Know What This Is?

This, my friends, is a Kermode bear. NOT a polar bear. NOT an albino black bear. He is, in fact a white black bear. Its a recessive gene that causes this to occur. These little guys are the rarest of the rare. There's two islands down the Douglas Channel where there's a large (large for these guys) population of these creatures. This little buddy has been wondering around my hometown for a while. A LOT of people have been lucky enough to see him. They are also referred to as Spirit Bear. Princess Royal Island and Gribbell Island are home to a great deal of these guys. The reason being that they're geographically separated from the general black bear population. Apparently as many as one in ten is born with the recessive gene and their white coat stays with them their entire life. I grew up in Kitimat and never ONCE saw one of these bears. I am SO SO jealous that there's one roaming around and I don't get to see it!

Learning something new

Still can't spill the beans on my secret, but oooohhhh I can't wait!!

Anyway, we have a new niece or nephew currently being cooked up in his/her Mama's belly in Sunny California!! I've always wanted to learn how to crochet something OTHER than a basic chain stitch that I can turn into a scarf. So, with Baby Beaudin on the way, what better time to learn?!! I've been practicing different stitches, putting together pieces here and there to see what I like best, what's easiest and nicest looking. I think I have a winner. I'm making a practice baby afghan for Mr. Nolan. The boy has a thing for crocheted blankets! It's turning out really nice, so when I finish, I'll be moving on and making one for Baby Beaudin! Out of all the baby gifts we've ever received, the hand made things were the most meaningful to us. I just think they're so personal. So, knowing that we won't know this babe as well as we would like...the whole distance thing! I'm going to make him/her a baby afghan that hopefully will be a cherished gift! And if it isn't, at least it's something Baby Beaudin can lay on while playing on the floor! So, with that said, I'm off to practice some more while I have a few quiet minutes!

I Have A Secret...

But I can't share it right now. Just thought you'd like to know that!

So We Went To The Dinosaur Museum.

We went to the Royal Tyrrell Museum last Saturday. We stopped and picked up my brother en route and had a grand ol' time. The kids were all amazingly well behaved! Spencer was in Dinosaur Heaven. Liam? Scared out of his little pants. We all took turns carrying him through the ENTIRE museum while he hid his head in our shoulders. The only part of the museum he loved LOVED was the cardboard cut out of a lion. I kid you not. This kid lost his shit over a cardboard lion. He stood there cooing at it, KISSING it, and just loving on it like no one's business. It was actually kind of endearing. That was it though. He did not like one single other thing there. Not one. Poor kid. He was also pretty unsure of the giant dinosaur that you climb at the Tourist Info Park thinger. Dan had to carry him up that massive 9 million storey carnivore. And then, turn right back around and head back down to terra firma with the blond babe. Apparently Liam isn't quite as fearless as we had thought! Spencer on the other hand, had the time of his life. We took a quick drive around town and Spencer thought it was un-freaking-real that there were dinos on the sidewalks and almost everywhere he looked. He asked if we could move there. We said no. We promised to go back though. He was okay with that. Nolan was pretty good considering he did not get a real nap. He was hungry for the better part of the day, but wasn't really into eating anything we offered him. He did drink about a liter and a half of milk though. And no, I'm not kidding. Boy likes his moo juice. No doubt about it. Anyway, I do have pictures. Just not on my computer. They're still on the camera. Which I THINK is under the coffee table. But, I'm at work. You see my dilemma? Yeah, me too. I'll get them up when I can!

She Would Be 24

6 years and 10 months ago, a very special girl went to heaven. Exactly two months after she turned 17. She was sweet, smart, and funny. She laughed a lot. She was my "stand in sister". She was my sister's best friend. It's hard to believe that if she were still here today, she'd be 24. She'd be a young woman. Maybe she'd have a family? Maybe she'd be just starting out in her career? Maybe she'd be a young, carefree woman dancing to the beat of her own drum? Who knows. The hardest part about her not being here, is wondering who she'd be today. We'll never know. But regardless, today she would have been 24. She had one young niece when she died. Today? 3 nieces and 1 nephew. A brother in law. An amazing sister, though I'm sure she knew that already. So today, on what would have been her 24th birthday I'll sit here and imagine who she would have been.

Who You'd Be Today

Kenny Chesney

Sunny days seem to hurt the most

Wear the pain like a heavy coat

I feel you everywhere I go

I see your smile, I see your face

I her you laughing in the rain

Still can't believe you're gone

It ain't fair you died too young

Like a story that had just begun

Then death tore all the pages away

God knows how I miss you

All the hell that I've been through

Just knowing no one could take your place

Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today

Would you see the world?

Would you chase your dreams?

Settle down with a family?

I wonder, what would you name your babies?

Some days the sky's so blue

I feel like I can talk to you

And I know it might sound crazy

It ain't fair you died to young

Like a story that had just begun

Then death tore the pages all away

God knows how I miss you

All the hell that I've been through

Just knowing no one could take you place

Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today

Today, Today, Today

Today, Today, Today

Sunny days seem to hurt the most

I wear the pain like a heavy coat

The only thing that gives me hope

Is I know I'll see you again someday

Someday, Someday