Quick summer notes

These are being put on here, just so I can remember all that we have done so far. Summer 2010 June & July (so far). If I find time later I will post pictures.

Beginning of June we pulled the kids out of school and headed to Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park to spark our camping fever. It was great. There was hardly no one around and we got to just hang out together. We did the horse trail rides and Jada got to ride a horse all by herself for the first time. So much fun. She loved it. We stayed three days.

We camped in Kindersley for a weekend, since Casey had to do some work up there, we decided to pull the trailer up and hang out with him. It was nice there and Jada really became comfortable with riding her bike, finally. It is still in process this riding bikes thing, but slowly getting better (training wheels are still ON). We stayed four days.

We then went to Swift Current for one night and that was the day that we went to the Fair. Each year these kids amaze me with their courage. I am not one for the rides, so I am the official carrier of all things. Eric rode really hard and had his first incident with throwing up as well. It didnt slow him down from any rides though. Both his and Sara;s favorite ride has got to be 1001 nauts. (sp??) Uncle Nathan got to come with us this year which was awesome for the big kids. THey had a lot of fun together. Jada hooked up with her friend McKenna and they went hard and rode lots of rides. Jada even tried some bigger rides and loved them. She is growing up so fast. She rode for 3 hours straight and then we had to force her to stop. Grandma & Grandpa Welk camped with us.

The next day we all headed to Cabri Regional Park. This was the Wernicke Family Reunion and it was nice to see some family that we havent seen for a while. Hopefully more people will be able to make it next year. One sad thing about Cabri was that our dog, Copper, got really sick and we were really worried about him. He couldnt even stand or move and he was shaking really bad. BUt thankfully he was okay the next day and slowly started to perk up. The kids all learnt how to play Crib from the great Uncle Ross. And a Crib tournament was had by ALL. We had great weather and were thankful that the hail storms all missed us. We stayed for four days.
We then had a weekend at Outlook. Grandma & Grandpa Welk camped with us here as well. What a beautiful area. The long pedestrian bridge over the river is amazing. The kids played in the sand (what little was left because of the water levels being so high this year). Are main reason for going here was so that Carla Chabot could take our family pictures. She is an amazing photographer. She scopped out the area looking for a beach location for us and she found Danielson Beach which was awesome. We had great sun for that evening and got some great pictures. IT was really great fun to have her take our pictures. It also was great to have another weekend with G & G Welk. We stayed for three days.

Then the next day we headed back to Cypress Hills. We sure do love it there. It is so beautiful. We got a great spot, which you never know since it is a first come first serve basis. We did the trail rides again. It really is the girls favorite thing to do in the summer. Now they both think they need cowgirl boots. Hmmmm....... We also did Kayaking. We havent done this since we were at Camp Sagitawa at Moberly Lake, BC, so probably 6 years. Jada rode in mine since she is still too little to do it herself. Copper rode with Casey and this caused some good belly laughing. Copper jumped out three times into the lake. The last time was in the middle of the lake and Casey just had to pull him in, water and all. It was so funny. THey both were soaked. Copper shivered for the next two hours I;m sure. Poor Casey had to walk all the way back the to camp site in soaked jeans. Kayaking was Eric's favorite!! We will be doing this again. Then on the walk back to the trailer, Eric was giving Jada a piggy back and Jada started to fall asleep on his back. It was so cute.

Well that is it so far for the summer...OH WAIT!!! Eric, Sara, Jada all had swimming lessons for two weeks, and they all passed and got a badge. Eric passed Rookie, Sara passed Swimmer 6, and Jada passed Swimmer 1. Hooray for swimming.

Jada also got her hair cut at the salon for the first time this summer. She had a deep conditioning treatment, got her hands dipped in the hot wax, and had a much needed trim and she loved it. I was so sad that I never took the camera along. BUT Jada sat so good, and just chatted with the hair dresser about all kind of random things.

Well I thing that is it so far for this summer, it is only July 21 so there is still so much to come....goalie camp for Eric in S'toon, Hancock Family Reunion, and our BC trip.....so I will post more once it is over.

Jada's Kindergarten Orientation

May 31, 2010 ~ My last baby is dropped off at the big school at 1pm. I was feeling so flustered over this new era that we are entering, that I forgot to bring my camera. AHHHHH. Hope some mom's will share a few of their pics with me.

Jada was ecstatic to be going to the big school. She is so ready for kindergarten. We have a bit of work to do over the summer to finalize that, like writing our letters and numbers, and counting to 100. Stuff that will come with time, but we'd like to start now to give her a good start, since these are not strong points of hers.

She loved being there with her friends. Olivia and Adam where with her in the afternoon class, which made her heart sore. (Since Adam has proposed to her and she said yes, and I have it on video. Will post if I can figure it out.)

I on the other hand was a crying, blubbering mess when I left the school. Full out crying in my truck. When Eric went to kindergarten, I had Sara at home to distract me (still cried though). When Sara went to kindergarten, I was almost due with Jada so that kept me distracted (still cried though), now that my BABY was at kindergarten nothing was at home to distract me (other than Casey and packing to go camping, which was a blesssing). But come September, a whole new era is starting of all three kids being in school. What will I do with myself? I cant think of it yet, but will take it as it comes.

First Camping of 2010

Casey is not having any weekends off for a while so we decided to pull the kids from school and just hit the road with the trailer. We LOVE camping and just needed to get out there and do it. We left right after Jada's kindergarten orientation (oh I will do a write up about that too) on Monday. We hooked up the trailer and headed to Cypress Hills. This is the first time hooking up with our new truck and hauling somewhere to stay for a "weekend". We had wonderful weather, a quiet camp site and tons of FUN.

I took the kids on a horse trail ride, which we love. It is the best one we have found so far. This year was Jada's first time riding the horse ALL BY HERSELF. She was super excited and loved it when the horses would trot and we would get bounced. Sara talks the whole way which is fabulous. Jada even talked to the guide at random times throughout the 45 minute ride which is totally her coming out of her shell. Eric is more of a quiet rider, but yet always commentating on what is happening. It was so fun to be at the back of the pack and just take in these wonderful kids and the bond that time together creates.

We also did mini golf. Always a hoot to watch how each kid interprets "golfing".

We mainly spent time at the fire (Casey and I) and the kids had a pretty free range of the camp ground since there were no people around. Eric and Sara even started to include Jada in some excurtions and building of forts which is a bonus of her growing up. They are great with her and really had some bonding time with her.

We got no pictures, since I forgot the camera which is a forehead slapper if ever I had one. But our memories are still here. So thankful my kids are healthy and we are able to spend time together as a family.

Oh and Copper learned to appreciate the water finally. Last year he was scared to go in any water, but this year he was bouncing like a rabbit through the water and even went far out enough that he actually was swimming. It was fun to watch him enjoy himself.

We came home Wednesday afternoon. Two great nights of camping. And Casey & I didnt even fight TOO bad about parking the trailer. He is really great at doing it, so I have learnt to bite my tongue. I know nothing about it.

Strike a Pose

So I have a little poser! We were able to go to the Skates N Skirts Store in Mossbank over the weekend, and we got the girls matching Figure skating dresses. Jada is in love with her dress. She wanted me to take pictures of her different poses. Now, she came up with these all on her own. I will get pictures of the girls together and post them at a later date.

Linesman

Well, last week, Eric got himself a little 'job'. He is now old enough to be a linesman for any age group younger than him. He is very excited about this new adventure. And I must say, for his first two games he did well. Learning lots. The new boys did have a mentor and that was an excellent thing. He really helped the boys A LOT.

My camera takes really terrible pictures in our rink, but it was nice to capture his first game. I think his favorite part was dropping the puck.

Skate Boot Covers

So, these wouldnt load to facebook, so I am posting them here.

Jada's feet get so cold at CanSkate, so I decided to sew up some warm fuzzy covers for her to wear on the ice. Maybe this will help to keep her toesies warm. ANd I couldnt just sew them for one girl, so Sara got a pair of green snowflake ones as well. Jada's are the pink flower & butterfly ones. Both girls think they are awesome. I'll let you all know if they work. Till then.....

Happy Halloween!

What a beautiful day it was for all the trick n' treatin' there was to be had today!! Though we had a very sick Sara and she got no treating in. Earlier in the week we carved the pumpkins that we got from Grandma & Grandpa Welk. Jada would have nothing to do with the 'guts' inside the pumpkin. She was content to draw his face and hair on the front.

Eric and Sara are both very much into scooping the inside out with their hands. Ewww...is all I have to say about that. Both Eric and Sara get to use the knife and carve the creation of their choice for their pumpkins and each year they are gettin better and better.

Here is Sara with her finished pumpkin, it's a kitty. (I did help her draw it on and do some of the cutting.)

Jada wrapped her 'baby' in a blanket for the pictures. (She could carry around her pumpkin for days. It's so cute)

Eric did the vomitting pumpkin this year!!! NICE.

Here's a picture of the girls in their costumes. This was Jada's daytime costume, a mermaid. For the evening of trick or treating she was Sully off of Monsters Inc.

Eric was a homeless man, and I didnt even take one picture of him. Boo. So till next halloween...