Christmas Day

Mom woke Peter and I up at 8:30 by saying "Merry Christmas!" and knocking lots on the door. I think I just said, "Okayyyy". We went upstairs where all of our presents were waiting for us in a pile. My mom loves Christmas. Then we each took a turn opening a present (starting with me) until all the presents were gone. It was a lot more fun than ripping them all open at once and it's done in 5 minutes.

After we opened our presents and cleaned up the wrapping, we ate a big breakfast. Then of course we started making phone calls to all of our other family members.

Then it seemed like we waited. We waited and waited and waited for my stepbrother, Carlos, his wife, Dawn, and my sweet little nephew, Brady. And also for my Grandpa Wylie and my Grandma Thelma, and my mom's friend Marilyn, her husband, Abe, and their daughter, Amanda. And of course everyone came at the same time and the house seemed to be buzzing. And it buzzed all through supper and on to 10:00 PM. It was a pretty long day but it was really good. I got lots of sweet hugs and kisses from Brady and we played all night long.

Check out http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumList?u=4315716 for more photos:

Brady (16-months) and Auntie Chelsey

More photos from when we were in Carnduff

I tried to post these the other day but they just didn't work. Fandangled technologies. (did you know that fandangled means an elaborate but useless ornament?)

The whole crew who went for supper at the Northern Lights on Tuesday when we were in Carnduff. L to R: Dixie (stepmom), Alexa (cousin), Aunt Alana, Uncle Brad, Chelsey and Peter with Cassidy (cousin) in the front. My grandma Kelly is in the next picture, she also went for supper. She just got back from Halifax where she watched the curling trials so she thought she'd put on her gear for the photo.
I thought my Dad and Dixie's house needed a little festivity, even if only for a few days, so I took it upon myself to decorate their tree!

Calgary vs. Vancouver

I have surprised myself. I have watched part of one world junior preliminary games and part of tonight's NHL game, Calgary vs. Vancouver. I have to admit that when I came home tonight from Adam and Trinda Jocelyn's, and I could hear the hockey game from the front door of my mom and Randy's house... I did not want to watch it. But I layed on the couch and enjoyed watching it with my husband, asking him questions. I guess we're supposed to cheer for Vancouver now. The whole time I was thinking about how Cindy Ashby would kick my butt if we watched that game together. What a flames fan!

I remember when I was a little girl, sitting on the couch with my dad watching the hockey game. This was back when Gretzky played for the Oilers. My dad had his own Oiler's jersey. He asked me who my favourite team was, and of course I replied, "The Oilers"... because I knew they were his favourite. I like thinking about those times. I can remember the orange glow of those old brown lamps we had in the living room. I still have those lamps. They're relics now.

Pete and I arrived in Estevan last night. The roads were slick. Oh man. But we made it. Listening to Tegan and Sara and the Weakerthans. I love this Southeastern part of Saskatchewan. I love resting my head against the window and gazing at the stars that are shining so brightly above us. The stars are great. When we were still in Carnduff, I asked my dad, "Did you know that the sun is just an average star? It's really the same size as all those other stars, it's just that it's the closest one to us." He didn't know. But I bet he's glad he does now.

This morning I had a great visit with my mom and her friend (and I think it's safe to say that she's my friend too!), Marilyn. This afternoon Marilyn took pictures of Pete and I around Estevan. I can't believe the weather these days. Cold, warm, storming, melting. What on earth, I say. The weather doesn't know what it's doing. Then we had supper at Marilyn's house with my mom and Randy. It was good fun. And after that good fun, we went to Adam and Trinda's and hung out with them and their awesome kids. I love that family. Then back home to watch the hockey game.

But something wasn't right. I had a strange urge to have a slurpee. Usually, I'm too lazy to be impulsive, but tonight I decided it would be fun. So Peter and I went out to the car and drove to 7/11. We saw a guy drive right through a 3-way stop intersection. And then, can you believe it, someone pulled out right in front of us. These crazy Estevan drivers. They are like the weather (they don't know what they're doing). We got a slurpee and a bag of chips. Now I'm typing this instead of watching the game. Like I said, I only watched part of the game.

northern lights

Our first picture together!

MGR

Last night at 1AM my dad got called out to go to work. He's a drill stem tester. I still don't have a clear idea of what he does. But that's what he is, a drill stem tester. I visited him while he made sandwiches and packed his lunch, before he rushed out the door. In his haste, he forgot to take his invoice book with him out to the rig. Today Peter and I took a road trip out to bring it to him.

Tonight we are going to have a big family supper at the Northern Lights restaurant. It's just outside of Sherwood, North Dakota. At least it used to be. Maybe it's moved somewhere else now. My Aunt Alana, Uncle Brad, cousins Alexa and Cassidy, and my grandma and my stepmom are all going to be there. My dad can't come because he's still at work.

My dad, Kent, on-site.

Today I tried on my dad's old jacket from when he played hockey. It's a sweet jacket. I think I might ask him for it.

small town life

Right now I'm in Carnduff, SK, visiting my dad and my stepmom for Christmas. I went to Carievale (where I grew up) today to drop off my cat, Minou, at my aunt's house. He's going to try living there from now on. He had a very rough day meeting their two dogs and one cat. He's not happy. At first I didn't really care about dropping him off there, because he always bugs our other cat, Spooky, (or Sparkle to some), but now, due to lack of sleep and Tylenol Cold & Flu Nighttime, I'm starting to miss him.