road trip!

Well, Michael had the chance to take care of his drivers itch in April. He was flown to London, ON to pick up a truck and drive it back to Winnipeg because it had been sold. He did this two weekends in April.

Michael also got to stop in and visit his cousin Barry and his kids.

I'm done!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone! Ok, so I just got back from writing my last exam ever! (actually I took a little detour on the way home). I figured that since I'm no longer a student of the U of M, I didn't want to carry a student agenda anymore (besides it only goes till August and I'd have to get something then anyway), so I stopped at Staples on my way home from school (probably one of my favorite stores) to pick out a new day timer. I'm such a geek. I absolutely love looking at all the cool stuff at Staples, I could spend a lot of time there. Anyway, found one that I liked, now I just need to set it up and transfer stuff out of the old one. Michael is away this weekend, he flew to ON so that he could drive a truck back to Winnipeg. It's really great that he can still jump in a truck, to take care of his itch, and to earn us some fun money (most of which is going to go into landscaping and other house projects this summer). So I'm planning on chilling out quite a bit. Tonight I'm going out with two long time girl friends that I met my first year of university to celebrate. Tomorrow I'm planning on knitting a lot. I finished one sock of a pair that I'm working on, that have a deadline of May 5, so I'm hoping to finish or nearly finish the second one this weekend. They are absolutely gorgeous! I wish I could keep them, but I think there might just be enough extra yarn for me to make myself some ankle socks! Yay!

window into our conversation...

Ok, so I borrowed this idea from Debbie, she does this on her blog (and I always find them priceless), and today's conversation struck me as a good one to record. Here it goes: Esther: I am feeling like I could use some "I am a schmuck flowers" right now (said quietly, in a slightly pouty tone). Background Info: a couple of weeks ago Michael blew it by coming home from work really late when we were having dinner guests and catching a show afterward. He arrived with a bunch of tulips to let me know that he was a schmuck. I was totally taken aback, because he's never given me flowers for when he's been a schmuck before. Michael: Yeah, I know. I thought about getting some, but then I would have been later, and that would've made me even more of a schmuck. Esther: Yeah. The thing is, as much as it was nice to get "I'm a schmuck flowers" because it was something tangible that indicated that you really got it, that something you did affected me, it wasn't exactly nice to look at the flowers everyday for two weeks and be reminded that I got them because you were a schmuck. I think I'd rather have something besides flowers. Michael: Like chocolate? Esther: Yeah, I think chocolate would do the trick. Michael: That way, you can eat the chocolate, feel all warm and fuzzy and forget that I'm a schmuck! And when I want to say "I love you" then I should bring home flowers, so you can see them everyday for a week and be reminded that I love you. Esther: Yup, I think that sounds just about perfect. Michael: We should write a book about this, and you can write about exactly what kind of chocolate to give for different "I'm a schmuck" situations. Esther: Yeah, somehow I think I'd be writing the whole thing!

home stretch!

ok, so this is the last week of classes. then i have several projects and final assignments to hand for the two weeks following that. then, last but not least, exams. the only two i have are on the same day, the 26th, which by the way is like the second last day of the exam period. sigh. it's hard to imagine that this phase of life will soon be over. we've finally adjusted to it, i'd say that since January we've finally figured things out and have a workable routine way of doing life, that's working for us. it feels good, and now it's all going to dissolve. we will have to start figuring stuff out all over again, develop a new 'normal'. i know that change is good and all that, but part of me feels a little apprehensive about it. i mean we have worked incredibly hard to get to where we are at, the first year in winnipeg was really tough going. i have to keep reminding myself that not nearly as many things are changing at once this time. it's just one thing, i'm going from being a student to working. it won't be that bad right, it's not going to turn our life into shambles again, besides we now have new skills and abilities for coping with the change, right?

project finally complete! (sort of)

Well, this has been one long project from start to finish! I got this little cabinet last winter, and this winter I finally took it to my in-laws and stained it and varnished it. I did it there so I could do it inside a heated shop, rather than freeze or wait until summer. Anyway, this is now where the phone and other miscellaneous items that used to live on the counter on the other side of this wall will no live. Yay for a clean counter, and more space when I'm baking! The thing is, nothing has really been organized inside. Michael took the liberty of shoving all our games behind those two doors and the phone books and pens and such are inside the flip down part. I still plan to actually make it functional (eliminate a few games that we don't use) and put some little baskets in so things don't get lost in the back.

Doesn't it look pretty? The flowers are from Valentine's, left over from the tables at the coffeehouse where we spent the evening. That photo, which we think looks pretty awesome is one we took in San Diego when we were stuck there for a couple of days with the truck.

short trip in the truck!

Ok, so Michael had the chance to drive his boss's truck on a couple of short weekend trips. We decided it would be fun to go together and relive our first year of marriage (wait, maybe not everything about the first year, afterall those were some crazy times!). Anyway, we had a lot of fun and if I'm honest, I was reminded about some of the things about that phase of life that weren't always so enjoyable, like the crazy sleep patterns and washing up for bedtime in a public restroom. If you are wondering what I'm pointing at in a rather Vanna White fashion, it's the Wal-Mart sign. This was the place we stopped at least once on every trip. Needless to say, I really don't shop at Walmart that often anymore, I got so bored of Wal-Mart, they really are the same all across the country!

And, since we were in the States (which is not quite as close by here as it is back home in Abbotsford, well it's close, but there's nothing on the other side unless you drive quite a ways), we had to stop for the best ice cream ever. At Coldstone's! If you ever have the chance to go, do. My favorite thing to order is the Cheesecake Supreme (actually quite remember the name, but it's cheese cake flavored ice cream with graham cracker crumbs, strawberries & blueberries).

AFTER happily ever after

Michael and I had a date night, together with another couple. It was really great to get out and feel like we have a social life. The After Happily Ever After tour is put on by Focus on the Family, and is coming across the country (I think it's in Abbotsford in May sometime). We had a great time, laughing and learning. It gave us both a few things to think about. We recommend it, if you can make it!

Easter!

This year I made paska again, on Thursday before Bad Friday, it sort of hadn't occurred to me until last minute, because I was so busy with school. Anyway, I called Oma this time, to avoid any further mishaps like last year, and got some instructions and double checked my recipe. Turns out, it is supposed to be a soft, sticky dough (not like bread). It turned out much better!

We didn't have an Easter dinner at our place this year, but we had a big family gathering at Michael's parents place. It was really great. There was extra people compared to the usual 7. Grandma & Grandpa Peters were in from Ontario, Unlce Isaac was there as well as great-aunt Lisa. We had a big Easter hunt, which was a lot of fun, and reminded me of the Loewen hunts we used to have.

{I've been waiting to post this until I got some pictures from the rest of the clan, because of course we didn't take any of our own, but it seems no one had their camera out for the actual hunt, but here's some standard hanging out pics and a "tischbild" }

This is Cate, and the only evidence I have that we had an Easter Hunt.

The "tisch bild" (this means table picture directly translated, and it is something that my Oma Friesen almost always asks for at a family gathering, it's become a bit of a legend.)

new job...

The family tradition of book keeper lives on! Our friend Samuel who also runs a trucking/brokering business approached me to come and work for him as a book keeper/organizer. I thought about it a long time and talked with Michael about it (which was interesting and helped us have another communication breakthrough). I was a little nervous, knowing how in some ways Michael and this friend have very similar personalities and remembering how intense (read: many arguments) Michael and I had when I had to take over doing his trucking books for him. I decided to do it, but only 4 hours a week until school is over, and after that potentially more, as necessary, and until I find my education related employement. So far it has been fun, although the learning curve on a new accounting software is big (I find it way too easy to compare and complain). So, it is going well, I even got to shop for office supplies (I am a total dork: this is something I find incredibly enjoyable). I'm enjoying the challenge of understanding his business and helping him set up an effective filing system and way to handle all. the. paper. So far he seems to be ok with my bluntness on challenging the way he does things (but then again, Michael warned him, and he is paying me to help him be more efficient, a totally different situation than when I started doing the books for Michael!) So, unofficially this is my first gig as an organizer too, which is something I hope to pursue on the side. I have two other organizing gigs that I need to schedule in too, so it might take off sooner than I thought!

birthday boy...

Well, this year it's Michael's "golden" birthday, or whatever you want to call it (the one where he turns 27 on the 27th, it's really too bad I don't remember mine...). So, we celebrated with our lifegroup:



Horst of course remembered Michael's bottle collection, and found this unique one to add to the stash.

Our friends Francis & Janine helped me pull off a surprise party for Michael on the 29th. Michael had no clue and was not suspicious at all, until the first party goers arrived before he had left for his coffee date with Francis (of course the guys both got home from work late, cutting everything very close). Anyway, the couple had a baby, who was not a happy camper, so the crying child kept Michael from thinking too much about why these people had come over. The whole evening was a lot of fun!

see, doesn't it look like we are having fun?