OK, it's my blog and I can talk about what I want.  Today, I want to talk about my mom.  It was her birthday a couple days ago, and that just reminded me how lucky I am to have a mom like her.  She has done so much for each of us kids, and I know we each feel how important we are to her.  My kids absolutely love her.  My mom is probably the kindest, most non-judgemental woman I know.  She is the one that always taught us to recognize those around us who may feel a little left out, or sad, and to do our part to elevate another.  She has had to do endure her own set of trials in life and has come through with grace and integrity.  She continues to help other people overcome their own trials through her counselling.

She is also the hardest working woman I know.  She recently retired and was a little concerned that she may become bored, but she always has, and always will, fill her life with good things.

Anyways, I just needed to voice a small part of my appreciation.  The only thing that could possibly make my mom more perfect to me, would be if she was of the same faith, and thus have a better understanding of  that part of me that is so important to me and my family.  And I have faith that someday, she will ;)

4H Speeches

    The kids had 4H speeches today and I couldn't be more proud!!  Autumn and Austin placed 1st and 2nd, respectively,  in their intermediate category, and Jade placed 1st in juniors.  Autumn's  prepared speech was 'Summer Memories' and was all about her memories at Grandma & Grandpa's Montana cabin - she spoke of man-eating fish, nut-throwing squirrels and unfairly stacked waterfights (everyone against Grandpa).   Her impromptu speech was on TV Commercials (or more specifically, how much she hates them).  She was later chastised by her Grandpa, since commercials are what paid for the cabin that she has such fond memories of.
    Austin's prepared speech was actually an essay that he had written for language class - Hot Hoops (basically the history of basketball and why he loves it).  He figured he could kill 2 birds with 1 stone - I couldn't argue with that reasoning, as I probably would have done the same thing.  I actually handed in an essay for a University class on Wuthering Heights that I had originally written for a Grade 11 assignment.  I got a better mark on it  in university - exact same paper.  His impromptu speech was something like, 'How do I swindle money out of my parents?' - and the response was basically, 'Ask my Mom instead of my Dad'.  He and his buddy tied for second and had to do another impromptu each for a tie breaker.  Austin's second topic was 'My Country Life' and he did a much better job.  He spoke of the fact that even though there are a lot more chores, he loves having the room to quad, dirt bike, etc.
     Jade's prepared speech, A Dream Come True, was about the fact she finally managed to get her dad to cave and give her a puppy.  She absolutely loves our Yellow Lab, Max, that her dad got her for Christmas and it was evident in her speech. As I write this, she and Austin are trying to figure out how to make him a harness so he can practice pulling a little sled (they have big plans for Max next winter).  She did a great job even though she was docked points for being 2 seconds too short.  Her impromptu speech was on 'My Favourite Season', and again was a little short, but she did well.
    They'll all be going to Districts now, which our club happens to be hosting this year.  

Winter Wonderland

Today, six friends and I went cross country skiing in Waterton.  There was a heavy snowfall warning issued last night, so we considered not going, but I am so glad we went ahead with it.  It was absolutely beautiful! A light snowfall all morning and breathtaking scenery through the trees and at the lake added to what was already a great experience.
Hanging with these girls is always entertaining.   I was educated on the importance of fashionable snowpants in an emergency situation and finally realized why women always need to pay someone to give them a massage.
After three hours of a most enjoyable workout, we felt great and went back to the Lodge for fantastic lunch in a cozy atmosphere.
It has been about 20 years since I last went cross country skiing as a teen - and I loved it!   When our kids all get older we've all agreed that it would be so nice to take a day once a week to ski in the winter and hike in the summer.  That's one of the things that I love about living here, there are such fun activities to do in each season.
Here's to another day spent with great friends, a beautful workout and a husband willing to take all the kids for the day so I can enjoy both.

photoshopping

this is for my mom, to see the difference...

And again...


and again...

Fun eh!!  Now we just need to find a simple program that flattens tummy's, lifts up boobs, and rounds ones buttocks!

Loving Valentines!!

I had lots of fun last night making these Valentines for the kids to give out - at $0.10 a piece, can't beat it.  A little bit of photoshop and the pics simply sparkle!

Who you callin' trash?!?

So, Jeff turned 40 yesterday and since a good friend of ours, Steve,  turned 30 on the same day, we decided to just crash their party instead of throw a party of our own.  Who wouldn't?
Alida goes all out for everything and this was no exception - a White Trash Party.  The outdoor decor consisted of upturned strollers, gum boots, streaked underwear hung on the porch and, of course, trash.  Inside, there was tinfoil on the windows, old sheets on the couches, etc.

The costumes were the best part of the evening and it was interesting to see the different ideas.  Lisa and I  went with the 'Single Wide Trash' look while Marianne and Melissa went with the 'Double Wide Look' (aka the ones our husbands were hoping to leave with).

I admit - this is pretty how I've looked for the past 12 years (minus the root beer and black eye).

The 'mullett' was pretty much a universal choice for the men (except for the Twisted Sister), but the best White Trash Dude had to be Kevin with his mesh half shirt and sweats - HOT!!

There was a twinkie eating contest.  Apparently, those things have a 30 year shelf-life - I believe it because they certainly aren't a food product.  The film left in my mouth lasted all night.  I'm not to humble to announce that I dominated the women's twinkie contest - 5 twinkies (to tie the men) and the next girl maybe ate 2.  It took all Steve had not to vomit, Lisa wasn't as strong.  Jeff missed the actual contest so he had his own and kept eating them even after the time was up - that's just wrong!!

Steve and Josh apparently not enjoying the twinkie

I think they tasted better coming back up!

Jeff just happy to have all the twinkies to himself

There was arm wrestling.  I won my match - what can I say, I'm a farm girl!  Sisters against sisters, brothers against brothers.  Husband against wife.  Even the birthday boy won a match but I think it had a LITTLE to do with it being his birthday!

The 2 'corner' girls have a go at it

Steve, you are sooooo strong!! It's amazing really, when you look at the  difference of arms.

Jeff was 2 hours late arriving at his own party because of hockey, but we finally broke out the cake once he got there.  It was AWESOME.  Alida got it and Marianne added the nice touch with Tootsie Rolls.  YUMMY!!!

You can't see Steve's toes curling under the table!

The guys had root beer guzzling and chesse puff eating contests.  Luckily, there were accountants at the table, because Jeff got audited and was trying to get away with 46 instead of the regulated 50.

Jay killed in the cheese puff contest

All in all, it was a rockin' evening.  From the squeeze cheese, to the arm wrestling to the mass of mulletts.  Now, in case you think I am judging 'white trash', I'm am finishing with a picture of what has been on my driveway for the last 3 months.  I simply found my niche.

Uncle Bill

Today, after 3 hockey practices, 4H Ag Barn clean up and public skating, I went to Bill M's 65th birthday party.  I had a great time visiting with lots of Jeff's family.  Unfortunately, Jeff couldn't be there.   He is still combining and, as it is getting so late in the year, he can't (won't) quit for anything.  They had an open microphone for people to tell stories about Bill and Jeff's 'Bill' stories always make me laugh till I cry.   So many of the stories about Uncle Bill (as my kids so fondly refer to him as) revolve around hunting because that is his passion and you can't help but feel of his excitement for it when you're around him.

Jeff and Austin went hunting in Africa this spring with Bill and a group of friends.  Jeff tells how Bill is looking at a Kudu (I think it was) through his scope, and says to the guide, "Should I shoot it?' - BOOM!  He had barely gotten the words out before he shot and the guide says, "What'd you even ask for?!?"  There's is never a dull moment when Uncle Bill is around.
Jeff, Austin and Noah weren't out hunting antelope this past spring in the side-by-side quad and anyone who knows Bill can attest to the fact that he is a determined hunter.  They chased that antelope as fast as that quad could go for a good half hour with my boys bouncing around in the back.  Finally with tears in their eyes - my boys from the crazy ride, and Bill from not getting his antelope - they stopped.  Many 'Bill' stories are funnier in retrospect!
For example, last summer, the kids and I  went huckleberry picking with Bill & Linda out by Lakeside, MT.  We had gone up the hills for about an hour or so  and we were almost down when Bill calls out, "Has anyone seen Jade?"  Everyone is responding "No".  If you know Jade,you know she is not a wanderer and would never play a joke like that on me.  She is conscientious and sticks very close to me.  I thought she was up with Bill.  Now I'm getting panicky that she stopped for a second and then lost everyone and is somewhere up on that mountain amongst all those berries with bears all over the place.   I turn around and start running up the hill yelling "JADE!!".  Then someone below calls out 'Mom, she's in the car!" and Bill starts to bust a gut!  I could have killed him.  Sure enough, I get down and Jade says Bill thought that it would be funny - again, in retrospect!
Or, when Jeff & I and the kids went fishing with Bill & Linda out past Whitefish.  It took us forever to find the trail head to this tiny remote lake, and then we had to hike an hour into it.  Of course, we all feel safe and secure with Bill 'The Protector' with us.  If you've ever hiked with Bill before, you know you feel like you are running a marathon just to keep up with him.  So, he and Jeff and the kids take off and I'm walking back talking with Linda as we hike.  After, we've gone a ways, we catch up to them because they've stopped.  Bill asks us if we saw anything because he saw something black run through the bushes in our direction.  Our 'Protector' is half a mile up ahead of us with the gun, scaring the bears towards us!!  Thanks for that!
Two years ago, Jeff & Austin went fishing in Costa Rica with Bill.  Bill tells Austin that he'll give him $20 if he can catch a pigeon.  Anyone who knows Austin, knows how determined he can be when you wave cold, hard cash.  Sure enough, he caught one and Bill coughed up the bucks.  Austin came home that spring with a new goal, to catch a seagull.  With patience and determination, he managed to catch one that summer by laying under a blanket with bread crumbs and fruit snacks crumbled on top of him.  It was strictly catch-and-release so no seagulls were harmed in the process but that little guy did mange to take a chunk out of Tycee's finger when she tried to pet him.  I wonder if you can put seagulls to sleep the same way you do chickens?  We'll have to try next summer!
There were many funny stories told tonight.  One was Bill, Don and another fellow hunting coyote in Bill's truck.  Bill is driving, with Don in the middle and the other guy by the door.  Bill is driving crazy through the hills and this other guy gets so freaked out that he opens the door and bails!  Bill says to Don, "Where is he going?!?"  Don says "I don't know!!" And Bill says, "Well, close the door!" and they keep chasing a coyote until they've got him then head back to pick up the poor fellow that bailed!
The stories that Jeff tells are endless and hilarious about Bill and I'm sorry he couldn't be there at the party tonight to relate them himself.  Anyways, we love Uncle Bill.  Happy Birthday Bill!!