maybe next time it will be in Cultus Lake??? (Coby's parents are thinking of building out there next - nice eh?) ::

:: Daddy & Me ::

:: While we were @ Harrison, I got some irresistible shots of my two most favorite guys. I couldn't help but give them a post all to themselves!

:: ENJOY ::

:: Did I kill the QUEEN? ::

:: My handy hubby has been battling an army of sorts (in bee form) for the last few nights...he has used up 1.5 cans of spray foam insulation trying to get ahead of these pests, but now it seems we have just peeved them off that much more because now they are entering through the windows and doors trying to find a new entrance to their nest ::

:: This is one of the multiple bees I have killed today, however this one looks different to the rest, any of you out there who have battled this same army ~ Can you tell me...did I kill the queen, if so is this a good or a bad thing? :: :: This gives you a better idea of how big this one really is ::
:: Even though I gave him a really good smash between the window and my "Mommy Manual" (of which it does not tell you about anything to do with bees)...he was still moving around, so I have secured the little pest in a container for safe keeping - or until he's really dead! ::

:: UPDATE ::

:: Apparently I didn't kill the Queen (as per Paul) it appears that it is just a black wasp...Sounds killer doesn't it!?!?? Even though I gave hime a real good squish - he was still romping around in the container at 6:30 last night! Oh well, I'm sure he's dead this morning ::

:: Paul has now set out a few 2L pop bottle traps - Let's pray they work! ::

:: Happy Housewives ::

:: Last night was Happy Housewives and so we headed to Willowbrook Lanes to test our bowling skills! It was a great time with the girls...every second round we had to do some goofy position (backwards upside down, left handed or right just depending, kneeling etc.). We had a great time! ::

:: And guess who won!?!?!? Yeah, I guess living close to the bowling alley has it's advantages, because I won...which was even more of a treat because I won a gift card to Starbucks! There was also someone who won another gift card to Starbucks for having the least points, but I won't mention any names...at least she too won a treat! ::

:: Tonsillitis ::

:: Our little Jacob had a fever from Saturday evening through to Tuesday morning ranging from 95 - 105 and so we decided that since it wasn't going away completely and he just didn't seem like himself I would take him in to visit the doctor. So on Tuesday morning we headed into the office to visit Dr. Bert (not our regular pediatrician - but wonderful just the same). He checked his heart, breathing, ears and lastly his throat...before he was even able to get that wood thingy into his mouth he declared my little boy had tonsillitis!!! Yikes! Me feeling like the horrible under-protective parent asked if there would have been any other signs that we didn't notice, but he said no, there would have been no other signs other than the fever and his lack of appetite. So, there you have it...15 months old and he got his first round of antibiotics, not bad I guess - but he just seems so little still! ::

:: Here are some pictures I took just after I gave him his first dose, you can pratically see the drugs taking effect! ::

:: Here he is after a couple doses of the antibiotics - I told him to go look out the window and see if Daddy was home yet...Daddy arrived a few minutes after he turned the speaker over to ensure he had a good view of the driveway. ::

:: Blessings ::

:: My first blessing is from my wonderful man, Paul. I came home last week (I don't remember what day) to a beautiful bouquet of Lillies (one of my very favoritest flowers) accompanied by a beautiful card thanking me for being his wife along with a gift certificate for a 80 minute pregnancy massage at Spa Utopia - I know, isn't that so nice of him!?!? There is a story that goes behind this gift of which he didn't want me to share on my blog, but what it comes down to is that he had $200 to spend however he wanted and he chose to spend it on me. Truly an example of how blessed I am to be with a man after God's own heart :::: This blessing comes in a way of a hand-me-down from my Auntie Ethel, she was cleaning out her cupboards in preparation to move and have a moving sale and my Mom knew how much I LOVE parfait cups and I don't own any (I had actually just asked my Mom for some for Christmas). So my Mom said are you sure you want to sell these? Auntie Ethel was sure, so my Mom picked them up for me -- At a steal of a deal I might add! They have already made me smile on multiple occasions when I pass by my (now full) glass front cabinets :::: Fruit, Fruit & more Fruit ~ My Auntie Di & Uncle Bill own property in which is full of fruit trees - most of which are apple. So I received a call from Uncle Bill letting me know that some of the apples were ready to be picked...Off we go on Sunday afternoon to pick some amazing (non sprayed) apples along with blackberries and plums ~ Here is the fruit of our picking labour :: :: Here is the "Social Apple Betty" I made (one of my fav's) with the apples...it was amazing because the apples were so rich in flavour, such a blessing ::
:: Here is the Apple Betty in my new parfait cups...don't you just want to eat it!?!?!? Well, that I did! ::

:: Jennifer's Bridal Shower ::

:: Last night I hosted my SIL's Bridal Shower - There was a great group of ladies, My MiL, the MoH Toby, my Mom, Jennifer's Nanny, a friend of the family Maria, Jennifer's cousin Vicki and a friend from Vancouver Kristin. The night was filled with warmth, love, thoughtful gifts for the bride and lots and lots of chatting! Thanks for a great night ladies! ::

:: Congratulations on your impending wedding Jennifer ~ Can't wait! ::