.3/4 cake decorator

Because I work at Michaels, I was given the opportunity to take cake decorating classes for free! Ok, lets be honest here, I wrote that backwards. I should have said: I work at Michaels because I get to take cake decorating classes for free!

I made it to the first three classes and LOVED IT!!

My decorating isn’t amazing or anything… but I definitely learned a lot and got some good practice in.

Sadly, I missed the fourth and final class due to Air’s pneumonia (I’m a good wife and sat at the hospital all day (he is doing so much better today by the way! Thanks for asking!)).

But lets just assume that my final cake would have looked something like this:

*photo found on the world wide web

Luckily I'm friends with the teacher, so I'll probably get to take that last class soon!

.bad monday

Air has pneumonia.
His fever got so high yesterday morning he was getting delusional.
Not gonna lie, I was pretty scared.
We spent the entire day at the hospital.
fever, migraines, nausea, coughing, sore everywhere, dizzy, slow speech, exhaustion... you name it. It's not fun.
I'm trying to take care of the poor boy.

We're hoping he starts feeling better by Canada Day this weekend??
Get better Air! We've got plans! ;)

.park fundraiser

A friend asked me to volunteer as the photographer at her community’s fundraiser to build a park. She said that the mayor and some other political leaders would be there. A councilman and MLA. No big deal?

Then I asked Air to volunteer as a photographer for a fundraiser to build a park.

Same fund raiser.

I decided that Air is a better photographer than me.

Evidence:

But taking pictures of adults standing around got pretty boring after a while.

To be honest, most of the pictures were of some awesomely cute kids with painted faces…

We had a great weekend. Hope yours was excellent too!

.Father's Sunday happenings

We had such a great weekend for Father’s Day. On Saturday Air went out to lunch with his Dad while I was at work, and later we all went for a long drive around Edmonton and to a movie. Edmonton is so beautiful, it is just so exciting to drive around and discover parts of the city that we’ve never seen before. I love it!

We also gave Air’s Dad a gift on Sunday (see video below). He is such an awesome Father to us and we’re grateful we have him.

************

It has been raining here, non-stop for the past week or so. Air and I love the rain, but we discovered this week that when our window wells get so full of water it will start seeping into our apartment like a waterfall around the windows… apparently our new windows aren’t quite as sealed as we assumed they’d be!? Luckily I was home and caught most of the water before it did any damage. It did give me a heart attack tho!

My mother-in-law’s beautiful plants have been soaking up all the moisture… I think they’ve had enough now. We’re all pretty happy to see the sun back out today!

.A Merging Marriage

*Niki, Ambs and Nichole in 2008

I grew up about five houses down the street from Choley (Nichole), and have been best friends with that girl since I can remember. When we were little we would pretend we were sisters and wish it were really true. We would've given anything to be related to each other and have sleepovers every night! We have done everything together.
Over time we've grown, but our friendship has grown too.

Nichole's cousin Niki started coming around and playing with us shortly after high school. We are so alike and pretty much became instant BFF's and sisters. I've felt like a part of their family for so many years, going to all of their family gatherings and even dated another one of their cousins.

These girls have been my best friends, bosom buddies, kindred spirits, amigos and honorary sisters for so many years.


But........
On this day, the twenty-first of June in the year of our Lord 2011, I become related to two of my best buds: Nichole Marie Potter and Niki Rich Dueñas. Through the marriage of my cousin Alita Ellis to Niki's brother Lucas Philipoom

*photos taken from Niki's blog

Awesome!

I can't help but think, 'Would this not be the best news in the world to the 12 year old me?'
It would be!

The only problem now is that I'm not down there to enjoy the only wedding ever with all of my family members and friends joined together in one room.
It kinda hurts my heart to be missing it today.

So, I think I'll spend some time looking through our old cheesy photos, in honor of the events I'm missing down South... *sniff sniff*

I could go on and on with these... haha

Oh yes, many congrats to Ali and Lucas!

.Dader's Day

Riddle: One of these things is just like the other

Answer: Dad

My Dad is the best dad. A true sweetheart down to his very core.

One of the most true and humble human beings ever to sojourn here on earth. A saint, even.
...and I know that's saying a lot.

When Air first met my Dad, I think he was intimidated. Not in the normal 'uh hi, I'm dating your daughter' kinda way, my Dad isn't scary or threatening. I think he was intimidated because of how much my Dad is constantly doing for those he loves. He will always put whatever he's doing aside when asked to do something for another. And he loves to do it.

Impossible standards for most people to live up to.

My Dad is also very tough. It can be hard to get very much emotion out of him sometimes.
For example: A few weeks ago my Dad dropped a chainsaw while he was cutting down the cherry tree. The saw swung down and landed on his knee, resulting in him needing to get 31 stitches! OOW!

Here he is mid-surgery: (calmly folding his arms and smiling)

I have always been the best at making my Dad smile and laugh though.
It's been one of my most favorite achievements in life...

You just know I'm happy when my nose is flared that much!

Know something else? I know for a fact that I wouldn't be who I am today if I had been given any other father but my own.
He taught me how to stay calm and carry on,
to work for everything I have,
to document memories with a camera,
to serve others without hesitating (I'm still not very good at this one),
to flare my Leary nose with pride,
and so much more than I can write.

I am definitely my Father's daughter. Thank goodness.

Love you Dad

.tues = cheap night

Air and I, we have a conundrum every Tuesday night. You see, Tuesdays are cheap movie night at the theater by our house, but its also cheap wings night at Original Joe's--.35 cent wings!! But Tuesday nights are also a night that I often work late... so whenever I don't work, we have some big decisions to make.

We usually end up at Original Joe's with some friends. I mean, .35 cent wings!! And they are sooo yummy! Addicting really.