Update - Nov 21

We're here in Victoria, we fly back to Lethbridge tomorrow. Sorry there are no pics, I forgot to bring the cable to download them to my laptop. The flights here were a little crazy. Calgary was fogged in, which made landing a really neat experience - and delayed our flights hours on end. Air Canada cancelled Scott and Evan's direct flight from Calgary to Victoria, so they had to wait around 5 hours while no one would explain what they were to do. Fortunately they got flights that departed each airport at the same time we arrived so we never "had" to spend time together in the airport... We leap frogged each other all the way there...

The craziness, of course, led to AC losing our luggage (what else is new) and generally made everyone pretty grumpy. It's been a nice few days here though, fairly decent weather (especially considering it's winter). Green parks, beautiful ocean. It's been great. Esther turned 20 on Wed so she and I took in some Korean BBQ for lunch and we enjoyed steak and cake at the condo for supper.

There's not much else to tell. I'm getting lots of work done while we're here so I should get back to it. I am totally excited about going home and starting Christmas prep (my last week before work). There's a tree to decorate, candy to make, maybe cookies if I get ambitious enough and probably Christmas shopping to do. I hate the shopping, but I'm tired of putting it off until Christmas Eve, cause that's the worst possible day to shop ever!

Banff Holiday for 2

Scott and I were gifted with the use of a condo near Banff and some cash from the amazing people. Members of the Gate and River of Life gave us the money to go out for dinner, have a pedicure, take a ride up the mountain and just relax together. It was our first holiday together, just the two of us, since Evan was born. It was really lovely! Scott even got an extra day to just soak in the Bible and commune with the Holy Spirit. It was refreshing for us both and gave us some badly needed alone time.

I find it really difficult to schedule alone time with Scott with the demands we have (children, church, work). I suppose it's my fault for not making it a priority sometimes, but other times it really is because there aren't enough hours in the day. I think that feeling that way, may be a really bad thing. I've got this mentally of work, work, work but I don't think that's right at all. It's quite possible that my work, work, work busyness is directed at the wrong things entirely.

It looks like it's time to examine my life and see where I'm striving where I shouldn't be... and chuck in some better use of time management and things may clear up a little. I do manage to multitask a lot right now. But I'm very unorganized. I could use some help.

When I talked about budgeting at the Gate a few weeks ago, I somehow lost an entire hour. I thought I was finishing 10 minutes early when, in fact, I was 50 minutes over. To paraphrase Scott Tucker, "money management... good, time management... bad."

Isaac's One Year Old!

The eating of the birthday cake was the funniest experience ever. I don't think anyone has ever seen such a calm and seriously methodical eating of birthday cake by a one year old ever. He was obviously a little surprised by all the attention and watched everyone else watching him while he solemnly sucked the icing off his cupcake.

Evan enjoyed opening presents for Isaac and playing with them of course. Just a few family members were there (Isaac is not going remember this party so we were pretty laid back about it all - hotdogs and cake.)

This is a bittersweet time, I'm going back to work in two weeks, the countdown has begun. Evan's going to handle the transition really well, it'll be harder on Isaac to go to daycare though. He's already suffering extreme clinginess to me right now. Separation anxiety and all that.

We are taking one last holiday before I go to work. The only place we could get tickets for with Aeroplan points was Victoria. I got so frustrated trying to get flights without using triple or more points per flight that I've cancelled our Aeroplan point collecting visa and started a new program with TD. They'll give us cash for flights, we just have to start collecting from scratch again. In the meantime, we're spending our points wherever we can to get rid of them and be done with that program.

The only way we could get to Victoria was by splitting up so Scott and Evan are flying together and Esther, Isaac and I are flying a few hours later... Ridiculous, but if we didn't split it would have been 47,500 points per person instead of 15,000. What a rip off! The boys "helped" us pack tonight - here are the pics of their contributions.



Evan packed toys in his carry on and made sure he could still fit his rubber boots while Isaac made sure he can fit in a suitcase - in case Air Canada messes up our flight and we have to check him with the baggage of course. We're looking forward to our time away. Keep posted, more pictures coming soon!

My Boys

Does not lack for enthusiasm... and check out that full set of chompers!


Don't ask me how... I just turned around and there he was!


A rare moment of brotherly bliss, they are more likely to fight over toys and push each other around...

Fall Fest/Halloween

Thank you grandma and grampa for the great costumes! I'm beginning to think that army dudes are going to be the theme for many a Halloween to come. I even gave Evan a few other choices but he wanted to be an "army guy." Fly boy didn't have a choice but doesn't he look handsome?

Random shots

Evan shows off his monkey climbing skills.


Isaac in his favorite spot in the house, next to the stereo.


Evan's getting better with his shots, here's a clear one of dad!


Did you ever forget to upload photos for so long that you'd accumulated several hundred? Some of which are over 7 months old? Here's a older shot of the boys, back with Isaac was four/five months old.


Evan loves stickers, especially planet stickers.