D.A.R.E. Graduation

David had his D.A.R.E. (Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education) graduation today. During the course of the program the kids had to write speeches and make posters. They gave their speeches in class and 4 kids were chosen to give their speeches at the graduation. David was chosen and did a great job! He was so cute when he was telling me about it. When they asked if he would be willing to give his speech at the graduation he said his brain was saying "No, don't do it!" but he knew he should do it so he said yes in a very shaky voice. That's my boy! I'm proud of him and just wanted to let you all know!

Here he is standing next to his poster and with the Dare Mascot they gave him after his speech.

Winter Wonderland Part II

Here are the promised pictures of our Winter Wonderland! It might not be so thrilling for you Albertans but for us this is unusual and spectacular - I love it!

Winter Wonderland!

Today I woke up to the most beautiful day! Snow everywhere - and lots of it. It was predicted that we wouldn't be getting any snow at all this year but by the looks of it we have more today than the last few years put together AND it's supposed to continue all week! I love snow when it actually sticks and accumulates so I hope it stays for a while. I think I'll start up the fireplace .. . ok, so it only an electric fireplace (the kind that looks like a fire but it's really lights behind fluttering strip of cloth or something with a heater in it that pumps out heat) but it really does add a touch of coziness! Then I'll make some cinnamon buns which the kids absolutely love and I think I'll make a caramel machiatto for anyone who's interested! Care to join me?

PS: I would have posted a Winter Wonderland picture but my son Jon is skiing at Sun Peaks this weekend and he has my camera! I'll post it next time.

100 Things about Me

(as inspired by Grape Crush)


1. I'm 40 something
2. I have 6 siblings
3. I'm been married for almost 24 years
4. I have two boys
5. I love watching my son play soccer
6. I like watching hockey
7. I'm love to be an artist
8. I'm learning to draw
9. I miss my family
10. I love the Fall with wind, blowing leaves, crashing waves
11. I went to Bible school in Prince Albert for a year and LOVED it
12. I work at TWU
13. I really like working at TWU
14. I love California rolls
15. I love Sharls's appetizers
16. I like to bake
17. I don't like cooking much
18. I sell USANA top quality nutritional products
19. I love to be warm
20. I hate being cold
21. I love excitement
22. I love going out late at night to watch a TWU hockey game
23. I love getting up early and going for a run
24. I don't like running in the dark alone
25. I'm taking university courses now that I wished I'd taken years ago
26. I get up way to early
27. I always fall asleep when I watch movies
28. I love Starbucks Caramel Machiatos
29. I want to run a full marathon one day
30. I like comfortable clothes
31. I hate constricting clothes
32. I don't wear socks in the summer
33. I like cozy furry slippers
34. I grew a vegetable garden for the first time this year
35. I love fresh flowers
36. I love apples
37. I hate clutter
38. I have clutter
39. I like reading
40. Especially in the summer by the lake
41. I enjoy candles - lots of candles
42. Sometimes I get sad for no reason
43. I love my friends
44. I wish I knew more about everything
45. I love babies
46. I want to adopt
47. I want to work in an orphanage in Africa
48. I went on a missions trip to help with Hurricane Katrina disaster relief
49. I hate driving in unfamiliar territory.
50. I was the driver in New Orleans on that trip
51. I hate traffic
52. We were in New Orleans during Marti Gras and the traffic was insane
53. I don't like driving at night
54. We drove in the city at night
55. I am directionally impaired
56. We didn't get lost . . . for the most part
57. I love to travel
58. I hated grade one and two
59. I loved high school
60. I'm procrastinating - I should be running
61. I'm stubborn
62. I'm interested in Psychology
63. My eyes are blue
64. I'm going grey but I hide it well
65. I love reading family/friend blogs
66. I wish there were more hours in a day
67. I love Christmas
68. I love mom's croquettes
69. I'll never have time to accomplish my "to do" list for life
70. I'll get my degree when I'm close to 60 at the rate I'm going
71. I love buying people gifts
72. I like surprises
73. I think too much
74. Sometimes I gap out when people are talking to me
75. I'm not a good salesperson
76. I tried to homeschool but let's just say . . . no let's not say anything!
77. I got married when I was 20
78. I had my first son when I was 25
79. I had my second son when I was 33
80. I always wanted a girl
81. But I wouldn't trade my boys for a girl!
82. I want my boys to give me lots of grandbabies
83. I miss not seeing my nieces and nephews grow up
84. I miss not living near my mom and dad and siblings
85. I don't have a favorite color - it depends on my mood
86. I love peanut butter
87. I'm allergic to some nuts, especially hazelnuts and walnuts
88. I love humour
89. I admire my sister for writing a book
90. I want to write a book one day . . .
91. I love listening to humorous inspirational speakers
92. I love memory foam
93. I would love to change the color of my walls regularly
94. I think about doing this but there's not enough time
95. I love change
96. I love family times - playing games, eating appetizers
97. My favorite Christmas movie is "It's a Wonderful Life"
98. My long term memory sucks
99. I can't believe I thought of 100 things
100.Thanks Christina for the inspiration!

Timmies Service Alert . . .

My husband is a Tim Hortons addict. He goes there for coffee or tea every day at least once and often twice ensuring the survival of the coffee house chain. For him, life is good when you take a drive through the country with a Timmies in hand. Well, lately the service at a couple of the locations he frequents has been slipping. It's possible that the drive-through attendants were new and didn't realize that their paycheck was just pulling up to place his daily order. Well, as he often does, he ordered a steeped tea with honey. He paid his pittance and was handed his tea with 2 honeys on the side. He kindly asked if the honey could be put in the tea as it's hard to maneuver when you're driving. He was told "sorry, but we're not allowed to put the honey in the tea". Well, that was the last straw as this was becoming a regular occurrence. When he got home he promptly emailed a complaint to the Tim Horton's head office (not giving specific locations as he didn't want to get the poor girl in trouble). They sent him a long email back and here is an excerpt of the bottom line portion:

"I assure you that corrective measures will be taken to prevent recurrence of a similar incident. Please be advised that honey should be on the side only if specifically requested by the customer. Therefore, the employee should have put the honey into your tea for you. Also, there should be no additional charge for the honey in the tea."

So, there you have it - at Tim Hortons, the honey is FREE and IN the tea and thanks to my dh you can be rest assured that when you order tea through the drive-through you will now be able to drink it and not wear it . . .

From cars to trucks to . . . motorcycles???

Mustang #1 June 2006

Jon buys his first car
Mustang #2 July 2006

Jon trades his first car for his second car
Toyota 4x4 August 2006

Jon trades his second car for his first 4x4
Motorcycle Oct. 2006

Jon trades his first 4x4 for his first motorcycle







My son Jon never ceases to amaze me. I really thought that Mr. Monster Truck was here to stay as I indicated in a previous post. Well, after having fun all summer with his huge 4 x 4 truck my "common sense" son decided that as gas prices were so high and he was after all going to become a poor student soon, it would make total sense to trade it in for a motorcycle that he could ride to work for a fraction of the cost. Before I could even think to respond the deal had been made, the truck was gone and a spiffy looking motorcylce arrived at our door. This spontaneity is beginning to sound like a vaguely familiar trend in my family . . . Dad, Don . . . Well, he obvioulsy doesn't have a motorcyle license (we're negotiating on that one) so guess where he rides the dang thing? Yip, in the backyard, front yard and up and down the driveway. My hair just keeps getting more and more gray - he sure keeps our life interesting! I wonder what it will be next . . . perhaps a sensible car?? Not likely!