400th Blog Post

Wow!!!! I can't believe I've gotten to 400 posts!!!!! Much thanks to my dad for making sure I update regularly!!!!!! I love how Lalainia does a giveaway when her blog reaches a milestone so I'd like to borrow her idea!!!!! For everyone that comments either here or on Facebook regarding this post I will put your name in a draw to win a dozen cupcakes of your choice!!!! Now on to my 400th post!!!!

I've thought and thought about what I'd like to write for this post, something remarkable since its a big one, but there's nothing really remarkable about me to write.  I've been struggling for quite some time with feeling rather blue.  My house is really suffering from it, I can't seem to get laundry caught up and the sweeping, mopping and vacuuming are not even happening.  Cleaning the bathrooms is a rare occurrence and making beds is not even a thought. I often wonder why I fall into these ruts, why is it so hard to pull myself out and put things back together? I have a wonderful husband, who I know suffers because of my down days. But he is so helpful and supportive of me despite the mood I'm in. And our children, despite being loud and a little messy, are healthy and happy. They do bring me such joy when I look at all they can do and the way they can get along with each other. And yet here I sit typing about why me? 

I have come across a couple of quotes that have really spoke to me, one by Linda K. Burton, our Relief Society General President. She says, "The Holy Ghost can do for us physically, emotionally, mentally and intellectually what no man-made remedy can begin to duplicate." This quote spoke to me because I know just how true this is...I'm not saying some medications can't help us, because I know first hand that they do and I wouldn't be where I am without them, but they can only take us so far. Having the power of the Holy Ghost constantly with us can totally change our outlook. When I struggle to be consistent with saying my prayers I notice my mood starts to darken, as soon as I start and merely just thank my Heavenly Father for all I have been blessed with I start to feel a weight lift off my shoulders and my outlook brightens.  A lot of times I like to just talk with my Heavenly Father instead of asking for things and my mind begins to be at peace.

Another quote that really spoke to me is from President Uchtdorf, one of my very favourite General Authorities of our church. He said, "Start where you are.  God will take you as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you.  All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord." This is actually the wallpaper on my phone, so I can be reminded each time I feel like I have failed. Which sometimes feels like that's everyday.  Being an adult is harder than I ever imagined it would be. I wanted it so badly when I was a teenager, little did I know all the responsibility that was involved.  There are definitely things I would like to have changed because I don't feel like I am the same girl I started out to be as an adult...and then I go back to this quote and realize that it doesn't matter what experiences we have had to shape who we are as long as we use them to become the best possible version of ourselves we can be.

So I try not to sit and think why me?...but what can I do?  I want to make life full of purpose for our children, I want them to know that our Heavenly Father is always there for them, even when they feel like they have failed. As I look out the window and see the sun shine through the grey clouds I want that to be me...I want the Son to shine through me so that others can feel the Light of Christ. And now as I write this I feel a sense of purpose, I feel lighter and my mood has brightened.  

Maybe being caught up on house work is minor in the grand scheme of things...being happy and a loving teaching parent is more of a priority right now.  And when I have those things under control the house work will fall into place. My children have clean clothes, they may not have been folded before they were put on, and most days they have a good home cooked meal, but more than anything I want them to know I love them and that I truly am happy to be their mother. I want my husband to know that I have found the love of my life, and my closest, truest friend. And I want my Heavenly Father to know that I am truly grateful to be a daughter of God, to have the gospel so fully in my life.  Writing this has helped me see the divine potential in my life and to know which path I should be on.  Maybe my life is remarkable after all, I am surrounded by those I love with all my heart and have knowledge of who I am and why I'm here!!!

Good luck to the few who read my blog and be thinking about what kind of cupcakes you'd like when you win!!!!!!!!!!!

Kub Kar Rally and Kindergarten Supper

Saturday was a very busy day...it started at 7am when Myrna and I left for Fort Macleod to set up for our annual Stake Kub Kar Rally.  This year we decorated more than we have in the past and it turned out great...we even got compliments from some men!!!!! We kept with a race car theme.  Jared made us blocks and spray painted them black for our checkered flags!!! We fed the boys and their dads lunch of ham buns and chips with a cookie bar for dessert!!! 

The boys seemed to have such a good time! Each car got to race at least 8 times before we got to the elimination round!! Two cars came in as the fastest and we had many tie breakers to determine which really was the fastest!!! Finally a winner was determined and the trophies were given out!!! Each boy also got a Kub Kar badge!!! It was so much fun and went off without a hitch again!!! We quickly cleaned up and headed home only to find me packing up our van and heading into the hall to help set up for the kindergarten supper!!!!

It too was so much fun and it really couldn't have gone better.  The decorations were simple and festive for a sweetheart supper.  There were many auction items donated by community businesses and it was well attended by the families of kindergarten students and other community members.  The food was amazing, thanks to the mom of one of the kindergarten kids...she did prime rib and mashed potatoes, veggies and salads. One in particular was very yummy...an apple, pear, cucumber and onion with an dill vinigarette dressing!!!! We had punch to drink and coffee...both which I made and surprisingly the coffee turned out to be very good...surprisingly since I don't drink coffee to know how it should taste!!! I was in charge of the dessert and decided to do a cookie bar again, the parents really pulled through and helped bake cookies for me!!! We had such a great variety!!! I made chocolate chip and chocolate dipped sugar cookies. There were smartie cookies and snicker doodles, banana and triple chocolate and jam dots.  The kindergarten kids introduced themselves and told what they wanted to be when they grow up.  Armin has a real hard time saying police officer and after lots of practice at school he finally told his teacher he was just going to say "cop"!!! Which he did and he even got a laugh!!!!

It was well supported as usual... we really couldn't have the kindergarten we do without the support of such a wonderful community!!!

Kub Kar and 4H Speech

In Emry's Activity Days group at church they combined with the boys to have a Kub Kar race!! To do this race she had to make a Kub Kar out of a block of wood!!! Her and Jared did this together and had so much fun!!! At first she wanted to cut her car into the shape of a pencil and then she was sitting in her dads music room and decided to do a guitar!!! Together they went to the shop with her design in hand and used some kind of power tool to cut her block of wood into a guitar!!! She sanded it smooth and then she stained it to look just like an authentic guitar!!  At her activity her car placed second every time!!!!! Her car really looked awesome!!!!!!

Emry's 4H Speech was last night and she did such a great job!!! She hardly seemed nervous at all!! Her speech was about our camping adventure last summer when we went to Waterton and Whitefish!! She was right within the time limit, just over three minutes but under five. And her impromptu was just as good!!! Just over a minute but under two!! Her impromptu topic was her favourite family vacation! She talked about Christmas at grandma Puzey's with all her aunts, uncles and cousins!!!  We were so proud of her and how much her confidence has increased in only a year!!! I'm excited and apprehensive for next years 4H, we are almost 99% sure Emry will participate in beef....so she will have to buy a steer and train him over the winter!!!!! I know she can do it!!!!!!!

Family Day

Family day was pretty low key for us!! Jared fed cows and then he and Emry put his car dash back together!! He had to take it all apart to fix the heater switch. While they were working on the car Fender decided he needed to be in the car too!!  He took a little nap half on the floor and half on the front seat!!! He looked so cute it was hard to make him leave!!!

I sure love our animals, they really are apart of the family...sometimes I think we love them a little too much!!! But having them around sure makes me feel safer....the dogs are big softies but when a stranger comes into the yard they sure can make themselves look fourocious!!!! 

Ski Trip

Last Thursday was the school ski trip!!! Poor Emry couldn't go because of her hurt foot, so she spent the day at school :p Jared took the day off work so he could ski with the boys!!! Leaving home was very foggy, all the way until Pincher Creek, and then the sky was bright and clear, and no wind!!!!!! The hill was pretty bare, mostly only snow on the runs! The boys were so excited, we got them fitted with boots and skis, got their lift tickets and helmets and went out to wait for their lesson!! Both boys ended up in the same lesson so we were able to go watch them both at the same time. Jared helped their instructor for a bit since it was such a big class, but once a rhythm was set he headed up to the top of the mountain to do a little boarding on his own!!!  I stayed out and watched the boys and helped out where needed!! Some of the kids needed help with the tow rope, Armin especially!!! The entire time throughout the lesson Armin would whine and say he wanted to go to the top where dad was, this was his very first time out!!! I kept telling him he had to master the bunny hill before he could move on!! After the lesson was finished Jared took Calum on the little chair and headed up a little higher to see how he did!! Armin and I waited at the bottom much to his dismay!!!! Calum did good, was trying to turn more often down the hill instead of just going straight down!! Once at the bottom Jared decided to take both boys and try Armin on the harness!! As I watched them come down I could see no ropes attached to Armin!! Jared decided to let him go for it!!! He did so good, aside from just going straight down the steeper part, but he would fall when he got going too fast.  Knowing that the boys were being well taken care of and could do it for the most part by themselves I headed into the lodge!!! 

Calum could get on the chair himself and Armin rode with Jared so all was good!!!! About a half hour later Jared came into the lodge by himself!!! He said Armin wanted to try the conveyor belt and loved it so he just kept doing that while Calum rode the green chair. Jared needed a drink so he told Armin he'd be right back.  After about 10 minutes Jared went out to check on him and Armin was no where to be found!! Finally Jared saw him coming down the hill from the green chair....WHAT?? Jared asked him what he was doing and Armin said he wanted to go skiing, then Jared asked who he went up the chair with and Armin pointed at some random person. So I guess Armin has skiing mastered, as mastered as any five year old could!!!!!

The weather was beautiful, I was out in only a sweatshirt!!! There was no wind at Castle Mountain, which is so unusual!!  There were lots of kids from the school there and they all had a blast and there weren't even any injuries!!!!!  I'm happy Jared was able to go with the boys, it made the day so much more special!!!

Valentine's Day Dinner

I wanted to make Valentine's Day special for all of us so I baked us a festive meal!!!! Because Emry missed out on the ski trip I asked her what she'd like to have to eat....she suggested her usual...salmon!!!! We invited Myrna over and it was a very nice day!!!!

I cut the salmon into heart shaped fillets, and the butter was shaped as a heart too!!! We had sparkling apple juice and white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for dessert with hearts swirled on the top!!!! Jared gave me a bouquet of flowers which brought our table to life!!!!  Everyone was given Lindt truffle chocolates as a little gift!!!!

After dinner we visited and listened to old records!!! Later in the evening we all went downstairs and watched TRON with yummy popcorn!!!!  We love having grandma over, Calum sat on her lap for some of the show....I'm sure he is as big as her.....they love her to pieces!!!!!! Calum wanted one of grandmas chocolates because he had eaten all of his, but she wasn't going to give it to him for free!!!! He had to give her a kiss on the cheek, even though he pretended he didn't want to, he did and it seemed to be with much delight!!!!!!!!  Armin particularly liked the music throughout TRON!!! He would intermittently get up and dance!!! It was the funniest dance too...he'd lift each knee up really high while scrunching his shoulders and pointing his fingers!!!!  Oh and he'd bob his head!!!!! Really funny to watch!!!

A very nice way to celebrate a day of love....with those I love so much!!!!!

Mini Getaway

I was able to go with Jared to Edmonton where he had training!!!!! My mom watched the kids, with some help from Myrna too, and they seemed to have a wonderful time!!!! Armin only cried the first night saying he wanted me right now!! 

We drove to Edmonton Monday evening after Jared finished work and arrived just before 10pm. We got settled into the hotel and then walked a block to 7/11 for chocolate milk, Jared's ritual nighttime drink....gee, I wonder where our boys get it from?!!

Tuesday while Jared was at his course I had a nice sleep in!!! The guys walked back to the hotel where we had lunch at a yummy little bistro. After I went back to our room and read my book!!! After the course was finished Jared and I walked to Boston pizza for supper and then we walked a few blocks to the mall where there was a movie theatre, we went and saw "Hail, Caesar!" A quirky comedy by the Coen Brothers!!! 

Wednesday I had another little sleep in before packing up and checking out. We ate again at the little bistro before Jared and Kevin walked back for the last three hours of their course and I walked the few blocks back to the mall to look around!!!

It was fun walking everywhere!!! The truck stayed parked from the time we arrived until we left Wednesday afternoon at 4pm!!! The weather was unusually warm for Edmonton in February, with very little snow!!!! It was a wonderful, relaxing , and very much needed getaway!!!!