Storm

We had a huge storm this evening... the biggest I've seen here yet! I'm glad we don't have too much money invested in landscaping b/c it might be trashed by now. Also glad the kids new playground didn't blow over... the wind was really that crazy! Our neighbors huge RV shelter was rocking back and forth but managed to stay put somehow. The combination of wind, rain, hail and thunder was quite the show! Too bad I couldn't have recorded it:) These little guys did surprisingly well!

Yet another project down... almost!

We waited awhile on this project b/c it was a costly one. Kevin's boss came by at exactly the right time (while we started to frame it) and offered a bunch of "scrap" (perfectly good wood that he didn't need) lumber from his shop. WOOHOO!!! So, thanks to Mr. Boss we have a very inexpensive playground for the kids! All we need to do is shingle the roof and stain it all. Oh ya - our neighbor (a welder) gave us a perfectly good metal swingset frame so all we had to do was go out and buy a couple swings and bolts to hang them! That's a quick project, nearly done too. Finished Product (minus singles and stain): Picked up the pool at our local hardware store this weekend too - they all love it! Teasing the dog with the ball... Koda wouldn't go into the pool to get her ball - she waited for it to come to her;) Funny dog.

Koda goes to the groomers!

Yesterday was Koda's first visit to the groomers. Well, technically it was her second... but the first was a couple months ago and the groomer (a stuffy, hot, converted garage in the back alley kind of business, groomer) said she thought Koda would look goofy with a shave and we took that advice. She also didn't have time to get through Koda's thick coat b/c I made a last minute apointment in a small time slot and hadn't yet had the opportunity to take her back. Well, Koda continued to lay in her dog house lethargical and hot as she was... couldn't cool down, not even when she swam! We'd check her fur to see if her skin got wet and could tell that her undercoat hadn't even gotten wet!! Poor pup. So we talked to the vet about her thick coat when I took her for her 1yr vaccinations this week and he said to shave it for sure. So, I went back two days later to have the Veterinary Groomer help her out:) And here's our new dog!! She sure is cute:) Her head almost looks to big for her skinny body now, but we think it's kinda cute! As you can see, I wasn't quite as hesitant to let her in the house for a bit, now that she doesn't shed like a bear. The kids didn't know what to think when they first saw her! Lol... Atalie kept looking around to see Koda, even though she was sitting right infront of her;) Aiden stood back for a bit and stared at her with great concern... until we told him that this was Koda, and he could pet her and say hi to her! Soon afterwards he came running up, put his hand out (palm up, welcoming as always) and said, "HI PUP!" (his first word combo, by the way) with a very big Aiden-grin:) I think she's been getting alot more pets from us now too;) Atalie says "she's a small dog" now... haha!!

Fort Steele with Sam, Lisa & fam!

We got to see Kevin's sister and her family this week. They were camping a couple hours away from us so came up to visit us for a night:) The following day we headed down to Fort Steele to walk about for a few hours in the blazing heat (really, it was 33 degrees that day - hottest one yet this summer!). I think I would enjoy this place more in a slighty cooler temperature, however I've yet to know what that's like... last time we visited Fort Steele was August of 2007, when I was 9 months pregnant with Aiden. We got a break from the heat that time however, by taking a little ride on the train. When we went on Wednesday it turned out that the train was shut down for maintenance??!!! Rrrrrr... Anyway, here's some pics of the day! The wagon didn't really compare to the train, but we made do and the kids seemed to enjoy it, in a hot and sweaty sort of way. Also, the guy driving our horses on the wagon didn't say a word! Last time we got the full blown tour and history of the village... we had to use our imaginations this time round. Judge Jerah. Is this who sentenced us to a 3 hour walk in 33 degree heat? Haha... kidding Jerah;) Andrew overlooks the river valley below Fort Steele. Atalie trailed behind us for awhile, desperately trying to blow all the seeds (fuzz) off of her "flower". Ice cream!!! The kids all lined up to help make ice cream from scratch! It was definately the highlight of the day... minus the part which involved all the parents standing and watching in the 33 degree sun which was pounding us from above. Ice cream which takes that long to wait is supposedly worth the wait however, so we waited and watched. Above, Kevin is helping Atalie pound the ice blog which is covered in a sack to prevent flying ice chunks into the crowd. Churning/grinding down the ice pieces with the cream, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar! They took turns churning and sitting (the sitter prevents the ice block from coming off the container, which is there to keep it cold). Showing off her work of art! And for the grand finale - the taste test! It passed with flying colours in all of our opinions:) Worth the wait? Depends who you ask;) I'd say yes. Alisha, cute as ever. Checkin out the horses. Blacksmith shows us how to heat and shape metal into a work of art. Kevin took up stroller-pusher position:) The Brethericks, strolling the boardwalks of Fort Steele:) It was a great day!

My CuteKids

I figured, "what the heck!" and then paid $40 to enter two photos of my kids for a "Cute Kid" contest. And actually, I'll receive a free 11 X 14 canvas wrap just for entering, so really I haven't lost anything! :) Here's the pics I chose: What are the Grand Prizes? * $25,000 College Tuition Fund* * Press Conference announcing the “2009 CuteKid™ of the Year” * Your own 2009CuteKidoftheYear.com website * Huge National Press Releases and Exposure * Canvas Portrait of Winning Photo and more! TheCuteKid™ awards over $5,000 in prizes monthly! CuteKid Photo Contest Seal * $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond to Overall Monthly Winner * $500 U.S. Savings Bond to Each Category Winner * All finalists are granted automatic entry into the “2009 CuteKid™ of the Year” Contest.

Fernie

We met up with Jeff (Kev's brother), Kristy and their kids this weekend in Fernie. Friday night we had the pleasure of camping (if you dare to call it camping) in an RV park behind a motel just off the highway in Fernie. It was a $25 luxury to have hookups, thus easy lighting at night... but we would have snatched up a campsite in a campground before staying here if having the option. So, having no other choice that night we waited for morning to snag the only available campsite in the ONLY campground in Fernie... beautiful campground btw!! Each campsite was very private... peace and quiet!! Just across the road and down the hill was a cool little creek that we thankfully played in throughout the day Saturday! There's nothing quite like a river-soaked diaper coated in dirt! =) The cousins had a blast racing around the campsite and looking for adventures in the woods! Short story - Tyler got this small stuffed thing from McDonalds and (by parental advisory) decided to hand it over to the campfire flames. To our surprised, it melted... shouldn't things made of fabric burn, not melt??! Atalie rides with Auntie Kristy for the first time! Kristy was taking part in a workshop with one of her horses this weekend so Atalie got to take advantage of it;)

Stampede weekend (July 3-5th)

My first Stampede was two weeks ago, with Deanne and Kristie. =) Rediculous really (that it was my first time), being as how I lived only 2.5 hours away for over 20 years... sheesh... so it was really fun! Didn't really excede any expectations and had lots of animals that I've seen lots of times, but I can imagine that if you had lots of time and lots of money that it would be an even better experience. However, I couldn't care less considering I was with my good girlfriends and we had fun regardless what what we did or didn't get to do and see:) So here's some delayed photo posts: ...one of many before-shots ;) Possibly the least flattering picture of me ever... however I thought I'd better include it considering this donut hut is a main attraction (and DELICIOUS!!!!!)! The top sign says "Deep fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches". ?!?! We tried the oreos, which were quite good but a little much! One of many lineups. This one was to get into the big music tent and I heard it was about a 6 hour wait(!). A great shot of the city from the grandstand. ... i have tons more pics but can't seem to upload them for the last 20 million tries... wierd. i'll try again later.

Gettin' ready for the Invermere Farmers Market!

Devon and I are making our first attack on card sales this coming Saturday at the Invermere Farmers Market - so anybody around should come check us out =) Haha... anyways, Kevin built me a couple stands to display my cards. I also made a couple signs and some quick (but not so quick) business cards on the computer. We had the wood kicking around in the utility room, so I was more than happy to assign this "card stand" job to Kevin so as to avoid continually tripping over it and trying to avoid getting numerous slivers while doing laundry each week(!!!). Yaaaaay for the wood being gone! And thanks for your help luv =) Kevin mentioned to me tonight that "We're turning into your parents you know." Hahaha!! Of course, he was referring to the fact that my Dad is always making/inventing things for my Mom (and himself) to run their businesses and numerous Farmers Markets that they do each week. Too funny. I replied, "yep, that's what happens when you marry an entrepreneur - you get to make stuff for them." I guess I picked a good one! One of two stands Kevin made for me tonight :) A few cards to test it out;) I'm using two lines of string per row so I can place my duplicates up with each card... this way I won't be digging for a replacement when one is sold. One of two display signs we'll hang up. My "official" homemade business cards. haha!