:: T + B Wed ::

:: T + B were married in a beautiful little church right smack in the middle of Chilliwack, it was a beautiful day and everyone looked stunning! ::

:: Here is the bride walking towards her groom ::

:: The pew markers ::

:: The family praying for the nearly wed couple ::

:: It's official - they are now MR & MRS! ::


:: Starting their new life....what a delightful time! ::

:: Now on to the reception, welcoming MR & MRS! ::


:: Me and my lovely {Island Girl} Jenn ::


:: The atrium at Minter Gardens looked beautiful! ::


:: Handsome Paul, Tony & Jenn's other half Sean ::


:: Cutting the cake ::


:: Seating arrangement ::


:: Beautiful centerpieces ::


:: Tony didn't understand that on my camera you have to look through the viewfinder -- this is the lovely shot he took of me trying to explain it to him! ::


:: That's better; handsome Paul & me at the reception ::


:: My place setting ::


:: Congratulations T + B --- Welcome to the married club! It's a great place to be! Enjoy your honeymoon in Hawaii! ::

:: XO - P & S ::

:: Sneak Peek - T + B Wed ::

:: Here's a sneak peek of the cake I made for our friends Trent + Brittany this past weekend - all the details and more pictures to come tomorrow morning ::



:: I'm off to a committee meeting tonight and so I am going to tackle dinner early tonight, it's 30 degrees here and HOT - I love it but being a slave to my stove is the last place I want to be. Heck, I don't even want to be inside right now, but I better get organized or tonight will be a schmozle! ::

:: The Bachelorette Episode No. 3 ::

:: Last night was a little bit soap-operaish for me, I thought that girls were nasty, back stabbing and moody, oy vey! Last night showed a whole different side of the guys that I personally didn't really like! ::


:: Jillian started off on a one on one date with Ed and they got into a helicopter and landed on an LA building and repelled down to their love...well maybe not love but she didn't kick him to the curb so that was a good sign. It's evident that she is totally attracted to Ed, but has a few fears with his balance between work and play. I personally just think he's making hay while the sun shines because he doesn't have anyone to stop working early for, he's just working as hard as he can to build his nest egg so when he meets the "right one" he'll be set to go. J+E k-i-s-s-i-n-g a lot! ::

:: While back on the ranch, the guys receive a card from Jill and the following guys are invited to show Jill the "good the bad & the ugly" - Here are the guys invited to that date: Reid, Wes, Michael, Mike, Kiptyn {I'm keeping my eye on him}, Tanner F, Mark, Brad, Tanner P, Robby & Juan ::

:: Meanwhile, Jillian has a great opinion of Ed and chooses to give him a rose...his bags get moved into the mansion, that sets the guys in testosteronville on edge as they feel that if you don't get a one on one date you may just be on the way out...but soon that all changed ::

:: Now here comes the western train wreck. The group date guys head out to a western movie set and are turned into live actors, chaps and all! It truly was a bad bad scene, not only was there questionable scenes in the "movie" but the boys were not happy with their outfits and that certain guys got to kiss Jillian. My thought is don't worry guys you'll get your turn, but like I said earlier they were a little like soap opera stars! ::

:: Robby makes Jillian's knees weak, I don't blame her. But then there is Wes, I'm still not totally sold about what I think about him. My chump rating hasn't come into check yet with him. Wes pulls Jill aside and says that he wants a real kiss later...Jillian seems to like that idea just fine...hmmm ::

:: The Western Opera is a wrap and they head out to a private loft to have some down time..Reid steals Jill away and they have some really good conversation, and he's, going, in, for, the, K-I-S-S.....and JUAN shows up to ruin it all! Grrrrrrr! Juan is a nice guy, I'm still not sold on him either! ::

:: After the hot tub scene Robby & Jillian cuddle and the other guys watch from afar. She obviously likes him {I don't blame her!} and she dubs him the best kisser of the day. They kiss again, she then gets the rose and gives it to Robby {I totally agree with this!} ::

:: While back at testosteronville David gets passionate about how much he doesn't like Juan. I understand his passion, but he really just made himself look sketchy - I could personally handle David going home ::

:: Sasha gets picked to go on a one on one date so he packs his bags and gets ready for the date. In the meantime back at testosteronville Wes is writing a love song for Jillian. It's sweet but may be a little over the top. Can't blame him though, he's certainly pulling out all the stops! ::

:: Sasha & Jill head out to a car museum, they get a Ferrari to take a joy ride in and she's totally digging it...apparently she's a car girl {if you don't know this about me, I am too - just a little Shawna factoid for ya!} --- Things after the car ride go down hill fast. He hasn't been in a long term relationship and she's afraid that he hasn't had the life experience that she would like. It breaks her heart to do this but she doesn't give him a rose and sends him straight to LAX on a city bus! Jillian feels that he just wasn't right but doesn't want to hurt him, with that being said she has to start eliminating some of these guys that she doesn't have a huge connection with ::

:: Back at testosteronville the guys celebrate seeing Sasha's luggage leave...one less guy for competition. Jillian arrives home and immediately Wes heads over to her place and serenades her balcony, she comes out and listens, cries and is obviously touched by his song. She asks him to come up to the balcony -he does, they kiss and he sings the song again for her ::

:: Cocktail party begins prior to the rose ceremony and Reid gets right on in there and sneaks a kiss with Jillian...she swoons and it's certainly a romantic moment. Now the next few minutes of the show are an eruption of emotions, David is clingy and creepy and tries to tell Jill that there are guys that are there for the wrong reasons, just as Juan interrupts to teach Jillian spanish, he still kinda annoys me. Jillian still likes the gentleman that he is. Hmph ::

:: Tanner P gets some time with Jilltoes I mean Jillian --- he is seriously obsessed with her toes, he wants to suck them...I don't get it and it totally CREEPS me out! Not quite clear what Jillian thinks yet, because she said that she is just starting to get to know him - 0y! ::

:: Kiptyn and Jillian get their kiss on, it's good, they are good together. While this is happening David and his gang are trashing Juan. It's a bad scene and a tense one at that. Then all the guys get gathered in the main room ready for the rose ceremony...Ed & Robby are already save with their roses. So she gives the remaining roses to the following guys: Jake, Reid, Mark, Jesse, Tanner P, Wes, Juan, Michael, Kiptyn, Mike & David. So the two guys sent home are Tanner F & Brad. Brad is bitter and feels she made the wrong choice. Oh well ::

:: At the end of the show we get a preview of next weeks show: VANCOUVER! I can't wait to see what they do and where they go, it's gonna get good! ::

:: Reality TV Nite ::

:: Not only is today Jacob's Birthday, but it's also Reality TV nite around my place, we have plans for celebrating Jacob & then swiftly tucking him into bed so I can sit and watch my two shows of addiction, I mean choice. I actually don't really like J&K+8 but I'm too nosy to not watch! ::


:: And then there is the beautiful bachelorette that I HAVE to watch because I'm supporting a greater cause, a local BC girl showing all of North America that we make real good girls out here! ::

:: Happy watching everyone & tune in tomorrow morning {around 9:00 am} for a recap from Episode 3 of the Bachelorette ::

:: Happy Birthday My Jacob ::

:: Today is my sweet little big boys birthday & he's THREE! Where the heck did that time go??? It's amazing how everyone says that but until you live it, you really cannot truly see how fast life passes you and how everything happens SO quickly ::

{ Photo: Jacob @ Waterpark - May 2009 }

:: We woke Jacob up this morning with a wrapped box of cereal, not just any cereal but "sugar cereal" - something that is a rather rare treat in this house and so on the morning of each of their birthdays they get their own box of "sugar cereal". Jacob thought it was great, but then he tasted it and wasn't too sure about it! Go figure! ::

:: HAPPY BIRTHDAY my precious train loving boy - Daddy, Mama & Cole love you and your delightful spirit more and more each day! ::

:: Don't forget to Vote! ::

:: Hey Lovelies -- I just wanted to remind you that I have a few days left to win a room make-over through Benjamin Moore's "Share Your Style" ::

:: I'm currently 14th of 149, which isn't bad -- but it's not a win, so keep those votes coming, apparently you can vote as many times as you want. I would SO appreciate your vote! ::

:: Thank You Muchly! ::

:: Mothers Day * The story behind the photo ::

:: Normally this would look like just another cute photo of my littlest big boy and me ::

:: But no, there is quite the story behind this photo ::

:: You see my Dad takes our whole family out to a beautiful little golf course in Fort Langley every Mothers Day. Well this is the first year that I have had two little ones mobile and with little minds that have a thought pattern of their own ::

:: We had pretty much finished up lunch and so I thought I would take the boys out to the garden and let them run around a while, it was great until Cole decided to run down the hill, faster than I could in my boots, then turn around to look at me with his hands in the air and then directly bolt {and I mean bolt} towards the pond {see the good Mama is still taking pictures} ::

:: I know you want to see a closer view, so here it is...do you see the thought running through his little head "look she's way up that hill, if I turn around & give her another reason to take my picture I have a really good shot at getting into that pond!" - He was right! ::


:: I swiftly and unworried looking as possible follow him, thinking -- there is no way he would actually go in that there pond. No way. Yes way. Now if you know Cole, this wouldn't really surprise you. He took a large step and kurplunk into the water he went. He then started swimming! So by the time I got to him {Nikon in hand and leather boot on foot} I didn't know what to do, do I drop the camera possibly damaging it, do I have time to take my boot off and step in the scum water or do I just let him swim and call him back to me as he was enjoying his little dip?!??! I swiftly but gently drop my camera on the dry grass & moved my right leather boot fitted foot as far into the water as possible {a good 5 ft - I'm not that tall!} and kept my left foot on the dry grass to keep my footing. All this while Grammie SCREAMED from the top of the hill and then disappeared to find the daddy to this little pond scum boy ::

:: Yup, that was my happy mothers day from my little boy! And get this, all of this happened oh, say around 1:00 pm --- while all the golfers from the morning were having their lunch on the deck. Yup, right in plain sight this all happened. So after I pulled my very happy water logged boy out of the pond, I turned around to have the whole patio of golf-goers clap and cheer for me. So what do I do? Curtsy and take my soaking child to higher ground and Daddy who can't believe that I would let this happen - men say the darnedest things! ::

:: So the picture of Cole & I at the top of the post is when we were walking to see all of our audience on the deck. And what do you know, there were people who knew us on the deck and said to each other when the whole event unfolded "doesn't that look like Shawna" - oh yeah, I leave my mark everywhere! ::

:: Ps. Big Brother was very upset that this happened to Cole, and so the rest of the afternoon all Cole heard from Jacob was "COOOLe, No" with a very firm pointed finger - but no harm or water was ingested, his collar of his golf shirt was completely dry, see he really was swimming! ::

:: PPs. Being the Mama to two boys I had packed a full change of clothes for each of the boys from head to toe, so it didn't cramp our plans for the rest of the afternoon...oh and my boot dried out perfectly and is back to normal ::

:: God of This City ::

:: The Bachelorette w/ Supa Cute Jillian * Episode No. 2 ::

:: Well, I'm starting w/ my episode re-caps at episode 2 - why you ask? Because I was completely out of it last week when the season premier of The Bachelorette aired! I tried to keep my eyes open but just couldn't swing it, so here we are starting at Episode No. 2 - but don't worry I caught up on the whole thing by watching it online! ::

:: Let me preface this post by saying that Jillian is seriously an incredibly beautifully put together {wardrobe wise specifically}woman. I love watching the intro for the show and seeing Jill dance around in strategic locations all over our beautiful Vancouver! Yes it doesn't help that she's a size 2 and has no kids running underfoot so she can spend the time oogling over which scarf she's going to wear and picking the "perfect" one instead of just grabbing the one within reach. But still, their is no doubt that she's a looker! ::

:: This episode was jam packed with fun group dates with the Harlem Globetrotters, an adventurous scavenger hunt to find Jillian and win a one on one date with her and the ability at each group date to win the heart of the girl who holds the rose. And this week you not only receive the rose, but the chance to move from the testosteroneville to the mansion, the competition is on! ::

:: The first date starts off as a pool party with Michael, Brian, Brad, Sasha, Mathue, Tanner P, Wes & Ed. Jillian takes Michael upstairs to her rooftop patio & has fun conversation with him, she excuses herself and heads downstairs and it looks like she's getting a rose to give to Michael. Nope. She just walks away, now it's begun. The find Jillian in Hollywood Scavenger Hunt - Goal: To find her, woo her & get the rose ::

:: After all the guys jump in mini cooper's and head in the direction of Hollywood it of course wouldn't be a reality show if there wasn't a little big of frustration, and that there was! I won't go into the nitty gritty of it all, but it wasn't pretty, especially with Brad & Wes ::

:: In the end Brad & Wes are the first team to successfully make it to Jillian. But there is a twist; she can only choose to have a date with one of the guys. She chooses Wes. Brad is ticked off because he thinks Wes is a moron ::

:: Jillian is attracted to Wes. But she's worried about his "womanizer" qualities, she feels he might be the bad boy the the girls go for but never marry --- hmmm, I kinda agree there Jillian. But she doesn't hesitate to kiss him. She gives him the rose and asks him to move into the mansion and hang out tonight ::

:: Back at testosteroneville Jake gets a note from Jillian asking him out on a one on one date and to "cut loose" - he's stoked and can't wait to be one on one w/ Jill ::

:: Jillian get's Jake to loosen his preppy wear and dress in western get up, they head out to a bar and do some two steppin' which Jake teaches Jillian, Jillian is quite impressed with him & happy with her choice ::

:: Jake & Jill talk flying and his fancy to getting up ,and just leaving town, they talk marriage and they talk kissing, okay they kiss. Then Martina McBride shows on stage and they dance, once the dance is over Jillian gives him the rose, they dance and kiss more, it was a "magical moment" by Jakes standards ::

:: Again back at testosteroneville there arrives an envelope for a few of the remaining guys as put by Jillian " if you want to be with me, you have to play ball" - this was for Jesse, Mark, Kiptyn, David, Simon, Mike & Juan. They head off to the beach to play a round of basketball, but not just any basketball, basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters! Seriously fun for the guys and for Jillian to see how the guys let competition get in the way of a really good game. Mike is bent on getting Jillian to see his fun side and make an impression before the rose ceremony. Well, he did just that. Jillian thought it would be SO funny if someone asked a random stranger on the beach to borrow his speedo and jump in the ocean. Well, you don't have to ask Mike twice! He did it and Jillian thought it was classic! ::


:: Later that night they all go out for drinks and Juan & Jill get some alone, I mean kissing time. She dubs him a gentleman; the boys hate him & say he's fake. Kiptyn and Jillian have great chemistry and they talk a bit than kiss kiss kiss. Once returning from said kiss-fest, Jillian gives the rose to Mike. They too kiss and then get in their swimwear and get into the pool, the rest of the guys do too ::


:: At the pre-rose ceremony Mike, Jake & Wes already have roses but don't feel that is any reason to slow down their persistance with Jillian, if anything they feel the other guys should step up to the plate. Things are pretty slow until that little black box comes out and the guys are told to help Jillian out by voting on who should leave the house, but Jillian has the right to over-rule their opinion, and that she does ::


:: Since the three {Mike, Jake & Wes} already had roses they were not included in the voting process, which is too bad because Wes would have won for the most votes, that I'm sure! Chris comes in with the final tally and Juan was the one that was most disliked by testosteroneville. Jillian didn't agree and decided to keep Juan {go Jillian!} ::


:: So to re-cap: Jillian has already given roses to Wes, Jake, Mike & Juan - she continues to give roses to Jesse, David, Ed, Sasha, Mark, Michael, Tanner P, Kiptyn, Reid, Robert, Tanner F & Brad ::

:: So the four guys that were voted off were: Julien, Brian, Mathue & Simon ::

:: Phew, that was a long detailed show! I'm not really sure who I'm watching yet, I feel we're still in the prerequisites for the core group that I really want to watch. Do you have your eye on anyone? ::

:: Reality TV - Jon + Kate ::

:: It TEARS me up to have watched the carnage that the world has made of this beautiful thing that God made. I HATE the fact that Jon + Kate have decided to go ahead and let Satan have a foot hold in their lives. I BELIEVE that they chose to continue with the show against their better judgement (+ Jons choice of not wanting to be "Jon + Kate plus 8 anymore) ::


:: In Jon's original vows and the ones that he recited in Hawaii at their vow renewal he stated that they would "face new and challenging experiences together" emphasis on the TOGETHER - it seriously breaks my heart ::

:: Now not getting too deep on the subject, but there is something that God has taught us women, that is to listen to the head of the household {our husbands} not that we have to roll over and not use our brains or give our own input or thoughts, but that when our husbands feel passionately enough about a situation/issue/problem that they speak to us about it, we are to listen and heed their feelings and validate them. Satan/the world doesn't preach this to us, we are told that we can do/be/achieve anything a man does and sometimes do it better. Like I said I don't want to get into this too deep, but there is a point in time that we need to be still, listen and heed our husbands desires, it is dangerous for all involved not to ::

Here are snip its from Jon & Kate's Wedding (original & renewal in Hawaii in 2008)

:: If you want to hear a different side of the story you can go here, remember Aunt Jodi? Yup you do, the cute SIL to Kate {Kate's brothers wife} -- This link is from her sisters blog - you follow? ::

:: Tomorrow morning, update on how Jillian is doing ::

:: PS. Please PRAY for Jon + Kate, I'm sure no matter how messed up the story is, or what the truth looks like, that God cares for them and that His desire is to see them repent, return and not re-run over the past 8 months of crap. Pray they can overcome, I know I will be!