how to be fiona's husband

Apparently there are a series of tests

the first one is on skateboards where the husbands to be have to go over ramps and stuff
then do it again on rollerskates

then they have to pass the protection test ...
protect fiona from a robber

then they have to like the colour of her bedroom

and finally, they have to be able to take care of her mom and dad when they're really old

and if they fail just one test, they're out

she's literally dreamed that up.

I think I keep changing the colour of her bedroom!!!!

Fun things to do at the OC

Of course there was checking flower pay phones for change.

-Elevators and water fountains in Sears and Eatons.

-Pinball and bingo fed gumball machines in Zellers

- and the carpet display in Sears...

I guess some things never get old.

Daddy's Girl

In the Stores now...

As she appears in the current Sears Father's Day Fashion flyer pg 4, on-line and in print.

FYI, the card is a prop based on Chloe's own drawing. I guess they didn't want to give her the artistic credit too so they made their own.

Coming soon to a flyer or catalog...

Next Week flyer
The Christmas Catalog with Dancing Bear Piano

wild weekend

the storms came through on Wednesday and the power went out. So we made it through the first 24 hours. still no power. freezers stayed tight closed, glenn went to bring home blocks of ice for the fridge. ALL filled to the brim with food - sides of lamb, all of the processed chicken. YIKES.
Lucky our neighbours down the street got their power back, we found out through facebook ... and mom spying into my account (as per my permission of course)
so we headed over for a shower (remember in the country, no power means no water)
and the offered us a generator
WIN!
so we had enough juice to keep the freezers topped off
and the phones went down
friday ... nothin and rumours it would be till sunday.
the SHEARING ... still a go and no way to contact everyone to call it off
had the gennie to allow the shears to work.
LJ and fam bring bottled drinking water
the super Hickey fam lend us the cottage again if needed.
and we manage, and the 100% rain forecast holds till after noon when we're done
lots of fun for all.
Fiona and I both took a bit off one of the sheeps. Llamas especially funny now (simon held the leash while the llama was tied to a pole)
thanks to LJ and CC for the photos.
Celebrated wee Chloe's 4th birthday too and a pre-dads day for Lj
Dave's should be on the way this week along with Benjamin's long lost power cord for his DS! (not forgotten and quite safe!)

what on said dry bread?

and spread with .....?

I like toast

Just putting that out there.

what a lovely weekend!

The weather was awesome
Lorne, Corinne and the kids came up for most of the weekend.
We had fireworks at one of the families from our Church on Friday.
The ducks have been a huge hit since they arrived on Thursday, with many duck baths enjoyed by cousins and even the kids next door.
The sandpile was well used
grass got cut and trimmed - one of my fave jobs on the farm
glenn's hair got cut and trimmed by his niece, nephew and daughter
A baby lamb surprised us by arriving on Sunday evening
sparklers were sparked
food was in abundance
kittens were obtained and went home with the right family
the apple trees were in perfect bloom
storms rolled through but didn't interrupt much
only one trip to Emerg. and that was at 2 am on sunday nite with grown-ups and all was well
got some moppet PR done at the mom2mom sale while CC looked around and the kids bounced in a bouncie castle
Forecasting a hot and dry summer
bring it on!
and take the mosquitoes away. (very nippy this weekend)
hope you had a great one too!

Planning forward for Sheep Shearing day on June 11.
Soccer starts for Fiona tomorrow.
Piano wrapping up with end of year concert on June 6
EQAO testing starts this week - grade 3 fun (not)

Chloe working oh so hard...

Here she is again, adding to that college fund.

Relaxing between shooting sessions.
I've been replaced by pretend dad Laine
"How's my hair?"
This outfit is well ventilated (Sears took swatches before the shoot).

I love this outfit!

"Why can't all these kid shoots be this easy?" -the photographer

Watch for the June week 2, Sears Father's day Flyer!

As Prizes Go...A Pretty Good One

The U.S.Small Business Administration has just chosen me as the SBA 2011 Women in Business Champion, Washington Metropolitan Area.

With Candice Bennett, Liz Cullen & Bev Gray of WPEO-DC
MBE100 Awards

The Small Business Administration's Women in Business Champion is awarded to an individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women’s business ownership. They appreciated my years of service commitment to businesswomen, at the regional, national and international levels.

Top business leaders who were my nominators appreciated the value of my contributions including as partner and educator with Women Impacting Public Policy, volunteer and speaker for the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and WEConnect Canada, and leader of special programs on government contracts for the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Judy interviews Bridget Bean about the new 8(m) Program
for Women As Veteran Entrepreneurs Conference

“We are proud to honor Judy Bradt with a 2011 Small Business Award. Her tireless efforts on behalf of her fellow women in business are just what these awards were created to recognize. The Washington Metro Area is a better place to do business because creative and enterprising people like Judy work so hard to make it that way,” said Bridget Bean, District Director, SBA Washington Metropolitan Area District Office.

I am deeply humbled to win this award, not least because the Washington DC area is home to so many of the nation's top public and private sector advocates for businesswomen. There are a lot of very accomplished, smart women who do a LOT It's an extraordinary honor to be chosen as the torch-bearer for women in business in this region. SBA's choice of a procurement expert as 2011 Women in Business Champion underscores the importance of the new 8(m) program right now.

Government contracts can make -- or break -- a thriving business, and can really hurt a fragile one. The new 8(m) program opens the door to women business owners for high growth government business. My passion remain strong: to give all business owners the tools and support they need to make good decisions on that road to government contract success.

Couldn't do it without JJ! He'll join me -- and I hope some other friends will too -- for the award ceremony May 11th at a 3 pm at the Women in Military Service to America Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

For more info or to register, visit http://www.sbadcawards.com.

Images from our Farm visit