Me and Jules... home ALONE!!!

Mark and all the kids (excluding Julie) went down to Lethbgidge today to G and G "D's". 

Max and Maryn went to have Grandpa give them their Patriarichal blessings. Julie had a prior commitment this Saturday and had to stay home, I got to stay with her!!

I think the last time I spent more than two days alone with just Julie was when she was BORN! I thought because Julie and I get to spend some one on one time together that I would post a little tribute to her!

Julie is an amazing artist, she takes a weekly art class and has produced some pretty impressive paintings, drawings and even sculptures! Her artistic flair spills over into how she dresses  and even her love of make-up! She has her own unique style and it is really fun to watch her evolve!!

Julie loves her siblings and is especially great with the little ones. Julie spends a lot of time being the babysitter at our house and she does a great job! The other day Julie cleaned Sam and Dallin's very messy room without even being asked! What 14 year old girl do you know that cleans their own room let alone their brothers room too!!!

Julie is a real get it done kind of kid. She works hard at school, she is the first one to offer help at home (where food is involved!) Despite her lack of love for all things "outdoor/animal" related, she was the first one to teach our dog tricks and she has done more back packing trips in bear country than her nature/animal loving mother!!!

I love being Julie's Mom, she is a real blessing in my life. Tomorrow I think Julie wants me to give her a haircut, then I think we will do some shopping and maybe take in a movie! How fun to have a whole weekend alone with such a wonderful daughter!!!!  

I LOVE YOU JULIE!!!!!

25... or should I say 20 random thoughts

I don't have Face Book and just for the record I never will. Having this blog has already moved me to a new level of time "wasted" on the computer, so... I know you are all probably done with the whole "25 random thoughts" thing, but hey I'm behind and besides that this is just for you Jacqui!!!

1. I always wanted to live on a farm/acreage and raise a little flock of sheep. I wanted to shear them myself, cart their wool and then spin it on an old fashioned spinning wheel. I am completely over it!!

2. I have had my kids at the same elementary school for 15 years and I still have 7 years to go.

When I am done at Richard Secord School I am thinking that a name change might be in order... Karen Davidson School. Ya, that has a nice "ring" to it!!!

3. I will secretly be very sad when Sam stops coming in to our bed at night. That will mean that he is really going to get big and grow up and move away and... I need help!

4. I would really like to learn to scuba dive.

5. Before I am too old I would love to go to a third world country and do humanitarian work with orphaned children. 

6. I love swimming in the rain.

7. I love fresh flowers. Mark buys them for me on my birthday, our anniversary, Mother's Day and Valentines Day. I fill in the rest of the time. A bunch of tulips only adds a few bucks on to my grocery bill each week!!

8. I don't like to be home alone. I am going to need therapy next year when Sam goes to school.

9. When we were little kids my Mom used to pay us to pick the dandilions out of the yard. I think we started out with a penny for every dandilion. My Mom was brilliant, we were suckers!

10. I love candles and am still partial to Yankee brand. Any thing with a strong cinnamon scent will do.

11. The one thing I would change about myself is my feet! They are ridiculously wide and I can't fit them in to all the cute shoes that are out there.

12. Am I really only on # 12??! I don't have time for this!

13. I run because I LOVE food.

14. Two years really IS a long time, but I wouldn't have Russell any where else! 

15. I enjoy creating things and making my house feel like HOME.

16. I am not obsessively neat and tidy but I do like things clean. The thing is with 7 children things aren't always just the way I would  like them, but at the end of the day I can say that relatively speaking I live in a clean house.

17. I have had stitches 7 times. Five of those times they were on my face. The joys of an "unsupervised" childhood!

18. One of my favorite things to do is go to bed early.

19. It is 8:30 and my kids are yelling at me to come read them stories. We read every night without fail. I can't remember being read to when I was little. How SAD.

20. I am going to have to call it "20 random thoughts" this is hard for me as I am not typically good at breaking rules, but like I said the kids are calling...

My DOG... It's a hate/love relationship!

This event occurred weeks ago. I think I am finally at the point that I can discuss it in a rational/humane sort of way!

Did I ever mention that I should have never agreed to get a DOG.

Maryn came home to this lovely  mess one day, it is pretty obvious that I wasn't home because their would have been no photographic evidence as I would have been losing my mind, not taking pictures. Did I ever mention that I can't believe I said "Yes" to a DOG!! I did?! oh right I did.

The following are really good reasons to never get a DOG!

1.Dogs don't use toilets and they don't wipe

2.Dogs chew on a girls most valued possessions, Yah that's right SHOES!

3.Dogs have to be led around on a leash twice a day(for at least 30 minutes) or they get fat, why is that a problem you ask... See comment number 8

4.Dogs eat your garbage, the neighbors garbage and then go looking for more garbage

5.Dogs shed, 'nuf said 

6.Dogs bark at everything that walk by your house any time of the day but never at night

7.Dogs cost more to be "babysat" than your children

8.Dogs yearly check- ups and health issues are not covered by Alberta Health

9.Dogs slobber

10.Dogs have the worst breath on earth

11.Dogs live to escape and they're not smart enough to find their way home

12.Dogs sniff other dogs butts then give "kisses" to oblivious humans (not me, ever)

13.Dogs muddy paws on clean floors = mom losing her mind

14.Dogs leave "nose prints" ( I can handle fingers but noses...ick)

15.Dogs turn your back yard into a Barn Yard

I could keep going but... I do have a life.

 O.K here is where you question my sanity as I tell you why I do have a dog!

My dog is good company, she doesn't need much, just a sunny spot to lay and food of course. I don't like being alone, so having her around helps me not to feel lonely!

I love watching my family give her "loves". Dogs really do give unconditional love, they don't care if you are rude or if you lost your mind on them 5 minutes before. Whenever you need someone soft and warm to hug, they are right there, no questions asked!!

Admit it... You think she's pretty dang cute too!!!

Kids and dogs are usually a great combination. I can always tell when my kids feel down or anxious about something. They go to the dog first, she doesn't judge or lecture or ask questions. 

 I don't have any pics about my next comment so you just get "cute" again!

My dog is a fabulous running partner! She can keep up on days when I am feeling really good and she pushes me along on days when I am not. She never ditches... she is always ready to go when I am. If I would rather listen to my ipod than talk, she is good with that!

HARLEY is part of our family. We all LOVE her and though she drives us all crazy sometimes we couldn't imagine life without her!!!

How do you like my new look?

You don't even know how technologically challenged I am! It honestly took me 3 whole days to figure out how to get this new back ground to work. The problem with all that is... or should I say problems are...

1. I really don't have 3 days to spend doing anything on the computer.

2. I still haven't figured out how to get my blog name on my header.

3. In the end I am not really sure that I like the "New Look"!!!

Anyway! We did some skiing/snowboarding this weekend. We are making some progress getting everyone skiing/boarding independently! Sam, Dallin and Shaina all took a lesson. Shaina decided to start boarding this year, so she is back to the bunny hill, but being the little "athlete" that she is I really don't think it will take her long to get the hang of it. They all did really well and I am starting to see that spring break at Panorama might even be a real "break" this year!!!!

I am so glad that we have taken up skiing/boarding with our kids. It is a great way to spend time together and being that we live where it is winter 5-6 months of the year, it really is a good way to pass the time and have fun too!

Here are a few pictures of our day on the slopes!!

Dallin turns 7!!! and... Maryns future children are going to starve to death!!!

Happy Birthday Dallin!

January 9th we celebrated Dallin's 7th birthday, he kept saying "I can't believe I am 7 Mom"!!! Neither can I Dall!

This is Dallin in his school class room on his birthday.

Getting a good night hug from his best friend Sam

This pictures doesn't even begin to capture just how useless Maryn is in the kitchen!  I take that back, she can clean a kitchen like no body's business, ask her to cook, and you just never know what you're going to get! This is her attempt at banana bread. Actually it wasn't even her attempt! All she was really asked to do was watch it and take it out when it was done! Oh My!

Funny thing is if you talked to anyone who grew up in the same household as I did, they wouldn't be a bit surprised by any of this.

By the way, Maryn is planning to marry someone with a "cooking hobby" and if that doesn't work out, she will live next door to Julie, who has the "cooking thing" down!!!

I figured it out, I guess she will too!

2008 The Year in Review

I saw this little questionnaire on another blog and thought I would use to give an overview of the year 2008. It's been a great year... Here's to an even better 2009!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you have never done before?

I sent a missionary out into the "Field" to serve the Lord!! See Question 6

I colored my hair blonde!  

I made my very own BLOG!!!

2. Did you keep your New Years resolutions and will you make more for this coming year?

I didn't really make any official write them down kind of resolutions! Yes I will make a few for the coming year... Right here on my blog so that those of you that read this can help hold me accountable!!

1. Be a consistant exerciser! I do REALLY GOOD in spurts. Not so good everyday!

2.Do at least one load of laundry everyday monday-friday. Not because I like it, but so that I can stay on top of it and not have it heaping in massive piles in my laundry all the time!!!

3. Run another Marathon and do the Magrath triathlon in less than 3 hours! Lofty goals!! 

4. Read the Book of Mormon everyday, in the a.m before I exercise.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Lots of friends in our ward. No one particularly "close"

4. Did anyone close to you die?

 I wouldn't say I was " close to him" but President Gordon B. Hinkley died on January 27th. We were having a fireside here at our house and Brenda called to tell me. I was really saddened, but happy for him at the same time. 

5. What places have you visited in 2008?

I went to Provo in May for womens conference with my good friend Joanne... Great as usual.

We, Mark and I, went to SLC and Provo again in August to take Russell to the M.T.C... Happy but sad! 

I drove my kids, by myself, to the Redwood National Forest in California....Soooo Coool

Mark and I went to Kauai in October...Ahhh paradise!

6. What dates in 2008 will remain etched in your memory and why?

August 13th, the day we took Russell into the M.T.C. It is just one of those kind of days that as a parent you look forward to all your life, but when it actually happened... Such mixed emotions!

7. What was your biggest achievement this year?

I participated in two triathlons. I did a the sprint distance in the Magrath triathlon in July, then the olympic distance in Fort Mcleod in August. The Magrath tri had an open water swim... one of the hardest things I have ever done!

8. Did you suffer any injury or illness?

Nope

9. What was the best thing you bought?

I bought a pair of earrings that I love and a road bike.

10. Where did most of your money go?

Mortgage, food and gas!

11. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Bubbly by Colbie Caillat

12. What do you wish you would have done more of in 2008?

I wish I would have spent more time playing with my kids, more time reading the scriptures and more time attending the temple.

13. What do you wish you had done less of in 2008?

Eating unhealthy foods and being angry at my family.

14. What was your favorite T.V show?

I don't watch much but I did enjoy So You Think You Can Dance.

15. What was your favorite movie?

I am going to say Madagascar 2, only because it was the last one I saw, and that is about as far back as my memory allows me to go!!! It really was funny too!

16. What did you do on your birthday and how old are you?

I ran the Mellisa 's 22K Road Race in Banff. I turned 40!!

17. What political issue stirred you the most?

I would have to say the prop 8 decision. The US election would be right up there too. ( I was actually really glad to see the whole thing end. The media attention that the US election receives borders on ridiculous! I am quite happy not to have to hear about it every time I ride in a certain little blue Honda Civic with serius sattelite radio!!!) 

18. Who was the best new person you met?

I would have to say Jacqui! She is the girl that Russell dated before his mission. I have to admit that I didn't really want to get to know her at first. I was selfishly only concerned with how her relationship with my son would effect his future. It wasn't until right before Russell left that I realized how much more their is to this girl than just being "Russell's girlfriend". She is genuine and kind, she is a real " go getter" with loads of ambition! She is truly devoted to things that "really matter" and her love for her family is amazing. I can only hope that all my boys will end up with as wonderful a girl as Jacqui! 

It's been 5 days 9 hours and 14 minutes since Christmas!

I Love Christmas and everything about it! We have had a really fun holiday so far and I am so glad to have this whole week off to sleep in, play games, visit with friends and hopefully do some skiing.

Here is a little update on some of our Christmas celebrations!

My Mom and Dad, uncle Ken and Uncle Keith came up on the 23rd and spent Christmas with us. It was the first time they have spent Christmas at our house. We loved having them and felt that it really added to the TRUE meaning of Christmas... The love that we have for one another and The SAVIOR who binds us all together. This is Grandma reading us a story from the "Christmas binder"
Our Christmas eve supper! Mark and I both followed traditions set in our childhood homes and we make Oyster soup! I know, yuck right?! WRONG it's delicious! We love it. I won't hold out for any recipe requests! 
Sam got to open his gift from Grandma and Grandpa D on Christmas eve... Grandma has made each one of her Grandkids one of these fabulous sleeping bags! Sam is their last grandchild and the only one who didn't have one yet! He has been sleeping in Maryn's bag for most of the last year and asked often why he didn't have "my own sleeping bag" Needless to say he was thrilled when he open his present and there was his very OWN sleeping bag! Thanks Grandma!! You are amazing!
Everyone else got to open new P.J's!
Christmas morning! Sam with his new Ben Ten Omni tricks and watch!
Dallin with a massive Lego project, which took one very talented brother to get it put together. Thanks Max!!
Dallin with his new "laptop"
Julie gets her own blow dryer and hair straightener! Mom is sooo happy! No more sharing!
Max got a PSP. He didn't play with it for atleast two days due to the above mentioned LEGO project! Look close though and you'll see his favorite present...A YOYO! he has hardly let go of it all week.
Maryn got an Ipod touch. LUCKY!!
Shaina's present was by far the funnest to see opened... She has been begging for about a year for some kind of "pet" she started by asking for rabbits (thanks to Aunt Julie and Sarah) I just couldn't say yes to that having a beagle in our house! Next was the request for hamsters. I pretty much told her that we had all the animals that this Mom was prepared for and that she was just going to have to let it go! Well... Shaina didn't ask for much of anything for Christmas this year and when all the gift buying was done and presents were wrapped we realized that we hadn't gotten Shaina much of anything. Mark and I were laying in bed one night (a few days before Christmas!) and Mark just said one word... "HAMSTER"! I said "brilliant" and we both slept like babies! The next morning I went out and with Maryn's help picked out two adorable dwarf HAMSTERS for Shaina!!! As you can see from the pictures she was thrilled!
They are sooo tiny and cute... I'll just have to endure the smell! It's all good, I know from experience, it won't last long! (what a mean thing to say, sorry Shaina!)
Christmas Day the Missionaries from our ward came to make their phone calls to Home from our house. This is Elder Stewart
This is Elder Baxter. They each talked for an hour. We also got to talk to OUR Missionary! Russell is doing great, it was so nice to hear his voice. Everyone got a chance to talk to him, which really made the time fly by too fast. It was hard not to have him here with us for Christmas, but we are continually grateful for his faithful service and example. 

The whole family sitting down for Christmas Dinner! It was a delicious meal, and so nice to have Grandma there to help! I actually enjoyed the food this year! ( I am usually so tired of cooking that I don't even care!)
Boxing Day took everyone outdoors! Maryn down to White Ave. to shop, and everyone else to the ravine to go sledding! Here is Shaina playing in the fluffy white stuff!

Miss Julie climbing trees???!

Dad working off all the Christmas baking...pulling the boys up the hill. What a nice Dad!
Jules and Shai!
... and then down they go!!!
I think Mark has more fun than anyone!
And... truth be told, I stayed home with the dogs! We didn't get another Beagle, this is Lacy. She belongs to our friends the Fairbanks. We babysat her while they went down to Raymond to watch their son play in the Sugar Bowl. Which by the way Ainlay took first place in the final against Raymond. Yeah!!!!!

It has been a wonderful Christmas! It is such a peaceful time of year! (even at our house!) My good friend Brenda suggested that we go to the temple together on Saturday. (the 27th) It was such a blessing to be there with Mark and Brenda, and to really reflect on the Savior and all that he means in my life. I want to make going to the temple part of our Christmas celebration every year. It is my ultimate desire to have my whole family there with me one day! That will be the Best Christmas Ever!!!!