[talk: My Top Five]

Hey. Yup. Still here ...

I haven't posted much lately - mainly because my hubby has been away in El Salvador for the last week. He comes home tonight - and I'm so excited to hear his stories and have him back in our home again. The kids miss him terribly, and it's been lonely in a "wow, I can watch whatever I want tonight" sort of way *grin*. A spouse is an integral part of any family, and my hubby is definitely a big piece of our family's puzzle.

I can't wait to hold him and to be held.

SO ... over the last few weeks, various people have bumped into me and asked about different posts. I thought that I would give a "Top 5" and make things easier for family and friends to find them.

5. Remembering Shalom: Blogging has been a wonderful way for me to walk through different life lessons and be able to reflect on them. Losing our daughter has definitely been the most trying time in my life - but I now see such fruit from the experience. I am grateful for our story, but even more grateful for the evidence of His hand in it all.

4. Blackbean Mexican Salsa: On a much lighter note ... this is NOT my original recipe, but everytime I make it - someone asks for a copy. It's a hit. You should try it *grin*.

3. Redhanded Photography Business Launch: Never did I imagine that I would be allowed to be apart of some of the most sacred, intimate, hilarious, joyful moments ... so THANK YOU to all who have supported and encouraged me during this past year and a bit. The start of Redhanded Photography was a wondeful day for me ...

2. Perspective: Of all my posts, this one sparked some of the most beautiful conversations. I often go back to this and reread it ... just to remind myself. Thank you all for encouragement and affirmation with this one ... it's a wonderful thing when you feel like your words can reach out and touch some one.

1. Welcome Baby Katia: Since I've started blogging - Katia has been the greatest gift we've received (our other kids were born "pre" blogging). She has to be number one ... all my kids are.

So. Those are my top five.

I also receive a lot of hits for the Cars Broken Road Cake, the Cars Racetrack Cake, Katia's Nursery, Tias' Drumming and worship "Breathe On Me."

Was that about right? 

Have a great one!!

[digiscrap: A Whole BUNCH]

Hmmm ... seems that I've been doing mostly Redhanded posts - which is a good thing for me, as it means that I'm actually working *grin*.  But Redhanded doesn't take up all of my time - so I thought I'd post a few of the digiscrap pages that show some of the things that have been going on around here...

But before I do ... the update around here is - nothing *smile*.  I hate the rain, it makes me want to be lazy.  But today is "continue the purge" (um - to be honest, the kitchen thing never really happened *sigh*) ... the kitchen AND Tias' bedroom.  This should be interesting, as I think he would keep his used toilet paper if he could (a bit graphic, but seriously the truth ...).  He's a little hoarder - which makes me mental.  He wants to keep everything:  Sunday school papers, restaurant placemats that he's coloured, popped balloons - you name it ... so wish me luck.

Ok - here are some pages ... some of things that have happened recently - some of things that happened a while back ...

Click the images to enlarge ...

Have a great one!

[make: Applesauce Mini Muffins]

WOW!!!  Do I feel GOOD!

The sun's out, the wind is warm, I was able to get up with my kids today, make Tias' lunch, send him off with hugs and kisses ... I missed that all last week.  Strange how the boring things, the tedious things, are the things you miss the most when you can't do them!

And now - the smell of applesauce muffins is flooding our home.  Siah and I made mini-muffins ... perfect for lunch boxes and car rides.  Super easy to make, and work perfectly zip-locked in the freezer.

Here's the recipe.  It makes 24-30 mini muffins.

Applesauce Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour ( I used spelt flour)
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1-1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar ( I used organic Cane sugar )
1 eggs
1 cup applesauce
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

In a bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, allspice and baking soda; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, applesauce and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove to a wire rack.

On another note, this week is PURGE week.  That's right ... some call it Spring Cleaning, I call it PURGING.  It started on Saturday - with the front room.  Got rid of knick-knacks, photo frames, sorted through digiscrap albums, got rid of clutter ....  I looks SO good.  And FEELS so good! 

Today?  The kitchen ... specifically, the drawers ... time to throw out the broken, unusable junk.  Oh, this is gonna be awesome :-) ...

I know.  I'm a wacko.

Have a great one!!

[redhandedphotography: Carlie & Emma]

Ok.  SER-iously.  This is getting just a bit over-the-top ... FIVE DAYS I've been running to the bathroom.  And I have no other symptoms - except I don't have a lot of energy ... probably because everything I eat/drink is out of my body within the half hour ...

On a happy note - I'm down 6.5lbs *smirk*.  NOT that I recommend this ... but hey, I'll take what I can get.  I'm only 4lbs from being "pre preggo" ... although, pretty sure once this bug leaves me, I'll gain a few back just by maintaining my fluids.

Has ANYone else had this bug???  I've never had anything like this - especially because I don't FEEL sick.  Just - tired.  Whatever the case, I'm braving the drive and heading to the Dr.'s office ... pretty sure he'll just tell me I have a bug.  Duh.  *grin*.

OK OK OK - I've finished the post with pics from Carlie & Emma's Photoshoot on my Redhanded Photography blog. 

Go check it out, leave a comment, say 'hello' ... I have cabin fever and am missing some contact with the outside world!! ... uh oh. 

Gotta run ...

Have a good one!!

[redhandedphotography: Mother/Daughter Photoshoot]

Stomach flu.  Day four.  And I am so thankful that I don't have the sinus thing going around (which makes sleep impossible) ... I'll take trips to the bathroom any day over that.

And let me just say how grateful I am for my family who has really, really helped me these last few days.  Picking the boys up from school, taking them to swimming lessons, helping with piano practice, taking them to piano lessons, bringing soup for me and making dinner for my kids.  Mom S and Mom D ... you are the BEST.  I love you!!!

Ok.  Back to bed I go - but I've done another pre-post for a mother/daughter photoshoot here. 

Come stop by, and the rest should be up soon.  After all - I don't have a tv in our room ... so the computer is my friend (almost as much as the bathroom *wink*).

Have a good one. 

[redhandedphotography: Sick Sick Sick]

I've been under the weather the last couple of days ... well, I feel more like I'm under a BUS, not the weather.  But that's just being picky.

Life has been ticking along and since I've been stuck in bed, I've been taking moments here and there to finish up the editing process for my latest photoshoots.  Gotta stay on top of it, as there are more shoots scheduled this week ...

So - head on over to my Redhanded Photography blog to see the latest set of pics by clicking here.

Have a great one!  And I hope you don't catch what I have *ugh*!

[redhandedphotography: Baby Bryson]

... I have only a moment here ... I'm working like a maniac on taxes, photos, and I feel a bit under the weather too ...

But - for a sneek peek at one of this past Friday's shoots, please check out my Redhanded photography blog here ...

Have a great one!

[vacations: Camping In the Rain]

This past weekend was Easter - which is a wonderful time for families to get together and celebrate God's gift of grace to us.  It's also a time where new memories can be made around the dinner table, outside during Easter egg hunts, and playing games together. 

That's what we were able to do - except we did it ... camping.

Now - let me clarify.  "Camping" comes in all sorts of forms ... but my parents recently got a "5th Wheel" for a fantastic cross-Canada trip they're planning - and we got to try it out with them for a few days.

And it's a good thing ... I mean, who goes CAMPING the first weekend in April???  Not many, I assure you.  The campground was deserted, except for us and my in-laws (it was a "grandparents" weekend) ... Probably because it was raining half the time.  But there was plenty to do inside ... games, colouring, movies, *cough* um.  Eating.  *smirk*.

But when it wasn't raining, we took advantage of it.  The boys LOVED riding their bikes, playing on the playground, and putting at the little mini golf the campground had ...

And even with a little bit of mist, we were able to get the campfire going - much to Tias' delight.  And with a campfire always comes s'mores, right?

We even had an Easter egg hunt - and I gotta say - it was SUPER fun in the campground ... the boys were giddy with excitement.

Katia was a bit unsure of the whole thing - and watched with her big eyes in silence.  Oh, she makes me so full of smiles *grin*!!

So - that was our weekend away.  We had a fantastic time, sharing our kids with both sets of grandparents (what could be better than that??) ... and the kids were over the moon with the whole thing.  We're already trying to figure out when we can do it again.

Now?  Phwef.  Preparing taxes.  I'm up to my eyeballs in sorting out papers and such ... isn't this such a fun time of year *wink*??  Taxes, worship leading Sunday, two photoshoots tomorrow, still working on branding "redhanded", Siah's preschool fundraiser ... and something else I have up my sleeve that I'll be sharing soon.

No.  I'm not pregnant!  *eye roll*.

Have a good one *grin*!!

[redhandedphotography: Katia's 7 Months Old. Yikes.]

Can you believe it?  SEVEN months old?

I can say that I have enjoyed every single second with her, and have savoured her toes and squeels ... She's rolling from one side of the room to the other, not quite sitting up yet, and flails about when she sees someone who makes her happy ...

I posted some pics of the kiddies on my Redhanded Photography blog here.  Would love for you to stop by ...  And may your Easter weekend be full of family, friends and new wonderful memories. 

He is risen.