Family Reunites - {Part of our Summer 2017 Top 10}

Immediately following the last day of school, we loaded up the van (to the roof!) and headed off on our first camping adventure of the summer.   John's brother Jordan and her family had already been in Canada for a week and we had plans to meet up with them in Waterton for a few days.   I was a little surprised at how much stuff we needed to take with us.   I mean, we didn't even have room for Nate, Sam and John!   (They travelled behind us in our equally loaded down truck)  I'm pretty sure we are going to have to streamline things for future trips.  

I loved being able to camp over Canada Day.   Though my kids may have missed the Canada Day fireworks, we did enjoy a Waterton style Bicycle Parade, a hike to Bertha Falls, Red and White Donuts up at Cameron Lake and time fishing with family.  

John was more than happy to take kids out in the boat.   I was shocked that some of these young nieces and nephews actually ended up being the most successful fishers of all!

Uncle Jordan introduced us to a fun tradition that I think I will implement as well.   It consisted of a evening stop at a nearby hotel (Bayshore Inn) for desserts on the patio.   Though I LOVED the idea (and the experience) I could see myself scrapping the whole "take the kids with you" part and just making this my own secret "sneak away and go when the kids aren't looking" kind of tradition.   

Nothing better than desserts on the patio!

Well, okay - s'mores on the shore of a lake can be nice too. 

I suppose I'm willing to be a little bit flexible about where I eat my desserts;) 

On our last day in Waterton, we hiked to Lower Rowe.  It was a beautiful hike, but HOT as heck!   I spent most of the time feeling bad that I'd spent so much time convincing everyone that they'd love this one.   Still a favorite of mine, I just may no longer claim that it is an easy, level stroll;)

(I may have lost a bit of credibility with that;)

Despite the heat and the uphill climb - these 8 kids hiked like champs!  Even my youngest nephew Jaden walked most of the way and with an insanely small amount of complaint. 

  I was beyond impressed!

We spent one afternoon out at Walley's Beach.  

It was a little too relaxing.  While the kids played - I fell asleep sitting up!  haha

The water was high and the amount of beach was very limited.  Trust these kids to find enough sand to bury themselves in though;)

We spent one day in Glacier too!  We picnicked at Lunch Creek and hiked 2 or 3 hikes, but mostly we drove up and down the "Going to the Sun Road" in search of parking stalls and bathroom stalls.   

Seriously - when did Glacier get SO busy!!

John and his siblings often stopped and ate lunch at Lunch Creek.   Seems appropriate to still do so every now and then;) 

While in Glacier NP, John and I had both insisted that we take the relatives on a "stroll" (another one of those;) to Virginia Falls.  The trail takes you through a forest that had been ravaged by wildfire only two years ago.  It's a stunning hike, though when the weather is a balmy 37 degrees out - it is a hike that leaves you wishing for a bit of foliage overhead.  Some shade would have made all the difference.   A slight breeze would have been nice.  A passing rain shower would have been a complete God send.   

Luckily though- we were with the worlds best hikers.  

Seriously- I'd hike with this family anytime. Did I say that already?

Luckily, Virginia Falls did not disappoint.   In fact, she was roaring more fiercely than I had ever seen and you could hardly stand near the base of the falls without getting soaked completely.   

Mother Nature (or really GOD) is absolutely divine.  I'm never more certain of this than when I've spent a few hours outdoors.   

The day before Jordan and Luci left for home, we went in to Lethbridge to connect with John's sister Rachel and her hubby Brent.   They introduced us to the fun activity of a "Lock out Room" where you are essentially locked in a room and must solve a series of puzzles in order to advance to the end.   It was much more enjoyable than I expected.  (Despite the look on John's face - I think he really enjoyed it too!  haha)

It was a fun filled week and a bit with this family.
Though that usually is the case when they come to visit.  

End of June celebration

The end of June brought a lot of celebration, wrap up, and tears.  

One of the teachers at the Elementary School has been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.   It has been devastating to Jessica who Adores this woman with a capital A.  She's been a remarkable music teacher and everyone is very hopeful that she will be able to finish her treatments and be back some time in the fall.  Her doctors have told her that she has every reason to think that is possible.   I pray often that that will be the case because any woman who will wrap my daughter in her arms like this is a woman I need in my child's corner for life!   

Another special woman in my life is my Aunt Karen.   Ever since we moved to town 10 years ago (how can it already have been 10 years?!) this dear Aunt has looked after my kids.  As a grade 2 teacher, she had a front row seat to all that my kids were experiencing there.  She would make extra sure they each landed in her class when it was their grade 2 year; she always had a bucket of candy for them to draw from whenever they stopped by her room; she hugged them and loved them and encouraged them to dance as often as possible-even in class!  

She single handedly has made my kid's elementary school experience something truly special.   

She retired this year, just shy of getting Nate in her class, and we could not have felt more grateful for her years of influence.  We had all the kids surprise her with a 12 day countdown to retirement.  (A celebratory gift for her every day for her last 12 days of work.  Peanuts compared to what she has done for all of us.)

 Love love LOVE her!

Here is a fun celebration - 

On the last day of school John and I attended grad.  It was so fun to see these students finish off their High School Career.  Some of these youth are ones that I personally got to work with.  I was filled with pride to see them walk across that stage.   I couldn't help but imagine how proud I will feel to watch my own kids cross the stage.  Pretty exciting life moment here - 

- and the perfect start to a much anticipated summer vacation!!

Just getting started...

June 3rd was a special day for Grandpa Max and this year even more so. 

It was on this day 50 YEARS AGO that he married his dear wife!!  

50 YEARS!!!

John and I were thrilled that he was willing to come out to Waterton with us yesterday evening to celebrate.    We took him out for dinner at the Prince of Wales hotel (fancy schmancy!), then we walked through the town site and ate ice cream cones from Mooselicks ($1 cones - booyah!), and finished the evening off by taking some photos of Grandpa down by Pass Creek.  

This is the sweetest man I know and he is married to the sweetest woman that I know.  

How I wish they could have celebrated together but I really do believe that she is near him always.  

Thank goodness for the promise of ETERNITY - 50 years is just the beginning!! 

Pinch me

Sam has impressed us so much this year with his determination to learn the Cello.   (For years he begged us to let him take Cello lessons and this year we were finally able to find a local teacher for him)   He has had to juggle Scouts, and Baseball, and Piano, and Homework in order to make time for a second instrument but he really has done well!

After his Cello recital last week I mentioned to Sam that I'd love to take him to Waterton to get more pictures of him.    He initially wasn't thrilled at the idea mostly because I was picturing a whole Piano Guys type photo shoot where he would where a suit and all.   (I shoulda known he wouldn't have signed on to that;)    As soon as I dropped the "suit" from our plans - he was on board!  

I wanted to find a way to get his Cello up on top of Bears hump though I couldn't imagine actually carrying it up myself.   Sam was an absolute dear and told me that 'if I wanted him to...and as a birthday present to me....HE would carry it up AND he would even cooperate for photos.'  

We set a date to make this happen before he had time to second guess things!

This past Saturday this darling young man really did hike that instrument all the way up to the top and once up there - he put on a full on concert!   Other hikers all paused to listen and would clap/cheer for him at the end of each song.    The coolest moment however came as Sam was playing the song "In Dreams" from the Lord of the Rings movie.   Everyone was just standing listening to Sam when all of the sudden two large EAGLES rose up along the wall of Bears hump and soared just beside us.   John said they were so close for a second that he could have almost reached out and touched one.   Everyone sort of shouted in surprise at them and my kids started exclaiming, "The Eagles are coming!"  haha.   Super funny and coincidental moment considering the song that Sam had been performing.   

Despite Sams original hesitation, he really enjoyed playing up there and the whole way down he kept telling me that his next goal is to play atop Chief!   (pretty sure he'll be doing that trek alone;)  haha.

Every time I hike Bearshump now I will think of that time I made Sam haul his Cello up in celebration of his success.  I hope he remembers this for the 'character building experience' that it was. haha   (You're totally welcome kid;)

Last summer I had read online about a variety of a hybrid Tulip that had been created and donated by the Netherlands as a thank you gift to Canada.   With it being Canada's 150 birthday this year, the tulip had been designed to resemble the Maple Leaf.  I knew as soon as I read about them that I would need to get my hands on some of those bulbs.   I spent August and September calling every local distributor that I could, emailing  a lady in Easter Canada and doing everything possible to find myself some bulbs to purchase.  (Even though Home Hardware had been designated as the sole official retailers for this bulb - there was not a store between here or Calgary that was going to be able to bring them in.  However possible, they had sold out before they even reached the stores!)

In one lame attempt, I went into my local Home Hardware and begged them to just place an order -  (despite their insistence that nothing would come) I just wanted them to try.  

I heard nothing for several weeks and then one day I got a call notifying me that there were 100 bulbs with my name on them but that I'd better hurry because they wouldn't stay there long.  I rushed down to the store that very moment and as I was paying for them the cashier said she was shocked that I was actually getting them.  She said I may very well be the only person in town that has any.  

Woot Woot!!

I looked into sending some to my sister in law but was met with too many requirements to fulfill before I could safely transport across the border, so instead I planted many and then gave some away. 

This week they finally bloomed!!  (A good week or two after every other tulip has peeked, which I love because these stand out even more now;)   

I just absolutely ADORE them!

Now I am determined to find 100 more!!! 

Yesterday was my 37th birthday and I felt so touched by many kind gestures:

* I have a sister in law who always remembers birthdays and sends yummy chocolate and darling trinkets.

* A woman that I admire so much stopped by and gave me earings from Tiffanys!   

* A woman that I served with last year came by for a visit and left me with peachy smelling goodies.  (I now love everything peachy;)

* An elderly couple ordered a bouquet of flowers and then had my kids put their names on the card too

* John asked the school office to announce that it was my birthday (embarrassing but sweet), he baked me a birthday cake for the first time ever (him and Betty Crocker make a good team!), and he made me a super cool DIY pressure soaker that I wanted for our upcoming days at Walleys Beach.   

* Jessica made me a card with dried pansies around the edges

* Nate gave me a Kit Kat bar (hello!)

* Sam hauled his cello up bearshump just for me;)

* Abby played her Ukulele and sang the song by Taylor Swift titled "Best Day."  (It's about a daughters best day with her Mom and Abby knew I think of it as hers and my song.)  

Can you tell I was spoiled?  I really really was.  

In addition to all of that - my two sisters and my nieces drove all the way to my hometown (2 hours round trip) to cut me some Lilacs that grow on what is now my brothers land, but was once my Grandpas.   These are lilacs from the most precious, darling and dear Tree that has ever grown.   When I think of how my siblings knew I would love lilacs from the very tree we used to play beneath- it just makes my heart soar.   

Someone Pinch me.   So much happiness!

Making Music

This past weekend our local Girls Choir participated in a provincial music festival in Edmonton.  
It has been years since Abby has been back to her first home and she seemed to have an absolute blast!   It was fun to watch her do some of the things that I used to do with her when she was just a baby/toddler.    (ie:  Visit the Legislature grounds, explore downtown)  As an added bonus, the girls choir took 2nd place at the festival and Cantrix (a selection of a handful of the members including Abby) took 1st place!   Woohooo!!!   

This trip was the last big event for the girls for this year.  I am super proud of her, super exhausted from helping with fundraisers etc, and super ready for a well deserved break. ;)

Girls Choir wasn't the only thing that wrapped up this month.   Last night we enjoyed the kids annual piano recital, which was held at the United Church.  Their teacher Betsy is, in my opinion, patience personified!   Despite the fact that I have spent the past 8 months nagging, threatening, bargaining, and pleading to them to do their practicing - they did do well last night and I could tell that they had improved.  Sam had a double load this year with piano AND cello and we could tell this got to be more than he could handle so we recently agreed to let him drop piano next year in an effort to lighten his load.   I was surprised however, when after the recital he told John and I that he would like to continue.   We're pretty sure his teacher has inspired him, yet again! 

I can't wait to hear the music these kids will make when they start a new piano season in September.  
As for right now though, my Tuesday mornings just got a little less busy.  

Ahhhh....I just love the end of the year wrap up!

A pretty perfect May Long Weekend

John was the only one who had to go to work on Friday so the kids and I spent the morning being super duper lazy.   We made up for it in the afternoon though when we all travelled down to Chad's place to do some work on the farm.   Chad had recently ordered over 70 Haskep starts as well as some cherry bushes etc.   Crystal and Jewel had already dug two rows by the time we made it down but it was fun to join in the effort.  

 It's going to look pretty darn cool when they really start growing!

I adore this wide open prairie sky.   

The kids found lots to do to keep busy while we were planting.  That's another thing I love about this farm - the kids always seem to make their own adventures with such ease.  

One of Chad's boys had worked to make a path through the caragana bushes (I think that is what they are?) that led to the field of Haskeps.  Most of my family speak of the farmhouse as the dearest place (and it does hold special memories for me too) but in my opinion this is the sweetest spot on the land!

It was a perfect Friday and an ideal way to begin our May long weekend.
 No school for dayz!!!!   (Well, a couple of days at least;)   Woohooo!!!!

On Saturday we stayed closer to home.  I desperately wanted to go to Waterton (not trying to be dramatic;) but we knew that place would be swarming with tourists and so instead we headed east to our other favorite place - St.Mary's.   

The kids found some fragments of a dinosaurs tooth,  John and the kids fished for a couple of hours and I sat in the bed of the truck and wrote my talk (I had to speak in church the next day) while listening to the sound of the kids laughing in the distance.  Every so often I would pause from my rest/pondering to try and capture a photo of an arctic turn that kept coming back to dive for a trout.   Sigh....it was a perfect Saturday.

On Sunday John and I skipped out on going to our ward so that we could speak in the Leavitt ward.  (John had the assignment to be the visiting High Councillor and he asked me to be his speaking companion)  It was super stressful for me, preparing and giving a talk always is, but it was fun to do something with him.   I liked that part of it. 

After John got home from his Sunday meeting we started a fire in the back yard and roasted marshmallows.   The kids and I laid on the trampoline and watched the stars begin to light up the sky while Abby serenaded us on her Ukulele.   It.was.a.perfect.Sunday.

Monday was a day off!  Woot Woot!! 

After a lazy breakfast and a run down by the creek with Abby, John and I took the kids to the pool as it was opening day!!!!   Unfortunately even though it was opening day - it is also still May in Southern Alberta which means that only crazy people actually go swimming.   It was pretty cool! 

I'm sure glad I just sat on the deck and read Harry Potter.  (Finally giving in and giving this series a shot;)   

John is currently fishing with Sam and Jess and the latest text I got from him included this picture and a warning that they will be bringing home 5 fish, which means I will need to rethink our dinner menu.  John will be Happy, Happy, Happy!   I stayed home to bake butterhorns and six Strawberry Rhubarb pies for our freezer.   Once the sun goes down, I will go outside and plant a few things in the small garden box that John has rigged up for me.  
At the risk of sounding redundant I think it is safe to say that this has been a most perfect Monday. 

I wish every weekend could be a May Long Weekend!

Happy Mother's Day

I love getting the home made notes on Mother's Day each year and this year was no exception.  

Nate's Grade 1 teacher had created a little booklet which contained questions for Nate to answer about me.  You know, to show how well he knows the one who gave him life and all.   

His answers to most all of the questions were shockingly inaccurate, but this one really had us laughing:  

Gotta love the honesty of a 7 year old!  

He says it as he sees it, I guess;)

Beautiful Things

Spring is my favorite time of the year!!!!   

I never tire of the birds, the tulips, the sunshine (which has been hiding for 8 months prior) and the blossoms - don't get me started on the blossoms!

My favorite thing is going for an evening walk with the kids and catching a scent from a nearby tree. 

The smell of blossoms in the spring time is the best.  Such a beautiful thing!

Jessica and I made another trip out to Waterton this weekend.  (We are trying to enjoy it as much as possible now before the summer crowds come and it stops feeling like "our park.")   

 There were tonnes of Bighorn sheep to be seen.   We once watched a documentary at the falls theatre about these creatures and I will forever more be amazed at how they manage to survive in some of the harshest climates and conditions.   

We drove up to Red Rock and paused only for a moment to walk through a field of shooting stars.  It was incredible.   Up until now, this had always been a difficult/rare flower for me to find.  On this particular day though there were thousands of them, turning an entire meadow into a lovely sea of purple.   It was a beautiful thing.  

Jessica is a real eagle eye when it comes to searching for wildlife.  As I drove up to Red Rock she immediately spotted a tiny black bear sleeping high up in a tree.  Upon closer examination we noticed that it's mama bear was sleeping at the base of the tree.  We watched these two sleep bears for forty minutes at least - waiting for them to wake up.  

After about ten minutes the mama bear did wake up and began to eat and explore.  It was kind of touching to watch how she ventured a short distance for food but never too far from the tree.  She circled it often and hovered nearby always, obviously keeping a watchful eye on her sleeping baby.   I love watching the interactions among wildlife as I see such human like qualities in them. 

(ie: Jealousy, anger, determination, and as Jess and I so beautifully saw - Motherly love)

Just as our patience was beginning to wain, the tiny thing woke up and started to make its way down.  We've never watched a bear climb in or out of tree before and it was super cool to see how easily it could make it's way down as it joined it's mama.   It was a beautiful thing!

And because this entry began with blossoms, what better way to end it then with - more blossoms!

This tree sits in our back yard and though it is a great climbing tree for the kids, it has also produced the most abundant amount of fragrant white blossoms.  A popcorn tree in my own backyard!!!  

Sometimes I lay under this tree and the bees don't even care that I'm there.  

Taking an afternoon nap in the shade as hundreds of busy bees buzz in the leaves just above you is again - a 

BEAUTIFUL THING!  

I feel so blessed to have gotten to enjoy all these things this week.

I'm a happy Girl!

Making time for Springtime

The past couple of weeks have been filled busy (do I sound like a broken record?) but super fun.

Last week was consumed with planning and carrying out various dinners.   One night I (but really John which is why I say "I") was in charge of providing desserts for the High Counsellors, their wives, and our then Stake Presidency after an evening at the temple.   Of course, I went ridiculously overboard trying to make sure that their was a dairy free option, a gluten free option a chocolate option (because why would you not serve chocolate?) and a non chocolate option.   Do I sound crazy yet?  It was really supposed to just be a simple dessert night following a temple session but you know me! haha   Two days later I was in charge of feeding Abbys Girl Choir group before their annual spring concert.   Again- no big deal just beef on a bun, chips, salad and squares.   Two days later on that Sunday I (but really John which is why I say "I") was in charge of a luncheon for Elder Wilson (Quorum of the 70) Elder Evanson (area authority) and our New Stake Presidency and their wives.   Eeeek!!!   Again, nothing major just soup, salad and fruit for dessert - but- YOU KNOW ME! 
"It always has to be stressful" - pretty sure that is my motto;)    

I realize that none of this is important information, but who knows, maybe one day I will look back on that one week where I felt as though I'd fed everybody except my own family and think of what a good time that was?  Perhaps I will?  

Aside from that, we have mostly just continued with the constant battle that exists in spring:

Practice Piano or play/watch baseball?

Do homework or play/watch baseball?

Clean my room or play/watch baseball?  

Life is full of tough choices, isn't it.

John and I found ourselves on Friday evening almost miraculously on our own.   Abby was at a party,  (her first boy girls one ever! ahem... Kinda shocked that I spent so much time talking about dumb food when this should really get more air time) and Jess was at her friends house until late.  On a whim, John and I phoned our local pizza place, arranged for supper to be delivered to Sam and Nate and we got the heck out of town!!  

And where else would two AWOL parents go - but to Waterton!

It was PERFECT!!   

The sun was shining, the temp was high, and wildflowers are in bloom!

We hiked up Bears Hump which always surprises me every time I hike this to realize how out of shape I am.   This hike is a gooder.  

John is a super fun hiking partner.  As we climbed, we talked about future hikes we want to do this summer.   We want to hike through Rowe Meadow again, do the Garden Wall in Glacier and perhaps even tackle Vimy!  

It was a perfect evening.  We had packed supper with us to eat up on Bears hump but just before we were about to eat John found a tick on me.  And then I found one on him.  

And then I had a mild panic attack and called it quits.   

...made it down that mountain in record time!

By the end of the hike I'd gotten so good at finding ticks, I was spotting them on strangers we'd pass on the trail.   Naturally we stopped to kindly pick the tick off of them which always makes for a fun awkward moment.  haha

Ew....Ew...Ew...EW!!!!

On Saturday we worked like crazy people all morning.   (Gardening, yard work etc) By mid afternoon however, John and I again found ourselves with few kids at home and a blessed chunk of time on our hands.   

This time we headed straight to Payne Lake so John could finally get his boat out on the water.  

I love fishing with John almost as much as I love hiking with him, only for different reasons.   When we hike - we always talk together which we don't do nearly often enough.   When we fish- John pretty much talks about fishing and I nod my head in agreement when what I'm really focusing on is all of the pictures I'm taking.   Every once in a while I do throw out a cast just so he thinks I'm super motivated to catch a fish too.   

There was lots to photograph this particular evening too.  

Geese...Eagles....the setting sun.....

While John led us across the lake I listened to every sound around me and snapped photos of every bird I saw, drinking in the tranquility of the moment.   I really really really really need to make more time in my life for evenings like this.   

It's moments like this that keep me centred and remind me that I have a really awesome life.   

I'm so glad I could make some time for Springtime.   

MAY I never forget these days....

Oh May- I just love you!

Aside from the fact that this month contains my date of birth (you're welcome world;) it is also a Month filled with truly remarkable sunshiny fun.   For example:

1:  May brings Flowers!!!!   

Our front flower beds are lined with tulips (some belonging to the owner of this home and others were transplants that I greedily refused to leave behind at our previous rental.   Perhaps if I want to keep my flowers in the ground I should buy a house and stay put?)   I've also been lucky enough to get out to the mountains a bit where I have already spotted alpine buttercup, crocuses and even yellow stunning Glacier Lilies.   

This particular bouqet of Daffodils came to me though via a dear woman that I admire who grows hundreds of them and likes to share them each year with people who she knows have lost loved ones to Cancer.   Oh bless her heart!!  They are so cheery and made my kitchen smell perfect for dayz;)

2:  Baseball!!

I'm quickly starting to realize that Baseball may just define our spring in the years to come.

Between Nathan and Sam - our Calendar is booked with games every Monday-Thursday for the next two months.   Sam is among the oldest in his particular league this year and as a result is really thriving.   We've heard other teams coaches commenting on his pitches and what a great strength he is.  Sam is thrilled with things this year and lives, eats and breathes baseball.  

Booyah!

3:  Gardening!!!

Okay, so John and I don't get to have a garden this year because our new rental doesn't have one.  For some reason we keep thinking that our landlords would be upset if we tore up and tilled half their backyard?;)   We may try to get creative with some planter boxes, but luckily Grandpa still needs lots of help with his Garden.   

If I were being completely honest (and why wouldn't I be?) I'd clarify that really it is John who helps Grandpa with the gardening.   In a surprising and fun twist though, Abby and Jess also helped which actually made last Wednesdays task of planting over 1500 Gladiola bulbs (oh yeah, that's right) go so much faster.   These spry little kids helped speed up the work by two hours!!  

I contributed to the great Gardening effort by brining over supper.   

It just felt like a "Can cooker" kind of a night.  We ate it in the back yard while dreaming about hot summer days, flowers and hummingbirds.   We all agreed that spending an evening this way was way more enjoyable then practicing the piano and doing homework. 

These are just a few of the things that I adore about May!