Our little Charlie Brown Tree!

After last years Christmas Eve fiasco with our disappearing Christmas Tree - we decided that this year we would have TWO trees in our home.   One in the basement for the kids (and John), and one upstairs for me, that would hopefully stay put this time.    Even better then that- John decided months and months ago that instead of purchasing a fake tree- we would cut our own this year!

How fun is that?

Growing up- my Dad insisted on real Christmas trees, and I have fond memories of the fresh piney smell wafting through the house.      I even remember a couple of childhood trips to the foothills to pick out that perfect tree.    It would be an understatement to say that I was excited for my own kids to get to have that same experience this year.    

Early last week- John picked up a permit and on Friday after school we picked up Johns Dad and followed his directions out to the "community pasture."    I'd never been out there before and on a warm sunny day, I could picture it being quite a lovely spot.    On this particular day it was still quite lovely- albeit snowy and windy.    Still- the kids happily trudged along behind us as John, Max and I scoured the woods for a very particular type of tree.   Spruce...pine...Fir...?  I don't remember particularly what kind we were looking for-but I do know John was not willing to settle for anything but!    I gave up and eventually returned to the van with the kids- while John and Max disappeared beyond our sight.   

Half an hour later they came back into view dragging behind them two very lovely trees!    Apparently John finally found ONE tree that fit his criteria, and what a tree it is;)    (The 2nd tree we gave to our Home Teacher.)

Sadly- I forgot my camera at home (I hate it when that happens) and may have said a bad word in my head every time I witnessed a moment pass that I would have loved to document.   The kids prancing around those woods, happy and excited about this adventure- really was a merry moment.      And the image of John and Max hiking back towards us-through the snow- with the trees in tow is a memory that I will always cherish.     Well...at least until it fades from my brain because I have no PICTURE to remind me of it!!!!!    Sigh!   

(This is the only picture I got the entire day.  Lame-but I guess it will have to do;)

It took a few days to get our tree decorated.   I truly lack the ability to make things cute-but here is the finished product.      My sister Crystal found us a gold angel for the top, and I used a thick meshy fabric to fill in the many gaps.    All in all- despite my useless decorative skills- this little Charlie Brown Tree doesn't look half bad, if I do say so myself;)

And just in case you feel inclined to analyze or critique it- let me just show a close up of the ornaments.   

That's right.   It's full of touching pictures of the Savior.  

I DARE you to make fun of it now!!!!;)

And the best part about this tree is that - unlike last year- it is staying put!!!

That time I actually won something....

I don't really win contests very often.    In fact, aside from a set of steak knives I won for my Dad when I was eight, and the time I became the student council secretary in high school (by acclamation;)  - I usually come out on the losing end of things.   

So imagine my ELATION when I recently won... not one .... but TWO photo contests!    

The first one, I was originally a little bit embarrassed about.   Back in the summer, I had submitted a photo of mine to Value Drug Mart in hopes that it would win a spot in their 2012 Calendar.    

When I found out that it had- I immediately began to worry about who would find out that I'd even entered.    I didn't want people to think I was all like "look at me and the photo I took."  

Turns out- that humility wore off rather quickly and I've been bragging about it ever since;)  

PS:  Two other talented local woman's photos appear in the Calendar as well;)

I'm Miss January!   (just kidding;)

The second Contest is the one I am most excited about, because it is strictly for Waterton photos.   I entered it last year and received honorable mention for a photo I took while hiking Crypt.    This year,  I went a little over the top and spent all my time in Waterton taking pictures!!!   If I was totally being honest I'd admit to entering 15 in total!   I mean- who does that?!

What?  I was determined;)

A couple of days ago I was notified and told that four of my photos had won first in every category!   

(Best overall Waterton Photo, Honorable Mention, Best Photo of Triple Crown Hike Category, and Honorable Mention!)

I have truly been elated about it ever since and there have been moments where I've actually dragged John over to the computer to look "just one more time...at what a winner he married!"

I really should stop.  He's getting sick of it;)    

Here's to entering Contests with a shallow pool of entries eh?  

I tell ya- it's really easy on the ego!

When I look back on the photos I've submitted over the past couple of years I am always reminded of the moment I snapped it.    Each picture carries with it a memory of time spent in Waterton and my love for this place has deepened and intensified as a result.

Go here to see the photos I submitted: My Waterton Photos and Thank you for allowing me to boast a wee bit for a moment.   

Rest assured- this will likely NEVER happen again!  
You can almost statistically count on it;)

Snow Play

We had fun this past weekend watching Nate try to navigate his way through the snow!   

Is there anything sweeter then a little boy bundled up in a snow suit and puppy hat?
I think not!

Letters to Santa

One of the kids' favorite thing to do each year is to browse the Sears Wish book and write letters to Santa.    It's a fun sight for sure- to watch for kids tear into that book (literally) trying to get dibs on what they would like to find under the tree on Christmas morning.   

It's pretty much greedy mayhem!

Of course-  after they compose their letters- I usually discover that "Santa" has so far gotten nothing on their list.    It either a) gives me ...ahem..."Santa" a chance to make one last shopping trip to remedy that.  Or b) it gives me time to manipulate conversations and influence the kids to change their minds and actually want what is really coming their way! ;)

 I was thrilled to see their wish lists for 2011;)    Turns out Santa got it somewhat right this year, and each of the kids are getting at least ONE of the things they've asked for.    That's good enough for me!

That was however-before ABBY showed up this afternoon with another draft of her letter to Santa.    Let's just say she's made a few revisions and I'm not sure how I feel about them.    John and I have a solid NO Pets for Christmas rule and suddenly she is asking for FOUR?!

And a Star Wars bobblehead?  Really?

(I  was however, so very pleased to see her little P.S. where she asks Santa if he could be sure to put MODEST clothes on her Monster High Doll.)

Yeah Elves - Get it right this year!

No hootchy barbies like last time:)

The Professor is in

The other night we received a phone message from one of our darling (albeit American) nephew Kaden.    He had a science related question and was hoping that the PROFESSOR (aka John;) could call him back soon.    I didn't delete that phone message for a couple of days because it made me smile every time I listened to it,  ever since then I've made a point of calling John "Professor" as much as possible.  Though he won't admit it- I think he actually likes the nickname;) 

  

Last night as we were watching M*A*S*H (which is part of our usual bedtime routine) I noticed ahem... the "Professor"  was going through a stack of papers written to him by his grade 10 students.    Every semester he asks his students to give him some anonymous feedback in the form of a survey.   There's such safety in anonymity isn't there?  

 He asks them to share their opinions of his class by answering 3 specific questions.  They are:

"What should I START doing as a teacher?"

"What should I STOP doing as a teacher?"

"What should I CONTINUE doing as a teacher?"

I had fun reading through the surveys with John and most of them were very kind and constructive.  Bless those kids' hearts!   Some were just plain funny! 

Here are a few of my favorites:

STOP- "letting us goof around."

STOP- "making us separate our desks during exams." 

(yeah...sure kid.  Good luck with that;) 

START- "You should show us more movies!"   

(this reminded me of the time my social 30 class managed to convince our teacher Mr. Thompson to let us watch Monty Python in class.   Movies in class were the best!;)    

STOP-  "having a water cooler with no cups.  Please share!"

START- "showing more movies" (again with the movies?;)

CONTINUE- "looking like a dinosaur"  (say what?)

START- wearing new Ties. 

  (Ok this one-I took personally because I am the one who shops for John's clothes and, truly, he has more ties then I do shoes!  New Ties- my eye!!)

START- "Maybe just get some new markers so they don't squeak all the time."

And finally my favorite most grammatically correct response:

CONTINUE- "Teaching physics.  Everything in our class is well teached!"

All in all- I think the feedback was pretty helpful. 

Now if you'll excuse me ....

I'm off to get the Professor some new Ties!!!!

Christmas in November?

We may have perhaps set our Christmas things up a little early this year.   However, it's somehow become a bit of a tradition for us to set up the tree on November 11th after attending the annual Remembrance Day Ceremony.  

This year - we were all feeling a little bit sluggish with the colds and flus we were dealing with (yes...again with the "woe is me" bit;) but John was determined to decorate on Nov 11th as always. 

And believe me,  John gets all "Tevye" (from Fiddler on the Roof) on us when it comes to TRADITION;)

It ended up being the perfect pick- me- up  for the kids, and it wasn't long before they were all trying to join in and help.    At one point Abby sighed and said dramatically, "Mom- I love Christmas!  It's just so nice to be with family.)   

Seriously it was such a cheesy moment- the whole room smelled like brie after. ;)

All cheesyness aside though, Abby was right - it was a fun time together.    Once things were set up we sort of all collapsed on the living room floor together and watched movies by the light of the tree.   

John laughed the next morning when we woke up to falling snow, and he insisted that it was because he had put up the lights on the house.    And what lights they are right?

I mean, can you think of any better color combination then Blue and White? 

   John picked these lights out two years ago and I think he was obviously feeling a little cougar pride at the time.  I hope our good neighbors can put up with them for the next SIX WEEKS!

Go Cougars!!!

A Summer Movie! (as I cope with November;)

The last couple of weeks have completely stank!   (And I don't mean that figuratively either;)    So far, November has very literally REEKED of throw up...cough syrup...dirty laundry...disinfectant and hand sanitizer.    It's been a sick little home around here the last little while with some ridiculous sort of  "Flu/Bronchitis/Croup combo."   It's made for a pretty crabby mama and some equally sad and pathetic babes.    I'm about ready to write November off entirely, and I have half a mind to just skip this month automatically next year without even giving it a chance;)

On a sunnier note- I recently came across a video clip that was taken this summer.   One of the administrators at John's school (lets just call him "Mr.Jensen" because, well...that's his name;) had taken John's Dad for a drive one day out to a nearby pond that he himself stocks each year with trout.    After showing the trout to Max,  Mr. Jensen then gave him permission to show it to his grandkids.   So one beautiful summer evening in August we drove the few minutes out to the dugout and Max showed the kids how to feed the fish!    I caught little bits of it on film and it always makes me laugh when I watch it now.    

Despite the fact that this clip is a little bit long (and I have the most ridiculous sounding man voice and laugh EVER) - I love watching it for so many reasons:
  I LOVE how happy the kids were that evening.  (Jessica's enthusiasm is truly over the top in some parts;)   I LOVE how this one visit made up for an entire summer of fishing without a single catch.    I LOVE that Jessica is wearing what would end up being her Halloween costume.    I LOVE that Grandpa Max took the time to share a moment like this with my kids.    I LOVE that the weather was sunny and warm.   I LOVE that the kids still talk about this evening.  
And most of all, at this very minute...what  I LOVE most about this particular summer memory ...
 is that there was not a single BARF BUCKET in sight!!!!    

I'm ready for Summer!  Who's with me?

                                                         

Man I love this Geek!

I was visiting with John in his classroom this past week, and actually had a moment to look around and explore the room a bit.   This place that he spends 70% of his life at is in large part a mystery to me, and I found myself sitting at his desk trying to imagine what a typical work day would be like for him.  

A school teachers desk is an interesting thing to study - and I think it says a lot about the teacher.    Some desks are tidy, organized, even obsessively clean - while other's desks are scattered, laid back or disorganized in a way that could only work for them.     

John's desk is more of the latter description. 

(But that's only because I'm not there all the time to organize it for him;)   zing! ;)  

Anyways - what really made me smile was his work table at the back of the room.    It is chalk full of wires, batteries, and taken apart appliances.   I'm pretty sure fragments of our old microwave and broken alarm clock are sitting on that there table;)    

When I asked John if he actually uses any of it in class, he replied, "Nah...not really.  I just sometimes like to play around with it."  

Play around with it?   As in, he thinks all this is in some way fun?   Really?

And then I realized that somewhere beneath that handsome manly exterior of his -
lurks a real live bonafide... GEEK!
(He hides it so well;)

Thanks "Dewel";)

It's no secret my little boy loves his Auntie Jewel.   It's also no secret that I am ridiculously jealous of my son's Auntie Jewel.     

Why shouldn't I be?   All four of my children absolutely worship the ground she walks on.

  So do I for that matter - it's just that I happen to think that my very own kids ought to worship the ground that I walk on - that's all;)   Would that be too much to ask?

Yesterday evening Jewel came by the house with a belated Birthday Gift for Nate.   It was just what a two year old burdened with the flu needed.   One look at this Pirate Ship and Nate perked up and began to play as though he hadn't been sick for the past two days!

 I wasn't the least bit surprised when we noticed a little while later that Nate had called his toy "Dewel."   (aka: Jewel;)

Many times during the day we'll hear him calling out as he searches for the toy-

"Dewel?   My Dewel?"   

Jealous or not- I've got to admit - it's pretty darn cute!

It makes me feel bad that the only thing we've given her lately...

is the FLU!

(Thanks for the gift Dewel!  Hope Mya's feeling better;)

Why the packing should NEVER be left up to the guys

As mentioned in the previous post, I had made plans this week to attend my Uncle's funeral in Wetaskwin.      All of the Toone family would be there and the kids were beyond excited to get to skip school and come with me.    Obviously wanting to capitalize on their excitement, I hurriedly told them each to go pack their own bag and even listed off the types of clothes I expected them to include.         

What I didn't realize though was that by asking my son to pack his bag, I had defied the most basic and cardinal rule of travel.   I mean everybody knows that you NEVER let a boy do the packing!  And everybody knows that if you do - you end up stuck somewhere with a whole bunch of things you don't need, and nothing that you really do.)

This was again driven home to me on Tuesday afternoon as I came across Sam's back pack.  It was hanging so nicely by the door, all ready to go and it was obvious he'd put a lot of thought into the task;)     

  The first thing I noticed about Sam's bag, was that he had made careful effort to accessorize the outside of it with a triangle made from his Tinker Toys, as well as an old half deflated balloon.    

Granted, the balloon did have his name on it.   Perhaps he was just trying to creatively label his luggage for everyone else's benefit?

Inside the bag though- well it all kinda went down hill from there!

There was no sign of pajamas, or socks, or underwear or anything a silly old mom like me would consider useful for a trip.    Instead, inside his bag - I found three more...bags?

Bag #1 contained:    His Halloween costume.    

Bag #2 contained:   1 airplane, 3 random pieces of lego, 1 lone bakugon, and a few cut out paper ghosts he'd made at school.

Bag #3 contained:  His bakugon running shoes.    Which- if you ask me would naturally just be worn on his feet-but who am I to know how things should be?

What wasn't in the bag you ask?

Oh, basically just EVERYTHING THAT ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL!

And that my friends - is why you never....NEVER let the men do the packing!!!!

Ironically, that night Jessica came down with the flu (curse you Health Canada and your no good flu shot!) and our travel plans came to an abrupt halt.   I've definitely learned my lesson for next time though;)

When the Toones get together

A little over a week ago, we received news that my Uncle had died very unexpectedly.   I had made plans to attend his funeral in Wetaskwin this past week but Jessica got sick the day we were to leave and had to stay back.   I was so sad to not get to go up there and be with the rest of the family at that important time.   Thankfully they all came down here after the funeral service for various family events over the next couple of days.   

On Wednesday evening my Uncle George organized a family dinner at the High School.    

This is pretty near ALL of the Toone bunch!

My sister Crystal and her family couldn't make it to this, and neither could a few of my cousins who lived farther away- but this is most of us.  

One of the hardest struggles for me is coming to grips with the "what might have been" moments in life, and I definitely wish that I had spent more time visiting with my Uncle Don.    For several years while John and I lived in Edmonton we did get opportunities to see him here and there, have him over for dinner, or help him with his landscaping.  At the time it never seemed like much, but now I am so very thankful for those moments, and I wish we'd done more together.  

It's one of those lessons in life that I feel I'm still trying to learn.   

(How to appreciate those in my life NOW!)

(This was taken at the Graveyard in Claresholm.   My Grandparents, Aunt, baby cousin, and now Uncle all rest here now.) 

It felt so nice to spend the afternoon in Claresholm.    It's where I grew up, and I couldn't help but feel like I had come home;)   So nice to see some familiar faces.   

One thing I love about all the Toone's is that they are so strong in the Gospel, and even in moments like this, when we gather for such a sad event, you can still feel such joy and happiness from them.   

Thank goodness for the gospel and the knowledge we have that Families are Forever!  On Thursday morning we all attended a temple session and it was a particularly neat experience.  I liked sitting next to Jewel and Chad before it started, but felt so sad to think of those who weren't with us.   It would have been extra awesome if my sister Crystal could have been there;)

My Uncle Jim and his entire family, (which is quite large in height as well as numbers:) travelled up from Utah together on one very BIG Bus!   They were kind enough to offer all the extra seats to anybody and everybody who might want to travel to Wetaskwin or Claresholm with them, and it was definitely a highlight, especially for the kids.     

It's nice to have these visits every now and then (even if for reasons such as a funeral) to reconnect and be together.    What a wonderful group!  I feel so grateful that I get to be related to and know such special people!

Apparently on your Birthday- it's ok to pick your nose.

John was a Halloween Baby.   Two years ago though, we came awfully close to having TWO Halloween babies.   Despite John's hopes, (and secret attempts to make me trick or treat with the kids until I went into labor,) it wasn't until early the next morning that Nate actually did arrive.    So now, we have a birthday on Halloween as well as a birthday the day after.     It makes the festivities extra hectic...and extra enjoyable!    It's like a double party, and nothing makes for a sugar high like having birthday cake and then going out and collecting  TONNE of candy from all the neighbors!  

 This year, as soon as we'd finished eating, and as the kids rushed around finding the remaining fragments of their costumes to put on - we paused to sing Happy Birthday to these two:

Conveniently Nate chose this moment out of the whole day- to pick his nose.  Of course right?    He apparently couldn't have even waited until after he blew out the candles.  Geesh!   

Days later, when I reviewed the photos on my camera, I wasn't the least bit surprised to see that their was not one single birthday shot that did not consist of him with his finger up his nose.  

Thanks Nate.    

Thanks a lot!

Oranges are meant to be eaten!

I always know Christmas is coming when the local grocery store starts selling mandarin oranges.  My family LOVES mandarin oranges and a crisper full of them never lasts long.    I've noticed lately that Nate is particularly fascinated with these juicy little balls of vitamin C, though not for reasons I would wish.

He is ALWAYS going to the fridge for another orange.  However- as soon as I peel it for him, he sticks his pointy finger through the center and walks around with the orange hanging on his hand for as long as it will remain there.   When it does fall off, or dry up- it's back to the fridge for another.   

This morning I heard the fridge open, followed by the pitter patter of 2 year old feet running downstairs.   Determined to not let another orange go to waste, I followed him downstairs, determined to take it away from him.  I was a little confused however to find the orange stuffed under his shirt, and when I tried to take it away, he burst into tears and cried, "Baby.   Baby!!!"    

I gave him the orange back and he stuck it back under his shirt sticking out his tummy-obviously happy to have his "baby" back where it belonged.    He continud to hold that orange for a large part of the day, truly treating it as though it was his precious responsibility.  

I'm wishing he'd go back to sticking it on his finger instead!!!

This could be a very long Orange Season for sure!

A Birthday Carnival like NO other!

Our little nephew Maddax (Rach & Brent's boy) turned ONE this weekend, and today we went into Lethbridge to celebrate the occasion.   I already wrote about the other events of our week but trust me- a party like this deserves a post of its very own!

Rachel planned a Birthday/Halloween Carnival that would put any party planner to shame.   Brent offered up the Vivint headquarters and they invited some of their nearby friends and family.   Oh my goodness- what a party!!!    The kids got goody bags with tokens that they could spend on various games:   Abby loved the face painting that Maddax's Aunt Lana did for her.   Nate wouldn't stop bowling and barely gave the other kids a try (but hey...at least he wasn't hitting anyone;).   Sam LOVED the fish pond.  And Jess was her usual self...happy with it all!    John was put in charge of the candy jar contest and he took that job very seriously to say the least;)

There were peanuts, brownie-covered oreos, candy popcorn, caramel apples, veggies, hot dogs macaroni, and the yummiest cupcakes ever!    

Maddax was a doll and we love that little boy so much!   It was cute to watch him as everyone (all 40+ of us) sang Happy Birthday.    He must have loved the attention because he clapped for the first time and seemed so proud of himself for it!!!     Rach impressed us all with her amazing candle blowing skills,  (not really though;)  and my kids came home that afternoon exclaiming that THIS...was now officially "the best day EVER!"

So, thank you Rachel and Brent for not only having such a cute little boy, but also for completely trumping every 'best day'  that I've ever tried to give my kids.    Well done!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the happiest little boy we know!

Halloween Fun (the week before;)

What a week!    There has been a lot of busyness around these parts and Halloween isn't even here yet!

The kids LOVED our ward Halloween Carnival, but of course, who wouldn't love a party with a fish pond and a seemingly endless supply of corn dogs?   

This party was also a great practice run for the kids  as they tried on their Halloween costumes for the first time.    Abby wanted to be a Halloween Fairy (based on one of her fairy books) and this little skirt just didn't cut it for her.     Sam has wanted to be Megamind for weeks which I thought would have been perfect!   After getting his costume ready ...he decided last minute that he wanted to wear his two year old Spider man costume.  Again:(    Apparently he didn't want to wear blue face paint?    Good to know.    Nate was the cutest little frog so long as he wore the frog hood over his head.   Which was ...never.  So, basically he walked around all night wearing a green sweater;)    

John however was happy being "Mr.Smarty pants," and I must say- he played that part so well;)

Earlier in the week we took the kids to a "Spooktacular Reptile Show" that was in town.     I don't know what I was thinking- it was disgusting.   Even worse,  I walked out of that show listening to the kids ask, "Mom!  Why can't we just get a snake?!"  and "Mom!  I can't believe you think snakes are slimy!  They totally are not slimy!"     and my favorite- "Mom!  You never let us get any pets we like!"

I guess I set myself up for that by taken them to the show;)

Friday evening we replaced our family movie night with.... Game Night!   

It was a tonne of fun and the kids LOVE playing clue.   I even won, which I know is not the important part.   However, it means that John Didn't win - and that is important to me;)!

This also made me happy.   Monday night we saw the first flakes of snow begin to fall.   By morning we had the slightest blanket of snow on our front lawn- but it was enough to make the kids scream with delight.     The kids made snow angels, tried to make snowman only to realize it was just powder, and Jess even gathered some up to store in our fridge for the next decade:)!    

Now that the first snowfall has come and gone, I can safely say that it can very well STAY GONE now.    

Here's hoping we get a few more nice days this week!

He isn't always this bad....

I don't know what is up with Nate lately but he has been a real turkey.    (And when I say "turkey," that's really just short for "BULLY!")    I don't know if this is just a foreshadowing of what the Terrible Two's will be like, or if he is simply trying to establish a bit of dominance around here, but he's taken to hitting, kicking and hurting anyone who dares to even breathe in his direction.  

Unfortunately, he usually chooses to exert his punishments on all kids younger then him, though lately he has gotten brave and begun to attack Sam.  (can't say that's entirely undeserved;)    I've tried to redirect Nate and I swear I've walked him through the process of apologizing I think about a gazillion times in the past week.    I know he's familiar with the concept of "sorry" because I now hear him say it to his 'victims' AS he is hurting them!   

He'll walk up to some poor cousin or friend and say "Horry." and then... WHACK!!!
 or   "Horry." and then SLAP!!!!    

(You get the picture;)

 I'm beginning to question his sincerity.   In fact, I'm beginning to question whether this little boy has a conscience of any degree inside that cute little 30lb body of his.

The other day he had been particularly mean to Sam and I'd grown tired of the same old routine of making him apologize.    So, I stepped things up to a full blown 'time out' - which little Natey certainly didn't like.    As we sat there in his room staring each other down I figured that perhaps finally I had made some progress on the issue.   With his little head in my hands I looked straight into his deep brown eyes and asked him...no begged him to 'please stop hitting people and to be a nice boy.'     He gazed up at me so fervently that I was immediately filled with hope that he had in fact seen the error of his ways.   

Then, without even a smirk or a blink he reached his little hand up to my face ....grabbed my nose....and HONKED it!   And hard too!

It was at that moment that I realized that nothing, absolutely NOTHING I have said to this point has penetrated that steel trap mind of his.    Perhaps nothing will.  
I've resorted to praying for him as well as those he comes in contact with.    

Heaven help this stage to pass quickly!!!

Fortunately though- there are still moments in a day when the sweetness within him shines through and he is cute and lovable once again.  

Lucky for him!