Thursday, December 27

AFTER CHRISTMAS CHUBBS

http://litealloy.com/workouts/628
Did this...only 1 round as ran out of time, another round after work

Cheers

Wednesday, December 12

AM Workout

35 Dive Bomber Pushups and Knee Raises before 7am... not bad

http://www.bodyrock.tv/2011/09/29/we-found-love-workout/

Check this out here if you don't know what they are.

Happy wednesday

Tuesday, December 11

Summer Bucket List- All done!



  • Find shapes in clouds DONE AUG 10
  • Go fishing! Done June 1st
  • Go to "Writing on stone provincial park, ab"
  • Go to Bird Park
  • Go to drumheller and camp
  • Go to saskatoon berry farm DONE AUG 12
  • Go to water park in Calgary
  • Go to Zoo april 28
  • Have a picnic
  • Hike up Sulfur Mt done sept 18
  • Look for baby ducks
  • Make cork boats and float them
  • Marble roll on swim foamie DONE JULY 6
  • Nature scavenger hunt
  • Night walk DONE(Earth hour March 31)
  • Plant Wheat Grass for easter DONE MARCH 14
  • Rock Climbing with kiddos DONE JULY 8
  • Shaving cream paint DONE March 26
  • Shaving cream paint outside in pool
  • Shoot rockets done sept 5
  • Throw rocks in river DONE MAY 14-15
  • Toe painting on cookie sheets outside done aug 25

Tuesday, November 20

4 Minute Workout for a busy day

http://litealloy.com/workouts/321

Just did this!  No joke I am sweating and very out of breath.

I had every intention of waking up at 6 am to do a full 20 min workout.... but after waking up with the kids about 5 ish time (Q woke up his own 5 times) I am wiped out.

Dosen't help that I am fighting a flu with everything I've got.... Oil of Oregano, Vit C , and Benalin Day.

Going for shower ;)

I just have to keep up some kind of workout because since I have started my job I have gotten busy and my bottom is getting squishy..... need to kick that in the butt!

Cheers!

Have a great tuesday

Saturday, September 22

September where?

Where did you go september?

I have been so busy with Cy starting Kindergarden...
In laws visiting...
Getting job interviews...
Setting up daycare....
Cy tying his own shoes....
Adopting a new dog...
Harvesting the garden....
Praying about the job...
Q's 40th tomorrow...
7 year wedding anniversary...

Playing and enjoying fall...








Happy fall to everyone and hope the season is treating you all well :)

Tuesday, August 28

Harvest

5 lbs potatoes
19 Corn
tons of beans
tons of strawberries
2 lbs of green onions
1 egg plant
tons of lettuce
carrots, most had bugs :(
15 zucchini to date

Wednesday, August 8

KYOWAN 1999-2012



Last Friday we said goodbye to a great guy.  Kyowan our dog that Daddy has had since he was a puppy passed away, after 13.5 years.  Kyowan was the most loyal, friendly, cozy dog that anyone could ask for.  I still remember the glare he gave me after I started dating Q, and kyowan was kicked off the very small futon.
He gave me a look that said "with great power, comes great responsibility"

Kyowan was my running partner for years and with him I never thought twice about bears or coyotes or cougars.  He made me feel safe.  When we went hiking I am very slow and Q would be ahead but Kyowan would always run back to check on me.... he would even look for Q when we went out just the 2 of us.

I miss his presence, but most of all I miss him.  He was stinky, ate the garbage, and stole food, but I would do anything to have him here with us for another 13 + years.

He was Quintin's buddy, they went climbing, back country skiing, and hiking together.  On a huge road trip out east where Kyowan discovered that he had altitude sickness, so out of the mountains he actually enjoyed the car.  Usually he drooled in the back with the occasional vomit.  It was worth every trip though, so that he could come hiking for hours with us.

He also used to "save" us when we went swimming, but you had to stay away because his nails were very long!  Then he would shake, he could soak a person 10 feet away!  Every spring after we found ticks on him we started shaving him early (april).  He would jump into the river and right back out!  Without hair he had no insulation ;)

R.I.P KYOWAN SPRINGSTEAD




Sunday, July 29

Johnston's Lake

Had a great hike today around Johnston's Lake with the boys.  We saw a HUGE rainbow trout swimming just under the surface and numerous minnows.

The kids really enjoyed it.  They were really excited when we were finished and headed to the beach for some splashing and digging in the sand.  Ahhh it's a good life when that's all little boys want to do :)

I walked right into the lake and dived under, just as I did last time!  I thought that in my old age I was getting wimpy.... but I think not!

Today was the first day that I felt good enough to do anything, so I am so grateful for a healthy body.... I just hope it keeps this time.

After we joined the celebration of life of a young girl here in our town that passed away this week.  Very sad, she was a very special darling.

Tuesday, July 24

Again?!

We are sick again.  I went to the doc yesterday because it feels like I have liquid in my ear and it was in a lot of pain.  The doc said he could see my ear drum bulging.  Doc recommended that I take sudafed instead of antibiotics because it wasn't infected yet, just to drain the fluid.  I have been doing that, no more pain but still some fluid so keep your fingers crossed!

Also Cy had a fever and felt under the weather with a sore throat.  Looks like Strep, we are waiting to hear about the swab he took.  Any idea of how to keep ourselves healthy?

We already eat mostly healthy food.  But I am afraid that lately we have gotten farther away from our healthy eating.  Possibly too many late nights this summer and not enough tea?  I am open to suggestions.  I am getting worried for what we are going to pick up when Cy starts school... will there be any end?

Saturday, July 21

Sander Lake Campground

Last weekend we went camping (finally).  I called around and since we are toying with the idea of moving to Golden BC , we decided to go camping there.

Using a search engine I called the first campground on the list.  Sander Lake Campground.  I was very surprised to hear that they had room for us, and that that the price was only $20!

This campground also being on the lake rents canoes for free for people to use.  They provide life jackets.  They also have a few children's climbing toys and a trampoline!  What more could you ask for?

The drive was good, up a steep switchback hill at the end, the signs were large and easy to follow.  We were pleasantly surprised to find a gorgeous place.  Lots of trees, very quiet and the nicest couple that runs the place.  We wished we were able to stay more than one night.

The next morning we took out a canoe despite the pouring rain, but it was warm because it's BC!  We saw a family of loons and lily pads.  A great first time canoeing for our boys.






We are already making plans to return, look it up online.   This is a great campground.

Friday, July 20

GMO FOOD WHERE?

OK so I have not been here lots lately I know!
I got 92% on my accounting exam making my overall mark a A+, yay I do understand the numbers.

Now on another note.  I just watched " The future of Food", It was an amazing documentary that was engaging and very interesting.  I guess the Canadian gov decided that huge conglomerate companies can put patents on seeds and any food .  Then if you are found growing it even if you did not plant it, it blew, or a bird pooped on your property you are liable to pay huge fines for patent theft.  Local family farms are going under because they cannot afford to pay the fines or they have to destroy crop seed variety's that have been in their families for generations because they have been "contaminated" with patented seed variety.


Where is the Government protecting the people?  Why are they protecting companies that are determined to reduce variety of foods as well as charge money on life?  By reducing variety of foods this allows pest and disease to completely eliminate crops because there will be no strains that are naturally resistant.

Are you aware a company holds a patent over a gene found in breast cancer?  Therefor when a scientist tries to study the gene to reduce and eliminate cancer they get fined and stopped because another company "owns" a gene?  When does it end?

According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, nearly 80% of processed foods found in grocery stores, contain genetically modified ingredients. While around the world at least 50 countries have laws requiring that GMO foods be labeled as such, not only is there no legal requirement to label GMO foods in both Canada and the U.S., but  the politicians all seem to be in bed with Monsanto, the prime creator of GMO technologies.
re:nutristart.com

Also I just found out that in order to get GMO foods to work as in get one gene into another the scientists have to add antibiotic resistant e-coli?  Remember back in science class.  Genes are very strong and resist other foreign genes entering their nucleus... well the only thing that can enter are viruses.  This leads to every cell of the plant having e-coli and other uncontrolled formations of genes in every bite!


Even though the Biotech companies tried to break into the “organic” definition, they were rejected at their last attempt. I’m sure they won’t give up yet, but for now a product certified to be organic cannot be grown from GMO seed stock.
Here is a list of the most common GMO crops.
Corn: Almost half of the corn farms in the U.S. are planted with GMO seed, and tons of it has entered the food supply. Corn is in countless modern food products, sometimes just in the form of corn starch, or sugar made from corn, and some alcohol is now made from GMO corn. Even ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is ultimately made from corn. Studies with mice fed GMO corn have shown them to have fertility problems and smaller offspring.
Soy: Along with corn soy is found buried in many products that you wouldn’t know without careful analysis of labels, including sports bars, pastries, baked goods, and especially meat alternatives. If it doesn’t say organic or non-gmo, odds are now that it is GMO if it is soy or corn. Hamsters fed GMO soy were rendered infertile.
Cotton: We don’t commonly eat it but other countries do consume the oil and you will find it in some imported foods. Even so, as it also has been engineered to resist more pesticides, and is one of the most widespread crops in the world, its use leads to more poisons being dumped into the environment. Upon being exposed to the new GMO cotton, thousands of Indian farmers experienced severe skin rashes.
Papaya: Up to three quarters of the Hawaiian papaya crop has been genetically engineered to resist the “ringspot” virus.
Rice: Asia is experimenting with a rice modified to contain high amounts of vitamin A, and another variation containing human genes designed to help prevent infant diarrhea in the third world. China has reported a tendency to allergic reactions from GMO rice. Not yet available in North America, but if a crop needs to be unloaded somewhere you can be sure it will be dumped on a country with no labeling laws.
Tomatoes: Originally engineered to provide a longer shelf life, the final product did not live up to expectations and ceased to be marketed a few years ago. At this point no GMO tomatoes are being grown commercially in North America or in Europe. Tomatoes are still being experiment with to make them resistant to fungus, insects and viruses, but are not in production yet. http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/grocery_shopping/fruit_vegetables/15.genetically_modified_tomatoes.html
Canola: This seed is an edible hybrid variation on the rapeseed, which is mildly toxic to humans. Almost all canola that is not organic is now genetically modified. Most cheap blended oils, sold as generic “vegetable oils” contain some canola or cottonseed oils.
Dairy Products: One form of genetic engineering that we do not have in Canada is Bovine Growth Hormone. This is due to no help from the Health Canada, who were prepared to allow its use in this country, even to the point of lying about its dangers to parliament. If it were not for scientists from Health Canada risking their careers by bypassing their superiors and going directly to the gov’t with their concerns, we would be drinking it in our milk now. (For the whole story see the documentary “The Corporation”). In the U.S. about 22% of cows have been treated with this genetically modified hormone that forces their milk production up by about 15%. Milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormone show higher levels of Insulin Growth Factors-1 in the milk. Increased levels of IGF-1 in humans, has been linked to increased levels of breast and colon cancer.
Potatoes: When mice were fed genetically engineered potatoes, the toxin that was spliced into the potatoes was found in the bodies of the mice, showing that it did not break down in the gut but transferred whole into their system.
Meat: Canada has discontinued work on our “Enviropig” a pig genetically engineered to create less methane gas (an unnecessary thing since there is already a feed with an enzyme inhibitor that does the same thing, safer and cheaper). And, so far, the consumer has expressed revulsion at the idea of eating GMO animals, but it must be pointed out that many commercial food animals, including beef, fowl and pork, are being fed GMO corn, so we may be getting residual modified genes through eating these animals.
re:nutristart.com

This scares the pants off me!


Also GCS... my favorite store has GMO foods in all their president's choice products....I will no longer shop there.... good bye low cost products... hello low cost health.

Ok rant finished.  There was a mud slide just east of banff today, q was stuck... he is almost home now.... 10:45 pm...

Monday, June 25

Still Sick

If you have been folllowing my blog you will notice that I have been sick since the first week of May.  After 1 bout of antibiotics I felt better for 3 days and then picked up somthing else or the old one came back.

I am so sick of being sick, everyone I know is sick of hearing me wine about it.  Evern I am sick of hearing myself wine about it.... is there no end?

I also have not been working out because every time I do I either cough myself into oblivion or I feel so run down that I feel even more sick.  ( If that is even possible)

I just want to lay down and have a good cry or possibly switch my entire nasal cavity's for new ones.... hmmmm that might be an option. :)

Hope all you out there are feeling healthy and I will continue to try every thing I can think of to get healthy.

Sunday, June 10

Dentist...

We had our garage sale this weekend, and it snowed!  The turnout was still really good.  Q put really big signs around town sending people our way.  We made $130 which all went to groceries... but better then out of the bank account eh?

Cy has a cavity and a absess.  Looks like he chipped a piece of his tooth and then the cavity formed there, off to the dentist for the first time tomorrow, I'm guessing that they will just pull the tooth as it is a baby tooth.  Sedation dentistry here we come!

I finished my second last chapter of the Accounting 102 course yesterday so I am really looking forward to starting the last one.  I can see the finish line.. right after the really big hill called TEST.





Some retro 2010 photos I found on the kid camera after I finally put batteries into it!
Almost finished knitting a shrug/sweater for a great friend C.  She will be so happy :)

Sunday, June 3

Busy Summer... so far!

So yes I've been hiding from the blog world for a while...
As you have probably noticed I really like to post pictures with just a little writing about what we have been up to.
Well lately I have been trying to pay more attention to the boys, less Internet until after they are asleep.  Only doing one thing at a time, so if we are building a tower then that is all I am doing too.  Not the usual laundry/dishes/check e-mails/ think about budget stuff.

There are so many moments that I miss by simply trying to do too much.  Plus usually I seem to be having so much fun lately that I forget to take pictures... I have a few but not the usual amount.

We bought fishing rods the other day.. mine is PINK!  Cy has a mickey mouse one, and T has a penguin one.  Q doesn't have one yet, next paycheck.  So legally he cannot fish yet until he has a licence anyway. I am the one with the licence and the kids do not need any until they are 16.


So a man hooked a fish but cy reeled it in...

I am also trying to finish my accounting course, only the questions from one chapter and 1 more chapter then finished!  It's very hard to concentrate when you are sick.

Crab apple tree blossoms





We're going fishing! Yay , T did you here that we are going fishing!  T? T? do you hear me?

Yess I am sick again.  After 4 weeks of sinus problems a few days of antibiotics cleared it up.  Then after 3 healthy days, my sister who shall remain nameless, with kids.... shared the cold they have.  Now we are all sick again and my sinusus are screwed again.  I hope that I do not end up needing the antibiotics this time.... fingers crossed.

Wednesday, May 16

Beautiful Busy May


 Tomatoes getting a mite bath of tomato leaf tea.
Biking by the train= totally wicked!

One of the last nights in crib!

New Hair

Friends in Car




Boxorama ( yea and still best toy ever!)





New favorite hobby, let's throw rocks!








Heart Rock found under Heart Mtn.



Yard pool!  That's puddle to all you unimagined!


Wednesday, May 9

$

The question is:

"Am I depriving my children from the school they love and other activities because I am a stay at home and therefore we have no money?"

Monday, May 7

Mites!

Found mites on the tomato plants, and on the pumpkin plants!  AAAARG!  The leaves have little white spots on them and some are drying out and dying.  (leaves not plants)

Found THIS  to kill them.  So I have just trimmed all lower leaves and chopped them up, ready to spray everything tomorrow.  I really hope it works, have had very good luck with these plants so far so we would be very disappointed to loose them to minuscule invaders!

Boys and I had a great day today!  I woke up at 6:30am, before the alarm. (I know, crazy eh?)  Had nice coffee/e-mail check by myself.  Then boys got up.











The boys strung beads on pipe cleaners for almost an hour while I knitted (yay!)  Then we made pizza dough cookie, very yummy, the recipe is HERE.


Off to playgroup we went.  Met up with Heather and her crew.  Went to the park after then back to our house for Popsicles.  Lindsay walked by so she stopped in with her crew too!  Lots of kids in our yard, it felt like a park :)

Then Cy requested a movie and both boys lounged  on the couch and watch Bambi, they were worn out, Mama also watched quite a bunch too.  I really like that movie, so mellow and so many lessons too.
I finished the laundry finally.  Not a stitch of dirty clothes in the house other then what the boys and Q took off before bed.  Hopefully I will be able to stay on top of it.

The boys and I headed outside for another hr of play and garden before a dinner of hot dogs and butternut squash soup.  Then Q came home and bed for the boys.  They both complained before bed but 5 min later ..... silence :) two happy sleepy boys