Read any good books?

For all of you readers out there. It's the beginning of a new year and time to set a goal for yourself. Make a list of all the books/authors you read in 2006. I recently read on someone's blog that they read 314 books in 2005. I don't plan to met that, nor beat it, but I would like to read some good books so any suggestions throw them our way.
Ray likes GRISHAM type (but he doesn't write them fast enough)
Mel likes Christian Fiction but currently reading MAEVE BINCHY
Out of all the books you read this year NEVER STOP READING THE BEST BOOK - THE BIBILE!!

What's new in MY world

I know I am a mom and it's great but sometimes you just need an out. A place to do your own thing, to be your own person. I often sit in a group of mom's and wonder why we all lost our own personal interests to our kids and yet that is what all of us have incommon so that is what we talk about - and I like that too. I find it tough at times to go through my day without taking time for myself. That "quite time" hour is so important for me as well as my kids. It's "MY TIME" I often tell Mark. Even if you just go play mommy needs her time. It can be reading, scrapbooking or even this - blogging/emailing. We all need somewhere that you don't talk about only what your kids are up to - toilet training.... So I entered the world of business once again. Home buisness so it's new and exciteing for me. I have recently become a Stampin UP demonstrator. Many of you know what that is and know that I have been having fun with Stampin UP products for almost 2 years now. For those of you not familar with it; Stampin UP is a rubber stamping company that promotes their products through home workshops specializing in card making, scrapbooking and home decor. I am a fan of all three and hope that this will be a means for me to get out of the house, meet new people, and have fun doing one of my favorite hobbies. I am starting with two parties this month; one with family and the other with friends. Thus the kick off for me as an 'Independent Stampin UP demonstrator' begins. Any questions feel free to ask.

This one's for you Dad

Our adorable little girl and everyone's favorite Pooh Bear!

Updated photo's

So here's a shot of the newest experience for Kyla. She loves her cereal - morning and night it is a highlight in her day. Now that she has been given the opportunity to eat she hates not being eye level with us at supper time so out came the high chair. Doesn't she look so tiny in there. Well she is - tiny I mean. She just made it to 14 lbs this week - she's 5 1/2 months!! Most of her "friends" are 1 to 2 1/2 mths younger then her and already the same size. I guess she's got my Nana's genes. Mark loves being the big brother and helping as you can see. And of course you all need to see her new "trick" sitting on the floor beside brother. Mark also likes to ask to hold her, but really it's just sitting behind her like we do and wraping his arms around her - needless to say it looks cute.

Thanks for the support

We just want to thank everyone for all their encouragement and support in this stage of life. Although there may still be a few accidents here and there, we have made huge progress!! I loved the idea of all or nothing. We went straight to underwear no pull ups and diapers only at sleep time. We said no turning back once we started and it was a go. Mark is definately learning and likes to show us his independence. Of course it is more work for us as parents to be watching the clock every hour but we'd rather watch the clock with no accidents then clean up the mess. So it's been a rough few weeks but totally worth it, I think. Sure cut costs on diapers too!! So THANKS TO ALL -for the advice and encouragement.

Crazyness in life!!

Just thought I would share what life has been like these last few weeks - since the Christmas season finished. Well we must be crazy and if we're not we sure are feeling like it. We decided for some silly reason that Mark was ready for toilet training. For all of you without kids - congrats for not having to deal with this, for those of you not there yet - don't worry your turn is coming, and for those of you with older kids - how in the world did you handle this and please give me tips!! I do remember the first time I went to Mom Group at RCC and I sat there 8 mths pregnant hearing all about people's experiences with toilet training I remember thinking this is probably good for me to hear but I'm glad it's not me. Well, here I am cleaning up more urine that I care to ever touch. I think this is more work for us parents then it is for the kid. I wonder how he can not be grossed out by wet legs but somehow it barely bothers him. Yesterday was the beginning of him telling us before peeing so I guess we have made progress in two weeks and it's about time. I do have to admit we have been lucky to not have more then one #2 accident, since we started that months ago he 'knows better' if you can say that. Anyways it truely is a whole new experience of watching the clock every hour. Anyways, not that you really want to hear about bathroom conversation but that is what is consuming my life right now. I guess we also have entered another world on Kyla's behalf. We are excieted to say she has learned to sit up with minimal to no support. She loves sitting or standing. Lying on her back is deffinately old news. She will tolerate her tummy but only for short times. I hope she will in the future more or how will she ever crawl - nevermind what am I saying if you think life is crazy now just wait till the 2nd one is mobile!! As excieted as we are it sure changes the fact that we can't leave the room even breifly. The other world she has entered is the world of solids. She absolutely loves cereal and the crazy part is Mark loves to feed her. What a great brother. Kyla gave a crazy disguesting face when trying carrots but didn't seem to mind peas the first time. Well, that's what we've been up to - DEALING WITH THE CRAZYNESS OF LIFE WITH KIDS.

HAPPY NEW YEARS

The beginning of 2006. I think that is officially the first time I have written it (typed it I guess). I not sure how all of you out there spent your evening bring in the new year but Ray and I had another fun. low key New Years eve. It's always nice to do something different. The last few years we have been home bodies with friends instead of the mass partiers. We had a great time playing Cranium with some new friends at their house. Jill, I guess we were on a similar wavelength. There was 6 of us adults and 3 little ones(2 being ours). Our friends 5 year old actually stayed up past midnight with us. And of course we watched the ball drop on TV and heard a few fireworks outside. Ever sit at the beginning of the year and wonder about all the many things that will occur in the next 12 months. I think back on this years adventures and really that is the best word to discribe it. Many things happened and as you live them out it really does feel like an adventure - never knowing what will test you, stretch you, or how God will use you. As I reflect I wonder if I would have handled things differently? How can I use 2005 to better prepare myself for 2006? How different it will be after such a move? What memories will we build with friends? Whom will our new friends been this year? What places will I see? (probably not a hot one like Cuba in 2005), how will I handle the kids this year? and yet on that note I am truely looking forward to watching Kyla grow and change this year as the first year there is always so much change, and Mark may finally surpass this 2 stage and be easier to handle. Well, I better be off to take care of them I think I hear them waking up. More thinking later.

Visit with Grandpa

Grandpa arrived and Mark was very excited to see him. Thanks Dad for coming! "My very own Grandpa" Mark said, and "Grandpa is Santa cause we can open presents when he comes". I love childhood comprehension of life. Really at this point I don't think it will matter if we don't teach him the difference. Mark had a great time playing with Grandpa. One of Mark's favorite games is puppets. It's sort of like hide and seek in his mind, with stuffed animals as they hide then come up. He is also really enjoying playing hide and seek with us. Being 2yrs he will say "Let's play hide and seek. I hide 'under the blanket' (or wherever it is) and you count.
We did open the presents and now the tree looks a bit bare. I actually think I might be ok with it coming down this week already. I can remember thinking Christmas trees can not be taken down until 1/2 way through January but I am ready for cleaning it up and having more space in this livingroom.
We also took in some hiking with Grandpa. Sort of remenising for Dad and I. We spent may hours hiking in the mountains years ago, so it was nice to get out and smell the cedars and enjoy God's creation this time of year. Mark was disappointed to not find that much snow to have snowball fights with Grandpa and Mom and Dad.
Well, Dad finally met Kyla and over the time of his visit she discovered more of her voice. That was great to see and hear. Laughing and making lots of loud cooing noises. Her voice is surprising low for a girl and yet she has a pretty high pitched cry when she wants too. The best laughing happened in the jolly jumper as mark swung her around and back and forth. I love watching him interact with her more and more.
Dad joined us with Ray's family for Christmas dinner. Went for a walk, played games and had a slide show (Always great to laugh at clothes and how people have changed.) Thanks Dad for coming even though it wasn't our family. I appreciated it.

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE. I hope everyone had a great holiday full of family time, relaxing and lots of food - guess that covers the typical holiday hey. We enjoyed skating only to have all the snow melt days later. I guess I was just praying to be like all of you spending Christmas with no snow that we had a green Christmas too. Mark looked for the small snow patches of snow for snowballs on our hike today. Kyla is laughing very obviously now and here she is in the "Christmas PJ's" passed down from her oldest cousin. Pretty good condition after 3 christmas's and 3 boys. The kids all got loads of gifts and the challenge now as parents is to deal with where everything belongs and which of their "old" toys we could but aside for now and bring out later. You know clutter control. This was another Christmas without a puzzle thanks to kids but another year of learning a great new game. Check out Carcassone. Well, I hope everyone continues to have a great holiday and Happy New Year.

Early Christmas

Well I was going to share with you some of our early Christmas pics. with Marianne and mom but as it turns out our camera card can not be read. So here's the thing; we purchased an new digital camera for Christmas - an upgrade, and low and behold the Future shop guys sells us this card that can't be read by any machine, thus it can't be developed without going though this long process of changing the files and so on and our computer won't let me upload them on to this blog. So Ray goes back to Future shop to see what the problem is and the same guy who sold us the camera and card says "oh, that one is not compatible" and leaves Ray to find one that is compatible on his own. Yikes, some people have no customer service skills. To make a long story short we finally got a few pictures developed but I appolize I can't share them on this blog. Now with the new card we hope there is no problems.
On a brighter note, I just want to say Thank you to my sister Marianne. I have been having a rough time with Mark lately and feel like I'll never make it through this terrible two stage with Mark. The whole time she was here she kept seeing how cute he was, or reminding me to see the postives rather then feeling like all I say is "no Mark, don't Mark, stop that Mark, slow down Mark, ect...." Even in the midst of it all he dose say some cute things or stops to give a hug and really he is just trying to have our undivide attention - all the time! So for the last few days since Marianne has been here I have tried my hardest to focus on him and see his cute side more. When there's a tantrum - 'cause believe me they haven't stoped - I try to CALMLY seek out what is bothering him. I guess I knew to do this all along but I have been so overwhelmed lately and emtionally drained I forgot. So Marianne - THANKS FOR SEEING HOW CUTE AND LOVING MARK REALLY IS!!
by the way, last night he said he is not going to bed until Auntie Marianne and Grandma come back!!

Here's a few photos to share with you

Melody with Kyla - mamma needs her cuddles

Mom thanks for the visit and all the cuddle time with the kids!

We picked our Christmas tree from up the mountain, not only was it free it was a great memory shared with Karl and Lisa and Kaden and Mark.

Let's begin - Dec. 13 2005

Well, as the Christmas season is upon us there is much to consider. We just enjoyed a great visit with my mom and sister Marianne. We celebrated a small Christmas together taking in the "Living Nativity" production at our church - Ray you looked great singing up there in full costume. We also shared a few gifts and had a great time visiting. Mom sure helped with the Christmas baking as well as a mini Gingerbread village.
We are starting to feel more and more at home here and a huge thanks goes to Ray's family for that. Ray is settling in at work even though there seems to be a great deal of disorganizness within the company as long and there is work and Ray is happy there all is well.
I have been keeping myself busy with the two kids and taking in a playgroup and take-a-break for women which has been a great means of meeting people. I also try to keep up with my scrapbooks, reading and learned to knit - Jill you always did inspire me and I finally picked it up - scarves is all I can do right now though.
I truely loved and needed this visit with my mom this last week and will count the days till February when I can see her again. Dad will finally met Kyla in a few weeks when he comes for the holidays and we lookforward to that time too.
Mark is doing great being a two, testing my patience and the rules and yet he has thoses cute, adorable times too. Kyla is 4mths now and discoved her voice and tongue. She'll coo and giggle for everyone. She learned to roll over while mom was here and just before mom left Kyla began to discover a means of inching like a worm to move across a blanket. I think she just wanted to show off to Grandma.
We have really loved keeping up with people through this blog idea and hope that many others will be able to use this means to keep in touch with us also. Thanks Lisa-Joy and John,(lisajoy-and-john.blogspot.com), Josh and Michelle (joshfuller.blogspot.com), and Brad and Stacey (xanga.com/bradandstace) for your blogs and letting us keep up with your lives. Hope many of you enjoy ours as well.

Keep in touch

melody - ray, mark and kyla