Birthday Trail Ride

This week I turned 33 years old, which really, isn't all that old.    I mean, certainly not when compared to my husband who is almost 40!!!  (I had to throw that in, because John hates it when I say he's almost 40, because apparently turning 38 is nowhere near 40?:)    

Anyways, I turned a mere 33, yet I felt as though I'd reached a huge milestone!  I am now officially the same age that my Mom was when she died.    All my life "33" has seemed like a far away time, a distant looming number, and I wondered if I'd ever make it there myself.  Is that weird?

I thought a lot about my Mom on my birthday, and wondered about those who would have been in her life at that time, and how her birthday would have been celebrated.  I was blessed to spend the day and a surprisingly relaxed way.  I stayed in my pajamas until noon.   Nate and I read books and cuddled.   I nursed a fairly persistent cold, that I've had all week.  And I enjoyed so many phone calls and quick visits from some of my favorite people who knew just how to make the day special!

John surprised me with a trail ride for two, scheduled for the weekend, of course.  

When Saturday came, I was delighted to see a clear sunny sky, and I took it as a sign that it was going to be a.great.day!    

This is the view as we arrived at the starting point!

Here's a list of rules that were displayed for all to see and read.   Apparently I shoulda done that, 'cuz I broke rule #2 an awful lot!  (I didn't know this when we began, but my horse "Smokey" liked to stop and eat.   Like, a LOT!  As a result of our many snack stops, smokey and I spent most of our ride in a quick trot, always trying to catch up;)

I had to get used to snapping photos, while on a horse.   It's darn near impossible to keep still long enough to focus!  Here's a shot of John and our trail guide just after we started out.    We're headed for the hills!!

Our guide took us all through the foothills, and I felt as though we were right below Chief Mountain part of the time.   It was gorgeous!   (And somehow I managed to take pictures of nothing but the back end of horses!  Go figure:)

After 40 minutes or so, our horses started to climb.   Not just climb, but climb through some very wooded forest.    I LOVED it, and felt like I was truly accomplished.   I mean, hello ...I'm climbing a hill...on a horse!!!

We got to the top of the hill and stayed up there only long enough to take in this breathtaking scene!

Then, it was down the other side of the hill.   

And we went STRAIGHT DOWN!!!   It was so fun!   At this moment, I'd forgotten I was following a guide at all, I was too busy pretending I was in "Man From Snowy River."    

The morning went a lot like that.  Up hills.  Down hills.  Through Forests....

and Across Creeks!

I'm pretty sure I've never felt more calm, or happy, ...or at peace with the world.
 ...or sore. (just sayin')

I reckon I may spend the next 33 years of my life, trying to convince John that this "Country Life" is exactly what we need!    

Piano Recital

I love attending my kids' piano recital each year.   For one thing, it always marks the end of a laborious year of trying to get Abby to practice.  It also, however, gives my kids a chance to show off what they've learned, and my kids LOVE showing off;)

Despite Abby's teenage approach to anything involving "work" these days, she really did make some great strides on piano.   I saw glimpses, this past year, of her actually enjoying herself, AND she began playing from the simplified Hymn Book, and liked being able to be the pianist each week during Family Home Evening.    There's hope;)!    

Sam was SUPER nervous to perform at his recital.   He practiced and practiced and practiced.   One morning I was woken up at 6:30 am to the sound of the piano!  

....Sam just had to practice;)

He had his song down perfectly, but seconds before being called up to play, he made the decision to leave his books behind and play from memory.    That, combined with his nerves, contributed to a few mess ups during his big performance, but he recovered nicely and I think learned a lot.   

This was his FIRST recital!!

Abby and Mya performed a fun little duet together, that came together at the end, despite the need for some last minute practices with their piano teacher.    I'm so glad Betsy was willing to spend extra time with them, as Abby's part was a little rough;)    Duets are always so fun to hear!

After the recital, we went over to Dairy Queen with Rachel and Maddax for ice cream.  (But the kids ended up having fries, burgers and smoothies...?)     Aunt Rachel had bought both Sam and Abby candy bouquets to congratulate them.    

Abby was in awe, as she's "wanted one of these her whole life!!!"  hahaha

Sam was ...um...a little Crazy about his too;)

So crazy in fact, that I couldn't get a decent picture out of him.  

No matter how hard I tried!!!!!

Blossoms

We've spent the past two weeks enjoying the beautiful blossoms in our backyard.    

I LOVE spring, and blossoms (to me) are the assurance of a great harvest to come.    

I'm really looking forward to all that our garden will bring this year!!

These Blossoms covered our Haskep Bushes this year. 

   Ever heard of Haskeps?  I hadn't either, until my Brother got us several bushes to plant one year.  

It looks like we may actually get to taste this super berry this year, and I am Super excited!!!

Blossoms on BOTH our pear trees this year!!   Do we dare hope for a pear?

Some say it's impossible in this climate.  

I say, just watch and see;)

And of course, our crab apple tree.    When these blossoms fall they fill our backyard and look like giant flakes of soft snow.   Jessica spent an entire morning last week gathering petals in a bowl.    

That same week, Sam finished off our last jar of Crab Apple Jelly (which he calls Jolly Jam)   

It'll soon be time to make more;)

what hospitality!!!

A while back, Jessica's American Girl Doll, began losing her hair.     It was the strangest thing, but the extensions were literally falling right off.    I was so mad.  Jessica was thrilled!

She'd been wanting to have an excuse to send her doll to the "American Girl Doll Hospital" (yes...there really is such a place) and it looked like now was the time.    So, despite my annoyance with having to pack it up and ship it off  (I'm too used to our digital world, as writing out an address and slapping on postage was just about too much;)   we started the process of getting her doll fixed.

First, I had to go online and print out her "admitting papers."

Then we sent her off.

Jessica cried for nights wondering where her doll was, and I couldn't help but worry that we'd never see her doll again.     

A few weeks later though,  we received little "ponyo" (Jessica named her?) arrived healthy and well.    She came back to us in a hospital gown, a medical ID bracelet, a get well card, an official prescription for some TLC, and a new head of hair.   

Jessica was beyond excited.  Well one American Girl Doll Co.   Well done!   

Katniss and Co.

Sam and Abby have recently acquired pocket knives, and they are more then a little obsessed with whittling.   We are trying to teach them all the safety rules.   John's favorite cautionary advice is " Never cut towards your thumb... always cut toward your chum!" So as you can imagine, our kids (and everyone else) are in good hands;) 

For Mother's day, Abby and Sam both gave me a stick with MOM meticulously carved into it.  

Around that same time they each whittled a fresh branch and fashioned a BOW out of it.    I was surprised to see that they could actually shoot with it!

For the most part, I have no regrets about letting them have a pocket knife.    That is, until I find all the wood chips they've left behind!

Payne Lake Lodge

This past weekend John and I joined some other families in our ward at the nearby Payne Lake Lodge.  

I wasn't sure what to expect, as I'd never been there before, but we had a great time!   The weather was pretty chilly, but the kids kept themselves occupied playing pool, Foosball, karaoke, and exploring.   After the kids went to bed, the adults stayed up until almost 2:00 am just talking!  

It's always fun getting to know others!!

Picnic in the pasture

A couple of weeks ago, Sam came home with a little Fir Tree start.   He instantly planted it in a bucket of garden soil, but we knew we were going to have to find a more permanent place for it soon.   

This past Monday ended up being the perfect day to plant a tree, and we decided (very last minute) to make an event of it.    Sam wanted to plant it out at the "Community Pasture"  (a place where local farmers graze their cattle) because that is where we always go to cut down our Christmas tree.    

So we packed a lunch, and off we went.  

Oh yeah, and we called my sister 10 minutes before we left and asked if her family wanted to join us. 

We've not been seeing much of each other the past several weeks, so it was fun to reconnect!

As per tradition, Jewel tried to get all of the cousins together for a group photo.   

However, as per tradition, this proved to be easier said then done:

1st attempt.

2nd attempt!

3rd attempt!

Then a war began.    And we gave up.

(Doesn't this photo make you think of The Hunger Games!)

Eventually, we remembered why we'd come out here in the first place.     Sam grabbed his tree-in-a-pail, John grabbed his shovel, and we started our little hike in search of the perfect spot!

  Down the hill.....

Through the woods....

And across the creek.

Occasionally, some of us would find ourselves in a little predicament of sorts.  :)  

After a few short minutes, John found the perfect little patch of grass, where Sam's tree would grow big and tall.  (I'm pretty sure John was more excited to plant this tree then Sam was;)

Sam did stop playing with his cousins long enough to pour a bucket of creek water over his newly planted tree, one last time before leaving.    We've made plans to come back each year to see how this tree is doing, and I wouldn't be surprised if one future winter day, we cut it down and use it for our Christmas tree.   (We like to be ironic like that:)

Until then though, we'll just pretend we did Mother Earth a great big favor!!!!!

A bit of Dam fun, Tailgate parties, and Waterton to boot!

John's brother Ben, his wife Kat and their two kids came down on Thursday night for the weekend.   Combine that with the fact that John's sister is still here from California, and we had the makings for a full on reunion party.   (Canadian style;)

On Friday we ventured out to St. Mary's for a bit of fossil hunting.  ...in the rain. ...and the wind.

Darn this weekend!   The forecast for May long weekend called for cloudy skies, showers, and wind.

Perfect.   

The kids didn't seem to mind that it was so cold.   Within minutes they'd taken off their coats, socks and shoes and were digging in the sand like it was a regular ol' day at the beach.

Nathan has taken up "Sand Surfing."    

(Note:  Winter boots and shorts are totally the rage up here in Canada;)

Due to the fact that it was May long weekend, there was not a camping spot or picnic table in sight, we had to get a little creative with our picnic.    John threw all the seats down in the van, and we served the food out of the back of Ben and Kat's Nissan.    It may have been a little redneck, but that's how a tailgate party is done, no?   

Luckily, John's family is pretty chill and the bad weather (and lack of picnic area) didn't seem to dampen anyones spirits.     In fact, this turned out to be a practice run for our outing to Waterton the next day.

On Saturday we drove out to Waterton for hotdogs.   ...in the rain.  ...and the wind.

(are you noticing a pattern?)

Once again, we optimized the sto and go feature that is perhaps the one thing I like about our van.     (Take that all of you who refuse to buy a mini van.  Can you fit four adults, 6 kids, 10 hot dogs, 10 pops, and 3 large orders of sweet potato fries in YOUR vehicle?  I think not.)

After enjoying our lunch, courtesy of Weiners of Waterton, we headed to the indoor pool for some swimming!   It was awesome because we had the pool, sauna, and hot tub to ourselves.   My two year old nephew Maddax is a maniac in a pool and out swam everyone.    Sam and Abby made it their personal mission to get me soaked, despite my efforts to keep my hair dry.  John played and played and played.   I disappeared for a half hour  the sauna.  And then Uncle Ben bought everyone ice cream at Big Scoop.  It was great!

This scene made me laugh.   We drove by as a guy was flying his remote control hover craft, and there was a whole herd of sheep enjoying the show!  haha.  I bet they don't see that everyday.

It really was a fun weekend with them.  Rain, Wind and All!!!!!

Front yard flowers. (In May)

I have a love/hate relationship with May.

I loathe it because of all the busy-ness that it brings.   Sports, coaching, schedules, concerts, ceremonies, recitals, later bedtimes, house projects, mowing, pruning, and weeding.   I never answer my phone any more (and people thought I was bad before!), my calendar is full, and the piles of laundry to fold are once again reaching epic proportions.

I love May though, with all my heart and soul, because of the very same things that make me feel so busy!   The sports, the concerts, the ceremonies, recitals, later nights and yes - even the mowing pruning and weeding.  

I'm thinking I need to just focus more on the moment, and enjoy the wonderfulness of spring without letting the busyness of it get to me.    These flowers that have popped up in our front yard help. 

I used to think these flowers were called Hyacinths, but now I don't think they are.    All I know is that I stole them from the yard of a member of my ward, just days before she moved away. 

   I guess I should have asked her what it was that I was stealing;)  

This lovely green foliage has already doubled in size, and I'd be perfectly happy if it overtook my entire flower bed!   Again, I have no clue what it's called, but it reminds me of lettuce.    

The tulips on my front lawn make me especially happy each year.    I still think back to the fall of 2010 when I was struggling with poor health and a crippled body.   One particularly pathetic morning, I looked out my window and saw a neighbor of mine, on her hands and knees, planting tulips for me to enjoy in the spring.     

The kind gesture made me happy then, but even happier now!     

Aren't tulips beeeeeautiful!!!!!

These flowers are definitely part of what I LOVE about May!!!

My family, and the gifts they give on Mothers Day....

Yesterday was a great!   

It started with breakfast in bed, but only after the kids had given each and every home made Mothers Day gift possible!     Then, it was off to church where we heard from a couple of awesome return missionaries.   For supper, we packed up a picnic and drove out to Kimball Park.   It was a perfectly relaxing way to end a lovely day.

As I sat at a picnic table watching my family eat/play, I couldn't help but consider each of their very different personalities, and I marvelled at how intrinsically those personalities play out in our family.   This was definitely true on Mother's day, as the gifts they gave me were absolute snapshots of who THEY are.  At least in this moment in time.   

Abby, for example, is now 10, going on 14!   She's painfully determined to be heard and acknowledged as an adult, even when what she is saying is still so...grade 4 of her.  
I sometimes wish she'd be content to just stay little, but anytime I ask her to,  she just rolls her eyes, sighs and says,  "Whatevs Mom!"

For Mother's Day, she gave me a book of poetry, a stick that she had carved MOM into, and a little matchbook style packet of sewing supplies.    (You know, because I am "sew" special;)    I couldn't help but laugh at the first poem in the book, titled "I LIKE..."   It's a witty composition of the things she likes about me, contrasted with the things she doesn't like about me.

(ie: "I like it when you let us watch movies, but I don't like it when you don't give us popcorn," or  my favorite "I like when we go on vacation, but I don't like it when we're only there for less then a week.")

Typical.  Always campaigning for what she feels she's entitled to.   Haha.
   Heaven help us with her in a few years!   

Sam is a real character!    He's an actor, a comedian, and a dirt covered 7 year old boy all rolled into one!  It's impossible for me to even guess what this kid will end up being like as a grown up, but I think it's safe to say - he'll be making making people laugh!

His gift to me consisted of a stick, again with MOM carved into it.  (He and Abby never go far without their pocket knives these days;)   He also gave me a fill-in-the-blank type letter, and a HANDWRITTEN card that was all Sam.  It went like this:

"Dear Mom.   

You are the best Mom ever.   But you are a bad player of baseball.

But still, you are the best Mom ever.

Get me a ninjago watch PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!"

You better believe I was touched by his genuine expression of love! :)

Jessica is our little bundle of sweetness.    That's simply all there is to say.

She's kind, cuddly, creative and loves "everything about the whole world"!!!!  

She helped me pick tulips the other day, and secretly kept a bunch aside to present to me on Mothers Day.    Of course,  she also had a plethora of adorable cards/gifts that she'd made at Kindergarten.   But my favorite gift from Jess was the paper cup model of our family. 

   See?  There's John on the far left.   I'm next to him (with the big nose I might add;) and each of our kids!    Just one big happy paper cup family!!!    That's us:)

I snapped this picture of Nate while the rest of us were eating our chicken salad sandwiches.  

  Nate refused to join us for the picnic, but that's only because it would have involved actually sitting down to eat.   (He doesn't go for that much on a good day.   Throw in a slide just a couple of yards away, and it's a done deal;)

Deep down though, I think he's glad to be a part of our family, and I'm sure he loves me.   Really, I think he does.   For example, when I tell him to "hurry along" and he responds by saying, "no way Mommy poopy pants!" 

 Well,  I think that's really just his way of saying...I Love you!

Some people just show their love a little differently, you know?

Waterton- Twice in one week!!!

John's sister (Rachel) has been in town for the past couple of weeks, and will be or a few weeks more.    Her husband though, unfortunately has to stay back in California and work.   (I know..."has to stay in California."  Boo hooo;)   ANYWAYS, this past weekend, he surprised Rach and flew out to be with her for Mother's Day.     

Naturally, we decided to plan a party in Waterton, because really...he flew all this way to hang out with us to, right?     Here's what made the day great:

* They actually caught a butterfly with the butterfly net.    (Usually it's just used as a weapon;)

* We made tinfoil dinners (could use some fine tuning)

* I found Natural All Beef Hot dogs for our wiener roast.    (I have a phobia of Nitrates, but veggie dogs are gross, so I've always felt lost as to what to do?  ...until now!;)

* Jessica was re-united with her BFF...Thor the dog.  (She didn't leave his side all day!)

* Nate ate a bun.   Like, he actually ATE something!!!   He was sneaky about it, but food literally went into him.    It was a miracle;)

* We sat on the rocky beach and watched the kids throw rocks. 

* Sam and Abby inherited pocket knives and spent a large chunk of time "whittling sticks."

* We saw lots of herds of mountain sheep, some deer, and a tonne of people. (Felt like May long weekend)

* We came home and enjoyed barbecued burgers.   They were sooo good!