So today at the dinner table,the phone rang and it was daddy...he was telling me what he was up to tomorrow and then i said quickly that i had to go since we were getting ready to have FHE...gramma was here so we thought we would have it together...anyway just before FHE...i told gramma what jim had said to me on the phone...and well...don't say an adult saying in front of a 4 year old...here's what happened...'So jim said he's going to be thrown into the fire tomorrow and going to do a programming job all by himself...he did get well prepped today'...then gage said...'i don't want a new dad'...uh what are you talking about?...gage continues...'i don't want dad to be thrown into the fire and have to get a new dad'...so i said...'we are not getting a new dad...i am sorry i said dad is going to be thrown into the fire...that's just an adult saying dad is really not going to be gone and we don't have to get a new one'...gramma had to help me out with this one too...she said...'dad is getting to do a new job to do' or something like that effect...the whole situation almost made me cry...gage really thought dad was going to be thrown into the fire...note to self...WATCH WHAT YOU SAY!...they are sponges!!!!

happy, happy, joy, joy

this is another episode of our lives...jim has been working in calgary now for about 3 months and his evaluation is coming up this week...fingers crossed they like him and will keep him around...i know jim really likes his job, frustrations and all so i am hoping that he will stay at this job for a long long time...gage started school last week at dr. hammon...and he loves it...the very first day which was only orientation he said to me 'i don't want you to stay with me at school'...WOW...i didn't know whether to be sad or happy...so i just let it slide...why make a big deal about the whole thing...i am emotional about some stuff, i guess not this...i was sort of glad he wanted to go to school and had such enthusiasism...both kids have also started gymnastics and really enjoy going...gage has a little friend in his class and they stick together like glue...kinda cute...gage is a great listener in class as well...i hardly saw him fooking around and not paying attention...it was great...so we will see about this week...addi was right in there too, doing everything the coach asked her to do...i am with her in her class...it's a parent tot class but she really watches her teacher and does what she's told...now why can't she do that at home?...i started my new job at the end of aug...4 days of orientation and wham...your it after that...i know my stuff i know my stuff...it is great that there is so much help around there and everyone does everyone's job and is so helpful and will to help make's life a whole lot easier to work and enjoy the job better...i know it will be more routine the more i work, so for now i am doing the best i can and will just keep trying to get faster and better at my job...i do enjoy the work...it is different and fast paced and i like to see the stuff i get to see...i only work 2 days a week but after one day i am bagged and go to bed the same time the kids go to bed...it would be the perfect position if it were only in taber where i live and then i wouldn't have to drive so far and be gone from the kids so long...but such as life and i will keep working until the temperary position ends...gage turned 4 on friday...he is older now and he reminds me every time he has to do something...too fun...addi thinks she is going to school with gage when he goes and is heart broken when she can't stay...she's right in there doing activities and devistated to have to leave when we do...she is so ready for pre-k...lol...jim and i decided to get gage some fish for his birthday because when he had a pet caterpillar he really wanted to feed it and take care of it...well one sunday morning jim came and told me that the caterpillar was dead and then did nothing about it and played it like nothing was wrong...so that day gage gave his pet some new leaves and he also thought nothing of the situation...the next day jim left for calgary and left me with the wrath of dealing with the dead caterpillar...i probably would have waited for jim to come home again and make him deal with it but the thing was turning black and was really stiff looking...so i proceeded to tell gager that his caterpillar had died and well i have never seen him sooo sad in all his life...we had to burry him in the back yard with his leaves and say a little prayer that he was happy in heaven...i had to deal with cocodile tears all day...literally all day and into the next day too...anyway i am not sure why we decided to buy another pet just to have them die too...but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time and gage was so super excited...it was worth it...now we have 4 fish and their names are...slurpee, dodo dodo, smacky smacky, and i can't remember the fourth fishes name so i will blog it next time...the joys of pets!!!i made gage a buzz light year cake for his birthday and he kept saying that this was his best birthday ever...made me feel so proud of me and to see the excitment in him makes me happy too...we had a pinata as well...that was great fun too...boys hitting stuff...boys will be boys...

it only took 6 months...

so now that june is here...we have more news...jim is now finished his school in calgary and is working in calgary at a place called SIGIT...he is staying at uncle Myles' house during the week and coming home on the weekends...his new job is a progamming one...fitting since the school he took was plc progamming...lol...anyway...we have also bought a new truck...black ford F150...gage has wanted a truck with 4 doors for a while now...and every time he saw one or we started to talk about one gage would say 'i want a truck with 4 doors, dad'...and he ment it too...on june 4th gage graduated from joy school...geichan and gramma diana uncle russy and megan all came out to celebrate...gage got a new book from gramma...the next day gramma without the puppy and i had a garage sale here in taber and baked our skin doing it...it was a nice relaxing day...now all i have to do is get the rest of my stuff out of the garage and to the thrift store and gone forever...that's the hard part...i had a job interview yesterday in leth on day procedures...and i thought i had bombed it totally...but i got the job and will be starting after the summer ends...it's 2 days a week and one week i do 3 shifts...it's only temperary but i will be doing a lot of new things and i am scared and excited at the same time...jim and i are just in to doing new things i guess...sort of scary but i think it will be fun...jim will not have to work in calgary for very long...he should be changing to a field tech in taber soon...working in taber as a satelite shop sort of...jim needs to fill in the family with those details...i am very vague on what exactly he does and when he will be working here in taber...so it looks like we don't have to move unless i find a house i really like here in taber...addi turns 2 on the 23rd of june...my baby is 2...and my boy is in pre-k in 3 months...how the time flies...gage is going to primary actvities all by himself...what a big boy...
half a year over and it feels like we are just at the begining...well that's our news for a while!

times are a changin'

so in early march jim had to make a decision...go up to Fort-Mac...or to stay here in taber and find a new job...well what we chose to do was enroll into school at SAIT (weekend PLC courses)...he had to quit his job at Pyramid since they were going to send him to fort-mac and that would have had him not be able to go to these classes in calgary on the weekends...he would not have been home to do so...so this is our new plan...jim is Mr. Mom...he is staying home with the kids and i have been able to get a decent amount of shifts at the hospital for the month of march...while at home jim is finishing some much needed reno's...i can finally shower in my upstairs bathroom...the tile in the kitchen is finished just not grouted yet...the drawers in the kitchen are not falling out anymore...that was a $2.50 job...jim said to me...'why did this take me so long to do...it was only $2.50 and it took me like 10mins to do'...ARE YOU KINDIN' ME???!!!!...if only i had whinned a little more then maybe it would have gotten done sooner!...the smallest things are the hardest to get done...the downstairs bathroom got a makeover too...hooray for unemployment, right???!!!...well jim was not totally unemployed he did work a day here and there doing odd jobs...which was nice for him(and me) to get out of the house...one morning jim decided to go to leth and drop off some resumes...we didn't even know that he was gone until he called and said he was on his way home...well a week after he dropped off the resumes he got a call from 'MPE engineering' for an interview...that same day he got an email offering him a job...WOW...what a blessing we were thinking we would be unemployed for at least 3 months until jim was done his SAIT courses...when he is done his courses he is supposed to be working at a programming company in Calgary...he was offered a job there too...but...he didn't have all the programming credentials they wanted...so they said the sooner you get them the sooner you can work for us...so here we are waiting for jim to finish his courses and see what's up with the calgary job at Sigit...and what lethbridge can offer us in the future...jim has a 5 month contract with MPE...ends aug 31/10...so we have options again and we will get more info when we are supposed to get it...since Apr.7/10 jim has been going to work in regular clothes and street shoes...SSSSOOOOO different than blue coveralls and work boots...he is working in an office and is really enjoying it...as for me...i worked lots in march and have been home most of april already...but this is good too...the kids however miss dad...it didn't take long to get used to dad being home a lot...it was nice...
Easter was fun too this year...the kids woke up Good Friday to treats that the easter bunny left...movies and candy and chocolat...then we went swimming with the Christensen/Alston family at the taber pool then to the stake center for dinner...i was able to see my BF robyn...it has been 2 years since we've seen or talked to one another...a long long time...nice to be able to pick up where we left off though...then we decided to go into coaldale and spend the rest of the weekend at gramma and grampa's house...easter bunny stopped off there too...more treats and new spring clothes and books...we had an easter egg hunt in the back yard...the kids got some moneys to put into their piggy banks...we missed the eckville robisons this year...gage was sad that they didn't come...he remembers from last year that they were here at easter time...we just told him the easter bunny went to their house too...he was satisfied with that answer...easy...this weekend was also conference weekend...what a special time of year to hear about the savior and how we should remember him and have easter all at once...it was great to listen...sort of...to the talks and spend time with the robison family...monday april 5th was jim's interview in leth...so we all went with him...i drove around town with the kids and wasted time...then we jim was done we went to Henderson Park...got to see a cray fish and walk on rocks and see all the geese...the geese were the high light...we tried to feed them and one really nice girl gave gage and addi some bread to feed the geese and one came right up to gage, pecked at his hand and snatch the piece of bread right from it...he said that didn't even hurt...but i think it scared him a bit...he had fun and of course i did not have my camera...i never have my camera...what else is new...we went to gramma and puppy's house after the park and had lunch there, played in the sand box, jumped on the trampoline and had another easter egg hunt...SPOILED or what...we have so much candy we are sugared all day long!!!it's so much fun around here!!!one day gage said...'who popped the easter?' and then addi replied 'me did'...i was the funnest thing ever!!!!...and of course i did not record it or get it on film either...gage starts soccer this month...so we are looking forward to getting to be outside more...so far 2010 has been eventful and interesting and challenging...til next time!

2010

jim has been home since mid Jan...has started to work again here in taber...yay...he worked for a week and then the kids and i took off to BC for 10 days...we visited my sista and her kids and my dad...we got to see gage and addi's nanna too...we were there just before the olympics started and got to see all the construction and cool colors...flying with 2 kids is a challenge but at least the flight is short...the kids had so much fun in bc...they played hard with their cousins and enjoyed antie drina and robbie and gechan...we don't get to see them often...and the kids were not as shy as i thought they would be...hooray...gage got a t-shirt from his cousins' dad...i has a helicopter on it and it is his most very favorite shirt in the whole world...he wears it non stop...he'll sleep in it and then wear it the next day then again to bed and then again the next day, if i let him...eventually he lets me wash it and we start all over again...oh well...i think it's kinda cute and reminds me of jim when he was kid...i guess he had a fav. shirt too and pretty much did the same thing gage is doing now with his shirt...like father like son...we have been home now for a few weeks and we are just settling back into routine...gage had one canskate lesson last week and did so much better than he had been doing...he missed 2 classes while we were in BC...so i was a little anxious about him going back...we did get him to wear smaller size skates and voila...he did so much better...i think he will be on his way in no time soon...addi is talking so much more than before and both are a broken record at times and it drives me crazy, crazy, crazy!!!!...i found a white hair the other day and pulled it out...then last night i found another one and left that one alone...i am so tempted to pull it out too but i don't want another one...i am too young for WHITE!!!!!!...i am trying to be more fit and workout in the mornings...so me and the kids do some stretches and a little pilates and then rest...but it is so funny to watch my kids copy me...they are so delightful when they are not yelling or talking back to me or fighting with one another...addi is getting better at going peepee on the potty...maybe she will be trained by 2???...cross fingers...gage can now put his own shoes on and clothe himself, all by himself...he hardly asks me anymore to help him...hooray...i was getting really tired of having to get him dressed when i knew he could do it himself...and now he is so proud that he can do it that we always give high fives and he loves it...he is slowly getting confident!!!it's fun to watch addi try to dress herself...everything goes over the feet first...pants and shirts!!!...when she runs she gets up on her toes and runs really fast and wriggles her behind...really fun to watch...gage uses an 'ife' to cut his meals up now...we did some mug shots of each of the kids and jim too...so here are some recent pics!...that's all the new stuff for now...at least that's all i can remember for now!!!ciao

christmas and newyears

christmas started with jim coming home a day early and surprising me almost to the point of peeing my pants...the next day i went to the temple with the third ward youth and that was so fun...i had only gone once before to do baptisms for the dead and so this was a great refresher and experience...i was asked if i was a youth or an endowed member...to their surprise i told them i was endowed...so i got a special outfit...then i was able to be baptised...that came to a surprise to me...i was totally not expecting it so i didn't bring any hair stuff or my EYELASH curler...and i was so concerned that my eyelashes would go dart straight if i was to get baptised and they did, but not as much as i thought they would...so that was cool...the next day was saturday and i think we went shopping for christmas presents...then i worked quite a bit during the christmas holidays...so jim was home lots with the kids...the wednesday before christmas we went to my sista's house jen...we had supper there and ate way to much and so that was the beginning of the christmas binge...we exchanged christmas presents with one another and had a great time visiting and eating...the next day was christmas eve...i worked and then that evening jim's parents and scott and michelle came out and we ate some dips and chips and chocolate stuff that i made...we also got to open our pajama's...gage was super excited to wear his that night that i was not able to wash them before hand!!!...too bad cause i am a little anal about washing stuff before wearing it!...christmas day we opened presents here at the house and then we packed up and headed into coaldale...dave and les came down from eckville and we were able to open our presents there...then it was off to jim's uncle ken's house...all i had to bring was pickles and buns...it was great...we had the traditional turkey and all the trimings...plus ham and cabbage rolls...it was so filling...after visiting for a while and forgetting to pack diapers for addi...we headed home to coaldale...addi had to wear her cousin's pull-up's like 3 sizes to big...it was dang cute, they were so big on her...but let me tell you how greatful i was regardless of size...addi pee'd so much i thought i was going to loose the diaper for sure...but lucky for me leslie had pullups and i was saved...anyways...after addi had a poop i decided that we needed to get home and addi into her little size 3 diapers...boxing day was fun...we woke here in taber again then went to coaldale and then to leth for some shopping...we mostly stayed in coaldale for most of christmas while jim's bro and the cuzs' where here...on the
30th the eckvillians came to taber to go swimming at the pool...gramma and grampa and scott and michelle were here too...the kids had pizza afterwards and the adults had ribs and rice and salad and veggies...new years eve we got the kids dressed up to go to the church for a dance...gage was warned that if he hit at the dance that we were coming home...gage ended up hitting me at the dance right after we ate some pizza...so we had to come home...we went to see if walmart was open cause we were still hungry...but they were closed...so we went to panago and got pizza's again...mmm...mm...mmm good...jim bought some movies...after supper we sent the kids to bed and watched our movies and then went to bed too...jan 2 and 3 i had to work so jim was responsible to get the kids ready for church and get them there too...we changed to 9am church...so he said he ran out of time...a couple of people commented on gage's hair...i guess gage wanted to do his own hair and look like jack frost...so his hair was really spiky all over the place...i guess people noticed it enough to comment on it...unfortunately i didn't get any pictures but just imagine what might have looked like...gage likes jack frost!!!jim had dinner for me when i got home from work except we had to wait another 3 hours to eat...a frozen roast in the crock pot for 3 hours is not nearly long enough...oh well the thought was there...we ate around 6pm...and it was delish!!!today is jan 4 and jim is gearing down to go back to work up to wabescwa, today!!!poor us...gage stole dad's tooth brush and ran away...he thought that if dad didn't have his tooth brush he couldn't go to work...clever boy!!!...but today is the day and jim will be gone for another 10 days...gage starts joy school again tomorrow and can skate too...i am thinking about putting addi into gymnastics but we will see...

hooray...what a day

so jim gets to come home today...he has been gone for 10 days...it went by fast and slow at the same time...we are busy with parent preschool program on mondays...tuesday and thursdays we have joy school...so we have been busy in the mornings...and filling the afternoon's with stuff...wow i have no idea what we have been doing all week long...let's see...we've had lots of play days monday afternoon i did a tupperware party...tuesday was mutual and gramma came out and stayed with the kids...that was super awesome of her...oh ya...gage spent the night at gramma's house sunday night, then she brought gage home monday afternoon...i borrowed her vaccum and she needed it back so it was a fair exchange...wednesday...it was quiet...gage was invited to go to gymastics with his friend evan...he had a blast and said it was 'soo cool, mom'...and today jim gets home...he left camp around 1pm and will drive about 9hrs to get here...he's in a van with some other guys so i'm thinking they will take turns driving...i didn't tell gage dad was coming home yet...otherwise i won't hear the end of it...and i get tired of telling him the same thing over and over again...we put a sticker on every day before chirstmas until christmas and we are also keeping track of how long dad is gone...we colored the square when he comes home...so later tonight we will put a sticker on it and he'll know that dad is coming home today...i asked gage if he wanted to go into gymnastics or learn how to skate and he choose skating...so in january he will start skating...i am so excited for him...i can't wait...addi had a hoot at gymnastics too...she really liked the balance beams...and the music!...jim will have to go back up to wabisca on tuesday but won't have to stay the whole 10 days...hooray...but still we have to do it!!!!...we've aslo had our japanese exchange student here and he has been an awesome help and company...the kids really like him and they have fun together...i just hope he's been having fun with us too...well can't wait to see jim tonight!!!

home and gone again

we had jim home for 4 days...and they were fun filled days!...he came home on thursday night while i was at my first tupperware party(i am a consultant now)...the kids were being baby sat and jim came home earlier than i had thought...i was on my way home anyway so when i got there the kids were in bed(what a great sitter)and jim was still in his work clothes...so i rushed and gave him a kiss then out the door again to drive the sitter home...mean time jim showered, thank goodness...no dirt in my new sheets!!!!!...we were up for a long time talking it was really nice...then we fell asleep...friday was a lazy day...jim woke up with the kids and made eggs, hasbrowns and bacon, while i stayed in bed...we all ate breaky together and then he went and layed down again...i had no idea he was tired...i am the one that was supposed to be tired...all week long by myself with the kids and they were both sick and not sleeping well...anyway...long story short...addi fell asleep on the bathroom floor while i did my hair and make-up...so i put her into her crib...gage fell asleep with dad in our bed...so i went downstairs and cuddled on the couch with the phone and remote and a bag of mini oreo cookies...mmm..mmm..good...i talked to my sista drina for like an hour while she looked up jobs on the internet and i watched a show on hair extensions...i really want hair extensions...since addi was born, my hair just will not grow as fast as it used to...and i am way to impatient to let it grow so slowly...so i want to help it along and get extensions...but jim won't let me!!!not sure his reasons why...he just won't...anyway we went to leth in the afternoon when everyone woke up and then to our ward supper...great food and a fun program...the MC asked if anyone wanted to sing a solo, so i asked gage if he wanted to sing 'jingle bells' and he got so excited and he started to walk up to the front where the mic was and we all followed him...addi was even excited... we had to wait our turn and when it was finally ours gage went up to the MC and told her he was going to sing jingle bells...then she announced it to the audience and asked them to give him a round of applause...and he got stage fright!!!...he turned around and burried his head into jims chest and sort of sang from there...so it ended up being jim and i singing with a little help from the kids...it was so FUN!!!...the next day i was up early and went to cardston with my friend chandra to a womens relaxer...it was so fun to laugh until i cried...learn how to belly dance...learn to live in the moment and slow down...and enjoy...got some great door prizes...got a massage that brought back germany memories...just overall had a great relaxing time and will do it again next year...oh did i mention how great the food was!!!...and lots of it!!!...then our husbands met us in cardston with the kids and chandra's little sisters bsat the kids while we went to the Temple...what a great and long day!!!...sunday was stake conference...and too bad they don't record the talks and then give them to you later like gen conf...cause i spent the whole meeting chasing kids around and making them sit still and be quiet...exhausting!!!...too bad i didn't hear any of the talks though...we then went to gramma and grampa's for supper and had a fun visit...monday was another lazy day...jim did laundry and finished packing...played with the kids lots...addi had to get her booster H1N1 shot...now she is terrified of needles and doctors' offices...(that is another story all together...)...i actually made a really nice supper...well jim started it and i finished cooking and preparing...we had chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and broccoli...the kids raved over it and i thought it tasted pretty good myself...i need to cook like that more often!!!haha...i get into cooking moods...anyway...jim went to sleep with gage and i stayed awake for as long as i could then woke jim up around 12:15am...and he got ready to leave for work again...he left around 01:30am and drove with 2 other guys back to wabisca...they got there the next morning before the bus left for site and worked...we are able to talk on skype so it's really making it much easier than i could have been...today is thursday and he comes home next thursday, dec. 3rd...busy week...tues joy school and i was the helper...preparing for the christmas party at school...i have to work 3 days this week...so that's been hard on the kids and me...no sleep and tired and cranky don't really mix together...one more day of work then we have our japanese exchange student coming to stay with us for a week or so...his name is Daiki...it will be fun to have him here while jim is gone for the next week...so off to bed to try and get some sleep before the morning comes to soon!!!!

what a week

well...let me tell you about my weeks...jim left for a camp job last thursday to wabescaw...somewhere up north...and that same night gage decided to throw up every where...then the next day again throw up and diarrhea in the morning twice...the next day, sat...no puke, but diarrhea x2...then sunday diarrhea again...but this time it was less...thank goodness...the kids wanted to go to church that day so we went and survived all 3 hours...had left overs from the day before and that was sunday...that night addi decided to be awake from 2:20-5am...slept til 6am then again till about 7:30 and that's when gage woke up too...she decided to puke up breakfast all over the kitchen floor and cupboard and sink...it took a heck of a time to clean it up and get the smell to go away...then she decided to go and have a nap after all that cleaning...so when she woke up from her nap she had some apple juice and next thing you know we are all in the hallway...i am holding addi and gage is right in front of me and wham...puke...addi puked on gage's hair and all over his clothes, so i rushed her into the bath tub, cause by now gage is screaming 'she puked on me!!!!', at the top of his lungs and then started heaving himself...so i rushed him into to the tub too and they were puking together in the tub with all the bath toys i forgot to put away!!!!!...so another GREAT day!!!!...it was a monday for sure...then after lunch addi thought she should puke one more time...and then she was done for the day...and so was i!...i did 5 loads of laundry, cleaned the carpets and the whole upstairs bathroom...and the day still was not over yet!...tues was better and we were all free from diarrhea and puke, thank goodness...it was a crazy 5 days...now i am frantically trying to get ready for my first tupperware party...i am a consultant now and it's tomorrow night...i am almost there!...jim is coming home tomorrow night and we are all looking forward to seeing him...we talk on the phone every night...the internet has not been working for him up there...he is finding the work easy and long...but the food is good!!!...they work 12 hour days....the kids have fun talking to him on the phone and addi chats a lot, it's pretty fun to listen to her tell stories!...

work has arrived

we found out on Tuesday that Jim is going to be going to Wabesca, Alberta...what does this mean?...he will work for 10 days and be home for 4 days...we are excited for work but bummed that he is so far away and we think that 2 of his days off are going to be travel days...so that means he will have 2 solid days home for sure...we will know more after this first shift!...today is Thursday and jim just left for Nisku with another guy that he works with...so that was a blessing that he didn't have to drive by himself...yesterday we took advantage of the work news and another day off and went to calgary...yesterday was rememberence day...i got to go to ikea and spend my birthday money...i am so excited to sleep in my new sheets and cuddle with the kids...we probably will be sleeping together lots since jim is gone...bad habits starting again!!!...oh well it will be nice to have someone next to me at night!!!!...the kids took jim leaving well...i don't think they fully understand what is happening!...hopefully we will be able to skype in the evenings!...the place jim is going to supposidly has internet, so we will see what happens in the next few days!!!...keep fingers crossed!...otherwise we will have and enormous cell phone bill!...i have become a tupperware consultant now so i am hoping to be busy while jim is gone and keeping the kids occupied too...lots of movies and popcorn is in the menu!...we were able to go and see auntie rose and roland and mckinley while in calgary and have supper with them...i was a short visit...the kids were tired, especially gage...so we left earlier than i wanted to, but that just meant, home sooner too!!!...the kids slept most of the way home and then were up early this morning...i think addi gets sore bum sitting for so long and gets uncomfortable sleeping sitting up...so whenever the van slowed down she would wake up and fuss for a few minutes and then find her thumb and 'b.b'...and fall back to sleep...until the next time...gage stayed asleep until we arrived home and then went straight to bed...i hope addi changes soon to be like gage and sleep as good as he does!...