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.