The Night Sky in Canada

Just wanted to share with you how light it stays in the evenings here. These pictures were taken between 9:40 and 10:00 at night.

Six days...WOW! and we still have more?????

We were having technical difficulties last night, sorry this is a little late.
Day six was a Rainy day...
...But we made the most of it.
Before the rain swept in Aaron and I had a chance to take the bikes out once again and go for a ride down to a little breakfast place we found on our first bike ride a couple days ago. We had a nice little breakfast and on our way back encountered the beginning of the rain storm. By the time we got home we were wet...not soaked, but just a little damp.
We waited out the storm and once it blew over a bit we grabbed Sara and the babe and ventured out to Davison Orchard, a local apple orchard that harvest's more than just apples.

From there we did some errands and then went home for a little R&R.
We had a great pasta dinner and then dropped the little one off at grandma and grandpa's so we could all go on a double date (that ended with us sitting half way across the theatre from each other) to see The Hangover. Deffinitely a funny movie, but definitely not one to waster your $10 on...wait to see it on video...errr is that word out dated??? DVD??....no wait, VOD (Video on Demand...i.e. netflix via XBox righ?).
So we ended the night with cookies....mmmmm cOOOKIES!!!!!

Five down...

Day Five was another nice day. We got a really late start and as a result had a really lazy morning. I flipped on the tube and watched "In Her Shoes" while Sara slept and took care of the baby and Aaron stared at me with puppy dog eyes "when are we going to go???"
Once Matt got home we took a drive with some friends of his that were in from England, and went up a back road made of gravel and up a mountain practically to try to get a "hidden" waterfall. Well we didn't make it up there until 2:00 and we were all famished so we parked ate, and gotten eaten alive by bugs, so we decided to forgo the hike up to the waterfall and drive back down to one of the trillion lakes around here. The guys had a great time in the water and throwing around the frisbee, while I read some more of The Shack and Sara and Mandy played with their little ones.
We ended the day with some gread Thai food and a bowl of ice cream. All in all a pretty lazy day, but none the less got some good pictures to share...

Hills we were driving in to find the Hidden Waterfall

















Diversion to the Lake

















Making fun of Matt's Alphalpha look

Day Four Already?

Today was a full day...
We started fairly early this AM...8:11 to be exact. Because we are so far north in the hemisphere the sun stays up late and comes up early, we are darking dark hours between 10 pm and 4 am, and I am not joking. I have woken up every morning so far at 4 to pull down the shade so we can get a couple extra hours of ZZZZZ's. We have been up and out till almost 10 because until about 9 it feels like it is 5 in the afternoon (no, not "nine in the afternoon, your eyes are the size of the moon")!
...Ok so back to what I was saying...the day started early. Aaron took a 2.5 mile run while I dove in to my latest read: The Shack (so far so good- Chapter 5). Around 10 Aaron and I borrowed Matt and Sara's Mountain bikes and headed out for a nice ride in the "country". It totally felt like we were in Europe, touring the countryside on our bikes!

We got home a little before noon, just in time to have a nice lunch with Matt (who had to work today) and then off to walk the Downtown area with Sara and the baby.












While we were on our nice little walk we saw our first and informedly "only" Canadian Mounty encounter....on the side of a van! I guess there is really no such thing as the ture Mounty anymore.

Next we took in a nice steak dinner...thank you matt, and then headed for the beach...at 7:30 pm! It is still warm until the sun goes down, so we had to make the most of our day!












The day ended with a bath for bella, and now we are all off to bed! See you tomorrow!

Day Three- Oh Canada!

Three days have gone by and Sara and I both have found ourselves saying "I can't believe it's been three days...it feels like we (me) should be going home like tomorrow, but we have a WHOLE week ahead of us, HOW AWESOME!
Today, we were graciously invited to Matt's parents house for a FAMOUS pancake breakfast! It was super yum, thin, almost crepe like buttermilk pancakes, made with REAL buttermilk, (which I seem to have a hard time finding in the liquid form in the states), a strawberry coulis topping and fresh bananas...oh and what I think was fresh squeezed orange juice. This was definitely a topper on our list so far!


After we ate at the Lunde's we headed out for a day at the beach. Today was clear, sunny and hot...the perfect making for a beach day! We did a little laying out in the sun and then some water frisbee...nothing too active, but refreshing none the less. Matt even dipped Issy in for a little submersion...needless to say, she didn't much appreciate it.
Sara and I went off to the store and did a little shopping...remind me to share the fantastic ice tea recipe with you all, it's like our new favorite drink.
What does tomorrow hold...well we aren 't quite sure yet, so check back in the evening and we will have a post...sorry the past couple days have been a little late...we were having "internet diffficulties...." PIRATES!

Day Two in Canada!

Day two found us all on a boat..."I'm on a booooaaattt!" We tried (and by we I mean Aaron and Matt and Clayton) a new Canadian water sport called Wake Surfing. Basically the idea is to take the toe rope out enough to get some speed (and if you are good you can just launch off the back of the boat) and then throw it back in and surf the wake behind the boat...you can technically surf it for quite a while. All the guys got up on the first try (...well Matt and Clayton are seasoned riders, but for the sake of the statement...). We had such a blast and a nice boat ride on the Okanagan (gosh hope I spelled that right...).

Turns out Matt is not only a seasoned wake surfer, but also a seasoned mucian (three bands and counting; one with a three time tour of all the Candian provinces). We set out in the evening to watch him play at...Church! haha! Really good service and little Isabella was, of course, the center of attention cooing like a little terridactile! haha! Pretty funny.
All in all a really great day two...
Bella in her new Le Top bathing suit- butterfly wishes












Bella blending in to the furniture...












Us on the Boat

Day one in Canada!

We made it to the Lunde's almost on time... The day started out early, leaving the house at quarter after seven and we finally made it to the Lunde's avout 4:45...two flights, and one MAD dash through the Vancouver Airport, landed us here safe and out of breath!
Isabella is getting so big, and mom and dad are so proud of her...as re we! The chicky is a night owl like her mommy, she was up with us till about 11:00! WOW!
Here are som pictures from Friday.

Aaron drinking after our first flight is delayed out of SFO.









Trying out the smile detector on our new camera.

Le Top Blog Contests and More

Hey All,
I am a Blog Author on Le Top Children's wear Blog page (http://blog.letop-usa.com). We run contests for free baby clothes and other fun things all the time, and you can win! Kaitlin M. won a couple of months ago, just to prove to you that you can win too! Please log on and check it out. Participate in our blog and upload pictures of your kids, neices, nephews, friends kids, etc. We would love to feature them as our daily darlings. And who knows, you might win something for it!

Peace Out!
Kristin

Sleeping Beauties

I am getting so excited for our trip up to see Sara, Matt and the new baby, Isabella! It's all I can think about and talk about. If you have been able to hang out with me lately you would know that! I think some of you must be getting sick of hearing me talk about "Canada"!

Seeing pictures like this one are sure to push me over the edge! This is just the sweetest thing I have ever seen! There is nothing like a good nap along side the your most adored person....and for Sara napping is HUGE! This girl LOVES her sleep, it looks like her daughter is taking after her! LOL!

Check out Sara and Isabella on the Le Top Blog under Daily Darlings: http://blog.letop-usa.com

Pet Peeve....

Just to make a general statement- It annoys me when people rebut a personal comment with "yeah, see I...." There is something demeaning and irritating about that phrase. You did not ask them what their feeling was on it or how they would have reacted, etc. but they feel that they just have to put their "humble" opinion in there and or compare to you in some way. It's like trying to "one up" the other person and is rude. If you want stick your nose in it, or feel you have to rebut or comment on something another person said with your own personal feeling please try to say "I can see that" or "I under stand where you are coming from" ..."...but what about (insert personal idea here)" or "...I could also see it (insert personal feeling)" , etc. Do you get my drift?

So what Peeve's You? Cuz believe me I could go on for days about this and the INCORRECT USE OF THE WORD then vs. than... but that is for another day....

Peace Out.

OTH Back for a 7th season!

Hey All,

I know some of you are avid OTH (One Tree Hill) fans like me, so you will be glad to hear that they are on the CW schedule for the Fall 2009/2010 season! I am so stoked.  Here is my only comment:

This season's Finale was Awesome.  It gave total closure and lots of happy endings.  So much so, that I had to jump on to Google to see if this was the end.  I can honestly say I would be "OK" with it being the end, the way they wrapped up the season, however, I can never get too much of OTH. The thing is, I will be pissed if they go and get MY show cancelled.  I need closure, like Dawson's Creek, and I hope that is how they will eventually end the show.  Give it a good honest run and a great ending, don't leave us hanging.

I am super excited to see the development of Brooke and Julian's characters; of Skills and Mouth & Milly, and definitely Sam.  There is a lot they can do with this, and of course the other Main characters, but I think we will be seeing a more evening out of time spent on the supporting cast, at least I hope so. 

This show has been so great, and again, I am so glad that I get to enjoy another season.

PEACE OUT!

Photo Courtsey of: www.jackbook.com

Blog Giveaway Courtesy of AMY!

Hey there bloggers,

Sara L's SIL (sister in law) is having her 1 year anniversary for her blog! She is giving away a book or a dvd as prize for celebrating with her! Just hop on over to her blog and sign up!

Personally, I am hoping to win both (ha, not likely), but they are both good! One is a workout video that looks totally intense and the other is a Dave Ramsey book about getting out of debt!

Here's a Link to Amy's site: http://muddybootsblog.blogspot.com/

Good Luck!

Peace Out!

We're Dreaming of India

This week we are dreaming of India! This fantastic deal is really hard to resist since India is one place my husband and I and another couple have been talking about going to for the past year. We have been watching movies (Slumdog Millionaire, Bride and Prejudice and Water), doing a little Google earthing, eating Indian food (mmm- we love Indian food), and doing some research on the best places to visit like the Taj Mahal, the back waters of Kerala, and the Goa beaches along the Arabian sea. There is so much that is untold about India that we would love to explore and discover the country. But for now, it is only a dream.

$960 -- India from California on Top-Rated Airline (R/T)

http://www.travelzoo.com/top20/24252200-576351/

Source: Singapore Airlines

Lodon Calling

If you have the time, more than ever right now, London is the place you want to be, becuase the prices British Airways are advertising for the next month are UN-BEATABLE.

IF YOU LISTEN TO ONE THING, LISTEN TO THIS:

If you have an extra 350.00 you MUST go now!

$156 & up -- London Flights w/Sightseeing Pass; 2-Day Sale

http://www.travelzoo.com/top20/24252200-571308/

Source: British Airways

If you need any travel tips to London you can always ask Erin S. or I, we are LIKE experts! hahahahaha~~!!!

Peace out!

Mary Kay and the rest of the happenings...

It's all in the title...Davina and I started our very own Mary Kay business.... Can you hear the extatic sarcasm bleeding from my voice when I say we are SO EXCITED!  I am really not sure where this is going to go, but all we both know is that we need to get our money back...at the very least.  

It has been about three weeks since we have started and though we are frustrated with some aspects of the "business" we are excited about others.  The product is fantastic, if nothing else, I know that!  I started using their face wash and mositurizer and my face has never been softer. 

The best part about all of this, is that I have found a great teammate and it has put us both in the new mindset of starting our own business.  I think it is a ways off, but we are like stellar together.  With Davina's artistry and want for more than just Mary Kay and with my business b/g and want for more than just Mary Kay, we are dreaming up fantastic ideas and great business ideas that extend well beyond MK and into other areas.  Our end goal is to become event coordinators....WOW after 5 years of deciding I DID NOT want to be an event planner, I finally came full circle and am back on the boat, but in a whole different way.

This day in age, I understand more fully why so many people are looking more and more to the Small Business Owner route.  Both Aaron and I are working on our own Small Business Plans (for completely different businesses).  Now the trick will be to see who goes first or if we can accomplish this all at the same time...my guess is that one of us will have to go first.

Until next time (I will try to be better I promise) - Peace Out! haha

Oh, Sara, Sara, Sara!

Ok , so we all know Sara has two passions in life....reading and now baby Isabella...if you have already guessed where this is going, you are super in tune! hahaha! But if you haven't let me continue on....

Today my coworker comes in and was commenting on the Daily Darling Posts of Isabella Marie and then she calls me..."Hey Kristin, isn't the main character in the Twilight series named, 'Isabella Marie'?" Of course I wasn't sure so I Googled it! Well, well, well, what do you know her name IS Isabella Marie. Now you all know that Sara has in deed read ALL of the Twilight books, and probably in about three days time, and then she was having a baby girl and then her mom's middle names were Isabel and Marie So I am sure she was like "Sweet I can name my daughter after the book and everyone will just think that I named her after my mom and M-I-L!- No one will ever know!" Well Sara you have just been found out....but it IS a cute name never the less!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Peace Out!

Kristin

The Girls are in Canada and I am jealous!!

*Because I have received threatening voicemails from the the participants in these pictures, there identities have now been "removed"!- SO THERE. Now please keep sending me pictures of Isabella!!!!! 

Shauna and Heather are in Canada with Sara, Matt and baby Isa and I am jealous! I have no idea how I am going to wait two whole months to see this prescious child! I am itching to get my hands are her and watch her coo all day long...and of course say hi to sara and matt on my way to the baby! hahaha! She just looks so scerene, and calm and perfect. I even think she has red hair. The girls have promised to keep me updated everyday with pictures and matt is lathargically posting his new pictures every few days, so I guess that will help keep me contented.
I guess my real contintement will be hanging around with Erin T's little one, Emma. Which of course I don't mind at all. Emma and I had some face time last night. We laughed and smiled at each other it was wonderful. She is such a good baby and she too has some hints of red in her pelo. So it looks like we may have some more crazy red heads running around, two girls after my own heart....and hair. Stay tuned for more of my baby envy.

Peace out - Kristin

I'M PREGNANT!!!!

April Fools!

sorry that was mean. but I just had too!

ANOTHER BABY HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Well it's been a long time since I have posted on here, and for those of you who are still sticking with me I am so sorry! Things have been crazy!

The last posting was on the delivery of Erin T.'s baby girl Emma Grace. And I am proud to announce to you that this posting is on the delivery of another precious girl very close to our hearts!!

Sara L. had Isabella Marie at 12:50 am this morning! Weighing in at 7lbs 1oz and 20.5 inches long! Everyone is doing great, daddy says (...to me at 2 am this morning- whew!).
Daddy Matt is a Super Fantastic Photographer so I will have some more Super Fantastic Pictures up just as soon as I get a hold of them!!

This is the last of the babies for a while. Joslyn is expecting a girl in mid June and Rachael is expecting a baby in October...So more to come on those great new lives!

Love

Kristin

The Baby Has Arrived!!!

Little Emma Grace Taylor has arrived!  

She came to us on Tuesday, Febraury 17th around 6:30 pm!  She was 8lbs 2oz and 20" long.  Sean said Erin T. was "superwoman"!  I found out later just how much of a super woman she really was....she did it all without an epidural!!!!  I can't even imagine! Erin T. you are definitely a rockstar! We are so proud of you!!!!  Even her doctor was suprised to walk in and find that she did not have an epidural! woo hoo!  

Emma is doing great and so is mom and dad...maybe a little tired, but they are doing well!  

Emma is now a week old and just as cute as ever and we swear that she has Erin T's raspy little voice! Yes another voice like Erin's and mine, that is so awesome!! 

I was so honored to get to be one of the first people to see her!  The pictures below are of little Emma, just about an hour old, and a proud couple of grandpa's holding thier little granddaughter!  This is Ken's first grandbaby and John's third!   Congrats to all....next up Sara L.'s little girl.  No names yet, they will decide when she comes, some time in late march!  woo hoo! 

Chinese New Year

My company is owned by a Chinese man, so every year it is tradition to hold a Chinese New Year firecracker display on the first day of the Lunar New Year, in front of our business for goodluck.  This year we celebrated the year of the bull siginified by an image at the top of the firecracker string (hard to see, but it's there). To the left you can see the string of firecrackers going off. We are hoping that the Bull is a double good luck symbol to be significant of the market! haha! Below you will see a video of the fire cracker display and a couple other images I captured that afternoon.  It was loud, it was fun, and it was a free lunch!  

Tennis Anyone...

A week ago tuesday, Katie (sister) and I went to the SAP open in San Jose to watch some of the first rounds of men's singles.  The hotties Rodick and Hewitt were playing (seperate matches) so it was really nice eye candy.  I told Katie I was so excited to see Hewitt playing becuase I had the biggest crush on him in high School! Kris G. and I were big fans of his, and Jan Michael and Saffin.  Didn't know too much about Roddick at the time.  I think he was a new  comer when I was in HS. Anyway Rodick smoked some qualifier in the first set, and then the qualifier rallied in the second, but was beat in the tie breaker...Rodick pushed through, but turns out he didn't win the SAP like he did last year. He was eliminated in the semi-final. We didn't get to stay for all of Hewitt's match against MartyFish, but that's ok because I would have been depressed to stay and watch him get beat. MartyFish made it all the way to the final round and was eliminated by Stykov, or somehting like that *(I am way off on that name).  Never the less it was fun to be there and watch the match, get mad at bad calls, and just have a good time!