Stocking Factory!

Earlier this month i decided that i would put my new sewing machine to work and make stockings out of felt. They are nothing extravagent but i like them! Here are some pictures of my lovely new machine (so (sew... he he) easy to use and thread and undestand! Thanks Chris, Mary and Grand Dad)! And of course the completed stockings. They are a little funny shaped in the foot, but i am just an amateur and only dave and i have to use them! Oh, can't forget the close up on the awesome fancy stich! I love that stich; very easy to do, and then i just cut off excess material to make it look nice and tight and even! Wahla! Who knew that sewing could require so few brain cells. Well, i should talk because at this point i could never pump out a quilt: AHHHHHHHHH! My love to all quilters for your beautiful work!

This morning i have some laundry going in our basement and i am going to take a little bit of time to get some Christmas cards addressed for people at Church! Tomorrow we are painting the baby's room after church. I am very excited about this because things are finally coming together and soon we will have a nice little room for baby (which matters more to me than the unknowing infant!)
Have a hopeful day everyone.

JAnie

Thinking of Bre

Bre:

A post just for you! Wanted you to know we are thinking of you and praying for you and your family.

Nintendo Geeks Rejoice

Okay, just in case you haven't seen it yet, here's a little video about the Nintendo Revolution's new controller to let your inner Mario get up and jump:

CLICK!

All I can say is that little bit with the sword is just too much.

Oh, and Claire (indeed all sisters throughout the nation), someone finally made a controller where jerking it around from left to right actually does somethinng.
-Dave

Before i head to work!

Just a few thoughts from my head before i go off to work for the day:

- are you getting enough fibre? Am i getting enough fibre?
- I made Christmas stockings... pictures to come
- I think i have felt the baby's bum, head, and at least a foot or two!
- I have 7 days of work left, 4 of which are full days, 3 are half!
- Dave is a sweetie and i don't even need to back that up with a reason or example; it holds it's own
- i don't really know how to use semi-colons
- we have received an incredible amount of snowny snow snow over the last 24 hours. It is very white and clean, fluffy, heavy and pretty falling down. Maybe snow will softly fall from the sky forever!!!!
- i am now running out of time to get ready for work and must stop this random thought nonsense
- i really like chocolate and christmas tree ornaments

Have a hopeful day everyone.

Janers and Baby C

Poor stubby-armed C-3PO

I just read the best Star Wars related quote EVER. Had to share it.

"There's not a lot of dignity involved in being in these 'Star Wars' films; I have no dignity left whatsoever. I mean, if I've got an itchy crotch, somebody has to scratch it for me. I actually can't do that - my hands don't go that far." - Anthony Daniels (Rolling Stone)

Now come on, little Anakin. Is that any way to build a protocol droid?
-Dave

Quote found at blueharvest.com
Printed without permission.

We'll always have Saturday Mornings

I tried to spend my childhood, but I never ran out.
-DAve

He turned my morning into gladness....

This may sound funny, but it's true. Laugh if you like.


As any number of people can tell you, I am very enthusiastic about Christmas Specials. One of my favourite Christmas specials since 1999, right next to The Muppet Family Christmas, has been Robbie the Reindeer and Hooves of Fire. This film is absolutely Brilliant. It changes the way a person lives his young teenage life. First saw this 'toon on a Saturday morning and was so enthrawled that I still have the TV promo memoried. I sing it most days around the house. (Dave Naus will not be shocked by this in the SLIGHTEST.)

To the tune of "Hark the Harald," double time.

"Here comes Robbie, he's a reindeer,
and a real great dancer, Ya!
He's got a nose and he knows Santa,
and he wants to pull the sliegh.

But there's Blitzen, he's a mean one.
Wants poor Robbie to be Freezin'
Then there's snow on Digimon,
two episodes with lots of fun....

Anyways. I'll stop now. (Yes, there's more! But it goes on about Ty being naked, so I'll skip that for now.)

ANYWAYS. This thing is Brillient. Stop-Motion/Claymation animation (using ball and socket armatures as well as standard plasticine) and a WICKED comedic edge. Which is to say that it's British. Voiced by some of the top comedic voices in the UK. Unbelievably good. OH! And it was produced by Comic Relief, a charitable fund for sick Children (also responsible for Red Nose day).

BUT: If you haven't seen Robbie the Reindeer yet, BE WARNED!!!! THERE IS A FOWL PLOT AFOOT!

America Strikes Again.

Now, I'm not one to bash our heavily-armed neighbours to the south, but this time they have gone too far. On Dec. 17, CBS will be airing TWO Robbie Adventures, Hooves of Fire and the 2002 release The Legend of the Lost Tribe. Sounds good, right? NO!!!!

For $ome $trange rea$on that I CANNOT $ee, somebody in America thought that the Robbie films would sell better in America if they got AMERICAN VOICE OVERS. Do you have any idea what it's like to tune into to some of your favourite animated characters and hear BRITNEY SPEARS and BEN STILLER come out of their mouths? Like they were choking on Stupid and spitting up their Dignity. Eww. Almost the whole cast has been recast with bottom-of-the-barrel voice performances by people who apparently have no idea what it means to do voice acting. IT WAS TERRIBLE! It's like they weren't trying! ACK!

Janie and I rented Lengend of the Lost Tribe on DVD and I barely slept that night I was so upset. We seriously were totally bummbed out. The story was alright and the animation great, but the characters were flat, lifeless, and didn't seem to get that which lines were supposed to be Funny. (Oddly enough, the "American" version includes British talent Hugh Grant, but either they didn't use his voice or he sounds EXACTLY like the other guy that played Blitzen. Wierd.)

But there is hope.
The next morning I had to try something. So while scarfing down my Life cereal and All Bran, we spun the TV around and tried something. Power. Play. Audio Options. And there it was! Way down on the bottum of the Setup menu page was "Alternate UK voice track!" WOO HOO! It's true! The original voice ARE included on the DVD, and the Legend of the Tribe was saved!

SO, in recap:
Robbie is AMAZING.
Don't watch the American version. Sucks.
Rent both shorts on one DVD, but look for "Alternate UK vocal track" on back
Go rent it right now.

Oh yeah, some scenes may not be suitable for youngest children.

-Gotta Go. Late for Chiro.

DAVE

35 Weeks

Don't i look just wonderful and happy?! The baby is getting fairly big now, but not too big. I still have people say that i am a "smaller" pregnant person, and then someone else comes along and says "wow, you are big for 8 months!" I am just me, and the baby is just itself and we are the size we are, no comparison!
So the aches and pains finally started today, and if you saw a pic of me now i wouldn't look as happy :( Well, nothing awful of couse, just regular aches...things hurt a tiny amount this morning, and then by the time work was over i was scared to get in the car and couldn't wait till i picked up Dave so he could drive. The pain is in my rib cage because i am short. I have not been "kicked" in the ribs necessarily, but i suppose the pressure of everything is finally stretching and hurting my ribs. It hurts to laugh, breathe, use any form of stomache muscles, bend over, use my right arm, lie down, sit up... etc! Dave has been taking care of me though. I am just going to have to learn to sit down more and not pick things up! The magic bag is MAGIC i must say! But, all in all i am still wonderful, and know i have had things alot smoother than some and thus i am very thankful that the Lord is taking care of me and that really a little pain is no big deal, probably just my body and God saying "slow down now"
I bombarded dave with bright flashes in his eyes upon his arrival home the other day just so you could all see!!


He is a real tropper! He walks to work everyday in the Winnipeg cold (yes winnipeg is now a descriptive word for cold; worse than blistering!) so that i can have the car for my work and not take the bus. As well that way i can do pickups of donations for my work. And... he never ever complains! Such a great person.

So most of our weekend consisted of the Pagent at our church. Everything went really well! On saturday we got to celebrate our friend Ernie's Bday with brunch and Go karts! Everyone had a great time! Good idea Bre (she's a kid genius!) We finally picked a date to paint the baby's room: December 18th, sunday afternoon! Cutting it close eh?

Dave and i are going to eat dinner now: a wonderful crock pot creation! Adios

Freegan?

This is a new one for me. Trisha, Karl, I thought you might like this.

Click link to read on:

Monkey's and Elephants

So, we have had the tree up for about 30 minutes and already our kitty Maera has managed to climb almost to the top! She didn't stop climbing because i was scolding her to stop (which works very well with this cat), but rather because she lost her grip and momentum and starting falling downwards. I imagine that fall to be rather prickly and uncomfortable, so maybe she has learned her lesson. Christmas makes our cats turn into monkeys! They have been running around like mad since we brought all the christmas things up. Oh, and we had to move the couch and chairs to fit the tree in, and of course we found about 20 of their missing toys! There were some wrapped hard candies (duffy's fav), little red berries from a wreath thing (maera's fav), a chop stick (?), and a piece of corn bran cereal. We haven't had that kind of cereal in quite some time now.... ekkk.
I really hope kids are this much fun!! So our tree is very naked at this point because dave had to head off to work before we got anything on it! I don't know when we will have time to start decorating it though... honestly we have something every single night this week, and all weekend we have the christmas pagent at the church. We supervise all the kids in the play and help keep them occupied while they aren't on stage. I am excited about all the christmas parties and events coming up, and wish i could go to everything happening in the city (nutcracker ballet, bare naked ladies, munchapoloza with cookies and milk...) but know that i would just go crazy in the end . It is kinda scary because we have lots of christmas things to get done, and lots of baby things too! If this little one comes early we will be i trouble!
Our major tasks before the baby comes are painting the room, getting a craddle someone is lending us, getting the crib someone is giving us, sheets, layettes and such, cleaning the room, figuring out cloth diapers (someone is going to give me a great pattern and help me learn to sew them!), stroller with snow/ice tires (he he he), baby snuggly carrier, and i am going to make a little toque for its little head. Lots of important things, but not too overwhelming i guess. Someone from church gave us a bag full of excellent condition boy/neutral baby clothes. It has alot of newborn things in it (from gap and other nice stores), so our collection keeps growing! I can't believe all the clothes we have already and nobody to put inside of them yet! All in good time!
Dave and i will try to get some pictures up soon! Thanks for reading!

"Let's Get Dangerous!"

Janie and I just had the best trip down memory lane via glorious VHS!

I was cruising down the isles in Value Village the other day and happened upon a factory sealed copy of the debut episodes of a childhood favourite that I had not seen in YEARS. For $2.99 I brought it home and have now just finished a 48 minute blast-from-the-past!! Why doesn't every body watch cartoons on Saturday morning? This was awesome!

And which glorious animated venture was it that we sampled this morning? You tell me! First person to leave the correct answer as a comment WINS! (wins what? why the Game of course! And maybe a chance to come over and watch it sometime) Your only clue is in the title of this post! Now get to commenting!

-Dave

SO many Titles!!! don't forget to read dave's posts

I have so many title ideas for this blog:
1. Everyone Just Calm Down
2. Okay, Okay i will tell you who came
3. Smells Like Bacon
4.Good Duffy!
5. Gruffy Dave
6. I have to give birth!! EEEkkkk

SO regarding the first one, i am very glad you are all excited to know who came to visit (it really does smell like bacon... delicious.. i am having a bacon, egg and potatoe breakfast because i basically can't have much else today. Eliminating my 'sugar' allergy, which is really just the fact that my body wants way to much sugar and doesn't do good things with it i guess. But soon that might be over!). Oh yes, the visitors. They were beautiful, from other continents, and came bearing LUNCH! One had the curious name of Allison, lighting her way with her firey red hair. She arrived from France (well, not recently, but still, she is from france), and greeted me with a kiss. The second travelor was shorter with a slender, petite frame. Her name is Ranran, and she came all the way from China to join in the eating blitz. There was a peculiar third person who proclaimed to only be there to "crash the party." Her hair was a tangle, she wore puffy vest and tattered jeans (until she took them off and proceded to eat lunch in underware. Afterall, the bottom of her pants were wet! I like this one! She's funny!), and gobbled up french bread. Hmmm, what fun it is to have eclectic friends who really know how to be themselves! Well, yes, the gang was Allison, a good good friend, her room mate Tricia (underware girl), and Ranran who was in China this summer, but has been in Canada for 4-5 years now. Allison planned the surprise, intended as part birthday present and part "we love you, just because"! It was wonderful. She worked hard to brainstorm a meal that i would absolutely love, and she hit it right on the mark! We ate tomatoe soup that was made with sour cream and pieces of onion. It was delicious. I don't think it had milk in it, just water and sour cream. I tried to make it the other day and something went wrong because it curdled. We also had Allison's famous french vinegarette dressing! The best! The salad was just green leaf lettuce and corn (another allison trademark), and of course cheese for the soup and french bread. A great feast! Allison also made 'microwave brownie' (brownie made in the microwave that comes out soft and chewy on top, and saucy on the bottom. I am not sure if it is suppose to be this way, or if this is just what we have all grown to love!) And Ranran brought cantelope and mango! Yummy! After lunch Tricia had to take off and go to class, yes with her pants on. Allie, Ranran and I just hung around and looked at books and talked! It was a wonderful time.

(EDIT: They talked about Miers Briggs the ENTIRE time, which is all Janie ever talks about anymore - D)

My bacon is still cooking. Well, i am onto the second round now but it sure is taking a long time. The package directions said to cook over low heat. I have never really done low for bacon; always just medium to high. Looks tasty though!
Hmm, what was the next topic... oh yes Good Duffy.
Last night i walked into the bedroom to find my sweet black Kitty sleeping on the bed. This is not unusual, and neither was the fact that he was sleeping like a person. He had his little head propped up on a pillow, was on his back, feet/paws in air, white nipples glaring at me through his dark, soft fur. Very cute, and very weird. I decided that since he thought he was a little human that he probably needed PJ's on to stay warm. I found one of the babies sleepers and starting dressing! He didn't mind at all, except the sleeper was too short for him. I called dave over to see the cute little site, and together we decided that a dress would be much more suiting for the kitty baby. Here's the pictures:


So, as you read in Dave's blog he is quite gruffy these days. He must be preparing for father hood. I like his gruffiness usualy. As long as his hair is done his gruff looks great! I think he just left without doing his hair; he really likes not doing his hair. Maybe he needs dreds again!
And my last thought for this blog is: I HAVE TO GIVE BIRTH IN 6-7 WEEKS. Some of you know what this means, i sure don't. But i think i am coming to a better understanding: pain, hardwork, pain management, lots of breathing, changing positions, doctors and medical stuff, and a baby! We are now thinking of getting a Doula (professional birth attendant who is there the whole time, won't sleep, adds consistency, helps out alot with comfort and suggestions, knows what they are donig...) just so we have even better chances of making it through without meds (unless something gets complicated, no worries, i really am keeping an open mind, but only if necessary! he he) They do cost a pretty penny, but dave thinks it would be worth it. Plus, there would be less pressure on him remeber every little detail we are learning, and be the "coach". He could be there to help me, and just love me, which he is very good at, and we could rely on the Doula to provide comfort measures and relaxation tips during the stressful moments. Lots to think about!
Well, that is my update!
Claire, are you in England? Are you doing to englad still? Are you still planning to come out to visit us and your new niece nephew? Let us know!
Take care all!
Janers

World's Largest Post It Note

A few months back someone in winnipeg made an ebay auction titled "World's largest Post Its", in which he/she took a pad of lined paper and applied some glue. (some of you may remember this because I emailed it to you).

Well, in my office right now is a BRAND NAME 3M Post it note measuring 2.5' x 2.08'! That's over 5 square foot of POST IT!! It's amazing. I can't stop starring at the thing.


I'm thinking it needs to go up for auction.


Or on my trophy wall at home.

"Yeah, it's a Post IT. I bagged it while on expideition deep in the Urban Jungle. It wasn't a pretty site, either. I don't mind telling you that there was self-adisive strips everywhere. It's not the kind of thing a man can forget easily.

-the preceeding was deeply dramatic and should have been read aloud in a gravelly, weathered voice.

-Dave

Biz Cas Wed

Hello All!
It's about time I posted on here, don't you think?
(You people in the comments section are getting Antsy!)

So today is Biz Cas Wed, which is the NEW Bis Cas Fri. I'm dressed in shirt-sleeves with Long Johns poking out all over the place. Mmmm! Waffle-ly warmth all over! And I haven't shaved in, like, DAYS, so I'm half way to bush man. Which is pretty awesome. I'm not thinking Janie likes it too much, but I DEFINATELY appreciate it. You know, since I hate shaving.

SOooo, there are a lot of sirens and stuff outside. And I went out and there was smoke and the smell of wood burning in the air. Apparently there's a big fire a few blocks north. I hope everyone's okay. (Bre, can you see anything from your office? Let me know!)

Sick! I totally drew a picture of myself on Biz Cas Wed, and it won't load? I've tried like Infinity times! GOSH!

Oh, and I've been trying to organize a time for people to come over and test drive my prototype Home **** runner game, but I get all nervous when I try to call people, so I'm still working on that.


Oh, and the big news about who it was that came for JAnie's big surpise on the 16th?! The people that came from OTHER CONTINENTS just to see my darling wife?

Well, I can't ruin her fun by telling you all, can I! HA!

-DAve











this is NOT the picture I wanted, but at least it loaded. Sick.

Almost the 16th!

This is a special post for a very special someone!
Don't forget about your visitor, tomorrow at Noon (unless of course the weather doesn't allow).

Now, for the rest of you almost-equally special people:
Have you seen the weather out there?! There was SO MUCH snow on our car this morning, it was CRAZY! There was about a FOOT of snow on parts of our car (not to mention on the ground around the car, where I was standing in my summer sneakers) and that's a lot considering I brushed it off twice last night as well! Oh! Heavey, soft, wonderful whiteness all around! Why am I still inside?!

-Dave

Weather Forecast

Blogger doesn't give too many choice for font, but lucky for me they have my favorite.
How have i been lately? I am still a happy pregnant person. We had a prenatal class the other night and i met some very unhappy, uncomfortable pregnant pregnant women. Not mE! Hopefuly i won't suffer payback for my absense of morning sickness with an awful labor or something equally painful.
Dave and i haven't been any bussier than normal, but we just haven't made it around to the blog site in awhile. But no body has said anything anyway.
I bought a sewing machine two weeks ago and for the first time today i threaded and bobbined it up! Oh, and of course i sewed on it. I made one panel of curtain for our gouge in the wall of a front closet. We have so many unattractive things living in this big space and we had planned from the very beginning to hide it all with curtains. One down, two to go. I am making them in 3 sections so we can easily get at the things behind them: jackets, purses, backpacks, recycling (well, i guess i won't be able to practice my aim from the kitchen with tin cans anymore), shoes, and yuckiest of all the cat box. Sorry i am not writing anything deep or personal on here. Just not in that sort of mood. PLus, i think everyone, everywhere should be aware of all the mundane things that occur in my life!
Dave is working on hanging up the curtain rod, which is really just a big wooden dowl. Alot cheaper and more attractive in my opinion! I will take a picture.
Now i have to upload the pictures. I have no energy to do that ... blahhhhhhh.
Okay i am uploading the pictures anyways. I will add them and then what do you think i should do? Movie, clean up? More sewing... reading, sweeping? Hmm, i think i will go for a bit of a movie. Right now i wish i had television; i would watch gilmore girls. Oh, the pictures are done!
(notice the lack of drill bit!)

Mysterious!

Something really exciting is happening here at the house of Us. Apparently, someone "special" is coming over on Wednesday, Nov 16th for a special something! I'm going to be at work, but I'm sure if Janie opens the door at 12 noon that day she won't regret it! Isn't that fun? She'd better have some tea ready, just in case!
-DAve

Too long

Once again, it's been entirely too long since anyone posted here. What will the readership think? So I've decided to compose a list of various thoughts chasing eachother around with the well-armoured orb atop my shoulders.

(please note: I won't be offended if this is too long for you to care!)

I have a lot of stuff to do today in the office! Thank goodness for lunch breaks. Though really, I shouldn't complain. Coming in this morning was like coming in after a week-long vacation (which it wasn't), so I guess it sorta makes sense that I feel that way.

Man, I loved that video game. Break up with people when they have your video games sucks.

I appologize for the incontinuity.

Mom, that crock-pot dinner I prepared turned out great. Except that I forgot to plug it in. Opps. Yay for raw chicken sitting in a pot for 5 hours.

The Comic book/Action figure show was pretty darn sweet this year. Me and Bre went. I bought a $35 Transformers History/Guide for $10, a Waspinator from the Beast Wars series for $9, and a Batman the Animated Series Toothbrush holder for a dollar. Very cool. Thanks Bre for the Good Times!

Bre, I hope today is a better day. Read your blog, hope your doing better. I guess it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year but....
Everybody! "I'll be there for yooooou! (when the rain starts to fall...)

This is why I don't watch TV anymore.

Sparkling!
A witches brew.
Tim Dunken.

We had a Young Adults Bon Fire with our church Young Adults group on Sunday Night. We ate SO many s'mores, quoted lines from a childhood classic, talked about all manner of anything, and generally had a pretty great time. Thanks to everybody for making it such a great event.

I'm feeling particularly random-minded today.

Pac Man!
( '< 0 0 0

Karl told me about the best documentary title ever the other day: "Beavers: the Biggest Dam Moive you've ever seen!"

I realized today that it's been a good few MONTHS since I played a decent strategy-based boardgame. And when you're trying to develope and perfect your own board game, not playing it makes this even more tradgic. This, I believe, is a crime against Dave-manity.

Have you ever wondered who Hue is and why the entire race was named after him?

I should have people over tonight to play Dave-manity. I mean a board game. A good one. Anyways.

That's enough. I'm offically going to get back to work now. Lunch break is over.
-Dave

BUGS IN SPACE!

Okay, long story short:

You may know that Janie recently dressed up as a Ladybug for a Halloween Party. You may also know that ladybugs have varying numbers and patterns of spot which indicate thier SPECIES, not their age (although the colour of spots are an indicator of age). I came acorss this fact while looking up ladybug information for Janie's costume on the world wide web. While doing so I came across this page. Cute little page about "Ladybirds", not terribly accademic. You may notice, however, an interesting addtion on the bottum of the page.

LADYBUGS IN SPACE

For years scientists have known that ladybugs will climb a stalk to capture aphids and aphids will escape by falling off the stalk with the help of gravity. The burning question that still remained was how would the aphid's defense mechanisms work in the absence of gravity? In other words, what would the aphid do to escape the ladybug in space? Finally, in 1999 four ladybugs were sent into space on NASA's space shuttle led by Eileen Collins. Ladybugs and their favorite food, aphids, were sent to zero gravity to study how aphids would get away without the aid of gravity. After completing the mission, it was evident that ladybugs survived and did eat aphids in a microgravity environment. Seems like ladybugs could qualify being astronauts!

I simply couldn't believe what I read. Surely NASA has better things to put it's time and effort (not to mention cost?) towards than Ladybugs chasing aphids. So I decided to do a little back-checking. Detective Colvinson is out on the prowl!

NASA Quest, a resource page for children and teachers, sites a online chat session where children could ask real astronauts questions. Indeed, according to this interview with Eileen Collins, leader of the famed 1999 shuttle, Eileen says that they do plan on taking ladybugs into space.

And finally, here at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov, the ships itnerary is listed, including one Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) samples included ladybugs, aphids and caterpillars.

So the United States Government is in the habit of funding the exportation of BUGS into SPACE, in order to record any possible change in their dietary habits due to a lack of gravity. And what changes did they discover? None! Way to go, team!

Now, here is my purpose for this post. I would like to hear from you, the readers, in response to these questions: What purpose could such an experiment have? Commercial? Philosophical? Purely Recreational? And should we stop at Ladybugs? What if roaches eat differently in space? Or fireflies! And what of mammals? Purhaps bats hang rightside-up in space! May dogs can actually catch their own tails! How will we know unless we try? And Would it be unethical to put sheep into space, just to see the looks on their faces?

Respond Now! Inquiring minds need to know!
-DAve

(okay, long story short-ER. sorry.)

Halloween

I don't have much to say, but I thought it has been entire too long since one of us posted on here. So I drew a picutre of me at Janie's recent Brownies/Sparks Halloween bash. I went as a crayon, and realized that I love being chased and attacked by children.
-DAve

Free Cycling!

Dave and Sue will be especially proud of us for becoming Winnipeg Freecycle memebers. We haven't seen alot being posted that we need, or want, but we sure can't wait to get rid of stuff. Actually i have someone coming to pick something any time now! How fun!

Sue, do you guys get the "once a day" email of all the posts, or do you let all the emails go into a folder? We have a folder set up, and it sure does accumulate quickly. Any tips or tricks? Well, i have lots of things to get ready for my Brownie and Spark Halloween Party tomorrow night. I have to make jello for intestines, and spag for hair, and peel some grapes for eyes... i love scary type stories... cackle cackle... but not too scary, just silly scary.

- Janers

Snow Lion

I want to share something very special that happened this past week. It started with a dream I had. I dreamed of a giant Lion made of snow, and animals running and playing on him. The dream was soft and sweet, and when I woke up (cutting the dream short) I felt wonderful. I quickly realized that the dream was the last page of my favourite Waiting Room children's book. Doctor Garret's office always had two books that I'd get my mom to read me every time we had to wait there: Stone Soup and Snow Lion, and that second book is what my dream was about. It's a sweet little book about a lion who's too hot in the jungle and travels to the mountains. There he finds this wonderful white fluffy stuff. But when he tries to bring some home to show his friends, it disappears! Where has the fluffy stuff gone?

Oh, how I LOVED that book!

Well, a few days later, Janie and I went to Value Village looking for (what else?) ...values! Janie needed to dress up as a Lady Bug for her brownie meeting on Tuesday and so we checked out some neat stuff for a costume. We also got a red backpack for me and * *** ** ********* ******** for our friend Bre's birthday. THEN, we went to the Children's book section, and what do we find? BOTH Stone Soup AND Snow Lion! The very book I read as a child, the same book from the Doctor's office, and the same book I had the dream about? Now how cool is that!

It was an absolute JOY to read a childhood favourite again for the first time in 10/15 years. The pictures (so Wonderfully painted) and the story dug out such deep memories of times sat with mom in ugly waiting room chairs. Plus, having great books always made going to the doctor's office easier. I would absolutely recommend that if you have access to any of your childhood favourites, dig them out today and relive the wonder!

With fondness and nostalgia,
-Dave

For Abe - little lesson in History

Ha! That's great mum!

My mum made a great comment on my last post, so I thought I needed to share something with everyone. For mum's sake. For Abe's sake.

If you know someone, ANYONE, who looks like the 16th US president Abraham Lincoln, you are here-by under OBLIGATION to purchase or otherwise procure a Stove-Pipe Hat for that individual. Male or female, either way. It must be done. Mum, that especailly includes Pastor Laurie!

Furthermore, it will then be your responsiblity to start throwing "Four score and seven years ago" into any and all conversations with said individual, whenever possible.


"When was the last time we had a lunch meeting?"
"Oh, I'd say about four score, maybe seven years ago."

"Who won the game last night?"
"The Yankees. The score was four and seven years ago."
-DAve


PS> Isn't it funny how Lincoln said "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here," as part of his much-loved and oft-memorized Gettysburg Address? Then again, I think the speech only REALLY made it into the public eye when it was recited by those cute little kids in Schwarzenegger's 90's classic. Oh, the memories!

Happy

I came across an interesting quote the other day in an article about success (yes, everyone loves Quotes! But I like this one, so I thought I'd share).


"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
-Abraham Lincoln


Above is an artist's interpretaion of what Abe may have looked like at the time he said it (also presented in melodramatic greyscale). That thing in front is a podeum.

I think I would like to make up my mind to be happy. I certainly wouldn't want to make my mind up to be sad.

-Dave

Reading

Just a quote from a book i was reading this afternoon:

"My dignity as Abba's child is my most coherent sense of self. When i seek to fashion a self-image from the adulation of other and the inner voice whispers, "You've arrived; you're a player in the kingdom enterprise," there is no truth in that self-concept. When i sink into despondency and the inner voice whispers, "You are not good, a fraud, a hypocrite, and a dilettante," there is no truth in any image shaped from that message. As Gerald May has noted, "It is important to recognize these self-commentaries for the mind tricks they are. They have nothing to do with our real dignity. How we view ourselves at any given moment may have very little to do with who we really are."
- Brennan Manning, Abba's Child

Hmmm, good, truthful thoughts about being God's child. This book is like a wonderful bowl of soup; it certainly warms the inside with truth and fills you up for a long time.

-J

Growing, Growing, Grown

Hi Friends and Family,

Just a few update pictures here so you know how HOT i am still! SO we are sitting at about 28 weeks, approx. 6 mnths and a like one week along. In a little less than 3 mnths we will have this little baby of ours! Now comes the tougher part of being pregnant. My second trimester i was a blissful pregnant woman, now sleeping is getting a little harder, the baby kicks my bladder lots, my front end is actually starting to feel heavey, i can't bend over the hump like i could a few weeks ago, etc.... Nothing horrible, actually, everything quite normal i hear! I am glad the baby is growing, and still growing in me at that. Yesterday I saw a picture of a little baby born 3 mnths premature; way too tiny. Poor little baby just looked like it wanted to be back inside the womb. Somebody needed to snuggle that baby is a blankey. I have to be off to work now. Good days to all.
Janie

ornage juice

I am totaly bummed out. I am having some orange juice and checking my email and blog and such, and i totaly dumped a bunch on my WHITE shirt. Now i have to pick another shirt to wear this morning. But i picked this one cause i wanted to wear it... Janie and the horrible, terrrible, no good very bad day. Arg... hopefully things brighten up. I am off to church now, in a new shirt..
signing off,

Mad at Orange Juice

I really, REALLY wanted to blog today. But I couldn't really think of any one thing to write about. So I wrote a poem about my lunch.



My favourite bite in a bagel
Is the bite that just isn't there.
I snap my teeth tight
Yet there's nothing to bite
But deliciously-clean Bagel Air!

The bready bits 'round the outside
Are crunchy and tasty and neat.
But they cannot compare
To what's simply not there
A center so nothingly-sweet!






I think I've been reading too much Shel Silverstien. Or maybe just not enough. Anyways. Eat a bagel for me.
-DAve

Pigs are Getting Fat

In my elementary school we had to sing a song that went something like this: "Christmas is coming, Pigs are getting Fat, won't you please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny and half a cent will do (very confusing to a young child who then tries to break her cents in half) if you haven't got a half a cent, God Bless You."
Christmas memories! You may be asking yourself why i am cherishing Christmas memories in Early October. Well today Dave and i pulled out our Christmas Decorations in preperation for our upcoming Christmas Party. This saturday anyone is invitied to attend our festivities! It will be silly to have our house all decked out for Christmas, but i think it will also be very enjoyable. Right now i have on a Christmas CD. I just love Christmas music. I have a little more baking to get done... nothing better than Christmas treats, and some cleaning to accomplish before i head off for a short day at work. Merry Ocotober to everyone! All i can think about is paper snowflakes.

Hello all. Dave here again.
I'm feelin' decidedly un-vivacious today. So I drew a little picture. It's me at my desk, in melodramatic greyscale. My favourite part is the sideburns.

One of the priest just said I look tired. But not like population tire. That's different.

This is my first ever "Blogger-break" at work (15 minute Blogger distractions). I think it's helped. Thanks for reading, everybody.
-DAve

In cog-Neato!

Greetings!

It is I, Dave Colvinson, once again returning to you through the wonders of cyber-space!

Here is a picture of me after my latest plastic surgery. The surgery part was that I trimmed the mustache. It got in my mouth and tasted funny, so I gave 'er a trimmin'.

SO!
What have I been up to lately? Well, I tried my hand at a little wood-working, as some of you know. I've recently been working my way through Megaman X for the SNES, which is challenging yet light-hearted; a bold encapsulation of the struggle between good and evil... which is to say evil robots.... which is also to say (EW! Janie is Gross! she tried to trick me into eating CELERY! Pooph!) which is also to say (EWW! Celery-flavoured kisses! Yuck!) which is also to say something else. I forget. I've also been trying to finish a board game based on my favourite online something, which, if I do say so myself, is truning out pretty darn awesome.

In closing, I loved Corpse Bride. It was so pretty and awesome. Seriously. I can't get it out of my head. I loved just about every second of it. If you liked Edward Scissor hands and The Nightmare before Christmas, then this movie is a must. If you didn't, if you thought they were too weird or something, then the story might be too creepy, I dunno. Janie was concerned that I wouldn't like it, but I was too ENTHRAWLED to note any such problems. The story was really good, the characters engaging and lovable (yes, including the dead ones), and such. But my goodness, the ART was IMPECIBLE. I saw my dreams jobs, all of them, up on screen and wrapped up so beautifully. Stop-motion abso-total-lutely rocks. I'm at a loss to describe the awesomeness. A wickedly wonderous film. Loved it. Two thumbs. Way to go Tim Burton for challenging the social stigma held by Westerns against the dead. Boo-yah.
-DAve

Cravings!

Dave and I are doing wonderful! We don't have many plans for thanksgiving weekend. We will probably go to our friends house one of the days for a group dinner, but nothing has really been planned yet. Anyone want a Dave and Janie at their dinner??? I have almost forgotten that it is Thanksgiving; the month of september has just blown by. Plus, it is snowing today! We are getting the end of a storm that apparently blew in from Colorado. The snow is not suppose to stay very long, maybe until friday. I am hoping for a sunny saturday, sunday and monday. Maybe that is greedy, but i could really use a sunny, beautiful, crisp Thanksgiving weekend! It is sorta funny to look outside and see snow, it will be even more interesting to go out in it today and wait for the bus.
This fun picture is of Dave and me eating garlic bread at 11:30 at night. A few days ago, sunday evening actually, i totaly had a craving for garlic bread, but everything is closed on Sunday evening and we didn't want to go to a resturant. Instead we waited a few days and then rushed into safeway just before closing and bought garlic bread. Dave says this is my first "late night" craving! Oh, we also bought some ice cream just in case! It was fun, so we took a picture. I feel like my tummy is getting bigger by the week, sometimes by the day. This is a good thing i know; i wouldn't want anybody to stop growing!
I have lots of things on my todo list today so i had better get going on that!

Take Care all

For Sue and Dave and Julia!

S & D & J:

Dave found this cute cute picture somewhere in the files where we keep pictures! I wanted to put it up so that if you want to have it in your files you can save it and keep it! So sweet!
We always enjoying the photos and write ups you post. I am very glad to know what is happening in your day to day lives!! Well, it is morning, before work, and i have to start getting ready now! have good days!

My Birthday!

So today was my BIRTHDAY! And i had a wonderful day from the very start! Dave brought me breakfast in bed: egg in a whole, a little bacon, and orange juice! My favortie type of egg! After that he brought me my presents! The best of all was that the bed side table (you see below) was HAND MADE! Dave cut and sawed and contructed it all! He even put little leaf cut outs on the side, just because he loves me! I love it so very much! A true original (dave and the table!). Now i can retire my cardboard bedside table for a gesture of love!
I really wanted to spend the day with friends, so in the evening we had people over for homemade icecream cake that dave created all on his own. I asked him to make it, but the cake itself was a surprise because it made it at our friends house and i had no idea what he was putting in it. He used chocolate bars, and cookies, and lots of layers of my favorite ice creams. One friend brought over a delicious pumpkin cake on a cake stand that i get to keep as the present! All our friend brought over their good company, love, and laughter, and some very lovely presents for me as well! I truly felt loved and spoiled on this birthday!
Oh Pumpkin and ice cream cake! Does life get any more delicious?!
Lots of Goodies for everyone!
The beautiful table!

Bre and Ernie: cherished friends!

Everyone: very wonderful and spectacular people and friends!

I also got a chance to spend the afternoon with a friend and have lunch. We met together at the forks, and we were actually wearing the same outfit: long sleeved red shirts under blue vests, with jeans! Cute us! I got a wonderful phone call from my sis-in-law, my new parents (mary and chris), my best friend from BC, and i spoke with my mom as well! Super day, i couldn't ask for anything more at all!
Thanks God!

Dave's Talents

Dave has many talents that he likes to share with his friends and family. Of course he can juggle a spoon on his english shnooze! He can take beautiful black and white pictures of Janie doing nothing of importance. He can take the same picture, but blurry, and he can give the camera to his wife who can take pictures of the cute cuddly kitties (also out of focus)! Those are all the talents Dave has for now. I think he will keep building his resume of skills! Hope you enjoyed the nonsense.

I see a person folding a blanket

So the last post included a very old picture, and this is a very new picture! Here we are in our green living room! Actualy i thought the green was going to turn out more like the background color of this blog template, but as you can see it is brighter, which we are very happy with!
Soon it is going to be my birthday, and i am very happy about this. Dave of course is trying to surprise me; he always has something up his sleeve, doing his best to give me clues that are all wrong. I told him i probably wouldn't put too much energy into guessing what he is doing, one cause i am not a very good guesser (although dave claims otherwise), and two i like surprises so i just don't go around snooping and peeking! My birthday falls on my day off this year so i get to meet a friend for lunch, and then get the apartment ready for having friends over for cake. I asked dave to construct some sort of ice cream cake with cookie crumbs and chocolate bars! Friends are coming over to share the cake, and probably play some games! I like people and i just wanted to spend the evening with people that we care about! I think i get to go out with some friends the next night as well, although i don't know what we will be doing that night. I had a dream last night that my birthday just kept going and going... how fun!
Tonight i am just going to catch up on some emails, and maybe unpack a box or two. I am getting more and more anxious to get boxes out of the babies room so that i can actualy start playing with the furniture and setting it all up! Oh joy!

The class

This is mine and Dave's first picture together! Isn't that sweet! We weren't even dating, but we had told each other we liked each other.. so this was the awkward inbetween week. But is had some definte perks and joys! ahhh, young love!
Well, a couple people asked what class i am taking, so i will take some time to tell you! The course is called Counseling skills level 1, and it is the first in a small applied counseling certificate that i plan on doing over the next five years. I was going to try in two years, but that was before little baby joined our lives! The certificate is only 11 courses long, but they leave the time frame open to the student because it is through continuing education! So the first class was super. We talked alot about the client centered type of counselling we are going to be focusing on learning. It is challening because this type of couseling sees the client as the person with the solution, not the counsellor, so even when the client asks/ says" what should i do to..., i just don't know what to do... i want to ask this question... i am asking this about life, what do you think..." the counsellor is helps them to explore their own question! The professor is excellent, and we are doing alot of discussion and role plays. The course just started last night, friday, and it runs friday night and all day saturday for three weekends, so i just finished the first weekend. Already today we were recording 10 min role plays for marks! I think everyone started the day feeling pretty anxious, but we all had a good time in the end. It is more about honest feedback at this point than actual skills. I mean we really did just learn and discuss these skills last night, now we need to practice them. I am glad i have a place at work to practice. I might be pouncing on people to talk to me now though... he he he... I think i will get some more reading done tonight. I just got home and dave is not here. I was not suppose to be home until 5 however, and it is 4:45, so i expect him soon! I think he is out shopping for a little birthday gift for me! I see on a piece of paper that we might be going out to a friend tonight! Looks like dave made some fun plans.. i see the word cake! That excites me! So, that is about it for now. Don't worry, i won't try to counsel any of my friends or my husband... that is just an unbrilliant thing to attempt! Keep exploring the world!

Back to School

I normally work on fridays, but because i am going BACK TO SCHOOL, i have the day off from work to do readings and prep. And yes, i am actually doing the readings and the prep. I am just having a little lunch/tea/internet break. I am excited, but nervous that i won't be able to find the class room because the one paper explaining that i was indeed registered, and my course would be in 'this' building, did not include a class number. I am sure it will be quite easy to figure out once i am there.
Back to the books, back to learning (i love to learn)!

September

It is mid september today and I am very happy about this. September is a wondeful month, and not just because it is my birthday! I have always enjoyed the changing of season, especially from summer to autumn. In winnipeg we have had an early autumn (which hopefuly does not signify an early winter as well). Some side walks are well laden with brown crunchy leaves, and other trees are still comepletly green. I am also very glad that there are seasons in life. I am glad we move from young to old and accomplish many different things along the way. Just the other night I was talking with a few different elderly people and I realized stronger than i ever had before that they are certainly in a different stage of life, but that their stage of life is just as enjoyable. Although i am very excited to be entering the motherhood stage of life, and i am also excited to think about the middle stage of life, and even the day when i might meet a Grandchild.
I am also glad that things are always changing. The state i am in right now will pass, and soon circumstance will be different. This goes for most everything, and thankfully so, because it gives unending room for the movement of the Holy Spirit and God! Seasons: summer, autumn, winter spring... every single one is worthwhile and important; every stage of life makes way for the next at just the right pace!
Oh leaves, keep on falling!

This is it! Here is our little baby, thus far, at 23 weeks. It probably would not be able to survive outside the womb. If it did it would have some serious health problems for the rest of its life, so let's just hope it doesn't come out yet, even though it looks so formed.
This picture of the spine is my favorite! On the left is the head, and the spine came to a perfect little point that you can't see in this photo! When you are looking at these you really have to think "skeleton" because you can mostly make out the bones!

Here are the legs! The pic on the left is the leg bending up with the knee in the middle. You can sorta make out a flat foot at the very left end of the leg. The one on the right is just some random leg, doing something. Again, just bone!







Need i say much about this lovely shot of the hand! There were a few images on screen where we could only count 4 fingers. It was kinda funny to joke, knowing that the thumb was just hiding!








Awww, the face! The next two pictures use arrows to point to the features. The nose is the whitish blob, skeleton like, and the mouth is the little slit underneat the nose. Just before the Lab tech still framed this image the baby opened its mouth, and we caught the little slit. I could not make out where the mouth was at all until the baby opened it up! It is practising swallowing amniotic fluids so it knows how to breath! Smart little thing! The lab tech said that the baby totaly yawned while she was doing her lab measurement images!




































In the image on the left you can see a forearm and hand! The one on the right the arm is almost doing a muscle curling pose!









And here is a little upside down foot print. Again dave highlighted the image so you could make it out more clearly! The stuff to the right is pelvis apparently. If we knew what we were looking for we might be able to tell the sex.. perhaps... but we don't want to know anyway! cute little foot! Glad to know the baby has all its extremities!

















Dave has to go into work this morning for ten and i am going to walk with him and then walk back home! I hope you enjoyed looking at these as much as we have! I don't know if i will have another ultrasound in the future or not, so this might be it until we see the baby face to face!
happy sunny autumn days to you all (it is autumn here, unlike everywhere else!)

New Colors

Here are some pictures of our new place, before, and after!
We just had the ultra sound today, so no news yet! But i can say there is just one baby in there, and it is happy! We have pictures which we will scan tonight or sometime and post! Enjoy

This is our new place.. boring and white! And now it is spectacular and colorful! We finally have the furniture in some sort of order and can unpack boxes soon! The colors looks a little brigther than they are in this picture, especially the blue. But, you get the picture!This is Janie (duh!) @ about 22 weeks... there is a little bit of showing baby there! It sure does feel like it is growing quickly. I am now about 23 weeks and i feel bigger already!

And here is me today! Dave takes random pictures!

Moved In

It is Tuesday, September 6th. We started our moving adventure last week tuesday evening, and are finally able to start uppacking boxes! We did have ourselved somewhat settled into the new place; furniture was starting to find homes and the kitchen was entirely set up, until.. dun dun dun.. we decided that the walls were just too white and now was the time to do something about it. So we PAINTED! Wow, did we ever choose some bright colors in the end, but come winter when everything around us is white and dirty brown we will be alive and invigorated by our green, blue and orange walls. This project took all weekend and many coats of paint. I will post pictures when we get our phone and internet hooked up in our new place, hopefully that happens tomorrow!
In other breaking news we have our first UltraSound thursday morning! Oh exciting to finally see the little baby! The due date is in question so we have a little more information after this visit i hope. And no worries, i will be sure to post EVERYTHING we find out, and maybe we can get the pics up for fam elsewhere (which is everyone really!)
Many happy returns!