Our first Fishing adventure of the year...

First of all thank you to my hubby John for his very thoughtful birthday message. It was the sweetest gesture and I was hugely relieved that he focused on good things and failed to draw attention to my faults. ...they are many.

It was my birthday yesterday. 29 on the 29th. That only happens once. To celebrate John said we could do anything that I wanted to do. That's generally the tradition in our family. However, I admit when it was Abby's birthday she wanted to go to the Ramada in lethbridge. I wasn't really feeling that so instead I bribed her out of it with a fish. I don't really feel that bad for her because now she has a pet that I have to take care of. Karma maybe.

Anyways yesterday I wanted to spend my birthday in Waterton and we had the bright idea to go fishing for the first time this year. This was to be our maiden trip to Cameron Lake. John was excited to inflate the Seehawk 500. (that's just an inflatable dingy but John feels all manly and stuff whenever he gets to haul that baby out.) So I spent the morning preparing a picnic dinner, packing life jackets, oars, extra change of clothes, sunblock....yadda yadda yadda.

By 3:00 we were ready to leave, and to say we were excited would be an understatement. We couldn't wait! After the trip to Waterton and then the trip up the mountain to the lake we piled out of the van ready to fish and this is what we found:


In case you were planning to go fishing at Cameron lake...don't. It is completely frozen! But we did get a family photo though so that was good. I don't think the kids like all the pictures I take but, my birthday so ...too bad for them.



As we headed back to the van to consider our next option Sam snuck up behind me chanting "mo-o-m I have a present for you." I turned around to see a big snow ball in his hand and an evil look in his eyes. I got it right in the back.

Thank you son. I felt the love.




This is a picture of some trees. Because I don't think I ever include enough pictures in my posts.

These trees happen to be where we stopped to have our supper. Hoagies, chips, fruit and veggies. I prefer that way more then campfire food. Jordan and Luci and their kids joined us at this point. The kids were happy to see some of their cousins.




This is my nephew Jaxson. As I was taking his picture I told him to "say cheese." Following my command he focused on his cheese.
Boy did he focus.

That cheese got his devout attention until my camera and I had completely cleared the area.




Cameron Falls was gushing that day, in fact we could feel the water mist from the road. It makes me nervous letting my kids get close when the water is moving that fast.




Of course we couldn't disappoint John. The boat came out. We decided to fish in the bay right by the main docks. We've never ever caught fish there and rarely see others trying. We felt a little silly but it was important that we pull out the rods. It was in my plan so it had to be done, if only for a moment.
So that was how our grand fishing trip started and ended. It was a great day and I was very grateful for our family and friends who were so kind to me.


Oh yeah and I had to include a picture of the cupcakes that my sister brought over yesterday morning. I LOVED the garden theme and they were almost too good to eat!

I had almost as tough of a time sharing these as I do sharing my "real" garden. But don't worry I did share.

...some:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANIS!!!!

Tanis turns 29 on March 29, and so in honor of the number 29, I will share with you 29 things about Tanis that make her so special. You may or may not already know these things about her, from these are observations from my point of view (this is John typing... yes, I am infiltrating the blogosphere, so be prepared for an amateur performance!)

1. Tanis loves change. One of her classic comments is "This is my favorite time of year!" (She says this at the beginning of every season.) Our furniture gets rearranged every couple of months or so too, but I don't mind this at all, because I like change too. I guess that's why we live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

2. Tanis loves salt and vinegar chips, for the moment, and this leads me to believe that either we're having a baby boy or we're having a pickle.

3. Tanis is a fantastic organizer. During the first 6 years of our marriage, we moved (on average) every 8-10 months, and each time Tanis demonstrated her skill in preparing, labeling, and packing boxes. I marveled at her ability to unpack and situate everything in our home within one day of moving in. That's EVERYTHING (like pictures hung on walls, books on shelves, storage situated, etc.)

4. Tanis is a whirlwind cleaner. I help best during the weekly cleaning by getting out of the way. She can whip our house into shape at an incredible rate.

5. Tanis is an incredible multi-tasker. I think she has this ability above the average mother. I recently learned that the corpus callosum (the connective portion of the brain between the right and left hemispheres) is larger in women, so I now have an explanation for why I can't cook breakfast, style my hair, put on my makeup, do Abby and Jessica's hair, change Jessica's diaper, and get everyone ready for church all by myself and all at the same time. (and yes, I look absolutely horrible in makeup)

6. Tanis is a great writer. This blog is evidence alone of that. I find myself checking the blog frequently just to see what she's written next. We have taken steps to collect and preserve all these blogs as a record of our family history, and Tanis has been able to capture the humorous, the happy, the sad, and the beautiful from everything happening in our lives. She is definitely gifted in this ability.

7. Tanis occasionally declares that she is awkward or untalented when it comes to dancing or balance. I've heard her use the word klutz once in awhile. However, I am amazed at her ability to pick objects up with her feet. She'll just step on the corner of an object, wrap her toes around it, and with a quick contraction of her leg, she whips the object up close to her waist level within reach of her hand. I've tried to copy this "feet", but I wind up looking like a drunk flamingo, without near the graceful quickness my wife has mastered.

8. Tanis loves taking pictures. She has collected hundreds of pictures in her "morgue" (an artist's term for a bank of pictures ready for painting.) She also has volunteered to take pictures of other families and she's become quite a professional in her ability to capture great shots. She could easily run a business with her developed talents.

9. Tanis has an intuitive ability to pick out recipes that are great tasting and instant hits. She regularly cooks a new dish for dinner, even if company is coming over that night. I admire her ability to perceive a great recipe without ever cooking it first. I think she gets that from her dad.

10. Tanis has become a proficient gardener. I don't know if she ever gardened much while she was young, but she has transformed our yard into an attractive lot (destined I hope to attract the community beautification committee here in Cardston when they have their annual competition). Our garden, lawn, and flowers all are neat, beautifully arranged, and healthy. We really love our little piece of heaven.

11. Tanis is an accountant. She knows how to really spend money, but rarely does she ever spend money on herself (and even when she does she feels guilty).

12. Tanis enjoys singing and playing music. She second-guesses her ability, but I admire her appreciation for music.

13. Tanis loves horses. Lately she's been frustrated because she really can't ride them at all. She loves The Man from Snowy River (that's me, except for the horse-riding part...) and can't wait for the day when she can spend time learning how to ride.

14. Tanis is tough. She tackles dirty, unpleasant work with determination and is just as comfortable wearing gum boots as she is sandals.

15. Tanis is charitable. She is one of the most selfless people I know. Even when she was literally sick in bed, she was writing up lists of treats to deliver to people in our community. I'm always the delivery service and I have to deflect any gratitude from the recipients because I really had nothing to do with the gift.

16. Tanis builds people up. Knowing how sick she has been lately, I marvel at how cheerful and happy she is around others, when I know inside she would rather be resting.

17. Tanis is a talker. She uses this ability to help others feel important, and she can also test the performance of our cordless phone battery.

18. Tanis is a reader. She participates regularly in a book club of women in our community, and she has opened my eyes to some insightful and engaging literature. I envy her ability to manage all that she does and still make time to read good books.

19. Tanis is smart and assertive when dealing with business people. She is not afraid to call people on their poor service. She can quickly perceive any misleading information and is not afraid to politely question an unfair business transaction.

20. Tanis has acquired a lot of knowledge about health and legal issues. She's always ready to strike up a conversation about the latest research she has read. She seems to have a natural ability for understanding legal issues, and again, this is likely a result of having a father who served admirably in the police force and a brother who is following suit.

21. Tanis understands how organizations should operate, including church callings and protocols (again, probably from her dad). She has great insights and advice for me when it comes to balancing family with church.

22. Tanis loves wildlife. This is one reason why she is such a great mother... :.)

23. Tanis loves M*A*S*H*. If we have a boy, his name just might be Hawkeye.

24. Tanis loves driving standard vehicles, especially trucks. She is very capable of "peeling out," and she is very comfortable changing spark plugs and tires.

25. Tanis is not afraid to try new things (which connects to her love of change.) She learns quickly and doesn't settle for mediocre performance.

26. Tanis loves Wateron.

27. Tanis loves her four children (one stays in an amniotic bathtub at the moment) and relentlessly sacrifices so much of herself for their benefit.

28. Tanis is passionate but not fanatical about her religious convictions. Any who know her feel of her genuine spirit and can't help but be influenced for good.

29. When Tanis and I were first engaged, I was spending some time alone with my family up in Glacier National Park. While studying some of the scenery surrounding Logan's Pass, the thought came to me that Tanis was like a mountain: immoveable, firm, and majestic as the towering granite castles lining the horizon, yet as gentle and delicate as the array of mountain wildflowers which rush to bloom in the short growing seasons, or the leaves that linger in the fall to dazzle the eye as long as possible before the first wisps of snow. Mountains are beautiful in all of their color and temperature changes throughout the year, as if the seasons themselves bring out an unexpected composition of admirable qualities. For you, Tanis, I hope what never changes is that you are with me through it all. Happy birthday to you... my love, my life, my future.

Friday in Waterton

I've been wanting to get the kids to Waterton for several days now, but we've held off on going so that John could come with us. Friday after school we grabbed my niece Ava and headed there to find some fun.

It was a beautiful day! So often in Waterton you have to deal with wind or cooler temps, but this day was perfect. Not even a breeze. We took a great walk around Linette Lake. It's a fun stroll and super super easy. The kids had fun designating certain logs, benches etc homes for various bears. "Bertha bear lives here....bruno bear lives here...." That kind of thing. I love watching the kids play like that.

I took some landscape photos but I posted them on my other blog.


Midway through the walk we saw two people ride some horses down a mountain trail and we just had to to go check out the stables. Well I HAD to go, and John was perfectly happy to do whatever. That's usually how it works. I LOVE horses and want to ride one so badly. Apparently they don't like to let pregnant women ride though. Hmmm. I was slightly let down by that. I mean, seriously I'm sure the pioneers still rode horses even when they were pregnant. Yes?

Oh well. Instead we paid a small sum and rented two ponies for half an hour and gave the kids rides.
Because all kids should learn how to ride a horse.

Even....the if you are only two!


Can someone PLEASE tell my husband that we NEED a horse. Not "want". NEED!

Just add it in the comment section below.

I think if I get 1000 comments pleading my case....he might listen.


After soaking in the sweet scent of musty barn, oats and horse ...um "stuff" we headed to the park to check out the new playground. They've replaced all of the play structures and it is a GREAT park now. The kids played for an hour and ate their supper occasionally during that time.

Abby did manage to do the monkey bars successfully. The mountain air must have maximized her strength and endurance. I was proud of her.



I was equally proud of Jessica for the way she managed to spend a large chunk of time doing this. ...Just hangin!



And nothing tops off a day in Waterton like a trip to the ice cream store.

And for the record- just so you know: all it takes to hear your kids say "This was the Best day EVER" and "You are the best mom in the World" - is one giant scoop of bubble bubble blast ice cream!

Money well spent if you ask me.

Introducing ...my pride and joy....

MY GARDEN!!!!!!!!!!!


ahem...I mean OUR garden. ( I think I have a sharing problem)

Two years ago when John and I looked at this property and walked through this house there were a couple of things that made me nervous. Well ok a lot of things. For instance, there was carpet in the bathrooms and actual tail lights on the exterior of the house. Then there is the fact that if the wind ever blows (which it does) I pretty much fear our home will snap like a twig.

It is a known fact that tornados LOVE trailer homes.

I have to say though that despite my concerns back then we could still see so much potential. And it seems that the more we are here, the more we LOVE it. L-O-V-E it!

One of the great things about our property is that we have a lot of yard to work with and our garden plot is HUGE! Yesterday we were FINALLY able to plant most of our vegetables. The weather the past little while has driven me crazy.

Here is a picture of the garden before we started planting. 84 feet of dark rich soil. I love dark soil. I wish I could package that smell and keep it in a bottle. Note our two new apple trees. Pathetic looking suckers- but one day they will be a beautiful part of our back yard. No doubt my children will learn to climb them and break many bones in the process. But for now- there is not much to them.




I have to admit, after a few hours, I did get a little sick of planting all the potatoes, but my father in law was there so I made sure to look like I was loving every minute of it.




Oh look speaking of my Father in law...here he is. He said Jessica was ``helping`` him but I don`t believe it. Not for a split second do I believe that. Note the two pear trees that will be planted in what will one day be our front yard. The blossoms are lovely.








Oh and here is Sam- who apparently is a little starved for attention.




This was the garden after we planted. We put in 3 rows of strawberries right next to our raspberries. 8 rows of peas, 12 rows of carrots, 4 rows of onions, 1 row of chard, 2 rows of beats, 4 rows of corn, 2 rows of gladiolas, and 9 rows of potatoes. We have yet to plant our beans, squash and cucumber. soon though.


I LOVE looking out my bedroom window and seeing the garden now. Mind you I did not particularly like seeing the robins pulling out all my onions, but whatever. You won`t hear me complain of that today. The garden is in and the sun is shining. So all is right in my world again.


I snapped this picture of Jessica the other day just as she was starting to stir. She looks like such and angel, so peaceful with the rising sun kissing her little baby head. Is there anything better then a peaceful sunny morning.

Nope I don`t care what anybody says. Yes I have heard that there is snow in the forecast AGAIN. I`m not going to believe it. No I am not! Good bye stupid long winter. I will not miss you!

This is beyond depressing!

Perhaps you remember my last post in which I wrote about ALL the planting I got done on this past weekend. It felt good to get my hands in dirt and plant all of those flowers. Every time we've driven up to the house the past few days I felt such pride and joy just looking at our flower beds.

Today didn't feel as good.

I think I cried.




Good bye begonias, petunias and impatiens.

Hmmm. "Impatiens" Pretty flower. Sounds a lot like IMPATIENT. I think that is what some people think I am sometimes. I hate to admit it but perhaps I should have planted those impatiens a few weeks from now.


If you'll excuse me now.

I'm off to cry some more.

Three photos from this week and Happy Mothers Day

I am married to a man who likes to play with his food. He always has. More then once he has turned to look at me with potato chips for eyes, or small bits of food stuck in his dimples. He likes to shoot grapes out of his mouth straight up high above him and then catch them with his wide open mouth as they fall back down. (Kids love that one.) He's always turning his mashed potatoes into volcanos with gravy flowing lava. Every meal is an adventure in our house. They other day I was laying down and could hear the kids in the kitchen shrieking with delight. I kept my head hidden under the pillow only imagining what was happening at the kitchen table. Tonight I found this on the camera and it explained it all. What you do with Chocolate pudding:

Great John. Thanks for passing it on. It's all fun and games you know, until we have to take this kid out in public!!!


The snow has officially all melted from the past couple of late spring snow storms. Buds are appearing on our trees and our deep freeze is officially full of Freezies. We are ready for spring.

(Please excuse the bowls and crumbs on the table. The bowls are from breakfast, the crumbs from lunch. I know it is easier to clean as you go, but these days I tend to let messes pile up. Usually about 10 minutes before John is expected home from work I get up and attempt to whip things into shape.) Hey it's how we roll these days!


More then any other photo this one brings me pure Joy! This is a pile of some of our seeds we will be planting. We actually planned to plant today but darn the rain! I love the rain. Love how it smells, how it sounds...but not on a day when I want to plant my garden. That's alright- we are ready and waiting.

Today was a very productive Saturday for us. Some of our accomplishments:

* Abby attended our ward primary party at the Bishops house. Breakfast and Scripture Study. Sam and I skipped. oops.
* I raked our entire lawn. It's a big lawn.
* John planted two apple trees! YEAH!!!!
* John cut down and demolished two more trees from our property to make room for the two pear trees we will purchase next week.
* I planted all of my bedding out plants.
* Tended to our 45 new strawberry plants.
* Purchased to hanging flower baskets that are now hanging from our awning. I think it makes our home look like a place where 80 year old people live. I love it!
* I cleaned the house from top to bottom for the first time since January practically!
* John set up our Trampoline after it's long winter hibernation in the garage.

It felt SO good to get so much done, and it was such a treat to get my hands into dirt again. I felt so great being outside working.

Next week: GARDEN GARDEN GARDEN!!!!


Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful Mothers that we know! I have such an appreciation for the influence that my own mother had on me. I only knew her for 5 years but that was enough time to be blessed by her goodness. I hope to one day be the kind of person that she was!

Everybody should have a sister

I'm so lucky! I have the BEST sisters in the WORLD! That isn't just my opinion it is an actual proven fact.

I have three sisters. Two that I grew up with and one that joined our family years later by marrying my Brother. They are three of the kindest, and most creative women I know. Up until a couple of years ago all of us lived within about 20 minutes from each other and I really miss that.
First I`ll tell you about the implanted one.
Heather and I are usually pregnant at the same time, and this time is no exception. We each are soon to have 4 kids. Out of our combined 8 kids- 6 of them are born within weeks of each other. We are like polar opposites. I`m tall and gangly. She is not. She handles pregnancy with ease and grace. I don not. She is calm and patient ....well anyways- you get the point. She practically lives in her kitchen and bakes and cooks for those she loves. I really like to visit them.


Crystal and I are closest in age and have probably spent the most time together in the past. We`ve lived together growing up, then again as university students and even once when her and her hubby opened up the top floor of their home to my family while John went back to school. She`s a biologist at heart. And her heart is REALLY BIG. She`s met David Suzuki and sat among a rare breed of spirit bears as they fed on Salmon at her feet. She`s a poet and a bird watcher and is always worried that she hasn`t been quite kind enough to those around her. Like she has anything to worry about!



And then there is my sister Jewel. Some things about Jewel that I feel need to be said:
* Our husbands are cousins. Therefore we still share the same last name and see each other at ALL family reunions.
* Both of our husband are science teachers and got hired in the same town at the same time. (I think that is because God knew I needed to be close to at least one of my sisters)
* She`s several things to me. A friend, my nurse, and my mom. She is the one I go to when I really need. But I don`t really need to go TO HER, she usually is already at my door helping before I have to ask.
* Her home is where we all gather when family gets together. She`s the perfect hostess.
* My kids ADORE her! ``Aunty Jew`s house`` was one of Jessica`s favorite things to say!
* Since I got pregnant she has been picking up Abby practically EVERY morning and takes her to school for me.
* She is always dropping off meals for me and has probably single handedly saved my family from malnutrition the past couple of months.


Take today for example. As I got to her house this morning to pick up my kids- Jewel handed me a box full of ready to go freezer meals. Not just dinner for tonight as she would normally do- but dinner for a WEEK! To top it off she had prepared THIS MORNING a dish full of the finest scalloped potatoes ever. These potatoes are like medicine to me- I`m not even kidding. She bakes them for several hours in a puddle of creme until the top is golden and bubbly. They are SOOO Good!

This is the coziest dish of potatoes you could ever eat. This is the perfect side dish to roast or ham and apparently it even works on its own while you sit on the couch watching The Drs. In fact it is shortly after 3:00. Dinner is not for a couple of hours and as you can see I`ve already polished off a good portion of these potatoes.

Seriously people- pray that I get some restraint soon or there really will be nothing to eat for dinner.

I don`t regret it thought because with every bite I have felt the love of my sister, and it has solidified to me the fact that I truly believe everybody, EVERYBODY should be blessed enough to have SISTERS.

...But not mine. They`re taken!

************************************************************
I`m including the recipe for these potatoes which Jewel inherited from her Mother in Law. Go ahead and try to make them. I`ve tried- and I guarantee they will NEVER NEVER turn out as good as Jewels!

But- Good luck just the same.


Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes
by Deanna Hardy
6-8 raw potatoes 2-3 cups whipping cream
1 small chopped onion 2-3 cups whole milk
salt and pepper to taste

Peel and slice potatoes very thin into a greased 9x13 pan. Stir in the onion and the salt and pepper. Pour over the whipping cream and stir to coat. Pour whole milk over to cover the potatoes. Bake at 300 F for 3 to 3 and a half hours, uncovered.