Just Me.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope. Not that I know of.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Yesterday.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yeah, I think so. It's kind of a mix of writing and printing.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Oven Roasted Turkey Breast.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Not yet….we’re excited to someday….

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Absolutely!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? A lot? No. But sometimes.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yup.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Do I have a death wish? No. There's your answer.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Don't really like it.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Anal / super organized Cyndy? Uh...yeah.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically? Nope. In character and personhood? Yeah.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? All of it! Aw man, I could live off of that stuff. I really love frozen yogurt.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their eyes and hair.

15. RED OR PINK? Well, it depends on what you're talking about. Hmmm... if you're talking about candy, I like red. Red means cherry and you usually can't go wrong with cherry flavoured anything...unless it's medicine. Ugghh barf. But that's a whole different story. Now if you're talking about sunburns, then pink, for sure. See, red would mean "Ouch!" and pink would mean a mild uncomfortableness, and a soon-to-be tan. But let's see...are we talking clothes? Then red. Definitely red. Never been a big pink girl. The odd time, yes. Not usually. ...So again, it depends.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I get frustrated at my intense need to have control and order in every area of my life. I'm a neat freak. I'm an organizational freak. I look at spontanious people and I think, "I could do that..." and then I snap back to reality and realize, yeah right. I also hate it when I lack confidence in certain situations and around certain people because I do consider myself to be confident in who I am. I'm learning. I'm growing. God is changing me and it's a continual process.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My family. Mom, Dad, Steve & Vicki, Jon & Karen. It sucks. Distance sucks. I hate it. Meh.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Whatever. I do like reading through them, though, I'm not gonna lie to you. Especially when work is slow and time's dragging.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? No pants....a sundress & silver ballet flats.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? A big old Mr. Freeze and it was perfect.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? C-95 FM.

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Baby Blue.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Summer. Hardware stores. Warren's cologne. Cookies in the oven. BBQing. Chlorine.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? A client at work...

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? N/A

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Much to Warren's dismay, uhhh... no thanks.

27. HAIR COLOR? Blonde. Highlighted. Summery.

28. EYE COLOR? Light Blue.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Cheesey hashbrowns. Tacos. Shishkabobs. Apple crisp. Stir fry.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings. Definitely. No matter how predictable. Love 'em.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Waitress.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? See #19.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer. Summer. Summer.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Apple crisp. Ice cream.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Skip.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Skip.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? I'm not.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Something Optometry-ish. I can't remember the name.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Craig Ferguson. Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious.

42. FAVORITE SOUND? Mikayla & Brookie laughing.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? I don't know.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Haiti or Europe.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Sketching.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Leamington, ON. Oh, how I miss it...

Seasons of Change

Haven't posted in a while. We've been here and there and everywhere. Life has been full of change and a new season has come into our life...in every sense of the word.

First and foremost, spring is here. How sweet is that? Thank the good Lord for flowering trees, higher temps and most importantly, no snow. Spring in Stonebridge means mud, mud and more mud. Being a new community means no lawns, no landscaping, no trees (yet). It's very brown. However, things are booming in our little corner of the city and we are excited about all that is yet to happen within these next few months of summer. Last week, our driveway was poured. And who woulda thought we'd get so excited about cement....but it's our cement and that makes all the difference. We're one step closer to getting rid of the mud pit. It's so great having our own little place to make a home. Love it.

Well, as of last week, we are the proud owners of an optometry practice. Yup. After many months of lawyers, accountants, banks and meetings gallore, Warren has bought the clinic from Dr. Zaleschuck and we now are happy business owners. It's a huge step forward and we're extremely thankful for what God is doing in our life. There's a lot to be done, a lot to learn and a lot to organize, but every ounce of me is proud of Warren and the guy he is. Here's to a full heart.

Work at The Willows is busy as heck. Now that the golf season has exploded, my desk has become dumping grounds for contracts, banquet arrangement sheets, booking forms and menus. Busy and diggin' it. That's me. For the most part. There have been moments, trust me. But today, as I look out my window, the sun shines brightly and I know that I'm right where I'm meant to be. I feel that God has been using me in different ways at work and that alone, gives me confidence.

Welp, gonna jet. Moving on to the next thing...and I know there are many.*

HOT!

...enough said.

"...and I think to myself, what a wonderful world."

Couldn't have asked for a nicer weekend. The temp reached a high of 21 degrees on Saturday!! Seriously. I hope this means spring has sprung, but you never know out here. I'm usually an optimist, but this winter hit us hard. I ache for warmth. You'd never know it from the dullness in the pics, but things really are feeling different. Now we just need to get that grass greened up and the trees budding. Oooohhhh I love spring!

Saturday night, Warren and I had a picnic down by the river. That was really fun. There were so many people out and about on all of the trails. Whoa. As soon as the good weather hits this city, people take it seriously. There's no time to laze around. After our supper, we took a long walk on the trails and just enjoyed laughing and talking and being silly. It was great. Our evening ended with a trip to the 'walk-up' Dairy Queen on 8th Street, which is actually open already. That is definitely a sign of a season's change in Saskatoon.
It always takes a little extra work to make it through a Monday at work....but knowing that the warmth will greet me as I open the front doors of the clubhouse and head out towards my car at the end of the day puts that smile back on my face.*

Numb

My heart feels quiet and sad today. Shock and awe has taken over my otherwise very ordinary Monday. I just found out that Anna Wall, a mom to four very special people I went to Youth with back home (Anita, Eva, Johnny & Emily) lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on Saturday. I can't even explain to you my emotions. I'm numb with heaviness.

In 2002, my mom battled a year of breast cancer. Honestly, it was the worst year of my life...and yet strangely the most memorible. I remember those long days. I hated seeing my mom that way. She looked so small, so bald, so sick. The spunk and fiestiness that used to describe her personhood was rarely seen anymore and our house felt like a gloomy place. I really hated seeing my dad so distraught. He's a fix-it kind of guy, up for anything, but this was one area in his life that was out of his hands. I remember a multitude of feelings and emotions. I remember getting so angry with people when they'd give us a hug and say they were thinking of us and then get in their cars and drive home to hang out with their own moms who were happy and healthy. It didn't seem fair. Though that sounds so selfish, those feelings were so real to me. I had moved home from Saskatoon (where I had been living at the time) to live at home and be "mom" for a year. Anger clouded my life and I went through such a time of fury and hurt with God. It was a real transitional period for me and Him. I wanted my mom to be able to see me get married. I wanted to have her with me when I had my kids. The human imagination is a powerful thing and the "what if's" overwhelmed me.

I guess the walk down memory lane has brought me back to a very humble place. Why did my mom live on? God could have taken her home in an instant. How can I be of encouragement to these friends when the ending to my story looks so different from theirs?

In the end, I believe that God is in control and His plans are far greater and far deeper than we could ever grasp. I believe that God will meet us where we're at. Honestly, I have no idea or any real words of understanding regarding my mom's current cancer-free existence and the death of those who have fought for the same goal - to live on. I have no idea why some people suffer and others breeze through life with minor issues. But I am in awe at His power and the strength we can pull from that connection with Him. And I know that my mom's fate and her life will carry on as a testiment of God's grace and the fact that He is alive and here.

All we can do is hold on to what we know and that is that God is good and though we don't understand everything He does or the time in which He does it, God is still good. I long to be an encouragement to the Wall family today and the long days to come. My heart hurts today.*

Easter Egg Art

I'm in tradition mode. I'm a sucker for those moments that make life memorible and faithfully reminiscent each year. Being as this weekend is Easter, celebrating with the munchkins was a top priority. Soooo... Tuesday night, 'Uncle warren' and 'Auntie Cyndy' went over to Dave & Mel's to paint Easter eggs with the girls. It was great. Maybe we can make this a yearly event. Mikayla was very maticulous and careful with her decorating (aahhhh...that's my little artist!) and Brookie kept trying to lick them all. Hee hee. It was a really fun evening.

Phone Calls, Soggy Cupcakes and Castles

Well........what a birthday!!!! What a stinkin' sweet birthday!!! Friday, March 30th marked my 26th year in this world, as we know it. And what a shabang it was.

I went to work and (of course) my mom called me from Ontario and sang not one, but two verses of Happy Birthday over the phone...Oh my! Can we say "Oma"??? For those of you who didn't know my Oma Hildebrand (my mom's mom) when she was alive, my mom is becoming ridiculously similar to her in most everything she does as time goes on. It's very funny, actually.

Following the scerenade, I was called from my office out front where I found my little nieces, Mikalya and Brooklyn greeting me with a cupcake with a single lit candle on top. I melted. Kayla's eyes were huge and she looked so excited. Well, needless to say, the two munchkins devoured my treat, leaving only a few soggy morsels at the bottom of the container for me. It was great! What a boost to my already fun day.

Then, once I got home from work, Warren called me on his way home and told me to pack my overnight bag.....we were spending the night at the Bes, in Saskatoon. WWWOOOOOWWWW!!!

What a treat!! So, off we went and enjoyed a fine evening of fine dining downtown (2nd Ave Grill), hot tubbing and watching movies in our room. It was very romantically unexpected and I was over the moon. What a day!!! What a happy, happy birthday!!! Now, if only I could be queen every day....*

The Willows

A door has been opened. I've been given a sweet opportunity to be something big. The nerves are there. The butterflies are doing their thing. But the giddyness has overtaken them both. Let me explain.

I work at The Willows Golf & Country Club in Saskatoon, one of the swankiest places to golf or hold a function in the city. I love it. Seriously. Out of any job I've ever had, I really feel that this is it. I've found my niche. It's a really neat place. It's luxurious, it's very people-oriented, everyone I work with is fantastic, and let's be honest, it's just plain pretty. (both of the pics on this post are of The Willows - the first being the clubhouse I work in and the second being part of the golf course) I started last September and have been working in the office, doing reception,

invoicing, (you name it) ever since. Life's been good. Another perk is the fact that Warren and I live in Stonebridge, which is literally 3 minutes away from this place. Love it.

So anyway, I was recently offered a very different, higher-up position. And.......I took it. You are now reading the blog of the new Events Coordinator at the Willows. Eeeeekkkk!!! I know. I'm freaking out. So what this means is a few things. Any and all functions, events, weddings, meetings, banquets, and parties go through me. I'm the one who sits down with the bride-to-be and her mom and goes through all of the possibilities, the planning and the ideas for her big day. I'm the one who meets with the president of a big corporation to plan out his big annual meeting to be held at our clubhouse. I'm the one who coordinates and juggles 5 different events within one day. Once again, Eeeeekkkk!!! Last week was my first week and I gotta say, it's a big learning curve. I was so tired after each day. But you know what? I'm diggin' it. I'm ready for the challenge. I'm able to really be creative in this new position too, which is a very good thing. This is gonna be great and I feel very lucky and blessed. I'm waitin' on summer and a new golf season to start. Hope they're ready for me.*

The Thaw

Let me just say that I am one happy girl with the way things are shaping up outside. Um hmm. I look out the window and guess what I see? Water. Lots and lots of water. The snow has begun its melt and where I normally would find it in me to gripe about the soupiness and mud surrounding our poor little house, I am bound and determined to smile about it. This year, my attitude will be different. That's right.

I've been at my wits' end this past month at the ridiculous amount of snow and the freezing temps that continue to hit us hard out here in the prairies. Swear words. Actual, full on swear words have graced my thoughts many days. Mostly because I'm beyond tired of my long walk up to the clubhouse from staff parking at work where I basically feel like my face is gonna break off each morning. And even if I wanted to cry, I couldn't because my tears would freeze and we all know that would be a disaster.

BUT, finally, I think I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Bring on the mud! Bring on the floods! It's all part of the process to what I would consider a very happy ending. Warren and I have wondered if we should invest in a canoe so I can paddle my way to work. Hee hee. Ah well, I am ready for some warmth and sunshine. I can hardly wait for spring. It's killing me.*

Spending the Night With Oscar

Anyone who knows me well knows my die hard obsession with Hollywood award shows. I LOVE them. And anyone who knows this about me would also most likely know that the Oscars is the most important one - kind of the big finale at the end. The Oscars is the fanciest, the biggest and the most elaborate of them all.

For as long as I can remember, I've spent Oscar night infront of the TV, watching, admiring and closely following the stars as they walk the red carpet and are interviewed by entertainment show hosts, such as Mary Hart, Ryan Seacrest and Ben Mulrooney, to name a few. I don't know why I get so caught up in all of the glitz - Warren just laughs at me - but I'm not gonna lie to ya, I love the glamour. I love the gowns. I love the couple sightings. I love seeing who took who and who's wearing what, who's presenting and who's gonna win. I love the speeches. I love the emotion and the anticipation. There's something special and thrilling about Oscar night and I've always loved it. Actually, all the Bartel girls always have.

This year, Mel had me over and we had our own little Oscars night. It was great! She had made some fun snacks and we munched and gabbed together for the whole evening infront of the TV. It was really fun. My mom even called us halfway through to see who's dress we liked the best, who we thought would win, etc. Hee hee.

And so, the highlights. I thought Ellen did a fantastic job hosting. She's a hoot. I get such a kick out of her. I was thrilled that Jennifer Hudson won - talk about a comeback. First she's booted off American Idol and now she's won an Oscar! That's magic. Oooh... and I loved it when Jaden Smith and Abigail Breslin presented. So cute. It was kind of refreshing to have two little kids up there. I love watching guys like Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg - they're sensational - legends of our time. Man, have they accomplished lots in their careers, artistically. It's inspirational to me. Okay, so let's talk dresses. I thought Helen Mirren looked beautiful - she looks so glamorous for her age. Penelope Cruz - very feminine and romantic with a modern funk, Maggie Gyllenhaal - very old Hollywood, and of course, the always favorite Reese Witherspoon. Are we loving the hair, ladies? She's just doing her thing. The nasties? I was bummed at Gwyneth's choice - can we say Mother Earth meets the fish lady? Eewww! What was she thinking? And what about Meryl Streep? I love her, but c'mon...what was that, a trench coat? That was shocking, considering her latest movie was 'The Devil Wears Prada'. You'd think she'd step it up a notch.

All in all, a great success. Another beautiful and wonderful evening full of style, class and surprises. And it all happend at the Oscars.*

Squeals, Giggles and the Shock of a Lifetime

Something fantastic has just happend. You know those moments in life where something completely catches you off guard in the most wonderful way and all you can possibly do is utter a small but excited squeal? Almost a gasp. Your heart begins to pound against your chest and your eyes are huge. It's something you've always known would happen...it was just a matter of when.

Friday, I got the call. About 1:30pm, I answered with my usual, "Good afternoon, The Willows, Cyndy speaking", only to hear my little brother on the other end, rather than the expected golf member or possible client inquiring about room rentals or facility details. What the heck? Why was he calling me at work...from Ontario?? All at once, he started laughing and asked, "So, uh, I was wondering how you'd feel about adding another sister to the family..." What? WHATTT??? Are you kidding me??

Yup. That's right. Jon and Karen are freakin' engaged!!!

This is huge. First of all, he's my little brother...and secondly, he's a weiner!!! Karen is incredible. I love her to bits and have considered her my sister for years already - she has litterally been a part of our family for about 7 years. She's come on family vacations with us, slept over and been a part of Christmas morning and been there for each and every holiday. Good times, Kar!

These guys started dating somewhere around grade 10, I think. Nuts. I remember when they were both in grade 9 (I was in grade 12) and I remember Kar bobbing all around the school with her short little curly fro - so cute. I remember when Jon had a forever crush on this little girl....and now here we are. You have no idea how stolked I am about this. I have always said that when they get engaged, it's gonna be huge. Well, it is. I'm blowing my mind here.

Guys, just wanted to send out a few whoop, whoops and let you know that I am so, so excited for you two and what's ahead. God has blessed you both for years and I can only imagine how great the future will be. I also just wanted to tell you how much I value you both as friends in my life - we have so much fun! You are a true example of how I think a relationship should be done. I admire you both a lot. Keep going. Jon, this is fantastic - you stud...and Kar, I can hardly believe that we really and truly are gonna be sisters!! My giddyness continues...*

Now, That's More Like It!

Well, it's official. Some really good friends of ours - Tyler & Nelly - are engaged! We are SO excited for these two. They're such great people. We love them to bits.

Tyler is Warren's best friend from Optometry in Waterloo. Practically brothers. He's the best. The guys did their residency together in Alabama during their last year. They have a really cool friendship.

And Nelly was my roomie for my 2nd year in Graphic Design in Waterloo - we shared an apartment. She's adorable. Someone I love and admire for her happy spirit and spunky wit. We had ice cream together almost every night - it became an obsession. Hee hee. She bought me an actual ice cream maker for our wedding!

Tyler and Nelly are both optometrists and are living in Vancouver, BC. We can hardly wait to get out there to see them and celebrate this new chapter in their life. Hopefully in the next month or two...

This is kind of a funny picture actually - it's at Warren and Tyler's grad weekend in June of last year, but it was the best one I had of the four of us. We sure do miss hanging out together!! BIG CONGRATS!! Can't wait for what's ahead...*

My Cup Runneth Over...

Oh boy. The thing with being an auntie is that it fills your heart so full with love for these little munchkins, that I can't even imagine what it will
be like to have my own someday. We had Dave, Mel and the babes over for supper last week and as usual, we were entertained. I think it's so funny watching the girls because I see so much of Mel and I in them. The Mother Hen and the "I don't have to listen to you" Kid. Love it. I'm a very lucky auntie.*

A Sad Sort of Day

Today I'm really missing two very special people in my life - my two best friends from home, Lish and Genelle - we've been together since
our diaper days.

I'm finding it really tough to faithfully keep in touch and make regular phone calls, emails, etc. since moving out here. I really hate it. I hate being so far apart and having to rely on these things to stay up-to-date and close with these girls. It's so frustrating, especially when all I want is to be with them - spend an evening vegging in our sweats over a bowl of popcorn and share what's been on our hearts with each other. There's nothing quite like a childhood friend - they are the ones who truly know you and have been a part of your history, the very thing that makes you who you are. I guess today, I especially wanted to say how much I love you, Genelle and Lish and to know that even though we're not always great at regular phonecalls, etc, I cherrish you and miss you with my whole heart. You guys are extremely special to me.....I can't wait to see you again, whenever that may be.*

Ode to My Ford Focus

I got stuck on the way to work today....real stuck. There is SO MUCH snow out here, it's ridiculous. I'm still not in the mindset of a true Saskatchewan resident yet, so of course, I never think to pack an extra touque, scarf, gloves, snowpants, shovel, etc. in my car at all times, like everyone else I know. So here I am, in my flimsy little dresspants and dressy coat, FREEZING in the -22 degree weather - sooooooo cold!!!! People were coming in shifts to try and get me out and no one seemed to be able to do it. Warren was out of town early this morning at a clinic, so he was no where in sight. By the time things started moving, there were five men around my car. Kinda embarassing. Kinda funny. Hee hee. Aw, my little Focus. She had a rough start to her day. But after 45 minutes of pushing, freezing, heeve-hoing, and freezing some more, I was back on track and at work. I've felt chilled ever since...*

A Good Mix

Not much new to report.

It's been a bit since my last post, so I figured I'd empty my mind on screen and see for myself what's actually been going on these past few weeks. Lots, actually. And then, not a whole lot. Hmmmm...

I'll admit it. I feel I've run into a mild case of the winter blues. I always find the months of January and February a struggle to mull through 'cause they're so cold and blustery, they feel so dang long (especially in the west) and there really isn't any special holidays or occasions to anticipate. Meh. Once spring hits, I'm good. I've always been a person who loves to have something to look forward to, to get excited about. Ah well, I'm still incredibly blessed and pumped abouy my life, so that's good enough for me. I'll look forward to summer...

Warren and I continue down the road of life-changing decisions, regarding his practice. Things in that area are good. Real good. We're in the midst of deciding to buy or buy in and associate with another....all good things. Whenever we get stressed, we look at each other, shrug our shoulders and laugh and realize, Shoot! At least we have options! We know that there are many people desperate for work. We're in a very good place.

I can't seem to get enough of being an auntie. What a treat to be living in the same city as my nieces. It never gets old. Mikayla and Brookie continue to maintain my state of awe at how creative and hilarious God is. Those two are fantastic! I thoroughly enjoy my conversations with MJ, which are shockingly mature and of course, full of drama. Oh man, how I can relate to that little munchkin, it's pretty funny. Hee hee. And then Brookie. She's so mobile and carefree and she's trying sooo hard to get her words out. I love witnessing the new words and the fresh discoveries of toddlers. It's like a miracle right before your eyes - pretty sweet. Pretty amazing. The more I'm with the girls, the more excited I get to embark on the journey of motherhood myself. Not yet...but sometime.

Work at The Willows is good. It's a bit slower these days (obviously) without a golfing season in full swing (no pun intended) but still humming with constant events, meetings, weddings, conventions, etc. I get a real joy out of visiting with the members and other people while going about my day. It's fun. I am very much anticipating the warm weather and fresh season to bring about busyness and excitement. Should be good.

Well, other than these few tidbits (I do hate that word, actually), it's time to shut 'er down and go grab a treat. I'm thinking it's either gonna be ice cream with orange juice (aka the Ronny Bartel Homemade Orange Julius invention that continues to blow my mind each time I have it....mmmmmm.....) or popcorn. Ha ha. Who am I kidding....here's hoping we're not out of ice cream just yet.

See ya.*

A Mexican Fiesta and Sugar Cookies

This Christmas will be tucked away at the top of my stash of incredible memories forever. It was....well....perfect, if I can be so bold in saying that. I will charge ahead here and give you my best attempt at a recap of the eleven days I spent with my family over the holidays - though I know already that my musings and recollections won't do it justice...even if I do throw in a few photos. And yet, I feel a need to try to organize my thoughts and take myself away from my present situation to reminicse. So, here goes.

December 16th (which was the day I had been waiting for for months) brought the long-awaited flight home to see my family once again. Dave, Mel and the critters, along with Warren and I, flew home on the first flight out of Saskatoon that morning. It was early, but we were pumped and in high spirits. It was amazing to be together with my family again. Words cannot express.

The next morning, we left for our 6-day vactation to Mexico, where we stayed at this beautiful 5-star resort on the Riviera, just outside of Cancun. It was easily my favorite vacation I've been on, up to date. It was just a good, good time together as family. Many high points. Our main reason for the trip, of course, was to enjoy a week of chill time and hanging out together before my brother Steve and Vicki got married on the beach on day number 5 of our time in Mexico. There were 18 of us in total. A really good group, consisting mainly of family from both sides and then a few extra friends too.

I love vacactions even more, now that we're all adults. It's a lot of fun to just be able to do our own thing and enjoy it together at our own pace. There was absolutely no stress on this trip, no real scheduele. We took our watches off on the first day and didn't look at them until we were heading home. It was a week of sleeping in, eating too much (and the food was delicious), drinking too much (I was hooked on daqueries and pina coladas), lounging by the pools and playing beach volleyball by the ocean. The evenings were wonderful - we'd usually all go out for a nice dinner together and then relax in the big lounge area, sipping drinks, playing games, listening to the live entertainment, dancing and visiting. Lots of laughter on this trip. Lots. It was good for the soul.

And then the wedding. Oh...the wedding. It was quite possibly the most beautiful wedding I've ever been at. So small, so intimate, so personal. Steve looked amazing and Vick, she was truly a vision. The wedding was very beachy and casual. We were all barefoot. All of us. Jon played guitar as they walked down the isle and Dave married them. Their vows were really sweet. The wedding itself was set on the beach, right infront of the ocean. Down the isle they rolled a long white strip of material where they had sprinkled rose pedals from back to front. They stood under a simple trellis adonned with bright tropical flowers and ivy. They had set up about three mini rows of white covered chairs to seat the family. It was just a incredibly romantic. It really was. For the reception, we all sat at a big table on the deck, overlooking the waterfront. We enjoyed a delicious dinner, a few speeches were made, a few wisecracks were said and then on with the dancing! It was a blast. The whole shindig ended and we all saw the two lovebirds off in the lobby, as their taxi whisked them off to their honeymoon destination - another resort in the area.

And so, our trip in Mexico soon came to an end and though we were sad to leave this tropical oasis, the celebrating and making of memories was not over yet. It was back to Mom and Dad's place (Ontario) where we enjoyed Christmas festivities and some more chill time together.

Christmas in at the Bartel house consisted of lots of eating (namely Christmas goodies), loud music, evenings by the fire, games and of course, a whole lot of good conversation. We spent a day at Grandma's, Christmas Eve at church and Christmas morning eating crepes specifically prepared by Dad and Kayla, as we had anticipated. It was fun to, once again, experience Christmas through the eyes of two munchkins. It somehow seems to warm your heart.

What a holiday. What a wonderful holiday.

Today, I find myself feeling somewhat sad and heavy-hearted at the fact that this magical eleven days of my life, a time that was so strongly anticiapted, is over. And yet, I can smile and smirk at the memories that will forver be embedded in my head of this special time that was shared by the people I love. And that is why we keep going. Because there is always something more, something to cling to and get silly about. I'm looking forward the next big thing, whatever that may be.*

Snow Babies

Since moving out here earlier this year, I have had to get used to the fact that Saskatchewan is a snowy place for basically most of the year...well, not really, but it just feels like that to this summer girl. Though I live for skirts, tanks and flip flops, I have had a new appreciation for the snow this year, especially around the holidays. I thought I'd stick a few pics of my two favorite girls enjoying this winter wonderland.*

A Masterpiece, After All These Years

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER® recounts the tale of a shy, young reindeer whose Christmas spirit is dampened because his shiny red nose has made him the laughing stock of all Christmastown. Frustrated by their inability to fit in, Rudolph and his friend Hermey, the Elf who wants to be a dentist, set out on their own. However, they soon find themselves pursued by the Abominable Snowmonster. They flee to the island of Misfit Toys in the Arctic wilderness where Yukon Cornelius, a prospector they meet along the way, comes to their rescue. Returning to Christmastown, they learn that bad weather may cause Christmas to be canceled. But Rudolph's headlight--his illuminated nose--saves Christmas by serving as a beacon to guide Santa's sleigh.

Last night, after lots of flipping, I stumbled across this old 1964 classic - also a Bartel favorite for many, many years. I was ecstatic, and forced a less-than-enthused Warren to sit and watch(enjoy) with me. By today's standards, the animation is terrible, but I think it's adorable and I love it every year I see it. The message is so clear and so relavent, even years after the making.*

The Magic

We've been crazy busy this last stretch before Mexico. I love it though. I have always loved the Christmas rush and the hussel and bussel of a busy city in December. As for the old cranks who didn't learn enough from their mothers about which fingers are inappropriate to flash at the rest of us when they're edgy, they're missing out. Believe me, an angry shopper is an unecessary setback for those of us who are out and about, Starbucks gingerbread latte in hand, humming an old carol, and looking to have a good time. Yes, it's busy and yes there are lots of people - more than the norm - and yet, let's all chill and enjoy all of the little hints of magic that surround us throughout this season we all claim to love so much. That's what I'm doing and I've felt so in love with this time of year, once again.

This is Warren and my first Christmas together in our own place. It's been really special. We got ourselves a real tree - just a little guy that smells so wonderful each time we come into the room - and we decorated it with MJ and Brookie a week or two ago. It was a hoot. Of course, the lower half of the tree looked pretty flashy (and loaded) while the rest of it was pretty bear. Ah well, kids are good for laughs and making memories with. Kayla was so particular about her placement of ornaments, while Brookie just sat on the floor, grunting, clapping and eating all of our Christmas cookies. Everyone was happy.

To me, Christmas is 100% about family and spending time together. It doesn't even matter so much what we're doing anymore, as I get older, I seem to hang on to the memories and the anticipation of being together more than ever. I gotta tell ya, knowing that in just over a week, we'll be squishing the white sands of Mexico between our toes from beach chairs, drink in hand, makes me very happy.

Songs I'm really into these days:

How to Save a Life - The Fray
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
More Than Words - Extreme
Crash - Dave Matthews Band
River - Sarah McLachlan
Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan

Jon, don't slack on the Christmas chain, you silly nugget. Keep the tradition alive.

Nine days and counting...*