Tagged!

Lindsey tagged me in this game, Jay is working late and so here I am, at work "working" and answering all these questions! It seems better than going home to my empty, and messy house! Plus I really am getting work done!

Rule #1: the tagged person must write their answers on their blog and replace any question they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.


Rule #2: tag 4 people to do this quiz; they cannot refuse (ok, so nothing bad will happen if you don’t participate but I would love to see your answers). The tag-ee must state who tagged them.

1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals or are they members of your family?
We don't have any pets, but my childhood was full of them. While they were important and definitely a part of who I was they were animals, although I wouldn't move without them!

2. If you could have a dream come true, what would it be?
In many ways I am living my dreams right now, but I dream of owning a house (a goal after Mat. leave), and finding balance between my family and the rest of my life (work, commitments, etc.).

3. What would you do with a billion dollars?
That is a lot of money... and it could and would do a a lot. I would share with family and friends, pay off debt, buy a house, travel a bit, give to some great causes that are close to my heart, buy a smart board for my classroom, and still have too much left over to know what to do with, I would let Jay help me spend it, which means he would choose some sport related things to build/give to.

4. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
Sleep (no word of a lie things always look better in the morning), uplifting music, praying (mostly for my attitude to change), and talking to my mom who puts things in perspective.

5. What is your bedtime routine, with your kids?
No kids, yet, but for now it involves putting my heat bag in the microwave, washing my face, brushing my teeth, putting on PJ's, taking the heat bag out of the microwave, taking my vitamin, positioning my three or four pillows and heat bag carefully in strategic positions, reading, and finding a comfortable position.

6. If you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your significant other?
Technically we met at camp (but we were not courting, there is no courting at BCBC!! :), but it wasn't until we were set-up that we even thought about each other in a romantic way. Our first date was with my family, apparently they didn't scare him away...

7. What kind of books do you read?
All kinds, I love books, in fact I own way too many! Right now I am into easy reads, fiction that I don't have to think about a ton, and can put down when my eyes get tired. On my night stand right now I have The Giver, What To Expect when your expecting, and Baby: the all-important first year.

8. How do you see yourself in 10 years?
I will be 39 then... baby will be almost 10, and in fourth grade! YIKES!! I hope to have more than one child, be working at the job I love, and spending time with family and friends. Really I want to be open to whatever great opportunity gets put in front of me, and follow His guiding, the future will unfold as it does. For the first time in my life I am okay with how things are, and so i am not anxious about what the future holds. A nice place to be!

9. What’s your fear?
Other than heights!? Failure, not doing something well enough...

10. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to see outer space?
Before I started teaching about Space I would have said no without a second thought, but as I have learned about space in makes me curious and so maybe i would be willing to give up junk food to see that part of creation.

11. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Turn off my alarm clock and hope to wake up on my own in 10-15 minutes; most of the time it works, on the days it doesn't i end up in a little bit of a rush :)

12. If you could change one thing about your significant other, what would it be?
That he would talk to me when I am mad at him.

13. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
I like my name, even though there are a ton of Sarah's.

14. If you had to choose between six months of sun or six months of rain, what would you choose?
Sun, rain gets annoying!

15. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?
Hmmm... pineapple! I eat 1-2 pineapples a week, I love it!

16. What is the thing you enjoy about blogging the most?
Not sure, in fact if i could think of a new question I would replace this one!

17. Do you prefer salty or sweet foods?
Depends on the day... usually salty.

18. What items are in your purse right now?
Wallet, lip balm, hand lotion, random pieces of paper, junk that I should throw away... I wish my cell phone was!


19. If you had to choose between vacationing at the beach or in the mountains where would you go?
Can't I have a little bit of both! I love the mountains for skiing and sense of wonder, but lying on the beach sounds relaxing right about now!

20. What do you watch on television that you know you should’t?
Absolutely! Too much, really it isn't what I watch necessarily, but rather that I watch too much! It is my biggest, most problematic addiction!

One Day Closer to You

Every night as I fall asleep I think we are one day closer to meeting Baby Boaz, and that makes me happy (even if my day sucked). We are now in the 30th week, which means (unofficially) that we have 10 weeks left. In my world ten weeks flies by! Of course baby makes me aware of his or her presence on a regular basis, mostly in the evening and through the night. He/she is getting stronger because he is now able to wake me up (I have to think of it as training for the future). Every evening as I watch TV I enjoy watching my alien stomach as it rumbles and rolls. Of course I miss sleeping a solid 9 hours every night, but I think that might be a thing of the past for the next year or so. Sometimes I marvel at how in love I can be with someone I have never met, how he/she dictates my life and how I wonderfully excited I am to meet this little one!

My birthday was last week, and it was made very special by people in my life. My husband (who listens well and knows that I cheap-out on myself) bought me a pretty pink I pod nano. It even has my name engraved on it. I really wanted an mp3 player (but probably would have bought myself a cheap one) so that when I am at home I can listen to music when the baby is sleeping, or when we go for a walk. Of course shopping for music is fun too!! My students planned a surprise party (of course the balloons and streamers that they put up the day before gave me a clue something was up). They made yummy cupcakes (with whip cream icing in white and pink, yup they know me well), and together created a lovely gift basket full of stuff I really like. It was a very nice day. I kept thinking to myself “this year will be the most life changing one yet”.

My second quarter report cards are done, after a long weekend of work and a very early Monday morning to finish them up. I might have one more set to do before the baby is here... but that worry is for another day. This month is full of events at school. My class (sans me) is going curling twice, I am hanging out with the grade 7 and 8’s while their teacher takes my class. Jay will do the instruction at the rink. It is I love to read month and I have challenged my students to read at least 30000 pages as a group. The reward gets bigger at 45000 and 60000. This morning as they each came into class they grabbed their books, it was the quietest morning ever! Hopefully the goal will keep them all focused!

My parents have flown off on their February trip. They spend most of the month at the condo down south (my brother, sister and neice will join them for a week as well**), and I am a little jealous! Today at lunch I tried to put my snow pants on before going outside with my kids... yeah I think that I am done with that, I am just a little too round these days. So instead my legs froze in the -30 wind chill! Luckily my jacket still fits me!

**Joel, Ash, and Meeks, if I don't get a call that I need to be in Mesa ASAP for something that would be wonderful, I am not sure I can even fly! No Weddings, births, etc. please!

125 Posts and 79 Days!

Apparently I have posted 125 times on this blog. Interestingly my life was emensly different 125 post ago. A good form of self-reflection could be had if I went back to post one and read them all through... but that would take time and other priorities are ahead of this one.

Life has been busy. Last weekend we drove to Fort Frances where my littlest brother (in-law) plays hockey. Jay went out there once last year but this was my first chance to see him play since he moved out there. It was great to spend time with Blake and Jim and June! Plus I had the best cheesecake for dessert on Saturday night! YUM!! It was a great weekend but I came home tired and have never really "caught up".

I think this weekend I will crash, hard, and not do a ton. Report cards are right around the corner so I guess marking and starting is my project... but I also realize that I am only 9 weeks away from being done work, and starting my new "job"! In fact the 79 days in my title refers to the number of days until my due date... seriously 79 days! That is crazy soon, I started this count-down at 200 and something, 79 seems so few! My latest focus is on what we need for this baby... I ask everyone I know! So seriously what do I NEED for this baby? Moms out there, what could you not live without, what was a waste of money? I know each baby is different and each mom is too, but I could use some advice!

A New Year... A New Adventure

A new year has begun, and with it the countdown until the biggest change in our lives! Yes, we are counting down; currently we are at 13 more Satudays! Yes, we do know baby could come earlier or later, but for now we are focused on April 10th. We know how fast Saturday's come and go, so 13 seems like very few! After spending last weekend with babies (we had friends with 7 week old twins over, and we were surrounded with little ones at church) I so want to meet our little one! We want him/her to grow a little more before we meet but oh how I can't wait to be a mom! Now that the nursery is done-ish and I see the crib everyday it is becoming more and more real to me! At times I am excited, but at times I am a little scared... I have so much to learn!

I have noticed many blog posts abotu New Years resolutions, and truth be told I don't make them, at least not in January. Usually my resolutions come at the beginning of my "year", September, but this year I failed to make any then either. I was just hoping that the puking would stop so I could think about something, anything else... so no resolutions this year at all... I am sure it will be a life changing year without them!

Christmas Has Come and Gone!

Jay and I enjoyed a quiet Christmas morning, complete with eggs benedict! We made the decision to wake up at our own house on Christmas morning and we relished in the last Christmas morning sleep-in. We then headed to Jay's aunt's house for his family gathering. We enjoyed a great meal and exchanged gifts, and ended the evening with a game of Apples to Apples.

After tha it was off to my parents, where we opened more gifts including some great things for baby. My parents got us a toy box that they had painted in bright bold circles and dots. We enjoyed a family gathering on the 26th with my extended family. It was a nice two days of celebration. Mika is starting to walk and talk, and it makes Christmas so much fun to have a little on around, but next Christmas there will be three little ones, and I am so excited!

Then the work began! Jay and dad headed home early on the 27th, mom and I followed behind not much later. Our goal was to get the nursery completed! My parents offered to help and seeing as they go away for the month of Feb. we knew this was the best time to get the room painted, lay down new carpet and get the furniture assembled. Mom and Jay did the painting, dad and Jay layed new underlay and carpet and replaced the baseboards. In two days it was all done! No, I didn't do a lot, but I am growing the occupant!!

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The toy box and crib. Jay wanted the stripes, I thought it would be a pain, it didn't seem to be too difficult for the painting crew to do, and looks so good!



The storage unit (complete with Spiderman).

I can't thank my parents enough for coming up and helping us! Jay and I are not handy people so having my dad and mom help us allowed us to actually get it done! I love it! In about 100 days we could have a baby to put in it (although he/she will sleep in out room at first).

Only three more days of my Christmas break, and then it will only be three more months of work! I can't believe how fast this is going...

Twas the Night Before...

Where did these last two weeks go! Time is flying by and tomorrow is our Christmas Program (ALREADY!!?!). I am in the process of printing off hundreds of programs and have some time to kill as I wait for the photocopier to beep at me. I am sitting at school, it is quite, except for my music and the furnace, peaceful even. The snow is falling outside, is seems like Christmas at it's finest! LOVE IT!

Christmas is by far my favourite time of the year, and this year, even among it's busyness and such, is no different. The tree is up (although that did feel like a chore last week), and every evening I enjoy sitting in the living room with candles and the tree glowing. Something about it brings great memories of my childhood, memories I hope to begin creating next Christmas with my own child (and maybe later children). But with it comes a huge question for me, one that causes me much worry. You see as a young child I believed in Santa Clause, and every year he came to my house, drank milk, ate cookies, and fed his reindeer carrots. He left presents under the tree for all of us... I loved Christmas morning, opening stockings from Santa and seeing the gifts he left are treasured memories. I however, live in a community, and teach in a community, were Santa is not present. I get the Jesus is the real reason for the season, and will read about and celebrate His birth with my children, but will we have Santa? Jay keeps telling me we have a couple of years to figure that out yet, and I get that, but hey I am already thinking about it. I imagine Walnut's cousins will have Santa, and with a small family we celebrate together often, I want him to share that experience with Mika and Bug (especially because they will all be so close in age). Those memories were so special to me that I want to create them for my kids... but how do I balance that with the reality of his life and peers too? Ahhh I know I will have much more to worry about in the future... but right now, in this season, at this time this is my parent worry...
The copier beeped, I guess it is done... time to go home...

Mourning to Celebrating!!

Last week began with mourning as we said goodbye to my maternal Grandfather. He passed away on December 3rd, peacefully at the nursing home. In some ways it brought relief as he was unhappy about how his life was ending, but of course with his passing came a sense of loss to those left behind. We celebrated his life last Tuesday, with much of the family able to make it from out of province. I was glad I made the effort to visit Grandpa on Remembrance Day last month, my last memories of him are good ones.

I felt like I lived out of my car for a week as I was back and forth from the city to home,and back again. By the time I made it home for good last Wednesday I was exhausted, and happy to sleep in my own bed.

By the end of the week I was in celebration mode as my friend Sheri married Tim on Saturday! It was a beautiful winter wedding! She was gorgeous and looked so happy and in love.

So now that that week is over it is on to Christmas concert preparation. Although my students are a big part of the play I am at school while some of my students are practicing, others are at school working on their list of things to do. In some ways it makes life easy, but those with big parts are well behind of those who have smaller roles... by the end of this week chaos will ensue! I look forward to Friday, when it all comes together! Friday is our last day of classes, and I am in the mood for two weeks off, in fact I am feeling like I desperately need two weeks off!

As for Walnut he (I really think it is a boy, in fact I will be completely shocked if it is a girl) is happy and moving about like crazy. I am finally feeling him with my hand, Dayna did too yesterday, but Jay has yet to get to feel him. Every time I call Jay over Walnut stops kicking, it kinda makes me laugh! I had a Dr. appt. last week (I went all by myself for the first time :)), it was all great! I love good dr. appts. We also got my ultrasound results last week, again everything looks good, normal and healthy. I know we are blessed to have a fairly uneventful pregnancy thus far, I pray that it continues to be that way!

I am growing and getting bigger by the day, I love looking pregnant! In fact I much prefer looking over feeling pregnant! I had a scary realization last night as I thought about how far along we are. I only have three months and one week of work left, I am one month away from my third trimester... the nursery isn't started yet! We haven't bought the baby many clothes (do I buy pink or blue), and I feel like we are just not ready to be parents... It scares me to think we will be responsible for all this baby wants and needs... and yet in the same moment I am longing for this baby to be here, to know if we should buy pink or blue, to see ten fingers and ten toes, to see this little person that I am already completely in love with.