My New Love

My beautiful first grandchild has arrived.  She finally came into this world on January 22 at 7:38 am. She was 7 lbs 3oz and 19 1/2" long.  Her name is Lyla Eliabeth Sudar (Elizabeth is my middle name as well) It was love at first sight for me and her parents! In fact  I think those were the first words my daughter said "I love her!" as she was laid on her chest.  I was there for the delivery and was given the honor of cutting the cord (after squeamish Daddy declined). It was an amazing and awesome experience that words truly cannot describe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I really didn't think I could feel as much love for another baby as much as I felt for my own.....but I was wrong.  Being a grandparent is going to be FUN!!!!!  And to think we will be blessed with another one at the end of June!!!  I am in dreamland!!!!!!

Her first photo taken moments after she was born:

Finally able to hold her!! (Don't judge the lack of makeup. Teehee. 😆 It was a long night!):

Daughter2 has a dog named Gordon whom I babysat while she was in pre-labor and labor.  He gets along great with our dogs so it really was no problem.  Yesterday they stopped in before heading for home.  I think Gordon loves this new addition.....Daughter2 says he's all concerned when Lyla makes even makes a noise!

Here is when Mom came to pick him up....he's not really sad!  Lyla had kisses!!

I have had so many congratulation wishes from friends and family (except my one cousin whom I still haven't heard from..... hurts me deeply). My friend Kim even sent ME flowers!!!!!!  I truly am blessed in so many ways.  My life is not perfect but I don't think there is anything I would change.  I know I am so lucky.

 

More pictures:

 

One day I will catch up on my sleep.....as you get older I think it takes longer!!!!  But who cares.....it was all sooooooo worth it!!!!  Now to finish quilt 2 for baby Lyla!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

A full week of work....the week after Christmas vacation and messed up schedules and craziness....is over!  I think it was a tough week not only for staff but for the kids too!  I'm sure next week will be better and my energy level will increase!  It's been cold here especially today!  Foggy, frosty and -22C right now, which for down here in southern Alberta is chilly!  It isn't supposed to stay, which is typical, thank goodness!  I walked to work this morning and I managed okay but got a ride from a co-worker after work.  I'm surprised this little monkey went outside!

Oh yes, and yesterday we got a ton of snow!  The driveway was shoveled 4 times.  I did our neighbors too as I don't think they are home and nothing says "no one is here!" like an uncleared driveway after a good dump of snow!  Hubby is home again on Monday so he will likely get the quad out and clear the street unless it's melted by then!  Hahaha! (We are to get to above 0 by Tuesday!)

I was trying to motivate myself to get something, anything, done in my sewing room this afternoon.  I went up, turned the fireplace on, had a coffee and there I sat.  Cleaned out my sewing machine and changed the needle, and sat some more.  Nothing accomplished!  I can't find my quilting/sewing mo-jo!!!!!!

I hung up my new calendar the other day:

Whoop-Dee-do!!!!

No hockey this weekend so I need to get something done.......no grandbaby yet either!!!!!!!  It will arrive when it's ready!  I can't wait!  

Okay, I will end this boring post!  Maybe I will have something exciting to show you soon! 

Saying Goodbye

Here we are on the last day of 2015.  New Years Eve usually makes me sad....another year over, passed, gone.  It was a pretty good year.....quite uneventful really, which one appreciates as they get older.  Downsides were losing contact and communication suddenly from a group of friends I had up north and the passing of our old Daisy.  Upsides were continued good health of myself and family, my job, Hubby's job, and the announcement of our coming soon grandbabies.  Because of those two grandbabies, being born in 2016, I think it will be an amazing year!!!!!!!

Of course I have big plans, once again (recurring over the past decade I'm sure) of purging, creating and just making better use of my time.  I do waste a lot of it.  Getting back on the weight loss band wagon is also on the list.  I've fallen off of it since Thanksgiving and a person feels so much better lighter and eating healthier.  It's a win-win.   Working on being more financially responsible is also high on the list (read that as less spending.......I need nothing and waste so much!!).

I always try to think of a word for the year.....I usually don't do much with that word though.  I've had "simplify" and "less".......So this year I'm choosing a word that represents me, in the now....and that is "blessed". I think it's something to remember so one doesn't sweat the small stuff.  I bought a bracelet at my favorite store here in the north......

It will be a good reminder.  I'm blessed because I have a wonderful husband and family.  I'm blessed because I have some great friends.  I'm blessed because I have my health, a roof over my head and food in our cupboards.  I'm blessed because I have three little dogs that love unconditionally.  I'm blessed because I have a wonderful hobby that brings me joy.  I'm blessed because I have a job I love and my husband has a secure job too.   I'm blessed because I truly do not want for anything.  

A picture of some of my blessings.....with two little ones hiding....that we will meet in the new year....one, very soon!

My father is still very active and handy!!  He was telling me about some iPad holders he had made for Christmas gifts.  When I mentioned I would love one too, boom, out to the shop and in he comes with this!  I love it!!!!!  Love the old wood!

I've had some great visits while being here this week.  First a visit with my old and current hairdresser on Monday!  We surprised Joanie and it was fun!!  I popped into my favorite store and had a visit with Erica....a busy woman whom I have to take more time keeping in touch with.  :)  Then a great visit with my good friend Pam on Tuesday!  There is never a shortage of things to talk about even though we keep in touch regularly! I was also able to pop into the flower shop, which has an awesome selection of fabric and visited with my friend Diane...and made a few purchases.  Today I had brunch with one of my brothers, his girlfriend and one of her daughters.  Yesterday I had a quiet day sitting and stitching and I got the stitching done on this winter block.  It needs some pressing but it can wait until we are home.

The week went quickly but I'm looking forward to getting home.  We have a busy weekend ahead (Daughter2 has two home games and Daughter1 is moving to a new place) and work starts back on Monday.  Hubby comes back up on Monday to go to work......I don't envy him the long drive!  But life returning to normal is always comforting.  

Happy 2016 to all my readers!  May you also recognize all of your blessings and feel grateful too.

Eight More Sleeps!

Whoosh......December.....half over......EIGHT MORE SLEEPS UNTIL the BIG DAY!  I'm excited about having the kids home!  Card games, food, noise!  Ahhhhhhh LOVE IT!!!!!  I still have a million things to do....shopping is just about done.  Cards have not been started but I did buy some last weekend!  I'm just trying to get through this week with 3 & 4 year olds!  Can you say CrAzY?!?!?  Hahaha!  They are feeling the joy of the season and it can't help but rub off on a person. Today is the last day for one of my one little guys.  :-(. He and his family are moving to Ontario......I will not get through the day without tears.  I made him a cozy blanket....full of my hugs:

I hope he likes it............

Speaking of cozy......here's Pixies new bed......

She can curl right up inside yet still see what is going on in the world!  LOL!

Our first grand baby is due in a month......we are so excited!  I'm sure Daughter1 is ready to be able to reach her toes again!  She had pregnancy photos done a few weeks ago:

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Isn't she beautiful???  :-). I cannot wait to meet this little person!

On December 9th we said goodbye to our old dog Daisy......she passed away peacefully in her sleep....she was just over 15 1/2 years old....and was tired and ready.  RIP Daisy....thanks for your loyalty and love.....we will miss you.  :-(

Well, I have to get ready for work....pj day day again so deciding what to wear will be easy!  I'll leave you will a picture of my 2015 mantle.....I now have a tree beside the mantle and this is just a cell phone picture but you can see how simple this one is.......

Baby On The Way!

It's been a busy month.  Daughter2s baby shower was a success.  Lots of gals here and she received some lovely gifts.  I'm hoping this one was her favorite...  ;-)

Seven weeks to go now....wowzers!  She had pregnancy photos done today and here's the sneak peek!  Courtney, the photographer, is a girl she works with.....great job!!

I haven't done a speck of Christmas decorating yet.  I hope to do some this week before Hubby is home next week.  FB reminded me that three years ago on the 27th I had my tree up!  Oops....a little later this year!  I've barely done any Christmas shopping either!!!!!!  I was thinking the other day that I haven't worked around Christmas for a few years....I think that is why I was more organized...or less organized now!  And you would think working with children I would be in the mood....nope....not yet anyway!

She's no help!  Hahahaha!

I Spoke Too Soon But Let's Talk Coffee!

I found this picture on Facebook.  I don't know whose it is...but I loved the saying and the colors and that it talked about coffee! When I was young I loved the SMELL of coffee but could not stand the taste!!!  Now I love both!!!!!  I don't drink a lot of it....most often just one cup in the morning but sometimes I'll have up to three cups a day depending on my work day, if I visit a friend or have one come over.  These cups look Debbie Mumm-ish to me....does she still design fabric??  I was a Debbie-Mumm-aholic when I first started quilting!!!!  I could spot her fabric a mile away and could not wait for anything new to come out!!!!  I loved her books and patterns and collected them as well!  But wait....I meant to tell you how our beautiful fall turned to winter overnight! It's cold right now...and white!  Not a lot of snow yet but what came down mostly stayed!  I knew it was going to happen one day...it is November after all, and this could change too.  I'm not ready...and I say that every year...but I don't want to be cold!  I don't want to shovel snow! AND the snows appearance has not made me feel even slightly Christmas-y!

I spent the weekend at arenas....both days.  One loss and one win....and the win was against her old team in their arena.  ☺️  She plays again this weekend, against her old team, but I may be home preparing for Daughter1's baby shower on Sunday.  I've got some quilting to do!!!! 😉

A Beautiful Fall...So Far!

I'm not doing very well keeping up with my blog.  Some days there's nothing to write about....a lot of days!  My life isn't exciting...at all....and for that I am thankful, really!

I made a quick stop at Sally Ann the other day and found a couple of treasures!!!!!!  A handmade rug (love it!!!!  The dogs love it too!) and a lamp....$5 each!  Makes the living room even cozier!

Fall has come in nicely.....the other morning there was a tiny bit of ice on the lake....

The geese couldn't get to that corner!  LOL!

But today, while leaving for Calgary, this was our temperature!

Our little Pixie has put on a bit of weight in a relatively short period of time.....she was due for her shots so off to the vets we went.  They took blood to check her thyroid although we didn't think there were other signs that it wasn't functioning right.  She got a nice purple bandage which had to stay on 

for half an hour.....she soaked up all the attention and even pouted a bit!!

Turns out, she just eats too much so we came home with some new food which she can only have 1/4 of a cup per day!  Lord this will be a fun job....not!!!!!! 

I need to start making a Christmas list and get working on it.  There were a ton of Christmas craft sales in the area this weekend but I didn't go to any.  My problem would be buying for me and not for gifts plus, I didn't want to go alone.  I need to find a partner in crime who will go with me!! I should be making my own crafts for gifts...but Daughter2 has hockey games both today and tomorrow and every weekend this month.  I'm feeling like avoiding gift giving this year!  I wish!  I wish it was just about family and food and fun!  But it's not.......so starting to getting organized I must!  Seems to come faster every year!!!!

Next weekend is Daughter1's baby shower.  There will be a ton of people here in our house I don't know but she's excited and I can't wait for it to be over!  Hahaha!  Then the weekend after, Daughter2 can move into her new place which means the cats can too!  Woot woot!!!!  Something to look forward too! Hahahaha!  Hubby will be home then too.  :-). 

I think it's time for bed.....I bought a couple of Christmas magazines today...maybe they will help!