Christmas on the Island.

Here is a picture with Ruth and her boys. Mike, Ken, Ruth and Shawn took this picture just before we all left for the ferry boxing day. I must say for all the headaches the weather and the ferry caused I had a great time. I ended up spending a great day with my nephews Drake, Griffin, and Pheonix who I rarely see. While the men and some of the women did their last minute Christmas shopping my Mother in law Ruth cooked a sumptuous dinner and I took the 5 kids for a much needed walk. We had a good walk except that when Pheonix was on my shoulders he coughed up a very large egg colored loogee in my hair. This the kids found hysterical. After many hours of xbox, eating and visiting it was time for home.

Did you ever forget where you put Christmas.

I am one of those people that start buying for the next Christmas on boxing day. To say that I hate crowds of Christmas shoppers is an understatement. I refuse to be anywhere within 5 miles of a mall after Dec. 1. I am always done my shopping by the last week of November because I just can't stand the crowds the only problem with this is that because I need to hide Christmas presents for many months I frequently forget where I put them and sometimes who I bought for. I think the problem comes from the fact that sometimes I need to move a gift 2 or 3 times over the course of a year. This year I thought I was completely finished my shopping to discover 2 days before we leave for BC that I haven't filled Shawns stocking. This is a very big deal. As part of our traditon on Christmas eve we celebrate with my family and Christmas day his: so we started opening our stockings just the 5 of us on our bed Christmas morning. Don't get me wrong I have bought him lots of presents but none fit in the stocking. Well now with only 2 shopping days left I need to fill his stocking. Well thank goodness Wal-mart is open 24 hours a day till Christmas if I go in the middle of the night hopefully I'll be alone. My worst fear though is running into Shawn he hasn't done my stocking yet either.

Rant

This one will probably get me in trouble but I just need to say something. Have you heard that Britney Spears 16 year old sister is pregnant. What is the world coming to. It was on every news coverage on the radio and TV today it's just disgusting. I know alot of you think that Shawn and I talk to openly and freely about sex to our children but I truly believe that this is the only way to have good on going communication with your children. If you never brought up sex before, how are you going to start the topic with your twelve year old now. TWELVE YEAR OLD you exclaim in shock but just last week my 7 year old came home from grade 2 and asked what an orgasm was. Believe it or not this is a topic of discussion for the playground at most schools. We need to start talking about sex openly from a very young age. I'm not saying tell them everything at 3 but if we start the conversation early and let them ask questions then we are starting the proper foundation for life. The first time you discuss blow jobs at the dinner table might be ackward but in the end your child won't be the one who believes she can't get pregnant because she didn't have an orgasm. When I was growing up the worst thing that could happen to you was getting pregnant now one of the fastest growing groups of AIDs patients is 12-24 year old girls. We need to teach our daughters and sons what condoms are and how to use them. All those christian mothers out there that say my child should practice abstinence, this is true but the only control we have over that is prayer. Teenager are having sex anywhere and everywhere so don't think for a minute that your kids are safe because they never go anywhere.

I hope that those of you out there that haven't talked to your kids about sex take the time today before it's to late. The worst can happen to you either you become a grandmother before 40 or you out live your child neither one is acceptable.

PEACOCK CHRISTMAS TREE

Jesse and Bailey decided to decorate the tree like a peacock this year. Bailey saw one in a magazine and showed it to Jesse. They have balls of purple, cobalt blue, burgundy, and gold. It has birds of blue and gold and most importantly candy canes of their favorite flavors. Strawberry kiwi, fuzzy peach, and cream soda are the tops no peppermint here. We also have a wreath on the door that has a peacock on it.

SHAWN AND I

Micheal took this picture of Shawn and I right before we left for the company Christmas party.

MY GREAT HUNTER

Shawn has not been home much for hunting season this year. We can't hunt on Sundays and Shawn has only been home 2 Saturdays. Yet my great hunter has shot 2 deer. One at the beginning of the month long season and one at the very last day. This is the 5x5 he shot just before dark on the very last day.

Snowy and Cold

Today was one of those days where you just want to go back to bed and cuddle up with a good movie. Of course the kids were slow and missed the bus so it started with a wierd frenzy of me driving them to school instead. When I got home I was still in this crazy rush so I pulled out my to do list and got several things done all before lunch. Then my flu medicine wore off and I needed a nap so off to bed with me waking up just in time to pick up everyone from school. After school it was the usual mayhem of homework, chores and practicing of the instruments. I love that the kids want to learn to play instruments but how long does it take before it doesn't sound like someone strangling a cat and the baby playing in the pots and pan cupboard? Well I guess this what makes motherhood so special. Listening to a budding violinist and pianist when your sinuses are so plugged you can't breath and your head feels as if it is going to explode. Well off to bed so I can start fresh tomorrow.

Well I'm Finally Back.

I never really thought that anybody but my parents ever checked out my blog to see pictures of the grand kids but apparently I have a few readers. We'll my number one reader and fan appears to be my husband who checks my blog daily to see what we are up to while he is at work, so as per his request I'm back to blogging.

While I was on holidays I complied a very large list of things that needed to be done before the snow fell. I'm a great list maker as many of you know. The list included things from having a long hot uninterrupted bath to cleaning up all the down trees from this fall's wind. Some of the things on my list where very time consuming like taking Jesse and Bailey to the schools swimming lessons and helping at the end of swimming; art class. The two most time consuming things on the list where completing scrapbooks of our holiday for me, all 3 kids and Mom & Dad; I also wanted to have all my Christmas shopping bought, wrapped and sent before Dec 1. I'm pleased to say my Mom & Dad's and my scrapbook are complete and except for the gift I need to pick up for my Mother in law on thursday the gifts are done.

Other things on the list where things that I had wanted to try for ages. The above picture of the church is a picture that I took and entered for a photo contest.

Micheal and his friend Justin did a lot of the heavy lifting like putting a new roof on one of the granaries and rearranging furniture. Thankfully all they required in pay was a lasagna dinner and some baking for outreach. Pretty cheap labor.

Today Micheal set up the Christmas tree because Jesse and Bailey were asking every 5 minutes to put it up so they could decorate it. It's beautiful unfortunately it is crooked and half the lights are out. Tomorrow I'll have to take it appart and put it back straight and fix the bulbs that are out while they are at school but they still at 7 & 9 love to sit and stare at it.

Well back to my list and when I finished my last few outdoor chores tomorrow I'll be back to blogging. Hopefully the snow will stay away for one more day.

Hi Family

We are back from holidays and the kids are back to school. It's hard to believe that Mike graduates this year. I'm trying to get things organized and rearranged. It seems a never ending job. Mom and Dad are coming for a Mini Show in a week and I need to clean up the basement for them to stay. Bailey came home from PG with another bag of hand me downs and it's now spread all over her room. How did I end up with such a clothes horse girlie girl. Well I need to run because the table is covered in camping crap still and we need it for homework and meals. Did you know they start homework in grade 2 so that they get in the habit of doing it. How odd. Love you All

Congratulations to Amanda and Jordan on there up coming Baby.

Random Thoughts

We are leaving for holidays on thursday so I was crusing sites to keep the kids busy in the truck. It's a 8 hour trip to BC and another 5 to the fishing hole. Anyways I found a really great one at Moms minivan.com, it has great printable games for the car. There is a scavenger hunt that would be great for Candice's boys because it has pictures with the words for those to small to read yet. There is also some licence plate bingo for the older kids and if you have walkie talkies between the cars you could play with adults too. I also found some fun stuff on the HP site so I'm adding a CHECK THIS OUT SECTION to my blog. I also had a thought that I don't seem to journal alot in my scrapbook yet I have plenty to blog about. How strange. Anyway back to the point I printed out my blog onto pretty cardstock and added it to my scrapbook. It turned out great and it gave me a running journal of what happens in our life for almost a whole year.

MICHEAL

OUR OLDEST TURNS 17. It's an amazing thing when your children grow up. No more birthday parties with 30 screaming kids from school. No more balloons or streamers. No more staying up all night putting there gift together with instructions in 14 foreign languages. Now it's can I spend the day at the mall with my buddies. Can I just have cash for my gift. It's staying up all night waiting for him to come home. The one thing that stays consistent is "Can I have a cake?"

Here's to our boy becoming the man we knew he could be.

WE LOVE YOU MIKE!

HAPPY 17TH

So This Is What 38 Feels Like

Well Friends
I'm now 38. I don't know what I expected but the most unexpected things are happening. Horrible little black hairs are sprouting up all over my chin. Extra long light colored ones are popping up on my cheeks and shoulders. Everything has decided to sag an extra few inches. The gray hair now out number my brown. I know I'm to young for menopause but one minute I'm hot the next I'm cold. Who knew! Why didn't someone sit me down when I was 18 and say quit wasting your time hating your body this is as good as it gets. Wait till your 38 you won't recognize it.

Now the good things about being 38. My husbands belly is as big as mine so no one notices. I'M IN LOVE. I HAVE FANTASTIC CHILDREN. I HAVE GREAT FRIENDS who can appreciate all the gifts of being 38 from the previous paragraph. THE BEST PART IS THAT I LOVE MYSELF SAGGING BUTT, GREY HAIR, CHIN WHISKERS AND ALL. HERE'S TO THE WOMEN WHO CAN TRULY SAY I'M GREAT AT 38.

Our new trailer

Here is a picture of our new trailer. It's a 19ft. Travellaire Drifter. We are so thankful that we found it it's clean and just like new and best of all we could pay cash for it. We are so excited after spending two summers in a 13ft. packing crate on wheels we have running hot water, a kitchen , fridge and freezer and 6 extra feet.

Not Much To Say

Well the summer seems to be sizzling by for us. We have moved all the furniture to the basement to avoid the heat. You might laugh but when you are used to winter 10 months of the year those two months of 30+ weather really get to you. The kids think it's to hot to go outside to play and I seem to only venture out long enough to mow the 5 acres of grass. We have had Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm and Strong Wind warnings almost every afternoon for weeks. I'm so looking forward to closing up the house and going on holidays. The only problem with that is finding a trailer. Now that Shawn has made General Foreman he is only home every other weekend for a day and a half which makes trailer buying a feverish task. Hopefully we'll find something this weekend as he has an extra day for the holiday. Wish us luck or it's back to our 13 foot packing crate on wheels. Ha Ha.

George Canyon

Unless you are a country music fan you won't appreciate how lucky the kids and I where. We received tickets for a George Canyon Concert from the dealership that we were looking for a new trailer at. No trailer yet but boy was the music great. The kids and I got to meet him have pictures taken and received autographs. Bailey thought he was very nice and liked that his kids where the same age as her and Jesse. Mike doesn't like country much but he was the perfect escort for me and a helpful big brother to the little ones.

Happy Canada Day

Bailey won a picture contest with the Global TV Weather. The prize she won was tickets to the Edmonton Cracker Cats Baseball game. In order to find a game that fit into both Shawn's and Mike's work schedule we ended up with only one date. Canada Day. We had a great time with hotdogs, peanuts, and the whole ball game experience. From the ball park you can see the Alberta Legislature so after the game we went for a quick tour. It was so beautiful. What a wonderful day for the whole family.

What A Beautiful Day God Has Made

This is the view off my back porch this morning and I am in total amazement of God's paintbrush. The lilacs are in bloom; the peonies are ready to burst and the canola is in bloom.

SLEEPLESS

Well my blogger family as you can tell by the time of this posting I'm laying awake. What you ask keeps a 37 year old mother of three up at night? Her children of course! This week has been crazy with making sure that Micheal has the right courses and credits that he needs to graduate next year. This has got me thinking no more panicing have I fully prepared my son for life on his own. Ok I can start with all those teachers and kindly friends that said teach him a trade he will never graduate. Nana Nana boo boo. He will graduate on time with a regular course load. He is now applying for a preapprentice welding course and will make more than most of those not so helpful teachers in his first year.

Here is what he can do 1. To love the Lord his God and put him first above all things. 2.Plan, buy groceries for and cook a full meal including dessert. OK its barbque but he's a man. 3. Wash, dry, fold and put away his on laundry. 4. Has a bank account and can save money(enough to pay for truck insurance while he's not working) and pay monthly bills(truck insurance) .

NOW WHAT KEEPS ME UP ALL NIGHT IS WHAT DID I FORGET. WHAT ELSE DOES HE NEED TO KNOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS LET ME KNOW BECAUSE THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN.

Hello World.

I was feeling very guilty about not updating my blog until I checked out my favorite family blogs. I guess that it is this time of year. Since I came home from Prince George I have been busy trying to get the yard in shape. This month is crazy because Mike is working 10 hours a day, trying to finish his work experience paperwork, and Applied Math 11. Jesse and Bailey have 2 field trips each that I've volunteered for. The last day of school is the 27th and I can't wait. Mike's last day of work is the 3rd of August. I'm so looking forward to our salmon fishing trip.

The Worlds Greatest Mom

My Mom is the greatest. It has taken a lot of years to understand what a great lady she is. She raised two very opposite girls and yet was able to take each of us thru our teenage years. Raising three kids of my own has given me a great appreciation for how hard we were to raise.

I really loved that she taught us to express our talents. On our last trip to visit I realized that Ang and I are the two opposite sides of her personality. I also found that when she is with me we are carefree, out going, creative, and adventure loving. When she is with Ang she is more reserved, hardworking, loving, caring, nurturing. These two sides make her the WORLD'S GREATEST MOTHER.

THE BIRTHDAY BOY!!!!!!

Dad came in the door to a surprise not the one he was expecting. After spending the day with the sons by marriage, he came home to nothing just the people that he had left that morning at breakfast.

Surprise 1. Shawn was able to come for 24 hours.

2. Friends Joel and Linda came from the coast.

3. Friends Dave and Donna came from the lake.

4. Sunday the rest of the Family and his golf buddies from work came.

Later that night his friends all came unexpectedly. Sunday everyone else came for the party. He had a great time and loved the surprises.HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY!!!! DAD.

Church

The kids spent the night at Angie and Rhon's. The next day Bailey, Jesse, Nickole, Gran and I went to church. We met up with Nickole's grandmother also.

Feeding the Fish

Jesse and Bailey really enjoyed the pond while we were on our visit. Gran and Grandad had spent many an hour working on the back yard. Grandad even recovered the back deck with Micheal not knowing that it would be used for his upcoming surprise party.

EGG HUNT

When we got to PG on Tuesday we had a late Easter Egg Hunt.

Hi Everyone

The kids and I are safely at Mom and Dad's. Ammi arrived last night and now the fun all begins. We are here for another week and when we get home I'll post all of the pictures. For right now the computer here doesn't like my camera. Talk to you all soon.
Love Trish and crew

MUD

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

THE GRASS HAS RIZ

LOOK WHAT A MUD PIT MY DRIVEWAY IS!

Before And After

Bronte needed a hair cut. For the first time I thought it would be cheaper and easier if I did the job myself. It might have been cheaper to buy the clippers and do it myself in the long run, but easier No Way. It started off with me gingerly cutting around his eyes and ears. It was so stressful worring that I might cut him. Finally I felt brave enough to drag out the 5lb. clippers. Bouvier coats come off like a sheeps fleece so it needs to be shaved and peeled back all in one piece. So I began ever so carefully worring all the time. About a half hour in Bronte looked up at me as if to say that he had had enough. So he finally stretched out his neck for me to cut and then his leg. He continued to show me what to do next and grew impatient when I took to long on one spot or another. He never once nipped or complained. I'm glad that some days the dog is smarter than I am.

Time for a Break

I am so looking forward to my up coming break. Angie and Rhon will be here this weekend for their visit and then the kids and I pack up for our trip to BC. I am so looking forward to the rest. It might not seem like a rest to travel 10 hours in the truck with 3 kids but when we arrive it really is. Jesse and Bailey will have a playground just across the street to play at and Meghan and Nickole to play with. Micheal will have his Grandmother Norma to play with and the store to hang out at. When your nearest relative is 10 hours away there is plenty of people to visit.

Skating Carnival

The skating carnival went off without a hitch. The children remembered all their moves and didn't fall. They needed to skate backwards, glide on one leg, turn, spin, and make a two foot jump. They completed them all. Jesse was moved up to Stage 4 and Bailey was given an improvement award as she had just moved into Stage 3. In the picture they are dressed as pirates as the theme was the Pirates of the Carribean. Jesse in the red shirt and Bailey in pink. Way to Skate my babies.

My Poor Baby Is So Sick

Bailey and I have had a bad cold for a couple of weeks now. I was really bad one night with vomitting, fever, diarhea, and the chills. She was scared for me because I looked so bad. Now tonight she has all these horrible symptoms. I feel so bad when the kids are sick. I hope that she will feel a little better in the morning like I did. All she can think of is that she will miss her swimming lesson tomorrow if she can't go to school. I hope that she will feel like eating something tomorrow because I'm making her favorite moose stew. Well all I can do is pray for her healing and get some sleep while she does. May God please heal her cold. If you read this tomorrow please keep her in your prayers.

I'm so silly some days

I feel really dumb today. I had to call out the tow truck because I backed into the snow bank coming down my driveway. Not just a little but a good 5 feet in. The poor driver was the same boy (probably only 20) who had to come out when I forgot to plug in my truck and killed the battery. I felt so bad that this poor boy must come to my rescue but I guess thats what AMA is for. It is definitely been worth the 88 dollars. One day soon I hope to learn how to back up but until then maybe I should park at the bottom of the hill.

It's Ok I'm Still Here

I haven't run off to join the circus just yet. I had a really bad cold for a couple of weeks and so did Bailey. I spent 5 days in bed which is unheard of for me thankfully the kids are old enough to take care of the basics and Micheal can make a hot meal with minimal instruction. I am so glad I taught the kids to cook, make lunches for school and do laundry at a young age. I thought I was preparing them for life and it turns out it was just for my bad cold. Ha Ha. This week is crazy busy because I need to bake for the bake sale at school, finish making 75 fabric name tags for the skating carnival, Ju Jitsu class, skating dress rehersal, 3 Aqua fit classes, swimming lessons for Bailey, Fiddle: guitar: piano lessons, driving lessons, bible study and get ready for Angie and Rhon's visit and I'm still not quite over my cold. The circus isn't looking so bad after all. After all this Shawn will phone home and ask me what I did today and of course I'll say nothing. I need to come up with a better answer without giving him my mind numbing todo list. Maybe when he asks what I did today I'll just say everything. Ha Ha

My Sleeping Beauties

These are my beauties they were supposed to be asleep. When I went to check on them they had dragged all the blankets and pillows from the bed and crammed themselves between the king sized bed and the wall. They fell asleep cuddling together. Aren't they cute.

Carnival of the Animals

Choir

Jesse has the part of the Conductor for the school production. This was his first speaking roll. He was very nervous because he has a new spacer on the roof of his mouth and that makes him slur alittle. He was loud and clear and did a fabulous job. Bailey was part of the animal choir and sang beautifully. She had to learn many difficult songs and hand movements. Mrs. Heatherington is the music teacher who organized the whole production.

Our Little Birthday Girl Turns 7

On Saturday Bailey turned 7. It's hard to believe that my baby is all grown up. We all went to the movies and saw Arthur and the Invisibles. After that we went to Bailey's favorite resturant Joey's Only. For her gifts she recieved a Strawberry Shortcake hair salon, victorian pygamas and a lace skirt. She wants to thank all that sent emails and cards.

My New Pet Moose

We now have a young moose bedding down in my garden. Where he is laying is only about 20 feet from the front door. The kids want to feed it but I've decided to just keep the dog in when it's around so that it doesn't get to used to being feed. The posts in the picture are from last years pea vines that I didn't pull up before the first snow. I think that the posts are 6 feet long and about 1 foot in the ground, so that makes him about 5 feet at the back. I keep calling it a him but it could be a girl I didn't get a very close look. We have deer up near the house all the time but this is the first moose to be so close. Last fall a cow moose was hit and killed on the highway near here and the calf stayed around for several days. I think that this might be the calf. It will be interesting to see how long it stays and for the kids to watch it.

I Knew Winter Wasn't Really Over Yet

Just when I start dreaming about spring and start looking thru my seed catalogs along comes old man winter again.