Day 54 Drive!

Sometimes it seems like this is all I do. Drive to seminary. Drive to school. Drive to the pool. Drive to the church. Drive. Drive. Drive. 

Good thing I love my car. 

Happy Easter!

Whoa. I haven't posted much since February.

February is report card month. Somehow that whole month just gets simply overwhelming. Apparently it took me a month to recover.

Instead of trying to go back, I will just begin today.

Our Easter weekend has been lovely. Allen and Peirce have planned for a long time that they'd go to conference to attend the Priesthood session once Peirce turned 12. Uncle Nathan got some tickets to conference so they decided to jump on the opportunity and go. A Boys Club win!

 

Look at those two handsome guys!! I just love this picture.



 

 

 

Jill and I had our own little Easter dinner for two. Yum!

We even found a few Easter treats. We don't do a lot of treats at Easter in our house, but it's always nice to have a bit of chocolate! Too bad we couldn't get the picture in focus.

 

Jill and I stayed home and got to watch all four sessions of conference. This is my favorite weekend of the year - especially when things work out so that nothing gets in the way of conference. I find it renewing and relaxing. We had a wonderful weekend!

 

 

Busy Saturday

We have had a busy Saturday, which isn't too unusual.

Peirce was in a scout camp. They travelled by canoe to their camping spot. Peirce said it was the best trip ever!

I love the fall colors in this photo. Fall is my favorite season of the year!

Jill and I gathered food from the routes we delivered food bank flyers. It is so fun to be part of this city-wide food drive. It is a great lesson in how just a few can make a big difference. Probably 1 in 10 houses we delivered to donated something. With that, huge amounts or food are collected. Imagine if everyone donated just one can?! It would be totally overwhelming.

Jill, in the midst of gathering up the food, said, "This is my favorite church activity of all!" When I asked her why she said it is because she loves it that everyone is sharing.

So true!!

Unloading cars full of food at the stake center. This happened at all six stake centres in Calgary.

I found this pic in a facebook. The food bank shelves are full and the rest is in the aisles. Awesome!

In the afternoon Jill and I went to storybook theatre and saw The Wizard of One. It is a play written by a Calgarian who also did all the acting. He played every part. It was quite brilliant!

It is a take off in The Wizard of Oz, only Dorothy is an old man in a rest home. Sounds weird, I know, but it works!

Tonight Jill had a trek reunion. Allen and I were back at the end of the reunion party where they showed a video with pictures from trek. It cracked my crusty heart! (I am not a big trek fan) I am really grateful for amazing youth leaders who plan things like this though, and remind them of the important things they have learned. At the end President Bester bore his testimony to them and pronounced a blessing on them that they would be strong and remember the lessons they learned on trek. It was quite powerful.

While Jill was at the trek reunion, Allen and I went out to dinner to celebrate his birthday. We went to a new trendy restaurant called The Block. It was fun to go out for dinner. Maybe we'll go somewhere else next time though. :)

Tonight Jill went to the youth dance. Peirce and I went home to get to bed early because it has been a long day. Allen toughed it out and drove Jill and her friends. Of course, it always has to end with Peters. We should buy shares in that place!

Saturday....the fun never ends!!

Scout Camp

He is off! He is looking a tad excited too.

He almost didn't make this one. He was sick yesterday and missed school. Mom's rule always is if you have to stay home from school you probably aren't well enough to do the fun weekend stuff. He worked very hard to convince the parents that he was in fact well enough. Then, it turns out we misunderstood the meeting time. We thought it was 4:00 when it was actually 3:00! Good thing for missing keys and a run home by a leader or two.

They are canoeing to some island where they will camp for the night. It is everything every boy loves!

Cutting Losses

I am behind.....really behind.

 Keep telling myself I need to catch up on the end of summer.  I never seem to find the time though....meanwhile more keeps happening that I want to record. 

Let's just say, I am calling this past summer the summer the swim club stole. The drama in the club took a lot of energy and time. I am a little bitter about it and determined to guard my own time and happiness a little better.

So, summer ended. We all lived happily ever after....pretty much.

School started for me on August 18.....the day Jill turned 16. She celebrated by planning two dates for that week....one of which turned dismal but was saved by a nice boy in the end. Jill and Peirce are both back in school now. Seminary has been going for a few weeks and swimming is gearing up. Life is swinging into high gear, and I am okay with that. 

I should try to catch up on recording so many things...but I think it is time to cut our losses and just do better going forward.

Here is to new beginnings!!

Fernie Meet

Every year we go to Fernie for a swim meet. It is a long anticipated event as there is lots of fun that happens.

First of all, they get to go there on a bus. This year there were two buses. The big kids were on one bus and the younger kids were on another. And I get to drive by myself. I enjoy the 3 hours of just me and a book CD....and me and my thoughts.

This is also a time for us to stay in Sparwood and visit with the Nelsons. It wasn't a long visit this year, but it was good to see them, nonetheless.

The races went really well too! Here are the results: 

Jill: 

1 second taken off her 200 IM

11 seconds off 200 breast

5 seconds off 100 back

Peirce:

15 seconds off his 200 IM

10 seconds off 200 breast

1 second added in 50 free

 (He said he had a really bad dive....something weird about how his hands were....it took him right down to the bottom if the pool. Oops!)

3 seconds off 50 fly

Our family goal was to take time off every race. They did it for 6 of the 7 races!

The bad news was that Peirce got DQd in 200 IM and 200 breast. He always turns over on his front when he goes from back to breast. Ugh!! Must work on that. He also learned that you can only do one pull before you reach the surface for breast stroke. Not sure why he didn't know this before now. I guess that is what racing is for!!

We will focus on the positive though. That is a lot of time taken off! Once he gets those details figured out he will have some new great times for 200 IM and 200 breast for sure. That good mountain air does something good for them.

Our evening is spent at a pizza party and with games with the whole club. Jill was very excited to finally be a senior swimmer, and therefore, be able to be the leader of a group. It was a great time for everyone!!

Another year of Fernie in the books!!