We're In!

We're officially in the rental in Lloydminster, and the last thing we loaded in and put away last night were the groceries I had to buy.

It is cozy and full, but not quite cramped, which is more than I could ask for. 

I am still nervous about living on this side of the city, and being from a small town all my life it will take getting used to living here.  In the long run it is for the best, and our cozy living arrangements are just temporary; once we are settled into urban living life will progress as usual I'm sure!

This is our bedroom, and besides the bruises on my shins from hitting the new foot board I'm loving the new furniture. You can't see from this picture but there are two nightstands yet in the room!  I finally got everything unpacked last night, and was able to close the closet doors for the first time.

Here is the living room; our loveseat is downstairs.  It is very tight, and I feel a little claustrophobic in there sometimes...I will be on the kids to keep it tidy at all times or it will make me insane.

Another view of the living room...the 50 inch is waaaaay too big for the room, but nothing I can do about that, and the new house will fit the TV in the family room just fine.

The bathroom; again, cozy, and you will get sick of me using that word as it's the only positive description I can come up with when I'm living in an 800sq foot home with a family of 5.  Storage in the bath was an issue, but with the use of some organizing wire racks under the sink I was able to fit in everything we all use.  No buying in bulk anymore for me...sorry Costco!

 Jacelyn and Charlie's room was a challenge for a few reasons:
1. Sharing a room with Jacelyn is difficult as she still hasn't mastered the idea of sharing.
2. Storage for two little girl's paraphernalia.
3. Sleeping arrangements with two beds and two dressers and bunk beds being out of the question as Jacey sleepwalks.

So this is what we did: Jacelyn has a day bed, which we kept and will be Charlie's new bed once we move to the new house and Jace can get a double bed.  We sold Charlie's mate's bed (sniff, bye bye storage) and dresser and Mike built her a trundle bed that slips under Jacelyn's bed.  This is the trundle bed put away in the day:

...and the bed pulls out at night, and I just scoot it over to the other wall where the dressers are.  So far it's wonderful and they have room to play during the day.  Hopefully it won't wear on my nerves as the months go on, but I think the knowledge that they have room to play will override that.

And the kitchen is probably the only place I don't feel suffocated in; it's bright and actually spacious.  We bought a small table from the Restore for 20 bucks and put our large dining room set in storage.  Hey, it works!

The owner of the house let us put up some shelving over the big open space above the stove, which will mean diligent cleaning practices up there as us women know how quickly that area can get "hairs" growing from the ceiling!  But nothing could really be helped as we just have so much crap.

Ah, and yes, the bone of contention, the cereal area on the fridge.  That will most likely change as just looking at it makes the OCD in me rear it's ugly head.

Here's the basement; after almost 4 inches of rain on Tuesday we had water in the corner.  Known to the owner, I'm sure, but not to us, as the neighbor told me the owner's dad meant to bring the grade up next to the house but didn't get around to it.   So, with all of our stuff there piled in the corner, I was a little worried, but we will get it taken care of.  It helps that the owner of the house is a friend of ours, so we'll just give her a call.

Brandon's room is downstairs as well, and he loves it.  A bonus as he doesn't want to live here in Lloyd.  And the Kijiji furniture find is perfect too...there is a nightstand on the other side of the dresser yet with his TV on it, and he holes himself in there with a movie until he decides to crawl back out again!

The laundry room is nice and big, and the machines are next to new and I've gotten a few loads done already!  Lots of storage, and our canned goods and another fridge is around the corner to the left as well!

The downstairs bathroom is a little scary, but it works and that's the important thing.

I forgot to take a picture of the huge storage room that has our wine rack in it, as well as the rest of our stuff deemed not important enough to unpack, such as extra bedding, crystal stemware, pictures, and stuff like that.  On the other hand, with so many stacks of rubbermaid tubs looking so unseemly, I guess keeping the storage room our dirty little secret is alright with me!

Before and After

After weeks and weeks of searching for Kijiji furniture gems, renovating, and blood sweat and tears, my aunt and uncle (with some help from some of us when we can give it) have turned the good bones of grandma and grandpa's new house into a wonderful cozy home.

We went down today bright and early to help move the heavy stuff, and managed to do so well that there were only a few small spots to touch up paint on a few door frames after moving it all in! I call that a huge success!

The house looks so fantastic and welcoming that they will be sure to enjoy it for many years to come.

Now I hope they can start relaxing and settling into town life in peace and comfort! 

Happy housewarming, you two! We are all so very happy for you.

Before

Before

After

After

The laundry room, after Mike and uncle Mick moved the washer and dryer upstairs. 

Weekend Blues

After spending this year's flu season being smug about our house missing all the action, we seem to have picked up a bug on the weekend.
Not a major war-waging flu, but a small 12 hour bug that is wreaking havoc on our tummies and a strange nagging headache that pills won't knock out.
Brandon stayed home last Friday with it, and then Jacelyn was complaining of the headache and queasiness as well, although nothing came of it. Then I took a turn myself Saturday night and that odd headache lasting all of Sunday; migraine medicine couldn't even break through it. And then poor Mike looked at me this morning and said, "I don't feel good" with that sad man-sick look in his eyes. I got him pumped full of pepto pills and sent him off to work, sent the kids on their way to school, at which time Charlie decided to puke on my feet.
Ahhhh. Like I said, it seems to pass quickly, as she was hitting the ground running right after, and has since eaten a marshmallow cookie, a banana, a glass of milk and some grapes.
Today with a foggy feeling in my brain and tummy still not quite right, I have stripped the beds, remade a few of them, and scrapbooked...all while watching Charlie prance around the living room dancing to songs on the "Labyrinth" movie, which is currently her new favorite.
And still I'm smug...if this is the worst it will get then the flu shot is worth all the hassle it brings each year in the fall.

papers, alpha, and elements: "Your time to shine" @2ps

Scrapbook Corner

paper: Mary Mary @ 2ps
word element: Every day Blessings by Ellie Lash
embellishments: By the Pond at Gingerscraps; Cool Summer Nights by Just for Fun Designs
border: Borderloos by Katie Teague @ 2ps




I have been so so so busy that I feel guilty when I sit down at the computer to scrapbook. I'm getting behind on my layouts, and I'm hoping that after we've moved and settled into our temporary home that I can sit and scrap for hours.
I love to digiscrap so much that I prefer it over traditional scrapbooking! However nothing compares to a wonderfully made card or layout to display with all the three dimensional elements popping out from the paper.
If I sit down during the afternoon when it's quiet and Charlie is busy, I get so engrossed in what I'm doing that I have to make myself put it away for later. If I don't I'll forget for too long that I am indeed a mother with things to do and supper to make!
I packed up the van today to the gills and took off for the city after school with Jacey to keep me company, leaving the other two monsters with my sister. If I keep this up, taking a load into the new house one van load at a time, we'll be moved in no time at all! (And out of gas money).

Tragedy, and Sleepless Nights

If tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see.

If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me

I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today. While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.

If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while, I'd say good-bye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized, that this could never be, for emptiness and memories, would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity, and all I've promised you." Today your life on earth is past, but here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day is the same way, there's no longing for the past.

You have been so faithful, so trusting and so true. Though there were times you did some things, you knew you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven, and now at last you're free. So won't you come and take my hand, and share my life with me

So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right here, in your heart.

- Author Unknown 

Tuesday will find me travelling for the funeral of the brother of a very dear friend of mine.  I can't seem to get past the dark cloud that surrounds the tragic events which lead to his death, and can't find it in my heart to blame him for it, as many other's seem to do so easily.
I am not one to judge...who are we to do so; it isn't for us to judge others. I am not one to say he was right or wrong. I understand mental illness very well; it is all around me in the family members I love who are living, and also in those who have passed. It is a horrible sickness, warping the mind like arthritis, and stealing the soul like cancer. It will sneak up on the best of us when we aren't looking...whether you are a devoted Christian or not. And until you walk a day, no, an hour, minute, or second in their shoes, you will never fully understand the power of a disabling mental disease. I personally have walked that path...taken the pills, visited many psychiatrists, only to come out of it all never wanting to go down that path ever again. I can only explain it as a darkness which is consuming in such a way that nothing brings you any light; it's smothering. So no, it isn't for me to judge at all.
But I will be there to grieve, to mourn, and to show my support and love for a family who took me into their hearts so long ago as one of their own.
Rest in Peace Darren, Hayley, and baby Cayden