It's summer, and I don't know what to do first. So many things to do, places to see, friends and family to visit....where should we begin?
Canada Day is the first big thing to do(July 1st), and we don't even have that planned yet. When I ask my husband what he would like to do he just says "I don't know". So I guess we'll be flying by the seat of our pants tomorrow and see what kind of fun we run into.
As for the rest of the summer, we have some camping trips planned and at some point we'll head up to the Calgary Zoo, the rest we'll just fill in as we go.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
I think that came off wrong.
I fear that my last post was somewhat misunderstood. I may have sounded like I was ungrateful or complaining. That was not my intent. I was touched that this sister wanted to help me out. I have turned her down before when she has asked if she could help(as I do with anybody). I think she just figured me out....if you are going to offer your help to me, you need to just tell me that you are going to do it, don't bother asking, just do it.
Let me share a few examples.
1) January 2005, I am five months pregnant and getting ready to move from Edmonton to Lethbridge at the end of the month. Every Sunday we drive an elderly sister, who lives in the same complex as us, to church. She continues to tell me that if I need someone to watch Kathryn while I pack that she would do it. I never take her up on that offer. With less than two weeks left before the move, this kind sister calls me up and says "You haven't yet taken me up on my offer. So this is what I am going to do...". She sends her cleaning lady over to my place for half a day. She flat out tells me that I can't say no. She just wants to know which day will work best for me, and that she is paying for the service.
2) Two days before the afore mentioned move, my sister-in-law, who also lives in Edmonton, calls me up and tells me that my brother will stop by our place on his way home from work to pick up Kathryn to come and stay with them for the next few days and that they will bring her back when they come to help load the truck on moving day. I would have never asked her to do this...and she knew it.
3) December 2006, I am serving as the RS president in my old ward. I am two months pregnant with my third and suffering from hormone headaches. Daniel is working a full time job and a part time job as well as coaching basketball. I sometimes feel like I don't want to open my eyes in the morning, just stay there in my nice soft warm bed. Not every day is like that. But I often feel worn out and over used. But I keep trucking along, trying to do my very best as a RS president at this very needy time of year. A young sister(wife and mother of two), who has been in and out of hospital for the past 6 months or so, stops me in the hall at church and tells me that she wants to do something special for my family for Christmas and wants to know if Monday would be fine for her to stop by. She comes by with boxes of presents and candy for the girls and a few for Daniel and I. Shes also comes with supper prepared. I am so touched I cry.
4) June 2009, I am busy this week getting things ready for the RS party that is going to be held in my back yard on Thursday. I also have a new calling as a counsilor in the Primary presidency and this coming Sunday is my week to do sharing time. I have never been in primary before, I haven't a clue as to what I am suppose to do. Lucky for me it is Father's day, so I can plan sharing time around that. My visiting teacher calls me up and tells me that she is coming by to do what ever I need her to do. I am to prideful to let her help me with what I probably need help with the most, so I tell her she can help me in the yard. The work got done quicker, and gave me more time to do other things to get ready for the RS party.
The moral of the story is this....if you want to offer your help to me, you need to tell me that you are going to help and how you are going to do it. Because if you ask, I will tell you that I am fine, even if it is quite evident to everyone else that I need help. It is hard for me to ask for, or accept help when I know...or think that I know that I can do it for myself. I am slowly getting better at it...slowly.
Let me share a few examples.
1) January 2005, I am five months pregnant and getting ready to move from Edmonton to Lethbridge at the end of the month. Every Sunday we drive an elderly sister, who lives in the same complex as us, to church. She continues to tell me that if I need someone to watch Kathryn while I pack that she would do it. I never take her up on that offer. With less than two weeks left before the move, this kind sister calls me up and says "You haven't yet taken me up on my offer. So this is what I am going to do...". She sends her cleaning lady over to my place for half a day. She flat out tells me that I can't say no. She just wants to know which day will work best for me, and that she is paying for the service.
2) Two days before the afore mentioned move, my sister-in-law, who also lives in Edmonton, calls me up and tells me that my brother will stop by our place on his way home from work to pick up Kathryn to come and stay with them for the next few days and that they will bring her back when they come to help load the truck on moving day. I would have never asked her to do this...and she knew it.
3) December 2006, I am serving as the RS president in my old ward. I am two months pregnant with my third and suffering from hormone headaches. Daniel is working a full time job and a part time job as well as coaching basketball. I sometimes feel like I don't want to open my eyes in the morning, just stay there in my nice soft warm bed. Not every day is like that. But I often feel worn out and over used. But I keep trucking along, trying to do my very best as a RS president at this very needy time of year. A young sister(wife and mother of two), who has been in and out of hospital for the past 6 months or so, stops me in the hall at church and tells me that she wants to do something special for my family for Christmas and wants to know if Monday would be fine for her to stop by. She comes by with boxes of presents and candy for the girls and a few for Daniel and I. Shes also comes with supper prepared. I am so touched I cry.
4) June 2009, I am busy this week getting things ready for the RS party that is going to be held in my back yard on Thursday. I also have a new calling as a counsilor in the Primary presidency and this coming Sunday is my week to do sharing time. I have never been in primary before, I haven't a clue as to what I am suppose to do. Lucky for me it is Father's day, so I can plan sharing time around that. My visiting teacher calls me up and tells me that she is coming by to do what ever I need her to do. I am to prideful to let her help me with what I probably need help with the most, so I tell her she can help me in the yard. The work got done quicker, and gave me more time to do other things to get ready for the RS party.
The moral of the story is this....if you want to offer your help to me, you need to tell me that you are going to help and how you are going to do it. Because if you ask, I will tell you that I am fine, even if it is quite evident to everyone else that I need help. It is hard for me to ask for, or accept help when I know...or think that I know that I can do it for myself. I am slowly getting better at it...slowly.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
help and guilt
One of my Visiting Teachers(an elderly lady...quite elderly) called me this morning and told me that she was offering her help to me. Anything that I wanted done, she would do, inside the house or out. She said she was coming over in 15 minutes and that I could put her to work. There was no discussion about it, she was coming. I couldn't say no, because she didn't ask. Now, there are many things that could be done in my house. But I have this thing about other people cleaning my house...not that I don't think they can do as good as job as me, I assure you I know that they will do a better job that I do, but because I don't want most other people to know how terrible I really am at keeping house( now the secret is out). On my list of things I wanted to do today was weed the veggie garden so that I could water it. This is what I said she could do to help. She is now sweeping my deck and driveway, while I am inside feeding the kids lunch(yes I know I am also blogging, but a woman can multi task). I feel somewhat guilty, I spent the first while outside doing yard work along with her while the kids played. But then the kids got hungry and grumpy and she told me to go take care of them. It is hard for me to have someone else here doing the work that I am quite capable of doing myself...that might be part of the reason I don't like people cleaning my house for me...I can do it just fine...I just don't sometimes. So now I am going to go eat my own lunch and try not to feel guilty for allowing someone to help me out, because I really do appreciate it...
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Garden Project, year #2
Do you remember all the work I had to go through last year before I could even plant my garden? If not you can read all about it here. I was later than usual getting things planted...especially my cucumbers(darn garden critters). But all in all I had a great harvest(with the exception of my cucumbers).
Ever since winter started to give way to spring I have been looking forward to planting my garden this year. Mainly because all I would have to do is plant it. I stared my cucumbers and pumpkins indoors this year in my fish tank(that has been without fish since we moved), so I was able to avoid the garden critters eating my seeds. This year I took my brothers ingenious idea and picked up more than two dozen 5 gallon ice cream buckets from Booster Juice, free of charge(it took 3 separate trips to gather enough). These buckets replaced the milk jugs and created a bigger hothouse for my tomatoes and cucumbers and pumpkins to live happily in. The week before May long, I put out my cucumbers, and pumpkins. The week after I planted everything else.
This year more than any, those buckets have been a life saver(for tomatoes and cucumbers). We are 8 days into June and we have already faced 5 frost warnings and a day of snow. Luckily, my beans have survived the cold weather so far. I planted peas and radishes the first week in May and they are coming along slowly, but doing fine.
Ever since winter started to give way to spring I have been looking forward to planting my garden this year. Mainly because all I would have to do is plant it. I stared my cucumbers and pumpkins indoors this year in my fish tank(that has been without fish since we moved), so I was able to avoid the garden critters eating my seeds. This year I took my brothers ingenious idea and picked up more than two dozen 5 gallon ice cream buckets from Booster Juice, free of charge(it took 3 separate trips to gather enough). These buckets replaced the milk jugs and created a bigger hothouse for my tomatoes and cucumbers and pumpkins to live happily in. The week before May long, I put out my cucumbers, and pumpkins. The week after I planted everything else.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
I didn't know it could be this much fun.
As a young single adult, I had a variety of good friends to hang out with, have fun with and pretty much just enjoy good laughs on a regular basis. However since being married, I have seriously lacked in the friend department. Except of course for the fact that I married my very bestest friend, who was always the best part of hanging out with friends. Because of him, I haven't entirely realized what I had been missing. Now, that isn't to say that I didn't have any friends at all. But good close friends were far and few between....or just living hundreds of miles away...Until I moved to this little place that everyone keeps asking me "Why Milk River?". Why? The short answer...because it just felt right.
About a year ago, I wrote somewhat of a similar post, about feeling like I had know the sisters here forever already. Now, it is so much more. Not only do I feel so at home with these women...I have these friends, like the kind I used to have as a young single adult. The kind that you are always looking for a reason to hang out together. But that's not all, they come with husbands who are so much like mine, so when we all get together...well...it's insanity. And they all have kids around the same age as mine...all except one couple(I won't name names...but their names ryhme), who haven't yet ventured into the kid zone. They are, however great with all of our kids running around, climbing on them, talking non stop to them, showing them everything and anything that they have created. So...either all these kids will show them how great it is to have kids...or it is a really great form of birthcontrol.
It is so great to have couple friends that we have so much in common with. We can all hang out together and have a great time. Or just the girls can get together and laugh. Or the boys can get together and....be boys. We trade babysitting so that the other can do whatever it is that they need to do. Our kids are all great friends. It really just is just like it used to be as a young single adult....only it's better, it's the complete kit and caboodle.
Last night we all got together for an informal FHE out at the Harty farm...way out in the middle of now where. We ate good food. The kids ran around all over the place. The men played on the quad and shot at pop cans on fence posts....some of us ladies took a few shots too. It's been awhile since I have held a gun, so I wanted my chance...and I blew one of those pop cans clear off the fence. Daniel was so proud of me, that he wanted to celebrate. Mostly us ladies sat around the fire and chatted and laughed. It was so much fun, I have already told everyone the next one is at the Courthouse on the 22nd of June. I realize, that living in town, there wont be any playing on the quad, or shooting guns...but we'll just have to find something else to entertain the boys...us ladies will be fine just laughing together. So if you happen to be in the Milk River area, or you are up for a drive and want to come hang with some of the greatest people around...you should come on over, just bring a salad.
About a year ago, I wrote somewhat of a similar post, about feeling like I had know the sisters here forever already. Now, it is so much more. Not only do I feel so at home with these women...I have these friends, like the kind I used to have as a young single adult. The kind that you are always looking for a reason to hang out together. But that's not all, they come with husbands who are so much like mine, so when we all get together...well...it's insanity. And they all have kids around the same age as mine...all except one couple(I won't name names...but their names ryhme), who haven't yet ventured into the kid zone. They are, however great with all of our kids running around, climbing on them, talking non stop to them, showing them everything and anything that they have created. So...either all these kids will show them how great it is to have kids...or it is a really great form of birthcontrol.
It is so great to have couple friends that we have so much in common with. We can all hang out together and have a great time. Or just the girls can get together and laugh. Or the boys can get together and....be boys. We trade babysitting so that the other can do whatever it is that they need to do. Our kids are all great friends. It really just is just like it used to be as a young single adult....only it's better, it's the complete kit and caboodle.
Last night we all got together for an informal FHE out at the Harty farm...way out in the middle of now where. We ate good food. The kids ran around all over the place. The men played on the quad and shot at pop cans on fence posts....some of us ladies took a few shots too. It's been awhile since I have held a gun, so I wanted my chance...and I blew one of those pop cans clear off the fence. Daniel was so proud of me, that he wanted to celebrate. Mostly us ladies sat around the fire and chatted and laughed. It was so much fun, I have already told everyone the next one is at the Courthouse on the 22nd of June. I realize, that living in town, there wont be any playing on the quad, or shooting guns...but we'll just have to find something else to entertain the boys...us ladies will be fine just laughing together. So if you happen to be in the Milk River area, or you are up for a drive and want to come hang with some of the greatest people around...you should come on over, just bring a salad.
Friday, May 15, 2009
I hate him!
I remember well when I was in elementary school that you either loved Wayne Gretzky (or the Oilers) or you loved Lanny McDonald (or the Flames). Both were great Canadian hockey players playing for Canadian hockey teams. And what made it even better was that they were playing for Alberta's rival teams during some of the greatest years of Alberta professional hockey. I remember kids saying things like "Gretzky is such a whiner". OK so that is really the only specific thing I can remember. But I do remember being frequently asked who I liked better Gretzky or Lanny. It was a big thing. I don't ever remember committing to one or the other, it really depended on who I was with. I'll admit it, I had no idea about anything hockey...not NHL hockey.
So just moments ago I had one of the young men form our ward at my house with his mom to pick some stuff up. Hanging on the hooks at the back door was a Washington Capitals Jersey with the name and number of Alexander Ovechkin to be sewn on. This young man sees it and exclaims "Oh, Ovechkin". I responded with, "Oh, are you an Ovechkin fan?" and he said "Yeah! I hate Crosby". I was immediately taken back to my days as a youth debating over Gretzky and Lanny. Maybe it's not quite the same thing. Sydney Crosby (Pittsburg Penguins) is a Canadian player, Ovechkin is a Russian. They are both playing for american hockey teams. They are both about the same age and at the same point in their hockey career. Where as Lanny was 8 years older and had 5 years on Wayne in his NHL career.
But...both Crosby and Ovechikin have been compared to some of the greatest hockey players that have ever lived. They are both great goal scorers, Both of them have their loyal following of fans who will swear that one is better than the other, or that one is humble and the other has a bit of an ego problem. They have both been big players on their respective teams, and with out them, some will say that their team would not be where they are today. Sound familiar?
So maybe it is the same debate, but different.
By the way....I am an Oilers fan these days and apparently I know enough about hockey these days to write a little blog post. Some day I'll share with you all my conversion story.
So just moments ago I had one of the young men form our ward at my house with his mom to pick some stuff up. Hanging on the hooks at the back door was a Washington Capitals Jersey with the name and number of Alexander Ovechkin to be sewn on. This young man sees it and exclaims "Oh, Ovechkin". I responded with, "Oh, are you an Ovechkin fan?" and he said "Yeah! I hate Crosby". I was immediately taken back to my days as a youth debating over Gretzky and Lanny. Maybe it's not quite the same thing. Sydney Crosby (Pittsburg Penguins) is a Canadian player, Ovechkin is a Russian. They are both playing for american hockey teams. They are both about the same age and at the same point in their hockey career. Where as Lanny was 8 years older and had 5 years on Wayne in his NHL career.
But...both Crosby and Ovechikin have been compared to some of the greatest hockey players that have ever lived. They are both great goal scorers, Both of them have their loyal following of fans who will swear that one is better than the other, or that one is humble and the other has a bit of an ego problem. They have both been big players on their respective teams, and with out them, some will say that their team would not be where they are today. Sound familiar?
So maybe it is the same debate, but different.
By the way....I am an Oilers fan these days and apparently I know enough about hockey these days to write a little blog post. Some day I'll share with you all my conversion story.
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