Saturday, October 29, 2011

BOO-TiFUL trip down Memory Lane!

"A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween."
-Emma Bomback


"Clothes make a statement, costumes tell a story."
-Mason Coole


PHOTOS keep the "BOO" tiful memories alive!



HALLOWEEN 2010
Mariah was a LITTLE TIGER!
Beau was a GIRAFFE... (BEAU-RAFFE!) 


Here are Beau and Mariah
"TRICK or TREATING"
with their parents...
NELS(their daddy), was a hippy
JANA (their mommy), was a boxer
October 31st, 2010 


WITCH way to Dancing???
Here is Mariah in her Halloween costume 2009
at her dancing lessons.
She was a PRINCESS, but she went
trick or treating with her Calgary cousins as a
DALMATION that year... (could not find a photo of that!) 


My little FAIRY with a sucker in each hand
and a bag full of treats close by!
This is Halloween 2008.
Mariah had a bad cold so did not go out trick or treating that year.
(Except to Grammie's  where she got lots of treats)


Mariah lived in Edmonton her first two Halloweens.
Above Right she was a BUTTERFLY in 2007(her 2nd Halloween)
And Left she was a MONKEY in 2006 (her first Halloween!)


And here is another blast from my past!!!
HALLOWEEN 1985
My son, Colin was SUPERMAN
My daughter, Jana was a CABBAGE PATCH KID
Below is TRAVIS their Grandparent's cocker spaniel dog. 


Some treats and cards from Halloween 2008
(on the card was Shuffle my doggie as a pup!) 


One of my all time favorites of Halloweens gone by!
1984
Colin age 5 as MICHAEL JACKSON
& Jana age 3 as STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE.
(I actually made Jana's costume from scratch, too!)
... I am not much of a sewer, either!!!


Halloween 1981
JANA'S First Halloween as a BUNNY
Here she is with her GRANDMA BLANCHE!
(I think I can see a bit of Beau in her here!) 


Halloween 1980
Here is Colin on his second Halloween
with his GRANDPA GREG.
(I made this costume, too!)
As a kid, I am pretty sure I was a clown every year!


Some BOO-tiful little treat baggies for
 Mariah's dance class, 2010


More Treat creations! 


Some little Halloween cards I crafted last year 2010
 with BEAU on them...
One of the little verses inside said this...

Happy Halloween to you,
From this little PUMPKIN, and me too!
I know he looks so very cute,
Dressed up in his PUMPKIN suit!

With HALLOWEEN coming up at the start of next week, I thought it might be fun to take a short little trip down MEMORY LANE today.I will post this year's costumes in
the next blog!

I had so much fun looking through all the "BOO"-TIFUL MEMORIES of my kids and grandkids at Halloween.

I did not take many pics when my kids were little, so the ones I posted of them
were all I could find!
I almost found all of the ones from
Mariah and Beau's Halloweens, though!

When looking through old photos it is obvious that there are some family resemblances, not only in Jana's kids and her,
but in my husband Brian and his dad, Greg!

This time last year had a happy sad mix for me. With my mom passing away on the
25th of October, 2010,
her funeral was then on Oct. 30th
(the day before Halloween)
I included an ANGEL in Mariah's
Halloween treat bag last year
in mom's honor, too!

Yesterday I went to Mariah's kindergarten to help her dress into her costume for the Halloween party there. She was so excited, as were all the little kindergarteners and their teacher, who dressed as a Scientist!
I will post a pic or two from that in my next blog Monday or Tuesday.

Thursday I shared an afternoon of fun times with friend, Gailene. Yesterday I joined my friend Brenda for lunch at a new restaurant called ROCK CREEK.

Last night my friends, Linda and Dennis came to the city from Lanigan where they live, for a charity fund raiser concert with
"Kenny Shields and STREETHEART".
We also went for a supper first at
CHEESE TOAST on Broadway, where I often dined out in my studio years!

I always enjoy time spent with friends.
I feel so blessed to have so many friends and wonderful family in my life always.

I have been chowing down on the halloween chocolate bars ... so it is a good thing, I have also made it to 6 classes at the gym
this past week as well!!!

According to the COFFEE CRISP WRAPPER...
it says...
"COFFEE CRISP Makes a nice light n snack!"

However I may have had a few too many
"LIGHT" snacks lately!!!
(wink wink!!!)

I hope you enjoy the BOO-TIFUL memories as much as I did looking for them for this blog...

On that note here is my rhyme of the day!

It's fun to look back at old pics again...
As I take a trip down memory lane!
SPOOK-tacular times and costumes galore,
And all such fun memories,
and soon to be more!
 Monday will be about
TRICKS and of TREATS...
I'll be handing out candies
to so many sweets!
I'm hoping for TREATERS...
and not many TRICKERS,
I've bought lots of treats and
also some stickers!
Soon I will post the newest additions...
Of this year's costumes and
more new traditions!
I know there will be fun times
with kids, too,
They are excited to dress up
and to also say
"BOO!"


Thursday, October 27, 2011

From TWO... to TUTUS!

"Love is the harmony of TWO souls singing together."
-Gregory J.P. Godek


"A kiss is a pleasant reminder that TWO heads are better than one."
-Author Unknown


"Tea for TWO and TWO for tea..."
from a famous song and great Tap Dance song classic!


"TWO wrongs don't make a right."
- Author unknown
(my mom always said that one!)


"I wanted to study ballet, but it was really all about wearing the TUTU."
-Elle MacPherson



Here is just a "FAIRY" sweet example of TWO and TUTU!
This is a pic from when Mariah was TWO wearing a TUTU
at Halloween time with my doggie SHUFFLE as a wee puppy.
TWO who are just TUTU cute!
October 2008 


Here are the TWO of us enjoying the second
of my TWO meal outings on
"TWOS"DAY!
A BIRTHDAY celebration for Brian at TRUFFLES


The first of my TWO meal outings on TWOSDAY...
A lunch at BLISS to celebrate the one year anniversary of mom's passing.
Here I am with my sister-in-law, Arleen,
my cousin Gwen, and my cousin, Steve's wife, Diane. 


TUTU/  TOO yummy...
A HEAVENLY DESSERT in honor of mom at BLISS! 


TuTu Adorable!
Here is Mariah as a GEISHA GIRL
with her dance teacher,
 MISS CARA.
  soon to become TWO,
as she is expecting her first baby in the new year.
I loved the theme of her costume! 



Mariah handing out the treats at dancing yesterday.
Each package had TWO surprises in it! 


A TWOSOME TRADITION!
Mariah and her little dancing friend, Chloe ,
have raced outside for a picture after dance class for the past while!
The TWO of them in their Halloween costumes yesterday,
GEISHA GIRL and WITCH!


Just a good pic for my THEME about TUTUS and TWOS...
TWO TAP SHOES, with TWO TAPS on each
for TAPPING to "TEA FOR TWO!"


Today as I got thinking of a theme for my blog,
TWO came to mind!

My last blog was written TWO days ago and it was on a TWOSDAY, as I have renamed it, because I do TWO classes at the
gym on that day.

This week there were TWO CELEBRATIONS that day, which I wrote about in my previous blog. There was my husband, Brian's birthday, and there was my first
anniversary of mom's passing.

Those TWO people are people
so significant in my life!

That day I went out for TWO special meals to celebrate the TWO things and TWO PEOPLE!

Yesterday was a dress up day at
Mariah's dance lesson.
There were many little TUTUS
along with other costumes and all were just
 TUTU cute, to say the least!

My favorite had to be Mariah's teacher,
Miss Cara's costume, though!
 She is expecting her first baby in January
and her costume said
"BUN IN THE OVEN BAKERY"
on her baker's apron ...
such a clever theme to that costume...
and you know how I LOVE a THEME!!!
So there is another example of TWO... COSTUME plus THEME!

I was just trying to figure out how I could tie this theme together, when I realized how significant the number TWO is in my life!

For me it started at my birth to my
TWO wonderful parents.
At that point I had TWO sets of grandparents, and TWO brothers.

Later in life I would be married to the LOVE of my life, Brian. So I then had TWO
Parents-in-law and so did he!!

Then as time passed the TWO of us went on to having TWO children of our own...
a son, COLIN and a daughter, JANA.

JANA met the LOVE of her life, NELS,
and the TWO of them  made Brian and me the proud TWO grandparents of
our TWO grandchildren.
GRAND DAUGHTER, MARIAH, and GRANDSON, BEAU!

I like to think I have TWO groups of people in my life... FAMILY and FRIENDS... and they have DOUBLED my pleasures of life along the way!

I was involved with DANCING throughout my life and taught at TWO prominent studios...
DIANE WILL DANCE STUDIO and
BRENDA'S SCHOOL OF BATON and DANCE.
Where I was involved with many
TWOS and TUTUS!

This morning as I was at the gym I got to thinking how TWO days a week I am able to take TWO classes back to back.
Tuesdays...
(which I now call TWOSDAYS)
and Thursdays...
I do go other days as well!
TWO words hold true from going there...
GOOD LIFE!

I am connected a lot to TWO things lately...
TV and Computer!
On TV I like TWO reality shows and both are TWO hours long and TWO times weekly!
X-FACTOR and DWTS!
I also like TWO comedy talk shows...
ELLEN and ROSIE!
On the computer I like TWO connections... EMAIL and FACEBOOK.

I also enjoy the BLOG
 which is where I can connect all the THEMES!
So that is also TWO... BLOG plus THEME!

Without TWO of so many body parts,
I would be unable to do anything...
TWO... eyes, ears,arms, legs, hands feet,
and so on!

TWO is always TWICE the fun
and often TWO is better than one!

TWO cousins of mine, sisters...
DIANE and DARCY...
told me had their dad still been living,
he would have been 100 years old
yesterday on the 26th.
Just another of the many
celebrations this month!

I am sure there are many more
TWOS and TuTus in my life...
but for now here is my poem of the day!

Often when thinking of just the right theme,
to write about in my blog...
Some things revolve around grandkids,
and others around my dog!
Today I got to thinking,
how many things are in TWOS,
And also so many things about choice,
to make me have to choose.
This week has been a reminder of many
things involving TWO,
Celebrations of life and death...
and also old and new!
I'm always very grateful of the
many TWOS I know,
And just how many there really are,
so many in a row!
TWO is really better than the
previous number... one!
Because it is like double
or just TWO times the fun!
TWO is so significant
to just so many things...
Like TWO ears to hear the many songs
that everybody sings!
TWO hands to clap, and write and type,
and also just to pray,
TWO feet to walk, and run, and climb
and dance along the way!
TWO arms to hug and wrap around
the people that I love,
TWO legs to sit, and bend, and kick, and sometimes just to shove.
TWO groups of special people...
my family and my friends,
I think the NUMBER TWO is great,
and also never ends!




Tuesday, October 25, 2011

CuPCaKeS & HaLoS!

TODAY... I CELEBRATE  2 VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE... LOVING WISHES TO
   my HUSBAND, BRIAN, and my MOM! 


"A good cupcake is one that can remember the day's blessings and forget the day's troubles."
-Author Unknown


"When you look at a cupcake, you've got to smile."
-Anne Byrn


"If we were all like angels, the world would be  a heavenly place."
Author Unknown


"I guess I never doubted that we were all born to our guardian angel."
-Robert Brault



The Birthday card I crafted for my
HUSBAND BRIAN
He is a wonderful Husband,
Dad and Grandpa, too!


The very cute photo used on the card
of PROUD POPPA BRIAN
and his two special grandkiddies!
(This was taken last Friday
when we babysat them!)


The grandkids, Mariah and Beau  enjoying CUPCAKES with
their POPPA BRIAN last night! 


BEAU with cake on his face... he loved the cupcakes! 


SMiLiNG BEAU last night! 

SHUFFLE loves a reason to party on!


Brian's gift and cupcakes along with party hats
for his special occasion! 


I posted this picture in today's news paper
with this poem I wrote...

It was only a year ago today,
My mom was tired and on her way.
She earned her wings to fly above,
I miss her lots and all her love.
And even though it is real sad,
I know she is again with dad.
So now that we are far apart,
She lives on daily in my heart.

Sadly missed but fondly remembered,
With LOVE, xo her daughter, Diane


Today is a bittersweet sort of day!
I still remember the 5 AM phone call we received from the City Hospital
last year on this date.
Mom had been in the hospital for her final
10 weeks of her life, and so it was expected the end was nearing, but even when expected,
it is hard to get the news.

I am thinking of her always...
and she lives on in my heart. I will always be comforted knowing that she and dad are reunited in heaven once again.

Last year we had celebrated my husband, BRIAN'S BIRTHDAY
the day before, on October 24th with a supper and cupcakes over at Jana's house with the grandkids.  I still remember reading a story to MARIAH that night
by Robert Muench called:
"I'll Love You Forever"
This book is about a mother's ongoing
love for her child, and now seems so fitting to the whole situation. It is quite a tear jerker of a book, but was even more so for me that particular reading of it, knowing that my mom was nearing her end.
That is a memory I will remember for ever.

Once again, this year, we shared CUPCAKES with the grandkids on
the 24th instead of the 25th.
We popped over to Jana's last night with the cupcakes I made and they were a real hit!

Brian and I will go out and celebrate his day with a special meal tonight at a restaurant of his choice. His birthday was very overshadowed last year, so this year we will celebrate it in style!

The 25th of OCTOBER
will always have a mix of celebrations for me from now on,
 I am celebrating two of the
most special people, and I am forever GRATEFUL
that they have both been a big part of my life.

So on that note... here is my poem of the day!

Today is sort of bittersweet...
but I will celebrate.
My mom became an angel,
last year and on this date.
It's also a special birthday
for my hubby oh so dear,
And I can share more happy time
with him, his day, this year!
This will always be a celebration
of two things...
Of birthday cake and party hats...
and also angel wings.
And if I listen closely
there is likely a full chorus,
Of angels singing "Happy Birthday"
just especially for us!
So I'll focus on the happy things
I hold close to my heart,
And cherish every memory
this day brings from the start.
Everything I celebrate
gives each day a lift...
It makes each day seem special,
like ribbons on a gift!


 

Sunday, October 23, 2011

CHANGiNG HATS!

"Grab your coat and get your HAT
Leave your worries on the doorstep
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street."
-words from a famous song by 
Jimmy M.C. HUGH and Dorothy Fields


"Love your life, do your work, then take your HAT."
-Henry David Thorough


"All your future lies beneath your HAT."
-John Oldham


"Everything changes, nothing remains without change."
-Buddha



Here is BEAU on Friday out on the swings
in his cute WOOLY HAT! 


BEAU playing with SHUFFLE after his play out side! 


Getting ready to CHANGE HATS! 


Here is Beau in the Halloween Ball CAP! 


BEAU on Friday ...
Changing HATS again!
Here he is putting the toy basket on his head,
Notice the little MONKEY landed on his sweater! 


Check out this cute little craft...
Cousin Gwen brought over her little
PIGGIE HEADS in HATS
 to attach to her cute retirement poem,
to use at her CHANGING HATS PARTY! 


Here is Gwen crafting away on Friday. 


BEAU is still in love with balloons,
so loved that we blew up many for cousin GWEN'S party,
with her helium machine.
My Niece Rowen popped by too!


Here is BEAU with his POPPA BRIAN
hanging out together on Friday! 


A very quickly crafted card for GWEN
with a pic taken here on Friday for her
CHANGING HATS party! 


Mariah in my car on our way to
GWEN'S HAT party.
Mariah loved her new hat... with a polar bear on it!
... grin and BEAR it!


GWEN during presentations at her
RETIREMENT party called
"CHANGING HATS!"


My cousin PAT and my UNCLE CARLIE
wearing HATS at GWEN'S Party! 


My cousin BEV, her niece, ELAINE,
MARY PAT, and her husband/ my cousin JOHN
all in HATS...
(my cousins Bev and John are looking sleepy!)


MARIAH Changed HATS
at the party from the POLAR BEAR one
into a cute LADY BUG one on the table!


It has been busy around here once again!
So many activities... so many HATS!

I babysat Beau all day Friday and he was so much fun in and out of the many hats he had on that day!

During that day my cousin Gwen popped by for some help assembling her little party favors for her RETIREMENT PARTY called
"CHANGING HATS."

She recently retired from her job as a social worker and her co-workers from several years threw her a great HAT party!
Not only has Gwen always loved PIGS,
she has always been known for her love of a party and a party hat to go with the theme...
so her little idea to craft "piggies in hats" favors was just way too adorable.

Mariah and I made an appearance at this party and it was obvious just how well thought of GWEN was in her job over the years.
There were more than 60 co-workers in attendance ...and everyone was wearing a HAT!
After a meal and several speeches and a power point presentation they served a cake.
(That cake just couldn't come fast enough for Mariah, hehehe!!!) wink wink!

It was a nice send off for GWEN as she changes HATS and moves on...
HATS OFF to my COUSIN GWEN!

Also in and around the activity I had visits from my brother Brian, and my sister-in-law, Brenda and her daughter, Rowen!
There is never a dull moment it seems...
always lots going on!

From changing hats to more celebrations...

Tomorrow my cousin JOHN,
(Gwen's brother),
will be celebrating a birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Him!

Tuesday will be a mix of celebrations...
My husband BRIAN will celebrate his birthday and it will also be the one year
anniversary of my mom's passing.
That day will be a mix of
HALOS and CUPCAKES!

So on that note...
here is my RHYME of the day...

I love to have the grandkids,
they're often changing hats,
And soon it will be Halloween...
a season full of bats!
Many things are changing,
for people and for seasons,
Many people changing hats
for many special reasons.
The fall will soon be winter,
and then it's onto spring.
How fast the time just rolls along,
with every changing thing.
I am always celebrating
one thing or another,
Soon it will be one year, too,
since I lost my mother.
Changing hats, changing seasons,
changing what I do...
I'm glad I have this little blog
to write about it, too!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

PURE & FREE!

My "Seize the Day" Calendar says this today...


"The best things in life are free."
-Author Unknown


"Pure love is a willingness to give without a thought of receiving anything in return."
-Peace Pilgrim Quotes


"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves."
-Buddha



Mariah on Tuesday night at the PURE frozen yogurt bar! 


We met up with NICOLE who used to work at  ATHENA.
Mariah always used to make "ASSERT" (dessert) with her there.
We were glad she was FREE to join us there!


PURE DELICIOUS! 


Beau Tuesday night when we came for Mariah...
He had a little smurk to share between bites of cheese!


Mariah yesterday happily crafting in my basement. 


We popped by my friend, Gailene's
and Mariah tried on this cute
Witch hat headband there. 


Here is Mariah with another
Witch hat headband on! 


Here is the kid's menu at Boston Pizza...
Mariah loves to have "BUGS 'N' CHEESE"
 


Mariah sitting on the Main sign in front of the Dance studio
after her lesson yesterday. 


Mariah and her dancing friend, Chloe,
giggling and having fun outside yesterday
after dancing! 


Mariah visiting her great grandparents yesterday after dancing!
They are so good to her, too. Mariah is their first great grandchild.


Today as I thought about a good theme
for my blog, I reviewed what I did
over the last couple days...
and came up with
PURE and FREE!

Tuesday night we picked up Mariah
and met our friend, Nicole
at the PURE frozen yogurt bar
for a yummy dessert.
This is fast becoming one of our
new favorite places to go for a
yummy treat. Mariah thinks it is ice cream,
but it much better and better for her, too!

Mariah is such a little FREE spirit, and she enjoys the chances she gets to be with her grandparents without Beau along, too!

Jana was going to a shoe show in
Edmonton yesterday, so we thought it would help out if we kept Mariah overnight on Tuesday and all day yesterday.
Beau went to his daycare yesterday and then Nels picked the kids up after his work day around 6 yesterday.

As long as I am FREE to help out...
I actually enjoy helping out with the
 grandkids when ever I can.
Mariah is growing up so fast.
She does the full day kindergarten
2 days one week and
3 the next. She is also in the after school program on the days she is at school. She seems to be loving it!


As I have mentioned in previous blogs recently... I am into so many TV programs lately.
It is amazing how much FREE time
I need to keep up with them all!
One of those shows is "The X-Factor".
Tuesday night's episode was very good
as they narrowed the singers
in the running to the top 17.
Mariah and I enjoyed it together.
Yesterday she wanted to watch it again...
she calls the show "The X-FACTORY"! hehehe
so we watched bits of it again 2 more times in and around all the activities we fit into the day.

She did some crafting in the morning and we stopped by my friend, Gailene's, on our way to Boston Pizza for lunch. Gailene came along, too. Mariah had her favorite meal called
BUGS 'N' CHEESE.

In the afternoon Mariah had dancing
and she seems to enjoy the social part
just as much as the actual dancing part!
She has many little friends in her class,
but her and one little girl named Chloe,
 always race outside to sit on the
sign after dancing!

We then went for a little shop at
Dollarama followed by a little stop at
GREAT GRANDMA BLANCHE
and GREAT GRANDPA GREG'S house.
They are always so thrilled when we stop by.

Last night I had some shows on TV
to catch up on ...and I am ever so
thankful for PVR! I am so glad
I have the option to tape the shows
I like and watch them when it is
more convenient and can spin
through the commercials, too!

My sister-in-law, Bev, popped by briefly
last night for a visit as well.

This morning was another gym day for me.
I always feel so good after the gym...
I am lucky I have the FREE time
to go when I wish. Once again
the classes were good.

This afternoon, I helped mom's friend,
Clara, downsize her sewing stuff!.
Clara has always been into sewing and has a big collection of stuff to go with that hobby. However, Clara's eyesight is failing now,
and she will be moving into a care home next month, so has donated her huge sewing collection of fabrics, trims, patterns, etc. to a project here in the city called "Cloth for Kids."

I loaded up my car to the brim with box loads and box loads and off we went
to drop that off today. This is in a Church
on the west side of the city,
where ladies donate their skills and time to making clothing for kids in the inner city who are less fortunate and have no money.

That was a  PURELY FREEING feeling for sure!

I felt good helping Clara out, and she felt good freeing up more room and downsizing while helping others less fortunate...
such a "win win situation".

I helped her get some groceries next,
and made sure she got back in with that safe and sound to her apartment. I have really bonded with her lately,
and feel good to know
I am helping her out.
She did so much for my mom when mom lived in that apartment block.

Today while I was on the computer,
a little birdie perched on my window sill briefly and watched me...I like to believe that
might have been my mom.
I told Clara about that and
she sure liked that thought!!!
Clara has been another
connection to my mom for me!

MORE Family celebrations continue
till the end of October...
Tomorrow my mother-in-law
is celebrating her 86th Birthday,
so I will be crafting another card for that!

Today I ran into a former dance parent of a student I once taught. It is always nice to see people from my past and recall the fun memories that surround those times...
Truly it is a reminder that
the best things in life are FREE!

So on that note...
here is the rhyme of the day...

The best  things in life are PURE & FREE...
Often the simplest things just please me,
I don't need a lot to make me feel good,
Infact if I helped out where ever I could,
It truly makes me smile from within,
I have a big smile on, infact a big grin!
When I help with others, it helps me out , too,
It makes me feel better, with the things that I do.
So a feeling to me that is all very PURE...
Is often the very easiest cure,
And things such as smiles,
cost nothing, they're FREE!
And FREE is the best
well it sure is to me!