Happy Anniversary!!

It's officially been one year since we moved into our "forever home". I can't believe how life-changing this move was for us. We've entertained, celebrated, and lived. We're still getting to know everyone, but those that we've met have been incredibly welcoming and kind.


I am so in love with this house. We've added a few new trees to the backyard (one of the ones that has been there FOREVER unfortunately was sick and wasn't going to last, so we replaced it), and a new swingset. We've decorated Princess and Tobes rooms - especially for them. We've put up pictures and painted and decorated and have made it home. We still have an ever-growing list of things we want to do (I want to get my craft room FINALLY set up, and I'd love to redecorate our bedroom soon!) but I am so happy walking into my house every day and knowing it's MINE! And the ever-growing list is mostly because we have so much more room to dream in this home.

It's so great to be closer to where I grew up too: Princess takes swimming lessons in the pool I used to when I was her age. She almost went to the school that my younger brother and sister went to, and the drive to Grandad's house (the house I grew up in) takes less than half the time it did from our old place. And being minutes away from our church is also incredibly awesome. From 45 minutes to 4, it's been such a blessing!!

Our first year in our home has been spent...

• Decorating!! Tobes and Princess have rooms that reflect them! Princess even chose her own paint color :S (I wanted a soft ballerina pink, she had other ideas...)
• Celebrating!! Tobes was dedicated, we had Christmas, Birthdays, and a whole host of other dinner parties and events held at our home. As simple as Hubby's brother up for the weekend, as elegant as a dinner party for a dear friend's birthday, as small as a playdate with some of our favorite babies, and as big as a 30+ person BBQ for a combined birthday party.
• Growing!! Not out, but up. Princess started school nearby, and Tobes started gymnastics. Hubby got a promotion and my business boomed!

Our hopes for this upcoming year are...

• Disneyland!! Not a hope, but a reality! *lol* We're getting so close, and I can't wait to add to my Mickey Mouse kitchen, and put up some awesome pictures from the park on our walls!
• The Finishing Touches!! Our bedroom is next on the chopping block - we've picked out the color scheme, and are pouring over furniture (new bed means new bedroom set!)
• Family and Friends!! We hosted Christmas last year, and this year is my 30th birthday (we're planning an all-out bash!) and we're hoping to host New Years this year as well for our choir-friends (an annual tradition).

Happy Anniversary, dear sweet home!! 

A corner of Tobes' room - minus his crib (this was taken while we were transitioning him to his big-boy bed)

A corner of Princess' room, which now has "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" in white vinyl over her bed :)

Imaginary Friends

I joined UW 8+ years ago when I was planning my wedding to Hubs. I wasn't overly involved, but wedding-obsessed, it was fun to peek in at other people's planning and share ideas of my own. I got to know a few women and follow along as they got married. Eventually I was able to share my own wedding story with them. UW eventually closed, and I moved on. Back in 2006, however, I received a random e-mail to let me know that these people had found a new home at MLW, and I was invited to come along. 

Eager to reconnect, I joined the site, and made a lot of friends - both from UW and new members. I was no longer planning my own wedding, but I loved to help out other brides with their planning, and watching other people's plans and dreams come true. We dreamed about dresses and venues, flowers, and cake. Wedding stories and pictures were shared, and friendships were built. That October I started my first life-journal. I also learned that I was pregnant with Princess. Many of these women found out about my pregnancy before some of my "real-life" friends and family. I chronicled my pregnancy and the first few years of Princess' life in my journal, and some of these women became her "special aunties" and "nana". They were "there" for her first steps, her first words, and a whole host of other special occasions. We received gifts and cards from these women, and the world just seemed a little smaller through this community.

Some of the women I knew beforehand, but became closer through the site. Some of these women made the transition to "real-life" friends (I skype periodically with one friend in Minnesota, and Princess' BEST and oldest friend is the daughter of one of these women). Some women I have never talked to face-to-face, but still count them as friends, and even a "cyber-hip".

It's hard to explain  to other people who these imaginary friends are. How do you explain a love for someone you've never "met"? But we have seen each other through good times and bad - through weddings and divorces; births and losses; pranks and trolls. They have been "there" for the birth of both of my children, as well as my miscarriage. They hold a special place in my heart. They are not just strangers on the internet, they are my friends.

This past week we learned of the loss of an actual member of MLW. We lost a member of our community. He was a husband (to another of our members), a son, and a dear friend to many. I didn't know him well, but I watched the love story between he and his wife unfold. We knew of their struggles and their joys, and we knew of their love. He was a great friend to many in our little world on the forums, and our community is feeling the loss. My heart is broken for his wife, his family, and his friends. It has also reminded me of how amazing this community is, and how much these people mean to me.

I love my imaginary friends.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday



Her real name is poorly erased on the chalkboard thanks to my rushjob photoshop work ;)

Date Night

Aren't we cute?

Saturday night. I straightened my hair, fixed my makeup, and donned my new pair of jeans. Lipgloss on and nails polished. I spent a few minutes picking out the perfect jewellery and hummed and hah-ed over which purse to bring. I made sure I had the movie tickets in my wallet and grabbed my phone off the charger.

I grabbed the keys to the car, put on my cute sweater and new ballet flats and...

... Kissed my husband goodbye. I didn't want to keep my date waiting.

Saturday night I had a date with my daughter. We left the boys at home and went to see Brave one last time in theaters. It's not often I get to go out with just her (we try to make it a point to have mommy/daughter time once a month or so, and it'll be even more important once she's in school). Tobes takes up a lot of my attention when we're out, and the one-on-one attention she once got from me is usually more than halfed. But when we go on our dates, it's a chance for her and I to just hang out, like "old times", which it was just the 2 of us all day. We talk (SHE talks), we go for coffee, or in this case, a movie. It's a chance for her to have my undivided attention, and I genuinely enjoy her company! Her incessant talking is hilarious and awesome when I'm not trying to keep track of my screamy 2-year-old as well. She is a pretty awesome kid (don't believe me? Ask my husband!) and we're never without something to talk about. Last night we discussed school starting (she's thrilled) and her recent dance workshop (she's danced a total of 7 hours in the last 5 days). We brainstormed Halloween costumes, and she reinforced to me that she wants to grow up to be a nurse and a party-store worker, but NOT a mom (babies cry too much).

All in all, it was probably one of the best dates I've had in awhile... Just don't tell my husband ;)