Behind the White House Doors

Locks of Love

2012-01-21T10:27:00.003-07:00

London decided a few weeks ago that she wanted to get all her hair cut and donate it to Cancer patients for wigs. I thought it may pass but as time went on she was more determined than ever. I have to admit I was filled with fear. I love her long hair and the last time it was really short was when she was little and cut it herself. She had little to no hair until she was two so I have always been anxious about her hair.

I called and got it right away with someone she likes so off we went. This is one last look at her ponytail! Look how long it is.

Still trying to figure out what style to do. I was under the impression that it would be shoulder length he was just eyeballing it so I got out my tape measure and let him know it could be 8-10 inches. I was encouraging to go with the eight! I watched him measure it out and it was like 18...I was like move it down. Anyway yes I was a hovering mother! Well he has decided for longer in his mind I guess.

I missed the first cut this was the second one...I am thinking wow that's not so bad. It won't be shoulder length though...each ponytail he cut got shorter and shorter! He measured the bottom one only. I was freaking out at this point but he was in speed mode and didn't listen and just kept cutting.

The picture below is where I had to go as I was hyperventilating. He cut the side pony tail and yikes some pieces were only a few inches long! I was so freaking out but I didn't want London to freak out so I actually left the salon and walked around outside. Called Sean yelled and cried a bit. Then came back in. Honestly I know it is silly, it is only hair but she is at a crucial part in her life. So I was worried she would cry, freak and go into a depressed state.

She loves it! She was happy and excited. I guess I just described how I would react not here.!

I am so proud of her!! I know I couldn't have done it.

Look how cute! Doesn't it look like Alice Cullen from Twilight?

VICTORY! This is for all those that suffer. I had cancer. Her uncle right now has just been diagnosed with Cancer. My Aunt Carole died from Cancer, my dad has had skin cancer....the list goes on. I hope someone gets a great wig from this. London has really thick great hair.

I love this picture of her below. Confident and strong. She really is growing up on me. It is so exciting and scary all wrapped up in one bundle! I love you Kiddo!

And the Winner is.......

2011-12-09T09:01:00.001-07:00

Drum roll please! Well I had 17 comments in total (including Facebook people) thank you very much! I am pleased to announce the Winners are Beate Holt from Colorado and Dela Wandler. I wish I had enough for everyone. Next year I will make even more! Congrats ladies!

Ornament Exchange Contest!

2011-12-05T15:36:00.001-07:00

Well, this is my workshop this year! I ended up painting everything in my office. As usual I have 365 days to prepare for ornament exchange and I waited until the 364th day to start! I don't know why I do it to myself. It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions but I always leave it to the end and it ends up being a couple days of panic and a hungry family as I don't have time to make supper!

I had 500 ideas but finally decided on doing little Dr. Seuss type presents. With 24 people in the exchange and my 15th year being in it.....I am always shocked that we still come up with new things we haven't done. I love my Christmas trees as they are all filled with homemade Christmas ornaments from dear friends!

I will post pictures later of all the ones that I received for this year. There were some really great ones. OK, so I have a contest. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Comments. For every comment you make, your name will be put in a draw for one of these ornaments to be mailed out to you. I will draw a name Friday morning and then I will mail it off so that you have a homemade little wooden ornament from me. If I get a lot of comments I will draw two ornaments! I hope you like them and can't wait to hear from you!

December is here!

2011-12-01T09:32:00.001-07:00

I know I know I have been slacking. I now know what a dog feels like as he chases his tail, always running never seeming to quite catch up! Well I came up with a new holiday it is December Eve. We celebrated last night by getting Dairy Queen and dreaming of all the wonders that December holds. The last few years the Christmas spirit has escaped me. This year I am determined to slow it down a bit and enjoy it a whole lot more. We got snow yesterday so it was a perfect start to December Eve.

I have a new job as a Education Assistant. Right now I am filling in and have already discovered I can't work full time and keep up so I am hoping for 3 days a week or half days. I am still doing some bookkeeping so that will keep me busy the other days.

Basketball Season had began at our house or Chauffeur season as I call it. This year we have another kid in the mix so it is really crazy! Sam made the Seven Person girls team and London is on JV for Hat high. We are excited for a lot of cheering!

Halloween Costumes

2011-11-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

Sean had to dress up for Cubs this year. We found this awesome hair at a costume shop! It is so cute. I think he looked great!

London was little red riding hood! She looked so pretty

We have a tradition that everyone has to "practice" trick or treating on our door. They got some pretty awesome treats!

Sean is wearing the hat he wore for the spook house with his chainsaw! He was after London's chocolate bar.

We rented a costume for Samantha She was the Egyptian Cleopatra. The black cats were perfect props!

London with the big bad wolf!

London didn't want to go trick or treating as she is too old. But I made her go to a few houses down at grandma and grandpa's house. Sam went into town to trick or treat with her friend.

Haunted House 2011

2011-11-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

First off I have to tell you this has been a pain to get this entry uploaded! I have tried for a week and for some reason it wouldn't upload more than a picture or two at a time and would freeze up! Hooray I finally got all the pictures I wanted!

Welcome to the start of our spook house. We have an old barn out in our back field. They got a CRAZY fast jerky ride in the back of our truck out to the middle of the field! It was crazy fun. Our friend Craig drove. We just put some bales in the back of the truck and away we went! The walked up through the graveyard first.

We had a bunch of old farm equipment covered in webs and had dolls, head and body parts speared on the points! Poor dolls. We collected a bunch at garage sales and second hand stores! I felt so bad dismembering them and covering them with blood!

Unfortunately I got so busy with the kids and getting everyone organized I don't have very many pictures of the inside and the ones I took the flash made it look bright! It was very dark with very little lighting so that made it creepy. The wind was blowing through the holes in the old building so it made things rustle inside. We had curtains hanging everywhere from the top down to make rooms with theme's in each one. It was very scary. I hated being out there in the day time even by my self!

The spook house to a long time to make but the most amazing part the icing on the cake was our actors! They were so amazing. Way more that I even expected. This is Ben and Erin. They are newly married and agreed to be our haunted corpse bride and husband. We found an old wedding dress at the Salvation Army that was perfectly creepy. This is them before we splattered them with blood.

This is the entrance going in. Remember it is pitch black with only strobe lights going. See the holes? Well no one else could. That is were Sean reached through and grabbed people as then went by. We mad it really narrow here so they couldn't get away.

This is a picture of our lunatic! Kenzie did such an amazing job! She was jumping around everywhere growling at people!

Dave was our Mad scientist! He had a different name for himself for every group that came through. He was so good at getting people to touch the gross stuff!

Table full of ewwy gooey gross stuff! It was very dark except for the orange lights. The flash ruined it but you can see the gross stuff better! We found that hawk in a dumpster by the church so he was a great addition!

This is my amazing father! He did so good out there. He was what invited the people in. He screamed like I never knew he could then acted like a crazy man, warning people not to go in and what to watch out for!

This is a picture of my Nephews and my Brother Micki. I love the look of terror on Matt's face! They came all the way from Cardston to help out and go through it! It was so nice to have them. Nadine helped with the food and Micki and the boys kept the fire going.

This is Vance...that is what the coveralls said. He was so creepy in the strobe light just hanging there!

Uncle Mac was in the corner in the dark until he stood up and came at you with a saw! Eek that was the torture room. Notice the finger on the table?

Take a good look this is Nina and after this spook house you don't want her taking care of your children! Lol. Just joking, she did a great job in the room of beheaded dolls. She sang rock a bye baby and then screamed how much she hates children! Look at that look!

This is the butcher shop! We had a sign that invited people to take a gum ball. Then Jon would pop out his hand and grab them! We had all sorts of human parts for sale!. Poor Jon is a really tall big guy and he had to lay under this table for hours. He did a great job scaring people.

Kenzie again being a lunatic! So scary. She put the blood in her mouth then spit it all out so it dribbled down her chin. She was so good!

This was the last room. It was called heart break hotel! I found a sign at a garage sale that said that so it was perfect! Erin and Ben were so good. Ben wandered all around the whole spook house scaring people.

I missed a picture of Brad he was a scary zombie guy too. Robert was hidden in the tall grass in the field and would scare people as they were walking back. Also Sean was hidden with a chain saw and would jump out at people at the end too.

It was such a great night. The poor actors were frozen by the end of 2.5 hours. I couldn't believe how many people came out. We hoped for at least 30 we ended up with over 100 people Out yard was filled with vehicles. They waited in the shop. We had filled it with chairs and Vern Hyde entertained everyone with funny (scary) stories. He was so great. It turned out great. We had lots of helpers with food and Jodi sat in the field freezing directing traffic. We had hot dogs and hot chocolate by the fire. The weather was perfect! It was so fun. Thanks to everyone who came and helped. WE are already planning a scarier bigger one for next year!

The Start of the Spook House

2011-11-02T11:19:00.000-06:00

First order of business is getting hay bales for walls. We need to feed out animals this winter so we ordered a bunch of bales.

Sean is the muscle behind this spook house. Those bales were heavy. London and Sean did the most work but I also hauled quite a few.

This is the old barn at the back of our property! It is creepy all by it self! It was the perfect place to have our creepy house.

We used the bales to make walls and a maze to walk through. It was several different rooms.

It turned out so good. I will give more pictures tomorrow of the finished project!

Girls night out!

2011-10-27T13:57:00.000-06:00

When Sean went to the priesthood session on Conference we had a girls night out. We started going for a walk to crunch leaves and enjoy the crisp fall air. I convinced them to walk through the graveyard with me. Some people think it is creepy I love the peaceful feeling and how beautiful they are. So we went and read headstones.

I just love fall! This fall has been amazing! It has been sunny and warm until the end of October. I love the way this path looked.

We then went to the College to take pictures and look at my latest weaving project.

The Sky was amazing. It was this pink for about 5 minutes!

I think these photo's turned out good.

After the walk and picture taking we went out for supper to Tony Roma's. It was nice to spend time together.

It's all about me!

2011-10-26T10:18:00.000-06:00

I borrowed this from my friends blog. I hope she doesn't mind.

A. age : 40

B. bed size : King and it is crowded because of our little Shih-tzu, Blossom. She takes the whole middle (about the size of a queen bed) and Sean and I cling to the edges

C. chore that you hate : I don't know, there are so many....Cleaning but especially the bathrooms. They gross me out!

D. dogs : 2 dogs, 3 cats plus lots of neighbour cats, 2 goats, 6 chickens,6 exotic chickens a bunch of sticky dozy flies.

F. favorite colour : Man, there are so many I love, but especially darker colors like burgundy and royal blue?

G. gold or silver : Silver

H. height : 5 Foot 5 Inches but if you ask, in my mind, I am at least 5"6'

I. instruments you play : I played the clarinet in high school, I own a guitar that one day I will play amazingly well, especially around the fire. I played piano for 10 years but most of my talent has just disappeared. I dream of a church calling that asks me to play piano because then I will practice.

J. job title : Mom and CEO of my own bookkeeping company....I can call myself anything right!?

K. kids : 2 London 14 and Samantha 12

L. live : Medicine Hat, AB on a 22 acre little farm

M. mother’s name :Camille

N. nicknames : I don't have a lot of nick names. Sean calls me Kimmy sometimes. I used to be frog growing up as I swam so much, I got a green tinge to my skin.

O. overnight hospital stays : OK, giving birth, hysterectomy, lost count but I think like 7 times I got a laprascope to get rid of my endometriosis, adenoids when I was a kid, and my teeth once when I was a kid because I bit the dentist!

P. pet peeves : When they ask if you want ketchup at the drive through, then, when you get there they don't give it to you. Or when you call the bank or something and you have to enter all your info, say your name and account number etc. Stay on hold 2 hours and when you finally talk to someone, they ask all the same questions again and say that it isn't on the screen in front of them!

Q. quote from a movie : There's plenty of money out there. They print more every day. But this ticket, there's only five of them in the whole world, and that's all there's ever going to be. Only a dummy would give this up for something as common as money.

I'm not a witch, I am your wife!

R. right or left handed : Right

S. siblings : 2 brothers, I am the youngest

T. time you wake up : 6:00 am. I love mornings and I love evenings...its the afternoon that is the problem.

U. underwear : Yes, I wear underwear

V. vegetable you hate : onions

W. what makes you run late : me, I don't seem to be able to get it together. My family loves to be early. I am usually late!

X. x-rays you’ve had : Teeth, boobs, legs and chest

Y. yummy food that you make : Most famous for caramel popcorn, sugar cookies and chocolate pudding cake. I love to bake! I have 1000 more things to make from pinterest

Z. zoo animal : Ummm....I love so many. I once saw two Kangaroo's hugging, that's what people around told their kids :0)

I would love to hear all about you! Do it if you have a blog or leave me a message.

Really Sean?

2011-10-25T14:41:00.001-06:00

Sean told me this morning becareful when backing up the truck and trailor are by your car....I looked out in the daylight this is what I saw?
I know Sean thinks I am a bad driver but really, REALLY Sean? Even I can miss that! lol

RIP Noodle

2011-10-18T06:48:00.000-06:00

Well, I am sad to report that Noodle is a goner. He just disappeared the other night along with two of his girlfriends. We have gone from 11 chickens down to 6. I think we have one well fed fox! Noodle was the bane of my existence. He often made me scared to go outside my house in fear of him attacking me. He loved to jump on the back of your legs and spur you when you weren't looking. I don't know how many times I was spooked just knowing he was outside while I was walking. I spent months just looking behind me waiting for him to go into Stealth mode, come from nowhere and attack!

All in all, this being said, I miss him. I miss his crow at 5:30 in the morning. He didn't just crow once. He crowed over, and over and over. We got used to it but many house guests complained about the rude awakening. I believe he died a hero's death. I am sure the fox grabbed one of his harem first and he went after him and attacked trying to win her back. A pile of feathers out behind the barn is all that is left. I know he will be in waiting for me at the pearly gates to welcome me with his cock-a-doodle do and then he will promptly attack.....I can't wait!

Look up way up!

2011-10-16T19:04:00.001-06:00

We rented a lift to trim off the tops of our trees. If you remember last year we had cut down about 60 trees and this was the final stage in treedom. They were really dead on top and very high up, so we called and had the lift delivered on a Friday in September. I made Sean wear a helmet so that he wouldn't get bashed in the head. He didn't really want to but did it for me. So he got one tree done and moved to the next area. I had to go into town so I left him there on his own, promising to be back soon. I arrived an hour later to find him in the same spot! I was shocked that it was taking so long to get things done! I waited in the drive way for him to move so I could come in. He didn't and was gesturing angrily for me to get out of the car. It ends up he was stuck at the top. It wouldn't go down or move anywhere.

After I stopped laughing, he wanted me to do the controls down on the bottom and get him down. He was getting angry as it was hot, hot, hot! Over 30+ and he was thirsty. Well, it wouldn't budge from the bottom either. I went in and called Jack (father in law) first and then the rental company. The rental company thought we were idiots and didn't know what we were doing. If they were talking about me, I would agree but Sean had used one of these before and it wasn't budging. So they were sending a guy out to magically get him down with the touch of one button or so they thought.

Jack arrived, thank goodness. Now the pressure was off me. He tried the buttons and they didn't work for him either. I was glad in one way cause then I wasn't an idiot either. We tried over and over to throw a water bottle up to him only to have it burst every time it hit the bottom. It was too high up. Jack got a rope and a board and tried and tried, over and over and finally got it up to him. So we got him a drink and things were a little better for Sean.

Well, long story short, two extra people, a company mechanic and 3 hours later Sean finally got down. They had to bleed the valve to get it to go down. Poor guy, what a waste of a day! So of course they didn't have any other lifts in stock so we had to wait about 3 weeks before we could do it again.

These pictures are of the second time around. We all had to have a ride in it! This is me freaking out at the height and how wiggly it was! I didn't last very long. The whole family worked to pick up all the twigs and branches he dropped. It was hard work but it felt good to get it done as a family!

There is Sam lugging a log. We will make a farm girl out of her yet! She disappeared every few minutes to go see the animals but we would drag her back and make her work some more!

London and her dad! They work really well together. He makes her do everything. Man, anyone that gets her for an employee will be lucky. She does know how to work hard! She loved hanging out on the lift and didn't mind the heights at all.

If you look close, this is London trying to get a big stuck branch out.

It is stuck good. Finally dad has to help her!

Pita and Milly were out eating all the leaves that fell. They are such social butterflies. We have to lock them up because they live right beside the house and do their business. They don't wander anywhere so it drives me nuts!

Trying to get as much done Friday night as we can . Aren't these beautiful sunset shots!

Sam's turn up in the bucket. She liked the heights as well. I guess I am the only chicken in the family. Grandpa didn't want to go it...maybe he is a closet chicken?

Grandpa got his chain saw out and sawed up a bunch of wood. He is a hard worker and we love having him here. He has been going into the woods cutting up wood every day. We sure have enjoyed this beautiful fall.

Chalk art

2011-10-12T07:50:00.001-06:00

London did some chalk art on our front steps. All the kids did some but she only took a picture of hers.

Fall shots

2011-10-12T07:19:00.000-06:00

I love my old tractor! It sits out front with flowers around it. It is one of my favorite picture spots!

Nice Face!

Here are some artistic shots that London took!

I prefer my shadow person. I look skinnier! I have absolutely loved fall this year. Almost the middle of October and it was +20 yesterday! Maybe the snow will stay away?

True Love

2011-10-07T08:43:00.002-06:00

You are Gangster

Ooohh the way you kiss

You are our pack mule

Take care of little miss!

You are the doctor

Chief wood cutter

You are Sexy

And oh how sweet!

I love you. I can't wait to see what our future brings. Happy 16th!

Mom, I miss you

2011-10-07T07:59:00.002-06:00

My Beautiful mother. It was 10 years yesterday since she passed away. I tried to do this yesterday but Blogger was down and wouldn't load pictures. My mom was such an amazing woman. I don't even know where to start. She was a righteous women who loved God and lived her religion. She had such will power and never quit.

London worked on a 10 hour project for young women and she came up with making a book on her Grandmother's life. It was wonderful to see her day after day poring over pictures and journals. I always think that is one of the biggest rip off's; that London never really got to know her Grandma.

My mom and dad's wedding day! I love her dress, I wish we still had it.

Them in Waterton.

This is my favorite picture of all times of my mom! Look at the joy on her face.

My mom and I in a photo booth in West Edmonton mall!

25th Wedding Anniversary!

I love this photo too! This was when she was living in Calgary I believe. Don't you love the fashion!?

Mom and dad, Micki and Darren.

I need to do some more searching for pictures. A lot of the pictures are on slides. I know I must have more pictures of us together. I have boxes of pictures just waiting to get scrap booked. Now I need to scan them as that won't ever happen.

I miss you mom. I love you. I am trying to be a woman of God and a mother you would be proud of! I am even a much better house keeper the older I get--hee hee. I still remember her soft skin and the way she smelled. She is my best friend and I can't wait until we can catch up on things. I know she gets to look in every once and a while. Maybe they have Blogger in Heaven and she is keeping up through my blog?

Sigh, I miss you. Life would be easier with you in it.

First Day of School!

2011-10-05T16:26:00.001-06:00

London is in Grade 10 this year! Yikes I can't believe it. I don't know where the time has gone. I get weepy even thinking of her growing up! She is taller than me now and loves to rub it in as much as possible. She is doing really well in school and is still undecided on what she will be. She is leaning towards Medicine or teaching. I suggested Dentistry as momma want to be rich some day!

Samantha is going into Grade 7. She started a new school which was very scary. She is going to Seven Person's school which is small and seems to be wonderful so far. I embarrassed her by coming to school (I thought I was helping as she was nervous and didn't want to ride the bus the first day.) Ends up I was the only parent there that we saw so she stayed very very far away and kept muttering how everyone will know who she is now. I have never had the experience of embarrassing my child as London thinks the sun rises and sets on me. So that kind of was a bummer for me. She had a mini panic attack at the classroom. She ended up surviving and is now a bus riding pro! Sam wants to be a Lawyer.

Organizing my house

2011-10-04T09:30:00.002-06:00

I love September! It seems like the beginning of the year! So I always set goals and try to get organized. When I was a young and newly married I had a cleaning schedule. Through the years I just did it. I am finding that I am just not getting every nook and cranny so I decided to make a schedule again. I have a monthly and weekly things to do to keep up. Kathy wanted to see a copy so here it is. I hope it help someone or inspires you. I just love how everything is broken down to reasonable chunks!

WeeklyCleaning Schedule

Monday: Laundry Day:

· Gather towels, change sheets, do all clothing

· Clean fridge out and wipe down all appliances

· Grocery shopping day

Tuesday:

· Vacuum

· Dust

· Wash floors

Wednesday:

· Wash down high traffic area’s

· Clean front porch

· Bathrooms

Thursday:

· Vacuum and de-clutter house

Friday:

· General tidy

· Clean cars and outside stuff

Saturday:

· Deep clean rooms

· Bathrooms cleaned

Sundays:

· Makemenu’s

Monthly cleaningschedule

January: Porchand Closets

February: Kitchenand living room

March: Basement,light fixtures and wastebaskets

April: Bathrooms, laundry room and undersinks

May: Bedrooms

June: Porchand closets

September: Kitchenand living room

October: Basement, light fixtures, wastebaskets

November: Bathrooms, laundry room and under sinks

December: Bedroomsand books

* Each month I do everything in this room. Like pull out appliances clean off the back of them. This is my deep deep clean. Washing walls and every corner. As you see each room is down twice a year.

Slip Sliding Away!

2011-10-04T08:54:00.001-06:00

I put these on my Facebook, so I feel like I already blogged about it, but alas I haven't.

In August, a plan was devised by dear sweet London to have a slip and slide party. So it was up to her dad to figure out how! We took a page out of the hillbillie's handbook and this is what we came up with.

We bought thick plastic and took a plastic pipe and drilled holes into it. We then used a pump to pump the water up from the dug out. It worked amazingly well!

London tried to convince Brigham he would love a ride down...

At first he loved the cuddle, then the water started spraying and getting him wet and he decided slip and slides were not for him!

We used dish soap to slick up the plastic to make you go faster. If you look in the water you can see some soap suds.

It was a crazy bumpy ride so you had to go on floaties.

Next year we need to improve some things. Even though we mowed the hill, it was late August with just stubble left so we got pokies through the plastic. We ended up popping everything we owned. They worked for a while but then a stick would get them. So in the spring we need to either dig it up until it is dirt or put plastic down when the grass is green and keep it soft. Our dream is to get discarded water slides and dig them into the hill and have that for our slip and slide. Sean's dad is working on it and he can find anything!

The other problem is that in late August the water is getting stale. It was fine in the middle of the pond but the edges were very slimy. We want to build a dock and have it ready for spring so we can avoid the edges.

We discovered the pond was full of hundreds of frogs. I love frogs so I thought it was great. Some of the guys brought some up and put them down the slip and slide! After the first few sliders they all moved away so it isn't like they were on your head or down your swimming suit ( I wouldn't have liked them that much!). The water is flowing so we didn't seem to have leaches...which would have been a bummer!

All in all it sure was fun. I can't wait until next year to try it again. Make the improvements and have it a bit smoother! It is really long! So plan on coming to slide next year and toboggan this winter with ice skating thrown in!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my little farm and hillbilly life!

End of Summer days

2011-10-03T10:01:00.000-06:00

There was this awesome fountain in the park that was constantly changing the way it flowed. This is Tyler and London trying to make it through with out getting wet! The important word is tried!

It was a hot day so everyone got into the fun...even me, but only my feet!

Sean's bad influence on Adam

Let the limbo contest begin! Tyler won every time

London just cheated! hee hee

London got really wet!

I love bum shots...as long as it isn't my bum!

Man I can't believe how short I am getting! That London needs to quit growing! Even Sam is shooting up and is threatening to pass me!

Look at them muscles

Tyler....couldn't find a bathroom!

We went shopping in the downtown mall. We saw all these escalators and wanted to go all the way to the top. We couldn't go all the way as the top ones were the theatre!

We found Maddy her own shop! This was our final day. The next morning we packed up and headed home done for another year! It was such a great vacation. We filled out suitcases with clothes from Ross so it was a real success!

Final Day in Spokane Part 1

2011-09-30T07:43:00.000-06:00

One more post after this one and the vacation pictures are over. I still have a few summer pictures but then it is the end of summer...boo. We loved this park so much we wanted to travel the 45 minutes to play in it with the Mossey family.

I tried to get everyone on the slide but Charlie just wanted to go down and we couldn't convince him and Sam was with him so this is as close as we got!

I think this picture turned out great especially trying to get that many people to look and smile! They are such a cute family

The boys all got balloon swords and Maddie her very own poodle. The didn't last very long. I knew they would pop so we got the pictures immediately.

We went on a gondola to look at the waterfalls. I was so excited I love these rides. Until I got inside and figured out it is all glass, a little window and +30 outside. Wowzers was it hot and stuffy! I wanted them to speed up and get the ride over.

They were doing construction on the dam so the water was way down and the falls weren't as spectacular as they should have been. I still thought they were beautiful. I wished I could dive in at this point as sweat rolled down my face!

There were these cool metal sculptures of people running. So we got in between them and did some poses.

I love this shot of Tyler!

Do you see the crowd of Metal people catching up behind everyone?

Seaweed hair...the new look

2011-09-29T07:18:00.002-06:00

It all started with this! There was seaweed everywhere along the beach. London started by making a mustache. The kids threw it at each other and then the fun really started.

Charlie...throwing sand and rocks instead!

Ummm...do they know about the micro bugs in seaweed stuff! It was so funny! I laughed my head off.

Couture seaweed! Doesn't it look like some weird photo shoot on the beach! I was having so much fun I didn't even look around to see what others were thinking.

Sammy Seaweed sporting the new fall messy look

London is wearing the Princess Leia messy

This is "the European" featured below.....the arm pits have been combed out and teased! lol

Adam is doing the long Mohawk. The over the eye look is huge this season!

Jarom was so funny! Him and London went crazy showing the walkway strut and crazy hair!

This is the Friar Tuck! Sean is starting to sport this look in real life!

I think Jarom wants long hair

Jarom's version of arm pit hair! Wow, that is a lot.

Chest hair!

Cousin IT! I still can't believe, despite my many warnings of what might live in there, London still put it on her face! I guess some people pay big bucks for seaweed wraps! Her skin has looked younger and tighter.

Uni brow!

What a fun day! I laughed so hard, I had tears running down my legs!

Well, I must-dash! Have a great day!

Go ahead and Jump!

2011-09-28T07:07:00.001-06:00

This is a continuation of our beach day! While on the beach we saw a bunch of crazy boys jumping and doing jumps off this bridge. I, being the responsible parent, wanted them to jump off so I could take pictures.

This is them peering over the edge seeing if it is deep enough.

Off she goes!

This is where Sam got the name "the Chicken". She just watched. When we went to Silverwood she wouldn't even go on the simplest of rides. She stressed out and almost had an anxiety attack over everything. I think it is because she has never done amusement parks and because she was raised mostly by grandparents. You know how chicken we all get the older we get. It was very frustrating because she was missing out on all the fun because of imagined "what ifs".

This is Adam,"silent but deadly" He is quieter than Jarom but misses nothing.

Now they are really getting into showing off their jumping skills

Sam actually got to the edge of the Bridge and checked it out but still wouldn't jump despite my telling her to!

The classic Spin in the air!

This is the sign that is posted on the bridge. We saw it from the beginning but obviously ignored it!

Trying to do tricks in the water, make a floating star. It didn't work out very well, I think everyone needs the same length of arms!

Trying for an artistic picture of everyone looking into the distance.

Sean came later in the day. We finally convinced Sam she is missing out on way too much of life because of her fears and she needs to try and overcome them, that they are silly and in her head. She would only jump with Sean promising to be at the bottom.

Of course, once she finally tried it, she loved it and did it many times by herself after that first jump!

The running man mid air!

Doing bigger and bigger jumps!

This is the "enforcer" getting her revenge for the poke earlier in the day! These pictures make me chuckle. When you enlarge them you can really see their faces.

Holidays Part 2

2011-09-27T07:37:00.001-06:00

After Seattle for our whirlwind trip, we headed to Coeur d'alene. We rented a house with the Mossey family for the week. While we were there we went to a couple of places featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. That is one of my favorite shows! It was so fun to try out some of the things Guy recommended. Jimmy's Down the Street was a great breakfast spot! Very yummy. They are famous for the below pecan rolls. We got one to go. We were much too full from breakfast.

London and her opponents in a game of basketball! She wishes she was that much taller than all the people she played against!

Tyler was much harder to beat! London loves to play basketball with Tyler and always tries to do the drills he wants her to do! She wishes he could be her coach.

This is what we did most, once all the kids were asleep. We love to play games! Rook and Canasta are some of our favorites! I tried to get a picture with Amy and all her snacks. Don't get me wrong, we all snack, but she loves her food! She can put away a whole bag of chips easily! I can't believe she is so skinny! Not fair

They had a beautiful beach and waterfront just down from our rental house! While Tyler was golfing one afternoon we went down to play all day! Here are the players. Maddie

As you can see from this picture, we just call her "Cheeks"

London the "Enforcer". She looks sweet but look out!

Sammy...."the Chicken" who changes her name to "the brave" later in the day

You really have to look at these pictures big! They make me laugh. London and Jarom are such hams for the camera! They are the best of friends and love to hang out!

Jack in the background "the sneak". He is about to karate chop Jarom "the goof".

He is then tackled by "the enforcer"

Who then recruits "the sneak" because of his muscles and sneaky skills

Showing off her muscles, she is then poked by the "Goof". She later makes him pay!

That speckle out there is them on the paddle boat. They wanted to rent one...crazy! I am suckered into it every time or one of those water trikes, they are so much work!

Meanwhile back at the beach "Super Charlie" shows up and flies around showing off his cape of many colors.

He then turns into "the don" and commands the next hit, well, that or a nun singing "how do you solve a problem like Maria"?

The whole clan out paddling. Just Charlie and I stayed back!

Stay tuned for the rest of the story!

Gum, gum and more gum!

2011-09-26T11:02:00.000-06:00

This is a picture of me on our final day I had to go back to Pikes Market and buys some flowers for our rental house! I still can't believe that these cost only $10! That was a huge arrangement. It would be $70 here I think.

Before we left I heard about another weird sight down Post Alley! Doesn't this look like what you thing Diagon alley looks like! I loved it. It is hard to do it justice with a camera.

I have been dying to post this sooner but I waited, I didn't want to ruin the order. In this Alley is an old theater. Before people went into it they would stick their gum to the wall (since the 60's I believe) The City has scraped it off over and over but finally gave up and use it as a tourist attraction! See the amount of people above waiting for their turn at the wall!

The Egg beater of course

I couldn't believe it when I saw the amount of gum! We bought a bunch of gum for the occasion. Here is London and Sean sticking it! Take note where it is so when you go you can say hi!

Sean using his height to his advantage!

I love the look on Sam's face. She wasn't so eager to have her turn but of course I made her.

Look at the icicle effect! Isn't it so gross! Some of the gum was dripping in spit so I actually gagged a couple of times! I wasn't going to do it but I would have been mad at myself later!

My look says it all!

London and Sam really started getting into it and quickly chewed up more pieces.

Some one taking a picture actually leaned against it by accident...ewwwww.

Notice the sign between her! There are always more pictures of London as she is a picture queen always asking for this or that pose! She always looks so cute too, unlike her mom!

Post Alley we miss you and we will return!

Ride the ducks!

2011-09-23T07:16:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was my 80th Post! YIPPEEE! My first year of my blog I did 30, the second year I did 51 and now this is my 81st! I am going for 3 figures this year! I wonder sometimes if people read it and get sad at the lack of comments, but then realize it is for me anyway. I print off the years blog and have them as my scrapbook and journal. A special thank you to all of you that do read it and cheer for my family and I. It is nice to have support out there.

We went and rode the ducks! I wasn't to sure about it I thought it might be lame but it ended up being so fun! These little quackers that we have are a blast. We quacked away to songs on the boat and it was so funny! We had an great guide that let us know all the in's and outs of Seattle.

Boarding the duck!

I love the vines on this building. I want my barn covered like that!

Here is hoping we don't need the life jackets! I remember one of the ducks in Ottawa sunk one year.

Another boat going from Land to water.

A real duck!

Enjoying the cruise! I loved floating in the water. The sun was going down it was the perfect time of day.

Aren't these floating houses amazing. People live on them all year. Others they rent out. The smallest on there was worth over 2 million dollars!!! It is expensive property.

The sky line I see on Grey's all the time! It was fun as we watched it last night trying to see all the places we went!

This is where one of the episodes of Amazing race started. I kind of remember it. It is a park full of old refinery buildings. There were going to take it all down but the people wanted it to stay.

Closer look at the floating houses.

If you ever want to hear how annoying these quackers can get come on over and I will send them home with your kids!

Who's that walking over my bridge!

2011-09-22T08:07:00.000-06:00

Well I bet you never knew there was a troll living under the bridge in Seattle!? Just before we left I looked up some fun things to see and this one made the weird list! We just had to go.

I don't know what I expected but this really wasn't it. It is huge and UGLY. It was fun to crawl on for a minute and say we saw him.

London yet again doing the egg beater.

They were doing a lot of construction in the area but they were not allowed to touch or move the troll so they have to work around him. I guess thousands come and climb on him every year and so he is protected. That is a hub cap for his eye.

Look at the size of those hands! That is a real Volkswagon bug under his hand.

I had to get my picture with him. I am avoiding pictures as much as possible these days because I have gotten so fat, but I know I have to be in some.

Yup you guessed it he lives on Troll Ave. When you go to Seattle you will have to visit him and say hi from us.

Downtown Seattle they have this awesome dome that is a spray park. We love to go and cool off. The girls had a great time playing around in the water. It wasn't quite warm enough to convince me to go!

YUp....again beating those eggs.

Sam trying to get London to lay back on the dome. They didn't play very long. They wanted to dry off while the sun is still hot.

London was stretched out on her towel when a seagull pooped on her towel! A big one. Good thing it missed her. Look at her face! This is her cleaning it off.

The many moods of London!

2011-09-21T07:17:00.002-06:00

We found this sign in front of one of the buildings down town. London decided to try and mimic every face. It reminds me of teenagehood. The mood changing every couple of minutes!

Now these are the faces from the top!

We wanted to try the Monorail it is a very short ride just a couple of minutes but it was fun!

Where is Harry and Sally?

2011-09-20T07:46:00.000-06:00

Everyone sitting on the big balls in front of the Space needle! We went to Seattle two years ago but we decided it was to expensive to go up the space needle. I have regretted it ever since. So up we made sure to go this time. It was beautiful and high!

The views were amazing! We had such good weather while we were there no rain or fog.

Like every tourist trap it was full of yup...tourists. It was great to go up but It one of those things once you have seen it you won't do it again.

We went on vacation right after London went to EFY! She loved it so much. One of the things they did as a group was the egg beater. One of the kids challenged everyone to do the egg beater where ever they go. So of course she did it at the top of the Space Needle.

Last time we went to the EMP but this time we only went into the lobby which is soooo cool They were featuring the movie Avatar. They had a cool screen that you could stand in front of. We went for the store. They had amazing stuff (again Star Wars amazing geek stuff) Sean and London were in heaven and now we are proud owners of a set of Star Wars playing cards, that every time I try to use Sean freaks out and says they are for him to look at we don't touch?

Monkey do, Monkey try to do! Nice job London.

While we were walking around by the Space Needle a scalper approached us and asked if we wanted to see the Basketball game. It was going on right in the square. It was WNBA. As you all know we are huge basketball lovers. We said no at first but then talked about it and Sean ran after the guy and we bought tickets. $80 for all of us! Well have you ever seen Women's basketball? Lets just say it sucked! I wasn't a fan. It was so lame after you have been to Watch the Suns. Everything is on such a small scale compared. Seattle are huge fans of their girls though. They don't have a guys team so they really support the girls. They had some seriously crazy fans!

Maybe I was just to tired to appreciate the game the best part for me was hitting London and Sam over and over with the yellow bonkers we got!

Another Jam packed day in Seattle. We didn't finish until late and so we got to see the beauty of the Space needle at night!

Rain rain go away * update come back!

2011-09-19T09:58:00.001-06:00

I found an old post I didn't post so I guess there are two post today. This spring was the rainiest spring ever! I could believe every day was rain and more rain. I had never seen everything so green. This is Brigham trying to be happy with the rain everyday.

Funny but his Summer has been the hottest and driest. Once it stopped raining it got hot Hot HOT! I loved it! But I have to admit I miss some of the rain. Everything including my skin turned into a dried up raisen! We haven't had rain for about 6 weeks not a drop! It threatens but then nothing falls. Today is suppose to rain....so we will see. Just like a typical Albertan I am never happy with the weather!

Seattle harbor

2011-09-19T09:06:00.000-06:00

Well here was our first view of Seattle. We got in about 1 in the afternoon but because it was a last minute trip we didn't book hotels. So we headed down town first thing to try and find a hotel. I took about 4 hours! So many of the hotels downtown looked grubby so we tried all the ones that looked good and they were all booked up or hundreds of $$$. So we went to a star bucks so we could use our i-pads to find a place. We would then call and try to book it. This went on through 4 different Starbucks. We ended up trying one of the first places we saw but didn't like....it ended up being really nice inside and a great price. We only had Wednesday- Saturday afternoon in Seattle so it is too bad we wasted so much time trying to find hotels!

We went to one of my favorite stops first. I love Pikes Market. I think that it is one of my top 10! I love the flowers. I can't believe that you can get a huge bunch of flowers for $5-$10. They would cost $70 here. I had to buy one on our way back for the house we rented.

Looking at the cool fish! I wish I had somewhere to cook while there I would have bought some yummy sea food.

Worlds most famous pig!

We found a cool collector store full of super hero and star wars things. Both of which are London's favorites. So her and her dad spent and hour in the one shop!

I love all the street vendors. I can't believe this guy drags a piano down to the market!

This guy was cool and trained his pigeons to come for treats!

I think all my favorite places are on the ocean. It is just so different from our prairies. We went Ivar's for lunch. Yummy yummy fish and chips. Not that we ate the chips...the seagulls ate them all. This is a favorite thing to do. I bet these seagulls all die from heart attacks. They survive on French fries.

London trying to get one to take it from her mouth!

Sam was a little worried at first and would bring her arm in as they came to get the fry. She soon got the hang of it.

Seattle or bust...what a road trip!

2011-09-16T08:14:00.000-06:00

We were originally going to leave for vacation on Friday. We decided very last minute (the night before) to leave Tuesday no matter what time we got things ready. So we didn't leave until about 4:30. So it was a late start but we decided to get as far as we could. London came up with a scheme to go to Seattle. We went 2 years ago but didn't get to see everything. So off we went.

We had to stop for lots of photo opportunities on the way. It is fun to show Sam everything as she has never really gone on vacations much. So we would have speed stops. We would drive in jump out of the car run to the sight and be back in the vehicle within 5 minutes. WE stopped everywhere. I only took pictures in Sparwood. It was a fun trip. I stopped and got some junk from the dollar store and had secret word game. When they said a special word. I would yell ding ding ding and they would get a prize to play with. It was to make the trip go faster. They got these coolest finger lights that they danced with at night in the car. I am sure people around us thought we were crazy. We also sang along to songs on London's i-pod.

Run London Run

We got to Spokane about 1:00 in the morning. Every hotel we tried was booked. We started getting worried that we weren't going to find one. One nice lady at the Hilton called around to all the hotels and found us one. We saw this on the way out of town and we convinced Sean to stop so we could take pictures. Isn't this the coolest wagon ever!!!!

You can climb in it and the handle is a slide! I wish I had this for my yard!

London trying to take me for a ride! PuLLLLLL

The slide doesn't fit adult bums to well!

Underneath was monkey bars!

It was one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen. We loved it so much we came back with the Mosseys.

A fellow Canadian! Poor guy had this huge tracking device on it's neck.

Lots of posing going on. Sean was anxious to get on the road so we had to just look at everything quick!

I dont' know why this is here but as we had to pose with our flag!

Before we got back on the road Sean really had to go to the bathroom! Look at the pressure.

I love love love this Parkade. Doesn't it look like it should be in the Jetsens?

Defying gravity!

2011-09-15T08:32:00.002-06:00

We had the opportunity to go to Wicked in Edmonton! It was the best show I have ever seen. I wanted to go and see it so we went to Edmonton for the week. It ended up costing us quite a bit of money to go. Hotels alone for the week were well over $1000.00. So I decided that we couldn't afford to go. For the 4 of us it would have been $500.00! Yikes, hey? Now that we have a bigger family I am really noticing how much more everything costs.

Well, as the week wore on I couldn't stand it, so Friday I said, let's go to the theatre and see, maybe they have cheaper tickets. So off we went. The tickets were the same price but while we were there a lady told us about a lottery they had going on. You could come early for the show (6:00) and put your names in for a draw and get front row seats for only $25 if your name was drawn. So off we went and put our names in. I thought for sure we would win, but sadly we didn't. There were only about 50 people at the draw and 10 names were drawn 2 seats each. So I was in a dilemma do we spend the money? Then the lady announced, For this evening anyone that participated in the lottery can now buy any seat for $40. Yipppeeeeee!!!! I was first in line and got us seats together.

It was so good! The music was incredible and the sets amazing! It was funny and inspiring. Sean didn't really want to go. He ended up loving it! I wish I would have gone at the beginning of the week and found out about the lottery. We may have gone twice! So fun

We stayed in several different hotels in Edmonton. First at the Hampton, then off to WEM hotel for two nights, then onto Whyte Ave at the Varscona hotel for 2 nights and finally we stayed in the hotel MacDonald! That is a dream come true for me. I always wanted to stay there. It was beautiful and old. The guys are standing in front of it!

The front Lobby

We saw this phone booth downtown so had to stop in the morning before we left for pictures! I want one for my yard....anyone have one for sale?

While we were in Edmonton it was Sean's birthday. It is always lame as we are on holidays. We decorated the room and sang him happy birthday. We went to the water park for his birthday and I booked a massage in the mall for him. The gifts he wanted were all sold out so I just gave him money. He is now a proud owner of a helmet cam.

My family loves pie so that is their birthday cake! Wendy, her grandsons and James came for a visit that day so they got pie too! Sean had a whole lemon meringue pie to himself. Wendy thought I was joking when I gave it to him. It did take him to days to eat it!

This is Howard. He was limping around for days and we finally looked and the band I put on their legs to identify them was cutting in. So we took it off and we were putting medicine on. Poor guy, we had to carry him back and forth from the pond. My ducks are so soft! Unfortunately one night he went missing....must have been lunch for the fox!

My brother Darren came for a visit! We have spent some good times on the beautiful deck Sean built us this year! It gets such a nice breeze and the gazebo shades us, even on hot days.

Isn't this the cutest little picture! I love our Brigham.....Smile!

Edmonton

2011-09-14T09:02:00.000-06:00

The first part of our holidays after quading we decided to go up to Edmonton. I really wanted to see Wicked and it was playing there. Story about that to follow. We stayed in several different hotels. We stayed in a Hampton in (above) first night and it had an awesome pool. Everyone had fun playing in it. I loved how you could stand inside the water and then separate it with your hands.

All of us are water babies! Don't you love Sean's hair sweater? lol

Lots of jumping from the side to see who had the biggest splash. I was the judge. Sean won every time but London got the highest!

It is like she runs in the air and actually gets higher and higher then drops.

Two cute girls

While we were there taste of Edmonton was on downtown. It was so fun! The weather was great and so we spend the afternoon sampling food. We ended up spending $70! It wasn't cheap but it was so fun to try all the yummies.

Sam had a hard time deciding what she wanted to eat. Pasta won out for the main dish. She is such a tiny eater, that this was a huge meal!

I stopped my self from downing this to get a picture! It is a deep fried Mars bar...super yummy! I have always wanted to try one.

London loved these cool potato sticks. I was to full to even have a bite.

Sean and I tried the exotic dishes and the girls stuck with the stuff they could recognize. How can you go wrong with a chocolate dipped strawberry?

While in Edmonton we had to go the Legislature buildings. I wanted to go at night and look at the lights so that you see the blue city but Sean was way to responsible and said it would hurt our eyes. Gee, when did he get so old? We had Bad butt Jacks our favorite wraps for a picnic there and went for a tour. We went twice. Once to eat and cool off and once to eat and go on the tour.

Cooling off

The second time we went we made sure to bring swimsuits so that the girls could go in all the way. I love that they allow you to wade in the fountains. It was such a beautiful day then all the sudden the wind picked up and we had to run for cover as a huge rain storm hit. Sean had gone to get towels and so we ran into the store there and tried to see him. We waited and waiting and he didn't come so I knew he would be mad looking for us in the rain so we went out and found him. I was right he was ticked. Especially when we got a parking ticket for no reason. We were parked where we were allowed and we weren't more that 2 hours. Good luck fighting it though. We haven't had any luck so far!

While in Edmonton we also stayed at West Edmonton Mall for two days in the hotel and walked every inch of the mall and did the water park. It was especially fun as Sam had never been to Edmonton before. It was good as it rained the days we were in the mall.

* Update: it is called Badass Jacks. We love it but not the name so when London was little they had one in Medicine Hat so we called it Bad Butts and it has stuck! lol

Oh to be young again!

2011-09-13T08:23:00.000-06:00

We have a chicken that has been laying some double yolker eggs. The poor chickens every morning about 8 am you can hear them clucking which turns into painful clucking. I don't know how to describe it but I know they are pushing and feeling a ring of fire!

We didn't know for sure it was a double yolker but sure enough it is! MMMM.

Above is a chicken egg, below a goose egg!

London had one of her parties in July and invited a bunch of kids out to quad an play games. Teegan H. was up in our barn and London said "be careful there are some loose boards". Teegan being the funny guy said "this one" and stomped down his foot and just like the old slap stick movies the board came up and smacked him on the head. Poor guy. Every one was killing them self laughing at that one!

Here is the hole.

They had an airplane flying contest from the top of the barn. It was a cool wet spring and this day was no different. It had poured rain just as the party started.

Here you can see the airplanes flying

Nice facial expression! She is channeling all her power to get it to fly straight.

Poor Brigham thought he was being helpful and collected the airplanes for them!

Oh ya, Mud mud and more mud. They didnt' care that it was raining they loved quading in the mud! Look at the foot wear behind them in the doorway. Some of the girls wear that for shoes on the quad! I had tons of laundry that day as all the girls were wearing London's clothes!

I love London's friends. Teenagers are so full of energy it is fun having them around.

Butchering time!

2011-09-12T08:03:00.000-06:00

I had a meeting one Saturday and this is what I came home to. We were so busy this spring and Quest was coming up and we needed to get our chickens done. So Sean called his dad and asked him to come and show him how to do it and he just started. I had no idea he was going to do it that day.

This is the set up. When butchering chickens you have to have boiling water to dip them in to pull out the feathers. Sean had seen on the Internet that some people skin them with the feathers on so they tried that first. It wasn't very fast so they went the old fashioned route.

If you click on the pictures you can see it is covered in flies. They thought it was yummy. Sean said it wasn't too bad to do. My dad thought it was disgusting. He could smell that smell for weeks and weeks afterwards. I bet just reading this will bring back the smell! I was lucky to have been gone. I just came home to several coolers full of chickens I had to cut up. Sean tried to have London come out and help but I guess she just started crying so he let her off. Some farm girl she is. Next year we will all have to pitch in.

I guess Grandpa White was the supervisor!

My Mother in Law came up and showed me how to cut up a chicken into all the parts and really helped me out. It was so nice of them. I am so grateful for this experience of learning how to produce your own meat. I know it is gross but it is important to know. We learned a lot raising chickens and will do it again next year with fewer mistakes!

The chickens were HUGE! We should have butchered them several weeks before. It only takes 8 weeks until they are big. They grow so fast. These guys were 12 weeks. Sean only butchered 15 that day. These pictures are only half of the meat. The next batch were like 14 weeks and they were even bigger. I couldn't believe how much meat we got out of just a few chickens. The breasts themselves are 3x bigger than any one I have had in the store. They really are like a small turkey. I had 50 to start with and ended up with about 44 chickens. There is way more than we need. We will get about 30 next year.

After Quest, we needed to finish the rest of the chickens before we left to go quadding. Sean got a line on some people from Thailand that would come and help with the butchering. He picked up 3 ladies and a man to come and it was so funny. When he asked them if they had ever done this before they said no...you teach! So teach he did. They did great, were really fast and very inexpensive. The other part of the payment they wanted was all the feet and organs.....darn and I wanted Chicken foot soup with lungs!

This is blood on Sean's legs! I ended up throwing his clothes away. They were too gross to wash! Oh, the life of a farm wife! Can you believe I am doing all this. I was such a city slicker. I freaked out at a mouse, now I'm raising chickens and cutting them up!

What a way to end it!

2011-09-09T09:43:00.001-06:00

The first couple of days of quadding were awesome. We were tired so we woke up later the third day and we decided to just go quadding where we were. We were going to drive by Coleman and go where it was more rocky....that ended up being a huge mistake!

Mud, Mud and More Mud! Spring time in the mountains. (July) We should have turned back when we could but of course we kept thinking it would get better after the next mud hole! If you look at the above pictures you can see how the day went. Sean would go first and test it out. If he made it through he walked back and we each went through one by one.

We went down lots of trails. They were narrow and this one was very steep! I mean VERY Steep. Sean stood at the spot we had to turn and pushed on our quads to make sure they made the corner rather than plunging down the steep cut line below! It was so steep that you see the top of the hill here and then the bottom (above) the rest was straight down! ( this hill was probably a 1/8 of a mile staight down. The picture really doesn't show it!) I was too scared to do it, so I walked and Sean drove my quad through. This became the pattern of the day!

After we did that one, I said I never want to do that again and I would never try to go up that it was so steep....stay tuned...foreshadowing of story here!

driving my quad on the cliff curb!

After we white knuckled that part, we decided we needed a break and some lunch. Some guys drove past us as we were dining. As we waited there, I could hear the guys ahead and I could hear they were stuck. So off to the rescue we go with our winches ready to go! Winches not Wenches! lol

This is what we found! A great big mess! There is no lake here by the way, this is the path and the only path further in! Well, we pushed and pulled them out. Moved the bridge over and then one by one we have to try and get over through this mess! The one guy is wearing hip waders as he is going fishing. That was handy! I think the picture of Sam putting the stick in to see how deep the pond is so funny! See the size of the stick?

Grandpa and Sean both love to solve a problem, so everyone was in there pushing us through! It was still early enough in the day that we thought it was fun at this point! I am starting to get a bit frustrated though.

London almost went over here! eek

The wolf's turn. It had to be centered perfectly or it would have gone off. Good driving Grandpa!

OK, NOW it is getting not fun for some of us. Sean is still thinking this is an adventure. It was one mud puddle after another the deeper in we went. We would just get through one and then travel 1 minute and there was another set! Mine is the biggest so it went through first on lots or had to go through to rescue Sean's because mine has a winch. Look how deep the water is. You don't know that until you start driving! This one was crazy deep and it was a real challenge to get it out and us through.

This mud puddle was special! All three quads got stuck. London rolled hers and it was leaking out gas. I have to pause here to try to bring you to understand my frustration level. It is now getting late. We don't really know where we are. I hadn't been putting way points on my GPS because I am an idiot!!! We have now done 40 of these puddles...no word of a lie. We went down a goat trail that was so narrow we were all scratched up and there was no way to turn around. I was fearful that we would have to turn back. I am scared. Sean would go ahead and drive for 10 minutes or so while we waited and come back and say that way is impassible we have to turn back. Only to do it again and say the same thing. We were now trapped in my mind. Sean, to this day, will say he wasn't lost or worried but we were and I was!

At the end of this, a terrible accident happened. Dad's Wolf rolled and he wasn't wearing a seat belt which may have been a good thing in this case. But he was trapped kind of underneath beside the quad. Sean is trying to lift it up. We were all trying to pull dad out. We (the girls) are all crying thinking Grandpa is dead (almost!) then the worst happens. It starts pouring out gas and we are still miles from home so:

1) we could have a fire and burn up dad

2) it will pour all the gas out and he will be stranded as we didn't bring extra gas!

It was terrifying. We all were praying for a miracle. We got dad out, but still had to quickly right the quad. London was trying to winch it up while laying on her side and it was to heavy for us to lift it. We tied the winch to a tree and wounded grandpa (my hero!) jumped on the one side like a gymnast and hanging on and leaning his weight to one side with the help of the winch we got it up and over. He hurt his hand and so luckily we had a first aid kit and got him fixed up. Good thing he was wearing a helmet. He really banged his head. We had no choice but to keep going. We ended up back at the horrible steep hill I told you about that I was terrified of. Sean said we had no choice we had to go up it. All other ways were impassible. I cried, he drove...we finally made it out.

We were all soaked, the sun was going down and we were cold and muddy. Here is London showing off her mud. She was amazing too. She did everything her dad would yell at her to do. She was the one in the mud with him pulling everyone else out. I just looked on and stressed out. Dad went into a little bit of shock, I think. He was so cold and just couldn't warm up. I was so worried that we almost killed him. He is such a trooper and is an amazing man. I don't know if we will convince him to come again. We made it and I was grateful to Heavenly Father for guiding us out. I was so happy to see camp. We were suppose to stay another day and stay for Thunder in the Valley but we were too shaken up (some of us) so we decided we better get everyone home.

Special note: Sean is amazing and was so patient helping us all out. Thanks honey!

Brrrr...frizz

2011-09-08T09:34:00.000-06:00

Lunch time! Usually I have the cooler strapped to the front of my quad. I am so glad that dad's Wolf was along I didn't have to pack anything. It has a trunk in the back. I love eating out of doors. Everything just tastes better for some reason.

This is at our campsite. If you follow this little path it takes you down to the river. The girls wanted to go down and check out the water and maybe take a swim. It was to cold for this chicken but I went along to watch.

Do you see what I see? Sam spotted this right away!

Built right into the wall was a nest full of these little birds. Aren't they amazing. They look just like rock! The girls touched them so that I could see them move. They were blended in so well to the wall even when you were right there it was hard to spot them.

If you click on the picture they get bigger. Here is momma and daddy they were a bit worried about us being so close to their babies. Anyone know what kind of birds these are?

There was this awesome little spot carved out from the river it was a little pool. I wanted them to duck all the way in. It was pretty cold so I ended up having to pay them to do it. I remember my mom would always pay a loonie if you would go into the water when it was freezing. I guess we are all motivated by some money! Inflation is killing me it cost me $5!

They jumped off this rock into the river. It was moving really fast so I was a bit stressed. London is a really strong swimmer but it is still scary in a river.

ready set go!

Brrrr.....she got out of there fast!

I told you I would do it!

Sam took some convincing but she jumped into the shallow water.

All in all it was a really fun afternoon especially as I didn't have to get wet.

Let the Adventure begin

2011-09-07T09:45:00.000-06:00

The first day we arrived and set up camp then went for a little quad ride. The next morning after a big breakfast we were off to the mountains. We took a trail that would have taken us all the way to Waterton. It was a great trail with beautiful views! It wasn't to hard and the road wasn't to muddy. We traveled almost as far as we could go. I am not sure how many miles?

I love the above picture. Sean is helping me across a little stream and London is pointing where I should step. My family really thinks I need taking care of and I am spoiled all around.

The terrain went from rocky to muddy. London is a very good quader like her dad. She doesn't seem to be scared of anything and has the skills needed to ride on difficult terrain. I on the other hand have a big tank of a quad that goes anywhere but it is like driving a tank. Plus I have another person on the back so it is way harder to maneuver. London spent most of her time looking back and checking that Grandpa and I are still coming.

The quad train.

My sweetheart! I never can get enough flowers! This spring was really rainy so the wild flowers were beautiful up in the mountains.

Three days quading and these are the only wildlife we saw! A butterfly and some cows! I swear I heard a bear once though!

Look at those muscles!

While we were riding we came across a camp that must be a hunters or fisherman's camp. They just throw a tarp over and they are set. It was right by the river so we stopped for a little break and to take a tour. They have it set up really well!

London has always loved rocks since she was a little kid. It never failed on laundry day each little pair of pants had rocks in the pockets. She found a cool rock that looks like and arrow! Everything is looking up!

Stream and river crossings are my favorite thing to do! I just love them. It was a beautiful day not to warm but not cold either. You had to wear a hoodie to keep the chill off.

Two cute girls we found on the trail.

Grandpa was the keeper of toilet paper. I love this picture. He is teasing them that they can only have 3 squares. If you look in the tree's you can see them finding their bathroom spot! Boys have it so much easier than girls! London would never go very far into the bush as she is scared of....I don't know what. But she is a big chicken!

The trail got a little dicey in spots. This is Sam getting a little bit nervous. What did she get herself into?

Grandpa is A- OK! Dad's hip has been really bothering him so we were worried that this would be too much for him but he was amazing! I can't believe that at his age he is still going and going. I am so proud!

Look at these beautiful views. I am always way behind as I have to soak in everything. The mountains are so beautiful.

The Start of Summer Quadding

2011-09-06T11:36:00.008-06:00

Well right after Quest we came home, Sam moved in we packed up and we went on our annual quad adventure to Beaver Mines area. We drove and drove looking for a new place to camp but ended up with our old site as it was the best and is close to the river.

Here is the cast of this trip!

Grandpa Geezer...the Lone wolf

Samantha, Sammie also know as Sam. She is the newbie

London, Kiddo, Boo and Lonnie lue-00. She is the laugh maker

Sean the axe man! hee hee

Blossom the scrounger and guard dog (so scary!)

Big momma or the fun spoiler. I worry about safety. Yup London and Sean kept picking wild flowers for me so I put them in the zipper for safe keeping!

This is the place! Here is our annual camp site. We bought a folding picnic table and I love it! I love eating right by the river and listening to it all night.

The Beast! This is our awesome motor home! We love it she is an old girl. We love the growl of the beast engine. One night it rained and of course she leaked! So Sean had to sleep in the girls bunk and the three of us slept in the back. Before we could go the water heater had broken over the winter so we had to replace that $400 and then it ruined the wood floor so Sean had to put in a new one. She is really starting to cost us money so we may have to replace her.

*** Note to Sean I may be getting old, I know I leak and I growl but please don't replace me for a younger better model! Thanks

Here are our rides....waiting patiently to go see the mountains.

I have tons more pictures to share and scary adventure stories. I will add more tomorrow.

I'm back bigger than ever!

2011-08-27T10:17:00.003-06:00

I hope everyone's summer was great! Mine was good/stressful and full of adjustments. Good memories were made and I have billions of posts to catch up on, so keep watching.

I need to vent today, so I will use my blog . I was going to vent on Facebook, but it spit it out before I could publish. It may be a good thing. I know that many people don't take the time to come to my blog and read it and my truer friends are found here.

Well, I just packed up all my clothes that I bought when I lost weight. They kept mocking me everyday and every pound I have put on, so I decided I needed to pack them up to be opened at a later date. That is a very depressing way to start the day!

It is hard to live in a world that values the outside of a person the most. It is a proven fact that fat people don't advance in jobs as easily, have lower pay and often are invisible or thought of with disgust! I have always struggled with my weight. I was so happy to be successful in taking off 70 pounds and keeping it off for over 2 years. The move and change in my life made it very difficult for me to cope without my need for food. I got out of the habits I had worked so hard to create, like the gym. It sure goes on quicker than it came off.

I hate seeing people I haven't seen for a long time as they get this look of disappointment, shock and pity. Fat people are looked on as weak. Those people are so wrong. It takes a lot of strength to carry on showing our weakness on the outside. I need to gather up the strength to start again, but to be honest I know how hard it was to get it off and even harder to keep it off. It is way harder the 2nd time around. I really don't know if I can gather the strength to start all over again. It eats up every hour of every day. I will start and will welcome the day when I can pull out those clothes again. I hope it is soon so the style stays the same!

Happier posts to follow, I promise

Crazy life!

2011-07-11T08:59:00.002-06:00

Just a quick note to let you know I am here! This last month has been crazy! I was privileged to work at quest with the most amazing people ever but If you have worked on Quest before you know it eats up every minute of your life. In the end it is all worth it but it has been tiring.

That and the day we got home from quest Samantha moved in. It has been a week today and it has been great....mostly. It is an adjustment to have a bouncy hyper overly distracted talkative 12 year old come into your life. It make it interesting for sure! She is a beautiful girl and loves the animals and seems to be fitting in OK. London is struggling a bit this week....feeling a little pushed aside and maybe forgotten in all the hoopla of getting Sam included into our family. Oh..the green eyed monster rears its head on both sides. I pray for wisdom and help to smooth it all out.

How do you spread the love evenly all you mother of many? How do you insure all needs are met and all feel very special? This is a call for help and advice.

Lopsided

2011-07-05T08:37:00.000-06:00

Poor London has had to spend some time in the Dentist chair the last month! I just love her lopsided grin. You can tell it went all the way up to her eye even! Poor kid....we just love to mock her pain!

Ladies and the Tramp

2011-06-29T07:58:00.004-06:00

My brother Micki and his wife Nadine and family came out to visit this last weekend. We had so much fun and perfect weather to boot! We rode quads all day on Saturday. Micki even got to try out the tractor! The little boys rode rode and rode some more. Matty complained at one point how much his finger hurt but he wouldn't stop driving it around. It is so fun having people out that enjoy the farm!

We had a wiener roast and there was enough breeze that even the bugs stayed away. What a perfect day with family! We sure tired everyone out!

London and her Cousin Leah started playing on the tramp and dragged over the basketball net! They had so much fun slam dunking, throwing it while laying down, doing twirls then slamming it ect... I really got some fun shots!

I love this one with the braids flying! I really like how she is more of a shadow and the red shop in the back ground. These ones were shot later in the day that is why there is shadows

Waiting to see if it goes in! Yuppers

doing some hang time on the rim! So many of London's guy friends can do this! It is frustrating when you can't

Leah taking her turn! There was so much giggling going on it was hard to even shoot sometimes!

I love this action shot of Leah falling trying to catch her ball!

We hope we get lots of visitors this summer...come on by everyone!

The hired help

2011-06-28T05:39:00.000-06:00

For a young men's and young women's fundraiser this year they had a service auction to save money. The thing we bid on was labour! We have so much to do around our little farms. We paid for 3 boys for 5 hours to come and work....and work they did! They did 7-10 truck loads of picking up twigs and raking.

I had weed-wacked the whole back the grass was very tall and so it took a lot. They raked and picked all morning. It is hard to tell by these pictures but it wasn't a nice day. It spit and rained on them all day! They were good sports about it and decided to stay and just get the work done.

The funny part....London usually complains every time she has to work (which is often out here!) but with 3 handsome older boys she was more than willing to get out there! hee hee

Brigham of course was close at hand and loved the attention. Scott had a little dance with him! lol

We have had a ton of rain! The one good part is that everything is very lush and green. Doesn't all the greenery look amazing? It would have taken us days to do as much as these guys I am so grateful that they came out and helped us!

We promised quad rides once they were done. I though it may have been to wet but they were up for it! It was pouring by this time. They got MUDDY and Very wet and all loved it!

Scott and Tanner

You can't really tell how wet London is but she was soaked!

Of course the biggest kid of them all! He loved to play and get muddy!

Look at the mud in his ears!

Carlin!....he had one very muddy sock!

This was the little thing I made them and brought to church. I stole the idea from a blog for fathers day and just changed it up! Isn't it a cute idea?

Duct tape anyone?

2011-06-24T09:13:00.004-06:00

London had a duct tape dance the other weekend. She was very excited to go. I always wondered what everyone did with all that colorful duct tape. Well she designed her dress and we went out and found colors she would like. Thank goodness for Michael's 50% off coupon last week!

We read to do it on light fabric or plastic wrap! Can you imagine how hot plastic wrap would be? So we decided on material. It is so funny when we cut her out of her dress at the end of the dance she was steaming it was so hot under that duct tape....note to self duct tape doesn't breath!

Front of the skirt designed! We made each part in pieces so when it was time for the dance we just taped her right into the dress.

She had a couple of her friends come over and hang out before the dance and get beautiful! It didn't take long they are all such cute girls. I love the laughter and fun of teenagers. It really makes a house come alive!

OK so London wanted to do the dress but we needed Sean's help as he is so good at these things because he is a perfectionist...that is why we need him but sometimes it is what drives us crazy! He kind of takes over the project and there is lots of "discussions" between him and London! lol

The duct tape kept wanting to stick to it self which can be very frustrating!

She's all taped together now time to finish it off with a hem...with duct tape. Man that is way easier than a regular hem. I tried using duct tape once on one of my pants as I wanted to wear them and then hem them later....it wore them several times then tried to get the duct tape off...not good it left a sticky residue on my pants!

All ready to go. I made London a tinfoil headband. That was the other option to use. Aren't they so cute!! I love how London's dress came out with especially the belt and polka dots!

Silly picture! She even duct taped some Value Village shoes!

Spring!

2011-06-21T07:56:00.003-06:00

I really enjoy the first flowers of spring! It feels so good after such a long winter to see green! There is one flower garden on this land. It is overgrown with grass but the flowers are beautiful.

Lots of Purple and white. I don't know what to do with this garden as it is so overgrown I will never get the grass out. So for now I just trim the grass and enjoy the flowers!

We have all been working like crazy this spring to try and beautify the land. It has been mistreated for so long it is a ton of work. I can't believe how many hours we have worked on it already! I keep telling Sean we never get to relax...not any time in the future do I see the end of projects. It gets overwhelming sometimes. Most people have a little yard and a flower bed or two and take on a big project a year. I have 100's of big projects and to mow our lawn takes all day in itself.

Dad bought himself a beautiful mower that is way faster than ours so it is amazing! It is so nice that he helps out so much around here. He shouldn't as it makes him tired and sore! I think he likes mowing though!

I needed to have some garden boxes this year. I really miss gardening. Last year I didn't have one as we moved. So I begged for some this year. I know it is really late as I am just planting them today but I hope I will still get some produce. I couldn't decide where to put it but finally decided on this spot. It was totally over run with weeds. I didn't take before pictures ...that makes me so sad. You can see the clumps of weeds in the corner the whole thing was like that.

Big ugly weeds. So thick sometimes our commercial weed whipper can't even cut it!

It was all like this!

There are some of my beautiful garden boxes Sean built for me. I just did 4 this year and I will do 4-8 more depending on how much they produce. I will do that next year. I am lucky to get these 4. I have never had raised beds before I am not sure how they will work. I hear it is easier to weed but I know they don't produce as much. I will still have a garden next year on the ground for my potatoes ect..

This is my tool of choice. I love that the tree is hiding my big butt! I love my weed eater. It is well used. I have weed whipped for hours now!

Busy working! Man I need a hair cut!

We have a lot on the go! I need to take time to enjoy life a bit. It gets overwhelming when you work work work. I so badly want my yard to be beautiful I just need to slow down and realize it will take years. I hate people thinking we are hillbillies!

To the Special Men in My Life

2011-06-19T09:37:00.000-06:00

Father's Day is so special this year! My dad is living right here, so I get to see him every day! That is such a great thing!

Sean is the most amazing father! He does everything for London. He has taught her to ride a quad and scooter. He is still teaching her how to work and work hard. He is the gentle giant in our home. Sean has the mooshiest heart of us all. He often sheds a tear or two for the love of his little girl and me, his hot momma! lol. He brings laughter to our home everyday. He is truly the funniest guy I know and I never get sick of his corny jokes! Just don't tell him! He can always cheer us up and help us see the funny side of the situation. All of these wonderful traits and he is handsome too! He still makes my heart flutter when I see him!

He makes me fall in love with him again and again each day. I love that he is a righteous priesthood holder and has many times laid his hands on our heads and given us a blessing. He is so hard working and never complains. He is so handy around the house and I have yet to find something he can't figure out how to fix! We love you honey! Happy Fathers Day

This is his Father's day breakfast. Sean is a cereal junkie and if he had his way, we would eat it for supper on most days. He isn't a morning eater but always manages to eat his bowl of cereal for lunch or a snack. The more sugar, the better and the bigger the bowl! This is a small bowl but most people could feed a family with it!

**Update he is also amazingly strong...London and I attempted to do the chores this morning; feeding the chickens, ducks and goats but we couldn't get the waterers open so we had to have him come out and help us with his big bulging muscles!

My dad is also amazing! I feel so spoiled having him and Sean right here. They do everything for me and both are always looking out for me! It is so nice to have all the extra love. Growing up, we went camping and fishing. I always remember getting a Cuban Lunch chocolate bar for our lunch (anyone see those anymore? Square chocolate with peanuts in it?). I had so much fun fishing, both in winter and summer. Once a beaver came up and touched my pole while fishing at the dam. Dad taught me a love for nature and a keen eye for seeing animals on the side of the road. He spent hours taking me bottle picking so I could earn some money. I am sure that he spent more on gas than I made! I still remember my first attempt at pancakes. I put in baking soda instead of baking powder. He ate them with gusto and complimented me on my good cooking....I found out when I sat down to eat how awful they were!

It has been a joy having him closer. We have shared lot of laughs and good times. Happy Father's Day, Dad! I love you!

How can I mention all the wonderful men in my life and not mention my father in law! He made my husband what he is today (with a lot of help from my wonderful mother in law!). Sean's dad is very social and easy going with friends in every corner in town. He loves them all no matter the class or manner that they are. He treats everyone as the Saviour would treat people. He knows pretty much everything...I mean it not sarcastically! He has so much jammed into his brain, I don't know how he contains it all! He knows how to fix and build anything and what junkyard has what we need! He has helped us so much here on our farm finding all the needed items to fix stuff. He is always willing to lend a hand.

We love you, Jack!

As you can see I am so blessed. I am especially grateful to my Heavenly Father and all he has blessed me with, especially these wonderful men!

Missing!

2011-06-09T10:15:00.000-06:00

These are Peahens. Dad bought them at the animal sale. They only stayed for a few days and then they broke out! Dad saw them running to the bushes with Brigham close behind. We tried to catch them but they fly... high. So no luck. I saw them the next day and heard them a few times but we haven't seen or heard from them in a long time. They either have been eaten or some farmer got lucky and got our birds! Keep an eye out for them! They were so fun to listen to and watch I am sad that they are gone!

They hated being in with the chickens. I think that is why they escaped. They have the most beautiful feathers ever! We had big plans for head bands ect.... Maybe someone will find them and they will come back home.

Sickness

2011-06-05T12:53:00.001-06:00

Well I have to document this so I don't forget. I never want to take my health for granted! I think sometimes in life I need these reminders so that I am more grateful for what I have. I have been sick now 12 days. I actually got out for the first time yesterday for a baptism. Today I went to Sacrament meeting. It is nice to get out but I just don't feel like myself yet. I am still week and if I talk or move around too much I start having a coughing fit! I really miss running around getting all the things done I need. I am grateful for my health and I pray that it will be restored completely soon!

I can't even say I have gotten anything done because I couldn't really sit up and do anything. So no quilting or getting done the 500 projects that are unfinished....just plain old rest and laying around. When I get better I am committing to be more aware of peoples needs around me. I have had some really kind people drop off a meal and I got a surprise card in the mail wishing me well. Those little things are so appreciated. I know I need to do it for others so that they feel loved. I think that is a lost art even with church people. I don't think we care for each other as much as they did in the past. So I can't fix the world but I can commit myself to be a better person. Our RS Pres. has been great. I want to be like her. She calls often and tries to help everyone. I am suprised how few friends I really have. I need to be a better friend to have friends. I think it is because I spend so much time with my family. I also am going to appreciate my family more and live my life more fully!

London and I made a list of wishes of little fun things to do this summer from making homemade icecream and pizza on the BBQ to flying a kite and floating down the river. We have quite a list and I can't wait to check each one off!

I also am going to eat better and start exercising again. Life if to short not to be mobile. I see all these older people that are heavy and they are crippled up in there 50's. I want to be a rockin grandma and still walking around and gardening and flirting with the pool boy when I am 80! That comes with work now. So don't take for granted your health. You may have to spend two weeks in bed to be reminded and I don't reccomend that for anyone!

Backyard Late night visitor

2011-06-01T18:22:00.000-06:00

London and I were sitting in the front room when she gets up and stares out the window at what she thought was a cat in the tree! She saw the branches moving and it sure wasn't a cat after all it was a porcupine! We watched it from the living room and then our bedroom.

We called Sean and he got the camera out and went out to see him. He didn't mind us watching him so we took a bunch of pictures and got really close. London warned us to stay back as it can shoot it quills (false they don't). Sitting there it looked just like a Koala. He gripped the tree with his hands and feet and happily ate the bark and new leaves off my tree.

Look at his cute little hairdo!

Brigham then came along and spook him so he climbed further up the tree with ease. What a fun treat to see him.

Walking that little way almost did me in. I have been sick since last Wednesday with body aches the kind that makes your skin hurt and headache turned to fever and vomiting. I wanted to die. On the way back to the house I could barely make it and sadly vomited all over Sean's new shoes which I slipped on for ease. It was awful and gross. Monday I finally went to the ER as my doctor and walk in couldn't see me. In the end after a long wait I am still glad that I went. They did a bunch of test and put my mind at ease...I wasn't dying despite the fact that I wanted too! I did get some great medicine for Nausea in an IV and lots of fluids which I had problems keeping down in the past. The IV was a miracle worker. They did a Chest x-ray and blood work too which turned out Ok. I am still coughing up a lung but I am feeling a bit better. I just need to rest and keep up the fluids now that they topped me up. I really recommend IV's.

I had two Paramedic Student practicing IV's on me but in only took a few tries and they got in! Phew...that was entertainment in it self. Is it me or are student looking younger and younger! They still had baby fat I swear!

Controversial questions

2011-05-31T17:26:00.005-06:00

I want to stir it up a bit. I haven't had a lot of comments lately. There must not be a lot of farm fans! For those of you who do comment (a few friends and my Aunt and Uncle Tom and Dorothy) thanks. I love hearing from you! I am going to ask a question that has been plaguing me for a while and I want you to weigh in.

Are we getting too casual as a society? I am shocked at what people wear at weddings and funerals. I see everything from jeans and t-shirts all the way to sleazy outfits that some deem as classy? What has happened? I know it was a tradition not long ago when I was little to dress up really nice for lots of occasions. Even travelling on an airplane was dressy. Golf courses were one of the last to go. You could never wear spaghetti straps and tank tops but I see a lot of things in the last couple years you would have never seen. Why is this? I think part of it is we have very little respect for things or people.

You just have to look at customer service to see that! What a rare thing anymore. Yesterday, I was treated like meat by some of the nurses at the ER and some were very kind. I had one exceptional porter that treated me like royalty. Sometimes I think Safeway is the only one left with great customer service and the one in Brooks is way better than the one on the SE hill here in Medicine Hat! People truly don't care. When buying an expensive piece of farm equipment the other day, we let the one guy know we could get it $40 cheaper somewhere else, would he match it. He just got in a huff and walked off and said you better get it there then. What! What about potential clients in the future!

I know I speak my mind way too often and sometimes come across as rude but I am really going to work on this as I think it is a lost art to be kind. I want our youth today to do better than we are doing but we have to set an example as parents.

As most of you know, I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I see some of these attitudes even slipping into our churches. I am now talking back with casual dress. Here is the controversy. Please don't be offended. I just want an opinion. I see a look of wearing a dress or a skirt with leggings underneath to church. I myself think this look is too casual and I worry if we don't teach our children and ourselves it could slip further. Now, I see almost long shirts with leggings made to look like a dress. . Am I wrong? Is it our best? Where do we draw the line? Please let me know what you think?

*UPDATE: Thanks for the comments. I don't think that leggings can be compared to nylons at all. They just seem too casual to me. Maybe that is the old lady in me talking. If we were meeting the Savior would you wear it? Also I agree that we all must just wear our best not talking about not being able to afford better. I hope not to judge just discuss.

Going on a Goat Walk

2011-05-30T08:11:00.007-06:00

Yup you read it right...a goat walk! I looked at our dog harnesses and thought
I bet that would fit out goats and by golly it did!

The dogs were herding them along. The goats didn't want to go for a walk...they loved the green grass but didn't like getting pulled along!

Meet Pita (brown one about 4 months old) and Milly a yearling. They are the newest members of our family. They miniature Pygmy goats aren't they so cute! I just love having them around.

I love this picture of London and Pita! Pita needed to smile for the camera though!

Milly headbutted Brigham a couple of times which I thought was great but it still didn't seem to beat any sense into him! They are so loud. If they hear the door open they start crying for us to come over and bring them some grass. It is so funny! I am going to tape record it so you can hear how loud they are.

This is my Cousin Pearl- Ann she though it was fun to take them out and her grandson Porter liked to feed them dandelions. She is a storyteller...professional...really! This picture looks like she is telling one of her tall tales!

We got these guys at the livestock sale. I was excited to get some. They have been hard to find. They were older than I wanted but this fall we can get Milly breed and by next spring...babies! I had to rip Pita away from her mother in this stall and take her out when we bought her. She was crying.....MMMMAAAAAAAA it sounded just like it and the mother was trying to climb out after her and was also crying BAAABBBBBYYYY.....it was so sad and loud. When Sean looked over at me he was like "why are you bawling?" I wanted him to go back and buy the mother so they didn't have to be separated but he wouldn't. I felt really bad! She is happy now and I am sure her mother has forgotten all about her.

My babies are growing up

2011-05-29T11:22:00.001-06:00

I can't believe how big all my babies are getting. I wanted to give you an update so you can see yourself. They are 5 weeks old now and the chickens are going to be 6 weeks! The ducks are still very soft and fuzzy but they are definitely getting feathers. They love their supervised swim times! They don't follow me around as I hoped. I think you have to have just one or two for them to imprint on you. These guys rely on each other.

That is Ray the black one. We had two but one drown. My ducks were definitely racist at first and didn't want to accept him but they have come around to seeing that it doesn't matter the color of your fluff! He is a Indian Runner so he is taller than the rest even though he is younger.

They love there pool mud and all! I need to clean it out one of these days.

Here are my big chicks! They are still going through a really ugly stage as they don't have all their feathers. They seem to be happy and filling out. They are heavy little suckers. I try to spend as little time as possible with them as they will be on my dinner table one day!

They do nothing but eat and eat and eat! I can't believe how much food they go through. They need some serious therapy that there is more to life than food....once they figure that out they can teach me!

We finally put there water off the ground and it keeps it way cleaner. I need to get a pen build out the back so that they can go outside and enjoy the grass and sunshine!

One of our hens has become Broody already. There is a reason Broody rhymes with moody. She doesn't like you trying to take her eggs away! We had 10 eggs this morning the first and most we have had! Yippeee! WE only have 10 hens so I don't think it will get better than that.

The big 40!

2011-05-28T10:35:00.003-06:00

Well I really got spoiled for my birthday. This year I am the big 40 and I am very sad to be 40! I am starting to feel better about it but the days leading up to it were really rough! I cried a lot. I know that is silly as it is just a number but I look at accomplishment and goals not met and the impact I have had on my part of the world...very small so now I am just motivated to do much better! As far as family and friends they were amazing for my birthday it has gone on for weeks!
On the actual day I got a e book reader which I am so excited about! I love love love it. It has been many years of Sean trying to convince me that I would like one and me saying there is nothing like holding a book! I must say it is convenient no more late books or waiting for books so now I am sold! I got spoiled with lots of love and goodies. My friend Ghuenda even took time from her day to come and bring me some chocolate and a lovely present. That was so nice. The time that took and the hug and the remembering meant everything to me! We had a busy day that day so we just grabbed subway and hung out.

The weekend was full of surprises I went to Brooks to go out for supper with friends and they held a surprise birthday party for me! I didn't suspect that! It was so nice to spend time with my old friends that I love so much and not be forgotten. Some special friends were missing but I know they had other things going on! I got spoiled again with some beautiful and many funny gifts! I got BENO because they heard I was Farty! hehehhehee. Amy did a beautiful letter of the top 40 reasons she loves me as her friend. It made me cry and I will cherish it always. Also they played Family Feud game all about me! It was so kind and fun for Amy and Tyler to do that for me!

For the Long weekend we get together with my side of the family and celebrate every ones birthdays! There are lots of them. My Uncle Wes and Aunt Lue from way up in Fort Kent came and my Favorite Cuzzy Pearl-Ann and her daughter Stacey and her two boys. It was so fun! They mocked my old age too. The "40 sucks" I loved! Plus I love that kind of sucker.

Pearl-Ann do 40 age related fortunes in these fortune cookies! I am totally going to steal this one! loved it!

My Aunt Lue and Uncle Wes made me this lovely sign which is still out! I thought it was really funny! WE ate we visited, we ate, we visited, we ate...you get the idea. It was a lot of fun. I got some amazing gifts. I love the homemade ones especially! I will post pictures as they are amazing! I love my family so much!

This is Pearl -Ann and her grand baby Grady. She is an amazing women. She has so many talents and is so fun to be with. She is also my travel buddy. She made me the most beautiful garden spirit which is way to nice to go outside so it is in my living room.

Isn't this the cuties little guy! Look at those dimples! he can get away with anything this one!

Porter is a little cutie as well. He is so good. He will play for hours by himself with Lego. He is one smart cookie! They were in a house full of adults but they were so good!

This is my Uncle Wes and Aunt Lue and I can't believe I don't have a better picture. They are so amazing. My Aunt Lue is my mom's sister and ever since my mom died she has adopted me and one of her own. She is always so good to me. I love them both so much!

New family!

2011-05-24T08:44:00.000-06:00

Here are my layers. I can't believe I didn't show a picture before. They are so funny. They get grouchy if you try and go see them at night. tWhen they are all bedded down at night they will actually growl at you. They are happy as can be otherwise. They love the grass outside and digging holes and rolling in them to dust themselves. The roost must be to high because they don't use it or the nest at all. We will one day get around to moving it. They are all in love with our big rooster Noodle.

Noodle is the white one and he is pleased as punch to have 10 hens struting for his lovin'. He struts around showing his stuff. At night they all sleep on top of him. We thought we lost him once and looked and looked outside only to pull off all the hen to find him warm and snug on the bottom of the pile. When we first got him he couldn't crow but he is now doing a fine job of it! I love having windows open and hearing him crow!

The cat is watching and wants to eat them...Brigham is close behind. He got in once but they were faster than him and the hole to safety in the building was to small for him to get in. Brigham is good to have around though as he patrols the ground all day and night and chases everything off. He doesn't miss a thing that goes around here.

He loves Noodles and wants to eat some! We have been patching places that had damage or where animals have gotten in! They are now laying 9 eggs a day. There is 10 hens so someone isn't doing there job! But I have eggs coming out of my ear! I need to get rid of some so come over and you will leave with a bunch!

This was my sick chick that I tried to nurse back to health with no luck. I brought him in the house but he didn't make it. We lost 3 in total out of 50 so I think that is pretty good! Everyone is so big you won't even believe it I will post pictures as soon as I can wade out to the coop this rain is maddening!!!

Let's go fly a kite!

2011-05-23T09:54:00.000-06:00

This is a continuation of dad's birthday party. We bought him a kite and borrowed kites from my in-laws. It was a really windy day so it was perfect for it! Our coulee funnels the wind and they flew so well! Sometimes to well and we had a hard time not ripping them apart!

I have this funny condition I looked it up once and it is real. I have a fear of kites! It is like a reversal of heights. Just looking up the kite makes me feel like I am going to get ripped off the ground and fall into the sky. I thought I might have out grown it but as soon as I felt that kite pulling on me I started to panic!

This is dad's birthday airplane! The wind was so strong once we got out to the coulee it ripped it right out of his hands. He almost got to the end of his sting. He flew it for quite a while and then passed it over to Sean.

Look how high!

My brother Darren was supervising!

I love these new fancy kites you can get. The propeller even worked! London's had a wind speed on it!

Brigham loves it when we play outside. He couldn't quite figure out how to get the kite though. It has been raining the last few days and he is so lonely with out us out playing!

Sean trying his hand at flying the kite!

Darren helping to relaunch the kite. It got so windy you couldn't really get it up and flying.

These fancy kites are a bit more difficult to fly. Sean had it doing tricks! I love not having the power lines in the way you can really get them going high!

Crash!

The kite whisperer!

view from the bottom of our coulee

79th Birthday!

2011-05-22T10:42:00.000-06:00

It was Dad's 79th Birthday on May 15th! We had a fun birthday weekend. On Saturday we went to the animal sale and bought a bunch more things. It was fun! Then my brother Darren came to help celebrate dads birthday! Ribs was the meal of choice!
His hat says Happy Birthday Hot Geezer! One of the grand kids started calling him geezer and it stuck so know he is grandpa geezer!

You know birthdays are all about food! We had baking powder biscuits to go with it!

We gave him some bird seed and a feeder also a kite! I thought it would be fun to fly a kite for his birthday to remember his youth! It was such a nice windy day they flew awesome I will post pictures of that next.

Dad wanted Chocolate cake so I made my version of black forest! I blended the cherries with the whipped cream and made chocolate whipped cream topping. I was yummy if I do say so myself. It is so fun having my dad right here and being able to just extend our family.

I found a picture of a buzzard for the top of the cake. Dad frightened me the other day when he called he said he thinks he is going to die! My heart sunk thinking it was revelation...instead he said a turkey vulture had been circling his house all day!!!! Turkey that scared me so I added one to the cake.

I love this action shot! He ended up missing both the first time! He wanted two girlfriends! lol

Happy Birthday Dad! Here's to 25 more!