Christmas Bake Day!

For the first time in a long time I am excited about seeing the snow. It doesn't bother me really very much to have to take extra time to drive in it or to be so careful all the time. I did almost get into two accidents on separate occassions this past week. And still the snow is not really stressing me out very much. I guess because the sooner the snow comes and things start getting cold the sooner the wedding! I find myself wanting to go swimming all the time lately - so that I can sit in the hot tub and finally get warm! It seems like a shower just doesn't cut it these days for getting you warm!

I am missing out on the annual christmas girls party with my highschool friends (that actually started in junior high.) I have not missed a year since then and am feeling a little sad about it. Sometimes having to work friday and sautday nights is not always that great! Oh well, at least I can see them the next week at bible study.

Last sunday we had a really fun time doing some christmas baking with my bible study friends and cousins! We made christmas trees (coconut/white chocolate), gingerbread men, sugar cookies with icing, gingersnaps, and candycane shortbread! DELICIOUS! And it was so much fun! Thanks to everyone who made the treck out to St. Albert for that! It was a really great day! Here are some pictures I stole from facebook! Thanks Erin!

BACK TO THE GRIND!

I'm back to work! I'm actually really happy about this and this is why:

• The bad kid who caused me and the whole team so much insane stress and frustration has left the house! Peace has returned to my work!


• I missed the staff! So happy to see them again


• The kids missed me! (That's a pretty good feeling!)


• We have a new kid! PLUS: This new kid takes no medication and has no mental issues! He is very intelligent and it is very refreshing to talk to him! (He just came to the house so he might be trying really hard to be good, but his record has shown that he doesn't have many issues!)

So I am pumped about going to work. Today I work from 2-10. It's a friday so that means it will be a fun shift! And tomorrow I tackle the 12 hour shift! (Which doesn't scare me like it used to!)

This is a picture of this past summer playing the "Golf Ball Game" I'm pretty sure it has an official name but none of us knew it.

honeymoon location: BANFF!

Oh, Banff may seem like a place you can go to anytime you want, but how many people actually do go and then do everything you can to have fun? That is where Steve and I want to have our honeymoon and we can't wait! Steven has already booked hotels, dog sledding, and a helicopter ride around the mountains! We also plan on skiing for a couple days but you don't need to book that in advance so we will play that by ear. I guess I just didn't want to go someplace hot where it would be so restrictive to do anything and go anywhere because the place outside the resort is dangerous, or you don't know their language. I would most want to go to hawaii because it is safer and the people speak english, but that is too expensive and we can't afford it. Besides, banff was so exciting sounding that we decided to get married in March more because of the honeymoon reason than anything else.

On a more depressing note: I am going to drop off the forms that say I can go back to work, and from there they will organize when I will start. I don't know what to think... I guess going back to work will be ok.

Going back to work...

Yeah, so I'm probably going back to work this week. I'm pretty much better, not 100% yet, but the doctor says "I can see that you are doing a lot for your long term recovery, keep up the good work." Sounds promising! Anyway, I'm actually looking forward to going to work, it will be kind of like a fresh start. I actually really needed that break, it truly was from God. The first two weeks were no picnic but after that I started to enjoy my time off and then I got a head start on my wedding!

Speaking of the wedding, I booked the caterer today and the hair salon! They said "We highly recommend the trial hair-do" I was like shove it you money hungry salon people!!!! Well, I figure that there is no way that I could honestly look that bad after a visit to the salon, like come on. These are professional hair stylists. And besides all of that, I am cheap, and I could use the extra $55 dollars. How ridiculous that the trial is less expensive than the wedding day hair-do. I should just tell them that it's a trial on the wedding day. (I won't but honestly.)

Anyway we are all still so tired from Matt and Liz's wedding which was a total blast. We danced till 1:30am! (We as in Steven and I, and our friends) Everyone's calves hurt. I certainly hope that I didn't spell that wrong - I mean the muscles on the back of your lower legs! The wedding gave me some good ideas for my own especially since I plan on having my ceremony in the same place. Steven was making fun of me telling people that I was taking notes. The embarrassing part is that people were like "Where are these notes?" I was like, no I took mental notes not actual notes! So thanks a lot Steve!

Found: A hall!

I found a hall! It is exciting! It's a newer building and yet still small, just the right size! So thank goodness that is over with! We also have a location to take pictures indoors (which is a big deal in Edmonton because it is simply too cold to take all the pictures outside in the winter!) And not only that, it will be for free, which makes a huge difference. I need a photographer that will take pictures for less than 1.5 grand ... This is going to be difficult. Hopefully I can get a good one in time!

Another couple in my group of friends are engaged! As of right now there are 4 couples in the engaged stage! That is alot of engaged people. Matt and Liz are getting married this weekend, and then Steve and I will be next in March. Two more weddings will follow in the summer. Crazy. We are so old!

Just a picture of Steve and I:

New Post!

Oh you must be so excited! I took an extensive break from blogging and now I am back. Things that you missed if you read my blog and never actually talk to me:

I rolled my ankle at work. And it wasn't just a little sprain, it was REALLY bad and it has been almost 5 weeks and I am still off work. The first 2 weeks were no vacation but the two weeks after that have been better and now I feel as if I am nearing the completion of my recovery and almost ready to get back to work. I feel so much better. Don't ask how it happened, I don't want to talk about it! But as of right now it is still obviously swollen and still needing more time.

I got engaged! About a week and a half ago! It is very exciting. Steven and I are pumped. I got really excited and started doing everything I could to plan for the big day. We are thinking the big day will be in early March - hopefully. We still need to find a hall. I am hall searching today actually.

So hopefully blog you later and maybe sooner than later as the last break between posts ended up taking almost 4 months!