Per Rich...In the words of my sister

I made a last minute (more like second) trip to the North Pole. (AKA butt-cold Calgary) and it all started Tuesday night. A visual on the target:

Please Note: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AM I TO BE ANYBODY'S EMERGENCY CONTACT, ONLY PHONE CALL OR FIRST RESPONDER...EVER. PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF EMERGENCIES ONCE THEY ARE COMPLETE, AND NOT A SECOND SOONER.

Sister Erika hurt her back on monday picking up her Connor (seriously read about him). For some reason it seemed like a good idea to muscle through the day, so she did. (first mistake). The next morning she woke up numb, and in unbearable pain. After using the washroom (a ridiculous name for the bathroom), she passed out. Fell off the toilet- out cold, stops breathing and eyes relocate some place in the back of her skull. Minutes later ambulance arrives to take her to the hospital. She is now breathing-ish again and they test her heart where they discover she'd had a heart attack.

Meanwhile- Troops in the land of the free are mobilized

Although this happened at about 7 in the morning, per my above request i wasn't notified until approximately 3 PM. Richard, bless his heart, is the most feclempt he's been since the last Cal-Ranch expansion. He calls me Tuesday night to see if there was anyway I could go to Canada the next day if need be. I agree to said trip.

Meanwhile- in the land above the 49th

Doctors transfer Erika to the high trauma intensive care unit in Calgary for more tests. While they claim it to be the best in the Country it resembles a good day on M*A*S*H. She stays through the night, where even after told not to, her nurse gives her morphine. Erika is allergic to life, so obviously the morphine made her sick.

Meanwhile- in the archipelago of Asia

The Byram's- (whom I will see in T-72 hours) request their passports from headquarters in Manilla (I'm not sure if that is standard procedure or if the authorities are worried they are a flight risk being as Manilla is hours away) and look into flights to the Western Family United States...Canada.

Back to the land of the Brave

Rich calls me- at work and asks if I can be on the 2PM flight to Calg. It's after 11, so I con Caitlyn into shuttling me to SLC International, via the homestead to get my passport and 2 changes of unmentionables. (seriously that's all I brought with me). I find out that the 2PM is all booked, but the Delta rep tells me to go to the airport to see if I can snag a seat anyway. (he was extremely helpful) Get to the counter to buy a ticket, only to be told again sorry the flight is full...bla. (this guy was less helpful) I then get a flight to Denver- then Calgary. Board the flight, 20 minutes pass and we are de-planed per maintenance. The Delta agent then tells me my best bet is to go get on the curtsey Delta Phone and talk to an agent. I do. She is lame, and after minutes of banter (I was totally rude, and not that sorry - I have no time for idiots)Finally I figure out which gate the 2PM flight is leaving from and sprint literally to that gate- which is on the complete opposite side of the airport. I'm sweaty, stinky and about to lose it but manage to fanagle a seat on the 2 PM.

I am greeted (initially by a lovely Indian cab driver) and then by this:

Luckily the next day we would find out that the initial testing was a false negative, and she didn't have a heart attack. However, there is no explanation as to why her heart and lungs went into failure. She is left with a hurniated disk, and an osteophyte between her T12 and L1 Vertebrae. After another night and day in the hospital she is released.

Things this trip has taught me

#1. Erika's roomate Earl (82, wants to quit smoking) totally hated her. Mostly because she was creepy and asked way too many questions.

#2. Canadian Hospitals remind me of the Blackfoot Fair

#3. Even in the excruciating pain Erika still managed to ask me to bring her Anne Taylor order that she had shipped to me- her priorities are always in check.

#4. Sharing a bathroom with dimentia patients provides countless hours of comic relief (specifically when she looked at a neigboring patients pre-flushed toiled and replied- "looks like you had a great breakfast)

#5. The average age on the Cardiology floor was 87 before Erika brought it down into the 50's (she looked like an intern compared to her roomates)

#6. If I'm ever homeless in Canada I will go stay at a hospital (they have snacks for everyone on the floor)

#7. You really don't have to pay for anything in a hospital in the Canada- it felt like we were stealing when we left.

#8. Even though Andrea would prefer to be in charge, we all listen to Rich most in a crisis (he gets the purple heart in all this)

#9. Erika has the highest pain tolerence in the country

#10. Although we've learned to be orphans, we can't live with out our Door Mat- love you E!

How is it that.....

Your 7 year-old who has been missing her two front teeth - finally gets them in time for Christmas. Isn't it backwards... first you want teeth for Christhmas?



You have essentially the same Christmas list as your 9 year-old. Ipods, clothes, pedicure, money.... should there not be an age limit on those things?



And ESPECIALLY how is it that these hands can spend so much of the year destroying things but when it's time to put up the Christmas tree - are the most gentle and careful. (notice that little finger.... the one I'm wrapped around) Let's do this December.

Happy Halloween

Here they are! The kids had a great Halloween and it was beautiful here! I'm pretty sure it was the best day of Connor's life. He loved every minute of it and loved the candy even more. Now, I'm using it as a tool to get him to do what I want. Does anyone know how to get rid of a trillion pound of candy you don't want your kids to eat?

Date with Dad

Darren took the girls to a Cancer fundraiser this weekend. It was very formal and they were very excited. They walked down the red carpet, got pictures, flowers, a swag bag and even bid on cooking classes and won them. Darren wore his tux and the girls were fancy smancy. They got home late and wouldn't stop talking about their fun night with their dad.

A Drop in the Bucket

What is wrong with my 3 year-old? This week I found 4 garbage cans in various places around the house that had been used as a toilet. The basement is now finished and he decided to drop one in a cleaning bucket down there and then wipped his rear end by sliding across my new carpet. He's peed on the neighbours lawn, at the zoo, Heritage Park and basically in anything round he sees. But the literal "crap" I'm dealing with is painful. He's gone too far. Any punishment ideas?

Spoke too soon

Writing the last post was a curse. Yesterday, Connor dumped 1 gallon of bleach and 1 gallon of fabric softner on the floor. He smeared a dark purple pillion through the puddle and the color blead on the tile and into the grout. He sprayed a bottle of Kaboom all over the wall, put about 3 cups of tide in the washing machine. The Kaboom was also used on fabric hampers which leaked onto all the clothes. And for the icing on the cake, he also crapped on the floor. All this happened after the last post praising his personality. I don't really like him anymore.

Star of the Show

Since school started I have been spending a lot of one on one time with this guy. I still wonder how it happened that I have only one kid at home during the day now - can't believe I'm that mom. Getting over that fact, we are having a great time. After taking two others to preschool for two years I decided to try something different. Connor and I do things together instead of a daily scheduled preschool. He loves his trampoline class, the play class while I do aerobics, loves his un-parented class at the Rec. Centre where he gets to swim and loves going and doing. However, he does not like to come home. When he notices we are heading for home, he'll tell me from the back seat that I'm going the wrong way and turn around! Everyday he asks me where we are going. A few times he has even suggested we go to the mall so he can ride in a stroller and eat popcorn. He has been spoiled. Has gotten toys at the grocery store, a zoo pass, playdates, and numerous lunches spent not at home. I"m really enjoying our time and the house stays much cleaner when we are gone for the day. He has even made friends with the workers who are finishing our basement and asked if Steve could come to his birthday party. Honestly, I think Steve has had it with his shadow. But, I'm paying good money for a basement development, might as well get the most bang from my buck. His antics are much more charming now that he's flying solo at home. (minus his new habit of peeing in garbage cans and the unfinished part of the basement floor. Why would he do that?) But still, I'll have to agree with my girls when they say one day that Connor is spoiled. Yes he is - but what's a mom to do?

First Day - First Blood.

I'ts Back to school again here in Canada after our pathetically short summer. But, the girls put on a brave face for their first day of school. Chelsea is now in the first grade and goes all day, every day. I'm thinking it will be an adjustment for her and I expect she will be exhausted for the first little while. She was awake this morning at 5 am - ready to go for the day... excitement got the best of her. And then bit her in the butt later in the day. Keep reading.

Cala is in Grade 4 and got the exact teacher she wanted and even got her best friend in her class. It was a good day for Cala and she is ready to hit the books again.


Here's where things got messy. I got a phone call shortly after lunch. There was the first mishap of the school year. Chelsea accidentally got kicked in the face on the playground. Her glasses smashed into her face and cut her eye. She was very upset about it and I had to go to the school to calm her down/insist that she stayed for the rest of the day. She told me she just wanted to cuddle with me in bed and that maybe she wouldn't even go tomorrow if it still hurt. It was the 5 am wake up call talking and her disappointment of not getting her friends in her class. But she got the GREATEST teacher so she'll have to make new friends and she will. I'm guessing that will be easier to do once she is no longer sleep deprived.
I was very proud of her for sticking it out even though she didn't want to. I know that even though the day was disappointing for her - she'll rise to the occasion and make new friends. I wish it could have gone better for her but, she learned something today and it wasn't easy. Here's hoping day #2 is better.

No Kidding

This morning as I lifted my blinds, I noticed a bird on the deck. I looked closer. He had a rough night. It flew into the glass railing on our deck. The impact decapitated him and I now have dead bird from one end of the deck to the other. I was telling Cala about it and Connor was standing right there. After hearing about the fate of the bird he said, "Did you beat it?"

Pictures from Erika

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O What do you do in the Summertime?

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I love going to Heritage Park and if you come to Calgary, I'll make you go. It's a historical village and a very fun day. Notice the sweatshirts. It really is July here - just not going so well weather wise. We hit the rides, the old time school, planted a few seeds, ate at the bakery, saw farm animals and went home. Just before we pulled into the drive way one of the kids said, "What else are we going to do today? Now what mom?"

Here's a list of everything we have done in the last week - match that up with about 10 times someone saying, "Now what are going to do?" 1. went strawberry picking. 2. swam at the lake 3. went to the library 4. had 3 playdates. 5. bike rides 6. mother daughter run 7. took each kid for a shopping day 8. went to the lake again 9. sleepover with cousin 10. Cala visited the horses 11. Heritage Park 12. back to the beach. What else is there. How about stay home?

Viva Victoria

Long Live the Queen. This is one of my favourite (note Canadian spelling) places to visit in Canada. Victoria is a little slice of England in North America. Victorians say they are more English than the English. We decided to take the kids to the Island and visit Ben and Janell. (off the coast of Vancouver - for all the confused Americans) We had a fantastic time! Whale watching, beach walking, shopping and eating at some seriously great restaurants is how we spent our 5 days of fun. Here's my favourite food find: cream cheese syrup. Mix part melted cream cheese with maple syrup and pour, dip or just drink it straight up. Life changing.


The Gehmlichs' are the best of friends and the kids love them just as much as we do. Plus, doesn't everyone have at least one friend that looks like a super model? Mine's Janell.

The long and short of it

Here is our latest family picture. We had grandparents on all sides harassing us for a new one. (I don't know why, we didn't add a new kid or anything) Cala and Chelsea have both been asking me for short hair. We got a little carried away and Chelsea's ended up being a million times shorter than we discussed. I had to cut it shorter. I hate it when they make the front shorter than the back. Anyway, it's just hair and no matter how long or short it is - we have beautiful girls. I LOVE Cala with short hair - she looks very Ralph Lauern Polo. And Chelsea is enamored with her bangs. Incidentally, Connor is the one who really needed a haircut but he refused... and still took a sucker.

Moving Day

These pictures were taken on May 30th.... the day we moved from our country house back to the city. The snow and wind were the worst we had in 3 years of living there. We had do get a bobcat in to dig us out. The movers were 4 hours late and worked until 2 AM to set everything back up. School was cancelled and that whole week was a blurr and a crazy amount of work. I wasn't prepared for the drain it was. Thanks to Ben and Janell "the buffer" couple we are still married. We did decide the other day we actually like our new house more than we thought we would. We both really like it here even though we are still renovating/basement finishing. Was it worth it... a month away from the move - yeah but moving is HORRIBLE.

Most Important Meal of the Day

I decided ot get a little creative for Breakfast this morning. I made Cherry Blueberry Crisp with ice cream on top. Chelsea took one bite and said. "I think I'll fast for breakfast today."

Up to...

Connor and CC spent a day on a high tech farm, climbing on huge tractors and getting dirty. It was down home serious fun and possibly the best day of Connor's life.

CC sang like an angle for her concert. She was the youngest, a bit nervous and perfectly charming. Do, re, me... Sound of Music here we come.


3 and 2. The number of hours Connor spent playing with this toy the first two days. My Little Sandbox did big things for my day. This is quite possibly the worlds greatest toy. Get one.

Oh ya -he's three and we had a big party at Let's Play. Thanks to Cala and CC, we got to sit and talk while the kids played. Presents, dinner and cake - all a snap and under 2 hours.
He's our baby and lately cracking us all up and driving us crazy. He hates me when Darren is around. Yesterday while we were all going to get in the car, I walked out last and heard Connor say, "Hurry, let's go, mom's not coming." Um... I'm totally going. Then, in the truck I was talking to Darren and from the back seat we hear, "Mom, I want you to stop talking. Just stop." So he's my best friend 5 days a week but on evening and weekends, I'm watching my back.

So LONG farewell....

It's been an emotional 2 weeks. I'm tired. My parents had their "farewell" in Idaho 2 weeks ago and I flew home for it... all by myself. The weekend was unbelievable and defined the reason you grow up in a small town. I saw friends and family and felt complete love from our amazing little Idaho community. I was overwhelmed. Growing up in a small town is almost like growing up in a strange sub-culture and if you never leave it, you never fully understand it's charm. I've been away 20 years and I go back and feel like a teenager. Lives are intertwined and generations weave together. I know that if I really needed a "mom" to come to my rescue in the next two years - at least 5 of my moms friends and my aunts we be here. Elder Brad Foster now of the seventy even surprised them both and spoke at their farewell. He had the best line. "I couldn't resist a chance to get the last word on Debbie." You have to know my mom but those of us who do are still laughing at it. It was love love love and nothing but love. The president of the new temple in the Philippines where they will be serving was also there and my sisters and brother and I met him. I told him I didn't really like him and that my dad was gay. It didn't work. He told me I'd have to do better than that. I was impressed. I also had a 4 hour layover in SLC. What's a kidless girl to do with nothing but time. It's called take a cab to Gateway Mall and make the most of the great exchange rate. I came back to Calgary on a Monday night, did laundry and the 5 of us started the drive to Idaho on Thursday. We stayed in Great Falls Thursday night and drove the rest of the way on Friday. Connor, your dad and I would like to formally apologize to you for forgetting the battery to your DVD player. You should probably get some award for not watching TV at all during a 12 hour car ride. Here are some pics of the farewell trip to say good-bye to Grandpa and Grandma.

I think my mom and CC have the same cheeks. I'm confident CC will look older in 2 years and am positive my mom won't.


My dad. Don't get me started. I do pinch him on the butt every time I hug him good-bye. He even admitted he'll miss me annoying him.


Speaking of annoying. Don't ever take an almost 3 year-old out to dinner at bedtime. Nightmare.



Sleeping update. He's still a pain. Still get's locked in his room and falls asleep in random place on the floor... this time his teady bear was along for the ride.

Bitter Sweet

Big News in our family. My parents are moving to the Philippines. My dad has been asked to be the second councillor in the Cebu, Philippines temple. This temple opens in June. They leave in May. How I'm dealing with this decision:

1 - placed an add on Craigs list for some temporary grandparents
2- every time I think about them leaving - I quickly think of something else
3- on-line shopping
3- thinking how funny it will be to watch princess and my mom in a 3rd world country.
4- secretly hoping they get sick enough to be sent home early but not sick enough to be really sick
5- considering drafting a letter to ask if they can just take my dad
6- making travel plans to the Philippines
7- making travel plans to Rome (half-way point)
8- making travel plans to Hawaii (easier for us, we have kids)
9-on-line shopping
10-researching parasites

I AM glad they are going - but I still don't want them to. Also, I feel better when I think of how Kristen is coping. She's having a hard time even breathing right now.

"SOLD"

Why hasn't Erika blogged much since listing her house

1-Keeping it spotless and staging it takes some serious time
2-Been baking a lot since I know I will be saying good-bye to my awesome kitchen
3-Looking for new house on line eats up all my computer time

And now the new excuse for not blogging... I have to pack. Oh ya, and find a house. And, oh ya, hopefully not get a divorce in the process. Could someone please make a decision for us. Advice welcome.

Chelsea had some: You two better get on the house finding thing. We only have like 6 weeks.

Made you laugh

CC says, while I'm brushing her hair: "Mom, I want to grow out my hair all the way to my leg pits."

CC says one morning when she came to wake me up: "Mom, the reason I bring my blanket in when I come to say hello in the morning is so I don't have to smell your stink. You smell bad in the morning."

Connor says all the time - after everything he does: "Is that funny?"

Connor: "Go away, I'm busy." - as he sits on the counter playing with the water taps.

Connor: "I spilled everywhere." - I hear this a few times a day... usually it's a drop or two... but one day, I'm sure it will be big.

Big News

Here are a few pictures of our house. We designed it and moved in 2 1/2 years ago - one month before Connor was born. And now, in a decision made in 6 days we're selling it. Please don't burst into tears like our oldest daughter did when we told her. We simply want more land. And so, for sale it is. Isn't the view amazing... those are what real mountains look like all you Americans. They cover the horizon from North to South and head west all the way to the ocean.















There are no pictures of the barn because I barely know where it is... I've only been in there a few times... but it's lovely, as barns go.

Quick Quote of the Day

Mom: "CC, are you the smartest one in your class."
CC: "Yes."
Mom: "Did you teacher tell you that?"
CC: "No. But you know how you just know some things."