Resolutions

2014 has been a bit of a tough one for me. I was diagnosed with celiac disease January 7th. About 3 years ago I was feeling excessively tired and constantly had a cold. I had just started shift work and wasn't eating very healthy. I figured that I was anemic so I had my blood tested. It came back with positive markers for celiac. At this point in time, we were pretty broke and the thought of going gluten free was daunting and expensive so I basically just ignored it. In August at the White wedding we were chatting with Lisa Evans and she scared Tim into making sure that I was retested for celiac. I had some blood work that needed to be done anyway so I had the celiac stuff added on. It came back even more positive than before. I was still holding onto the shred of hope that the blood test isn't 100% so I was put on the list to have a stomach biopsy which is the gold standard. Due to a cancellation I was able to get in real quick and would finally have some answers. I did the stomach biopsy with out any sedation. It was kind of horrible but I really don't like being put to sleep and it only lasted about 10 min.

On a side not Tim almost died while waiting for me. He decided to go for a stroll so he got in an elevator and it started to free fall a few feet every few seconds. When he pushed the emergency button to call for help he got 911!!! haha what a super ghetto hospital! The elevator did finally let him out and he lived to tell the story. 

To continue on with the original story, Dr. Shaffer remembered me for not using sedation and confirmed the diagnosis of celiac disease. As of January 8, 2014 I am gluten free!

I cried after I purged my cupboards. 

Biggest surprises: campbell's soups all contain gluten including tomato, cream of mushroom, cream of chicken!

No name beef and chicken stock!

McCain's Hash-browns

Mini Eggs, smarties and most gummy candies :(

There is more food to be purged from my deep freeze. I am just waiting for someone to come visit and they can have it ALL! 

As my reward for going gluten free we bought a blend tec!!! 

 It is seriously amazing! I throw in spinach, carrots, whole apples, whole avocados and make super healthy smoothies. The picture below is the soup that I made in it and it even heats up the soup!

I appreciate all the e-mails of recipes and support!! I truly have the best friends and family ever!

Christmas- take 2

A couple of days after Christmas we headed down to Welling to have round 2 of Christmas with the Wilde's. We made it just in time to go to Tanner and Jesse's wedding reception. Congratulations!!

We had Christmas morning #2 and the nieces and nephews were definitely spoiled. 

My mom got the brother-in-laws a very creative present… ZOOMIES! Seriously go watch the infomercial because you will all be jealous. 

My mom surprised me and Tannis with our old high school basketball jerseys!! She never ceases to impress me!

Tim got the nephews lego, but I think he enjoyed playing with it more than they did. 

The boys played A LOT of play station. 

These 2 are finally starting to get along. Maybe in March when we go see baby scow they will actually be friends?

Sisters are truly the best!!

Cohen and I played in the snow. He is a pretty funny kid. We found lots of animal tracks in the snow. Cohen told me that they belonged to wolves and bears and if we went into the field we would be eaten by them. 

Scarlett was over loved. Every time you turned around someone new was loving her. 

We went over to Grandma Wilde's for lunch. She made my favourite meal, fried chicken!

Even Grandma and Grandpa Evans came for a visit.

iPads are always a hit. I loved having the Scow boys cuddle me while they played games. 

 Nathan and Tim taught the Scow boys to play madden on the play station. Cohen and Mason were actually pretty good!

For New Years Mom and Paul were kind enough to babysit while we all went out on a quadruple date. It was super fun and hopefully the first of many!

We barely made it to New Years. We are pretty lame. 

Christmas was super fun and I am so excited for everyone to get back together in March. 

Christmas- take 1

This year we stayed in Calgary and celebrated with the Wright's. It was my first year spending Christmas with Wright's and it was fun experiencing their traditions. 

 Tim and Chrissy are serious puzzle makers. They were able to build two in the 4 days that we spent there.

 This was the finished product of the first and most difficult puzzle. 

 Even Wrigley got in to the festivities. 

 These 3 played a ridiculous amount of Jeopardy. Dede was the best at clicking in but David knows an absurd amount of random history facts. Tim just brought up the rear.

 We had an absurd amount of presents for 3 adults. I got seriously spoiled. Unfortunately I had to work on actual Christmas day so we celebrated on Christmas Eve.

The best surprise present: Harry Potter Snuggy

Tim was spoiled by his parents with a new gun. 

Hongbao's are the best! For those of you who don't know, a hongbao is a red envelope full of money. I love the Asian culture mixed in with the American culture. It makes the Wright's truly unique. 

The start of a cold winter

The first part of winter we went to Edmonton to meet Benjamin Heyland. He is perfect and it was so fun to meet up with old friends. 

Val and Kayden are getting so big. It is crazy to see my friends little families growing up!

I can't go to Edmonton and not see the Dudley's. I got left to babysit while Erin went to a christmas party and Tim and Tyler went to an Oilers game. It is ok cuz I got to dress the girls in matching outfits. Scar fell asleep just as things got fun!

Tim and I spent a day at the mall picking out the last few things for Christmas. Tim can't resist buying things for the nephews. He loves to relive his childhood through them. 

 This year our stockings were supplied by dollarama. I seriously love that place.

This year for American Thanksgiving I had the privilege of making the dressing. Tim was worried that we wouldn't have enough….

 We had lots of leftovers but that is ok because I love this stuff. I had to put in an emergency call to my mother to get instructions on how to make it. For the last 23 years of my life I have only ever been given the job of ripping up the bread. I added a little bit too much liquid but it turned out pretty delicious.

We have had a lot of snow this year but Wrigley and I continue to walk every day. I am so glad that I have him to get me moving every day.