Rabbit

Last year we had two rabbits that must have made a home right around us.  We saw them regularly and Cora named them Bailey and Higgins.  As rabbits do, they have totally multiplied this year and have become a bit of a problem.  They have eaten all our new baby trees and have started to dig down under the snow and eat our grass.  We kept half joking and saying we needed to shoot them.  The other day Dave was out helping a lady pull her car out of the ditch.  Blake was out playing in the snow when he spotted one.  Usually we see them at dusk or in the night.  He was so excited that he sat on a big snow pile and didn't move for an hour and a half as he waited for Dave to come home so he could shot it.  He was so so cold.  A few minutes later we heard the shot and then Dave came in and said I needed to get a picture of Blake with his rabbit.  Blake had shot it first try.  His patience paid off. 

We quickly ate dinner and then Dave and Blake got to work skinning and cleaning the rabbit.

It took a few hours and it was a lot of work.  And a few youtube videos.  :)  They kept the fur and the meat and gave the rest to Jared's dog.  A few days later we looked up how to cook it and all bravely tasted it.  The rabbit really was not to bad, except my brain could not get past the fact that it was a rabbit.

Blake decided after all that work that he doesn't want to do it again.  But he was so proud of giving our family a meal.  He may shoot one again and not keep it.  He will give it all to the dog.  It was a neat experience for him and I am sure it must fit into his Duty of God somehow. After Dave decided to take Blake on an overnight winter camp.  They just went 3 miles away on Puzey land.  Blake said there were no animals out, but he shot some grass dead.  They had a fabulous time.  Blake built the fires and did lots of manly stuff.  When they got back just after lunch Blake was filled with stories and Dave said it was a good time.  He enjoyed being able to spend that time with Blake.

Grandma is going on a mission....

It was a while ago that Myrna stopped to see us and tell us that she had decided to go on a mission.  We were all so excited for her.  Cora was a little jealous, she is not very patiently waiting till she can go, but still so happy for Grandma.  Myrna started working on her papers and seeing what type of missions were out there for single sisters.  And then she broke her knee.  :(  This set her back about a year.  She was finally healed and ready to sent in the papers.  We waited with anticipation to see where she would be called.  The day came, the letter was opened.  Called to the Montreal, Canada mission.  So exciting, but not leaving for 6 months.  Another long wait.  Myrna decided to use the time to learn some French, among other things.  The much anticipated day of her non-farwell arrived.  Lalainia and Rachel had wanted to put on a meal for their mom, so we all got in and helped with that.  There was a very nice turn out and good food.  As the whole family was there were took advantage of the opportunity and took some family pictures.  We had planned to do so, but got busy with food and clean-up.  No one was left but all the Puzey's and bishop.  When he came to say he was leaving I asked if he would mind taking a few quick pictures for us.  He as very accommodating.  We got a ton of pictures, I think a lot more than Myrna wanted to take.

Myrna had not been feeling well and was a bit anxious about the flight.  When she went to get set apart the Stake President decided to set back her departure date a week so she could get better before she left.  The next week we went down with her to get set apart and the morning after most of us headed off to the airport.  She got all checked in.....

..said good-bye to everyone...

....and off she went. 

Dave and I had decided to stay in the airport till she was on the plane just in case. 

We waited the two hours, Blake starving the whole time because I had left the lunch in the car.  He left us know often how hungry he was.  We got the text that she was on the plane, feeling good and excited.  We downloaded the flight tracker and then headed off.  Too soon it turned out.  The flight was delayed on the tarmac for 2 1/2 hours with mechanical problems.  They ended up deplaning everyone and rescheduling flights.  The first one Myrna could get was Tuesday.  Lalainia came and got her and she stayed up there until her flight.  Tuesday rolled around, on the plane, another 1/2 hour delay and finally she was off.  We were so glad to see that flight land safely in Salt Lake.  Such a long anticipated wait for her to go on this mission.  We have heard that she is loving it so far, long full days, but it is going well.  We are so excited for her and this opportunity and all that she is going to learn and do.  And the service that she is going to give.  What a great example she is to her children and grandchildren.  Looking forward to seeing future Instagram posts and reading her emails.

Stuck in a ditch

Leah had quite the adventure yesterday.  She was supposed to have her last*game.  It was the farthest drive of the season.  Dave had come home just after lunch saying that the roads were awful and that there were semis in the ditch everywhere.  Also my parents, who live close to where the game was to be held, said it was not nice at all.  So I started texting coaches to see if game was still on.  I was told that one coach was very comfortable driving and so they were going to go ahead.  At this point I almost pulled Leah from the game.  I really really did not want her on that bus, but they told me that if condition got bad they would turn around.  Sure enough an hour into the drive I got a text saying they were coming back.  Later I found out that they did not turn around because of road conditions, but because an accident closed the highway.  Otherwise they would have Kept Going!!  Not pleased when I found that out.  I was told that they would drove Leah off at Blake's school so I didn't have to go all the way up to the high school and Leah would text me when they were close.  At 4:45 she said they were 20 mins away.  I had to pick up Blake from archery anyways and decided to just wait in at the school.  Half hour later, Leah still has not shown up.  She called me just after that and said they were still 20 mins away, they were stuck in the ditch.  They were 2 km away from dry roads and a semi came around the corner, hit the ice and jack knifed right at them.  The bus swerved to get out of the way and went into the ditch.  Luckily we had packed Leah a ton of food and she had taken a blanket and a portable charger.  For the next 2 hours we thought about going to get her, but at first they said the school division was sending a bus and that I wasn't allowed to because they were accountable.  Later the other coach said she was my daughter and I could do whatever I want, which is what I thought in the first place.  As we got ready to go Leah said the RCMP was there to pull them out.  Another bus couldn't come because of the highway closer. So again we waited. RCMP could not get them out so finally Dave and I put sand bags in the Tahoe and off we went.  At this time it was 6:15 and it was starting to get dark.  Half way to the bus, Leah text again and said they had just closed the road.  They were not letting anyone else drive by bus, the had had a few close calls with traffic coming around the corner.  We could get 1/2 a km away on both sides of her but couldn't get her.  It was so frustrating to be so close, we could see her and could not get her.  Finally Volker Stevin sanded all around them, dug out the tires, and pulled them out.  As we were sitting at the corner, theydropped Leah off with us and we finally made it back home.  2 1/2 hours those kids sat on the side of the road.  Leah said as everyone's phones started to die they actually had a lot of fun because they started talking and singing together.  We made it home at 7:30, had a late dinner, then I sent a text to youth leaders saying I was sorry but I guess my kids were not going to make it that night.  Just to find out that it was cancelled anyways.  Leah does not have a data plan so we had no idea.  I'm so glad I did not drive back into town before I found out.  It was a long evening.  I was so thankful we were all home and safe together that night.  We read scriptures and went to bed exhausted.
* last away game, my computer won't let me fix that for some reason.

League Champions

Blake's basketball season is over. He really loved playing and is excited for next year.  His team did really well and placed first in their league in the final tournament.  He did not play as much in the last few games.  His feet were really bugging him.  After taking him to a Dr. we know that he has plantar fascitis and is being referred to a podiatrist.  We hope to get it all sorted out before soccer starts.

Blake enjoyed getting to know his teammates and made some friends that he will get to go to high school with.

He is so proud of his medal.  It was a good last game.  He really has an amazing coach.

Congratulations boys!!