Rockies

Baseball season has began and Nate has joined the Big Leagues minors league for the first time ever.

Yesterday was his first "game day" and he was so excited/nervous that his teacher phoned me at work just so he could get it out of his system  talk to me a bit about it all.    

He has spent years watching Sam play and finally it was his turn, and even better - John has agreed to be an assistant coach on his team.   Yeah- Nate is  pretty thrilled!

John seems to enjoy coaching little teams like this.  He was bouncing all over the field taking the task of teaching these kids very seriously.    If you ask me, it looks like a pretty tedious task, but John was all over it.

Nate's team name is "ROCKIES" which I think is a perfect team name.  

And would you just look at this delicious little boy!!  

These two make quite an adorable team if I do say so myself.

CGC Fun

For the past two years Abby has been a part of Girls Choir and she has absolutely LOVED it!

She has had the opportunity to travel to Ottawa, Calgary and at the end of this month - Edmonton, where they always garner gold or superior ranking.   It's a joy to watch her be a part of a group and I'm so grateful for it.   (Though it can make for a busy schedule for Abby and her momma;)

This past weekend the girls hosted their year end concert.   They teamed up with the local Cantrice Women's Ensemble and even invited a group of male singers to make a guest appearance as well.   To close out the concert, all three groups joined together to sing a rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" which is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.   The choirs formed a circle around the audience to sing and it was incredibly moving to hear this song in surround sound!

I love that the love for music is growing inside of this girl!

That was Awkward

I recently purchased a T-shirt for Abby designed to celebrate the awkwardness that has been her Junior High experience.   I have been proud of her for playing volleyball, acting as the Student body President this year and well..surviving it all.  The truth of it is though - she's awkward!   

Not a day goes by where she doesn't come home and say, "Mom...wanna know what was kinda awkward...?"   or  "Ok...it was so awkward, I was really distressed!."   (That's another regularly used word of hers - distressed.  If I had a dollar for every time I heard that one;)

Anyways, it's become a bit of a joke for us to tease her about her awkwardness so I figured this T-shirt was the perfect way to celebrate the end of her Junior High Career.  

It says, " I came. I saw. I made it Awkward."  

Naturally I had to get a T-shirt for me too because well... who'd Abby inherit her awkwardness from if not her even more awkward momma.   (At least there is still hope that Abby will outgrow this whole phase of life, I on the other hand am doomed.)   

There is not much we can do but laugh at/with ourselves! ;)

Easter Break

Let's see, what can I say about Easter Break.   hmmm...

While everyone we know travelled to Aruba, Cuba, Hawaii and England - we:

1.  Went to the Head Smashed in Buffalo jump just outside of Fort McLeod!  

That's right.   We party hardy around these parts;)

This was Monday's excursion and in all honesty it was a necessary road trip.  Our house was all packed up but we had no where to move to until the next day so we really just need to burn some time.  The kids LOVE coming here though!

After visiting the museum we went home via Pincher Creek so we could make a stop in Waterton. 

There are lots of changes coming to Waterton this year.  They've expanded the parking up at Cameron Lake, tore down the post office and are building anew and there is a controversial new visitors Centre going up that is threatening the life of the current playground/waterpark.   They are anticipating record numbers of people this summer (with it being the 150th celebration) which has John and I thinking we may just try to stay away this year.  We may enjoy it for a couple of more weeks before the crowds start to arrive.  

Our week actually began and ended with a trip to Waterton.   On Friday we took a drive out after supper to see if the road to Cameron lake had opened up yet.  (One could have just called, but like I said - we are all sorts of wild when on vacation.)   

Winter is definitely hanging on in Waterton.   We noticed some hikers up on Bearshump but most other trails are still closed.   The water is thawing though, so spring must be winning!

We swam at the lodge until late in the evening, coming home only once we were all warm and toasty and ready for bed!

In between our two Waterton excursions we:

* Packed up all of our things and prepared to move

*Unpacked the Olsens things and restored their home to the way it was before we took over

* Packed up all of the Holts things and stored it away to make room for us

* Moved into the Holt's house and unpacked in one day

* Landscaped the Holts front yard

* Got a nasty spring cold (some of us at least;)

* Changed Wards

* took four naps

* saw the new Beauty & the Beast movie

* started a Fairy Garden (Jessica) which is totally darling!

This morning was a little hectic as we went from attending church at 1:00 to attending at our new ward which begins at 9:00 am.   (So much for sleeping in;)  Anyways, we were all rushing about when Nate came to me with a pair of pants that he said fit him better around the waist but were too long.   He insisted that I "make them shorter for him."  So there I was, 30 minutes before church, hemming up this new pair of dress pants for Nate.  I was just happy he was willing to wear anything but Nike shorts, you know?   No sooner had I gotten Nate taken care of then Sam came upstairs furious because he couldn't find his suit pants.    It took us all of two seconds to realize that I had just hemmed Sam's pants to fit Nate and of course - church was starting in 5 minutes.   

Nate was thrilled with his new suit, but Sam was not a happy camper.  He thankfully had an old pair of khakis that Mala had given him so all was well(ish) in the end. 

  Here's hoping next Sunday goes a little more smoothly;) 

Here's a picture of our new place.   We will be here for a minimum of 22 months.  (The Holts typically extend their missions but they said they will check with us first before doing so to see where things are at.)   It is our hope that in 22 months we will have achieved our goal(s) that we set when first starting out on this wild House sitting adventure.   We have talked to so many couples who have said that they wish they could have done this and others who have tried but can't seem to find anybody to rent to them.   We've never sought this out but have always felt so grateful for the couples who have approached us with a rental opportunity.  It's a pretty big deal to trust your home with a family of SIX.   I honestly don't think I could do it, but we are sure grateful for them. 

This particular home is perhaps the smallest home we've ever lived in but it has lots of charm.  

We look forward to loving it like our own!

Easter

We have been moving preparing for our move this upcoming week which has caused me to have a bit of a one track mine.  Thankfully, we have had extra special reason to pause a little and reflect together as a family on all of the blessings that we have been given.  

On Friday we had our annual Passover supper.  In the past the kids have all gotten dressed up in their best Arabic looking attire, but alas their costume bins were packed, so instead we found some ancient Arabic music online and cranked the music up loud.  (It's all about setting the scene, right?)

For supper I made Israeli Salad,  Potato Latkes, Flatbread and Hummus, Olives and BBQd Pork.    

Ummm...yes, that is right.   All these years I thought it was jewish custom to only eat pork.  

All that hard work - only to be so un kosher in the end.

Sigh...epic fail!

The Easter Bunny managed to stop by and provide the kids with Easter Crafts, Pop (which they hardly ever get) and more chocolate than one person should ever have at one time.  

Sam has been lounging around all morning now insisting that we all respect the Bunny. 

What a goof!

We are so very thankful for this Easter Season, for this week we have to be with our kids and for the chance that we have today to reflect on the Resurrection of our Savior.   

I rely on His enabling power every single day.   

Food Trucks and life at 100 years....

One of the most exciting things that April has brought with it is the arrival of "FOOD TRUCK SEASON!"   Woop Woop!!!   Our little town does not provide a lucrative enough base for these food trucks to permanently set up camp, but every once in awhile an announcement will be made (via facebook) that they will be in town.   The trick is to get to the truck a few minutes prior to the scheduled opening time to avoid having to wait in line;)   

My favorite food trucks from last year were the "Flyin' Hawaiian" (which showed up this past Friday:) and the "Grub n' Go," which serves chicken fingers hot dogs and Filipino Spring Rolls and Pancit.  (Random perhaps but so delicious!)

Just when I think the warmer weather will help me get outside and loose weight....

(perhaps if I jog down to get my mini donuts and pina colada?)

Abby has only a few short months left of being the student body President.  For some unknown reason she (along with her friends, no doubt) decided to declare the last week of March a Dress up week which involved a certain theme every day.   Wednesday was "Disney Theme" and Abby craftily rigged up this Belle costume for herself.   She was super proud of it!

A few stakes in our area combined efforts to host a Family Day of Discovery at the High School.  The entire weekend revolved around Family History and bringing it alive.   On Friday evening there was a multi stake activity in which Mormon motivational speaker Hank Smith came and spoke to all of the youth.   Abby was invited to attend a special pre-activity meeting with him.   

Apparently the youth who met with him just talked with him about all things Canadian (ie: toques, poutine etc) and they took pictures together on the Temple lawn.  He was a super funny speaker and had the kids engaged the entire time.   I'll have to look up some of his other talks.   

On Saturday, Abby (along with her friend Hope) were presenters during one of the sessions.  

They taught us about the 1940 census, specifically what information we can gather about our ancestors from it.  She did great!  (in a darling, awkward sort of way;)

We're packing up and getting ready to move again, which means that I am (again) dejunking/sorting/organizing every bit of junk we still feel the need to hold on to.   

This was an old window pane that I have continued to bring with me from house to house.   Finally, I rigged up a practical use for it (and when I say I did, of course that means John did;)  It is now my necklace and earring holder.  I love it so much.   

I had to share this picture too.  Nate's Teacher texted me the other day and shared with me an assignment that she had her students do.  They were to draw a picture of themselves at 100 years of age and state what they would like to be doing.   

Nate's picture/response to this assignment is as follows: 

"When I'm 100...my Grandsons will dig me a grave."  

Sometimes there just are no words....;)

March Madness

What the ...what?  When did March end on me?

Thank Goodness have pictures to remind me of all the fun we've had.  For example...

We celebrated Grandpa's 74 Birthday with some of the cutest kids we know!   Blythe, Marilyn, Maddax, Savannah and Vivian all join us for the night.   

   

We ate yummy food, sang a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" and the kids played until late into the night.  

John and I were forced to stay up extra late this night because Abby was attending her very first stake dance EVER!   It was 80s themed, which blue eye shadow, dark liner, rolled up jeans etc.   

 It's a good thing Aunt Rachel was here and could get help her ready for me.

(One more picture of Grandpa because we love him so much!)

Abby has been enjoying her 2nd year with Leslie's Girls Choir group.  A few weeks back an Edmonton Children's choir did a Southern Alberta tour and made a stop here for a night.  We fed them all an evening supper and then the two choirs joined efforts to put on a concert.  

 It was a fabulous opportunity for these girls to mingle with other talented singers their age. 

Abby got a baritone Ukelele for her birthday and has been taking it with her everywhere she goes, jammin' with cousins, friends and anybody else who will sit down beside her.   She's learned some cute songs on it so far.  (Is it starting to seem as though March was all about Abby?)

Every spring and fall (when the General Relief Society Broadcast is held) my sisters and I get together and try to do some sort of service project together before the broadcast.   In the past we have baked buns/bread and delivered it to busy moms,  delivered flowers and chocolates to women in the ward etc.   This year we decided to try something a little different by opening up our very own "Cousins Cafe!"

We invited women in the ward who had young daughters, some who were going through hard times, and others who we just knew would be alone on this day.   Ella, Ava, Mya, Brooklyn, Abby and Jess were the waitresses and in charge of serving us for the entire dinner.   They had fun taking our orders and I had fun just sitting there visiting;)   I think I should step back and let my kids do more of the work in the kitchen, this was kinda a easy night!  (Though that may in part because Jewel, Heather and Crystal shouldered much of the prep work without me;)  haha

It was a wonderful evening, an excellent broadcast, and the perfect way to welcome in Spring!!  

(yup, that's right, in case last weeks snowstorm had you wondering - Spring IS here!)

In like a Lion

It's official, the unofficial poll results are in, every Mom I have talked to this week have agreed - March is Crazy!   Madness even;)    

Spring sports registration has begun which means that my kids come from school each day with a new sign up sheet in hand, begging to be able to sign up.  Baseball, Soccer, Badminton tryouts, Spring League... they want to do it all!  My method of copying with this is to hide the registration sheets under a massively growing pile of letters from the school and hope that my kids forget about it entirely.  It's a plan that isn't working too well (these kids are relentless!) and I suspect we will spend our spring season down on town square.  

Abby has been a part of Drama club this year and this past week was performance week!  It was her first time in a play and really...her first time on stage.  She pretty much rocked it;)

The play was called "Once on this Island" and was entirely new to the community.  John would likely tell you that it didn't contain the most riveting plot line but it was really well done and I LOVED watching Abby work hard at it.  

Abby and Jessica also travelled to Calgary for the weekend to compete in Choralfest.  Jessica went up on Friday with the elementary school choir and Abby spent two days up there with Leslie's Girls Choir.   Both groups came home with a Platinum which is the highest ranking a group can be given!!  

Woot Woot!

Jessica melted my heart when she came to me on Thursday night (while packing her travel bag) and showed me the four thank you notes she had put together. One for her three teachers who help with choir and one for the random bus driver (who she had yet to meet) who was hired to charter the group up there.   What a cheery GRATEFUL little soul this kid is.  I just adore her!

The past two weeks have been all about Basketball in this town as our Varsity Girls and Boys competed in Zones and then this week Provincials!!!  The boys made it all the way to the final but sadly lost after a hard fight.   This town breathes basketball this time of year.  Its always fun to watch!

And what would March be without a Leprechaun Trap right?  

This year Nate, in a rare moment of compassion, decided not to build a trap at all but rather a Leprechaun HOTEL!   We aren't sure how many Leprechauns stayed the night but it was a GENIUS idea nonetheless;)   

Spring is definitely near.   (Actually, I think it is technically here?)   We still get the odd snow fall but we've got more puddles then we do snowdrifts now so I think we are winning.   

Bring on the gum boots!

Driving me Crazy

It has been an adventurous week for Abby as we've celebrate her 14 years of living.  

Last Friday she had a waffle party with some of her friends.   They made Belgian Waffles, Donut Waffles (glazed donuts pressed in a waffle iron) and Cookie Dough Waffles (same idea).   It's amazing how much noise a gaggle of girls can make when doped up on waffles and sugary toppings.

It also amazed me how attached youth this age are to their phones and how even when we declare this a Girls Only party, boys still manage to be present via Live Instagram feeds.   Ugh.   

I'm not ready for this!

Abby waited anxiously all weekend long for Monday to come, in hopes that I would let her take the test that would qualify her to get her "Learners Permit."  I hummed and hawed about this and threatened to never let her take it, and part of me was so serious.  I'm not ready for this!!  

In the end, she sent me a text from school and simply told me that she would meet me there after school.  

Um.....ok?

  

I complied, mostly because I had no solid reason not too, and we went down to the local registry office as soon as school got out.   I was half hoping she'd fail the test but in true Abby fashion - she passed with flying colors.   Abby was thrilled.   I wanted to cry.  

I've often heard stories of friends of mine who let their kids drive home for the first time right from the registry office.   For the life of me, I couldn't picture Abby maneuvering our busy downtown streets (sarcasm intended) and so I instead drove her to the largest parking lot that I know of in town and (after a quick rundown of everything she needed to know) I let her go.

She was doing fine.  Sure, she pretended to be freaking out and all, but really she was doing just fine.  She was happy as a lark and as I watched her peruse around the parking lot for a good 15 or 20 minutes, I thought to my naive self - "Sure...she's ready to drive us home.  No problem!" 

She took it nice and slow, I mean real slow, .... painfully slow!

She stopped miles ahead of each yield sign, drove 10km/hour through the school zone and once even stopped in the middle of a street because she saw kids playing on a front lawn.  To say this girl was being cautious would be an understatement.   

Which is what makes the next part of my story so darn confusing, because I still don't understand why (after all that painfully cautious driving) after driving all across town, and just as we were seconds away from being home, why she chose to make the last corner without even slowing down.  

But she did. 

As we turned the corner to approach our house I noticed that she was turning awfully fast and really wide.   I could sense that any minute we'd lose control and easily be in the oncoming lane.   I didn't panic or yell (though she might say I did;) as I calmly cautioned, "Abby Slow!  Sharp."

Well.

She apparently took "Sharp" to mean "FASTER!" and naturally she stepped on the gas, which sent us headed straight for a parked vehicle across the street.  At this point I did yell, "Abby!  BRAKE!!!!"   

Her response was to take both hands of the wheel and scream, "Ahhh!  I don't know where the break is, I don't know what to do!"   

All of this happened so fast and was over in mere seconds.   The runaway van we were trapped in simply jumped the curb and stopped abruptly, high centred on a giant mound of ice on a neighbors front lawn.  I turned to Abby and (CALMLY) asked, "What.the.heck.was.that?"  

Her response:  "Momit'snotmyfaultyousaidsharperandthatmeansfasterandyoushouldn'thaveletmedriveinthefirstplaceandI'mneverdrivingagain!"

So, here we were.  

Stuck in this awful, nasty, embarrassing, no good situation and all I could think was how John would be passing by any moment on his way home from work and he'd surely have to save the day and then all would know that John was the better parent then I.

Sigh.....

Luckily, the husband of one of my favorite former neighbors (it helps to move around a lot, you meet a lot of people;) passed by just at that moment.   It was obvious our van was not going anywhere with out being pulled away and luckily he had all the necessary gear to do that.   It took probably two minutes before we were pulled out and on our way again. 

Of course I made Abby get in the drivers seat and circle around to re do that very corner.  It gave her the chance to get back up on the proverbial horse and try again and it gave me a chance to stall a bit more before going home to face John.

In the end John was a champ about it (he always is) and didn't rub my nose in the fact that he would have done a better job at teaching Abby how to drive, than I.   Perhaps he just felt confident that some things don't need to be said out loud? 

At any rate, all is well that ends well, right?   

We've lived to tell the tale (and even laugh about it), there was no damage to the van (that we know of), and Abby has been able to just get her one and only driving mishap out of the way right, off the bat!

Have I mentioned I'm not ready for this?!

14 Candles

This darling friend turned 14 over the weekend which means that I spent many hours deep in existential thought wondering how to possibly parent a kid this old. It's a vulnerable feeling - this business of letting your child grow up and experience whatever it is they are meant to experience. If i could give her a fast pass right on by this stage of life, I'm sure I would. Abby, on the other hand, is all excitement and enthusiasm. (She's adorable like that;)

#whatidontknowscaresme

#practicingtrust

#rootsandwings

What February brings...

February brought with it one of the snowiest months we've had in years; we even got a snow day out of it!!!  There is nothing better than being shut down due to a snow storm.   

(Coziest, most unexpected gift of time ever!)

Just before the storm hit, Jessica and I dashed out to Waterton for a lunch date and some photo taking.  Even though it was nice in town, weather had already turned fierce in the mountains.  We pretty much risked life and limb for a hot dog from Wieners of Waterton.   

All of that snow gave Nate the chance to get creative with his snowman making!

Valentines snuck up on us fast!   Abby and Sam are too cool for school these days and insist that nobody their age gives Valentines anymore, which is unfortunate because, well...how fun is all this?

Just a side note that is super duper worth remembering forever and all time - John SHOCKED me and actually remembered that it was Valentines day.  Not only that, he got me a gift and it was so perfect.  He registered us in a 17 class Massage Course!  It's been super super fun to learn!!

Jessica had a great birthday.  She's 10 now (which isn't great but apparently can't be stopped) and I can't believe what a darling 10 year old she is!   

Get this, she originally suggested not having a friend party and instead going out to Waterton with me on a date.  What kid wants to hang out with their Mom more than have a smashing Birthday Party?!!  This kid - that's who!!!  

Of course, I let her have both.   

Her and I drove out together and ate together at Vimys and then drove around town and took photos of her blowing away in the wind.   Five days later she invited five girlfriends over for supper and a movie down at the local Theatre.   I've decided that is the only kind of Birthday Party that I want to host from this point on.  It's crazy expensive but so worth the lack of effort;)   

We just finished off a week long break from work/school, yet another beautiful thing that February brings;)   I can't express how much I love it when our whole family gets to holiday together.   

We relaxed a lot, played board games, babysat cousins, fixed this house up a bit in preparation to move and even went skiing at Castle Mountain one last time.   On the warmest day of the week we ventured out to St. Mary's reservoir for our first Fossil Hunt of the year.   (As you can see, our warmest day wasn't really that warm;)

We are SO ready for SPRING!!!