Day Trip

Well yesterday morn I packed up and headed to Regina. It was a boring drive there, with no kids chattering a way to me, it was quiet!

When I got to Regina I first headed to Cornwall center and had lunch with my mom. We had a nice visit! It was nice to catch up with her.

After lunch I headed over to pick Amber up. She was all dolled up looking beautiful as usual. Then we headed towards the nursing home to see my Grampa. We made a quick stop at Sportmart and picked up Dom's birthday present (a bike and helmet). Anyways we visited with Grampa, and also Gramma, Aunt Marie and Rachelle were there too.

After visiting with Grampa, we headed off to meet up with Mallory at Southland. I gave her her present from dad, and me and Amber got some things from Wal-mart.. Then we were off to the East End. We stopped at Michael's and picked up some scrapbooking supplies to make some "special" invites that will be primarily for immediate family and the bridal party. Then we headed to Rona and picked up trim for kitchen and living room windows. WHITE!! yay, soon there will be no more brown trim in this house!! Then it was off to Superstore to get groceries. I forgot WHY I don't shop there. It's always a nuthouse!! INSANE!! Then we picked up some mcd's and stopped at Can-Tire so I could get Jared's bday present (a saw to cut my trim!! lol)

Then we were on our way to Oxbox!!! Left Regina about 6:20 or so.. I was beat after getting up at 7 am. anywho I am off to curves..

and so it was

Good ol' Saskatchewan weather. It rained/snowed yesterday, together with some terrible winds, made for a horrific day. My yard reno's have been put on hold until some warm weather blesses us again!

The happenings in our life: Paige has been well over the flu, but now has a terrible cold. Poor girl just coughs and coughs. Dominic is doing VERY well at going on the potty. He wore real gitchies 90% of the day today and didn't pee his pants once. EVEN when we went to Estevan!

We went to Estevan this morning to get our passport photo's taken. The poor girl in there was freezing..I guess the power went out last night in Walmart, and the front (where the portrait studio is) and the back storage had no heat, and noone to fix it until Tomorrow. Needless to say we were the the first and only clients for the day! I have my passport all done now and ready to go. Unfortuanetly Jared has to get someone from back home to sign his "guarantor" part, b/c noone here has known him for 2 years, dispite the fact that he has lived here for 3 and 1/2. Oh well, we still have time.

We also stopped in at our Accountant and picked up our taxes. We are getting a nice lump sum back. Which is really nice.. Pays for our couch (which we were thinking would be the only thing the tax return paid for) plus more!

Tomorrow I am heading off to Regina in the AM, Jayden is keeping my squidgets. Thankfully my sister no longer has to work, so I don't have to wait for her to get off work. It still will make for a rushed trip. Lots of stops to make.

As some of you know, I get really bored during the day, so I play on the computer. Well amidst my playing, I came along another blog, Jennifer Ireland. And it touched my heart in such a powerful way. Such a touching touching story. If you have lots of time, go check it out.. you really have to start from the very beginning. A 27 year old woman. That is only 2 years older than me, perhaps why it touched me so much. http://jenniferireland.blogs.com/ I know, it's kind of creepy that I even found her website, but really I am glad I did, and I don't care what anyone says.

Not much of anything

Well the title says it all..not much new in our household. We are busy trying to start our yard reno's. So far we've got 3/4 of the rocks moved..the ugly gate taken down..and I have painted the window sills in the kitchen. The new blinds for the kitchen came today...but only 2 of the 3 I ordered. I checked my order to make sure I indeed ordered 3..and I did. So hopefully it comes b/c we were charged for it! I was so looking forward to having nice blinds up in the kitchen..oh well 2 outta 3 ain't bad.

I was "supposed" to go to my mom's this weekend. Well let's just say this...Her and my sisters went on a trip to Victoria this past week..and came back very bitter at each other. So now my mom doesn't want to do invitations with me and also cancelled the Easter plans we had. Which whatever, if she wants to punish me b/c of what happened, that's fine, b/c in all reality she's punishing herself. I am sure they will all get over their spat here soon enough. But now I am just making a day trip into Regina. Jayden (god bless her) is going to keep my kidlets for me. So I will be able to pick up my invitations from my mom's work, stop at Rona and Michael's, and Walmart and well probably Sobey's too. Then I am picking my sister amber up from work at 5 and she is coming to Oxbow for the weekend with me!

Monday, Jayden is AGAIN keeping my kids b/c I have to take my dad to the airport. Jayden if you don't already know how much I appreciate you doing that..well Let me tell you... I appreciate more than words can say. It makes my life a LOT easier..

Anyways, this is short and sweet b/c I have to go pick up the sitter, put on my work out clothes.. change Dom's poopy diaper and pick up Kristie at 3:40 to go to Curves. It is now 3:30 so I better get my butt in gear

BEAUTIFUL

I love this weather. Absolutely LOVE it! Both Saturday and Sunday were about the 20 above mark if not more!!

The weather inspired me to start my yard reno's! I painted some trim that the prior owners had painted Forest green for some odd reason...Doesn't match anything, but whatever. I , and by I ...I mean Jared, started moving the crushed rock over under the Pine Tree. Anyone that has a pine tree in their yard, knows what a pain it is to mow the grass under it with all the pine cones! Also our drive way was unnecessarily long..so my quick fix was to do some landscaping under the tree, by moving some of the rock from the driveway under the tree.. Now we just need to buy some nice rock to put over top for appearance!

I also started painting inside too. We want to switch everything to white trim..so I have some painting to do to get rid of the brown that trim won't cover. I started with the kitchen yesterday. It looks so much better. Much brighter. I also am going be ripping off this splash guard that is in the kitchen, very outdated.. and put new lights in there too. But first things first..get this bathroom done and the landscaping outside!

Oh right I guess more news is that we bought a quad! Jared and I went out with Barrett and Jeremy yesterday. Got incredibly muddy and loved every minute of it!

Well the weekend was nice, but the week isn't supposed to be as nice...so we'll see how much yard reno's get done this week! I head to my mom's Friday for the weekend! We are going to get invitations sent out! who knows, Amber might come back with me so she can take dad's car back..b/c he leaves Monday back to work overseas!

The kids are doing good. Paige has been a little bear lately. One of her top teeth is ALMOST through..hopefully it will come through soon! Dominic has been doing really good on the potty, hopefully that keeps up.

I guess next on the agenda will be to plan a birthday party for my 3 year old to be!!! NUTS!!! I can't believe he is going to be 3. Jared will also be 24 , 4 days before Dom's birthday! Then will be Paige's FIRST birthday and then my quarter century birthday AHHH, everyone is growing up so fast...including me!

Well that's my blog for now!

Finally...

Well I've kinda been putting off blogging. Not for any real reason, b/c in all truth I have not been very busy.
Paige is FINALLY feeling better, Thursday last week I got her flu too. It really wasn't a fun week at all. It took Paige a week to get back to being herself. The poor little thing! Dominic lucked out and really only got the runs. We are trying to potty train right now (AGAIN) I am not letting him wear pull ups.. He's gotta wear real gitchies. and they are SSOOO cute.. I'll post a pic!!!
On Saturday I made a flying trip into Regina, I had an appointment set up to get my registry at Home Outfitters all up and running. Amber came with me and we had some fun scanning items!!! Although I think we were pretty glad to get outta there and find a place to eat! So that is now done.. Registries (for those who care) are set up at Home Outfitters and Sears. Anyways, I also did Cara, Heidi and their mom, Betty's hair! They all turned out MARVELOUS! Sorry don't have any pics...
I am having trouble with my camera. well not so much my camera, but the batteries. You have to use special NimH batteries or whatever right..in digital cameras.. but I don't know if I just need new ones or what... They are supposed to be rechargeable, but for how often I use my camera (SELDOM) it seems like the batteries are ALWAYS dead. It's aggravating. Anyways I am saving up for a new camera. I want a specialized one, where you can buy lens attachments and stuff. I really love taking pictures, and I want a really good camera. Jared is going to enherit this one of mine, to take in his truck and stuff. (he likes taking pictures of deer)
Today we are supposed to be going Quad shopping. Jared really wants one. And I have wanted one since I was a kid, BUT I really don't think we NEED one right now.. Oh well he can have his toy, I want trim for my house! haha. I plan to put new flooring (just some cheaper stuff) throughout the house, so that it's a little more ,...what's the word... desirousome to buy! (is that a word..lol) We are also renovating our bathroom in the next month. My stepdad will be coming down to help with that!
And once all this snow is gone..Hopefully in the next couple weeks...my yard reno's start!! I have a lot of plans for it! As I may or may not have said. A HUGE house was built behind us.. and well whoever owned our house before us...I don't think they EVER EVER painted the garage, so it looks like some raunchy garage , right across the alley from a MANSION! So that will be done, as well as finishing painting the fence, doing some landscaping.. and yea.. if everything I want to do gets done, it will be a VAST improvvement! I will be sure to take some before and after pics!
But here you can enjoy some pics of my kiddos!

PS--Will be in the Regina area next weekend!!!

Busy Busy

Saturday morning I headed into Regina. I had to set up my gift registry for Home Outfitters, which by the way is now up and running! I then headed over to my girlfriend's house Cara, where I did her, Heidi (my bestest bud) and their mom's hair! It was nice to visit with them, and make their hair NEW again!

Then we all got thinking, I should stay. So I desperately tried to despise a plan so I could stay and enjoy a bit more time. My mother in law took the kids with her out to Pierson, to her mom's for the night..so it worked. Me and Heidi decided we would much rather go to a pub or a movie then to a big loud bar. So we parted from everyone and went to see Premonition. It was a pretty good movie. For some weird reason it really made me appreciate Jared, and I suddenly really wanted to be with him. So I told Heidi I was going to just drive home (at 11 PM). I didn't leave the city til 11:30 so I wasn't home until 2.

It has also been decided that I am going to go back to Regina in two weeks. We were going to do invitations today, b/c I was going to spend the night at my sister's house. Well with the kids being sick Tracy (Jared's mom) kept them, so plans changed a bit. So invitations should be out in 2 weeks.

It seems weird, other weddings I am attending haven't sent invitations out yet..but I guess their weddings are in bigger centers so it's not as much a big deal. I however, am getting married in Kenosee and there is only one hotel in close proximity to the wedding. In a place, where cabs aren't an option...the closer the better.. Anyways.

I am deadly tired now. I honestly need like 10 hours of sleep or I am exhausted. And if I don't get it (which Sat night I didn't b/c I had to go to Pierson to get the munchkins in the AM) it takes me like 3 days to make up for it!

I am looking at getting a new digital camera. I want a special one that you can add lenses to and you have to manually focus and such. yep...they retail at like $800 so I have a bit of saving to do. hahaha. Jared's gramma had one when I went to Pierson and she let me take some pics with it. I just love it!!!

Well I'm gonna go get ready for the day...I don't know if anyone even reads this but it's here in cyber world

Sickness

Well it kinda sounds like the flu is going around.
Paige was still really sick Monday, so I called the healthline and they said she had all the symptoms of being dehydrated so I took her into the hospital at 9:30. Jared still wasn't home from work, so I had to take Dominic too.
Dr. Botha said she was in deed dehydrated, and she would need to spend the night. I almost started crying right there. Jared had been working late nights, and Paige was sick, now I didn't know who to ask for help with dominic..Everything was just building up. so Shylee came and took Dominic for the night, thank GOOD NESS!
Paige was given a gravol suppository, and put on a "pedialyte" diet. Tuesday morn, they told me that they wanted to take her blood to see if she had an infection, that came back normal..so we got discharged.
Ever since we've been home she's been the same. Will only keep down pedialyte unless I give her gravol first. So I've been trying to do that, so she doesn't get dehydrated again. She is getting so skinny though. She was never big...and man I'm just bawling.. I hate this..

And now to top things off, I got the flu! So I feel like crap, want to puke, sleep and sleep some more...but I have a toddler running around, and a sick baby... And Jared will probably work late tonight...just b/c I could really really use him at home.

If things keep up like this...we won't be staying at Melissa's tomorrow night..b/c there is no way I am giving her daughter this flu...I don't even want to chance it.

Well here's to positive thinking and that things will get better!

Chef Crystal

Yes, you can just call me Chef Crystal! As I said before, Friday night I made chinese food, and it was loved by all. Last night I made thai food. However Jared did not get home until I was already in bed...so I never actually heard his opinion. The Ginger Chicken dish was my fave... The Pad Thai was alright, but I just used a ready mix sauce for it, and I don't think I will go with the same kind again...it was a powder, next time I will get the sauce that's in a jar! or attempt to make my own. we'll see.

Just as I was almost ready to put food on, Paige started getting really sick. She was very very constipated, and started throwing up. We had tried to take her off formula, onto homo milk..and well that just wasn't gonna work, so I quickly finished supper and we rushed off to Estevan to buy her some formula and pedialyte. I also got her some soy milk to try! So we'll see. She slept through the night, and is a little grumpy today, but keeping her food down.. And she has poo'd so that is good!

I am busy trying to finish my laundry today. I also want to get my bathroom cleaned and my floors swept and washed. I need to schedule my 30 minute walk in there somewhere.

I've decided that I need to do some sort of exercise every day. So Mon,Wed Fri I will be doing curves. Tues and Thurs I will do pilates, and then Sat, Sun i will go for a 30 minute walk!

Anyways as promised here are my THAI recipes! and pictures to go along with! Thai recipes do have a few things you don't find at most grocery stores (like Oxbow's) but Superstore/Wholesale/Extra Foods have a special section where you should find everything you need!

GAI PAD KHING (Ginger Chicken)

This is cooked in a hot wok - the peanut oil should be at the smoking point, however if that makes you a little nervous it doesn't suffer from being cooked a little cooler. If you do use a lower temp, the garlic should be sauteed before the chicken is added. At high temp, this would result in burnt garlic flakes in the food.

B/c of the high temp you will need to move swiftly from step to step, so it is recommended that you put the ingredients on plates ready to add them - you won't have time to measure ingredients once things start to move!

Ingredients:
3 TBSP of peanut oil
3 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces

1 cup of mushrooms, sliced

3 TBSP of grated ginger

2 TBSP fish sauce

2 TBSP dark soy sauce

2 TBSP oyster sauce

a pinch of sugar

3 TBSP chopped onion

2-3 Thai chili peppers ( it is possible to omit these)
3 TBSP scallion/green onion, cut into 1" pieces

Thai pepper powder

Directions:
Mix the fish sauce, soy and oyster sauce ready for use.

Bring the oil to the smoking point in an adequately large wok, and add the chicken and garlic. Stir fry until the chicken BEGINS to change color (this is quite quick, so don't overcook)

Add the sauce and stir until it returns to a bubbling consistency, then add the remaining ingredients, and stir until chicken is cooked.

Sprinkle Thai pepper powder over the dish and serve over rice, or in a serving bowl with other Thai Dishes

The End result! MHM MHM good!

The other dish I made was pad thai. However, like I said, I just bought premix sauce that has the directions right there on it.

You need a chicken breast, rice stick noodles (or just egg noodles if you'd rather), and then follow the directions on the package..

I used rice stick noodles. This recipe is very simple. You just cut the chicken up, cook it, add the cooked noodles, and sauce... and you're done.

Lovin' Curves

Well I honestly love Curves and am so excited that I have people to go with and keep me motivated to going! Yesterday was just so awesome. All the equipment at Curves is Hydraulic. So anyways, it is called "resistance training". It isn't a hard workout and it's just awesome. I know I've already said that, but I just recommend this place to everyone. You aren't just THROWN into the equipment, they teach you how to use it, and just pay attention in general to what you're doing. Very nice!!!

Anyways..I made Chinese for supper last night...and then forgot to bring out my damn egg rolls.. oh well it was still raved about from Jared and his brother. Dominic seemed to eat it up pretty good too! I forgot to take pictures of it But it is VERY VERY simple to make. I made beef & broccoli and then chinese chicken with pineapple. All served with rice. Next time I make it I will take pics and then provide the recipe! I also made carrot cake, that isn't THAT bad as far as calories go!

Tonight is THAI night! It is going to consist of a Thai Cucumber Salad, Pad Thai, and Gai Pad Khing (Ginger Chicken) and then a strawberry something for dessert. I will try to remember to take pictures of the steps, and the result..and post recipes tonight!

Tomorrow is a simple all american meal, Chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli with cheese sauce. That cheese sauce really is going to add to my calories lmfao.. Oh well. I am not cutting out all good things.. Chips and pop are going to be rare occasions..and that's my major cut out. That and beer. Yep. I'm quitting beer for a bit. Losing this tummy weight is FAR more important to me than beer. Do you know that a regular beer has 145 calories?? A Light beer only has 100 calories..but still a LOT.

Tomorrow I am also going to get busy and bake some cookies! mmm..yummy.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Going to Lose Weight

Well yesterday, Kristie, Jayden, Danielle and I headed to Curves for our consultation. Our first "work-out" is tomorrow at 4. I am so excited for this. My goal is to lose 15 lbs, and I intend to reach that goal! I am going to go on a "healthier eating plan"..not a diet. I'm just cutting CRAP out of my diet. Going to start eating things that are good for me.

Today Marisa and her two kids came over and we all headed for a walk to Dairyland. I was babysitting Billy so it was the three boys, and the 2 little girls..and then Marisa and I. It was so beautiful out today, the boys enjoyed puddle jumping..much to Marisa and I's dismay.

I am going to get my resume all doody'd up since my mat leave will be ending right away. Time to start looking for a job. I am kind of excited that I will be getting a job somewhere. I am thinking though, that maybe I should wait til after the wedding to start a job. But if my mat leave stops before that...that will really suck.

Anyways, I'm just making a pork roast for supper..So I better get back to tending my tater's and corn! Be proud , I updated this!!

Not Sure

Hey all,

not sure how often i will blog on here, b/c I usually blog on myspace.com... But who knows! Well I was supposed to go pick up my dad. Then I got a phone call, and email and another phone call from him. Saying that the guy who was supposed to relieve him couldn't make it b/c his wife took really sick...so they asked my dad to stay an extra day, and then they found a different replacement. Thank goodness, poor guy has already been over there for 35 days. So yea now I will go tomorrow to pick him up.

Now I have nothing on my agenda for today. I really should start doing more homework, and studying b/c I do have a midterm not that far away! Next week I think. I wish I wouldn't have decided to take this course. oh well. Get it over with. For those of you who don't know, I am taking stats. It is 1 of 6 classes I need to finish my business certificate.

Paige is as usual grumpy. She wants to be paid attention to every minute she is awake. ..Dominic on the other hand would sit in front of the TV all day if I would let him.