I'm Back!

Wow! It's been three whole months since I last posted anything here. It has been a crazy fall this year and I'm just happy to be able to say that I survived it.

I started school again this September. I enrolled in the Library and Information Technology course at the University of the Fraser Valley. I've been interested in their programme for years, but now that it's all online, I can do it from Boise. I haven't taken classes in over eight years so to say that I felt a little out of my element is an understatement. I took two classes this semester and they kicked my ass. So many times I'd be on the verge of tears and I would beg Will to let me quit. He would gently say no and bring home dinner so I wouldn't have to cook. I ended up getting an A in my Internet Information Retrieval class and somehow managed to pull off a B in my Young Adult Library Services class. It was a tough class, even though I really enjoyed it. How I managed to do that is a complete mystery. My mum wisely advised me to stop questioning it and just be happy about it.

Another major happening was that Liam finally got his hair cut. I didn't want to do it, but I was feeling the pressure from others so I gave in and took him to the hairdresser's. He freaked out and was not happy about it at all. I was so upset afterwards that I vowed I wouldn't get his hair cut again. Just look at what happened to my boy.

This was before going in. Look at his beautiful curls.

This was the result after. Now he looks like a generic boy. He looks so much older. And he's disappointed that he can't have ponytails like the girls anymore. I swore to Liam that I wouldn't have his hair cut ever again.

In November we went to Newport on the Oregon coast. Kyla got to spend her fourth birthday there. We took her to the aquarium and to the beach. She had a great day. We stayed in a condo on Nye Beach and pretty much had the whole complex to ourselves. We spent a lot of time at various beaches and taking it easy. It was much nicer to have one nice warm place to stay in and use that as our home base. A few times I felt a stab of anguish when it would hit me that we hadn't been to the coast since Skye died. It brought back some of those old feelings of the pain of loss.

The view from the condo we stayed in. We were so happy to be near the ocean that we didn't close the curtains once the whole time we were there. We got to lie in bed and watch the waves. We even had the door open for a while just to smell the salt air.

At Heceda Head lighthouse

Kyla's birthday cake

Moira and I could have spent all day at the touch pool at the aquarium.

I loved the jellyfish too.

Beach combing

That brings us to Christmas. Kordon and Morgan came into town for a few days. Morgan spent the whole time with us. We love him so much. He is such a great kid.

Morgan and Moira were practically inseparable.

Santa came to visit us again this year. We must have been very good to get a second visit.

Liam was thrilled to see him at the door, but as soon as he walked in and headed to the family room, that's when the panic set in. Once the presents started coming out, things were all right with the world. He got an RC Buzz Lightyear rocket ship.

Moira got a remote control helicopter.

Santa even had a little something for Morgan. He was a good sport and graciously sat with Santa to get his lantern.

Kyla got a Smurf house.

For our annual favourite gift photo, Kyla chose her play purse with the little ponies, Moira's is the new Webkinz, Liam picked his tape measure, and Will decided on his Morrissey record clock. As for me, I would have to say it's my new camera, although I promptly lost the memory card for it so I haven't been able to use it yet. Leave it to me!

So, there you have it - the last few months in a nutshell. Hopefully it won't be another three months until the next post.

Kids Say...

Spending all day with Kyla and Liam, I get to hear them talk and I'm always fascinated with the things they say. It gives me a glimpse into what is going on in their minds. Here are a few of our recent "talks".

Me: You have a soggy bum, Liam

Kyla: Then stop touching his bum.

Kyla (to me): I love you.

Me (to Kyla): I love you.

Liam: I love me!

Kyla (to Liam) I love you.

Liam: I love cars.

New Coup for the Chickens

This weekend Will got the new chicken coup put together. The plastic bin we had them in just wasn't big enough anymore. They were getting out of it and pooping all over the bathroom floor. And it was time that they get acclimatized to the outdoors.

Will put the coup under the balcony so that the chickens would stay safe and warm. They have an indoor area full of straw and a perch and an outside area where they can scratch and run around.

Moira's little black chicken died suddenly so on Sunday Will took her back to the same place and they picked out two new chickens.

Moira's new chick.

One of the original chicks. They are bigger now and are losing their down. They have tail feathers now and feathers on their wings.

Hyde Park Fair

This past weekend my Etsy group set up a huge booth at the Hyde Park fair in downtown Boise. I think it was the biggest booth there. We set up the tents Thursday afternoon and then I was back again Friday morning to set up my stuff. The fair started that evening and went through Sunday. It was a long weekend! I was so exhausted by the time it was over. I spent almost all day Monday hanging out on the couch with the kids.

This is the outside of the Idaho Indie Works booth.

This was my table. I changed my set up for this event. I got rid of some things that weren't selling and added other stuff.

This was my piece de resistance. I had been working on it for a while and finally got it done. Unfortunately, it didn't sell.

It was a good experience working with lots of different people. Hopefully this even will be even better next year.

Chickens Dance

Last night Moira and I worked on this poem together.

Chickens dance,

Chickens prance,

Chickens in their underpants.

Late at night

Oh! What a sight

Chickens in delight.

Every day

They hide away

And wait for night to play.

Liam's Second Birthday

Today is my boy's second birthday. It's hard to believe that the day has come. He's no longer my baby, no matter how hard I wish it was true. We had a quiet day today. Liam got to open his presents in the morning before Moira and Will left for the day. I made a light dinner so that we could pig out on dessert.

This is the fire truck that Moira picked out for him. It was by far his favourite gift.

Kyla picked out a toy airplane and a Thomas the Tank Engine book.

Will and I got him some new pants, shirts and socks.

And the piece de resistance, a new scooter. Liam loves the girls' but they are two-wheelers and he can't balance on them. This one allows him to be able to scoot all by himself.

From the Strattons, a tractor book with wheels.

We had ice cream sundaes for dessert. The kids got to make their own which was probably just as fun as eating them.

Yummy!

Cat Love

Moira and I are still volunteering at Simply Cats on Sundays. The last two times Kyla has come with us. The girls are a big help taking out the garbage, mopping and taking the dirty linens to the laundry and getting clean ones. They enjoy petting the cats and playing with them.

This is Branden. He is a sweet boy and is fascinated with my runners. He is a long-haired cat, but he was so matted when he came in that they had to clip off his fur. He looks like a lion with his mane and little tuft at the end of his tail.

This is Dolmas. He is a very big boy, and, yes, he is hanging upside down.

This was how Kyla saw him.

This is Licorice and is in room #3, the kitten room. He is so sweet.

This is Badger. He is very curious and liked to explore inside the cupboard. He is also in the kitten room.

This is Tiny and looks very much like our own Sugar. Kyla was disappointed that he didn't share Sugar's name and couldn't understand why we couldn't just change it.

New Additions

Last night Will and the kids went to get some firewood that someone was selling and brought home three baby chicks. I've wanted to get some chickens for a while because they are good for the garden, plus I think it would be so fun to look out the back window and see them running around.

Our three little chicks.

We were ill prepared for these babies so Will made a makeshift home for them out of a plastic tub. They're food dish was a coffee can lid filled with bird seed and crushed up crackers. The water dish was a small lamp cover. This morning we went to the farm store and got some real food and feeders and a heat lamp for them. It's amazing the difference warmth makes for them. At first they were huddled together, but when they got warm, they moved around and explored their new home.

This one perched on my finger.

Suki says, "Let me at 'em!" We have the chicks on top of our table so Suki can't get them. I think she is mostly curious, but until they are bigger, I don't want her to get too close. I'm never quite sure what she'll do. The cats have left them alone so far. Last night, Sugar lay down beside the tub, but didn't show any interest as to what was inside. When we can't keep an eye on the chicks, we put the lid on the tub to keep them safe.

We'll build them a proper coop outside soon. I want them to be all settled and safe before the cold weather comes. I'll make sure to post more photos as the chicks grow.

My Very First Treasury

Today I was included in my first Etsy treasury. I am SO excited. Make sure to check it out here.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with an Etsy treasury, it is a group of items for sale on Etsy and the group is chosen from a seller or buyer. There is one posted on the home page and there is a link on the left for more of them. There are usually themes for the treasuries, like a colour or motif. Not only is it a big deal just to be singled out from all of the millions of items for sale on Etsy, but it's also free publicity for your shop. Not all treasuries make it to the front page, but a lot of people still look through them.

To Erin of the silver dog jewelry, thank you so much for including my necklace in your beautiful treasury.

It's Fair Time Again

Last night I took Moira to the fair, just the two of us. The day before Kyla got to go with the cousins while Moira was at school so I thought this would be a good way to make it up to her - a trip to the fair and have some Mummy time.

This was dinner - a Nerd ice cream cone.

The petting zoo is always a highlight.

We rode on the Lollipop Swings.

Moira's favourite, the carousal.

This was taken from the top of the ferris wheel.

We had a good time together. Besides the rides and the petting zoo, Moira entered a colouring contest, I checked out my ribbons again (just to make sure that it wasn't just a dream), we looked through the expo building and admired all of the interesting and unusual entries. Moira played a few of the fair games and got more prizes than her sister, which was more important to her than just playing. We had a fun evening and I was so ready for bed when we got home.