Yellowstone

Back in May, John and I joined his sister and her family down in Bozeman, MT for an adventure of a lifetime! John and I NEVER really adventure much (there is always a reason why we "just can't, at the moment") but this time - we did!

We got to Bozeman on a Friday evening, and then at 4:30 the next morning, we made our way to Yellowstone National Park for a day of Wolf watching.  

Backstory - I have always wanted to see wolves in the wild. It's been a dream for years. Last year, during a hike on the Wishbone trail, I think we heard wolves and may have seen some, but it wasn't enough to fill me up and feel satisfied - I wanted to see more!

It definitely felt early, but we loaded up in a 14 passenger van (us, the Allens, and a tour guide) and set off to all the places where our guide knew their would be wolves. 

We kept our distance, always watching the wolves through spotting scops, but we definitely were able to watch them. 

I think in all we saw 7 or 8 this day. White ones, grey ones, and black ones too!

This is the closest wolf we saw, just off the road. I wish we'd arrived early enough to be able to really capture the front side of him (butt shots are never as exciting) but this really was a fun moment. 

We loved spending the day watching. 

It is interesting how intently we observed the sky, the ground, the trees, and everything in between. 

This picture was fun. In this photo is.a den, where 5 little coyote pups would peak out and play every so often. At one point though, we all noticed that Mama was nearby, diligently keeping her young ones in check. Mama animals are fascinating to me!

Speaking of "pups," my little litter were amazing. We spent a LOT of time in a car that weekend and never did they complain. I really really like going places with my people!

We took a little hike to an old abandoned Wolf paddock that was used up until a couple of decades ago.

Here the guide told us an awesome love story about the famous Yellowstone Wolf #40 who ruled the wolves with an iron paw but also cared deeply for his lady love and brood-to-be.

After our wolf tour ended, we explored the park a little bit more, enjoying as many Yellowstone wonders as possible! (We didn't loop down to "Old Faithful" but we'd seen that amazing geyser before.)

We had an absolutely beautiful time, seeing some beautiful scenery and being with some beautiful human beings! Trips to Bozeman are definitely highlights for us!

 

Recital Time

May always marks the end of piano, voice, and guitar lessons. I am seriously always so thankful for the teachers in my kid's lives who help them develop the talents that they do.

Betsy has been teaching my kids piano for pretty near a decade now! There have been times when my kids have not practiced as well as they should have, or when it has been obvious that their hearts have not been in it, but Betsy always responds with kindness. My kids not only feel safe with her, they want to spend time with her. (The piano seems to be an apendage to getting to go to Betsy house to visit. haha) 

Patty is a new teacher in Jessica's life but she sure has helped Jessica dig deep. I admire Patty's eye ear for quality and her desire to inspire Jessica's to do her very best at all times and to take care of this instrument that is her voice. I've noticed so much growth in Jess, over these last several months.  

I really mean it, it's coaches, school and music teachers that make the world go 'round!

Spring Sports

Just as baseball season ended, the whole town shift gears and prepared for a return to ...guess what...MORE SPORTS!

I swear, there is about one week between sports seasons, then the hustle begins again. 

For Nate, this meant a return to Basketball. He joined a spring league team and LOVED being one of the tallest on the team. It's all fun now, but he'd better just wait until the other boys all get their growth spurts too! 

These are seriously the best young men. I LOVE this friendship that they all have. 

Nice Flex Nate!

Sam had an incredible season of baseball. His coaches really tried to develop the school team.

At the last home game of the year, the coaches awarded Sam with the Sean Court memorial award, which is given to someone who (like Sean) embodies leadership, effort, and sportsmanship on the field. It was such a privilege to watch him receive that. 

In addition to baseball, Sam also rocked it on a spring league Basketball Team. They only played a few tournaments, but it was just enough to keep our weekends in May extra, double booked! 

Jessica made the JV softball team this year and LOVED playing ball with all those girls. One evening we were notified that another town's team had to forfeit so their coaches invited the girl's moms to come to play against them. It was SO fun to get to hit the diamond and give it all a try. 

Actually, I think the moms won, so...

A week after losing to their mommies - these girls went on to place first in zones, bringing home the banner. So proud!

Naturally, Jess couldn't be happy playing just one sport either, so she too found a spring league team to join. This group of girls are mostly from Hillspring/Mountain View area which was awesome. Jess loved getting to know new faces. She was a leader on the court this year, that's for sure. 

 

Easter Weekend

Of all the holidays we enjoy in a year, "spring break" is always a wild card for us. We never really know what we'll be dealing with. This year- it was snow and cold- right through April, which meant that we could still squeeze in one of our special snow hikes up to Cameron Lake. 

 

A month of Sam- Mullets and Basketball

My 17-year-old.

He really knows how to grind my gears, you know?

So, there was this one time, when his hair was getting long, that I asked him to consider getting a haircut. Naturally, because I was the one that asked, he felt there was no need. 

A day or two later, he went over to his Uncle Brent's house to drop something off and came back with a mullet. A mullet!!!  

This is definitely not what I had in mind when I told him to cut his hair!

The reality is, he actually really rocks the mullet. It has served him well during the Basketball season. 

Speaking of basketball- it was a good season for Sam. He didn't make the varsity team, but he did get a lot of chances to play up during certain games. I was proud of the way he pushed himself and managed moments of personal disappointment. 

He's been learning some important lessons this year that will help him on and off the court - mullet and all!

 

Field Placement

This past April, I had the chance to be a student teacher, for the first time ever!

It was incredibly scary, hard, joyful, stressful, and empowering. I got assigned to the BEST class ever!

Even though my teacher was out for almost two weeks (because of BED BUGS!) I had a great time with the kids and learned so much about the work of a teacher. 

My back gave out on me, towards the end of my month there, so I felt like I was quite literally crawling to the finish line, but I am so grateful to have this particular step behind me. 

I am grateful for this journey I am on, but it has certainly not been easy. 

Jess Festival Week

Back in September, Jessy registered for voice lessons!

Her teacher, Patty, lives right next to us and she has been such a help and source of strength to Jessica. 

Under Patty's tutelage, I've not only seen Jessica develop a new skill, but I have watched her confidence grow. She has had lots of opportunities to perform AND she even competed in the town's annual Rotary Music Festival. 

I was in the middle of a practicum during that week and so I missed a few of her performances. Luckily, I was able to catch her evening competitions. 

She did so so so so SO good!

It has been a total joy and honor to watch her grow in this capacity.

We will forever be grateful for Patty B and all that she has done for our girl!

 

Sadie Hawkins Dance

Sam has officially finished his grade 11 year, but since I'm still catching up on old times, this is worth throwing in there. 

Sam had been invited (by Lucy N) to go to Sadies. She had given him a poster with some really cute photos of the two of them in Junior High, kind of a throwback to the last time they "danced together." It was really cute. 

Sam responded by wrapping up a bunch of candy, gum, and goodies in a ball of saran wrap that she had to unravel. He left a punny little note with it and delivered it to her front door. 

Because of COVID, this dance had to be postponed, but near the end of February 2022, restrictions finally lifted, allowing a return to normalcy.  It was so fun that these kids got to get out and socialize together. What a long spell of isolation they all had endured. 

This group went bowling in Lethbridge together and then got dressed up for the dance. There was a theme of "Disney couples."

 

 I think Sam and Lucy made a darling Peter Pan and Wendy!

Nate Archery Tournament

Nate enjoyed being a part of the Junior High archery team. It's his first year being a part of anything like this, but he has done really well, considering. 

Earlier in the year he had the chance to go to Edmonton to participate in provincials. 

Jess and John were happy to accompany him as it gave them a chance to touch base with Abby too!

Nate loved seeing Abby's digs (is that what people say?) and Abby loved having the company!

Jess and Nate were fans of the LRT system. 

And they had to get a picture of our boy, "Tokyo" standing under a sign that says "Tokyo." 

It's been a couple of years since Nate acquired the nickname "Tokyo" and I still don't understand how that came to be. 

Nate had a blast at the provincial tournament and even took home 3rd place for Grade 6 Boys. 

Isn't that incredible! In all of the province- he placed 3rd in his catagory. 

 I mean, he is a real life Robyn Hood, if I do say so myself!

February Break

Family week in February provided us with a much-needed rest, AND.....ABBY CAME HOME!!!

We went bowling in Lethbridge together.

It's hard to say who the worst bowler was. We all kind of unanimously sucked at it, but man was it fun!

Mason got his mission call, so we all drove down to Claresholm to be with him while he opened it. 
Lucky Toronto!  He will be amazing!

New Years Eve

I spent New Years Eve crying/laying on my kitchen table, dramatically writhing in pain while trying to watch "Meet the Fockers." It pretty much goes down as the WORST New Years ever!

My family, however, had a blast over at Brent and Rachel's house - eating, playing games, and celebrating in all the best ways!