The Catastrophe that was the Witch's Costume

This was the first year that Daryl and I have been together that he was actually home for Halloween. At first we were going to boycott the kids and the candy in favour of a quiet night out, but instead, we bought a big ol' bag o' candy and had about 70 kids at our door. The most entertaining part of the evening was getting Jupiter dressed up in her witch's costume. It lasted for about 3 minutes, but was amusing none the less.

Once the kiddies died down a bit, we took our little monster for a walk and checked out the neighbourhood. A lot of people around here decorate for all seasons, not just Christmas, so it was fun to see all the Halloween displays. Jupiter was fascinated by all the ghouls and goblins and ended up running into a stranger's house when he opened the door for a few of them. I was humiliated, I mean, how rude, she wasn't even wearing her costume! :oP

Slack-a-lackin'...

September came, and went. October has come... and with only a week left, I have just remembered my lack of blogging. You would think with the number of times per day that I check my emails or (*groan*) creep around on Facebook, that I would remember to update this stupid thing, but you would be wrong.


In the past month and a half a few things have happened, not alot, but enough to keep us busy. Daryl's sister, Kymberly, got married on September 20. We made the trip to Wallaceburg and had a great time - it was possibly the nicest autumn day of the year. Although the trees were still green and it was about 23 degrees, something that kind of took away from her fall theme, . Oh well, when Daryl and I get married next November there will likely be no colourful leaves for us either - and with my luck, we'll get snow! I guess with Kym and Rob choosing September and us choosing November, someone will get it right and pick October next time, and actually get the colourful, autumn theme we were both trying to get! Daryl and I were going to go with October, but it's a difficult month, you have Thanksgiving the first weekend, and in 2009 the last Saturday is Halloween - it would be fun for people that enjoy that holiday, but Daryl and I HATE dressing up, so that was out. And of course, with Daryl's father being in the cash crop business, the middle two weekends in October were pretty much out as well.
Some description of the following pictures:

1. Daryl & Ainsley sweating in the car, waiting to hand out programs.
2. The beautiful bride & groom.
3. Me, doing a reading. Kymberly had asked Daryl to do it, but he felt uncomfortable, so I did it instead - and hey! The church didn't implode or anything, bonus! :oP
4. Terry & Christine, my in-laws to be.
5. Corinne & hubby, Derek.
6. My soon-to-be brother-in-law, Aaron.
7. The bride & groom again.
8. Daryl & Ainsley.
9. The pretty cake - it was delish' too!
10. Daryl & his sister dancing the night away!
11. Me, telling Daryl how happy I am to be taking out my earrings. I look drunk, except I'm not. There will never a repeat of what I did to myself at Corinne & Derek's wedding *ugh*. It's sad that the next few pictures are of people who had way more to drink than I did, but who look less inhebriated.
12. Daryl - not admitting he was drunk, but clearly enjoying himself.
13. Aaron - admittedly drunk & very much enjoying himself... obviously he likes his carrots. This picture is actually one of my favorites from the night.
14. Kymberly - stylin' it up.

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Things that we have completed for our own wedding since the last post:

• Favours are completed, packaged, and labelled. We are waiting until next year to wrap the ribbon so that it doesn't get crushed.
• The centrepiece bases have been purchased and my mother has left a message with her florist friend, so hopefully we'll be meeting with her in the next two weeks.
• Reply cards have been printed, cut, glued, embossed, and are ready to go out. Next step is the backing of the invitation. The actual invites and maps have to wait until I get the official ceremony time from The Black Forest.
• The guest book has gone from a simple plain ol' scrapbook, to a lovely decorated scrapbook ready for best wishes - I <3> my gluegun!
• We met with the photographer and I'm even more excited now, although I am hoping to have family/friends as backups to get all the candids and extra photos, this part of the all inclusive package is the only issue I have with going with The Black Forest. However, hundreds of pictures of me is way more than I'd ever want anyway, so maybe it's not so bad.
• I have gotten ahold of our minister. We are having Dave Bonney as our officiant. I'm excited because he married my parents and that's something I would love to incorporate into our day.
• My mother and I actually went dress shopping. For those who know me well, you probably have a great deal of sympathy for my mom. I was actually pretty good - I tried things on, I didn't cry, and I didn't leave in a grouchy mood. I hate shopping with a passion and seeing myself in a wedding dress was totally bizzare, but it wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be. They had plus sized gowns to try, and the dress that I fell in love with came in a 10. As if I could squeeze my caboose into that; I had mom try it on. It was entertaining for me, and it made me want the dress more. I just wish the price tag hadn't have been quite so humbling.
• Speaking of squeezing my caboose into things, there have been a few changes to the physique of both Daryl and I. We decided that there was no time like now to start our Weight Watchers attempt once again, and this time we seem to be having more luck. Since the last week in August, we have both lost over 20lbs. I am excited to keep going with this and to see where I end up for our wedding. It would be great to feel comfortable in my own skin again. Also on the physique front, there will be another change for the wedding... I am having bonding and braces put on my teeth on November 5, so hopefully (*fingers crossed*) there will be improvement in the spacing and the braces will be off for the big day. If not, well, I wouldn't smile with my teeth showing anyway, so meh.

I can't think of anything else to add... and if I do, I'm sure that I'll forget before I blog again sometime in November... December... pfft, whenever I get around to it. I envy all of you other people who have interesting things going on in your lives to blog about. Before then, maybe someone can help me figure out the spacing and stuff so that my blog don't look all wonky with pictures and my paragraphs. I really do know how to use this thing - I promise! Maybe just not this website inparticular.

Hope everything is well with everyone out there and that you and your families are healthy & happy!

Welcome September

I have heard about a thousand complaints that this summer was such a "crappy" summer. There was "too much rain", it was "cold", blah blah blah. Well, even though I'm risking my neck by saying it, I thought this summer was PERFECT. The weather was glorious, I didn't die from heat stroke (except that one day at the dog park), and my garden was gorgeous and lush. Daryl and I also saved big bucks on hydro - we only had the A/C on for about 22 days in July. Somehow (though there was temptation mid-August), it didn't get turned back on after my birthday camping trip. And now, shockingly, it is already September, and it's doubtful it will be turned on again - unless we end up swimming on Thanksgiving again, like we did last year.

Camping trip: August longweekend

Today, the puppy has gone in for surgery, so I have a few moment to update the blog. Even without children, I find this hard to manage - how sad. I've been keeping busy at the hospital, there hasn't been a day go by yet this summer that I haven't been called in by either my own department or Emerg looking for staff (except today, but I may have just jinxed myself). Daryl has been keeping occupied at Delta, he FINALLY had his annual review today and he called to say it went well. I'm glad, considering the review was delayed well over three months. He did take holidays the last week of August and I was able to spend a few days with him at the beginning of the week. We ended up going to Ikea on the Monday - the boy knows the way to my heart. If only we didn't have a mortgage and a wedding to worry about, I'd have this house decorated in a jiffy.

There have been several more additions to my extended family this summer. Besides Jupiter (and of the human variety), Hayden Charlie Turner joined us on August 6; Jaxon Curtis Lloyd McLaughlin arrived on August 19; and yesterday, September 8, the beautiful Thomas Michael blessed us. It is so amazing that so much potential and joy has come about in such a short time. I'm sure that not too long down the road I will have a few neices/nephews. Daryl's sister, Corinne and her husband, Derek, celebrated their first anniversary in June, and Kymberly and Rob are getting married September 20. They just moved into their new house and from what Daryl tells me, they are quite enjoying it. All of this excitement has me in a tizzy. It's hard to believe that less than 14 months are left until our big day now, and then we could be looking forward to more than just nieces, nephews, and new cousins; but we don't talk about that, because it gives me butterflies - eek babies (I still like that I am able to give them back)! So, for now, the big "after the wedding" goal is a new vehicle. :oP

*Hayden Charlie Turner*

So without a puppy to disrupt my sorting, I have the time (even without the want) to do laundry. I suppose that's the only positive part about sending her off to the vet, I get some time to clean the house without chasing her around in search of Daryl's work socks.