Junction Creek

Dave brought home a gift for Blake after passing his license :) 

The night before school started Blake decided maybe it was time to sort through his books from the year before.  I mean really, you wouldn't want to do it to soon right!?! Crazy kid. He sorted out what he needed and grabbed a few things for school the next day.

We had him drive the first day and he really enjoyed that.  Said it was weird, but it really does make a difference to be able to drive to school rather than taking the bus.  He is liking the independence and I am loving having a driver again.

He had a party in town the other night and it was wonderful not having to take him in or go back and get him after.  Dave has started a welding course at his work.  They are still looking for about 20 more people and need welders.  So he has a great guy at work that has taken a lot of his own time to make up a work book and other things and Dave said he is fabulous at teaching others.  It is two Friday's, 9 hours each, that Dave offers to his workers.  As Blake loves to weld, he talked to the guy teaching and snuck his son in.  Blake said it was awesome.  He learned so much and said the other two in the course we really nice.  He will go back next week for the second half.  It is an early morning leaving at 4:30 a.m., but Dave and I get up and go with him, and get groceries as we wait for him.  Went back and ate lunch with him as well.

Leah had a blast in Salt Lake.  She had gotten tickets to a concert she wanted to attend back at the beginning of summer and decided she would worry about how to get there later.  In the end it was best to fly. She got a sweet deal on flight.  All the Covid tests she had to do added up but she said it was worth it.  We had heard some horrible stories before she left and said many many prayers, tracked, her flights and she kept in constant contact with us. Everything went smoothly. She had some nice seatmates and found all her terminals. Kailey picked her up and took care of her for the weekend.  The concert was awesome, she got to meet up with her cousins that she hasn't seen for years, did some shopping, took Uber, went to a party, and had a blast with Kailey.  It was a great experience for her.

For the long weekend I wanted to go for a hike.  I have a few requirements for my hikes.  I want between 10-15 km long, low elevation (cause I am very out of shape, my idea of hiking is more of going for a lovely leisurely stroll through the woods), shaded so I don't get heat stroke, and no bears:).  I had asked Cora if she and Ammon had the day off and wanted to come with us, but they didn't.  We found two possible ones near Pincher from a great book Cannon and Nicole gave us a few years ago.  Then Sunday morning, Cora said they did have it off and we started looking at ones more near them so they wouldn't have to travel so far.  We decided on Upper Kananaskis Lakes.  I was excited to try something new. Monday morning 15 mins before we were supposed to leave, I started feeling very apprehensive about it.  It really just didn't feel right.  I was a bit nervous that when I told Dave he was going to be exasperated with me.  It had been such an ordeal to coordinate and plan with Cora in the first place and we knew they were still sleeping, had only had about 4 hours so they were not going to get text of new plan for a bit. Of course Dave just said, "ok, let's choose a different one"  No need for me to worry at all.  We got a much later start.  Ammon and Cora had to do one last thing for work that took an hour longer than was expected and then we kept forgetting things in their car and had to got back 3 times. But in the end we just did Junction Creek Falls again.  Ammon hadn't been and Cora only once so it was ok. 

It was the weirdest, funniest start to a hike ever.  In the end it was great.  We hiked it faster than usual, they all went up to the third falls as I sat in the beautiful scenery.

It was fun to have them along with us.  And in the end we found out that the hike we had planned to do  was closed for bears.  We couldn't have gone anyways. Glad we didn't drive all the way up there and then not be able to go.

It was a great day, much fun, not to hot, and as much as Ammon thought it funny I was so worried about bears and liked to keep making me think he had seen one, we never did.  I told him that day he was my least favorite son in law. 

Much Behind

We had our Puzey reunion a few weeks ago. It was a nice time.  We had great food, lots of chatting, hanging out, and time just spent together.  Even braved the pool one chillier afternoon.  Emry drove all the teenagers to town for bowling and dinner.  Blake had a great time being with his cousins.  It was nice to have him have other kids around too. Dave went golfing with the boys. And I stayed and hung out with the girls and Jason. Saturday we didn't see everyone much.  I have just been called as a seminary teacher and had some online trainings I needed to watch and Blake had to work.  But we dipped over for a bit.  EQ was in charge of a ward party that night as well.  Dave was busy getting ready for that.  It was very well attended and even though it rained, people seemed to really enjoy it.  When Dave was planning it and they were trying to decided to do potluck salads or what I mentioned that my favorite activities are the ones that we don't have to bring food to.  We can just go and enjoy.  They had already decided they were going to go all out with pork chops, hamburger, smokies, and hotdogs. (Myrna made all the buns) and have corn on the cob.  They all like the idea of keeping it simple and just added watermelon and ice cream.  It was a great night.  All the Puzey's came to the ward party then went home after that.  

Cora and Ammon are in Calgary now.  Having a grand time working in the temple there.  Cora said they had a meeting the other day in the celestial room, with out their shoes on, and it was really cool.   They have been driving back to Edmonton for the weekends and getting to spend time in their own house and attend their own ward. 

Leah brought a group of friend home for the weekend.  I have been wanting my girls to do this since Cora graduated.  They were all really nice kids.  Everyone asked if they could help with everything and they were easy to be with.  We had the boys in the basement and the girls upstairs.  Moved Blake to our room.  They arrived very late Friday night.  Next morning we feed them breakfast and they went hiking.

Back for dinner and then they played games and watched an outdoor movie.

Sunday we had stake conference.  I left food on the counter and said goodbye to those that were up and we left.  They got ready to go and attended a YSA ward in Calgary on their way home. When we got home they had left us a very nice thank you note.  A lot of them had been friends with Cora before her mission, so I had heard lots of names before.  Interesting how Leah is now friends with the same group.  It was nice to put faces to names.  It was fun to have the here. 

Saturday afternoon Blake got to attend a 6 stake youth devotional with Elder Gary E. Stevenson.  They said there were over a 1000 youth in the stake center.  He caught a ride down with Emry.  I am so glad we heard about it in the end, because we almost missed it. Dave had had meeting with him earlier in the day and a few of the seventy.  They were attending our stake conference the next day as well. Both Dave and Blake said their messages were so good.  Both had a Q&A in their meeting that they said was fantastic. Blake also said it was really cool to be with that many youth in a building.

Blake took his drivers test last week and barely got any demerits, but did run a stop sign.  So that was a fail.  He was mad about it.  Later when he took me through the route and showed me the sign it was pretty stupid. The instructor was talking to the lady at the counter and said how Blake had missed the same sign everyone does.  And how it is to bad that no one stops for it.  So as he is showing me the sign I was just shaking my head, it is totally covered by a tree.  You barely see it if you know it's there.  Personally I think it would be a hazard and the town should have the lot owners trim their trees, but anyways.  We went back in today and he passed with flying colors.  He didn't have any demerits. 

He is excited to finish polishing the Jeep and drive to his first day of school tomorrow. So congrats to Blake.  I am so excited to have a driver in the house again.