Up to date

Ok so I haven't been so good at updating the blog but here it goes.....

In January and February and March we have done not to much. Spring has come so that means we're starting to get ready to do more reno's and Dusty has been super slow at work the past three months so he's been able to spend some much needed time at home with his girls. We have plans to buy a trailer to do some camping and we have some major landscaping to do so I've been busy researching plants and what to get and where to put it. We picked up some blueberry bushes and so we are going to give that a whirl (even though they aren't supposed to grow here....... so if they die it won't really be my fault).

The girls are growing like crazy and lucy is creeping around the house and pulling herself up on everything she can grab. Ellie has taken a liking to baseball and bats everything everywhere....... we've only had to pick up a few picture frames!!!!

This weekend is easter and we plan on heading west. My dad comes home from up north this weekend and my parents have planned a big family shopping trip to calgary soooo that should be fun.

Hope everyone has a great easter!!!!!

In with the new and out with the old

So a new year and another year older....... the new year always brings a plithera of new "resolutions". I am not one for resolution since the majority of them are broken by february BUT every year on my birthday I do set some goals for the year. I think this year was going to be the year of simplicity for me. I want nothing complicated. I want to spend time with those I want to spend time with and I don't want to deal with problems that aren't mine to deal with. Simple but not always easy. Dusty is a non-resolution person either but I think he might have a few goals up his sleeve. I think this last year both dusty and i learned alot about each other and our family and the direction that we are going to take (at least in the next couple of years). Anyways I got this idea from another blog and I would like to pay homage to last year and the momentous occasions. (that I can remember).......

January 2007
Went quadding with Brooke and Ryan in community pasture
Angela got engaged
kristin's 23 birthday
dusty's 25 birthday
Ellie teethed all her molars
baby's first ultrasound

February
Dusty bought me a necklace (he does not buy jewlery.... pretty big deal)
Shopping in calgary
Olsen family day party
Bought new furniture

March
bought something off ebay for the very first time.... truly addictive
started bathroom rennovations
Ellie put her shoes on all by herself (and the right way)

April
Got a new roof
Rennovated kids bedroom
3rd anniversary

May
Joined facebook
Bought Ellie her toddler bed and she loved it
Brooke and ryan moved to town
Was in the hospital with false labour and and elevated heartrate
went to Elkwater with Bobbie Geo
built our fence
another ultrasound to see if everything is "alright"

June
first chiropractor appointment ever.... I was a little bit nervous
we got a bat in our house
we had a baby - Lucy

July
Kellie's wedding
Lucy started choking and puking non-stop
Camping in waterton with my parents
Olsen family reunion
stampede
pediatricians appointment- GERD, gastral eshphigeal reflux disorder
Lucy sleeping through the night

August
holidays- waterton and kocanusa
bought a new stove
ordered kitchen cabinets

September
had lucy's blessing
went to the zoo
bought a jack hammer and generator
started kitchen rennovations
spent some time with gramma before she left on cruise
angelas bridal shower
gramma fell down the stairs on her cruise
Ellie's 2nd birthday

October
Gramma came home from her vacation
angela's bacholorette
dusty got called into scouts
angela's wedding
got into a car accident

November
Gramma died
funeral
car written off
bought truck
lucy chocked really bad
lucy has tests at hospital

December
Christmas

christmas

the family went to Dusty's parents on christmas eve and Ellie got a brand new John deere bike.
My sisters dog, twiggy, was not so entertained by all the festivities on christmas morning.
Lucy "opening" presents
Dusty playing the so popular Wii. He was so disappointed that he didn't get on for christmas but he will probably get one for his birthday.......

Out on the town.....

Ellie loves getting ready to go out with dusty to do anything and since it is the season to go shopping he and Ellie have been going out on the town......

Christmas tree 2007

Every Christmas season Dusty and I go out with our kids and chop down our Christmas tree. This is Lucy's first Christmas and is too little to take out on the quad and sled so it was nice that we had our own truck this year to do this. Dusty and Ellie went stomping about and came back and told us they had found the "perfect" tree. The whole family went out for a gander....






I think that Dusty had to put Ellie's mitts on every 5 minutes. She would yell, "DAD, MITTS! please?". We had such a good time this year and are already looking forward to next year.

WHen it gets quiet........

Ok so Ellie is mischevious and when it gets really really quiet I start becoming concerned. Today I put her down for her nap and usually she gets out of bed a few times or I can hear her flipping through her books but today was different....... today was quiet. I put Lucy down and snuck into her room and found that she had crawled into Lucy's crib, then up on to the change table, got the pennitan and was proceding to smear it EVERYWHERE!!!!

YUMMY!!

Lucy decided to ween herself and started taking a bottle this week so I started to feed her cereal. These are pictures of her first "family" supper.

Gramma

My gramma passed away at the beginning of the month. My family and I were all there for her final days. She was remarkable and I will miss her greatly.

HUSTON

MRS. SHEILA MARIE HUSTON of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late Mr. Brian Huston, passed away on Tuesday, November 6, 2007, at the age of 67 years.

There will never be enough words to describe the full life of Sheila Marie Huston nor to express the profound sadness that her passing leaves in the lives of all who had the honor of knowing her. In the end the heart that she so willing shared with everyone was unable to keep up with the demands of her body.

Sheila was born and raised in Belmont, Manitoba on the family farm by her parents Olive and Jim Wanless. Blessed to be part of her life were her siblings Mervin (Marge), Myrna (Larry) and Joyce (Bill). Even after leaving the farm to work and live in the big city she never left the rural roots too far behind. We believe that her strong sense of family and community were cultivated in those roots. Compassion and caring seemed to come easily to Sheila. She was always willing to lend a hand and offered unconditional love and acceptance to all in her circle. Friends, coworkers and family knew her quiet strength and faith. She was proud of her children and grandchildren and never failed to let them know. The littlest children in our families were drawn to her warmth and even the fussiest babes were soothed in her arms. She was quick with encouragement and never harsh or critical.

Sheila was blessed to love two wonderful men. The first love, Brian, became her husband and together they raised their children, Heather and Blair. Brian predeceased Sheila in 1986. The second blessing of love came when Sheila was retired and became reacquainted with Doug Cassell. Their relationship was also cut short upon his sudden death in 2004.

Her friendships were also a key part of her life. Sheila was involved in numerous church activities where she worked tirelessly for Southminster Church holding many positions and participating in almost every activity they offered. She loved working alongside her UCW friends at the bazaars, teas and any other event. Sheila also enjoyed lifelong learning and was always up for a game or two. She loved cards (particularly cribbage and bridge) and would regularly whip the family at Scrabble. Lately she was addicted to Soduko and word games. Sheila dealt with her health issues with grace and courage. She beat breast cancer at the young age of 28 and was an inspiration to many for the manner in which she faced its harsh disfigurements. In later life, she developed severe cardiac issues yet even when tired and ill she did not become ill-tempered or impatient. She maintained her dignity and was true to her values until the end.

Special people in her life included her children: Heather (Jeff) and Blair (Ally), Grandchildren: Kristin (Dusty), Brianna, Amy, Bryce, Mariah and Erica and Great Grandchildren: Ellie and Lucy. Friends were so numerous that we can not possibly name all but please know we appreciate all the support and love that was extended to Sheila and her family during her lifetime and her passing. Special friendships were enjoyed with friends Sylvia Monteith and Carol Findley. They were ever present and supportive to the end of her life. We would like to invite all friends and family to a celebration of her life at 2:00PM on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at the SOUTHMINSTER UNITED CHURCH, 1011 – 4 Ave South, Lethbridge, with Reverend Lois Punton officiating. While family appreciates the offer of flowers we would respectfully request donations to the Heart and Stroke Fund, #207, 542 – 7 Street South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 2H1 or the Canadian Cancer Society, 317 – 10 Street South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 9Z9.

Hello princess!

Happy Halloween!

This is Ellie's third Halloween but her first that she's actually celebrated the event. She's finally old enough to appreciate being dressed up. This year she helped hand out candy to the kids who came to our door. It was so funny. She would get super excited and would give them arm fulls of candy and then finally blow them kisses as they departed. After we would close the door she would attempt to whistle to "call" more kids.

My Wreck

I was really hoping that I would be able to follow up the last blog with something like the final results of our kitchen renovation or thanksgiving or my friend's wedding but alas this is what I have for you all.



So I was on my way home. I was over by Safeway and I was stopped at the stop sign waiting for the traffic to clear so i could go. i looked both ways and thought it was clear I pulled out and got hit. The kids are fine. I got banged up a little and the lady of the other car had minor injuries (so I was told). Here's the pic's.