Phoenix Starts Preschool

This week it was finally time for Phoenix's turn to start school.  The day he was to start, he woke up really early because he was so excited to start.  

So far he seems to really like it, and his teacher is super nice. The first day when I dropped him off, it was really strange.  He is with me constantly, and so it was weird to leave him for a while to do his own thing.  It will be good for both of us.

On Friday we had a bit of a stressful afternoon.  My Dad was driving home a Combine and south of Aetna he was stung by a bee.  He had a severe allergic reaction, and was blacking out.  It was a miracle that he was able to make it home, and some people from the community immediately come to the house and told my Mom that something was wrong.  He was rushed to the hospital, and it took a while for his vitals to get stabilized.  It was really scary.  I wanted to drive to Cardston as soon as I heard, but it just wasn't going to work out.  Later that night he was able to recover well enough so that he was able to go home.  It truly was a miracle.  I am not ready yet to let my Dad go.  

Drew took over dinner making that night, so we all went and had delicious burgers at FatBurger.  After, we went to the Halloween store to check out the costumes, and for the boys to get ideas of what they want to be for Halloween this year.  

Yesterday we had a busy day.  Davis had to get new lenses put in his glasses, so we had to go do that.  The optometrist is down the street from the most amazing bakery, and so I couldn't resist taking Davis there.  This time we tried a coconut macaroon, a pear and ginger macaroon, a chocolate meringue, a white chocolate and raspberry scone, and a gingersnap cookie.  They were all so good.  It was hard to pick my favorite.  Davis liked the pear and ginger macaroon, and the gingersnap the best.  

It was Community League Day yesterday, and all the Communities is Edmonton had their own celebrations.  Our community had a Picnic.  There was face painting, a jumpy house, hot dogs, pop, chips, watermelon, and other games.  The kids and I had a fun time.  

Davis got a red angry bird on his arm.  

 Marcus was a zombie. 

 And, Phoenix was a tiger. 

 

The Start of a New School Year

School has now started.  Davis and Marcus aren't super excited to be back to school, but I am excited for them to get back, and to get back to the normal crazy routine again. 

This year I packed 3 backpacks to get ready for school.  I couldn't even fit all the stuff in Davis', and Marcus could barely carry his, and Phoenix just has a pair of shoes in his.  Phoenix is so excited to start school.  Playschool doesn't start until tomorrow, and he has been so upset that the boys got to go and he doesn't.  He is going to be equally upset when he realizes that mean old Mom is going to drive him to school and he doesn't get to ride the bus.  

Davis started first.  He wasn't super excited to go back to school, but I took him anyhow kicking and screaming...okay...maybe not kicking and screaming, but dragging his feet and not wanting to get out of bed.  

This is how he really feels...

 Next it was Marcus' turn to start.  We decided after much prayer and deliberation and counsel from his teacher from last year, to have Marcus repeat Kindergarten.  He is a really smart kid, and could academically handle Grade 1, but he is not quite there maturity.  He is excited because he has a couple of friends from Church who are going to be in his class this year.  

A nice gentleman in our ward has 5 apple trees and a big garden, which he shares with the people in the ward.  I brought a box home last week from church and I made delicious apple crisp for dessert and apple sauce to eat with our pork roast.  The Young Men were going over to his house pick apples for their activity, so I had Drew bring me home some more apples, because I decided to try and can applesauce.  It was a sticky job, but our house smelled SO good.  The boys helped me peel apples, and stir them around a little bit.  Now, I just hope that the applesauce that I canned tastes good. 

Taylor wanted to be wrapped up in her blanket and I was reminiscing with Marcus how when she was a baby he held her the most.  Marcus would be so gentle with her, and he would very softly stroke her hair and cheeks, and give her kisses.  After I wrapped Taylor up, he decided that he wanted to giver her a bit of a cuddle.  

We switched the boys beds, and when I went to check on them, this was how Marcus was sleeping.  

We think it is funny how Taylor peeks out of the hole in her high chair at us. 

When I was in Cardston, Karen and I went fabric shopping and she talked me into buying this cute fabric to make Taylor a dress.  I didn't buy enough to make her a dress, but I made her this t-shirt dress.  I think it turned out cute.  Today Taylor got to go to Nursery for the first time.  It was a happy day.  I tried to take her to Gospel Doctrine, and she wasn't happy about being there, and while I was walking down the hall, the Nursery leader told me I could bring her in.  I was so grateful!!  She seemed to really like it.  She stayed for the whole time, even when I had to leave to go and teach my lesson.  I just hope that she likes it next week.  We have some pretty great Nursery leaders in our ward, who are a lot of fun.  

She wasn't really co-operating with taking a picture of her cute new dress.  

Summer is now over

I thought it was funny that as soon as September started we started to get colder and crappy weather.  We have had a great summer, but I know I am looking forward to getting back to normal again.  We are going to have a busy school year, but I love being busy and having a routine.  Since I took some time off from my weekly blogging, I have to catch up from the middle of July.

Drew left us home for a week and went to YM Camp.  One of the traditions that the YM in our ward have is to do a backpacking trip to Mount Robson which is by Jasper.  They hiked I think a total of 52km over 5 days.  Drew said that it was hard, but I don't think they regretted doing it, and once it was over, they were all proud of their accomplishment.

 

And, they only had to airlift one kid out.  

 While Drew was gone we tried to fill in the time as best as we could.  We went to the park, and played at friend's houses.

We went to the Library, and the kids all got Library cards and a bag full of books.  There is a statue of Lois Hole, who our library was named after, sitting on a bench, and the kids always have to go and sit on her knee, and they like to pick her nose too.  I know, boys are weird.  

We also went to the CapitalEx parade downtown.  The kids weren't impressed with it because there was no candy.  It was also very long and hot, so we left early.  

Davis went with his friend to CapitalEx.  Davis' friend's Mom was nice enough to take the boys.  Davis had a really fun time going on all the rides, and playing.  He still talks about how he had the best pizza he's ever had there.  

 It was so great when Drew finally came home. 

At the end of July and the first part of August we went to Southern Alberta for two weeks. The long drive was our best yet because I did most of the driving while Drew slept.  The kids knew that they couldn`t ask me for anything because I was driving, and they couldn`t ask Drew for anything because he was sleeping.  So, they were very quiet.  The one thing we don`t miss at all about southern Alberta is the wind.  It seems like as soon as we hit Claresholm, the wind starts.  We have a big bag that straps onto the roof of the van, and I could hear it being pushed around by the wind.  Drew put it in the middle of the van roof, and by the time we got to Lethbridge it was pushed all the way to the back.  Another reason why the trip was more bearable was that we stopped in Calgary to see Drew`s parents.  Tom was at the Tom Baker Cancer Clinic, so it was nice to be able to visit with them on our way through.  

We couldn`t be in Southern Alberta without going to a small-town parade.  We were able to make it to the Magrath Parade, and the kids were so excited for all the candy.  

 After the parade, we did the traditional lunch at Dave and Bonnie`s house.  We all love going to their house because not only is it beautiful, and I covet Bonnie`s decor, but we are always fed super well, and we all look forward to having gigantic pieces of Bonnie`s famous Carrot and Oatmeal Cake.  I love them.  It is probably a good thing that I don`t have the recipe for the oatmeal cake, or else I would eat it way too much. 

Our last stop in Magrath was visiting with Grandma Wolsey.  We always love to visit with her.  The boys love it because she usually has a secret stash of candy, and a big bucket of Lego. 

We spent our weekends at my parents house, and the kids were able to get lots of quadding in.  Phoenix really loves riding the quads with Grandpa.  Dad would take him on really long rides, and Phoenix loved every minute of it.  I think my Dad did too.  The kids also spent lots of time playing outside.  Phoenix is scared of my parent`s dog, so whenever he wanted to go outside and play, he would ask Marcus to come outside and pet the dog and distract him, so he could get past.  

My Dad was nice enough to bring his trailer to Writing-on-Stone for us to do our Camping Tradition.  It was really hot while we were there, so during the afternoon we would stay in the trailer with the Air Conditioning cranked up, and read and watch a movie, then when it cooled down we would go play in the Hoodoos, and do fun stuff outside.  During our first couple of days, the Cooks from Lethbridge came camping with us.  It was great to see them, and for the boys to have some other boys to play with. 

 One night at the ampitheatre, there was a First Nations lady doing a drumming presentation.  After she was done, she let people come up and try the drum.  The kids thought it was pretty cool.  Especially Phoenix, he didn`t want to give anyone else a turn.  He has told me numerous times that he wants to learn how to play the drums. 

After camping we spent the weekend with my parents.  During this stay we celebrated my Birthday and my Mom`s Birthday. Karen did a great job with everyone`s cakes.  She made me a vanilla confetti cake, with cherry preserves between the layers, cream cheese icing, and handmade gumpaste flowers.  She even let Davis and Phoenix help her make some flowers.  I still dream about how good this cake was.  

 She made Mom these dog cupcakes (I helped a bit, it was so fun).  They were chocolate with a chocolate pudding center, and of course, creamcheese icing.  

When we were down, I really wanted to go out to Jefferson to where my Grammy used to live.  I really wanted to see ``the old house``.  This was the house where my Grandpa Campbell grew up, and where my Mom lived when she was a young child.  

 Our last stop was in Lethbridge.  We had a busy week catching up with family and old friends, and spending lots of time swimming in the pool. 

Taylor thought that the cats at the house were pretty cute.  

Taylor also enjoyed spending time with Daxon.  

Or attacking him.  I think he was scared of her after all the hugging.  Unfortunately she has too many brothers to be scared of boys.  

Drew and Davis went with Keith and Jack camping in Waterton for one night.  They hiked to Bertha Lake, and stayed overnight. 

After Drew got home from his YM backpacking trip, he told me that he kept thinking that the next time the ward does this trip, Davis might be old enough to go.  When I saw this picture this is what I kept thinking about.  Davis is wearing one of the extra camp t-shirts, and he is wearing Drew`s pack that he took with him.  I admit it freaked me out just a little bit. 

 While the boys were gone, the rest of us went to the Coalhurst parade with Mandy and the kids.  It was the perfect parade, it was 15 minutes long, and the kids got lots of candy.  After the parade, the town held a BBQ, with activities for the kids, including a train ride. 

 

Our last night in Lethbridge we did some classic Lethbridge things.  We had Poutine and hotdogs at the Red Dog diner, played in the water at Galt Gardens, and had frozen Yogurt on 3rd Ave.  

The rest of our summer was spent trying to pass the time until school started again.  A few weeks ago NAIT held a Street Fair for NAIT families.  It was a lot of fun.  The kids got to play carnival games, visit a Fire Truck, and hold some guns used by the Canadian military,  and we had some good carnival food.  It was a great way to spend some time together.  

We also had a little fuzzy visitor one night.  Phoenix and Taylor thought it was pretty cool. 

I had the privilege of taking this cute guy out on a date. 

My friend Kristy gave me some massive zucchini, so I have been baking up a storm.  I made 6 loaves of zucchini bread from one zucchini.  

My friend Annelise moved to an acreage outside of St. Albert.  One afternoon we braved the mosquitoes and picked some raspberries to make jam.    The yellow ones aren`t unripe berries, but white raspberries.  They were so good.  Having fresh jam was worth the 5000 bites.