Holidays

So I got back from Calgary Wednesday. I had a lot of fun out there in Calgary playing with an adorable (though sometimes bossy) 3 year old and cuddling to my heart's content with 2 beautiful 6-month olds. Sorry for spoiling them Rayna! Hopefully they've got back into their routine:) I got to spend some time baking some Christmas goodies and we even decorated little gingerbread people to represent the family I was staying with. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate with my hopes of getting out of the city to the mountains or even to the zoo. An arctic system moved in, dumping a chunk of snow and then plummeting temperatures that encouraged hibernation rather than outdoor adventure. It was still a good time and I even managed to meet up with a camp friend who's going to school there which was a nice addition to the trip. Mytravels to and from were fairly uneventful although my return flight ended up being 1 hour late so that made for a long day (got into Winnipeg at 12:40am!)

Since being back in Brandon I've been making the oven work double time and baking up a storm. So far this week I've made mini-mushroom tarts (with cream cheese pastry), piggies in a blanket, banana chocolate chip muffins (not really Christmas baking, but yummy!), mock cherry tarts, ginger snaps, mince meat tarts and mini quiches. There are still a few things on my to-do list with regards to baking but I'm looking forward to it. I love all the baking that goes with the Christmas season!

I still have a few small things to pick up for Christmas gifts, but thankfully it's almost done and I should be able to avoid all the crazy malls and just go to a few small boutiques downtown that won't be so busy:)

My other big event since returning home was volunteering with Operation Red Nose last night. here were no crazy adventures or super entertaining rides but it makes me feel better knowing that a service like that is available to people. Seeing the state of some of those people frightened me thinking about what would happen if they got behind the wheel instead of calling us or a taxi company.

That's about all that's been happening in my life...enjoy the weekend and the celebration of Christ's birth.

Merry Christmas All!

Loving the Little Ones

Hi All. Well my spring break is just about over, and it's back to the grindstone tomorrow morning:) Well it's not really that bad, but I wouldn't complain if vacation time was a little bit longer. I think I'll be getting used to this Spring Break thing without too much trouble when I'm a real teacher.





So I had a great trip out to Calgary, visiting with old friends and their cutest son ever. I had so much fun just living with them and playing with the little guy. Spending quality time like that makes me want to be a mom sooooooo bad. I just need to find Mr. Right and then we can get going:) No seriously, even though I will be finished my schooling next spring, I would be so happy to just be a nanny or if it worked out, a real mom and not worry abou getting an official teaching job...don't tell my parents who have struggled along side me as I figured out what I wanted to do with my life:)- as it might cause them to pull out their hair! Anyways, it's not like becoming a mother is a possibility any time really soon, but the nanny idea has been percolating in my brain so you never know where that might lead.

Here is a picture of the little guy I spent time with in Calgary:)

It's kind of crazy with my teaching placement, as there are only 9 class days left with the kiddos for my term. I am getting excited and kind of nervous at the same time about the 5 day hiking trip that will end my placement with this class. I'm sure it will be fun, but at the same time I'm not sure how my body will hold up with such a physically demanding trip. I think the longest day is only 13 km but with a 50 lb pack on my back I'm sure that will be plenty! The whole dehydrated, limited variety of food is also something that doesn't make me too excited but I'll make it work, and it's not like I don't have a few extra pounds to lose:) Just think of it as training for the upcoming canoe trip season!



So yeah, that's my life. I don't anticipate anything too crazy happening this week but you never know!



One last thing, I am planning and participating in the 30 Hour famine this weekend...so if anyone still wants to support this amazing cause by sponsoring me (for a tax deductible receipt of course), send me a note or click on this link and donate online: http://www2.worldvision.ca/famine/20184881



Make it a great week!