The 12 Events of Christmas.

Well another Christmas come and gone. Fun was had by all and now all that remains is overflowing toy boxes and a copious amount of material to be recycled.

Christmas seemed to be a drawn out event this year. The first event that was Christmasish was our 2nd annual care group gingerbread decorating night. Fun Fun Fun and some nice looking houses.


2nd event was Fred's Christmas Party. It was fantastic! His company flew up to Phoenix for the weekend and it was great. My mom came up to stay with the kids and we were footloose and fancy free. We rented a car directly from the airport and ended up with a brand new dodge charger. Equipped with a borrowed GPS we set out to shop. It was fun to have no obligation or agenda for a weekend. No bums to change, no nap times to interrupt the day and no melt downs or sibling brawls. I will admit I missed our two blond kidlets very much and was quite anxious to return to get some great hugs. I don't know if I could go longer then 2 days without them....Not yet anyways.


3rd Christmas event was the kids party at Fred's Work. We went to playtopia in Okotoks and was great fun. Complete with a visit from a very believable santa! Samantha was over joyed after receiving a Tinkerbell doll and suddenly would talk to everyone to show it off.

4th Event. 1st Annual Care Group Christmas party. We invited others from Church to join us and had a pretty full house. What a grand time. We borrowed the idea from a good friend and had a White elephant gift exchange. People had to bring a item they already owned- no money was to be spent. Then we played one of those games when you could steal or pick new... Fun Fun Fun. Some gifts were a 50's radio, a petrified tarantula, books, Bible on tape. So Fun. The rules were nothing could remain at our house. We did however open our fridge to find a tarantula. Payback will be interesting!! Another fun thing we did was invited people to donate the money they would have spent a present for the gift exchange and donate it to our cause. We decided to pool some resources and bless a recently single mother with some Christmas surprises for her and her son.

5th Event. Our Mom's group baked and Decorated Christmas Cookies.


6th Christmas event. My mom's Company throws a kids Christmas party that they invite grandchildren too. So our family and my sisters family go down from Calgary and niece April from Medicine Hat joins us also. So we all spend the afternoon swimming at the leisure centre followed by a pizza supper and of course a visit from Santa. This santa no so believable. Very fun event and I can't believe the company buys a $30 gift for each kid and grandchild. Also swimming and pizza for everyone. So Great.




7th Christmas Event. Christmas with my Dad. While in Medicine Hat we celebrated with my Dad. We joined this with a little Birthday Party for my niece April who turns three today!! Complete with Ice Cream Cake.


8th Event. Christmas Eve at our house. My sister and family and my Mom and Buba(her long term boyfriend that our kids call Buba) and my cousin and her boyfriend and My Aunt and her kids. We had a appetizer night and all ate too much. We also made a castle Birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. We had a little mishap with the color but it still tasted great.


9th Event Christmas Morning. A grand event of blur of wrapping paper and smiles that light up my world. Followed by a time of unpackaging adult proof packaging, followed by a time of sorting disgusting amounts of cardboard and plastic to recycle.

10th Event. Opening presents at My sisters house. The kids each had a present from my Sister but mostly watched Cam and Reece open there gifts from Granmda who had slept at our house. Also got to give Grandma her gifts which I think we did good on.

11th Event. Turkey Dinner. This is its own event because it was amazing. My sister got a Fresh Turkey from Sunterra Market and they smoked it on the BBQ. It was fantastic coupled with Garlic mash potatoes that my Brother in Law makes the absolute best in the world. My brother in Law took the picture below, doesn't it look like a photo from a magazine? It is not though- that is the actual turkey we ate. Yummy!


12th Event. Off to Fred Parents. We arrived after they were done there meal and got to see our uncle and cousin before they left to feed puppies. Then had a little present exchanging there. We gave our gifts to Grandma and Grandpa that we joined with 2 of Freds siblings to buy. They seemed excited with the gifts so Yahoo!

Very exciting times. So fortunate that we have family nearby and that we got to spend time with so many of the people we treasure. We did miss not seeing my younger sister Jessie and Fred sister Jenny and her family. That would have made Christmas the best ever. We enjoyed the kids joy immensely and our so thankful for them. By far our greatest gift. We are happy that we were able to pick out gifts that our loved ones appreciated. We are thankful for the opportunity to bless a family becasue we could. We had fun times with Friends new and old. We value the reason for Christmas and what it means to our souls and try to spread that Love and Joy to others.

1 year

Today marks one year since my Friend Stephanie passed away. She was 28 and she died of ovarian cancer. Although we had drifted apart and let life happen and were not close in recent years - I miss her a lot. I always thought there would be time to reconnect..... I think of her often. It just doesn't seem fair.

I was in Medicine Hat this weekend. In the recent years whenever I would go to Medicine Hat I had thoughts of calling the girls and trying to connect. This weekend I visited her grave. It seems surreal. Because I hadn't seen Steph in a couple years it just doesn't seem real.

There is a Church in Medicine Hat that is rather famous- well to Medicine Hat standards. Everybody knows it. It is St Patrick's. It is located on Riverside. This is the neighborhood I spent my first twelve years in. This Church roof line can be seen from everywhere on Riverside. It was a fixture in my Childhood. But I never went in it. I wasn't catholic. After I became a church goer myself my Friend Steph often asked me to go to mass with her. She wanted to go the Saturday evening versus having to wake up on Sunday Morning. I went at first because I wanted to learn the difference between the catholic faith and my new found faith- and I wanted to see the inside of that church. So I went with her probably half a dozen times. Then the next time I went was for her wedding and then I last went again for her funeral. I can't see the church without thinking of her. She was a pretty amazing person. She was Beautiful, Funny, Sarcastic, Kind, Blunt.- She had a particular affirmation for public flatulence. She was one of a kind and I will remember her till we meet again.

Only One Hair Cut

Fred has had the same haircut for over 10 years- Since before we met. Fred has always had some variation of the Caesar cut. Short in the back and sides and a little longer on the top. And he styles this cut by making a messy look on top. This is not a haircut that is hard to do. In fact I have cut Fred's hair for at least 8 of the last 10 years. And nobody has ever commented that it was crappy - ever.

So about a year ago I was growing bored of cutting his hair and I was really wanting him to try out a new look. Don't get me wrong....Fred is Hot and I do like this cut on him but I bet he would look just as Hot in a new Style. So he started going to a barber. And the same Caesar cut he got each time. Fred is not one to speak out and ask -So a couple of months ago I went with him. We were looking through a haircut book and hadn't found anything but then it was his turn. So the guy says what are we doing and Fred of course asked me. I am sure the Barber felt sorry for Fred and his pushy wife however Fred didn't know what to say to describe what we had talked about. So I said can he have something beside the Caesar cut?? Still something short and clean but something different... His suggestion? A faux hawk that is actually not really a faux hawk but rather a little longer of a Caesar cut so that he can still do the messy look if he isn't comfortable in a faux hawk.

So Fred has since been growing his hair thinking that if it were longer then they might have more to work with. So we go to a different shop today and were told- "So I just shorten it up for ya eh?" So Fred says well I would like something different- and he says "okay I shorten the sides and back and leave the top a bit longer ya?" This is when I interject and say - He has had some version of the Caesar cut for the last decade can he have something different? "Okay okay" he says - so he then spends approx 5-7 mins on Fred hair giving him a Caesar cut once again and only he says well the sides are tapered in so you won't have stick outs - ask Fred if he likes it, Fred shyly says its okay and then says to me- " See it looks good eh?" I say well good yes but also the same as the last 10 years. Then Fred pays his $19 and we leave. Fred comments that he has never had such a fast haircut in his life.

I see lots of men out there that there hair doesn't look the same as Freds so I know it is possible....But seriously why can't they just do what we ask? Do barbers only know how to follow the lines of what was there before? I don't get it. I imagine anyone reading this thinks I am crazy pushy and Fred should be able to have his hair the way he wants it...I just want to make it clear he is ready for a change, he wants something new also. He just wont ask for it...That is just Fred.

Nate Turns Two!

Well our Little Baby is not so Little Anymore. Monday Nathan turned two. Nathan is such a Happy Boy who brings so much Happiness in our Home. In Crowds he tends to be a little bit of a Mama's Boy. But this Mom will admit she doesn't mind. There is something so rewarding about being the only one he wants! I admit when I need both hands it can be a slight inconvenience.

On Sunday we had his Party and had a bunch of friends over. We rented a bouncy castle from our Church and were estatic to have such nice weather to be able to use it outside in November. It was a great hit and the kids had a blast. Fred made a amazing cake decorate like wall-E. Nate Loved it!

His actual birthday was Monday and Fred took the day off. We have a little family tradition of Fred taking the day off on every bodies Birthday and we go for Breakfast and spend the day together. We went to ABC then after we went to toys r us and let the kids explore the toy isles for nearly a hour. Then we went to our Uncles new house to take Before pictures as they are going to do a massive reno. The kids had fun running around a empty house and playing with the leaves in the Massive back yard. We stopped in at Grandma's work and the kids had fun checking out the school. On our way home the kids fell asleep and so Fred and I drove through some of the very uppity neighborhoods on our way home to look at all the massive homes. I can't believe the size of some of these places.

Then we came home and gave Nate his gift from us! We gave him a tool bench and so far it is a great hit with both kids. It was a great day spent just enjoying our family. I love days when we have no agenda per say and can just slow down and enjoy the Joy to seep in. It is fun to spend a hour in a toy store letting the kids go from toy to toy checking them all out. It is fun to play in the leaves and just watch there joy. We are blessed!

One Day to Do

I was going to call this Post the Bucket List - like the movie but decided against it. These are just things I have thought about in Passing - If I die tomorrow I would not regret that I didn't get to do them.

Learn to Sew
Learn to Scuba Dive
Drive a convertible
Take a afternoon exploring 17th Ave
Take a afternoon exploring Inglewood
Get a motorbike license
Talk my way out of a ticket
Learn to not be a picky eater
Be a guest on the Ellen Show
Pay for Everyones meal in a Restaurant
Get over my fear of Homeless people
Write Down the Story of How Fred and I met and Fell in Love. - For our Children and Grandchildren to one day read.
Learn to make fun home Movies
Make slide shows of each year of my kids life's.
Learn to Play Guitar
Go through the Paramedic Program
Help my Children Buy a house'
Take up Camping
Whisk my Husband away on a Surprise trip
Coach my kids sports team
Be a block Parent
Get to know my neighbors
Have a Cruzin Cooler race with my Dad
Play on a Basketball team again
Learn a second Language - NOT FRENCH
Learn the rules of Football
Scan my negatives onto my Computer
Be a youth Leader
Throw a costume Party
Learn more about my Grandparents that died to Early
Write more Thank you notes to the people who make a difference in my Life
Finnish my Thanks you cards from my wedding - Can you imagine getting a card 9 years later? I really did not appreciate the way in which we were blessed at the time.
Play paint ball
Try snowboarding
Acquire a sense of Style
Have a dog again
Keep updated pictures of my 4 nieces and 2 nephews.
Send out Christmas Cards
Take a cooking course

Just a few- I may add to it later

A New Love

Fred finally gave in and agreed to the purchase of a PVR- Personal Video recorder. It is amazing! Fred and I admit to being tv addicts. There are many shows we follow, Prison Break, One Tree Hill, CSI, Criminal Minds, House, and there is more but I will quit my list before people decide it is time for a intervention. We have found ourselves staying up a lot later now that shows have made there return for the season. We don't watch the shows at the earlier time as we are busy enjoying our children and then after we put them to bed we are free to watch, but have to wait for the show times. Monday is like the best TV night and there is 3 of our fav hour long shows and 3 would like to catch 1/2 hour sitcoms. There is no way we ever get them all. Tuesday there is only one show and Wednesday only one and soon one on Thursday. Nothing Fri-Sun. Now with a PVR we can set it to record the shows we want and now we can watch them at our leisure. Spread them out over the week. The machine is so great that you can set it to record only the new episodes of a series. LOVE IT! It also holds up to 125 hours of digital tv. And it lets us skip commercials.

I just proof read this - We sure like tv - maybe we do need a intervention!

I miss Fred

I feel like Fred and I haven't really got much time together as of late. I started working at the end of July and generally work 2 nights a week and all day Sat. Over The summer Fred took on a side project developing a room in my aunts basement. It ended up taking a little more time then anticipated. So on nights I wasn't working and the day of the weekend I wasn't working Fred would be up at her house. She lives across the city! There were quite a few times we went with him, so at least we spent the travel time together.
The immediately after he finished the basement job, his parents needed his help on there deck. So now he has been trying to go over there as much as he can. He has been going on nights/Saturdays when I work and taking the kids but also on Sundays after Church. He is very glad to be able to help and is enjoying spending time with his dad, however he is tired. He doesn't complain though-doesn't say a word. It is me that is starting to grow weary of this. I want to spend more time the four of us, I would also like to have some one on one with Fred. This Friday we are going with a couple of our friends to a comedy night. I am really looking forward to it. Perhaps we will be able to go for supper before or for dessert after.

I guess I am really starting to feel the impact of what my working has on our family. All of a sudden time is a commodity. I don't know how people with kids manage when both parents work full time. I guess most of the time the kids are in Child care of some fashion, I don't think it would be possible if not. I know Staying home with our children is the right decision for us and I wouldn't want it any other way. Working nights and weekends around Fred's work schedule is the only Way to make that possible. And I feel very fortunate to have that option - it's just a adjustment for us.

Falling Apart

Seriously I am only 29 years old- I can't imagine life at 65. My body is falling apart.
For over a year now I have had a permanent spot of tenderness on my forehead. I have had a xray and two ct scans and they can't find anything. It went away for 2 days and I was so excited and then it came back.
This summer I broke out into a full body rash twice and so I went for allergy testing last week. Turns out I am allergic to a lot more then I thought. Mold, Dust, Horses, a handfull of trees- theses are the more serious ones but I am allergic to a ton of other stuff just not as bad.
My arm that I broke this summer is not healed as good as I would like - I still get a lot of pain. If I am crawling around with the kids, or pushing them on the swing there is a fair amount of pain.
I have had tonsillitis 3 times in the last two months and now the Dr says I need to have my tonsils out. He has referred my to a throat and nose specialist and I am waiting for a call.
I have had a fairly bad jaw for quite sometime. When I was 15 I received a kick to the jaw while playing soccer and it has been bad ever since. It used to only bother me when I got bonked in the jaw or when I opened really really big while yawning or at the Dentist. Well it has been getting worse and I have been trying to ignore it but I am afraid it is time to get it checked out. It is now clicking all the time. Whenever I chew..click click click. Time to get it looked after...

Where did all the Mom's go?

A friend Mentioned to me that in all the big Disney Movies there is no Mom. There is always a dad but no Mom. Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Finding Nemo. There is lots of Movies I have not seen in a long time so don't know - Snow white, Sleeping Beuaty do these have Moms? I can't say. Even in Bambi the mom dies. Why is this? Is there any movies that it is just the Character and the mom? I don't understand the reasoning.....

*****I am wrong***I am at my Aunts watching Lion King for the first time in years and years and the Mom is in it.

Coping, dealing, grieving.

After finding myself crying on a daily basis I have come to the conclusion that I do not deal with death well. Well Young death to be specific.

I lost a good friend Tyler Wrachowski right after high school. This was the first time where someone I personally knew had died at a young age. At the time he died Tyler and I had drifted apart and only seen each other a couple times a year. Tyler was a really good friend at one of the hardest times in my young life - my parents divorce. He lived so close that if I needed to chat it was a two minute walk. His death was very sad but I don't think the impact fully hit at the time. I don't think his death effected my life all that much.

The second person we knew to die young, was our Friend Tim. Tim was engaged to a very close friend of ours and we really were just getting to know him - but he was the kind of guy that made you feel you were friends for a long time. When it was two months before the wedding he died in a work accident. I think this is when Death fully hit me. I sat by helpless as my good friend dealt with this horrible event, it amazes me how she was so strong in her faith through this. All her hopes and plans for the future gone. Her best friend, the person who knew her the best taken. This is when death truly impacted me and still does. It made me realize the gift of Fred that I have. But it also made me afraid. Afraid to lose him. About a month after Fred and I had a really fun morning, just hanging out we made breakfast and were flirting. I then had to go to Sundre to take pictures for a friend. As I am leaving Calgary I get this thought - something is going to happen to one of us. That we had a fun morning so that the other one would have a great last memory. Not a fun way to live. In fear. But every time I leave town with out Fred I cry - something is going to happen.

Then we had kids and the stakes went up again. I very clearly remember leaving town the First time without Samantha. We went to Banff for our anniversary. I tried not to worry but there was constant thoughts..something will happen....

Death seemed to stay away for a bit, about four years. Then this past December it came back. A very good friend from Highschool lost a battle with Ovarian Cancer. She was 28. As long as I was friends with Steph she had always been in Love with Jerimy. High school sweethearts who married the year after Fred and I. Steph and I had lost contact, in fact I hadn't seen her in at least two years. I caught up with her on facebook and had high hopes of reconnecting. There was four of us who were really close and every time I went to Med Hat I had thoughts of trying to arrange a get together - but the weekends always went so fast and it never happened. When Stephanie died I realized how sad the word "someday" is. I will now never have that opportunity . After her service the three of us remaining went out for coffee and it was great. There of course was a sadness and we very much felt the absence of Steph, but it was so nice to spend time with these ladies and share memories of Steph and grieve together. We have gotten together one time since and went and shot pool. So I am greatfull to have the opportunity to reconnect with these ladies but I can't help but miss Steph when we are together. I think of her Husband daily and all he has lost.

Now Just recently we have lost Fred's aunt. She lost a sudden and brief battle with Brain Cancer. Fred's aunt was a great women. I remember feeling a part of the family when She asked us to babysit her kids before Fred and I were even engaged. She was a loving mother to 3 kids and her and Frank had been married for 22 years. It seems to me that she was close and had a unique relationship with each of her siblings. Wendy and Frank helped Fred to buy his first car by allowing him to buy a car from them for a good price by paying $200 a month with no intrest. We paid it off early and it felt good to have there respect. After us having kids Wendy has always given them Christmas and Birthday presents. The kids have books from her bath ducks and Sammie has a purse she loves that was given to her by Wendy. Whenever we talked she was eager to hear of there recent developments. She was a very involved parent and her and Frank have such a close relationship with there kids. We hope to develop that closeness with our kids. It is just heartbreaking to think of Frank and the kids have lost in Wendy.

To me it just doesn't feel fair. I know I am not owed a explanation but I feel like I want one. Why does God choose to Heal some and not others? Wouldn't a miraculous recovery speak more of a loving God then Death? It shakes me. It makes me doubt. I don't know why a loving all powerful God can't or won't heal. It make me sad and even angry that young people with so much living left to do, people who did good and were a light in this world were taken. It breaks my heart to think of the children and spouces and everything they have lost. I don't know how to cope with these feelings. I try praying and end up crying. I try reading and I cry. I go to church and I cry. We sing songs of how glorious God is and powerfull and how he cares for us so much but yet it doesn't really feel like it. I don't know - I don't know how to deal, cope. I feel like I know I have to take it to God but yet I feel a wall and I just can't. Then it makes me feel guilty cause my faith should be stronger.

I am toooo Lazy

So the truth is that I have had a few blog post over the last month. In fact I have 4 in my draft file that have gone unfinished I just don't feel like blogging. I am to lazy.

The Van Traps only Cuter!

Grandma made Samantha and Nate some new Clothes. Samantha adores her new dress and would wear it everyday if we allowed it! Nate got two shirts - One with Micky mouse and Pluto and One with Winnie the Pooh. He favors the Mickey Mouse and "puppy" one.

Work

So I have now completed my second shift at Okotoks Pool. I forgot how much I love working at a pool. I really like to interact with the people. The staff here is really young and I am for sure among the oldest if not the oldest. Yikes. Seems like a great pool and that it under good Management. I also forgot how much cleaning is involved in working at a pool.....that I don't love so much but it could be worse. They have a super cool floor machine. It is like a mini Zamboni and that is how we clean the change rooms. Awesome! So far it looks like I will be working Thur-Sat. Which is okay. Next Sat I work a 10 hour shift- that will be a long day! I am excited to start receiving a regular paycheck!

Wendy Graffunder

It has been a very hard week for our Family. We have lost a very special women. Wendy is Fred's aunt and she passed away on Friday night. Wendy was a vibrant person who will be missed greatly. She was kind, funny, caring, giving, and a million other great things. She was a loving mom to three awesome kids, and her and her husband Frank have the kind of relationship with there kids that we hope to develop with ours. She was involved with her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephew. There really is not enough words to accuratly explain who Wendy was and how she will be missed by so many.

Below is her obituary that was in the Calgary Herald.

GRAFFUNDER _ Wendy Hedwig October 9, 1964 - July 4, 2008 Wendy Graffunder, beloved wife of Frank Wolever of Calgary, passed away on Friday, July 4, 2008 at the age of 43 years. Wendy was born in Kamloops, B.C. She grew up on the family ranch with mom Solveig, dad Alfred, Linda, Bernie, Hilda, and her twin brother George. Wendy came to Calgary from Vavenby, B.C. to attend the Alberta Bible College, and met her husband Frank in 1986. She attended the University of Calgary and graduated from McGill University in Montreal with her teaching degree. She loved the mountains and travels, with an engagement proposal at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and trips to Asia, India, Turkey and other exotic places. She was a full life and business partner to Frank, with fun and adventures for twenty-two years. Her life's greatest accomplishment is the raising of three wonderful children - daughter Cayla, and twins, Brinton and Riley. She attended Oak Park Church, worked as a part-time teacher and administrator at Menno Simons School, where her children attended for five years. She left us peacefully, surrounded by friends and family after a sudden and brief battle with brain cancer, an enemy that could not be overcome. Our family has a new guardian angel, and her work is not finished. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

S.H.I.T - word origin

Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common.

It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!

Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening

After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term 'Ship High In Transit' on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Thus evolved the term ' S.H.I.T ' , (Ship High In Transport) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.


Funny! I had not idea! My dad forwarded this email to me and I thought it was post worthy.

Facebook Groups

Can anyone tell me what the point of a facebook group? I am member of a few facebook groups but it appears to me there is absolutely no point. Things are never updated on the groups - nobody writes on walls. I am in a group from my elementary school, my grad class. I am in two groups in memory of old friends that have passed. I am in a group of band of guy I went to high school with. I have unjoined this group twice now but he keeps sending me new invitations so I fell compelled and I finally joined a group about gas prices after 11 invites to it. I check these groups occasionally to see if anything is happening in them but to no avail there is nothing.

Happenings as of Late

Well I don't know that I really have much to report on. Life is busy at home with two toddler. Nathan is starting to talk quite a bit. His little voice is so cute! He is becoming very stubborn and likes to hit and kick his mom. His mom doesn't like it. Samantha too is growing and developing at lite speed. Her vocabulary exploded overnight and now she has whole conversations. They are both such sweet kids. They keep us entertained and busy and our hearts smiling.

Fred and I are in the Midst of Ball season. We really like the weekly gathering and love to see how well our team interacts with each other. Most don't keep in contact outside of ball season but it is great to see how well everyone gets along. And everybody is so supportive of one another that we really feel it is a safe place to develop skill at the game.

I am needing to go find a part time job as finances are really tight. I applied at a couple pools but didn't hear anything. Until today! I have interview tomorrow! I don't know how many hours they will have or if it would be instructing or guarding..I guess I find out tomorrow. If it isn't what I want- I think Will go apply at Safeway. I would like to work at a place that is open till 11:00 or later. If I am going to be away from my family for a night it might as well be a late night.

There is no exciting trips planned this summer. We will be staying home. My Aunt is going to Ireland for two weeks and we will be having her girls stay with us. Will be a busy couple of weeks. Samantha will be going to a daycamp for a week that our Church is putting on - but Nate is too Young.

Well that is our happenings in a nutshell.

The Party!

Samantha's Party had a princess and pirates theme. The little girls all wore princess dresses and the boys received eye patches and mustaches in there goody bags. The original plan was to rent a big castle bounce but with the rain that was a no go. So instead we did a craft. The girls decorated foam crowns and the boys decorated foam visers that we flipped upside down in hopes of them looking like pirate hats. Overall I think the party was a big success and the kids had fun. Fred and I are quite proud of Samantha's cake! We made her a Castle cake made of Rice Krispie squares. It was my idea and I made all the rice krispies - 7 batches and Fred designed and constructed it!

Happy Birthday to My Princess

Hard to believe she is three already! Samantha over the last year has changed so much. At times he can be Shy like Daddy and at times she is a social bug more like Mom. She is really starting to have a strong personality and she knows what she likes and what she doesn't.

She has a great personality and can sure make us laugh! For the most part she adores her brother and they are starting to play together really well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sweet Princess- We Love you beyond words!

All better now

well further to the last post, When I went for Nate's rescheduled appt, I talked to the really nice receptionist and she took the charge off our account! Yahoo! She really is nice and not just because she took away the charge but because she really is nice.

TICK me Off

So today I go to My mailbox and I was greeted with a bill for $37 for a missed DR appointment for Nate. So here is the tick off point. I had a the appointment booked for last Wednesday at 1:10. Yes I was not there, I fully admit that. I was on the phone with a friend who was asking if I could watch there kid, Sure I can and I just have to check my calender to make sure I am clear. Upon checking my Calender at about 2:30 I discover the missed apt. I immediately call the Dr and apologize and rebook. Then today I get a bill. The aggravating part is that whenever we go to the DR we end up waiting at minimum of a hour and half before leaving and that is on a good day. So it just irks me that I called before I ever would have seen the Dr and I was still billed. I should have just taken the kids as soon as I noticed. A part of me want to argue - I mean I am NEVER late and I never ever complain about the amount of time it takes, I am pleasant with all the staff. But I do know that it was my fault and lets face it in Calgary we are very fortunate to have a family DR so I don't want to do anything that would have them consider dropping us as patients.

Another year

Well today Fred and I celebrated 8 years! Hard to believe we have been married that long. In someways it has went fast and I can't believe it has been that long - In other ways it seems it should have been longer..Like I can't remember a time when he wasn't there - it seems I have been in Love with Fred my whole life.

Fred and I were lucky to have two anniversary celebrations without the kids. On Friday we went to Jubilations Dinner theater with some Friends of ours that were also celebrating there anniversary. When Fred got home from work he surprised me with two beautiful roses. Then off to the show. The food was good, the show was good and the company was top notch. My Amazing sister took both of our kids for a sleepover even though her husband was out of town and her 1 year old was throwing up. So she had a busy night with 4 kids on her own. So Fred was very excited about sleeping in on Saturday morning. We then were able to enjoy a midmorning round of Mario Kart before heading to a wedding of a sweet couple we go to Church with.

Today last minute I dropped my kids off at our Aunts who lives in Chaparral, and went to surprise Fred for a lunch date! We went to phoenix grill and it was yummy! Then I came home and was surprised by a delivery of beautiful bouquet of Gerber daises. This was shock for me - I can truly count the number of times Fred has given me Flowers over the years on one hand and to get some twice in one week. I have only ever had them delivered once and that was when we lived in different cities. So I was SHOCKED! They are a nice treat!

We are looking forward to our 10 year anniversary - it has been decided we will go on a family beach vacation! Hawaii perhaps? Or maybe a all inclusive in Mexico or Cuba? The more the merrier - anybody want to join us??

Nate's New Room

So it is time to move Nate to the big boy bed. To celebrate this occasion Fred decided to redo his room and we think it turned out great! Nate hasn't even seen it yet!

First Trip to the Dentist

Super Mom

We have a friend who is Super Mom. She has two young kids one is 3 and one is 8 months, and she is go go go go. I like to fancy myself quite an active mom trying to have daily outings - if not daily then every other day. The outings may not be big - perhaps a run to costco or a walk to a friends but I try to make sure we get out of the house. When I talk to this friend I feel inferior. She is constantly on the go. She goes to the gym everyday and takes her kids to the babysitting. I am drawing a blank on what else she does but honest it sounds as though she is never home. And when she is home her older child does tons of crafts. She is always in the know of community things like toddler craft time at Michaels and the cookie decorating at Christmas at Shouthland.
Today we went to the zoo and in my mind that was a big outing. We even went through the Canadian north section to see the otters which is a fair amount of walking. We had to go home to sleep...all 3 of us. Not my friend, after the zoo she ran into Costco quick before hitting the gym. WOW! I wish I had more get up and go....but I really don't

Maybe I meant to be a couch potatoe

So for the last week I have really been trying to get active. I have been rollerblading almost everyday but have been having some issues. My left foot hurts really bad in the arch area. So I thought maybe I should get some insoles. This worked for about three blocks and then my foot cramped up like crazy. I tried to tough it our but it hurts so bad. So I tried again the next day and It instantly cramped up in like 1 min. So I took the insoles out and have tried again. But my arch hurts like mad..... I think it may be time to get new Rollerblades - these ones are nearly 10 years old but sadly they have hardly been used.

Then tonight I decided to go for a bike ride, thinking that I can't use my Rollerblades as a excuse for not being active. So I went out - even by myself as there was nobody to stay with the kids so Fred could come. So I was enjoying my bike ride - I even biked longer then I thought I would. Then on my way home when my legs were feeling a little wobbly I tried to shift to a easier gear only to discover my bike is Broken! It will not shift gears at all. So I have come to the conclusion that maybe I am not meant to get fit. I will not give up though- I am hoping Fred can fix my bike without too much hassle. And I am going Rollerblade shopping with some of our tax return.

My Apologies

I am not a "hoverer"- I brave the germs and sit directly on the seat. I am not coordinated enough to hover either that or my knees are not strong enough to support my body weight. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people who do hover hit the seat. Sometimes I am in such a hurray to go that I don't take the time to do a wipe down of the seat and sure enough the seat is wet. GROSS. I will admit to cursing out the "hoverer" that occupied the stall before me (in my head of course - I promise I am not the crazy lady swearing in the stall next to you) In the last couple of days I have made a shocking discovery. For the last couple of days my pet peeve has been hitting home or rather at home. Imagine my surprise to sit on a wet seat at home. Then it came to me - perhaps it is not people that hover after all - perhaps it is small children. So I apologize to all I have falsely accused in my head, I know now that I may have been wrong. Sometimes I know was right - like at my former place of work where there are no children ever....

I'm a Big Girl Now

Well actually I am too Big of a girl now. It is time to get serious about weight loss. I did not try to lose weight in between my kids at all. What came off did so by itself. So now I have two pregnancies worth of weight that needs to go. Recently Fred and I found out that we both have elevated Cholesterol, that we need to get down. So Fred and I met with a nutritionist to get started. We know that we don't eat nearly enough Fruit and Vegetables, but I don't think we realized how much we ate. Canada food guide portions are so small. I think Fred and I will be permanently hungry. We also learned what kind of things to stay away from and portion sizes. So although we have a long way to go we are starting! So Yeah for us!

BESTWAY SAFETY

Well as most know I have been teaching First Aid on the side for quite a few years now. Well I have decided to go at it a little more aggresively. The Bookkeeping I was doing on the side has really sort of fizzled out and really can not be depended on. So since I really do love teaching First aid and there is such a demand out there I have decided to sort of "Relaunch" my business.

So Fred and I are in the midst of designing brochures and creating a website. I plan to market my services to Businesses and Churches. I am looking to train private groups in First Aid at there location. I have done a few courses already this year and hopefully will be able to get a little more business. I have done the research and can confidently say that I have one of the best prices in the City. I also plan to offer discounts to non-profit groups such as churches. So if you know of any groups needing some training send them my way!

Toys Toys Toys

I am wondering how people with Kids avoid having toys in every area of the house? We try to keep the toys in the Bonus room and Sammie's room but it never fails somehow I am stepping over toys in our bathroom and tripping over toys in the Kitchen. Maybe our kids just have too many toys.....and sadly I don't think they really play with them so much as relocate them.

Update!

Well I am not a very good blogger as of late and I don't know why. It kind of feels like nothing is really happening and I don't have much to say but I know there must be something....

The Kids- Samantha is dare I say potty trained!! This is exciting and she has been really reliable. THere have been no accidents in a at least a week. She still wears a diaper at night of course but she has even been dry overnight about half the time. On a different not Samantha is really learning to push limits. She is consistently being a bully to Nate and she is not so good at listening these days. We have been going through a lot of time outs lately but they don't seem to do much good. So a coulple of days ago we had a reverse time out where Nate and I went to go play in my room and we locked the door so Samantha couldn't come in- She really didn't like that one and boy was she mad, but she did listen a lot better for the rest of the day! Samantha is so cute in the things she says and does. Yesterday she got a little spank and she cries for a bit then says Mommy kiss my Bum better. She is really hard to stay mad at! Her outlook on things bring many smiles to me.

Nate- Well I would like to say he is growing a ton but really he is not. He is a bit of a small Fry. When we last went to the Health nurse he was only in the 10th percentile for height and weight. Developmentally however he is changing fast. He has great comprehension and he is quite the talker. So many new words all the time. I am surprised at how much I understand! This week he started saying Samantha "mantha" So fun. He still has the worlds cutest smile that melts my heart!

Fred- Is really busy at work these days and still loves his Job. On the home front he is finnishing up the mudding and taping in the garage so hopefully it will be painted and put back together soon. He also has been going to town on making me a brochure so I can start advertising to hopefully to teach more First Aid. All the while spending ample time with the kids and I. I am very often reminded of how blessed I am to be sharing my life with such a incredible man. The "Best" some would say! Tee Hee

Me- Well not a whole lot. I have been getting back into First Aid a bit. Had a couple of courses in Medicine Hat in Feb and a couple of courses this Month for Fred's Company. I really enjoy teaching it so it has been great! So nice to bring in a little money! As for the bookkeeping stuff I have been doing- it seems to be fizzling out a little. I still have some work but there does not seem to be any new stuff and lots of the stuff we did have was a one time thing. So I am still doing it but I am sure not bringing in much money off it. Hence why we are going to start advertising the First Aid. So far we have been okay financially- but our line of credit has been slowly rising. We are so greatfull that I am able to stay home with the kids, but we know that we really have to watch our money and I need to bring in a certain amount. Budgeting and making cuts is however a small sacrifice to be able to stay home and raise our kids.

Well that is the happenings in our world. We are very much looking forward to starting another ball season. This will be the 3rd year Fred and I have run the team and we have a really high rate of returning players so that is really encouraging to us. Ball season is always a great time with great people, and this yearly will surely not dissapoint.

Funny Kid moment

Samantha is in the midst of potty training and yesterday was sitting on the potty. She was quite gassy and had been letting out a lot of toots! So she gets this excited look on her face and says "Mommy I make music on the potty!!!" Too Funny!!

Our Trip Part 2

So I have been told I need to finnish blogging about our trip. Really just haven't felt like sitting down long enough to do it.

So I left off on Tuesday Jan 15 - our home day. I ended up taking the kids to the theatre and we took our own popcorn and drinks and it was great! The rest of the day we hung around the house and swam and then Fred and I went shopping for a bit at night.

Wednesday the 16. We went to Animal Kingdom. This is the park we heard great reviews from- like if you have any extra days spend another day at animal kingdom. Fred and I didn't reallty agree with this. There was a cool safarri ride but you go so fast and don't really get ner any of the animals. We have zoo memberships here in Calgay and we felt that you got to see the animals a lot closer at the zoo. There was only a couple of rides that the kids were big enough to go on. The highlight of our animal kingdom experience was all the characters we met. We split up this day and this is how the bests spent most of there day. We met Micky, Minnie, Donald, goofy, pluto, Tigger, piglet pooh and tigger and eyore.

Thursday 17. Everybody but the Best's went back to Nasa. We had another home day. We didn't really want another home day so soon but because it was a cooler day the other decided it was a good day to do day two of Nasa as it is mostly inside. Fred and I took the kids and drove clear across orlando in search of a woodworking shop Fred wanted a tool from. We found it- Fred got his tool then we came back to out end of the city and ate at FRIDAYS for lunch. Came home and let the kids nap - went swimming again and made supper. After Supper we left Samantha at home and we took Nate out in search of a BestBUy. We had a little bit of a adventure which involved us almost running out of gas in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. We went through two ditches to avoid toll roads and then got a little lost. All ended up okay.

Friday 18. MGM. This park is more for older kids I think. We went on a back stage tour of some special effects, we got to meet Tow-mater and lightning McQueen. Buzz lightyear and woody. We went to a stunt show and watched a few shows. Muppets, beuaty and the beast and Fantasmic. The beuty and the beast show something pretty cool happened. A worker comes up to us and tells us how cute our daughter is and that she looks like a princess, then he asks if she would like to be a princess in the show. We of course agree and they escort us to our VIP seats in the first row. At the end of the show someone escorted Samantha to the Front of the stage where the prince gave her a rose.

Saturday 19.UNIVERSAL take 2. This time we took the kids and Camden our nephew as well. THe adventure Island park has a pretty cool area based entirely on the cat and the hat. The kids really enjoyed it and cot to meet the cat in the hat and thing 1 and thing 2. We took Cam and Sam and a roller coaster and then buzzed over to Universal where we took in the 3D shrek show and then went home for a early day. My sister and I then went shopping for a few hours.

Sunday 20 Seaworld Day 2. We needed to go back to seaworld because when we went the first time we skipped the Shamu show. So we went to the shamu show and fed the dolphins again. Which is such a cool thing. I could spend all day doing that. For $6 you buy a little tray of food and you hand feed it to the dolphins. The kids love seeing them that close and Samantha got to touch one but Nates little arms weren't long enough.

Monday 21. Fred and I and the kids went out shopping again. We went in search of that Bestbuy. This time we found it and secured a wireless mouse that is 30 cheaper then at home. We went a scenic way and got to see a lot of Orlando. Also stopped in at Costco just to check it out(Tasha
is slightly addicted) Then went home to pack.

Tues 22. Travel day. This time smoother flights and a short layover. We left the vacation house at 3:45 Am and got into Calgary at 4:30 PM. A long day. The last day Fred and the kids got a nasty cold that is still holding on and they were nice enough to share with me.

It was a fantastic Trip with lots of memories and surprisingly few family feuds. Our biggest frustration about our trip was our stupid Camera. I was so frustrated with it that Fred ended up being trip photographer. When you turned our Camera off for the most part it would choose not to turn back on. It wouldn't turn back on for the whole day - you would have to let it sit overnight and hoped it turned on in the morning. SO FRUSTRATING. It also started shifting the centering of photos. SO you could have a shot lined up perfectly and then it would come out to the way left of the screen. So send it in, get it fixed you might say but the problem is that it is a minolta. Minolta sold it product line to Sony and minoltas are no longer serviced in Canada at all. And sony will only fix certain problems, so it is like a lottery if they will fix it or not and fromn what I can gather it costs almost as much as the Camera if they will even fix it. So Fred and I are on the hunt for a new Camera. We are trying to decide if we should stay with Sony so we can use all of our lenses (5) or if we should cut our losses and switch brands. We are leaning towards Sony and there new camera has amazing reviews but it is pretty costly. They are supposed to be releasing a more intermediate model at the end of Febuary so we will probably wait to check that out.

Our Trip thus far!!!

Well today has been our first down day! So let me give you a brief rundown of events so far.

Wednesday the 9th. We leave our house at 4:15 AM to drive to north Calgary where we leave our Van and take a taxi to the airport. We then checked in and were very fortunate to be on a flight that wasn't too full so Nate could have his own seat. The first leg of our trip took us from Calgary to Toronto. We had a very bad decent and Fred got really sick. Not just I feel gross kind of sick, but the its is a good thing they put those white bags in the seat in front of you kind of sick.

We then had a crazy long layover. Just over 7 hours. Yikes! Entertaining kids with no toys or TV that have been up since 4 am with a sick husband who got sick again in a garbage can is a GONG SHOW. Not a experience I would like to repeat. We then had a great flight to Florida where Nathan again got his own seat. Everybody slept and the landing was smooth!

We arrived and got our rental car and made our way to the vacation home arriving at 12:30 there time. What a long day.

The next day all we did was hit the pool- Grocery shopped, took the kids to the park and hit the pool again.

Friday- We spent the entire day at EPCOT.
Saturday- Magic Kingdom
Sunday- Universal Studios-Adventure Island. Only Fred and I- the kids stayed with Auntie NADINE
Monday- Sea World
Tuesday- A much needed home day. We kept the kids here and my nephew as well well the others went to NASA. We are staying in a gated community and the clubhouse has a movie theatre so this afternoon I took Cam and Sammie to a show.
Tomorrow- The plan is Animal Kingdom.

Well that is it in a nutshell. We have had a fantastic time and I can't even give highlights cause there are too many, and I don't feel like being on the Computer that long.

Head Case

I am a headcase. "your just realizing this now" snickers those who know me. Tee hee well maybe Headcase is not the correct term but I did recently have my head examined. I have had a troubling spot on my head for months. It is a permanent spot of tenderness. It almost feels like it is bruised but there is no mark and it doesn't go away. I am not exaggerating at all when I say months at least 4 but I would say closer to 6. I have also been getting a lot of headaches but I don't know for sure that they are related.

When I first asked my Dr about it there was some miscommunication and he thought I was complaining of a dry skin issue and he advised me to use hydrocortizone cream. At a later appt I brought it up again and he sent me for a xray which revealed something possible a fluid build up indicating a sinus issue. He wanted to be thorough so he sent me for a CT Scan and got me in with a week, which is abnormal for Calgary. So I went to the DR again this week for the results. It is nothing serious and just a sinus infection and I am on antibiotics. I have 6 days worth of pill and I am on day 3 and so far no improvement. Hopefully they will start to kick in and it will go away and I tired of having a hurting forehead.