Miss Carrie's Update

That's what my little 3-5 year old munchins call me. Either that or Teacher! For those of you I haven't had the pleasure of seeing recently, I've started at a brand new school in South Surrey, quite close to my house. Morgan Creek Montessori Academy and they wear uniforms - yuck! I hate that they don't have expression to wear what they want, but it's not my school. I am the main teacher and make pretty much all the decisions concerning what happens in the classroom and the kids, so that is REALLY nice. Just administrative stuff I don't do. It has been an incredibley overwhelming first few weeks. I didn't have enough set-up time so I have been trying to deal with set-up as well as getting the kids settled into the class with new routines, rules, and presentations like crazy so they know what to do in the classroom and are working at their level. Mostly focusing on behaviour right now so I don't have a class of hellions the whole year. Most of them are just amazing and so adorable! And for the most part my new boss is pretty good. A welcome change from my crazy boss of last year, which was just a totally draining experience.

I had an amazing summer to rejeuvenate and refocus on priorities. I just felt so messed up after the past year. Which probably explains why I hardly saw any of you last year. I had quite the family summer, visiting my niece in Calgary, relaxing in Whistler with Shane, vacation with Shane in Disneyland, San Diego, and family in Palm Springs, visiting Shane's family in the Okanagan, and a houseboat adventure with my family. I was able to fit in seeing many of you at Amanda & Nathan's wedding, Sam when she was home, and when I was in Calgary - thank you all for being there for me when you probably didn't even know how much I needed each of you! You are all amazing sisters and I am so thankful to know each and everyone of you! Here are some photos of my summer adventures. That's my niece who is now 1 year.

Update and pics

Well I thought that I should say hello and post some photo's. These are from Pam's wedding, sorry non from the ceremony cause I was in it! Anyway things are going well for me, I just started my new job with the surrey school district as a Child Care Worker. Wow what a difference it is working in a school compared to working on the downtown eastside with street youth! I was in an elementry school for the past 3 weeks (they called me Miss. Bailey ( I've been called worse!) and listened when I asked them to do things.... ) sadly I am now gone from there and am in the ever dreaded limbo of whats called a spare board.. this means I can get called anywhere from 5 - 9am to be at work that day.. .yucky! Oh well hopefully soon I'll post a long term spot. Other than that I'm just trying to stay out of trouble (hehehehe) and waiting to turn 30 in two months! Yup thats right, 30! Almost old enough to get married and have babies hey! In the light of my impending 30th B-day I decided that I really should get healthy seeing as I want to live a long and healthy life and there is a horrible amount of health problems in my families history. So to date I have lost 33lbs and hope to lose a few more.... it feels really good to be healthy and have to buy new clothes cause they dont fit.. .too big! One of the best days I've had in awhile was the dreaded change room scenario... you know, knock knock, how you doing in there, is everything fitting, do you need another size. I was like I need something smaller (and this part is usually said very quietly so no one else hears, except in my case...) the sales lady says what size do you need and I loudly and proudly say size 8 please!! Woop Woop... hehehehe. So yup, new job, new body, new mellie ( the man will follow suit shortly I imagine... I'm not sure if he knows I am patiently waiting for him to arrive.... hmmmm). Well I should go cause this is looooooooong, glad to hear everyone is going well, miss ya and love ya all

mellie

Amanda's Wedding Pictures

Sorry it took so long to post pics from my wedding... I just got these back from the photographer last weekend! As far as updates go, I've got a teaching position for the year teaching mostly Math this time round. Working slowly but surely on the house... nothing like what Nat can do in a month! Hope to add more soon... but back to lesson planning for right now!

Smithers Update

Hi Everyone,

Things are good on the farm this September. We had a good Summer with some travelling, and lots of time to work on the house. I painted one room and realized how much work was involved, so Nat you're quite ambitious with such extensive renos!

Sarah is sitting up by herself now, she's such a joy to have around. We're excited to hear about Sarah W.'s baby when it arrives, I loved looking at the website!

Amanda, I'm waiting for some photos to be posted of your wedding, I was sorry to miss it.

We've got a busy fall ahead of us with lots of company coming to visit and Clint coming home in a few days. He's been gone all Summer working in Prince George, we visited him once a few weeks ago but he hasn't seen Sarah in a few weeks now.

Have a great Fall,

Lisa

Just finished my renovation project house!

Hi Girls,

As per your requests, here are the "before and after" shots of the house that I spent the summer renovating. It is up for sale right now and I hope that it sells by the end of the month!! Bye for now! xox Nat

Hi everyone,

I've been taking the free time I have left before the baby comes to update our website. I've added a lot on the baby pages, and on our wedding pages - check it out :)

I will be adding and updating with baby pics as much as I can when she arrives, so keep checking in!

www.thewatts.ca

-Sarah

Hi Girls!

I just thought that I might send everone an update on my life, since there have been no new postings in a while.

Well, Amanda's wedding was gorgeous and I enjoyed seeing all of my sisters dancing to "We Are Family" with such enthusiasm!! But I will let Amanda tell you all about those details soon.

I just finished getting my Real Estate License and have been dabbling in that area for a few years already, so this should help me keep going on. I am renovating (again!) but this time it is a project house and not my own, so I am not so bothered by the dirt as I am not living in it! I will be selling it in a month or so and hope to make a profit on it.

I also have a new boyfriend... yes, I ventured where I swore that I would not go again. He is very sweet and quite a gentleman and I am happy to say that there are some nice guys left in the world! Anyways, I am having a great time getting to know him.

I would like to send out an open invitation to any and all girls who want to come out to Calgary for a visit, I have lots of rooms and am currently taking reservations! Ha ha... it's free too. I'd love to see you all soon.

Take care girls, and keep on living. xx Natalie

PS:
Sarah: How much longer 'till baby comes out to play?
Carrie: Did you still want me to take over Treasurer responsibilities before this year's dues come pouring in?
Amanda: Let's hear some details, eh? I want pics from your mom's camera.
Ally" It sure was great seeing you, let me know when you will be in Calgary next.

Bye Girls!!

July 2006

Hello Everyone!
What a busy last couple of months it has been, with July being so full of milestones. I was going to make it to Dom's wedding, although my sister Bonnie ended up being flown to St. Pauls and delivered her baby early. Bonnie is fine, and had a beautiful baby girl! Baby is fine, they are now safely at home, although baby had to be incubated and monitored for three weeks, and we had to wait until she was ready to come home. She was having a hard time learning to suckle on her own, and she was just not strong enough. Bonnie named her baby Sky Jordanna, and Cora is the best big sister ever! I will post pictures I promise.
This past weekend Amanda and Nathan were married as well, but I couldn't make it! I am sorry Amanda, post some pictures asap!
August 5th Pam is getting married, and myself and Mel are in the wedding, very excited for that. Mel, Pam, Lisa and I had alot of fun at Pam's stagette this month, good times had by all.
Played rugby in the Williams Lake Stampede Tourney, had a blast. Saw faces I had not seen in a long time; Jayme, Nora, Lia, and I played with Christine Bock...for UNBC and Abbotsford...so it was awesome to see everyone.
Still working with MOF, was extended till December...working in the Forest Evaluation Program for FRPA...FREP...checking blocks and streams, riparian assessments...soils...outdoorsy stuff...and am enjoying it..
Nothing much else new at this end..
My new office number is 394-4707...had to switch over when I switched from Drafting/Geomatics to Stewardship...
I picked up my RCMP application again, and am currently in the running mode and trying to remain postive and focused...
Well, that is it for now. Keep my posted everyone.
Miss you, love you.
Me

Friends are friends forever... the rest is just geography

HI Girls!

Just wanted to remind you all that if you ever drop into Calgary, give me a call and we can get caught up. Danya, Carrie and I had a blast the past few days shopping, watching movies and (of course) eating! It just reminded me how amazing our friendships are. Keep in touch ladies... you are always close to my heart.

Hugs from your sister,
Natalie

hey guys!

wow.. it's been a long time since i've written on here. and look what i'm missing!! babies, engagements.. home renos :P
as for me.. i had the best time of my life travelling around the uk for 2 weeks at the end of may (why i had to miss the retreat). i went with my sister and a friend of mine, and my boyfriend phil was with us the entire time. it was awesome! i wanna go back!
i'm not really online, just able to check email and stuff at work when a computer is available. so i'll post pics when i can but don't know if i can do it from here.
i'm starting school again in september. i'm doing a long distance course from red deer college. it's the pharmacy technician program (which i did in bc but it's not from a recognized school so...). and i'm working full time while i'm doing it. i'm rejoining the broke starving college student club :)

anyway sorry about not keeping up to date here.. i'll try to be better! congrats to those with babies, about to have babies.. and heck.. even thinking about babies :)
congrats nat on your engagement too! :) glad to see you're not one of the couples wanting to get married at the stampede though!

miss you guys
dani

The Fruits Of My Creative Labour!

Hi Girls,

As promised, here are a few pics of the work that I have been doing on my place whenever time allows. Thank goodness for summer break so I can get it all done! What you are looking at is the dining room before and after shots, as well as the guest bathroom before and after shots. I will keep sending stuff as it gets done, but these two are finally finished!

Sarah, I am looking forward to seeing your "done" shots soon!

Miss you all girls, Natalie

Another Girl!!

Oh how exciting, Sarah is having a girl (probably), so many girl babies, but did we expect anything else from our Sisters? Girls are so wonderful, congratulations Sarah.

Any my Sarah is doing really well, she's up to 13lbs and learning new things all the time. I'm taking her to see her Grandparents in Vernon this month, we booked a flight on airmiles because it is over $700 to fly from Smithers.

Hope everyone has a great Summer!!

Lisa

It's a Girl!

It's not 100% positive, but from what we saw we're pretty sure that Baby Muffin is a Strawberry Muffin!!

News from K-rhea

Hello everyone!
I just read over the retreat information. I am still pissed that you guys went and had the retreat without me. I hope you all had a miserable time and wished I was there! I truly from the bottom of my heart regret not being there it makes we want to cry. I am totally at the next one... maybe... I am applying for a university job here and it is a 2 year contract. I hope I get it it is better money but at the same time I hope I don't. I have become comfortable with my current work schedule and all the kids. I have two jobs. My mornings I work at this art kindergarden just singing and dancing with 4 groups of 10-12 kids. I am teaching them conversational English. In the afternoon to late evening I work in an academy teaching 5 classes all at different levels of English. I teach grammar, reading and essay writing. It is not much different from teaching English 170 at UNBC. For my birthday so many kids gave me gifts I was surprised. I forgot that there are children that are good kids. Don't think this has changed my mind about having any but I no longer run screaming for the hills when they come close. I hadn't checked the blog in awhile. I am surprised to see so many babies! Congratulations to all you crazy girls. Well teachers are starting to show up now and I should do some marking. Miss you all tons!

Hi Ladies,

You were asking for pictures of Ruth's little girls when I told you about them at the retreat, so here they are. These are from about 2 months ago when the girls were 5 months old. Abigail (Abi) is on the left and Zabrina (Bri) is on the right. To back up a little for you all, Ruth is my little sister. She got married to Franklin in Belize and they are now living in California. Doing well as far as I know but don't hear from her very much now that the twins are born.

I just wanted to thank Amanda and Lonnie for hosting the retreat this past weekend!
I had a blast, as I'm sure everyone else did! Amanda, your house is so nice and I'm inspired to make my plants mre healthy!
Natalie, it was great seeing you again nd catching up, and it was great getting to know you better Lonnie!

We chatted on the way home about plans for next year's retreat in Vancouver, heehe, we're very excited!

Walker news

My, how fast babies grow, Sarah is already over 10lbs and she's holding her own head up a bit. What a joy she is to have around, my days are busy but so rewarding. There is no love like that of having your own child.

Sorry to miss the retreat, hope everyone has a great time.

Lisa

Carrie's turn!

Finally another update from me! Well I've certainly been keeping myself busy. I've been teaching Montessori preschool for the morning class all year and that's going ok. The school has turned out to be not what I'm looking for but I sure have learned a lot! I took up some nannying in the afternoons to supplement income. Then I volunteered to be the youth group leader at my church and it's a bunch of overnight weekends until the end of the school year. Then my friend was in a bad car accident so I've taken over her afternoon class at another school (a school I totally love!). So I went from a nice leisurely working part-time to full-time plus craziness! Did I mention this has all been happening since I moved into my new place in February? I love my new place - it's awesome but always so much to do! We're still hoping to have a house warming but the date keeps getting pushed back. I haven't even loaded the pictures from my camera onto the computer yet but I'll try and post pictures another time. My good news is that I've just signed a contract for a different school to start in September. It's quite close to my house (a welcome change after the hour commute) and it will pretty much be my own classroom. It will be me as the main teacher and the owner will be my assistant 3 days a week and another girl 2 days a week. The good thing is that I'll be making the classroom what I want it to be. And it's a brand new school so brand new materials is always fun as well as shopping for cute little items for my school. I'm pretty excited about it and would be more so if I weren't so tired all the time! Looking forward to catching up with many of you at the retreat!

I havn't updated in a while, so I guess it's my turn!
Curt and I are moving...yet again...in 12 days! We bought a house in North Vancouver, and have sold both sides of the duplex we built last year. It all happened quite fast, like wihtin 3 weeks we sold two houses and bought our new house. We ar super excited about this new place, because not only are we finally on the North Shore, but also because the house is virtually a dream home for us! It' a total fixer-upper (what we wanted!), it's a 70's flashback house complete with shag carpet and avacado green appliances. Thankfully we have three weeks between moving in and moving out of our house that we can go over and blitz paint the whole house, rip up carpeting, lay new hardwod flooring and we've also ordered new appliances for the kitchen (thank you dear husband, because I refuse to cook on a 30 yr old stove =P). We're also stoked because it has a pool! Yes....a POOL! Hello pool parties at the Watts' house!!

I'm also 16 weeks pregnant now and really starting to show it! Thankfully we have a ton of people helping out with the new house, because I don't know how long I'll last with cleaning and painting etc. I have my next ultrasound in two weeks and I'm hoping it will be the *big ultrasound* where we find out the sex!! If not, then I have to wait a few weeks more, but I'm pretty sure I'll know for when we're up in PG for the retreat! How exciting!!

Anyways, can't wait to see those of you in PG!!
-Sarah

Hi Girls!Okay, I think I finally figured out how to post a picture! (Thanks Sarah). Here is my Honey. I hope we have gorgeous and smart kids.

Updates from me include that I am knee-deep in another home renovation (what a shocker) and will be finishing the house in the next few weeks. I will be sure to send you all "before and after" pics, as this place has certainly gone through a transformation! It has been a really fun and creative experience though, and I can't wait to start making it look pretty again. (It's still too cold for flowers I am told.)

I am looking forward to seeing you all at the retreat in May as I just booked my ticket the other day. Miss you all!Love Nat