Lots to catch up on

Yes it is December 31/08 and we have passed yet another milestone. We celebrated Christmas and it was fabulous with only 1 minor hiccup, and then next came our 13Th Anniversary.
Christmas morning came and once again we had to wake the kids up. It was finally just after 9:00am and the kids started rolling out of bed. Oakly was the first too grace us with his crazy hair, then came Avery with no stocking, she forgot to even look at the end of her bed for it. She was so excited she ran back in to her room grabbed the stocking, it was filtered through in about 2Min's and she made her way down to wake up Aspen. Aspen had already been awake early that morning to go through her stocking and fallen back to sleep, so she was ready to get in to the gifts under the tree.
We called G & G over to watch the kids open gifts, that's when Grandma told us that Grandpa had been gone since 6:30am, their was a water break in town somewhere and they had to find it. The other end of town ended up getting the water turned off for the whole day and they located the pipe late that afternoon. Grandpa missed presents at each of the grand kids houses and also at their house, but the strange thing was not having him around for Turkey Supper. It was a very quite day. Grandpa didn't get home until after 7 that night and was exhausted. The pipes were still not fixed, and they couldn't get a whole crew to come out and help dig until the next day and then it was going to be iffy.
The kids had a great Christmas and were very excited to see the Ipods and DS that Santa left. The girls got clothes and games for the Wii, and Okaly got an XBox 360, not sure if it was really for Oakly or Tod they played it for 2 days straight, while the girls and I sang our hearts out on the Wii. It was so much FUN!! ;)
The rest of the week went off with out a hitch, with the exception of a few friends getting together to watch the UFC, we had a relaxing weekend. Monday came and Tod was off to work for 2 days, it was also our Anniversary. We were going to go out to Dinner and a Movie, but I had finished some painting and was not wanting to get ready to go out so Tod brought dinner and movies home. It was a great night. We had Shrimp, Escargot, Salmon, Baked French Onion soup. and for dessert Apple Pie with Ice Cream all compliments of M &M meat shop. YUM YUM YUM!!! I ate a little to much and was feeling it later. We watched MAMMA MIA, Tod and Oakly sat and watched the whole thing not their kind of movie, but the girls and I loved it. We then watched Step Brothers, not my kind of movie but I suffered through it.
Tuesday was a day to clean up the basement and the garage. We were all but done when Grandma phoned and told us to fill up the tub, sinks and as many buckets that we could find. Their was another water main break and Grandpa was sure it was somewhere on our road. Aspen and Oakly jumped in showers quickly and just made it out in time. Sure enough in less than a half hour we had no water. Later grandma came over to tell us that it could be up to 4 days until they get the water fixed. Not sure what we were going to do I said well at least we had heat and that was great. Later that night we decided to go to the movie, it was cheap night and we all needed to get out of the house so off we went to "Bedtime Stories", WOW it was great we all laughed even Avery and it had you form the beginning. One of the best family Movies I have seen in a long time. We arrived home just after 9 and G & G's garage was open so we phoned over to checkup and well their heater was on the fritz. Tod went over to help and I started to prep Aspen that she may have to sleep with Avery if G & G's furnace wouldn't work. They did get it working. Then the other shoe dropped, grandpa told us that we have a 15 minute window tomorrow morning to fill up the water buckets that we had used up and to shower. The crappy thing was that it was between 7 & 7:15am. Well that brings us to today right now. Tod and I woke to refill the tub and flush all the toilets and fill the containers in the kitchen and especially the jug for drinking. WOW what we take for granted daily. Tod was able to shower, shave and go back to sleep, but with the joys of my curly hair, their is no showering and sleeping on this mop of hair so it gives me some time to catch up on the blog. When we are all ready to go this morning we have a few returns to do at Walmart and then we are off to the Mall! We try to stay away from West Edmonton Mall, but the kids are getting to the stage that Walmart is just not cutting it any more. Aspen is to skinny to fit in to the Walmart pants and Oakly really hats Skulls so we are venturing out to exchange at one place and look for some new stomping grounds.
It is the 31st and if the weather stays okay we are going to the Barn for New Years Eve. Our friends have a party in their barn and they get 2-3 girls to watch the kids in the house, a few family's go together and supply fireworks for midnight and then we are all off. It is perfect and everybody has fun.
Happy New Year!!!
Tod, Mel, Oakly, Aspen, & Avery :)

Christmas is in the Air

Well it is Sunday & the girls are counting down the hours until we go to the Hospital to sing Carols, 2 hrs to go and we will be on our way. I am looking forward ton it also.
Oakly & Tod have already been to Hockey early this morning and had an upsetting loss 14-11, not like yesterdays game with a win of 11-5. Oak is pretty tired & Tod is sleeping on the couch, listening to Football.
Happy Night Everybody ;)
5 more days. . . .

New Ornament

We had a "new ornament" in our tree this morning!!

We new it was bound to happen, but it took a while.

Fluffy found her way into the tree and wasn't coming out without assistance.

She is such a FUNNY cat!! :)

Today Tod & Oakly are in Caroline (2 hrs away) for hockey. The girls & I stayed home, did some cleaning, scrubbing, laundry, and hanging out.

Yesterday the 2 older kids tried to get out of going to school for the last day, Tod & I both said NO!! Tod told them that if they wanted to go to the hospital with him to sing to the seniors, they could come to work with him, well that was the wrong thing to say to Aspen. She thought that, that was a great idea. She didn't go, so today I talked to another Manager at the hospital & we are going to meat her and her daughter at the hospital to do some carolling & then go to Tim Horton's for Hot Chocolate and donuts. So now that I have told Aspen, she has been singing Carols for an hour and not all on tune but she is trying & loves to do it. We are going to spread the Christmas cheer & I am hoping the girls will feel the spirit & learn the quite softness that Christmas has, without all the hustle & bustle.

This year for Teachers Gifts we did home made things & are doing the same for our Family Friends. We need to concentrate on the meaning of Christmas not on how many presents are under the tree.

Baby It's Cold Outside!! :)

6 days & counting. . . .

Aspen performed twice in the Christmas Concert tonight. She was part of her 5/6 class and also the Senior Choir.She practiced her CHoir song all the time.She was very good at both and loves to perform in front of people. Way to go Appy, you are really good!! :)

Avery is in the front row. She is the first girl on the left side. Avery was great & she even let me put her hair in "Rag Rollers" last night to get curly hair. She sang her heart out and loved every minute of it. Way to go my girl!!

I forgot the camera & the video camera so thank heavens for the new "blackberry storm" Tod got this week. YAY!!

Aspen Floor Hockey 12/2008

Aspen Gymanstics 12/2008

Avery Gymnastics 12/2008

buisy weekend

Well it is Sunday night and we have survived the weekend and all that was involved.
Aspen's floor hockey was great. They won the first 2 games and lost the third so they ended up 2nd in their tier. That meant trouble in the 4th game they were against the grade 6 girls from Thorsby. It was a great game!! They lost by 1, Aspen was the goalie for the 1st and last game and did Awesome! :)
Later that night Okaly had hockey and they tied 8-8.
While I was away with Aspen for the day Tod was shopping with Okaly and Avery to find Boots for Avery and a Snow suit for Okaly. He was amazed at the stores and the options that were out their and of course the prices of everything. ;) We are trying to break him in slowly to the world of "mom's".
Today Oakly had hockey in Sylvan Lake, they won 10-8. It was a long day for them to travel and I opted to stay home and do some "Christmas Baking:, 8 dozen Butter Tarts, & 3 dozen Peanut Butter Blossoms & I am done for the day. I started at 1pm and finally sat at 7:15. I was checking my email when Dad & Mom signed on and then Am & Dallin came on also. It was great, I chatted with Dallin & Am, & Web cam with Dad & Mom. WOW!! the power of the Internet is great.
The kids are watching "Polar Express" and then it is off to bed!!
I will add pictures of Aspen's Floor Hockey later.
HAPPY NIGHT ALL!! ;)

love family

I just got off the phone with Tom and realized that family is so super cool:0 My big brother that I hardly new growing up because I was little and he was older, always makes me feel like I am closer to him than I remember growing up. He loves my family for who we are and doesn't judge us on anything. Heidi is amazing and the kids are great. O A & A love their cousins and always want to go visit them. Thanks for phoning, even if it was only to pick my brain, love to hear from you. Wish we could be with you!!! :)

It is snowing out again and the weather is about to get ugly so the "Weather People" say. It is about 0 and by tomorrow night it is supposed to get to -20/-30. Oh help us know! This weekend we are going to go find some "Winter Gear" for the kids.
Avery has a Birthday Party tomorrow, she will be bowling and playing games at the Rec. Center. She is so excited to go. ;)
Aspen has a Floor Hockey tourney on Saturday in Beaumont. We have never watched her play before, this should be fun!!
Oakly has a hockey game on Sunday, in Sylvan Lake. That is going to be a long day.
HAPPY NIGHT!!!!

family favorites

Okay these are only 2 of many family favorite Christmas Treats.
Poppycock
1 1/3c. Brown Sugar
1/2c. corn syrup
1c. butter (1/2 #)

Mix together in a pot, simmer & stir for 12 min's
Add 1tsp vanilla
stir together
Add
6c. popped popcorn
2c. mixed nuts

Mix all together and put on a serving platter


Turtles
2c. whipping cream
1/2c. milk
2c. sugar
1 1/4c. corn syrup
1/4tsp. salt
1tsp. vanilla

mix cream & milk together
take out 1/3c. of mixture set aside
mix in sugar, corn syrup, & salt cook for 15 min's or until boils
add the rest of the milk cream mixture and cook until at medium soft ball stage, remove from heat & add vanilla stir well

Place enough pecans on a cookie sheet
Pour the candy mixture over pecans, cover with melted dipping chocolates.

Enjoy and eat a little for me!! I am trying to be good.
It has snowed a huge amount & know to top it off we are supposed to hit above zero for tomorrow and then drop off on Thursday-Friday to -20. OUCH!!
Talked to & saw Dad & Mom on the web cam again tonight and it was great. The kids actually look forward to Tuesday nights to see Grandma & Grandpa!!
Love ya
Happy Night!!

winter is here

it has hit and i am not sure that we are ready.
avery tried on her boots, nope to small, the winter jacket and snow pants still fit, that's fabulous.:)
oakly is trudging around with a hoodie and his light hockey jacket, he has 2 ski trips next week and if he doesn't become less picky with his clothing he will freeze his butt off.:(
aspen is just great she has everything for winter love hand me downs, although we need some dress shoes for her for her Christmas concert, she has long skinny toes.;)

Tonight we had our kindergarten concert, because I work with these kids I was participating tonight. They, all 35 of them, did very good. It was a lot of fun. We sold almost all our cards for "Dollars for Desks". Our school has a fundraiser going on right know to purchase desks for children in Mozambique. one of our teachers has friends that went their and started an orphanage and school, so we are trying to help out and get a few desks for them, well the initial thought was 2-3 desks, but our community has come together and we have raised enough money to get 7 desks. Any ways for the kindergarten kids we made "Kards by Kindergarten" and sold them tonight. Tomorrow staff will by the remaining and we will have raised enough money to buy 3 desks, wow!! we are good and the cards are great. All kid made and just what Christmas is all about.
Dad and mom I know you will read this before we talk tomorrow so thank you!! You do know what I am talking about and I am thinking that right know it will help everybody out. Love you lots can't wait to chat with you tomorrow :0 we have a lot of snow to show you :(
the rest of the family haven't got a hold of me yet to hook them up to gmail, guess they will just do it themselves. :0
Hey Gail that fmaily pic is beautiful love it!! Want one, need one, have to have one.
Happy monday night everybody :0