Caution - We have a new driver!

Guess what???  Jory got his G1 Learner's permit today.
Taking donations for driving school.  LOL!
Congratulations are in order...he only had two questions wrong on his test.  I think he did better than I did on mine.  Ha!  Can you believe, it now costs $125.00 for a learner's permit?  Jeepers!

Updating my computer

It’s been a while since I turned my laptop on.  At the old house, I always had it on so it was easily accessible and ready to go whenever I had the urge to update.  Not at the new house.  When you downsize you have to put things away – and you tend to forget you own certain things.  Ha!  So, last night when I turned on my computer it did a few hours worth of updates.  Dang it!  Tonight, when I opened up my Live Writer to publish this post, I also had to do a Windows Live update.  I’ve realized how slow this computer has become.  I think I will put an IPAD at the top of my wish list, when I have some extra money. 

Anyways, I downloaded over 200 photos from my iPhone, which means I have about 200 photos I need to share with you all.  (Just kidding, I won’t do that to you).  Ha.

So, let’s start with sharing a few of my favourite photos of the kids…which I’ve taken in the past year.   Enjoy!

Been a while huh??

Its nuts.  It's been a crazy long time since I posted anything to this blog.  I've recently had the urge to start writing again - and start taking more pictures.  So, let's see if I can keep this blog updated the way I used to.  Hope you like the new 'look'.  I thought to keep it simple.
Life is busy, but life is good!

My kids are growing up - so fast.  Kayla is 19 now...Jory, 17.  Can you believe he only has one year left of high school?  Jory is working hard at keeping his grades up because he's going to go to Algonquin College in the Paramedics Program.  That's right...he wants to be a Paramedic! 
Last month my boy got a very prestigious school award, issued to one student in the entire school for each grade who exemplifies through leadership, compassion, random acts of kindness and spirit that they are the pillars that uphold the long standing traditions that have been established at St. Pius High School for over 50 years.  An award issued by the Principal (who by the way was recently awarded as one of the top high school proncipals in Canada.)

Kayla is busy working at McDonald's. She has been doing really well there.  She earned Employee of the month in December 2011.  She was pretty proud of that, and so she should! 
D and I are going strong.  We have a new puppy in our lives...and he brings us lots of happiness and hard work.  HA!  His name is Bruizer and he's a Cockapoo.  I didn' think at first, I wanted a puppy, but now that we have him I am so in love with him.  Here's a picture of him at his cutest.  :)

More later...

New Beginnings

November 15, i pick up the keys to our new tiny little home, which will be inhabited by 6 people.  (Me, Kayla and Jory, Brenda and Maddie and Diane.  I know it’s going to be tight at times and we’ll annoy the heck out of eachother at some point, but when you are with family and know that you are helping eachother out, there is a way, there is a will and there will be good times. 

Today I started by just  walking around with garbage bags and throwing out stuff I didn’t like anymore.  Things that held painful memories or things that I had no use for anymore.  I think by the end of the afternoon, we had about 9 garbage bags to throw away.  Ha, I haven’t even made a dent yet!!  We have a lot of work to do in the next few weeks – and we’re going to be exhausted, but I’m so happy to do it – because for me, for my kids – it means a new beginning. 

I can’t wait to paint the place and decorate.  Something I haven’t cared much to do while being in this old house.  I can’t wait to make it my own. 
Here’s a few rooms of inspiration.  I’m painting all my shelves and accessories white before we move in so I can achieve a ‘calm and cool’ feeling at the new place. 
     
I simply cannot wait!!!! 

Beautiful Maddie!

Spent Friday evening with Brenda and Diane and the baby.  What a fun evening.  Have a few pictures of Maddison to share.  :)

My Garden

I have a special spot in my weekend home (yes, at D’s house) where he lets me have free reign.  I might not be able to do what I want inside but in that garden – it’s a l mine.  Albeit this year, we were not together when it became time to plant the flowers (May) so I started a little later (July).  I love gardening.  It’s one thing I do that reminds me of how amazing God is.  A beautiful flower, full of colour – definitely work of an artist and creationist!

I’m really proud of the way the garden turned out this year.  I bought a couple of flats of half dead annuals and threw them in the dirt, hoping they would catch and actually bloom.  I was scared for a bit, because they were all dead…but after several weeks of TLC they came back to life and this is what became of it.
I swear those Cosmos are from MARS!

I have also always really adored Fall Mums…and so this year, I splurged and bought these gorgeous ones for D’s front step.  They are gorgeous aren’t they?


 
So go ahead and splurge on the things you’ve always wanted to get, especially if it is something that reminds you of God’s beauty and awesomeness.

Kayla’s cat Willow

I told you that I'd have some photos.  Kayla took these pics of Willow (her cat) last night.  Not bad eh?

It’s so lovely and cold out today.  I seriously need to get my butt in gear and get some much needed housework done.  Talk soon.

I have an 18 year old.

It seemed so surreal yesterday.  I have an 18 year old.  It’s almost unfathomable to me as I remember giving birth to her as if it were last week.  Young mom and dad full of hopes and dreams and such faith in this world.  Such big dreams for her children…I didn’t think our lives would have turned out this way, but I have no regrets.  I have a girl that is full of love, empathy and an amazing caring, sweet heart.  I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter.  Kayla, I love you so much!  Happy Birthday baby girl!

 

I bought Kayla a pink Sony Cybershop automatic camera.  (not so cheap!).  She was pretty tickled pink to get it.  So, you’ll be seeing alot of pictures from her and I in the near future.  :)

Jory loves to fish

I promised myself to write more about the day  to day stuff that goes on in our house. 

Jory loves to fish.  You can catch him fishing with his buddy Ian or Liam once or twice a week.  They have this one spot where they always go in Manotick.  This past weekend Jory and his buds caught this mammoth Walleye. 

Isn’t he huge??  Jory was so excited – and I wish he had brought it home so we could have eaten it.  They put it back and spared his life.  That’s my boy!

I have the day off tomorrow.  Looks like I need to renew Kayla’s health card and thought I’d take the boy shopping for his school supplies.  Where exactly did the summer go?  *sigh

New Baby in the family

Looks Like I’ll be busy making new family ornaments for the Saulnier christmas tree.  (I know I should have made them years ago when Natasha and Jessica were born) or when David got married…but the new members into the family keep growing…so this year, it’s time to update the personalized christmas ornaments for mom and dad’s tree!  That’s right….



Welcoming… Maddison Isabelle Saulnier to the CLAN.  Congratulations Brenda!!  I can’t believe you’re a mommy now.  I have always known you were meant to have your own children – you have a true mama’s heart.  Love you! 

I am to be hereby forever be addressed as NANA.  ha!a
I’d like to apologize for not having updated my blog in a while.  Mom and Dad, I know how much you love to read about the updates in our life, because I never call you…and I’ve been homesick and missing you guys like nuts – had a quiet moment this evening – kids are out and I'm home alone, so had a few minutes to update. 
Work is work.  No change.  I still love my job and work for much less pay than I deserve.  Ugh.
I’m still walking, but we had a bout of rain for days on end and I was working alot of overtime the past couple of weeks so I’ve slacked quite a bit.  Beginning Monday we go back on walking duty though.  I can feel the fat coming back on the back of legs.  I had been doing so well!  I mean, i still look better than before, but it really doesn’t take much before it comes back on when you stop exercising.  **Probably having this bag of cheetos beside me on the couch isn’t helping either.  ha!
I got my hair cut.  Quite a bit actually.  I think she cut off about six inches.  I love it though…i feel like i look more my age.  (shhhhhhhh…40 soon.)  ugh.  You like???  Me too, I'm keeping this one!  :)




Other news…and this is fabulous!  Jacqueline and Alex got engaged recently.  I could not be happier for her.  I know this is something she’s dreamed of for her entire life – and I am so happy that it’s with Alex.  What a great guy…what a great couple.  I know God will bless the two of you.  Congratulations!!!  xo  ***hmmmmmmmmm…i need a picture.  wtf.  :(
The kids and I spent a week at the cottage for our summer holiday.  We went with Sarah and Rob – had a blast!  It was unbelievable!!  We had fun, and got to rest at the same time.  Best holiday I ever had!!


   
I took this picture of the sky just before a storm that was passing by.  It’s my favourite and is now my wallpaper at the office.  Ain’t it gorgeous…reminds me of God’s goodness.  Amidst any storms we go through, he is always there.  :)


The cottage was in Lac Ste. Marie, Quebec.  It was so cozy, and quaint and was so ME…it was as if God said, “Here is a cottage just for you”.  I absolutely loved it.   Seriously, check out the other photos I have on Facebook…there are too many awesome photos – I can’t post them all on here.  We had so much fun.
Here’s Kayla with her fish…ha!  Little tiny one.  She caught a bigger one…;)


And here’s me…reading in the hammock…and having a nap.  ahhhh, the life!


The kids both went to the EX this year.  They are getting big.  Kayla went with Jer and Jory went with his buds.
Jer won Kayla this huge banana.  LOL.  It’s almost bigger than her.  haha!!  I cannot believe she will be 18 next week.  WTF??

  

AND lastly, my friend Sarah and I went to the Michael Buble concert.  It was FABULOUS…and we got this picture!  He is the only other man that I love.  hahaha!


Love you’s all, and I will try to update more often.  I promise.
Oh…one more thing…check out this video that we made of the boys at the cottage.  They have some pretty wicked flips!