Home "Sweet" Home

Just a few 'sweet' highlights from our trip. This arch at the Fairmont lead into the restaurant...it was covered with real candy.  This wonderful display of caramel apples is from one of my favorite little chocolate shops.  Yummo!
Tim Horton's is my favorite favorite hot chocolate...I discovered it on our honeymoon and Shawn always brings me home some when he travels here...we went there everyday...the cute lady at the counter "mercedes" new me by name - ha ha. 
And probably the sweetest thing of all - I finally received a stamp in my passport =)

Oh! Canada...

For Shawn's company's 25th year anniversary...they flew everyone to Vancouver for the weekend.  The huge Gala last night was amazing...I love Canada...we have been here before and are happy to be back!
The band Blue Rodeo was the hit of the night - with all the security around...I gather they are pretty big around here ;)
We have had so much fun hanging out with the SLC office family.  I love to be in a city where you can walk almost anywhere.  I wish we had more of that back home! The market at Granville Island has been my favorite so far.  I love love markets like this...wish I could take this home with me also :)  Hi to all back home!

Gratitude

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the door of heaven and helps us feel Gods love."  -Thomas S Monson

We hosted Thanksgiving this year. What a treat to have our first big day in our new kitchen. The kitchen still has a bit to go for completion but it was great working together all day cooking and preparing our big meal.

 Shawn carving the turkey...Libby patiently waiting for a little something to fall her way.

"The gang" - minus K and J.  We missed you guys!

Looks like the triptifan kicked in quickly this year - LOL!

We also had a furry house guest this holiday - a darling schnauzer of our neighbors, chester.  What a delight he was to have.  

We ended our feast with everyone writing in our gratitude journal, which is actually lost at the moment but I had everyone write on paper that I will add when I dig thru the boxes we packed during construction to find it.  We have done this for about five years...there are usually groanes and whining but I cherish this book.  This year my neice wrote "I am thankful that Aunt Mel lost the "gratitue journal" ha ha.  Yes, I am that annoying aunt but I keep telling them, they will thank me some day :0)

Happy Ending

There is alot of happiness found in this little bottle.  The alternative to our recent conundrum lied in the little package shown behind.  Hours upon hours of grout removal.....was our first found option after realizing that the grout we chose was the wrong color :(  this was after installation of course :(

Thank you thank you CC Tile for your help!  I cannot tell you how happy hearing "grout colorant" even existed made me!

So with a little small brush...Kenn and I began our task of painting all the grout.  Let me just say it was worth every single minute.  The new grout color just blends in :0)

Just 34 and 1/2 square feet to go..........................................................................

Oh my chicken!

This is a phrase used by my dear eldest daughter as an exclamation of joy, surprise, frustration....in this particular instance...it is being used as pure joy.  Yes, my friends, that is a back splash you see. Soon to be grouted and complete.

All base boards are in and just need painting..... 

Here is our master carpenter and his apprentice working hard on the island.  Jeff has a great talent for woodworking, he built an entertainment center - amazing! and is now working on building a new trophy case for his school.  I am making a list of "to build for mel" very soon ;)

 

Are you sitting down...amazing images are soon to be revealed.....ok, you've been warned.........................

The beggings of an honest to goodness island!

Let's say it all together......"Oh my chicken!!!" (oh and hi Libby)

Thank you honey for your vision, hard work and patience with your very impatient wife.

Happy Birthday Matt!

Here is a big shout out to our now 17 year old! We celebrated mostly yesterday with a little trip to Boondocks for miniature golf...I can't remember the last time it was THIS warm for Matt's birthday!

Then we headed home for pizza and cake!

Matt has been saving all summer long for a PS3.  He didn't know that he had finally earned enough (with a little to leave in savings) so we surprised him and used his money to get him one....we gave him one wrapped controller and after a little confusion.....we pulled out the big box.

I think by the picture he was pleasantly surprised ;)

Thanks everyone for helping Matt enjoy his day!