The Royal Canadian Mint and other weekly highlights

Seeing as my last post was solely about my afternoon in Waterton, I figured I'd better give a recap of some of the other highlights of our week.   

( It appears as though I may be a little bit hooked on photo collages;)  

Our week in photos goes like this:

1.   Jewel had us over to her house Sunday afternoon to celebrate none other then... MOI!   Well, actually to celebrate my birthday.   But really  -  me!   It was so nice of her especially considering that she'd just gotten home from church, then had to throw a meal together and then had to leave by 7:00 for other things.   I don't know how Jewel does all that she does-but I'm sure thankful for her.   

The roast beef dinner was yummy!

2.   One evening this week I started filling the tub and then left the bathroom to do some other things while it filled.   It was not my intention to give Nate a bath at all - but when I returned, I found him happily playing with all of his tub toys.   Clothes and all!  (Note to self:  Nate can now climb into the big tub by himself.   Good to know;)

3.   For the first time in like, perhaps EVER John baked a cake.   Wait... I should probably be careful in saying that he's never baked a cake before, because he may have done so at some point in his life that I'm not aware of.   But this was the first time I'd ever seen him bake anything, that's for sure!   A yummy angel food cake to boot!   Oh, and he also picked buckets of tulips for me and now every room in my house contains a mason jar full of flowers.    (I LOVE mason jars full of flowers!)  And I love angel food cake.  

And I love John.

4.  Last week Sam brought home a caterpillar that he'd made at school.    At the time it was nothing more then a cute nylon sock full of dirt and grass seed.   After watering it for a few days- it has really turned into a hairy little thing!   Sam's going to have to cut it down a bit.

5.   I was given the new Our Best Bites Cookbook for my birthday.   Sometimes I like to just sit down and look at it, page by page.   I've book marked about 30 recipes that I want to make this very second!

6.   Whenever Nate is bored he goes to our front window and calls for either Max or Grandpa.   I think it's cute the way he literally climbs right up into the window frame and clings there pressed against the window.   

7.   Aunt Rachel recently visited the Royal Canadian mint in Winnipeg, and she mailed each of our kids a brand new shiny loony.   How nice is that?  The kids love the fact that they are the first owners of these coins and they are determined to never spend them.  Ever.   (I give it about a week before they squander it all away on 4 gumballs each).   

Receiving the coins from Rach reminded me of one of my favorite Rick Mercer episodes.  Enjoy!

Best Way to spend a Saturday. EVER.

John and I had been hoping all week long for a chance to get out to Waterton on Saturday.    However, seeing as it had been raining buckets for the better part of the week, I was beginning to lose hope that we'd actually go anywhere.    During a miraculous and a short lived sunny break Saturday morning we decided to throw caution to the wind (we're crazy like that) and just go ahead with plans regardless of the forecast.

Thankfully our niece Ava was more then willing to watch our kids so that John and I could go out alone.    Not that going with the kids isn't fun - because it is.   It's just a different kind of fun that's all;)  

Some of the highlights of the day were:

*  Stopping in Mountain View to check out a funky little art gallery
*  Finally getting my fishing license!
*  Walking around the town site (in the pouring rain) and exploring all of the gift shops and galleries
*  Holding Hands
*  Driving the "Roller Coaster Road"
*  Planning all of the hiking trips that we want to take the kids on
*  Exploring Red Rock Canyon and taking lots of pictures

*  Looking for Wildlife

*   and Taking even more pictures 

*  Playing around at one of my favorite places - Pass Creek

* And of course, taking more pictures!

We got home a little later then planned because a) we were having just too much FUN  and b) we passed by a field and noticed 5 little foxes playing together and had to stop and watch them for awhile.    They were pretty naive and unaware of how afraid of us they should have been, so we were able to drive quite close to them.   They were such cute little things!

We got home in time to feed the kids supper, bathe them and put them in bed.   Then we popped a big bowl of popcorn and finally watched The King's Speech.  

  (Don't worry- we fast forwarded through the Swearing Scene.   Honest.)  

As I was putting the kids to bed they commented on how much fun it was to have Ava babysit them and they asked when Daddy and I would go away so that she could come back.  

My reply:  "Very VERY Soon!"   

I could get used to Saturdays like this!!!

(I just hope that Ava's up for it;)  

Happy Kids= a Happy Mom

It seems as though the recipe for a Happy Home consists of nothing more then an unlimited supply of cheap popsicles and a trampoline.

You heard it here first!

Day Three- The Dam

My kids don't really stick to anything for very long.  So imagine John's and my surprise when for the third day in a row- they wanted to go explore out at St.Mary's Reservoir.   John had told them all about a co worker of his who has searched the area and found some pretty amazing archaeological things.    (ancient arrowheads, the skeleton of a camel, mammoth tracks and last September,  a T-Rex tooth!)   Pretty cool eh?   I still can't really wrap my mind around the idea that CAMELS once roamed this area- but the evidence is there- just waiting to be unearthed.

This morning the kids vehemently insisted on NOT fishing (what no fishing?) and instead exploring the spillway beneath the Dam.   Oh my goodness they had so much fun!    We knew it was going to be a great morning as soon as we arrived.   We hadn't even been there 5 minutes before we saw several pelicans circling in the air above us, two muskrats, and a half dozen little critters that we think are called marmots.    (Picture a gopher the size of a puppy)

The most enjoyable part of all though was searching along the banks of the river for anything that could remotely pass as a fossil.     It was cute to watch Abby, Sam and Jess run from one spot to the next with their pails, sticks and shovels in hand turning over every rock they passed by.      I couldn't help but wonder about the history hidden in those rocks, and I wished I knew more about this kind of thing as I'm certain that we probably ran right past (or over) some very cool treasures without even knowing it.

One thing we did find were these cool imprints at one spot.  It might be hard to tell in this photo, but several rocks contained the imprint of a shell.  The picture on the bottom left shows the large area that we found that was just dotted with hundreds of shell prints.

 These imprints were very similar to the shell of a mussel or a clam and John was excited to think that perhaps we were looking at proof that this was once part of an ocean floor.     

 Whoa.   Camels AND an Ocean...?   Crazy right?

I was having a hard time buying it at first, yet the thought is so very intriguing, and by the end of the morning I was as into it as anyone.   In fact,  I found myself at times secretly determined to be the one who found something amazing.   I made sure to walk as far away from John and the kids as possible because I didn't want them to steal my find.    As I scoured every inch of ground in front of me I had visions (or delusions of grandeur) of unearthing the fossil of a previously undiscovered dinosaur. 

  And naturally, it would be known as the TANosaurus.  

After Me.  The one who discovered it, of course.  

Alas, the lure of the nearby playground eventually stole the attention of the kids and I was forced to follow them, leaving the mysteries of the Jurassic era for someone else to find.    

But I was so close.  I could feel it!

After the kids played at the park (in the pouring rain the weirdos!), Abby remarked that today was the most perfect day, and that she just LOVED St. Mary's Dam.  

I suppose you could say that this was the Best Dam day of the whole week?

(I'm so funny.  I know.)

Happy May long Weekend

We are halfway through the May long weekend and loving every bit of it.   Though I can't say that we've done much of anything worth mentioning.     But with no school, prep/marking, soccer, baseball or anything else going on we've enjoyed actually going out in search of things to do.   

This weekend we discovered a new favorite family spot.    Because it is so early in the year, the St.Mary's Reservoir is quite low making for some pretty fun exploration.   ( John works with a man who has made several major archaeological finds in this very area.  In fact, it was not far from here that they recently found a T-Rex tooth!)   We spent two days in a row,  just walking a long the shallow shoreline in search of fossils, shells and other treasures.    

Who knew doing nothing could be so much fun?

Ten Simple Rules for Dating my Daughter:

The other night at dinner Abby told us about a boy at school who keeps asking her if she'll go out with him "and it's starting to get on her nerves."   (her words-not mine;)    I glanced over at John to see his reaction and sure enough his jaw was clenched tightly and his creases on his forehead were more pronounced then ever.   Clearly he was not okay with this news, but since he wasn't offering any advice I figured I would.   So, I simply told Abby that the next time that he asked her out she should just look straight at him and say  "DREAM ON" and then simply walk away.    

I don't know, I thought that would have been the perfect way to handle it?  John however didn't like my suggestion and so finally he piped in with his own advice:

"Abby dont' say that (obviously referring to my suggestion with copious amounts of disdain).   Look.  All you have to say to that little punk if he asks you out again is this- "My Dad says that you have to stay away from me-or you'll have HIM to deal with!  And if he has to make you stay away from me- he will.     So, get lost!"       

Oh sure, that's much better then my suggestion.   For a moment I stared at John trying to determine if he was joking or not.    

He wasn't Joking.   

 There are few things that really get John going, and even fewer times when I've actually seen him mad, but you should have heard the way he went on about this kid (who neither of us know)  as though he'd just pulled into our driveway and honked the horn or something.  I mean really.   It's grade 2!!   I hardly think its time to go into scary over- protective Dad mode already.  Is it?   

Fortunately last night during our walk (while at our "Secret Tree"),  Abby told me that she had simply told that boy  that she "was not allowed to be his girlfriend until she is 16." 

  Nice solid concise answer Abby.  Well done.  Problem solved.
Though, I don't think that particular kid has a hope in "heck" of getting past John now.
Not even 8 years from now.  Not EVER for that matter.  ;)

Speaking of crazy, over - protective Fathers.   This experience reminded me a lot of my own Dad who happened to be a private investigator during part of my childhood.   At one point, as I reached my grade 12 year, he presented me with a letter titled "Ten rules for Dating my Daughter".    It was his intention that each and every boy who even tried to talk to me,  familiarize himself with my Dad's simple list of Rules first.

Luckily, I was by far taller then all the guys my age.   And I weighed a mere 80 lbs.   And had braces.   And a perm.   And ran a deficit in the personality department.   So naturally....I never really had to distribute one of those embarrassing letters.     (I consider it one of those "Tender Mercies" in life.)

Needless to say,  my Dad had plenty of copies floating around. You know...just in case!   

(I'm glad now that I saved a copy;)

*********

Ten Simple Rules for Dating My Daughter

by: my Dad Randy

Rule One:   If you pull into my driveway and honk - you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.  

Rule Two:   If you cannot keep your hands off my daughter, I will remove them.

Rule Three:  I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips.  Please don't take this as an insult but you and all of your friends are complete idiots.   My daughter can not date an idiot.

Rule Four:    sorry ...can't post rule number 4.   Totally not appropriate;)   

Rule Five:   It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics and other issues of the day.  Please do not do this.   The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the  only word I need from you on this subject is "early." 

Rule Six:   I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls.  This is fine with me.  However, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date her until she is finished with you.   If you make her cry, I will make YOU cry.

Rule Seven:  As you stand in my front hallway waiting for my daughter to appear, and more then an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget.   If you want to be on time for the movie you should not be dating.   My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer then painting the Gold Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight:  The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter:    Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight.   Places where there is dancing, hand holding or happiness.   Movies with a strong romantic theme are to be avoided;  movies which feature chain saws are okay.   Hockey games are okay.  Old folks homes are better.   

Rule Nine:  Do not lie to me.   I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dim witted has been.   But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing merciless god of your universe.  If I ask you where you are going you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.   I have a shotgun, a shovel and five acres behind the house.  Do not trifle with me.   

Rule Ten:   Be afraid.   Be very afraid.   The moment you are late, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home.   As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight.  Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car.   There is no need for you to come inside.  The camouflaged face at the window is mine.  

Thank you.

Signed... Randy

aka: (in my opinion)- The BEST DAD EVER!!!

This Week's Top Five

Here are the highlights (if you can call them that) of our week!




1.   Nate gets put in his place:

Nate has been 18 months for a few weeks now, but today was the first day that he stayed by himself in Nursery. (well...he stayed there for a good hour at least, it was pretty much downhill after that)    At one point, when I went to check on him he was happily gazing out the window towards the temple while the other kids played with toys around him.   I don't know if he did much else-because when I peeked through the window awhile later, he was still in the same spot!  He wasn't crying or anything-  he just looked a bit confused.    I think he is a bit overwhelmed with this whole nursery thing.  He's not used to being around so many little kids his age.   But he's got great Nursery leaders and I'm sure he'll settle in quickly.    Besides, after literally chasing him around Relief Society every week for the past 4 months I hardly feel bad for him.   Oh no I don't! 

2.   I finally do what most parents have been doing all along:

  I realize most well behaved and properly raised children have been doing chores ever since they can remember - but my kids are a little bit late to join that club.    (Mostly because it is way easier for me to clean up then to deal with the drama that comes with making them do it)    However, I reached my limit this week and came down hard.   Before the kids even knew what was happening they all had specific cleaning assignments.   And not even fun cleaning assignments but the worst ones I could think up.   Things I'm not even willing to do- like wiping down every single chair and stool.   

 I have to admit- it felt good to crack the whip a little and exercise a little parental authority.    

I like to think that perhaps I've just saved them from a future life of lazy and riotous living.  

3:   John attempts to teach Jessica/ME all about Repentance:

Jessica spent most of last weekend picking dandelions off of all the neighbors lawns in an effort to give me the prettiest bouquet for Mother's Day.    Of course I showered her with praise because really, is there anything better then a wilted bouquet of dandelions from your neighbor's yard?    

Actually, Yes there is.  

A bouquet of Hyacinths from your neighbor's yard is nice to!

It didn't take long to figure out which neighbor Jess was stealing these flowers from, and when we did- John made me take Jessica over to their place so that she could apologize.   He thought it would be a valuable lesson on repentance for her to speak with our neighbor personally about what she'd done.     The only problem is that Jessica was too shy to say anything, so I ended up apologizing for the flowers that I didn't even pick!!!    

Thanks for the wonderful teaching moment there John.  I really learned a lot!

4.   I missed the fashion event of the year:

Apparently I missed the 2011 American Girl Photo Shoot.  Nobody even told me about it.  Luckily  somebody  (somebody sneaky and obviously tall) was able to get their hands on my "off limits" camera and document the event.  

4.   Sam astonished us with how well he really knows me:

Is there anything better then reading the response your kids give to questions about yourself?   I thought it was cute that Sam thinks I'm only 15!   And John laughed out loud when he read that I "wasn't afraid of anything."    My favorite part of this card though is where Sam told his teacher that my favorite thing to do was "go to Church every Sunday."   Obviously I've given the kid lots of Sunday morning pep talks:

"Oh Sam you will have SOO much fun at church today!"

or

"What are you talking about 'you don't want to go'.   Church is SOOO awesome!!" 

or

"Home drools- Church Rules!!!"

...etc

  

5.  The Garden is IN!

The power went out (again) on Friday which left me feeling completely useless.    I ironically and  shamefully "powered down" as well into a useless blob of a Mother who wondered how anyone could possibly function without electricity.    I just walked with Nate around the cul de sac - bored and unsure of what to do.   

Luckily John and his Dad were much more productive.    Max came over and tilled our garden and then helped us plant all of the vegetables.    And when I say we that does actually include me because once the power came back on hours later I did perk up and plant some onions and strawberries. 

 I know.  Big Whoopdi doo.   

It's nice to have everything planted though and I'm looking forward to all that we've got growing back there.   Along our north fence we have some space designated for some wicked cool Haskap Berry Bushes which we are really excited about.   Along our west fence we have:  Raspberries as well as Elderberry and Saskatoon Bushes.   Then in our garden we planted:  Corn, potatoes, onions,  chard, beats, carrots, and peas with beans, squash and tomatoes still to come.    

 That's a lot planted, and I hope that I don't run out of steam come harvest time.    

So long as the power doesn't go out - I think I should be ok;)

   

That's it from our happy little home.  Of course, we did enjoy the usual weekly activities - soccer, baseball and MORE fishing.    We're looking forward to the summer when things slow down a bit, because as you can tell- it's just way too busy around here;))

Have a Great Week!!!!

I'm happy to report that our first fishing outing of the year was a HUGE success!    

I mean sure it was cold.   And windy.   And overcast.  And possible the worst time of day ever to fish.

But the kids enjoyed themselves and that's all that matters, right?

We took the kids to a nearby lake on Saturday and attempted to introduce them to the wonderful world of pike.   (I have to admit I was pretty curious to see how they'd manage reeling in one of those things;)

The kids were a little disappointed that the fish weren't biting but at least they got to work on their casting skills!   

And after fishing...there was time for a little bit of exploring!

Now that spring is here- the weekends can't come soon enough!!!

Why being a mom is so much fun!

 This morning I went into the kitchen expecting to say good morning to John just before he rushed out the door for his Sunday morning priesthood meetings.    Instead, I found him at the stove preparing a yummy breakfast feast!   Apparently our Bishop cancelled the presidency meetings in honor of Mother's Day.    Which is why our Bishop is now my favorite person.   Perhaps ever.    It was so nice to have an extra set of hands helping as we tried to get the kids to church in time.

During breakfast-the kids peppered me with home made cards and other gifts.   Sam brought a plant home from school and John had kindly built that cool lattice and put it in a pot without me knowing.   Abby gave me several notes and letters, and by far, my favorite one is the heart shaped piece of paper that contains the incredibly sweet and heartfelt words:  "Mom.  You the woman!!!   Love Abby;)"   Touching isn't it?     The beautiful vases of dandelions were from Jessica and I laughed as John described how she ran wildly through the cul- de sac yesterday gathering them secretly.     She'd hidden them in the bathroom overnight.    Sweet eh?   Yup-there is a whole lotta love in those little gifts and I am so glad that I get to be their mom!


This week was a big week for Abby as the baseball season got underway.   This is Abby's first time playing baseball-but as you can see- it didn't take her long to settle in to it.    I have to say, for someone who has never picked up a baseball bat before, she did pretty well and I'm excited to watch her improve.      

A couple of weeks ago we received a list indicating what team she was on and who she'd be playing with.  John and I looked it over and realized that she was going to be the only girl on her entire team.   When I told her that, she took a minute to think that through and then said, 

"So...you mean, I'm going to be the only girl playing with all the guys?  Okay ...I think I can handle that."

Yeah, that girl will be just fine;)

Sam and Jess began soccer this week and they were both thrilled to be playing a team sport as well.  Sam's team consists of a lot of kids from our ward as well as a previous ward so he instantly felt comfortable.    This is his third year playing and he's definitely improved.  The weather wasn't great that day so they ended up practicing drills on the school's front lawn, but Sam didn't seem to mind.  And he only used his hands a couple of dozen times;)!

To say Jessica was excited about soccer would be an understatement.    In fact she honestly and truly wore her soccer shirt every day of the week (and night) since she got it.    I realize that is pretty gross and I'm not proud of it, but it shows how much she enjoys it all.    And it meant less laundry to clean and fold so it's all good.

On Saturday our neighbors across the street brought over this huge box that was leftover from a freezer purchase.   Clearly they know how the mind of a 6 year old works and thought that our kids might enjoy playing with it.  

Within minutes they had the paints out and were going to town on that box like nobody's business.    They spent a good hour at least painting that box.     It was our intention to cut some windows or perhaps a door into it and turn it into a little play house for them.   Unfortunately I went inside for a bit and the kids found a different use for it in the meantime. 

After a good 20 minutes of hearing them laughing hysterically, I figured I'd better go see what they were up to.  (Laughter like that usually only happens when they are doing something they shouldn't be doing;) 

I found them playing in it much like a hamster plays in a running wheel.   They must have circled the cul-de sac a half a dozen times before I caught on to what was going on.   Of course I had to video tape it prior to scolding them and warning them to "never play on the road."   (Blog before Safety right?)

   Despite the occasional injury-this kept them happy for yet another action packed hour!

Yup.   Never a dull moment when you have kids right?   

Just a few of the moments why I love being a Mom to these 4! 

Have a great Sunday, and HAPPY MOTHER'S Day to all of you amazing Mothers and Women in our lives!

Our awesome week of nothing

This was holiday week around here and it was so much fun to have John around each day.    Most of our days began late as we managed to quickly train the kids to stay in bed until at least 7:30am.     (I love how that is considered "sleeping in" to us now;)   It was glorious!

* On Monday we made a quick trip up to Calgary.   The kids and I got to play at my brother Chad's house for the day and John was able to visit with his Aunt Jean and Uncle Bruce for a bit.    It's always fun to take the kids on little road trips, especially ones that take us through Claresholm.   Nothing keeps my kids happier while travelling then a box of 7-11 chicken!

*   Nate surprised us earlier in the week when he leaned over and gave me the noisiest and most slobbery kiss ever, right on my cheek.   Nothing melts my heart more then kisses from a baby, and as a result I've been hounding him every few minutes for just one more kiss.   

He's officially sick of me now.

*   I am proud to say that I got completely and hopelessly caught up in the royal wedding this past week.    I know that half the people reading this right now think that is pathetic, but I  simply don't care.    Yes-  I watched the wedding from start to finish and loved every bit of it.

   Heck I even took notes during the Arch Bishop's sermon!

It was pretty beautiful!

*  Can you believe it, on Friday we got another big dump of snow, so of course we had to dig out the boots and mitts for one last morning of snowman building.    Of course it would snow seeing as I had every intention of doing some yard work this week.     

Let's hope that this is the last of the snowmen for awhile!

It appears after typing this recap that most of the week has been spent in a very lazy fashion.   Apparently we have gotten very good at doing absolute nothing at all!

I loved every second of it!

I'm actually quite sad that it is coming to an end.

This Monday will surely hit us hard as not only do John and the kids return to school, but Abby begins baseball while Sam and Jess start soccer.    I don't know- it's beginning to feel like too much "schedule" if you ask me- but hopefully the kids enjoy it.   ;)

Happy Sunday!