Thank you Chi Wah, Irene and family

This is picture of Casendra, and Ethan, Sierra and cousin Emma. We took this picture as an updated view of Casendra in her outfit from Nelson's parents. (For those of you who don't know, Nelson was our homestay student last year, but has started school down in Calgary this year so we do not get to have him stay with us.)
They sent this outfit for her and it finally now fits her. It is cute and warm and she has gone to sleep just now wearing it after having a nice relaxing bedtime bath. Thank you again guys. You are both very thoughtful and we appreciate your family very much.

Allie, our new dog?...kind of my fault

Allie...the little dog that will most likely be ours. It was a 'dog sitting' situation. But upon recent discussion with the owners, who are in the process of relocating, they are most likely needing to find him a new home. We possibly took too good of care of him, and gave too nice of reviews, so they are really feeling their lifestyle isn't good for him as they did not have such great reviews when he lived with them. So, at the end of this month they will be making a final decision to try and keep him or officially offer him to live with us forever, or if we are not able to do that, find him a new home instead. So...I figure, he already has a place sleeping on our bed (yes our bed, mine and John's...and last night when I wasn't even home...John let him up on the bed to sleep!)

Anyhow, he is adorable...and very good at finding the 'best, most comfortable' spot to sleep, whether that is my basket of clean clothes, Ethan's bed, leather couch or Casendra's play mat in the sun.

Well...now all I have to do is break the news to John :( :)

Goodbye old friend...

This is John, Ethan and John's old camping chair. He has loved this chair (and its partner-- a similar in age, make and appearance camping chair) for many many years. However, this year as he was sitting quietly by our backyard campfire...it died. And he fell, luckily he's not got the same size lower half as me so he didn't get stuck...but it was funny, sad, loss of a dream kind of sad for John, but funny sad for those watching. Sorry John. RIP camping chair (and as an aside, its partner chair broke in the exact same way, under John's bum, trapping him for a while as he fell through, during our last camping weekend of this year. Didnt' have a camera, but it looked pretty similar to the pictures below. RIP camping chair partner)

Daddy's girl

Casendra is almost always content (unless she's really hungry) to sit with her daddy. She'll sit and watch T.V. or just cuddle with him and often she'll fall asleep in his arms just sitting up. I love to see that happen. John is so busy during the summers that he doesn't have much time at home for precious moments and enjoys them greatly when they do happen. He got to go camping alone with Ethan for 2 days before we joined him up at Crimson lake which was very special for the two of them (but didnt' bring a camera) and he is hoping to get some alone time with Sierra too. It really helps the kids to bond and regain their relationship with him after such long periods away during summer bin building stretches.

Another kitty.....it wasn't my fault!

This is Sierra's new kitty. I did not go out looking for it! I swear I didn't.
The story goes: I was driving to Calgary with mom and the kids, when just outside Beiseker I slammed on my brakes and began to back the van up. Mom asked what I was doing and I said "didn't you see that kitten back there, it was just sitting right beside the road". I stopped the van and jumped out then walked up to the crying kitty who ran into the long grass in the ditch. I figured he was going to be too timid to catch, but went a little ways into the ditch to try anyway cause I could hear it meowing. Well, he didn't run, attack or bite me when I reached to pick him up. He CLUNG to my neck and meowed and purred. How could I leave such a little cute needy kitten there all alone to be run over by some huge truck? Well...I couldn't. Mom certainly wasn't risking taking it after her most recent emotionally and financially draining cute kitten ordeal, but I simply could not let it stay there alone. I'm quite certain it was dropped off as it was VERY tame...either that or terribly in need of affection :)
So, he came to Calgary with us and then home to Three Hills later that night. He sleeps in Sierra's room, right with her (although the smell in the room is now absolutely horrendous, so we think they both pass out at night to get away from it) And he seems to be doing well, although we found a strange sore on his chest. His name is "Sweety" and he really is one. Purrs and cuddles and as you can see in the picture...Kisses. Plus...John said that as I didnt' go out looking for him, that made it 'slightly' better, and he accepts that for now we have 3 cats. Thanks John :)

Casendra's first 'real' food

Recently the kids and I joined John up in Vermilion where he was building bins. We had a great weekend with him, even though he still had to work part of it. One night while we were getting ready to eat at the local restaurant. I decided to let Casendra try some cereal I had bought for her, it would be the first time for real feeding so I didn't expect much. However, she was hungry and she at a lot! These are some views of how much she enjoyed it and was really into it, even trying to get the spoon for herself. Very funny.

"What do I do with it now???????!!!!!!"

Cute Casendra

Casendra loves her feet, she moves them around all the time, she'll sit in her carseat with one leg up on the handle, completely relaxed...very flexible! I'll try to get a picture of it.

This little girl is so smiley. Over any and almost everything she smiles and now she'll laugh too. Very adorable and irresistable.

Ethan...and his hair cut

Okay.... the other day Ethan found our hair clippers and buzzed a strip off the top of his head. Next day I made that strip into an E for Ethan :). couple days later we decided (he and I...no one else would have done this to their child I'm sure) to shave one half of his head. Today he promises me I can shave the whole thing. So cute :)

Auntie Laura--an excellent caretaker!

I stole these from Laura's camera, sure she would have them up first...so I don't mean to usurp her position...but I'm up, house is quiet so I figure I'd put on a few pics for those of you who don't know Laura, and don't check her blog for our family updates :)

Auntie Laura is great with our kids. They adore her. And we love her. She is patient and generous and kind and trying hard to help John and I gain some sort of financial sense (she needs patience, generosity and kindness to put up with our slow grasp of things!!)

Ethan was sick and was comforted by his cuddle time with Laura and his 'bowl'. Casendra had tons of holding and cuddling and was deserving of this day of spoiling (I don't think it spoiled her at all...she is still in a good mood today).

Thank you Laura, for all you do with and for our family. We appreciate it greatly. May God continue to richly bless you. And for any of you out there who have never checked out her blog...do it!! Oh...I need to figure out how to make a link to it so you can :)

Daddy's girl

A day out with Casendra

Casendra was with us yesterday when we went to retrieve Caballero from North of Edmonton. She was excellent on the long trip and didn't interfere with our 'date day' at all. Here are some pics of here from yesterday (Saturday June 14/08) The last one is from today however...too adorable to pass up on...plus I needed 9 pictures!

Caballero "our" Gentleman Cowboy

9 year old purebred (soon to be registered) Morgan gelding. Green broke, beautiful, friendly and looking real smooth!

Father's Day and other stuff :)

Today was Father's Day, a bit of a sporadic day for John as he was busy cleaning and delivering a horse trailer in the morning (that he graciously drove over 8 hours yesterday to help 'me' get Caballero, the new horse, here to his new home. And then he got to BBQ which he is great at but I am sure it was a bit crazy as he was doing 4 different meats (2 different kinds of hotdogs, chicken, steak and salmon) All of them tasted fantastic. And then of course there are kids and wives and sleepiness to contend with.

John, you are a great dad, I love you and your kids love you. I know you believe you have faults but I also know that you overcome those faults with: your humor, your wrestling times with the kids, your willingness to read with them, jump on the trampoline with them, watch movies with them, take them for icecream or to the dump, show them the right way to do things and patiently follow through with the learning of it (like Ethan's speech or Sierra reading out loud), you have learned to emote with the kids when they are hurt (even when they should have known what would happen to them because they had disobeyed your good 'preventative thinking') and you have been more and more gentle with them as they learn from their mistakes *and ours! You are willing to change your ways of doing things, given enough good reason (or just to keep a peaceful home :) and you are even willing to ask your kids *and wife* for forgiveness when you have erred (even if sometimes it takes awhile :). You are an excellent worker and provider (even though the short falls in money or timing can almost do you in as your fear of failing us kicks you down) But we do not fear. We know that God is on your side and that he has given us all friends and family along with his miraculous ways to support and help as He directs.
You are doing an awesome job. I know I do not tell you that enough, nor do I really show you just how great you are as a dad...I can tend to focus on what I'd like to be different, and for this I am sorry. I will work at honoring you more and focusing on the postive (as you have encouraged me to do before) and lift you up, encourage and support you and remember to verbalize how I admire and respect what you are in this family.

I thank your father before you for the role model he was. He was such an integral part in creating the man that you are. The man you are in this family that is ready and driving to suceed...in all ways. A man who truly wants what is best for those he loves. A man that has gotten up after he has failed and continued on, getting STRONGER each time even when other forces would have you belive you are weaker. A man that is tender, is true, is loyal and is accepting of his wife...even her crazy dreams! A man who wants things to be different in the world, starting with his family. A man who is aware of what can be, and a man who is working toward attaining that. A man who forigives, A man who loves, A man how has ethics, and a man who fights (sometimes scarily--like in traffic) for what is right. A man that spends time with his children even though his work week is long and emotionally and physically draining, not to mention the nights he stays up to be with his 'night owl' wife...knowing she needs him. A man who does truly excellent work on his job and anything he puts his mind or body into...even being a drunk (in a play people...in a play!) A man who is funny, and loving and a man who actually enjoys and treats the elderly as his peers...not just as 'old people' as so many in our society do. A man who cares, a man who loves his parents, a man who cares about their wellbeing and a man who gets in trouble sometimes for some or all of the above when his methods are misunderstood.

You are our man John, mine and the kids and we love you with as much of an unconditional love as any human can manage. We appreciate you and we are loyal to you. We are here with you till the glorious end (which is a long way off by the way) and we want the absolute best for you. Thank you for being the father in this family. We would have NO other.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY JOHN! WE LOVE YOU!

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Little Casendra Faith, in her pretty blue hat (thanks Kara!) So cute!

Happy Father's Day Dad (Andy)...from all of us, see even her bibs says granddads are loved :) especially on this special day. This time your words will be in a card, gotta let my main man have some blog time!