The House that Jared Built

So, while we live in my parent's basement, we actually own two houses in town.  One very nice, very new condo, and another outdated but well loved house.  We lived in the house before our Michigan Adventures and rented out the basement to help pay the bills.  Since our departure from Alberta we have rented all three units and managed to stay in the black.  Yeah!

We happen to be between renters in the basement suite right now, and since Jared doesn't have a job (the reason why we're living in my parent's basement) we figured this is a good time to give the suite a much needed face lift, or a face replacement, really.

Let me just stop here to say that my dear Mr. Wiebe is incredible.  He has spent the last week an a half working from sun up to well past sun down tearing down and building up our modest little basement!  While I consider myself a pretty self sufficient woman, there is no way I could pull off what he has managed this week.

This is what we started with:

 Please take careful note of the carpeted kitchen.  Yum!

He tore out EVERYTHING.  With the help of my sister Alice, her husband Aaron, my nephew Benny and our friend Heidi we managed white wash the whole place on Saturday.  On Monday while we had the new flooring installed we spent WAY too many hours at IKEA picking up a new kitchen and several beautiful accessories. And today, with the Russell contingent helping again, we put things back together and began installing the kitchen.  As far as dark little basement suites go, I think this one is going to be pretty awesome.  Seriously!

Here's some pics of the current state of the basement:

 And Silas, for the first time in his life hung out in a play pen.  I was worried about the off-gassing of the new carpet, so when I wasn't wearing him I stuck him in the cage!  Well equipped with plenty of stuff to suck on, he didn't seem to mind.

New tenants move in on Monday, so this place HAS to be finished this weekend.  Final product pictures to follow, I promise!

Lady Bug, Lady Bug, Fly Away Home!

At our church the kids 18 months to 3 years meet in Nursery every week. In my ward I am responsible for the Nursery program.  We are supposed to provide a healthy snack each week, and until now it has consisted of stale, sugar-full animal crackers and hard, really old raisins.  Not so awesome.

I got this brilliant idea from my friend Heidi.  Best Nursery snack EVER!!!  It was such a hit, and I didn't feel guilty serving it to the little ones.  The problem is, how do I now beat it?  Impossible!

My Kid Went to Blackfalds, and all I got was this Lousy T-Shirt

 I missed the Marathon, but I came out if it with a painted basement, and this rad T-Shirt.  Can't complain.

Everyone had fun (except those of us stuck at home painting.)  Apparently Eli ran 3 km, and slept in the stroller the other 7 km.  All the kids loved the medals, and my dad obliged me and took some pictures.  I'm still sad I missed it, but there's always Blackfalds Fun Run 2011!

I ALMOST Ran a Marathon

Okay, so it wasn't a Marathon, it was a race.  Alright, it wasn't a race, it was a "Fun Run."  And I wasn't actually going to run, but walk.  But, Fun Run kind of rhymes with Marathon, and since I didn't actually end up doing it, I can call it whatever I want!

Today my family is running in the Blackfalds, Alberta Fun Run.  Until last night, I was set to participate. However, we are renovating our home, and are down to the wire, so I need to stay home and paint while everyone else wins the race.  I did send Eli with my folks (with his Lightning McQueen underpants on, for good luck) and think he's going to shine! 

Despite my absence from the race, I did manage to send off some medals for the racers.  Yesterday Eli and I whipped up these little gems:

They were fun to make and super easy.  Eli helped, with a little trampoline jumping break.  I may not be there to see them win it, but my 9 nieces and nephews and Eli are going to be big winners this morning!

Making the cookies.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip, with Skor pieces.

Break time. (This medal making is hard work!)

Wrap 'em in tin foil, with a hot glue gun glue on a ribbon, and there you have it!  I even sent the rest of the cookies along for the adult marathon runners.  I hope they are enjoyed!

And the winner is...

Some suggested that this would not be a fair contest, but let me assure you, that while I was waiting for Si to wake up this morning, I couldn't have been more fair.  To prove it, here is the evidence.  

First I wrote out all your names:

Then I crumpled them up:

In the hat they go:

And the winner is...

And since I'm feeling generous, I pulled another:

Yeah Callie and Cassie!!!  You win the first ever Hands Full of Happiness Giveaway!  Congratulations!  Send me your addresses, and I will mail off your hats.  If you have changed your mind about which one you want, let me know that as well.  YEAH!!!

And for the rest of you, don't worry, I've still got tons of yarn I need to get through, and no shortage of time to use it (humf!)

Thanks all for participating, it was fun!

Last Chance to Enter!!!

My giveaway ends tomorrow night: if you haven't entered yet, do it!  I even added a new hat, and I'm working on another, so if I finish it tonight I will put it up in the morning.  The new hat is so cute:

If you haven't entered the giveaway yet, go here, read the rules, and enter!

Fire Fighter Auntie

Eli "se-weusly" loves his Auntie Adrienne.  He will go to the farm with me if I assure him Auntie Adrienne is there.  He will get on a horse if he can ride with her.  He is convinced that she will give him presents every time he sees her (because she usually does.)

But, yesterday Eli discovered the most wonderful thing of all about his Auntie Adrienne: she is a fire fighter!!! Not only that, but yesterday she was working at the hall just down the street from my parents' house, so we got to go visit her.  Coolest day of Eli's life!

First, we met all the fire fighters at the hall (yes, I sound ultra PC, but when you have a best friend who is a fire-WOMAN, it only makes sense.)  Then we got to explore the trucks.  Eli made sure Adrienne explained what every truck was, and what every element of each truck was used for.

Then he got to get in and drive.

Then he explored the truck and went through all the equipment.

His favourite thing of all was definitely the "lightsaber."

Eli is lucky to have such an Auntie.  Now all I have to do is find a way to keep him away from the fire hall.  Who needs the science centre or the zoo when I've got Adrienne?!