LAST DAY OF MARCH BREAK

Its a funny title but one I feel is fitting, but mostly funny.
How many other March breaks (since 1918 anyway) lasted almost 6 months?

I Gotta admit I REALLY enjoyed these last few months having my kids around all the time. I mean yes, I had days where I was grumpy and just wanted my space, days my middle children drove me up a wall, days when having a preteen made me wanna tear my hair out and evenings where I missed having a schedule. I think that was normal. The biggest things I want to remember are how close we became. How much laughing happened in the home and how much we grew together.

Today we celebrated our Last day of Summer at Calgary SKYLINE Luge. We had set it up with Jen and her kids on Friday, only for Remy to crash and burn Saturday morning. She woke up with a kink in her neck and things went downhill from there. By Sunday she had a tooth ache, turned out to be her six year old molars coming in, plus the neck ache. It was fever central around here with a miserable human. Sunday she pulled out of it enough for her Birthday dinner at Grandma and Grandpas but Monday morning she woke herself up throwing up.

Lucky for us Grandma was more then willing to have Remy for the day so we could keep our tickets (which we had ordered and pay for already). We dropped Remy off at Gmas to head to the Luge! Stopping for the older kids favourite lunch, Subway. Which by the way- when all my son orders is meat and 1 slice of orange cheese and cucumbers with NOTHING ELSE, for 5, $ its a hard pill to swallow. Luckily I had coupons- so I gave in and we went there.

We flew into the city and through traffic, missing a turn because of all the new construction making it just in time for our appointment.

It was so fun!! Busier then I have ever seen it- as everything is scheduled in blocks, but still a blast.
Jen and kids had never been so the kids were thrilled to be in the know. They raced down the hill, laughed and chattered on the lift and became convinced that one of the men on a poster was Justin. It wasn't, but I will say from far away it totally could have been.

We had plans to scooter around Bowness Park after the Luge, but headed home cause we were worried about Remy. She took a turn for the worse that afternoon. 40 degree fever and a nap in Mommy and Daddy's bed WITH Mommy from 4-6pm. Mommy sleeping too was an accident and I paid for it dearly- took me until after 1am to fall asleep. Daddy got home and woke us up- Remy wouldn't let Mommy leave, so Justin made Burgers for dinner. I managed to sneak out it eat dinner and then went right back to her side where we snuggled until bedtime. Poor Baby.

Joint Sunday Birthday Dinner!

Sunday morning was pretty chill around here, Remy still wasn't feeling well so she hung out in my bed and watched Sleeping Beauty and Moana. Waiting for some Advil to kick in. The big girls enjoyed their last morning of sleeping in. Barker found an iPad and hid in his room- I was OK with it, as iPads were getting put away Sept 01. 

Once we all got moving Kalia made smoothies while I worked on Come Follow Me and Justin napped. As Kalia was cleaning the blender, the kids discovered the bubbles that resulted from copious  amount of dish soap in water. Resulting in 45 minutes of bubble blowing in the kitchen. Kalia and Annaliesse got carried away and started a fist fight at that point. I missed it as I was getting a skirt on, so Justin got to deal with it, just before leaving to Gmas.

We got to Gmas just after 1:30 to play a round of Skull king and Five Crowns before Sacrament and the joint Birthday Sunday Supper of Remy and Arlie. Barker was playing with Remy's bathrobe while we played Skull King and took a ton of Pictures. They are all hilarious and I can't wait to show him all of them in a few years! 😂😂

We ended up playing a bit to long, as everyone started showing up durning the Sacrament- so we finished with Auntie and Uncle. Grandma Moxley, and Aunt Laura and Uncle Miles followed pretty quick behind them!

One of the things Remy wanted for her Birthday was a joint picture of everyone on her Polaroid Film. It was Remy's film in Aunt Lauras camera. We of course did it for her and it turned out so cute. Justin took one with my phone too, so we could have a copy. 

At this point Remy started feeling worse and spent time laying on the couch. We made her request for dinner, Burrito Bowls and she wasn't feeling well enough to eat. Just pick at a little bit then laid back down. Poor Baby. Burrito bowls is a new meal we picked up from Darcy and Lauren and it had quickly become a fav. Its like Haystacks but without the Pineapple and chicken gravy. Instead its usually Pulled Pork, or Ground Beef, with a delightful Coconut Curry sauce. You choose what you want on yours starting with a bed of rice, add your meat, then you can add cucumbers, peppers, onions, chia seeds, sprouts, cheese, chow main noodles, or tomatoes. Top it off with Coconut Curry sauce with is just 2 cans of coconut milk heated on the stove, add about 2 TBSP of curry (to taste) and about 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Guys just try it. You can thank Lauren later. 

So for Arlie we bought this Barbie set from Costco. Remy held it the whole time in the cart. Admiring it and wanting to open it so bad! GMA was wondering what to get Remy and so Annaliesse told her all about Costco- GMA was happy to have an easy idea. So the girls got matching Barbie sets! They were both thrilled.

Lindsay made this darling Birthday Cake. Could it be any cuter?!?! Happy 4th Birthday Arlie and Happy 7th Birthday Remy. We love yoU!

Change of Plans

Mommy had great plans today.

Alone Plans.

Justin was asked to help Jay and Sherilyn build some shelves in their new garage. It was no problem, especially since our kids were going to play together durning the build. 

Until Remy woke up with a sore neck, Her sobbing woke Justin and I up. Poor baby was fevered and so sore. So Justin and Barker were the only ones that left. Alone time gone, instead Remy and I snuggled in bed watching Snow White and Princess Diaries while we waited for the Advil to kick in. 

Then laundry and cleaning... fun eh?

Justin and Barker got home just after noon, having built the shelfs, played with cousins and gotten hair cuts. Justin took over snuggling and I got more done. 

Sherilyn and Jay invited us over for dinner, Remy seemed to be pulling out of it so we went. Had a great visit with everyone, and had an amazing meal by Sherilyn. 

Like I can't wait to make it again type meal. Sad the only pic I got was of the recipe- but priorities people. Priorities. 

Hogg Park!

We have been in High River since Sept 2011. Nine years now. That makes us locals- right? I mean we aren't born and breed like others, and we didn't attend High School here, but at what point does a family become locals? I guess it has something to do with how we spend our time here, our social interests and interest for other people here. I would think we fit in all those points....

Sorry. Got a bit carried away there.

Today we participated in a local gem that we have never heard of, until 3 weeks ago. We went cliff jumping at Hogg Park. Now yes, I have heard of Hogg Park but just in passing. Not "Hey wanna do something super fun, you should take your kids cliff jumping at Hogg Park!" 

Is this coming off whinny? Sorry. Im just sad we didn't know about this super fun thing 12 minutes from out house. Closer than Costco, Winners and Walmart. 

A friend posted her kids jumping off the cliff at Hogg Park on Instagram. It looked so fun- and we finally found time at the very end of summer. Turns out it might be the last hot day of the summer- and it needs to be hot as its jumping into the Highwood River closer to the mountains then High River!

I was texting Jen earlier this week, she was asking about other local hikes she could take her kids on. We got talking and I asked if she wanted to come with us to another local place later this week! Meeting up to head out about 12;30 we spent the afternoon (until 3:45) playing in the river. 

It was pretty chilly in the water, but once you got used to it was ok! All of my kids jumped- Remy going 3 times, and Barker going about 7 times. The older girls went so many times I lost count at 14. The hardest part was walking across the river on the slippery rocks- Kalia took Remy over once and it was funny and a bit scary to watch. I took her over the next time, when she got the nerve up to jump it.

Kalia was so good helping Remy climb up the rock and carefully holding her lifejacket or hand as they were walking across the cliff. I dont know what I would do without my super helpful almost 13 year old. In Annaliesse's defence she would help Remy if Remy would let her- but Annaliesse is overly bossy at times.. hence Remy prefers Kalia.

After a bit Remy and Barker started playing in the sand and catching minos. The big girls (Jen has 2 and I have 2) started tubing down the river in front of us. There is lots of space to run up the river 100 yards or so and float down. Kalia took Remy a couple times to- Barker was to cold at that point to try it.

Snacks were leftover popcorn from the Movie night last night, and leftover chips Jen sent over with the girls at the movie night. They were all perfectly happy with that. It was rather hot- and the girls warmed up on the big rocks fast durning their breaks.

Jen and I visited and just enjoyed the last slow summer afternoon. It was glorious. We can't WAIT to go again.

The kids and I headed home at 3:45pm to shower and get ready for Justins work Family BBQ. It was actually quite good, compared to years before. I took no pictures and it wasn't THAT fantastic, and no one else was taking pics.... 😂

Barker was thrilled we stopped at 130ave skate park on the way home. I read in the van while the kids and Daddy played for 30 mins. The big girls were super done and had to pee, so we headed home and Justin and the littles followed 30 mins later.

It was a lovely day.

Outdoor Movies

The Young Women wanted to end our Summer Activities with a movie night. Uh- OK. Sounds awesome!

Unlucky for me- last time I tried to do this for YW, a Christmas Service Project decorating the foyer Christmas Trees while watching ELF, I couldn't get the projector to work..

So this morning I got up early and tried to get it working- turns out I needed a cord- a quick trip to Visions and the projector works GREAT. ALSO I happened to be talking to a friend and he asked what I was doing for sound. At that point I had yet to think about it... so he hooked me up with some of his DJ equipment and we had AWESOME sound going too!

Princess Bride.
Lawn chairs.
2 Stand Alone Hammocks.
Popcorn in individual bags.
Pop cans.
Individual Chips.
Mini Chocolate Bars.

It was such a good night. Success!

Kalia and Annaliesse obviously knew what we were doing for YW. So they asked if they could do it at home for their friends. I figured I had all the stuff out... why not.

So the next night we had 15 kids at our house. (Picture is before 4 more kids showed up)

A Knights Tale.

Lawn chairs.

Popcorn in individual bags.

More Pop cans.

More Chips.

More Candy.

Plus 1 Daddy and 2 younger siblings.

Guys. We are trying to be good Teen/Preteen parents.

Somedays it's super easy.

Popcorn. Pop. Done.

Other days.... it's NOT easy at all.

Manicure with Fish.

I love getting my nails done. 

Starting in High School I have gotten them done on and off for YEARS.

Not gonna say how many years, some of you think Im young, some old...

The place I have been going to since 2013 is great. Changed ownership a few years ago and NOW I have a nail lady AND a fish man. We talk fish- which is random.

You see he is the one, who I confessed that I dropped my child's Betta Fish from counter hight onto the floor. He asked what I was doing holding the fish- when I told him I was cleaning the cage, he laughed and said that's not how you clean a tank! It was a hilarious 40 minutes trying to defend my clueless self about Fish care.  I was taught all about the fine art of caring for fish,  as I was getting my nails done.

 He has a massive fish tank in the store and the fish are always having babies! He often has to move fish around as he constantly is growing his stock... herd? No- School of Fish. He tried for months to convince me to try with another Fish for my kids. I gave in and he sent me home the first time with 4 fish. Which all died in about 1 month.

He convinced me try to be good Fish owner again and gave me 4 more. One of the four promptly killed his 3 mates, but we had Monstro for like 6 months. I accidentally killed him eventually too,  by forgetting the special solution you put in the water when you change the water...

That was 7 months ago. 

Today I got my nails done, and got convinced to try again... 

Welcome Fee Flex. 

May the odds be ever in your favour.

This afternoon kids played the day away in the Pool. It was loud and wet and loud. They had a great time. I took some Advil and drank another DP. Summer afternoons are going way too fast.

Happy 7th Birthday REMY

Our baby is SEVEN!

😩😩😩

I have chosen to largely ignore that this day was coming.

Lucky for Grandpa reminding me like 2 weeks ago that it was coming- seriously I was totally ignoring it. So I ordered her gifts on amazon that evening, so I could go back to ignoring it.

She was thrilled with her Kids Smart watch- that she has been asking for for like 2 years, and a Mermaid Tail- which she has also been asking for for years. 

Her face was priceless.

On Remy's birthday we swam in the pool, went on a longboard ride, hung at the spray park with friends AND saw a movie at Canyon Meadows! ALL THE THINGS.

Morning Water Fight

I have an amazing younger brother.

He is full of fun and just enough teasing to make him endearing. 

Saturday morning he text me- I haven't been in your pool yet this summer! In my head I was like- you could have come over any time. But he knows that.

So I texted back come over then.

Mark says ya be there just after lunch. 

So we played in the backyard in the pool and on the trampoline for a few hours

Grandma and Grandpa came to- we had an epic water fight.

Laughed a lot.

Talked about COVID and Politics which are the main topics of conversation in 2020 (for when I am reading over this in years to come).

We sure do love having our little cousins around to play with. 

Grandpa and Grandma around to have close relationship with.

Siblings around to become better friends with.

And a Pool 😂😂 to make amazing summer 2020 memories with.

Ptarmigan Cirque

Ptarmigan Cirque on this chilly Satruday- which was the whole point, of course. We just weren't totally prepared for how cold it would be LOL. High River was about 19 degrees, once we got into the mountains it just kept dropping. Pulling up to a packed parking lot, the van gage read 12 degrees. That was at the bottom of the mountain we climbed...

We met with the Smiths and Conways- making us quite the parade.

6 adults.

1 teen.

4 preteens.

3 children who walked.

4 children who were carried either the whole way, or most the way. 

A parade, obviously. 

Good company, mostly equivalent hiking abilities which made it fun.

The older kids were waaaay ahead of us rest of us, they laughed and chattered amount themselves all the way up.

The only picture of the beautiful scenery at the top.

At this point we were freezing. It was windy and maybe 5 degrees up here. The little we so cold, we were all hungry for lunch and so the Moms huddled with the littles trying to keep them warm!

Kalia, Emma and Justin took off up the Shale trying to reach the smallest patch of snow.

The hike down seemed to take minutes! Compared to the hike up- which I guess is always the case...

We got to the parking lot, which was significantly more empty then when we pulled in. Ate some more food and tried to decide what to do next- there was lots of day left- but it was just to cold to spend more time at the top. Which was the original plan.

Justin and I told the others about Indian Graves and we decided to head over there. 

Our van was super quiet as the older girls went with Emma and Ava in the Smiths 15 passenger. Barker and Remy were pretty tired and totally fine with watching a movie. It was a lovely drive for Justin and I as we chatted and enjoyed being in the mountains. 

It wasn't all that warmer at the top of Indian Graves, but enough to be out for 5-10 mins... 

We ended our awesome day with Ice Cream in Nanton and the candy store- playing at the park until almost bedtime. It was a amazing Saturday spent with friends in the mountains!