Now That's Progress!

Hanna and Grace both has some spending money that was burning a hole in their pockets so today we took them into town (that's Lethbridge) to let them spend it up. Hanna really wanted some cowboy boots but I had a feeling she didn't have enough money for any. Dad suggested we try Progress which I thought was a great idea. I don't know how to explain this place to those who haven't been in it but it's quite the experience. It's been here for as long as I can remember and as a child, well honestly still, I was terrified of it. It seemed to me that the owners of the store were suspicious of and annoyed by every person who came in, especially teenagers. They basically followed you around the store making you feel uncomfortable until you gave up and left. The merchandise is also quite unusual and interesting. I guess I would say it is kind of a construction worker/cowboy/Hutterite apparel store. The owners are from another country and I asked several members of my family where that country might be and none of them knew. The only thing my dad knew is that they were Jewish and I don't know how reliable his information is nor does that really help narrow down their country of origin. Becky said they are usually nice to her and while they aren't mean it's more of an abruptness that leaves you feeling like you did something wrong. Anyway back to today's story. Hanna had $36 to spend on cowboy boots and the boots at progress were $40 and $50. One of the owners came up to us and asked us what we were looking for, I told him boots, and he told me that they were on sale. I said that they were too much, that she only had $30 to spend. He kind of grunted which I took to mean "oh well." Ryan and I started to leave and the owner called us back saying that he would look and see what they had in her size. He found a pair that fit and said "ok you can have them for $30 because they are the last pair." He then ushered us up to the front to pay (even though we weren't really done shopping) and i gave him exactly $30. Hanna was elated and I left realising this was my first venture into "bartering".

End of Vacation Depression

This is a term I first heard from Karen and it is the perfect way to describe how I start to feel when it's about time for vacation to be over. We still have another week of it but only a couple more days with my family. It's just so relaxing here and my mom basically takes care of my kids the entire time. Yesterday was the town parade which was nice and short with loads of candy. Then we partook in the town activities which always include a petting zoo. This year they had cute baby bunnies that the girls loved to hold. Friday and Saturday night the adults went over to a friend's house for BBQ and we had a really good time. I'm not used to staying up that late which is kind of pathetic since it wasn't that late. Wednesday morning we're leaving for Wyoming and Aunt Charlotte's ranch. I'm sure you can imagine how excited Hanna is to do some horseback riding. I'm posting a picture of the cousins at Writing on Stone with their sand castle building competition entry.

Gracie Lost a Tooth

My girls are pretty different physically which makes me more amazed when people often ask if they're twins. They really look nothing alike in my eyes except maybe that they both have blond hair and blue eyes. Hanna is very petite where it almost borders on being abnormal looking. She was always in the 5th or less percentile on the baby charts (she weighed 16lbs until she was almost two) and now she is the smallest kid in her class at school. When I was pregnant with Grace I should have known she was going to be different because I was pretty huge compared to when I was pregnant with Hanna. She was a pound heavier at birth and she loved to nurse where Hanna seemed like she'd rather be doing anything else. Grace got those cute, pudgy baby thighs while Hanna never had a roll in her life. Now even though they are 20 months apart in age, Grace weighs only 2-3 lbs less than Hanna and is only about 2 inches shorter. The thing is, Grace is normal and has always been good at showing me how a normal child should look and act. She is a messy kid who always seems to be sticky, while Hanna could eat an ice-cream cone at one and not get any on her face. Grace was the child who cut her hair, smeared poop on her crib, is super cuddly, has a blanky, was hard to potty train and liked to throw tantrums in Walmart. I love this kidness that Grace exudes and it makes me happy that my kids are different. Last week Grace lost her first tooth on the way home from Lethbridge almost 2 years before Hanna lost her first. Sometimes I wish she's slow down on the whole growing up thing but she was very excited about her first visit from the tooth fairy.

Marge, anyone could miss Canada, all tucked away down there.

As many of you are aware I'm spending a few weeks at my parents house in Magrath, Aberta which is in this little country to the north of the United States. I grew up in said Canada which I'm pretty proud of and so are the vast majority of other Canadians living abroad or at home. I think sometimes "Americans" think they have the monopoly on patriotism but I can tell you that Canadians are very patriotic but are much more subtle about it. I'm so patriotic that I can't even say the pledge of allegiance in the U.S. without feeling like I'm somehow betraying my Canadian roots. It's also no secret that Canadians usually don't care much for Americans especially when they say stupid things like Canada is the 51st state. There is nothing more repulsive to a Canadian than the thought of being a part of the United States. We are very proud of our identity even if we are not really all that different from our neighbors. Obviously I'm fond of americans since I married one, fraternize with some and am the mother of two half-americans. The reason I'm writing this post is because of what I see everytime I drive into Magrath which is this:




It makes me happy.

Two Reasons Why I Haven't Been Blogging

The first reason is I spend most of my spare time reading Harry Potter. I'm in the 300's now so hopefully I can either finish it today or tomorrow. It's getting good! The second reason is that my parents have us all putting cement curbing around their flower beds and it's a hot, labour intensive job. I'll try to get something on her tonight as I have a picture I wanted to blog about.

Sound Advice

I doubt I have many cops who read this blog since I don't think Ryan is giving out the address to all his friends. I saw this last night on the Found website while I was having a bout of insomnia. I thought it was very sound advice for any police officer in any part of the world.

I don't know what kind of "interview" this is supposed to be but Ryan doesn't have many interviews like this. At least he never tells me about them.



Crucial Advice for Secret Policemen
FOUND by Paul William Roberts in Baghdad, Iraq
I spent most of 2003 in Iraq covering the invasion for Harper's Magazine and the CBC. I found this poster in the rubble of a Mukharbharat (Secret Police) training center in Baghdad, April 21, 2003. The Arabic text reads: "When interrogating a suspect, do not leave your gun, wallet, and I.D. card on the coffee table." Ba'athist ideology in a nutshell.

Manual Labour and Some Kittens

Yesterday my parents told me I could earn some money if I spread two inches of mulch under the pine trees in the front yard. There are about six pine trees which I didn't think would be too bad plus I can always use some spending money. This morning after my run I started shoveling and spreading mulch. It wasn't too bad because it's the west side of the house which is shady in the morning. Stilli was working up quite a sweat and my back was starting to really hurt. After I had finished three trees my dad came out with the riding lawnmower that has a cart attached. I filled that up and he dumped it for me under the bigger trees. I finally finished which was good because my back was really starting to hurt from all the shoveling of mulch. My mom said that I could do the rest tomorrow. I said "What?! You told me to put two inches of mulch under the front pine trees and that's what I did." She then started saying that the pile of mulch needed to be gone to which I argued that was not part of the deal. My mom was trying to add extra work for the same price. I told her if I would have known that was part of the deal I would have upped my price. The lesson my mom learned is that you need to be clear when you are dealing with labourers and I learned that my mom is one shrewd business lady.

Today when Becky and I were on our run by the river we detoured up this little path and at the top of the path was a little pile of fuzzy kittens. Three little kittens huddled together and when I saw them I about had a cuteness heart attack. They were wild so they wouldn't let me catch them. I was talking about those kittens the whole way home. I sent mom and Hanna back to catch one and bring it home but they couldn't get one either. It made my morning to have that little surprise of cute.

Harry Potter

I'm in Alberta now and today we took the older two kids to see the new Harry Potter movie. I consider myself more a fan of the books than the movie but I still get excited to see a new one. I thought it was good and didn't seem too scary for Hanna except in a few intense parts. What I'm really getting excited for is the book coming out next Saturday. Becky (SIL) and I are considering waking up early and driving into Lethbridge to wait for Costco to open so we can get a book. I will then seclude myself for a day or two and read the entire book. I'm hoping that by doing this I won't accidently hear about what happens. It's a little bittersweet that the series is coming to an end because I really do enjoy reading these books. I guess it's the sc-fi/fantasy nerd coming out in me.

Trampolines are Fun!

I was hesitant to purchase this trampoline but I'm thinking it was worth every penny. Yesterday Hanna, Grace and Beth put the sprinkler under it and spent quite a long time jumping. My childhood dreams are now being lived through them.

Hanna's Baptism

Hanna was baptized and confirmed a member of the church today by Ryan. We had a very nice service at the church with family and friends. My mom and Ryan's mom both gave really nice talks and my friend Amanda played the dulcimer while she sang "I am a Child of God". Hanna said she was very happy and that she felt "different". Ryan gave a very nice prayer when her confirmed her. The after party at our house was a success and it was nice to visit with everyone.
Remember you can click on the pictures to view them larger.

Waiting to go to the church.

Hanna with her proud parents.

Standing by her "welcome table"

Four generations of Van Fleet and Toly women.

A "photo shoot" my friend Tisa had with Hanna.

Her baptism pillowcase Karen gave her and Hanna coloured.

Swimming with Friends

Kristin, Amanda, Karen and I met up at Seven Peaks yesterday to do some swimming with the kids. Whenever we do something like this I always end up feeling sad when we leave because I miss those who moved away. At least we get to have little reunions like this now and then. I "borrowed" Amanda's video off her blog so you can see us in action. I'm not on it much because I immediately give her the finger when I see her video taping me and she has to edit it out. She's not allowed to hang out with such unsavory characters.

Seven Peaks Video


Grace with her goggles

They are going to hate me for this.
Karen, Shea and Kristin (who is pregnant with baby Audrey)

My kids with a few of Karen's kids