Get Well Flowers

Mom asked me to post this so that everyone could see the flowers that I got post surgery. 1st bouquet is from Mom and Dad and the kids and the 2nd is a reasonable facsimile (sorry, I didn't get a picture before they were kind of yucky) of the one that I received from Jim and Judy. I also got a 3rd fro Carlam that looked very similar to J & J's. Thanks so much everyone. BTW, I am feeling really well and took the last of my stitches out myself last night. I have been back on the treadmill twice this week going 2 miles last night. Might have pushed it a bit too far last night as I was sore when I finished and still this morning, but won't be at it again until Saturday so, should be fine.

Claire Learns to Quilt

So, two weekends ago Claire and I decided that she needed to learn how to use the sewing maching and learn how to quilt. Not surprisingly, with very little supervision and a very quick demonstration on how to work the sewing machine, she was away. I think the part that she liked the best was that she got to use math and graph paper to figure out how big her squares should be to get the finished product the size that she wanted. She made this lovely Magic Bag to heat up at night and sleep with to keep her and the kitties nice and toasty!!!

Claire sewing her squares together

1st set of squares

Claire ironing the seams on her squares so

that they are nice and flat

Claire lining up the seams with pins so that they all match when

she sews them together. Her's were perfect.

Claire and her finished product

1st Official Snow Fall of Winter/2009

Woke up to this, this morning. I have been told by some that it is a beautiful refreshing site. I have to admit that I didn't feel that way. I felt like pulling the covers over my head and hibernating until spring. Claire and Daniel were super excited, Chester was super excited, Tipper and the cats were with me. Oh well, I guess we have to accept that Old Man Winter is coming whether we are ready or not!!!

Coyote Howls

Night sounds at the Patience residence.

Claire and Jorja on the Trampoline

Taken when Jorja visited at the end of August.

Race for a Dollar

Claire playing Race for a Dollar at the Street Performer's Festival in July.

Things I Learned Last Weekend

1. The Notebook is still one of my favourite movies;
2. How to operate the leaf picker upper thingy (aka the Lawn Sweep);
3. The CFL can be enjoyable in the right company;
4. An Impala SS can do 220 kms/hour;
5. AND a weekend without your kids is not necessarily a bad thing.
   

LOL blog entry

I don't know if any of you follow the blog www.thepioneerwoman.com, but I was reading her blog today and found this great entry from waaaay back in 2007. It is laugh out loud funny. Enjoy

Family Reunion

On September 19, 2009 Claire and I went on a road trip to visit our favorite Calgary Family, Billy and Bobbi Staples and their adorable children. The extra bonus of this trip was that we got to visit with Auntie Marj and Jeff and Jenny Jo too!!! Jeff and Jenny Jo had made the long trip from their home in Pennsylvania and stopped in Roblin for a visit and to pick up Jeff's Mom before heading to Calgary to meet the new Staples family. This is the 1st trip that Jeff and Jenny Jo have made to Calgary since Billy met, married and procreated with Bobbi so, there were lots of introductions to be made!!! Claire and I arrived at the tail end of their visit to Alberta and everyone was getting along famously. So nice to see them all together finally.

This little kitty (named Oreo, we discovered) came to visit Claire. She is definitely the Cat Whisperer. Just came along the fence straight to her to say "hi"

Jeff posing on his way back to the Staples' side of the fence after retrieving the football from the neighbor's yard.

Noah, Jeff and Jenny Jo's lovely dog

Jenna having a great time on her little bike. This is seriously the cutest kid I have ever met!

A little help from Uncle Jeff

The Whole Staples Family, including Fur Babies, Noah and Murray

The Bill and Bobbi Branch

Bill, Jeff and I, we still look good after 36 years of knowing each other!!

AND, last, but not least, the Patience contingent. We had a great visit and I have to admit that I cried a little on my way home. Must see these people more often. Jeff and Jenny Jo, can't wait for you to head north again or, you never know, maybe we'll show up on your doorstep someday!

LOVE YOU ALL

Saki Toast to End the Black Belt Ceremony

At the end of the Black Belt Ceremony, all Arashi Do Black Belts toast each other with Saki. Daniel thought it was yummy!

Black Belt Presentation

This is the video of Daniel getting his Junior Black Belt with Iron Man Distinction.

Goose Hunting in Manitoba, 2009

Again Daniel took part in the goose hunting season with his Papa and his Dad. Thanks soooo much to Mom and Dad for letting this happen for Daniel. He had a great time and I know that he is looking forward to next year because he will finally be able to shoot a gun and count to up the limit of birds they can take home each day!! YAHOO!!!

September 11, 2009

September 12, 2009

September 13, 2009 - a little crowded

September 14, 2009 - Daniel looks tired

September 15, 2009

September 16, 2009

September 17, 2009 - this is my favorite picture. My son is very happy!

September 18, 2009 - last day for Daniel, First day for my cousin, Dennis. Note how in love Daniel is with his Papa's shot gun

September 19, 2009 - last day for Dennis

Chinook Winds Greyhound Picnic 2009

On September 12th, 2009 Chinook Winds Greyhound Rescue Foundation hosted their annual picnic just outside Edmonton to raise money for the group and of course, to allow all the dogs and owners to get together and talk greyhound! Claire and I attended as Daniel was in MB hunting and we had a great time as usual. Claire and I were in charge of the kid game (a greyhound name scavenger hunt) meaning that I helped her get the stuff and come up with the idea and she ran the show at the picnic. Chester came with us and also had a great time. He seems to think that he needs to be a little snarky with other greyhounds. Maybe he is just taking advantage of being away from Tipper and showing other dogs that he is boss!

Chester enjoying the shade. He still looks like a puppy to me!

Pretty girl excited to be at the picnic

Everyone getting ready for the auction to start

Auction in full swing

I know the brindle and white girl is Tinkerbell, but I don't know

the name of the black boy.

My New Hat

When Daniel was in MB hunting Claire and I went to the mall and we found this hat for me. I think it is great and now we have matching ones as she already owns a hat very similar to this one. We wore them to music lessons last night!! We are just too cute for our own good!

First Day of School, 2009

Well, it is that time of year again! Daniel and Claire started school on August 31st, 2009 and put in a full five days right off the bat. These are the pictures from the 1st morning. Daniel was heading off to grade 7 and his last year at the elementary school and Claire is going to grade 4.

Claire got a new haircut for school. Daniel did too, you just can't tell!! I can't believe how cute Claire's looks. Completely suits her face and sense of style. I have to admit that I am a little jealous!!

Visit from the Stanilands

At the end of August, we were all lucky to have the Staniland's come and visit. Claire and Daniel took these pictures while they were staying at their Dad's during the visit. Everyone had a great time. Baba and Gedo came along too so, it was a very crowded house in Spruce Grove!!!

Claire and Daniel's littlest Staniland cousin, Lincoln. He will be 2 in March

Jorja and Morgan decided to stay over at my house one night and Claire and Jorja did makeup. Doesn't Jorja look fabulous?!?

Jorja in the car

Me thinks Jorja likes to get her picture taken!!

Daniel in the front seat

Morgan

Auntie Tanya and Lincoln posing for Claire at the Aviation Museum

Uncle Melvin checking out the planes

He's Back..........

I am sure that many of my generation remembers this little guy and his attitude. I even had more than one when I was a kid. Well, he has returned. Garfield is now my kids' new obsession. They love him as much as Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes and I think Claire likes him because he is a cat!! Claire has started to collect Garfields. Please do not take this as an invitiation to send her all your old Garfields!!!

Summer Holiday Portraits

From the beach at La Push

From Fernie on our way home