On the Hunt

Okay, for all you MH'ers, I am looking for a job again! The mat leave position that I took is up early - Jan 01 - so I am on the hunt. I am hoping for some office type since I know my dream job of working with animals or in the environmental field (that I am actually trained in), probably isn't going to happen!! If you hear of anything, please let me know! I'm open to (almost) anything!

Handsome Halladays

Fall is the time for the annual Halladay photo shoot, and I thought we had better get it done before it snowed (AGAIN). This year, we (well, I) decided to ask my boss if we could use his land as the venue. It was a hit with the boys - fences to climb, places to check out, old barns to look into. Anyway, here are some individual shots of my handsome fellas. You'll have to wait for the Christmas card for the best one!

World Vision

Hello All!

Three years ago, one of our boy's teacher's decided she would like her class to participate in the World Vision Christmas Catalogue Fundraiser. What it involves is, donations (of varying amounts) adding up to buy a stable or stables full of animals for communities in developing countries. It started, at our our school, with one class, and last year, we were the top contributor in all of AB.

It is a wonderful fundraiser and I know that we have enjoyed helping the boys participate in this. They do all sorts of fundraising as classes and as individuals to meet, and even exceed their goals.

If you are looking for a way to help some one out this Christmas, this may be it! Please don't hesitate to contact me and I will let you know what you can do to help!

Thank you in advance for your support! All donations over $15 will receive a tax receipt.

Wrigley Piggley

The (CRAZY) Halladays would like to announce the newest addition to our family: Wrigley Halladay! He is a male silver Labrador Retriever (registered as a chocolate lab), and was born on August 30, 2009. We have had him for a couple of weeks now, and as you can see, he has stolen our hearts!

Look at that face!

Can't wait till next feeding time. I'm not kidding - this dog eats! Half the time, I call him Pigley - because that is what he is. I've never seen anything like it! It's just like having a baby - he EATS, sleeps, and poops - okay, he plays a lot too! We do love him!

Tyrrell Museum

Every year, we venture to Drumheller to see the Dinos. This year it was crazy! The whole weekend it RAINED and RAINED! So, guess where everyone was? Yep, at the museum. We have been here several times, but never has it been this busy. It was almost too busy to enjoy, but we managed to throw some fun in!
Tylo hangin with a Triceratops!

Cool re-creation of ??? Tyler would know!

Carter and a prehistoric fish.

Jaren seeing if he measures up!

Tyler has, and I'm sure for a while, will be, fascinated with this fossilized poo. Yes, this is what is like to have little boys! Who wants girls!

We love our dinosaurs - but we love our boys even more!

Birds of Prey Centre

Well, I could post a ton of pics of this adventure that we embarked on at the Birds of Prey Centre. It was a great time and since I hadn't been there in several years, I had forgotten how big it really is (and maybe it has grown too). The kids loved seeing all the different birds and were even allowed to hold a couple. Here is Kayden with a ? Great Horned Owl ? Pretty sure that it is a Great Horned Owl - some Enviro student I am!
Carter spreading those wings!

Tyler and a burrowing owl - so little and cute! Yes, both of them!

Carter, in his glory!

Jaren - thinking this is pretty darn cool!

These boys are checking out some of the birds. Some of them are in enclosures and some are tethered to a stand. They are all injured or rescued and such! It is a really cool place. I am sure we will be going back again next year!

The Hogle Zoo

Yes, yes, I know! It has been a LONG time since I have posted. Things are just too crazy and I can hardly keep my regular "life" stuff in order without all the extras. But, here I am, finding some time!

So, this is our visit to the Hogle Zoo. We went here when we had a whirlwind visit with Nate and Steph at the end of June. We went down to Utah for John's blessing (which was very nice) and then stayed for a couple of days of FUN!

The day we went to the zoo was HOT, HOT, HOT! I felt so bad for the penguins - what they must think! Anyway, we had fun, despite the heat. In fact, it was fabulous for Carter, our bird lover, because they had a bird show going on. The birds flew right over top of our heads and even took donations out of your hand and put them in a donation box!

Thanks for taking us Auntie Steph and Uncle Nate!










Here are some crazies we saw on the zoo train!

Carter letting the bird take his donation. What a hoot!

All the amigos - minus little John of course - maybe next year!

Finally! Carter loses some teeth!

Okay, so, poor little Carter has been waiting years and years to lose some teeth. Everyone else lost theirs in kindergarten and here he is going in to grade 3 with all his baby teeth! Well, after several months, yes, months, of wiggling, here is the result. Then, yes, the same day - tooth #2 came out as well! Carter pulled out the first, while Dad helped with the 2nd. Now, I love to look at that toothy smile! It is soooooo cute!

Family

Oops, I forgot to post our first summer adventure - heading to Utah to visit Lindsey's fam. It was a whirlwind adventure - lots of fun and lots of driving. Alas, the pics are on my other camera - which I cannot find. I will post them as soon as I can!

Ah...Camping

Super cutie Aspen!

Tyler doing what he does best - digging in dirt, sand, etc...

The trapped frog is finally being released...

Show those muscles big man! Poor Jaren, was frozen - not much fat to keep him warm!

Wow! It sure has been a long time since I have posted! Sorry about that! Things have just gotten exponentially busy in our lives as of late! So, here are some things that we've been doing over the summer.

First of all, camping. WE love camping! This past month we met up with some old friends - the Cooks, and we had a fabulous time. We went to a spot near Pincher Creek and it was so beautiful - the mountains and the trees and family - what could be better than that? Nothing, if you ask me! Okay, maybe it would be better if you added some ice cream. Oh yah, we had that too!

Saturday, we spent hiking and playing in the ice cold creek that was only steps away from our camp site. It was quite an experience venturing in to that cold, clear water. BRRRR... can you say refreshing?? Kayden and Jaren found a frog and made a little enclosure for it so that it would not escape, then all the boys made their own special rock collections. Of course, they wanted to bring their rock collections home with them , but mean old mom wouldn't let them. Instead, we took a picture to remember them! Later that day, the boys (and Aspen) built a fabulous fort complete with a tarp roof and running water (aka the creek running by). Good times!

Hope you enjoy the pics of our latest camping extravaganza!

FINALLY!!!

Friday evening, we got the call. Hooray, the one we have been waiting for! Lindsey got a job! It's the one he has been waiting to hear about! I guess the old saying - good things come to those who wait is true! He hasn't worked for 3 1/2 months and we were starting to get a little antsy! Well, no more days of me being the "sugar momma." He starts work tomorrow! Hold on boys - we're in for ANOTHER change!

The world of work!

Well, as many of you know, I began working full time at the beginning of June. It has been a HUGE adjustment for the boys in my life! I mean, I knew they were used to having me around, but I guess I just didn't think about how much I actually do for them. Yep, they are totally babied! Well, maybe not totally, but they had it pretty good - until now. They have really been helping out a lot more and this weekend, the even did special "Saturday" chores - something I remember doing as a child. Both my parents worked and I remember making supper every other night too - from the time I was 12. My sis and I would rotate - one night cooking and the next cleaning up. And, well, it obviously didn't hurt me! Now, I certainly don't expect my boys to make supper - not unless I want KD every night (blech), but I do think this will be good for them! Anyway, in case you were wondering, the job is going well. I like it and it seems to like me! It's only a maternity leave position though, so we'll see what the future holds when the time comes!

May Long

Ah.....May Long. That is all I have ever called it - like saying May long weekend is too much for me (well, maybe as a teenager it was)! Anyway, for this glorious weekend, we ventured out on our maiden CAMPING voyage!

We heard that the place we were going received several inches of snow, but that didn't deter US! So, late Friday afternoon, after spending pretty much the whole day getting ready, we headed out. When we got closer, we were able to see that there was some random patches of snow, but nothing serious. At the park, it was very similar - a couple of piles in the shadows. BUT, the SUN was out and it wasn't freezing and that was all that mattered! We set up camp and made supper - which took FOREVER! I think we ended up eating at 8pm! Of course, we couldn't go to bed right after supper - our friends had arrived (oh yah, of course we went with our buddies, the Mays). I think the kids might have been asleep by 11pm - oops!

Saturday was a fabulous day. Lots of biking, walking, mini golfing and even some YUMMY ice cream! I love ice cream and if there is ice cream some where - I am definitely the first in line!

Saturday night, the raosting of marshmallows was on and it seems that I became quite proficient at it! Yep, all my little dudes wanted a mallow roasted by yours truly!

Sunday, we headed back in to town to go to church (and get CLEAN too - in more ways than one). Then, we invited grama, grampa and some other friends to come and spend the evening with us. It was a lot of fun! It's too bad that it was so windy though! We ate outside and I think our supper was cold within the first minute or so!

Monday morning we awoke to a HUGE amount of fog! The boys thought it was pretty neat. I thought it was SUPER COLD! We had a yummy breakfast (INDOORS) and then packed up and went home.

We love love love camping and hope to go many more times this year.

On another note, there has been a new development on the job front - details to follow!

Still Nothing

So, I am ususally all about the posting of pics on my blog, but this time, it's just words. Lindsey has been out of work for two months now and things are starting to get a little tight around here. We aren't starving yet, but it may happen soon (just kidding Val). Anyway, I watched Dr Phil the other day (no, I don't normally watch it, but it was on Making Money) and they sugested that one of the MOST important things to do when you are looking for a job is to network. That is, tell absolutely everyone you know that you are looking - so here goes. Lindsey is looking for a job. He is journeyman electrician, but also seems to be a jack of all trades. At first, we didn't want to move (well, we still don't, but you do what you have to), but we just can't find a job here in MH. I am thinking about working more too. Right now I only work two mornings a week whileTyler is in school, but he will be going to school full time in the fall. Anyway, I took envi science in school, but also have a ton of experience working with kids (had a day home, worked with kids in primary, volunteered at the school). So, if anyone hears of anything, let us know, PLEASE. Thanks so much for being such great friends/family!

The New Tub

So, here it is! Our new tub (in our new bathroom, which isn't quite done yet - sorry Mom)! You can't see much of it, from the pics, but let me tell you, I love it! It is so beautiful - as far as tubs go! We all jumped in together (with clothes on, of course) just to show the boys how big it really is! The pics are of Tyler, Carter and Lindsey, trying it out for the first time!

I love that tile. It is on the floor too. Above the 12 x 12 tile (seen here) is 1 x1 tile of the same pattern!

The Hunt

This year we stayed in MH for Easter and it seems that here, the Easter Bunny likes to hide the eggs outside! What a treat! The boys loved looking for the eggs outside at Grama's house. Carter even found chocolate milk. What a great thing for the EB to leave for us. A yummy breakfast treat!

Kayden forgot to bring his hoodie out to Grama's house, so he sported her coat instead. He totally hammed it up for the camera!

The loot - all gathered and divided up!

Tyler playing with his new bubbles that he got for Easter. They worked SO well and the windy day helped too!

OOPS! Shirtless Kayden trying out some bubbles!

After the treat gathering was done and breakfast nearly ready, I tried to coax Tyler inside. I reminded him that it was Sunday and that we had to get ready for church. He was not at all impressed with that - so we had a little conversation about the real meaning of Easter. I reminded him that Easter is not just about the bunnies, the eggs and the candies. It is about our Saviour, Jesus Christ and without Him, we would have no reason to celebrate. He is the reason that we are here, and through him, we can be made perfect. I am so grateful for my Saviour and for all that he has done for me. I know that he lives and I am grateful to be able to teach my children about His life, His death and His mission. I am so grateful that He made it possible for us to have an Eternal Family.