Piece-of-Cake

End of the year

2011-07-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

I love to surf blogs and see what everyone is doing for crafts, and as the school year was coming to an end I found this candy gram for that special teacher. My girlfriend and I went out that day to find and make these gems up. We found the clear cans at Wal-mart for $3.00 each and headed to the dollar store to find all the candy to go in. The last day of school the kids were super excited to give their special treat to their teachers, whom they ALL loved these. The best part for me was that no one else made the same gift so we were different which is where I like to be. I even had to give out some web sites.
It is hard to believe that another year at school is over I find myself scrabbling to keep up with that pace that my kids seem to keep growing at. They are so unique and I find myself at awe that Heavenly Father trusted me to teach them and help them on their journey. It also makes me so grateful for James because heaven knows I couldn't be a single mom. He has strength to carry me when I feel like I just can't go on. I know that is cheesy but it is the truth.
so keep crafting out there so I can find more fun things to do everyday.

Janelle's six birthday

2011-07-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Back on the 7th of June my baby girl turned six!! It is amazing to wathc your children grow into people and have the personalities that they have and ambition they have to do and try new things. For her birthday we did a Alice in wonderland theme. I pre made the shirts ahead of time using a bleach pen and drawing the cat on all them free hand. It was alot work but how cute are they?? Now this summer we are going to do bleach pen work on shirt for the kids.

as I went crazy on the birthday I decided not to make the cake but to buy one instead. It really was the best, super moist cake, so yummy and really the shop here did a great job. Janelle loved it and felt like quite the queen for the day. Plus she had so many little friends to share her day with.

Lastly after everything was said and done, we made thank you cards for everyone because really how awesome is the hatter hiding behind that mushroom. I don't go all out for every year but once in a while you just have to big all the way. I am just happy I remembered to take pictures of everything.

Ward changes, and our new building.

2011-07-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago they split Sheran Park, 10th, 9th ward into four wards. We are still in Sheran park ward and today is the first Sunday for the full meeting block.
This beautiful building is almost finished and I think in September we will get to start going here. It is just in the entrance to Copperwood, Last year Greg got to be apart of the ground breaking. we moved here just a little over two years ago and there has been much talk of the wards splitting and the new building. I find that now that it is here upon us I am sad to lose sooo many wonderful people that I have had the privilege of seeing each Sunday. It is exciting to be be entering this new chapter of our new wards and meeting the new people that we will be attending church with. Here is to the future........

Fun pictures

2011-06-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

I love these two girls, how fun is it to go through life with a best friend beside you to help hold you up and keep you strong.

I love how fun the three of these are having, see it's ok to have girls as friends.

Here Spencer and Alina are hiding in the tall grass, I love pictures like this.

Ballet is done for another year.

2011-06-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

At the end of may we got to go watch the girls in their ballet class, it was pretty amazing to see how much they have grown and learned this pass year. I love the structure of ballet and how it teaches these little girls how to stand tall using their cores to make them into beautiful dancers.

COWS COWS and MORE COWS

2011-06-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

I love this picture, we went out branding at my friend ginger's parents for may long weekend....and LOVED it. What a experience it was, the smells and sounds will probably haunt me until next year when we do it again....I have to laugh at how destressed the moms get to be away from their calfs when they left them in the first place. If they were smart they would stand their ground because really who could take on a big mama cow?? They start calling for their baby and the drool is just a dripping.They are so happy to be reunited.

Clint's job is to burn off the horns if there are any and let me just say that is quite the job, the smoke up in your face holding the head so you can get at them.....I think I was much suited to be behind the camera, that was about as much action as I could handle.

My first chenille blanket

2011-06-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

Here is my first attempt at making a chenille blanket. I gave it to my neighbors across the street when they had their first baby girl. It turned out so pretty, I had so much fun making it. I even bought a special chenille cutter, it made cutting the three layers so easy and even.

March at a glance!!

2011-03-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

So much to update to everyone, Last weekend my cousin came over and we made a pair of p.j.s I think they turned out super cute although you can't see the fabric great in this shot.
second I am sure some of you out there have heard about me complaining that three out of my four teachers this year are having babies. One of the teacher requested that I make her baby a owl hat and since she didn't find out what she is having and her last day was this past Tuesday I had to make two of these hats for her. They turned out sooo cute and of course everyone at the school now wants them again. I also made a cute blanket and a car cover that I need to take pictures of and then post them for you all to see. I will I promise, as this is my last week for catch up, I start a job on the first for the month of April working for a accountant, and then I am going back to school in May I fear my crafting days will have to be placed on hold for a little while... I am super excited about the job and school so I guess since I made the decision there is no use in whining about not crafting....I still will have my evening when I'm not at basketball right?

My Ana-white designs.......so far

2011-03-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

I love Ana-white.com she has so many cool wood projects for you do do around your home and they are fairly easy to follow and do. Here is my hutch and desk in the works we still need to finish the desk and make doors to go on them. I two tone painted it and love how it looks don't you??? It is so much fun doing these projects and customizing everything for our house.

We are in the middle of project galore but I wanted to show you all how they are coming along.......here is the shelves above my desk they still need the doors.

Happening the first two weeks of March

2011-03-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

Janelle is my go getter and player, one fine day she decided to play out side in the snow.... however there wasn't much to play in she had to go to the snow banks and play because everything else was mostly gone.......I love happy children playing and creating.

This is what happens in the middle of a re-purposing project when I left the room Greg made the old lamp shade into s skirt.

For school Janelle need to make a Leprechaun trap here is the final project, we made a hat with a ladder so that when he climbs it he will fall into the top and get stuck, now Janelle didn't want him to get hurt so we put a pillow inside for him to land on. Then she got to take it to school where a real live leprechaun came and left his little hat behind along with a rainbow eraser and chocolate for her. So lucky to be young and believe everything.....

OUr little Lizard is doing great who would have thought that I could like something like her although well she is shedding I will not touch her but thought that everyone should see how she looks when she is getting the new skin. Here is the gross part....after she sheds she gets it. This is to protect them from their predators.

A Party Night, Fun Had By All

2011-03-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

Also in Feb a group of us went to the President's Ball it was held at the Stake center, there was live big band music and chocolate fondue and yummy treats plus dancing we can't forget the dancing. Our friends the Caldwell rocked the house they have taken lessons and I think put the bug in me to take them too if I can look as good out there.

Valentine day treats for the sweet.

2011-03-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Here we are in March and I am posting from Feb....I guess at least i am posting. I need to get better at this.
For Valentines day my friend Ginger and I made these super cute fab necklaces for our kids to wear. Did you guess gumballs yes and so easy to make you just have to be careful how hard you pull the ribbon through so you don't crack the ball. Greg was to cool to wear his to school but he did let me take this picture first. You have to love him for being so grown up but at the same time I wish he was still my little boy..... Also I made sugar cookies and wrote everybody's name on them. Alina's name was shorter so I had to add some squiggle hearts in her to make them equal. Even James and I got our very own cookies. Super fun and the kids LOVED them.

I`ve got to get healthier

2011-03-28T08:07:00.001-07:00

Because I am sure you all have nothing better to do then hear me blab about all things in the Northcott house here it goes......I have been wondering the right way to proceed in getting healthy?? There are so many choices out there.
When we moved to Lethbridge I got put on weekly injections for my meds to help with the Arthritis and lets just say they are kicking my butt big time. In the beginning I felt like a new person now however I am dizzy and feel like morning sickness for two days after I get the shot. I know I am whining a bit here but just think that in 7 days I feel sick for 2 of them. Which means i have 5 days a week to be normal. It is no longer enough for me I need a better life then this. so I now am posed with this question what am i suppose to do. I know that once I get myself healthier I will feel better and hope that the meds wont play with my head as much. Besides when I am doing what I know is right I really feel that my disease will go into some what of a remission. So here I am at the beginning of my post what should I do.

Eleven is a great age!!!

2011-02-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

Yep I am now the proud mom of an eleven year old boy. On January the 29th Greg entered a new year of his life. He such a great guy and we love having him around. he entertains us with his sport playing, is always a friend to everyone, is constantly trying to learn new things like playing the guitar, hacky sack, stunts on his bike and many more, really too many to number. He also is a hard working kid at school and loves to read and draw. He completed all his stars for cubs. we are very proud of all his acomplishments and that we get to watch him grow in to a great young man. On his birthday he had his best friend sleep over and they watched movies all night. The rest of the kids had a sleep over in our bed and when James and I came to bed this is what we found....how anyone can sleep with feet in faces people laying ontop of you and blankets and pillows all over ther place is crazy but I laughed so hard I just had to take a picture so I could remeber this moment.

There is love all around when there's crafts at home.

2011-02-11T13:50:00.000-08:00

Although I do not have a romantic husband Valentines is one of my favorite holidays and here are all the new finished crafts that I made to adorn my house for this special day. Maybe now that my house looks the part my hubby might find a reason to make me feel wooed. We took the kids out for a special Valentines dinner on Thursday before all the romantic couples are out so that my boys know how important this day is. Also for their lunches on Monday I made up Oreo cookies dipped in pink chocolate and sprinkled with hearts for them to take.

Spinach Pizza

2011-02-11T13:43:00.000-08:00

Starting in January i decided to it was time to start watching what I eat. Lots of times when I get my injection I am out for days feeling sick to the point where I spend a lot of time in bed. So I have this great book called the four hundred calorie fix. You eat three four hundred calorie meals a day and it helps loss weight but it also get you to eat healthy meals. So this pass week here is a sample of my meal I got half of a naan bread pizza\ with spinach and veggies and 1 oz of grated cheese on top. If you love spinach like I do you would love this meal.....alas my children do not so I had to make them cheese and meat pizza but James and I loved our new pizza topping.

Valentine craft

2011-02-11T13:37:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's this year Janelle wanted to do something a little bit different. We made crayon hearts for all her little friends in kindergarten. We took all the paper off the crayon, I cut them up into tiny pieces and then we filled the heart molds and put them in the microwave for two minutes at a time, until the crayon was mostly melted. We then popped them outside to harden up and then took them out of the mold. I think they turned out pretty cute and it help Janelle and I find something to do for a afternoon.

Greg my little sports man

2011-02-11T13:29:00.000-08:00

Greg started up basketball in January with the school team. It has been a joy to watch him grow and develop his skills. He is not as tall as many of the players but what he lacks in height he has in spirit and drive to be the best that he can be on court.

Project Life

2011-01-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

Back in 2008 I think my friend Ruth called me up and told me about Project Life. This is a whole package deal which you just snap the pictures and kit has everything that you need to journal and put it all together. I love this system. So I went on line and tried with all my might to get my hands on one.......no luck for me. Since then She has come out with one every year for you to document your year how ever you would like.
Today look what came in the mail, I got my very own project life!!! If you would like one go to www.beckyhiggins.com and follow the link for Canadian shoppers and you can have one of your very own too.
Things I love about this kit
1. It has a date stamper so you can date all your journal pages to go with your picture
2. The pockets in this kit hold 4 pictures per page and two journal cards per page
3. Becky has done all the work all you have to do is take the pictures and find a journal card out of the four boxes of pre made up ones that she has done for you and write about your pictures. There are arrow stickers number stickers and month dividers for you.
4. she even adds extra paper for you to make you own pages to add in if you want a big one or the paper is for you to use how ever you want.

So look out 2011 I am ready with my camera in hand and project life in the other, it's going to be a memorable year!!!
4.

The new Machine

2011-01-27T14:11:00.000-08:00

Here is the new love of my life, I got this beautiful machine for Christmas. I had a little machine that was great it had 18 stitches and I never used them all, it sewed through everything and always got the job done.......then one day Spencer decided to be a cat and climb up on the sewing table when the cat jumped down so did the machine.......so sad.....it never was quite the same after, I even took it the fix it shop but it still has a temper now. So for Christmas I got a new beauty that has over 100 different stitches and can do pretty much everything under the sun. So I am very happy and my children have been told that if they ever go near this baby, they wont know what hit them!!!!
Also I join a quilting class at church, the sweetest lady comes out and teaches us all her secrets about quilting, I didn't want to buy any fabric so used all this stuff that has been collecting dust in my house, it will be the quilt for the car, so I don't mind that it isn't beautiful but I have learned a lot and have grown to love this little quilt top of mine. When I am finished i will post you a picture.
Finally with my new friend I made a pair of jammy's for Janelle and she wanted me to put her name on them is if you look close enough you will see her name with a flower at the beginning and the end.
Hopefully if I keep playing with my new machine I will have many more cute projects to show you all.

Topiary Balls

2011-01-27T13:53:00.000-08:00

As january is fastly coming to the end I find that I have been in the mood for some love. There are so many super cute crafts out there for Valentine's day and I feel the need to try and make as many as I can. So here are the first three projects, when I am finished all of them I will show you the final look. If you are a crafter and would like to make any of the above pictures I found all of the tutorials from www.ucreate.com The felt rose ball is made with a 5 inch ball and 12 sheets of felt(I got all of my felt from micheals I liked it the best) I got the Styrofoam from our local dollar store and they were $1.50 compared to around $6.00 from Micheals. The pillow is made for a 18 inch pillow and the tutorial is very easy to follow and super cute finished. Finally the Streamer rose is made from cutting 24 inch piece of streamer you then fold down 1/3 from the top length wise and then roll it up tight and then loosely to achieve your desired look. I have used up one whole package of streamers and so I am off to get more, I think it will take about three packages to cover my ball and from our local dollar store you get two packages for $1.00 so each ball will cost me $3.00 to make. Super cute and super cheap. Get your self all comfy in front of a movie or a couple of t.v. shows and start rolling.

The House At Riverton

2011-01-27T07:29:00.000-08:00

I decided to read this book this weekend and I loved it, I think this book puts you right in the seat of our main character "Grace" I feel her loyalty as a lady's maid and am troubled to find out her long dark secret. You love when she loves and feel the pain of when that love is gone. She has a family that she loves but from a different perspective. She is a old lay getting ready to die and so tapes her story to her grandson so that it might help him during his trying time. I loved this book, and give it 5 out of 5. A must read, and for once I would like to see this made in to a movie. Normally I am not a movie fan but I this would be a great show, if the pick the right stars to play all the parts.............

My catch up of December 2010

2011-01-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

Well I am not to sure where Dec. went, I am sitting here at my table making a recount of the happening in our house. The kids were all super excited this year for Christmas, we decided to make a trip out to Winnipeg to be with family. So not to much baking happened, I did make it out to dip chocolates with Ang and her mom which is ALWAYS fun, we were busy in the kitchen making yummy chocolates, the kids were busy playing in the snow and in the basement, for all the work it went by really fast, however when my head hit the pillow that night I was out SUPER fast.
Alina is in her school choir which did a special performance for the soup kitchen, I would have to say this was by far my favorite activity we did as a family. There was such a peace as we heard all the west side schools come together and sing songs of Christmas and the birth of our savior. I then went out with the girls for a get together before we all got super busy with families. I love that I have such a great group of girls that I know have my back and care about me and I care about them.
we then headed out east to Winterpeg to spend time with family and loved ones. It was nice to see the kids enjoy this break from life and just be kids although someone was always sick the whole time we were there. they were excited to come home and go back to school although there were tears on ride back home.
For Christmas James bought me my 50mm lens for my camera and I am in love. I love to just play around and some times I am shocked at how the pictures turn out. For every 20 bad or not so good pictures there is one that looks great and that seems to be enough for me to want to keep going so that I can be a pro one day.
My parents gave us $1000.00 dollars for Christmas this year, so I spent the week after Christmas researching Janome sewing machines and on this past Tuesday I went out and got myself the Janome 5200... It is a dream machine, I love having hobbies, now I have another manual to read and a new beautiful machine to master and have creating with.
Yes over all I would think that I was extremely spoiled this year. But I loved it. I will make a post for my beautiful machine all on it own after I take some pictures of it with my fancy new lens. So much to accomplish I guess I know what my focus will be in the coming new year. What are your goals for 2011??

Christmas pics of my four

2010-12-10T13:03:00.000-08:00

Her you all are here are some of the best looking kids around. This year I made them all animal hats for someting different, however where ever we go i have people ask me to make them I have orders in at the school, and at a couple stores here in Lethbridge, even a sweet elderly lady asked me well shopping at the bulk barn if I would sell some to her. So with so much response to them yes I am looking into selling them. I need a good name and then I guess I will order moo cards and I want to make a labels to put in to them as well. Wish me luck!!!

Spencer 's 7th

2010-12-10T12:52:00.000-08:00

On November the 16th my Spencer turned 7. I find it hard to have a birthday close to Christmas and think that there are just way to many toys so this year my boy got himself a leapord gecko. Her name is Versace, and she eats live crickets, so at feeding time all the kids gather around to watch. This should surprise everyone I love her and can hold her, I just don't like it when she climbs in to my hair at the back of my neck.

Greg the soccer man

2010-12-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

I realize that this picture is super blurry but I love it. Greg is playing indoor soccer this year on the Old Hungairian Oldtimer team. They are not a great team, we lose most of our games but Greg is still my super star. He plays defense and although when he is on the field it is very hard for the oppsoing team to get pass him with no one scoring on his team we just don't win. He is learning alot of patience and being a good sport so we are still liking it even if we are not winning it.

Halloween 2010

2010-12-10T12:38:00.000-08:00

Sorry these are a little late, but I was going through my computer and found halloween. this year Greg was a bleeding doctor, Janelle was a white queen, Spencer was a ghost and my dear Alina was Medusa, Now I love halloween and getting the kids all ready but Medusa was the hardest costume I have ever done...I guess the makeup was the hardest part. How do you make your daughter appear to have snakes coming out of her head. In our case it was a hour of curling the hair and then wiring in each snake where we wanted them to go. The first time I did her all up we left her hair down, but it took us about hour and half to do her hair. By putting it up in a pony tail we shaved off about 40 mins, and lets just say that when she has to get dressed up three different times all the mins that we save are worth it. I think she looked great. Plus she was worth all time it took to make her all scary and snake like.

The Secret Daughter

2010-11-25T12:53:00.000-08:00

Well the wind might be blowing around outside and snow flying everywhere, I have been curled up in a blanket reading a book. What book you might asks well Secret Daughter.
This book is about two different women from the States to India and a baby girl. After her husband takes away her first baby girl,Kavita will not let the same fate fall on her second baby girl. We then have our second woman Somer who's only thoughts are that of becoming a mother, after becoming a doctor and marrying the love of her life she now can't have children and turns to another source to become a mother. Since I am not quite finished reading this book, I am consumed with it's pages. The author seems to have a good sense of how to keep her readers engaged. If you are looking for a great read check this baby out.

Turquoise Wrap

2010-10-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

I found this great tutorial over at UCREATE and loved how fun this bracelet looked, decided that it couldn`t be that hard to make and set out to Micheal's to find all my supplies and give it a try. Well here it is I love it, I would love to change the button as I couldn`t find the one I was looking for but I feel youthful and young when I wear it. Now I have been to Micheal`s since and guess what I found the button I wanted in the first place...GRRRR oh well maybe if I make another one one day I will go get that button. It was a brown coconut fiber button super earthy.

The Terry Fox Run

2010-10-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my photos and found this picture among others of the Terry Fox Run. It was a rainy, cloudy day but here is my Greg ready to run, every fifteen years here in Lethbridge I think, they gather all the schools and do a run to celebrate Terry Fox`s accomplishments. The whole school ran around Nicolas Sheran park but five children were picked to be apart of this special run and toe dip and yes my Greg was picked.He felt very proud to be apart of this and i am proud that he got this oppertunity to do so aswell. The run was on my birthday and I missed the end but he got to finish the race for the city and was welcomed by our whole school and as he ran he was shaking hands and giving high fives, so very Greg.....

Shooting in manual for a change....

2010-10-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

I was playing online the other day and came across a post that said "Stop what you are doing and make these right now" So me being a very obedient person set out to do just that. However these cupcakes were a little on the labor intensive side so I had to stop mid project and buy more ingredients which I didn't have on hand. So here is the finished product. They are called butterscotch cupcakes, although you can not see but inside these beauties is a big scoop of butterscotch. Super doper high in fat, sugar and all things not good for you.

Now the fun part I started today to shoot manual. I am very unsure about myself and wish I had models to pose for me so I can get this light thing to work for me, I guess I will have to become one of those people who carry my camera around all the time to get in the practice. I must say however I like the two shoots that I have here for you. Anyone who can help me out with tips I would love to hear them.

T-Shirt Design

2010-10-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here is the shirt that I design for the Turkey Burger as well. If you eat their big meal on the menu then you win this shirt.

New logo

2010-10-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a logo that I made for the Turkey Burger. I like the branding effect.

There is beauty all around.

2010-10-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

As I sit here this beautiful crisp Sunday morning I am reminded of all the things in my life that I need to be grateful for, and today I want to share my love of fresh cut flowers. I know that they do die sooner then later but while they surround my kitchen I must love them every second that I can. I love the colors and different variety to choose from. To me there is nothing more perfect then these beauties staring me in the face and remembering that everyday is new one with all the charms that may come. The sun is shining even though it is a little cooler this morning and all my kids are bundling up to keep warm, but here right now all I see is the beauty that God created for me and I am going to enjoy it.

Alina`s Baptism

2010-10-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

My beautiful girl turned 8 on the 20th of July and she got to be baptized on the 14th of August. My whole family came out for this special event, along with James parents and sister Jacquie. We had so much fun finding the perfect white dress for her and I have a friend that lives in Winnipeg that has a flower shop, she custom made a flower band for Alina out of pink wire with little silk flowers and crystals on it. She was baptized here in the stake center with four others, I gave a talk on the holy ghost and yes I cried through it. After we had ice cream sundaes. Her best-est little friend was able to come and share this day with her too. We felt very blessed to have so much family there to support us.

Grandma`s 90th birthday party.

2010-10-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

During August we got to celebrate my Grandma Moore's 90th birthday. It was a busy day as it was the same day that we baptized Alina. We tried very hard to make this a special day for her. We got as much of the family together as could come, had a nice little lunch and socializing time for her. Only my one uncle didn`t come (to bad for him thinking that he is busier then the rest of us!)I got family pictures of all the families with her and made them into a keepsake book, that I need to get to her. I made up a paper cake with jelly bellies inside them for the center piece. She told me how special she felt that we would go to all that work for her and it made me feel special too.

Custom dresses by lilblueboo

2010-10-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

I have a couple websites that have become a religion to check out everyday, among them is a site called lilblueboo.blogspot.com She makes dresses out of t-shirts or jersey material. She does custom orders, screen print and sometimes finds great shirts and turns them into the most cutest dresses. Janelle is modeling her ladybug dress. The best part is that she loves to just play in it, and they are just great for that. I need to get a picture of Alina wearing hers and post it.

The spray park

2010-10-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

We were lucky this summer to have my whole family come and celebrate Alina's baptism. It was a very special day for her, one I know she will remember for ever. Dustin and his family came out first so we headed to the spray park. It was one of those days when there were clouds in the sky and it would rain on and off but that didn't slow us. Now granted we didn't last that long being cold and all when the sun would hide behind the clouds but for the time we were there the kids ran , laughed screamed with pure joy and got very.....very wet. Even uncle Dustin got into the action.

A warm summer day hanging out

2010-10-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

I love beautiful summer days when we can hang out together as a family in the backyard. This past summer we didn't have the hottest of days but when the sun was shining we did our best to be out there soaking it in. One of my happy memories was the day Greg and Janelle were double dutching on the swing set, their laughter filled the yard well Alina lazily vegged in the hammock. Spencer was busy puttering around and refused to let me take a picture of him. I think that this is how summer days should be spent.

My review of the Mockingjay

2010-10-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

Since I moved out west I joined a book club with a great group from church. We go see movies together, go out for dessert together and read lots of books together. Now anyone who knows me well knows that I am one to speak my mind so I always have a lot to say about everything that we read. For September we read The Mockingjay the third book in the Hunger Games. I for one was very upset with how she chose to finish off this series, she had a main charter hiding around and never discovering herself. I didn't feel that she should end up with Gale or Peeta and thought that Katniss should have died in the end, I think that to often a author gets to involved with their characters and then has to find a happy ever after for all involved. The problem is that in this story I don't think there is a happy ever after. The capital is defeated and their districts now have to find a way to live after all the crap that has been their life up til now, all those kids that died through out the years, their everyday way of life is forever altered and yes I think for the better. I however think that Katniss went against the law in yes the only act that she thought trough for herself but should have had a rightful punishment. Yes if I was a teenager I might have been happy with the ending but I was left feeling unsatisfied.

Birds of Prey

2010-10-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend Ang wanted to take her boys to the birds of prey center, and me being me wanted to go too. So off we went one beautiful summer day to check it out. It was amazing there, you could feed the ducks and watch a falcon fly for food, plus all the poor birds that can't ever leave because too much damage had been done to them. They had barn owls that you could hold along with a great horned owl. which was a whole lot of feathers and about 5 pounds of bird. Alina and Janelle needed help holding him up because their arms are so small that big of owl. My Spencer is more of sit back and watch kind of guy so he didn't hold or touch anything well we were there. The Court family is always fun and so I don't think my kids could of asked for a better family to spend the day with.

Blast from the past

2010-10-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

Do you remember your family friends growing up, the ones that were there always, building traditions, sharing holidays and all the special occasions in your life..This is my one such friend. The cooks were there for everything, I looked up to Christie and always wanted to be like her. She was awsome in my mind. This summer I got to catch up with her and her family. They came up from the states and we got to spend the afternoon together well our kids all played at the park.

Christie is huge into photography and this is how I saw her for most of the day taking pictures and loving it.

Northcott Reunion

2010-10-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

I have so much to catching up to do.....This summer has been a super packed fun time for our family. We rented this great cabin out in Echo Lake Montana and it was heaven. James family was having a reunion and we thought that we would go this year for the first time. I was so bitter towards lots of his family and realized that I shouldn't, so I turned over a new stone and love being there with everyone. I loved the beautiful sun rises and set everyday over the mountains and listening to my children laughing playing in the lake every chance that they got.

James cousin John made me the perfect smore on night at the camp fire. Greg got to practice wake boarding...I see more in the future. My kids loved riding in the boat, soaking up the sun and relaxing in the kayaks and canoes. Greg became close with a cousin named Ben and can't wait to hang out again soon. It was fun to get to know everyone, and enjoy the hot summer days out at the lake.

Alina baptism invite

2010-07-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that my princess is going to be old enough to be baptized. We have been busy getting everything ready for her big day. Her birthday is on the 20th and she is getting baptized on the 14th of August. All my family and some of James are making the trip out here to be with on this special day, she is so excited for this and really I think it is going to be the perfect way to end a wonderful summer. She will be surrounded with all family that love her. I think that my poor house will not know what to do with so many people but we are super excited to tour around and have a cousin's weekend all together since it has been a year since we were all together. We are also going to be celebrating my grandma's 90th birthday the same weekend so this will be the first time in many years since our extended family have been together. Is there really any better reason for us to gather then to celebrate a wonderful woman who has touched all our lives. I will have many pictures to post in the coming weeks so keep your eyes posted for many more updates to come.....

Wonderful lazy summer days

2010-07-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

I can not tell you all how much I was looking forward to spending the summer with my crew. I guess going to school was way harder then I thought it would be. We gave up many family holidays though out the year because we were stuck with me being in classes when the kids weren't. I found out along the way that really being a mother was the most important job and it was hard to send children away from me with project looming overhead and telling them to entertain themselves well I was staring at a computer screen stressed out.
So now here we are and all ready the summer is going by way to fast. But one warm but slightly cloudy day we went to the lake that is being build down our ally and took pictures of cute little toes dangling over the bridge and children trowing rocks and running around. Here my favorite of the group of them. I love rolled up pants and bare feet. I'm a foot person I guess. I also love them being held prisoner on the bridge. We head out to our cabin in a bit and can't wait for even more lazy dazy days to come.

Catching Fire Review

2010-07-15T14:10:00.001-07:00

Katniss again the narrator, returns home to find herself more the center of attention then ever. Then president Snow surprises her with a visit, Katniss's fear when they meet alone is both palpable and justified. I love this book and can't wait for the anticipated sequel The Mocking Jay coming August 24th 2010
I joined a book club with a great group of girls from church, we have a lot of fun together can you believe that we also have starting a running group at 6am in the morning. I love these women so much. I am a very social person and it is great to have girl friends that I can call or see movies with, or who see me at my worse when we run and are smelly together. If anyone had told me that I would find this when we moved here a year ago I would have moved a whole lot sooner then we did. I love you girls!!!

Hunger Games Book Review

2010-07-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

This is a fast-paced action novel. This book is about two teens forced to fight to the death in a national park, it's a rather gripping good read.

The DESK

2010-07-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

I know that I am a little late in posting this but here is the desk that James and I made. some months ago I came across one of my top five blogs that I have to go to every day to see what she will post next. She is a DIY and I love her wood project. She does furniture for every room in and out of your house. You have to love the rustic look, but I promise that yes you can do it too.
go check out her blog knockoffwood

School's out for SUMMER!!!!

2010-06-30T07:05:00.000-07:00

Here we are on the first day of summer holidays, I decided to sleep in so didn't get my run in this morning. However construction started at 6:30 so I guess that is what I get for not waking up and doing what I know I should have done.
We took our kids to go see toy story 3 last night to celebrate a great year. It was amazing. The perfect way to end three great movies that were Greg's favorite when he was little.
On Monday Clint and James set up our pool in their backyard and I can't keep my kids away. I don't think Ginger knew her family was going to grow by four. They have a huge pad in their back yard and the pool just fit perfect. It great to have a place to play and cool down. Yesterday I had to pull my kids out of there and bring them home.
I am sad with myself for not working harder this pass couple months. I went to school and have kind of slacked off ever since. I need to work out a schedule that will push me to work harder. Now that the kids are home for the summer I fear this goal will have to wait a couple months until we get go back to school in the fall.
I have so many great activities planned for us this summer and I can finally say that I am excited to spend so much time with my crew, I think they are pretty great. We are going camping, to a cabin we rented for ten days, day trips to Calgary, hopefully see my girlfriend who is coming up and I haven't seen her in ten and half years. We are going boating, hiking, biking, on picnics, swimming most days, my entire family is coming in August for Alina's baptism, we are celebrating my grandma's 90th birthday. Plus reading books watching movies I LOVE SUMMER!!!
I hope we will grow closer as a family this summer too. I will be running all summer and hope to be ready for a 5k race in the fall. I have a great group that I go out with every morning. I think it is time to be healthy for me!! Plus my girlfriend and I are going for bikini bodies...........maybe I will post pictures if we achieve our goal, I realize it will take longer then just the summer but we are having fun doing it together.
I hope everyone else has fun things planned for your summer holidays with lots of posts for us to read and keep in touch.

Logos and cards

2010-05-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

Here is my first go around on our new company logo and bussiness card. I am happy with how it turned out I want to make a couple changes but can't wait for how they look all printed out. I am dying to have them done into moo cards and think it would be kind of neat to have pass along buttons

Blah Blah Blah......

2010-04-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

It is crazy how busy one's life can get. I am off to the optometrist this morning gotta make sure my eyes are still OK. Then off to a crazy adventure this afternoon learning how to put Bling in hair properly. My friend Ginger is going to be my partner in crime coming with me. I think we are going to check out some really cute little decorating shops too. I love that she has sooo much talent in home decor and that she is willing to help me out to make my house just so for me. Then tonight I am off to soccer with Greg. I always forget how much time it takes to have children be active and sometimes I think I would like to go back to just have little toddlers running a mock around my house. they grow up way to fast and get involved in everything way to young. After soccer tonight I get to relax and watch Glee yes it is one of my favorite t.v. shows right now. Hope your all having a great day. I promise that tommorow I am going to start organizing my computer and getting lots of work done. Then I will show off some of my work, it takes me a long time but it is coming, yes one day it will appear.

My growing crew.

2010-04-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday morning my wonderful children help me to color all my props that we use in our sunbeam class. Yesterday they were so cute singing primary songs and coloring away I just had to snap a couple pictures.

Here is my beautiful Alina

Greg my handsome boy

Spencer my goof he always has a tooth pick in his mouth just like his grandpa!!Life just wouldn't be the same without him to brighten the day.

Janelle always so photogenic, and getting so big where does the time fly.

OUr new Chapel

2010-04-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

So this pass Thursday we got to attend the ground breaking ceremony for our new chapel right here in Copperwood. The building should be done in about a year. Greg was called and asked to represent the primary and be part of this very special day. He was thrilled to be there.

Here is the ground just before they came to do the first dig.

The line up Greg is beside the contractor, but also in line are the Stake president along with his counsellor's, Stake Relief society leader, Lethbridge counsellor, single adult rep, and young women rep.

I am grateful that Greg got to be part of this,I think that now hopefully this building will have special meaning to him and he was just so darn handsome up there, very proud mother moment.

A little catch up!!!

2010-04-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

April 2nd we took the kids to Waterton for a day of remembrance. We celebrated our 11th anniversary, it was fun going to the temple and then going for a family hike together.

As with 11 years of marriage stuff just starts to wear out we bought a new couch for the living room and now I can start to decorate the room the way I like. I'm going for warm tones of reds browns and oranges. I also found this cool lamp made out of twigs and just had to add that to the room too. My girlfriend is going to take me out chair shopping so we can find a fun accent for the room aswell.

Here we are back at Easter, we spent the day with our friends the Caldwell, had a big hot dog roast and egg hunt for the kids. James had priesthood that night and the kids and I didn't get home until after 10pm It was a day filled with laughter and fun. This was our first Easter away from family, it was weird not to have my house full of the pitter patter of 12 little pairs of feet. But this summer everyone is coming to visit us and I am excited to share that time with my family.

Also over Easter my cousin came to visit and I got to spend the day with her and her sweet new baby. My kids love babies aswell so she got passed around alot. It was fun to remember little fingers and toes, sweet baby sounds and calmness that they seem to bring. This has been one of the highlights I must say about living in Alberta I have gotten to see my cousins more. Ryan came and lived with us for a week and I have gotten to see Kim twice in less then a year. We were the only girls on the Gatz side and it fun to reconnect with each other. Plus now I get to see that sweet little girl too.

Two weeks Left

2010-04-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

Here I am sitting at school counting down the hours for this to end. I can not tell how happy I will be to finished all this craziness, James will only have to work until 3:30pm everyday and MAYBE only maybe I will once again have a clean house with bread baking in the oven, fresh cookies for my kids to come home to and time to think about something other "did I do all I could do to get the the best grade possible." Everyone in my class finished on Friday but I started two weeks late so here I am. This afternoon Janelle is at school and I have the first afternoon off since my kids Easter break....can you say HAPPY that is all I feel.
I will do a post of my hair bling I just ordered it and I am so excited for it to get here sometime later this week or early next. You put different colored tinsel like stuff in hair, you can curl it straighten it it is super fun.....more to come. Class is out so am I

The Wind has finally changed around here get ready!!!

2010-04-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Ok so it has been a little while since I have posted anything and I am sorry for that. I never thought in a million years that school could do what it has done to me. I am so tired all the time that I just don't have time or maybe choose not to have time to look at the computer anymore then I do for project time. I am proud to say that I am finally on the count down for what has felt like an eternity and will resume normal life in about a month's time.
I will then continue to take abnormal amounts of pictures of my crazy crew,
I will write abnormal amounts of crap of what is going on in my life (not that anyone cares)
I will be all consumed with the life of a blogger posting all the fun tutorials that I do create a couple tutorials for beginner graphic designers and continue to be a mom of the four best kids(in my life) that I can.

I really can't wait to see what I can do, what I can create, and what will lay ahead of me in my future choices.

I feel that for too long I have sat around waiting instead of doing and that is going to change.
Will it effect anyone? Most likely not but if you continue to read my blog maybe you will find something that you like and what to try or maybe you can just laugh at all the mistakes that I will make along the way.

Please feel free to share any great craft, photoshop, indesign, illustrator tips that you have with me and I will try to learn from you as well. Or if no one is even reading this let it be a place that I can look back and remember all that i have set out to do in y life. wish me luck and stay tuned for some fun stuff to start around here.

Our bat

2010-01-18T10:22:00.000-08:00

For halloween Janelle wanted to be a bat I wanted her to be a princess so here is our compromise she is the queen bat I had to show this picture because halloween night I couldn't get her dressed. She didn't want to go out. She did go but only for a couple of houses. This is the picture from her school party when she was in a great mood. She loved being all dresed up and IO loved shopping for the fabric and putting it all into a fab costume.

Alina our Princess

2010-01-18T10:17:00.000-08:00

My beautiful ALina in her new outfit, I was shopping and came across this beautifl dress and fell inlove but it was pretty pricey so I left it and came home well I am sure that it kept calling my name beacause I had to go back and find it,....but there was only one left and yes it was the right size and on sell. I love it when I can find a sell, plus I think she looks like such a little lady in it. She is so sweet and always tries to make everyone around her feel happy. She has blossomed so much here she has some really good friends, that lift her up and make her even more special. It's amazing what positive friends can do for you. She has really come to know who she is and what makes her happy and she is busy doing those things.

my pride and joy

2010-01-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

Here they are my good looking kids after making them jump around forever we decided to sit down and just take nice pictures. They all loved their matching pjs that they got for Christmas although I had them put them on eary for the photos and then we rewrapped them up and put them under the tree...until Christmas eve. This was our first Christmas just at home with the kids and we really enjoyed our time together, we played games went sledding and went to the movies very relaxing werid to just be us but I really enjoyed my kids this year so it was wonderful. I think after having daycare for four years of christmas having one just about us was great.

Trying to get it right

2010-01-18T10:04:00.000-08:00

Ok so I have been playing witht my camera and came up with a great idea IDEA is the word because we had a hard time getting the kids to all jump at the same time. After about twenty shots here is our top ones. Maybe we should try something a little bit easier to start with... but then where would be the fun in that??

Alina's sewing project.

2010-01-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas Alina decided that she wanted to learn how to sew, so I search for a fun easy project which turned out to be a little hard still but here is what we came up with. She picked out the fabric and away we went..... I am not sure when she will want to sit down and do this again though.

Trick or Treat

2009-12-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the forever post and yes I know that it is dec. but since I've been going to school I don't have time for anything except homework. So here are all my little halloween creations. Hopefully I get some Christmas pictures up before feb.........

Corn any one?

2009-09-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

Just had to share my picture, we bought a bunch of corn from a stand here and brought it home husked it and I thought this would make a great shot. So here is best shot of the day hope you enjoy it. I love the mirror effect from the granite.

There is beauty all around

2009-09-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Here is how I and Janelle get to start our day, my girlfriend Lonnie, Sharon and I pack up our kids and DOGS and off to the dog park we go. It is just beautiful and I love the listening to Old Man river run by as our dogs chase and get chased on their daily run. Janelle doesn't always feel the peace that I do but she comes along just the same. This park is the natural habitat for the rattle snakes in Lethbridge but as of yet we have not come across any. I had to catch a sense of our wonderful little earth that I get to appreciate every day. Here is one good reason to have a dog, I get to look and walk through a beautiful little patch of heaven right here in my own back yard of the west side.....don't you want to come and visit me just so you can walk here too?

The Third of unfortunate advents in the Northcotts

2009-09-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

I am hoping that the bad streak is over in our house.....here the third in bad things to happen to our little family in the month of September. Spencer woke up last wed. with a huge swollen upper face, poor little man he tooth that he chipped when he was three finally got a cavity and it hurt. I could only get him in the dentist at 2:30pm so he decided that he wanted to go to school because pet land was coming. So I drugged him up and out the door he went......well when we got the dentist he told me that we had to get the infection down before he could pull the tooth so here we are today going for the dreadful pull at 12:30pm.

Here is what Alina's arm looks likes after three weeks in the cast. Let me tell you that her arm stunk!! The bone is well on it way to healing, but to be careful she has to now wear this brace for two week and then she should be as good as new..... I can't believe all the bruising that is still there a little weird, I guess in my head i thought that it would just be good and no sign of the break. The body heals quite quickly but I guess not as fast as I had it in my head. She is a real trooper and is doing great.

Have You Seen This Boy???

2009-09-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when Alina and Spencer came home from school they told us that Greg wasn't on the bus nor was he ever on the bus. PURE PANIC rushed through my body and I jumped into the car and headed over to the school right away. Sure enough Greg was not at the school..............not at home and no one had seen him. I turn into a crying baby and just keep saying but where could he have gone.......it's to far to walk home. I call my friend and ask her to drive around and see if she can find him.........nothing. We search the school and grounds......nothing. I get a bunch of the teachers into their cars....Once he has been missing for a hour the police have to be called because he went missing from school. When I think I am about to be sick this nice lady comes up to me and said I think I have your son in my car. I'm crying holding on to him forget to ask who she is, call everyone to stop the search and head home.
I ask Greg to explain what happened....he forgot to switch shoes ran back into the school missed the bus and thought he might get into trouble he decided to walk home but at the end of the lake took a wrong turn and ended up a little lost. He went to a gas station and asked to use the phone they turned him away and he started going house to house until he found someone home who was nice enough to bring him back to the school to a frantic mother. Needless to say we were both happy to have each other. When we got home the whole neighbourhood was out looking for him kids riding their bikes around parents driving around all for my son. In times like this you really do feel loved but I just wanted to get him inside and curl up for the night. We have since had a talk about the right procedure for all my kids to use if they miss the bus....

JELLY BELLY

2009-09-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

OKEY so I know that it is a little crazy but Janelle wanted to try on my new bra.........and here are the results, I know but it is to funny and she was so proud of herself that I had to post my nutty girl all dolled up....Today was a happy day.

James is 32

2009-09-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

i just had to share this with the world but at football practice I got pooped on by a bird....Everyone told me that it's good luck...WHAT!!! I just got pooped on is there anything lucky in that????

My hubby's birthday was on the 8th of Sept....Me being such a good wife went to Calgary to pick up his brother for the week and didn't do anything for him at all......So on Friday night I made a toooo die for chocolate cake and we had the Courts over for party night....and lots of cake.

I love James with all the kids around him what a special guy. He just loves his family and I am very grateful that he does. There is nothing that he wouldn't do for any of them. He is my SWEET HEART and I love him for all the fun and name calling that he has to put up with, he is one great guy.

Alina's Broken Arm

2009-09-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

On the first day of school there is so much excitement in our house, I can honestly say that all my kids love school. Well Janelle was feeling sorry for herself being left behind as all the big kids went off so I took her out for a date.......When I got home James told that the school called and Alina fell off the play structure and hurt her arm.....not to worry she is fine taking the bus.....Red lights go off in my head if it's not a big deal why did the school call? So I pushed James for more info.....Well shes crying and has ice on it and the teacher said we might want to get it checked.....So I head over to the school and pick her up take her to the Dr. office they won't let me in and send me to another office I get there and they don't take x-rays and send me back to the first office.......and we came home with cast.

She broke the two bones just past the wrist. Now there is no need to fear because she loves that darn cast and loves having everyone sign it....She is sad that there is only a week left with it and then we get to have it re x-rayed and off. I on the other hand am excited that she will be able to tie up her shoes again, bath herself again and just be my Alina again. It has been an adventure and I love those too but I'm ready for normal....well as normal as it can be around here at least.

Going to the zoo zoo zoo.

2009-09-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

The last saturday before school we headed to the Calgary zoo with Wes and Jackie, Here we are having a rest at the elephants, it was plus 33 we were hot and sticky but we had a good time.

Here is our friend that came right over to say hi, she kept putting dirt on her back which apparently keeps her cool on the hot days and helps keep the bugs away.....

I love the stripes and color of the zebras I think this might be my favorite animal from the zoo.

Play time with Ryan.

2009-09-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

In August we headed to Edmonton to visit my cousin Ryan, He was always a guy ready to give me an adventure when I was little and I was sure that he would now do the same for my kids. I was so not disappointed.

I lived in Edmonton for a year when I was little but I didn't remember how pretty it was, We spent a day at the mall, we were all tired by the end of the day. Ryan was a good sport and played hard and long....Greg was in love with all things boy He got to make bullets shoot guns and more guns, even a paint ball gun way to fun that fires the balls so fast and there are so many. I love it....

Ryan also took the kids to a beach where they had races and went kayaking. Think of all the fun you can have when you don't have children and you have money!! We had a blast and plan on going again next year.

The land of the Montana

2009-08-12T23:24:00.000-07:00

For the long weekend in August we headed to Montana to visit Uncle Ian and Aunt Carol. Their house is a little patch of heaven. I would wake up early just to sit on the deck and smell the air and watch the humming birds. It was such a peaceful trip. Ian and carol had all sorts of fun planned for the kids we went panning for sapphires, played with remote boats on the pond, made and ate a entire batch of raw cookie dough well one tray was cooked, went to a old ranch house for a wonderful steak dinner, watched G-force through the fanciest 3-d glasses ever, played with the ducks chickens horses and bunnies, walked with rods over buried animals to watch the rods cross, went to the park, and church. Relaxed at night exploring around their house. Thanks for such a wonderful treat. My kids all had a blast and are excited to go stay there again next year.........I don't know if they knew this was going to yearly the kids are planning what we will the next time. I love both of them so it great to see them interact with the kids.

My yard

2009-07-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

The only problem with our house was that we had to do the landscaping!!! The is Huge in my life I don't do well with Reno's. So I hired a friend from our ward. I thought I know where he is if I have any problems. Side note in Winnipeg we hired a landscaper and he ran away with our money and a Huge mess to clean up in our yard and our neighbours. So back to Tyson. He drew up some plans, brought them over I loved them and away he started in less then five days I went from weeds that Jewels could hide in because they were four feet high to a personal haven all my own. Now as I have said before I will share with the family. He did such a great job he exceeded our expectations and I would recommend him to everyone if you live here of course so now you can see my yard where I lounge around in. I love my house I love my yard in the world my yards the best. Slight changes from the book Dr. Seuss

Alina is SEVEN

2009-07-23T16:01:00.000-07:00

Well my little girl is getting to be not so little, Alina just turned 7 on the 20th of July. Surprise she didn't want a friend party so we packed up a bonfire and cake and headed out to Magrath for a evening of swimming building in the sand and of course the fire. It was a beautiful day and evening to share with the Courts. The kids had a treasure hunt in which they had to do a jingle and then learn a new song to get the candy. They are such good sports. Alina wanted cowboy boots and since we live in southern Alberta I thought i should get her a pair, Well let me tell you I had a Hugh selection it was hard to pick a pair. I love them and you now can't see her going anywhere unless they are on her feet. It was a super day the only down fall was well eating her hot dog she lost her tooth and swallowed it. We had to write the tooth fairy a little note explaining what happened. She did still come and Alina was happy once again.

A fun afternoon.

2009-07-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

Because I am a great mom I took my kids to the circus, Yes can you believe it came to lethbridge. They had passes all over the place So I came home and packed the kids up and off we went, to an afternoon of laughs. Now the tight rope did get my all tied up in knots I wasn't sure if he was going to make he did have one little slip but when your up there you can't afford little of anything. The elephants won my kids hearts, they thought that they were great. So another afternoon entertained still lots to go...........

Winnipeg

2009-07-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

THe first week of July we headed to friendly Manitoba to go visit the fam and friends. we had a busy week and I could not wait to sleep and recoupe from the late party nights. A big thank you to the McDonalds for the bbq and Diane for my girl talk till 1am and of course to my parents for the use of thier house,car,and good times. Next year we will have to stay longer then a week but we live and we learn......

My poor ice maker.........may you rest in peace.

2009-07-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

We love our ice machine but it went to ice making heaven so sad that brand new stuff didn't even last for three months. The good news is that they brought me a new one but now want to replace the panel in the fridge so hopefully in one more we we can walk over to my friend and pousha button and get yummy cold ice to put in our drinks to keep us cool.

Summer is here.

2009-07-03T12:46:00.000-07:00

Well here we are in the second week of summer holidays, we have had a couple of highlights. The Courts invited us to go camping in the beauty of waterton,It was so much fun to watch the kids play in rivers, climb the red rock canyon roast marshmallows watch the fire and make the kids do a dinner time jiggle. They didn't sound the fond of it at the first meal but everyone after they asked if it was time to jiggle. They would laugh sing a song or two shake their grove all for the entertainment of the moms. the biggest party pooper was James, who neither jiggled or shook his grove. I had my knee injected and my middle finger, so I was the hiker pooper and never went out with them I got hold down the fort and read a book. Now we are off to Winnipeg for a week so we will see what is in store for us there.

JELLY IS 4

2009-06-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday was Janelle's 4th birthday. She was so excited to have a Hannah birthday, it is quite fun to watch them develop in to little people and not babies anymore. She is my afternoon buddy everyday we get to play at the park or in the yard, or we go in and bug daddy on really special days. She is a burst of energy that never stops. She has a mind of her own but is my doll. I just love the time I've had to get to know her without daycare kids around. She love to give the love to mom and dad she loves to cuddle with me and loves to play spa giving karate chop massages brush my hair, but mostly like all the above done to her nicely. I did manage to find a pre school for next year it is only twice a week though. She just needs to go out and make friends in a social setting. What else can I say I LOVE YOU JELLY mommy can't think what life would have been with out you.

Dirty Dog

2009-06-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

Do I need to say anything at all? This is why no one should buy a dog who doesn't have a yard. I had rained and Jewels got out..........

The kids marathon

2009-05-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

Here we are for Alina's Marathon. She sign up for running club at school, and loved it and wanted to run the kids marathon. Now yes they do run the whole marathon but not all at once. They run every day at school to train for the race and get to count all their milage towards the big day. so today she only ran 2.4km but she did do in in just under 10 min. They didn't time them but James and I did. It was a proud parent moment for both of us. I was surprise at how well they all did. There was about three hundred kids out there, they staggered the runners and Alina's age group was the last to go 7 and under. But she did manage to come in before even some of the 11-12 year olds. Like I said a proud mommmy moment. Next year Greg wants to run he didn't like the glory all going to Alina. To bad!!!!!

DIRT DIRT did I mention we have DIRT

2009-05-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

I know everyone has hear me complain about the dirt, well here is is the dirt hill out the back and the house being built beside us. I hate having the windows opened beacuse the dirt takes that as an invitation to come in to my house cleaning up after my kids have played in the dirt. Dirt Dirt go away don't bother coming back any day!!!! But if you look at the one picture you can see the dirt hill that Nolan and Greg made a ramp to ride on. Yes our house has grown by two, thank goodness they are not babies Nolan and Jarm provide fun and fill my home with laughter Greg and Spencer are thrilled to have them all the time. Everyday should be a Court day in their opinion and with no school on friday afternoons they always have a thousand things that need to be done together. I love boys. My girls do try to get in the action and love having the extra brothers around.

Kids and their bikes

2009-05-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

So along with the new Spencer and Janelle went out shopping for bikes. Here are the prize winners that they picked, now my house has no more mom can we please please play on the wii,computer,ds we have have moved on to waking up and being dressed by 7am and mom will you please watch us on our bikes?

A little catch up!!!!

2009-05-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

I know that it has been a little while and well I claim to be busy the reality is that I am not. What have I been doing??? A whole lot of nothing. Greg is busy playing soccer and though to people in Winnipeg this might be weird but if the weather bad and soccer is canceled the games are rescheduled. Which means that some weeks like this week we have soccer three time. Greg is loving it and it is fun to see him get better and have more talent. He also has cubs which is slowing down for the summer three more meeting well they get to go zip lining, canoing playing for one day, nature center this Saturday, and badge night ummm do you think he has a hard life?? I don't. Plus the swimming center is across the street from his school so three Tuesday afternoons he gets to walk over and go swimming. Alina is a runner and loves it she thinks it helps her to stay healthy. She is in a kids marathon on the 30th of this month. Super excited and pumped. Spencer and Janelle have every morning to practice all the things that each other hate. Sometimes they decide that life is better if they get along I love those mornings. Every Friday is half day at school so I get them all Friday afternoons. Come on people should children not go to school??? Every Friday as a half day was fun at the beginning but now I just want them to go to school. James is a work workaholic he is always working right now. Me Like I said before somehow I fell that there are not enough time in the day but here I sit and can't tell you what it is that keeps me so busy. We are getting along great the ward has been super nice, the house beside me is almost finished and it is sold I can't wait for construction mess to leave my yard and go somewhere else. Then maybe I can get sod and my dog can be outside where she longs to be.

Alina the Beautiful

2009-04-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

Yes I know it has been alittle while since I posted to the blogging world. It seems to take a lot out of someone when they move. The kids are all doing great, they had no problems making friends, and loving their new school. they always come home telling us how much easier English school is then french.......did I do the right thing by not putting them in french out here???? Alina has been invited to her first birthday party and Greg is playing soccer. Janelle is doing gymnastics and Spencer is just loving life!!! I need to find something for him to do..... This is just a shot of my beautiful girl on crazy hair day only three days in at her new school. I'm so glad that she carries confidence, something that will help her in her teenage years. I try to post again soon with some more pictures but all is well with the Northcott Crew.ttfn

My life is in a BOX right now!!!!!!

2009-04-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

Spring I think is finally finding it's way here to Winnipeg and bring a flood along the way. Can you believe that last week we got as much snow as what we had all winter??? Come on now I thought we were living among global warming........ I think that if you live here we are in our own personal bubble away from the rest of the world. Now the weather man said that we should reach highs of +10 by Saturday. Does the weather man not understand that we need all the snow gone before we leave so that I feel safe with my sump pump and water entering my house unwanted??? There is a little grace period before the new owners come in and I would hate for anything to go wrong.....Anyway here we are on tuesday I have the basement ready to go now I'm working on the main floor and then just my room left to go. I'm becoming a party animal every night so must keep going hard everyday, so that I can get everything done on time.

I must add this just because it makes me feel so loved but my daycare families all know how much I love Lululemon so as a farewell present gave me Huge card to go spend at the store. I walked out with..........pants, sweater,top........and throw in a headband just because. Thanks to Danielle, Mel, and Diane for knowing me so well and always spoiling me even when I didn't deserve it. Wednesday night is all for you girls!!!!!

With a thousand places to go and things to do I should be off and running wish me luck for I fear that I am in need of some to keep my head high and not lose it on anyone. Thanks to all who have held my hand through this process.

TEN YEARS!!!!!

2009-04-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Here we are TEN years ago today James and I got married. I think I look older but not to sure that James has aged much over the years. It's hard to believe how the time has gone by. I remeber getting ready for the wedding thinking that it was never going to get here and we had a very short engagment. Then there was school and yes I only had to endure three years but I felt like they were never going to end. Now we have four great kids and are together 24 hours a day. For most people that might be a little to much but somehow it just seems to work for us. Thanks for a great ten years!!!

Scrap books

2009-03-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

I was at a party last weekend and a girl I met there was telling about a great idea. You take pictures of all your children's work from school anything that means something to them from art work to math to journal pages take pictures of them all print them off and put them in to an album. She is doing yearly albums... me not so much but trying to put as much as I can in one album if I need to buy more then one per kid so be it but I had four boxes of work that we have kept for the kids and really I don't want to pack that all and take it with me so yesterday I took just under 300 pictures for mostly Greg and Alina. I just got rid of boxes that I no longer have to pack and all their work is sitting nicely in my computer until we move when I can put them in books for each kid. I feel even more clutter free then before. For those who know me I hate clutter I am NOT A PACK RAT, I do however have a problem of throwing everything away and then a couple of weeks later looking for something that most likely is at the dump..........I hope this inspires someone to do the same I really think this is a great Idea.

The ice crystals are finally melting away!!

2009-03-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

In most places of the world there is no snow to be found unless that is ..........you live in Winterpeg Manitoba. I do have to say that when you can take such pretty pictures it is easier to enjoy the blistery cold days. We are now heading into the last half of March and finally the great thaw has begun, does that mean we won't have snow for Easter this year? No but maybe just maybe we like the rest of the world can look forward to the not so distance future and see flowers blooming and green grass and opened windows for fresh air.......Yes one day in the not so distance future we too will have children riding bikes and playing out doors and then maybe just maybe we to will have clean houses and happy sun bleached children and no more beautiful ice crystals hanging around. But for now I still have snow and pretty pictures that are begging to be taken. Note to self before I move I need a picture of the famous pot holes that surround Winnipeg in spring.

There is beauty all around..........when there is fresh cut flowers around.

2009-03-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

There is something to be said about receiving roses from a loved one........however these are not from my loved one who never seems to find time to do such. These beauties are from a family I used to babysit for, as I am leaving they wanted me to enjoys these for as long as possible. Now roses never last longer then a week week and a half but I was lucky enough to haves for 17 days before they weren't pretty. I love flowers I love the way they make me feel, how they smell how they look and yes I realize that they die but I don't think I can ever get bored with having them in my home. They just fit so perfect in my life. I hope you have something that makes you feel just at peace as I do having fresh cut flowers to remind me of my place in the world.

conversation with Janelle

2009-03-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight after we said family prayer, I was getting cuddles from Janelle when she asked why I like cuddles with which I replied that she keeps me warm. She told me that it was her pajama's that were warm and I said no her warm heart. She asked me where her heart was so I showed her and she whispered to me that she has to be careful with her tummy because that is where all her babies are. I said oh and she continued on that all her babies are in eggs. I asked what would happen if she wasn't careful and she replied that they would crack but not to be worried because they aren't ready yet. I asked her when she thought they would be ready and she told me when she is 16. I'm trying to keep myself together because really what three year old has this conversation when she finished by telling me that the babies in the eggs won't crack like real eggs with the yellow yolk. So there you have it folks the truth about eggs and babies straight from the mouth of a three year old.

The new you

2009-03-05T06:27:00.000-08:00

I just love this picture I had ordered a new jacket for Alina but when it came in the mail it was huge, James being himself said I'm sure that coat would fit me so I made him try it on and sure enough with exception of the arms it was a perfect fit. Maybe the color is a little wrong for James but I'm not even sure about that.........

Away with the old!!!!

2009-03-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

When one decides that they should uproot their family and move across two provinces there is much time to ponder on the CRAP that has been accumulated over the past ten years of our lives together. Here sadly to say is one such item. In an unfinished basement where your kids can swing all day, fly into walls, and climb to the ceiling this is quite the find and a must have......However the fights that have been brewed over the wonderful ikea swing will not be missed. My kids are trying to convince us that this chair can be hung outside under our deck......... Right beside a big picture glass window can I say accident waiting to happen?. I will say that Jelly looks very peaceful swinging away, but I definitely think it is time to move on to better. Really that is the problem you get rid of all the stuff that you don't need anymore and I know that I will just fill up my new house with all new and better Crap......but what can a person do people will be people and people need their stuff!!

So Sad

2009-03-01T18:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I attended the funeral services for a two year little boy, born feb. 15th 2007-Died feb.21st 2009
His parents put him to bed healthy, happy and when they went to check on him he had passed on. How can I even express in words what this has done to me, I have feared this very thing my whole life as a mother. When I saw that tiny little coffin and his grieving mother how could my heart not break for the emotions she must be feeling. She is pregnant with baby #2 on the way. What kind of mother will she now be. How grateful they were for the gospel in their lives and knowing his journey was done here on earth. I guess since he was about three months old he would always point to the light. He loved the light his first word was light. James and Annie were going to get up at the end of the services and thank everyone for all they have done but poor Annie just broke down in front of everyone which really I can't believe she even tried I was a basket case and he is not my son. How grateful I am for eternal families and to know that everything falls into heavenly fathers plan we just need to put our trust in him and always go to him in prayer to receive answers and direction for what we need to do. I think that James and Annie are 25 and 23 can you imagine being so young and having such a Hugh loss to face with but everything yesterday really was about celebrating the life of an amazing little boy. They gave me strength and helped my understanding of life and purpose and really what I need to do so I can be ready to go when my time has come.I Hope that everyone can reflect on your own lives and make everything a step closer to achieving eternal glory.

Jacquelyn and Wes Wedding

2009-02-25T14:50:00.000-08:00

And so it goes that in life that one day we embark on life's journey of marriage. James sister got married on the 13th of April and we were very thankful that we could be there for them. James and I are coming up on ten years, it's shocking to think that we've been together for so long but then I think ten years is not so long. What do we need to do to make sure that we always put each other first? It was wonderful to hear the promises in the temple and think about what they all mean, I love the feeling that I felt and the memories of James and I only ten years ago kneeling in the same room making the same promises to each other. It helps put fights into perspective. I did not like our receptions but I did love the wedding ceremony. I even named Greg after our temple sealers.

The new House!!!

2009-02-18T12:10:00.000-08:00

Here is the new house. This past weekend James and I flew to Alberta to attend his sister's wedding and buy our new house. We also ended up crashing our dearest friends sister's wedding (I've always wanted to be a wedding crasher)
It was a lot of hard work finding the right house but boy did it feel great to buy it. So now we head out to our new life on the 15th of April Alberta beware the Northcotts are coming!!! I have mixed feeling now that it is here I did cry when I went to school today and told all the teachers. I wish my kids could finish off the year here but not all things have worked according to my wants. We did sell our house quickly buy a great house and all with in the budget James gave me so apparently heavenly father is helping us out. Hope you all had a great Valentines day James and I bought our house that day. Life is really pretty good I will be pretty stressed out for the next couple weeks until we are settled into the new and then my kids have to start fresh smack at the end of the year, I fell so bad for them but hopefully September will be a smooth transition?

The new and much improved me!!!

2009-02-06T14:35:00.000-08:00

I forgot that I was going to post this beauty, after we got back from the cruise and I was looking at the pictures I HATE my hair I can't believe that I let myself go off on a romantic holiday looking like that......maybe that was our problem! No but still did not like my hair at all so I got myself a hair appointment and headed back to the land of BLONDE. Now my hair dresser was AMAZING I can't remember the last time I had such a great experience getting a new do, and best of all I got my eyebrows done at the same time so I felt like a new person even if I'm not. So go out and have a day all about you and hopefully you will feel the same way I did.

We Have To Be Out By June 1st

2009-02-04T19:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I know God has a hand in my life when I started to have panic of selling the house and running my daycare. Good new we didn't even have to list our house it sold last week and all the papers are in on the lawyers desk ......... YEAH .... ...... now all that is left is buying a new house and getting the movers in here to pack us up and head us out to the west..........it has been a long time since I lived out there, when your away from family for so long it weird to think that I will have a grandma cousins and more cousins, aunts and uncles all close by again. I realize that many think that we are followers and I'm ok with that, I believe that this is going to be a good move for my family and no matter what we are finally going to be just James and Tricia Northcott no strings attached. I have been in Winnipeg for a long time married time alone is ten years this April. I have had many friends come into my life that have left a part of themselves with me no matter if we have had a fight or never uttered a harsh word I am greatful for all of them. Now having said that three of my friends as of now are getting themselves ready to move next summer, followed by the rest within the next couple. Now some may think this is not so bad but this means that I have to start from scratch and make new friends, and I am afraid that my heart is finding it harder and harder to do that not to mention that the families that are moving in are now starting to be younger which means that James and I are starting to get older, so we are starting to find it hard to have friends in the same stage of life as us with kids our kids age. I'm afraid that this bird has finally hit rock bottom and is ready to fly her coop and try my hand at another spot. Now yes I realize that life is never going to be the same but maybe just maybe I can have a little more peace in my heart? Maybe I am just playing games with my mind but I AM SO EXCITED that I am finding it hard to wait four more months for the big move. Now some of you are thinking about my dear parents YES YES it is going to be very hard to leave them but I will always have them and we will come and visit and I expect for them to come visit us too and MOVE out to Alberta too am I dreaming perhaps but only time will tell..........

7 days and we are all still alive

2009-02-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

Tonight is my 7th trying as I my to get Jewels to sleep through the night!!!!!! I know that I went trough this with my kids but I honestly don't remember being so tried and I think on a good day I might have only washed my kitchen floor five times. You never have to wash your floor this much even with four kids running around and a full daycare. The good news is she went into her kennel for a hour this afternoon and I got a shower while the kids were watching a Barbie movie.....remember when we all use to do that when the baby slept with the older children I even felt a little guilt for doing it, but I wanted no needed a hot shower so I could make it trough the rest of my day.
Another break trough is she actually pooped twice outside today cold weather and all I can't wait for it to be nice outside so she can be out there more. Seven days in my floors are clean yet again , the laundry is all caught up and my kitchen is looking pretty fine!
Tonight I bought myself some ear plugs so hopefully I can get a couple hours of sleep instead of two....

We have grown by one!!!

2009-02-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

So this past thursday my Gregory turned the big Nine. What a time to reflect on all that has happened in our lives with this bundle of boy. He has such a soft heart for everyone, he has been begging for a dog since he could walk so I took him to this animal shealter and we brought home Jewels. She is quite the dog (a real mutt)and really looking at Greg could you make a little boy any happier. How ever I am trying to kennel train her and potty train her does anyone out there have any suggestions how to do this and not loss my mind in the process!!!!