It's Starbucks, what are you waiting for?!

So I'm a bit surprised!  I figured this would be the contest that everyone entered because you can win a Starbucks, Second Cup or iTunes card and also help someone else in the process. 

However, our mystery prize received much more traffic. 

I thought about that for a minute.  Why wouldn't everyone want to win a Starbucks card?  I want a Starbucks card?  I ♥ Starbucks, a lot!

Then it hit me, nobody wants to do the leg work to get all the answers to all the questions.  Well, not nobody but very few.

So, in an effort to make things easy for you, I've devised a plan!  I scheme if you will, that will give you a chance to WIN BIG!

So, if you'd like to enter our CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #4 - Starbucks, Second Cup or iTunes, leave a comment on the contest post telling me whether or not you've enjoyed the past 4 weeks worth of contests.  Or if you'd rather I resumed the regularily scheduled program.

I mean really, nobody wants their blog to feel like one of those annoying Important News Updates that interrupts Days of Our Lives to tell you that the new Boeing Airplane had to land due to....poor weather. 

I'm sure you care but I don't!  What I want to know is if Bo and Hope are going to survive yet another woamn threatening to destroy their marriage while taking care of a little girl who's aging rapidly (thanks to the technology of TV) and looking for another little girl who's been abducted from an abductor.  And let's not forget Stefano.

Anyways, leave a comment over HERE telling me - love the contests or fire them!

And get commenting, linking and reading, you get a great prize and so does someone else!


ps. To those who've already commented on the contest please leave another comment answering this question for a bonus Entry.

Christmas Giveaway #4 - Starbucks, iTunes, Second Cup and a gift!

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #3 - Winner Announced HERE!
It's here, it's here, it's finally here! 

Are you excited!  Have you anxiously been checking the blog waiting, wondering when, it would happen.  Did you loose sleep last night over it? 

No? Oh.  I did.

Ok, so maybe I didn't but it sounds good.  Or lame, I'm not sure which.  But whatever, you didn't come here to debate with me whether or not I'm lame.  You came to find out about our two fold, extra fantacular CHRISTMAS CONTEST #4!

In true two fold fashion this week's contest has two parts. 

Part #1 is for you!  That's right, follow the contest rules and you can enter to win, your choice of a

Starbucks Card!

or

A second Cup Card

or

An iTunes card!

Wahoo for choices!  And some pretty sweet winnings too!! 

But wait that's not all, if you order in the next 15 minutes we'll double your order and throw in a nail file that doubles as a lock de-icer, magnifying glass, tire gauge, cellphone and if held upside down for 15 seconds will self destruct.

Oops, guess I shouldn't watch late night infomercials any more...

There is more though, and unless your Get Smart you're going to think this is much better than a self destructing nail file

Part #2: When you win, you will be able to chose one of the 2 charities from the list below and we will make a donation in your honor!   This Christmas season we've made a real effort to be aware of the areas in which we can help others, this is just another one of those areas and we'd like to include you in it too!

Choices:
     1. Kids Help Phone - Kids Help Phone is there 24 hours a day 7 days a week for kids in need of help and hope. When you buy time you are helping to ensure Kids Help Phone’s professional counsellors are able to answer the call.

     2. Canadian Red Cross - Dedicated to helping people deal with situations that threaten their survival, safety, security, well being, and human dignity.
    
Due to the fact that there are a vast number of charities out there to chose from we narrowed the list down a little.  Both of these causes can hit home.  You don't hear very much about the Kids Help Phone but their services are vital.  They are a place for abused, scared, troubled kids to go.  Kids can be annonymous and have someone to talk to.  I hope, that my kids will always want to talk to me about the things happening in their lives, but if they ever get to a place where something is upsetting them and they don't feel like they can talk me, I'm glad to know there's someone else there.  These guys help kids stay away from drugs, get away from an abusive boyfriend/girlfriend and preven suicide, all because people donate and other people listen.

The Canadian Red Cross is another organization I'm glad is out there.  We never know when a disaster is going to hit, when a flood will happen, a tornado will rip through your town or when you'll stand out side your work, like I did in Kelowna in the summer of 2003 and watch a moutain and the homes of your friends burn.  These guys are there, when everyone else can't be.

How do you enter?!  It's easy and a little different this week!

Contest: Christmas Giveaway #4 - Starbucks, iTunes and a gift!
Prize:  Your choice of a Starbucks, Second Cup or iTunes gift card and a donation made in your honor to your choice of charity!!!
How to Enter:
1. Leave a comment on this blog, that includes the following information from the posts from last week.
   a) What do I L-O-L-O-L-O-L-O-V-E on my Caesar salad?  Answer found here
   b) What was the name of my first Cabbage Patch Doll? Answer found here
   c) What happened on my 3rd date with Corey? Answer found here
   d) What did my brother and I use to replace eggs in our brownie recipe? Answer found here
   e) What game did I play in grade 5? Answer found here
 Due to the labour intensive nature of this answer you will receive 3 entries for all correct answers!

*If that feels like too much work, you can leave a comment telling me about your favorite charity instead, for 1 entry

2. Write about it in a blog post linking back here and receive 1 entry share the love with someone else!
3. Twitter about it, Facebook about it or Stumble on It and receive 1 entry

That's 4 entires!  And keep watching all week, I might have another way for you to enter later in the week. But you'll have to stay tuned.

Contest Closes December 27 2009 at Midnight.  Winner will be announced Monday December 28 2009

And if nothing else, I urge you to do something for someone else this week.  Not in the "I'm buying christmas gifts for every Tom, Dick and that guy Harry, and their dog" kind of way but more in the, I know you need something I have (whether it's money, time or kindness) and I'm willing to share it, kind of way!

Merry Christmas and Good luck!!!

Disclaimer: This contest is run by Our Family Stone, and this blog and it's Author are receiving NO COMPENSATION for the above contest.  All prizes have been purchased by Ashley Stone.

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #3 - Ends Tonight!

Don't forget everyone! Our Christmas Giveaway - Mystery Gift is ending tonight! Don't miss out, enter now! And check back tomorrow, for our final and two fold Christmas Giveaway!

Technology is Neat

When I was a kid Nintendo, was new technology. I can remember the day my parents brought it home from a trip to Bellingham. My brother and I spent hours trying to get Mario and Luigi to save the Princess, each time being met with yet another Toadstool telling us Great job "But your princess is in another Castle". My bro quickly conquered the game and moved on to Dr. Mario and more. It took me years to gain the same accomplishments. As the years went by we had Super Nintendo, then he had N64, my technological desires had shifted away from the video games and towards another great invention.

The computer!

I remember our first computer too. My Mom made us all leave the room before she turned it on the first time, just in case the computer imploded. It didn't, and she, quickly became the master of DOS and Windows. She packed around that manual until she'd read it cover to cover. I was enthralled, I learned about Yahoo, e-mail and ICQ *UhOh!*

A message! Someone's talking to me!

And then, there was the single piece of technology that has completely altered life as we knew it! That is continually morphing and changing our worlds.

Dun,dun,duuuun

The cellular telephone. Does anyone remember "The Brick"

My Dad has one of these for work. Zach had one too, remember, Saved by The Bell? I was a kid but boy did I think he was pretty cute and some serious hot stuff. I mean, how cool are you if you can sit in the back of a classroom and "discretely" order a pizza off a telephone that's larger than your chemistry textbook.

We've sure come along way in the past 20 years (I'd say 26 but seriously dudes, up until that Nintendo entered our house when I was around 6 or 7, the extent of my technological experiences involved Sesame Street. Not too thrilling).

We have gaming systems that double as your gym membership, computers small enough to carry in a stylish purse and cellphones that fit in a shirt pocket. We can text, instant message and communicate "hands free" while driving (although if you are me, you very rarely talk "hands free" such are my flailing limbs). Blackberries, Macbooks and iPods. I didn't even mention the advancements the musical and video portions of our entertainment systems have experienced.

I've rolled with the punches, I have a DVD player, I love my iPod and the relationship I have with my Blackberry is special, very special. In fact, I actually kinda like technology. Blogging is the other part of our ever evolving world of tech that I heart. I love HTML and sharing my stories with the world. Thanks to the advances in technology I can channel my need for creative writing to an outlet that allows my family and friends a glimpse into our lives and my heart. It's all good, really, the changes (the ones that don't involve nuclear war or child pornography of course. Those are bad, very, very bad, evil even.) in technology are fabulous and I'm down with it.

But while I do love the changes I can remember a "simpler" time. I do remember days with out a family computer, a time when making a call away from home required a phone booth and calling card (google it, someone will explain) when the only way to work up a sweat at home required Richard Simmons, tight shorts and a few of the Oldies.

My children however, they are children of the times. They know technology, in fact, the don't know anything else.

Before you go getting all, judgy on me, I don't mean that their days are consumed with techie type toys. Their favorite toys are Little People, Mega Blocks and a Dr. Kit (that had my little B proclaiming that she'll be a "Doc-er" when she grows up and use her "testicle-cope" to listen to people's hearts beat), we are big on crafts and imaginative play because the world has and will continue to be changed through the channels of our imagination. We limit the amount of television that is watched and I do my best not to spend every unused hour of the day (which equates to about 15 minutes) on the computer.

But my girls know what a computer is, Beth is pretty sure everyone has one. They of course know what a telephone is and what a cellphone is. They both have their own cellphones, made up of a collection of toys and our old ones. Beth has learned to talk on the phone to people and will actually walk around as she chats with Grammy in the morning. When the phone rings AJ points and makes noises and when I answer will quite often put her little hand up to her ear and say with enthusiasm "Hi!".

I knew they would know a different world than I because well, they are born in a different time. But I didn't quite realize how much they knew and would learn about technology so young until the other day.

I asked Bethany to do something and she turned her little head and said,

"In a minute Mommy, I'm sending somebody a text".

I just stood in silence. What did she say? A text? Who taught her about texts? Ahem

Then I laughed, and realized. It's a sign of the times, and my girls they are growing right along with it. And it's ok, because really, technology is neat.

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY Hint #5: When I was in Grade 5 all the cool kids played "Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego" on the new/old Mac in our classroom. I was a "cool kid" (that is said with great sarcasm, but I did play the game.)

What would Christmas be with out cookies?!

If there is one thing that makes a house feel like Christmas it's the smell of fresh cookies.  Shortbread, ginger snaps, sugar cookies and other Christmas treats, yum!  Doing the Christmas baking is one of my favorite parts of this season.

It's not so much the consumption of these delectable treats that I love (while they taste fantastic, shortbread being my favorite, most of them contain corn so it's a nope for me.  Which, is why my pants still fit post Christmas), it's more the making of them.  Especially this year, I have a helper  now, who when she's not trying to put the entire container of cinnamon in a batch of ginger snaps or accidentally pouring vanilla all over her feet, is actually a help.  Watching the joy on her face as she helps me measure, mix and roll cookies, is more fun than doing it alone. 

This year was also our busiest baking season to date.  My parents have a big company dinner every year and this year we decided to give all of our guests homemade gifts instead of purchased ones.  I, being completely insane, maybe even off my rocker ambitious decided to volunteer to bake all of the cookies for all of our guests, totalling about 350 cookies, that's 29 dozen.  It was work, lots of work.  But I loved it!  I love baking, and decorating.  Packaging them up, taking time with pretty boxes and smooth, parchment paper, ribbons and bow, oh my!

Anyways, by Sunday night when the party began, I was finished.  Both with the baking and with my energy.  It plum tired me out, all that baking with 2 little girls is fun for sure, but still amounted to a little work.  Thank goodness the venue we booked for our party was fantastic, treated us like royalty and made the snowy evening fun for all.

I'm at a total loss for how to end this post with a flourish so, you're going to have to settle for a few dozen photos!

Sugar Cookies, warm from the oven.

Painting the cookies!  She had so much fun, we had a huge mess everywhere but fun was had by all.

Even Audrey helped.

Finished sugar cookies.

Chocolate Peppermint hearts.  These took Forevah!  Do you have any idea how many candy canes are broken in a box of 100?  About 85.  And do you know how long it takes to glue w/chocolate 85 candy canes together?  Too long!

I love how these turned out.  They were well worth the work, and sure looked pertty when they were done.

Chocolate kiss shortbread.  It didn't dawn on my until I was editing this photo that they look like a bunch of boobs.  It's ok to giggle, I did.  (Yes, I'm that grown up)

The finished product, one of our packages before lid and ribbon.

Dancing at the party. 

Everything with her tongue hangin' out!

I love this one of my Beth.

They clean up nice, eh?!

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY Hint #4: When my brother and I were young we attempted to bake brownies while my parents were out at bible study.  We were out of eggs and instead of phoning a neighbour to borrow some, I, in my infinate 13 year old wisdom substituted Crisco shortening.  The brownies were in the over for 1.5 hours and never solidified.  MMMMM, gag.

Second

Some days I feel like Audrey get's the short end of the stick. She's the second baby, the second girl. She has Bethany's hand-me-downs, we already had all the "big" toys because we had Beth first and she gets very little one on one time.

Don't get me wrong, she's abundantly loved, she receives as much love as her sister does (people who say that they love one child more than the next infuriate me. Love is love. You love your children, period. While there are different bonds with different children because they are, well...different. The love, it's the same.), she also gets new clothes (because girl clothes are CUTE! and because I refuse for her to feel second) and new toys. She's just second in line and that means things are different for her.

While I take the time I have with her and cherish it, I also have Bethany there too. Which means that I need to split my attentions. They both need me, the both need my time, love and patience (which can quickly get sapped by an in potty training 2 year old and a teething 10 month old). I used to have hours to spend flaked out on the floor with Bethany, just hanging out and playing. I don't get that very often with Audrey. I shopped for hours alone with Beth, chattering away to her, Audrey always has her sister for company.

I love the time with my two girls. I love watching Bethany play with AJ. She tries very hard to teach Audrey how to play with her little people and cheers her on as she works hard a crawling. There are also those moments when I hear "Mooooom! Audrey pinched/pushed/touched me!"

Seriously kid, she's not even 1 get over it! I mean, "Audrey don't bug your sister"

It's a different world with two kids. A wonderful world and I maintain that now, in this space where the tiny babydom has ended and the worst of the temper tantrums have subsided, is easier than when I had only one baby. They play together, we are a family of four. I like that.

There are also less blogs written exclusively for my Auds. She's my sweet baby, with a dash of jalapeno! She's generally content, almost always smiling and just a super great baby. But when you do something that she's unimpressed with she lets you know. She stiffens up her little body, contorts her face and pitches herself backwards. This is never a good idea, she's finding that out. 

She's trying so hard to learn to crawl, it's right there but she can't quite master it. She'll scoot in circles or backwards, she'll manage to move slowly across a room by scooting on her tooshie but the actual crawling it isn't happenin'. Just like she's trying to walk, she'll walk holding hands, she'll hang on to things standing up but she can't quite figure out how to put it all together.  Everything she does, especially the things she finds challenging she does with her tongue hanging out of her mouth.  Her little chin covered in drool, her face alight with a smile and her tongue, twisted off to the side, hangin' on out. 

And she's starting to talk. "Dadadada" is her favorite phrase. And "Hi!" She'll pretend she's talking on a phone, put her little hand up by her ear and say "Hi, Dad!" I love it. My Audrey is also cheeky, if I say, "Say Mama" she grins and says, "Dada". It's a game, one that Beth has picked up and together they manage to say "Dada" most of the day. I did get one "mama" but that's it.

Life is amazing with this little girlie. I can't believe next month she's 1! Where has time gone! Before I know it she's going to be a toddler. Sigh. She's already well on her way, figuring out how to drive her big sister's quad, alone!

One thing I know for sure, is she might be the second born but she's tied for first place with her sister. She's not second best, second place or second string. She's the #1 Audrey and my little button!

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY! Hint #3: The first time I road a quad was with Corey on our third date. I spent 2/3 of the ride trying to keep my feet from getting muddy and smashing my head into his as we went over bumps. Good thing for helmets.

It's all in the Lights

A couple of weekends ago, Corey and I did something with our girls that I have been waiting to do since we were pregnant with Bethany.

(Watching the parade with my girls)

As a little girl, like for most little girls, Christmas held a world of wonder for me. The lights, the sounds, the shopping and of course the gifts. But of those, the part that I looked forward almost the most (it would be a lie to say that at 10 I didn't look forward to my stocking Christmas morning. In fact, it would be a lie to say I don't still look forward to my stocking Christmas morning...) was the lights. Every year, Hope held it's "Lights of Hope" festival, where what seemed like the whole town piled into the park, drinking hot chocolate, listening to the local musical talent belt out Christmas tunes, waiting for the countdown. 10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! The switch would be thrown, turning the park and main street into a glittering wonderland.

(It was so windy this is the best I could get)

My parents took us each year to the lights of Hope, and then we'd pile into the car and drive around checking out all the lights on the homes around town. Everyone worked hard to have their lights done in time, and it was something that both my brother and I loved.

(Daddy and his girls)

While Chilliwack doesn't have a "Lights of Hope" festival they do have a Santa Claus parade and some awesome displays of lights. We tried taking Bethy out last year but after 2 houses she was bored and we went home. But not this year.

(Audrey wanted to pay for the ice cream)

We had an early supper (Cinnamon French Toast made with sweet potato, awesome recipe! Bethy even ate my piece), washed up the girls, put them in warm jammies, housecoats, slippers, toques and mitts and headed out. We bundled them in warm blankies in the back of Daddy's Blazer and off we went.

(Getting ready to head out)

It was wonderful, we managed to sneak a spot down where the parade started, so we didn't have to get out (we weren't planning on fighting the windy night that it was for the parade. It turned out to be a God thing, getting a parking spot so close). The girls sat on our laps as we watched all the floats go by, then we got Daddy and B an ice cream cone and drove around looking at the fantastic lights until both girls drifted off to sleep.

It was wonderful. That evening left me feeling refreshed, blessed and content. Hearing Bethany gasp "Look at that house Daddy!" or "Santa Claus!" was wonderful and the time together as a family was nice. It was just us and it was just, what the doctor ordered.

(Stone Driver's training course level 1)

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #3 is still happening!

Hint #2: I received my first Cabbage Patch Doll (which I collected for years) in 1984. Her name was Orsen and she was technically a He(at least that's what her clothes, hair and birth certificate said. Thank goodness they aren't anatomically correct). But if you asked me, He was a SHE!