Valentine Surprise

Valentine's Day is always pretty low key at our house.  We usually exchange cards (but not always), and Jason usually has chocolates or flowers for me.  Sometimes we go out for dinner and sometimes we eat in.  We hadn't talked about doing anything this year as our Anniversary is right away and we are thinking we might have a little get away then.  Jason called me in the morning and asked what we were doing for dinner.  I hadn't really thought about it yet.  I told him 2 of my students had moved to other days this week so I just had one student from 6:30 - 7:00 p.m so Jason said he would take care of supper.

After teaching we decided that we would wait until after we put the kids to bed to have our romantic dinner so at 8:00 p.m. Jason went upstairs to get the kids to bed and then ran me a bath.  He lit candles for me and added bubbles and told me to have a nice soak while he got supper ready.

After my fabulous soak I came downstairs to find a fabulous lobster dinner.

He had candles, flowers, chocolates, a card and all my favorite food.  Articoke dip with french bread, asparagas and lobster with drawn butter.  It was so delicious.

Thank you "my valentine" for a wonderful Valentine's Day - I love you!!


The kids also had a pretty good haul of valentine's from their friends at school.  Ashton came home with a bit of a belly ache.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Rectum Appeared Unremarkable

Our internet service has been down for 5 DAYS!!  It was absolutely miserable.  I didn't realize how much I rely on it.  I felt so out of the loop and am so happy I'm back!

So I had my colonoscopy on Friday.  The prep started on Thursday with having only a clear liquid diet for the day (juice, pop, popsicles, broth etc.)  Then drinking 2 litres of Colyte.  Oh my goodness - NASTY.  I really didn't think I was going to have a problem drinking it but it was very salty and sickening sweet at the same time and kind of thick.  I took the first gulp and almost threw up.  Had a little cry about how I was going to do this and then started downing glass fulls at a time and gagging it down and fighting with every fiber of my body not to throw up.  Then the running to the bathroom started.  Let's just say it was delightful.  The next morning I had to gag down the remaining 2 litres and the end of the container couldn't come fast enough.

Off to my appointment at the Foothills.  I arrived around 2:00 pm.  They put me in a gown, put in an IV and got me all checked in and into a bed.  Jason sat with me for awhile until we were told of a "change in policy" and that he wasn't able to wait with me and they sent him off to the hall.  I didn't know about the original policy - not sure why they let him in with me in the first place.

About 3:20 p.m. they finally came and wheeled me down to the examining room.  I met with the "beloved" drug guy.  He told me I probably wouldn't fall asleep, but that I would be comfortable , although I would probably have some cramping.  They did the procedure - I did have quite a bit of cramping - and they sent me back to recovery.

When I got home I was complaining to mom that I was disappointed that I was awake the whole time and that I felt everything and that I even wondered if they gave me any drugs.  Later that night I got thinking about it.  I don't remember them putting in the endoscope (I THINK I'D REMEMBER THAT!).  Jason also told me I was in the examining room for about 45 minutes.  I remember about 10 minutes - so I take it back the drugs must have been pretty good.

They found one small polyp and took several biopsies which were sent to pathology, and in the words of the doctor "my rectum appeared unremarkable"  - that wording totally cracks me up!  They also included in the report some pictures of my bowel - Mom didn't think I should include them here.  I'll meet with the doctor again when he has my results.  My concerns over my symptoms haven't really been solved yet, but I'm grateful the colonoscopy overall went well.  I'll just need to press for additional tests to be able to get some answers.  In the mean time I'm striving to not freak out.

All in all I'm just glad it is over and dinner that night tasted fantastic - I was starving!!

Remembering Poppa

Bowen was playing with his lego that he got for Christmas this morning and says to me - 

Bowen - "Mom, Poppa picked out this lego for me right?"

Me - "He sure did Bowen."

Bowen - "Then everytime I play with it, I can remember Poppa."

He melts my heart.

Like Father, Like Son

Like Father

Like Son

Jason has this HORRIBLE habit of putting his coats, shirts, etc. on the the railing at the bottom of the staircase.  As I was going to bed the other night I noticed as I got to the top of the stairs that Ashton had put his Oilers hoodie that he had been wearing to watch hockey with his dad on the railing rather than putting it away in his room.  He actually did it for two nights in a row.  I hope he always copies his dad's example!

And So It Begins...

My days of sitting alone with the kids at church have officially begun.  This past Sunday Jason was called as the 2nd Counsellor in the Bishopric in our Ward.  I'm so proud of him and the man that he is.  I know I go on and on about how great a husband he is, but I really can't even put into words how lucky I am to have him.  He is loyal and kind, thoughtful of my feelings, and treats me like a princess.  I am so grateful for his willingness to serve others.  He gives of his time without complaint and I can feel of his love for the Savior.  What a blessing to have the priesthood in our home and he is such a great influence on our children.  I'm sure they will grow up to be great men if they just follow their father's example.  Now we just need to figure out how we are both going to attend Ward Counsel meetings twice a month.  Love you Hun!

Off to Bishopric meeting on Tuesday night

I thought I'd share this cute Chocolate Scriptures idea I found on line.  I had the Primary kids make them during Sharing time on Sunday.  I thought they were adorable and the kids seemed to enjoy making them.

Just take two mini chocolate bars, print off a scripture and wrap around chocolate bars, place on a piece of construction paper and finish with a red ribbon for the bookmarker.  I don't know how many of them made it out of the parking lot.  Ashton had finished eating his before we even left the building, but I noticed Bowen's still on his dresser this morning.  I love the Scripture Theme for the year in Primary.  My boys have been taking their Book of Mormon's with them to church each week and I've noticed a definite interest in reading them and memorizing the scripture each month to be a "Scripture Hero" (granted I give them a treat if they memorize it - I have no problem with bribery). 

Happy Groundshog Day!!

Crisis Averted!

Last night, as we were running out to do some errands Ashton lost his second tooth.  He was so excited and ran upstairs and put it in his tooth necklace and slipped it under his pillow.  After running errands it was kind of late so we sent the boys straight up to bed.  As Jason was leaving for work this morning about 5:30 a.m. and going past Ashton's room he must have woken Ashton.  Now awake Ashton quickly looked to see if the tooth fairy had visited him in the night.  SHE HADN'T!!  He burst into tears, Jason went in to comfort him and I came to see what the matter was.  He was completely heart broken.  He cried and cried in his dad's arms.  I FELT HORRIBLE!  I mean really, how could she have forgotten my little boy.

Jason told Ashton that because it was so foggy and cold maybe she couldn't make it tonight, but to not give up and to leave it under his pillow for tomorrow night.  After Jason left for work Ashton crawled into bed with me and had another little cry.  Then he decided to go downstairs and sleep on the couch (he does this quite often - I think he likes the cool leather).  Later when we were getting ready for school Ashton says to me "maybe the tooth fairy came while I was sleeping down here" - LIGHT BULB - (don't you love Despicable Me) - I told him I didn't know, but told him he needed to finish his chocolate milk and then go to the bathroom before we left.

I ran upstairs for Ashton's "glasses" and came back down as Ashton was coming out of the bathroom.

"You know Ashton maybe the tooth fairy could have come while you were sleeping downstairs.  You did wake up kind of early.  Why don't you go look!"  Ashton ran upstairs and I called up after him "Has she not come yet Ashton?"  To which Ashton replied "SHE CAME!!! - AND SHE BROUGHT ME A TOONIE!".

He was so excited.  He decided that now that it wasn't so foggy she was able to make it, and that she had brought him a dollar more than last time because she had made him cry - I think he is probably right about that!  He went off to school one happy little boy.

Crisis averted - whew!


Kind of a goofy picture - he was trying to show me his missing tooth.



Exercising!

I was watching some TV the over day and noticed Bowen with his feet on the edge of the fireplace lifting his body up and down.  I was a bit perplexed as to what he was up to, so I asked him.  His reply "exercising!"

I think I need to follow his example and start "exercising"!

It's Hard to Be Mad

I was teaching piano last night so Jason had put the boys to bed.  I was still teaching but he decided he wanted to go run an errand.  I had to interrupt my lesson with Taylor and answer a phone call and Bowen heard me and wanted to be tucked in.  I had Taylor practise something and I ran up to say goodnight to the boys.  Came right back down and got back to teaching my lessons.  A few minutes later I thought I could hear talking - so I excused myself again and ran upstairs to see what was going on.  Ashton had snuck into bed with Bowen and was reading him a story.  It was awfully sweet, and I couldn't even get mad.  I told them as soon as they finished the story they better get back in their own rooms and go to sleep.  After I finished teaching I went and checked on them and they were both asleep in their own beds.  I wish I had a picture, mom suggested I should walk around with my camera on my wrist all day for such an occasion.  Maybe I should!

Too Much Information

I'm having a bit of anxiety today.
Warning to the squeamish you may not wish to keep reading!


Well lately I've been having some "issues" so I went to my doctor and after a couple tests he isn't sure what is going on so he sent me to a GI "guy" at the Foothills today.  The appointment went good (well as good as an appointment that includes a rectal exam can go) - I warned you - but he's not quite sure what is going on either.  So it looks like I'm in store for some more blood work and a Colonoscopy.  Yikes!! 

I'm a little nervous, not only for the actual procedure but also for what they might find out.  I'm sure everything will be fine, but I find my mind thinking crazy things.  I have my mother to blame for being a bit of a worrier.  I know that I need to stop freaking out - I must say I have been doing better lately.  After Dad died, every little pain I had I was sure was cancer.  I've decided that I'll just trust in Heavenly Father like I always have and all will be fine.

My new focus is on getting as healthy as I can.  The things that are in my control - like my weight, exercise, what I eat, feeding my spiritual side, time for me, etc.  Not really a resolution, but my new goals for a healthier future.  Wish me luck, and I wouldn't turn down a few prayers on my behalf on the 11th of Feb.

Fending For Themselves

Thursday is my busiest piano teaching night.  I start at 4:00 and finish at 8:45 p.m.  Jason can usually be home by the time I start teaching but was running late at work and didn't get home until a bit after 6:00 p.m.  I guess the boys got hungry before he was able to get home to feed them.  This is how I found them when I ran to the kitchen for a drink of water.

Eatting mini oreo cookies and drinking chocolate milk.

I should have known they were up to something.  They were being so quiet and not bothering me at all.  That will teach me!

Big surprise they didn't want any supper tonight!

You've Had a Birthday - Shout Hooray!!

Yesterday was Jason's "37th" birthday!  I'm afraid it wasn't much of a celebration.  He worked all day, then came home and I taught piano for 3 hours.  His birthday dinner consisted of sloppy joes, chips and DQ Ice Cream cake (he did request his meal however).  Then finished up the evening with a meeting with our financial advisor. 

I was able to take Jason to a movie on Saturday when my mom came up for a visit and we took advantage of having a babysitter, and after Christmas we purchased a blu-ray player and kinda counted that as Jason's birthday present.


The boys picked out the cake - Despicable Me - of course!

My hubby really is the best!  Not one complaint about his "lame" birthday.  We sure love him and appreciate how hard he works for all of us.  The boys idolize their Dad.  If Jason loves it, the boys love it!  Just the way it should be.  I feel so blessed to have him in my life.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!!

Studying

To keep the boys busy tonight while I was teaching piano Jason found up some old Star Wars books and blueprints to show the boys.

Should keep them out of trouble for hours!

Can anybody say "outnumbered"!

Visiting Teaching Luncheon

When I was in Richmond Ward I was paired up with Toni Young to do our visiting teaching.  She's a fabulous entertainer and always has such great ideas.  At Christmas time she suggested we do a Visiting Teaching Luncheon for all of the ladies that we visited at her house. 

When we moved to the Willow Park Ward I thought I'd take up the same tradition.  I had one last year in December for the 3 ladies that I taught along with my partner Odette.  This year I've been paired up with my good friend Shelley and we thought we'd do it again as she was one of the ladies who had been to my luncheon the year before.  With my Dad passing away in December we ended up postponing but were able to go ahead today - unfortunately without Emily, but Gretchen and Gail were able to attend.

The pretty table.

The place setting.

I made a chicken vegetable filling with bechamel sauce in a puff pasty, and Shelley made a broccoli salad and flapper pie for dessert.

I know I will make this an annual tradition.  It's one stop visiting teaching and such a nice way to get together and socialize.  I think everyone had a good time!

Shelley and Gail

Gretchen (I forgot to have someone take a picture of me)

School Anticipation

Ashton came home from school today so excited to give something to Bowen that he had made for him at school.

He presented Bowen with a little note he had written him and a "Clifford Goes to School" book.


Note reads - Dear Bowen,  Next year you are coming to Douglasdale School and here is a book for you.  Love, Ashton

 Ashton said that he had thought of writing Bowen a note and asked his teacher how to spell all the words.  They spent the rest of the evening fighting - but I sure enjoyed those few moments with them.


I sure love these boys of mine!

  

Missing Boots

Today is registration for kindergarten at Douglasdale School.  I decided to drive Ashton to school and  register Bowen for next year.  Not the nicest morning for it.  We get to the school - Ashton heads to class, I have Bowen take off his boots and leave them in the entry and we go to the office and I get Bowen registered for school.

Time to leave we head back to the entry to get Bowen's boots on - NO BOOTS!  No boots at all in the entry.  Who would have taken a 4 year olds boots in the middle of a snow storm.  The receptionist helps me look - no luck.  I ask if I can go down to Ashton's classroom to see if maybe he carried both sets of boots to his class.

He said he didn't, we check where he puts his coat and boots, nope!  I continue to look down the aisle and at the very end laying on the floor are boots that look just like Bowen's.  I'm pretty sure they are his - but hesitant to take them.  What if they are somebody elses.  Mrs. Howey has all the kids look to see if they are theirs and then they check to see if they have their boots.  Nobody claims them so Bowen puts them on and we come home.

I'm still baffled how they could have ended up in Ashton's classroom.  Thinking back I'm pretty sure Ashton headed to his classroom before Bowen even took his boots off.  Out of all those classrooms how did they end up in Ashton's.   I sure hope nobody is looking for their boots at 2:50 p.m. today!!

The Boys Love their Sheri!



Love her Christmas Display in the Kitchen!

Last night our family was invited to my cousin Sheri's for our annual Christmas get together.  We were a bit later than usual this year, but Sheri kept her Christmas up (actually mine is still up too) and her home is always so inviting and beautiful.  I love going to visit.  Sheri put on a fabulous spread of all my favorites.  Cheese, meat and crackers, chips and salsa, and fabulous dips (hummus, red pepper dip etc.).  When I lived in Lethbridge before I got married I used to come up to Calgary quite often to visit Sheri.  We had alot of girls nights with chips and dips - they were great times!

Later we exchanged gifts.  Sheri spoiled the boys but good.  They've been playing with the mini transformers that she gave them all morning.  They haven't even asked to turn on the TV - it's noon!  A Post-Christmas Miracle! 

I love that my boys love Sheri.  She's such an important part of our life and I'm very grateful for her and for the interest she has in our little family.  We love you Sheri!!


We couldn't get the boys to stop eatting cookies to get a picture.



Candy!

So Ashton had a dentist appointment today.  At his last appointment a cavity on his front tooth was discovered, but his tooth was a bit loose so we were told to come back today to have it re-evaluated.  So it turns out the tooth is not loose enough and Ashton had to have a filling done.  He did great.  Didn't cry at all, even when having a needle to his front gums.

However, when he first sits down the dentist comes in to talk to him.  The conversation went like this.

Dentist - Did you have a nice Christmas Ashton?

Ashton - Yes!

Dentist - Did Santa spoil you?

Ashton - Yes!

Dentist - What did Santa bring you?

Ashton - Candy!

AARGG!  Nice answer for the DENTIST who is about to fill your cavity.  KIDS!

What's Happening at Our House

I should be preparing my talk for Sunday, or cleaning my house as we have company coming, or organizing my terribly messy music room that I've been planning on doing for months.  But no - I'm blogging.  Ashton is so happy to be back at school.  They've been having swimming lessons this week which makes it extra fun.  He came home yesterday with a "spooky" craft book from school and went right to work.  He spent a couple of hours making his latest creation.  You can't tell from the picture but if you pull a piece of paper on the side the eyes move.  I asked why he hadn't drawn a mouth, Ashton's response was  "because that way it is scarier".

I wonder if he'll be an artist like his Dad

Bowen is back at preschool tomorrow.  I think he is starting to get a little bored.  He has spent alot of time playing with all the lego he got for Christmas, and of course a lot of time on the Wii.

Boxing on Wii Sports.  He's good at it - he had a knockout!

Now to get some work done.  I'll report on my progress later.

At Least He Wasn't Boring

                       DAVID ELMER PUZEY - May 6, 1946 - December 11, 2010

Portrait my husband Jason drew for Dad's Funeral and to give to my mom.

 I stare at the screen and I don't quite know what to say.  I've started and restarted this blog many times.  How do you put into words how much you love someone, how much you miss them, how much they meant to you?  I hope he knew. 

If this seems like alot of personal information it's because I'm treating my blog as my journal and I feel like I need to write it down. I guess I'll start at the beginning.  My sweet Dad had been fighting bile duct cancer for about a year and had been doing quite well.  We knew the tumors were inoperable, but he was tolerating chemo treatments so well and the tumors appeared to be shrinking a bit.  Sometime in November Dad began to get very jaundiced so mom and he went to the doctor.  They discovered a blockage and ordered a procedure to put in a stint to be able to drain around the blockage.  That seemed to go okay, and about a week later they decided to do a second surgery to eliminate the bag on the outside of Dad's body before they started chemo again.  My sister Rachel and her husband Jared brought Dad up to Calgary for the day surgery and despite alot of pain for Dad things seemed to be successful.  He went home that afternoon and they even stopped in Nanton for Chinese food. 

The next morning Dad was very sick and running a fever.  Mom took him to High River where he had been receiving treatments.  He was admitted, was very dehydrated and they suspected an infection.  He was hooked up to fluids and antibiotics and we thought he was on the mend.  The next morning mom received a call from the hospital expecting it to be telling her that she could come and get Dad.  Instead it was the doctor telling mom that things were bad, the infection had moved into his blood and was starting to shut down organs.  They said if his children were able, to come to the hospital quickly because they didn't think Dad was going to make it.  Mom called me and told me.  To say I was shocked would be an understatement.  I got off the phone and fell to my knees and sobbed.  I phoned a friend to help me with the boys, called Jason and we headed to High River.  We all spent the day with Dad.  He slept alot.  Waking periodically and was happy we were all there.  We all hugged him and told him we loved him.  We comforted each other.  At one point when Dad was sleeping we were all having a cry, he woke up saw us all crying and said "you guys having a moment", we told him we were, he responded with "well you have your moment and I'll go back to sleep".  One time during the day he even told mom to "get control".  He could make us laugh right up to the end.

After a blessing from his sons everyone started to leave.  Dave and his family stayed at a hotel in High River, Jared, Amber and Rachel and Jared needed to get home to their children.  Jason went to get the boys from our friend's house.  I stayed with mom.  I am so grateful that I did.  I just had a feeling that Dad wasn't going to make it through the night.  They brought a cot in for mom and when I decided I'd need some sleep there was a private family room I could go to.  We sat with Dad.  He had stopped being able to wake up to talk to us, sometimes he'd open his eyes but never responded.  Then he peacefully slipped away at 1:20 a.m. December 11th, 2010. 


Dad with his girls




My boys with their Poppa - Dad loved his grandkids

 I still have a hard time believing he is gone.  He has been such a big part of my life.  Other than my husband he was the most important man in my life.  I could always count on my Dad - always!!  There was nothing he wouldn't do for me.  When I was younger we fought alot.  We were alot alike - made it easy to butt heads.  But oh how I loved him.  One of my favorite memories with my Dad was laying on his bed with him, just the two of us watching a Fawlty Towers marathon on TV and laughing so hard my stomach hurt.  If I watch Coronation Street or see anything British for the rest of my life I will always think of him.  He was always doing something silly - but not on purpose.  Paying for groceries at the store and pulling what he thought was his chequebook out of his pocket and pulling out a TV remote.  Showing Jared how he saw a bird land - charades style in the front yard and turning around and his neighbour was standing behind him.  Walking through the grocery store with his cart and looking down and seeing a cane hanging on the cart - he'd stolen some old man's cart away from him.  He always told us that he wanted the phrase "At Least He Wasn't Boring" on his headstone.  I don't think we'll do it - but the phrase is true.   He was a good man, loving, kind, a friend to everyone, a great husband, dad and grandpa.  I loved how much he loved my mom.  He adored her and I learned from him to not settle for anything less.  I'm proud to be his daughter.

We had a beautiful service for Dad.  He had always told mom that he thought he would have a small funeral.  We filled the church all the way to the back of the gym.  The meet the family line was non stop and was so comforting to receive so many hugs.  Mom was so strong and tried to talk to everyone, Dave gave a wonderful eulogy, Jared a beautiful graveside prayer and Rachel and I each played a piano solo.  I know Dad would have been proud of his family.  He will be missed, but never forgotten.  

Wheat on the corners of the casket - we thought this was fitting.



Happy New Year

Wishing all our family and friends a very happy new year!!

Drinking "fuzzy apple juice" as Ashton calls it.