january 2018
What a fun month!
January we traveled with my family to Florida! We did Disney for 4 days and Universal Studios for 1 day. The beach and a Rocket Launch in McDonalds Parking lot. Grandma fell into the pool- Kalia and Annaliesse loved the adult rides. So many great memories, the kids love reading the Jan-June Blog Book. We got home, the three older kids all got right back into sports. Annaliesse tried Water Polo, Kalia and Barker played Basketball. Justin took the older three skiing a couple times, while Remy was sick for about 2 weeks, So sick, Her little body was exhausted.
february 2018
The shortest month of the year, packed with lots!
This month we skied- ALOT. Reading week we skied three times, almost everyone other day. Once with Moxley's, once with Bennetts and once by ourselves. Why so much? Justin was down in SAB working on Grandma Chipman's basement- which had its own challenges. Grandma Selman celebrated her 100th Birthday! All of her posterity was able to make the trip up to Canada to support her- it was a lovely weekend with lots of family to catch up with. We moved around our basement to build Kalia her own room, moving the craft room was a bit of a gong show- but all good.And to top it all off, we were on a game playing streak!
march 2018
Marches Theme: Crafting, Skiing, Sewing Repeat
The month was packed with Crafts! Craft night, Justin working on Kalia's new room, the kids loved the poster colouring sheets, and I started on a couple new quits. It snowed a ton, so we skied lots and the kids even ended up with a snow day!! We hiked Grottos Canyon with the Moxley's- it was so much fun, we have plans of doing it again in 2019. We played A TON of games- winter months are best suited for sitting around the kitchen table trying to win!
april 2018
What the adventure April was. Kalia learned a hard lesson in Gossiping, Barker got lost in Costco (on Easter Weekend), Annaliesse hated the fact that we got Science Centre passes, and Remy got quite sick, again. We celebrated Easter week, doing our best to remember what it is really about, with my family and with Justins family. The snow left, but we managed to ski one more time this season with Grandpa! Remy learned how to ride a 2 wheeler and we had our first fire pit FHE with no snow. We played a ton of games- Mommy and Daddy went on a date night and bought WAAY too many new ones to play. Mommy attended TOFW as the High River Rep and put on a Prom Dress Fashion show for the YW. Phew!
may 2018
Sports, Sports, Sports.
Lacrosse, soccer repeat. All month.
We did manage to hike Barrier Lake, and do the Luge, plant a garden, hold a lemonade stand and do some backyard landscaping. Kalia had a massive bike crash, and Mommy chaperoned a field trip for each child! Barker turned 7 and learned to tie his shoes. Mommy had her Spring end Concert with the Philharmonic Chorus and the HRCC had their year end! Annaliesse was LOVING her tinker crate that comes every month. Uncle Mark and Aunt Lindsay moved into High River. Daddy was super busy with work again and Remy turned into a little soccer star!
june 2018
Sports came to an end! Kalia's soccer team won silver and Barkers team was almost undefeated.
We took the kids to the climbing wall and had a blast. One of our many afternoon bike rides, and one adventure turned when Kalia, Remy and Annaliesse fell in the creek. Annaliesse got chosen to audition for Heartland- she didn't make the second cut- but had great fun learning her lines and going for the audition. Justin and Barker loved doing Lacrosse together- with Justin as the assistant coach. Kalia graduated elementary and is off to middle school! Our baby graduated preschool and Barker got through Grade One by the skin of his teeth. Mommy sewed every spare second.
july 2018
Summer!
No big trips this year, but lots of memories none the less. We tubed down the river a few times with month- enjoying every minute every time. Lots of family time, whether it be at the beach, the river, the spray park, bike riding or a football game! YW camp for Mommy and a camp trip to Raymond for July 01 weekend and a camping trip with the Moxley's at Park Lake. I bribed the kids to read- and paid handsomely for it- so did Grandma Chipman who was quick to jump on the bandwagon. Skatepark trips and Pizza Parties with a movie. Board games, of course and Grandpas famous statement "Animation 1" Swimming trip in Raymond, and Ward Camp with Handcart. Lip blam making, friendship bracelets, all the kids for a dentist trip and DP challenges. Not to mention Nanton Air Museum and the Science centre a few times.
august 2018
In years past August always seemed to be slower than July- except this year. We did Whitefish this month, and had an interesting time at Echo Lake, but really enjoyed the ride back through Logans Pass. It was Justins first time and the kids too- we loved it- only one melt down- which resulted in one of our fav pics from the summer. A bike ride from Canmore to Banff with the Moxley's- we didn't see much because of the smoke-so we will half to do it again! A cousins camp trip at Park Lake with my Martin Cousins- with a stop at Aunt Shaunas on the way, my kids LOVE playing at Cliftons. A couple Zoo trips under our belt, and another Nanton trip. A rafting trip down Bow River with the Moxley's was soooo fun. A Giant Rock hit the vans windshield on the way to the Royal Terryl Museum more playtime at Aunt Karla's, a few more Raymond trips, creek trips and lots of trampoline time with the sprinkler.
september 2018
Back to normalcy- kicking and screaming.
School started back with Grade 6, Grade 5, Grade 2 and Kindergarten. Junior High transition was NOT a walk in the park. The ward Corn bust was a success and the Food Drive was busy but delightful as always. High River Children's Choir Started up again, and the Hot Air Balloon Festival was lovely. The YW got to volunteer at the balloon festival- it was so fun. Everyone banded together to help mom when she wanted to pickle beets AND hang drapes. Of course piano lessons, Basketball for Barker, Flag Football for Annaliesse and Volleyball for Kalia! Granary Road for Remy and Mommy with Bennetts AND new stools that Mommy adores. A black eye for Remy and Quilting day for Mommy. Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Mark and Aunt Lindsay took the kids to Six Bar. To top it all off some frustrating appointments trying to fix our windscreen in the van.
october 2018
Another trip?!?! WHAT?
Mommy and Daddy ended up in Guatemala this month. So many different factors went into play for this- broken tooth, anniversary, aunts and uncles and emails from Grandpa. We had a blast- and can't wait to go back someday. We harvested our garden- it was a sad sad harvest- I do NOT have a green thumb. Another big Craft Night and Mom did some more sewing. Mommy broke and replaced Kalia's winter coat in one day, and the kids were in a Homemade Buns mood- I swear I make over 30 doz this month. Thanksgiving with both families while we counted our blessings during the month with a Thanksgiving Tree. The big News from General Conference we heard with family. Mark and Lindsay had baby Lena! Of course Pumpkins for Halloween and a great night Trick or Treating with Cousin Arlie.
November 2018
Decorated for Christmas 59 days before and we all loved it. Got in one day of sledding in before it seem like the snow vanished- but we got the kids ready for skiing none the less. Kalia learned how to make bread and the kids met Leena! Remy and Ray took over Chinatown for a day and we had the funnest time shooting Grandma and Grandpa with a toilet paper gun! Justin made Christmas Tree shelves for Craft Group and Mommy started another quilt. Justin started a new Job with Gemstone for Nov- Dec, he was super busy and enjoyed it. Remy started her home reading and we all helped Grandma and Grandpa decorate for Christmas. Lots of Christmas baking to stay on top of things. 2 Family dinners with Moxley's- made for lots of Cousin time.
December 2018
A lovely Christmas season- so many Christmas Concerts and weekend plans. Service with the family and trips into the city to see cousins. Justin and I were able to achieve our goal of attending the temple every month this year- thanks to Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Laura for Babysitting. Santa visits and Family pictures for Chipman's open house, the float in the High River Santa parade, crafts with the kids and craft group. Skating and the live nativity, along with sickness raging through our house and matching pj's made by Grandma. We had a marvellous Christmas Day and a great week to end 2018.
2018 was an amazing year for us- we are so blessed. Family time is so important to us and as I look back on our memories of this year, our children are so lucky to have family around!
