easter treats

.ryder saw the easter bunny @ the park & gave it an affectionate hug; anais said "no way, i don't like no bunnies!"

.i recall last year, when we were trying to teach then 2yr old anais the meaning of easter; to which she replied "thank you Jesus for the chocolate" amen!

• .we are so thrilled to have jim's dad here on a working visa! ryder calls "papa?" around the house all day but has nothing to ask when he answers. his favorite words so far are "du-rty", "stinky" and "blast off!" yeah, he's a boy! anais, on the other hand, refused the teachers her cubbies (kids' group) vest because it wasn't "pritty"!

.we loved seeing the peters' family over our webcams easter sunday. we've gotta use that more often! and get the adams' online too! we'd love to see our cousin evan for the first time.

• happy easter, love, our house

spring has sprung - new pix here

. well, 2 bridal fairs under my belt, a few weddings and a lot of contacts made! some days i get discouraged but today was beautiful & sunny and we had a playdate! life seems good today! i am excited about a showing soon here @ the Old Firehall wine & tapas bar. i'm also working on a new site, still under construction @ www.freshphoto.smugmug.com i invite your comments, as long as you give me grace about making the changes! this html stuff is a slow-go.

. today was a social highlight. we had ~5 phone calls this morning, when days go by w/o hearing it ring; i talked to mom & dad who sound like sunshine agrees with them!; a new friend delivered appliances to our doorstep (from kelowna) - and that was all before our playdate down the road! i did a little painting in the kids' rooms (anais' will be pinky w/ chocolate polka dot accents & ryder's will be a retro garage theme - i'll get ya the after pictures soon; we have to finish first!) old neighbor brent then dropped by outta the blue and, finally, we're making arrangements to fly jim's dad here this week. 3 cheers - a visit w/ dad & papa & help w/ the reno - we're psyched!

. come to think about it, that's a lot of testosterone; i could use a little female companionship, so if any of you girls want to come visit the canadian alps, i'll try to guarantee no snowfall but there's still a blanketing in our yard. though i have seen the odd crocus or 2!

. i didn't want to believe cory & jenn were coming until they were actually here in rossland a while ago. they came w/ the 3 youngest with whom we enjoyed some still-winter sport: sledding & ice skating. we enjoyed a relaxed visit and i shed some tears watching them pull out of the yard. i love my family!

thanks for reading my rambles. i'd love to read your comments!
happy spring . carmen

rossland rec & 1000 thanks!

top back deck - potential spot for hot tub!

Well, if you can't beat em, join em! Not a good philosophy for life - but recreationally speaking, it works! Especially if it gets my sorry butt in gear.

I've just bought my first x-country skiis and went out yesterday in the sunshine. Guess I'm joining the ranks of the super-fit around here (definately not there yet). I thought walking the hills, pushing 50lbs of kid was enough!

I don't know what I appreciate more about the skiing: sunny skies, gliding through snow, or being absolutely alone with my thoughts (well, me & God alone together). Actually, I know it's the latter, but the other parts are alll good!

Jim's also got himself snowshoes and has trekked the local mountains. We won't be going out together anyhow - w/ small kids - so we needn't coordinate our outdoor sports quite yet.

Anais & Ryder like their sled Auntie Mary. Many thanks to Aunt Mary & Uncle Vic for our first snow-toy as well as for helping us sell our house, and so quickly yet! As well as to Jeff (Canadian Car & Truck) for helping us sort out our vehicle "issues"! We are so grateful for your help! While I'm thanking, I can't forget my Dad (whom nobody else has done more for us! Mom too) and Cory, who we can't thank enough! Colin & Colleen you were so amazing to let us crash your Christmas. We enjoyed our time together and want to reciprocate. I am so thankful for my amazing family! When I feel a little isolated here, I remember that I always have my family, near or far!

Thanks Cat, Julie K & Kirsten for being so supportive and making our crazy adventure seem a little less, well... crazy. Jenn - you made it so difficult to leave in the first place - because of our friendship - but thank you for praying and being my lifeline!

Consider yourselves all invitated to visit us in the Kootenays - just don't come all at the same time - our house is kinda small! Love you!

shock value

front view













side view














for shock value: can you see it? - there's a house in there somewhere and some kids too (in middle of front walk)! the drifts have reached above our heads in areas. we've just had ~3' in the last week which was the most accumulation in the shortest time (since our arrival after Christmas). what we appreciate is the lack of wind and horribly cold temps. it hovers just below 0. january was much sunnier than february. i'm hoping march is a return to the blue skies; that's what keeps me going! i can't exactly take off skiing - with kids - so jim & i walk into town in the evenings w/ kids in backpacks. it's quite the workout with all the hills in rossland. i'm definately still adjusting to the snow!
we think our home is 109 yrs and it used to be a beauty, with large dormers over the 4 upper windows. i was definately swayed when, during the open house, i saw images of its former self in a history book. it has been interesting to pull layers of old wallpaper off the walls and retrieve hockey cards & newspaper insulation from every couple of decades. our plans for the outside include wood-look siding, beefier posts, shutters, window boxes and general charm. we'll have to live with the grey metal roof and dormer-less windows. hopefully the hot tub off the back top deck will make up for that!
i look forward to using the decks (1 covered front, 2 back). even when the "big thaw" hits - can't imagine! - we'll be able to bask in sunshine & out of the muck. better still, i'll throw the kids out there and let them play outside. right now we just use the large back deck for materials storage & BBQ area. the front deck is (can you see?)...a garbage disposal. how pleasant; hope neighbors haven't pegged us as white trash! oh well, we don't entertain much! not at all, for now. i won't even have playdates over yet.
unfortunately, we live in a wee bit of a hole (not the living conditions but the lot itself:) the snow piles in around us until 3/4 of our livingroom view is white! people talk of spring but i don't know whether i will experience one again! these were taken March 1. i have white hyacinths in my window so at least it is spring in my sill!