Wow, I haven't thought or looked for this blog for a few years and was Happy to see that it was still around. Lately I feel like I've had so many things stuck in my brain that need to get out just for the sake of my sanity, so I'm taking this as a sign to start up again. Now where to begin.... Maybe I need to go back and see where my life had last left off and go from there. I've definitely missed this blogger world and can't wait to post a real post (this one does NOT count) and start catching up.

Mel needs....

Google Game.
So - this is the Google game. You type your name followed by needs into Google and see what you get.

So here it is....

Mel needs:

~a big wet slopppy kiss. (well maybe not a sloppy one please)
~to lighten up on Flickr.
~less passion for the spirit. (hmmm)
~to repair her iPod. (I don't even own one!!)
~a home.
~to trade her Lexus in on a magic carpet. (hehe)
~sleep
~to focus on herself.

That was fun. The first one that actually came up was another blog site that had dne this, but they chose to ignore most of the Mel ones for some odd reason :)

I found this on Four Leaf Clover's site originally. Check hers out here.

Are You Still "In Love"??

While I was at work the other day a girl I worked with asked me a question that left me thinking for days after. She was asking whether Cam and I just loved each other or if we were still in love. I knew my answer right away, and yes, I am still in love with my husband. My heart still skips a beat at certain moments and I still get a sparkle in my eye when I think of him. Then we started talking about why she would ask that (she's only 18).

We started talking about how many marriages these days don't last or become just another thing. Or how people just become so used to each other, but there's no spark. It also made me think of many couples I know and how this one "should be simple" question really is something to think about and take seriuosly. It made me stop and think about our relationship and how special it actually is (ahh!!! almost put was!! oopsy lol). I hope that this makes you think of yours and if it helps you at all.

A Dream

My head is in a very wierd place right now. It's overwhelmed from many things going on in my life right now. I've been at my job for a couple of weeks now and I am absolutely loving it!! It's more like a hobby kinda thing that I get paid for. It never seems like work, which is nice. It's an amazing feeling when you help someone find their actual size in a bra and the look on the faces and the happiness they feel when they finally find a bra that they want to wear for a whole day and not dread putting it on. I had a lady in yesterday that was wearing a bra that was 6" too big in the band and it was amazing the difference in a proper fitting bra. I love how many different styles we have, but I don't love how quickly we go through them and can never seem to keep stock in many sizes. But it's a lot of fun and a great learning experience.

It's also nice not to be on commission, no bitchy girls saying that someone had more people than them. The staff is great and very helpful. For once I'm not the youngest one there!! I'm probably right smack dab in the middle. It's just a fun enviroment to be in and even the customers have a lot of fun when they come in.

On another note, Cam and I celebrated our 4th anniversary on August 7th. It was nice, we went out for supper at The Keg, which I've never been to before. It was really good!! I never get steak because no one ever cooks it well enough for me, but they did an awesome job!! We cheated on the price since we used Airmiles to help pay for it, but it was well worth it. After that we came home and watched a movie and relaxed, for awhile anyways. But we're going to a movie next week to finish celebrating (my sister in law is taking the girls for a couple of nights!! Yahoo!!).

But I must admit that I won't be posting very much. My head just always isn't into it and I find that sometimes when I do it down I feel like I can't say most things that I want or need to. I just am finding it difficult to get things out and therefore am making this a job. I will keep posting on occasion, but I will be checking in on your blogs still! Take care.

A Step Forward...

I'm nervous but very excited about this next step that I'm going to take in my life. I had recently discovered that a local store that I love was looking for part-time help. It's something that I've always wanted to do, so how could I possibly pass on this opportunity?

It all started a few weks ago when instead of an e-mail telling me about their awesome specials I got one saying that they were looking for part time workers. I got so excited that within five minutes I had sent in my resume. In less than 24 hours I had received feedback to do the second part of the procedure. It was actually pretty cool. It's 120 questions that help determine parts of your personality. Then the waiting came. I waited for a couple of weeks while she went through the tons of resumes she received. Usually after waiting that long I just assume that I didn't get it, but on Tuesday night I received a call asking me to come for an interview the next day (yesterday). So we met yesterday at 5:30pm and went for coffee. Well we pretty much just sat there talking for an hour and neverreally about my resume or anything like that, which was cool. By the time we were done talking I was 90% sure that I had the job, but still was getting mixed signals. She still had one more person to interview that night and that she'd let me know her decision. But then there were times that I knew I had it, she was asking me what days I would need in the fall, that she was hiring me and one more, and wanting to go back and get the schedule.

Well I got the call about half an hour ago saying that I got the job. It's 2-3 days a week, which is great for me. She wanted me to start tomorrow but then remembered that she wouldn't be there, so I officially start at noon on Saturday. So I will be learning how to do bra fittings and all that goes with it and probably in two weeks I'll be working one of many of the trade shows that they're in.

So now I just have to ready myself. I haven't been able to get ahold of my babysitter to make sure that she still has openings, but I do have a couple of backup plans just incase. I'm nervous because I haven't worked for three years and Mya has never really gone to a babysitter. She has a couple of times, but never a couple of times per week. So it'll be interesting to see the changes that will happen in our house in the next few weeks.

If anyone wants to try that personality quiz let me know! It's so much fun!! It's just a mulitple choice type thing. You'll enjoy it!

Reindeer Lake

I always look forward to our trip up north to go fishing, and every year I never leave dissapointed. No matter how crappy the weather you just can't help but love it there. Every bay you go into feels like a different place and just to see such a different landscape than what we're used to is amazing. So many fish caught, but only a few kept. We went fishing for pike and for lake trout. It was awesome fishing for lake trout (and pike of course, but it was our first time ever trout fishing). They fight so agressively, kinda like a salmon. Because the water is still cold they're only about 5-10 feet deep, but by the end of the month they'll go down to about 40 feet of water. But I tell ya, when they get a couple of feet from the surface that's when the real fight begins. All of a sudden your reel just starts to scream as they're taking your line farther out. These guys just don't give up, they keep fighting until the very end. I usually try to take my own hook out, but these guys are slimy like pike but with smaller heads, and the way that they kept on fighting I could never hold on to the darn things!!

The first night I was shocked by how light it stayed. Te first picture was taken on the dock t 11:00pm!! Our first full day of fishing was absolutely beautiful!! It was such a calm day out that the lake was like glass. I've never seen it so calm (this is a lake that is 162 miles long). But as the days went by it got windier and a little rougher with rain. By the 4th day we were having fun cruisung through 3' waves. At one point we were switching bays and I wasn't informed that it was going to be through the really rough water, so I ended up completely soaked! But that's enough talking, here are some photos for you to enjoy!!

I'm An Auntie!!

Juast thought I'd let people know that Laura went into early labor.... and now has a baby boy!! Things are looking good. That's all I know for now though!!

3 More Days and some drama...

I am getting restless waiting for our fishing trip to Reindeer Lake to come!! In three days we leave!! But with it comes a lot of work that HAS to be done. The girls are leaving tomorrow night so I'll be home by myself Thursday to finish getting Cam and I organized. So now I'm trying like crazy to catch up on laundry and find bathing suits, etc... But I really wanted to get this done yesterday, but then there came compilcations....

On the weekend I found a note under the wiper of the van telling me about the work they'd be doing on my street replacing hydrants and stuff. With that said they continued to tell us that our water would be shut off for three hours starting at 8:00am. So I patiently waited for it to come back on so I could wash clothes and do some dishes... but needless to say it was longer than three hours!! It was more like 6-7!! So that totally squashed my plans and we had ball last night so it couldn't be done. Now is a day to play catch up. Blah.

But on the plusside we had our church picnic on Saturday. We had a lot of fun, played some games, and even put Mya in the three legged race with a little boy...So cute.



Also it was our towns sports days that day. We took the girls on pony rides and other fun events for them. I had to walk with Mya when she was riding and she really seemed to enjoy laughing at me walking through the horse poop. I really didn't mind since I was always around horses growing up and kinda got used to it.

But that was a long enough break I guess. Time to get back to laundry!! I'll post again when we get back next Thursday!!

Kevin S (5/365)

You were always the easiest cousin to talk to growing up. You were always so full of life and love for everyone around. I don't think I ever saw you get mad. When I became an "adult" we seemed to become closer. We had more in common then. I was really looking forward to going fishing with you this summer, something we had in common but never had the chance to do. The last time you were out here fishing I couldn't go with since I was going on my honeymoon. I remember getting your reply for my wedding and I remember crying because it meant so much that you and your family would drive all that way to be there. You were one of my last dances at my wedding and I will treasure that forever. I miss you cuz and I just pray that you are at peace.

Justin D (4/365)

We were always close growing up. It always seemed to be me and you vs. Kerry. In high school you started hanging out with me and my friends and then you finally seemed to find your groove. I never minded that you were around, it was a lot of fun. I find it funny that you're still friends with all of my friends that I don't talk with anymore.

You've seem to have changed in the last few years. You badly hurt your arm and then you never seemed to recover emotionally. But it's not only that. You've hurt me by one simple action that I can't forgive you for. I cannot understand how you can be friends with the guy that is Madison's dad who didn't want to be a father. I felt so betrayed when I found out that you were still talking and still are.

I Just Wanna Dance!!

Since going to the cabaret last weekend I've had the dancing itch!! I danced with a couple of friends there and I didn't realize that they actually KNEW how to dance!! Man could they dance!! We were two stepping and spinning, and I was being dipped left and right!! It's been a long time since I've danced with someone who actually knows how to dance. Incase you didn't clue in already, Cam does not know how to dance. He doesn't even have the desire to learn, which is very sad. I love to dance and am doing good if I can get him to dance with me a couple of times when we go to a dance, and that includes slow songs. I had started teaching him to do oldtime dancing, but now at most weddings they don't play those songs anymore!! That makes me very sad.

I grew up in a family that loved to dance. No matter what you were on the dance floor. Whether you knew how or not, you would learn. At weddings I would love watching my parents waltz or polka. They're such beautiful dances. But now it's just not the same going to weddings or dances. No one seems to know how to dance these days!! Even to just two step is a challenge. It drives me nuts to go to a dance and see all of these guys just sitting around drinking because they don't know how to dance and don't really care to try!! So I find it hard to go to a country dance and not have anyone to dance with. But this last weekend I was making people dance even if they didn't know how. Was I ever shocked.

I don't understand why people don't want to learn. What is it about dancing that makes them want to hide in the sidelines?? It's great excercise and I think it's sexy when a guy can dance. Damn it makes me feel sexy!! I haven't been dipped or twirled for a long time and it felt damn good!! My toes weren't killing me after each dance either!! I have a feeling that for the next dance I go to, I'm going to have higher expectations for people to dance or end up sucking it up and go ask someone I don't know to dance just so I don't end up leaving depressed because I did want to dance that night, but ended up sitting on the sidelines.

Book Meme

I just read at Teeni's blog a book meme. I then wanted to do it right away! Last week I was busy going through my whole house trying to find things to sell in the garage sale when I came across a bunch of my old VC Andrews books. I just happened to be in between books, so I thought I would start reading one of the series again.

Here are the rules:

Step One – pull out a book on the book shelf.

Step Two – go to page 123.

Step Three – read and write out the 5th sentence


So the book I'm reading is Heaven, by VC Andrews. I'm doing both lines 4 & 5 because line 5 just doesn't cut it. You'll see why in a second.

"But Keith had a good appetite, even if he oes catch cold often, and they both have nightmares, so leave on a little light so the dark won't frighten them..."

"Shut up," hissed Pa again.

This book is about a girl and her family that were extremely poor and at this point they were sending her siblings to live with another family.

I love this book. I always get into them so quickly, no matter what.

Oops! Forgot!

Hello everyone! I finally have time to write on here! I feel like my life has been quite the gong show since spring started. With ball well underway, I find that we barely have time for anything. It's at the point where we have something going every day of the week, especially the weekends. Madison had won a voucher to go see the Saskatchewan Roughriders pre-season game, and we had to ask my brother if he would take the girls because that day just didn't work out for us. I just want this next month to go by fast so I don't have any commitments to things.

Here are a few of the things that we've been up to:

~ball (of course)
~cabaret (which was awesome!! much better band this year!)
~fishing, must get in some practice time before we go to Reindeer Lake in 2 1/2 weeks
~garage sale
~field trips
~trying out the Turbo Sonic x7 and have been loving it!! more details later
~doing hair on the side
~talking with my cousin who's best friend just passed away
~being a ref in the girls fights


One thing that has happened is that I have lost weight and inches!! I am so proud of myself! I'm fitting into my jeans that were very tight in winter, the legs of my pants/shorts aren't tight at all anymore and my bras are all being doneup tighter! But the thing that makes this crappy is that I'm the only one who's noticed any difference (I promise I'm not hinting at anything Laura!!). I haven't used my inhaler at all while playing ball and I find that I can play the full two games without feeing like I'm going to pass out. I really believe that the turbo sonic has helped me with this. It just helps you body absorb more things and helps with your oxygen as well.

I have also found more of a love for my flowerbeds. I have put ore work into them this year than I ever have and it's paying off. Last year I got smart and started putting in perenials and added some more this year. I keep waiting to be able to take a picture, but for some odd reason my flowers keep disappearing (wonder who would be doing that?). So my goals for this summer is to find more things are for me that I like to do, be a healthier me, be outside more and to make sure that my legs get tanned!! I find that my pains aren't nearly as bad as what they were before, which is helping out alot. I found it so hard to be able to do anything before because all of a sudden I would be hurting so bad that I would just go back and veg on the couch until Madison got home from school. But now I'm vowing not to do that and to make sure that I make the most of this beautiful weather while it's here.

Picture Post

Unwanted Answers

For the last couple of months I have had something on my mind that has really been bothering me. I have been having pain in my lower abdomen for many months now (kinda startling back in September already) and just these last two months it has been a daily pain. So I had gone to my doctor to get some answers. She had a feeling that it was due to ovarian cysts, so she set up an ultrasound and sent me for some blood work (I'll explain reasons in a bit). So after waiting a month to get in for an ultrasound the day came. It was beacuse of the ultrasound that I had to make sure I was home from BC so quickly. So there was a little awkwardness with the ultrasound that I don't want to get into, but they got what they needed. This was on April 30th. Last Wednesday I got a call from my doctor confirming that it was little cysts. But she said that they don't do anything about them unless they grow large and to keep taking advil for the pain.

Now a little more info:

There are a couple of reasons that affect me and make me wonder why they don't do anything. 1. The pain. Seriously, how good is it for me to be taking advil everyday?? They don't seem to be going away anytime soon! The pain partially comes form them popping. When I'm lying on my back the girls try sitting on me, but i have to boot them off because it hurts. Some days it just really hurts and people that don't know take it the wrong way as me being in a bad mood, depressed, etc...

2. It affects my reproduction crap. So this means I only get my period every 2-3 months. But it also means that if I were to try and get pregnant that I would have a very hard time doing so (luckily our family is already complete). We also think that I had them before I was pregnant with Mya because I was missing periods (while on the pill) and it had taken quite awhile for a test to come back positive.

3. It can affect your insulin. This is the main thing that has me worried. This is why I had to get blood work. Somehow it affects how your body makes insulin and can cause diabetes. As it is diabetes runs high in my family and now to have something else make it even higher kinda scares me.

So there it is, everything that I know about this. So now I have to do some more research and then make another appointment and talk more with my doctor.

Play Ball!!!

Well ball season has officially begun in this household. Everyone but Mya is playing this year! I can already tell that the next 6-8 weeks are going to be a gong show!! lol

So far our schedule is working out alright. Madison has games on Tuesday and practice on Thursday. Chloe has ball on Wednesdays and Cam and I will mainly play on Monday, Friday and Saturday. But our ball nights usually change from week to week, playing a minimum of two nights a week. We didn't consider how busy we would be for some odd reason! lol

Now the funny things:

Madison is playing on a team with four of her cousins (and they tend to fin trouble)

I am COACHING Chloe's t-ball (luckily they don't ever have games!! I'm new to it too!)

Cam & I play in a Christian league, so no drinking!

At Maddy's first game I had to take Chloe home so she could go to the bathroom (and I had asked her before we left home 20 minutes before!!) and missed Maddy's first time at bat!! She did hit the ball, coach pitches, and thought she should run to third instead of first!!

I love ball season and am really looking forward to it! Get all of our butts in gear and get moving more!

Grandma Humor

So I've been back home for a few days and trying to get my routine (and the families) back to normal. Harder than I thought. These last couple of days have been hard on me. When I was still in BC I was so busy that I didnt' have time to think. NOw that I'm home I have a little more time on my hands and I'm finding that's all I'm doing. But today I wasn't going to be sad. I wanted to think of happy things and be grateful for my trip. I uploaded my photos from the trip on my computer and had fun remembering when they were taken and with who. Then I remember my Grandma's comment on our first day there....

We were driving down the old highway (speed limit 60km/hr) and we saw a sign like this one (only homemade and painted on a really old piece of wood) My Grandma is a very blunt person. Her first comment was "Well that's not very nice! It's not their fault they're slow!" Then she was saying how it should say Go Slow, Children Playing. My brother and I started laughing so hard. It never even crossed our minds to read it that way.

Kevin

He didn't make it through the night. My uncle got a call at six this morning (an hour ago) telling him this.My brother had answered and they thought he was my uncle. They told him what happened but it didn't sink in until after he passed the phone on. I keep crying in spurts and then I try to think about what I can do to help. Uncle David left for town as soon as he got off the phone. He has the only vehicle. I am feeling trapped right now. I feel like I should be helping with something right now, but I have no clue as to what I can do. I'm frustrated and lost right now.

We had pretty much everyday planned. We had planeed to go be with him all morning and then some. I called Cam and my parents to let them know. I have no idea what's going on (which is to be expected) for tomorrow or today anymore. I just want to know what to do!! I've never been in the situation to be at someone's house after their son or any family dies. Now I find myself just sitting here waiting for the next phone call. I just keep praying for strength but I'm not sure how much I have left. I know there'll be more time for me to cry later, but for now I just need to be strong for them. Today is also the day that they buried Kevin's nephew (my cousin Darren's son). It should be pouring rain right now.

Going On A Trip

It's official!! I'm going to BC!!! What a pain in the butt though. It took me over eight hours to finally get flight and bus booked that worked out. We are now leaving at 6:20am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, a day earier than planned. Turns out that this is the only flight available through air miles until next week. My brother had to take an extra day off of work, but it'll be nice to be out there a day earlier since we're leaving a day early in order to catch the bus.

We are also hoping to go see Kevin in the hospital, but that'll depend on how he's feeling since he starts chemo tomorrow. I guess he was having a really bad day yesterday. Jamie went to go visit him and I guess he barely said two words. So hopefully he's ready for this and knows that his family is there for him.

Falling Into Place

So this last week my brother and I have been scrambling to find a way to be able to attend the fundraiser for Kevin this weekend. So far we managed to talk my Dad into letting us use his airmiles for us to fly out for the weekend. Justin's boss also changed his schedule for him to have the time off. Everything was falling into place so quickly for us. Until today.

I had phoned airmiles this morning to book our flights and found out that we can't get a flight back home until late next week at the earliest. Crap. So then we started scrambling to see how else we could get home. We could take the train from Vancouver home for $210, but then we still have to take the ferry and a cab to get to the train staion which is even more money. Then we couldtake the bus. That'll be a day and a half travel and means leaving a day earlier. The price I was told was again $210. So I ended up looking on their web site and found that there was a companion rate. With this when you purchase an adult ticket you can purchase a second one for only $20!! $190 savings!! I'll take it!! But now I just have to wait and talk to my Dad since he wants us to put everything on his card. But he won't be home for another hour, which means I have to wait another hour before we can actually book anything!! I'm finding that I don't have as much patience as I once thought I had.

Next I had to find a car rental place in Duncan, BC where my family is. I was scared to find out how much it would cost to rent a car. So I found a phone number for Budget out there and found out that there is a special for people that rent the car for three days over a weekend which is only $20 a day!! I was shocked. I thought it would be a lot more than that. Also with having airmiles you get a discount on top of that. So now I'm excited!! I just need to talk to my brother and Dad to get everything confirmed and then booked!!