rather overdue news

It has been a busy month since the last post. Samara was in the Music Festival at the beginning of the month. She played the Can Can ... with distinction! It was a positive experience for her and she is excited for next year already.

Samara, Keithan and Rhett finished off the skating year with a carnival. Rhett was dressed as a hockey player for The Good Old Hockey game song. Keithan was dressed for the 60's era for At the Hop. Samara was dressed in a "ball gown" for the Titanic theme song. I didn't take many photos ... just videos unfortunately and I don't seem to be able to load them. The one photo shows Keithan receiving his medal for being a Canskate Champion ... we're not sure why or how he was chosen! Samara felt a little dejected and I reminded her we have to be happy for Keithan. He agreed, stating that he was sure happy he got it!!

Samara and Keithan also had parent teacher interviews, or rather showed me their portfolios! It seems to me that they both received good reports!

On a sadder note, we went home for Grandpa Woods' funeral the last weekend in March. It was nice to be there. All of the cousins, except Jarvis, were there. Grandpa will be missed but remembered for the good grandpa he was. 87 years is a good long life, but still seems short when it is time to let go and say goodbye.

Not too long ago we hosted the Winter Games in our fair city. We watched some hockey, speed skating, badminton and synchronized swimming. The synchronized swimming was special as we had some family participating, and their team won silver. It was an impressive performance. Wish I could post the video, but it is too large. We all had a feel of the jelly hair! We enjoyed having Emily and Hannah's parents and pet guinea pig stay with us. It was all over too quickly!

our winter get-a-way

Well, we didn't exactly get away, but it was a break from the usual! Felt a bit like a cruise (a really short one) if you stretched your imagination! We stayed at the West Edmonton Mall and took in Galaxy Land, the sea lion show, mini golf ... and a little shopping. The kids preferred the tame rides. Bumper cars was the favorite. I'm hoping they get a little more adventurous in the future. Rhett would have went on some "scarier" rides but he was too short! He was the only one who would go on the ship ride. I convinced Samara to try the swing ... and she survived!! I went for a round on the big roller coaster, but it wasn't as great as I remembered!! It felt like a really bad chiro treatment the way it whips your neck around!

60th anniversary event for grandpa and grandma

I'm a little delayed in posting a few photos of Grandpa and Grandma's 60th celebration in January. The trip there and back seems to get longer, but it was fun to be home for a bit. They had a good day with some more good memories to add to the last 60 years! Another memory ... and a photo to prove it ... is that Phil also came "home' with me! I think that's the third visit since we've been married; maybe a sign we won't make 60 years!! Joking!! He is coming back home for the family reunion this summer so that is record breaking news!

Baby Grady is Two

On Friday Grady turned 2 so we had to have a little party ... with Cody who's birthday is also on the same day. I was happy with how the truck cake turned out in the end, even though I cheated in the decorating (made stripes instead of stars). Even at that it took a while to finish and then I was rushing around trying to get everything else ready for the party! Oh well, Grady liked it! We should have taken a group photo after the cake, as everyone had blue/black teeth and lips by the end of it!! Avegail bought Grady a singing Elmo balloon, which he loved, but it had no off switch of course. You barely had to touch it and it would sing Happy Birthday loud and clear. For everyone's sanity it had to be put away for awhile! Thankfully the battery is dying already! Other gifts for the birthday boy: John Deere front end loader, Lightening McQueen Lego, books, Woody Woodpecker stuffed animal, a new outfit, a new coloring book (his favorite activity besides trucks) and some shake and go trucks.

january fun!

This week I went to visit my old friend Leah ... who was visiting her sister nearby. It was a quick trip with Grady and Rhett while Samara and Keithan were at school. Rhett was the chief photographer, so thought I would share these. He should have had a little training first! Needless to say I have a few random shots of Alayne's condo (which is very nice I must say)! Alayne has 2 cats, so it was difficult to get Grady to cooperate for a photo. I even tried holding a cat, but then he wouldn't stand still anyway! We tried to enjoy a McD's lunch and then enjoyed a round of Canasta! I'm very glad I hadn't heard of that game while I was living with Leah when we were going to university!! I would have had even less time to study!

Bringing in 2010

We didn't exactly bring the new year in with a bang, but we had fun all the same. We enjoyed supper and games with Corri and then spent New Years day with some extended family in Edmonton. We slept in this morning, so it has been a good start so far!