Delish Cow

We had a cow that needed to be put down.  Amber and Jared took it in to get slaughtered, then Dave picked up the meat last week.  Sunday we tried a roast.  We got three meals out of it and it was so delicious. The cow as not very big and the steaks we got are small.  Yesterday I took out 3 pkgs of T-bone steak to thaw. When I got home from work Dave was BBQing them. He had made mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn also.  It was really good.  Very tender and flavorful.  I told Dave that he and his brother are good ranchers, that was some excellent steak.  It was fun to have some of our own beef again.

YW and Excellence

Cora had her YW in Excellence yesterday.  It was a bit more of a rush then usual on a Tuesday as we had to change and get there early for her to set up her display.  They got out of piano 10 minutes late, good thing I had put dinner in the oven, emptied the dishwasher, and set the table before we left.  We were 5 minutes late as it was.  For Cora's project this year she choice Individual Worth. She decided to share her talents with her brother and taught him some piano.  They had some frustrating moments and some really fun moments.  Cora and Blake were so excited for him to perform one of the songs that he had worked so hard on.  For some reason the YW decided that they were not going to have any performances this year.  We aren't sure why???  Apparently another girl had done a ballet routine.  She is amazing and I would have loved to watch that. So Cora just took her piano book that she had worked out of and a statue of a girl playing the piano that my mom gave me years ago.  Besides that little disappointment it was a great night.  It was fun to see the other girls projects and they had angel food cake with raspberries and whipped cream.  Cora's favorite.  I was also glad that everyone dressed up this year.  Last year most of the girls and even the leaders showed up in jeans.  It continues to amazes me that people where jeans to Christmas parties, RS parties, special YW nights and so on.  Cora is doing great on her Personal Progress.  We have even had her slow down a bit.  I don't think it would be fun to be done to early, even though I know you can do it over again if want.  Blake came home and played his song for us here.

Dr. Tawney

When Dave was growing up when ever some one got sick or hurt they would go see Dr. Tawney. (Dave didn't know how I should spell that.  He thought it was like tonic since that is what you get from Dr.'s, but I spelt it like it sounded so you could pronounce it.)  He says that the only went to the Dr. the first time he broke his collar bone and once when his parents where on vacation.

So like father like son this is what Dave has always said to our kids.  Let Dr. Tawney look at it.  Dr. Tawney can fix it.

I love that a little bit of people live on in others after they have passed on.  When Dave does anything that I remember his dad doing it just makes me smile.

We had a very loooooong day yesterday dipping chocolates. Amber made some awesome potato soup. We were very late but made some notes about how to speed it up next year.

It was fun to be all together.

Exhausted

We have defiantly got into a busies phase of live.  I honestly have no idea why people would looked at me with 3 little kids and said 'oh you must be busy' that was a breeze. I can look at Nicole and Makita and see the future. That is about where I will be in 4 years.  Leah has just finished up volleyball.  She did really well.  Soon she will be heading into basketball herself.  Cora did start basketball yesterday and she is loving it already.  The kids filled their Caught Bein' Good Jar and decided as a reward they wanted to go swimming for FHE.  With all of that this is how Cora's day stacked up yesterday.  She got up early and worked on an English assignment, then off to school.  During school they ran for gym, played volleyball for inter-murals, had 30 min fitness in Health class.  After school she had a 1 1/2 hour basketball practice.  We picked her straight up and went to Boston Pizza for dinner and swam for another 1 1/2 hours.  She was extremely exhausted.  Tuesday is piano and YW, Wednesday is basketball practice and gymnastics.  Thursdays are games.  These are the choices we have made and I am not complaining at all. Just stating the facts. But if you have us over and Cora falls asleep in the soup we will just wipe her face and put a blanket over her:)  And next year we start early morning seminar. Oh my!!!!

Pinterest Success

I don't use Pinterest as much as I first did, but there are still a lot of great stuff on there.  House ideas and recipes are my favorite.  I thought I would blog about a few of my latest favorites that have turned out.  My wish list ribbon, patterns for Leah's Christmas gift, blackened chicken with avocado cilantro quinoa, the Halloween decoration I made,just to name a few.

An easy way to make a gift unique and cute.

That you can chop and freeze green onions. I now do this ALL the time.

Root beer pudding cookies.  These were amazing and are a keeper for sure.

Homemade hot cocoa powder.  I have played with the original recipe a lot and think it is almost perfected.  Just keeps getting better and better.

There is now a lot of crap on Pinterest but there are good ideas also.  So happy pinning.

Snowmen

We seem to have a small window where we live to build snowmen.  It is either to cold and the snow does not stick, or we are getting a chinook and as soon as you build one it is already melting.  A few days again Dave came in and told the kids it was perfect snow man building weather.  They were out of the house so fast.  Blake got out first and this is his snow man.

Cora and Leah's was so big they couldn't get it to stand up.  They decided it was a sleeping snowman. Both creations are still out in the yard, days later.  A rarity.

UPDATE:  After talking to her friend, Cora has decided to play basketball.  I promise I didn't say anything.  She will see on Monday if the coaches will still let her.  We found some really awesome shoes at the 'Jones Store'.  They must have been Justin's.  Thanks again Makita.  (I saw you labelled one of the boxes the Jones Store the other day.  Totally made me laugh. Now it is official. Did Natalie tell you what Colton calls it?)

I was just at the school paying some choir fees.  As I got talking to some of the teacher they were asking me why Leah couldn't do this and that.  Come to find out if she didn't want to do something at school she has been telling everyone that I wouldn't let her. Nice!!!  On the other had we did have a chat with the girls the other day.  I told them the same thing my parents told me.  I will always be your excuse, if you need an out with friend or a situation.  Getting out of choir and other school events was not what I had in mind.  Another backfire.  Leah and I will be having a little chat after school today.

:(

Cora decided that she is not going to play basketball for sure today.  I always thought that with all her friends playing she would ended playing also.  I never really thought she wouldn't.  I also didn't think I would be this upset about it.  I am trying to be the supportive mom, let her make her own choices.  I even put her in gymnastics again.  But it is hard to understand how something can be so important to me and she has no interest. I think a little tiny piece of me died inside when she said she was not staying after school for practice today.  All I could do was nod OK and walk out of the room.  Now I am feeling very sklunklish. (2 points for anyone that can tell me what movie that is from) On a happy note, Leah and I saw the Northern Lights going to the church last night.  Very cool. They were beautiful.

Sublime Weekend

Thursday Dave called from work and said he was thinking of taking Friday off.  This started a great weekend.  I had to work all day Friday and the kids where out of school.  I was a little worried about leaving them that long.  So when Dave took it off it was perfect.  We got the most amazing beautiful snow.  We spent Friday morning shoveling sidewalks and driveways. This took a long time. Then I went off to work. Dave got done a number of little projects that had piled up around here.  The kids really enjoyed spending all day with dad.  That hasn't happened in a really long time.  The days that we don't have to get up early the kids always end up on our bed in the morning chatting with us.  They slowly drift in one at a time.  I enjoy this time with the family, being lazy and telling stories.  We started talking about how we took our kids everywhere with us when they were little.  Literally.  If kids couldn't come, we didn't go.  Dave was even telling them how frustrating it was for him to take me out.  I wouldn't do dinner and a movie we had to choose, because I didn't like to leave them that long.  Again not always fun not always easy but how else were they to learn how to act when you did take them out.  We rarely, rarely got a babysitter.  But since Cora has been 12 I have no problem letting them walk home if I'm gone or me running to town quick.  And yes IF Dave and I go out sometimes we even do dinner and a movie now:)  That was totally off topic.  Saturday again we just stayed around home, took our Christmas photos, and spent time together.  Sunday after church we went to Champion to celebrate Myrna's birthday.  That was fun being with everyone.  It is crazy how close we live and how little we see each other, just busy life.  There is no school today and Tuesday as well.  We have more projects and activities to do and have really enjoyed having Dave home.  It really has been months since he has relaxed at home and not felt like he had a huge list of things that needed to be done at home, in Champion, and at work.  It really has been peaceful and wonderful.

Parent/Teacher & Student Led Conferences

We had our first Parent - Teacher Interviews with Cora on Wednesday.  She is doing very well.  Her lowest mark is a 70, which I was very happy about.  Her marks are really improving the last two years.  Blake and Leah had their Student Led Conferences yesterday.  They are both doing really great also.  Blake is reading and writing at a Grade 4 level.  How cool is that!!!! We just got the most beautiful dump of snow.  The kids are out of school today and have been outside for a while already.  Dave and I shoveled the walks, it took forever, and Blake helped us the whole time.  Since I don't have to drive today I am loving it.

Catching Up

Calgary Temple Dedication - I am a little late in posting this, but it was a great experience.  It was late getting started and Leah was getting a little anxious. We loved watching Pres. Monson with the kids.  We got there early and sat down, a couple minute later this family that was sitting behind us needed more room and moved up in front of us.  They are all very tall.  The girls and I could not see anything after that.  I had swapped babysitting with some families but because we started late and have a long drive they just made it for the second session.  I would have liked to have Blake there but know he would not have sat patiently for that long.  I am glad the girls got to go.  Who know if they will get that chance again.  There are so many temple going up and I don't know where they will end up, so you never know.

It's Official - As every one knows, Dave is constantly measuring Cora and I.  Last night when he did he deemed it official.  Cora has surpassed me in height.  No big surprise there:)

Christmas Wish List - We got our wish lists ribbon up Nov. 1st.  The kids have had a great time going through wish books and just idea that they have and putting them up.  They can put up ten items.  If they get something else they want then they have to decide if they are going to take one down or give up the new one.  Leah has written down a Maplelea Doll 5 times.  I think she may really want one.  I can't believe how fast Christmas is coming.

Halloween

Another year of Halloween done.  I made these cookies for Leah's class then the other two wanted some also.  I thought they were cute.

Cora was going to be a scarecrow for Halloween, but we couldn't figure out how she could stuff all her clothes by herself at school.  She decided to wear this witch costume to school.  This is the costume that Leah wore when she was 3.  Cora has always loved it.  It was a dress on Leah. I thought it was pretty funny.

For school Blake was the grim reaper.  We weren't totally happy with his costume and after school I was looking for things to improve it.  That lead to a costume change for everyone at 4 o'clock.  Little crazy.  Leah had dressed up as a person going to a masquerade ball but changed to Holly Hobbie.  She was looking for something warmer.  It was a very cold night.

Sorry about the crappy pictures, Cora's friends showed up 1/2 hour early and were waiting for her.  I felt a little pressure.  My parents brought in Kailey and Levi to trick or treat with my kids.  They never last more than and hour and a half.  They get bored or cold.  This is very fine with me, less candy I have to deal with.

Blake ended up as Sherlock Holmes.  He was very irate when we told him to put a coat on. He was so angry I almost did not let him go trick or treating.  He wanted everyone to see his costume.  You would think the kid has never trick or treated in Canada before.  My parents stayed at my house and handed out the candy.  (And mom brought in her doughnuts for me.  SO GOOD!!)  This worked out great for me.  I got to spend some rare time with Dave.

Cora lost most of her stuffing by the end of the night.  Grandma called her a naked scarecrow.

I won the 'Worst Mother of the Century' Award today.  Leah was sick and throwing up this morning.  I really really needed to get groceries and Blake and Cora had follow-up dental appointments.  For a spacer and sealants resentfully.  The roads were actually good and I didn't want to reschedule and take another day off work.  I left her by herself most of the day.  I did talk to her frequently and maybe if nobody was here nobody will catch it from her???!???  She said she was fine with it, but I still felt pretty awful.  What kind of mother does that.