Off They Go

The sad day had arrived. A few weeks ago we moved the girls up to school.  They had spent the month before, packing up all their stuff.  Leah took a lot longer than Cora to pack.  She gets distracted easily and had a lot of friends to see before she left.  Also Cora's stuff was mostly still in boxes from before her mission. We fit in as much water skiing and family times as we could as well as, as many hikes as we could.  

Dave was able to borrow a trailer from work.  One of the perks of his employment.  Leah had wanted to go a little earlier, she is nervous about looking for work.  Especially with all the Covid and not knowing what is open and hiring.  But I told them to stay for Blake's birthday.  It would most likely be the last one with everyone at home. Tuesday Leah had a photo shoot with her friends and then went to hangout with Dawson and say goodbye.  Thursday they got the final packing done and everything into the living room, ready for when Dave got home.

Friday we took off fairly early.  We had a lot to do.  We arrived, got unloaded, and mostly things arranged.  When Leah had texted her roommate letting her know what time we would be there to get a key, we found out there was a miscommunication.  There was a girl living in the basement.  She had sublet it and thought she had it till end of August, Leah had told another girl that they were coming in on the 14th and all three had paid August rent. Nobody's fault really just not a great situation.  So some of the other girls stuff is still there, but she did find a place to crash for two weeks. We couldn't fully arrange the girl's room with her stuff there, we did our best then took a trip to Ikea to get a desk and nightstand for Leah. She was hoping to get the same one we got Cora a few years ago and it was still available.

We love setting up Ikea furniture.  It is fun how easy it is.  After the girls did some more unpacking, we went for dinner at Seoul Fried Chicken.  Hola was it good. Cora had recommended a few little places that she had found last time she was up.  Less then what we would have spent on fast food and sooooo much better.  We did feel a little barbaric however.  You can't sit down, it was only take out.  Dave found us a wide window sill from a business around the corner and we all just ate out of the boxes.  Very worth it.  Dave said it will become a regular when we visit the girls. Saturday they girls came to the hotel to pick us up.  We wanted to leave the truck hooked up to the trailer.  I was slightly paranoid about it getting stolen. Morgan had got a flat tire on the way up.  We were only one hour into our journey the day before when we felt it.  Now we know they know how to change a tire for sure at least.  Seriously! We finished the trip on the spare.  Dave had gone to a few places Friday looking for a tire and nobody had one.  He was getting a little worried about what he was going to do.  Saturday before the girls got there he had called around to places and found one.  We dropped off the tire, went to Canadian Tire to buy bulbs for the car lights, got groceries to stock them up a bit more.  I had sent up chicken pot pies, hamburger, bread and chicken all frozen.  Potatoes, peas, and green beans from the garden.  Homemade yogurt and lots of spices.  So they didn't need tons. None of our kids had ever eaten at Peter's Drive In.  They have recently opened one up there so we took them for lunch. Dave and I have never been a big fan, milkshakes are good, but not burger patties.  It is an experience tho and we thought they should at least eat there once.  After lunch we headed back to the Cora and Leah's new place.  They unpacked, Dave and Blake went to pick up tire, Dave decided to rotate the tires while he was at it. It was getting late and it was time for dinner.  In January when Leah decided she didn't want to go to her grad, we said we would do a fancy dinner somewhere instead.  Then of course the world fell apart and nobody was going out to eat. We did a combined celebration dinner at Boston Pizza.  Leah grad, Blake grad, Cora returned, girls moving.  Lastly Cora wanted Blake to see this place called the edge of the world.

It was really neat.  Hung out over the river and we could see forever.  It was time to have them drop us back off.  We would be leaving early Sunday morning as the girls went to church.  Dave gave them each a father's blessing in the hotel and many hugs later. I think that is when it hit Leah and Blake that life was changing.  It was a little sad.  He is sure going to miss having his sisters around.

It is an adjustment for Leah.  She had a great friend group, especially the last 6ish months. And she is starting over.  She is looking for a job and really stressed about that, and nervous to start school.  Cora was really nervous about everything. Driving, what it was going to be like to see friends again, getting a job and school.  Her and Leah have gone to many parties already and she has seen lots of old friends. Driving she is getting more confident. Getting used to the right side of the road again :) and she has already found a job.  They start school on the 8th and I hope it goes well for them. Please pray for Leah to find a job soon.  I really miss them and their stories and fun bubbly sense of humors.  I am glad they have each other and Maycie is up there as well.  Good luck to my beautiful girls.  Your whole life is ahead of you and I can't wait to see what you do with it.  Proud of both of you and love you tons. 

Happy 15th

Blake had a great birthday.  He had given me a birthday list when I requested one a few months ago.  Top on his list was a Nintendo Switch.  Although he kept telling me it was other things.  But I knew. He had wanted one last year and almost sold his xbox to put some money towards it, but then last minute decided to keep it and just save longer.  We don't usually buy big gifts like that for birthdays, so Blake knew he wasn't getting one.  He made up a chart and was putting 15 percent of each of his paychecks towards it.  For his birthday he just asked that we donate some money for it.  Then he asked for lemonade, a game, a new cube, and because he thought he was funny a pegasus.  Among other things.  Every grocery trip he would ask if we had got his Switch yet.  Then he would smile and see how close he was to earning one.  He had also been checking online and in store every time he went to town.  They have been backordered for months. About mid July Dave and I were talking about how hard Blake works willingly and what a great kid he is. He said, "you know we don't pay him anything for all he does,  I think we should buy him the Switch" So we started looking.  We put our name on waiting lists and called several places. Nothing.  Every time was asked where we were on the list they said they didn't know where list was but take our names again.  At this point we were pretty sure there really was no waiting list.  I finally asked when the next shipment was for us to try back.  It was Aug 12.  His birthday.  I was told to call at 11:30 and they would let me know if one had come in.  I couldn't run to town that day, so I called.  Well a voice recording said that they were not taking calls anymore.  Great.  Dave left work to go check.  Sadly he texted me and said Best Buy was not a go.  :(  I made up a card for Blake and explained that we wanted to buy it for him as soon as one came in.  He requested Grandma P's sour cream enchiladas for dinner and a rubik cube cake.  Dave was trying to get off work early so we could go boating.  I had been working on his cake when Blake left for work.  He was concerned about how small it was going to be and kept bugging me about it.  I told him to trust me, don't worry about it and go to work.  Later I received this text from him which made me laugh. 

Dave let me know that he would not be able to leave when planned.  Dinner had a few more minutes before it was ready when he did get home so we opened presents first.  He got the cube he wanted and his standard lemonade.  As we set the table and got ready to eat, Dave went out to the car to get his lunch box and the paper he bought for me that day.  In he casual walks with a Nintendo Switch.  It tooks us all a second to realize what he had.  Blake was so excited and surprised.  He said he had gone to Best Buy and they told him truck was late.  He went back and hour later and it had arrived, but not unloaded.  Again an hour later he went back.  He just kept going till finally I guess he bugged them enough that they check the truck and had 11 Switches on it.  He said he would be back again and instead they text him and said they had one at the checkout for him.  He was determined to not leave town without it.  He surprised us all.  We then did quick cake and picked up grandma and out to the lake.

It was a bit to windy and cold.  We dropped at a beach for a while and it calmed down enough to have a good ski.  Still a tad chilly, but it was the girls' last night and Cora made the most of it.

 We had a great evening together.  Blake really is a fun kid.  He has grown up a lot this last year. And we have enjoyed the extra time we have gotten as everyone was home from school and seminary these last few months.  It has been fun to have him pass sacrament in our home and see his relationship with his sisters grow.  He is really going to miss them.  Happy 15th birthday Blakester.  So glad you are ours and we get to spend eternity with you. 

Fitting in as much as we can:)

We are packing in as much as we can during the few shorts weeks that we are all together.  We are taking the boat out every Friday morning.  Blake learned to slalom last time and loves it.  Cora got up on the wakeboard.  She had tried before moving to Edmonton, but wasn't quite there.  The other day she went longboarding with Leah and realized that she longboards with the opposite foot as most people.  Dave switched the boots around on the wake board and she got right up and went for a ride.

Also lots of skiing and tubing.  Picnics on the boat and in the field.  Cora had wanted to go raking, but she was still in quarantine when we got done. Leah has been out with friends as much as she can.  Both girls are packing boxes and sorting out their room.  They have started the online job hunt and seeing what is out there.  All prayers on job search would be appreciated. We have tried to keep them busy with garden, yard and farm work.  Blake works most day and then comes home and helps us.  A few weeks back Dave was going to check the cows water and asked who was coming with him.  I hadn't been for a while but was in the middle of making chicken pot pies to freeze. Cora and Blake said they would finish for me.  I came back to beautiful pies.  Much better than I would have done.

We got a hike in last Saturday.  We did Junction Falls a few years ago without Cora and had wanted to go again with her.  It is a beautiful hike.  Perfect for me as not much elevation.  Long, 15 km and you start by crossing a freezing cold river.

At the end you get to jump in to the same freezing cold water, but totally worth is.  It was going to be a hot day, so we started at 5 to beat the heat.  Packed lots of great snacks and had Subway on the way home.  Cora loved it.  Leah was pretty tired and sore as she had hiked Bear's Hump the day before.  She had wanted to do a sunrise hike with her friends.  They got up at 2:30 to make it to Waterton and up the mountain before the sun rose.

One Sunday we had all the Puzey's over to see Cora.  Everyone brought snacks and it was a nice time.  Then the next Sunday we had the Smith's and Myrna.  Levi and Cora gave fabulous talks.  Cora did a sort of homecoming and Levi is leaving this week to go on his mission so it was sort of a farewell also.  It was a fun day.

The YSA's have opened back up, so Cora and Leah have been attending.  There is a procedure to get into church and they have to wear masks, but everyone takes them off and hangs out in the parking lot after anyways.  They have enjoyed going, being back at church.  Cora had some fun days hanging out with Maycie before she moved. Blake has been doing all he can to be with his sisters before they go.  He has got a very quick funny sense of humor and he makes them laugh quite often.  So work, packing, picking course, updating resumes, job searching, saying goodbye to friends and fitting in as much family time as possible is what the girls are doing.  10 days until they move. So excited for this next chapter for them, very sad for me. I have loved having all my kids in the same house together.  Life moves on.