p.s.

If you are reading this post, you most likely fit into one of the two categories in the post below.  Except for Anne.  Anne, when you come and visit (all the way from England) I will clean my house for you.  AND I will change the sheets before you arrive (that's extra special). 

/Check out their rain gear....

let me tell ya somethin'

You know what I like? I like the kind of friends who come to my house to see me, not my house. I like knowing that it's going to be ok that there are toys everywhere. And maybe I haven't quite had a chance to change the sheets (but I will, don't you worry). And maybe supper will be frozen hamburgers.

Friends like this are a gift. Thank you. And you know what's even better than that? The friends who helped me realize that it's all ok.

oh shit. I just remembered that Maddie needs to take 15 slices du frommage to school tomorrow for "Four Food Group Day". Ah dommage, le frommage.

bonne nuit. I'm off to cut the cheese (bahahahahaha)

Home again, home again...

The weekend is over, too fast as usual. I'm off to bed, but wanted to put up a few pictures. Randa has about eleventy billion more on her camera, so I'll post some when she gets a chance to email me a few. These are from Allison's iphone.

Park on the street

We are going to Minot in 2013! 

Pulling out of the driveway

Ok, so its a saturday night of girl's weekend.  Corey is making sure the gin is flowing and the food is plenty.  Truly we have not stopped laughing. At. All. 

I love these girls.  Next year will be our 20th anniversary. Holy shit.  We still feel 25.  I am so lucky to have these girlfriends. 

Ahhhh

Finally we are all together again.  What a great place to be. 

Lloyd memories. . .

wTreena, we followed your advice and stayed at the TropiCAL Inn. (Allison kindly pointed out my previous error)

Im not going to lie to you - I had such a fun time last night.  Lloyd is a great place to stay. When there is a blizzard. And the roads are closed.  And you are with your friend. 

So kids, this is what i learned about Lloyd:
- home of the chain restaurant ("Wok Box is good")
- an alarming high incidence of asymetrical eyes. Yes. I said it.  Three of the six people we talked to.  Thats 50% of people who couldr look left and right at THE SAME TIME.  Oh wait, Allison reminded me one guy only the one eye. ("poor bugger")
- Irish Pub = 1980s rec room with a crokinole board on the wall (but it doesnt go on the wall.  I know. Thats the problem)
- I still dont know why my beer was twice as big as Allison's
- possible beer openers include (but are not limited to) fire extinguisher boxes, chair rails, door locks (you know, the chain but its not a chain thing)  Good thing we bought wine with a screw cap.

And now a few visual supports. . .

Tropic Inn

So the night turned out fairly tame. . .but not without laughter.  Lloyd (as the locals call it) appears to be known for its chain restaurants.  We asked several locals for dining recommendations only to be sent to Boston Pizza or Tony Romas. . .

So. Yep we went to Tony Romas.  And for some reason my beer was twice as big as Allison's.

There are many more fun stories but frankly we are just pooped out.  Goodnight.
J

Get ready

There should be some interesting, if not ridiculous blog posts in the next 24hrs. . .

Allison and i are on our way to Edmonton for a girls weekend with Randa and Patti.  The catch? There is a blizzard and we have gotten as far as lloydminister.  We are staying at. . . Wait for it. . . The Tropical Inn. 

Oh yeah.  Right now im squatting on a case of beer in the hall bc we cant get the keys to work.

Stay tuned

Maddie off the Deer Chair!

ok, so this video of Madge skiing will be up and ready as soon as I get a tutorial from Steph...

Skiing Day One

The girls went to full day ski and play, from 9 to 4, with four hours of skiing in there. They were thrilled and could thave cared less when we left. Sounded like they basically has the ski instructor to themselves which was great. Jackson spent the day in lessons and learned to use ski poles today. "and you know what, I'm pretty good". - jackson Now I'm trying to convince Lisa we should go into town and do a little shopping in the cute old downtown. Wish me luck...

Let's try that again

Ok. So I did a super long post on my iPad before we left and somehow I managed to delete the whole damn thing.

Short version: in preparation for our long drive to Fernie (which turned out much better than anticipated. Infact our best trip yet). Anyway, I did a little trick that my mom to do when we travelled. I packed a little activity kit and kept it a surprise until we were on the road. God thing too bc in the nine hour journey Madge watched a total of 63 minutes of her movie. The rest of the time she talked. And talked. And then talked.

Ok. So now I'm going to try and post the pics of the super cute car kit. Lisa is busy getting some great shots of the kids so you will have to check out her blog for those

Oops

About the last couple of posts: blogger and i had a fight.  Blogger clearly won. 

We are in Fernie.  Raining right now but we wont let that spoil our fun.  Im trying to convince Lisa to go shopping.  Wish i brought my raincoat though. . .

Two more sleeps.

Story Time

Settle in kids, b/c I'm going to tell you about my favorite Snow Day memory, other than today, of course.

In high school it snowed quite a bit one winter (well probably every winter), but there was a day in grade 10 or so when the buses didn't run b/c it was so cold and there was so much snow.  Steph literally lived a shortcut walk beside someone's house to school. I was on the other side of town, but still about a 15 min walk in reality.  (maybe 30? why can't I remember this?)

Anyway, clearly the buses weren't running so we sure as heck weren't going to school.  Why should we suffer just b/c our parents didn't have the foresight to be farmers and thus provide the Snow Day opportunity?  Nope, no school for Steph and me.

But no school doesn't mean that you stay home all day all by yourself. NO.  Don't be ridiculous.  Why would we do that?  It means head over to Jenn's house for the day.  'Member how I said I was about 15-30 min walk (must have been closer to 30, or else I walked faster when I was 15) to my house and Steph was about 38 seconds from school? So of course we would pick my house. But to make it fair, I met her halfway (by Chicken Delight) so that we would both have to walk the same amount. 

Steph has always been the Queen of Winter Wear.  I bet, if you called her right now she would say "why yes, I do have long underwear on".  She was so bundled that day that I walked right by her and turned around to go home thinking she didn't come.  Didn't even recognize her.  And then when this mound of jackets and pants started yelling in a muffled way I thought "why is that old lady yelling at me?". 

Long story short, I caught on it was her.  We walked back to my house together.  Or at least I think that's what we did, can't really remember the rest.  My mind is going at the tender age of 36.  Sigh. 

------


I told Maddie she couldn't watch anymore TV today.  She didn't say a word, just left the room, headed directly to Jason's office where she set up camp.  Apparently TV is allowed in there.  That's where they are right now.  Eating their supper.  It's cute really.  And gives me peace and quiet so am I going to complain?  Hell no. 

To all the people who think I'm just sitting around on the snow day....

Does this look like a woman who is sitting around? 

hmpf.

Snow Day!

We are having a snow day out here in Warman.  This is good news for you b/c I'm pretty sure I'm going to blog blog blog today...

Current conditions:  I can hardly see across the street.  If we had a tree, I'm sure it would be bent over.  "Travel not recommended" for our highway so I'm ....

WHAT?  the buses in Warman are running? For real? I just saw three kids slog past my front window.  People, really?  Well, the Markoskys are not going to be leaving the house.  Although Morgan was trying to convince me that I should take Madge outside to play today?  Really?  Maybe we could play Little House on the Prairie and tie a rope from the barn to the house so we can find our way back from chores.....

Update:  can't see across the street.  At. All.  B/c of the snow. 

I did get ready for work today, so I actually have the best hair and make up for a Stay Home Day.  Lucky Jason and Madge...


So, here's some pictures from quite a while ago.  The first one is the Valentines I made for Maddie.  Might just be the first and last time I make valentines.  Looked super fun and easy on Pinterest.  Novelty wore off for both of us about half way through.  They are paper hearts filled with candy.  When kids opened them they were "heart breakers".  Get it?  BAHAHAHAHAHA

Then yesterday, I went to get the mail and there was a package.  From Calgary.  WHAT?  Who?  Why?  It wasn't until I opened it that I remembered a facebook challenge I signed up for in January some time.  The idea is to send a handmade/homemade item to five people before the end of the year.  I think my five people are Steph, Colleen, Keely, Elayne, and Lara (but I can't really remember so if there is someone else - please let me know).  I'm not sure if I'm supposed to send one to my cousin Anne in England, but I am hoping that I do (Keely knows I seem to have some kind of postal allergy...)

Anyhoodle - here is the super fun package.  THANK YOU Elayne.  I love that you wrapped it up.  Nice touch.  I will do that for my people.

ok, and then I think I have just one more thing.  Ummmm, what was it?  Oh yeah - are you ready for this? 

CHOCOLATE CAKE IN A MUG!  For. Real. from scratch.

takes about 3-5 minutes to mix up all the ingredients, then you just pop it in the microwave for 3 minutes and voila.  A delicious chocolate cake.  It's on the heavy side, more of brownie really.  Definitely serves two. I think it would be really good with a hot sticky toffee sauce.   Found it in a fabulous Girl Guide cookbook Mom gave me. 

Want the recipe? You know you do.

Oh and while I'm at it, here's some cute pictures of Georgia and Maddie - we met them at the mall on Sunday at the indoor playground.  FYI, Georgia will be 3 in a couple of weeks, not 5.   Oh, and Madge has learned how to zip Her Very Own Coat.  She is generalizing this skill to anyone who will sit still long enough. 

I tried to take a picture of the snow, but frankly the picture makes it look like I'm a big wimp and I swear to you the highway hotline says "travel not recommended".  I also cannot actually see my neighbors.  You will just have to take my word for it.