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

Trip to Seattle

So, for my holidays at the beginning of August, Claire, Daniel, Tipper and I headed south to sunny Seattle. I can actually say that because, it was actually sunny!!! Gotta love the Northwest in August!! We had a great time and it only rained when we weren't ready to head outside, so, that wa perfect! We got to see Matthew and Claire is in love! No baby is as cute as Matthew. She can't wait to see him at Christmas!!!

Our Tour Guides! They never tired, but I am sure that they were ready for us to head home at the end of the week. It is always good to see family come, and go. Matthew is such an amazing baby, as long as he has food and his wipies he is good to go anywhere! We saw lots of Uncle Aaron too, but he didn't want to participate in any of our craziness and now that Matthew is here, there wasn't room in the car!

Our 1st touring day was spent at the Seattle Science Centre. I didn't have my camera with me, so, if you want to see pics of that you will have to visit http://www.greenbuckets.blogspot.com/. Steph has those pics posted on her blog. Oh, and you can check out super cute Matthew too!!! It was a good day and didn't tire anyone out too much.

There was also some shopping done by us while Steph was at work, a trip to Ivors to feed the seagulls and a midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince at the Imax theatre. Matthew and Steph missed out on that, they just didn't have the stamina that day.

The big trip of the visit, planned waaaaay in advance was to Port Angeles, Forks and La Push. Now, if you are not familiar with the Twilight books by Stephanie Meyer, you will have no idea why this trip was such a big deal. Now, to get to these towns, you have to drive all the way south of Seattle and back up to get around the sound and it takes about 4 hours because the roads are super skinny and super windy. Takes some time!!! But the views are great and there are even giant cedars on the way. In the books, Port Angeles is the "big Center" the characters visit when they want to do some shopping or see a movie. Forks, WA is where they live and La Push is the adjoining Indian Reserve where the Werewolves reside. It was a great day and Claire and I, especially had a good time. I have to admit that I have not seen that many pre-teen girls in one place since the Hillary Duff concert a few years ago. They were everywhere on their own personal pilgrimages to visit the place where Edward and Bella fell in love!! Towns were very accommodating with self guided tours and lots of attractions to take in. You can read more about Port Angeles, WA here and Forks and La Push, WA here .

I have to admit that La Push was my favourite place to visit this trip. I love the ocean and make it a necessary detour whenever I am in Seattle. It just calms my soul and frankly, there was nothing I needed more in August. The kids and I picked rocks to make a door mat out of and hopefully we will get that done over the winter when the snow is blowing.

The following are pictures from Port Angeles

Bella Itallia (please note the name) where Bella and Edward have dinner

Book stores visited by Bella when she visits Port Angeles in the book

The following are pictures taken in Forks, WA the home town of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen

sign when you enter town

The Swan residence where Bella lives with her Father, the police Chief

This is supposed to be the Cullen residence. I was disappointed in this house. Not nearly as beautiful as it is described in the book. I understand that the book is fiction and that they did the best they could, but really, don't you think they should have built an exact replica, out in the woods like the one in the book?!?!?

High school that all the kids attend.

And last on the list of places for us to visit was the La Push Indian Reserve and the ocean. Can't wait to go back. The following are the pics taken on the beach.

Our attempt at a group photo. Note that Claire is absent. She is actually just down beside Matthew! Steph has the shot with Claire at www.greenbuckets.blogspot.com

Claire on a gian piece of driftwood

Claire and Daniel in the ocean. Please note that my crazy Canadian kids were the only ones in the water that day without wetsuits. This is August people!!

And last but not least, Steph and Matthew. This boy is definitely the new love of my sister's life. Just look at what he has done for her face. I miss you both everyday and Aaron too. Take care and we will see you soon!!