Gleem!

This afternoon I was given the opportunity to sit with my mom and sister, drinking coffee and eating cheesecake all while trying on beautiful pieces of jewellery! We were blessed today by Jane, who makes unique pieces of jewellery, by being given some new jewellery for our wardrobe. Each piece is unique and we were all able to find more than one thing that we loved!

Jane sells her jewellery (Gleem Jewellery) on her etsy store (click here to check it out). You can also see pictures of her stuff on her Facebook page. 

Thank you Jane for taking the time to visit with us and to check out Women Refreshed at the Well, and thank you so much for these beautiful gifts of jewellery!!

Here are some of the pieces we chose!

day 28: a good thing

a sister in law that is just a sister (who needs the "in law" title?)

a sister who is a best friend

having two of these sisters

a good thing!

4 years and many more to come

us and our 4 sweet ring bearers - kieran, simon, jackson and marcus - and simon is holding a little stuffed animal blue jay since we had Jay as our honorary ring bearer)

 today is my 4th wedding anniversary
4 years ago I married my best friend
and every day since then I have fallen more in love with him
enjoyed his friendship more
found out new things about him
learned how to become a better wife
and have been loving life with him beside me!
this is our last anniversary as a family of 2
next year we will have a baby with us on our annivesary!
we were talking about it when we went out for breakfast today and it is surreal
we are very blessed and very thankful for all that we have
here are some pictures from our wedding & our honeymoon

this is when we went quading in a mexican jungle

hanging out on our balcony on our cruise ship

our rings!

me and my beautiful bridesmaids

here we are- newly married!

our cake toppers - made by Carolyn Fuchs - I still day dream about having another piece of this cake...

happy anniversary Michael. I love you more every day!

day 24: 3 things

3 things

well, in this picture there are 3 of my favorite people

they aren't 'things' but there are 3 of them

hanging out the 4 of us is one of my favorite things to do

i love having siblings that are friends as well as family

3 things - leah, josh & michael

the best!

day 22: up

so, these 2 photos are something that never fails to cheer me UP. and that is how it qualifies to fit under the title "up".
my friend audrey & I used to work together and we were at a work conference when we took these pictures and the day had been a bit.. long.
hope they cheer you UP too

my one and only

I'm not sure if this is the case for everyone, but I have found that one of the most wonderful things about being pregnant is that it has made Michael & I closer than ever!

We had friends of ours over the other day and they asked us if we would call each other our best friend, and of course we easily said YES! They felt the same way about one another, and it was fun to be able to talk about the fact that we weren't just married couples, but we were couples who were best friends and wanted to be with no one else as much as with our spouse. I know that is not the case for every married couple, and so we have just been really grateful for this lately.

Over the last few months, there have been many times where we have just stopped what we are doing or talking about to say, Hey I just really love you!! It's a fun thing to practice doing, making a point to tell your spouse when you think of them, and think about how special they are to you!

This weekend is Father's Day, and although I realize that some people wouldn't celebrate mother's day & father's when they are pregnant, because the baby isn't "here".. that isn't how we roll. The day we found out we were pregnant was the day we officially became parents. So Michael celebrated me on Mother's day, and I intend to celebrate him on Father's day.

When Michael and I were dating he used to write me an email every morning, and also would write me notes during school. So, for Mother's day he wrote me a letter and it was the best gift!! I have read it over many times since then. Telling me why he thought I'd be a great mom, why he loves me, and how much he loves our baby already. It was thoughtful and personal, and made my day. (On a side note.. a very exciting side note, the reality of me being a mom sunk in big time yesterday - I felt my baby move for the first time. Made my heart beat way too fast. I felt it again today, and it is pure magic!!)

Today on the radio I heard one of my favorite songs, a dave matthews song. Michael and I love Dave Matthews. It made me smile to hear it, because it's how I feel about my guy, my one and only. And now that we are parents, the line about teaching our kids to fly just makes me smile, ear to ear. Give it a listen, it's bound to make you smile. Oh, and go tell your man you love him!

You and Me - Dave Matthews
Wanna pack your bags, 
Something small 
Take what you need and we disappear 
Without a trace we'll be gone, gone 
The moon and the stars can follow the car 
and then when we get to the ocean 
We gonna take a boat to the end of the world  
All the way to the end of the world
 
Oh, and when the kids are old enough 
We're gonna teach them to fly
You and me together, 
we could do anything, Baby 
You and me together 
yes, yes
 
You and I, we're not tied to the ground 
Not falling but rising like rolling around 
Eyes closed above the rooftops 
Eyes closed, we're gonna spin through the stars 
Our arms wide as the sky 
We gonna ride the blue all the way to the end of the world 
To the end of the world 
 
We can always look back at what we did 
All these memories of you and me baby 
But right now it's you and me forever girl 
And you know we could do better than anything that we did 
You know that you and me, we could do anything

what a day!

today I am pining.
pining for the lake, the cabin, relaxation, time with family, reading for hours, boating, digging my feet into the sand, hearing the leaves rustling in the wind, bike riding, smiley face cookies, movie watching, washing dishes by hand, dad's homemade hashbrowns, endless cups of coffee, etc.

i took this picture 2 years ago at the lake

I think it's a combination of the beautifully warm day we're having today (high of +27!), the fact that may long weekend is just around the corner (which is normally the first weekend we consider going down to the cabin) and the sound of the trees & leaves rustling in the wind that is coming through my window.

We have a window in our bathroom, and this morning when I was in the shower I opened the window and took a deep breath and thought to myself, it smells like being at the lake. The air was so fresh and crisp. And everything is so green and full of life. What a wonderful day.

so I'm pining.
Being at the lake is among my top 5 favorite things in life.
With my job, I have the luxury of having every weekend be a long weekend (I don't work Mondays) and I intend to spend as much time as possible at the lake.

What's your favorite summer thing that you're pining for?

birthdays, colds & rainy days.

spring is here - at least that's how I feel with this rainy day

we got home from our trip to Florida on Friday to a wonderful surprise - all of the snow is gone! It made coming home a little easier, but truthfully, I could've easily stayed for another week or two. Laying by the pool, reading novels, visiting with family, waking up to see Everett & Roger, enjoying 30 + weather. Can't complain :)

However, coming home from Florida was good to, mostly because there is no bed as comfortable as ours at home! We flew home on Friday - my birthday! Nothing like being up and about at 3am on your birthday! The airplane gave me a gift.. a nasty cold. One of the worst I have had in years. I think it was a combination of being up early and needing more sleep, then having the air conditioning and air blowing on me on the plane.. etc. etc. For whatever reason, it was given to me as a gift and it is terrible.

Last night as I was trying to fall asleep I was terrified that I would be unable to breathe at night. My nose was so stuffed up, that if I went to swallow, it was like it closed my soft palate or something, and I kind of choked for a breath. Has that ever happened to anyone?? So I wandered around the house, collecting pillows so I could be nicely propped up. However, after 2 hours of trying to sleep at that angle, I gave up and used some more nasal spray, jammed some kleenex up my nose and hoped that sleep would come. It did.. eventually, but being back at work today has not been pleasant. I could've used a few more hours. And you always know you're looking great when the first thing someone says to you is "oh. are you sick??"

Oh well. In about 20 minutes I'm going to Pineridge Hollow with my dear friend Audrey to celebrate our birthdays. It will be cozy in there as we watch the rain and catch up. My cold won't ruin that!

I'm 27 now. That is very close to 30! It sounds old to me, but also not really at all. I think it only feels old when I think about the fact that Michael is 23. To be honest, I don't really feel a year older. Each year, birthdays seem to be less and less of an "event", in the way it was when I was younger. I also noticed last year when it was my first birthday off of facebook, that when people don't recognize your birthday it feels less like an "event". All of the friends that would've sent me a one line happy birthday message on facebook didn't send me anything because no one (except me I think) uses a calendar. Another sad reality of social networking. I was thinking about it though, as maturely as I could, that the emails and phone calls and texts that I did get on my birthday were from people who genuinely thought of me! And that is actually more special to me than the 100 one line messages I used to get on Facebook because it appeared on people's screens as a reminder that it was my day. I also realized that there are people who's birthdays I don't remember or recognize since I left facebook because we just don't communicate on a regular basis, so it's not that I actually expected (or even hoped) that I would get all of those messages. Is this making sense?? All that to say, I got only a handful of birthday messages and greetings, but each one was personal and meaningful, and I am very thankful for each one.

We celebrated on my actual birthday with our cousins Chris, Emilee & Chloe while watching the jets game and eating pizza & treatzza pizza from DQ. Then Sunday evening was spent with the Thiessen's. Next Friday is my supper/party with my family. I would say my favorite gift around birthdays is just being with family and friends. Anything else is just a bonus. (And I have received some of the best gifts ever thus far...)

Now I am rambling. I blame it on my cold!

In summary: I am a year older - 27 - 3 years away from 30 and happy to be it. I am loving this rainy weather, and would love to be snuggled up reading a book. I am very thankful for family & friends. And I am very much looking forward to my afternoon with Audrey :)

january & february

it's been awhile since I've posted any pictures and they are really starting to collect on my computer! Time to share them. So here is January & February!

 me and my sweet little man. he was saying "cheese" in the picture - just like I told him too!! I love every minute I get to spend with him!

 my big brother turned 30! 'twas a fun night

yup - 30 candles. on a delicious jeanne's cake 

this was our first encounter with the sparkler on steroids - it is crazy! 

 a cake from Phoebe - to "celebrate" us selling our dream car (our Tucson) "Tucker" in January. Sad, but right. 

isn't he the sweetest?? rogie - the sweetest new addition to the klassen family 

look how big he is! ah! he is growing like crazy. 

a zoo!! Ev's favorite toy at granny's (the whole zoo, not just this sweet little penguin) 

a funny valentine from my funny valentine 

 a typical night around here. we have very snuggly cats!

poppa's birthday - waiting for him to come up to see his present! 

the big reveal of the gift! But poppa's eyes were mostly on Ev - he was born to be a poppa! 

our gift to Dad this year - the guys built him an ice fishing shack 

the men - minus Roger 

granny & poppa getting some snuggle time in 

<3 

don't you just want to smooch those cheeks?!  

waiting for poppa's sparkler to go off.. not so sure about it all.. 

voila! 

my man decided to stop shaving & cutting his hair! gotta love him :)

roses from my man 

tulips from my mom & my sweet owls from audrey 

more tulips! 

my sweet little porcelain cat 

my latest pottery creation that I painted at brush fire  

and finally - my hot pink mug! i searched for YEARS for a hot pink mug for one of my besties - shauna. This year I actually found one! Then I decided I wanted to have one too.. so I just got it in the mail. love it!!

now I'm ready for March (and spring!) 

christmas aspirations

school is done!!
time for Christmas :)

I have already been working on the things on my "christmas aspirations list" (an idea given to me by my fabulous friend audrey) She made my list all fancy for me and it's up on my fridge. A good way to make sure that I do the things I love doing around Christmas!

i baked sugar cookies last night with my sister phoebe & my mom-in-law, i put my christmas cards to out-of-town friends in the mail today, mike put up our lights on the house last night (first time we've had lights on the house since we got married!), michael & i made a snowman at midnight a few weeks ago when it was snowing so beautifully. we made a snowman and then went for a walk as the snow was falling. i have sung stille nacht numerous times (this is the first year in a long time that i'm not singing at mcivor on christmas eve. partially because i'm not part of the choir this year and also because the service was cancelled), we have attended 2 christmas plays (eastview dinner theater and kilconas christmas play) we have officially had egg nog in the house since monday, we bought and decorated our real tree this week.. 

i made a wreath out of white  & green yarn as well as some gold twig things. it's hanging in the kitchen.  i have also gone through a few potfuls of stovetop potpurri.. smells like christmas to me. 

my afghan is a continuous project.. i almost have 175 squares done!

having family over/visiting with family is not one of my aspirations that i will cross off because i want to keep visiting the whole season long!!

we are planning to make a gingerbread house with everett on the 26th (the day our family is celebrating christmas) i think it'll be fun and messy!

the second side of my list is not as complete.. i have watched 2 of the 4 movies on my list, made my own ornaments, listened to christmas music constantly. i have volunteered - singing at a woman's brunch - and that is where my list ends. i am very much looking forward to puzzling, skating, tobogganing, and hopefully i can find some home videos to watch. 

i love the season of Christmas. time to slow down and spend time with family. michael & i are also going to have our own little christmas - we are going to fargo next week for 3 days! And - as a wonderful christmas bonus - Chad will be home this weekend!! we are very thrilled.

if anyone is having trouble getting into the christmas season you should watch one of my all time favorite christmas videos. it is so wonderful, sweet and simple that it makes me tear up every time. especially when they have a party. the season of christmas can become so busy. but the story and the gift of christmas is so wonderful, simple and amazing!

christmas & school don't mix

it is december and the end of the school year is in sight!!
monday is my last day of classes - and on that day I have a major paper due in one class (topic still to be chosen.. been having a hard time, even though the topic is "anything relating to 19th century music" I am not a fan of such broad topics) - 3 smaller papers (1-2 pagers) in the other class, and a "quiz" (in my bible class we don't have an exam during the regular exam time. just a shorter quiz)

so the end is near, but it's getting worse before it's getting better. this weekend will be filled with research, paper writing and studying.

but it's the christmas season! and I feel like I'm being gypped of the start of it. thankfully my friend Audrey & I had our "christmas launch party" last night - which consisted of starbucks christmas drinks, peppermint middles oreo cookies, listening to stille nacht (ok that was by chance in starbucks, but still - check!), chatting, crocheting (on my part) and watching The Holiday. I also wore my "festive sweater" to make it complete.

I feel a bit like the picture up top. about to step into the christmas spirit, but then I just want to put everything else (aka school) on the shelf so I can spend time with family and friends, going to plays and dinners, singing carols, making gingerbread and celebrating Jesus's birth. But the more I avoid my school to-do list.. the more stressed I am, and that is not what I want this season to be about!

only a few more days..

in the meantime, I will get even more into the holiday spirit by listening to christmas music constantly. my favorite cd so far this year is...

 You can download it for $10 on iTunes, you should do it! It will fill your home with wonderfully enjoyable Christmas tunes. or check it out on: www.sheandhim.com
(Vocals, piano & ukele by Zooey Deschanel, Vocals, Guitar & Organs by M. Ward)

thanksgiving

happy thanksgiving weekend!

for anyone wishing they had made their own thanksgiving dinner... I put up a new post on my recipe blog, outlining the whole dinner, start to finish. you can read that here.

i have had a lot on my mind lately, I often get nostalgic around holidays, and more introspective when i'm busy (which is the case right now with being in school and working) I have also been a lot more emotional (I am off my anti-depressants and have found that the tears flow a lot more frequently, and easily. but i'm ok with that right now)

This morning in church there were so many songs that brought me to tears. i think it's also because i am becoming more aware of the holy spirit and the way that he speaks to us and nudges us - i'm doing a bible study with a few girls on the fruit of the spirit and the first two weeks have had a good focus on the Holy Spirit in general, and ways that the Holy Spirit works, etc, so I have been thinking about this a lot more. Instead of a sermon this morning, the elders of the church lead a lot of sharing time, and people were able to stand up and share what they were thankful for. I have a lot to be thankful for...
my husband, 2 wonderful families, 2 nephews and another baby on the way for me to be an auntie to, a new & welcoming church family, a house that i feel warm & comfortable in, 2 cats that keep me company and make me laugh, many friends - both here and far (bc, ontario & alaska specifically), a legacy of faith within my family and especially from the examples of my grandparents, luxuries like a nice car and a bank account that is never completely empty, the freedom to vote, to worship, to have an opinion (thank goodness or I'd be in a lot of trouble most of the time! ha ha), a love for worship and a voice that I can use in that way, a plot of land that will soon have a new home beside 2 of our best friends - josh & leah, health, a lot of laughter, the chance to go back to school & graduate this year, good jobs (that we love) and the "abundance & faithfulness of christ" (as someone put it this morning in church). and so much more, i could write for days and not be done.. which reminds me of one of my favourite lines in my favourite hymn -

"could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made. were every stalk on earth a quill and everyone a scribe by trade - to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky... the love of God - how rich and pure, how measureless & strong. it shall forever more endure the saints & angels song"

my heart is filled to overflowing with thanks!

snapshots of summer

today i was walking home from starbucks, listening to my iPod, and enjoying the breeze, and it made me miss the lake. since september has hit, we haven't been back to the lake. it's been nice to get some stuff done around the house on the weekends, but i am not done with the lake yet! since i couldn't get out there this weekend, i decided to post some of my favourite pictures from the summer. you'll notice there are a lot of pictures of everett, and honestly.. it's because he's my favourite thing!!

enjoy the pictures!

 canada day at the farm! this was a very sweet kitten

 the pensive look on ev's face just kills me! he was not so sure about this goat.

 poppa & ev, best buds

 i love watching everett & leah together, such a sweet pair

 my bff & i

 taking ev out on the water

 lots of fun!

 a full boat! even ruth was there that weekend :)

 i love watching ev's face when he sees Josh

 my dad discovered this nest of baby birds right by the cabin!

 when we are away.. the cats will play. came home to this mess of yarn one day.

 a gift from my friend lisa - russian dolls that are measuring cups!

 the next shots are pictures of the perennials that i planted this year!

 doing some organizing one afternoon.. my cat, chips, decided to give me a hand..

 this year i reorganized our bedroom furniture and finally put up pictures from our wedding, i love it.

 PUMPED about his play structure

 this tattoo makes me miss my grandma, in a wonderfully loving, thankful way.

 my mom & her bestie, auntie josie

 my man, showing off his moves!

 i love this one, where he's doing a "yes!" pose for landing a jump!

 we went across the sand bar one day, and i couldn't get over how still the lake was!

 my man and his summer hair! it's all gone now!

 mom & me

 dad & mike checking out the lake

and finally.. the help i get from chandler when i am doing laundry!

happy summer! and this week, happy autumn!!