Today has been a good day thus far. I started the day off by Visiting Teaching. I get to visit some really fun sisters and so LOVE to go. My partner is pretty great too. So, off we went and visited while the boys played. I took my companion's daughter with us in the car and while we were driving, she asked what the black thing was on the dash. I told her it was a GPS, otherwise known as a Global Positioning System. Little Dude piped up to say, "It says go left, go right." WOW. I've never told him what it does, he's just seen it working.

On my way back I had a pretty in depth discussion with one of the women I visit (we had all gone to visit at one farm and I was giving her a ride back), and my heart hurt when she described everything she is struggling with right now. I am a fixer and I wish I could fix things for her. She is a sweet woman and I hope she finds the road before her smoother than she suspects.

ANYWAY...I got home and knew I needed to get going on packing. 6 weeks in Ontario over Christmas - is there any way to pack everything I might need for that amount of time? And I'm hoping that Big E will be ok with us gone. He's not big on being home by himself, he likes the cacophony that we create! :) On top of it all, he has to take the bus home because of a scheduling mix-up that meant his flight was on the same day as one of his final exams. I know he's going to be REALLY glad to get off that Greyhound!

Pictures will be coming up....highlights-Christmas ornament decorating, and the bucket-head boys!

Attention Boyd Clan

All those over the age of 12 are invited to participate in the wacky gift exchange. The goal is to find the wackiest item $5 or under (we all like a good challenge, don't we??). Participation isn't required, it is totally up to you. I know Mom has her gift lined up....I'm working on something I think will beat it!! :) Wacky=funny, crazy, interesting...etc. One year Big E brought dried bugs tossed in either sour cream and onion or BBQ. We've had a macrame lamp, a nunzilla, and variety of other items. SO...we're looking forward to what you come up with this year!! I just wanted to remind you so that you had time to find that wacky gift. :) See you there!! (The winner gets something....you'll just have to wait and see!)

Big Decision

Well, Big E and I have been talking about this decision for quite some time. Do we, or do we not homeschool? We decided a while ago...and we will homeschool. Not for the entire time, we're thinking until the boys are 8 or 9. We'll see how it goes. So we have been doing a little bit of 'school' with Little Dude. Even though he's only 4 yrs old right now I think it's helpful he develops the habit of sitting down with me and doing 'school'. :) Here are some pictures of today's homeschool project. We had a lot of fun creating our master pieces! I did one and Little Dude did the two that you see here. After he'd painted, I asked him what he thought they looked like and wrote what he told me in the corner.

SO....are you up on your ink blots??? See if you can see what he saw!

This is a frog, according to Little Dude.

This one is a monster in a pumpkin patch. He thought the 4 small orange dots on the corners with the bits of green looked like pumpkins.

Fall photos of 2009

This is what the Zea clan looked like on November 1, 2009.

So, I'm loading all these photos in LARGE size. Why you ask? Because I'm so happy with how they turned out! I love my new camera and how easy it was to use. I wish it had been a bit warmer and that I hadn't been wearing high heels, but other than that it was pretty perfect. Oh, also if the boys hadn't been sick that might have helped some too. :)

I think our family shots turned out pretty well. This one above I have in colour as well but really liked how it looked in Sepia.

We tried to get some candid shots like this one below. Most of those happened at the park near our house. It was kinda chilly outside and so we only stayed about 15 minutes. These first 2 pictures are my favourites!!




There is a very old mechanic's garage in town which is only used for storage now. One side of it has grass and just a plain, lovely distressed wood siding wall. So we used it as the background for some of our pictures.


Little Dude chose these two positions...holding my hands and holding onto my leg. But I liked how they turned out!


This one is just about perfect especially with the expression on Munchkin's face.


The kids weren't the only one's goofing around with candid shots at the park!


We nearly forgot to take a picture of ourselves. We think the boys are so much cuter!

For someone who doesn't much like his picture taken, Big E was very accommodating that day.

early Halloween

Because Big E and I have a church meeting on Halloween evening (of all the crazy planning) we took the boys trick-or-treating early. Actually, I took them. Big E is experiencing inorganic chemistry crunch time. Little Dude doesn't like things on his face and so we decided to do our best with eye liner to give him a pirate look. Fortunately Munchkin doesn't require any make-up at all.



We left Big E at home to agonize over equations and went out for candy. Our ward planned a children's carnival and then trunk or treating afterwards. So, we headed into the church and I really had to pee....so we went to the bathroom first. We passed Little Dude's best friend and he HID from her! He wouldn't come out behind me...her mummy costume was a bit realistic. Her mother is an artist by trade and had done her face make-up. The results were really ghastly! :) Munchkin wouldn't go to anyone, he was so sure he didn't recognize anyone!



One of the nice things about trunk-or-treating is that you know everyone you are getting goodies from. One family made caramel popcorn balls...MMMmmmm. I have to admit that next to cheesecake and A&W rootbeer, caramel popcorn balls are a big favourite. Little Dude led the way, and while he didn't go to all the vehicles, he made it to most of them. I am not ready for Halloween to be about how much candy one can collect so I wisely held my mouth shut about any cars he missed. I just blithely walked ahead. :) He had fun and that was the point.



Munchkin on the other hand wasn't too sure about the experience. Everytime someone popped candy into his back he would stare down into his bag and then look up at the person, clearly thinking, "Hmmm....why did you do that?" I'm sure next year he'll enjoy things a bit more.

Once we got home the boys emptied their loot bags and ate as much candy as we'd allow. :)

Big E and I helped out of course!

Big E and I had a FABULOUS date on Friday, a productive and relaxing day on Saturday and a fun day on Sunday. Actually, Sunday was pretty relaxing too what with my 2 and 1/2 hour nap! Sunday evening friends came over and we played some games until about midnight. I also got working on my goal #2 with the new camera-learning to use an editing program. I worked on 2 pictures and here they are...


This was my first experiment.


This was my second try. It is a picture of Little Dude's best friend. The fact there is 4 years difference between them in age does not deter him. He would visit her daily if it were a perfect world. :)

Friday (Oct 23) we went for a walk. It was cold, but in the nicely chilly range. I brought along my new camera (thank you Big E) and was determined to take some pictures. Here are a few I liked...and NO BLACK DOTS!! We walked to the post office and then to a friend's house where we visited for a bit before heading back home.

The town has created a small memorial/resting spot along our walk route. The boys took a moment to explore the antique plow, wagon wheel and check out the bench. It looks really nice, and Little Dude wants to bring a rock home every time we pass by!

"Mommy, take my picture, quick!"




"A plow like Poppa's?"
Big E and I had a hot date. It's not often we get to go out, I mean really go out. We went to a lovely restaurant for dinner and followed that up by going dancing. It was a church dance, but not at the church and we had a lot of fun. I danced so much that I thought I'd be sore the next day! Big E and I tried to figure out the last time we'd been dancing....and we couldn't remember. It's been that long. That is a sad, sad commentary on our married life, and I for one, have decided to rectify the situation any way I can. We definately need more dates that don't include a movie.

Babies, babies!

My cousin on my mother's side gave birth to her first little boy Wednesday morning. All reports indicate he is alert, perfect, and SO cute! I am excited to see him, but we'll wait until she is out of the hospital and settled at home before we bombard her. I remember bringing Little Dude home and trying to figure out nursing and sleeping. I think it was a blessing in disguise that we had to be in quarantine for the first month we were home. Our ward at church was even warned not to ask to hold him and so I didn't have to deal with acquaintances asking, "Oh, can I hold him??" I have to admit I was worried about that a bit with my first! So we will give her some time to settle in and then go see the new little bundle.

Some of you may be wondering where I am these days mentally....have to admit that sometimes I wonder! In all seriousness I am enjoying the blessings that surround me. Today has been a gift from the 'good-day-fairy'. Little Dude spent the morning cutting paper at the table (he's never asked to use scissors before and this morning he said, "I need scissors and paper."), Munchkin played trains in the living room, I was able to clean and have a shower before getting them ready to go outside for a walk. It has been a calm and happy morning. A bonus was that I got on the scale and saw my weight -10lbs...certainly can't complain there. Big E is taking me out for dinner and dancing tonight. With everything, I can't help but feel I'm living fairy tale life! I'm grateful for all the love and support expressed as I work through leaving the dream of a baby in May behind me. I'm especially thankful for the testimony I have that God loves me and my family and that even if I don't know the reason for everything, I at least know there is a reason. I'm content not knowing the reason, I'll just revel in the love and warm fuzzies that have come and soothed. My visiting teachers will be over this afternoon, and I was able to spend and afternoon with two women that I visit teach and lend a hand. Truly service does help one have a positive outlook!

ultrasound update...

Well, the news isn't good. They did an ultrasound (and an internal ultrasound which isn't an experience I think I'd like to repeat) and there was no heart beat to be found. "Surely we are bummed" I believe is the biblical quote I'm looking for. :) Inspite of being 'surely bummed', we are also ok. I think I'm over most of the crying and the joy of Munchkin and Little Dude are the balm for my hurts right now. I've had lots of warm wishes, offers of help and love sent my way and that support has been wonderful to experience.

New favourite quote:
"I have the poise and grace of a crackhead rhinoceros."
This one may apply to me literally at some point in the future. :)

This is just a short note, no pictures included. By way of announcement...the Zea family is expecting baby #3! We're excited and just coming up to 3 months along here. Now that the good news is out I have to say that we may have (or may not have) some bad news coming. We had a bit of excitement last night at about 9:30 when I experienced some bleeding. I haven't had any nausea for weeks now, which is a departure from the paths the previous 2 pregnancies took. Off to the hospital I went where they checked blood and insides. So far the verdict is that from the outside things seem ok...I will head for an ultrasound to see if the same can be said for the little one inside. Should know everything by Thursday and I'll do an update. Why, you ask, am I writing about this on a blog? Well, it helps a bit to put things into focus, even something like this. It somehow makes it more manageable. I have fingers crossed and prayers said that things will be A-OK on the ultrasound, but if they are not I know that I'll be ok. Sad, but ok.

Our day in Banff

We decided to spend a day in Banff. We went to Lake Louise, and to the Upper Hot Springs. It was GREAT! Here are a couple of pictures of us touring round the lake...

It was a bit chilly, but not bad at all in the sun. The scenery was amazing (of course) and there were icicles, giant rocks, occasional statues, etc to keep us entertained. You can tell in the pictures that I'm looking stuffed....2 layers of pants and 3 layers of shirts/sweaters....I do not like to be cold! :)




And here is Eden with the hotel in the background...



We found snow melt running down a little river from the mountain....one of us was brave enough to taste it!

We took pictures of one of the statues we passed....

And then we headed to the hot springs. It was BUSY that day!

And then we had to head for home/chalet.

It was a good day...and we would grab a nap before heading out just as adults for dinner and desert while the kids stayed home and ate pizzas and watched movies.

Our Chalet

Last year we stayed for a weekend in Banff with another family with whom we are close friends. It was so fun we think it should become a tradition and so here we are again in Banff for a weekend. We are staying at the same Chalets, though we are next door to the one we had last year! Here's a tour of our accommodations:
This is what it looks like out our front door.

When you first come in there is room for coats to hang up and a bench to sit on (and the seat lifts up so you can store hats and mitts inside) at the right and on the left is the dining area.

You move through and you can see the kitchen on the left...the right just has a couple of closets...one with the furnace in it and the other with lots of shelves and a dryer. Perfect for when you get back from sledding and your stuff is all wet!

Continue on to the livingroom, with a lovely fireplace.

Someone was sleeping on the other side of the livingroom, so no picture of the right side! And do you notice those black dots on my picture, especially of the kitchen? Dirt in our camera...grrr. Fortunately last night Eden bought our Christmas present....a NEW CAMERA!! I'm SO excited...can't wait. :) So...on to our tour...
Then you travel upstairs


To our bedroom. :) It has a king size bed (yeah!) and it's a loft as you can kinda see on the left.
Here's the veiw from over our loft balcony.

Then if you look down the hallway you can see a doorway on the left with the bathroom, and the other 2 doorways are the other 2 bedrooms.

And here are the views from our bedroom window.....SO LOVELY!


That's where we're staying. It is so lovely and I have to admit-WAY better than a hotel. TTFN!