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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Best Friends make the world complete!

We made a quick trip to Canada to renew our status (we have 3 years!) so we made a quick trip to visit our friends in Cranbrook.

It is so hard to leave them!

Meliah and Kaleigh have been best friends since they were born, I looked back in church an they were holding hands in sacrament, I wish they could see each other more!IMG_2693

They had so much fun in their matching pajamas with their new stuffies and a sleep over.

Mady and Terann have been the best of friends since we moved to Cranbrook in 2002. I never even seen them, and I know how hard it is for them to say goodbye, but they managed! Good job girls! love you!IMG_2684

Of course we have Keion, have you ever seen a cuter monkey?IMG_2682

Taelor our the big sister to all 4 girls.IMG_2699

Mel and I never got a picture together, what with that? I guess I need to talk about her instead. Mel is one of a kind, she is one of the kindest gentlest souls I have ever met. She is giving and loving and more fun than you can ever imagine. She is a mother bear and will eat you alive if you hurt someone she loves (including me, so you better be nice)! She is not the slightest bit material or phony, she is a wonderful mom and I am a better person because she is my friend. Of course, we are not really friends anymore. We are sisters, we share each others kids and would do anything for each other.

I miss you Mel! Love you forever!

 

Eli, I could eat this child!

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You get big kisses if you bring him lightening McQueen!IMG_2716

Posing for Terann on Kat’s porch.IMG_2726

Saying goodbye to my sister, Don’t hate us for our beauty…IMG_2724

So far our trip has been great. Seen so many people we love so much. Cried when we have to say goodbye. Met so many babies! Jayson, Corbin, Oxley they are so very sweet and cute! Cannot wait to see them again!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Forgotten treats…

Oh my poor faithful friends, who read on while I drone about my sorrows and hardships…

I forgot to post pictures of my new treasures and treats!

From Ava JoIMG_2648From GinjerIMG_2649  The most fabulous impulse buy ever! IMG_2645Amie made me buy it!IMG_2647My first Anthropologie purchase, LOVE!my sweaterI won this family tree necklace from a blog!IMG_2651    You can get your very own custom made piece from Kelly Annie. She has a great Etsy site with lots of great things. I have already bought 3 gifts from her, and will do some Christmas shopping too:)

Oh and what the heck, who wants to see my new shoes again?

The Zebra dream!IMG_2642And the ‘Wide Shaft’ boot:) IMG_2644

Monday, October 25, 2010

Fun, Fantastic, and UnFair!

Oh what a few days! It’s been full of excitement and frustration and shoes!

We started off with Meliah having a Halloween party! It was 7 little girls in costumes, they ate scary food, played games, trick or treated and watched a Halloween movie.

The girls eating monster toes and drinking swamp water.IMG_2625Chloe (cat), Riley(minnie mouse) and Allison (Punken Princess)IMG_2626Skeleton fingers IMG_2627Anna the ‘dead’ bride eating her frankenstein. IMG_2628Meliah (Minnie Mouse) and Savannah (Tooth Fairy) IMG_2629  The crewIMG_2632Darth Vader   IMG_2635Soya, I love her, what a mom showing up all decked out! IMG_2636The sugar consumption IMG_2637Then on Saturday, we got to go to a BYU Football Game, where something overcame me… I was  cheering machine, jumping, shouting, it was way to much fun!

We celebrated by going to the Bombay House with our good friends John and Jen. YUM! I had the Chicken Coconut Kurma and Garlic Naan Bread….. We then went to the BYU Creamery where I partook of some Bishop’s Bash…. Oh happy day!

Sunday we went out to the Budge’s house to celebrate Monica’s birthday. Oh how I love Monica! She is such a kind hearted woman, she gives gives and then she gives a little more. I was super excited to make her a cake. I made Strawberries and Cream Cake except in true Heather fashion, made it huge. I used 1 1/2 sheet cakes, doubled the berries, doubled the cream cheese  mixture and covered the entire thing with whip cream. I used 1.5 litres of whipping cream! But it was pretty Yummy!

My Monday day went great, I went to run a couple errands and look for some snow appropriate shoes… Well never found any of that but look what I did find!IMG_2640You know sometimes you just have too… it’s like there is no choice in the matter! And when its BOGO! IMG_2644Seriously they fit my cows, I mean calves! I have been looking for a pair of  “Robust” Boots for years, well apparently that is called wide Shaft… and Shoe Carnival had them for $45!!! All you wide Shaft ladies better run and get some! They are loose even!

And then Monday evening hit, and have I ever mentioned, I sometimes HATE team sports….

So here is my CalebCaleb football

Caleb eats sleeps and breathes a love for football. He will play in heat, snow, rain and mud without complaint. You want to see him light up, talk about football. Caleb has been at practice every single day since April. 3-6 pm during the school year, 6am-9am in the summer, 1 week of camp and 2 weeks of double practices. Caleb was told by the head coach of the school that if you want to play your always at football.

So then tell me why, he gets 1 –3 plays a game (for non football fans, that may add up to 45 seconds per game). We talked to to the coach,  Caleb talked to the coach. They admitted that he was getting missed.  And what happens…. diddly squat. Instead of Caleb and other boys who have been there everyday playing, the boys club boys (who have missed practice after practice, even weeks sometimes) get to play the entire game while he and the other boys not in the club watch.

I mean it is freshmen Football! And already these 14 year old boys who come from a ‘Football Line’ get treated superior, whether or not they have the skill to back up the title. I had no idea that we would see politics already.

That my friends is heart breaking for a mother. To see your son losing passion, to see him standing shivering on the sidelines of a game after 6 months of 110% dedication.  To see your son learning that it isn’t always your dedication and your heart that gets you what you want, but who you know

I mean I get that the best players will play more, but at this level, this is where they get experience. This is where they all should play.  Even when the 1st string botches the game, they still stay in, I mean come on, isn’t that what a 2nd string is for, to fill in when the 1st isn’t performing?

This is where they are taught dedication. But instead we now have a several freshmen who think they can act however they want with no consequences, they never learned dedication for the sport or perseverance or team sportsmanship.

Caleb, who has won Most Sportsmanlike and Captain’s Choice for his dedication on his other team, has learned life isn’t fair… He has watched these favoured boys ruin practices, be disrespectful to coaches and team mates, and that there is nothing he can do about it.  And I was not ready for him to get that lesson.

My husband thinks I am insane and need to relax, but I feel terrible that bad coaching decisions has changed the attitude of these young men, jaded them already. Such a shame. How I wish I could have asked them to get there heads out of their rears… but I thought that might be inappropriate. In fact the only reason I can blog about it, is because I know my kids would rather do anything than read my blogs!

Now, disclaimer, I know coaching is a taxing thing and without coaches we wouldn’t have teams. And Caleb’s coaches are not terrible people, in fact I am sure they are wonderful men, but it wasn’t the benched kids who missed practices and goofed off at practices and decided they were better than the other kids, it was the coaches that made that choice, and announced it loud and clear by favouring those very kids who were breaking down the team…

Growing up sucks sometimes!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Sister’s nothing trumps a sister!

I just got back from a trip to Canada, I spent 10 days with my baby sister while she entered a new phase in life. MOTHERHOOD!

Let me tell you about my little sister, Amie. Amie is an addictions Councilor, she loves to make lists and she loves her chickens. Her and her husband have a hobby farm and currently have laying hens. In fact one lives in the house… EWWWWW is right, it’s name is bubbles and has a crooked neck and poops, a lot!  Amie is VERY easy going and kind hearted. She is generous and loving. Amie is not just my baby sister she is a friend and I truly love her.

When I arrived she was 4 days over due, so she set out to teach me something's I might need to know. Like how to put chickens to bed.IMG_2510We ate at some of my favourite restaurants that we don’t have in the states.

  • Boston Philly Cheese Steak
  • Thai Chicken Bites
  • Artichoke Spinach Dip from Kelsey’s
  • Gramma Lambe’s Cherry Pie

I forced her to nest, we cleaned her front room and bathroom, washed all the floors and got the nursery ready. I made Ganache and strawberry cheesecake for her.

It was fun, I read 4 books (The Host I read 1 1/2 times, loved it) and relaxed.

Friday they gave her gel to induce her. Twice. No go.

Saturday I took Amie to the hospital at 9:00 am and they put her on the drip. That worked. IMG_2511  Someone was a little to chipper… So she thought she would practice being in hard labour… Yeah incase you didn’t notice, our family is hilarious!IMG_2513But then it did hurt…  IMG_2515But she just couldn’t contain her excitement! IMG_2516 This is Rich, he is able to contain his excitement a little better.IMG_2517 Can you beg for an epidural? They give you a stylish new hat!IMG_2518   This is Danielle, she thought she would help Amie out. Luckily we seen the sign that forbids anyone doing examination besides the hospital staff… Darn! Oh can you tell the epidural workedIMG_2520This is Amie getting ready to push the baby out… IMG_2521   Can you tell what has happened by that smile?IMG_2522Ava Jo is here!IMG_2524 So much for the guy who could contain his excitement!IMG_2525  Here she is!IMG_2527I do have to say, it was beautiful to see Ava Jo’s arrival, and the feeling in the room while mommy and daddy finally held what they had waited so long for… WHO they had waited for!        IMG_2535  8lbs 1 ozIMG_2537Hey nurse hands off!  IMG_2538At least Aunty Heather is close! IMG_2539haaaa not so bad! IMG_2540  Daddy gets to hold his little girl!IMG_2542     Ava Jo Beatrice FosterIMG_2547Nana and Grand dad come to visit!IMG_2556 Oh how Nana (Jo) loves you Ava Jo!IMG_2557 Granddad is smitten!IMG_2561 Aunt Danielle crying with Ava JOY!IMG_2581 IMG_2595 IMG_2598 IMG_2604 IMG_2607 IMG_2608 IMG_2609

The cute little family!

I have to say my trip was a bundle of emotions. I missed my family so much it hurt my heart. I was so happy to be with Amie during this special time it warmed my heart. And I felt so grateful to so many people!

  • Shane for working so hard so I could come! Taking care of 4 kids with no help is HARD work! Plus the financial aspect of it! Thanks babe, I really appreciate it!
  • Danielle for being my sisters sister! I have to admit being so far away from your baby sister sucks, so it makes me feel happy that she has someone so close to take care of her…
  • Sandy for being her other mother, who doesn’t need one of those! Sandy is a co-worker who always makes sure Amie was doing what she needed to and has a free offer of help when it come to Ava Jo.
  • Rich, for loving my sister so much! I had no idea how cute and in love you two are! Keep it up!

Love you baby sister!

I still don’t like you Bubbles!