bit the bullet

Ordered my advance copy of Sons of Anarchy Season 3 yesterday from amazon.ca and I am SO EXCITED FOR IT TO ARRIVE IN THE MAIL!

Yes - I am a bit of a dork - but when it comes to the series that I love, I truly LOVE them!

to do list

Work is great right now. I love that I get to put my OCD to good use on a daily basis planning events :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

this weekend

I had a lovely visit with Grandma Bower. She was looking, feeling and acting way better than the week before so that always makes me happy!

Lots of lazy moments in the sun for Ms. Lexxus and myself!

We set up our new patio furniture just in time for a Sunday afternoon visit from Jim and Mom.

Chad's garden is flourishing and his patio vision is almost complete. Next summer is going to be amazing in our back yard!

Started listening to this audiobook and am enjoying every minute of it - no wonder there was so much hype around this book and movie release!

it's been a while ...

I don't really have a good excuse for not blogging for a while except for the fact that I have been pretty obsessed with my iPhone the last few weeks ... how lame does that sound? Ha ha!

Life has been great in my neck of the woods - lots of "end of summer" family and friend get togethers, visits with both Grandma B and Grandma D, getting ready for the fall soccer season to start, tons of bike rides and tracking those rides on my iPhone (of course), lots of house renos including painting and window coverings (before and after photos will come one day - promise) and I am REALLY busy at work which I love and wouldn't want it any other way!

I recently finished "Choosing to See" by Mary Beth Chapman. A while back I saw a bunch of posts on Facebook back and forth from people I went to high school with saying that this was a must read book. After ordering the book from the library and digging into the foreword by Mary Beth's husband, I quickly realized and put two and two together that the group of people on Facebook were a very religious group and this book definitely supported that. I am 32 and in the process of figuring out my own belief system - I don't judge or feel one's choice in belief is any better than anyone else's but this book was VERY God centered. I did read the whole thing though and although at some points it was quite preachy, it had such a powerful core message - we can't control anything and it is how we deal with the situations that come our way that is important. An unbelievable true story that I don't wish on anyone - but if tragedy does hit, Mary Beth can help you endure!

I cannot wait for the next season of Dexter to be available at the library. The preview looks so good!

Heart does it again ... she always makes me smile!

I am currently listening to the audiobook of "The Paris Wife" - a fictional take on Earnest Hemingway's first marriage. Anyone who loves literary history and a good human interest story should definitely have a look at this love story!

I am about halfway through "Patriot Hearts" by John Furlong about this (and Vancouver's) road to the 2010 Olympics. Such a huge and amazing time for our city, province and country. This book chronicles the road to the 2010 Olympics - all the ups and downs and curves along the way. It is really bringing back to me the memories of the energy we had as a nation at that time. Can't wait to spend some time

Chad and I just finished watching Season 4 of Burn Notice but in between episodes, we managed to fit in a few movies. Nothing spectacular - actually really glad that all three were free library rentals!

it always amazes me ...

I am always amazed with what one simple change can do to a room. Chad and I bought this light fixture from Ikea last weekend while on a the hunt for the perfect master bedroom curtains (which we found - yay us). I think the light was about $60 but Chad REALLY wanted it. I could see the allure but couldn't really picture it in the room he wanted to put it in ... the laundry room!? 

I had to work late last night so when I got home, Chad and Lexxus were curled up with all the lights out so I moved through the house in silence and darkness. But when I got up this morning, I went into the laundry room and the light was so. much. better. Seriously - the room looks completely different and then angles on the light help light up the mudroom more, etc. - $60 but the room looks brand spanking new. Isn't it amazing what a new detail can do to spiff up a place? Now if only we had a door on this room since there is a toilet in there ... nah, probably not going to happen :) 

just finished watching ...

I have no clue but Chad really wanted to watch the first Nanny McPhee movie so after I saw that one, I had to see the second. He fell asleep through both of them of course :) I liked this one better - not the best children's movie I have seen but some parts were pretty adorable and made me smile!

i am pinning!

I am now on pinterest! I am new but love this site like I love my iPhone - what the heck was my life like before I found these technological wonders? :) I kid, I kid but ... I am still in love!

You can find me here ... http://pinterest.com/jaclynvdb/

via

i bit the bullet

And got me an iPhone 4!!! I can't even remember what life was like before it came int he mail. LOVE!

currently ...

I am listening to this audiobook on my iPod and I am absolutely haunted by this mother and child's journey. I won't spoil it for anyone as it is a new release but it is a very unique take on an amazing kidnapping story. I am more than sure you will be hooked!

Chad and I only buy the DVD's of a few series (the others we rent from the library): Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy and Burn Notice. I was so excited when our copy of "The Fall of Sam Axe" came in the mail because it was a special treat for Chad who is a huge Bruce Campbell fan. Unfortunately this 90 minute special failed to capture the humour that is Bruce Campbell and Burn Notice. Oh well - we had to get it for the collection anyways :)

I watched this documentary over the weekend while playing with my new phone. I wasn't really concentrating on it too much but some things really jumped out at me. If you are in to learning more about the economies ups and downs, and how the U.S. seems to keep screwing up the world's economy and not just their own - this is a must see!

this put a smile on my face today!

today's inspiration!

via

peyton's 3rd birthday party!

 

Chad and I enjoying all the sunshine and festivities!

Ms. Leanne enjoying her homemade colouring pages!

Only the adults wanted to colour!

Chad concentrating hard on his creation!

Jaxon enjoying the afternoon - wiggling and giggling away!

Birthday boy with his new remote control car.

Make a wish Peyton!

And now he gets to enjoy all the sugar he wants.

Happy 3rd Birthday Peyton! We love you!

our cactus plant

These photos do not do it justice. I swear - the flowers are so big and bold - florescent pink. They almost glow!

she makes my day every single time!

bc day long weekend 2011

Friday ... We were super duper excited for the BC Long Weekend so we celebrated with Gas Station Sushi for dinner! Seriously - I have zero clue as to what the restaurant's name is but it is beside a gas station in Aldergrove and it is hands down the best sushi I have ever had. Then we went and visited Chad's parent's for a bit and home to start Season 4 of Dexter!

Saturday ... We were up and out early and headed across the line to do some shopping. Stayed down in the States for a couple of hours and then headed home so I could have a shower and freshen up because we were heading to Peyton's 3rd Birthday Party! We had a great time - and so did P-Man :) Best part of the day? When he came up to Chad and shook his hand to thank him for our gift. Priceless. Party photos to come!

We couldn't stay too late at the shindig because we had to go pick up Lexxus so it was off to Chad's parent's house where we had a pleasant surprise - Cory and Stacey were home early from their camping trip so we got to spend some time with the twins! After failing to get our poop together and making dinner plans, we headed home to relax - long day but so much fun!

Sunday ... I wasn't feeling too hot Sunday. Went to bed Saturday night early with a killer headache and woke up with an even worse one. Stayed in bed until 10:30 am which is unheard of for me these days! Played on the computer for a bit and finished this book which was a.m.a.z.i.n.g. I love stories about people's lives that intertwine. This one did not disappoint!

Then I started this book and I am only at the very beginning and am laughing my ass off so I can't wait to get into it more!

In the afternoon, my girlfriend Christie from Calgary stopped by for a visit. She was home visiting her family for a few days and I was so glad we could spend a few hours together catching up! I gave her a tour of our house and showed her our wedding album. Then we just gabbed in the back yard. After she left, Chad and I headed back to his parent's house to drop off a trailer that Chad had borrowed the day before. Surprise, surprise, we were just in time for dinner! While Elaine was fixing up a yummy meal, Chad and I went for a quick visit to his brother's house where I got to spend some time with the twins again. Heave for me :) Love those little guys! After dinner we went home and watched some more Dexter.

Monday ... Yesterday was a VERY productive day. Yay - love those! Chad's dad came over to help him lay the first part of concrete for the expanded backyard patio. I made them a huge breakfast to get their energy levels up and then ... left them to it! :) I finished off my "must-put-all-my-photos-on-discs-to-one-day-make-into-photo-books" project which made me very happy as this has been an on-going project for a while now. While doing this I watched the latest episode of Big Brother. Danielle putting Rachel and Brendan up on the block MADE. MY. DAY. After that I ran to the grocery store because Chad's parent's were coming for dinner. Then home to work in the back yard. I prepped three fence panels for painting. Not the best job but always satisfying when it is over :) Then we had an amazing dinner - halibut with this sauce on it. You MUST try this if you like a good sweet and spicy combo! We picked this up at Costco in the States.

After dinner we relaxed with double churned Neapolitan ice cream and watched this classic! What a great long weekend!