J. Dog Productions

Emerson - Three Months

2008-07-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

Emerson napping at Grandma's

Self portrait of me and my boy.

Emerson with Grandpa H. in Ottawa

2008-06-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. There is so much to write about! Where should I begin....the birth story? My sleep deprived state? My gorgeous son? Perhaps this is why I have avoided blogging...

Let's keep it simple. I'm just going to write a few of the highlights of the birth...

1. Jan is phenomenal. Not only is he a very capable and confident dad, he is also a fabulous birthing coach. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband. He was calm, comforting and reassuring through the whole birthing process. He was nurturing, kind, and showed great strength.

2. The nurses were extraordinary. One in particular, Nancy, coached me through every single contraction. I wanted to marry her!

3. The same day Emerson was born my beloved grandfather died. While it was very difficult I also considered it very beautiful because we had the gift of a new life. When one life ends another begins as the circle of life continues. I love you grandpa!

More later......

More Em!

2008-06-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

Meet Emerson!

2008-04-27T17:50:00.001-07:00

One whole year....

2008-04-12T09:58:00.001-07:00

38 weeks!

The pictures really have nothing to do with the post but I thought you might be interested in just how big I am getting!

Friday was my last day of work and it was easier to let go than I would have thought. Work for me is my life. I love my students, colleagues and school and I feel challenged and pushed to be better every day I walk through the doors. Yet, I was ready to let that part go for the time being. It was a very lovely day but at first I was a bit anxious. The teacher that is taking over my position came by and sat with me all day so that I was able to advise her about my classes. During this process, I realized that I have learned so much over the last two years!

My students were amazing, I received a lot of gifts, cards, kind words and hugs. Even a parent came by to thank me for the influence I have had over her daughter. Many times I wanted to cry but I just didn't. In my last block, the youth worker that helps out in my Communications class had a cake and all of the students signed a card. I'm certain she set it all up of course, but I was really happy with the comments from my students. I held back the tears for most of the day but when I was giving the speech about how proud I was of their accomplishments I did get a little bleary eyed. After Friday I though back to Marita's blog about happiness. I know I love working but also know I am going to love my little bundle more than anything I can imagine at this moment!

With love from grandpa and grandma

2008-04-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

Side view of the little boat rocker.

The back of the boat.

Such craftsmanship!

Grandpa Mahan recently made Peanut this gorgeous cradle! If you know anything about Jan's family it should be that they love sailing and anything to do with boats! I love how this is not only beautifully hand crafted but its design makes it all the more special. Grandma had a mattress made for it and also filled it with stuffies!

Thank you Grandpa and Grandpa!

Belly Shots

2008-04-07T21:15:00.001-07:00

36 Weeks

37 Weeks

Predictions!

2008-03-29T14:14:00.001-07:00

36 weeks tomorrow......I thought I would make a few predictions and ask you to share yours.

My Predictions
Gender: Girl
Weight: 7 lbs 7 ounces
DOB: April 21st
Length: 20 inches
Hair: Blonde (but very little)

Jan's Predictions
Gender: Girl
Weight: 9lbs 2 ounces
DOB: April 27th
Length: 18 inches
Hair: Full head of black hair

A Reprieve from Belly Talk

2008-03-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

As a way to occupy myself for the next half an hour (who needs to finish marking...!) and enjoy the last bit of sunshine from the comfort of my bed, I will gladly answer the meme questions from Marita.

I really don't know that many other bloggers but will tag the following two: (Two out of five is a failing grade but what can I do?)

Karena - Change is a Wonderful Thing.
Heather - Life in the Fast Lane

I must answer the following questions:

What were you doing ten years ago?

Hmmmm Spring time 1998. Funny I was just thinking about this. I could find out where I was exactly because I actually kept a travel journal but that would involve me moving off the bed so....no.

Raratonga, Cook Islands...yes, for sure I was in Raratonga. I flew home on April 1st so I remember distinctly. Marita and I spent three months travelling around New Zealand and Australia and ended our journey in the Cook Islands. It was a gorgeous little island and a nice way to wrap up the trip. I had some major turmoil going on at home so had mixed feelings about going back. The trip was probably one of the greatest adventures of my life and certainly changed me forever. Before I had such a small window on the world and after this experience I moved away from Williams Lake and had bigger and better dreams for myself. Right back at you M for your positive influence!

What were you doing one year ago?

I was planning my wedding! Funny, now I'm planning for the birth of our first child! Freaky!

Five snacks you enjoy:
1. Cereal (The sugary type for a snack - Froot Loops, Captain Crunch etc.)
2. Plain chips and french onion dip
3. Chocolate (the cheap and unhealthy kind -think Aero bar or Mini eggs)
4. Pastry (pie, strudel...)
5. Cake with milk. (Mixed together of course!)

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

I need to clarify....a millionaire means more than a million right? Ok. Let's go with that. I'm dreaming big here people!!

1. Buy a house with a yard in Steveston.
2. Buy a gorgeous townhouse/house in Whistler
3. Help others pay off their mortgages and surprise them with fun gifts. (By the way, I bought you a car to celebrate the first day of spring...etc,etc.)
4. Take peanut (when old enough) on an amazing trip and volunteer to build schools for the underprivileged.
5. Fly family down for a visit, fly here and there with our families and have more outdoor adventures!

Five bad habits:
1. Leaving cupboard doors open ("looks like we got robbed again" - Jan's favourite comment)
2. Worrying about everything and then feeling out of sorts when I have nothing to worry about!
3. Being blunt and not always thinking before speaking
4. Swearing
5. Quick temper which often leads to #4

Five things you like doing:
1. Playing on the mountain with Jan (Down hill mountain biking and snowboarding)
2. Long boarding or riding my cruiser along the Vancouver and Steveston waterfronts with Jan and Jersey
3.Getting together with friends and playing board games or outdoor lawn games or anything that allows me to be fiercely competitive!
4. Cuddling Jan and Jersey together (soon they'll be a new family member to snuggle!)
5. Challenging myself whether it be at school or learning a new skill of any sort.

Five things you would never wear again:
1. A perm. (Horrid)
2. Overalls.
3. Tapered jeans
4. A tummy bearing shirt. Short shirt? I can't remember the proper term right now. (It was the late 80s!)
5. Neon

Five favorite toys:
1. My bikes
2. My skateboards
3. My mac products (ibook, ipod)
4. My snowboard
5. My digital camera

Phew! Wow. Glad I finished before I lost the sun....

35 Weeks and Counting....

2008-03-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

(No kidding my back is sore! Look at the curvature!)

I can honestly say for the first time in my life I haven't been "bored" on my holiday. Usually during spring break I am ready to go back to work. This time, I have enjoyed sleeping in, cleaning my house, cooking and basically being lazy. Maybe it's the extra forty pounds I'm toting around or perhaps I've learned to relax. Nah, I think it's the weight and the swollen sausages I call my feet.

Jan and I have accomplished quite a bit this week....we located a Doula, found the car seat we want, and started working on our birth plan. Okay baby, we're ready!

Peanut's Room - Check.

2008-03-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

We are so in love with Peanut's room!

The piggy bank was our inspiration and everything else was planned around it. Since we don't know the sex of the baby (although, I'm thinking girl) we needed something that would be fresh, modern and fun that would work for both a boy or a girl. I think we did it!

The room has been finished for quite some time but we still need to paint the chair rail with a fresh coat of white. It looks great in photos but we're pretty particular about these types of things so I was holding off until Jan painted. Ah. But that has yet to happen. Oh well...I guess we do have six more weeks. For those that know me they know I like to have tasks finished far, far in advance. I was the dork in college that started the research paper the day they were given the assignment. I just can't take the anxiety of a looming deadline!

These are my disney records that I had as a child. Jan and I had them professionally framed and I think they look beautiful. I also have a small rocking chair that I used as a toddler that I need to get reupholstered at some point. All in good time, I guess.

Prenatal Classes - Check.

2008-03-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

Jan and I just finished our prenatal classes over the weekend. Friday night was a two hour breast feeding course, and Saturday and Sunday consisted of an intense five hour course. Before starting the course Jan wasn't so sold on hiring a doula but after the course he definitely was on board. We met a young and relatively new doula at the course that we are thinking of hiring. I just need to do a bit more research before making our final decision.

The doula from the Lower Mainland Childbearing Society did an amazing job of presenting the information. (Thanks Marita!) I feel far more prepared for the birthing process. However, there is so much to remember and consider which is another reason I wanted a birthing coach. I know that Jan would do a great job on his own but he needs some support too! During the actual birthing video I felt almost close to passing out. I know, pathetic right? But I started to get super sweaty hands and feet and I was actually tearing up. I've seen a similar video before but not while I was preparing for birth myself. I guess I was scared. I know, I know....everyone does it...women have been doing it for centuries....but I haven't!! However, our instructor was fabulous and did a wonderful job of explaining how our bodies work and the truly beautiful process that occurs. I just have to trust my body and think positively. I might even surprise myself....

My new glasses.

33 Weeks - How can this get any bigger?? (I'm actually 34 now)

Meet Avner!

2008-02-19T17:32:00.000-08:00

I spent Sunday afternoon meeting Marita and Kevin's newest miracle - Avner Dean Dachsel Kerr. What a beautiful baby boy! As soon as I held him I started to cry. Maybe it's the hormones but I think it was simply the fact of holding such a gorgeous being. It made me even more eager to meet my little peanut.

Marita, Kevin and Atticus are all doing extremely well. They have a lot of great friends here who are all more than happy to help out. Marita is such a rock star!

Seven Months!

2008-02-16T20:17:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe that I'm already seven months along! It's all happening so very fast. My emotions range from total excitement to sheer terror. Being pregnant is certainly a very interesting process. Jan and I always joke as to what strange symptom will take over my body next. It seems I get plagued by something new weekly. However, I am thankful and I think I've had a fairly healthy pregnancy. Yes, there are certainly the annoyances but I won't regale you with the details. (I'm trying to cut back on the whining...)

When I'm having anxiety about all of the unknowns (the birthing process, caring for a newborn, potty training, disciplining as they get older etc, etc. - This is just a small sampling of the various worries that pop into my head....my child isn't even born yet and I'm thinking about things I won't have to deal with for years...) Anyhow, when I start to worry I always ask Jan about his fears and concerns and he answers, "I just don't think about it."

"How is that possible?", I respond. He tells me he has worries but then puts them out of his mind. Wow. I soooo wish I could do that. It's quite a foreign idea for me. I've been doing a lot of reading and have taken many courses for education which I think will be very valuable for parenting. (Behavioural support, Reading interventions etc.) However, I still worry about being a good parent. Which I hope is a positive sign. I guess I'll find out soon enough!

Two more months to go.....

Upstairs

2007-12-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

More pictures of our place

2007-12-26T13:09:00.000-08:00

Our Home

2007-12-25T15:23:00.000-08:00

My sister has been harassing me for photos....

.

The main floor half bath

Jan bought a piece of granite to make a desk and created some heavy duty shelves at the garage door.

It was the night before Christmas...

2007-12-25T14:56:00.000-08:00

We had a gorgeous Christmas Eve day this year! No rain and the sun was out in full force. Absolutely perfect for a long walk with our dog. We decided to take our lovely neighbour's dog for a walk as well. What's more fun than two crazy dogs trying to pull me along? Jan and I walked into Steveston and then to Jersey's favourite squirrel hunting spot. (Luckily no squirrels were injured.) We let the dogs run wild off leash a few times in order for them to bond. Having two dogs would be ideal but let's wait and see how I feel about that after Peanut is born. It was such a glorious day that people were out in hoards walking along the beautiful boardwalk. Our neighbours probably thought we stole their dog we were gone for so long!

Our First Tree!

2007-12-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe I had to wait until I was thirty-three to have a proper tree! We've always had tiny apartments in which we could have had a small tree but then had no where to store the decorations. Yes, our last condo was that small. Those of you that have lived or are living in Vancouver will understand. You can appreciate my excitement over our first christmas tree in our new home. (Newly married, newly pregnant....lots to be excited about.) Jan thought I was joking when I picked out our massive tree. He kept suggesting that I pick a smaller one but I won out. (Pregnancy has its perks!)

Growing up my dad always brought home a giant christmas tree (or two) when he was working out in the bush. And while we didn't go out into the woods to get one ourselves this one reminds me of the trees we had when I was little. Albeit, this one is a bit more perfect because it's a farmed tree. We tousled back and forth with the idea of a plastic tree but did the research and found out that a farmed tree is more environmental. (And the smell is undeniably Christmas!)

Of course I couldn't help unload the monster so our fabulous neighbour popped in to help heave the tree upstairs. When the tree was bare I almost thought of leaving it like that. It was just gorgeous.

I decided to trim the tree and unfortunately Jan was working nights and I work days so there wouldn't have been time to do it together. I'm sure we will next year because now I know how much work goes into getting the tree, setting it up and decorating it. (PHEW!)

It's been awhile.....

2007-12-11T18:28:00.000-08:00

Since my last blog I was married, moved to our new home and am now pregnant. I plan on getting back into the blogging thing... if only to show a few pictures here and there. I've really been horrible at taking photos. I've been measuring my belly but I hate pictures of myself and thus....these are the only ones I have. I just don't feel too attractive lately as I have no pregnancy glow to speak of but pimples instead. Thank you hormones!

Sunday Morning (& Afternoon)

2007-04-24T18:21:00.000-07:00

This weekend Karena, Marita and I drove up to Furry Creek to check out the grounds, the food and the scenery. Thanks to my little guinea pigs I now know what to avoid and what to definetly order for my wedding. After a very filling brunch/lunch which consisted of everything from roast beef to eggs benedict, which is not really the best combo but I had a duty to try it, we walked up to the wedding site. Don't panic there will be shuttles on the day of the wedding!

The wedding site.

After Furry Creek I came home and found Jan doing this.

I decided to relax on a blanket in the back yard and listen. I love Sundays!

PS.
Oh and we rode Seymour the day before and it is in pristine riding condition.

all things said & done

2007-04-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday night was Marita's book launch at UBC Robson Square. Her wonderful book of poety "all things said & done" was debuted in style by Marita herself reading some chosen works. I have known about the talents of Miss Marita for a very long time and was very excited that the world would now be invited into hers. It was actually quite emotional for me. I was thrilled to watch one of her dreams unfold and was very proud of her accomplishment. I know how hard she has worked and can appreciate how difficult it can be to survive as a writer.

Great poetry can bring one somewhere familiar but express it as a fresh and unexpected experience. It can also bring beauty into the most simple and routine aspects of life. Her poetry does both.

Congratulations Marita!

ps.
Purchase a copy of your own book online. You might also want to check out another fabulous poet, Jennica Harper and her poetry collection "The Octopus and other Poems." ( I would include a link but have no idea how.....can anyone help??)

I'm Feeling Lucky....

2007-04-15T16:27:00.000-07:00

I have often complained about moving out to Steveston as it brought me away from the vibe of Vancouver and farther away from our favourite beaches, restaurants and most importantly our friends. That said, Steveston has so much to offer that I am beginning to appreciate more and more. It was absolutely gorgeous out this afternoon so I took Jersey for a jog along the dike. The population of Steveston swells significantly on weekends and there were many people out taking advantage of our quaint little town.

Normally I just jog for the exercise but today I was really into it. I felt like I could run an epic journey similar to Forrest Gump. However, Jersey wasn't as enthusiastic. She kept stopping abruptly so that I was jogging along with the leash and the collar but no dog. Then she decided to run into the bog and cover herself in a thick grime. Despite these annoyances I still managed to get a little emotional thinking about how lucky I truly am.

Easter Weekend

2007-04-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

Jan is currently completing a five week 737 course in Calgary so Jersey and I flew out to visit for Easter. Normally Jan would have loved to escape the urban sprawled, dirt encrusted, culture lacking city but my mom and dad were in Red Deer so we decided to stick around for a visit.

Let's begin with my first impression of Calgary. Coming from Vancouver where it is green, lush, scenic (oh and the forecast called for twenty-two degrees for Easter weekend) .... I walked outside to blowing snow and -5. Needless to say, my first impression involved a few expletives. I noticed a few different things about Calgary:
* People go out for dinner at five
* There are seriously no trees or plants. (I am not making this up....I know that it's the prairies but has anyone heard of planting??
* They have giant signs on every building and the buildings lack any sort of interest architectually.

I know that Jan has not been enjoying his time in Calgary because a) he has no car to get anywhere and you need a car in Calgary b) the weather sucks and c) his hotel room leaves much to be desired d) he has been eating out for three weeks straight! (No kitchenette!) To make matters worse there are only chain restaurants located around where he is staying.

Despite this we had fun visiting with my mom and dad as well as my sister and her three children. Unfortunately the weather prevented us from going to the zoo, walking around the downtown core etc. etc. We spent some time shopping, eating and playing around in the hotel pool. Teresa, Daryl and I enjoyed battling it out on Guitar Hero. (PS2 game) Unfortunately I didn't have my camera to capture any of these moments.

Okay, okay I didn't actually go downtown so I'm in no position to comment accurately on Calgary. However, I had seen enough to know that I wasn't too interested in learning more about it. Instead Jan and I decided to rent a car and drive to Banff. Those of you who know me well know that I am obsessed with trees and mountains so you can appreciate my decision.

As a kid, our family drove to Alberta at least once a year to visit family and my dad's farm so I have spent a lot of time driving through the rockies, but still their grandiosity and splendour always make me feel terribly lucky. Yes, I live around the Coastal Mountains but the Rockies are different. They are rugged, rocky and seem more magical. I could sit quietly for days and soak in their beauty.

The peak from the Banff Townsite.

Beautiful ice crystals forming near the river during the spring thaw.

A close up of the ice crystals. I had never seen ice formed like this before and was quite excited about my new find!

The Banff Falls.

The Hoodoos. Nature still manages to shock me with its intricacies!

Less than 24 hours.....

2006-12-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

Jacob, Daryl and Teresa! (Daryl has size 10 feet!)

Jersey showing off the beautiful new jewellery that Santa gave her. (Notice our beautiful xmas tree....)

Christmas day at the Dachsel-Kerr's

Jersey waiting patiently on our seven hour journey back from Williams Lake.

Every year Jan and I encounter some problem driving to Williams Lake for Christmas. This year we both worked on the 22nd and then Jan had to get back to work for Christmas day. We were going to leave after work however the traffic would have been absolutely ridiculous trying to get out of the city. We decided to leave early in the morning on Saturday and drive back the next day. We left at 4:30 and successfully avoided the city traffic, however, the weather was not optimal. Jan drove up to Lyton and he passed through many areas of pouring rain, black ice, slush and back to rain again. Last year there was a lot of falling rock to contend with but this year there were cavernous sized potholes. Of course it was dark, rainy and too late before Jan made visual contact with the road hazard! By the time the sun came up and it was my time to drive I had clear skies. However, iIt started to snow around 100 mile house so I forfeited the reigns to Jan. That's when we realized the sidewall of our tire was bulging out. Just our luck! We couldn't travel on a spare so had to buy a new tire. Then there was an accident we had to wait for and blah blah blah. Basically it took us eight painful hours to get home. We both said that was the last time we were driving up in the winter! (Of course we said the exact same thing last year....) But thankfully our flight benefits will kick in so it will be actually cheaper for us to fly. YAY!

Since we basically only spent 14 hours awake in Williams Lake the time propelled by and I didn't feel as though I had enought time for quality visiting......

No excuses.....

2006-12-19T18:53:00.000-08:00

Wow. I cannot believe I haven't blogged at all this month. I've had a pretty uneventful month with a few exceptions. The most exciting would have to be that I found my wedding dress! Yay! I was getting a little worried after several futile attempts. Other highlights involved our Karaoke christmas party for work and Marita's Christmas Caroling party. I really wish I had some pictures of those two events. They were jam packed into one weekend which was fun. I feel so lucky having had the opportunity to sing two nights in a row!

To satisfy the photo lovers I have a few shots of Jan with Atticus. We dropped by one night when Karena was babysitting and Attica was supposed to be sleeping......

I love watching Jan with babies....he's so adorable!

Let it Snow!

2006-11-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

A fishing trawler heading out for the day.

Jersey loves to catch snow. (She won't fetch but this she does....?!)

Can you see Jersey in this shot? (See below.)

Ducks showing off their new coats.

Jersey enjoying the snow.

The park behind our place.

The walkway along the water.

Bring on more snow!

I was over visiting Marita and Atticus last night when it started to snow. It was really coming down in beautiful plump snowflakes. Actually the term snowflakes is a bit misleading as they are delicate and these were more like small snowballs. I thought it wise to drive home before it started to stick because I didn't have my winter tires on yet. As I got closer and closer to Richmond the snow was starting to pile up and I was lucky I left when I did. I couldn't wait to get home so I could take Jersey out in the snow. She absoloutely loves the snow. We're a lot alike in that respect. We both seem to come alive...
I couldn't stop thinking how amazing it was. I love coastal snow because it is so wet and the snow falls down in giant clumps unlike the dry interior snow. It's also the perfect snow for making snowballs, snowmen and forts. As soon as Jan and I woke up this morning we headed out for another walk. We stopped by Starbucks for our sunday morning treat. (We both used out travel cups of course!) We walked for an hour in the half in the snow and took some great shots of our daily walking route. Jersey even managed to see one squirrel today!

Thanksgiving at Home

2006-11-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

Wow. I can't believe Thanksgiving was a month ago! At the time I was taking all of these pictures I was thinking about all of the things I could add to my blog and now a month later I'm just getting to it. I was actually tossing around the idea of stopping the blog because I don't always make the time to write....but for now it continues.....

Sometimes I hate the long drive up to Williams Lake. Most of the time I have to drive because Jan worked the night before and we usually leave just as he gets home. Normally I drive relatively fast to cut back on some time. On this particular trip I was actually relishing the drive. It was such a gorgeous day and my car felt exceptionally sporty. Driving through the Fraser Canyon is always the highlight. I always feel so incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful province. Something about the mountains always makes me feel alive. Cheesy as that sounds I can describe it in no other way. I've been know to tear up actually for no other reason but gratitude.

When Jan is sleeping I have to entertain myself and if the scenery isn't keeping me in grandiose dreams, there's always Jersey. Here she is enjoying the ride.

When we first arrived we headed to Lisa and Glen's for dinner. Jan and I picked up some Chinese food from Ken's Restaurant and brought it over for the boys. (We always get Chinese food while in Williams Lake) We had fun bombarding Jeremy and Ezra with a thousand and one questions. It's hard to believe my first nephew is already in grade nine!

My friend Jenn G. is Lisa's neighbour and she always drops by to see me when she sees our car in the driveway. God I love that about Williams Lake. It's always fun to see Jenn and I wish we could see each other more often. She is such a good friend and one of those people who are up to trying and doing anything. My adventurous, flirty and wonderful friend.

That night Jan and I stayed up till midnight catching up with mom and dad. I was actually impressed that we all stayed up that late. (Especially Dad because he works such ridiculous hours.)

I love piddling around on the farm. I don't know what it is...maybe it's the fresh air (with only a hint of horse manure) or perhaps it's nostalgia and a longing to be young or maybe it's simply because there is land to work. I love the pastoral ideation of working the land with your hands. Although I wouldn't have admitted it when I was younger, a good hard day's work is rewarding. (Crap, don't let dad read this or I'll be picking rocks next trip.) Perhaps it's because Jan and I will probably never really own a "yard" in the city.

After helping out around the farm, Jan and I took Jers for a walk with the quad. Sometimes she rode with us and at other times she ran beside us. She absolutely adores coming to Williams Lake.

She especially enjoys meeting new farm animals and rolling in their tempting "pies." When Jan and I pulled up on the quad our neighbourhood sheep ran towards us. It was actually really strange until my mom advised us that they were expecting food. Our neighbours use their quad to bring the sheep their hay etc. They seriously chased us as we rode down our driveway and I think Jers was a little intimidated.

I decided to go through all of my old belongings that were tucked away in the garage. I stumbled upon a whole box of letters, ntes from high school and letters from when I was eighteen and going to college. I couldn't tear myself away from my past. I found some pretty entertaining letters from my sisters, Marita and Jennilyn. I am so glad that I kept them all and grateful that I have such great family and friends.

After all the "hard" work we had our feast of thanksgiving dinner. It was a strange thanksgiving because Frannie, Chris and the kids weren't there. They recently moved to Red Deer, Alberta and were unable to make it back for the holidays. We all felt their absence but tried not to dwell on it.

Luckily, however, grandma and grandpa were able to join us for dinner. Recently grandpa had to move into a care home because of his health, however, his personality hasn't changed a bit. He's still cracking jokes, telling stories and making grandma feel special. My grandpa sure looks amazing for being 91! He has been through some very serious health concerns and always astonishes me with his recoveries. (On November 6th they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary)

After dinner we always have our traditional walk around the property. Mostly to burn off all of the perogies but also to reminisce about the years that have passed. It's always a time when I start to feel a little sad knowing that I will have to leave my family the next morning.

F*&#ing Bike Thieves!

2006-10-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

The Friday before Thanksgiving Jan and his friend made plans to hit Whistler for one last time before the hill closed. Jan had all of his gear ready to go and the last stop was to pop in the bike storage and grab his bike. Unfortunately, someone the night before beat him to it. To Jan and I, our bikes were our prized possession, besides Jersey of course. I love my bike even more than I love my car. You can imagine how disappointed we were to find they were gone. When we moved to our new place we were really worried about the bikes. That was one of our concerns with moving to this building.

We contemplated how to keep them safe and after a lot of discussion we decided to lock them up in bike storage. Although nothing is really safe anymore we thought they would be as safe as they could be. We used a two hundred dollar chain that could only be cut with a blow torch. The chain was through both frames and through a metal bike rack which was bolted to the cement. In addition, our building requires a fob to enter into the parking garage, and the bike storage also required a fob. One couldn't see into the bike storage which leads up to believe someone in the building had a hand in our bikes being stolen. That same night our 52" flat screen TV was stolen from our amenities room.

All the doors had been kicked in from the public parking garage into our parking area. Despite having pictures of the criminals on our security cameras there have been no arrests. Jan has seen the pictures and is eagerly awaiting a chance encounter.

If there is a positive side to all of this it would have to be the fact that they did not get the bikes that easily. They broke the hacksaw trying to cut the chain and had to use a crowbar to get the bike rack out of the cement. That means the bikes had to be carried out with the bike rack between them. Jan had also placed the bikes the opposite way. It gave us a modicum of pleasure knowing they had a difficult time stealing our bikes.

I was quite disappointed when the police just left the crowbar and hacksaw in our bikeroom and didn't take it as evidence. Perhaps I have watched too much CSI. The thieves politely left the hacksaw hanging off of my cruiser bike. How thoughtful.

Happy Birthday Marita!

2006-10-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

It was Marita's birthday last weekend, October 3rd, and with the beautiful weather she decided to host a croquet game. After we all indulged in some wonderful cake we headed out to the local park. The weather cooperated and we had quite a thrilling match. Of course it isn't important who won. The important thing is spending the day trash talking your friends! Don't worry Atticus was safe from all the smack talk as he relaxed in his stroller. Marita was up for showing off how she could kick ass at croquet with Atticus in tow. (I recently had a complaint that there wasn't nearly enough profanity in my blog.... I can't deny my fans!) He doesn't quite fit in the sling as well as he did several months ago. It's remarkable how much he changes with each visit. I have a very hard time putting him down when I visit!

Natural Club Camp Out

2006-09-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Brrrrrrrrrr.

Our natural club had our first outing of the year this weekend at Point Roberts, Wa. The natural club is responsible for recycling at our school as well as supporting other environmental initiatives such as the anti-idling campaign. We plan for fun outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, whale watching, canoeing etc.

After school, Ms. Philpotts and I took thirteen (multi-grade) students camping. Her husband, an RCMP sergeant, joined us as a guardian for the trip. Actually, I'm fairly certain that he didn't have a choice in the matter but regardless we ended up having a lot of fun. We sat around the campfire and told ghost stories and other personal traumatic events. Overall, it was quite a bonding experience for all of us. It was refreshing to spend time with students that are intelligent, interesting and socially responsible. I was surprised with how much they knew about current events and important issues that affect us all. (Remember, most of my students hate school and could care less about social issues.)

Although the students were in their tents by 11pm there was a lot of giggling and overall giddiness going on for quite awhile. I couldn't convince Jan to come so I was solo in the tent. I planned on bringing Jersey but I didn't have room for her because of the camping equipment. Despite being a little weary from the stories, cold and alone I managed pull off a few hours of sleep.

Holiday Blog #1 - Parliament Hill

2006-09-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, am I ever behind in the blogging. But then I thought can you even be behind? I'm the one that decides what to blog anyways. It's not as though it's a class I have to do homework for! Anyhow those that know me well will understand my angst (or is it OCD??). Since I've been too crazy at work to take any photos I have a rare moment to go back in time to my summer vacation to Ottawa.

Although I have been to Ottawa many times I finally took the tour of the parliament buildings. As a history buff this was an exciting adventure for me. I never tire at looking at the exterior and thus was excited to venture beyond those stone walls. It was especially wonderful to meet up with Jennilyn, Bob, Marin and Calli and even the Cheek family.

After a rather rigourous body cavity search, eh em...body search, we were granted access to our government in action. There were a few memorable stories that I fell in love with. The most charismatic Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, was known to slide down the banister stairs on his way to parliament. Ahhhh Trudeau. Can you believe he dated Kim Catrall?

There was another tale of this painting of Queen Victoria and how it was painstakingly saved from a few fires. I also loved how the architecture, detailed stonework, and artwork all captured the multiculturalism of Canada.

However, there was one room that was simply astounding....the library.

There were no cameras allowed so I lingered as long as I could to imbibe its majesty.

Ottawa Invades Whistler

2006-09-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

Jan and I drove up to Whistler on Saturday to meet up with Kim, Lee and Wyatt (from Ottawa) for the weekend. It's where Jan and I are lucky enough to spend most weekends but it's especially wonderful when we can stay overnight. We arrived early afternoon and it was a drizzly cold day. By the time we were actually ready to ride it was three pm and the hill closes at five. Not much time unfortunately. As it was quite cool, foggy and slippery I didn't expect much of the day, however, I had one of my best riding days and we were able to cram five runs in before the hill closed. Very impressive. We ran into Jan's friend that he went to grade school with along with four other Ottawians. I wondered if eventually every biker from Ontario moved to Vancouver to ride.

Here's little Wyatt itching to learn to ride.

Obsessed!

2006-09-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I have been so behind in blogging. I have so much of our Ottawa trip to blog still! I wish I could blame my indolent behaviour on being back to work and trying to get organized for school. However, that would be a lie. The real reason is that Jan and I are obsessed with the T.V. show Prison Break and have been renting the last season and watching it every night. Normally one would assume that one episode a night would be enough. Ah... not for us. We watch at least three! (In our defence there are no commercials so it's analogous to watching a movie.) While that might seem like quite a bit of T.V., I've actually been obsessed with a book I just finished reading called "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb. I was actually reading while I walked the dog and walked to school. God I'm such a nerd!

Cottage Feast

2006-09-04T10:26:00.002-07:00

To carry on from my last blog, Jan and I spent the night at Andy's cottage on Sand Lake. Jan's friend Brad whom we haven't seen in three years was back in Canada and joined us for the weekend. It was really wonderful to be with old friends again.

We had a ridiculously good time catching up and reminiscing over a few drinks. Well maybe a little more than a few...

Andy and Dominique picked up some lobsters and amazing steak for dinner. We cooked the lobsters right over the campfire. As most of you know I don't eat seafood but I can appreciate all the fun one can have while eating a lobster. (See photos...)

After a quick visit from Andy's parents (who have a cottage on the other side of Davis Lock) we all decided it would be a brilliant idea to go for a swim sans clothing. Brad missed out on most of the swimming as he tumbled down the bank into a pile of brush and injured himself. This had everything to do with how dark it was and nothing at all to do with rum....

The next day we spent touring the cottage site and dreaming of where the new cottage will be and all of the crazy things that we can do every yearly visit. We also got to spend some more time with Logan, the littliest Milne. He's quite a good little camper!

Cabin Fever

2006-08-30T17:35:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about living in Ontario must be cottage country. Where I grew up people had campers, motorhomes and tents for weekend treks to the lake, but no one really had a cottage. Jan's friends Andy and Dominque have a family cottage at Sand Lake which is a part of the Rideau waterway from Kingston to Ottawa. More later....

You are not a cat!

2006-08-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

Recently Jersey has found a new spot in the yard to cozy up in. Our yard has many great places for Jersey to lie comfortably in, such as her bed and the grass, however, she enjoys squeezing herself between the fence and my lillies. I think she is in denial that she is a little porkchop!

The Griswalds Family Vacation - Sailing at Jericho Beach

2006-08-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

Jan and I wanted to take Laura and Thomas out on the Hobbie Cat 16. We headed down to the Jericho Sailing Centre for an afternoon at the beach. For those of you that don't know a Hobie Cat is a two person catamaran. Laura and Jan have been sailing all their lives but Thomas and I have not. Laura and Thomas own a Shark sailboat at home (24 foot sailboat) but Thomas concluded that it was the first time he really enjoyed sailing. Probably because out on the Hobbie one can go out on the trapeze. I won't be able to explain this properly but you wear a harness and hang over the edge of the boat. The photo here is not our boat but it gives you an idea of "being out on the wire" and "flying a hull." Jan and I have gotten the hull up a bit but not too much as I'm super inexperienced and apparently it's a real pain to right the boat if you flip it.

August is too small to brave the waters so he enjoyed playing with sand for the first time in his life. He was a bit baffled by it and how it just doesn't come off once you are wet. Once Thomas made a sand castle with him he started to apprecitate the beach a bit more. He was also not to keen on the waves and who can blame him...they were the same size as him!

The Griswalds Family Vacation - Whistler

2006-08-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

The Schmidts and the Mahans headed for two glorious nights in Whistler. The weather was perfect. It was even a bit cool at the top of the Garbanzo lift. It was the first time this year that Jan and I were able to ride the top half as it opens later due to snow cover. The trails were a bit rutted and a few were closed due to construction but despite that it was some serious fun. There was a new step up onto a freight train that proved to be fun for Jan. After the two days of riding we had a few callouses, some blood blisters and bruises to brag about. While we were out riding Laura and August relaxed in the village and enjoyed some time by the pool.

The Griswalds Family Vacation - The Grouse Grind

2006-08-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

When Thomas, Laura and August showed up with all of their luggage our exhausted visitors deemed themselves the Griswalds! Wow. Babies need a lot of stuff! I haven't really had a chance to blog about all our adventures yet, however, last week we went up to Grouse Mountain. Laura, Jan and August went up the gondola and Thomas and I went up the Grouse Grind. I have to admit I wasn't really expected it to be all that hard. DUH....I'm not sure why as it's 2.9 km straight up a mountain! Anyhow about 30 seconds into the trail I was breathing heavily and that continued the whole hour and 10 min. The pictures were taken after a few minutes into the trail and do not adequately show the steepness of the trail. It got worse. A lot worse. I'm talking you had to use your hands at some point. We didn't stop for longer than a minute as I was sure I would never get going again. Thomas would have made it up faster but he kindly waited for me. The ridiculous part is that people do that trail in half an hour! I seriously don't understand how. I hate to admit it but I got passed by a man in his 60s. Yes. It is sad. That said, I was actually fine the next day and was able to move around quite freely despite the hike.

At the top Thomas and I joined Jan, Laura and August who were enjoying a loggers sports entertainment show. It sounds odd but it was quite cute. They were professional logger sportsmen who rolled logs and climbed poles with just the boot clamps and a rope. I think August really enjoyed himself. We also enjoyed watching the grizzly bears wrestle and swim while we enjoyed a well deserved beaver tail.

Visit from Mama H.

2006-07-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

My mom came down for four days last weekend. Of course when I remembered my camera the batteries were dead! I think I have a nasty habit of leaving it on and batteries can only last so long....Despite the fact that I have no proof I think my mom enjoyed herself. We spent time exploring Steveston Village and biking along the dyke. Jan took us out on the Hobbie Cat and that was also a big hit. The weather was amazing but made sleeping a bit difficult. We also biked all along Stanley Park and found the most amazing clean beach. Of course no holiday is complete without a trip to Whistler. (Ok, ok it was more about me riding the bike park than showing my mom around the village....) I dragged Karena with me so she could break in her new bike and we hooked up with Adrian and Brandi to do some riding.

Squirrel Hunting

2006-07-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

Jersey is so in love with our new walking route. There is this great forested area that we go through full of squirrels which leads to an open field full of swallows. She runs like a freakshow barking at the birds until she's foaming at the mouth which is rather embarrassing. She gets so excited that I have to drag her home.

Here she is climbing up the tree with me....

Meet Anika!

2006-07-16T22:52:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, (not the one that just passed) I went up to Kelowna to visit Jan. It was very last minute and Jan didn't know I was coming until I actually arrived. I had planned to go on Friday but after a long day of classes I didn't feel like suffering through traffic to drive four hours to get there. It was a fairly painless drive on Saturday and well worth it. I got to meet Anika, Dave and Kellynda's new baby. She's absolutely adorable. She's such a perfect looking little girl. We had a great time catching up over dinner and hooked up the next day at the beach. We really miss having them around!

Clothes Swap

2006-07-11T22:32:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Miss Marita invited me to her biannual clothing swap party. Everyone invited cleans out their closets and brings their used clothes to the event. I had recently just moved so only brought a pitiful four things. However, we did amass quite a pile! There is one person that is the designated "sales lady" that hold up the article and explains the size and material. If there are any stains or imperfections the giver must confess and tell all. It's quite an enjoyable process. We are always provided with drinks, goodies and laughter.

More Visitors!

2006-07-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

Jersey and I have been on our own now for two weeks as Jan completes his 737 course in Kelowna. Luckily, I have had some very special friends visit to keep me company. Myrna, Dale, Eli and Shay came by on Sunday and we toured around Steveston for our visit. The last time I saw the Battens Eli was only two! (He's now four!) Eli is such a bright little boy and Shay is quite the charming young lady! (Eli can already read! Go Myrna!!) I love to see old friends and hope visit Calgary soon.

On Wednesday my friend Kevin and his girlfriend Jenn spent the night and we enjoyed some bevies over dinner in the village. It was nice to have Kevin around since we had spent so much time together when he lived with Jan. Fort St. John is really, really far away so I'm not sure if Jan and I will be able to visit up there anytime soon.

Continuing Status!

2006-07-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to report that I now have continuing status as a teacher! I will be back in the same position at the same school next year! It's a .86 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) which basically means I will teach Resource/Learning Assistance for six out of eight blocks. It is very possible that I will pick up an extra block before school starts which will make me full time. I am ecstatic about the whole situation because I love my school, students and colleagues and didn't want to leave. Check out my wicked school below.

I have also included a few shots of some of my graduating students. I will miss them next year!

Oh...did I mention my school is a lovely 10 min walk from our place??

The Search is Over

2006-06-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

Jan and I spent the weekend searching for our wedding venue. At first we thought Whistler would be perfect but after checking out the sites we both weren't impressed. Marita gave me some great places to check out which led to the weekend long search for the right place. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted I only new it had to be somewhere beautiful. We first checked out the Van Dusen Botanical Garden. (See below)

A true utopia! However, it didn't really seem like "us." While we were there Jan revealed that he needed to be near water which led me to cross off a few other venues.

We went to Stanley Park and were impressed with the Vancouver Rowing Club. It was very scenic and fun and was a good choice. However, we were troubled with the logistics of parking and where to have the wedding ceremony. The next day we drove to Furry Creek in Squamish. It's a golf course that has won many accolades for its amazing views. We both felt more at home with the mountains, lush forest and view of the ocean. I think I actually got goosebumps on the golf cart shuttle to the wedding ceremony site. We both knew it was where we wanted it all to begin! Unfortunately, my camera was being finicky and wasn't working at the time so no sneak pics....sorry!

Father's Day

2006-06-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

It's rare that Jan and I are actually around one of our dads on Father's Day so it was great to have John here to spend the day with us. We longboarded/biked to Britannia Heritage Shipyard where John made friends with one of the members of the historical society that helps to restore traditional Fraser river boats. Actually, it was very interesting because I learned about the rum runner which was used to bring contraband liquour to the states during the prohibition era. It used to outrun the 5-0 and even suffered a gun shot to the bow! Fun stuff for history geeks....

After getting in some local history Jan and I made John dinner. Actually, it was mostly Jan because he's the barbeque master and I just make the salad. A bottle of wine and a full stomach later John killed us on the bocce field! It was an embarrasing defeat for Jan and I. The final score was 10, 4, 3. We tried to pretend that we were letting him win but he knew better!

Longboarding in Steveston

2006-06-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know we are a little old for skateboarding....but not longboarding! Jan and I took Jersey down to Garry Point Park for some fish and chips. (Or rather Jersey took us...) We are taking advantage of our area and are out on the boardwalk every night. God, we are so lucky!

Housewarming

2006-06-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

Our place is officially a home! On Sunday our friends joined us in celebrating our new home and our engagement! It was wonderful. We had some appies, a bbq and of course a few games of croquet and bocce. We received lovely bottles of wine, some champagne and a great photo for our bare mantle. Since Marita's wedding we've had some pretty competitive croquet matches and Sunday proved no different. We gave out a few silly awards but the most amazing feat was watching Marita swing the mallet with little Atticus sleeping in the baby sling. He's an amazing baby and most fun to have around. Isn't he adorable?

The Village

2006-06-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

While we've been in our new place since May 29th, we are just now getting settled. Moving went really well thanks to the muscle we enlisted! Jan's friends Djordie, Darren and Sandy helped us power move into our new place. I was not sad to say goodbye to the dark dungeon but was a little reluctant to let go of Jericho beach. However, Steveston is simply incredible. We are both shocked at how friendly and kind everyone is here. Jers is quite the celebrity and receives many compliments on our walks. (Which by the way are starting to go to her head...) It's a really neat community as there a lot of young families, couples with dogs and sweet elderly people. The views are beautiful and there are many great eateries. Did we mention there is a dirt jump park minutes away......We haven't really gone there yet because half my students are always there.....Enjoy the pics of our new place. We're having our housewarming this Sunday so stay close for some more pictures.

We're Engaged!

2006-05-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Moving on up.......

2006-05-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

We officially received word that Jan is going on the 737 course. YAY! We are very excited about this! We still need to wait to hear about my position.....I hate all this waiting......but we will probably know by June.

We spent the afternoon on the beach with Jersey. It was insanely hot today. The water is still far too cool for me to go in but Jersey enjoys herself!

Whistler Bike Park

2006-05-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our Blog! Jan and I are excited about being able to keep family closer using this site. Of course we might bore you as we don't have any cute pictures of children, however, there is Jersey! She's as much work as a child at times.....

Today Jan and I went to Whistler for the first time this season. It was ridiculously nice out. We both received silly sunburns from our mountain bike pads and a few sore muscles. We were pathetic I must say! We were only able to do four runs! Our excuse is that it is early in the season. Jersey was lucky enough to stay home with her Auntie Karena. She hates it when we ride without her but until she can ride a bike on her own she's not welcome in the bike park!