tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17685000256819038752024-03-18T19:17:10.024-04:00Here's The ScoopDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06711514647505477438noreply@blogger.comBlogger2520125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-16858890299386299682024-03-18T06:00:00.106-04:002024-03-18T06:00:00.134-04:00Flowers And Fun In Fort Lauderdale<div><p>I'm back at work today after a week and a half off, but I'm going to be reminiscing about our amazing trip for awhile! We left for our March Break trip a couple of days early as we booked a cruise, and the one we liked best left on the Friday our break officially started. We wanted to get to our embarkation port a few days early, so late Wednesday night, we flew into Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Thursday we had all day to explore.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YMfNVhPPo5qv9pKw_A7jaIPauADB8_UL_zmGoK2-iWQ7Ns74FGBi5ImNu8jYf6UqjRs9lgW6eKm6qhmmL7r2meNhbGKLUA8pgkvZ_Uimvz7yDRm5SOjVwMx9sAYX6HPWt-Fbl3iJx9njt9GFEuQTtf-vpMmSNsd27ryuIKlAVxao0UDGV7zqRPYZl0E/s2048/IMG_7501.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YMfNVhPPo5qv9pKw_A7jaIPauADB8_UL_zmGoK2-iWQ7Ns74FGBi5ImNu8jYf6UqjRs9lgW6eKm6qhmmL7r2meNhbGKLUA8pgkvZ_Uimvz7yDRm5SOjVwMx9sAYX6HPWt-Fbl3iJx9njt9GFEuQTtf-vpMmSNsd27ryuIKlAVxao0UDGV7zqRPYZl0E/s320/IMG_7501.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd5gAXekrSoIQGNAKI-4wdEdAjuYh5vAm8YD39WsHW80tZrP4auJwvktC3kvqoMrbQ8njaqt4DEsy1p9hAQqvjTvA_aXZgpP5rbjfiN2nx68xZT0yesoWURnquZZFbGqe5HNhSYS8bTZ7PBfY0p3s_XOg-_Wfujp5yfQtyYR296_6kRtueI9DY62Sp0Q/s2048/IMG_7505.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd5gAXekrSoIQGNAKI-4wdEdAjuYh5vAm8YD39WsHW80tZrP4auJwvktC3kvqoMrbQ8njaqt4DEsy1p9hAQqvjTvA_aXZgpP5rbjfiN2nx68xZT0yesoWURnquZZFbGqe5HNhSYS8bTZ7PBfY0p3s_XOg-_Wfujp5yfQtyYR296_6kRtueI9DY62Sp0Q/s320/IMG_7505.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had only one thing booked this day, as well as a few things we hoped to check out, so we started off by walking to a main area in Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas Boulevard. It took us a little over an hour to walk to our first destination and we enjoyed not only stretching our legs but also enjoying the warmth and seeing the sights. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEq5u40RKVk6po4_1YwkLz0Jg_bP16DD1iWVyvhyphenhyphenqOoXiI17nR3oZmhD8Z2uM3AZ-CcMzfXljAgtQY5YT4grmMNLi-LN263nGtLlUhoIuIeVtXddso4zLuSJUCCKMwCBe4uzLyTp95P7aigUobb-s4iylwRd7V3cC_rK_P_AZUuCPOfOpC68nKAZcA_c/s2048/IMG_7507.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEq5u40RKVk6po4_1YwkLz0Jg_bP16DD1iWVyvhyphenhyphenqOoXiI17nR3oZmhD8Z2uM3AZ-CcMzfXljAgtQY5YT4grmMNLi-LN263nGtLlUhoIuIeVtXddso4zLuSJUCCKMwCBe4uzLyTp95P7aigUobb-s4iylwRd7V3cC_rK_P_AZUuCPOfOpC68nKAZcA_c/w150-h200/IMG_7507.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ68lnzksuiqemb-F7cjhJYPP7X9esz1_0KsEB7WQ-LiUbwr_IL70a58Yt6gradyKEyf_ZtyQB18ZCk1Im0IezznqgpdGh0zYTcIgG67KiqxpuGrFPFDrfrrM6DW5HKAGSMCLp4izaWcjJBVEFVN3g8PI0uJSpTlFk0XchX9blLunM36sQDtS5dfu8ATU/s2048/IMG_8577.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ68lnzksuiqemb-F7cjhJYPP7X9esz1_0KsEB7WQ-LiUbwr_IL70a58Yt6gradyKEyf_ZtyQB18ZCk1Im0IezznqgpdGh0zYTcIgG67KiqxpuGrFPFDrfrrM6DW5HKAGSMCLp4izaWcjJBVEFVN3g8PI0uJSpTlFk0XchX9blLunM36sQDtS5dfu8ATU/w150-h200/IMG_8577.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALJl95coMa6rM0AEXsNf1L4UACNpopiyg9zG0Pw2xz0pfOYsxcFrvJduyL7_jKov7Rk1W67g7Irv3U2brdCTekOhGdCU9afRky41apApenNnA65ralaVgCrTQQFdQYCnthyitpbXnfwh2qiK-vstwaCu7PMUMpyX5i9eCCoBv4dbsBVwA5VVXW4WOZQQ/s2048/IMG_7518.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALJl95coMa6rM0AEXsNf1L4UACNpopiyg9zG0Pw2xz0pfOYsxcFrvJduyL7_jKov7Rk1W67g7Irv3U2brdCTekOhGdCU9afRky41apApenNnA65ralaVgCrTQQFdQYCnthyitpbXnfwh2qiK-vstwaCu7PMUMpyX5i9eCCoBv4dbsBVwA5VVXW4WOZQQ/w150-h200/IMG_7518.JPEG" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had read about Ann's Florist & Coffee Bar online and I absolutely wanted to check it out. On one side is a florist shop and on the other is a cafe/bar. We ate lunch here and it was so beautiful. We had a counter spot looking into the florist shop. The empanadas were really good and the pastries were delicious! This was a stop solely for me and I loved it so much!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6xv619oBy2mwrYTZjk-EebHmwEEcgW7hWnyO_M05u1mgPbS-CqSHRiXhrN_ZjSvK2g5q0V5_MOci0Toonc1rywq1HzhS163IVmf7ByH2m-h0FraAfR5z8FuLSsv5BbFH5qYBcuJfZYhxrnoLIc0pyjtM5XpbO6hAkKW3OYZJq2zg4zZomiTkIEqb92o/s2048/IMG_7526.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6xv619oBy2mwrYTZjk-EebHmwEEcgW7hWnyO_M05u1mgPbS-CqSHRiXhrN_ZjSvK2g5q0V5_MOci0Toonc1rywq1HzhS163IVmf7ByH2m-h0FraAfR5z8FuLSsv5BbFH5qYBcuJfZYhxrnoLIc0pyjtM5XpbO6hAkKW3OYZJq2zg4zZomiTkIEqb92o/w300-h400/IMG_7526.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was a store on we passed on Las Olas Boulevard which had huge statues. We briefly considered buying this Hulk one as it had been reduced in price to <i>only</i> $60,000! Hahaha! We enjoyed looking around this store.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkkzzgJvfqPzZSX7w3mx11b-9L8m83-fx0wKqP4WHV_thGW7BsryiVsx-LbuNKTAcXbZFr6qZ7YN2ki_BugAZNajNtaI393uvol7IkKStZno4ehtgcexNjzPHUve1See43MBhlbDeJrBJrIjApV73Ff_RZyBwvwlc0df1ICXSUQh9P0f_108mFs_yhqk/s2046/IMG_7533.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkkzzgJvfqPzZSX7w3mx11b-9L8m83-fx0wKqP4WHV_thGW7BsryiVsx-LbuNKTAcXbZFr6qZ7YN2ki_BugAZNajNtaI393uvol7IkKStZno4ehtgcexNjzPHUve1See43MBhlbDeJrBJrIjApV73Ff_RZyBwvwlc0df1ICXSUQh9P0f_108mFs_yhqk/s320/IMG_7533.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA69K2czUHELes8ZQheMEZ7QyEenf8VX50Ko_LC4Lqo3DAoaRoksLIH46Cutm0AogXL8-9FoToLj9YhPCofMkwt84P3lZ8VsLXAZ6-Xch1SSCih4HoJaMmlufDb45huge-qlCQyFJFrAzVDFfHhQBgTLH7Y2vRCfeM7uhT1vMX-PBPSVQ8v4_mlG8sw8/s2048/IMG_7549.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA69K2czUHELes8ZQheMEZ7QyEenf8VX50Ko_LC4Lqo3DAoaRoksLIH46Cutm0AogXL8-9FoToLj9YhPCofMkwt84P3lZ8VsLXAZ6-Xch1SSCih4HoJaMmlufDb45huge-qlCQyFJFrAzVDFfHhQBgTLH7Y2vRCfeM7uhT1vMX-PBPSVQ8v4_mlG8sw8/s320/IMG_7549.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The only thing we had booked for this day was a tour of the Fort Lauderdale waterways. We took a Carrie B Cruise and really enjoyed it. We got to see many expensive homes right on the water and even got attacked by pirates! It was supposed to be somewhat rainy this day but one of the only times we got wet was waiting to board this boat!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hq3yPTmNh0gX0uRWTuDNifKxRL_10KnwYR_fFDoCjPVpZTguHah-a5k03PN0Qmj7uViScDOP7-vftbfvBZjgNYyJM707Ecp-cZYJ17wUcZ9dbONefbNW21_OyptMOoWUrfVfJqlkQkM138rGzDush3124pB4PmurDiZgyHdTcrIaP7zvUafrTqX34Yo/s2048/IMG_7540.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hq3yPTmNh0gX0uRWTuDNifKxRL_10KnwYR_fFDoCjPVpZTguHah-a5k03PN0Qmj7uViScDOP7-vftbfvBZjgNYyJM707Ecp-cZYJ17wUcZ9dbONefbNW21_OyptMOoWUrfVfJqlkQkM138rGzDush3124pB4PmurDiZgyHdTcrIaP7zvUafrTqX34Yo/w150-h200/IMG_7540.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQH4Lg9OWiN8eiaNeVxULbi5BiA3XtrRo1m_y9STKvruBmeJJ2RvtlOPND5KyMqMVbkxS14aOH-jUKdobwMkqysjMjshLzgumKiIaV-5Dbl1fxJKGEw7MuPoF3NHKuQ0ViQmx_ZB-1J1MXVvvA-g-8x4h6pkb5hXZOxn4nJLEBfnVgw_EcTWUdluR5B5w/s2048/IMG_7556.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQH4Lg9OWiN8eiaNeVxULbi5BiA3XtrRo1m_y9STKvruBmeJJ2RvtlOPND5KyMqMVbkxS14aOH-jUKdobwMkqysjMjshLzgumKiIaV-5Dbl1fxJKGEw7MuPoF3NHKuQ0ViQmx_ZB-1J1MXVvvA-g-8x4h6pkb5hXZOxn4nJLEBfnVgw_EcTWUdluR5B5w/w150-h200/IMG_7556.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhul8qczOo6YCh5ZKiqpbspZPRMLKcJ-PHEZnijDnr0VuQvKRDPFcsLlPhaF-UIqY2ZSRfuP6uS6pSoJQB0JvW0Rd4D-kh9UydIvOQAJUsODGNaXk3H22IFZvkxOjDmxNrdy8lenJGxcr-Bm50PJghm2VJFt5wp9RatbdnDTvrXIbRMzbwbw49YErLoNNA/s2048/IMG_7531.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhul8qczOo6YCh5ZKiqpbspZPRMLKcJ-PHEZnijDnr0VuQvKRDPFcsLlPhaF-UIqY2ZSRfuP6uS6pSoJQB0JvW0Rd4D-kh9UydIvOQAJUsODGNaXk3H22IFZvkxOjDmxNrdy8lenJGxcr-Bm50PJghm2VJFt5wp9RatbdnDTvrXIbRMzbwbw49YErLoNNA/w150-h200/IMG_7531.JPEG" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We cruised past the port we were sailing out of the next day and Rachel realized one of her classmates was on the ship we passed on our tour! She SnapChatted him and he sent her a picture of his view from the boat. It was pretty hilarious! Also, the house in the middle is based on Harry Pottter's house from the movies, cost $28 million, and was a wedding present for someone's niece. Let's just say our wedding gifts were not quite so elaborate!!!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBIQO-2d1iZFWCUFbid8K4FG6u4ujygIO9oRQENWzHNQDPT8YIBFwbDlqr-gv3TcpmTTwMGgSEBgegcb81pBJ8fymfWtA9AuT69N0yQYTw0qUe6Ye4wkAt84CJZbRGhyaPCrS5XK8jPeKPiuuzU2uuRyC_RvVr8LnKjaRK98j0e0KS_lwU4CJOt6eK5c/s2048/IMG_7541.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBIQO-2d1iZFWCUFbid8K4FG6u4ujygIO9oRQENWzHNQDPT8YIBFwbDlqr-gv3TcpmTTwMGgSEBgegcb81pBJ8fymfWtA9AuT69N0yQYTw0qUe6Ye4wkAt84CJZbRGhyaPCrS5XK8jPeKPiuuzU2uuRyC_RvVr8LnKjaRK98j0e0KS_lwU4CJOt6eK5c/w400-h300/IMG_7541.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See, I told you we got chased by pirates! Hahaha!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0ExbqSM8Y2eHY9u8osKeUFw9ncschyLqodW_OiFV2BfTO7LF9tPR_-H-Gwj0r40gOyz2WkdlLBCmK8B6G8gqboL7t3wu05qdSQBu7OGG5V08gSUKpGT-07quuXFldJRlLq6lOECxOvErc9tYOQFS_iTtJFyxfG8_31tEhVM774-ulFfDmtVLWx_WSas/s2048/IMG_7560.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0ExbqSM8Y2eHY9u8osKeUFw9ncschyLqodW_OiFV2BfTO7LF9tPR_-H-Gwj0r40gOyz2WkdlLBCmK8B6G8gqboL7t3wu05qdSQBu7OGG5V08gSUKpGT-07quuXFldJRlLq6lOECxOvErc9tYOQFS_iTtJFyxfG8_31tEhVM774-ulFfDmtVLWx_WSas/s320/IMG_7560.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We enjoyed trying to spot gekkos, or iguanas, or whatever it was we saw running all over the place in Fort Lauderdale. Sam was the best at spotting them. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2mzgs3dSZRZaidGxNOzWMC8Pr2OahmFmKyuBhLprD9GqpuYbL16K9pM5vv9vTjr0N3UfOutPbpM584sA5iHV-Rkc0dRNzcViGH9w-NHbNo-Rd8Fq_6U9lvPcZz24YCZeAvDSdyX0L9yFs3q3ICUtQ1ZVGyCjnSNluTmgk8Aa-in5uo2GngbyURVLqCI/s2048/IMG_8656.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2mzgs3dSZRZaidGxNOzWMC8Pr2OahmFmKyuBhLprD9GqpuYbL16K9pM5vv9vTjr0N3UfOutPbpM584sA5iHV-Rkc0dRNzcViGH9w-NHbNo-Rd8Fq_6U9lvPcZz24YCZeAvDSdyX0L9yFs3q3ICUtQ1ZVGyCjnSNluTmgk8Aa-in5uo2GngbyURVLqCI/s320/IMG_8656.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pzbKsguCtJJx45VQxEZIbMUS1cmkhAXl6JjGFBFXxOZR3neUZ1AAUbaBo3DwgMpd4xJN48JESLBgmccQwNmlqpR_LB81BGPr2C3WiPkGQcsuUWkV1SXO19JOJ3RRjzi8A7AiAoqB7KNn11IouXM2hmBWGTjqBt3VHRGVf69HyXTkgzV9GeBAbc5KS88/s2048/IMG_8657.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pzbKsguCtJJx45VQxEZIbMUS1cmkhAXl6JjGFBFXxOZR3neUZ1AAUbaBo3DwgMpd4xJN48JESLBgmccQwNmlqpR_LB81BGPr2C3WiPkGQcsuUWkV1SXO19JOJ3RRjzi8A7AiAoqB7KNn11IouXM2hmBWGTjqBt3VHRGVf69HyXTkgzV9GeBAbc5KS88/s320/IMG_8657.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made it to the ocean!!! Since we were staying in a hotel, we had no towels, and we knew we were getting other beach days, so we didn't plan on swimming. We enjoyed walking along the shoreline though. <br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc_Nl1qOx9nPO51CC_WJGfYNEf626iceNUBcAz4GztmHXfFPHJd6uu1M-b_UOO96KstLcFA82XFu70h_3YEAoxhyphenhyphenkY2qjR3Zrfz1xKV4nRsw52-3z-_2nd4dgkE0aSFkLJHAOOt0lqQGJLBHiIr1KzUzy78qb8151EKsx2vsSGpMz5qWFW7SRMecfmEc/s2048/IMG_7570.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc_Nl1qOx9nPO51CC_WJGfYNEf626iceNUBcAz4GztmHXfFPHJd6uu1M-b_UOO96KstLcFA82XFu70h_3YEAoxhyphenhyphenkY2qjR3Zrfz1xKV4nRsw52-3z-_2nd4dgkE0aSFkLJHAOOt0lqQGJLBHiIr1KzUzy78qb8151EKsx2vsSGpMz5qWFW7SRMecfmEc/s320/IMG_7570.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwLLVZsMFX4PDBRQ_msGPfUnS1XxMRAQeCLaQ4B4i8PYYvrJaCorROekH6rEVZnagWBulcOQ3QF2sKVEmeGaBz6jj1cFlMF_IJEfDwhWXdn0LJGVjsxjPGQ22WpzM8ROsDwzjWRtcv8N4SLjBpo_h7kHDz_K1F1rBva15xxVSN3KV5ZAn-eieHhjeaR0/s2046/IMG_7572.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwLLVZsMFX4PDBRQ_msGPfUnS1XxMRAQeCLaQ4B4i8PYYvrJaCorROekH6rEVZnagWBulcOQ3QF2sKVEmeGaBz6jj1cFlMF_IJEfDwhWXdn0LJGVjsxjPGQ22WpzM8ROsDwzjWRtcv8N4SLjBpo_h7kHDz_K1F1rBva15xxVSN3KV5ZAn-eieHhjeaR0/s320/IMG_7572.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So happy to be at the ocean and not at work or school!!! <br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAy1_jU_umi0-OEtHpTsKoRINmXLMDNxKNGgWyDeyDrHRSL3QBPV49m8Nq2NyFniJamM-lgkajY2ueXQ1DmQDHXfu3hXB3esAAHwEi-cytMD1adcreaZNOwBpG81Wgi3cgM3L3TRQ7TOh4lsWYI9swVCkWru9v9bdve7Buf7T-t-PWsFEZnFzqzgvYW2Y/s2048/IMG_8663.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAy1_jU_umi0-OEtHpTsKoRINmXLMDNxKNGgWyDeyDrHRSL3QBPV49m8Nq2NyFniJamM-lgkajY2ueXQ1DmQDHXfu3hXB3esAAHwEi-cytMD1adcreaZNOwBpG81Wgi3cgM3L3TRQ7TOh4lsWYI9swVCkWru9v9bdve7Buf7T-t-PWsFEZnFzqzgvYW2Y/w300-h400/IMG_8663.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A picture of Sam and I strolling the beach to show Sam was there too! He doesn't love being in pictures anymore which I think is pretty typical for teenagers. And no, he is NOT taller than me (yet). We measure almost every day because he's very close.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlpoFcZiCw0n-Npq1uTc9MB9mkYJcyGFLRuk7N_uMCKJZH98JTRYmb4vhH81td5Y-hulM6d1_iuRtdp8pUPPAaRN8KC7A5me5wU2AanicS1hpBi7Mc9UHnnxexj3gN_76qTYkweLeRaostQtHEyRgRfuOi02ouc17oyp2VorHuMjHGpxJd0zVdvvstGU/s2048/IMG_7586.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlpoFcZiCw0n-Npq1uTc9MB9mkYJcyGFLRuk7N_uMCKJZH98JTRYmb4vhH81td5Y-hulM6d1_iuRtdp8pUPPAaRN8KC7A5me5wU2AanicS1hpBi7Mc9UHnnxexj3gN_76qTYkweLeRaostQtHEyRgRfuOi02ouc17oyp2VorHuMjHGpxJd0zVdvvstGU/w150-h200/IMG_7586.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWFYWGmjVlMoXmHKtumbuX1TzK9ozu9z7CYs-Hyf72rpRacPHiwSV38wcM6uf8sCiR8tO_6oQR0ibt-aSqpvDg54utYR5k-vg5otcIWSK_4mpAhLzugCIG-LaNcPDHGzEwkWJp7GmtlvIBsM35lV_XbUlTYBR9wBas1VXfge9-2QdoMmapLGkJ39ZZtU/s2048/IMG_7588.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWFYWGmjVlMoXmHKtumbuX1TzK9ozu9z7CYs-Hyf72rpRacPHiwSV38wcM6uf8sCiR8tO_6oQR0ibt-aSqpvDg54utYR5k-vg5otcIWSK_4mpAhLzugCIG-LaNcPDHGzEwkWJp7GmtlvIBsM35lV_XbUlTYBR9wBas1VXfge9-2QdoMmapLGkJ39ZZtU/w150-h200/IMG_7588.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL1YlxLFLyh_Oj4QcIAWFciQ8ezwFr0d5MWUPMNvBBIChYjuhWxN_kZDIBRM1kTHCMBFB5zUASXeIfqeldEciiQ3BoPLYdj5m_JGyvAHel5mYrc9icUc2-zWJ3vQIFMcea39PHs2tmb3LFa9mPLIikzMQagoSd-2ZODjulJSGDrEuq4NiBuucNbO31xI/s2048/IMG_7592.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL1YlxLFLyh_Oj4QcIAWFciQ8ezwFr0d5MWUPMNvBBIChYjuhWxN_kZDIBRM1kTHCMBFB5zUASXeIfqeldEciiQ3BoPLYdj5m_JGyvAHel5mYrc9icUc2-zWJ3vQIFMcea39PHs2tmb3LFa9mPLIikzMQagoSd-2ZODjulJSGDrEuq4NiBuucNbO31xI/w151-h200/IMG_7592.JPEG" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A playful ray which was swimming along beside us for awhile. We enjoyed walking in the water until we saw him and then we gave him some extra space! You can see his tail coming out of the waves in the middle photo so he was pretty close.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After about an hour at the ocean, it started raining and we had to wait quite awhile for an Uber back to our hotel. We'd hoped to eat a nice dinner on the beach but we were all exhausted after a long day of walking and exploring so we headed back to our hotel and ate at the McDonald's across the street. Not quite the nice seafood, ocean view dinner I'd hoped for. Hahaha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That night I was asleep by 7pm, Dave was asleep by about 7:45, and we have no idea when the kids fell asleep. But we'd had a great day exploring Fort Lauderdale.</div></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-21924888023283583512024-03-15T05:55:00.025-04:002024-03-15T05:55:00.290-04:00Friday Favourite Moments #11<p>If you don't follow me on Instagram, you may not know that we were on a Disney cruise this past week!!! It was so fun and I have so many favourite moments but, for this post, I'm going to just pick one from each day. Many, many more stories to come next week but here's a small taste :)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) </b><b>Lunch with a view (Fort Lauderdale, Thursday)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">This was our first day of vacation and one of the things I found to do in Fort Lauderdale was to go to Ann's Florist & Coffee Bar. We had a delicious lunch sitting at a counter with a view into the flower shop. There was an opening (as opposed to a window) so I ate lunch while smelling the flowers. It was so amazing! And then we shared a raspberry tart and a key lime pie for dessert. I would be here at least once a week if we had something similar locally!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mdmkQPS9bLo7ss6B8iEx5vWArsIKObj55bQecoJQtfFOoJMHS5SejjXGxDz1dM6h3hEIBwnwFKjJo38hr6QvZYgMJMLRYq6U74GiokE-OvhR8oPKJVP-uHb-MqGoHXX4AMeOzJVPyWnytduBGDdnXhq14tdPz86zCYn6wYeg-3lB0kSDmhq16F8Cl6k/s2048/IMG_7518.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mdmkQPS9bLo7ss6B8iEx5vWArsIKObj55bQecoJQtfFOoJMHS5SejjXGxDz1dM6h3hEIBwnwFKjJo38hr6QvZYgMJMLRYq6U74GiokE-OvhR8oPKJVP-uHb-MqGoHXX4AMeOzJVPyWnytduBGDdnXhq14tdPz86zCYn6wYeg-3lB0kSDmhq16F8Cl6k/w300-h400/IMG_7518.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2) </b><b>Flying the Millennium Falcon with Dave (</b><b>Boarding the ship, Friday)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I mean, this was "boarding the ship" day so there are so many memorable moments but one of my favourites was flying in the Millennium Falcon from <i>Star Wars</i> with Dave! This was in one of the kids' clubs and they had an open house. No one else in my family wanted to check it out so I went on my own. And then texted Dave a picture of R2D2 and said, "You HAVE to come see this!!!" It was so fun!!!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTmexoWYx3LO6ou-zPgZgqTdNSJypbl9J12ni-iRX1_oK1cfXPulMvKkllm0doXHZcxt85Tn2PGmDT98mjfRyIQDI1YvswsSazbY8fyvwH4COlxWmf6xtfGgVM1DaPUZntCydYbrRE_lpeRfYngQox2SAY_e07ESbtaLQbyA2XEt-riDtqXhMpTu8Bys/s2048/IMG_7663.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTmexoWYx3LO6ou-zPgZgqTdNSJypbl9J12ni-iRX1_oK1cfXPulMvKkllm0doXHZcxt85Tn2PGmDT98mjfRyIQDI1YvswsSazbY8fyvwH4COlxWmf6xtfGgVM1DaPUZntCydYbrRE_lpeRfYngQox2SAY_e07ESbtaLQbyA2XEt-riDtqXhMpTu8Bys/w400-h300/IMG_7663.JPEG" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>3) </b><b>Midship Detective Agency (</b><b>Marvel Day at Sea, Saturday)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">We were on a new ship this time around and one of the features was the Midship Detective Agency. You visited the office (at the middle of the ship, thus the name), and got a card and chose a case (there were three options). Then you had a map and went to visit certain pieces of art. The card interacted with the art and you gathered clues as you visited the art. The interactive card allowed you to unscrew a crate, burn through ropes, pop balloons, or other fun things. Eventually, you put the clues together and solved the case. The picture below is of Rachel completing her first case!<b> </b>I ended up doing four different cases -- two with Rachel, one with Sam, and one that Dave and I did.<b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr-IgY97L5BCBsOR0771v8nrEwoOqqQ4r5EgjliTOof30RxQtpXlkAimGkd9Bht4xofjJtA7AfpMYsgcui0mvMKcqHcDc3q_07NDorUgWvvRqk2xG2lHcQ0S7BiijUBKFLBperozPFx_pTj5WodyHuuKNDJR6dz0Mh4u2IbAOxvjH7vT7DUs0x5ZZ8wE/s2048/IMG_7832.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr-IgY97L5BCBsOR0771v8nrEwoOqqQ4r5EgjliTOof30RxQtpXlkAimGkd9Bht4xofjJtA7AfpMYsgcui0mvMKcqHcDc3q_07NDorUgWvvRqk2xG2lHcQ0S7BiijUBKFLBperozPFx_pTj5WodyHuuKNDJR6dz0Mh4u2IbAOxvjH7vT7DUs0x5ZZ8wE/w300-h400/IMG_7832.JPEG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>4) </b><b>Rachel participated in the flash mob on Pirate Night (</b><b>Cozumel, Mexico, Sunday)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Although we had a port stop in Cozumel, Mexico this day, we also celebrated Pirate Night that evening. Rachel had a few practices for the Flash Mob which consisted of tweens and teens from the clubs and happened after the Pirate Night party. Dave and I joked that we couldn't get away from Rachel's dance schedule, even on a cruise! But Rachel had such a fun time doing this and the Flash Mob was so fun to see!!! (Rachel was in the back row; she's wearing the bandana on her head in this picture.) <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrbnTuMOF2euNFIaLHk8EG6KP3tkknb5CfPBx-l5Z6xVRJ3nhtEhnQpFS7waX2YJgcO7w5i6Uv49e-oVB5xwnhF2e1-29gA_Ym8qsplasb4BNZgqom3TXZ8-W7cWjrPJU65x0RLBtyOyzAwnkrUUvmVWaxo2ZrNQNduaHm0RI84HsBZt1uV6weBFhdks/s2048/IMG_8051.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrbnTuMOF2euNFIaLHk8EG6KP3tkknb5CfPBx-l5Z6xVRJ3nhtEhnQpFS7waX2YJgcO7w5i6Uv49e-oVB5xwnhF2e1-29gA_Ym8qsplasb4BNZgqom3TXZ8-W7cWjrPJU65x0RLBtyOyzAwnkrUUvmVWaxo2ZrNQNduaHm0RI84HsBZt1uV6weBFhdks/w300-h400/IMG_8051.JPEG" width="300" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>5) </b><b>Traditional time change celebratory ice cream (</b><b>Day at Sea, Monday)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">We have a tradition of celebrating the Spring time change by getting ice cream. As Mexico doesn't mark the time change, the ship didn't mark it until Sunday night, so on Monday, we got a car ice cream sundae from Vanellope's Sweets 'N Treats. It was a super special, spring time change, ice cream! (For reference, you can see other time change ice cream celebrations <a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2018/03/photo-of-day-march-3-11-2018.html">here </a>and <a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2020/04/one-sentence-day-march-2020.html">here</a>.) <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6T4PliRN0mcX4kzCjUxbbM6dJS2Jei3ZpaxQGqNySHJKqqwjsJ5a0khwgFYiMGSkZL5bT_EO-jwOdndZv1UZL1egk8jV9K-Q3iv2DJ8GK9itV7nwgB2WyH_xS1P_fCKkxF251lqyMcSqW-nCiTLmhLBOIaWlb0gjFCDAsSCBPEQGau8OqfUXQXk3Vkk/s2046/IMG_8163.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2046" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6T4PliRN0mcX4kzCjUxbbM6dJS2Jei3ZpaxQGqNySHJKqqwjsJ5a0khwgFYiMGSkZL5bT_EO-jwOdndZv1UZL1egk8jV9K-Q3iv2DJ8GK9itV7nwgB2WyH_xS1P_fCKkxF251lqyMcSqW-nCiTLmhLBOIaWlb0gjFCDAsSCBPEQGau8OqfUXQXk3Vkk/w400-h301/IMG_8163.JPEG" width="400" /></a><b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>6) </b><b>Rachel, Dave, and I earned our Castaway Cay 5K medals! (</b><b>Castaway Cay, Tuesday)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">One of the things you can do on Castaway Cay (Disney's private island) is run/walk the 5K and get a medal. You used to have to get up early, get off the ship. and run it as a group. Since Covid, it's done on an honour system. So Dave, Rachel, and I walked it and earned our medals. I am so proud of us!!!<b> </b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxahYPa0KObY-KZvM8Mgx8B56sW1W41M82NfaPAMcrGxXrEcpCnLlMV-aW1xTtdTODW15Xyl6LX4BfrrnIa7KPUzsAcfPAD530o4mjEjtVRQ3oP0A49D_F3Q0uxM4JosnGQLlDpTcgSCnclgDZQeai-VNAog9Hs9YxtI77vGCzBrW4mqxvdXAjSrF5GA/s2046/IMG_8241.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxahYPa0KObY-KZvM8Mgx8B56sW1W41M82NfaPAMcrGxXrEcpCnLlMV-aW1xTtdTODW15Xyl6LX4BfrrnIa7KPUzsAcfPAD530o4mjEjtVRQ3oP0A49D_F3Q0uxM4JosnGQLlDpTcgSCnclgDZQeai-VNAog9Hs9YxtI77vGCzBrW4mqxvdXAjSrF5GA/w301-h400/IMG_8241.JPEG" width="301" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>7) </b><b>Rachel and the alligator (</b><b>Travel Day, Wednesday)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Disembarkation day, and travel home day, is <i>always</i> depressing and hard. We had 12 hours between getting off the ship and our flight home so we'd rented a car and went to explore the Everglades. We did an airboat tour (where we saw four alligators in the wild), ate at their outdoor grill (Dave had an alligator taco, the rest of us ate more traditional food), and Rachel got to have an alligator on her shoulder, which made her day!<b> </b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUSEmDPa3kQBhu0zIAD6xyyyPgB6N13P5wAIs3ndf6K_EbL03-fgANmE72O9Ghqd4XpKV8SFbfFjlQ0XF_hBImvPtZPPr2ml5-ireJZwAEC5y26eRHAulrhpLfJysP-qR80aU9P3uNsrzYoaaByhym9Paj-Ny9pv-kGcqt0Uhteir30tRCYepB_7jf-0/s2048/IMG_8370.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUSEmDPa3kQBhu0zIAD6xyyyPgB6N13P5wAIs3ndf6K_EbL03-fgANmE72O9Ghqd4XpKV8SFbfFjlQ0XF_hBImvPtZPPr2ml5-ireJZwAEC5y26eRHAulrhpLfJysP-qR80aU9P3uNsrzYoaaByhym9Paj-Ny9pv-kGcqt0Uhteir30tRCYepB_7jf-0/w300-h400/IMG_8370.JPEG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>8) At home day, Thursday</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Sleeping in my own bed after returning from a vacation is <i>always</i> the best!</p><p style="text-align: left;">So those are just a few memorable moments from the last week. Next week, I'll have more posts about our vacation. Until then, I'm catching up on laundry, grocery shopping, and remembering how to cook. Hahahaha!!!<br /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-89701820242693766322024-03-11T05:58:00.092-04:002024-03-11T05:58:00.138-04:00Share Our Lives: 5 Things I Can't Live Without<p>It's the second Monday of the month so it's time to "share our lives" with <a href="http://www.torontosam.ca/">Sarah</a>, <a href="https://www.notinjersey.com/">Dara</a>, <a href="https://www.myslicesoflife.com/">Joanne</a>, <a href="https://www.momlifewithadrienne.com/">Adrienne</a>, and <a href="https://showmeandsweettea.com/">Jen</a>. (Click on each name to go their blogs.) This month we're sharing "5 items we can't live without." Since I'm not trying to be an influencer here, I'm not linking to anything specific, and I'm also interpreting "items" as fairly expansive! These could also be called "5 things which make Natasha really happy!" Hahaha!!!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) Something to read</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Whether this is defined as an actual physical book or my Kobo, I am not happy if I don't have something to read. I read <i>a lot</i> and I usually have at least two or three books on the go. I have a book at work to read on my lunch break, I have a couple of books (plus my Kobo) on my nightstand, and I have a stack of books on my dresser as well. I get about 95% of my books from the library so I'm constantly juggling my library account!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vYPbJ6a4Bd1JjRR_Mfo4SKs7nJeYAH41ThRuY4sGuS9KElegtlCB3C4gGFo9FgCBvHh9RtxYZcQMkRKOXFne8fftOyMhczaNwX3skzV7ErIl012T9hd1pDhsd7KnYL5ZIPqmbjDeGq4Lrer6-nIc0IaJ8b3qaeLxQ9qqTtt5u2zNhHDZsFCvI2HwAbs/s2048/IMG_7495.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vYPbJ6a4Bd1JjRR_Mfo4SKs7nJeYAH41ThRuY4sGuS9KElegtlCB3C4gGFo9FgCBvHh9RtxYZcQMkRKOXFne8fftOyMhczaNwX3skzV7ErIl012T9hd1pDhsd7KnYL5ZIPqmbjDeGq4Lrer6-nIc0IaJ8b3qaeLxQ9qqTtt5u2zNhHDZsFCvI2HwAbs/w300-h400/IMG_7495.jpeg" width="300" /></a></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>My current TBR</i><b><br /></b></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2) My laundry line (and my clothespin apron!)<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I know, I know, you all think I'm nuts but honestly, if one of the things you take away from reading my blog is that "Natasha loves to hang out her laundry," I'm good with that! There is not much which makes me happier than a baseball game in the background and a load of laundry to hang out. I've hung laundry in Mexico and Kenya, as well as here at home and at my parents' house. My laundry lines (both the indoor and outdoor ones) make me sooooo happy!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;">My aunt also made me a clothespin apron one year for Christmas, and I used it so much, I wore it out. So she made me another one. I LOVE it!!! <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6ofqLVvQw-3J70ek9-tbyL_fBsljs8dpfghpyUKnTiqnGZyabY_1wNWYiIKc-U8eCjjkq1NkFE3srUhtpQdZTWMWbNNAQYd3azUdIzc8qCMrj0Egxdmi4y-1KyndtmRMOKaMzraJh2sS2BBo9g3rdQw2qWS8rs9FkhVGePX8bw0UYVqMkNf6LjJZfzI/s2048/IMG_2579.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6ofqLVvQw-3J70ek9-tbyL_fBsljs8dpfghpyUKnTiqnGZyabY_1wNWYiIKc-U8eCjjkq1NkFE3srUhtpQdZTWMWbNNAQYd3azUdIzc8qCMrj0Egxdmi4y-1KyndtmRMOKaMzraJh2sS2BBo9g3rdQw2qWS8rs9FkhVGePX8bw0UYVqMkNf6LjJZfzI/s320/IMG_2579.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2z2Zyay8lplOeZQmguDuo9LTucGnIJHTEp2JJysv6TBwX_7a7Lf01dvMglloUafWJXjGeG_9VHlFYG4oizqAhDVmEFM1exOb-5LOueIyofS9tsB64G0B4ji05MGNxITz5yP7P7GE2qvPkyGLTPhPBQ78GvMpXs3X-FjAEIja3tc_Ytq-iiNgXLYdyeWQ/s4272/IMG_7881.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2z2Zyay8lplOeZQmguDuo9LTucGnIJHTEp2JJysv6TBwX_7a7Lf01dvMglloUafWJXjGeG_9VHlFYG4oizqAhDVmEFM1exOb-5LOueIyofS9tsB64G0B4ji05MGNxITz5yP7P7GE2qvPkyGLTPhPBQ78GvMpXs3X-FjAEIja3tc_Ytq-iiNgXLYdyeWQ/s320/IMG_7881.JPG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Outside hanging laundry (left) and my original clothespin apron (right)</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6ofqLVvQw-3J70ek9-tbyL_fBsljs8dpfghpyUKnTiqnGZyabY_1wNWYiIKc-U8eCjjkq1NkFE3srUhtpQdZTWMWbNNAQYd3azUdIzc8qCMrj0Egxdmi4y-1KyndtmRMOKaMzraJh2sS2BBo9g3rdQw2qWS8rs9FkhVGePX8bw0UYVqMkNf6LjJZfzI/s2048/IMG_2579.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> 3) Flowers</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Whether it's tulips in the winter, pansies in the spring, my pots of annuals in the summer, or my mums in the fall, my year revolves around flowers of some sort. They just make me so happy! And I don't need other people to buy them for me (although that's pretty awesome too), I just get so much joy from flowers!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8DvHnFSe0SDdSmz8uvPEB4gUnBZDIm4gS9pdv9yS84iF8ZLCSRH-FLu7sjMDggMnCmTC_HoJUpOFbkwPGqgMvjAigqj-utp5FvC-9KZv2HBSBhsDbnlNWdUsESpQiy0Vb3bqCwZTGHoUJkn7sErHuLrdXoEJKrQBK_8ES7JffNQz_6jcRCmeQ5I7tY0/s2048/IMG_7221.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8DvHnFSe0SDdSmz8uvPEB4gUnBZDIm4gS9pdv9yS84iF8ZLCSRH-FLu7sjMDggMnCmTC_HoJUpOFbkwPGqgMvjAigqj-utp5FvC-9KZv2HBSBhsDbnlNWdUsESpQiy0Vb3bqCwZTGHoUJkn7sErHuLrdXoEJKrQBK_8ES7JffNQz_6jcRCmeQ5I7tY0/s320/IMG_7221.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJt090imSI5VH5D5DPOx6Mz3wXmRCV9zNL2sNrJCF6yFXPliIvFEF9pe1TCXNtHfdRSTlYKbQlr5dHKXW6NUaFyNnrtsy9GHnMR-3PpALnEfd34iS1IPne6ht57qJfPdG0EbsCZm8hoZkz1mpHitt1rMS8QtH-21ZXaMwCL18NQq__G8CoT0g9uJQ8Nk/s2048/IMG_2164.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJt090imSI5VH5D5DPOx6Mz3wXmRCV9zNL2sNrJCF6yFXPliIvFEF9pe1TCXNtHfdRSTlYKbQlr5dHKXW6NUaFyNnrtsy9GHnMR-3PpALnEfd34iS1IPne6ht57qJfPdG0EbsCZm8hoZkz1mpHitt1rMS8QtH-21ZXaMwCL18NQq__G8CoT0g9uJQ8Nk/s320/IMG_2164.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBt22KNxOVUeCYEhm3DWyVJdYdK06hvIWvd5lesimTxmiXFX6HuFhBHg_Pc4bqcPUFsSHvp-5tIgFYA_RdaRtknmGyQpOr3IzGN1st1ZiE8PKJwNY8XmJmwnY6k4TL1X853CCn0Dl2lLhZ2573y-KAncnRl0MD3K94xDcb49lVDjgUi7jFdNj1-AovLg/s2048/IMG_2848.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBt22KNxOVUeCYEhm3DWyVJdYdK06hvIWvd5lesimTxmiXFX6HuFhBHg_Pc4bqcPUFsSHvp-5tIgFYA_RdaRtknmGyQpOr3IzGN1st1ZiE8PKJwNY8XmJmwnY6k4TL1X853CCn0Dl2lLhZ2573y-KAncnRl0MD3K94xDcb49lVDjgUi7jFdNj1-AovLg/s320/IMG_2848.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-ZIWb8G0ytXx2_j8ozwBWQR208KFGFWlDCa8R6xk9nVFK8Z5NGmVkEUs3wJZPckVChLESz3DQf4_TKmelvt8B1O7xgnnio5C_emft_qUXT6518vcj4H4sBu_N5gxw4qylLnKBI0TL0bVT4DCu6qi1mQgzUl7HAmfuxyK6jz17iX21XDqwq-fxmxtLHU/s2048/IMG_5246.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-ZIWb8G0ytXx2_j8ozwBWQR208KFGFWlDCa8R6xk9nVFK8Z5NGmVkEUs3wJZPckVChLESz3DQf4_TKmelvt8B1O7xgnnio5C_emft_qUXT6518vcj4H4sBu_N5gxw4qylLnKBI0TL0bVT4DCu6qi1mQgzUl7HAmfuxyK6jz17iX21XDqwq-fxmxtLHU/s320/IMG_5246.JPEG" width="225" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>4) My travel mug</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I've always had a travel mug or two for taking coffee-hot chocolate (or sometimes, tea) to work. I received a Starbucks one as a gift when I left a school I'd worked at for a few months, and I just replaced it about a month ago. It lasted me three years. It has been the best travel mug, keeps my coffee-hot chocolate hot for about four hours (which is as long as it takes me to drink it), and is the perfect size. Whether I'm carrying it to work or church, I really love my travel mug.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmByYHGFb2eCqcleIYCuIFMYoxHHwke1lMzlJpNakJEbAwlEHDwEWdfDghUWJN-iMUcifg13Sepbis1l2J01_r60DSgiv5zyV1o35TiPNQePcY-xm4OdmnTwdmyrSOITd-02RuUsAxPzKdx-BX3kWoOgHX1uGhWsmB_KYplDYFqhIE3lQaKn9DQ3wxFg/s2048/IMG_7494.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmByYHGFb2eCqcleIYCuIFMYoxHHwke1lMzlJpNakJEbAwlEHDwEWdfDghUWJN-iMUcifg13Sepbis1l2J01_r60DSgiv5zyV1o35TiPNQePcY-xm4OdmnTwdmyrSOITd-02RuUsAxPzKdx-BX3kWoOgHX1uGhWsmB_KYplDYFqhIE3lQaKn9DQ3wxFg/w300-h400/IMG_7494.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>5) My FitBit One</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I know you all love your Apple Watches but I am perfectly happy tracking my steps and distance with my FitBit One. I bought it in July 2015 and it has been my trusty companion ever since. I am already dreading when it dies because FitBit doesn't make the One anymore and I have <i>no idea</i> what I'll replace it with. I hate wearing anything on my wrist so an Apple Watch does not appeal. My FitBit and I have walked <i>a lot</i> of kilometres together!<br /></p><p>So those are 5 items I can't live without! Since we're currently on a cruise, with no access to Wifi, I will link up with the Share Our Lives bloggers when I'm back on the internet. And I'll read the rest of the posts in the link up when I return home. I look forward to reading about what other people can't live without!<br /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-38040477747077125592024-03-08T06:02:00.003-05:002024-03-14T18:45:38.508-04:00Friday Favourite Moments #10<p>I'm writing this post on Tuesday night right before we leave on our March Break trip. I'm not taking my computer along, and I don't know how to post from my phone, so this week's post is short and sweet (and only goes up until Tuesday)!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) Favourite Spirit Day EVER!!!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">We had a spirit day at school last week and it was "staff dress like students, students dress like staff." It was so much fun! I borrowed a pair of sweatpants from a Phys Ed teacher, borrowed Rachel's crocs, and wore my Taylor Swift sweatshirt. My favourite story was when a teacher called out another teacher for being in the halls during Nutrition Breaks because he thought she was a student! Hahahahaha! It was chaos at work, but in the best kind of way :)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjP8V13Qur9bsyEbC8jGVK-KFveMlbCCkryKJRleQbbSp8uIWvWSlGYnalsIw0FU-SLZGCLuVpfjX35rrVfYf9V7FDMlelAabfbuxX4JgKSnqwnLz8oVid2dt4so7s3v9JPs2TQMxms2qYTlwOw_dROxDdf5COjVUq980m0pvZhmw3MZ6UqmP6BSeU_8/s2048/IMG_4132.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjP8V13Qur9bsyEbC8jGVK-KFveMlbCCkryKJRleQbbSp8uIWvWSlGYnalsIw0FU-SLZGCLuVpfjX35rrVfYf9V7FDMlelAabfbuxX4JgKSnqwnLz8oVid2dt4so7s3v9JPs2TQMxms2qYTlwOw_dROxDdf5COjVUq980m0pvZhmw3MZ6UqmP6BSeU_8/w300-h400/IMG_4132.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Do I look like a middle school student?!?!?</i><br /></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2) Sam and Rachel's weekend</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm so thankful that during Covid lockdowns, Sam and Rachel got along so well and rarely fought. It made our family life so much better. But after being stuck to each other's side for basically a year and a half, they clearly needed a break from each other. Plus, you know, they're teenagers (or almost teenagers) and hanging out with your sibling isn't as much fun anymore. But this past weekend, they spent a lot of time together and actually had a sleepover in the basement. I loved seeing them spend some quality time together this past weekend.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVPCmCViCf3xAv89BgQ1q0XcrvgbV5eZZT1fxyzuyffUJt0fqoQWbxxrB2MY1hLE4q9u2SUGFp58pDkXXA3QJ2zdGMMXB9y014tsotKEPIbB25luafBJ-s0bK_c513YsrBRCstr1OmuP9jzP26DX15TC97cbxfxI1uAOHx65CUN2KmKBfiEeOI0nAdJY/s2048/IMG_7454.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVPCmCViCf3xAv89BgQ1q0XcrvgbV5eZZT1fxyzuyffUJt0fqoQWbxxrB2MY1hLE4q9u2SUGFp58pDkXXA3QJ2zdGMMXB9y014tsotKEPIbB25luafBJ-s0bK_c513YsrBRCstr1OmuP9jzP26DX15TC97cbxfxI1uAOHx65CUN2KmKBfiEeOI0nAdJY/s320/IMG_7454.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAScufaL7QgudC01p2WL0Yszj2kakF51tJ8NACP6uz1ebU0s9L8n4kxm9pEjUOgx7bKC7ZRjH3nUzTqnj8QEpVgY-OjLD7RYrw6a0xeUQIKd1cE_h98Y20piS9VolyJP1edCZndLu9GsnZHbJNnl7rp-A_wLDwmrHf0aOmxKe9KVAnEtoImLoQLDzAbY/s2048/IMG_7478.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAScufaL7QgudC01p2WL0Yszj2kakF51tJ8NACP6uz1ebU0s9L8n4kxm9pEjUOgx7bKC7ZRjH3nUzTqnj8QEpVgY-OjLD7RYrw6a0xeUQIKd1cE_h98Y20piS9VolyJP1edCZndLu9GsnZHbJNnl7rp-A_wLDwmrHf0aOmxKe9KVAnEtoImLoQLDzAbY/s320/IMG_7478.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>3) Birthday cake success!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">It was a big birthday for my mother-in-law this past weekend and we had a family party. Rachel and I were in charge of the cake. My mother-in-law's favourite colours are yellow and orange so Rachel and I tried a watercolour effect with the icing. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV06fA04wfvqnsJlNA2Olrul7De-HRtGDcqaZBB2xMs-7g601itdbGAMkb7U60_cS5jJPeQUVfbL4n9q6FMNrvdnfKiMQSV7rIovqW9xyCImLZ8xdiVLwEVOJW_wAa1i-WBwPVeBfUziYsz9BiDL223XlZWR7SuhGvWn1Ft56dE1tJFuh0mAenIbpLcM/s2048/IMG_7471.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV06fA04wfvqnsJlNA2Olrul7De-HRtGDcqaZBB2xMs-7g601itdbGAMkb7U60_cS5jJPeQUVfbL4n9q6FMNrvdnfKiMQSV7rIovqW9xyCImLZ8xdiVLwEVOJW_wAa1i-WBwPVeBfUziYsz9BiDL223XlZWR7SuhGvWn1Ft56dE1tJFuh0mAenIbpLcM/w300-h400/IMG_7471.JPEG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">And those are my favourite moments for this week (up until Tuesday, that is)! Come back next week, when I'm sure I'll have a whole list of favourites from our vacation!!!<b> </b>Have a great weekend!!!<br /></p></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-44032277653412502842024-03-07T05:48:00.026-05:002024-03-07T05:48:00.144-05:00The Rest Of My February Reading<p>My 2024 reading is still going strong and I read some really great books, and some really fun books, these last few weeks!</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1685351794i/63024287.jpg" width="212" /> </p><p style="text-align: left;">This is the second book I've read by this author duo and I really enjoyed it. I loved hearing about the friendship between Mary McLeod Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt. I highly recommend this book as it is so well written and sheds light on a period I really haven't read much about.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681905085i/60196684.jpg" width="209" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The way I ended up with this book was so random. It arrived in inter-office mail at work and my principal knew it was for a teacher who was gone on vacation. She said, "You read fast. Take it!" It looked interesting so I said, "Yes!" And I am so glad I did. I don't love short stories, but that is basically what this was -- a group of short stories tied together, all centred around one novel. You should absolutely read this book. It's so good and well worth it.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1472074835i/31373633.jpg" width="225" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I know other people have found this novella sad. While I agree it was sad, it didn't tear my heart strings out. Maybe I am cold and unfeeling but it left me feeling a little "meh."<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634068536i/58658940.jpg" width="213" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This series just gets better and better. This is another book I read in one sitting. If you haven't started The Inheritance Games series, in my opinion, you are missing out! Even though it's aimed more at a Young Adult readership, I am really enjoying it.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1538302495i/38507838.jpg" width="210" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This book is probably aimed more at parents of young children, but I still felt convicted to get my kids off screens and outside more. I don't know how successful I will be at it, but I just know we need to spend more time outside. I would recommend this book, even if you don't have younger kids (or any kids) because I think we probably all spend too much time indoors.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1517521503i/38324206.jpg" width="207" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I did not love this book. I think it's because I really didn't love Charles Lindbergh as portrayed in the book. While this is historical fiction, it just turns out that, in my opinion, Charles Lindbergh was not a nice man. And his character really coloured this whole novel, even though it was written from Anne Lindbergh's point of view. Ugh.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="200" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611937942i/56732449.jpg" width="133" /> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="200" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642118320i/59856881.jpg" width="133" /> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="200" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681476644i/61326735.jpg" width="131" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This is a funny, sexy, smart trilogy. Even though each book is a stand alone novel, I really enjoyed reading them one after the other. I thought these books were all sooooo good and if you're looking for a lighter read, which is a bit more meaty, than read these books.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">So that wraps up my February reading.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">February total: 16<br /></p><p>2024, thus far: 36 (For interest's sake, 2023, at this time: 33). <br /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-33004148768184531442024-03-06T05:23:00.074-05:002024-03-06T05:23:00.257-05:00Currently: March 2024<p>It's the first Wednesday of March so it's time for "Currently" with <span style="text-align: left;">Jennifer at Overflowing With Thankfulness. You can find Jennifer </span><a href="http://all4boys.blogspot.com/" style="text-align: left;">here</a><span style="text-align: left;">. As you will see below, this is an extra sp</span>ecial edition of "Currently" because, for us, March Break starts TONIGHT!!! Yes, we are headed out on our vacation a couple of days early and I am <i>beyond excited</i>!!!!!!!!!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">[<b><i>loving</i>]</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I am "loving" that the principal at my school is reading the <u>A Court of Thorn and Roses</u> series and almost every morning we start the day with a mini book discussion. This is such a great series and each book gets better and better. I just love that she is reading them and excited to discuss them with me!</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am also "loving" our spring like weather -- the warmth! The lack of ice! The longer days! It all makes me so happy!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;">And I am "loving" that we are headed out on vacation tonight!!! Whooo hooo!!!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>[<i>looking forward to</i>]</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm "looking forward to" our March Break vacation. We leave for the airport at 5:00 this afternoon and I can't wait!!! I just have to get through one last day of work. Hahaha! We're headed somewhere warm and extra fun so I'm also looking forward to some sunshine! It hasn't been all that cold this past winter, but it sure has been grey.<b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>[<i>planning</i>]</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">All my "planning" energy has gone into getting ready for our trip so I'm done with planning for the next little bit! For the next week, I'm "planning" on relaxing and enjoying time with my family!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Once we return, I'm "planning" on catching up on all the posts in this link up so I'll hopefully get to them soon.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>[<i>wearing</i>]</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b>For the next week, I'm going to be wearing shorts, t-shirts, skirts, swimsuits, and shoes without socks. I am "planning" (which fits with the above prompt) on wearing capris and shoes without socks to the airport. I'm hoping I won't be too cold as our weather isn't all that warm yet. After our trip, I'll debut some of the new things I got for this vacation.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="AQUAROSE ARUBA Smocked Sides One-piece Swimsuit Blue tropical leaves 70400098 - View1" height="320" src="https://www.lavieenrose.com/globalassets/lver/pictures-23f3/swim/70400098_p10320_1.jpg" title="AQUAROSE ARUBA Smocked Sides One-piece Swimsuit Blue tropical leaves 70400098" width="256" /></p><p style="text-align: center;">On Monday night, I randomly decided I needed another swimsuit and picked up this one. I hope I like it when I actually have to wear it for a few hours. I'll report back after vacation! <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>[<i>eating</i>]</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Our "eating" the past couple of days hasn't been all that great as we've been trying to use up food before we leave. We've had grilled cheese & tomato soup, leftovers, and I mixed up an old package of matzoh ball soup. We're kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel around here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NkIlxNKFZ437_mb6CGhylVCTFaKbrsQJqmi5FMcNfa4QeZDLywMapocap8Ox8i9M1LCHBznwUEvZu_fIg2S-K2nFLgjr8jmxY17Z-oTOU0rPKKz5ih5HTHRfxeRS4YSxEfE_KN0hybUmPP4sTcE-0swgALmxh09bmvji1t7HZfn1-JHrC37f2tmSypQ/s2048/IMG_7493.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NkIlxNKFZ437_mb6CGhylVCTFaKbrsQJqmi5FMcNfa4QeZDLywMapocap8Ox8i9M1LCHBznwUEvZu_fIg2S-K2nFLgjr8jmxY17Z-oTOU0rPKKz5ih5HTHRfxeRS4YSxEfE_KN0hybUmPP4sTcE-0swgALmxh09bmvji1t7HZfn1-JHrC37f2tmSypQ/w300-h400/IMG_7493.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>See how empty our fridge is! </i> <br /></div><p></p><p>So that's us "currently" -- ready for vacation and counting down the hours! Happy March!!!<br /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-1399607674803248492024-03-01T05:52:00.045-05:002024-03-01T05:52:00.136-05:00Friday Favourite Moments #9<p>I really like how this weekly post encourages me to look for the small (or big!) good things in every week. Thank you for continuing to read them each week!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) Baseball is back!!!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b>I'm giddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly, I seriously considered leaving this as my only favourite for the week because I'm soooooo excited! Hahaha!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZe7sGAj8NEn9xNLVa7SJxh58VB0McjIqXcQbpkcMzden4q68qrRkGSokl_hyphenhyphenRsj-GdGd0SmkOlXnWOdc2A4ouJKDLxnSm3QB7xVza-vEkvC9U1niTlO0sArW0flpbuFe7TEA3O4d7GX19ug_D-9IO8wlmszsQNKuPWDQ46X-ZeTVX6xQ9IwmNEMdnk0/s1334/IMG_7389.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZe7sGAj8NEn9xNLVa7SJxh58VB0McjIqXcQbpkcMzden4q68qrRkGSokl_hyphenhyphenRsj-GdGd0SmkOlXnWOdc2A4ouJKDLxnSm3QB7xVza-vEkvC9U1niTlO0sArW0flpbuFe7TEA3O4d7GX19ug_D-9IO8wlmszsQNKuPWDQ46X-ZeTVX6xQ9IwmNEMdnk0/w113-h200/IMG_7389.PNG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Zov4mva5hxpyW214bVsJWmBydqOJUmSwH6nyxdE7J5dYP8E3tc_CY8byxdJEX4x1ZwzOkEo8U89ZIwDUYnIPkjiFkjkW_05mmu8e9ZoDBYLFSTrTsSHM9oAjvbm_cRBVH1i2yrY0vVJPzbR5f8pcQVAin33pNy_f2VEvaNuFFG5JteHeVKHFOJS0df4/s2048/IMG_7392.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Zov4mva5hxpyW214bVsJWmBydqOJUmSwH6nyxdE7J5dYP8E3tc_CY8byxdJEX4x1ZwzOkEo8U89ZIwDUYnIPkjiFkjkW_05mmu8e9ZoDBYLFSTrTsSHM9oAjvbm_cRBVH1i2yrY0vVJPzbR5f8pcQVAin33pNy_f2VEvaNuFFG5JteHeVKHFOJS0df4/w150-h200/IMG_7392.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8M7YGN1O0baCkS2-4tgYxFMgeEu7qf04OrjeTxV7fd7RKTPliVSJ7SN6pzbC9Sce4jUkqbbsf8Vqu9Ey1yG0H8fwRFVnFm0J346-ab2jptdYPouMBFAk_7IiEQpBwFvALDcJ-izjYDbUGXRLm2aJm0Urh98lblqpAN2PLFwHqb3VLiu3PlJcHHt7uJqw/s2048/IMG_7401.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8M7YGN1O0baCkS2-4tgYxFMgeEu7qf04OrjeTxV7fd7RKTPliVSJ7SN6pzbC9Sce4jUkqbbsf8Vqu9Ey1yG0H8fwRFVnFm0J346-ab2jptdYPouMBFAk_7IiEQpBwFvALDcJ-izjYDbUGXRLm2aJm0Urh98lblqpAN2PLFwHqb3VLiu3PlJcHHt7uJqw/w150-h200/IMG_7401.JPEG" width="135" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2) Rachel's donut making</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">A few years ago, for either Channukah or Christmas, we gave Rachel a stuffed donut making kit. I think it was a little too advanced for her at the time and she basically didn't touch it. However, over the past month she has been sewing away and actually completed one of them. Now she's working on a narwahl! Honestly, while it drives me up a tree that she leaves her sewing needles on the playroom floor (!!!), I love that she's getting into this and is very independent with it.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMkTC_O9wMSZ0hQEhO44zg3hYV5_iduNBCuLquAtq-Xj0uuColIcNCIisdiFdUmKVPRhFxY7wDnww0ABY-zggv0NPuCiHJxmvC3n4lNbyHwmQog7-TU48l-KvA9xBb3VEcTlKtx828dLKjMAdGX_kyFDxg4g53Px4f6bHJwSzBpjyMFMCTZdVOFl__Xk/s2048/IMG_7428.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMkTC_O9wMSZ0hQEhO44zg3hYV5_iduNBCuLquAtq-Xj0uuColIcNCIisdiFdUmKVPRhFxY7wDnww0ABY-zggv0NPuCiHJxmvC3n4lNbyHwmQog7-TU48l-KvA9xBb3VEcTlKtx828dLKjMAdGX_kyFDxg4g53Px4f6bHJwSzBpjyMFMCTZdVOFl__Xk/s320/IMG_7428.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM-hqintAbPQX3TexP00RHNUJsnUb5wg9EWsGlcucSeL0HR2aeLswG1ZzWRW7mCi6yRnDF_UZuFqTzqYMUWcU-4KPt1bM9wvNefIgaxQwNjmKOJt0PN-VsA-VY2_AkugMD17u8Dhb8oc7FuDnThlJY9Brh2ntKItMFXm9ixg0CJ2zJgnBK_2GdwBMsNg/s2048/IMG_7425.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM-hqintAbPQX3TexP00RHNUJsnUb5wg9EWsGlcucSeL0HR2aeLswG1ZzWRW7mCi6yRnDF_UZuFqTzqYMUWcU-4KPt1bM9wvNefIgaxQwNjmKOJt0PN-VsA-VY2_AkugMD17u8Dhb8oc7FuDnThlJY9Brh2ntKItMFXm9ixg0CJ2zJgnBK_2GdwBMsNg/s320/IMG_7425.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>3) Our sink got fixed!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Our kitchen sink clogged really badly earlier this week. We called a plumber but they couldn't come for two days. So we reached out to another company. Thankfully, they were able to come the next day and fixed the problem. It was an issue with a pipe in the basement so definitely not something we could fix on our own. After one evening of carting dishes down to the laundry sink to wash, I am very thankful that we, once again, have a working sink!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>4) Sharing Thai with Sam</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">The other night both Rachel and Dave were gone for the evening. Sam and I ordered in Thai food and really enjoyed eating it together. I got some great pictures of Sam (mostly of him making faces at me) but he didn't agree to have any of them posted on the blog. So you get this one with his hand and part of his arm. Teenagers.<b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBnBWwhCDVdwBlYuARHQE5eE98P-IlyFnv0hQ4iax8UTvFRfWOv_USA0KzLgfGEKANAR9pbbdv7mfLHtjFZNJxHzol07oPNAhs7gsVd-HO0YZKVPrPw_mNu8CDtiA2qloD56ARIClc0EjGht7zjWfz4XYgV5z5XbpAxRUpsmyH388tSoQkRKtcOdaHCc/s2048/IMG_7438.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBnBWwhCDVdwBlYuARHQE5eE98P-IlyFnv0hQ4iax8UTvFRfWOv_USA0KzLgfGEKANAR9pbbdv7mfLHtjFZNJxHzol07oPNAhs7gsVd-HO0YZKVPrPw_mNu8CDtiA2qloD56ARIClc0EjGht7zjWfz4XYgV5z5XbpAxRUpsmyH388tSoQkRKtcOdaHCc/w300-h400/IMG_7438.JPEG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>5) Rachel's youth mentor</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">In grade 7, in our church, youth are matched with an adult in the congregation to be their youth mentor. I have been a youth mentor for a few youth, two of whom I'm still in touch with, and Sam has had a great mentor for two and a half years now. The program is getting started a little slowly this year so Rachel just had her first meeting with her mentor earlier this week. I'm really excited that Rachel is beginning this mentoring journey and I'm so thankful there are adults in our church who are willing to invest in our kids.<b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">And those are my Friday Favourite Moments for this week. It's all about baseball and my kids apparently!<br /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-67368362125083405392024-02-29T05:41:00.111-05:002024-02-29T05:41:00.144-05:00Monthly Musings: Surviving The Winter Months<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCejFYnzhjuMQgZ-GMX-oocyAGIaEHbJ4ShzjXRwYl0yr9WB3Twsz4cdtI7Zc9aEa7C2d-T4UjZUj5T_i83TR_kxAlSKF-_tHsU3LlMhdzbSoCfsjiYS2w5kcgUTa2G39YAdjxGzxOQHKqjSBMUozgJWqLgiITuDO16QmT064cc_SQdTWlsHftpK0qqt0/s2048/IMG_6994.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCejFYnzhjuMQgZ-GMX-oocyAGIaEHbJ4ShzjXRwYl0yr9WB3Twsz4cdtI7Zc9aEa7C2d-T4UjZUj5T_i83TR_kxAlSKF-_tHsU3LlMhdzbSoCfsjiYS2w5kcgUTa2G39YAdjxGzxOQHKqjSBMUozgJWqLgiITuDO16QmT064cc_SQdTWlsHftpK0qqt0/w300-h400/IMG_6994.JPEG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>A lovely, traditional winter scene, January 2024</i> <br /></p><p>I love linking up with <a href="https://holly-pinklady.blogspot.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">Holly</a><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"> at Pink Lady and </span><a href="https://goodbetterbestfood.blogspot.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">Patty</a><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;">
at Good, Better, Best for their "Monthly Musings." Today we're talking
about Surviving the Winter Months and, given that we are in the midst of a winter storm right now, it's a good evening for me to reflect on this topic, even though, mostly, our winter has been pretty tame this year.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="CSS_LIGHTBOX_SCALED_IMAGE_IMG" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXqRaOcBNU1slNS5xo_L_QHtcQJscoDIgsmdLe3tZHl9DMsJh3-ghCUKeg6tjBi7PWCha9GLiIsics0pYWnuGHNzhReelFUsD85rhGXkAbUbBCr_CTW29lnfTO55tk556VrTPYv-ZzFzdxSGNZUkRxhoshddswFvKPO0HD1bYagAJS7MNYVOfEvl-YsA2/s16000/Monthly%20Musings%20February%202024.jpg" style="height: 659px; width: 439px;" /> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) What do you do in the winter that brings you joy?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b>You are all going to get sick of reading this but honestly, the thing I do in January and February (and beyond) which brings me so much joy is my tulips! I fill my house with them and they absolutely give me hope and make me smile. I have been enjoying January tulips (and blogging about it -- hahahaha!!!) since January 2011. That's a long time people. Just for interest's sake, you can read that very first post about January tulips <a href="http://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2011/01/making-me-happy-in-january.html">here</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeiKywZlH4HD9Two0R21qtN3bfYGp3oY_-Ewf2XLrWe9BqQQKvLehpTpmQMb8dAOTg7hO3XcM8aU_dwKR3kShTJoVA86YyvvouWuMWiT6E6Abs_yfE_eEC25e2oLY5caiVJN2UjvXr6XugssHjK-0nx02qbB7B2PwVfi6zzzFZl4DXPrdkBqi6ye2S5o/s2048/IMG_7382.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeiKywZlH4HD9Two0R21qtN3bfYGp3oY_-Ewf2XLrWe9BqQQKvLehpTpmQMb8dAOTg7hO3XcM8aU_dwKR3kShTJoVA86YyvvouWuMWiT6E6Abs_yfE_eEC25e2oLY5caiVJN2UjvXr6XugssHjK-0nx02qbB7B2PwVfi6zzzFZl4DXPrdkBqi6ye2S5o/s320/IMG_7382.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBOrjUpE3CZeab5Yl9hEBQuABLIqlK8MBaJMpAM6JrCsBnxOlEetmg9CPcVn3UKSiOIAqYzRgr9ztqFkRLCBQOpT4xi9OPbl2vsrIhkLKPQCnGlSVHwaCHC-VqvN05RTcPkHTvo6E5OHWFSbEPN2XtXemm2PQgewweswifA2nUFwUO2CPtcwfhtFKFbc/s2048/IMG_7221.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBOrjUpE3CZeab5Yl9hEBQuABLIqlK8MBaJMpAM6JrCsBnxOlEetmg9CPcVn3UKSiOIAqYzRgr9ztqFkRLCBQOpT4xi9OPbl2vsrIhkLKPQCnGlSVHwaCHC-VqvN05RTcPkHTvo6E5OHWFSbEPN2XtXemm2PQgewweswifA2nUFwUO2CPtcwfhtFKFbc/s320/IMG_7221.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2) How do you stay warm and cozy?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I wrap up in blankets and fleeces and I put flannel sheets on my bed and I wear cozy slippers. Honestly, in winter, if I'm home, 90% of the time, I'm in my pajamas!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHaoJ6CNZOHIj1pECzXxna4Y9nbwcc477BxsegqOVh5U5TesdxLZ3kSWgZSZoKV96K7q5x6RQq1QD5cIMcLJuWiD9xASnY8SsPNlW36zfm3_T6vDGgCbph68H4mHRRrvJXkevHJkES8UCYyejxJpZXZJrvfYXPQuOMx3JLx254WkYwszr6dl3AZVjyDg/s2048/IMG_6563.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHaoJ6CNZOHIj1pECzXxna4Y9nbwcc477BxsegqOVh5U5TesdxLZ3kSWgZSZoKV96K7q5x6RQq1QD5cIMcLJuWiD9xASnY8SsPNlW36zfm3_T6vDGgCbph68H4mHRRrvJXkevHJkES8UCYyejxJpZXZJrvfYXPQuOMx3JLx254WkYwszr6dl3AZVjyDg/s320/IMG_6563.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNn2rwQzctJR_mU9flJLNOEWjr5hp-stTjlf-bBv_K9CwcbACTpLgrJMk46uwxqLf6orfxo9RyA1ToNBm8HlUNS68lqB9eHMqXaK-KCu0ZHWW1cqrexV3M7avhkvo2uvI63M13h_SEyEO70HdqvQH3dl-1yO4RxVNRhtKcGuwglJZP3GKfHw8xQQ5mbwo/s2048/IMG_9831.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNn2rwQzctJR_mU9flJLNOEWjr5hp-stTjlf-bBv_K9CwcbACTpLgrJMk46uwxqLf6orfxo9RyA1ToNBm8HlUNS68lqB9eHMqXaK-KCu0ZHWW1cqrexV3M7avhkvo2uvI63M13h_SEyEO70HdqvQH3dl-1yO4RxVNRhtKcGuwglJZP3GKfHw8xQQ5mbwo/s320/IMG_9831.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>3) What are you looking forward to this winter?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Well, we likely don't have much of winter left. Thank goodness!!! Mostly, I look forward to winter being <i>over</i>! Hahahahaha! For the past few years, one thing I do look forward to every winter is Lights On Stratford. It brings so much light to a dark time of year.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDBGBKfZJKWKX4Id2KphMdWP3af9vwS-QuZ9Zu2ZMU-lkJs3ENScK7U9Y7O6VlqLJOIJQVdqF5E-JueThrT14qeTTGTNBM2QMRE1ylhFmw4jbaMT06rUWlO2ShIBAeM-yKqoE9uWTOAsKTjfQ66fXC9G7RtaBnajV5mqhZ01IwHLzp5HTyk4FJ3LiRAs/s2048/IMG_6913.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDBGBKfZJKWKX4Id2KphMdWP3af9vwS-QuZ9Zu2ZMU-lkJs3ENScK7U9Y7O6VlqLJOIJQVdqF5E-JueThrT14qeTTGTNBM2QMRE1ylhFmw4jbaMT06rUWlO2ShIBAeM-yKqoE9uWTOAsKTjfQ66fXC9G7RtaBnajV5mqhZ01IwHLzp5HTyk4FJ3LiRAs/s320/IMG_6913.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eVsdiPVREhqFfeyiEFsLAzlNTqew3aDdAqtC2-S3EoP1CIbGjH2Lh9YbqGoJMOix9yU9ZnVX_KpEyGKmXb_6X4V2QpE7YbJKEq-ncjBdsYbrE7nQo-4vAAOZbb7kXU9OupLRk1A1FSt2Gd8Jl0XyMFiY-nS1lo9lKAKEcXOqxMM4Wf-SUeXjbDZrhMM/s2048/IMG_6922.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eVsdiPVREhqFfeyiEFsLAzlNTqew3aDdAqtC2-S3EoP1CIbGjH2Lh9YbqGoJMOix9yU9ZnVX_KpEyGKmXb_6X4V2QpE7YbJKEq-ncjBdsYbrE7nQo-4vAAOZbb7kXU9OupLRk1A1FSt2Gd8Jl0XyMFiY-nS1lo9lKAKEcXOqxMM4Wf-SUeXjbDZrhMM/s320/IMG_6922.JPEG" width="225" /></a> <br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>4) Favourite wintertime activities?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">We do enjoy skating as a family, even though we haven't been able to this winter due to the weather being too warm to maintain outdoor rinks. Boo.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-qfubLgpqotCHA-sEl0DESveQAyoojwPkO39MMrBZ4UBq_Am6Xx8x28RTp9VRdnZbZCSZ5YWtxn-YAF5vie5ZJmC3c__79WY6Gm5lSiIp-QXbZrsxPsM4RgjDxwY90WFuer29jdpPSHfhffJmuJ0DtgfidK5agNhyeYs2xiLYwY_tDKbU9tcDp-lnA0/s2048/IMG_5125.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-qfubLgpqotCHA-sEl0DESveQAyoojwPkO39MMrBZ4UBq_Am6Xx8x28RTp9VRdnZbZCSZ5YWtxn-YAF5vie5ZJmC3c__79WY6Gm5lSiIp-QXbZrsxPsM4RgjDxwY90WFuer29jdpPSHfhffJmuJ0DtgfidK5agNhyeYs2xiLYwY_tDKbU9tcDp-lnA0/s320/IMG_5125.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE812Qi4gOYSqsy2dul6AawLKY5m052r7d4CLKVxP5e3myx9rOuGTySYM4wZreDqCIoaoDPzjEt0cKOhVTVeraPbhR-eymkLs4gNZOQM9mvIcPa9DBHmEXTutKrmCUb1Kc_5sylFI82KAle6dJe3CjncVJ_KS33uZOnC7jMBF1JEGbVr-21I-o33B3PU/s2048/IMG_0244.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE812Qi4gOYSqsy2dul6AawLKY5m052r7d4CLKVxP5e3myx9rOuGTySYM4wZreDqCIoaoDPzjEt0cKOhVTVeraPbhR-eymkLs4gNZOQM9mvIcPa9DBHmEXTutKrmCUb1Kc_5sylFI82KAle6dJe3CjncVJ_KS33uZOnC7jMBF1JEGbVr-21I-o33B3PU/s320/IMG_0244.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">I also enjoy a good winter walk in the woods with Dave!</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw507vs_JtNk8e4aEQO-4eL3L7wk1fIOKAuUuCkKDafjB2IHuyIhTDeBG3KsU0ZvLBcln0kE18Qdq8-ZTtytIe0_uzzEvQ5IPciMB8kuFFZGFCvmKWp8QUnC69ys0F3DBEZBscPlo8UZS6uKYcEiuCSmrvDjDfr0GmdmKFZY8i6wZsvU5bBkDlfn7pOBU/s2046/IMG_6987.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw507vs_JtNk8e4aEQO-4eL3L7wk1fIOKAuUuCkKDafjB2IHuyIhTDeBG3KsU0ZvLBcln0kE18Qdq8-ZTtytIe0_uzzEvQ5IPciMB8kuFFZGFCvmKWp8QUnC69ys0F3DBEZBscPlo8UZS6uKYcEiuCSmrvDjDfr0GmdmKFZY8i6wZsvU5bBkDlfn7pOBU/w301-h400/IMG_6987.JPEG" width="301" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>5) Favourite months of winter?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">My favourite month of winter (if I have to pick one) would be January. We celebrate Dave's birthday, I get my first tulips of the winter, and this is when we usually go to Lights On Stratford.<b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>6) Favourite dishes to make in the winter?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I love making soup in the winter. Cream of carrot-cheddar is one of my favourites and you can see the recipe <a href="https://rhubarbandroses-rosella.blogspot.com/2017/12/more-with-less-cream-of-carrot-cheddar.html">here</a>. As you can see in the picture below, it doesn't look pretty but it is oh, so good!<b></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-xXycRSEJSablPXFPkXd8hc30vA-inq3mrhCMG10S3sEjqI9KaGNwtyYt36eg9155C9CYPr0PR74xX-iNdKFeKJl70xrjEdTzwm_T6Mjw_iqEkQ3iPi_Q2_o1Vt08EEaRhe7Q0h6aqA3R7NEBF02_YFog6IJ8rbFS3rsxSVlgj_alfIw6d4Sb5tyegM/s2048/IMG_6222.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-xXycRSEJSablPXFPkXd8hc30vA-inq3mrhCMG10S3sEjqI9KaGNwtyYt36eg9155C9CYPr0PR74xX-iNdKFeKJl70xrjEdTzwm_T6Mjw_iqEkQ3iPi_Q2_o1Vt08EEaRhe7Q0h6aqA3R7NEBF02_YFog6IJ8rbFS3rsxSVlgj_alfIw6d4Sb5tyegM/w300-h400/IMG_6222.JPEG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>7) Gas or wood burning fireplace?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">While we don't have a fireplace, my parents do and it is a wood burning one. They have always had a wood burning one and I love them. We enjoy a fire every single morning when we celebrate Christmas with them.<b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOThhtxV_pjbNcEm0F6dqrfYtlqkhoGgpaTZcqxC_o0RWP5mD9KjhD8pGHNPObhylfKtHfurzqtjDsAgxYsJti-Gac1tZGHjtM45whK7Y9vE-rWwjjqeXPgHw18_Lb-s2R57MwS6BsdoQQvNlgD5mbjbZMOOtSkcCDzHRC4RYVn6HXH2ivZ2ehJTvigaQ/s2048/IMG_6072.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOThhtxV_pjbNcEm0F6dqrfYtlqkhoGgpaTZcqxC_o0RWP5mD9KjhD8pGHNPObhylfKtHfurzqtjDsAgxYsJti-Gac1tZGHjtM45whK7Y9vE-rWwjjqeXPgHw18_Lb-s2R57MwS6BsdoQQvNlgD5mbjbZMOOtSkcCDzHRC4RYVn6HXH2ivZ2ehJTvigaQ/w400-h300/IMG_6072.JPEG" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>8) Favourite winter hot beverage?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">A hot beverage I make only in the winter is Cranberry Tea. We all love it.<b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoMjAhifRg4CVN5wWUUv-F6hemKlVvZYIRIfpa6Dp6jsaxiubN-LdjPOyAVHTW43pPfG7C2-l6Hy49tUIeTZtsNKe37wo1fZx6SHIo9ee_7ZchxHh-SZ_KAPyYQNCO0ipvjOUyWKWu4ZRtDTN3O1fgCdG-3dwG0gS9NX-HLRv3w8DUpWj-pOnzqSPjlw/s2048/IMG_9772.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoMjAhifRg4CVN5wWUUv-F6hemKlVvZYIRIfpa6Dp6jsaxiubN-LdjPOyAVHTW43pPfG7C2-l6Hy49tUIeTZtsNKe37wo1fZx6SHIo9ee_7ZchxHh-SZ_KAPyYQNCO0ipvjOUyWKWu4ZRtDTN3O1fgCdG-3dwG0gS9NX-HLRv3w8DUpWj-pOnzqSPjlw/w300-h400/IMG_9772.JPEG" width="300" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>9) Favourite winter movies?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I don't have any. We so rarely watch movies, except the Hallmark Fall and Christmas movies from about October through December.<b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>10) How do you stay healthy in winter?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I walk to work and back almost every day. It is just over a mile one way and it keeps me so fit! The only times I don't walk to work are if it's too icy, raining too hard, I'm not feeling 100%, or (rarely) if I have to decide between walking and taking a shower! I also shovel a lot of snow in the winter, although this winter has been the rare exception to the rule -- I think I've only shovelled once. Or maybe twice.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNTjAvSCU_0F6gTtYz8NcK27MoBHiGQO8ad38Rz9AI1PTc5n50Qrtrz5EhuFn7hsvlpbT9Gl_uHKqDic90L1QgWG9DLwdNxJ4_mP4HZod8USpb55hOU-wqYoCiAyO7o2L9AuNSWifdBnIhBmqA5fe3pxYwpNBk0DebkubT-1hhvhJcdfKOjeYGc2owk8/s2048/IMG_7092.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNTjAvSCU_0F6gTtYz8NcK27MoBHiGQO8ad38Rz9AI1PTc5n50Qrtrz5EhuFn7hsvlpbT9Gl_uHKqDic90L1QgWG9DLwdNxJ4_mP4HZod8USpb55hOU-wqYoCiAyO7o2L9AuNSWifdBnIhBmqA5fe3pxYwpNBk0DebkubT-1hhvhJcdfKOjeYGc2owk8/s320/IMG_7092.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9Ynkxnb6G91IjvH_IJcgJWtviJwWLR4FZCoheWJfjjENhhGRH0vDCRnB2ujcYVK9TOZ_i464qUU01iS9F9EQyekUvt1KOycXfWcUytHazmeumARJEd3HQRgSVxla0CEngMw73DMzmrFQyy4HmLd-iy59ThycpbIOdbv9WNiS4Z5P_gGiMS5YLp3jFwo/s2048/IMG_9835.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9Ynkxnb6G91IjvH_IJcgJWtviJwWLR4FZCoheWJfjjENhhGRH0vDCRnB2ujcYVK9TOZ_i464qUU01iS9F9EQyekUvt1KOycXfWcUytHazmeumARJEd3HQRgSVxla0CEngMw73DMzmrFQyy4HmLd-iy59ThycpbIOdbv9WNiS4Z5P_gGiMS5YLp3jFwo/s320/IMG_9835.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p>So those are my tips for surviving the winter months. Like I said, it has been a pretty easy winter this year -- we haven't had many cold temperatures, not too much snow to shovel, and not too many winter storms. However, I'm looking forward to reading all your tips and tricks because I think next winter, we'll likely be back to our regular cold, snowy, icy winter.<br /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-36057421836106776882024-02-28T05:21:00.156-05:002024-02-28T06:48:14.978-05:00What's Up Wednesday: February 2024<p>I'm working on this post while watching the first Blue Jays spring training game of 2024 and <i>I am giddy</i>!!! I'm so excited that baseball is back!!! Now to buy some regular season tickets so we can go see some games at the Skydome... <br /></p><p>I love answering the What's Up Wednesday questions every month. I really like how they help me reflect on the past month. The questions come from Shay at <a href="https://mixandmatchmama.com/">Mix and Match Mama</a> and Sheaffer at <a href="https://sheaffertoldmeto.com">Sheaffer Told Me To</a><a href="https://sheaffertoldmeto.com">o</a>.</p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-107990" data-jpibfi-post-excerpt="" data-jpibfi-post-title="Meal Planning Monday #268" data-jpibfi-post-url="https://mixandmatchmama.com/2019/02/meal-planning-monday-268/" data-jpibfi-src="https://mixandmatchmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Whats-Up-Wednesday.png" height="177" src="https://mixandmatchmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Whats-Up-Wednesday.png" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>image from <a href="https://mixandmatchmama.com/2020/04/whats-up-wednesday-04-29-20/" style="color: #666666; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i><br /></div><div><b>What we're eating this week... </b>This month Sam and I ate <i>a lot</i> of grapefruit! They were delicious and Rachel and Dave don't like them so Sam and I were on our own. I eat a grapefruit like I would an orange -- peel it and eat it in whole slices. I also baked mocha chocolate chip muffins on Saturday. They weren't as "mocha-y" as I would have liked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiDN7g0cP55-5WijfLGdIaotU5XYSQEUqadgn4zmnZGS0fNVND-a5-N6hdN_sqHt4hqZ3E3gAfsYi-jp5Ts5n9NhFJivPrYo0tjbJNcNSLYjjDZNkbrI-FUekSpW_i5wbFtJ2hHcWGxUr0UhdWK3T3POCv30Fba4Q76-QxwGM-b3rtI5zxSRCtyN9550/s2048/IMG_7416.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiDN7g0cP55-5WijfLGdIaotU5XYSQEUqadgn4zmnZGS0fNVND-a5-N6hdN_sqHt4hqZ3E3gAfsYi-jp5Ts5n9NhFJivPrYo0tjbJNcNSLYjjDZNkbrI-FUekSpW_i5wbFtJ2hHcWGxUr0UhdWK3T3POCv30Fba4Q76-QxwGM-b3rtI5zxSRCtyN9550/s320/IMG_7416.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1AqWYQwzak7_-R6xi-1mUpccecGoAUHVGcfJbkmfNgnBlZKoqCCoYytmvlg0NdvUpPVD3c0IqFsVnUR6QSG3k1RrtdlatEaaJtykIBW96LmPyXIn3CITcNSIpJw59uWqgWScN0-tujknLOCtGLm-sp_yVq8vGl1YbaM1A99hm-0LGxiHXFha1KHcTGI/s2048/IMG_7417.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1AqWYQwzak7_-R6xi-1mUpccecGoAUHVGcfJbkmfNgnBlZKoqCCoYytmvlg0NdvUpPVD3c0IqFsVnUR6QSG3k1RrtdlatEaaJtykIBW96LmPyXIn3CITcNSIpJw59uWqgWScN0-tujknLOCtGLm-sp_yVq8vGl1YbaM1A99hm-0LGxiHXFha1KHcTGI/s320/IMG_7417.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b></div><div><b>What I'm reminiscing about... </b>I'm reminiscing about last March Break when we got to see Blue Jays Spring Training in person! I'd love to get back to Dunedin to watch more games. You can read about our day at TD Ballpark <a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2023/04/blue-jays-spring-training-game.html">here</a>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77TxdUyedr6SjVlnYUSUwvZnpPsjD5scuLqnAwrrdUqM-FuiCO93GfMrBALRQFTfp-hoNBi0xMaByFoBlJHRhHYt07X_YWyINfIjvygdhQP53h2WqBd5JFUhd3siP1zwVAp3fPsfjxlEUecggTNFe_wPVKa1Q_MhiY2j3DKtXT7xBn0tWb-3mBa2CL88/s2048/IMG_1461.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77TxdUyedr6SjVlnYUSUwvZnpPsjD5scuLqnAwrrdUqM-FuiCO93GfMrBALRQFTfp-hoNBi0xMaByFoBlJHRhHYt07X_YWyINfIjvygdhQP53h2WqBd5JFUhd3siP1zwVAp3fPsfjxlEUecggTNFe_wPVKa1Q_MhiY2j3DKtXT7xBn0tWb-3mBa2CL88/w400-h300/IMG_1461.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpOT6fNreIKxGD6yh7ge0JRINChyphenhyphenURld2FBDMTPp9UuLRW3nvUA46VytUL5SNERhxG8Pw6h4pP0ZGy-45maBPeUzdR5NNnVLz4hzvkxwlUaxE4MVuZgVQxTm-lzGtIRoz2Op8r2VyhyY3b70sfnf0B8VN17vIMgyk8hO0UAQMBQsTFBLqUo-TeCY73pE/s2048/IMG_1433.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpOT6fNreIKxGD6yh7ge0JRINChyphenhyphenURld2FBDMTPp9UuLRW3nvUA46VytUL5SNERhxG8Pw6h4pP0ZGy-45maBPeUzdR5NNnVLz4hzvkxwlUaxE4MVuZgVQxTm-lzGtIRoz2Op8r2VyhyY3b70sfnf0B8VN17vIMgyk8hO0UAQMBQsTFBLqUo-TeCY73pE/s320/IMG_1433.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXDpWNpgyRaKPqYr9TPTAD1CYvK_dTkis2GJGmccjD44OOk4OGEzNv1yJwj7u5dvk4k8bsqC1W1VkONt2ourj_Ja8IzZw-vNZcza3s2513PRflUttipPWETH7caMYEu5nCGuKo8yDTKJjFMQbnoiKBpcyEVv_7fSaDYZ9EVASm2o7xx5V2IXqIisHU_g/s2048/IMG_1443.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXDpWNpgyRaKPqYr9TPTAD1CYvK_dTkis2GJGmccjD44OOk4OGEzNv1yJwj7u5dvk4k8bsqC1W1VkONt2ourj_Ja8IzZw-vNZcza3s2513PRflUttipPWETH7caMYEu5nCGuKo8yDTKJjFMQbnoiKBpcyEVv_7fSaDYZ9EVASm2o7xx5V2IXqIisHU_g/s320/IMG_1443.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>What I'm loving...</b> It's starting to get light earlier in the mornings!!! Whoooo hoooo!!! I LOVE when we get more light in our days!!!<br /></div></div><br /><div><b>What we've been up to...</b> It felt like February was a weird month. We didn't have much winter weather and, sometimes, it felt like we were experiencing an early spring. As I write this post though, we're being hit with another blast of cold. Brrr.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnmpikmtBKdexd6B6LvIUgskpD-dHZK3FHgBECYNqvewCCYBsrNMkOQKY7qGhWEkpAGmT1dKhsuFaHMmqcy5GC_rcJT5m_DPyUtiloIlUnKgY3D7pKP3z2h-jy06YLwzUjnEgwm-D626alCm1Kf6iePTW83jlgGt33ICSp_uD8bplAb9yO40TmWPL80E/s2048/IMG_7168.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnmpikmtBKdexd6B6LvIUgskpD-dHZK3FHgBECYNqvewCCYBsrNMkOQKY7qGhWEkpAGmT1dKhsuFaHMmqcy5GC_rcJT5m_DPyUtiloIlUnKgY3D7pKP3z2h-jy06YLwzUjnEgwm-D626alCm1Kf6iePTW83jlgGt33ICSp_uD8bplAb9yO40TmWPL80E/w400-h300/IMG_7168.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We visited our favourite ice cream shop and supported a fundraiser by eating "ice cream for breakfast" one Saturday. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEgHXy7HvLDqZ0ypUIpYxv0jK8cKnipzrwU51v0OxNdw16wVn50rfe1RgK1WjB2LlzvgbQn2O71YqpmbQuwBu1dxQmuF-YX3vRv5mT-4EifhERKBAmtRuUKeAXKJ6oDIUMCrefCz82_8hmtbwQkB3sidrZ7d8m6DgAtoRgK6l6t1LWtyrUTFwHZekOFc/s2048/IMG_7217.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEgHXy7HvLDqZ0ypUIpYxv0jK8cKnipzrwU51v0OxNdw16wVn50rfe1RgK1WjB2LlzvgbQn2O71YqpmbQuwBu1dxQmuF-YX3vRv5mT-4EifhERKBAmtRuUKeAXKJ6oDIUMCrefCz82_8hmtbwQkB3sidrZ7d8m6DgAtoRgK6l6t1LWtyrUTFwHZekOFc/w300-h400/IMG_7217.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rachel danced with the Chamber Orchestra. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg072RSH8c8wZ407f0K2NRgQP_FceDd0hevA-2A1fdGU761MV-n3jAdjDmPTXONYs6PtCcOA3NsS6H4UajcPZ4H2AwwsO-wh06-pk2oo5MoK_lbCldcGS3d4ZdDCfikhbD5GxgZJouAQdhxV1uZJFDH_5t9nXecDBvnwtp3JkH5MazPBmNeMVV0nM2O6zc/s2048/c5ff6ace-a5c9-4258-99f0-494e70039efd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg072RSH8c8wZ407f0K2NRgQP_FceDd0hevA-2A1fdGU761MV-n3jAdjDmPTXONYs6PtCcOA3NsS6H4UajcPZ4H2AwwsO-wh06-pk2oo5MoK_lbCldcGS3d4ZdDCfikhbD5GxgZJouAQdhxV1uZJFDH_5t9nXecDBvnwtp3JkH5MazPBmNeMVV0nM2O6zc/w400-h300/c5ff6ace-a5c9-4258-99f0-494e70039efd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Janice and I enjoyed a very special tea time. You can read more about it <a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2024/02/10-on-10th-february-2024.html">here</a>. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUqFYLNFlAKet_3DcQfLF85NXyMz-ZvSi3MqVksCARD3QZOIgr5IXMiRFIi279Kc7EBacs2msoEz-XToHGO3u41vhKGcQAjmQ7C2fGfXra9RxSqiLLawRr3stCHWRw9YQo2S3DXdHWIxMsCsMMqdoWHNEDgkOAJp3DRQIBGie_xtnwNzaMoEHFtvc2l4/s2048/IMG_7371.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUqFYLNFlAKet_3DcQfLF85NXyMz-ZvSi3MqVksCARD3QZOIgr5IXMiRFIi279Kc7EBacs2msoEz-XToHGO3u41vhKGcQAjmQ7C2fGfXra9RxSqiLLawRr3stCHWRw9YQo2S3DXdHWIxMsCsMMqdoWHNEDgkOAJp3DRQIBGie_xtnwNzaMoEHFtvc2l4/w300-h400/IMG_7371.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed a three day weekend where we had time to visit with friends and I still had time to bake buns and do a puzzle. It was the best kind of weekend!<b><br /></b></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b>What I'm dreading... </b>I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. Ugh. I always dread going to the dentist.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div><b>What I'm working on...</b> I'm beyond excited that Dave and I get to take a trip <i><b>just the two of us </b></i>this summer!!!!!!!! Whoooo hoooo!!! So we've been working on getting that trip planned and figuring out some childcare for the kids. It will be SO GREAT!!! We haven't travelled just the two of us since July 2018 so it's been awhile!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WojJPB5eH0RzSsCYIJzTSCX1qQOOF9Ar1ZSzDMIwpsmqbyGpzCZsZeEWZRtxms5R6nUN3TptY18jC-fEy1eArsw6w3kMO7WAYCQPouQ3hXzdMw7VI4192ubQXSWM0ph_I-fl9czPUb7u4K5hN3Lgki6oBFPv5Z2AXNyFzN0hfpyPCrkwGKqJfjjYEVI/s2048/IMG_5310.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WojJPB5eH0RzSsCYIJzTSCX1qQOOF9Ar1ZSzDMIwpsmqbyGpzCZsZeEWZRtxms5R6nUN3TptY18jC-fEy1eArsw6w3kMO7WAYCQPouQ3hXzdMw7VI4192ubQXSWM0ph_I-fl9czPUb7u4K5hN3Lgki6oBFPv5Z2AXNyFzN0hfpyPCrkwGKqJfjjYEVI/w400-h266/IMG_5310.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Dave and I in Iceland, July 2018</i> <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>And now I need to start working on our family summer trip. Hahaha!</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of weekends ago was a three day weekend here in Canada (Family Day weekend) and we worked on getting our house a little cleaner. That was fun. Okay, not "fun" per se, but definitely necessary.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>What I'm excited about...</b> It's almost March Break!!! Whooo hooo! I can't wait!!! We're headed somewhere warm this year so sunny days and sleeping in and relaxation (mostly!) are on the agenda.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><br /></div><div><b>What I'm watching/reading...</b> We're still watching Marvel movies. And eating soup! (See the "Soup & Superheroes" I referred to in my January "What's Up Wednesday" post.) As a family we've watched Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, SpiderMan: Homecoming, and Black Panther this month. Dave and the kids have watched a few others.</div><div><br /></div><div>And we're watching Blue Jays Spring Training!!! I get <i>so excited</i> this time of year because I absolutely <i>love</i> baseball!!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs2S8vg7pWfasiknNcEWdeDeaGier3btoxcdXkTqM2FtvBqNvczNWrWqsg6j_z3q1hvslkVNHDbMEAuq5mYlww_nTXOHu1IxVXzxfDCICTFARduY66gKYE-xKS2aNHh-WGYkxBbGxM-voLcEfkGmPkfb8iAoxKCBRTOFih554EVXAyCyzOL1Vy9bGXsU/s1334/IMG_7389.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs2S8vg7pWfasiknNcEWdeDeaGier3btoxcdXkTqM2FtvBqNvczNWrWqsg6j_z3q1hvslkVNHDbMEAuq5mYlww_nTXOHu1IxVXzxfDCICTFARduY66gKYE-xKS2aNHh-WGYkxBbGxM-voLcEfkGmPkfb8iAoxKCBRTOFih554EVXAyCyzOL1Vy9bGXsU/w113-h200/IMG_7389.PNG" width="135" /></a><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhZinUx-ZQtByVEYePF5uHbrGjyAUNNAv5-4sIrn9CeXmc0fhG7JcCb8b_6W4l-ZouO7N_GMukeLJuWumsDx3g3dK_WNWqhCWQ2AHvKDJXCpiPB4ztaPQ783w0bo7_YMzjMoAJvs6eTzlU3Crt4RiITnKTcqxWU-WVc76-lr8d7-OAq0jK75LGXABAzU/s2048/IMG_7392.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhZinUx-ZQtByVEYePF5uHbrGjyAUNNAv5-4sIrn9CeXmc0fhG7JcCb8b_6W4l-ZouO7N_GMukeLJuWumsDx3g3dK_WNWqhCWQ2AHvKDJXCpiPB4ztaPQ783w0bo7_YMzjMoAJvs6eTzlU3Crt4RiITnKTcqxWU-WVc76-lr8d7-OAq0jK75LGXABAzU/w150-h200/IMG_7392.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0AKp1op6PFrJ9_WtTxIH5nUDB_A-eubuAnq-_m60d8rngdfusoej_fXTH0xnilGarcqOK9XVdV6oaiJZ9pXTJd2eBjD1oz8_ZbiXpVSo5_Jh6uhs4h844HP_eKQIrlxJiKOAgQrJPUYAEyIMrTjgwuwQtegG4l0KoYPS8QgUZa10O5OT1tLQTZw9l34/s2048/IMG_7401.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0AKp1op6PFrJ9_WtTxIH5nUDB_A-eubuAnq-_m60d8rngdfusoej_fXTH0xnilGarcqOK9XVdV6oaiJZ9pXTJd2eBjD1oz8_ZbiXpVSo5_Jh6uhs4h844HP_eKQIrlxJiKOAgQrJPUYAEyIMrTjgwuwQtegG4l0KoYPS8QgUZa10O5OT1tLQTZw9l34/w150-h200/IMG_7401.JPEG" width="135" /></a></div><div><b>What I'm listening to... </b>I've been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift (between Rachel listening to her at home and the gym classes listening to her at work -- they're working on dances), there's been a lot of Taylor this month.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, sadly, various members of my family have been sick over the last month or so. Thus, I've been listening to <i>a lot</i> of coughing -- which I'm starting to find irritating. I don't like being grumpy about this but I'm ready to around some healthy people.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>What I'm wearing... </b>I bought a new, colourful, pair of Converse shoes a few weeks ago! They're a bright, spring, colour. Since we've had some warmer weather, I've already broken them out a few days! I was also inspired by my blog friend Holly's trip to Miami and bought a pair of palazzo-like pants. You can see Holly's <a href="http://holly-pinklady.blogspot.com/2024/02/what-i-wore-wednesday-miami-edition.html">post</a> here. I'm taking them on our March Break trip.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image number 7 showing, High-Waisted Playa Wide-Leg Pants for Women" height="320" src="https://oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/webcontent/0054/650/093/cn54650093.jpg" width="225" /> <img alt="Chuck Taylor All Star in Double Cyan" aria-hidden="false" class="fotorama__img" height="320" src="https://converse.ca/media/catalog/product/cache/f9d46213ae1d882c35b397bec3e31308/a/0/a06566c_d_107x1.jpg" width="225" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>What I'm doing this weekend...</b> I'll be packing for our March Break trip! I can't wait! I'm so ready for warmth and no schedule and sun!!!<br /></div><br /><div><b>What I'm looking forward to next month...</b> Our March Break trip! Easter! Sam's birthday! Canstruction! March is usually such a fun month, and this March will be especially so!!!<br /></div><p><b>What I bought on Amazon... </b>I didn't buy anything on Amazon this past month.</p><p>That's what's up with us this Wednesday. We're excited about spring and getting away and baseball. To me, we're really heading into the best time of the year and I am so ready for it!!!</p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-42766053084432311262024-02-26T05:55:00.059-05:002024-02-26T05:55:00.135-05:0025 Questions (6 - 10)<p>This is the next set of questions, which I first discovered through Sarah of Toronto SAM. You can see her answers to these questions <a href="http://www.torontosam.ca/2023/02/25-questions-6-10.html">here</a>. You can see my answers to questions 1 through 5 <a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2024/01/25-questions-questions-1-5.html">here</a>. <br /></p><p><u>6. Think of a person you truly admire. What qualities do you like about that person?</u></p><p>I admire people who are unflappable. I tend to freak out, and get stressed, and I appreciate people who don't. If you can remain calm, when the pressure is on, I want to be like you. I also admire people who can fend for themselves -- my mom grows and preserves most of the food that they eat and I really wish I could do that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsD3J6Dsum0zWMw1OB_BbHvbm1VWSNbqXvErjdxoU_5NzEE1ZU9WAkibJODMpCponf7OPL4NlznDlFnutQCls5yVmGleOWrJUsIWxFRPw0dVlnV4-_af9kBSxhm1QdpnvCFpFdUsASx5aFV9zo4NFXerEPAgqDkqSviSw-Jis0QZc6H6Z5VY3ft7h4dME/s2048/IMG_3656.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsD3J6Dsum0zWMw1OB_BbHvbm1VWSNbqXvErjdxoU_5NzEE1ZU9WAkibJODMpCponf7OPL4NlznDlFnutQCls5yVmGleOWrJUsIWxFRPw0dVlnV4-_af9kBSxhm1QdpnvCFpFdUsASx5aFV9zo4NFXerEPAgqDkqSviSw-Jis0QZc6H6Z5VY3ft7h4dME/s320/IMG_3656.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6hohsq9NIbtB778KJd0X6YrjKBrKgpC0Q8lxmQikbhXx0bzMHMfHfaUBZq7p5ynNel4bjx2C38RLRYfMNtaeDgz5RuG61Y7DVzUMve3dRGE0ZdP_ArE3ok4eplsMh0Ehaw6sg7_sMhfQVBaNMePxFdwYNy-bEHkEtMP2ec3VvbYAs_c__5R_Xeq8kuM/s2048/IMG_3723.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6hohsq9NIbtB778KJd0X6YrjKBrKgpC0Q8lxmQikbhXx0bzMHMfHfaUBZq7p5ynNel4bjx2C38RLRYfMNtaeDgz5RuG61Y7DVzUMve3dRGE0ZdP_ArE3ok4eplsMh0Ehaw6sg7_sMhfQVBaNMePxFdwYNy-bEHkEtMP2ec3VvbYAs_c__5R_Xeq8kuM/s320/IMG_3723.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>One of us can grow a garden and one of us can fold a fitted sheet and one of these skills is going to more important than the other if the apocalypse hits!!!</i> <br /></div><p><u>7. How do you like to relax?</u></p><p>To no one's surprise, my favourite way to relax is to crawl into bed with a good book! Or hang out in our back yard, preferably with a drink, and again, with a good book. I guess a simpler answer to this would be "reading"!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaP-ZtxJ4fhOrBC66XqPdchoqqdXVWd9ZVEV8U7bdoq_pCMw4rCQ7efpSfI7_OPkE8z20gKPspp8l2SCLY62EOi3PHxiOhrYtx4X9Hwvm9SHTjgMQNsiODjDi-Fw_YABxMaAEtvDEbZRUo1t7l-yQuvwhPD0PnfYjSZBUYeoD_AV4SKM8xk_6OPVvO0X0/s750/IMG_7429.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaP-ZtxJ4fhOrBC66XqPdchoqqdXVWd9ZVEV8U7bdoq_pCMw4rCQ7efpSfI7_OPkE8z20gKPspp8l2SCLY62EOi3PHxiOhrYtx4X9Hwvm9SHTjgMQNsiODjDi-Fw_YABxMaAEtvDEbZRUo1t7l-yQuvwhPD0PnfYjSZBUYeoD_AV4SKM8xk_6OPVvO0X0/s320/IMG_7429.PNG" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Me reading as a kid, just to include a throwback picture. I still read in this position!</i> <br /></p><p><u>8. When was the last time you did something you were afraid of?</u><br /></p><p>In January, I was the passenger in the car as Dave drove us home from a weekend away in a whiteout. I was fairly scared of that, but the only other option was to wait until the next day, meaning we would both have to take days off work, and the weather wasn't looking to improve.</p><p>The last time I remember doing something through gut wrenching fear was last June. During our neighbours' fire, I moved our car further onto our driveway so that another neighbour could park their car in our driveway to protect it. I was in my pajamas, my hands were shaking, my stomach was churning with fear and there were roaring flames and <i>a lot</i> of screaming behind me. This was in the three minutes between when I had called 9-1-1 but before the fire department had shown up so it was truly terrifying, not knowing how far the fire would spread. I was <i>very glad</i> I didn't have to drive very far!</p><p><u>9. What are you most proud of?</u></p><p>I am most proud of the fact that even though I really wanted to get married much earlier than I did, and while I definitely had my low moments, I still made the most of being single. I travelled, I worked, I found a church, I bought a house with eleven other people, I worked and lived overseas, and I continued to grow my circle of friends. I didn't let my dreams being derailed (getting married and having a family) keep me from living my life. Dave and I didn't start dating until I was 34, got engaged when I was 35, and we got married when I was 36, but I lived <i>a lot</i> of life before then. I'm really proud of the person I was in my mid-twenties to early 30s when many other of my peers were getting married and starting their families.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9vFdkyFrs4nq30VdVFA1UaNYrt6JixgHW5qRXNhSZaBQj1zPPJYD3MEjDZ0VRKAz46_seM8-PQeVm8BU0IuVg-7CbQJJic505GeAzCyS2PNN5oQhxMJNzm9qL60FNixq2pGQFFRNd4P1/s594/0625_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="594" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9vFdkyFrs4nq30VdVFA1UaNYrt6JixgHW5qRXNhSZaBQj1zPPJYD3MEjDZ0VRKAz46_seM8-PQeVm8BU0IuVg-7CbQJJic505GeAzCyS2PNN5oQhxMJNzm9qL60FNixq2pGQFFRNd4P1/w400-h268/0625_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I used the profits from my portion of the house sale to take my dad on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Here's us on the Great Wall of China in July 2004. This was a very memorable trip with my dad.</i><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadSK_5Nvvx0ansDD0F08m_eZ0TdgEfvnYtnKyaM4jKXucIq2t1E_BEbxFO3bmNw_Rb2yE-FmI5_d0DrFCjyfvIA4fcGlcY_TV0k3JA23D_qGkYFaUwF896eP9aPs20BDQpMwd-zDo6dTuLQVx-_nSlbJR074z61fih3_gBQNG0XbgDaJ2Y-cSPMntJlg/s750/IMG_7430.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="750" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadSK_5Nvvx0ansDD0F08m_eZ0TdgEfvnYtnKyaM4jKXucIq2t1E_BEbxFO3bmNw_Rb2yE-FmI5_d0DrFCjyfvIA4fcGlcY_TV0k3JA23D_qGkYFaUwF896eP9aPs20BDQpMwd-zDo6dTuLQVx-_nSlbJR074z61fih3_gBQNG0XbgDaJ2Y-cSPMntJlg/s320/IMG_7430.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Celebrating St Patrick's Day in Dublin, Ireland, March 2005</i> <br /></div><p><u>10. What are you most afraid of?</u></p><p>I am most afraid of climate change (and how it's negatively impacting our world) and someone close to me getting cancer (like my kids, Dave, my parents, or a close friend).</p><p>I found some of these questions hard to answer, but I think it's good to reflect on some of them. I'll answer questions 11 through 15 next time I don't have a lot to blog about :)<br /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-4000680297148467102024-02-23T05:51:00.044-05:002024-02-23T06:46:14.593-05:00Friday Favourite Moments #8<p>I'm trying something new and, even though it's only Wednesday, I'm starting to write this post already. We'll see if it helps me to be more timely in posting this for Friday morning!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) Three day weekend</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">My first favourite has to be our three day weekend where we had <i>no plans whatsoever</i>!!! I slept a ton, we had an entire day at home (where most of us stayed in our pjs all day), and we spent a few hours with good friends. It was a pretty excellent weekend!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2) Puzzles and buns</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">This is kind of related to our weekend but I thought it deserved its own point. I actually had time to do a puzzle <i>and</i> bake buns! It was very exciting :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCqQLzDxiENOCxeQWczoT38JQHpStMxCn7HfoGDetmEYmKNy331E20k2EfDJGhHKenR1_IsaeoC4gLR9GNrO5BW_XX7jy9OoWEzncbAm2UVK2gGcbybUuomXu0hG_zjNu6FXTlDNYM7OVfHk1pmNqT4M6EkfJRPZsmCc6hg1UPqn-ShMX-yc5LuB8tA0/s2048/IMG_7371.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCqQLzDxiENOCxeQWczoT38JQHpStMxCn7HfoGDetmEYmKNy331E20k2EfDJGhHKenR1_IsaeoC4gLR9GNrO5BW_XX7jy9OoWEzncbAm2UVK2gGcbybUuomXu0hG_zjNu6FXTlDNYM7OVfHk1pmNqT4M6EkfJRPZsmCc6hg1UPqn-ShMX-yc5LuB8tA0/w300-h400/IMG_7371.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>3) Library visits</b></div><p style="text-align: center;">Dave and I walked to the library earlier this week and it was lovely to have some extra time to browse for books. I have <i>a lot</i> of good reading ahead of me and I can't wait!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>4) Extra light</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I'm noticing every single day how much earlier it's getting light in the mornings and how much later it's staying light in the evenings. I am all about extra light!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy64AZ3hIqg7FM2E_2pM8vSUCfqahTq_18JvmRZQtVz0YRVRB3u0i6qaTI76FDnD94YndTMGKsxYxSk7vgGMUf7YLi6wCYlje3ft3Az2oyKf1df-KVd2RflCSSzYS0iCWB4ORvqyfxCFxiMXCS6B11T1bbKBYuXQ9pdFWuxnPKB1rBfaeWLBQBGjxnFY/s2048/IMG_7387.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy64AZ3hIqg7FM2E_2pM8vSUCfqahTq_18JvmRZQtVz0YRVRB3u0i6qaTI76FDnD94YndTMGKsxYxSk7vgGMUf7YLi6wCYlje3ft3Az2oyKf1df-KVd2RflCSSzYS0iCWB4ORvqyfxCFxiMXCS6B11T1bbKBYuXQ9pdFWuxnPKB1rBfaeWLBQBGjxnFY/w300-h400/IMG_7387.JPEG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>taken at 7:18am yesterday morning</i> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>5) Exciting packages</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Both kids received exciting packages this week and I loved their enthusiasm! Rachel got a pair of pants she'd forgotten in Saskatchewan (and was so excited to open the package, she ripped the letter my dad had enclosed to shreds -- hahahaha!) and Sam got a special toque, from his favourite football team, shipped from England.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAF8kiXsbwidu6qmw8HA4yFmsONjpmxee1WZ1hoR8SWEOnAXjgUODlufQ7fOcxY0DFaNQVvGqkBNcHLRhjR3AmGv2UrUIsFUMj_cvYvbYVdDPsjiYlBnW-Fvr4ERXSm-R3vao3CHmZqrpQw4DUPZtbPqVBZl6_hh6XT-ci8rGERndS4XhiCYBlYrieTg/s2048/IMG_7364.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAF8kiXsbwidu6qmw8HA4yFmsONjpmxee1WZ1hoR8SWEOnAXjgUODlufQ7fOcxY0DFaNQVvGqkBNcHLRhjR3AmGv2UrUIsFUMj_cvYvbYVdDPsjiYlBnW-Fvr4ERXSm-R3vao3CHmZqrpQw4DUPZtbPqVBZl6_hh6XT-ci8rGERndS4XhiCYBlYrieTg/s320/IMG_7364.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE4aAMgfniGSYwT3OdIyZf4suVn7J2_vzPNESb3MbBrv9FZRA9-GYeqF9MVeu97GqgbIUf4xR4vhr25dmG7p-dOm7nZwO-eTJfPKOFbsHgTm7TFIM2enXmoKiMSwIQvjbwBDe2OF5JkglztoLQ7JVUqRnM_jMRgo-hot8pAADEsHfkiTaXVPEk4q_Gc4/s2048/IMG_7366.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE4aAMgfniGSYwT3OdIyZf4suVn7J2_vzPNESb3MbBrv9FZRA9-GYeqF9MVeu97GqgbIUf4xR4vhr25dmG7p-dOm7nZwO-eTJfPKOFbsHgTm7TFIM2enXmoKiMSwIQvjbwBDe2OF5JkglztoLQ7JVUqRnM_jMRgo-hot8pAADEsHfkiTaXVPEk4q_Gc4/s320/IMG_7366.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>She did eventually get it taped back together!</i> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>6) My current bouquet of tulips</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I always love my winter tulips but this week's bouquet is particularly amazing!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeiKywZlH4HD9Two0R21qtN3bfYGp3oY_-Ewf2XLrWe9BqQQKvLehpTpmQMb8dAOTg7hO3XcM8aU_dwKR3kShTJoVA86YyvvouWuMWiT6E6Abs_yfE_eEC25e2oLY5caiVJN2UjvXr6XugssHjK-0nx02qbB7B2PwVfi6zzzFZl4DXPrdkBqi6ye2S5o/s2048/IMG_7382.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeiKywZlH4HD9Two0R21qtN3bfYGp3oY_-Ewf2XLrWe9BqQQKvLehpTpmQMb8dAOTg7hO3XcM8aU_dwKR3kShTJoVA86YyvvouWuMWiT6E6Abs_yfE_eEC25e2oLY5caiVJN2UjvXr6XugssHjK-0nx02qbB7B2PwVfi6zzzFZl4DXPrdkBqi6ye2S5o/w300-h400/IMG_7382.JPEG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>7) Long walks</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">We've had some extra warm weather lately, and some free time, so we've gone on a couple of longer walks this week and I am loving all the exercise! On Tuesday, Dave and I walked to the library just the two of us and on Wednesday, Rachel, Dave, and I walked 7.6 kilometres (almost 5 miles) to Starbucks, the library, and Michael's.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Okay, that's a lot of favourite moments from the week! It's been a good one :)</p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-35847069282475042122024-02-21T05:50:00.029-05:002024-02-21T05:50:00.241-05:00Halfway Through February And What I'd Read<p>It's time for an update on my February reading. Some weeks I need lighter reading than others and this post shows I was in a "lighter space" during the first half of February!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388194052i/59810.jpg" width="193" /> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1436911955i/59819.jpg" width="187" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I do really enjoy a good Nora trilogy and even more so if it's set in Ireland! There's just something about her Irish books I really like. Also, I tend to race through the first two books of her trilogies and then dawdle through the third one, if I even finish it. At least on a re-read, this is my pattern.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1610493390i/50531218.jpg" width="213" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I thought this book was just as interesting as the second book. I am still really enjoying this series and can't wait for the third book. They are definitely Young Adult but they still suck me in.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553583580i/42837514.jpg" width="223" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm doing a new reading challenge this year but it's Canadian based. So February's prompt was "a book banned in Canadian schools." This is a graphic novel and it's all about the author's experience of figuring out their gender. It was very interesting. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491591796i/10305231.jpg" width="216" /> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1335489050i/12387493.jpg" width="217" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">See above about how I just sometimes need a Nora fix and also, how I don't necessarily read the third book. All of this applies with these two books.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1686092164i/62919375.jpg" width="212" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This was my book club book for February and one of the most unique books I've ever read. The premise is wild but held my attention. However, my view of this book was tainted because I found out some really sad news at work the day I read the bulk of this book and, the sadness of the news, combined with the sadness of the book, just about did me in. So I recommend this book but not if you're already feeling sad.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So that was what I read the first half of February. Thus far, in the second half, I'm finishing up some books from the Decades Reading Challenge and reading through some really interesting history!<br /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-13365727113706825112024-02-20T05:47:00.046-05:002024-02-20T05:47:00.244-05:00Friday Favourite Moments #7 (On A Tuesday)<p>Well, we had a long weekend this past weekend, Family Day here in Canada. While I spent a lot of time with my family, and catching up on sleep, I did not spend a lot of time blogging. So here are last week's favourite moments as I never did get this post written for Friday.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) Sam made egg salad.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b>While this is not the most exciting picture, Sam made egg salad and I enjoyed a few sandwiches over the week. His egg salad was really good and I liked eating it for lunches.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-34ezVS5niWaoq2AKUW2JqA217kaVontAd_VjKenhSyhPpMFBBsTEUZpWz7yq8rk-mZzEYxb5XDMDstZnPfCYLmmHL2hGTQrI5NtSyKjQTytm_qFhTNmFX9TTebAzrsA0JC2UW3z05NCx-iDW7eMG6xa8rXjZdq1Jn7YbluJ6GwCtDyUavNPQjB_tfY8/s2048/IMG_7318.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-34ezVS5niWaoq2AKUW2JqA217kaVontAd_VjKenhSyhPpMFBBsTEUZpWz7yq8rk-mZzEYxb5XDMDstZnPfCYLmmHL2hGTQrI5NtSyKjQTytm_qFhTNmFX9TTebAzrsA0JC2UW3z05NCx-iDW7eMG6xa8rXjZdq1Jn7YbluJ6GwCtDyUavNPQjB_tfY8/w300-h400/IMG_7318.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>2) Rachel went above and beyond</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dave was not feeling well last Saturday night so went to bed early. I asked Rachel to wash the dishes, and not only did she do that, but she also dried and put them all away. And then she made coffee for the morning, along with this note. I was so touched that she thought of the extra things Dave does to make our mornings easier.<b> </b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkB_1aLan7-G6k6m5ECHuvVjqtNg0tSMtBAgGev3-eC65Pw1iN7r06h5WUFYXDb_gweJbKP4VRptlMZMmmZ9s8Hp9M8Vmzc8RSX3DG_f6vHo-auX_CNUsqyAdG7hJEuvtnIu8HQtCkW4OWS2mVhOYxDmB9CYCuPdE1yDKoZffo6V_q6rEP8zO1Ih22ZtE/s2048/IMG_7358.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkB_1aLan7-G6k6m5ECHuvVjqtNg0tSMtBAgGev3-eC65Pw1iN7r06h5WUFYXDb_gweJbKP4VRptlMZMmmZ9s8Hp9M8Vmzc8RSX3DG_f6vHo-auX_CNUsqyAdG7hJEuvtnIu8HQtCkW4OWS2mVhOYxDmB9CYCuPdE1yDKoZffo6V_q6rEP8zO1Ih22ZtE/w300-h400/IMG_7358.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>3) Tea with Janice</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I already blogged about this but, of course, my teatime with Janice was absolutely a favourite moment of the week. You can read the post <a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2024/02/10-on-10th-february-2024.html">here </a>if you want to see more.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSGEJ46naVpYcct5TnTmcxFV1zpU00KIgVa5fzVA-NI4K4P1_aKAYrdk7hSOvuJulrbu9pg7-wUzajdfKBp9RKFCTB59VB3QZVgDM2SuG_Ytdh7MmyNuh66-IZO653UJSfEx1RFUfOwk50WlZ1TFTmUeKgv46eUM0Is-hwY7_0Mo_bWkWAt5DLs76UsI/s2048/IMG_7332.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSGEJ46naVpYcct5TnTmcxFV1zpU00KIgVa5fzVA-NI4K4P1_aKAYrdk7hSOvuJulrbu9pg7-wUzajdfKBp9RKFCTB59VB3QZVgDM2SuG_Ytdh7MmyNuh66-IZO653UJSfEx1RFUfOwk50WlZ1TFTmUeKgv46eUM0Is-hwY7_0Mo_bWkWAt5DLs76UsI/w150-h200/IMG_7332.JPEG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzlDAc6fB3esPe9wmDYmwUF5IK9nxteP4CIT0oO2pj3a589UTLq8VDNV7BAGNhnWJj0yjUquvZP8p0AsIjLL2osQLGBaot7yoRlSL-bUCvtoK6FQtDC7gzHLnVSpMs7t6Radja-VVXd3bnR1shuSRvhytEfcWnfDlvGHK-EihkMJh2TjACYV3tzm08ng/s2048/c5ff6ace-a5c9-4258-99f0-494e70039efd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzlDAc6fB3esPe9wmDYmwUF5IK9nxteP4CIT0oO2pj3a589UTLq8VDNV7BAGNhnWJj0yjUquvZP8p0AsIjLL2osQLGBaot7yoRlSL-bUCvtoK6FQtDC7gzHLnVSpMs7t6Radja-VVXd3bnR1shuSRvhytEfcWnfDlvGHK-EihkMJh2TjACYV3tzm08ng/s320/c5ff6ace-a5c9-4258-99f0-494e70039efd.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>4) Valentine's Day supper</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We didn't do anything big to celebrate Valentine's Day but I made a special supper, pasta with vodka sauce, and it was really good! I enjoyed the leftovers for a few days too.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IC3ODh22zx87S68t5jK03oGQIA5JSQNPe0qrkc51VaH6FDm4yMeVTlkbEuuyCaqxFr2-e7B61JiJ8-FAVCsBpMXGrHsoWLLhg_YIxVSkVICF3nXO0o3R6Z-pPne3WaPgLl2vcQAkUGWznEfraQi-MCE6fsx_PRP7bW3qoVAvUoTvnQ0pyAxTqml14Tw/s2048/IMG_7357.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IC3ODh22zx87S68t5jK03oGQIA5JSQNPe0qrkc51VaH6FDm4yMeVTlkbEuuyCaqxFr2-e7B61JiJ8-FAVCsBpMXGrHsoWLLhg_YIxVSkVICF3nXO0o3R6Z-pPne3WaPgLl2vcQAkUGWznEfraQi-MCE6fsx_PRP7bW3qoVAvUoTvnQ0pyAxTqml14Tw/w300-h400/IMG_7357.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>5) Thursday's sunrise</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sunrise on Thursday was absolutely beautiful. I love a good sunrise!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcuVqc3VxWWzlLsHpclKSLDc-dqjyd4ETRngpFsy8yTbQZhRa7LZnEcXtpdOT14CcFyTNTSw550JlHMjUvQaBb9SRtVLci3ocwlp0ReRtGHaHf6OvUwoc2hD6hKdbMiswUdc2Dm_IJHrPqfyKV8nsAl2U8vKRKjcJQTAc9X4ssfEIukgCn_0x2qyY5xQ/s2048/IMG_7360.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcuVqc3VxWWzlLsHpclKSLDc-dqjyd4ETRngpFsy8yTbQZhRa7LZnEcXtpdOT14CcFyTNTSw550JlHMjUvQaBb9SRtVLci3ocwlp0ReRtGHaHf6OvUwoc2hD6hKdbMiswUdc2Dm_IJHrPqfyKV8nsAl2U8vKRKjcJQTAc9X4ssfEIukgCn_0x2qyY5xQ/w300-h400/IMG_7360.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So those were my favourite moments from last week. I'm already working on this week's post so hopefully it will be a little more timely :) <br /></div></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-74037520304368104412024-02-15T05:47:00.038-05:002024-02-15T05:47:00.155-05:0010 On The 10th: February 2024<p>After two fairly wordy posts, today's post is my "10 on the 10th" for February, and I am going to let the pictures (mostly) speak for themselves. For this post, I actually took my pictures on February 11th because I knew I was going to enjoy the most fun tea time with Janice, her mom, and a friend from church at the Clay & Glass Gallery in our uptown. The setting was so cool, and the food was incredible!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgTYTKD-sM3jRKy3gYssUiXMF3Om8TqDJtLO4FLiWDN_uBsjvoYEGT25NTuXEl_B-Iw-nb4Zr_hX4wFhtrfVNsWKBf_dKO1WZh_FK2RDwzI5SeOvG176CZEKTQjoEvbws5ndaWqnXTMvpp0euzmP7FfL9O32Se-6Hnug5h3nVWDthDiv-VKF0sTH7-Bo/s2048/IMG_7327.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgTYTKD-sM3jRKy3gYssUiXMF3Om8TqDJtLO4FLiWDN_uBsjvoYEGT25NTuXEl_B-Iw-nb4Zr_hX4wFhtrfVNsWKBf_dKO1WZh_FK2RDwzI5SeOvG176CZEKTQjoEvbws5ndaWqnXTMvpp0euzmP7FfL9O32Se-6Hnug5h3nVWDthDiv-VKF0sTH7-Bo/s320/IMG_7327.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjXodcU506g4s-vZz_nSsNcg3F3YqkDK8ET0AEy4ikQRABS6VEFZTm2fvwkt4kmY9V5-D5eZF5u4rUPa3-BGmDnSyfOTQePnrUmWlYotQ8_OqAp_wt81BCdKYxo3uvOQ0r_NqI7AV_7NVDYFv951d5AhC2m9EhPdCnmF2emTW7wE4ghPYOGk8jteeMHU/s2048/IMG_7330.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjXodcU506g4s-vZz_nSsNcg3F3YqkDK8ET0AEy4ikQRABS6VEFZTm2fvwkt4kmY9V5-D5eZF5u4rUPa3-BGmDnSyfOTQePnrUmWlYotQ8_OqAp_wt81BCdKYxo3uvOQ0r_NqI7AV_7NVDYFv951d5AhC2m9EhPdCnmF2emTW7wE4ghPYOGk8jteeMHU/s320/IMG_7330.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved the sculptures in the front entry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2f0r0q13ZX2XzIqXT_IJcRVVds4x4YvuN_L_cJ7rwQRllZS4iIaP749l97B6H9WXkuacOItOwOgLPBd7Vehi8lfubqZg5QX3GeCwrZP0cOgd6BL0XD7wk9_gTSNGLTy-lzWE5qjM82OAVcgK23mk3ksPlEtxlbO4GiOTPjqPjhgOPhrGR424CdIlYk4/s2048/IMG_7328.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2f0r0q13ZX2XzIqXT_IJcRVVds4x4YvuN_L_cJ7rwQRllZS4iIaP749l97B6H9WXkuacOItOwOgLPBd7Vehi8lfubqZg5QX3GeCwrZP0cOgd6BL0XD7wk9_gTSNGLTy-lzWE5qjM82OAVcgK23mk3ksPlEtxlbO4GiOTPjqPjhgOPhrGR424CdIlYk4/s320/IMG_7328.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOalQGceqEHAKFHHg5-r_ADRwkQcjwAHYmmpxqoZlA_rCczjYGESzFsk8RCmyHFwgDv934U1rScdb2ctNvu9ETsCy8U2dDZuxiL5kHSWf7ueBDf3wkpIsnVajthjSDZGyCAAHPfOo8M5uNO-E5a8DSsEM3g8x0PIgcAZv_4glJ6xL992ejhprjDAoSShE/s2048/IMG_7331.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOalQGceqEHAKFHHg5-r_ADRwkQcjwAHYmmpxqoZlA_rCczjYGESzFsk8RCmyHFwgDv934U1rScdb2ctNvu9ETsCy8U2dDZuxiL5kHSWf7ueBDf3wkpIsnVajthjSDZGyCAAHPfOo8M5uNO-E5a8DSsEM3g8x0PIgcAZv_4glJ6xL992ejhprjDAoSShE/s320/IMG_7331.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love blown glass and took a few pictures of these items in the gift shop. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWppfqH-LlD6SwwVe4T7CkZYr8mIAJj2u2zg4Z7lr4dp6XT5GpdsXx6SPBFxOqmMsw7VBu5Peg2qECBbD5wjuA0Ln38E76I5On4lXh3Jhi2DXlw_iK9SsGtn5fhKVkPkYLFZqNAovlXouBTAjmTdC_bSvLRKlNFB1lLpr_vmbBJpk0Cn5N3mTXvSDCds/s2048/3d589e0c-9311-42b6-926e-c754c65fb6ff.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWppfqH-LlD6SwwVe4T7CkZYr8mIAJj2u2zg4Z7lr4dp6XT5GpdsXx6SPBFxOqmMsw7VBu5Peg2qECBbD5wjuA0Ln38E76I5On4lXh3Jhi2DXlw_iK9SsGtn5fhKVkPkYLFZqNAovlXouBTAjmTdC_bSvLRKlNFB1lLpr_vmbBJpk0Cn5N3mTXvSDCds/w400-h300/3d589e0c-9311-42b6-926e-c754c65fb6ff.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The four of us enjoying our tea time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J7up2hUrs6rCLLZfvb-XTH2RtRcx-PzhHldL9Ss9nd96oSdMfKrLOpD0jbvJBNcokOkWjTmigsegsObWjDIUKaYnBjnTwH2MKJdmPPk5rC8ikntxi0YaeT3W74LCYgxlK9gVutICW1YwncMM5iacaaOyOfLK_mAWysexoijYFgKKPOTQ68XrDUF9lX0/s2048/IMG_7332.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J7up2hUrs6rCLLZfvb-XTH2RtRcx-PzhHldL9Ss9nd96oSdMfKrLOpD0jbvJBNcokOkWjTmigsegsObWjDIUKaYnBjnTwH2MKJdmPPk5rC8ikntxi0YaeT3W74LCYgxlK9gVutICW1YwncMM5iacaaOyOfLK_mAWysexoijYFgKKPOTQ68XrDUF9lX0/s320/IMG_7332.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBUaRgn1H0N8AQN7c39U6rN0hF28CALplBmslwIW6e4p8Yp39GoFtL8haH5s2wh0ZkB9LkImIc8Lcve3Syqc_snUG0mvcJt_VV08W62eQcvVzZZ3tBYdxR5QvMnPhGFrRhSUFemltHGfqx9s9FtL1Eg5e-MpRnlfvDDOjMwMVsuKs63UgsezBPNzxPmk/s2048/IMG_7333.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBUaRgn1H0N8AQN7c39U6rN0hF28CALplBmslwIW6e4p8Yp39GoFtL8haH5s2wh0ZkB9LkImIc8Lcve3Syqc_snUG0mvcJt_VV08W62eQcvVzZZ3tBYdxR5QvMnPhGFrRhSUFemltHGfqx9s9FtL1Eg5e-MpRnlfvDDOjMwMVsuKs63UgsezBPNzxPmk/s320/IMG_7333.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tea started with mimosas and I am always happy to have one! I felt so elegant!!! And, as a thank you, we got to keep our cups and saucers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDFgdP7d7B5zjLa82undOJzKDj12aoy7N6zL6i9Ja1hX8Bytk0YMO9z2-ngPq1At07w-LPaUjFIQYYwbf36KcU20cSEgab5a1WSaEatH3JKXFcr8H-v3nSo5t6nZG3maOkNJHa-LT5ePkxuCENRIoNBU70EuSx-KCHOk5lgIQtpgrG-my04uVO-ZwNsg/s2048/IMG_7338.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDFgdP7d7B5zjLa82undOJzKDj12aoy7N6zL6i9Ja1hX8Bytk0YMO9z2-ngPq1At07w-LPaUjFIQYYwbf36KcU20cSEgab5a1WSaEatH3JKXFcr8H-v3nSo5t6nZG3maOkNJHa-LT5ePkxuCENRIoNBU70EuSx-KCHOk5lgIQtpgrG-my04uVO-ZwNsg/w300-h400/IMG_7338.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a cool clay installation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsViqeD27H_5ymV7GgIPQjJxMr4jV6xe7m_42_R9ESdHZXrN0b_4ujCzgAEEkiD674jN4uvxtI4R-v-j82ytHoFNG8fqgw15Il-Lddg4MRaH8uSzyqHg36xJFjK-_0tbCz1iuYvAzkLKJv4AGmMB9_K6WqSrbY0QGmoKj21KIJarfihJFNpLzOY4XtvZg/s2048/IMG_7344.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsViqeD27H_5ymV7GgIPQjJxMr4jV6xe7m_42_R9ESdHZXrN0b_4ujCzgAEEkiD674jN4uvxtI4R-v-j82ytHoFNG8fqgw15Il-Lddg4MRaH8uSzyqHg36xJFjK-_0tbCz1iuYvAzkLKJv4AGmMB9_K6WqSrbY0QGmoKj21KIJarfihJFNpLzOY4XtvZg/s320/IMG_7344.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnbLYKftpPs8OQaWzRey38IwJdfK-M1vByru8rrN4rrANcyIkjofPy8e3pc87CNn9tNwyIM0s2-W9k-bDqhw06taZHFPvsIFRmORlRqu3iv2xk_VvP_faTl1MeotK9anU7KzHdwcFd6qLims1g82MSeBzzFn7NCKKT066u59LQboyiFjKTv5jazZ-aoA/s2048/IMG_7345.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnbLYKftpPs8OQaWzRey38IwJdfK-M1vByru8rrN4rrANcyIkjofPy8e3pc87CNn9tNwyIM0s2-W9k-bDqhw06taZHFPvsIFRmORlRqu3iv2xk_VvP_faTl1MeotK9anU7KzHdwcFd6qLims1g82MSeBzzFn7NCKKT066u59LQboyiFjKTv5jazZ-aoA/s320/IMG_7345.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More blown glass in the gift shop. I just wish I could buy it all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was an annual fundraising event for the gallery and honestly, I may just go every year. It was so fun and so delicious, and we had such a great time!</div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-40729968489632157392024-02-13T05:34:00.126-05:002024-02-13T08:24:05.353-05:00Share Our Lives: Part Two: How I Met My Best Friend<p>So yesterday with the "Share Our Lives" link up, I wrote about how Dave and I met and ended up together. You can read that post <a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2024/02/share-our-lives-how-we-met-our.html">here</a>. Another option was to share how we met our best friend and I wanted to tell that story today, as my friendship with Janice is very important to me.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzEAat0j0IC50qXLzOmUY97jEZUzsR7gJsYrw53WmPQRrT6uZPAwh1PGE9HysAB3OndLFiASl5vgDaRcQ72Mks7wKVF8xr0xGu9Kx7zY6sTaF2MbIPJckxBfYhDTE7rB1CTaTaW76Ads/s1600/111832.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzEAat0j0IC50qXLzOmUY97jEZUzsR7gJsYrw53WmPQRrT6uZPAwh1PGE9HysAB3OndLFiASl5vgDaRcQ72Mks7wKVF8xr0xGu9Kx7zY6sTaF2MbIPJckxBfYhDTE7rB1CTaTaW76Ads/w400-h270/111832.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Janice and I in Virginia, August 2003</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In November 2001, I was looking for a job and a couple from church asked me to nanny for their two kids. Their kids were 10 months and 2 1/2 years at that point. It was a short-term position, and at the same time, I was looking for a care group (small group) to be a part of at church. It turned out that the people I was nannying for were starting a care group with one other couple and their 10 month old daughter, and they asked if I wanted to join it. At the time I was a single, young adult but I loved hanging out with other people's kids!<i> </i>Since I wanted to stay connected with the family I was nannying for, I said, "sure." And<i> </i>we started meeting with a pancake brunch in January 2002 and got together about once a month after that.<br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGutVbSrB_288TWVATceu6ggLXv4kjXpPF-MF-8TZAuZV4F329bJEisBw4yFtSBso_k3V1IvxXA0_DEXgMOXOU41iYUP1NzjrDDrZSUp9F8jktObMoHn07C7A3fNzy8op14FjzOL6_MdeXWuGZCFgfncnCOsE0wzw_m-bBQhk3eZeRnXU4sJ__gvtmPY/s1600/134_3495.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGutVbSrB_288TWVATceu6ggLXv4kjXpPF-MF-8TZAuZV4F329bJEisBw4yFtSBso_k3V1IvxXA0_DEXgMOXOU41iYUP1NzjrDDrZSUp9F8jktObMoHn07C7A3fNzy8op14FjzOL6_MdeXWuGZCFgfncnCOsE0wzw_m-bBQhk3eZeRnXU4sJ__gvtmPY/w400-h300/134_3495.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Sesame Place, Pennsylvania, August 2005</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, it turned out that the couple with the young daughter were Tim, Janice, and Tessa. We got to know each other better over the next year or so and I started babysitting for Tessa. She adored me and the feeling was mutual. So Tim, Janice, Tessa, and I spent a lot of time together. My nieces and nephew lived in Saskatchewan and Tim and Janice's siblings lived in British Columbia and Virginia so I became an honorary aunt to Tessa.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tim's family lived in Virginia, and Janice had many relatives there, so in August 2003, I travelled to Virginia with Tim, Janice, and Tessa and spent a week with them visiting their families and seeing the sights. When Willem was born, I took care of Tessa for three days while Tim, Janice, and Willem were in the hospital. And that summer, I travelled with them to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania for a few days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave was added to our crew when he and I started dating and we lived at Tim & Janice's off and on for a few months the summer before we moved to Edmonton. We also stayed with them on many an Ontario visit while we lived in Alberta, including the week before our wedding! <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPV6MTcql7UbqPuDE0m9jOfx6cL_a33O1Slwah_BN15Nc0RvcEObfJXzuChaoldnZWme444VNzWRvSsTHaE3ch7IScHbwSaD-BcMqP0MnDYI6t3oVWn_m89xMjmq2HfNjmr5ifg78U1yo/s1600/101_4521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPV6MTcql7UbqPuDE0m9jOfx6cL_a33O1Slwah_BN15Nc0RvcEObfJXzuChaoldnZWme444VNzWRvSsTHaE3ch7IScHbwSaD-BcMqP0MnDYI6t3oVWn_m89xMjmq2HfNjmr5ifg78U1yo/w400-h300/101_4521.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Janice and I having tea together in Vienna, May 2010</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Janice's dad was a music professor and he put together a "music and culture in Vienna" course. Janice and Tim went on this tour many times and, a few years after I got to know them, they invited me to join them. For various reasons I wasn't able to make it work. I was especially honoured that I was invited to join them on the special "extended family only" tour, even though I ended up not being able to go. In May 2010, Dave, Sam, and I were able to travel to Vienna with Tim, Janice, Tessa, Willem, Janice's parents, and others on this tour. You can read about our travels starting <a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2010/06/wilkommen-auf-wien-welcome-to-vienna.html">here</a>. Tim and Janice had taken both Willem and Tessa on this trip when they were quite young and it gave Dave and I the confidence that we could handle it with fourteen month old Sam.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2zr5DLIA32nfSikOOKQh5NI_7dEm4_z2vMOaQOy2kH_nLUlcO9vXaeCGMkNoAYkywiFKG41pSO0Z9ZwkSEbqK6FStFlneEBl0AZ86VSewioxF8arHlYh8sDlH7hnVgsyUKJkWGPyNgA/s1600/101_4672.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2zr5DLIA32nfSikOOKQh5NI_7dEm4_z2vMOaQOy2kH_nLUlcO9vXaeCGMkNoAYkywiFKG41pSO0Z9ZwkSEbqK6FStFlneEBl0AZ86VSewioxF8arHlYh8sDlH7hnVgsyUKJkWGPyNgA/w400-h300/101_4672.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>All of us (except for Rachel), Vienna, May 2010</i> <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam, Rachel, Willem, and Tessa really are like cousins and we've celebrated lots of holidays, birthdays, and other occasions with all of them. We even travelled with them to Virginia and South Carolina one March Break.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwjyTw2MUAROdtbcp0uZk2Ml5ejlRcKhcIrJ9Hc8SB2W9YWG-nZLrJXZ8jIm4l9XMaikeZFBtx8mp-21M7s93wucHaiP2LpIhHIr138wbopanxgN8GlKIidjAmze-uT8aT45NPqvDd_IPa1A6QNh_flhDiFjskB5IsfPPGQzclX222gbO3zPBgbWEBNo/s2048/IMG_9256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1381" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwjyTw2MUAROdtbcp0uZk2Ml5ejlRcKhcIrJ9Hc8SB2W9YWG-nZLrJXZ8jIm4l9XMaikeZFBtx8mp-21M7s93wucHaiP2LpIhHIr138wbopanxgN8GlKIidjAmze-uT8aT45NPqvDd_IPa1A6QNh_flhDiFjskB5IsfPPGQzclX222gbO3zPBgbWEBNo/w135-h200/IMG_9256.JPG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDozYHJ9Ik2YECVUovgsmeWHLN-vdwEhr0Gy9WAjJSOHfloNtsK-dtiB6hMjQZWdOTyZjrZ-jjZ5nkGKLpxEN4JVFdnrcR2KtER2NCUWJ5BR1Yj6xDnhHngYH7F2aOf8nznOyvDwH7EevZUuDw3GCY7HZyBXxTGu9tdNJ1MwsRIn0Bh4ZK3nstG6ljoOg/s2048/IMG_0348.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDozYHJ9Ik2YECVUovgsmeWHLN-vdwEhr0Gy9WAjJSOHfloNtsK-dtiB6hMjQZWdOTyZjrZ-jjZ5nkGKLpxEN4JVFdnrcR2KtER2NCUWJ5BR1Yj6xDnhHngYH7F2aOf8nznOyvDwH7EevZUuDw3GCY7HZyBXxTGu9tdNJ1MwsRIn0Bh4ZK3nstG6ljoOg/s320/IMG_0348.JPG" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Left: Almost all of us (Sam opted to sit in the car for some reason) in Virginia; Right: all of us holding animals in South Carolina, March 2015</i> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Janice was my honourary matron of honour at our wedding, and this relationship has just been such a gift to me. If you've read my blog for any length of time, you've seen pictures of this family before! <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZydTjc4gT-5jGEuwfIMahlx0cR0V3jtp_qc_J7rZxsySZFUxoOcvcs_siaCwy3PYGEZRUK1caKY_QVcqq_ijEwReCyzoB2MF7MZC_2r_T5L06rNHPi1JCM8tYXE6VXkwFJhVsxqNr4eick1jLyGQbY9Cy06T0M-NbTEgtuNB71TWDDJISvuuajpPsVk/s2048/IMG_2247.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZydTjc4gT-5jGEuwfIMahlx0cR0V3jtp_qc_J7rZxsySZFUxoOcvcs_siaCwy3PYGEZRUK1caKY_QVcqq_ijEwReCyzoB2MF7MZC_2r_T5L06rNHPi1JCM8tYXE6VXkwFJhVsxqNr4eick1jLyGQbY9Cy06T0M-NbTEgtuNB71TWDDJISvuuajpPsVk/s320/IMG_2247.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsF-7ThQ0Zf_cOm1MSUscSpv0gNkQGbXhFSHQNfSRJgG938kzVHe-SzsMIcuN0MdKaP3rQ6KRdt_bYg4z4JKkyDPgO7zUVrpWAFgUP7g1SS9_3s5jhBACGQcLG46kix4YrQtPg9OZqweIqg4xysD5_AtPdo_hT6l2NKOiW98KI8NRkggzgYImT5S4qRA/s2048/IMG_2270.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsF-7ThQ0Zf_cOm1MSUscSpv0gNkQGbXhFSHQNfSRJgG938kzVHe-SzsMIcuN0MdKaP3rQ6KRdt_bYg4z4JKkyDPgO7zUVrpWAFgUP7g1SS9_3s5jhBACGQcLG46kix4YrQtPg9OZqweIqg4xysD5_AtPdo_hT6l2NKOiW98KI8NRkggzgYImT5S4qRA/s320/IMG_2270.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A special mother-daughter day at Universal Studios, March 2023</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I definitely look forward to many more good times together. Janice and I both love to drink tea, read books, go for walks together, and she taught me how to find unique and special things to do as a family. She always has the best ideas of things to do! And we love to travel together, when we're able. I'm so thankful for my best friend!<br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dGJF75sRvbhL1yv0Q3vJ1e0vvuI4rysB6HIu7rCzFSmhtAEt9INmlhMcG39gibldCbWqR86FL69mnYGXuCjSSGwYUjedy_uIGwn98zS2sEibD9Q0x2aIa1zGFEoc1E0iiguAmgDt_YTNuNzx3ONdJ2R0GYLs3XSlFCSm0bO9z3MF5Tq7bS4ng-dOr5w/s2048/c5ff6ace-a5c9-4258-99f0-494e70039efd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dGJF75sRvbhL1yv0Q3vJ1e0vvuI4rysB6HIu7rCzFSmhtAEt9INmlhMcG39gibldCbWqR86FL69mnYGXuCjSSGwYUjedy_uIGwn98zS2sEibD9Q0x2aIa1zGFEoc1E0iiguAmgDt_YTNuNzx3ONdJ2R0GYLs3XSlFCSm0bO9z3MF5Tq7bS4ng-dOr5w/w400-h300/c5ff6ace-a5c9-4258-99f0-494e70039efd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Janice and I at a special tea time this past weekend.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you want to read more about our adventures with Tim, Janice, Tessa, & Willem, they have their own hashtag on the blog! You can see them under "<a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/search/label/T%26J%26T%26W">T&J&T&W</a>." Linking up with the Share Our Lives bloggers: <a href="http://www.torontosam.ca/">Sarah</a>, <a href="https://www.notinjersey.com/">Dara</a>, <a href="https://www.myslicesoflife.com/">Joanne</a>, <a href="https://www.momlifewithadrienne.com/">Adrienne</a>, and <a href="https://showmeandsweettea.com/">Jen</a>. (Click on each name to go their blogs.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF78LLR-Ltfnj5Q94mSfUfWDGcHc9IAna5bNlChraDtC1vaeZAfm5o4LnAQH4i4GyXM6gfaSLi-BI23B4YL1Rfsr2z2sA0VisPtz1CAYU6p-b9B_MGxy7GkCIxv1FMbtMR-gSTLyPYRwIL0yfsaP6n8giUtz76ScazmkZuYI8C32ohLtd8drfbGILlMev/s320/SOL%202.png" width="320" /></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-87109953225506436612024-02-12T00:33:00.000-05:002024-02-12T00:33:57.578-05:00Share Our Lives: How We Met Our Significant Other<p>It's the second Monday of the month so it's time to link up with <a href="http://www.torontosam.ca/">Sarah</a>, <a href="https://www.notinjersey.com/">Dara</a>, <a href="https://www.myslicesoflife.com/">Joanne</a>, <a href="https://www.momlifewithadrienne.com/">Adrienne</a>, and <a href="https://showmeandsweettea.com/">Jen</a>. (Click on each name to go their blogs.) This is a link up where we share our lives and today we're sharing how we met our significant other and/or best friend. Because I love to tell a story (why else would I blog?!?!), I've decided to share both of these stories. However, I'll have to share how Janice and I met in a different post because my and Dave's story got really long! </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8A00UW4TsG656B7lmpMGihS7wD4W86m5s668i1sj2SH-4DmwGi3AwWhMyt7dUnUIzCwXKFMB4XxL_m_yNNAHv7WcsT-UuOi5Q2ubAWSSnNlTTqcYqF3KoZm72G0a0Cup-ORuR6utVv7Zr3y38KVdLtaKo7UKYF-vv3JtavOPYsQuKTuxMQZsWbuTv5k/s2048/IMG_7321.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8A00UW4TsG656B7lmpMGihS7wD4W86m5s668i1sj2SH-4DmwGi3AwWhMyt7dUnUIzCwXKFMB4XxL_m_yNNAHv7WcsT-UuOi5Q2ubAWSSnNlTTqcYqF3KoZm72G0a0Cup-ORuR6utVv7Zr3y38KVdLtaKo7UKYF-vv3JtavOPYsQuKTuxMQZsWbuTv5k/w400-h300/IMG_7321.JPEG" width="400" /></a><i> </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The first official picture of us as a couple! December 2006</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>(Dave often has his eyes closed in pictures.)</i> <br /></p><p></p><p>The short story is that Dave and I met through mutual friends, and wouldn't have gotten together if it weren't for Google! #truestory<br /></p><p>The long story is...<br /></p><p>In the late 90s, early 2000s, I co-owned a house with eleven other people. Besides those of us who owned it, sometimes other rooms were rented by friends of ours. When we sold the house in August 2002, I lived on my own in an apartment. I was 30, single, and many of my friends were married and starting their families. They were happy to do things with me until about 7:30 at night when their toddlers had to go to bed! As for me, I was still ready to hang out for a few hours.</p><p>One of the guys who had rented a room at our house had moved to live with another group of friends at 110 Columbia St. "110" (as it was known) was owned by one of the guys who lived there and it was a magnet for people to gather. I stopped by to visit my friend once and got drawn into the group of people who lived there. The guys at 110 were some of the friendliest, most welcoming people I'd ever met, and most importantly, they enjoyed hanging out past 8pm!<br /></p><p>110 hosted Super Bowl parties, game nights, Mario Kart parties, BBQs, and arranged big groups of people to go to movie premieres and even the opera in Toronto. Dave was a part of the group who variously lived, or socialized, at 110 so
we met probably in the winter of 2003. My first clear memory of Dave is the night that he and another girl announced that they were "officially going out." Since the friend I'd originally stopped by to visit and I had some major flirting going on, while
Dave and I definitely hung out as a part of the group, there was never romantic interest there.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgpKfLUHldZC79z-YC_R892k6BQiqBkJ30aSJCJoTDFRtMLaLmHPi1gwnK_Lsnal5GnuajFoVPfvyFwcSQbhrliHjI15eON4UXXswjTmYoGObSFTC6Kz0mrbma8plRl6vQpSrf6ShR7NljfEAvs8p5mzG2VFWBEXyQ1XBWqIWmqhx-BDqUQfzApx_bH8/s2048/IMG_7323.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgpKfLUHldZC79z-YC_R892k6BQiqBkJ30aSJCJoTDFRtMLaLmHPi1gwnK_Lsnal5GnuajFoVPfvyFwcSQbhrliHjI15eON4UXXswjTmYoGObSFTC6Kz0mrbma8plRl6vQpSrf6ShR7NljfEAvs8p5mzG2VFWBEXyQ1XBWqIWmqhx-BDqUQfzApx_bH8/w400-h300/IMG_7323.JPEG" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the group of people who attended the opera. Yesterday, Dave and I were laughing at the fact that we were beside each other in this picture, taken in spring 2006.</i> <br /></p><p>At this point, I was working full-time and then I also had a part-time job working at Chapters. I would work at Chapters until 10:30pm and then head to 110 a couple of nights a week to watch TV, play games, or just be with people. On Thursday nights, the group would hold off on watching CSI until midnight so they could watch it with me after I'd finished work. After all, we were mostly single, and night owls, and could survive on 4-5 hours of sleep a night. Thursday late night CSI watching with about twenty people on a huge 52" screen is a really fun memory of this time for me. <br /></p><p>After awhile I got tired of not having a boyfriend and decided that
Nick, off the original CSI, was my boyfriend. It became a huge running
joke and people were very supportive of the "long distance aspect" of
our relationship. Ha ha ha! During May 2005, Nick was featured in an
episode called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_Danger" target="_blank">Grave Danger,</a>"
and following that episode whenever Nick would have flashbacks, I would
jokingly say, "Don't worry sweetie, I'll just scoop you up and hold
you."<br />
</p><p>In the summer of 2006, friends of ours announced at dinner one night that they had bought a house. However, they were living in California at the time (he was one of the first people I know to work for Google and is the reason I have a Gmail account -- Dave and I got some of the earliest invitations when it was a private Google service but employees were allowed to send them to their friends!), so needed people to rent their house. Dave and I were both at this supper and said, "We'll live there." Then we looked at each other and went, "Sure. That would work."<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz29z449LOnUy2wP1zlTaoYVtHuQCMcLsuZvZcvV23CpjDRK3xybUdXdC6HuooGDtSi4Dakkd4A1DD12vZrmbVFD9ci3k7ZaAoQHxHWQJx8EL2hc8iXBLt8QzvquiCyy3zEfU3lEmgJ1w3xXAhMTUyvORCLLc9ZhmYIgBihirAZnq3W3aFhHsYcrmTOlE/s2272/Picture%20037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz29z449LOnUy2wP1zlTaoYVtHuQCMcLsuZvZcvV23CpjDRK3xybUdXdC6HuooGDtSi4Dakkd4A1DD12vZrmbVFD9ci3k7ZaAoQHxHWQJx8EL2hc8iXBLt8QzvquiCyy3zEfU3lEmgJ1w3xXAhMTUyvORCLLc9ZhmYIgBihirAZnq3W3aFhHsYcrmTOlE/w400-h300/Picture%20037.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Dave and I at our house, January 2007</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">About a week later, someone at church was giving away tickets to a Jays game and Dave, another friend, and I drove to the game and we had a more serious conversation of "Could we really be housemates?" on the way there. Considering how big of Jays fans we are now, and how few games I'd gone to before that time, it's funny to me that this big conversation was had on the way to a Jays game. We moved in, as housemates, in October 2006. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">As the only two people living in the house, we had lots of time to spend together and get to know each other better. And over the course of a couple of months, we started to have feelings for each other. I never would have said anything but Dave was braver than I was, and one night he told me that friends of his from the synagogue were trying to set him up with someone. And he realized, he'd rather be with me. So when he told me that, he said, "I'm not asking you out. But I'm saying, if I did want to maybe, someday, ask you out, what would you think of that?" We still laugh about all the qualifiers in his question!<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">We had a few weeks of conversation about it -- after all, I'm ten years older, and we have different religions, but we ended up deciding to give it a try. It was very weird dating as housemates because, normally if you're dating someone, you need to go out on dates to get to know each other. But we'd been part of the same friend group for years, and were sharing a house just the two of us, so we didn't go on a lot of official dates. We started dating on November 27, 2006.</p><p style="text-align: left;">We decided that one thing we wanted to do was travel together so we went to New York in January 2007 to meet Dave's grandparents, see <i>Les Mis</i> on Broadway for Dave's birthday, and see some other sights.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53-bpwxpRdiaIUKLrhmYAKdvS2Up1gaLNTetlSrPjisW2m73H9__nJfrJc5XVN0JwnM0iXbRBuAA5ZnEznCF4ZGOkbW9_2b4I06Cfm31bT93nnx469_vtWzs_ich8jQ6Hj3P0e5rOCsoy0Dh9C2Msj1j1wSxVuBUqfO_rtNSgv7sYvTAPNPlLLzNuAnA/s2048/IMG_7319.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53-bpwxpRdiaIUKLrhmYAKdvS2Up1gaLNTetlSrPjisW2m73H9__nJfrJc5XVN0JwnM0iXbRBuAA5ZnEznCF4ZGOkbW9_2b4I06Cfm31bT93nnx469_vtWzs_ich8jQ6Hj3P0e5rOCsoy0Dh9C2Msj1j1wSxVuBUqfO_rtNSgv7sYvTAPNPlLLzNuAnA/w400-h300/IMG_7319.JPEG" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Playing on the piano at FAO Schwartz, New York City, January 2007</i> </p><p style="text-align: left;">It wasn't all easy though as Dave's ex-girlfriend had some physical and mental health issues. She ended up stalking us, showing up at our house in the middle of the night, crying and threatening to kill herself. We spent a few nights in the ER with her, trying to get her help. For various reasons, we had no one place to live in the summer of 2007 so we house sat for a few different families I knew from church and travelled to Europe for three weeks. Since Dave's ex was stalking us, we asked our friend group to not tell her where we were living. It was a bizarre couple of months, and put a lot of external pressure on our relationship. We <i>almost</i> got engaged one night in April 2007 but decided that we needed to wait until we could just be us -- without the pressure of avoiding Dave's ex, a trip to Europe, and an impending cross country move. I'm really glad we didn't get engaged that night because really good friends of ours, who had been dating for a few years, announced their engagement a few hours later!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddTdQlC6pb0zFZ1W-BTsvKXfBtUZg1QuqoFtgqQyhb3Rc7r5eOmOesQA0xrSxm-5qh09hkMLyqKNO0aqsDVUtsXp3bLGZk5xEr0uqdQ5uxKYmdVz0HC5GpV-2jNZegxFAI8CvWn2ucnqbYH5l2yas1FuXX6gEbZisxVSXDL_vewd7N14l8anxl6ut1RQ/s2272/IMG_9079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddTdQlC6pb0zFZ1W-BTsvKXfBtUZg1QuqoFtgqQyhb3Rc7r5eOmOesQA0xrSxm-5qh09hkMLyqKNO0aqsDVUtsXp3bLGZk5xEr0uqdQ5uxKYmdVz0HC5GpV-2jNZegxFAI8CvWn2ucnqbYH5l2yas1FuXX6gEbZisxVSXDL_vewd7N14l8anxl6ut1RQ/w400-h300/IMG_9079.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Playing around with our friend's engagement ring, April 2007</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">We started this blog in June 2007 as a way of keeping our friends and family up to date as we travelled and moved across the country. And why is it called "Here's The Scoop"? Well, Dave admitted that one of the first things that made him notice me in a different way led back to those CSI nights I talked about earlier. When I would talk
about scooping Nick up, Dave says he thought, "I wouldn't mind her
scooping <i>me </i>up." And then he wondered why he was thinking that! So then "scooping up" became an inside joke for us and our blog name played into that.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBzlVPOxxvm66P7Op_bwady5mMmlbF1SzNi0bvLaqP0nxH2iHCAgPwmhdhYulTDQ2V7IkvODgqVpfgrfZUre9q_K2w4_VrbOIrrymVuxT5XaMfjC-dEV69LKo2qKAGS8U6Csb7UJOIyr6Wa_lL_Qz9LeyCoaaUobWLhk9HwBwLCr8nvqasWfBynbo0Ug/s2272/IMG_5092%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBzlVPOxxvm66P7Op_bwady5mMmlbF1SzNi0bvLaqP0nxH2iHCAgPwmhdhYulTDQ2V7IkvODgqVpfgrfZUre9q_K2w4_VrbOIrrymVuxT5XaMfjC-dEV69LKo2qKAGS8U6Csb7UJOIyr6Wa_lL_Qz9LeyCoaaUobWLhk9HwBwLCr8nvqasWfBynbo0Ug/w400-h300/IMG_5092%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Engagement photo, October 2007</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">Once we had successfully travelled to Europe, moved across the country, and got settled in Alberta, we got engaged on Thanksgiving Day, 2007. We got married in June 2008, back in Ontario, and the rest of our history is pretty much documented on the blog! Hahaha!!!</p><p style="text-align: left;">This was so fun to write, to remember back to the prehistory of our relationship, and the beginnings of our time together. Since I think it's important to remember beginnings, I'm also going to blog about how I met my best friend, Janice, later this week. Come back to read about that. Thanks to the bloggers below for such a fun topic!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF78LLR-Ltfnj5Q94mSfUfWDGcHc9IAna5bNlChraDtC1vaeZAfm5o4LnAQH4i4GyXM6gfaSLi-BI23B4YL1Rfsr2z2sA0VisPtz1CAYU6p-b9B_MGxy7GkCIxv1FMbtMR-gSTLyPYRwIL0yfsaP6n8giUtz76ScazmkZuYI8C32ohLtd8drfbGILlMev/s320/SOL%202.png" width="320" /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-66784038455921361232024-02-09T06:36:00.005-05:002024-02-09T06:36:52.290-05:00Friday Favourite Moments #6<p>This has been a full week of parent viewing at Rachel's dance, work, spending as much time as possible outside (because it was sunny!!!), and all the other things which happen in a week. I've let things at home slide so this weekend will be full of laundry, tidying, menu planning, and grocery shopping. But before the weekend is finally here, there's one more day of work and my favourite moments from this past week.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) Walks for ice cream</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Because it was so nice out, we went for ice cream as a family twice. It was so nice to celebrate the fact that the sun was shining, it was staying light a little bit longer in the evenings, and just being outside together as a family. Last Saturday, our local ice cream shop was hosting an "ice cream for breakfast" fundraiser so after Rachel's dance rehearsal, we headed over there and ate ice cream before 11am!<b> </b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28WS14yMaa498MCDBG85oy7Yfp9PUZIBurqNhyqAqW0bItm0bgWNCg7yH9HL4T_w4zMVjvyZl6ChlQXVIpNByzcTUCm9zdQEQnwbmlNgEucVoS8hK8n9z0AAO3BH4gUVkmA1YryEgps4FDeztE-FMtgg0LrYUCd0zAdqI_zO_hc8EIeztkLYvRZ05pww/s2046/IMG_7163.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1538" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28WS14yMaa498MCDBG85oy7Yfp9PUZIBurqNhyqAqW0bItm0bgWNCg7yH9HL4T_w4zMVjvyZl6ChlQXVIpNByzcTUCm9zdQEQnwbmlNgEucVoS8hK8n9z0AAO3BH4gUVkmA1YryEgps4FDeztE-FMtgg0LrYUCd0zAdqI_zO_hc8EIeztkLYvRZ05pww/w151-h200/IMG_7163.JPEG" width="151" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHMds-fvn5FQiWQWguCCW217YGvBaIn0k4KQSPOa7a6biqfXBAQa8PA0KqlU6baeP4i34XrDANczkXpZtYWGW6GEzTX6Bvsw24YiI5PxEoD0rY1ORrZ7W-LK6xaluTQkCKj4hvz3bVF3ZcFwKSMof-B7nKL7oQrxeViYi7krjau2DYlLSQ3gHd7pF-gk/s2048/IMG_7168.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHMds-fvn5FQiWQWguCCW217YGvBaIn0k4KQSPOa7a6biqfXBAQa8PA0KqlU6baeP4i34XrDANczkXpZtYWGW6GEzTX6Bvsw24YiI5PxEoD0rY1ORrZ7W-LK6xaluTQkCKj4hvz3bVF3ZcFwKSMof-B7nKL7oQrxeViYi7krjau2DYlLSQ3gHd7pF-gk/s320/IMG_7168.JPEG" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>2) Watching Rachel dance</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got to watch <i>a lot</i> of Rachel dancing this week. She danced with the Chamber Orchestra on Sunday afternoon, during which I sat with a good friend and we had a chance to catch up... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IS6J3rzPStFHyC3SJWPcP4a7ua5a7kHOUJQWLRDUs9AkTIAat2wubLcwdssafkf2Bd7i0R9TdppJ5d_1SHOiRv3jHqhlq3MaYXSuK_5k9RZuxsVoK52w6c_DpBEsR0fIYTyxCKt712KNpcIcZqBWyWMF2O85rDgXf1oapeGa5HzLZEVDkFWinyfOUcQ/s2048/IMG_7217.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IS6J3rzPStFHyC3SJWPcP4a7ua5a7kHOUJQWLRDUs9AkTIAat2wubLcwdssafkf2Bd7i0R9TdppJ5d_1SHOiRv3jHqhlq3MaYXSuK_5k9RZuxsVoK52w6c_DpBEsR0fIYTyxCKt712KNpcIcZqBWyWMF2O85rDgXf1oapeGa5HzLZEVDkFWinyfOUcQ/w300-h400/IMG_7217.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and then three evening this week was parent viewing at dance. I especially loved watching Rachel hang out with her dance besties and watching the improv in her Lyrical class. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6-wdhpTRSrPINfWQfvSE9lzMRJ-SYllCzgGLz43OOI5Y9fFZozWmGaXNKbKHs3PjYIARplsQhc_E3O4AzfNodfOjbfcVLonXDZBW_tT0SU3wSI-nLampVtQYsCXXA8UAz91fCo_pk1RhTLb2JHp9j9n_9Rv1b9oXQcU7YHIZ5gNDORAfWQWoaCyv8N0/s2048/IMG_7278.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6-wdhpTRSrPINfWQfvSE9lzMRJ-SYllCzgGLz43OOI5Y9fFZozWmGaXNKbKHs3PjYIARplsQhc_E3O4AzfNodfOjbfcVLonXDZBW_tT0SU3wSI-nLampVtQYsCXXA8UAz91fCo_pk1RhTLb2JHp9j9n_9Rv1b9oXQcU7YHIZ5gNDORAfWQWoaCyv8N0/s320/IMG_7278.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmHZbcE3Zxhb8bo6Vj4HN3nA3ZghLIWXpt7x5sq1UDaSmjm53VbBBgGKT0vv7zKdNKHD2iBCTMGbZ0slt1OLge4rul3tghTRT0qoLQJb8AGxM6ETNWc4c5-Da-QmwyCyrrC4HuI3gfPRkC2DjEpEXL0pKUQ5NtXwfn12Qgt62szavQaBrvQKXTOsjgLM/s2048/IMG_8440.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmHZbcE3Zxhb8bo6Vj4HN3nA3ZghLIWXpt7x5sq1UDaSmjm53VbBBgGKT0vv7zKdNKHD2iBCTMGbZ0slt1OLge4rul3tghTRT0qoLQJb8AGxM6ETNWc4c5-Da-QmwyCyrrC4HuI3gfPRkC2DjEpEXL0pKUQ5NtXwfn12Qgt62szavQaBrvQKXTOsjgLM/s320/IMG_8440.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Rachel and her absolute best dance friend, S. S's mom and I just coordinate the kids' dance schedules so they do everything together.</i> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MUp6LqzEQCNFquxtDcE12I0hJ7iWhSzPzXrL8noUvACjIEzhyHQD_WWCf19k7Op0JrLmmAUmxt7awb7iiMC8f1c2NayCBFia3Ipnttr-rzKHFuWvVY1acYrWg1b5lm1_p8qFuDX6fv1K9NCUH32g0M0tgyHUF8HXOelOQiYyKeSrnp8rdNhl-sI26tk/s2048/IMG_7291.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MUp6LqzEQCNFquxtDcE12I0hJ7iWhSzPzXrL8noUvACjIEzhyHQD_WWCf19k7Op0JrLmmAUmxt7awb7iiMC8f1c2NayCBFia3Ipnttr-rzKHFuWvVY1acYrWg1b5lm1_p8qFuDX6fv1K9NCUH32g0M0tgyHUF8HXOelOQiYyKeSrnp8rdNhl-sI26tk/s320/IMG_7291.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKcOTXtPsEmxLsUpaZS97x3iF2PejeTGJ7GUgngYTQTWYczoorGHf2kVeM-MG0UIscuixKH1z-WVkgokxWymvZgl982Eu0iISWuvVbKBT5aMMgxJe611EaRo9vXVQ8-d7Mn084m19n7o_9ANAJKDQi1bAINuyEJ-uO61SfT51pGVV0rWSLkF3rGgV8G8/s2048/IMG_7306.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKcOTXtPsEmxLsUpaZS97x3iF2PejeTGJ7GUgngYTQTWYczoorGHf2kVeM-MG0UIscuixKH1z-WVkgokxWymvZgl982Eu0iISWuvVbKBT5aMMgxJe611EaRo9vXVQ8-d7Mn084m19n7o_9ANAJKDQi1bAINuyEJ-uO61SfT51pGVV0rWSLkF3rGgV8G8/s320/IMG_7306.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rachel jete-ing in Lyrical and a bad picture of the improv portion. For improv, the teacher dims the lights so the dancers don't feel self-conscious. It's a horrible picture but a really good memory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>3) SUN!!!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was so sunny for a few days this week and that also had to be a favourite moment! I took quite a few walks which didn't end in ice cream, but where I thoroughly enjoyed the sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And those were some of my favourite moments of this past week!<br /></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-25830674120923103362024-02-07T05:43:00.138-05:002024-02-07T05:43:00.134-05:00Currently: February 2024<p style="text-align: left;">It's time for "Currently" with <span style="text-align: left;">Jennifer at Overflowing With Thankfulness. You can find Jennifer </span><a href="http://all4boys.blogspot.com/" style="text-align: left;">here</a><span style="text-align: left;">. I found this post hard to write for two reasons.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">1) I just haven't had a lot of time these past few days, which you will see when you read m</span><span style="text-align: left;">y answer to "loving!" </span><span style="text-align: left;">.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">2) I struggled with what to write for some of these prompts, as you may be able to tell from some of my responses!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> [<b><i>loving</i>]<i> </i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">While it does take up <i>a lot</i> of time, I am "loving" getting to see Rachel at dance. This past weekend she danced with the Chamber Orchestra. During that concert, I also got to sit next to a friend I hadn't seen in a bit so I was also "loving" having some time to catch up with her.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRtNts1Px85anXP6i4i-TdojTMZiXOOi0dCt5zlZ9WvcPZD7o2i_P9GfV56wEBn3VQ2lrfl6D0g7QW37cRxbcGcVaynCrainh3xDuGvVNJhc0KvHXKh5Axj8XE76H-ApfgsxchnGz7_6SV29IE09oxMRwAOc3br2fbrKMEm_eSg-bTBhWsolXHW-_OxY/s2048/IMG_7217.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRtNts1Px85anXP6i4i-TdojTMZiXOOi0dCt5zlZ9WvcPZD7o2i_P9GfV56wEBn3VQ2lrfl6D0g7QW37cRxbcGcVaynCrainh3xDuGvVNJhc0KvHXKh5Axj8XE76H-ApfgsxchnGz7_6SV29IE09oxMRwAOc3br2fbrKMEm_eSg-bTBhWsolXHW-_OxY/w300-h400/IMG_7217.JPEG" width="300" /></a></i></b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I try to get a picture of Rachel in every single costume she wears, even though we aren't ever allowed to take pictures during the actual performances.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KNGYn-pjhnqwgv9VLVv8sAQKGXn_Cfxjo9E6ahbazxf8EbT3iPdDkpQqSGnvPQcVw3RUWDbR_wGnzvJHHPU9ZtRW-tjLFyVZRZuZkCWkx5V2fJ5e4XDQmBJ-Eid7yg5OZ50WvxYvgIbh9ZpCGcZiorAmf1VgyxnbXeOIp_PcKwN7yl3gf4adYIxmZLw/s2048/IMG_7251.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><i></i></b></a><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrOqAXjHnPGHR3ImDTZpO1bLeY5oDwu4myaIz1bct5V8Nf1pM5RCMOTtpZhOfn6Zzi2AU6oqnMb2rEYhuBrOsn8NYBBzyLYGxMXFkqT1ZosvWU1yCP0pR-dWK-NVjLv6I2zjcM-qtxDjHMS9Bb6MUXHpfaGea0lxouSa-zucsnjVCEMsIc_qnb8LDIiE/s2048/IMG_8440.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrOqAXjHnPGHR3ImDTZpO1bLeY5oDwu4myaIz1bct5V8Nf1pM5RCMOTtpZhOfn6Zzi2AU6oqnMb2rEYhuBrOsn8NYBBzyLYGxMXFkqT1ZosvWU1yCP0pR-dWK-NVjLv6I2zjcM-qtxDjHMS9Bb6MUXHpfaGea0lxouSa-zucsnjVCEMsIc_qnb8LDIiE/s320/IMG_8440.JPEG" width="225" /></a></i></b><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KNGYn-pjhnqwgv9VLVv8sAQKGXn_Cfxjo9E6ahbazxf8EbT3iPdDkpQqSGnvPQcVw3RUWDbR_wGnzvJHHPU9ZtRW-tjLFyVZRZuZkCWkx5V2fJ5e4XDQmBJ-Eid7yg5OZ50WvxYvgIbh9ZpCGcZiorAmf1VgyxnbXeOIp_PcKwN7yl3gf4adYIxmZLw/s320/IMG_7251.JPEG" width="225" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This week is also parent viewing at dance so last night I was "loving" watching Rachel do her thing. (And getting to take pictures!) Dave and I even got to participate in her pointe prep class which was an adventure! Above is Rachel with her dance bestie and Rach showing off some jumps. We have another two evenings of parent viewing so I'll be spending a lot more time at the dance studio this week.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>[<i>looking forward to</i>]</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>I'm really "looking forward to" this weekend. I have a fun tea time planned with my best friend, Janice, and we have a quiet Friday night, which I really need! Also, I'm still "looking forward to" every single time the sun shines! It's been a grey winter and, as I'm writing this post, the sun is shining and there's blue sky, and I am giddy!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>[<i>doing to be romantic</i>]</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">So I asked Dave what I was "doing to be romantic." He didn't like my answer of, "Taking care of all the details" so that he didn't have to worry about any of it -- summer details, camp details for the kids, etc. He claimed that wasn't romantic! Then he reminded me of the reason we're just never romantic.</p><p style="text-align: center;">When Sam was about eight months old, we were shopping at a mall. The song, "I Will Always Love You" came on over the mall system. I was pushing Sam in the stroller and I started lip synching the song to Dave, which I thought was sweet. He did <i>not</i> hear the song, and had no idea what was happening. So I'm lip synching, "I-I-I will always love yooo-ooooo-oooou" and he's asking, "Are you okay? Are you having a seizure? Can you talk? What's wrong?!?!?!?"</p><p style="text-align: center;">In short, it was <i>not romantic</i>, Dave was concerned, I was dying laughing, and we've decided that, with us, it's hard to tell if it's romance or a medical emergency! sigh.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i> </i></b><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAIP_olBqMqG1KSZaLMmhbydKqNk_R5lBQbMYpsL2jMcVRfTNLYq1NnRQgHkSGnYO5NCY8fHUm6omXghP7t4YSbQZz0zPkRh8ifmEc8tsgz__A6mHTWWobm5kCQwPtEhw_bRHIuaBfCi2JP99nscHyOfZAe3LXhNeJXy7pJKElaQFZCFZKTx0EGbMwuo/s2048/IMG_7179.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAIP_olBqMqG1KSZaLMmhbydKqNk_R5lBQbMYpsL2jMcVRfTNLYq1NnRQgHkSGnYO5NCY8fHUm6omXghP7t4YSbQZz0zPkRh8ifmEc8tsgz__A6mHTWWobm5kCQwPtEhw_bRHIuaBfCi2JP99nscHyOfZAe3LXhNeJXy7pJKElaQFZCFZKTx0EGbMwuo/w300-h400/IMG_7179.JPEG" width="300" /></a></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Dave and I in a heart in our uptown this past weekend.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>[<i>changing</i>]</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">This is the prompt where you all see how exciting my life really is! The first thing I'm "changing" is the salt in my salt grinder. We bought a grinder full of salt in Bonaire when we were on our cruise in January 2020. We finally used the last of it up earlier this week. Now I've filled the salt shaker with salt that Janice and Tessa brought us back from France in spring 2016. Salt doesn't really lose its saltiness, does it?!?!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i> </i></b><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-JzoifbObboFZvnh-OhER5YHFKkHZaI9zVDGpJVBJDlaQNeQCc3m1bKvSEmw812a7wfZbj6ag177b7xeC7OHwBRh1JJy4vcQ6GeS0OhwPkp5FNaNvwssSwkx6dPp67nBGIw13VilBHKpzfKWto9u7aEltdfgHMZiB_S_az8LUD_TYGRLL19AwvK4ymA/s2048/IMG_7224.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-JzoifbObboFZvnh-OhER5YHFKkHZaI9zVDGpJVBJDlaQNeQCc3m1bKvSEmw812a7wfZbj6ag177b7xeC7OHwBRh1JJy4vcQ6GeS0OhwPkp5FNaNvwssSwkx6dPp67nBGIw13VilBHKpzfKWto9u7aEltdfgHMZiB_S_az8LUD_TYGRLL19AwvK4ymA/w300-h400/IMG_7224.JPEG" width="300" /></a></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">The second thing I'm changing is the colour of my tulips! (My regular blog readers knew I couldn't get through a whole post around this time of year without mentioning tulips, right?!?!?) Now that January is over, I'm buying more red, pink, and purple ones. In January I was all about the yellows and the oranges. I really love both bouquets of tulips I currently have.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl9VlT6l5pF4l5eqJY1QUQNE0Lj7qXt1leC_YIdObMNH9rLRKcmqIZdpVNRHxDgfZGTLrrTPh0JD259y6e3rt1T7GzJ8JiGZ08UOxZP4sJAGqWgKBnRu-57Psf2aCZBq7u7iw8hEW99YS6E7pZq32L2oJfmxpP7C6e-_48f0McqPHIpwwJGwWXgt8s28/s2048/IMG_7225.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirl9VlT6l5pF4l5eqJY1QUQNE0Lj7qXt1leC_YIdObMNH9rLRKcmqIZdpVNRHxDgfZGTLrrTPh0JD259y6e3rt1T7GzJ8JiGZ08UOxZP4sJAGqWgKBnRu-57Psf2aCZBq7u7iw8hEW99YS6E7pZq32L2oJfmxpP7C6e-_48f0McqPHIpwwJGwWXgt8s28/s320/IMG_7225.JPEG" width="225" /></a></i></b><b><i> </i></b><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqfio6-EuiThsfCqduFLVwRSkfqT415uYf5brdD4Sl7eaXQxHO_PeiLAxK1WWrrDF6lUJqoLM4OZctfZ9eWhdrlJpdAFtgfGIzjFscehreWrt_6NGsFOwR582HHoMvprL6j9G89ezwIJkzbFNoEXoGF8iOVu0HsWK1ectFGF7YSNDo_-rTIuv-wGWnc8/s2048/IMG_7223.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqfio6-EuiThsfCqduFLVwRSkfqT415uYf5brdD4Sl7eaXQxHO_PeiLAxK1WWrrDF6lUJqoLM4OZctfZ9eWhdrlJpdAFtgfGIzjFscehreWrt_6NGsFOwR582HHoMvprL6j9G89ezwIJkzbFNoEXoGF8iOVu0HsWK1ectFGF7YSNDo_-rTIuv-wGWnc8/s320/IMG_7223.JPEG" width="225" /></a></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>[<i>celebrating</i>]</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">The first thing I'm "celebrating" is kind of boring but, as of Monday night, we've used up all of the large root vegetables from our fall CSA! Dave asked Sam to peel the rutabaga so I could make fries, and Sam accidentally peeled the celeriac instead. So I made that into fries too. This picture isn't the prettiest but I ate them both with BBQ sauce and thought they were soooo good!<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj238lWBOVu8uNjPbefj_nnnpj8DBgQpJs9ZjGpXKhAIwPDlB98hifZb27yrO4q3vhuU5_zWQ-2tPpgAfqr_oCPs1vBD8AH_igiJeyf9wS_BXq30wU6ieNewfaZNCceqeMFRUWo9T7ayoF2E965iD_pVpNtb9zOQXdP3l97tNQSQQjuHBnSoll7T2N0miw/s2048/IMG_7226.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj238lWBOVu8uNjPbefj_nnnpj8DBgQpJs9ZjGpXKhAIwPDlB98hifZb27yrO4q3vhuU5_zWQ-2tPpgAfqr_oCPs1vBD8AH_igiJeyf9wS_BXq30wU6ieNewfaZNCceqeMFRUWo9T7ayoF2E965iD_pVpNtb9zOQXdP3l97tNQSQQjuHBnSoll7T2N0miw/w300-h400/IMG_7226.JPEG" width="300" /></a></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Also, we are also "celebrating" every single time the sun shines! This past weekend, we enjoyed ice cream twice in celebration. I thought my combination below (strawberries 'n cream and grapefruit hibiscus) was also very festive for February :)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhVCXhM0a1xY8C4xtoOEthvBJHt3s4GYhc8KKUteskvxQxmZpn8JMWdwrd_Z-RIj5W7lBR8_HTWyyYh8I0h8zPsc4AO4WqJD1khIPSaQA_fx6DMg9HxmUCHbKWqh16N0Phz_lEntsNoTNQz4mD3a4xbGoKfmcBFewcVy7F3-cNI3TTub-K90yZWFKD6g/s2048/IMG_7170.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhVCXhM0a1xY8C4xtoOEthvBJHt3s4GYhc8KKUteskvxQxmZpn8JMWdwrd_Z-RIj5W7lBR8_HTWyyYh8I0h8zPsc4AO4WqJD1khIPSaQA_fx6DMg9HxmUCHbKWqh16N0Phz_lEntsNoTNQz4mD3a4xbGoKfmcBFewcVy7F3-cNI3TTub-K90yZWFKD6g/w300-h400/IMG_7170.JPEG" width="300" /></a></i></b><b><i> <br /></i></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">So that is what is up with us in this February edition of "currently." I'm looking forward to reading all your answers to learn how to be romantic in a way that doesn't inspire concern about medical emergencies! Hahahahahahaha!!!</p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-4297157348514714012024-02-05T05:48:00.118-05:002024-02-05T05:48:00.128-05:00The Rest Of My January Reading<p>I promise I did more for the last two weeks of January than just read but I can already tell my reading totals don't support that fact! Hahaha! I also read a whole heck of a lot of World War II fiction set in Paris in those last two weeks. Again, that was not planned!<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627673847i/58346977.jpg" width="214" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I rarely rate books 5 stars on Goodreads but this book ripped my heart out. There were a few times when the tears just started to trickle and I ended up full out sobbing. It reminded me of my reaction to <u>The Friend Zone</u> by Abby Jiminez where I cried so hard I gave myself a headache. This was the same way, without the headache. There were a few times when I had to just put this book down and cry and cry. This is the story of a young woman who made a terrible mistake and is looking for forgiveness and redemption. And the way in which it happens is heartbreaking. Hoover writes about impossible situations and makes you see them from all sides. What is the right answer when all the answers are hard? What is the best one? You have probably seen that meme, "Book lovers are like: This book will rip your heart out and destroy you. Read it." That's how I feel about this one.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566194982l/52140807.jpg" width="212" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I found this on a blog post titled something like, "5 books to help you understand gun violence in the US" and I was hooked. This was the only book I could get through our library. It is really good and a look at the history of violence as it relates to the US, as well as following two specific situations of gun violence -- one the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012 and one the shooting of a young Black man in October 2012. It uses those two stories to talk about different aspects of gun violence and I thought it was really thought provoking. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1462176361i/27214080.jpg" width="212" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm still finishing up a few books from the Decades Reading Challenge I did last year. This was a suggestion for a book covering multiple decades. It is the story of a Secret Service agent as he served with Eisenhower, Kennedy (including being on scene when Kennedy was assassinated), Johnson, Nixon, and Ford. It was an interesting, close up, look at the Secret Service and the presidency from the 50s through the 70s. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681506443i/83137176.jpg" width="214" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I really like the Boyfriend Material series by this same author so was intrigued to pick this one up. Honestly, it didn't really captivate me. I feel like I couldn't really care about the book or root for any character. I would give this one a pass. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646105222i/628139.jpg" width="202" /><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388252959i/534733.jpg" width="194" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">After being up all night with Rachel in the ER in January, and then being sick the next day, I just needed some light reading. Nora's series provided that for me and I've slowly been reading the third book, among other things.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677050625i/75293479.jpg" width="213" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I did not enjoy this final book in the series as much as I'd enjoyed the first two, especially. I did find that the interracial relationship felt a bit unrealistic given that this book was set in the 1880s. I didn't think there would be as much acceptance as there was in the novel. I did love how the epilogue wrapped up the series in a lovely way. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407339340i/22585891.jpg" width="214" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This was a fiction book which read like a nonfiction one. It was another Decades Reading Challenge suggestion. I did not know anything about Coco Chanel and so I found it interesting to read a fictionalized account of her story. However, I was left feeling flat at the end as it appears as if Chanel collaborated with Nazis in Paris during World War II. I am not into fashion <i>at all</i> but if you are, you'd likely enjoy this story.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1643844831i/60294575.jpg" width="254" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I am doing a new reading challenge for this year and it's a Canadian based one aiming at exposing readers to diverse literature. Reading a book by a Palestinian Canadian author was the first challenge. This book was okay but it's all short stories and those are not my favourite form of literature.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659185311i/56687771.jpg" width="212" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This book was more heartbreaking than I'd imagined. I also started and finished it almost in one reading. I don't clearly remember Meissner's other novels but this book was told from two perspectives in two timelines but the first half of the novel was one timeline and then the second half was the other timeline. It was a different way of reading two timelines and I found it a little hard to switch gears halfway through. This book also reminded me, once again, of who defines "crazy" and what happens when the wrong people are in power?<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529333870i/38508757.jpg" width="210" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This was my January lunchtime reading and I couldn't wait for my lunch break every day so I could get back to it. I think this book would be amazing devoured in a couple of big chunks. I wanted to ditch the rest of my work day and keep reading! This was another book combining fashion, Paris during World War II, and a little bit of a mystery. I loved this book! <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566234003i/44890073.jpg" width="212" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I found this book boring which was disappointing because I really loved the last book I read by this trio, <u>The Glass Ocean</u>. This book is set in three timelines and, while I loved the one set in the 60s, I just couldn't care about the other two timelines. It took me a long time (a couple of weeks) to read this book because I just didn't want to read it.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img class="ResponsiveImage" height="320" role="presentation" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1675355524i/62197599.jpg" width="213" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Learn from me and don't pick this book up at 10 at night. I could not put it down and ended up staying up way too late to finish it. This book was engaging, the story sucked me in, I loved both timelines, and it was just so good. Plus, I love reading about British spy operations during World War II as you will remember from my love affair with <u>The Rose Code</u>! While there were parts of this book which were <i>really</i> hard to read, I just thought it was so good.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So that was my January reading. My February reading is off to a slow start but that's because I have very few books on my stack right now. I need to get some more suggestions of what to read so if you have something to recommend, let me know!<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">January total: 20</p><p style="text-align: left;">2024 thus far: 20<br /></p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-40787528910259064072024-02-04T06:32:00.006-05:002024-02-04T06:32:00.138-05:00Friday Favourite Moments #5 (On A Sunday This Time)<p>My Friday Favourite Moments post is, once again, late because I haven't yet learned the rhythm of writing these posts as the week goes on. And I ran out of time to write this on Thursday night. Ooops.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) Salted Caramels at work</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Last year, our Child & Youth Worker worked out of the main office. She had these salted caramels and a few times a week I would get one. This year she works across the hall instead and, while I still see her, it isn't as often. This past week I had a night where I didn't sleep well and I was struggling at work. Our CYW came across the hall with a handful of these exclaiming, "Look what I just found!" It was such a lift that day to eat one of these.<b> </b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-v7LKL3oD-touWnXY1jWzwpDRCpn2dtdvCHND80lUdcnHHeSXS8y08VtU8cPUY7fCKGK9wutr1Uz5-E1txW5Aqo6ROm4n5YjhaA1O1HeDNw3X4fddeFlc_NuQOFw5K519_YWvHBEB4YBHG61M3XDnBcuzWf6byZX1J9A1Zntg8c5jAykERiNueSNE_A/s2048/IMG_7150.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-v7LKL3oD-touWnXY1jWzwpDRCpn2dtdvCHND80lUdcnHHeSXS8y08VtU8cPUY7fCKGK9wutr1Uz5-E1txW5Aqo6ROm4n5YjhaA1O1HeDNw3X4fddeFlc_NuQOFw5K519_YWvHBEB4YBHG61M3XDnBcuzWf6byZX1J9A1Zntg8c5jAykERiNueSNE_A/w300-h400/IMG_7150.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b>2) My yellow-orange tulips</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some bouquets of tulips just bring me a little more joy than others. This past week I was getting such a lift out of these yellow-orange ones. I may have mentioned a time (or seven!) that we've hardly had any sun in our area for the past month, but these tulips brought some much needed sunshine to our living room!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAO212HgRybiZkZwqcFNRmHDcsuzciH7RMkDMRyAg96os79FgUZrLyblF_az3KYAYVMag-SrIBvy2UkPs8Sr8gSN11j0f0Ynhg3DoNplsQxP2twlC2KA6yIq-BjHCBUp6GoYQPMB9YgZwGPbgdq_CxNDkbsKXfFWEzO6AgvDv5VZZ80d_4_NqXvNE8Ggg/s2048/IMG_7151.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAO212HgRybiZkZwqcFNRmHDcsuzciH7RMkDMRyAg96os79FgUZrLyblF_az3KYAYVMag-SrIBvy2UkPs8Sr8gSN11j0f0Ynhg3DoNplsQxP2twlC2KA6yIq-BjHCBUp6GoYQPMB9YgZwGPbgdq_CxNDkbsKXfFWEzO6AgvDv5VZZ80d_4_NqXvNE8Ggg/w300-h400/IMG_7151.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>3) Thursday night at dance</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rachel is dancing with the Chamber orchestra later today and there was an extra rehearsal on Thursday night. I volunteered to help watch dancers and there were three of us on duty. We had the best conversation about travel, dance, raising our kids, and so much more. It was such a fun hour and a half of keeping an eye on the dancers (who honestly were so well behaved we only need to "shush" them a few times) but mostly connecting with some other dance moms. (This is also why I didn't get this post written on Thursday night.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So this past week was short and sweet. This weekend has already been full of a few favourites so next week's post will likely be a little longer. And, if I've learned my lesson about writing it as I go, it might even be on time! For those of you who write a regular Friday Favourites post, how do you write it -- all at once on Thursday or throughout the week? Teach me your ways, wise (and timely) bloggers :)</div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-48413475851625687082024-01-31T05:19:00.210-05:002024-01-31T05:19:00.138-05:00What's Up Wednesday: January 2024When the last Wednesday of January is on the last day of the month, it feels like January is fifty days long. It's not that anything horrible has happened in January, it's just been the longest month. Does anyone else feel this way?!?!?!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><p>I love answering the What's Up Wednesday questions every month. I love how they help me reflect on the past month. The questions come from Shay at <a href="https://mixandmatchmama.com/">Mix and Match Mama</a> and Sheaffer at <a href="https://sheaffertoldmeto.com">Sheaffer Told Me To</a><a href="https://sheaffertoldmeto.com">o</a>. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-107990" data-jpibfi-post-excerpt="" data-jpibfi-post-title="Meal Planning Monday #268" data-jpibfi-post-url="https://mixandmatchmama.com/2019/02/meal-planning-monday-268/" data-jpibfi-src="https://mixandmatchmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Whats-Up-Wednesday.png" height="177" src="https://mixandmatchmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Whats-Up-Wednesday.png" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>image from <a href="https://mixandmatchmama.com/2020/04/whats-up-wednesday-04-29-20/" style="color: #666666; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i><br /></div><div><b>What we're eating this week... </b>We've been eating a lot of warm, comfort foods this month. Soups, sheet tray meals, casseroles baked in the oven -- it's all about filling, warm food around here. I'll write more about this below under "What I'm watching" but we've eaten <i>a lot</i> of soup this month and I've turned all our old, frozen hamburger and hot dog buns into garlic bread to go with various soups. The kids have gobbled them up and I'm thankful not to have old buns in our freezer anymore!<b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-rTE3DA3-wh2yc0i4CJJr519jEEwsd-wkYPNjm_OhX8OVxqzhhjrxZD1mYI4vWbTBG_4aGJuUu7ScMbe1ey3qjN4PKCDBrU8oNcfhPpWZfTFuTkuFytHc3xBhVUyR4ujK803xJg3EE9clEBZS0aWabPSqLWXJUr5HQr3GeQvUbHd-POGaxP7e6Wr6jY/s2048/IMG_7115.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-rTE3DA3-wh2yc0i4CJJr519jEEwsd-wkYPNjm_OhX8OVxqzhhjrxZD1mYI4vWbTBG_4aGJuUu7ScMbe1ey3qjN4PKCDBrU8oNcfhPpWZfTFuTkuFytHc3xBhVUyR4ujK803xJg3EE9clEBZS0aWabPSqLWXJUr5HQr3GeQvUbHd-POGaxP7e6Wr6jY/w300-h400/IMG_7115.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div></b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Sheet pan dinner with beets, carrots, rutabaga, and sausage</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i> <br /></i></span></div></b><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">As I've
been writing this post, however, I've been eating a bowl of raspberries
and drinking a cup of decaf black tea. We've had a lot of tea this
month, especially in the evenings.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></div></div></div><div><b>What I'm reminiscing about... </b>I'm reminiscing about our winter getaway last January. We walked goats, we skated in a forest, we went downhill skiing, we went in a hot tub, we kicksledded, and we laughed <i>a lot</i>! It was such a good weekend away and I hope we can do it again some year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYqrgKwKT1Y5GH0xSk6qC-K242qj6GoteCIDrbe8IAYFVh9jU8Nxb0Md1xRjpX7CC5YxcUycawm5IT5t0dPpfvPLL1ibFdQzx8_raxr8skJhU1XgQCBzTepyt4SCJTRj5RE5NIJcu8wASqstKFo-yRB1z5PSvmcFWeGmJClhq0ymebXmuFaJm8Tuder0/s2048/IMG_5073.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYqrgKwKT1Y5GH0xSk6qC-K242qj6GoteCIDrbe8IAYFVh9jU8Nxb0Md1xRjpX7CC5YxcUycawm5IT5t0dPpfvPLL1ibFdQzx8_raxr8skJhU1XgQCBzTepyt4SCJTRj5RE5NIJcu8wASqstKFo-yRB1z5PSvmcFWeGmJClhq0ymebXmuFaJm8Tuder0/s320/IMG_5073.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkfN-UlWBULVIGcghcZqtxD4v971l74NDSPf8CcHxpj4xOcsP1d_jQ-i1GYSvHiEN8U7LyuHDrDe_WuguVxF0gpwPJ448qUo2cubOVvHe2ZKwt4y31jHbzSk-NE2zISOP4mvBIEv2VO6v-EMswFA7z_qT__G-KrOGd10JqohiZxLqW74MufPuIoOI_Vs/s2048/IMG_5125.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkfN-UlWBULVIGcghcZqtxD4v971l74NDSPf8CcHxpj4xOcsP1d_jQ-i1GYSvHiEN8U7LyuHDrDe_WuguVxF0gpwPJ448qUo2cubOVvHe2ZKwt4y31jHbzSk-NE2zISOP4mvBIEv2VO6v-EMswFA7z_qT__G-KrOGd10JqohiZxLqW74MufPuIoOI_Vs/s320/IMG_5125.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqLpD3i8WBB-5fhEcQ3hU8DhgKM6xmdTUB174Fsyoyhb_bTpcJMueO_KMDCUhenrhWGEiDiFNgAYo97NvJ1qN_uC4rRE6IrkeMtGfP1gGqwBVkQ4c5FYQMz_eMD7BMzKSZaRhaPNta-o1OVl46dZMrvI8jSPwnjuS_toYqhNFpO_yizTEOIIqs1ZbG-s/s2048/IMG_0687.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqLpD3i8WBB-5fhEcQ3hU8DhgKM6xmdTUB174Fsyoyhb_bTpcJMueO_KMDCUhenrhWGEiDiFNgAYo97NvJ1qN_uC4rRE6IrkeMtGfP1gGqwBVkQ4c5FYQMz_eMD7BMzKSZaRhaPNta-o1OVl46dZMrvI8jSPwnjuS_toYqhNFpO_yizTEOIIqs1ZbG-s/w150-h200/IMG_0687.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4Hh8tRg2MGnu-p-o7cdif9HeEpeG9zj338dMKGu3E2GfqJUunxFl1Uybf_RCUuiTwcz_d98Jny19R7Wks6Vy3PmZzWXWtBoN7rQtPL5xMLk85lwTceNbf_iyB5TXfTXt8NfGnsOvbrhtzRMsLTAnyrKTioPhE2kPLwYHwrL00ZkxcCtLe7Wq6GHrQCs/s2048/IMG_0719.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4Hh8tRg2MGnu-p-o7cdif9HeEpeG9zj338dMKGu3E2GfqJUunxFl1Uybf_RCUuiTwcz_d98Jny19R7Wks6Vy3PmZzWXWtBoN7rQtPL5xMLk85lwTceNbf_iyB5TXfTXt8NfGnsOvbrhtzRMsLTAnyrKTioPhE2kPLwYHwrL00ZkxcCtLe7Wq6GHrQCs/w150-h200/IMG_0719.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvqknVcu3c6y2tnzsN59TCbQg7pa-1F9HfdNwO1IdPVAfJ0cyJl3dYFexm_c8T7q-RIibRCSsgUiOkgAy9BSK2II75pZZ54QpAAJP7yZN8L1GzT-Dk4nRLCCsIgI0WnmUyqSWKidoRNhc1ktUrh_j_ka-18gTebVK-M1xKFKUeYIz0fl3D7Dx9v8HxOk/s2048/IMG_5232.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvqknVcu3c6y2tnzsN59TCbQg7pa-1F9HfdNwO1IdPVAfJ0cyJl3dYFexm_c8T7q-RIibRCSsgUiOkgAy9BSK2II75pZZ54QpAAJP7yZN8L1GzT-Dk4nRLCCsIgI0WnmUyqSWKidoRNhc1ktUrh_j_ka-18gTebVK-M1xKFKUeYIz0fl3D7Dx9v8HxOk/w150-h200/IMG_5232.JPEG" width="135" /></a></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>What I'm loving...</b> I am loving my January tulips! Our January has been unusually grey this year and my bouquets of tulips are a bright spot of colour. As we head towards February I'll get more pink and purple ones but so far I've been loving the yellows and oranges and whites. I need all the sunny colours I can get inside since we've barely had any sun this January.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZQ5ADW4LPlfZ_7RN-j-qCt0OPEKaJy6fHlJd7rHWTdfoLuDwuPlPOZAU4NJy5IJ2BMgIpm72xTZeRNst0in9VMV-E4i6SpxNDG25sMCcd03rwreOZHuBdLuUmcwI9nDU8iPs-feRPsGNoxIIdTfgNNTeLAgpi1Ro4333sN4_0pMrwH7kCJHq2hDH1Qk/s2048/IMG_7140.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZQ5ADW4LPlfZ_7RN-j-qCt0OPEKaJy6fHlJd7rHWTdfoLuDwuPlPOZAU4NJy5IJ2BMgIpm72xTZeRNst0in9VMV-E4i6SpxNDG25sMCcd03rwreOZHuBdLuUmcwI9nDU8iPs-feRPsGNoxIIdTfgNNTeLAgpi1Ro4333sN4_0pMrwH7kCJHq2hDH1Qk/w150-h200/IMG_7140.JPEG" width="135" /></a></b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhT4vK81ekl4lXH5ZIkJx3VukxbvVhaQJGgWV7bsbYSNs4MoT0BQ_KCbPzzo9z6sB84VhEKjAHvVi6gqvbj20eA2GIgj2EaMseNKLQ57D7tmQYa4w7_f_vMf7Y5FBo95ISOhwsvjAwkccrIoydcVV2Kqa5GDCzMoKR6EOg0fP845tW2B6T7R7Fm8w9Nc/s2048/IMG_6950.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhT4vK81ekl4lXH5ZIkJx3VukxbvVhaQJGgWV7bsbYSNs4MoT0BQ_KCbPzzo9z6sB84VhEKjAHvVi6gqvbj20eA2GIgj2EaMseNKLQ57D7tmQYa4w7_f_vMf7Y5FBo95ISOhwsvjAwkccrIoydcVV2Kqa5GDCzMoKR6EOg0fP845tW2B6T7R7Fm8w9Nc/w150-h200/IMG_6950.JPEG" width="135" /></a></b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTm9RjDJGArxFxp218SrdbVMk_HPRLT90pf7SAWKRyFYUldR7n51Kh11VDH3oqWwsNf3DtBcokjrZlm-H8KPv8c7ZUM6YhqClOHJJQDBu2qIf0eJHGH6Y4L1e25z15LdIbbiCBQkd3LdPtQewjBTlyGCnY_6ddC9xuRzLLu0KjlqVH7xzlC71kdHoPlt0/s2048/IMG_7090.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTm9RjDJGArxFxp218SrdbVMk_HPRLT90pf7SAWKRyFYUldR7n51Kh11VDH3oqWwsNf3DtBcokjrZlm-H8KPv8c7ZUM6YhqClOHJJQDBu2qIf0eJHGH6Y4L1e25z15LdIbbiCBQkd3LdPtQewjBTlyGCnY_6ddC9xuRzLLu0KjlqVH7xzlC71kdHoPlt0/w150-h200/IMG_7090.JPEG" width="135" /></a></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTm9RjDJGArxFxp218SrdbVMk_HPRLT90pf7SAWKRyFYUldR7n51Kh11VDH3oqWwsNf3DtBcokjrZlm-H8KPv8c7ZUM6YhqClOHJJQDBu2qIf0eJHGH6Y4L1e25z15LdIbbiCBQkd3LdPtQewjBTlyGCnY_6ddC9xuRzLLu0KjlqVH7xzlC71kdHoPlt0/s2048/IMG_7090.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b></b></a><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMVje2T5avpQ4Fwe9M2IcvpDAgKQhsA2vGv8H9POdhwoSCuP3N14I1D9A5npPhvCzwk12R9F0ZDEsG5nlXA0UxqzfvgXnqQqmWbr0Aedaa1BbMkktl4Or41KfW8ozF_K23bjClZkkFXCN28ZczYyPJFSyS8SotnsAoO2oONVTtLGUDXb6mKL0PnlvCx0/s2048/IMG_6867.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMVje2T5avpQ4Fwe9M2IcvpDAgKQhsA2vGv8H9POdhwoSCuP3N14I1D9A5npPhvCzwk12R9F0ZDEsG5nlXA0UxqzfvgXnqQqmWbr0Aedaa1BbMkktl4Or41KfW8ozF_K23bjClZkkFXCN28ZczYyPJFSyS8SotnsAoO2oONVTtLGUDXb6mKL0PnlvCx0/w300-h400/IMG_6867.JPEG" width="300" /></a></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>What we've been up to... </b>January has been a weird month. As I said above, it's felt very long but we haven't done a lot. We went to our church's Winter Retreat (you can read more that about <a href="https://daveandnatasha.blogspot.com/2024/01/wonderful-wintry-weekend.html">here</a>).<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRa0XgKZbjN6j0dkb2EtpYxphd4lj2eAtAIDrH3YXCFO8Y6D8B6EtjQR4-qbl0veT1x-TDP1Ab6s3zCmqN7_LTTzC1N0pX9SnXxLfF6Ea2IID3BbAj4-IylvKjVTgmNsT_OOPX14oMc51iBBqHWkJQ4GzbztOpulBLd7opjXQLTWtoNNTK2cNWWNPGDTE/s2048/IMG_7008.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRa0XgKZbjN6j0dkb2EtpYxphd4lj2eAtAIDrH3YXCFO8Y6D8B6EtjQR4-qbl0veT1x-TDP1Ab6s3zCmqN7_LTTzC1N0pX9SnXxLfF6Ea2IID3BbAj4-IylvKjVTgmNsT_OOPX14oMc51iBBqHWkJQ4GzbztOpulBLd7opjXQLTWtoNNTK2cNWWNPGDTE/s320/IMG_7008.JPEG" width="225" /></a></b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAhQqAyU0YcQWxyJO7nh8wFSTwbqDVbKxlcP7IZm-9huL2YEtT9YdWi8s6GX6av5KWThi-MIuKCIlUYpOk9BaFTSdE2OmKL2AAEkjgFCW-y0REcVZpWvqSy67EWUVEVner6hVEFxrfRcmgAsv8sYfS1OONtxkmzkk1ZWmfC_dSo23O7i-RepCVIlZZos/s2048/IMG_7052.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAhQqAyU0YcQWxyJO7nh8wFSTwbqDVbKxlcP7IZm-9huL2YEtT9YdWi8s6GX6av5KWThi-MIuKCIlUYpOk9BaFTSdE2OmKL2AAEkjgFCW-y0REcVZpWvqSy67EWUVEVner6hVEFxrfRcmgAsv8sYfS1OONtxkmzkk1ZWmfC_dSo23O7i-RepCVIlZZos/s320/IMG_7052.JPEG" width="225" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">We also celebrated Dave's birthday although we didn't do anything big.<b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHt28W0JzwB8iEyLJ3PoTAmPqWAJpwtprIN3PbczgxOLa6wmGICgL4tFzE_soQCQd0rjH_GErGj6EgFNPu5de6cQsid0A3RizFiIk-Te7VZP3U4xOQjvh8X5dNSVsbHk_tCOjmX7kVs0dxiIvaChjXhxtpaZkv9OQ5aDHAxApZOIxzNMkE4O3XpRhz10/s2046/IMG_6987.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHt28W0JzwB8iEyLJ3PoTAmPqWAJpwtprIN3PbczgxOLa6wmGICgL4tFzE_soQCQd0rjH_GErGj6EgFNPu5de6cQsid0A3RizFiIk-Te7VZP3U4xOQjvh8X5dNSVsbHk_tCOjmX7kVs0dxiIvaChjXhxtpaZkv9OQ5aDHAxApZOIxzNMkE4O3XpRhz10/w301-h400/IMG_6987.JPEG" width="301" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Other than that, Rachel's had a lot of dance, Sam's been finishing up his first semester of high school, and Dave and I have been working. Oh, and Dave has taken the kids to <i>a lot</i> of orthodontist and dentist appointments!<b> </b><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FKB3lPDN2MRt7y33HFvmxu44zvM0w9eaGG9F27kYMH1aIruKimyQ6u4Zo7CxU5VtYK8au9mWVWTM1AlSiUuUvHp3RHhWGfrgaO-oFKFJMFEFVKFCqTZ3jqpzf9VLDeRXgaNjiI3wJo-4hI6_-q8C1Z4g7rSBHv3ynf_7_yYGi5tSz58zjiALGMMolvs/s2048/IMG_7138.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FKB3lPDN2MRt7y33HFvmxu44zvM0w9eaGG9F27kYMH1aIruKimyQ6u4Zo7CxU5VtYK8au9mWVWTM1AlSiUuUvHp3RHhWGfrgaO-oFKFJMFEFVKFCqTZ3jqpzf9VLDeRXgaNjiI3wJo-4hI6_-q8C1Z4g7rSBHv3ynf_7_yYGi5tSz58zjiALGMMolvs/w300-h400/IMG_7138.jpeg" width="300" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Rachel and I also spent some time in the ER last week. She is fine but was diagnosed with a viral bronchial infection. Basically, if she is awake, she is coughing, and this could continue for the next four to six weeks. Thankfully, she isn't contagious. This picture was taken at 1:30 in the morning and we still had three hours to wait to see a doctor. Phew. (Also, Rachel gave me permission to both post this picture and talk about her health.)<b><br /></b></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b>What I'm dreading... </b>Ice. This is the time of year when walking can be treacherous because of ice. I really dread falling and getting hurt. Thankfully, it's been warm enough the past few days that the sidewalks aren't icy, but I highly doubt we're done with ice for the winter. Rachel's friend slipped on an icy sidewalk and broke her finger earlier this week so my dread feels justified.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I had my first mammogram a few weeks ago, just a baseline check (nothing concerning), but I'm dreading getting the results back <i>just in case</i> there is something wrong. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div><b>What I'm working on...</b> Planning summer. We're in the midst of winter here and I'm trying to sort out our summer. We can sign the kids up for some of their camps today and tomorrow so we've needed to figure this out already. We're trying to decide on our family vacation, maybe plan a trip for just Dave and I (maybe), and then trying to figure out how to fit in all the things the kids want to do.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>What I'm excited about...</b> I'm excited every single time the sun shines because it's so rare these days! Other than that, I'm not all that excited about anything right now. Our forecast is showing <i>four straight days</i> of sun, starting on Friday so I'm very hopeful that will actually happen!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><br /></div><div><b>What I'm watching/reading...</b>
The kids wanted to start watching Marvel movies so we've dived into those. I asked my coworker for recommendations (because I don't want to watch all nine million of them) and so we're following her suggestions. Thus far we've watched <u>Iron Man</u>, <u>The Incredible Hulk,</u> <u>Thor,</u> and <u>Captain America</u>. We started calling it "Soup & SuperHeroes" and I try to make soup on nights we're watching the movies. We need something to entertain us during these long, winter nights! Hahaha!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGmjR0E_bx3PryTtt9zaZTwkFXDQwxb0p8Du3OMU7CICgVaNZSk1MxzVwNAob3SQaTLWzbhjuG_M7_RnlgsmahJvpZbi3muzJS_QntHvlsdQykOSHhCB2gDmljDWUAlcqaC-WDW20w4IIge3qitCZ9hCrcX1Km_WiX3HFtK6s4PECWK32ze9w_qE0jH0/s2048/IMG_6944.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGmjR0E_bx3PryTtt9zaZTwkFXDQwxb0p8Du3OMU7CICgVaNZSk1MxzVwNAob3SQaTLWzbhjuG_M7_RnlgsmahJvpZbi3muzJS_QntHvlsdQykOSHhCB2gDmljDWUAlcqaC-WDW20w4IIge3qitCZ9hCrcX1Km_WiX3HFtK6s4PECWK32ze9w_qE0jH0/w150-h200/IMG_6944.JPEG" width="135" /></a><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhHEhVxqKAH4Z6JUKqUL_wsuzGDYGeSjKGseWeQIPk3vBM0y5nlRkjDVLdcn7bcxmBUUqOJTxEBdh18b9XFMnnk1kEEH9CoM2jbQ7Vy8UTJ5SmgBjPhaVgXRdbIRGrSWzUW7CiEmEovPAUrhsdFxyqnz1P9KeAsdkJVpLeRx4UR96FTFpzpbSTGrj4zQ/s2048/IMG_7129.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhHEhVxqKAH4Z6JUKqUL_wsuzGDYGeSjKGseWeQIPk3vBM0y5nlRkjDVLdcn7bcxmBUUqOJTxEBdh18b9XFMnnk1kEEH9CoM2jbQ7Vy8UTJ5SmgBjPhaVgXRdbIRGrSWzUW7CiEmEovPAUrhsdFxyqnz1P9KeAsdkJVpLeRx4UR96FTFpzpbSTGrj4zQ/w150-h200/IMG_7129.JPEG" width="135" /></a></b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgqtYkHl5-CrSBGOaHcEpb7Rx3eLhxqEabGJv6kh-rCnPiUbahjLuehUP4PNXw_ClsJeti4ZuS8JQdsVuwQUOvgI9B38ohnq91bUK181RA4tkLZ96yCmS0mO4NwX3q9-gFoxjQ0ciLnqxtKrH0pv2xxzGoOhyphenhyphenb4g8KynCkovwGX63QowR1La0sHbzr14/s2048/IMG_7143.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgqtYkHl5-CrSBGOaHcEpb7Rx3eLhxqEabGJv6kh-rCnPiUbahjLuehUP4PNXw_ClsJeti4ZuS8JQdsVuwQUOvgI9B38ohnq91bUK181RA4tkLZ96yCmS0mO4NwX3q9-gFoxjQ0ciLnqxtKrH0pv2xxzGoOhyphenhyphenb4g8KynCkovwGX63QowR1La0sHbzr14/w150-h200/IMG_7143.JPEG" width="135" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">As for reading, January has been the month of half-finished books. I'm currently in the middle of three books, although I want to finish all of them by the end of today. We shall see if that happens... I rarely juggle as many books as I have been these past two weeks. I am loving my current lunchtime book, <u>The Paris Seamstress</u> by Natasha Lester. It's sooooo good and I want to finish it later today. I'm really hoping that the last fifty pages are as good as the rest of the book has been.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I seem to have read <i>a lot</i> of books which were at least partially set in Paris during World War II this month -- <u>The Paris Seamstress</u>, <u>Mademoiselle Chanel</u>, and <u>All the Ways We Said Goodbye</u>. That was not an intentional choice on my part!<b> </b> <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><b> </b> </div><div><b>What I'm listening to...</b> Rachel's coughing has defined this month. I <i>really</i> hope she feels better soon. Another thing I was listening to earlier this month is that our neighbours' house which had the fire last spring <i>finally</i> got torn down. Now it's just a small hole on an empty lot. I'm assuming the new owners will start building sometime in the spring or summer.
<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>What I'm wearing... </b>I haven't been wearing anything exciting at all, although I got two pairs of work pants which I love. They're from Old Navy. I got the exact same pair -- one in brown and one in grey. Other than that, if I'm at home, I'm probably wearing pajamas!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="High-Waisted Pixie Flare Pants for Women" class="css-1fe0xra" height="321px" id="611133093" src="https://oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/webcontent/0053/619/614/cn53619614.jpg?q=h&w=236" width="240px" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>My new pants (not me modelling them! Hahahaha!)</i><br /></p><div><b>What I'm doing this weekend...</b> Rachel is dancing with the Chamber Orchestra on Sunday afternoon so we're going to that performance. Also, our favourite ice cream shop is having an "ice cream for breakfast" fundraiser on Saturday so we're going to go there too!<br /></div><br /><div><b>What I'm looking forward to next month...</b> A three day weekend with no plans (whoo hoo!!!), a special tea time with Janice, and Spring Training starts for baseball!!!!!!! By next What's Up Wednesday, I'll have hopefully listened to a few Spring Training games and I cannot wait!!!!!!<br /></div><p><b>What I bought on Amazon... </b>I don't even know who we are because we bought something on Amazon <i>again</i> this month. My FitBit holder was wearing out and I was worried I was going to lose my FitBit. I had to go to Amazon to find a new one. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61rHncUCg4L._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="800" height="303" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61rHncUCg4L._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So that's our not very exciting January wrapped up. Here's hoping February brings a little more excitement (of the fun kind!) and a lot more sun! I know it will definitely bring more tulips! Have you had sun or grey where you live? What brightens your days when it's a grey month? I need some tips!<br /></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-91026366412269847072024-01-29T05:47:00.001-05:002024-01-29T05:47:00.160-05:00Friday Favourite Moments #4 (On A Monday)<p>This was supposed to be a post for this past Friday but unfortunately, I had to take Rachel to the ER on Thursday night. We spent six hours waiting for her to get seen and, by the time I got home, I'd been up for 24 hours and needed sleep. Rachel is okay but has a viral bronchial infection which is causing her to cough if she's awake. Sadly, it could take 4-6 weeks for her cough to completely clear up, but thankfully, she's not contagious. So with that explanation, on with my favourite moments from this past week... <br /></p><p>I'm so glad I started documenting these moments as it helps me to look out for little things in my week to be thankful for.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) Sunrise</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">While I sometimes wish I could just stay home and enjoy a slow morning, especially in winter, the sunrise on Monday was glorious!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrg8XB_SdYjKlZprbHEZLzBQA-0C3Zg1OcWnONr_o03yNtX_d_FnszQOxqsqO3vLQyGIW4UcHYlEICHAwIGiPi986-cWuxS2ZUAR6GCBhfFPu3-Ay2_3Pu7BNPDjSgDU7aqUc00FYC88YNzdcV2eKmfH2SYo8ZGNgpj3_ceRc6kjDMLunneCavU3mbY3c/s2048/IMG_7092.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrg8XB_SdYjKlZprbHEZLzBQA-0C3Zg1OcWnONr_o03yNtX_d_FnszQOxqsqO3vLQyGIW4UcHYlEICHAwIGiPi986-cWuxS2ZUAR6GCBhfFPu3-Ay2_3Pu7BNPDjSgDU7aqUc00FYC88YNzdcV2eKmfH2SYo8ZGNgpj3_ceRc6kjDMLunneCavU3mbY3c/w300-h400/IMG_7092.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2) Random Candyland display</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">We had to go for an appointment and the foyer of the building we were in had a Candyland display set up. We had some time to kill so enjoyed playing Candyland (through an app) and taking pictures of the installation. It was a fun little bit of randomness in our afternoon.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd55Yg9O0p0RX2jsDiQ-abLa3Z7WfoQPKY2ABebiriPqwpTVjRPSEN1exd8y6Y10gn33b1PnZgEY1BzCrDfBhJqF_F4ZgRsZDK4a3hCtcxyg99mqoLXlS8MMXyTWJ793anjjbbLmWZ_fpvimkenzCiH6-APVoC9BgXuNef-vLMh08inQM5J30S9urutU/s2048/IMG_7069.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd55Yg9O0p0RX2jsDiQ-abLa3Z7WfoQPKY2ABebiriPqwpTVjRPSEN1exd8y6Y10gn33b1PnZgEY1BzCrDfBhJqF_F4ZgRsZDK4a3hCtcxyg99mqoLXlS8MMXyTWJ793anjjbbLmWZ_fpvimkenzCiH6-APVoC9BgXuNef-vLMh08inQM5J30S9urutU/s320/IMG_7069.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmgqo5Sw8Bzs6YJFS84oPxGDrMO9uq0cNapC7jiUy_AWIppZgZp14wlg4y5iQfiIISIPx-_gOJOwcC0N833b4IpS8qQv0-Y8NN14MUy3HCbCpWvblKa479AYdDqLp4tNuI-iA_8lgLZKO5cnoi5FWim6sJ6CtXixr1_PMAhwRaE28qgVsBHyvS_of9uQ/s2048/IMG_7070.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmgqo5Sw8Bzs6YJFS84oPxGDrMO9uq0cNapC7jiUy_AWIppZgZp14wlg4y5iQfiIISIPx-_gOJOwcC0N833b4IpS8qQv0-Y8NN14MUy3HCbCpWvblKa479AYdDqLp4tNuI-iA_8lgLZKO5cnoi5FWim6sJ6CtXixr1_PMAhwRaE28qgVsBHyvS_of9uQ/s320/IMG_7070.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLJHDX3Lpzcx1BzgodEJS9SbX3824bcj0XYU3L05KrhULXP-EYe__4Jt5VknaJOM2MGbaBqDajgArc-w6Lr-E6xHnKYwdttpGTMFKrbsgZOL0bY7JqPATKAqiNVnSpdDzP6AymTHfs8Rl-8MUc_2ob1dB8Ys-G_mAqiEWFuRwEeSI9Dcmgv-uUpgmS3g/s2048/IMG_7086.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLJHDX3Lpzcx1BzgodEJS9SbX3824bcj0XYU3L05KrhULXP-EYe__4Jt5VknaJOM2MGbaBqDajgArc-w6Lr-E6xHnKYwdttpGTMFKrbsgZOL0bY7JqPATKAqiNVnSpdDzP6AymTHfs8Rl-8MUc_2ob1dB8Ys-G_mAqiEWFuRwEeSI9Dcmgv-uUpgmS3g/w240-h320/IMG_7086.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4onEFCRe16bFCHRTXbJotgeASWk7UCK6XWrgrhwoRiDX3ShgReOpcIUxtm3WXn1qndd2izIegBIjgCts5B0QafRvsq1_QXZhyvK0o4esSxQh04t1BOeml5JsMi1IsZydl5jt3OQegEw__SVlg1lsQUBfOJNoVnbvVhYWskkTQahIKNuQt14Iftl0N2mw/s2048/IMG_7080.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4onEFCRe16bFCHRTXbJotgeASWk7UCK6XWrgrhwoRiDX3ShgReOpcIUxtm3WXn1qndd2izIegBIjgCts5B0QafRvsq1_QXZhyvK0o4esSxQh04t1BOeml5JsMi1IsZydl5jt3OQegEw__SVlg1lsQUBfOJNoVnbvVhYWskkTQahIKNuQt14Iftl0N2mw/w240-h320/IMG_7080.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPQBMBAo8vPJd3eQOUkVIzFgs4mbTgPD7QwzlAxmGH9TGPcLUY3nJZh7aF6G4bDjIivbhGYDBBwAj6gQkR9O3Xr1hujiXvR0GB6KrJfYyC_XpKQVitgxgJt88cfmDUkf_2HH37lRA1N2v1zVdQ10MVDoTgDfopUrWwoPi8tshs_Y48fP9kg2-HwSt__U/s2048/IMG_7081.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPQBMBAo8vPJd3eQOUkVIzFgs4mbTgPD7QwzlAxmGH9TGPcLUY3nJZh7aF6G4bDjIivbhGYDBBwAj6gQkR9O3Xr1hujiXvR0GB6KrJfYyC_XpKQVitgxgJt88cfmDUkf_2HH37lRA1N2v1zVdQ10MVDoTgDfopUrWwoPi8tshs_Y48fP9kg2-HwSt__U/w240-h320/IMG_7081.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydAmkv5Cu2yzalKNSJh_5Xsn1HWoaNd8TkwfCGYJeMyxtci4p1HdzTG9xxuPhdTzbmfuixwwJkHedfaz93zLppYUSLh-KBBvBjygOjTt5a-iuQhaY0Y8wnnGudKLDzquQyOTREy5ZT1DWMICavp-JojoYOe4yZkOKRUkxK9hCEkmPk3iNbwpgxq4e8CU/s2048/IMG_7077.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydAmkv5Cu2yzalKNSJh_5Xsn1HWoaNd8TkwfCGYJeMyxtci4p1HdzTG9xxuPhdTzbmfuixwwJkHedfaz93zLppYUSLh-KBBvBjygOjTt5a-iuQhaY0Y8wnnGudKLDzquQyOTREy5ZT1DWMICavp-JojoYOe4yZkOKRUkxK9hCEkmPk3iNbwpgxq4e8CU/w240-h320/IMG_7077.JPEG" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b>3) Trying to enjoy winter</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">The snowfall we got earlier this week was beautiful. It was one of those perfect, fat flakes of snow falling, snow piling up in lovely ways, winter snowfall.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKEzU5OUXgLd2XX1yUD6KKXwSj9FrMZbhNUShYFI50DPOEHwbECbFZl1A2qv5JsVF_cAnddeOu9na2bOZKql6s_5C_IT5W2rHQDfYvn2onvizXyXsKgvvrqfWidrKGO9SI9B_q9LmPLQhUBCqSjUvmNDzbkdhehp-ozMytTIEpRdmNGJqHe5kbqiBnL0/s2048/IMG_7117.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKEzU5OUXgLd2XX1yUD6KKXwSj9FrMZbhNUShYFI50DPOEHwbECbFZl1A2qv5JsVF_cAnddeOu9na2bOZKql6s_5C_IT5W2rHQDfYvn2onvizXyXsKgvvrqfWidrKGO9SI9B_q9LmPLQhUBCqSjUvmNDzbkdhehp-ozMytTIEpRdmNGJqHe5kbqiBnL0/s320/IMG_7117.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscalEAymyiUBqQl_V1aSxSiQD7SKQFV-nj3Jj7_bSlWGbReDRkFVxkk1ha_ktFR5OCRcGs7CLQJJptut0cBhWdLmvsEbvNyKrX-o7nKcgKxBYZ7Cv1sZhfbuGWqQq9vSoS0oXE89Er04mmzIKb6g_EQoQB_IQa9kkEgUEnfSwCUe3eM9OMkpEJaNw4fQ/s2048/IMG_7112.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscalEAymyiUBqQl_V1aSxSiQD7SKQFV-nj3Jj7_bSlWGbReDRkFVxkk1ha_ktFR5OCRcGs7CLQJJptut0cBhWdLmvsEbvNyKrX-o7nKcgKxBYZ7Cv1sZhfbuGWqQq9vSoS0oXE89Er04mmzIKb6g_EQoQB_IQa9kkEgUEnfSwCUe3eM9OMkpEJaNw4fQ/s320/IMG_7112.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgsZvszqi5ucHdX-3YiHlpqisVS0ICtK_varq8d1fGitcTN9b0wZj77bmNv7jwYTqK-Ir73hxsjSaqxruTVRIZIXwd7mlHnPH00O6E4u_8McyBWi1srAv5W4YZ0VjMky22WrpXvUH28bLF7Bii3045RoHBllIOtkZp9yM4Kp74COKze_A_FKS8_mOm0I/s2048/IMG_7107.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgsZvszqi5ucHdX-3YiHlpqisVS0ICtK_varq8d1fGitcTN9b0wZj77bmNv7jwYTqK-Ir73hxsjSaqxruTVRIZIXwd7mlHnPH00O6E4u_8McyBWi1srAv5W4YZ0VjMky22WrpXvUH28bLF7Bii3045RoHBllIOtkZp9yM4Kp74COKze_A_FKS8_mOm0I/w150-h200/IMG_7107.JPEG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XPaI3fkPrWHi2Ua0ys4eyulYmrlCIqzr-0qGZoqKIgLbzTfRxvWuHccrWwEr6TzfC93QlmjzTjKWa0w3rQ09Xdyp96XNJSPea-LoBwVvY4udsfU52VwWmfymHh-CZB5Yx8SqprjMo9FQT11IEHsFJd3v8bMLJEH6dW-6DrwJKKG3Cfh4FtjLtAtKe6c/s2048/IMG_7096.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XPaI3fkPrWHi2Ua0ys4eyulYmrlCIqzr-0qGZoqKIgLbzTfRxvWuHccrWwEr6TzfC93QlmjzTjKWa0w3rQ09Xdyp96XNJSPea-LoBwVvY4udsfU52VwWmfymHh-CZB5Yx8SqprjMo9FQT11IEHsFJd3v8bMLJEH6dW-6DrwJKKG3Cfh4FtjLtAtKe6c/s320/IMG_7096.JPEG" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>4) Snowman plate from Janice</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Janice bought these and didn't need them so passed on a few of these snowman plates to us. I use them for my afternoon snack after work and they just make me so happy. It's fun to have something a little festive in January!<br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGMrNfwlg88mHGUV_iG02j0IqoeYo2FD763TAxUpq9zaZOOvdiCx8HSepcpdqhlUmHPzNU9PVs62cEQPaIffT5UYwh3_QaQHgqPhfjfCNpVc0aucpGLWSATlSQsWVOlcyIqvQJcr2mqJ6_Vaq-a1JiOHh3YTU6tcAXjJ_dFql2Utg6Tv1nzbFiT04ARU/s2048/IMG_7124.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGMrNfwlg88mHGUV_iG02j0IqoeYo2FD763TAxUpq9zaZOOvdiCx8HSepcpdqhlUmHPzNU9PVs62cEQPaIffT5UYwh3_QaQHgqPhfjfCNpVc0aucpGLWSATlSQsWVOlcyIqvQJcr2mqJ6_Vaq-a1JiOHh3YTU6tcAXjJ_dFql2Utg6Tv1nzbFiT04ARU/w300-h400/IMG_7124.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>5) Ice Chipping</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">While we were at Winter Retreat, we ended up with a lot of ice on our back step. We've been dealing with it for about two weeks but I was <i>thrilled</i> this past week that it got warm enough one day that I could chip all the ice off of it. It's so much less treacherous going out our back door now! This is really just a little thing that makes a <i>huge</i> difference.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rGFGpKba8uhVcyq8z78Ar5ZMc_jyQymTPMJ0-ayXOI5zH-oIAib_tZBUtesh64P9mMx-L-C_auZ8rOxK8ZbEamduBgHSuPiG6Lyf_XM3bsIbXk6IhKiyd9abgC0HjcIz0AAkSRz2iFRcmQtVIeSibvdce3cPKrmbl2OGk63IkPmnArsIn_TUWazjSx4/s2048/IMG_7123.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rGFGpKba8uhVcyq8z78Ar5ZMc_jyQymTPMJ0-ayXOI5zH-oIAib_tZBUtesh64P9mMx-L-C_auZ8rOxK8ZbEamduBgHSuPiG6Lyf_XM3bsIbXk6IhKiyd9abgC0HjcIz0AAkSRz2iFRcmQtVIeSibvdce3cPKrmbl2OGk63IkPmnArsIn_TUWazjSx4/w300-h400/IMG_7123.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>So those were my favourite moments from last week.<br /> Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-38501725052592772622024-01-25T05:48:00.179-05:002024-01-25T05:48:00.124-05:00Monthly Musings: Winter Self-Care<p>I love linking up with <a href="https://holly-pinklady.blogspot.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">Holly</a><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"> at Pink Lady and </span><a href="https://goodbetterbestfood.blogspot.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">Patty</a><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"> at Good, Better, Best for their "Monthly Musings." Today we're talking about Winter Self-Care and, given that we are in the depths of snow and ice right now, I have just a few things to say about this topic!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy2gIeHLJcVYhWLjes2Yy2QcaKQR2NfCJHHTTgqXEKiX9Eb3eu_KruQd180IVxCG9pqxzWYXKH64AyFYzFh4XgLFEFhnofZEpb_vNtQV9eLST7iy0IHCwc7SK2WeRVHKiE4VIcX3QVCZCEMRAO2zoeCAQZWIVx7vBwLT5qS9pejYnm-jw4IGX4PJrjJ0n/w400-h400/January%202024%20Monthly%20Musings.jpg" width="400" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1) How do you take care of yourself in winter?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I embrace the dark and the cold and I give myself permission to stay home and stay cozy. I try to make <i>some </i>plans so that I'll leave the house (besides work!), but I also embrace the evenings of drinking tea and reading a book. In winter, it's all about staying warm for me.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0Lzq-po_mQfHiaeU_T6ytNz4RKfjggk1TVfvAJlzjtTa3X54qHnNjnr9lqYMO2nRgslHv0KEe3iwVIsI03wIZua4zMd7CNtlOOIxwp4IfleOgzkI8jx1LVAgXO1fmf1yCvU4Du3ppDdqOAG5E83oTej0PcPWD3Y0qYg7vcqZxFif2doUjKd1Os5Mk8Q/s2048/IMG_6563.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0Lzq-po_mQfHiaeU_T6ytNz4RKfjggk1TVfvAJlzjtTa3X54qHnNjnr9lqYMO2nRgslHv0KEe3iwVIsI03wIZua4zMd7CNtlOOIxwp4IfleOgzkI8jx1LVAgXO1fmf1yCvU4Du3ppDdqOAG5E83oTej0PcPWD3Y0qYg7vcqZxFif2doUjKd1Os5Mk8Q/w300-h400/IMG_6563.JPEG" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>This has been my go to outfit at home this winter -- my Taylor Swift sweatshirt and my fuzzy owl pajama pants. If you stop by our house unexpectedly, ninety percent of the time I'll be wearing this outfit. The other ten percent of the time, it's in the laundry!!!</i> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2) How do you fight the winter blues?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Well, if you've read around here for any length of time, you'll know it's all about the tulips for me!!! I buy myself a couple of bouquets every few weeks and I enjoy them so much! They are a definite bright spot in my January and February.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfGN6ggCScCZgSqOi7VwcSQK2ANj8GruN2BRpOC9lpz1NSoG6dx9_jIwkgOaqxGwT5oA38mI-IgOz6OovsalP3p-W2K8wKGSo2wHDuDnAUz8p7mixaIDh2pTzKOWv9rGpuHYiBmgo9vKR139PRxImERoqEhpA8BU0PsvBj6uK2U5Uc8IwzJhnxaf9-2U/s2048/IMG_6867.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfGN6ggCScCZgSqOi7VwcSQK2ANj8GruN2BRpOC9lpz1NSoG6dx9_jIwkgOaqxGwT5oA38mI-IgOz6OovsalP3p-W2K8wKGSo2wHDuDnAUz8p7mixaIDh2pTzKOWv9rGpuHYiBmgo9vKR139PRxImERoqEhpA8BU0PsvBj6uK2U5Uc8IwzJhnxaf9-2U/s320/IMG_6867.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZhNvAfqn09mLxOAn-z8bjMLhldCFG4fhtSOb_9yn2EtYRsdajRgCLJirOSyrmQa2Eajj-j9Uuh0xir6DndgnAG48UjDtsXEvAbCNT35_EKVqgKe3Boz9coostgf-cdis4zAtYoAl6KyGitSVVGRLn-xPiay4JC4lrKatbycn0CegeyJ2XG4d4KAsBkc/s2048/IMG_7125.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZhNvAfqn09mLxOAn-z8bjMLhldCFG4fhtSOb_9yn2EtYRsdajRgCLJirOSyrmQa2Eajj-j9Uuh0xir6DndgnAG48UjDtsXEvAbCNT35_EKVqgKe3Boz9coostgf-cdis4zAtYoAl6KyGitSVVGRLn-xPiay4JC4lrKatbycn0CegeyJ2XG4d4KAsBkc/s320/IMG_7125.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I also make sure I get a lot of exercise, which is built into my day, walking to work. Even when I have to bundle up, I know it's good for me!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>3) Tips to make your living space cozy?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">My two biggest tips are lots of blankets (there are currently three or four on our living room couch right now) and low lighting. Last year I started putting white twinkle lights on our living room window and I only turn those on in the mornings. It's just a nice way to ease into my day.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1z5BXs1rbz4o9BmG8W37h7Hn0oQ8xgFnPnByXjxn6yLY41seugT_yDhcjaVAZH6J0lBmXNmQVNTpqkgEXsNBoeEQ1FgtCRk435s712qkP9o5ZXbs3CROLzRS-HL1ast2_BW5uLVcaqPsraKa4TAWUY2VxtzzJ73Eq5ILWP7v3WDHSZXpzanZnDr-nJ4/s2048/IMG_9831.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1z5BXs1rbz4o9BmG8W37h7Hn0oQ8xgFnPnByXjxn6yLY41seugT_yDhcjaVAZH6J0lBmXNmQVNTpqkgEXsNBoeEQ1FgtCRk435s712qkP9o5ZXbs3CROLzRS-HL1ast2_BW5uLVcaqPsraKa4TAWUY2VxtzzJ73Eq5ILWP7v3WDHSZXpzanZnDr-nJ4/s320/IMG_9831.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jHKs0gHQP6OIzmQE1icpN5QTpMZoAAMkhvTI66WsMHV1x1bPahXU0G1XqLPU2iAG4048lnzhaiBXMjckn_Va_7wAP6eonu6z_tJUNeRWeaIXX0K-EECT-zUaHSXLWNffubxkEF-efeiqco-bl-WOE9XW4pxWgZIAs_H85GhgPp22Gjdtp0eTE6AtZ4w/s4032/F2474325-7A2D-42D4-9DBF-290520D36AE8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jHKs0gHQP6OIzmQE1icpN5QTpMZoAAMkhvTI66WsMHV1x1bPahXU0G1XqLPU2iAG4048lnzhaiBXMjckn_Va_7wAP6eonu6z_tJUNeRWeaIXX0K-EECT-zUaHSXLWNffubxkEF-efeiqco-bl-WOE9XW4pxWgZIAs_H85GhgPp22Gjdtp0eTE6AtZ4w/s320/F2474325-7A2D-42D4-9DBF-290520D36AE8.jpeg" width="225" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Left: me wrapped up in a blanket; right: my morning twinkle light view</i> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>4) Suggestions for fun wintertime activities?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Skating. Our neighbourhood rink is finally open and I can't wait to go visit it. We have also tried to go downhill skiing the past couple of years. We'll never be avid skiers but it's fun to try once in awhile.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>5) What are your exercise routines in the winter?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I walk to work and back almost every day which is usually between 5 and 6 kilometres (3 plus miles). And then I shovel <i>a lot</i> of snow. This past Sunday it was nice(ish) out so I went and chipped some ice off the driveway. With all the shovelling, I do <i>a lot </i>more weightlifting in winter (hahaha!).</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkOCOYrVOsKD9KIF6u4GL4YSh8xOiGxqYv1JuPjEGdPDueR8_43NVOB9SqR4l9WZrhqr8W7-gaH6as7BIVP7dVad9XBpjJVehewuc68IKrJier4y0IgSea8SRBv8BKV3BIbRsFU_byqLKeSTX7PiOjShrhFeorGogqF50po2KzBseaFh1BC2O3RY4U-E/s2046/IMG_6987.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkOCOYrVOsKD9KIF6u4GL4YSh8xOiGxqYv1JuPjEGdPDueR8_43NVOB9SqR4l9WZrhqr8W7-gaH6as7BIVP7dVad9XBpjJVehewuc68IKrJier4y0IgSea8SRBv8BKV3BIbRsFU_byqLKeSTX7PiOjShrhFeorGogqF50po2KzBseaFh1BC2O3RY4U-E/s320/IMG_6987.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyktwpfKN4VD0B_trBcXbh5-KTDZupNMtGYE5UIszySfLA3znRJ7nadL5w4OD0N7tZWsUw-Q_Onnhfdi-cJeAxFnOhO7awTHXQ2kRQb1sigA-VP7cNG8xkkTNW6ced4RUu3W35o4F0d2YoSkUi1F7G8pjCScZ8Ct_z4CS58Fp-5owPdpsMTxEoX0IOZjg/s2048/IMG_9836.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyktwpfKN4VD0B_trBcXbh5-KTDZupNMtGYE5UIszySfLA3znRJ7nadL5w4OD0N7tZWsUw-Q_Onnhfdi-cJeAxFnOhO7awTHXQ2kRQb1sigA-VP7cNG8xkkTNW6ced4RUu3W35o4F0d2YoSkUi1F7G8pjCScZ8Ct_z4CS58Fp-5owPdpsMTxEoX0IOZjg/s320/IMG_9836.JPEG" width="225" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>6) Best tips for restful sleep?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Make sure you are warm enough. In winter, I heat up my comfort bag and fall asleep with it on my feet. I also wear socks to bed. I <i>hate</i> being cold at night, and, as you might be able to tell, I especially hate having cold feet!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>7) Favourite warm beverage?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">In the morning, I drink coffee-hot chocolate but that is a year round drink. Sometimes at work I will drink an Earl Grey tea to warm up in the afternoon. And lately, we've been drinking a lot of decaf black tea (I like it with milk and sugar) in the evenings. There's nothing like a nice cup of tea to warm me up.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo0vE96LVO65QUkpRN-AgRBwo3yLKs27eytDB7VhGYLo_RsL_4CaPcKW400SExUDaOhD540b6Wl5s21cKRtDOrRWy1kvXauOswWgXKtcyI-VXK2HFC66VwQckUptX1JlKwRlBrQ4Ox8qCgziIZJJXIJIMcsS_qAKSf45sNByuVgHfgkQ-I8fncr6KkA0/s2048/IMG_2778.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo0vE96LVO65QUkpRN-AgRBwo3yLKs27eytDB7VhGYLo_RsL_4CaPcKW400SExUDaOhD540b6Wl5s21cKRtDOrRWy1kvXauOswWgXKtcyI-VXK2HFC66VwQckUptX1JlKwRlBrQ4Ox8qCgziIZJJXIJIMcsS_qAKSf45sNByuVgHfgkQ-I8fncr6KkA0/w266-h400/IMG_2778.JPG" width="266" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I love drinking out of this macaron mug Janice gave me. The colours feel like spring.</i><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>8) Best winter skincare tips?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I don't ever have a lot of great skincare tips. I do use a little more lotion on my hands in winter because all the cold makes them dry, especially if I do too many dishes.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>9) Flannel sheets - yes or no?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Absolutely yes!!! We didn't put them on until January this year but they are <i>the best</i>!!! We also have flannel duvet covers so I am surrounded by coziness at night!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeC3PpwhDfxUo-M4tjCkoODwwMr_KOQT00uGxKS3OHnvdnMIM9EePaUQvynjO077cR1OOLpZCY-7wY9HMob7fryGoB0xhnjZT38FaLk-VhmLPsSnLKuRUr1stRZtP4gllJEbSmO1VcQJJ8aZJ7glLo3Y3AqQY6DfZW081l85qNvs4_vGwYfc4N237P4c/s4272/IMG_8900.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeC3PpwhDfxUo-M4tjCkoODwwMr_KOQT00uGxKS3OHnvdnMIM9EePaUQvynjO077cR1OOLpZCY-7wY9HMob7fryGoB0xhnjZT38FaLk-VhmLPsSnLKuRUr1stRZtP4gllJEbSmO1VcQJJ8aZJ7glLo3Y3AqQY6DfZW081l85qNvs4_vGwYfc4N237P4c/w400-h266/IMG_8900.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>10) Favourite winter pajamas?</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">A few years ago, we started ordering the annual pajamas from Maplelea, a Canadian doll company. I have three pairs of their pajamas which I really love. We haven't loved the patterns the past couple of years so we haven't bought the most recent ones. And I've been loving our pajamas from Old Navy this year. Last year, my pants were too hot but this year they're <i>just right</i>!</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3Z8XG3TMBHHURJ5tVTfNxR4-ShkLzE3Z89caEU_lOAuofyRM66ztIYp8ZYKOqruSBzLhqT3UIf-8FnFmoMWg2582jmvHDVDHGHsQSsqCdg1R55Bc1ZCCaKe7t9Rq32_4L7Qu4-Xj24ywdIUP7f02bYBq5Tg-eeSm6waQ1BU2OSRsx06745dsFlwfJLc/s2048/IMG_3269.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3Z8XG3TMBHHURJ5tVTfNxR4-ShkLzE3Z89caEU_lOAuofyRM66ztIYp8ZYKOqruSBzLhqT3UIf-8FnFmoMWg2582jmvHDVDHGHsQSsqCdg1R55Bc1ZCCaKe7t9Rq32_4L7Qu4-Xj24ywdIUP7f02bYBq5Tg-eeSm6waQ1BU2OSRsx06745dsFlwfJLc/w150-h200/IMG_3269.jpg" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmA77xghrrWm0DHeLry5B6l7a56VF4L9Q1KGjVuEL1UyaL-2951_qU7ZOpUCt6-evGc53PJZcrIwRAxjlDrUvJQhiAsSqVxRUHoLxZf5ymBUSpRHTQfMlVeqe63sPqmURVdXgpmW_284R8l4IGH9KzB03ucWachC6HL9enlSIOss-fEEt2AphUTPENheM/s2000/IMG_9928.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmA77xghrrWm0DHeLry5B6l7a56VF4L9Q1KGjVuEL1UyaL-2951_qU7ZOpUCt6-evGc53PJZcrIwRAxjlDrUvJQhiAsSqVxRUHoLxZf5ymBUSpRHTQfMlVeqe63sPqmURVdXgpmW_284R8l4IGH9KzB03ucWachC6HL9enlSIOss-fEEt2AphUTPENheM/w150-h200/IMG_9928.JPG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Pd3wKtCD0fTWf9cTysb2FGV1HH-dBIj5CoP-Hk5hR_Mb-lx_9E1YzMA3iOF1Nx_TPmMI9pGjn4zepV8sfNfAtTHJNOlDdEvJ_arJJCw7x2Rd5fNv2QYiISsA2c8gyf8qRLB1WI123Pt3Z9o1AZf0_GRuTmm6kmVJVDgCB0D0bDiIUCrPP0zWfbuy65w/s2048/IMG_5526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Pd3wKtCD0fTWf9cTysb2FGV1HH-dBIj5CoP-Hk5hR_Mb-lx_9E1YzMA3iOF1Nx_TPmMI9pGjn4zepV8sfNfAtTHJNOlDdEvJ_arJJCw7x2Rd5fNv2QYiISsA2c8gyf8qRLB1WI123Pt3Z9o1AZf0_GRuTmm6kmVJVDgCB0D0bDiIUCrPP0zWfbuy65w/w150-h200/IMG_5526.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Three years of Maplelea pajamas</i> <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4uAcAAJTfSiALrGmfW9qzzrNmgUFqBYS2x-wltlReBc19OTyOztHYJqMuqAcTfpMJYWOq-Pc0EUJqvUOolm1zXYfSeXhD6MA4t1pOWO4NhN3icCrEyTYiEIHMsf8x4tXHtl6ZCEjFP6DtjeD8HxqTTQRcQeHtGqfStPgLYVjyxNkTGVJn7M4lxhjz7k/s2048/IMG_6680.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4uAcAAJTfSiALrGmfW9qzzrNmgUFqBYS2x-wltlReBc19OTyOztHYJqMuqAcTfpMJYWOq-Pc0EUJqvUOolm1zXYfSeXhD6MA4t1pOWO4NhN3icCrEyTYiEIHMsf8x4tXHtl6ZCEjFP6DtjeD8HxqTTQRcQeHtGqfStPgLYVjyxNkTGVJn7M4lxhjz7k/w300-h400/IMG_6680.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This year's favourite pajamas -- flannel pants from Old Navy and a waffle shirt</i> <br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">So that's me in winter -- lots of shovelling, lots of warm socks, lots of blankets, lots of hot tea, and lots of tulips! Almost every single day in my winter life includes all of these things.</p>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-26760479921872954352024-01-24T05:56:00.064-05:002024-01-24T05:56:00.135-05:0025 Questions (Questions 1 - 5)<p>Last year Sarah at Toronto SAM answered 25 questions over the course of a few blog posts. Since January has been a slower blogging month, I thought I would get started on some of these. If you want to see Sarah's responses to these questions, you can go <a href="http://www.torontosam.ca/2023/01/25-questions-1-5.html">here</a>. <br /></p><div><u>1. What does your ideal day look like?</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>My ideal day includes not having to set an alarm, spending a bunch of time outside in nice weather (not too hot, not too cold), being able to hang laundry on the line, enjoying time with my family, and experiencing something fun -- maybe a baseball game, maybe a good walk exploring a new city -- and then curling up in bed with a good book. If someone else cooks all my meals (and cleans them up) and I don't have to do any house chores (except hanging out laundry), I am happy. If it can include a drink of some sort and flowers in some way, that's even better!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCp0Y2j87bXYvC1UC3VdGB9pBKt-pMoVhkYWVorTf2Zj2hrPtnaISIjyN1mSmphRcVnu0tjDyBfgJWEb-n-XKl2yOphANAAUqcdEIYEWvNXLHt160LKDuFC8jBXULucBEVxfjTyloougr4ClJBsmqKzY7ab3Jq5i5ZgSaWL9NeL7ohgLn4Kpw1ens6jc/s2048/IMG_7361.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCp0Y2j87bXYvC1UC3VdGB9pBKt-pMoVhkYWVorTf2Zj2hrPtnaISIjyN1mSmphRcVnu0tjDyBfgJWEb-n-XKl2yOphANAAUqcdEIYEWvNXLHt160LKDuFC8jBXULucBEVxfjTyloougr4ClJBsmqKzY7ab3Jq5i5ZgSaWL9NeL7ohgLn4Kpw1ens6jc/w400-h300/IMG_7361.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-O71iaKtRFQtORX4lhNZVSM84DL7aDnujGQIdbM27faB_6Hzc-9ZaUPObrxFRI-jDqypsMIFPg3cCQEbqdy4PqVYWQsHCS1SFi2xAGOrrZw7WoUfvQhjrKSFzzDaplJdu3QwWLqNVrS3qpljsTSdyLNP_GNCf0fb1CWSyPIHZMkKTyxZ_UyNxaIby_M/s2048/IMG_2579.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-O71iaKtRFQtORX4lhNZVSM84DL7aDnujGQIdbM27faB_6Hzc-9ZaUPObrxFRI-jDqypsMIFPg3cCQEbqdy4PqVYWQsHCS1SFi2xAGOrrZw7WoUfvQhjrKSFzzDaplJdu3QwWLqNVrS3qpljsTSdyLNP_GNCf0fb1CWSyPIHZMkKTyxZ_UyNxaIby_M/w150-h200/IMG_2579.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-Qif9Dtvxh0hWDplVMxJcsXtM6_RGonxIvZIyy1RaKcbcyqm4x_lnTq7H7PP8O6v0_vihiOmtZ4nd3dQh9Mj74rmCRrEWuqwAGxik0dBHGNK9Hv9fRRAps3nI-P5UUroZ7qBzstZ7hHf4j3yTTPrRVzNF0bBx2m6mcMlYdshPdZI_fMZH8G_brpIsGA/s2048/IMG_6106.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-Qif9Dtvxh0hWDplVMxJcsXtM6_RGonxIvZIyy1RaKcbcyqm4x_lnTq7H7PP8O6v0_vihiOmtZ4nd3dQh9Mj74rmCRrEWuqwAGxik0dBHGNK9Hv9fRRAps3nI-P5UUroZ7qBzstZ7hHf4j3yTTPrRVzNF0bBx2m6mcMlYdshPdZI_fMZH8G_brpIsGA/w150-h200/IMG_6106.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZKiIt7UU44LitBAxIihG4rMDg4nzk3_oaVaOjll0rI_fvGRZ5o9mwgkt63lcLgwd37284QBt1nZHNE_44-9wceiTp8nlgDCjzwP3DEQPPQUgTlw1kw-jsO0p3Q7zQzyPZG2fb-iqmQqbEsmfrtg0a0qsEB5TGg2FQF3TIq-UzaqLj6rTpzE1m5acmeM/s2048/IMG_6867.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZKiIt7UU44LitBAxIihG4rMDg4nzk3_oaVaOjll0rI_fvGRZ5o9mwgkt63lcLgwd37284QBt1nZHNE_44-9wceiTp8nlgDCjzwP3DEQPPQUgTlw1kw-jsO0p3Q7zQzyPZG2fb-iqmQqbEsmfrtg0a0qsEB5TGg2FQF3TIq-UzaqLj6rTpzE1m5acmeM/w150-h200/IMG_6867.JPEG" width="135" /></a></div><br /><div><u>2. What did you want to be when you were younger?</u></div><div>I wanted to be a teacher. I was the kid who made my younger siblings play "school." And if my siblings were unwilling, as they often were, I made my dolls and stuffed animals my students. My plan to be a teacher changed when I went out of province to attend university. In Saskatchewan, my home province, a teacher's degree was a four year Bachelors of Education degree. In Ontario, where I attended university, a teacher's degree was (and still is) an additional year or two of teacher's college after university and competition to get in at the time was really stiff. Despite the fact that I'm not a teacher, I still ended up working in schools! (Currently, I'm a middle school secretary.)<br /></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><u>3. Who are you most inspired by? Why?</u></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know that I'm inspired by anyone. Is that sad?<br /></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><u>4. Who would you love to meet? What would you ask?</u></div><p>I would really love to meet some Toronto Blue Jays players -- not any specific ones -- just the team in general. I would ask why they haven't been able to win a playoff game for quite a few years! Hahaha!!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSymF574ECvg71RjwyTfp_8TABld-wMdoDrFX3rDbSirbA8pNsg2obBm9bJ-LZMhFG3lyxyghaxiE6H5TDZt6Yjo-m03SAI0SJXCxo5Am8GWDfkThnAeqfIR53QsFDLGlz0-kC-8-b8hCKkub1OXUpmPozOijY_krEraIPdLeVogn1iva42LqDT73Wv1Y/s2048/IMG_6673.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSymF574ECvg71RjwyTfp_8TABld-wMdoDrFX3rDbSirbA8pNsg2obBm9bJ-LZMhFG3lyxyghaxiE6H5TDZt6Yjo-m03SAI0SJXCxo5Am8GWDfkThnAeqfIR53QsFDLGlz0-kC-8-b8hCKkub1OXUpmPozOijY_krEraIPdLeVogn1iva42LqDT73Wv1Y/w133-h200/IMG_6673.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO6o7i-tG_WrBESxuUqWP87E22LbGCxKzFc81OavJdRSM3QM4bBcNFk1wq-e9W9kau2lMRqrdyio9XnX6TC4wXJPzcJ47W5TlA9UlAVK9dvYqLuRS34Q0O5mR0raVu47FKlpHzDt-R1HEncEMHShkkZYxWKon0XKcCY8OfvnZipkm4oHcAH2MB0p7B9Q/s2048/IMG_6972.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO6o7i-tG_WrBESxuUqWP87E22LbGCxKzFc81OavJdRSM3QM4bBcNFk1wq-e9W9kau2lMRqrdyio9XnX6TC4wXJPzcJ47W5TlA9UlAVK9dvYqLuRS34Q0O5mR0raVu47FKlpHzDt-R1HEncEMHShkkZYxWKon0XKcCY8OfvnZipkm4oHcAH2MB0p7B9Q/s320/IMG_6972.JPG" width="275" /></a></p><div><u>5. What habit would you most like to break? What habit would you most like to start?</u></div><div><br /></div><div>I would like to break the habit of drinking so much Coke. I would like to start flossing daily. I am not motivated to give up Coke, nor am I motivated to start flossing! Hahaha! I guess I don't want to break/begin these habits as much as I wish I did :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay tuned for questions 6 - 10, coming next time I don't have much to blog about!<br /></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1768500025681903875.post-45855700616922146172024-01-22T05:56:00.092-05:002024-01-22T05:56:00.241-05:00Wonderful Wintry Weekend<p>Last weekend we went to our church's Winter Retreat. Dave and I were both happy to get a few unexpected hours off on Friday afternoon so we could drive up while the weather was nice. Friday night, we got a huge dump of snow so Saturday was a winter paradise!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQ200wxP0udVtoRWErpY9GcwD_BPa0J8AaT-T_sWuTREdHcK_yZ0Tx5fCyzomymEs6gf68asvD3Pf1R0rN3mX_RoRty-SQW0VVgJiEJjb4sWkgLHgcgkJgVzXGutQ7X0d07_bXEr-y7t6B10wwamzPNZOgull2qIRErW0ghMgtChKE3DkZXuEy_qcNbU/s2048/IMG_6978.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQ200wxP0udVtoRWErpY9GcwD_BPa0J8AaT-T_sWuTREdHcK_yZ0Tx5fCyzomymEs6gf68asvD3Pf1R0rN3mX_RoRty-SQW0VVgJiEJjb4sWkgLHgcgkJgVzXGutQ7X0d07_bXEr-y7t6B10wwamzPNZOgull2qIRErW0ghMgtChKE3DkZXuEy_qcNbU/w300-h400/IMG_6978.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rachel was excited it was "packing snow" and she could make snowballs! <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKmtOnfu5kK9Sv9OfyTI00Se9JcNiQIH3tH4pnq9OMG9px2zMX_VWH8bEpNbWv8fjNbHMuw8Quu1AtcJC8rRv9jNduP-Q2fKdhUvcUhuUMXa0Ogs_moo4_AfK-YgiJ3B21W2PiAMzVpIBRPThgaEWgEEqeBUanDaDDR-NPg6SRuE8FP4d3jnVQCJgCro/s2048/IMG_6994.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKmtOnfu5kK9Sv9OfyTI00Se9JcNiQIH3tH4pnq9OMG9px2zMX_VWH8bEpNbWv8fjNbHMuw8Quu1AtcJC8rRv9jNduP-Q2fKdhUvcUhuUMXa0Ogs_moo4_AfK-YgiJ3B21W2PiAMzVpIBRPThgaEWgEEqeBUanDaDDR-NPg6SRuE8FP4d3jnVQCJgCro/w150-h200/IMG_6994.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0VfDpgD2n3zl0YKEPbsL9hRutod2sl1YdbMRahv7jNaT3DSUEtOzkRVnIr_PvOXaiky4YtQAvMLGJdw8JggJo8LE6mP23pHijJFBTivpzDdXtAHPvIbgSCcVmFp1-NmnNm0GihnPm8vXxc1tFf_JcE5rVSCqZVYdPvbGvAXFczQFghtU_u0ntPvjtXo/s2048/IMG_6981.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0VfDpgD2n3zl0YKEPbsL9hRutod2sl1YdbMRahv7jNaT3DSUEtOzkRVnIr_PvOXaiky4YtQAvMLGJdw8JggJo8LE6mP23pHijJFBTivpzDdXtAHPvIbgSCcVmFp1-NmnNm0GihnPm8vXxc1tFf_JcE5rVSCqZVYdPvbGvAXFczQFghtU_u0ntPvjtXo/w150-h200/IMG_6981.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBWB6HMdDD9xSytoq66Je0tqI39IRISQ45kjK5YaBzlhLGiD3Eg7Zm7HAQs3Bo48C3XQBxP5mEXLwJ7nUk6ATBXjnP61aIYD6M_KcfhqgGpPwnJuygF-osUadJRfGcyQvzJFddiFDDrfsckwBWa4Nl1QQdDybMFvpadDcdyKwgYlKXeOWONpl2JFIwtw/s2048/IMG_6984.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBWB6HMdDD9xSytoq66Je0tqI39IRISQ45kjK5YaBzlhLGiD3Eg7Zm7HAQs3Bo48C3XQBxP5mEXLwJ7nUk6ATBXjnP61aIYD6M_KcfhqgGpPwnJuygF-osUadJRfGcyQvzJFddiFDDrfsckwBWa4Nl1QQdDybMFvpadDcdyKwgYlKXeOWONpl2JFIwtw/w150-h200/IMG_6984.JPEG" width="135" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dave and I went for a meandering walk in the forest and it was absolutely lovely!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKNuJ_A1Ih6DQvwtua5YiU4n-xVkXuS4HHMZw4nkxq0NL83aWK-2s3afcqh45VFu4fV8C9gZqRtKLUzwQCp6zgkqUdlQIXv0MOOsGrOja9n-vWu6ihKeADeKDPi7rbyH9eScj76fJO_L6HbYCXs68aN4L0ccdCKd1PblbSEEvoUZUaH7f62p5hyphenhyphenlbLLk/s2046/IMG_6987.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKNuJ_A1Ih6DQvwtua5YiU4n-xVkXuS4HHMZw4nkxq0NL83aWK-2s3afcqh45VFu4fV8C9gZqRtKLUzwQCp6zgkqUdlQIXv0MOOsGrOja9n-vWu6ihKeADeKDPi7rbyH9eScj76fJO_L6HbYCXs68aN4L0ccdCKd1PblbSEEvoUZUaH7f62p5hyphenhyphenlbLLk/s320/IMG_6987.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCiTs9bZB8PpK0hlVIGQ7kG6ntHiz_cMvEHJpISsle4s_vF2S_9baZGAJq0XXFS5wuvJmMEh1XmMaOZzEhjSsBeXvHHo71I4ynim4XZA1tbUcb1YSAcLzDD16dGyxb1gR8h8Ky2WLr4jQXgkHsasXveRrUWcYL6_8RP2wQnvN03axVyuVximCOFAWpSU/s2048/IMG_6993.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCiTs9bZB8PpK0hlVIGQ7kG6ntHiz_cMvEHJpISsle4s_vF2S_9baZGAJq0XXFS5wuvJmMEh1XmMaOZzEhjSsBeXvHHo71I4ynim4XZA1tbUcb1YSAcLzDD16dGyxb1gR8h8Ky2WLr4jQXgkHsasXveRrUWcYL6_8RP2wQnvN03axVyuVximCOFAWpSU/s320/IMG_6993.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The retreat happened at a camp a few hours north of us, near one of the Great Lakes. This is not the Great Lake (we never found a time to walk there) but it is a lake at the camp. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMe2UFDeGBYro8R6Zp1Rox4udEFhOZI2jK1aJyJYlD8S6jtWlSAQB0yaPmsAgE_n6ybWBCPsb0Sd2gyhUvbbAqdVobik5qbUnPSX-_ufvqM-A75HQWpsmekypwq_g6qYxt0YGSd24E7RBWzDCD9CjVwl4Wgm-46EEPPcmpTUgESi_EQ9JT0CbtzWm2_0/s2048/IMG_6997.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMe2UFDeGBYro8R6Zp1Rox4udEFhOZI2jK1aJyJYlD8S6jtWlSAQB0yaPmsAgE_n6ybWBCPsb0Sd2gyhUvbbAqdVobik5qbUnPSX-_ufvqM-A75HQWpsmekypwq_g6qYxt0YGSd24E7RBWzDCD9CjVwl4Wgm-46EEPPcmpTUgESi_EQ9JT0CbtzWm2_0/s320/IMG_6997.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmCFMHYxtpXoubtsvcv7nAS-uYSYKqgspOn7gfdzIl9avDoEIUSKndjENNCc1v2_VUKtZGkLomWN7Yul8yDJHFx_vwqCWFB6geJZqJKX6-E8qQlggyiiCLZ2WgVhwtkWfzYlQqj3WWiCEaPmMO9Mvmtrw_Sab7w_or-yodLrLleCOd8sgK-YEOaWRtj0/s2048/IMG_6999.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmCFMHYxtpXoubtsvcv7nAS-uYSYKqgspOn7gfdzIl9avDoEIUSKndjENNCc1v2_VUKtZGkLomWN7Yul8yDJHFx_vwqCWFB6geJZqJKX6-E8qQlggyiiCLZ2WgVhwtkWfzYlQqj3WWiCEaPmMO9Mvmtrw_Sab7w_or-yodLrLleCOd8sgK-YEOaWRtj0/s320/IMG_6999.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kids were taking full advantage of the packing snow and made snow forts... <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbLkyCNVQQmw8srK3o4dsZDzCKMiFm2MPckbQaqNKh041L2dZ_aOtwYXn36CA9PRFIzm3PCaNDSrprkFKlqxD09ciX6WHsk446-8w9WQIxVTCJ-L2kRtkNl-c5XlRu3JB3bFfGLmgUNmiJI3PTCNs67lCLF9hYvG-bwQtUUskXZYeF7nNdm8VvtDdVpA/s2048/IMG_7002.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbLkyCNVQQmw8srK3o4dsZDzCKMiFm2MPckbQaqNKh041L2dZ_aOtwYXn36CA9PRFIzm3PCaNDSrprkFKlqxD09ciX6WHsk446-8w9WQIxVTCJ-L2kRtkNl-c5XlRu3JB3bFfGLmgUNmiJI3PTCNs67lCLF9hYvG-bwQtUUskXZYeF7nNdm8VvtDdVpA/s320/IMG_7002.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDia9ITbJ3vAwCLbzI6roHjhvckiFdttzO0FmAAZOexmHtCKfih0jW9VvVathEPiQMZkvqmFnMeGjGs0TFtJMwouLH48U4emXznEwdzZDmIc0T7Ii8onLflqypv3Q2AKNeCQXurPvbRgPdWbR2FLjzGT6-kDltWyQWItE_PcEeK2vtSV_VzprEL3cevoY/s2048/IMG_8406.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDia9ITbJ3vAwCLbzI6roHjhvckiFdttzO0FmAAZOexmHtCKfih0jW9VvVathEPiQMZkvqmFnMeGjGs0TFtJMwouLH48U4emXznEwdzZDmIc0T7Ii8onLflqypv3Q2AKNeCQXurPvbRgPdWbR2FLjzGT6-kDltWyQWItE_PcEeK2vtSV_VzprEL3cevoY/s320/IMG_8406.jpeg" width="225" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...snowpeople (one of which was HUGE!)...<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY66FJdXW3EWMCiquGyOPCBXYJEL1Q-tcT1RE7sh9IX6CkbFIVw92SZdQsHeYySJxoC8e5Snf7FplpLGiX6uRndlx4jjiYcGH_UVRwIBQKdapmzZPgknVxSYSHeALv8hVXXyYwHfXPkNiRlGtBFzkPZtFd3idMVNDVJoyEkZsmKDbm2GqxN3KTZBd7DY/s2048/IMG_7011.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY66FJdXW3EWMCiquGyOPCBXYJEL1Q-tcT1RE7sh9IX6CkbFIVw92SZdQsHeYySJxoC8e5Snf7FplpLGiX6uRndlx4jjiYcGH_UVRwIBQKdapmzZPgknVxSYSHeALv8hVXXyYwHfXPkNiRlGtBFzkPZtFd3idMVNDVJoyEkZsmKDbm2GqxN3KTZBd7DY/w150-h200/IMG_7011.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR2byWrqLHRfq4ZC6CQb1CDQwYxERV2FyhpeD2aO4DHuZC4-m0zUrw1E20zYUOHugHa8eMxSkEdeUcXd9nUzPZ0CmLbm_LMHMPUaiztOaJ404upbpWeSzILw8NCftyHy0GGoSorAgLsgKkMCd5XysPoUeNV-hw7x7oZlic4t9-MiCTJUTfBDjKjlPCfg/s2048/IMG_7005.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR2byWrqLHRfq4ZC6CQb1CDQwYxERV2FyhpeD2aO4DHuZC4-m0zUrw1E20zYUOHugHa8eMxSkEdeUcXd9nUzPZ0CmLbm_LMHMPUaiztOaJ404upbpWeSzILw8NCftyHy0GGoSorAgLsgKkMCd5XysPoUeNV-hw7x7oZlic4t9-MiCTJUTfBDjKjlPCfg/w150-h200/IMG_7005.JPEG" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vpK0ceFIkHbPq-8xQ_ji-cWo2Zpg5GL25v9HRV8jrgZ6UXcXuMULolTw-JzLCQ3eH_cAjp6ZIaAINICpHufy_Fbl04obBdmgu5ohvNn4gIE4vy75zszdtpyQBCkuBqdiVtEm3b7wqrzPDsubM6NxKVZRnwiRIrHw5u2AhCewt6jQhEildp7EToFR_Do/s2048/IMG_7014.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vpK0ceFIkHbPq-8xQ_ji-cWo2Zpg5GL25v9HRV8jrgZ6UXcXuMULolTw-JzLCQ3eH_cAjp6ZIaAINICpHufy_Fbl04obBdmgu5ohvNn4gIE4vy75zszdtpyQBCkuBqdiVtEm3b7wqrzPDsubM6NxKVZRnwiRIrHw5u2AhCewt6jQhEildp7EToFR_Do/w150-h200/IMG_7014.JPEG" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and a creative group even made a snow truck, complete with windshield wipers and a hitch! Sam was a part of this group. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGk9nONAfnsZydO6Nk_b8T2Fs0PcjHKflfHGJaTyD9PLRqTxoMOcLcTO9BL6OHfLyKcPe-ioMURQbwLRKNVoKChyphenhyphenm4xGE6Kd4Sk3xC2J4oq7YdDxN7DHKRcfjQrwK-0l4shvafwJquJKSYrc8Wz6TRjTEuHRhWPp3Vt7PWA1GVV9FzOCfMfIUrP_RPQe8/s2048/IMG_7008.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGk9nONAfnsZydO6Nk_b8T2Fs0PcjHKflfHGJaTyD9PLRqTxoMOcLcTO9BL6OHfLyKcPe-ioMURQbwLRKNVoKChyphenhyphenm4xGE6Kd4Sk3xC2J4oq7YdDxN7DHKRcfjQrwK-0l4shvafwJquJKSYrc8Wz6TRjTEuHRhWPp3Vt7PWA1GVV9FzOCfMfIUrP_RPQe8/w300-h400/IMG_7008.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Such a fun morning of everyone enjoying the snow in their own ways.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDCHuE2tlUOaIMDkdvVFjQHEuPgKGgBOzdsmLh9aqxoJeO58_INl0-egG7E9DFJLtPGv0wMmhSuL3HgpjSgPB3RgN9gi0sPjtCY80kYIuGihSjfDsXEeM3p0qYfNGKf3elA1rOxRQ6R7_1A8GHPGUShNoJKO_AL0h1ue9y8alyL0si0WvREB1Szd2MZY/s2048/IMG_7034.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDCHuE2tlUOaIMDkdvVFjQHEuPgKGgBOzdsmLh9aqxoJeO58_INl0-egG7E9DFJLtPGv0wMmhSuL3HgpjSgPB3RgN9gi0sPjtCY80kYIuGihSjfDsXEeM3p0qYfNGKf3elA1rOxRQ6R7_1A8GHPGUShNoJKO_AL0h1ue9y8alyL0si0WvREB1Szd2MZY/w400-h300/IMG_7034.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the afternoon, some of the dads organized a snow football game! One of the things I love about our church retreat is that the kids spend a lot of time with their friends and other grown ups doing their own things. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sCUGr_ZP66qD3wr5WNXPPD_HaXO5YzBgqY-tzRwGlIPWzPmAf7UogyiYQB6p489fQyy1T_-TyC1AdpRfnqSZ7tYIWo_Fq0onwaVREb8EipiK5XlstAyBzMR5YcCSMsRZro17HAfkXD-05D9WIbGFfH_FEgM8_Kjy0wmGWzAGKuuOIwV_TjDND2NLFt0/s2048/IMG_7009.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sCUGr_ZP66qD3wr5WNXPPD_HaXO5YzBgqY-tzRwGlIPWzPmAf7UogyiYQB6p489fQyy1T_-TyC1AdpRfnqSZ7tYIWo_Fq0onwaVREb8EipiK5XlstAyBzMR5YcCSMsRZro17HAfkXD-05D9WIbGFfH_FEgM8_Kjy0wmGWzAGKuuOIwV_TjDND2NLFt0/s320/IMG_7009.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW401-Yv-i25dA3cT57_PtgVsSxessktxMywZMpMI7xiQn628LM83IqJziDt7ibk6I40CyHyN7pNHzfuT8F_l5SC__-_aW2YKy5pD5D-pxzSyzyiBYZDKkPqb2JrnN7aGMUZ-f2q1v24wUz7E8rnMMjUyA5YjLZpX9jV_v6W978Q_tLIZYU128Tvr8af8/s2048/IMG_7040.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW401-Yv-i25dA3cT57_PtgVsSxessktxMywZMpMI7xiQn628LM83IqJziDt7ibk6I40CyHyN7pNHzfuT8F_l5SC__-_aW2YKy5pD5D-pxzSyzyiBYZDKkPqb2JrnN7aGMUZ-f2q1v24wUz7E8rnMMjUyA5YjLZpX9jV_v6W978Q_tLIZYU128Tvr8af8/s320/IMG_7040.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The outdoor pizza over got fired up and we made beavertails for an afternoon snack.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg343hUVZLnah9sMRAIHMLIkeTWzr9u-w10cFfTRoYLdiQaXvlwUc0ze9sxm46VhNkOdoGQjvMK2ZsiNdKeVZDtEHRKQGEG9PLvA_IOR87JMEaOaR9x-JenFL5yq-RIJv-Fkev2uCY_812Q9eyDmu6WQjN7kJMTzPZx4m8iIG6UeZ7FQARB5wpRt2us1JE/s2048/IMG_7042.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg343hUVZLnah9sMRAIHMLIkeTWzr9u-w10cFfTRoYLdiQaXvlwUc0ze9sxm46VhNkOdoGQjvMK2ZsiNdKeVZDtEHRKQGEG9PLvA_IOR87JMEaOaR9x-JenFL5yq-RIJv-Fkev2uCY_812Q9eyDmu6WQjN7kJMTzPZx4m8iIG6UeZ7FQARB5wpRt2us1JE/s320/IMG_7042.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWPs_UuYShun_-l7IdZczNfqFEub-a6BbbzHBYI-fGlMJOmHIh3oY-PQ_Qt_7ZDLyGYeWTgrGkqEfbhFMNknDWz_ZAgnzD-U2a94TNg2ysf-J-9pAmq_NV_TmjEk7o3ZTHef-AbweYzF8GlNy65ci0kIFAu_OubJDjCLlpPgnj0oG7ORyytK2hmicfeg/s2048/IMG_7048.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWPs_UuYShun_-l7IdZczNfqFEub-a6BbbzHBYI-fGlMJOmHIh3oY-PQ_Qt_7ZDLyGYeWTgrGkqEfbhFMNknDWz_ZAgnzD-U2a94TNg2ysf-J-9pAmq_NV_TmjEk7o3ZTHef-AbweYzF8GlNy65ci0kIFAu_OubJDjCLlpPgnj0oG7ORyytK2hmicfeg/s320/IMG_7048.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Rwwx6W_gOlmqECtxvHvJirsDnaus82jx1fYRjp5PzfHUUERAGbyKiN64r2BZre66BbXle1Okc-KbtwPeivsXdX7X8etZWd6gmo1ttzJQuWCbBz-1EMK9llIVlCKFjtAE_KYqJyusS9i6WCnJOQOqBT7codazEHBNM9rVVx9P4LuxI-0d15X30Dj_wx0/s2048/IMG_7049.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Rwwx6W_gOlmqECtxvHvJirsDnaus82jx1fYRjp5PzfHUUERAGbyKiN64r2BZre66BbXle1Okc-KbtwPeivsXdX7X8etZWd6gmo1ttzJQuWCbBz-1EMK9llIVlCKFjtAE_KYqJyusS9i6WCnJOQOqBT7codazEHBNM9rVVx9P4LuxI-0d15X30Dj_wx0/s320/IMG_7049.JPEG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lNczIPK3mu8rjl3zARasGVSEB28wOOe7tPbzNiqVxxnweL-fBSDNCMcbjaHx7PRK9OJ7AZVjx2CoJmfZU3_RP6m9DtXkBtrmomJDnv03fEvl0Zz4gk7xp8cgSvEoDitjCg9sDKVXam0zWenQuGrmUK49r0cQWQ3msxRv3bgYsT5Mru5NpXMp4wOgook/s2048/IMG_7052.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lNczIPK3mu8rjl3zARasGVSEB28wOOe7tPbzNiqVxxnweL-fBSDNCMcbjaHx7PRK9OJ7AZVjx2CoJmfZU3_RP6m9DtXkBtrmomJDnv03fEvl0Zz4gk7xp8cgSvEoDitjCg9sDKVXam0zWenQuGrmUK49r0cQWQ3msxRv3bgYsT5Mru5NpXMp4wOgook/s320/IMG_7052.JPEG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mine had butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon and was absolutely delicious!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41GWlfp7bRv15g0OjhNYXE0rtmjtK6lq2MZFrcPfCYT9ztIS7ROZL31CIg8xVl8Ir1WRCMk5_TrqqOtCCNriKtWEbW_y6MZcD0JcqPMQr9VdeZKs1bo5dgIVKjJZOkuxFzGzTwOoEm_lTPFh2mvRmiT6Bdy8Y4pSCX7HSeNCLOLBRnFK21WR4fbB78ac/s2048/IMG_7058.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41GWlfp7bRv15g0OjhNYXE0rtmjtK6lq2MZFrcPfCYT9ztIS7ROZL31CIg8xVl8Ir1WRCMk5_TrqqOtCCNriKtWEbW_y6MZcD0JcqPMQr9VdeZKs1bo5dgIVKjJZOkuxFzGzTwOoEm_lTPFh2mvRmiT6Bdy8Y4pSCX7HSeNCLOLBRnFK21WR4fbB78ac/w300-h400/IMG_7058.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did get to enjoy some cross country skiing as a friend loaned me her boots, skis, and poles, so I could ski for the first time since high school. I went with two friends for over an hour and we had a really good time! And boy, could I feel my legs and arms for the next three days! Hahaha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sadly, I had a headache for most of Saturday so didn't enjoy hanging out and playing games as much as I would have otherwise. I went to bed early on Saturday so I didn't even get to experience the sauna -- although Rachel went with a few friends that night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our drive home on Sunday was scary as there were whiteouts and we ended up driving in a caravan with three other families. I was glad that we were all looking out for each other and everyone made it home safely, despite the whiteouts and some road closures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know if you can read the sign in the above picture but it says, "Sorry, there is not an app for shovelling snow. Enjoy living in Canada." While there are downsides to winter (shovelling, cold, whiteouts, icy sidewalks, etc), there are definitely benefits and our fun weekend of Winter Retreat is definitely one of them!<br /></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16350800415772519653noreply@blogger.com9