We have had a very eventful week! On Saturday night I had my first concert singing with Philly 5, Sunday we had a lunch out with the Dyck's and a get-together with friends, Tuesday afternoon we got the new kitty, and on Wednesday we had the absolutely exciting privilege of meeting Baby Isabelle Funston! A beautiful little girl born to our friends Brad and Samantha. (She is absolutely perfect!) Wednesday night I had rehearsal for the Christmas production I am a part of at our church, and today I was scrambling to get my paper done, taking Emilio to the vet, and making dinner for Dave and my cousin Benji. It's all done now, and I'm winding down with my best friend Diet Coke, watching my favourite Hockey team, beside my favourite person (yes, Dave), during my favourite season and realizing that it's only 3 weeks left until we come home for Christmas!
We are both very excited to be back in Vancouver - and especially for our trip away with family in the new year. My sister Jalen is engaged and her and her fiance Kyle will be around for the festivities - it will be so good to spend some time just doing girly things and soaking up the familiarity of our home town.
Now it's work work work this weekend...Goodnight and thanks for reading!

EMILIO: Our newER kitty. We wanted to get Wrigley a playmate so she wouldn't be lonely - and supposedly her rambuncious behaviour when we do come home would tone down. VERY true! I went to Humane Society on Tuesday and there he was - a little white 9 week old kitten that looked just like Cookie (my family's cat) when she was little. Just with shorter hair! My mom thought I was ridiculous to get another cat - but really, 2 isn't really different from one - and he's just so lovable. So, after some initial hissing at the new addition, Wrigley was in love, well cat-love. Which, as I've come to understand it, consists of a lot of cuddling and grooming one another... surprisingly similiar to humans now that I say that. Needless to say that it did the trick, and she hasn't so much as looked at the christmas tree (she was constantly climbing it before) and she barely even notices when we leave. Emilio is a very needy and cuddly little kitten, he practically wants to be sitting on your lap or picked up all day long. it's great.

We took him to the vet today, as I noticed he wasn't eating and he had begun to limp - so they checked him out and figured he had come up with a fever - so after getting a shot to take it down, he stopped shivering and slept it off this afternoon. Now he's back to eating and walking normally.


As for the name, that was Dave. If you've ever seen "A Night at the Roxbury" you will understand. I had the choice between Chet Steadman and Emilio... so naturally I chose what i did.


I feel like one of those weird cat ladies. But I really am quite content to be just that!



Dave took the pictures with his Blackberry, so they're a little blurry! Well, I took this one. :)

LAZY SUNDAY

Today is just that. After church we had lunch with Dave's side of the family - and picked up some much needed eggnog and scented candles to further the Christmas Spirit in our humble abode. We are heading to Phil and Stacey's tonight for a '24:Redemption' party - Not too thrilled about the impending addiction that will be 24, but I know I can't leave Jack Bauer on his own to save the world....so I will be offering my viewing support.

This picture was taken this past Thursday at Jared's studio. Very cool to be a part of an album - it's amazing how clear and defined your voice comes through the headphones - I am forever spoiled with these monitors!

Very exciting and new experience for me... definitely makes me want to put an album together with the family! One day...

Michelle took this picture when she was visiting with us a couple of weeks ago. This is Wrigley, the wonder cat. She is 5 and a half months old now, but still a pretty small kitty. She's quite ridiculous at times, and enjoys jumping all over the place and sleeping on our laps. She runs our house...and us. We love her!

My Christmas Favourites

I know it's a little early...

1) BAKING: Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

2) MOVIES:

Christmas Vacation

A Christmas Story

It's a Wonderful Life

3) SONGS:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

- James Taylor

Step into Christmas

- Elton John

Baby it's cold outside

- Natalie Cole and James Taylor

Last Christmas

- WHAM

I don't wanna spend one more Christmas

- NSYNC

Christmas Eve

- Celine Dion

Mary's Boy Child

- Boney M

I Celebrate the Day

- Relient K

4)DRINKS: Eggnog Lattes, Hot Apple Cider, Cranberry Punch

WHAT ARE YOUR CHRISTMAS FAVOURITES?

first things first

I'm as green as can be. So forgive me! I decided to take up this blogging-phenomenon upon reading some of my friends' blogs (thanks Michelle!), in hopes that I might be able to keep a current journal - as public as it is. So here I go.
Today was fantastically lazy and less-productive than I'd originally hoped, but turned out to be just what I needed. I am constantly plagued with the cold - so taking today to relax and get some school work done really seemed to help. Maybe it's only in my mind.

I had the amazing priviledge Yesterday of singing for an album in a recording studio! A very new experience for me, though I thought I adjusted quite well to the set-up and format within the studio. The artist I am singing back-up for is Phillip Simms - or Philly 5 - a fantastic R+B artist who I just had the pleasure of meeting last month. Him and his wife Stacey were introduced to Dave and I at a dinner party for a mutual friend's birthday, and the next time we saw them the album came out - along with my singing - and wham! there I am in the studio two days later. Crazy how God works. I am back to record some more and learn more about the album in the next couple of days. Phil has a concert at Joe's Place on Saturday night so I will be joining them for that as well! This is all very encouraging and exciting for me. I haven't had the opportunity to sing anywhere since the summer time, and I am really thankful for this.

Dave and Wrigley are sitting here on the couch beside me. Life is good.
Thank you for reading my blog, I will try and be consistent with this!