Meet Jake.

He is Jessica's new pet dog/hyena or ...something?   Actually, Jake became "ours" a few weeks ago when Jessica came home from Auntie Jewel's house with this little "thing" tucked under her arm.    Jess played with him and loved him for all of two days, before moving on to something new.   (Isn`t that the way it is with pets.  tsk tsk)

Recently though, he has resurfaced and even been given a name!   (No doubt inspired by a much cuter and real live "Jake" that lives a few doors down from us).    We're pretty original, I know.    Whatever the name - John is more then happy to accommodate a dog...of the stuffed variety, any day!



The kids have been asking for weeks and weeks to set up a lemonade stand. We've tried to keep them at bay, only because a foot of snow didn't really seem like an appropriate backdrop for a lemonade stand.  Friday, however, was finally their big day. The first Lemonade sale of the summer, and thankfully the kids set it up at the neighbors even!

  It`s so fun to see the kids play outside all day.   And they must be learning some economics in the process.   As the above sign proves, the price of lemonade, AND WATER  increased dramatically by the time things had wrapped up.   

I love an entrepreneurial spirit!

And really, I don`t think anybody could refuse this cute little face as she called out, "FREE lemonade!  Only 5 pennies!"

The sun has been shining beautifully this past weekend.   We've made a couple of pathetic attempts to get our garden in, but darn it all, that still  hasn't happened yet.    Hopefully it will be dry enough by Monday.     We did manage to get some strawberries planted (thank you Luci), as well as a whole bunch of Raspberry Canes.    The difficult part is waiting a year before we get to enjoy any of the yummy fruit!  

I thought I'd show this picture that was taken back before we even moved in. 

It shows how the house was at the time that we bought it. Notice that tall cedar tree by the front door?   It  looks very much alive and healthy back then.   Back when someone else owned it. 


Yesterday, John hauled it off to the dump.  

Somehow within the past 6 months I've managed to let it die.  I'm trying not to be offended though. I'm sure it was just the fact that winter came so early last year, and not necessarily that I was the one taking care of it.

In it's place, and elsewhere, I planted some clematis.   John built some lattice frames and we're hoping that soon we will see some pretty vines growing up the front face of the house.  

We also recently dug out a plot of dirt around that big rock out front.   It had been sitting there in the middle of our lawn just asking to be climbed all over.   Initially, I thought that if we planted around the rock, then the kids would stop climbing and jumping off of it. 

We`ve since planted some peonies, babies breath, 2 types of lilies, gladiolas, and some "mystery bulbs" that Sam brought home from school for Mother's Day, and a super little Juniper called the "Prince of Wales."   I bought that Juniper solely because of its name!    This little flower bed has been a fun project and I'm excited to watch it fill up.  

Unfortunately, the kids still climb all over that rock.

    That`s usually when I tell them to leave my Rock and Garden alone, and go play in Daddy's Red Truck or something.   

Speaking of Red.   I LOVE this Red Dogwood bush that has recently found permanent residence on our front lawn.    I know that it looks a little scraggly now, but I think that it has potential.    I plan on snipping it down quite a bit so that it will grow more uniformly.   John just wants to make sure it is doing well before I go and hack half of it off. 

 

I'm beginning to learn that gardening and landscaping is an exercise in patience.   So really, I'm not sure why I enjoy it so much. 

On another note, I have officially packed away all of our winter gear, and boots, and I will not be bringing them out again.   That means, Spring is here.

I hope. 

Exactly how bad IS a little Vanity?

Sam sits in front of the mirror. All.the.time.

For his birthday a year ago, his Aunt Heather gave him a cute plastic razor set, which delighted him for days and days. After he'd shaved a kazillion times and exhausted the Spongebob canister of shaving creme, all was forgotten, and life continued as usual.

Recently though, that little razor, and brush resurfaced and Sam has discovered that "Dad" has an ample supply of shaving creme, so there is no stopping him this time.

At first it didn't really bother me, that he spends so much time in front of the mirror.   In fact, I thought it was rather cute how he would shave before going out to play for the morning. ... And afternoon. ...And evening. Lately though, after wiping clean the bathroom for the umpteenth time, I've begun to get a little bit sick of it.



On another note, I was recently inspired by a friend of mine to make some sillouette pictures of our family. I've seen them done Here, and Here, but it wasn't until my friend over at Science Geek did it herself, that I wanted to give it a try as well. (Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, isn't it?)

Now this is what sits on my wall, and I have a couple of issues about it.    I think that if I leave it up I need to mix up the frames and get some of different shapes and colors.  This all looks too organized for my liking. 





More importantly though, and perhaps the real reason this little project bugged me, was it brought to my awareness the complete HUGENESS of my nose!      I'm not just saying that.  It's true.   I couldn't deny it when I heard Abby from the other room whisper to John in a concerned way, "wow, Dad.   Look at mom's nose!"     I couldn't even defend myself.  "It" was right there staring back at us in all it's um...nasal glory!  

So I did what any person in my shoes would do.    I ripped that picture down, grabbed a pair of scissors, and re-shaped that nose, before anybody knew what was going on.     Shaved it down to a size that actually fit within the confines of the frame.      That's right, a little cosmetic surgery, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

So there you have it, my family, in almost exact likeness. 

So what if every time I walk by this wall now, I take a moment to enjoy my `new nose.`   It doesn`t mean a thing!
.
Nope, you don`t have to warn  me about how bad a bit of Vanity really can be.   


But, someone ought to tell that to the kid.

Highlights from Last week.

I snapped this photo during Family Home Evening tonight. Not only does it perfectly depict my chidren's current level of reverence (or lack thereof) during a typical FHE lesson,   but this picture also serves as bonafide proof that our baby can now SIT UP all on his very own!

And he's more than a little proud of himself.    He just sits and watches all of us as he plays with any toy the kids are willing to throw at him.  All the while,  grinning from ear to ear, of course.   He's such a happy little thing.

This past weekend John purchased two new pear trees that are now happily sitting in the backyard.

 We had to leave our pear trees behind when we moved, and leaving our pear and apple trees was one of the saddest parts about moving to us.   We both knew that it was just a matter of time before we planted some here.

Let's hope they produce something down the road.

If not- well ...THEY'd BETTER.

On Saturday morning Jessica and I got up early and drove out to Waterton.

We drove all the way up to Red Rock, and Jessica watched for animals the entire way. Sweet thing, she really was trying to identify all that she saw.

The problem was there were so many animals out, she could barely find one animal before we were already watching something different.

Of course, you can see the geese in the foreground. Take note though, of the Elk swimming across the Lake. Animals were EVERYWHERE. Coyotes, Sheep, Elk, Deer, an Eagle!   It is always a beautiful sight to me to see different animals interact together.

While we were out there, we enjoyed the most perfectly still morning ever.   Barely even a breeze!

I tried to capture the stillness in a few reflection shots, though I admit, it is a fairly "wintery" scene.    Not really what I want to be taking pictures of this time of year.

I have a feeling Spring is on it's way.

Fingers Crossed!

Happy Mother's Day

It's been a nice day today.  Abby got up early, very early, and surprised me with Breakfast in bed.   It's amazing how delicous Cereal, a muffin, and a glass of water can be when you don't have to get out of bed and prepare it yourself!

The kids had also set up a treasure hunt for me.   They had hidden throughout the house,   a myriad of notes, cards, pictures and gifts that they had been dilligently laboring over all week.

When all of that was done - they asked to have breakfast in bed too.

I was happy to oblige, though I do wonder how upset they will be tomorrow when I make them come to the table for breakfast as usual.    How boring that will seem.

I've been feeling very grateful for all of the moms in my life today, especially for the constant influence of John's Mom and my own.     I can't think of two woman who better examplify to me all that I hope to one day become.   Not only as a Mother, but as an overall good person.  I was six years old when my mom died, and interestingly, that is also the same amount of time that I knew John`s mom as well.   Six years may not seem like very much time, but in both cases, those years were jam packed with concentrated lessons and memories that have helped to mold John and I and continue to be a driving force in the daily decisions and goals that we make as a family.   

If you've ever doubted a Mother's influence (though I don`t know who would)  -   think again.

``The example of a righteous mother avails much, spans the generations and permeates to all within the reach of those she touches.``

Georgia Ellen (Toone) Rausch

Marilyn (Harris) Hardy

Happy Mother's Day to all you Woman and Mothers in our lives.
We love you!

Yup, we're mighty proud

Do you ever have moments when you look at your kids and realize that somewhere between now, and the last time you paused to notice, they'd grown up on you.  Just a little bit, but much faster then you had ever expected?   I often plead with my kids to never NEVER grow up.   It's become a bit of a game, to which I usually get a dramatic response from Abby, as she rolls her eyes and says,     "As IF mom.   You know you can't stop us from getting bigger."      


Sometimes her defiance stops me in my tracks, and shakes me up a little.   There are days when I wish that I actually could stop them from getting bigger.   Other times I am more at ease with the whole aging thing, and can sit back and celebrate each milestone that they pass.  

It just depends on the day.

Take this past Sunday for example.  I went out to the garage to get something out of the deepfreeze, when I discovered Sam riding his bicycle in circles around the garage, (while talking to whom I assume was none other then a new "imaginary friend").      After I got over the initial concern that he was indeed talking to himself,   I did a double take and was shocked to discover that his bike had no training wheels.  What?   When did he learn to ride his bike?   And where the heck was I?    I'm supposed to be right there with him arn't I?   Helping him balance?  Patching up his scraped knees when it does go as easy as he thought it would?   At least video taping it?

How dare he grow up without allowing me the parental privilege of being a part of it!

       And how dare he ride without his helmet!   ....and SHOES!  

                                                           ------------------------------

For months now, John has been hinting/hounding me to potty train our 3 year old.    Heaven knows, she is long past ready, but I've been far too lazy to go through the hassel of it.     Who wants to deal with dirty carpets, and "accidents"  at the grocery store.    In my opinion, as long as Jess is potty trained by the time she has to enter Junior High - then, it's all good.     What's the rush?     John doesn't agree.  So to appease him,  I have made some half hearted attempts over the past couple of months,  but not much progress had ever really been made.    Jessica has been as determined not to learn as I've been disinterrested in teaching her.   

Until this week.   Something seems to have just "clicked" in that cute little head of hers.

I'm not making any promises here, but I think that it is somewhat safe to say that there is a slight chance we may have possibly, perhaps,  purchased the last bag of diapers.  
  

And I think it is important to note -  well before Junior High even!

                                  ---------------------------------------------------

Last night, we thawed out and BBQ'd some of the Rainbow and Brook Trout that we caught over the summer.   Actually, if I was being honest, I'd admit that we "cooked up some of the trout that ABIGAIL caught" over the summer.    A delightful fish smell wafted through our house that evening:   It was the kind of smell that would have driven any pregnant woman mad.    However, to me, it brought back memories of our lovely, laid back, summer evenings spent by the lakes in both Glacier and Waterton.

 I could almost smell Cameron Lake right there in our kitchen!

Abigail was especially proud of the fact that SHE was the one who single handedly put food on our table that night.   In fact,  before leaving the table, all of us were required to officially thank HER for dinner.

She's never really been the type to back down from a compliment, that's for sure!

So there it is, a synopsis of my kids accomplishments this week.   I suppose that I could sit down and lament the loss of their younger, slightly more dependent days of the week prior.    Or I can sit back and enjoy it.    Maybe even feel proud of them.   Isn't that one of the perks of being a parent?   We're entitled to a little bit of pride now and then arn't we?

 I mean really, a four year old who can ride a bike BAREFOOT while carrying on a conversation with himself; a girl potty trained WAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE;  and a daughter who has become our BREAD WINNER at the tender age of seven.  
  

Now, who wouldn't want to brag about all that!

The simpler life...

 "Yet, men have come to such a pass that they frequently starve; not for want of necessities, but for want of luxuries." 

  -Thoreau 

That is pretty much the phrase that has continued to run through my mind several times over the past few days.   I recently read Waldon, and at the time, felt inspired by the concept of living a simpler life, one free of those things we call "luxuries."  That said, it is so much easier to just read about living a simpler life;   it is another thing to have the "simpler life" thrust upon you!  

This past Thursday we woke up to our third SNOW DAY this year.   A real doozy of a snow day.    Now don't get me wrong... I LOVE a snow day.  There is nothing more enjoyable to me then a short stint of bad weather that stops us in our tracks.   Sometimes that is exactly what we need to keep us home, together, and forces us to relax and enjoy the slowness of the moment. 

However, this snow day also came with a power outage, and after going ALL day without any electricity, the novelty was beginning to wear off.   At first, we kept ourselves happy by snuggling up as a family and watching "Winged Migration" on John's computer. 

Then the battery died and boredom sunk in. 

 

Suddenly it wasn't a very fun snow day!  In fact, by the time evening came, and we still had no power, I was far from enthused.   As I began to prepare the house for a cold and dark night I found myself repeatedly muttering something along the lines of,     "Stupid.  Dumb.  Boring.  Hate it!"   

Steady John however, kept us all happy by starting up the BBQ, entertaining us with stories of his childhood, and boiling water on the propane burner any time I needed warm water.  (thanks to our energy efficient water heater- that is completely electric.)  

That John is such a boy scout!

It was a fun little adventure, (I can say that now), though I must confess we have grown far FAR too comfortable with the luxuries of life!

You know- like electricity!

On Saturday morning, I drove out of town to get a glimpse of the damage that had caused us to experience such a power outage a couple of days earlier.

Spring storms really do carry a lot of punch with them!

I'm thinking that a lot of people went much longer without power.

  There were dozens of poles just lying along the road, like this one.

I did enjoy and appreciate the slow day, but I am very VERY happy to have power restored again!

On another note, I must mention that Nate is officially 6 months old this weekend!  

For someone so small he sure has a LOT of personality.   He has a smile that is nothing short of Radiant, and he has the happiest most bubbly personality.    It's always fun for me to take him somewhere and watch people interact with him.    Give this kid just a little bit of attention, and he reciprocates with the biggest toothless grin ever.  A few of his favorite people know exactly how to draw out his laughs and it is so much fun to see!  ..and hear!

 We have started to feed him solids, and it seems as though we can't quite shovel that food into his mouth fast enough.   Peas, carrots, and pears are his most favorite foods right now. 

As you might notice from the picture, Sam and Jess enjoy "helping" with the feeding time as well.    

Luckily, Nate remains unfazed by all that his older siblings often put him through.

Deep down, I know that day is coming when he will not be my happy delightful little baby anymore, but rather a rough and rowdy toddler.    I know that I will love him just as much then, as I do now.

But I am really enjoying this stage he is at. 

He is pretty much content to spend his days eating, rolling, laughing, sleeping and dreaming.

Now that is what I call  a  "SIMPLE LIFE".

What we LOVE about Sping

I think that there is a direct correlation between the state of my childrens' (and my own) sanity and the warm weather. The kids have been practically living outside this week, and boy does it make me happy.    Not only does it bring a smile to my face to see them enjoying the other neighborhood kids, but it literally brings joy to my heart every time I realize that  all of this "outside play"  equals a MUCH cleaner house.

We found this bounce house in BC a few weeks ago and could not pass up on the great deal that it was.   It may be huge, and tacky, but I don't care.   

My favorite, favorite, FAVORITE thing about spring has got to be the afternoon thunderstorms. I just love it when a stormy cloud passes through, rains a little, and then moves on, giving us back a beautiful calm evening. 

Here is a sad confession. My almost 6 month old had never been outside until this week. It's true! He's gone from the house to the van and back always within the confinement of his covered carseat. I've been so paranoid about germs and colds that I've not given this little guy the luxury of FRESH AIR.    I think this picture depicts his longing to see what just what exactly it's like "out there."

John was busy on Monday night, and so I decided to take the kids to the park for family home evening. EVEN NATE!     I let Abby, Sam and Jess ride their bikes, and the plan was to take advantage of the opportunity to teach them all about "Bike Safety."    Well that lesson did not sink in very well, and I ended up yelling at the kids the whole way there and back.   Not that they could hear me yelling.    They were all too far ahead of me.

I have since decided to never NEVER venture beyond our cul de sac again.

I'm so grateful for my one, obedient, child.

Never mind the fact that he is fastened into a stroller. And can't walk.

Even if he could run off and disobey me,  I know he wouldn't.

Because some kids actually love their mothers.

As for my other three?   Well, I think they are really just getting a taste of the delightfulness that is spring. 

Suddenly, there are trees to climb, bikes to ride, and clouds to catch.     

Not a care in the world!

Oh, to be a kid again.

Who's idea was that?

It is interesting to me how the more kids I have, the newer I feel at this whole parenting business.     Literally, I feel like I am regressing.    I remember thinking that "one day" I would be an AWESOME mom. 

But that was before the kids came.   

I often think of some advice I was given a few years back,  that I have really tried to take to heart.   I apply it to my marriage, even some friendships, but mostly, I implement this advice as a parent.

CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES! 

I'm sure everybody has been given the same council, and I have always considered it wise. 

Lately though, I'm wondering if I have perhaps become too accustomed with the practice of "choosing my battles."      What if this has just become my excuse or justification for poor parenting. 


Take Wednesday afternoon for example.

When I looked out the window and saw Sam and Jess playing something wreckless and dangerous on top of our vehicle I had two choices.  

a)  turn a blind eye and pray that neither of them experience any life threatening injury as a result. 

or

b)  Go out there like I wanted to, tear them off the truck, and teach them about the importance of caring for our vehicles.  Which we do.   (Just not this one.)   


I am ashamed to admit it - but negligence won.   (Hence the photo) 

But hey, I'm just chosing my battles, right?


Then there was the time this week when Jessica wanted to play with my make up, and I wouldn't let her.  Putting a make-up brush in her hands is like giving her a loaded paintbrush.  And the walls, couch and carpet become her canvas.

However, despite my NO, a few short minutes later,  I noticed that Jessica was no where in sight.   And my make up was also coveniently missing.   She was very obviously tucked in some corner of the house up to no good.   And I knew it.  Again, I had two choices.

a)  Hunt her down and make her put everything away before she made too much of a mess.

or

b)  Let her have her fun, and get a little peace to myself in the meantime. 


Again.   Just "choosing my battles,"  because I've been under the impression that that is the mark of a good parent.

It was at this moment, when I found Jessica looking like a nightmare personified,   that I wondered if my current method of parenting is really, perhaps,  not all it is cracked up to be.  

Whoever first said, "Choose your battles,"  obviously never had to look this in the eye.

And really.  I have nobody to blame for it, but myself. 

On another note.  Me and the "Nightmare" went for a drive this morning to look at the ELK.  Today the Elk seemed especially willing to have their photos taken. 

We  love our trips to Waterton! . 

                                      

Better then the last recipe I shared!

Back when I was attending school in Edmonton, I was lucky enough to have had a LOT of roomates.    I mean A LOT!    Once, shortly before I married John, I sat down and counted how many girls I had lived with during my 4 years as a student.    Turns out I had 34 roomates through out that time.     Sure some of those girls were "summer fill ins." Some left shortly after moving in, (I had that effect on people),   others stayed longer and became wonderful friends to me, and shared in some of my most cherished memories.

This was one of the houses I lived in, well known  at the time, and aptly named, "The Blue House."

It was a charming 7 bedroom  place located one block away from UofA campus, pretty much next to the High Level bridge.   With some innovation, we often managed to get up to 13 girls in at one time.  Anything for cheaper rent!   It is here that I created my all time favorite desert.

Ever!!    (Well at least that is my opinion today)

It was born from the discovery that all I had to my name one day, was a tub of vanilla ice cream and a box of (salted) Soda Crackers.   

Now please, before I share this with you, try to be open minded.   It was barely a year ago that I shared this childhood favorite, and I still have not gotten over the feedback from that.   To this day, I don't think any of you ever did try a "missionary sandwich."   tsk tsk.   I wholeheartedly request that you atleast give this one a shot.    I feel both proud and a little protective of it.  I'm not trying to be dramatic when I say that it is "completely magnificent in it's simplicity!"   

Poor Man's Ice Cream
(by ME) 

1 bowl of your favorite vanilla ice cream

About 8-12 SALTED soda crackers.

Crush the crackers into the ice cream and stir it up until the ice cream is a desired texture. Be careful not to crush them too much. You want to taste the cracker. Believe me, the salty crunch of the cracker compliments the ice cream perfectly.  

photo taken from:  http://teachgreenchemnh.wikispaces.com/

 I suppose you could drizzle this with a bit of caramel sauce - but then you start messing with it, and turning it into something that it's not.

DON'T   mess with it!     Soda crackers and ice cream.   Period.
o

What a lot of hype for something you could hardly even call a "recipe" eh?

It's worth the hype. 

(Atleast that is my opinion today)

You can thank me later!!!

Love, Mom.

                 
I started to notice that raising a boy would be an interesting experience, a few years ago, when I walked out of the house and found Sam jamming our fresh garden carrots into the front grill of our minivan..

 That is when I knew.   I was dealing with one weird little kid.  

 Take last Sunday for example.  We were enjoying a lovely dinner with a couple of the in-laws.  The weather had turned fresh and the wind was cold.   Thankfully though, we were all safe and warm inside, visiting over piping hot bowls of Soup.  That is when we all looked out the window at the same moment and saw Sam.  Riding his bike to the neighbors house.   In the snow.    In nothing but shorts and slippers. 
And a Frog costume.  

Because bothering the neighbors on Sunday isn't embarrasing enough, he's got to dress up for the event!

Dear Sam: 

I am glad that you like all the neighborhood kids, but you must tell us when you plan to leave the house. 

    Oh and, please lose the Frog suit.

It is a bit much.

Love,   Mom

aka: your legal guardian. (not that you'd care) 

---------------------------------

Not to be out done though- his older sister certainly has her moments.   She doesn't come close to being the handful Sam is, but I'm not about to tell HER that.  She'd just consider it a challenge!  

On Wednesday there was no school, due to a blessed spring snow storm.   (There is nothing better then an unexpected snow day.)   Anyways, after breakfast I told Abby to go practice piano so that she could be done with it for the day.   This evoked a plethura of dramatic statements, the jest of them being, "No other kid in the WORLD has to practice on a holiday."     I responded by telling her that technically it was a "snow day" not a holiday,   but YES other kids do in fact have to practice on snow days as well.  Even "ava and mya."    I thought adding her cousins in as examples would be enough to persuade her. 

I thought that was the end of it.

Three minutes later though,  I walked by my bedroom and saw Abby talking on the phone.   With Ava and Mya's Mom.    Apparantly, Abby had a difficult time believing what I'd told her, and was determined to prove me wrong.    Thankfully,   Aunt Jewel sided with me.  At least I'm pretty sure she sided with me.  All I know is that I heard Abby say,   "Uh huh.  Ok.  Yup.  Bye."   Then she hung up the phone, walked to the piano and started practicing.   

That was the end of it.   

And I was left wondering HOW!     "How does  Auntie Jewel get my kids to do ANYTHING she asks,  yet they don't listen to a WORD I say?"

Dear Abby:

Please understand that everything I ask you to do, is for your own good.    

Would you believe me if I said, "Auntie Jewel says so?"

Love, Your mother. 

aka:  The one who grew you in her womb, and brought you to this earth.  (Not that you'd care)

------------------------------

I've been trying to potty train Jessica this week.  Neither her or I are enjoying the process very much.   However,  she is over three and I've been buying two sizes of diapers for long enough.

It's time. 

I think she is starting to grasp the idea.  She went potty on the toilet a couple of times in the last few days.   The problem is though, that every single time, she would walk out of the bathroom soaking wet!   I couldn't figure out how she could be going potty where she was supposed to be going, but STILL getting so wet in the process.    After following her suspiciously for a few hours,  I have since figured out where things are going wrong.

Dear Jessica: 

I am glad that you are beginning to figure this out.   But in the future PLEASE remove your pants before sitting on the potty.  K?

It will make ALL the difference!

Love, Mom

aka: the one who is sick of all the laundry  (not that you'd care)

--------------------------------------------------

Sometimes, late at night when the other 3 kids are in bed, John and I cuddle up to our youngest child Nate, and cover him with smooches.   We both stare at him,  and admire what a delightfully happy boy he is.   He is a DREAM baby.     He is starting to really roll around a room and is also enjoying any bit of food we allow him to get his hands on.  He is growing way WAY too fast. 

Dear Nate:

You are such a good little boy, and so far, you seem to be turning out alright. 

We have every reason to hope that you just might be the normal child in the family.

Then again.   Perhaps it's just too soon to tell. 

"Normal" is such an objective term anyways.

Love, 

Mom  

Why Everyone Should have a Big Brother

Meet my Brother Chad. 

It's his Birthday this weekend.

Now,  I won't tell you exactly how old he is, because honestly, beyond a certain number I just stop counting.  All I know is that he is older then me.   (And I am getting close to being "old" myself) 

I thought it might be fun to share a little info about Chad that some people likely wouldn't know. 

*   I don't know how this came to be, but I remember a large chunck of my youth was spent cleaning my brothers room.   I would go down to his basement room daily, and fold his clothes, sweep his floor, make his bed,  ...feed his ugly lizard.   Stuff like that.   In payment,  Chad let me keep any spare change that I found in the process.   Just Think of it.    I never had to give ANY of it back!   I tell ya, I bought a lot of jolly rancher sticks on his dime!    What a generous soul. 

  *   When I was in Elementary school, I told him that a grade 3 boy was picking on me, and so Chad taught me "martial arts" as self defense.  Who knows where he learned it from.  ..or if it really was "martial arts" for that matter.


*  Growing up I tried to be just like him.   When he started listening to country music - so did I.  When he went to Marks Work Warehouse and bought a mens jean jacket to wear to school-  Unfortunately - so did I.       He never really came out and said it, but I'm pretty sure this annoyed him at times.   
In fact I'm pretty sure he thought of me as his "annoying copy cat little sister."

*   Despite the fact that I was just his "annoying copy cat" sister, He Stood in line twice (separate occastions) to get two autographed cd’s for me.   One from John Berry and the other from David lee Murphy. (Because, really, who didn't think Dust on the Bottle was the most sweetest and romantic song ever?)

* One time, after he'd moved away from home to attend school in Calgary, he stood in line (again), and bought me (and two of my friends) tickets to a Garth brooks concert.  He swallowed his pride and accompanied us dorky grade 11 geeks.   It was our first time in the city with no parents.   First ride on city transit.   My first concert.   The first time I ever saw someone drunk, and the first time I ever told a man I loved him.   Picture a 6 foot tall, 100 lb grade eleven girl with braces and a perm, yelling "I love you GARTH" at the top of her lungs.   Oh dear.  (I'm glad I got to share that moment with him and 30, 000 other people.) 


*    In my grade 12 year I must have mentioned my desire to become a famous country singer.    One day Chad came down to visit,  and in his arms was guitar.   For me.    It was a beeeautiful  12 string fender which he had gotten at a pawn shop.    He used his trumpet as payment.    He loved that trumpet.   I still remember the time he emptied his "spit valve" on top of my head when I wasn't looking, and I shudder to think at of the World Famous Trumpeter he could have become.    Unfortunately all I have to show for his kindness are a few stupid songs I made up for some old college roomates, and this sad song I learned the first time I got "dumped" by a boy.     I still have the guitar though, and I will learn how to play it.

*  I remember, he once said that his life long dream was  to "one day, be able to make a Citizen's arrest."

*  The day before he left for his mission he gave me the keys to his motorcycle, and told me that I could do whatever I wished with it.    That bike sat behind our house for about 2 days, before I had it sold and replaced with a beautiful bumblebee yellow Jeep YJ.      He single handledly changed my high school experience.  Instead of being a scrawny geek with braces and a perm - I was a "scrawny geek with braces, a perm AND A JEEP!"   That made me pretty darn cool, if you ask me.

A year and a half later, I had to sell it so that Dad could pay for a few months of Chad's mission.   I know, it seemed only right.  But I did not handle the whole "parting with it" thing as noblely has Chad had earlier, on my behalf.   

 I  didn't speak to my Dad for a WHOLE WEEK.

*  One thing a lot of people don't know- is that Chad went through a time, when he lived the life of a bonafide Homeless Man.   

 Shortly after his mission he moved to Edmonton where my sister and I were going to school at the time.  For some reason, he couldn't really justify wasting money on  something so silly as "RENT".   Instead, he kept his stuff in the backseat of his car and sort of just found people's couches or floors to crash on each night. 

*  It was around this same time that he changed his name to HANK.     Luckily, that name change only lasted until he met his future wife.    But to this day, some people still know him only as such.

*   He's charasmatic.  People always like visiting with him, and he would never admit it, but he can sure capture an audience.  I remember one time,  he came to visit me and my sister Crystal in our little home just off of the UofA campus.    We always enjoyed it when he popped in, as did our roomates, as it usually provided some comical entertainment of some sort.

On this particular day though,  he neglected to turn off the water after washing his hands.    We'd been listening to Chad's "stories" for over an hour, when we all began to notice water seeping into the hallway from the bathroom.

It might not look too bad here but there was a good inch or so of water.   Most of it though, had been  DRAINING into my roomates room below.   We went downstairs to find water cascading onto every computer, textbook, and article of clothing possible.  It is the only time I have ever seen it Rain indoors.

Naturally, the girls forgave him.  I mean, how could they not?

* Now he is all grown up and mature and responsible and all that stuff.     Naturally, he became a police officer, not only following in the shoes of our Dad, but also fulfilling his childhood dream in the process. Arresting bad guys 'till his hearts content!

He still entertains us with his crazy antics and wild stories.

*  He has a beautiful family, whom we love just as much.

*   He continues to be the reason that I think EVERYONE should be lucky enough to have a Big Brother.

Only I must admit, one thing has changed.  

I don't try quite as hard to be his "annoying copy cat little sister". 

Really!!

  I don't.

Happy Birthday Chad! 

PS:  If you know my brother- please go  here  and surprise him with a little Birthday Cheer for me!