My Finds of 2009

Looking forward to a new year I thought that I would give a shout out to my favourite finds of the year... ten I think would be a nice number.




1. My Fisher-Price Swing.

"That's where Lexi lives during the day"- Ed

Okay that quote is not completely true but yes that's where you will find our youngest if I want to shower, prepare a meal or spend time with Cali. It's great because it swings side to side and front to back. A great investment.

2. Drysol

So this isn't something that I found in 2009 but I used it. It's a must for anyone like me who wants to avoid unsightly sweat stains.

3. Charmin Flushable Wipes

A wonderful invention for potty-training toddlers who like to poop in their panties... not naming any names....

4. Wee Ride

Cali and her Daddy had a great summer riding around with this gadget. It's great because the kids can see where they are headed.

5. The Alberta Library Catalogue

For $20/year we have access to books, music books, and DVDs. Any book that I have searched I have found... except one, The Princess Bride Unabridged. I later discovered that that book doesn't exist. What can I say? I completely fell for it.

6. Dyson Vacuum

Ed and I had been using a 30+ year old vacuum and recently invested in this baby. All the claims are true our carpets have never looked better.

7. Playstation 3

This gaming system not only plays Blu-ray discs it also plays DVDs, holds my mp3s, photos, videos, and makes slideshows with background music to make Cali and me cry. (We are both so sappy.)

I must also add the Beatles Rock band with this one. Ed brought it home and we think it's great. You can even set up just to play the drums alone without music. Cali thinks it's great. As a side note if anyone would like to come over play you are more than welcome. Ed is always looking for more band members.

8. My Tupperware Can Opener

This can opener is awesome. It costs a pretty penny but completely worth it. It removes the lid from the can without any sharp edges. It's great because now I am not afraid of anyone getting harmed on the recycling.

9. My iPod

Dad just bought me one for Christmas but so far I am loving it! It holds music, photos, and videos. It probably does more than that but I am still learning.

Saving the best for last....



10. I found this little prize at the PLC....

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

From the Yu Family

This should make you feel better

I grew up in a spotless home. Making sure the house was clean was always my Mom's first priority. You would never find a mess like this in her home. I try hard but by the end of the week our house always looks like a bomb exploded. I am definitely not my Mom when it comes to cleaning. I do it once a week and if it gets messed up somewhere in between I don’t have the energy to do anything about it. I would much rather indulge in a few pages of my book than waste the effort on cleaning something that is going to be messy again the next day. Living in a messy house does stress me out a bit I will admit. I feel a bit embarrassed that my house looks like some crazy cat lady lives in it. (My house doesn’t smell like cat pee though.)

Today at church my friend Kristi I were discussing the state of our homes. We were talking about just how messy they were and how long it takes to them clean them up. It was comforting to discover that other people also have difficulty raising a family and keeping a spotless house. After I returned home from church today I surveyed the mess; the dirty laundry from last week lying in various spots, dirty dishes, and toys strewn about. I felt comfort knowing that it's just not me and my house. (Kristi also isn’t a dirty cat lady). So I decided to take a photo of our downstairs to bring comfort to someone else. I hope that this brings peace and comfort to your heart and mind over the holidays. Merry Christmas!

Overworked

Ed has been overworked this year.  The night before the last day of school he was up until 3:30am writing tests for his students.  This has been a common occurance over the past four months.  Between teaching, coaching, church assignments and a new baby Ed certainly is overdue for a holiday.

So this is an image of how a true teacher begins his Christmas Holidays.  You come home go downstairs take off your coat and pass out a pillow that is conviently lying on the floor. 

As you can see in this picture Ed is lying on his coat... he didn't have the energy to hang it up or get on the couch beside him.  He didn't even notice when Cali put a couch cushion on his head or nicely placed Sammy on his chest.  Cali was sweet enough to cover Ed and Sammy with a nice flowered receiving blanket.  So this is how Ed spent the first few hours of his Holidays. I swear he didn't move. 

I certainly hope that Ed is able to recharge his batteries over the next two weeks.  I miss my husband!

Steve is Getting Married!!!

Yesterday there was a big announcement in the Brogan family.  My brother has become engaged to the most beautiful, amazing, brilliant girl ever!!!  I have yet to meet her as she lives far, far away but I am taking my brother's word for it as he is a great judge of character.  (Seriously though he is.  He always chooses wonderful friends... you are included in that Theresa jag längtar väldigt mycket efter min vän!)

I am so excited to have a new sister.  When I was little and I would be sad about my lack of sisters and Mom would tell me that one day I would have a sister when Steve got married.  So I would often imagine what my future sister would be like, and the fun things we would do together.

I just finished reading "Shopaholic and a Sister" by Sophie Kinsella (didn't like it as much as the first three, but it was okay).  Anyway I am thinking about that now; I am going to be crazy Becky trying to get her play Barbies and do makeovers while she will want to "do her accounts".  Honestly I am really excited to have a sister and I will try my best not to overwhelm her with "sistering".
 
Congratulations Steve and Mary Beth!

First Smiles

I finally caught some of Lexi's first smiles.  She has been smiling for about two weeks now.

Little Momma

When I first brought Lexi home Cali would try to feed her with her play baby bottles.  With much education on how Lexi eats that finally stopped.  So a  couple of weeks ago I found Cali feeding her baby in the bathroom.  I thought it was so cute!  I am happy to report that my education was well received.  Here's to future of breastfeeding!

Cali also had fun a few days ago experimenting with static.  I took a quick video.

Sarah's Photography

My friend Sarah was kind enough to do some last minute Christmas photos of our family.  Here are a couple that I wanted to share.  Anyway here is the link to her blog Sarah's Photography... she does a beautiful job, and Cali had a lot of fun with it.  Sarah was so patient with all she had to put up with, me knocking down the backdrop, Ed falling asleep in the pictures, Cali acting cranky, and Lexi not fully cooperating.  She comes fully recommended.

 

I am Behind!

I've fallen a little behind on my blogging; So this a super-post many things to update!

First a little Cali update.  She spent the weekend with her Grammie and Papa.  It sounds like she had an action packed time!  While she was there she drew a picture of our family that I want to share.  She looks like Rollie Polie Ollie, hey?  Cute, cute!  I love it when kids start to draw. 

I also love that she made me skinnier than Ed!  Haha!  Speaking of which I am joining the Biggest Loser contest in town starting in January.  I plan to win!  I will also keep you posted on my progress as well.  Maybe I will be skinnier than Ed again!

Cali is working on potty training again.  The M&Ms are helping this time... more incentive than stickers!  Hope it sticks!

Here is a cute video of her singing the Alphabet Song.  Little Miss Entertainment!

Lexi is 5 weeks old and has porked out; she is now about 11 lbs!  She is also wearing size 6 month sleepers.  She's so much bigger than Cali was it will be interesting who ends up being bigger in the end.  Her one month Chinese party is this weekend.  Hope you can make it!

I finished reading "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova.  Excellent book a bit longer than I am used to but fully worth it!  I was little disapointed in the ending... I would have made it different.  I won't give details so I don't ruin it for anyone.  So email me and we can talk about it if you like.  I love to talk books! 

Also did I mention that the book isn't scary?  For anyone who is like me: I was a little afraid to read it but I will assure you it's not scary... I found it suspensful, but not scary.  So when the movie comes out in the new year I taking Ed to go see it.  So he will now what I was up to all weekend.

 As I mentioned in a previous post I am only reading children's literature this year to give my brain a break.  The Historian was not planned it just happened...

Anyway I am now reading the Harry Potter series.  I remember during my first year of university my friend told me that her little brother was making her read it because he thought it was such a great book.  I thought "oh look a nice little kid's book".  A few years later is popularity exploded.

I never read the books being swamped with school work.  So I decided to read them this year, thinking that all the hype would let me down.  Well they are as good as everyone says; what an imagination J.K. Rowling has.  She is simply amazing, I would love to read more of her books.  Anyway for anyone like me they are certainly worth the read.

So I think that I have updated this enough for now.  Must get back to Hogwart's.... or my kids...