One year of posting!

I have been blogging now for one year and when I look back at what we have done over the past year I am so glad that I took up this little hobby! Other than this blog, I don't have another full year of our life "on record" so I am obviously going to try and keep going with this and try even harder to make it a place where we can all look back at the events in our lives with JOY!!

So here is just a bit of what we have been up to this summer...

THis is Dad and Sam making a VOLCANO!

Sam had "Do a science experiment with Dad" on his bingo sheet a couple weeks ago. They made this cool volcano complete with foaming green lava!

This is Dallin's dirt cake. He made it for a F.H.E treat. He has also been having a great time reading the "Diary of a Whimpy Kid" series. The summer bingo program has been a huge success so far and Dallin has used his blackouts to buy books which was a bit of a shock to me! Dallin continues to love skateboarding and playing with Shaina and Sam. 

Shaina has been busy making videos with Julie. (I wish I could figure out how to post videos without it taking all day, if anyone has any advice I'd love to hear it) She also went to a U of A B-ball camp for a week. I can't get Shaina to go to bed before 10:30 on any given night, so going back to school might be a bit rough at first!

Julie went to Young Womens camp at the beginning of the summer. She did all kinds of great activities and had a fabulous time despite the never ending rain! Julie played Mom for a few days while I went to Seattle for a nieces wedding, I was totally comfortable knowing Julie was in charge. She has been a great help to me all summer. Thanks Julie!!

Max just got back from Scout camp. It was nothing short of a truly epic adventure!  I can't even begin to let you know what happened! They had a great time and Max came home injury free for the first time in his scout camp history!

This is a homemade slip and slide that Max and Julie created one afternoon. It occupied everyone for the better part of the day. The kids have all been having a great time playing together this summer, I am so glad they are friends and that they really do like to be together!

Maryn has been working at Lauph and Learn and keeping on top of her summer school courses for her dental hygiene program. She has been a great help around here with the kids too. When I was gone she took everyone to see a movie and helped keep everyone happy. I can't even tell you how much I will miss her. I am going to fly down to TX with Maryn at the end of the month and help her get set up in her apartment. Seems like yesterday that it was me moving away from home to come here for school. 

This isn't the greatest picture of Russell, but I don't have that many in iphoto. Russ is having a great experience on his mission. He always sounds positive and is working really hard and having lots of success. His weekly letters continue to amuse us and help us see that he is still the same Russell that left here a year ago. He has almost been out for a year, and they say the second half of a mission goes way faster than the first. (not so sure I believe it!)

I really needed to do Caylee's photo challenge cause I couldn't find a picture of me to post. I have been busy having fun with the kids and tending dogs! I have tried with limited success to stay active running and biking. I have read a few books and done knitting and now I'm learning to crochet! This is the first year in a few that I haven't been to camp and I have to say I have missed it, I hope we will have time to go camping before summer ends.

Mark, on the other hand has been at both YM and YW's camp. It really does take a significant amount of his holiday time, but he really enjoys going and I know it's good for the youth to have him there. Like I said before, the scout camp was beyond the typical adventure and I can't even begin to tell the story, maybe I will try to convince Mark to tell the tale here!

I hope you are all having a great summer spending time with family and enjoying the great outdoors! We are off for a week in Montana. I Love SUMMER!!!

Maryn's Culinary Comeback

I don't know if you remember THIS (click here)

but it seems that poor Maryn has developed a bit of a reputation and I have to say that really, until last week, she totally deserved all the mud that got thrown her way!

Summer and it's abundance of  fresh friut must have been calling her name cause look what Maryn created...

And she did it ALL BY HERSELF!!

This is "Welcome to the Neighborhood" shot #2!!

We are all really encouraged by her latest culinary experience. It's so good that she'll have access to lots of fresh fruit in Texas. Now if she can master Kraft Dinner over the next five weeks their just might be hope for her after all!!!!

Summer BINGO!

I am going to preface this post by saying that I LOVE summer, I LOVE having my kids around for two straight months and I LOVE the laid back schedule that goes along with it, BUT I am not a fan of...

• endless t.v 
• mind numbing video games
• children fighting
• the "Mom, I am bored, their's nothing to do" line

So, I came across this idea that will hopefully help us have avoid the afore mentioned "problems" and help us have a really fun summer together!

We are doing Summer Bingo. Let the games begin!

This is really just for my three youngest( but tonight we sat around and came up with a summer plan for the big kids too) Shaina, Dallin and Sam each have their own Bingo card with age appropriate activities. The card above is Sam's. I will change the cards up at the end of the week

Tonight after supper I sat everyone down and unveiled "the plan" Let's just say I think some of my children might be up a bit earlier than usual to get started on their Bingo.

The idea is really simple, they each have a bingo card with 25 activities to do for the week. For each bingo they fill they receive tickets which can be redeemed for prizes, if everyone fills up their whole bingo card by the end of the week, together they can choose one thing from the list below.

I am really excited to see how this works out. The link above has a lot more details if any one is interested in trying this out too.

On a completely different note... Apparently the city issued the cage to the "Kernal" to catch Magpies and Crows! Yup, that's right, it's o.k for him to have it and it's my job to make sure my dog stays out of his yard! What do you think he's doing with the birds he catches? You might want to think twice next time you have KFC!!!

CSI off leash park

I have been walking Harley with some ladies from the neighborhood who also have dogs. We meet at around 9 a.m and just walk up and down the greenbelt with the dogs off leash (yes, that's what I said, Harley walks off leash!) Over on the Westbrooke side there are a couple of yards that don't have fences, they have trees or hedges, but the dogs can get in to their yards if we don't watch them. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago we were walking and this old man came out and started yelling at us because apparently we didn't "pick up" after one of the dogs, and all we do is yap and we ignore the dogs as they run mindlessly around the greenbelt unsupervised. He really tore into us, and we were very apologetic and told him that we try our best to be good about picking up after the dogs etc. One of my friends who's name will remain undisclosed to protect the innocent,has quite a colorful way with words and expresses her opinion of this grouchy old man in a way that I am not able to share with you my readers, you just need to know that this man spends the better part of the morning creeping the greenbelt and has made our morning walks feel a bit more like walking on egg shells than a peaceful walk in an off leash park!Let's just say we're not big fans of the grouch man! This particular man lives in one of the houses on the Westbrook side with no fence. So just last week we were walking along and I looked back and Harley was right behind me about 10 paces away. I walked forward for about 30 more seconds and then looked back and NO HARLEY. In looking to the side I quickly realized we were right in line with the grouchy mans back yard. It didn't take my brain long to connect the dots and I moved swiftly to retrieve my dog knowing that we would both be in big trouble if she was discovered loose in his back yard. I spotted Harley sniffing over by a big pine tree and started yelling at her to get out and noticed at the same time that she was pawing at an object quite vigorously. As I got a little closer my heart began to race as the object had the appearance of a small cage and I could just imagine what would happen when my dog got a hold of what could possibly be the  grouchy mans pet bunnies or something of the like. When I was right up to the "cage" and looked in I was both stunned and infuriated at what was discovered. In a wire mesh cage about 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 feet was six or seven pieces of what appeared to be fried chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken to be more precise!! I didn't have time or the guts to look up at the house to see if I was being watched, I just grabbed Harley's collar and bolted it out of there faster than i had made it in. Back on the greenbelt safe in the company of my dog loving comrades, I gave an account of my near dog life threatening experience in the grouchy man's yard. We all came to the obvious conclusion that the grouchy man was indeed attempting to lure my, and any other so unfortunate canine friend in to his back yard so that he could A.) Attempt to put an end to my poor innocent dogs sweet life or B.) and far more probable, he was trying to lure any four legged friend into his back yard to have evidence of the "irresponsible dog owners" who frequent the off leash park and try to shut it down! We were all completely incensed to say the least and decided that we would make a combined effort to put a stop to this kind of in-canine type of prejudice treatment, we would all put in a call to city By-law enforcement and attempt to beat the grouchy man (who is now very unaffectionately referred to as the Kernel) at his own game!! By-law said they would investigate and that if I felt it necessary, could call them with my reference number in hand on Monday to find out the result of their investigations. I will be waiting on hold for the better part of tomorrow morning to find out if the Kernel will be brought to justice!!! I know I need to get a life, and I promise when all this is behind me I will!

A bit of this and that!

I'm so glad to finally be having some summer like weather.

Here's Sam helping me keep things fed and watered.

I don't have many pictures of our house, the landscaping that Russell and I worked so hard on the last two summers is looking good if I do say so myself!!

I brought one of the purple chairs from the back yard to the front to sit and watch Dallin skateboard. I haven't taken it back and I think it looks kinda cute!

I LOVE PURPLE FLOWERS!!

The front doorway... more purple!

I didn't get a good picture of the apple blossoms on the trees in the front yard. They were exceptionally beautiful this year. I just wish the blossoms lasted longer.

Maryn, Julie, Shaina and Sam went for a walk down by Snow Valley on Sunday afternoon. It was a whopping 30*! They were hot and tired when they got home, but they took some fun pictures along the way! 

Sam will really miss Maryn when she leaves for school, he already gets emotional when we talk about her going to Texas!

So cute!

 Here is Max in the middle of a back flip!

Dallin, staying cool in the kiddie pool.

Harley was hot and had to get in on the fun!!

Sam trying to get some color in that skin!

Oh and here is the finished quilt project! It turned out so cute! Maryn did a great job, and a big "Thank you"  to Jean-Anne who did the binding for us, I really have such great friends!

Tonight was the kids Piano recital, they all did a great job. I was especially impressed with Max and thought that he played his piece tonight as well as I had ever heard it. I thought the piece he choose for the recital was perhaps a bit beyond his skills, but he proved me wrong. Max has that "stick to it"kind of attitude that will really help him be successful at whatever he puts his mind to. Like I said, all the kids did a great job tonight. It's fun to see the major improvement that they make over the year. I forgot my camera (again) so sorry, no pictures!

Menu plan June 15th-21st

Monday

Breakfast- Scambled eggs

Supper- BBQ steak/baked potatoes/ veggies

Tuesday

Breakfast- bananas muffins/smoothie

Supper-teriyaki beef fajitas 

Wednesday

Breakfast- pancakes/O.J

Supper- grilled halibut and veggies in foil packets

Thursday

Breakfast- poached eggs and toast/O.J

Supper- Chicken roll ups/rice/broccoli 

Friday

Breakfast- Yogurt/ fruit parfaits 

Supper- sloppy joes/fresh veggies

Saturday

Breakfast- cold cereal

Supper- BBQ Chicken and cheese quesadillas

Sunday

FATHERS DAY! Still dreaming up something wonderful!!

Have a great week!

Harry Ainlay Class of 2009!

Maryn had her commencement and graduation banquet this past weekend.

She graduated with Honorable Mention from Harry Ainlay High School

Maryn's graduating class was over 750 kids, the commencement exercises lasted 3 1/2 hours!

This is Maryn with her closer high school friends

The graduation banquet was Saturday night, Maryn spent the day getting primped and polished, she looked beautiful in her dress. Here she is in our front yard before she left.

Maryn got her dress from a friend of mine who lives in Magrath, she designs modest graduation and wedding gowns. The dress she chose only came in white, Michelle (the designer) was able to dye the dress this beautiful steal blue color. It turned out even better than we hoped!

One of the first of many photos taken that day!!

This is the group of girls that rode together in a Limo, it left from her friend Ashleigh's house and took them to the Legislature grounds were they took photos before the banquet.

Jill, Maryn, Ashleigh and Natalie

Jill Maryn and Ashleigh

Maryn and Ashleigh- Ashleigh has been one of Maryn's better friends at school. She is a really nice girl and one of the girls Maryn will miss when she goes away in the Fall.

Maryn and her best friend Jenni. Jenni doesn't go to Ainlay, she goes to McNally, but was invited to Ainlay's grad as a date. Maryn was very happy to have Jenny there and get a few pics together. They were by far the most modestly dressed girls there that night, I think they looked beautiful!

Maryn and her friend Austin Fairbanks. We sat with the Fairbanks at the banquet. Maryn, Austin and Jenny have all been in greenfield ward together since they started elementary school. They will all graduate from seminary together in a few weeks!

Me and Maryn

Maryn and Mark

The three of us together. Maryn had a fun graduation weekend. It was a bit anti-climactic, it's a different experience here were she has so few member friends. All her friends went to the after grad parties where they pretty much just drink the whole night away. Maryn came home at about 12:30 and just said very matter of factly "theirs really no point" I'm just grateful that I have kids who recognize that they really have no place in that environment but can still have a positive attitude and don't let it bother them.

So... two down and five to go! This really is just the beginning for Maryn and we feel so very blessed to have such an amazing daughter!!

Menu for this week May 25th-31st

Monday

Breakfast- Cereal

Supper- BLT's

Tuesday

Breakfast- Bagels and smoothies

Supper- Teriyaki chicken stir fry

Wednesday

Breakfast- Dipping eggs and toast/O.J

Supper- BBQ ribs/ baked potatoes/veggies

Thursday

Breakfast- Pancakes/syrup/O.J

Supper- Shrimp veggie cheese Linguini

Friday

Breakfast- Oatmeal/blueberries/O.J

Supper- Homemade pizza

Saturday

Breakfast- Cold Cereal

Supper-  Quiche/rice/veggies

Sunday

Breakfast- Cold Cereal

Supper- BBQ Salmon/roasted potatoes/salad

The quilt top is finished!!

It has taken way too long, but the quilt top is finally all pieced together. Maryn and I have collaborated on this little project, and while she has done the lion's share of the work, it has been up to me to make final decisions, run back and forth to the quilting store, and basically keep the project rolling. We had a completely different idea about the border fabric than what we ended up using, but we like the way it is looking and hope that Sarah will be happy with this patchy little peace of her family history!

Next step... Sandwich the top, batting and backing and take it to Georganne's to quilt it on her long arm quilt machine. We hope to have this accomplished this weekend and then all that will be left is the binding... I don't like binding... Here's to hoping it gets finished by the wedding!

Menu May 18th -24th

MONDAY

Breakfast-Holiday Julie made breakfast cake

Supper- Hot dogs/fruit/chips/punch

TUESDAY

Breakfast-cold cereal

Supper-Beef stroganoff/rice/ salad

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast-Apple cinnamon oatmeal

Supper- bbq chicken/roasted sweet potatoes/salad

THURSDAY

Breakfast- yogurt/fruit parfaits

Supper- crock pot chili

FRIDAY

Breakfast-yogurt/fruit/cereal

Supper- tortellini with cheese sauce/veggies

SATURDAY

Breakfast- cereal

Supper- Julie's choice?

SUNDAY

Breakfast- Cereal

Supper- Quiche/wild rice/salad