Happy Birthday!!

Today is my boy's 3RD birthday!! We are not doing much today, having a chicken and some ice cream cake. We are celebrating his birthday on the 13th. He did get to open his birthday presents from us, uncle Jeremy, and my gramma. We got him a bike and helmet, Jeremy got him the bike horn etc and a spider man slip and slide. And my gramma got him a teapot set. sounds a bit girly, but every time we go out to my gramma's - he wants to have a tea party..so it's very suitable..Paige likes it too!

Well we headed off to Dauphin Thursday..what a gong show! We were like 20 min from Dauphin (a 4 hour drive) when Jared got a call saying he would have to work Friday morning..YA RIGHT!! so we decided to head to his parents and have supper. We got talking and Jared pretty much knew it would be a one day job, so me and the kids were just going to stay,..and if he did end up having to work all weekend his mom would take us and we'd meet up in Esterhazy to go home. Well Friday afternoon Jared calls me, yep we're gonna be working..so plan to meet in Esterhazy..Then around supper time he calls me back and says ok we're not working now...like really it was the most teeter totter event ever. haha.

We had a good time, Jared didn't come back until bright and early Saturday morning. So Friday I went out with a bunch of his friends. It was nice, b/c I had sent wedding invites to a lot of these people but had never met them.

Saturday we went out quadding with Sarah and Jeff. That was a blast! We headed over to Jeff and Sarah's for supper, and I think me and Sarah started to feel the effects of the night before. She started getting a migraine, and I just couldn't keep my eyes open. So Jared and I left there around nine and went back to his parents.

We came back yesterday. Now today is going to consist of putting my pond in, staining my step, and well hopefully eating soon, cause I am famished. haha

Oh ya, remember how I got sunburnt Wednesday...happened again Saturday..I think I need to start wearing sunscreen haha.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUN!!

Happy Birthday Jared!!! He is 24 years old today! We are the same age for a a couple months! Dominic turns 3 on Monday. His party is going to be held Sunday May 13th. (hopefully outdoors). He decided on a sponge bob theme.

Today we are off to Dauphin, that is where Jared is from. We are going to spend a few days there. We are really in no rush to come back. Jared has a few days off, so might as well do something. I would like to come back when he still has a day off, so we can get my pond started..and well perhaps our bathroom door back on. HaHa!

Yesterday we headed out to an auction by Carnduff. I didn't realize how Nice (aka HAWT!) it was out! I came back SO incredibly sunburnt! I'm a walking tomato.

Asia is the next pussycat doll!!! I was rooting for her! I really didn't watch the show until Mallory (my sister) came down to visit and now I'm hooked haha. well it's over now, so I was hooked. Tonight is my favorite night of TV, Thursday night ...the best shows...and I am not sure if Jared's mom still has satellite. They were never watching it, so got rid of it.. I am crossing my fingers and hoping she has it!!! haha My Thursday night addiction!

I am going to be hosting a Stampin' Up "party"...anybody interested? I need to come up with a relative time that would work well for others. I was thinking a weekend or somethang...Let me know, if you'd be interested in coming to it!

Stress

Often we all avoid stress, do not want it a part of our daily lives. Lately, I feel ,however, that I cannot live without it. I have been taking a class by correspondence, and at the beginning they strictly say don't fall behind. I , Crystal Hawker, would not fall behind, I was sure of that!!

HAHAHAHA

I did really well for the first month, but then...guess what??? I fell behind!!! I could throw every excuse out there on why I didn't stay on top of it, but the mere truth is...I was not motivated, I was lazy and had ample oppurtunities to work on it! Needless to say, my final is today at 4..and I am not prepared what so ever. I have been studying hard the past 2 days...but I can't get through the review without looking at the solutions. I am very nervous, but that's when my first statement of this blog falls into play...

Can I really live without stress? I think I thrive on it, and function better with it! That sounds so demented. I do, like to work under pressure..I admit it! As nervous as I am that I will totally bomb this final, I have enough adrenaline running through my body that I might as well run to Carnduff to write it! haha. Let's hope the process of writing this final goes better than my midterm went.

Let me give you some history of exactly how my midterm went! I have to go to the Carnduff "education complex" (which for those of you who don't know is about a 20 minute drive from Oxbow). I do believe I also left the task of finding a babysitter until last minute, so that added to my (**needed???) stress level. Then I arrive at the school 10 minutes early. (I write all my tests in this little room at the library), so I tell the librarian I am there to write my statistics 120 exam...She has NO idea what I am talking about, and tells me to go to the office. So I head on over there, and the secretary is just as baffled , and just for my luck...the principal (who is in charge of scn courses) has already left. So she calls him and finds it, and sends me to write it. I sit down..and all I have are the formula sheets...I kinda need the questions too!! So I go back..and she has to get the principal to come down, whom still doesn't find it. So they called SIAST in Moose Jaw, and had to get my exam faxed !!! It was total mayhem. I was 1/2 hr late to write it!! and my stress level sky rocketed.

Today, I will be calling ahead of time to ensure they know I am coming and that they actually have my exam. Or maybe I shouldn't...in hopes of adding to my "needed" stress levels.. haha.

After my final I am hoping to unwind by working out at Curves (if I finish before it closes), and then going for wings and drinks with my fiancee Jared, and Kandi and Barrett in Glen Ewen.

Wow that was a long blurb on stress and my final..tee hee. Here is the actual purpose of my blog, to attach some oh pics of my beautiful children!

Dominic will be 3 on April 30th. We are going to have a small thing with just us..Then on May 13th we are having his actual party..have to pencil it in between weddings! What a busy spring! He is such a handsome little gaffer.

I honestly cannot believe how much time has passed, that he is going to be 3, and in just over a month, his sister will be a year..time sure flies!

Paige is such a little sweet heart! You can't help but love her with her beautiful blue eyes..I will have to get a picture of her in her new Columbia jacket, it brings out the blue in her eyes, and is just soo cute!

My sister Amber came down this past weekend "to help me with the kids so I could study"...well I still didn't get much studying done..Oh well thanks anyways darling!

Not a very flattering picture of me..no makeup, a few drinkskies, and outside by the fire..

Of course my lovely fiancee, Jared was out there too. It was quite the nite. He cut his thumb wide open with an exacto knife..and really should have gone for stitches, but didn't.

It was a very fun evening, and I look forward to many more nights this spring and summer of sitting out by the fire with our siblings and friends and enjoying each other's company!

Few other pics

Dominic and Paige loved being able to sit out on the quad.






For the invitations, I ordered them online. However, for family and some of the bridal party(it took a long time haha so I stopped after 8)..I thought it would be fun to scrapbook some cards.



Every card was different, and it was a lot of fun to do. These were the first cards I have ever made, and are not very extravagant, but I am quite proud of them, nonetheless!


I am actually quite happy with how the picture turned out! Not sure how I did it. Man I want my new camera SO badly! I love being able to play around with stuff like that!

Dominic had a lot of fun Easter morning, playing with his new ninja turtles, and eating chocolate. He was in heaven. Paige enjoyed crawling around to find wrappers Dom left on the floor. tee hee. It was a fun morning!Paige discovered her new love! Macaroni Salad. As you can see by her face...she couldn't get it in fast enough! My little princess!

Twiddle dee Dum

So my last post was not very descriptive, more just had wonderful pictures. Ha Ha. It was the funnest time I had in a long time. Jared's friends are just fun, witty, hilarious people to hang out with. It was the first time I had met Brad, so it was really nice to meet him, considering he is the best man in our wedding! I still have to meet his ..well I guess his fiancee now. They just got engaged, so CONGRATS to them!

We got to go out for some afternoon quadding through the hills and mud, and trees. It was so fun. I love getting muddy and just havin' a blast!

It honestly was a nut house here all weekend though. Between us, and Brad and Jeff and my sister Mallory. And then Jeremy(Jared's brother) and all his friends spent 90% of the weekend here too. So, it was fun, but also nice to have my house back! It is Thursday and I am still trying to get everything put back together. haha ok maybe it's not QUITE that bad. Needless to say, I am happy to do a little extra cleaning to have the oppurtunity to spend a weekend with those guys. Talk is about going to Brandon May long to meet up with Brad and his fiancee. We shall see if that will happen or not!

Sunday the guys left and we headed up to Indian Head to take my sister back home (seeing as she had to be back for school Monday). We stayed the night at my parent's house and then headed into Regina Monday morning. We bought the trim to finish the house, and bedroom doors, and our new jacuzzi tub! Bad part is Jared, after having the weekend off, went back to work Tuesday so nothing has gotten done. The bathroom we still need to go back and purchase a toilet and tile for the shower. Whenever my stepdad can come down to help Jared, the bathroom will be redone. By summer!

We've been having some awful winds the past couple days. Not fun, hard to take Paige outside when it's that windy. I may be a little too precautious now, but the last thing I want for her is to get pneumonia again!

Yesterday I got my first reply card in the mail, and it was a "we'd be delighted" response. It was exciting!

Today is good ol' Thursday. My TV night!! Lately I have been quite disappointed b/c everything seems to be a rerun or not on at all.

Wisdom teeth are still bugging me, almost a week now that they've been a pain! I want to make an appointment with the dentist, but I can't even open my mouth, so I'd rather NOT go there and have them pry my mouth open and me being in agony..I will just wait until this passes then go in. I need to get me , Jared and Dom in for a cleaning before the wedding.

Wedding plans are coming along. I still need to figure out what I am doing for flowers. Jared's mom, Tracy, wants me to use real ones. I was thinking more fake at first, now I am not sure...I am going to go into the florist and do some pricing and just see exactly what I will do. I am still looking for shoes. I tried on a bunch in Brandon, but nothing stuck out and said I"M THE PAIR, so I made no purchases.

Wow, can you tell I haven't blogged in awhile, this is getting too long. I apologize.

Craziness

Ok so I finally went and got my camera! So here is my much waited for blog!!!

Jared had a couple friends come down Thursday night. Brad and Jeff (both in our wedding party). Brad is the best man, and Jeff a groomsmen. So Thursday we went out to the Bow for a couple Bevy's...

Saturday I had to head to Brandon to meet up with Jared's mom. We were picking out fabric for Paige's flower girl dress for the wedding. When I got back, me and my sister, Mallory, went on a quick quad ride. This is us sporting our oh so sexy helmets!

After that, the photo shoot started. We wanted some pics of Jeff and Brad, with the kids and so on

So then , us CURVES girls decided we needed to show off our muscles (our DRUNK muscles!!).

Then came the close up shots. I started getting a close up shot of everyone, then must have forget (one too many cocktails I guess)

All I can about those two above pics is HAHAHAHA. What a night I tells ya. I haven't partied like that..well since before I had kids. It twas a good time had by all!!! Just be glad I didn't show you the mooning pic..that showed , well lets just say AWAY TOO MUCH!

Will blog more l8r

Wise Wise Wise

Wisdom teeth need a new name!!! Any suggestions??? Here are a few I came up with:

Painful Mother f'n Teeth
Good for nothing, pain in your mouth Teeth
Cost you a lot of money to remove, painful Teeth
If you haven't hated something before, now you will, Teeth
Orajel is a waste of money Teeth
Why are there no pain killers strong enough for this, Teeth
My cheek feels like a chipmunk Teeth

I could go on all day.

Dixie Chicks

As many of you know, I am a die hard country music fan. I have enjoyed the Dixie Chicks music since Grade 10, when I (not knowing who they were), ordered their CD from Columbia House. I have enjoyed every single album they have made.

Of course, when the contraversy started about a comment they made at a concert in Europe..I totally sided with them. They jokingly said pretty much " we do not support this war, and are ashamed that George Bush is from Texas", and laughed, and everyone cheered..and then radio stations banned them, and it was just nuts.

So I recently purchased their documentary video "shut up and sing"..and I loved it, I cried, I couldn't believe people could say such harsh things. Terrible. It broke my heart that people were and still are, turning their backs on such an incredible band.

I will NEVER EVER turn my back on them. One, b/c I don't really follow politics any, and Two..I'm sorry but I agree, that war was stupid and I don't even want to know how many innocent people died b/c of it.

That is my Dixie Chicks blurb! Stay tuned for my blog of the weekend with the Dauphin Boys (I am waiting until I get my camera back, so as to have a picture blog!

Wedding

Since I sent out wedding invitations Tuesday, I wanted to add some tidbits of info for anybody that's invited.

1. You can, even though the invitation does not state this, simply reply by email to : crystalhawker@hotmail.com . What ever is simplest for you. Email responses I do receive quicker, so that is a bonus for me!

2. If I did not write "and guest" or your children's name on the invite, just ask!!! We are having the reception at a venue that holds a MAX of 200, and so far we have a guest list at 250...No worries, we do have a big tent for extra room. We will do what we can to accomodate you, we want you to be a part of our special day. As I was going through my guest list, I noticed I simply forgot to write and guest, or children's names. So do NOT be afraid to ask me about it.

3. My reply cards did not have a space to fill in how many will be in your party. However, if you look in the inside of the reply folder, it does have a self written spot to write how many will be in your party. Please do this! It is very important that I know if you are bringing your kids, if your not and so on.

4. We definetly do not mind children being at the wedding, seeing as we have 2 of our own. We do want everyone to enjoy themselves, if that's by having a few too many cocktails, or just sitting through the speeches and heading off. However much of the day you can share with us, we want you to be there! Pretty much what I'm saying, is if you'll have a more relaxed time without your kids, find someone to keep them! But if you'll have a better time with them there, that's cool too. Just if they are NOT on the invite, ask me, b/c as I said, Numbers are an issue!

I think that about covers what I wanted to address! (only FOUR MONTHS until the big day!!!). Any questions, you can either comment me or send me an email!! If you haven't got an invite yet, please don't panic, as I did just send them out this past Tuesday!

Wintery April

Waking up to snow in April, isn't my idea of a good time!! Mallory and I went for a rollerblade last night, and well we won't be doing that today. ..oh well.

I've been waiting for over a week for my sears registry cards to come in the mail (since when I registered online they didn't send me any)..and well I still haven't got them, so invitations went out today without them! In the next week or so everyone should have received their invites! That was nice to get those out and done. Now to wait for the replies.

I skipped Curves today (was going to go everyday this week, which isn't totally necessary, but I was gonna anyways), and well let's just say me and Mallory stopped at a girlfriends house last night and had a few too many cocktails, I wasn't feeling like doing much of anything today. I didn't even go to my live session for my course. Which also isn't necessary, I can view it online any time. I have pretty much caught myself up now, which is a relief!

Well I should skat for now, off to watch Charlotte's Web, and have homemade pizza for supper!

Easter!

Well Easter has come and gone. How Easter got to be about a bunny, I'll never know...But the bunny still came to our house. Dominic got to search for his eggs. He got some ninja turtles and was quite excited about it. Paige got a plush bunny, and other than trying to eat whatever was on the floor (from chocolate wrappers to actual chocolate) she really didn't care much what was going.

Friday eve Amber came to spend the weekend with us. It was nice. I felt like I hardly seen her though, I've been trying to catch up on my course since I was 4 sessions behind, and the final is on April 24th. So it seemed like most the weekend I had my nose in a book. Didn't accomplish much else. Saturday we did decide to make a trip to Estevan to get some stuff for Easter, supper that night and Easter supper..not too eventful.

Sunday I left the house about noon to go pick up Mallory..I was meeting her and her friend in Indian Head (her friend Daryl was driving her there). So I got there about 1:30, and waited and waited and waited. 2:10 comes and I'm starting crap my pants, I mean really. I knew they were gonna be late b/c I had texted them..but it was getting a little ridiculous. Then I get this voicemail (apparently my phone didn't ring)..it's Mallory saying her friend thought it would be a good idea to run from the cops. Ya ...while he was doing 150 down the #1, the cops passed him (going the other way), and they flashed their lights and started turning around. Daryl thought he could take the Grenfell exit and park somewhere beforethe cop ever caught up...yea not so much. What an idiot! But when Mallory told him the cops where right behind them..he pulled over. thank goodness. Like who does that??? I thought he was an ok kid, now I just wonder if he smokes crack or what.

I ended up having to drive to Grenfell to pick her up. Not impressed, that's for dang sure! But regardless of all the drama (and that I had Dominic with me), we got home at 4:30...in time to help Amber and Jared with the last minute things for supper. The goal was to have beer can chicken, then we realized we were outta propane, so we just had chicken. lol

Today is a new day..Paige has to go see the doc at 9 to make sure she is still on the road to recovery. Then (assuming she is still doing ok), my sister is gonna watch the munchkins while I run to curves. And then me and her shall start work on yard renos. Yeehaw..sounds like I am not looking forward to it, but in all truth I am very much looking forward to it! Our yard and house needs a bit of a face lift.

Well I should run and shower before my kidlets wake up! Hope you all had a great Easter.

PS--I will post pictures later today.

Addicted to love?? ...not quite..

It has come to my knowledge , and probably the fiancee's too, that I am addicted to facebook. After being a member for a startling...what is it 4 days now. I am totally and utterly addicted!

What is up?

I had to make a rushed trip to Regina yesterday to pick up a few things, and on my way I got thinking. I really don't have a real close friend. To tell you the truth I don't think I have in a very long time. Noone that I have real similar interests in. Someone that wants me to come and help them garden, and I want to come and help me garden...or someone who wants to scrapbook together...or go on a playdate with the kids...Or have a girls night!!

Is this that I am just a supreme bitch and turn all my friends away? Or that I just don't welcome other women into my life? or that I am just too lazy to reach out and become closer with others.. I am not sure. But I miss it, I really do.

I want to be able to have a girlfriend over, or go to a girlfriends...and bake or talk , or scrapbook or watch a movie while the kiddos nap, or go out for regular walks...I honestly think I am too self absorbed to have close friends. and that is terrible. I don't want to be like that, i want to have close friends, I want to have a friend that I would do absolutely anything for. I want to be able to escape our "responsibilities" and go out for supper and a movie, and some "cocktails"..and just have a good ol' GAL time!!!

I am, as of now, going to quit being a bitch, a stick in the mud, a lousy long distance friend, a lazy person..I am going to try and I am going to succeed and I am going to become a good friend, with no backstabbing! Yep that is indeed my goal!

Easter Bunny

Well the Easter bunny will be coming in a matter of days..I wonder if he/she is prepared, my guess is NNNOOO!!! No shopping has been done at all, no toys, no candy, no games or easter egg decorating organized. I think this year the Easter bunny has been a procrastinator! I think he/she will have to make a stop at a Regina walmart Saturday and hope there is stuff for the children! well...that's my guess anyways!

Have I emphasized how much I love the white trim in our house??? Takind down the dark brown stuff and putting up white trim, just adds so much to the house! I love it!!

I ordered my wedding garter off Ebay yesterday! It is poker themed!!!! HAHAHA, awesome I know!!

FOUR MONTHS until our wedding. I can't believe that. I still have a lot of crap to do, but did finally find a DJ so we won't be MUSICLESS for the dance!! My sears registry cards were supposed to be in the mail Monday, so I better get them today..I really want to get invites mailed out!

We got our iteniary for our honeymoon finally! We can choose when to go, anytime in the next 18 mths. It includes 3 days and 2 nights in Orlando, Fl , a 2 night Carribbean cruise to Nassau Bahamas and then 3 days nights in Ft Lauderdale , Fl. I am pretty pumped! We are thinking of taking it end of November (when hurricane season is over) , but we'll have to see if my mom can keep the kidlets

Curves has been proving to be effective!! I haven't lost loads of weight, but I have lost some inches off my stomach. I really don't KNOW that, I haven't got measured..but by looking and feeling my "baby" tummy I can see it's slowly getting smaller! Yippee!! perhaps I will be able to sport that new bikini of mine!

Pampered!

Well after a tough go, and some worrysome thoughts, Paige is slowly getting better!! THANK GOODNESS! I cried a few times! I now know what my parents were going through when I had all my surgeries. I never did understand why they got so upset, however, now that I have kids of my own....well it's very clear how they got so upset. Paigester still isn't to go outside, and we have to keep her bundled up and the heat cranked (usually we have it pretty cool in here). So Easter weekend, we will be at home!

As I've stated, Dominic is doing AWESOME at potty training! He loves being able to put a sticker up everytime he goes. He hasn't wet his pants in DAYS!! It's incredible. I guess the saying "when they're ready, they'll go" (or however it goes)..is true! In time for his 3rd birthday party!!! Which by the way is going to be held here in Oxbow tentively the 28th of April (his actual bday is the 30th). I am going to send out little invites to some local kiddos, but really if you are from out of town, and think you can make it, COME! Who cares if you're 20 or 70, or 100...You can still come to a 3 year old's birthday party! I mean they are by far the funnest!

Our dishwasher calved on us! Oh joy! And well, the vacuum too..it kinda works..but hardly sucks up anything. The dishwasher however, quit draining last night. So the repair guy came out this afternoon! and it's all fixed! I am going to head up to Regina Monday ( I think) and pick up some more trim and baseboard, so as to get a little more of the inside stuff done while temp's aren't that great! Then pick up Mallory and she is going to come help with stuff, and visit with us and the kids on her spring break!

Saturday I am taking her back and booked myself for a massage and a manicure. I really have never ever done anything like this for myself, so I am quite looking forward to it! it's at En Vogue Day Spa in Regina. I also am testing it out, b/c I intend to take my bridal party and mom and mother in law there too before the wedding!

Today we got 2/3 entraceway closets done with the white trim and paint. It looks 100% better. I will post pictures when everything is done! With the yard, and the minor inside reno's...I have my work cut out this year. Last year I was pregnant when we bought the house, so I didn't work up a garden, so that still has to be done this year. I want to add some curb appeal to this house, in hopes that it will sell faster, when we do decide to build/move in/buy a different house.

Time to organize supper. I best be going!

Life in general!

Well when we went to the doc yesterday morn, he told us that Paige was getting no better, in fact he thought she had gotten worse. Not what we were expecting to hear. She is so chipper and happy now, it's really hard to believe she is so sick. But it's scary b/c Pneumonia kills, and I just can't even think of that.. Jared took the day off work today, b/c we are fully expecting to be sent to Regina. Which is scary b/c that means even after switching meds, her lungs still aren't clearing up! Everyone please pray for my little girl.

I don't really have much other news, Dominic is pretty much potty trained. Never pees his pants unless he is napping or sleeping for the night, which even then is rare that he pees!

I am pretty stressed right now with Paige being so sick. I am also taking my stats course, which I have been neglecting for the past couple weeks, so I am behind and need to catch up and study in time for my final on the 24th.

One good thing that happened....we got the trim up in our kitchen. Now the windows are all white and looking awesome. (they used to be a dark brown). By the wedding the rest of the house should be done.

Well it's time to give little Paigester her nebulizer, and get ready to head down to the hospital and find out the bad OR good news. I am praying she is better.

I do!

If I haven't already told you about it, here is my wedding website! Feel free to check it out!

http://www.weddingbells.ca/wedsite/404449/

Exhausted!

Well I started the weekend off by going to Curves Saturday morning with Jayden. It was really nice to do it in the morning and have energy all day! If only it could be done like that all the time.
When Jared got home from work we decided to go out for a bit with Amber. So after the kids were in bed, we headed out. Met up with Bubba, and Phil and Tanya. Well soon after arriving there, Jara and Trevor came and we all decided to pack up in Phil and Tanya's Envoy and head to Glen Ewen. We didn't stay there too long, and came back to good ol' Oxbow.
Sunday morning (after a night with a few too many cocktails), I got up with the kids, and Paige's cold was just getting worse so I decided to take her in to Emergency and get checked out. Dr Botha said she would have to be admitted b/c she had pneomonia on her right lung. The poor thing. So we spent all Sunday in the hospital, and night..Then this morning he didn't want to discharge her, but said as long as we keep her inside and warm he'd let us go home. Which was a relief. Jared was home..but with both kids in the hospital all day..would be tough b/c I had to take my dad to Minot!
The trip to Minot was fairly uneventful. When we picked my dad up about a month ago.. It was very icy and crappy out, and there was a major car accident we had to detour around. Well going by the location of that accident, there were lots of flowers...Someone died..kinda scary.
I did buy the kids new spring coats, and buy some color. 2 quick stops and I was back on the road home. I stopped in Carnduff on my way home and worked out at Curves.
Now I am just exhausted. From going out Saturday, to the hospital stay, to the travelling today...I just want to go to bed! haha
PS--Paige is getting better. Dominic's potty training is going REMARKABLY well since I introduced his "potty chart".