So I decided to start a new blog that will hopefully be a bit more meaningful and include our adoption adventures along with some of the other old stuff too. If anybody of yous are interested in following or perusing my ramblings from time to time you can find it here
http://greystreetblog.blogspot.com

I haven't posted any thing for a while and it's because I've been thinking, probably too much as I tend to do. Well, first it started off with blogger being a pain in the arse and erasing a post I did write about our trip to Vegas. Then we got our adoption papers in the mail and there's been a loooot of thinking these past weeks.

Then things started to...well they did that thing that they do when a new year is about to begin and new things are about to happen in your life and you start making goals and thinking (even more than usual) and getting excited and scared and emotional and excited and excited about all the newness. Not excited like when you finally find a new pair of shoes you like (it's a challenge for me), but big excitement. We're talking mind- blowing- life- altering- I just might get to be called mom one day. See, BIG.

Besides, I seem to burst into tears every 20 minutes or so (that last sentence there, whew, that one got me) and so I have been taking a break from posting the mundane humming and drumming of our little lives and I've been thinking a lot about being a parent, being a better step parent, and how to write better to capture it all in a more meaningful way.

Gord and I both enjoy writing, and I think this blog has let me keep my family in the loop as to what the heck we do over here (umm, bake, play games, sew...maybe we should pick it up a notch) and allowed me to write a little bit, but I want to write BIG. And I'm just not sure how that's going to look or what I want to do with that at all. 

I don't know if I'll keep posting here or start a fresh somewhere else, but I thought I'd at least start by getting out of my head a bit and put something down here. And it seems fitting that on the anniversary of my mama's death (11 years - holy doodle!) that I write this today with paperwork surrounding me, to do lists of what I need to do to get through this crazy process, thoughts swimming in my head about being a mom and being a better step mom. Wow, if she could see me now.... (there's those tears again!)

So, here's my list of 2012 goals (we'll see just how far I get. ha)

1. Pay more attention, ask more questions, parent consciously
2. Learn to sew some clothes
3. Cook more, eat out less (that one would have her laughing!)
4. Take more time to enjoy the little things
5. Remember more often that I like me better when I'm calm and laid back and enjoying the little things
6. Make new friends
7. Become a freaking mom!!!
8. Write more
9. Dance more
10. Explore more (when baking and sewing are your hobbies, you don't tend to get out much!)

I could keep going but let's face it, it I can accomplish half of what's here, it will be one heck of year! Bring it on 2012!

Phew

Thank goodness November is over. It has been cold, grey, and full of ugly mustaches. However, as bad as mustache season is, Gord raised a few hundred dollars and so it was worth it. But in the end to November I say good riddance. Goodbye and I don't want to see your ugly face until next year.

 We have moved on to Candy Cane hot chocolates, visits from the Pa (ok, that was technically in November but at the very end so we can count it as December), trips to Vegas, Plays as performed by Anthony Cummings and dance recitals, roller skating, hibernating, quilting, time off work...wow December you have some high expectations to live up to.

 

  At Horseshoe Canyon

 Playing Stoneage

 

Even Kitty wanted to play it was so much fun

I don't think these need any explaining whatsoever

I have high hopes for you December. You better deliver!

Blah November

 I never could figure out why I would get soooo grumpy in the fall. The past couple of years though I have come to realize my distaste for November and that's my answer to my grumpiness. It's cold, it's dark and it feels like a loooong month of cold and dark. Sigh.

On the brighter side of things this November, there is a long weekend, pomegranates and pomegranate experimental products, a trip to one of my favourite places - Horseshoe Canyon, and a date at Tyrell (so what if your date includes two 9 year olds I say)

 

This is the place where Gord and I went for a picnic on one of our first few dates, although neither of us ate anything because we were too nervous! It had recently rained and our shoes got covered in thick layers of mud and clay so that he took mine home to wash (and I went home barefoot). It's also the place where we smooched for the first time. Awwwww.

 

 

 Besides all of it's sentimental value, it's freakin' beautiful and weird and spectacular!

Take that November. Booya.

November

 You know it's November when you see all the cookie dusters about town. Gord really isn't this sad about having a stash, maybe he's just sad because it snowed for the first time the day before and it's now officially COLD! If you want to donate to Movember and help support prostate cancer research, click here: http://ca.movember.com/mospace/636906/

I bought a cake decorating kit this week!

So I made a cake!

The design and colours aren't exactly up this girls alley  - can we say Sunday school on Easter? But this cake was strictly a test run with taste and practice the goal...taste came in number one with practice a close second. I think there are a few more cakes in our near future! Good thing winter is here because I's got a lot of baking to do:)


My new fabric also arrived in the mail this week. I love it. Along with some grey I already had, this will soon become our bed quilt to replace the ugly visioned quilt that is not to be spoken of again!

So far, this weekend is kicking some serious winter ass!

Pumpkins

The other night Anthony and I each carved a pumpkin. You will notice that there aren't any photos of the final results...lets just say I followed the rules of not interfering in children's art and Anthony suggested we paint them next year:) But the process was fun regardless of the outcome and I love love love roasted pumpkin seeds so it was a winning situation for this lady. 

 

 

 And in no relation to the pumpkins we carved, the next night I made 

pumpkin and ricotta stuffed pasta. It was yummy.

Happy Halloween!

hot and cold

A dress and hot water bottle, a little contradictory but also kind of fitting as it lines up nicely with the theme of my body.  In usual Lindsay fashion, I've been freezing my tush off as of late (I know it's only October but its COLD). Hello -8 with flurries. But the hot flashes I've started to have the joy of experiencing are not quite the kind of heat I want. Too bad for me cause that's all I'm getting until June, and even in Calgary that's a bit of a gamble!

I made this pillowcase dress because they looked so easy and I want to start making some clothes (for me, mostly) but I thought I would ease my way in. Boy it was easing alright. So simple that I'm afraid the two little girls I know might have a pillowcase revolt if I let myself go too crazy. I've already been stalking pillowcases on ebay for a near future pcd marathon:)  (the dresses may or may not come with sock monkey's since I may or may not have just watched a super easy tutorial on them...I think I may start pulling for a girl in this adoption gig!)

 And what says winter better than oscar the grouch superduper soft and furry material wrapped around a hot water bottle? I'll tell ya - nothing. Even makes the cat smile, sort of.