Manda's Back

Pieces of Me

Well, I promised an update and the next posts will do just that..all the way from October to March! Settle in for a long read!

Life in Three Hills has been an ongoing adventure and I'll try to highlight for you

New bosses moved in right next door...small town hazard

boys are homeschooling and struggling with all manner of personal issues....parent of teenager hazard

my dating life is indefinetely on hold...single mother with issues hazard

my professional life is under construction and going through some big changes but this is by my choice and is proving to be a postitive experience....I'll update you later on all of that...

Ocean is becoming a little lady and it is going way too fast! she is enjoying her school both academically, and socially.

Brad and I are actively in counselling and making headway in a number of areas

I am attending al-anon (sporadically) but have found it to be sooooo helpful!

Looking forward to dryer spring weather (not a big fan of mud) and all that the warm weather brings. Thanks for your prayers, interest, caring, encouragement and admonishments...(oh, and your patience as you check my blog and find nothing changed for months at a time)

Halloween

I'm sorry but I've just given up fighting it! Yes I allow witches and all sorts of evil into my home (I am a die hard Harry Potter fan after all...its a slippery slope apparently! But isn't she the cutest little bundle of evil you ever did see?

Christmas at Our House

Sorry this has taken so long, but its not next christmas yet!! We decorated early this year, even with very little in the way of snow outside we just couldn't wait...Well, Brad couldn't:) Our theme was snowmen...just in case you couldn't tell.

Christmas with the family

Christmas at mom and dad's

Not sure what was going on here, apparently dad is surprised to hear how tall his grandkids are growing?!

We all got together at mom and dad's the sunday before christmas (this year Mark and Mae got to have them on the actual day).. There is just something special about being with your parents during the holidays, it is always magical and meaningful. Thanks Mom and Dad for some wonderful traditions and memories.

Friends

One of the hardest things about leaving Calgary was leaving some great friends (both for me and the kids) This christmas holiday we were able to have Romi and her boys join us(actually new years, but that was our christmas this year)We had fun just hanging out, trying out the dance mat and while I was at work they made a surprise turkey dinner for me complete with fancy table...it was a great couple of days and we definitely have to do this more often!

Skating!

Ocean really wanted skates for christmas and took to the ice like a natural. She has great coordination(not from her mother) and even greater determination! we skated every day for a week (sometimes twice a day) and by the end she was skating with confidence and ready to try some more challanging moves. "Toe Pick!"

A servant heart

Ocean loves to be a part of my world and for christmas recieved her very own Chateau apron and name tag. She has learned how to balance a tray on one hand and set a beautiful table...I love to see her serving others (even the stuffed variety)

Winter in our yard

Jake

Growing Up

This is a photo of Ocean's return from her first ever solo trip to the supermarket! She was sent to purchase one tomatoe for supper....She loves to feel independant and grown up and celebrates each milestone.

Easter weekend

I have discovered that you are never too old to decorate Easter Eggs....it just wouldn't be Easter without it! We also took advantage of a special at our local Super8 Motel and hung out in the pool Thursday evening (my final day of work at the Chateau) and enjoyed the wonderful free breakfast the next morning (includes homemade waffles!)

Just as an update, I have been offered a position with KneeHill Ambulance to drive their Medi-Shuttle (non-emergency patient transfer van) It is a salaried position with 100%benefits for me and the kids. (it is also a 100% increase in pay) So with some sadness and trepidition I gave my notice at the Chateau, it has been great there and I will miss all my friends both young and old but when opportunity knocks....

Road Trip!

My christmas gift to Ren and Nelson (my international nephews) was a trip to Banff. Finally we are getting to it! We left Three Hills at 8am and settled in for the long ride...Jon drove the first part (as far as Airdrie) it is nice to have a second driver...This trip included a ride up the gondola and food...(do you know how much 4 teenagers can consume?) the day was beautiful and sunny, couldn't have picked a better time to go.

Banff

Banff

there is nothing quite like being in the mountains on a bright sunny day!

Exotic Lunch

I really wanted the kids to have an experience to remember, at this particular restaraunt, not only do you cook your own food on a 450degree hot rock but your choice of meat is anything but ordinary...the bottom picture has a plate of cubes of meat that include all of the following...Buffalo,venison,ostrich,python,shark,frog's legs and shark. The ostrich was quite nice! so was the shark, the python was quite chewy and the frog's legs...well lets just say you'd have to eat hundreds to survive, not much meat!
We went back to the van and had a picnic lunch afterward:)