Oh Gilbert!

A couple weekends ago was a special weekend for me.  My mom and sister came up to stay at my house for the weekend for an Anne of Green Gables marathon.  None of these new versions for us - we love the Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst version.  It's about 7 hours in total so we got started Friday night.

Mom and Rachel came up late Friday afternoon.  We first headed to Ikea for supper.  Jason then took the kids (he was dropping off the boys at Sheri's for the night - thank you Sheri) and mom, Rachel and I did a bit of shopping at Ikea.

When we got home we started watching our show.  I can't even tell you how much I love this series.  Our dream is for the three of us to take a trip to Prince Edward Island.  Jason and Cadence got home shortly after and had brought us treats.  What a great guy I have.

The next morning Jason made us the most delicious breakfast of eggs benedict while we continued with our marathon.  Then he took Cadence out for a Daddy/Daughter day (more on that later).   That afternoon I put out a spread of appetizers.  We had chicken wings, weiners in bacon, sausage and cheese, 7 layer dip, chips and salsa, and veggies and dip,  Mom had brought enough cookies and chocolate bars to last for weeks.

We had such a great time together laughing and crying.  We even finished in time to introduce Rachel to my newest favorite show - Miranda!  Such fun!!

Thanks for coming.  Let's make it an annual tradition.  Maybe next year we should watch Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth version of course).

1st Violin Lesson

It was an exciting morning for Cadence and I.  We have the opportunity to take violin lessons. Yesterday we headed to the music store to rent a little violin for Cadence.  It couldn't be cuter.

All ready and heading to violin lessons.

I get a lesson first.  I'm very excited to be taking lessons.  I don't know how much success I'll have but I'm going to give it my all.  Then Cadence has a little lesson.  Followed by my giving a piano lesson to our violin teacher.  Such a great exchange and benefits all of us.

Cadence did pretty good for being so young.  She listened, and answered questions and behaved really well.  I was proud of her.

I'm excited to see how we both will progress.

What Would You Like Sir?

Oh my!  I am so behind in blogging.  So much to blog about, so little time.  I will blog soon about Christmas and other things that have been going on since then.  Can you believe that it is the middle of February already.  Seriously, where does the time go.  So just a quick blog this morning to assure you that I am still here and that we are doing fine.

We got Cadence a cute little kitchen this year for Christmas.  Jason decided to set it up in the playroom like a little house.

Jason covered up one side of the shelves to look like a wall with a little pass through and then the other side facing the kitchen is shelving for Cadence to keep food, dishes or whatever else she'd like.

The other day she was playing with her brothers in her little house.  Warms this momma's heart.  Cadence has the best big brothers!!  She takes their orders - "What would you like sir?".  Then she says "coming right up" and goes to cook their food.  So sweet.

Char made Cadence the cutest apron and chef hat for Christmas.  Too adorable - I can barely stand it!

I hope she'll have hours of fun.

Bookclub 2016

So my bookclub "Literary Ladies" just completed our 2nd year of meeting together.  I love this group, and this group of ladies so much.  We always have such great discussions, yummy food and enjoy each others company.

January 2016
People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
Very interesting read.  Not the type of book I would ever pick up but that is the beauty of bookclub.

February 2016
Longbourn - Jo Baker
A story of the servants in the Pride and Prejudice book (kind of like Downton Abbey).  I really enjoyed this book.

March 2016
Thoughtless - S.C. Stephens
Another book I never would have read.  A little racy for me, but it was like going by a car accident and not looking.  Once I got started I needed to see how it finished.

April 2016
The Light Between Oceans - M. L. Stedman
Enjoyed this book but I sobbed buckets.  I can't bring myself to go to the movie.

May 2016
The #1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
Fabulous book.  Have read it before.  Is always a very fun read.

June 2016
The Red Tent - Anita Diamant
A fictional telling of Dinah's story from the bible. I enjoyed this book.  Lots about birthing babies!

September 2016
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules - Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
Very fun book.  This was the first bookclub meeting I missed, was sick.

October 2016
Oryx and Cakes - Margaret Atwood
I tried several times to start this book.  First book I didn't finish for the bookclub meeting.  I must admit I am not a Margaret Atwood fan.

November 2016
The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins
I really enjoyed this book.  Some fun twists.

I hosted November's meeting.  It is always so fun to host.  Since the main character of the book is an alcoholic I decided to serve "wine and beer" (the LDS versions - martinelli's and vanilla cream soda).

I also had sausage, cheese and crackers, chicken wings, 7 layer dip and chips, homemade chocolates, mini cheesecakes and cream puffs.

One of these times I'll remember to take a picture of our group.  I'm excited to see what we will read in 2017.

RS Christmas Party

In my church I serve in the Relief Society which is a women's organization.  My duties are specifically organizing activities for the women of our ward.

So a few weeks ago I organized a Christmas Party.  Our theme was "Wise Men Still Seek Him". It was held on a Thursday evening.  Set up started on Wednesday night when the young men in our ward helped by staying after their activity to set up tables and chairs for me.  A couple of friends came and helped me decorate the tables and Jason strung lights all around the gym.

Thursday morning Cadence and I headed over to the church and finished setting the tables along with another friend and her little girl.

We sent everyone home with a Liahona tree ornament (Jason made for me).

Then it was back to the church at 4:30 p.m. to get the meal prepared.  I had purchased roasts and potatoes and had assigned women in the ward to cook them and then deliver them to the church at 5 pm.  We cooked the veggies, made gravy, I had made 10 dozen buns and several women from the ward signed up to bring salads and desserts.

We had a photo booth set up in the lobby as people arrived with props and costumes to use in their pictures.

Our Relief Society Presidency

Mom came up and was a huge help in the kitchen.

We had close to 80 women in attendance.  Everyone enjoyed the meal and then we had a short program.

We started with a "Right and Left Frosty the Snowman" game with homemade chocolates at each table as the prize.  Some carol singing. We had two beautiful vocal numbers, and cute poem about a Parents Twas the Night Before Christmas, a few words from our RS president and finished the evening with a gorgeous violin solo of Silent Night.

The young men came back and did all the dishes for us and so many stayed and helped clean up.  We were out of there in no time.  It was a lot of work and stress, and I think I about drove my family crazy but it was a successful event and I'm happy that all that came enjoyed themselves.

Nativity Concert

Last week my hometown ward was hosting a Nativity display and concert for the community.  My mom was asked to help organize the concert.  She asked if I'd be willing to come and perform.  It is always fun to go home and sing so I said yes.

There were performers from the church, as well as community people.  It was a nice evening.  My brother Dave was the MC and he did a great job.  The Champion primary children did the opening number.  Armin was so incredibly cute in his little gingerbread costume mom made.

Rachel, mom and I sang "A Manger Filled with Love".  Our voices always blend together so beautifully and I love singing with them both.  I think the number turned out nice.

Leah played her flute with an instrumental trio, and her and Emry sang so beautiful while Jared accompanied them on the guitar.

I sang "Please Come Home for Christmas".  I love singing this song.  So much fun!

Rachel sang and accompanied herself on the piano.  She did such a beautiful job!

They served refreshments afterwards and people mingled and looked at all the different nativities.  It was a nice event to hold for the community.  I was happy to be involved.

Nutcracker for Toddlers

There is a dance studio in Calgary that puts on ballets for toddlers.  I read they were putting on a 30 minute Nutcracker ballet for babies to 6 year olds and immediately called Rachel to see if she and Freya were interested in coming with Cadence and I.  Nani was invited to and we headed over to the Cardell Theatre this morning.

I dressed Cadence in her best ballerina outfit and fixed her hair in a ballerina bun.

Looking so grown up.

Sweet ballerina cousins ready to go.

We arrived early and the girls were able to do crafts while waiting for the performance to start.

Then into the theatre for the performance.  Both Cadence and Freya behaved so well.  They watched intently seemed to really enjoy it.  It was cute.

After the performance they invited the kids on stage.  Cadence was excited to go, but was too shy to do any of the actions.  Maybe next year!

A fun morning with my sweet girl.  Hope we have many girl outings in our future with nani and Aunt Rachel and Freya!

Braces $$$

A couple of years ago Ashton had a retainer to straighten a few teeth that were needing to be moved for others to come in.  Since then some teeth that should be coming down by now still aren't, and he's lost the last of his baby teeth, so he's ready for braces

First appointment was lots of pictures and xrays.

Smile!  Ha ha ha!

Then last Monday we headed to the orthodontist to have the braces put on.  They've decided to just put them on his upper teeth first, with the bottom teeth following in two months.  They taught him how to take care of them and what he is not allowed to eat or drink.  He received a really nice electric toothbrush and all the tools he'll need to take great care of his teeth for the next two years.

The first few days were pretty rough.  The brackets tore up the inside of his mouth and his gums and teeth were sore.  He is doing much better now and seems to be back to normal.  It's astonishing how expensive it is, but I'm sure he'll have a beautiful smile

Traditions

A couple of weeks ago we got together with the Puzey side of the family for our annual chocolate dipping.  We had each made 3 batches of fondant and then got together to dip it.  It goes so quickly when we work together and it's lots of fun.  This year we made olympic cream, maple walnut, peppermint, coconut, cherry, vanilla and toffees.

Last chocolate of the day - out of chocolate!  He he he

My kids love going to the farm.  They had a great day playing with their cousins while we worked.  Fun memories being silly!

Scotch tape faces

After chocolate making later that night we left Ashton babysitting at Grandma's house and Jason and I headed into Lethbridge for the Valdy concert.  Mom, Dave, Char, Leah, Blake, Jared, Amber and Emry were all able to go as well.  If you don't know who Valdy is he's a Canadian Folk singer.

He was one of my dad's absolute favorite performers and I grew up listening to his records and dad playing and singing his songs on the guitar.  In fact I asked mom and dad to sing Valdy's song Renaissance at my wedding reception.

Valdy got on stage, just him and his guitar, and started singing and it was a song I knew and remembered well and this flood of emotion overcame me and I could not contain the tears.  Thinking of my dad, missing him, feeling like he was with us.  So many wonderful memories of my childhood.

Valdy really is a spectacular performer.  I love his rich voice, he is an amazing guitarist and his stories are funny and entertaining.

Once I got past the initial tears I loved every moment and could not stop smiling.  He sang all my favorites and new songs as well.  It was fun to sing along.  Such a great night!  It was so great Dave and Jared brought their kids to the concert.  Had I not needed Ashton to babysit we would have as well.  I think it is time to pass on my love of Valdy to my boys.  I love traditions.