Fully Alive…Ready to Smile

Well, it was a good birthday. I had lots of fun. Laughed a lot, had a few surprises, saw some people’s body parts that I didn’t think I needed to see (I’ll explain further down in this post…viewer discretion is advised, lol). Be warned, this is a long one with lots of pictures.

My actual birthday (even though I celebrate from like the 7th-15th) started off with my dad showing up on my doorstep with this (Skor ice cream cake from Dairy Queen, thanks mom!):

and these:

along with some chocolate. I was very thrilled to start off my day so nicely. I even held off until lunch before digging in to the cake.

The rest of my day was filled with putting my feet up and eating bon bons, just kidding…phone calls, emails, facebook wall posts and comments on my blog wishing me a happy birthday. Thank you to ALL who blessed me with your kind words. I’m lucky to have so many amazing friends.

In the evening, Janice picked me up and we went to see “The Jane Austen Book Club” which I loved. Then off to Kelsey’s for appetizers and dessert. I had a great evening with her and it was nice to get out of the house.

Yesterday I spent the morning with my feet up again (I have a bad knee this week and it’s preventing me from doing too much…not that I do too much on a regular basis anyway, so not terribly much disruption in my schedule). Then in the afternoon I spent a couple hours with Kyle and he made me beautiful, well my hair anyway. The man has a gift. Then I came home and spent the next few hours admiring myself in the mirror getting ready for my evening out with friends.

We met 9 friends at the Old Spaghetti Factory for supper and had a blast. I haven’t laughed so hard in years. YEARS!!! It was that fun.

I was a little nervous about threats that had been made, but I got off fairly easy with only an obnoxious song by the servers. Not too bad. And they didn’t make me stand on the table or my chair, so I made it through with just a lot of nervous laughter.

At one point I made the HUGE mistake of going to the washroom. My camera was taken from my spot and when I got back I was saying “I can’t wait to put all these pictures on my blog” as I’m flipping through the pictures on the camera and Bentley says to me “Can we have it in writing that you’re going to put ALL of them on there?” and I’m like “Yeah, why not?” and then I got to THE pictures. I just about wet myself laughing so hard. I couldn’t even breathe. Literally. It was like gasping and snorting and tears and such. I warn you, these pictures are quite graphic, so if you have a problem with butt cracks and man-boobs, continue no further (or at least close your eyes and scroll down…don’t say I didn’t warn you). For the sake of those involved I won’t name names (Clint and Paul) and they’ll only be thumbnail size..less obscene that way, lol.

Hey, you guys made me promise I’d post it so don’t blame me! Moving on…

Jer then got locked in a phone booth on our way out of the restaurant…

We were kind of hoping he’d turn into Superman or something…apparently not!

I invited everyone back to our house for cheesecake and drinks after. More fun and laughter all around. Seriously, I was having cheek spasms from laughing so hard. I think I actually lost weight in my face from the work out : )

Lovely ladies!

Me and the beautiful Tara!

The party drew to a close at 1:00 a.m. It was wonderful and fulfilled all my expectations, and I feel like I REALLY got to know some of them a little better, maybe a little too much!. I only wish the evening didn’t go by so quickly. And much to my surprise, it passed without incident…phew…well, no incident involving me, that is.

Here’s a little preview of some of the lovely gifts and cards I was showered with by my awesome friends.

Elin gave me an absolutely exquisitely soft scarf and pretty jewelry that she sells (she owns Pink Fusion with her sister-in-law Jen and they sell purses, jewelry, scarves, and accessories).

Chris and Tara (mostly Tara) gave me my very own garlic press and now I won’t have to borrow theirs every week : ) Bentley and Helen (well, Helen…since Bentley figured his presence was gift enough, dork) gave me a gift certificate to Giselle’s for a manicure (thank you, thank you), and Jer gave me a gift certificate for a spa pedicure (yay, no more bushman feet for me). Louise gave me a soap from Bath and Body works (woohoo) and some scrapbooking supplies (awesome!). Kathy, who truly knows the way to a girl’s heart, brought me Ben and Jerry’s “The Gobfather” ice cream (which I fear I will eat in one sitting).  And of course all the lovely cards with sweet sentiments from my amazing friends (Tara made me cry again).

Flowers from Jer (so thoughtful)!

So another year and another birthday under my belt. It was all I’d hoped for and now I get to celebrate one more time by going to visit Val in 6 days. That was my birthday present to myself.

Today is my 27th birthday. I was born on October 11, 1980 at 11:13 a.m. I was 6 lbs. 7 oz. and man was I cute (not much has changed…this post gets worse, believe me). If you know me at all you will know what an ugly monster my birthday is. Not because I hate it, but because I’m sure EVERYONE ELSE hates it ; ) You see, I really am quite vain. In fact, I believe the world revolves around me! At least my mom thinks that’s what I think. I WAS born on Thanksgiving weekend so I guess I have the mentality that everyone should be thankful for me! Okay, I’m just kidding…kind of. But anyway, my birthday has evolved into this crazy “national-holiday-like” status (in my head). I try and drag it out as loooooonnnnngggg as possible. I get as many different people to take me out for supper as I can…seriously, I’m quite good at it (although now that I just admitted that to the world my lucky streak may end this year). I’ve been known to drag out celebrating my birthday for up to 2 weeks. I’m that good. By the time I’m done it’s almost Christmas, lol. My love language is gifts so it’s of course a great time to monopolize on that. If anyone is dying to buy me something I have a gift registry at…just kidding So since I think it’s so important, I will share with you some of my favorite pictures of me. Yes, of me. There was quite a few so I made them into thumbnails and you can click on any of them to see them bigger (and yes there’s a lot of them…27 in fact…I was having tons of fun looking through my HUGE bin of pictures and reliving memories, so this is more for me than you). Okay so the first one isn’t of me, but it is of my mom very pregnant with me (I call her little house on the prairie because she was as big as a house, get it? Ha, ha, ha…okay it wasn’t that funny, I know) and you’ll notice that there’s a gap in ages because I just couldn’t bear for you all to see my awful hair or my pictures of me when I was really sick, it’s just too heartbreaking and I’d rather remember the good times.There are a few that I DID.NOT want to put in here but Jer made me do it (ie. the one of me looking like a farmer and the one of me looking like John Lennon)

Every so often something deep comes out of the most unexpected places…this time I found a nugget during Grey’s Anatomy. And I’m sorry this is a fairly heavy post, but I needed to say it.

“Often, too often, things that start out as just a normal part of your life cross the line to obsessive, compulsive, out of control. It’s the high we’re chasing; the high that makes everything else fade away…the thing about addiction is that it never ends well. Because eventually whatever it is that was getting us high, stops feeling good and starts to hurt. Still they say you don’t kick the habit until you hit rock bottom. But how do you know when you’re there? Because no matter how badly the thing is hurting us, sometimes letting go is even worse.”

It seems to be in all of our natures to be obsessive about something. This could be true of food, work, approval, relationships, alcohol. We all lose control in some area of our lives. We are all addicted to something. We fill the void in us with something that feels good. Usually it’s bad for us, but it feels so good at the time. Then when the high is over it feels so, so bad and we go back for more. Thus the cycle starts. Up until a few months ago, this isn’t something I pondered. I didn’t think addiction was something that would ever touch my life. What do we do with it? What is the trigger that gets us out of it? What is rock bottom? It’s different for everyone. Some people need a lower low than others to hit bottom, but eventually we hit it. Hopefully when we do reach the depths of our despair there are people waiting for us…waiting to love us, to pick us up, to encourage and pray. To surround and hold us while we reach for the light again. And always, God is there. In the midst of it, He IS there. He doesn’t change or move, we do. When we can see that, it’s less lonely. Knowing that there is someone out there watching over us, placing the right people in our lives to help us through. Thank you to all the people who helped my family through. We are eternally grateful.

_{Note: This post is in reference to my dad, who I found out this past summer has been struggling with alcohol addiction.  So I thank you everyone who kept my dad and my family in your prayers.  We felt them and we can keep using them as the journey has just begun.}   

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Erin from the tv show “The Waltons”

2. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
A couple, but apparently I want a few more…we’ll see who wins (the me who wants more or the me who doesn’t)

3. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Where can I sign up?

4. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Never

5. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Yes, fortunately that is one of the few organs I have left

6. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Does fear of height mean anything to you?

7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Anything that costs less than $3 a box! Oh wait, I don’t eat cereal…

8. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
I don’t untie the only pair I have with laces and when I want to put them on again I get mad at myself EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

9. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Strong-willed, yes. Physically I’m a wimp. Unless you try and take some of my food away, then I’ll give you the beats!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
How about asking what my least favorite ice cream is so we can get on to the next question in short order…and my most unfavorite would be tiger tiger, just so we’re all clear.

11. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Definitely their eyes.

12. RED OR PINK?
On the walls? Ice cream? Clothing? Be more specific!! Usually red.

13. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
When I’m with my kids, me. When I’m without my kids…my kids.

14. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
I don’t think I’m going to send it to anyone because they’ll probably just wonder why I want to know all this information about them. If you feel like telling me, then by all means copy and paste this into an email and entertain me.

15. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
What? Pants? Is this like a “no shoes, no pants, no service” kind of deal. Will you still love me even if I’m not wearing pants? Just kidding. Jeans and barefoot.

16. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE ?
Rockets…you know, the candy

17. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
My daughter singing “We have a lot of friends we can play with in school. And we can learn about counting and they can count on me, todaaaayyyyyyy. Count on me todaaaayyyyyy. Count, count, count….” If you haven’t recently seen the Billboard top 100 it’s not on there. It’s an Ella exclusive. I know, I know, she’s a prodigy!

18. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
We might never know because Aidan would have already eaten me or torn the little paper off that says what color I’m supposed to be. Check her tongue.

19. FAVORITE SMELLS?
baking bread, freshly washed baby, paint, cologne, rain, anything vanilla or raspberry (if you put the two together, I’m swooning).

20. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Bentley

21. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
No one sent it, I stole it off a blog and yes, I like her.

22. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Extreme Home Makeover?

23. HAIR COLOR?
Blond till I was 15, then brown, currently going white…seriously.

24. EYE COLOR?
Brown

25. FAVORITE FOOD?
Yes. Oh you want more specifics? Okay, this could get long, pizza, cheesecake, anything Italian or Mexican, perogies, fresh buns, steak, ribs, chocolate, ice cream, chocolate ice cream, chocolate anything, bruschetta, fresh green beans, you get it? Me and food are close friends. I know, we’re all surprised that I’m not 500 pounds.

26. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings and I don’t care how unrealistic it is, if I wanted realism I’d watch my kids screaming at each other and pulling hair…scary (shudders)

27. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
The Illusionist (happy ending, not realistic…hence the name)

28. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
See #15…just kidding, it’s black.

29. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Yes I’d like summer back…or at all.

30. HUGS OR KISSES?
hugs

31. FAVORITE DESSERT?
cheesecake

32. WHAT BOOK( s) ARE YOU READING NOW?
I’m not (collective gasp), but I have 27 waiting for me so maybe I should start. Hey, the more I read, the less you all get from me, so don’t get all ornery on me.

33. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
My dog, Rudy who died the year Jer and I got married and no one was brave enough to tell me and I found out in front of like 20 other people while sitting on the dock at the lake and I had to run off crying because she was like the (hiccup) sister (sob) I never had and I’ll be in therapy for the rest of my life because…so yeah, my dead dog is on it…not dead in the picture on the mousepad, but she’s dead now.

34. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
I didn’t. But I have like 7 hours of taped shows from the last two weeks that I have to watch before tomorrow so guess what I’ll be doing tonight?

35. FAVORITE SOUND?
Laughter, thunder, my own voice, just kidding…

36. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Rolling stones over beatles so they don’t come in the house.

37. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Italy.

38. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Wouldn’t that be bragging if I told you all the awesome things I can do? Well, I’ll tell you what other people said my talents are in an email survey I sent them…yes, I’m vain enough to want other people to tell me wonderful things about myself…
- making other people happy
- being so nice to everyone
- baking
- eye for decorating
Okay, I’m starting to blush so I’ll stop now. Thanks everyone for making me all puffed up with pride and ego : )
I’m tagging you all to go and do this one. Let me know if you do.

That is the big digger digging (that’s almost a tongue twister) our basement of our new house!!! It’s happening and I’m happy to say that the very first step is on schedule. I’m sure that’ll be where our nice neat schedule ends. Well here’s hoping it can all get done in quick order. Less time at mom and dad’s.

…when your heart sinks every time you see that your email inbox is empty.  As in 0.  There are no new messages.  No “you’ve got mail.”  Sometimes I wish my computer actually said that, just like on the movie “You’ve Got Mail” or that it talked to me.  Often I think I should join a chat room or get instant messaging because I sit here and refresh my email inbox like fifty times in a row, hoping to catch someone in the very act of leaving me a message (maybe that’s the obsessive compulsive part of me…maybe it’s just the pathetic part).  I could call someone…nah, that’s too archaic.  I could go downstairs and TALK to my real-life, flesh and blood family…nah, they’d probably just want something from me and that’s exactly why I’m hiding here behind my computer screen.  Maybe I should get a job!  Nah, that’s too much like work : )  I’ve even resorted to sitting and looking at the admin page of my blog, lurking to try and see who’s on my blog at that moment.  Yeah I’ve turned into a  lurker stalker (serves you right for not showing your face!).  But that’s not working out for me either.  Stupid IP blocking filters.  There’s something comforting about sitting and staring at my computer knowing that there are “3 Users Online” out there right now staring at the same thing as me…almost as if we were together somehow.  I’d be happy for some pity comments.  Seriously.  Did y’all forget how to comment since I moved to this new site?  Do you hear the pathetic whine in my voice right now?  Yeah, I’ve stooped to pleading.  SOMEBODY EMAIL ME!!!  I don’t care if I don’t even know you.  Maybe that’s just asking for trouble.  Blah, blah, blah, I’m starting to annoy myself with the stupidity of this post.  Okay, so I’ll be seeing you around.  Or not.

Yesterday we went to meet with the dork our friend who is making the cabinets for our new house. I was expecting just a basic kitchen and then anything we wanted to beef it up would be extra. He had drawn up a quote for us showing what he would include in the price. He went WAY above my expectations. Far! And he stayed within our budget (which we didn’t tell him before). I was so impressed I could have hugged him. I don’t think people usually hug their cabinet man though, do they? Although because he’s our friend maybe it would have been forgiven. But maybe I should save any hugs until after the install and see if it all stays up and doesn’t come crashing down on my head : )  Just kidding.  I’ve seen his work and he does an amazing job.  The color of the cabinetry is going to rock. He has this intuitive sense of what I want and always gets it right. Another impressive quality…he listens. There, now that I’ve stroked his ego far more than is necessary…it was purely because I’m hoping he’s nice to me on my birthday and doesn’t pull some crazy ass prank on me. I have it coming to me, I’m sure. We have this love-hate relationship going on and sometimes my mouth gets me in trouble (or maybe it was decorating a big piece of machinery with balloons and banners for his birthday so everyone on the job site could see it, that did it, lol). Not that he’s always ever Mr. Niceguy to me either. Yet I must be a sucker for punishment because I purely enjoy the witty repartee even if it’s often at my expense. Every so often I get in a jab of my own, but I grew up with this kind of banter and it feels comfy like your favorite sweater. There are very few people who can get away with it and he is one of them. So here’s to you Mr. Cabinetman! _{please be nice, please be nice, please be nice.}

My little girl Aidan refuses to say milk. When she started talking she couldn’t get her tongue around the “lk” sound so she proceeded to call it “Muligo” (and the tongue has to come shooting out of the side of the mouth on the “l” sound). So we often tell her to say “MILK”, but she just smiles now and says “muligo.” Yesterday Jer says, “Aidan, do you want some muligo?” She shakes her head and says, “No…MILK!” Then when he tries to get her to say it to me, she just smiles sweetly and very mischievously and says “Muligo.” Goof. On a side note of that, when she wants chocolate milk it’s “I want chokat muligo!”

I’ve also noticed often when we’re eating a meal and there is any kind of sauce like dressing, bbq sauce, ketchup, soy sauce she starts muttering this word and pointing at her plate. It took us a LOOONNNGGG time to figure out what she was saying and one day it became clear. What we heard was “crapup.” Wha? Well, according to her all sauces in any form are KETCHUP…CRAPUP. Duh!

And on the subject of crap (great lead-in, huh?), the other day when we were on our way home from the chiropractor I asked where we had just been. Aidan replied, “We went chirocrapper!” : ) That’s my brilliant daughter.

So I had an awesome evening…oh yeah. A date with my new sweater shaver! Oh, yeah baby! I went out to Walmart this evening and purchased one of these bad boys. I must say it’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time (I’m free most Fridays if anyone wants to make my life more interesting). If any of your sweaters are free, have them call me. You know you need to get out when…

Back in May I wrote a post about this little quirk I have or should I say HAD with being able to predict rain.  Normally it’s quite accurate.  So today my cousin calls me to see if it’s going to rain…well his actual words were “is it bikini weather?”  No, it wasn’t bikini weather…it’s OCTOBER!!!  It’s never bikini weather in October.  According to my hands and feet, I didn’t think it would rain.  So I reported back that it wouldn’t any time soon.  An hour later I got a call from his wife who was laughing…apparently it rained and she got caught in it.  I guess I can’t be trusted anymore to give predictions.  Oops.  But the good thing about that is at least I’m somewhat comfortable today and not all sweaty.

If you’ve read my page “Fully Alive, Ready to Smile (Erin’s Story)” in my What do you want to know section at the top of my sidebar you’ll know that I had Crohn’s Disease as a child. I say had because it’s been 12 years since my surgery and I’ve been fine ever since. There are many children out there who are not lucky enough to be fine. These children grow into the adults who then live in pain everyday and work and have families with this terrible disease. In honor of my birthday (October 11) I’m asking anyone who feels led, to contribute to The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada. With your donations you are helping the medical community to help find a cure and help those who live with this disease. Here is a link to donate online. It’s an “in honor” donation form. If you know someone personally who lives with Crohn’s or Colitis, donate in honor of them. If you don’t know someone and would still like to donate in honor of my birthday, please do it in my name. Let me know how much you’ve donated (I seriously don’t care how much it is) by emailing me using the contact form on the top of my sidebar so that I can keep a tally and I can show in my sidebar how much we’ve raised. Let’s make a difference. I’m going to keep this page on my sidebar as well so you can go at any time to donate if it’s not a good time for you right now.  There is seriously no pressure and I’m not going to keep track of who has and or hasn’t.  I just want to do my part in thanks for all the help I received in my time of need.  Thanks for your support.

Hey, just to let you know of a few different things here from my other blog. On the top right hand corner there is a spot called “What do you want to know.” I’ve put a few different things there to give you a small glimpse of who I am. You can also send me an email if you want (I LOVE email) by using the “Contact Me” form in that section. My blogroll is still here it’s just in a drop down box because it was getting a little out of control. There’s a little calendar on the bottom of the sidebar where you can search for my posts based on the day they were posted. I’ve got a few more ideas up my sleeve, I just haven’t had time to implement them yet as I’m still learning all about this new site. I just want to send a shout out to my AWESOME cousin Clint who has spent lots of time with me getting this up and running. He’s been so helpful and I had no idea how much work I was getting myself into learning a completely new blogging program. And just so you know, I can see you all out there on my site. Good, look around, if you have anything to say, say it. Go comment. I LOVE it when you guys comment. It absolutely makes my day. You make me smile : )

Hey everyone, I know my ticker clock ran out like 8 and a 1/2 hours ago, but I wasn’t going to pull a name at midnight…although I was up so I could have. So I put all your names into a bowl (those of you who played) for my BAFAB week draw and the winner is…

Dedee from The Quiltmaker’s Gift!

Thank you all for playing, Dedee can you send me an email (happy_erin26@hotmail.com) with your address so that I know where to send you a book! Yay!

Have a happy day, everyone.

If you look to the right you will have already noticed the slide show of pictures. This is the show home that I was working on this year. I picked all the materials inside and out (shingles, stone, flooring, lighting, paint colors, cabinets and counters, etc.) and then I was able to put it all together and decorate it for it to be shown during the Parade of Homes. The lovely pictures were taken for me by Jessica of Blackout Photography. She did a fabulous job and gave me over 200 beautiful pictures to choose from. I’ve given you a preview of the 30 or so that really capture the house. There are a couple missing from the slide show due to technical difficulty and I will hopefully add them in the near future.  If for some reason it stall, just click on it and it should take you to the next picture.

Is it possible to be in love with an inanimate object?  Well I am.  I have this sweater.  It’s awesome.  It’s black.  And it was full of fuzz…as in it had pilled.  I was very unhappy about this unfortunate turn of events.  Now instead of it looking like a hot sweater it looked like a lazing around kind of comfy sweater that says “put me on when you want to kick back and put your feet up to watch C.S.I.”  Not the look I was going for.  Don’t get me wrong…those kinds of sweaters are awesome, but this was not one of those sweaters.  So I went to my cousin Alecia’s house for coffee this morning and it dawned on me that last year she had bought a hot black sweater which proceeded to pill on her.  She went out and bought this kick-ass (sorry, no better term) sweater shaver.  It rocks!!!  I saw the results with my own eyes.  So I mentioned this to her meaning to find out where she got it so that I could save my own sweater from couch-potatodom.  She not only put out the information as to where she found it, she whipped out the shaver and started me on the journey to a nice smooth sweater.  I was stunned.  Impressed.  In love.  I’m going to take myself post-haste to Walmart to purchase one of these amazing things.  I can proudly don my lovely black garment feeling at ease that it’s back to it’s original glory.  And just so you know, no one is paying me to say these things.  It’s just true love.

So here I am in my new home. Isn’t she pretty? It may change once in a while (the beauty of Wordpress and their pretty themes). Have a look around. Make yourself comfy. Mi casa es su casa. I really, really love it. It just has a little more me stamped on it. I know my header isn’t on it, but I thought it would just look too overloaded (although it may show up again one day in a different theme). Please comment the same as always. It will ask you for your website and I think it will remember you if you come back. If you don’t have a blog or website just your name and email is fine. If you’ve never been here before, welcome and enjoy. I hope to see you again. If you have me linked on your blogroll or bookmarked on your computer, I’m flattered…and please change the link to http://fullyalive-readytosmile.com this way you can skip over the 6 second delay from old blog to new.  Thanks for coming.  Talk to you later…

Saturday was a long day of scrapbooking. I mean loooonnnnngggg!!!! It was from 9:00 a.m. until midnight. Yes…15 hours. We left shortly after 10 p.m. because I think our creativity just ran out. In the 13 hours we were there I actually made more pages than I’ve ever made in one day…7! Two double layouts and 3 singles. These are the three lovely girls I spent the day with (and I look stupid because I was laughing in the middle of taking a bite of my yummy chocolate puff wheat cake)

(click on pictures to enlarge)

This one is to have her diploma in the big blank space, but I forgot it at home.


Then yesterday we went to Lindsay and Geoff’s wedding at the Millenium Center. It was a lovely location and a beautiful wedding. Lindsay was an absolutely beautiful bride and Geoff just grinned the whole day. So cute. It was a privilege to be there to celebrate with them.