Unwanted Guest

The other weekend when we were doing some yard work Jason noticed some evidence of something in our yard.  We had some digging under our shed and other areas of the yard.  After I planted my flowers the next two mornings I noticed something had dug in my flower beds.  I see neighbours' cats quite often and another neighbour has two dogs so we weren't sure.

On Thursday night I was in the kitchen around 10 p.m. and the window was open and I heard something rustling the leaves outside the window.  I called Jason over who tried to see what it was.  He told me to go outside to the front of the house to see if whatever it was would run down the side yard and he'd be able to see.  I still can't believe I agreed to go.  I gingerly crept outside and when I looked at the side of the house I saw a skunk just a few feet away from me.  I ran back into the house and told Jason.

We decided we needed to do something about it.  Friday at work during lunch hour Jason called around to several pest control places.  Everyone was quite expensive and a few were currently out of traps as with the flooding animals were being displaced and many people were having problems with various critters.  After some research Jason headed to Rona and bought a skunk trap.

Needless to say I was pretty nervous about making this a do it yourself project, but Jason seemed confident about it.  He placed a can of tuna at the far end of the trap and put it out in the yard where we had seen the skunk.  Sure enough by the next morning we had caught him.  Now what to do!

Jason called his brother who has a truck to come and help him and he got himself ready to rid us of our unwanted guest.

Better safe than sorry!

In an attempt to keep the skunk calm and to not spray Jason laid a black blanket over the trap.

Carefully picking up the trap.

Now to load the trap into a box in the back of the truck.

Arriving at the skunk's new home!

Most stressful part - opening up the trap and then backing away.

I hope he enjoys his new home and doesn't find his way back to our house!

Graduates

Yesterday was the boys last day of school.  The boys hadn't been back since the horrific flooding in Calgary last Thursday.  No busses were running but they had the kids come in for a half day.  The boys were excited to go and I sent boxes of homemade chocolates for their teachers.

They both had great report cards.  I'm proud of all their hard work this year.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADE 1 & 3 GRADUATES!!

Leftovers

Due to my recital being cancelled we have a lot of food to use - especially fruit and vegetables.  On Sunday we decided to use up some of the fruit by having a chocolate fondue.  It was extremely yummy and was enjoyed by all!!

Now to make some dip to have with the veggies.

Flood of 2013

Thursday started like any other day.  The boys went to school.  Jason went to work.  I was preparing for my year-end recital on Friday and getting ready to teach students.  The boys got home from school and I taught 7 music students - my last for the year.  Jason headed to Sobeys for me to buy all the food we needed for the recital.  While at the store we started hearing reports of evacuations all over the city due to flooding.  Word that boil water orders may start.  Jason decided to buy emergency water for us and to take to the recital on Friday if a boil water order started.

I was sick with a miserable cold and decided to make my squares in the morning and decided to head to bed.  I thought I'd look at facebook once last time and noticed a few of my friends in Riverbend and here in Douglas Glen were being told to evacuate.  Then the phone calls started.  The Bishop was away so Jason thought he should go and open the church for members that wanted to stay there.  The Bishop's wife was home so she headed over to the church and opened it.  We were hearing more and more of Douglas Glen was being evacuated so we decided to get prepared.  I packed a suitcase while Jason grabbed bedding and some food.

About 2 a.m. we still hadn't been evacuated so we assumed we were far enough away from the river and went to bed.  We woke up Friday morning to so much devastation.  Many of our church members had been evacuated and about 20 of them were "camping" out at the church.  All public and catholic schools in the city had been cancelled.  When Ashton found out his response was "not all bad things happen from flooding".

We checked the news to see if Jason would be able to get to work.  We discovered numerous road closures, and over 28 communities had been evacuated including downtown - where Jason works.  I decided I needed to cancel my year end recital since many of my students had been evacuated and the church was being used as a shelter.  We had lots of water and food so we decided to have a family day - as the mayor had recommended and couldn't stop watching the news.

This is the Deerfoot Casino on 17th the same street Jason works on.
Our old apartment in mission would be in the top right hand corner.

The road Jason takes to work.

Jason works across the street from Stampede.
Have no idea how Stampede is going to happen in less than 2 week.

The water rose to the 13th row in the Saddledome.

Other communities were hit even harder.  Canmore has had devastating flooding including their highway.

The entire town of High River had to be evacuated.  Over 800 people had to be rescued from their homes in helicopters and 100-200 people rescued by boat and other means.  3 people have died.

I'm nervous about Jason's job, but am also feeling incredibly grateful and blessed that our home is safe and we are together as a family.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by the flooding.  As a family we will see where we can help!

Father's Day 2013

With Sunday being such a busy and emotional day for me it would have been easy to forget about it being Father's Day.  Luckily we have the sweetest little boys who made the day very special for their Dad.

It started early when I heard someone in the kitchen at about 7:30 a.m., then I started to smell breakfast.  At 8:00 a.m. the boys headed in our bedroom with breakfast in bed for their dad.  Ashton had made pancakes and Bowen was carrying a big glass of chocolate milk.  Jason enjoyed his breakfast while the boys brought in presents they had made at school.

Ashton had made a little Dad sign with a promise to clean the car and "stuff", and a bookmark that looks like Plankton (from spongebob - for those of you who don't have little boys).  Bowen had made a game called "mancala".

Jason headed to meetings and then returned to take us to church.

My handsome men ready for church.

After church and then choir we arrived back home about 5:30 p.m.  My Father's Day present to Jason was a new barbecue he had picked out earlier in the week.  We were having steaks for dinner and Jason wanted to try out the new barbecue.  So Jason and the boys headed into the garage to build it.  I can't think of a better activity on Father's Day then the boys spending time with their Dad.  Jason would have been able to build it a lot quicker by himself - but that's not really the point is it!

Getting ready to put on those steaks.

Our old barbecue served us well for over 12 years.  But it was definitely time to replace it.

The new barbecue did a great job on our dinner.  It was yummy!

After dinner Bowen and Jason tried out the new game.

Then we finished up the day with delicious ice cream floats.

Happy Father's Day to my love!  You are the best dad to our boys and we all love you so much.  Of course, I missed being able to wish my dad a Happy Father's Day but am so grateful for the wonderful father he was to me and I know I will be with him again someday.  Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!

Bittersweet

They say that days like today are bittersweet.  I was released as the Primary President today.  To be honest I'm a bit heart broken and am not finding much sweet about it.  I love the new presidency so that makes it much easier to leave my sweet kids I've grown to love so much.

It has been a busy week preparing for my last sharing time.  Of course with it being Father's Day the kids needed to make something to take home to their dads.  They had a little card that said "You're the Best Pop"  with a can of "pop" and some microwave "pop"corn.

Before knowing we were being released we had planned a special sharing time today with our Bishopric.  We invited the Bishopric to join us and we had the junior and senior meet together.  I had the bishopric answer a questionnaire ahead of time and we had a quiz for the kids.  We divided the kids into four teams and each team had a paddle with the Bishopric's faces and they would lift whichever paddle they thought was correct.

It was a lot of fun and the kids learned tons about their leaders.

In October when the Calgary Temple opened we as a primary were able to borrow a shovel used in the groundbreaking and we took a picture of the kids with the shovel.  When Jason was working at the temple he was able to get me some stone that had been used in the baptismal.  During a sharing time I also had the kids either draw a picture or share thoughts they had about the temple.  I had promised the kids that I would have Jason draw them a picture of the Calgary Temple and then frame it with their shovel picture and a piece of the stone.

Since today was my last day - I really wanted to hand them out.  So my fabulous husband took time out of his very busy week and drew me a picture of the Calgary Temple and then put together these keepsakes for the primary children.

Front

Back

Since it was a special sharing time we thought we'd bring a treat as well.  My counsellors and I each brought some chocolate chip cookies.  I had quite the load of stuff to haul to the church this afternoon.

All this - plus three cases of pop!

On my way to church - a few tears will be shed!

Stay tuned for Father's Day details!

Piano Practice

Does a momma's heart good!!

Play Time

This past weekend was lots of fun for me.  I got to do a lot of playing.  It started with Jason and I going out on Friday night.  First we went out for dinner, then we went to an Art Show that a friend of Jason's was participating in, and then after we went to the new Star Trek movie at the Imax in 3D.  Such a great night - loved the movie, want to go again!  I love spending time with my hubby.

Saturday morning I met up with my cousin Sheri.  We went to The Belmont in Marda Loop for brunch.  It is a cute little diner and I had a yummy eggs benedict breakfast.

Then we headed to the Boyce Theatre to see "Roy and Hailey".  Any Coronation (Corrie) Street Fans will know who I am talking about.  Two of the actors from the show were at the theatre to tell us stories, behind the scenes info and answer questions from the audience.  It was really fun!  I couldn't help but think the whole time how much my Dad would have loved it!  It made my heart just a little sad.

I should have taken my good camera - these pictures are so blurry!

Corrie fans patiently waiting for the show to start.

When I got home my boys had cleaned 2 of the bathrooms and Jason had cleaned out the fridge.  So nice to come home to after being able to play all morning and afternoon.  I love living in a city that allows me to experience so many fun and interesting things!

Motherhood

Sorry I've been neglecting my poor little blog as of late.  Last week I had to have a minor surgery.  Just a day surgery - "a woman" thing, nothing you want to hear about, but it has taken me a few days to bounce back.  Today I feel tired, although I think it has more to do with the weather.

So of course everything is behind.  The housework, sharing time for primary, laundry, making chocolates for my recital.  I'm attempting to get back at it.  Jason has been super busy at work.  Leaving early in the morning and staying until late so I've also been a single parent quite a bit.

My boys try to help.  They were great after school yesterday and took out the garbage and the recycling, but there is only so much they can do.  This morning I was rushing them out the door to get to the school bus stop.  Telling them to hurry and eat, brush your hair, Ashton get your glasses, did you remember your library books?Bowen wash that nutella off your face,making lunches.   We were finally getting in the truck and Ashton is coming down the garage steps in stocking feet.  I swear they would forget their heads if they weren't attached.

Oh the joys of motherhood - but I wouldn't trade it for anything!