Family Day 2010...

It hard to believe our government has taken DECADES to determine we need a "Family"Day here in Canada. ALL store, including the mall and big box stores are closed! I {LOVE} it! A day to spend exclusively with the ones we love. Unless that is , if you are a "shift working"family , like us! Living as a shift worker family from the get-go , for the most part, is fine. You adapt to those holidays or special occasion and make the best of it whenever you can. Yesterday was Valentines Day and my dearest husband was working. The kids and I enjoyed a yummy heart shaped pancake breakfast and then off to the rink we went for Carson's hockey game. Afterward were met up with my aunt and cousin at the mall enjoying some time in Toys R Us and Children's Place! A great little Valentines day!

I am so blessed to have a wonderful family and extended family! I love each and everyone of them for who they are. My family means the world to me! We love to spend time together, we learn from each other , we laugh at each other and we love each other!

So today we are headed out to our local YMCA for a Family swim, then back to the arena for time with our "hockey family". I hope you had a chance to be with the ones you love!

Happy Family Day Everyone!

outside of my comfort zone!

One of my new years "goals" for this year was to do something that is totally outside of my comfort zone and boy did I! A few weekends ago I went and had some photos taken of myself by Jenna of www.jennafayephotography.com . Jenna does beautiful pictures which i have always admired. she has such an amazing creative eye! This time, she was offering a photo session called "Sexy back sessions" . This was a promo for Valentines day. My chance to test myself and leap out of the "zone". This was also a surprise gift for Rene. Well... I was SO nervous when I arrived at the shoot. Jenna suggested posing in front of the mirror at home , something I NEVER do and NEVER did! She also made suggestions on types of clothing to take and some "sexy" posing ideas. Lets just say, my flannel jammies were not on her "sexy" list! LOL So I did some searching and found a few things I thought would work. I arrived at the shoot, like I said, nervous has heck and I walked in a ladies are getting their hair done, nails done and sipping on champagne, well, "I can handle this!" So I was forth in line and the closer I got to my shoot , the more excited I got for this AMAZING opportunity. All I started to think about was the expression on Rene's face when he sees these pics!
So I had my photo shoot and felt so good when I was finished! I couldn't wait to see the pics. Jenna was very prompt at getting the proofs out. Once I saw the proofs I couldn't keep the secret from Rene any more. I knew I had to show him and was dieing to see the expression on his face. So we were almost ready to go to sleep one night and I told him I had a surprise for him, half of his Valentines gift and I just couldn't wait to give it to him. So i grabbed the lap top and brought it into the bedroom. I opened the slide show file and handed the laptop to him. Words can not describe the look on his face. He really couldn't get his words out(something that never happens to Rene,he's alwasy a man of words..LOL) it went a little like this..."when did...where were...Oh my god...this is.. holy crap... your amazing...when did...how did.. who?? PRICELESS!!! needless to say , he loved them. I truly can't wait to get the actual pics in my hand! Most of the pics I WILL NOT be showing to the world... {for Rene's eyes only!} but one of my FAV pics is this one below. I LOVE IT! I look at this picture and realize I have come a long way in my life's journey. I am happy with who I am in life and who I have become! I'm happy that I can see I look a lot like my mother and my father. I'm happy with my freckles, my wrinkles around my eyes . I think more women need to "be happy" with themselves and not wish to be different then they are, not wish to have smaller or bigger boobs, or a skinny body. We need to teach our young girls to be happy with themselves and strong in their minds. We all know the world needs morepositive young women...so pass it along ladies!

birthday pictures continue...

Look for this adorable face on the big screen at centre ice of the Belleville Bulls game this Saturday night!

A big smile for hand knitted slippers from "Grammy"

(Carson's Great-Grandmother)
We love these slippers.

Although Grammy has really bad arthritus in her hands, she still manages to

produce the best slippers and handmade socks ever!

Thank you Grammy!

Playing mini-sticks hockey with Pappa Bear and his new mini sticks goaly nets

Poor Papa Bear , I think he was still standing like this the next day! LOL

random thoughts

Here is Shelyn (fourth from the right) sitting patiently on the stage at school in her riding gear. Why you may ask? Well, Shelyn is in grade four now and starting in grade four is the "oh so exciting ...and nerve racking" process of learning how to write and present speeches. So the process goes a little like this:

1- think of something you really enjoy ie. hobby, a favorite book etc. to write about

2- brainstorm on paper what types of points about this topic you want to speak about

3-practice...practice...practice at home reading out loud

4-read speech in front of your class

5-top six speeches from each class get chosen to read in front of another class in the school

6-top three speeches get chosen to read in front of the entire school...YIKES!

7- practice...practice...practice

8-the day comes when you get on the stage and present your speech

So here she is...made it to the stage in front of the school. We are SO proud of Shelyn and her accomplishment! She worked SO hard and practiced SO much to get to this point. I don't know about her, but I sure know my nerves were shot!

oh, what was her speech about? her hobby horseback riding. She dressed in her riding gear to read the speech! So creative!

~

I wonder if they will look back on this picture when they have children and think...holy cow look at how big that laptop is!

I remember my first computer, a Commodore64, complete with a tape deck.

Wow... how times have changed!

7 Years old...WOW!!!

Yesterday marked Carson's 7th Birthday. Wow, so hard to believe! We celebrate bright and early in the morning with a birthday announcement on the radio. This announcement put the most grateful smile on Carson's face. At night we had a family party complete with all kinds of wonderful gifts. Tonight, Carson and daddy had a "boys night out", heading out for wings and a game of pool. What a birthday! This Saturday Carson will celebrate again with his closest buddies, cheering on the Belleville Bulls. Birthdays tend to spread themselves out in this family. Usually over a week span. Lucky little monkeys and they deserve every little minute of it!

holiday season at the Aubertins

Another wonderful holiday season has come and gone. Full of new and old traditions. We were blessed Dec 9Th with a new member to the McGarvey family.Liam Michael Fredrick McGarvey.What a little sweetie! It's crazy to think that my brother is a daddy... and a great one at that! Kind of makes me tear up when I think about it! We got to enjoy some time with Shaun , Cat and Liam over the holidays. Our annual Christmas Tree cut down down was celebrated with my aunt and uncle, Mom and dad, Shelyn and myself. My cousin Michelle and her husband Jeff also joined in the festivities. I LOVE cutting down a fresh tree each year! The thrill of searching for that perfect(or not so perfect) tree, loading it on top of the van (or in the trailer) and the smell of it in our house. It's a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. Shelyn celebrated her 9th Birthday Dec 24th. WOW... did I say NINE????? Hard to believe! We celebrated with her friends enjoying a "spa"party at the house, then with family the week before Christmas and again on Christmas eve. Our annual tour of the local Christmas tree light displays was enjoyed by all. Although my parents were not able to make it this year, Rene's parents joined us for the tour and we saw a few familiar faces along the way!

Christmas Eve we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at my In-laws. Christmas day was celebrated at home with just the four of us int he morning then off to my parents in the afternoon. Boxing day was our traditional Lott family Christmas get together. Always an good time! I was fortunate to have some time off during the holidays. It was wonderful. We enjoyed many PJ days while relaxing around the house and playing with all of the goodies Santa brought us.

We also hosted a Christmas Open House this year. what a great turn out. It's so nice to celebrate with our friends and their families. New years was a quite one this year. We went tobogganing with two other families and enjoyed some munchies and cheering on the Canadian JR hockey team on TV.

I am so thankful for an amazing family and friends and the time we get to spend together over the holidays. Good times enjoyed by all!

McGarvey Christmas








Cat, Shaun and Liam

Sporting their Stirling Blues hats

Camera from Santa

Police Lego City from Santa

Picture op with Uncle Chris and Uncle Andre

Christmas light tour

Finished product and some happy customers!

Ginger bread time!

A few hockey games and tourney's during the holidays!

Our first blanket of snow

Christmas tree cutting day

Welcome Liam

Proud and tired Daddy!

Finally an Aunt!

I am still waiting for my home computer to be fixed so I can upload some great pics of the Holiday season at the Aubertin house. In the meantime, I am finding it amazing that we have reached 2010 already...where does the time go?

It's truly hard to believe the journey my life has taken within the last ten years(2000)... a full decade! As I sit and reflect , I consider myself to be very thankful for this journey .
In the last ten years...
-Rene and I FINALLY got engaged
-had our first beautiful child Shelyn
-had the wedding of our dreams
-changed jobs and moved back to the Belleville area
-purchased our first home
-purchased our first(of many)mini vans
-mourned the loss of some very near and dear people
-met new friends
-had our second beautiful child Carson
-took the BIG leap and opened my own business
-took many business related courses
-learned to drive standard
-lost a few pounds
-gained a few pounds
-became a member of the Parent Council
-became a "hockey mom"
-returned to the world of indoor soccer for ladies
-spent wonderful family vacations with the ones I love...
and the list could go on and on!

I don't usually make New Years resolutions, I consider them more as goals to strive for. This year, i will strive to spend more quality time with my loved ones, take better care of myself (mentally and physically), reach out to those in my community and ENJOY my journey!