We're Back! Let's Celebrate with a Video!!

Hi guys!  I'm back from an almost two-week trip to Vegas with my family!  I have pictures I'll need to upload and share, but not yet.  I literally walked through the door an hour ago, and have loads of unpacking to do. . . or, I have loads of unpacking to do tomorrow, and I really just want to relax with some popcorn and a cheesy Netflix movie (bring it on Cyberbully) tonight.

Anywho, until I get to blogging again, here's a video I made for Jim for our Anniversary/Father's Day this year.  I made it a few months ago, and never got around to putting it on the blog.  So, it goes on tonight!  Better late than never!

The video I made for Jim is a lot longer, but this is a condensed version I made for the internet.  It's a bunch of video clips of our lil' family over the last eleven years.  You don't have to watch it, I'll never know if you don't.  Something I DO know is that I have a few family members that can't wait to see new things on the blog. . . so for them. . . here you go:

Old Window Project

I bought an old window at an antique store a few months ago, and it pretty much sat in my garage from the moment I brought it home, waiting for me to figure out what to do with it.  Today, whilst I was digging through my ever cluttered garage, I spotted my old window, and finally had an idea light bulb flicker above my head.  

I promptly forgot what I was searching for in the garage, snatched up the window, brought it inside, and got to work.  

I pulled up my Silhouette program on the computer, and came up with a vinyl design for the window.

I had seen a similar design on another crafter's blog (when I remember which one, I'll include the link), and decided to go with a bakery theme.  My Great Grandmother Frances Wasilewski was the inspiration, as she used to bake professionally for weddings and other occasions back in her day.  My Nana says she remembers her childhood basement (this was before large ice boxes) filled with tortes, cakes, and other such delectables for upcoming events.   Some of Great Grandma's intricate recipes are still famous in our family.  I have yet to try a few of her torte recipes, as the steps intimidate me a bit.  

Anyway, since my Great Grandma Wasilewski was a baker, I named my window after her!  I added a few more details, and now my antique window project is decorating my kitchen.  I put it above the cabinets, where it will probably stay.  Maybe one day, Great Grandma Frances will even come take a peek through it, and look down at me as I attempt one of her recipes!

Hopefully, it will turn out!  I have a legacy to live up to!

Rainy Days in Canada and a Funny Hunter Story

On around the fourth day of our trip, the weather changed from sunny and warm, to blustery and wet.  The first night it rained, there was actually a Tornado advisory.  When the storm blew in that evening, we spent a good portion of the evening on Ross and Judy's deck watching the weather show.  The lightening was close and the thunder rumbled the house.  It was exciting.  It rained pretty hard for a few days, and the excitement turned to sadness when the news came of extreme flooding in towns across Alberta.  Homes were ruined and washed away, businesses ruined, zoo animals had to be relocated to holding cells in Calgary, and entire towns had to be evacuated.  We were all fine where Jim's dad lives, but hearing about other's losses definitely brought a feeling of concern.

Cammi, me, and, Channing outside watching the weather

See the lightning bolt?

Jim and me having fun in the crazy weather

Our little family on the deck watching the weather show

One day Jim and I decided to take the kids into Waterton to check out what the rains did there.  We discovered that some roads/bridges had been completely washed away, there was some flooding in the main part of town, and there was a lot of damage to hiking trails.  In fact, almost every road, besides the main one, was closed down.  We spent a few hours driving around, taking pictures, and then made our way to The Prince of Wales Hotel to warm up and drink some tea and hot chocolate.

Just a few days before this weather was crystal clear, and so calm.  After the rains it was brown and choppy.

Watching all the rain runoff on the mountains

At the waterfall.  It was CRAZY how much it was RAGING!!

Notice how Hunter is not in the picture.  He wanted nothing to do with being outside in the rain, so he waited in the car while we snapped this picture.  Silly boy!

We couldn't believe it!

Look at how crazy that water is!  Just a few days before it was calmly running under the bride.  This day, it was really close to the bridge,  and all brown from the rains.

Tour car thing seen around Waterton

 This was the kids first time inside Prince of Wales hotel.  We usually don't bother going in, because we're too busy outside playing.  Today, we went in, and decided to take advantage of "High Tea" hour.   

Prince of Wales lobby

 I have to tell the inappropriate story about Hunter, because it's too funny not to.  Sorry if you don't approve of the humor, but Jim and I couldn't stop laughing.  So. . . as we were pulling into the parking lot at Prince of Wales hotel, Jim started complaining about how other people had parked.  He might have said a couple of inappropriate things, when all of a sudden from the back seat we hear Hunty's cute little voice say, "Yeah, I think everyone in the world are douchebags!  Except for everyone in our family."  I cried I laughed so hard.  Of course, we told Hunter that's not a nice word, and that he shouldn't ever call someone that.  

Fast forward to a few days later, after we were back home, Hunter rode his Power Wheels four-wheeler down to the mailbox with me.  When he pulled into a parking space, he parked his four-wheeler really crooked.  After he dismounted and saw his parking job, he turned around and yelled to me, "Hey Mom, I parked my four-wheeler like a douchebag!"  I again laughed so hard I cried, then reminded him that that's not a nice word.  However, I think Jim and I should probably stop using it so much if we don't want our children saying it.  It's kind of a favorite profanity around here.  We're all working on it.

  

Hunter enjoying his hot chocolate at the Prince of Wales hotel.  We sat right by a window and enjoyed the blustery scenery.

Tralee drinking her hot coco.

Yummy!

I wanted tea.  It was delicious!  I think I ordered Citrus Mint.  Lovely flavors!

Even though the weather was a little crazy, we were still able to have fun on our last few days in Canada.

Fishes and Gophers and Bears - Oh My!

Here are a few more random Canada trip pictures.  We got lucky with some really fine weather the first few days we were there.  Then, the rain hit, and it never really stopped.  I'll write about that later, for now, enjoy these pictures of us doing our favorite Canada activities. . . 

Fishing 

Jim and his shark

Ross with his catch

Jim said this fish was making a "J" for Jacobs

Jim and his dad are a lot alike.  Not only do they have very similar mannerisms, they also enjoy doing the same activities.  While in Canada, if I can't find Jim, it's probably because he's with Ross golfing, shooting things, or fishing.  One day, they woke up, went fishing, then went golfing, went to shoot some gophers, went golfing again, and ended the day with fishing.  I can't keep up.  In fact, I don't even try.  On one of their golfing outings, they ran into a grizzly bear.  I was TICKED about it.  I've only seen one bear one time in Canada.  It was our first trip to Canada together, and I only saw the black bear's behind as it ran away from us.  Just once, I would like to see one close up.  Jim pretty much walked right up to this one, and captured some photos.  He also saw a wolf, mountain sheep, foxes, deer, elk, and loads of other small critters.  Hopefully next time I can see a bear in the wild.  Until then, these pictures will have to do. 

Grizzly bear checking out Jim's golf swing on the Waterton golf course.

Jim and bear

 One morning Hunter went outside, took off his shirt, and sat on some of Grandpa's antique farm equipment.  When I asked what he was doing he said, "Oh, just sittin' on a couch, watchin' some t.v.  Want to join me?"  I did.  It was a great show!

One day, Cammi, me, and our kids met up with Jim and Ross to go shooting.  The kids and I mostly rode around in the back of the truck while the rest of the adults took care of the rodent population on one of their neighbor's properties.  When Jim was a kid, the farmers used to pay him to come shoot the gophers on their property.  If they only would have known, Jim would have done it for free.  The kids and I mostly hung out and explored.  Hunter pretended to be Batman, and Tralee was Nature Fairy.  Good times.

Nature Fairy

Batman

See ya later, Batman.

Happy (Almost) Fourth and a Free Printable

First of all, Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians out there!  I think the kids and I will be making this today to celebrate.  Our friends and neighbors, who also have a daddy from Canada, invited us over for a celebratory Canada Day fireworks show tonight as well.  We might also break open a bag of Old Dutch Ketchup Chips we've been saving from our latest trip to the Great White North too.  So, all and all, a nice July 1st!

Planning ways to celebrate Canada Day, reminded me that Independence Day is just a few days away.  I don't really have anything planned for July 4th yet, but as I was contemplating, I looked into my old printable files, and found this little beauty.  I don't think I've ever shared it on the blog, so I thought I would today.  If nothing else, I'll print this out, pop it in a frame, hang it near our front door, and tell myself that I've officially decorated for the fourth!

If you want to use it, just save it to your computer (right click and save for PC, drag and drop for Mac), print it out, pop it in a frame, and booyah, you've decorated for the fourth!!

I made two sizes.  The first one is 8x10.  The second is 11x14, in case you want to go big or go home for the fourth of July.

8x10

11x14

Happy Canada Day and Happy (Almost) Independence Day!!

Canada June 2013: Day Three

When we're up in Southern Alberta Canada there are a handful of activities we pick from to fill our days with -- hiking, fishing, shooting, playing crib, and golfing are just a few.  Some days we spend our days doing several activities.  So many activities, pretty much the moment our heads hit the pillow, we're out!  Our third day in Canada was one of those days.

First Jim, Hunter, and Ross went fishing.  They caught some trout.  It was good.  

Three generations of fishmen!

Like father like son!

After fishing, Jim, the kids, and I went to Waterton and hiked Bear's Hump.  I've never hiked it before, so I kind of begged Jim to take me and the kids.  I loved it!  The kids loved it!  It was a great hike.  I told Jim we have to do it more often.  He said fine, as long as he can go fishing afterwards.  I said, "deal." 

Hunter on the hike

We stopped a lot to let the kids rest and explore, Tralee and I took this pick on one of our rests

Hunter and me resting

Jim and me mid-hike 

Doing a little kissing

Up they go

We made it to the top!

Jim almost fell and died, luckily Tralee was there to save him!  Phew!

I love this picture of Tralee.  She was so proud!

View from the top

Jim took this picture of me taking a picture

Tralee and me at the top!

After Waterton, Jim went and did some other activity while the kids and I hung out with Jim's sisters Cammi and Channing, and Cammi's daughter Zayah.  Around dinner time we went to Jim's childhood best friend's house and ate dinner with them.  Then Doug, Jim's friend, showed the kids how to catch baby fish in the stream that runs through his property (Jim and Doug did the same activity at kids), then Doug got his horse and we all went riding - even me!

Jim showing Hunty how to catch a fish

Tralee catching fish

Tralee and the horsey. . . she was SOOOO excited to go for a ride

Tralee and Zayah riding together

Hunter was NOT excited to ride the horse.  In fact, he was pretty much terrified the entire time he was forced to ride. 

Hunter couldn't wait to get down!

Tralee and Hunter checking out their catch

Jim going for a ride

Tralee and Doug riding in the hills

Tralee LOVED the horse!

After horseback riding, it was time for more fishing at Rommeril's.  We ended the night watching movies, and eating popcorn.

Day three in Canada was pretty great!