Our Trip To Saskatchewan

When we started planning a summer getaway, we were thinking of going to Alberta (Calgary, Vulcan, Camrose, Edmonton) and stopping in Regina as that would be about the halfway point. Also Wynn had found in his LEGO magazine pictures of a LEGO exhibit at the Sask. Science Centre. Well as the time got closer some things had changed and Saskatchewan was now the destination. Many people asked WHY SASK?, WHAT'S THERE?....well we were going to make sure we had a good time no matter what other's thought. We were going to have a good family getaway. I must admit after the drive to Regina (and detours to Moose Jaw & Souris) and back to Winnipeg, I'm sure glad we didn't drive to Alberta or any further. The kids would have gone nuts or drove Cliff & I nuts...not sure which would have come first. :) As it was we had fun, here are some pics from our 3 day trip:

A Note From Cookie

As many of you know we have been in the process of getting a puppy for a couple months now. When they were born, the owner (Val) started emailing me pics regularly. We were excited to pic up our puppy at the end of June but just 4 days prior she had an accident and broke her leg....long story short, we are still waiting. After her vet appt. in July Cookie sent us an update:

Hi Winn, Autumn, & Liam,
I am a big girl now so I'm sending my own emails.
I went to the vet last week and had another Xray to check out my sore leg. She said it's getting lots better but I should wait to come home to your house until it's better yet just so we don't hurt it again when we get playing. I love to run & chase and jump and all those things that puppies and kids like to do.Rick & Val are going away for a holiday so I'm going to stay with Linda ( a nice lady that works for my vet) It's too hot where they are going so I can't go with them. While they are away Linda will take me back to the vet for another Xray so as soon as Rick & Val get home I will get them to help me send another email to let you know what's happening about my leg.
I weigh 3.4 pounds now and I'm the only puppy left here so now my best friend is Toni because her & I are in the house more than even my Mom. We have a big pen outside now to keep us safe and give us room to run and play.I get so tired I go into my kennel in the house and sleep without Val even putting me there. I like to get up about 6:00 in the morning to go out for a pee and then sleep on a blanket that's not in my kennel. I'm still the boss and I'm not scared of anything or anybody. I'm always getting into mischief. Well it's bedtime now. I'm waiting patiently until I get to come home with you guys.
Love Cookie

We'll let you know when we actually get her home!! :)

PHEW!!

Hello everyone. The kids may be on vacation but I've been working more than I think I have for a long time. I'm at work right now counting down the minutes...only 1hour and 15 min to go before I'm finished my nineth shift of nine in a row. Hubby works for one week and then he is officially (and I am too) on vacation. On the 20th I turn 36 and then on the 21st we are off to Regina for our 3 day trip. I will tell you all about it when we get back.

Speaking about the kids, they were at their Grandparents' for a week and just got back yesterday. Nothing like not having your kids around to make you realize just how much you appreciate them AND THEIR NOISE. Sure while they were gone I'd clean up and it would stay clean but honestly I'll take their constant messes anytime over not having them around. I think my hubby put it best the first day they were away. He said, "sure I like it quiet but this is so quiet it's almost eerie!"

The kids went to visit Cookie, our puppy, while they were out there and say she was running around on her leg. The owner says we may be able to bring her home in a week or so. :D!!!! Not much else to tell you about but i'm sure in the next couple weeks I'll have lots of news. How is your summer going?

Happy Canada Day!

Last Day Of School

YAY!!!! It's "officially" the last day of school. I think "technically" school was already done a week ago as the kids have been bringing home all their paraphernalia for the last week+. Yesterday was a talent show and today is a Canada Day celebration where the kids are going to be parading around the neighborhood with Canadian and provincial flags. I'm sure the kids will be looking forward to Mom NOT coming in every morning to get them up & dressed and I personally will be looking forward to not having to make lunches every evening/morning. I know that the summer will go by fast and next fall I'll have three kids in school (2 full-time and Liam 2x/week. We don't have a lot planned for the summer but are planning on taking a 3 day family trip in July and daily swimming lessons in August. And as Mom & Dad work much of the summer the kids are also looking forward to spending some time out in the country with their grandparents and cousins. Have a great summer! Do you have anything special planned for this summer break?

Not Yet :(

Many of you that have either talked to me recently or have read my blog recently would have known that this past weekend was when we were to pick Cookie up and bring her home. That would have been on Sunday to be exact. Well, we had an unfortunate turn of events. On the Wednesday last week (4 days before we were to pick Cookie up) I received a phone call from her owner. She told me that the day before, her husband had the puppies outside and unfortunately our little Cookie got underfoot and got her leg stepped on resulting in a broken leg. Meaning it would be about 6 -8 weeks before she could leave her Eriksdale home. Val (the owner) explained that if we want our deposit back she'd understand or perhaps we'd want to pick a different puppy... My first thought was this is the one we picked and this is the one we still want. However I knew the kids were excited to get a puppy and bring it home and show everyone their new puppy. We had already gone shopping and bought her bed, toys, leash, dishes, etc. So I thought the kids would like to pick a different puppy that could come home now. Well, after I talked to the kids I found out how wrong I was. After they were done crying they explained how Cookie was already a part of our family and they wanted to wait until SHE was able to come home. Basically they had made a commitment to her "in sickness and in health". We went to visit Cookie (and the other puppies) on Sunday. Wow are they ever getting big. I was surprised how well Cookie was doing. They kept her in a separate kennel from the other pups but when she had her own space she was put on the floor and she walked very well. She has been putting more and more weight on her back leg and is definitely still a puppy at heart and loves to play. She doesn't have a cast or splint and the leg seems to be healing up well. Her next xray appt with the vet is July 15. I guess after that we'll see how soon after we can bring her home. Here are some pics from our last visit.
The remaining 4 puppies sleeping in their area in the middle of the living room.
Cookie in her kennel where she is kept seperate from the other pups until her leg heals.
Autumn visiting Cookie on the chair.
Wynn & Cookie.























Liam & I playing with Cookie on the floor with a tie from my shirt.

First Day of Summer

Yay! It is officially summer...and it feels like it! :) For the past week the weather has been beautiful. Temps in the mid - high 20's. Yesterday I was even swimming in a friends pool and the water was nice and warm as opposed to what would have been a "polar bear swim" just a few weeks ago. This spring/summer 2009 has been crazy - it feels like we went straight from a winter that wouldn't end to summer! For example on the May long weekend this year it SNOWED!!! I was looking at my wedding photograghs from 9 years ago and I had to reming myself I also got married on the May long weekend but by looking at the pics and green grass you'd think it was June. Also this year, I didn't put my plants in till the first week of June this year as it was so cold in the mornings and overnight. Yet still, what happened....I lost several plants to frost that 1st week of June. Now my plants need regular watering as the are growing like crazy and by the end of the scorching days are wilting from the heat. But don't get me wrong...I am NOT complaining!!! After a 6 month cold streak that wouldn't seem to end, I'll gladly water my plants every evening and sweat in the heat and humidity before you'll hear me complaining!! Happy Summer 2009. Hope it is a great year.