bits from the past few months

Sarah and I went to church Sunday on our own cause there was a rental group in and Andy was working. Half way, Sarah says she has to poop and cannot wait. We turn off at a place we've used before, for pee only. I always debate what to do...leave the poop (trying to bury it of course), or pack it out. I opted for the quickest opinion, which was to pack it out. So I bagged it up and while getting up I noticed some of those nasty burr plants - the ones that are the size of peanut m and ms...each burr is that size. We get to church late and go to the bathroom to wash up. I notice my hair is sticking to my sweater and I have 3 or 4 puff ball burrs melding my hair and thick wool sweater together. I had to use a paper towel covered hand to get them out cause these nasty burrs stick to skin too. I later found a few burrs on Sarah too. The highlight of the day was going to the river after the service and tossing a few rocks (SA) on the ice...it's just starting to freeze up. Then a quick climb at the playground and back home for lunch.

Monday, Andy had off so we went to Merritt to swim and shop a bit. I got $40 free groceries from Extra Foods...you know those points that add up...nice.Sarah was enjoying walking the shallow end while paddling with her arms with a look of delight on her face.

Today we got a load of playground chips delivered from Valley Pulp and Sawdust Carriers - my grandpa's business. The driver was Roger, my Dad's cousin. It was good to see him and take a look at the truck. Sarah and I had recently read a book at about long haul tractor trailer trucks. I got to pull the air horn as well.
Sarah got a little gift from via Roger from his wife Rhonda. A hand-sewn very colorful pillow case, a top and a pack of strawberry mentos. Very sweet. I had just been thinking of making her a pillow case, so now I don't have too :)

I was feeling very thankful yesterday. Can't remember all the details but I was feeling thankful while washing dishes.

We have no significant snow yet.

We do have somethings happening soon at our church - like a Ladies Christmas night this Friday. I look forward to this very much. There is a little silent auction, music and baked goods, a simple craft and probably a group carol or something.

I am feeling like Dec. and Christmas is sneaking up on me...as if I've missed a month somewhere. Maybe I did.

October was a tumultous month in that Andy needed to consider and sign a new contract. There were some things in the contract that were significantly different from past years (like the need to word 6 days a week during the summer). Well, there was a lot of communication through email and phone calls and no face to face meetings between him and the camp board and director, during this whole process, so I think there were some misunderstandings. The contract got revised and he signed and we are feeling good about where we at with that now...but October was very weird with not knowing how the whole process was going to end up.

I've done a few house helping outish things (minor renovations) lately. Ever since we've moved in, the half-on silicone in the bathrooms (tubs) has bothered me and Andy said this year if I can get it off, he'll put new stuff on. I did it in two days - scrapping the old stuff off. Sarah helped me. I used some tool they sell for that purpose and a square of acrylic plastic which was harder than the tool and ended up working better. So, the downstairs bathroom is done...we'll get to the upstairs one in a few weeks I hope.

Then I was noticing how murky and dark and unwipable the under the sink area is. So, I cleaned it best I could and laid mac-tack down. There may have once been paint on the shelf but it has worn off, so the wood absorbs some moisture. Anyway, now the mac-tac is down and I can wipe it clean much easier. I also mac-taced my upper cupboard, today, which had my baking supplies in it. I had been having things come crashing down on me lately while trying to retrieve the baking soda bag which was behind this and that...crash. There was all sorts of stuff up there including apricot pits (we used to eat the inner seed in them), pysillium husks we haven't used in ages, birthday candles, food coloring, candles, icing sugar, little bags of vitamins I'd use for trips, sample liquid iron, little bags of fish crackers from my Mom from when we'd visit. So, I sorted through there and we decided to put the mugs and cups there and put some the rarely used items in a not so accessible spot. I mean the pysillium husk was taking up prime real estate. So, I mac-taced the shelf for the mugs and cups too. The mac-tac is white with light green squares on it, really quite pleasant.

I also got a litte square of hallway runner from Irly Bird for catching spills from Sarah's eating area. We have carpet under our table, so I have found the little mat catching spills has helped me calm down a touch during dinner.
Andy and went away for our anniversary early Nov. for 4 nights while Sarah was babysat by both sets of grandparents. We were at Hemlock Mtn. for 3 nights at my aunt and uncle's cabin. Then we spent one night in N. Vancouver. The hotel had a pool and weight room that I could use and the next day we checked out Lynn Canyon. Lovely. The day before that we shopped a bit at MEC. We met my Mom and Aimee and her family (minus Lance) and Sarah at Aimee's and had lunch with them and hung out.
I also had a 30th birthday party with some friends here at our house in Princeton the night before we left for our getaway. I have a friend in town, Alyssa, who shares a birthday with me (same year too) so we both invited friends to my house for an evening. We had 6 ladies come (no kids) and Andy made turkey burgers and fries. Each person brought either a salad or a dessert. I had fun buying a few party supplies like purple and blue napkins and deep purple dessert plates to match and also those number candles to make a '30'. I also made punch with club soda and nice juice. I discovered we had some beeswax candles that matched the napkins so we burned those too. It was a lovely time and many of the ladies stayed till 11:30pm or so.
That's all for now.