My 2006....At A Glance

Well, here we are another year has blown by so fast, now I have to get used to writing a new year when I sign checks when it feels like I just got used to writing "06", lol. I have to say 2006 was a pretty amazing year for me, there have been very few years that I have been able to check one thing off my "Life's To Do" list, let alone several. Well this was my year to do just that. At the time all of these things were surreal, like I am finally really doing this?? But looking back I wish I could relive those moments that I had waited so long for. But as they say, things happen in their own good time, so all these things that I have been waiting so long to do happened right when they were supposed to. :) Ok, below are some pictures of some of the highlights of my year, the ones with a "*" behind the description are things I checked off my list this year.

After a couple of chilly adventures with the old car leaving us on the side of the highway, we bought this shiny new car!!!

My First Tropical Vacation*

On March 31 we got up bright and early and hopped on plane to sunny beautiful Varadero, Cuba. This trip was way long overdue for me, so you can imagine my excitement. It was everything I always imagined it would be; the palm trees, the gorgeous water, the soft sand, the fresh lobster.....etc, it was all there!!!! The flight home was less than fun thanks to some lovely storms over the USA, but we made it home, and I can't wait to go back again!! Whether it's to Cuba again or to another undiscovered paradise, I'm hooked :). I also did manage to check off a few more items on my list while on this trip. (see below)

Drink Tropical Drink From Coconut Shell While on Tropical Vacation*

Swim With Dolphins*

Look at that water!!!! I couldn't believe it really looked like this, clear, calm, sandy, warm, perfect.

Get A Tattoo*

That's right, I got a tattoo, so I'm not as much of a wimp as some people think I am. It was a pretty good experience, but I think it's something you definitely have to be ready to do. And yes it hurts, but it's not as bad as you think. I got this one done at Eye of the Lotus in Edmonton on Canada day, probably the most interesting way I've ever spent a Canada day he he. In case you can't tell, I got it on my ankle :).

And that's about it for my "Life's To Do" list.....for this year :). Here's a few more pics of highlights of my year.

Here I am as a bridesmaid in August at my friend Chrystal's wedding. It was a very nice time, we had a lot of fun, and the weather was perfect.

Here I am at Okanagan Lake with the Ogopogo! (Next I'm taking on Nessie!!) In September we drove out to Vancouver, BC, making a few scenic stops along the way. A few highlights were, the Ogopogo of course, the Village Cheese Co. in Armstrong, Stanley Park, the Aquarium, Gas Town, fresh seafood at White Rock, and the little Chinese fish market where we bought salmon at Steveston's Warf. Don grew up out by Vancouver so it was great to see his old house, his school and the places where he used to play when he was a kid, I felt very special to be able to share that with him.

Here's Don and I at the Vancouver aquarium at Stanley Park. I'm glad we went to see it this year while it was still in its full beauty, it's sad to think that it'll never be the same again :(. Don favorite part of the aquarium was the sharks! I liked glaring at the stingrays, lol, just kidding. I did get to touch a sea cucumber and and anemone, they were pretty neat. Did I mention that I stepped into ocean number two of the year? Although this one was much colder than the one in Cuba, still not a bad accomplishment :)


In October I finally got my reptile!! I'd been wanted one for a long time, but I was never sure what to get, so we went to a reptile show in Edmonton. That's where I saw these little guys. So I ended up getting one. This is "Bindi" she's a jungle morph leopard gecko. She was going to be named "Steve" after the late Steve Irwin, but as it turned out 'he' was a 'she'. "Bindi" just so happens to mean "beautiful serpent", and she is a little beauty!! She been a good pet so far, kind of a hermit, but then again I'm used to cats and dogs that crave you attention all the time.

Well I think that's it for pictures. A few more exciting things from this year for me were; surviving my class reunion, yes I am that old already; Don taking me to Phantom of the Opera in September as my early b-day preasant :); Seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers in concert with awesome seats!!; two of my cousins becoming mommies!! my cousin Kim and her husband Bob having their baby boy Cody in September and my cousin Nevada and her husband Chris having a little girl Gemma in November, Congratulations guys!!

2006 was a pretty exciting and eventful year for me as you can see, I wouldn't trade a minute of it. This will go down as one of the best years in my life for sure. How many years am I going to be able to accomplish this much? I have no idea what lies ahead for 2007, I'm looking forward to the surprises and adventures it may bring! Happy 2007 everybody!!

Happy Holidays 2006!!

Alright, yes, I know this post is a little late, but better late then never right. Now that the holiday season is over and everything is getting back to it's normal rountine I feel like i have more time to catch up on this blog. Demember was pretty busy of course with Christmas preparations and gatherings and such. It is the fastest month of the year. I had a pretty nice break for Christmas this year, my office closed on Friday Decmember 22nd and we didn't have to be bakc in the office unitl Wednesday Jan 3rd.....wow, it's sure nice to work for a place that'll give you a good break like that, I don't know a lot of places that would. I definatly was ready for a break from the office again, we all know how things can just start to get on your neverves. Unfortunatly Don didn't get the days off between Christmas and New Years that I did, but that's alright, I got a lot of things done around our place while he was at work.

We headed to the farm on the 23rd for the big family dinner at Gramdma and Grandpa's house. The crowd was a bit smaller than usual, but that's alright, you can get more good visiting in that way and it's a bit nicer for Grandma and Grandpa, I think the big crowds wear them out too much, although they'll never admit it :). Christmas Eve was a nice relaxing day, did a bit of work with the cows, had a nice supper at the farm and stayed up and played games and ate snacks. My stepbrother and his girlfriend had to head back to Saskatoon early on Christmas mroning so we all opened stockings after supper too.

Christmas Day was also nice and relaxing, well with the exception of the phone call we got early in the morning that the travellers had hit none other than a deer on their way back to Saskatoon, a bit ironic to hit a deer on Christmas, lol. But nobody was hurt and they were still able to drive their car back to the city, so hopfully they can get things sorted out with that soon. The weather was gorgeous and sunny, so Don and I went for a nice walk after lunch. My sister and her family came out for supper that night. It was nice, it's been awhile since they were all out at the farm jsut to visit like that. I think the highlight of the night was watching Chayse playing on the Wii, he was getting a real workout!!

On Boxing Day we went in to visit with Grandma and Grandpa for a couple hours, it's nice just to get some one on one time with them. We headed back to Lloydminster a bit early so we'd have lots of time to get home and get everything unpacked and relax before Don had to work the next day. After all the big turkey dinners we had over the weekend, our food of choisce for the night was pizza!!! :) I love those home cooked turkey dinners, but sometimes you jsut crave something simple after you've had your fill. The rest of the week isn't too exciting, I veged at home while Don worked, got a lot of cleaning and organizing done, did a bit of boxing week shopping, didn't really find a lot though.

On the 29th we packed up again and headed up to Sherwood park for our Christmas with Don's family. Did a bit more shopping and found some better deals up there, again not too much though, we were pretty shopped out after all the Christmas shopping. We had dinner with Don's family on Saturday night.......I'm stil not quite used to how his family does the holidays as compared to mine........and that's all I have to say about that. Each to their own I guess.

New Years got a bit mixed up on us, we were supposed to meet up with one of Don's friends and go out, but his friend got called away to work out of town, so that was out. So we were going to meet Don's parents in at a pub, but his mom got a head cold so she didn't end up going. So we met his dad there, he was sitting up at the bar, and we wanted to sit at a table, so we got a table and sat there by ourselves and he stayed sitting at the bar.......that was ....interesting....of him. There was a live band in the bar, they weren't too bad. It got pretty crowded as the night went on. Then finally the moment of New Years was upon us ....the band totally messed up the countdown, missing new years by a couple minutes, and Don's dad decided to pick just that time to stop by our table, just in time to pretty much spoil the moment for our New Years kiss, which ended up being more of a new years peck lol. I guess I just have to keep telling myself that New Years is over rated, and that I gave up on having super awesome New Years plans about 10 years ago. At least we were together, that much I can say was good :) More people we know should get married New Years Eve, there's built in plans right there, Lisa's wedding in Kananaskis that one year will still be one of the best New Years I've ever had.

Not much else to say about the holidays, we came home New Years Day and both had the 2nd off as well to relax before heading back to work. This when the flu bug decided to pay me a visit and ruin what was left of my time off, go figure. All in all the holiday season for 2006 was pretty good and now I'm counting down to Spring!!! Watch for my Highlights of 2006 post, coming soon.