Chinook!!!

OKay, Adam already posted some of these but they are good enough to post again with a little more about them. We went out fishing one odd day... somewhere close to or maybe exactly August 4th. So, we just thought we would go out as a family, my mom and us and then Adam figured we would invite Lawrence and he had a friend with him who we know from years ago, Nick. So, we went out and were enjoying the scenery and the time together...
Annabelle showing Gabe how to use her princess rod... and then ringy dingy... my line had hooked a fish. This was my first time actually getting the fish in and it was so excting!
Here we are with my first edible fish... a 12 pound spring. 70 cm long so for those of you who are saying, that looks like a jack, you are mistaken... it is a spring! So, just after this pic was taken and I was excited in the moment, Annabelle went into my mom's fishing bag, pulled out her fillet knife and sliced her finger, actually very deep. She came to me crying and appologizing and showed me. I was so scared that she had damaged the muscle or cut right to the bone but stayed calm. My mom and I dried it and got the bleeding to stop and then bandaged it up. The update is, because of the way it cut the doctor said that it wouldn't have needed stiches because the skin would just die anyway so I had done right by not taking her to the hospital. We kept it bandaged and had polysporin on it for a week straight and it healed awesome. Just a zig zag scar. But not too bad and I say, Thank God for taking care of her as it could have been so much worse! And she has earned something that, with her would only be learned this way. About an hour later Adam got this one on and Nick helped by netting it for him. It was awesome and made mine look like a minnow!!!
34 pound spring. His biggest fish yet!
Trying to weigh it was tough but it was in fact 34 pounds!!! What a great night. Mom didn't get any but there is still Coho season to come!!!

First things first

This dog... the cutest dog in the world, should have won the contest for best dressed. But no, he did not win. Now, the kids were quite happy with out participation ribbon but Adam and I have been a little bitter. hahaha but seriously! He could have won something!
Joshua, so proud with his baby.
Our friends who came out just to see our dog win! Just kidding. Great to see you all out!
The heat was unbearable so Mom and Annabelle took a shade break.
And this is the dog who won. It was right next to us and it was very hard for me to keep Chee chee from humping her. She was a nice looking dog.

Annabelle my beauty

I was looking back in some old pictures of Annabelle and I had kind of forgotten just how beautiful her hair was all curly and adorable. I love it now, but just take a look at this. How beautiful! This was about 2.5 years old. Cute cute!

Here is her now . Still the most beautiful girl I have ever seen but no more Shirley Temple curls.
And here is the cut. It was very hard to get her to sit still for the picture so there wasn't really any good ones. But this was it after about 5 days of healing.
So there it is, an update of sorts. God bless you all and have a wonderful weekend!!!

Finally!!!

Finally I am making some time in my day to write on the blog. I have been so busy around here...
Finally we ripped down our deck
Finally I got curtains for Annabelle's room that a friend made and my mom and I picked out material for the boys curtains... my mom is making them and I am so excited!
Finally I have finished sorting the basement as well as I can for now and it feels great!
Finally we have time for painting our room whenever we have the money to buy the paint.
Andrew is coming to Canada from China and today he finally gets on the plane to come to Terrace.
I finally have my house as clean as I want it for now.
I finally re did the calking around our tub like I have wanted to for so long.
So finally, I am relaxed!
I think I may have a nap today. I will try to update more in the near future but we have visitors coming for the rest of this month and then all of September so we should be busy.
This week Joshua is at vacation bible school and today I sent him on the bus! I can't believe that he is all on his own. Adam checked it out yesterday and said that it is really great.They are doing a treasure island theme. Kind of all about, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Sounds fabulous! Annabelle is sad she can't go. But I will see for next year when she is old enough. And Joshua starts school in about 3 weeks! I am amazed at how time flies and I am so happy Adam will be off work to walk for Joshua's first day of school with us. How exciting!
Well there is a little update... will write again soon. God bless to you all!

We Got Fish!!! 46 lbs worth!

Caught these babies at 18 Mile on the 5th of August. Quick post before I head to work. Post the rest of the pics honey. Later.

Barlow Girl, I Need You to Love Me

Pilgrim's Progress

I was delighted to see these videos on YouTube. They also have
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7 &
Part 8
Enjoy.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come by John Bunyan (published, February, 1678) is a Christian allegory. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of English literature, and has been translated into more than 100 languages.

Family photo

Not often we get a picture with all of us. We headed up to the Arena to look at the glorious sunset and were just about 1 minute late. There was a man up there with the same idea and got there just seconds late also so he offered to take a pic of our family. He was really nice. And the pic turned out to be probably one of the nicest we have ever had! So a great end to a great night!

Before cell we decided to get a little fishing in so we went to Ferry Island. It was great. Here is the dog, digging a hole, he just wouldn't stop!

Adam, looking great!
Joel. Cute as ever.
Just playing around
Joshua showing off his artwork in the sand
Brenden, the boy I babysit, showing his artworkDaddy and Joel, roasting yummy marshmellows

One of the boys in our cell showing off his fabulous toad that he found. The kids were all amazed!

Some of our cell, just hanging out.

Great night of fellowship! Love it!

Fishing with friends

Last night Adam went out fishing with Michelle and Thomas, Michelle and Byron and the kids. If I would have known that the whole families were going I would have gone with the kids too, but I thought that it was just the guys. Anyway, they had a great time and Michelle caught a Jack which is a small spring salmon. Yummy!
Michelle and Thomas
Kendle modelling the fish his momma caught
Lexie holding the fish heart.
Fishing in the dark. Great times spent with great people!

Dogs and birthdays

We went over to Mark, my bro in law's place the other night as it was his birthday. I won't say how old 'cause it is just plain OLD!!! hahaha
So anyway, I finally took out the camera after all the birthday festivities were over, just because I had forgotten that I brought it before that. So here are some pics of dogs and stuff.
Cheech and his sister. So cute but after their visit, Jen renamed Cheech, Sir Humps-a-lot! What a dog!
Tia, the sister of the most cool dog in the world.
This is Oliver, he is kinda like the big brother who suffered much abuse by the hands of the other little dogs. He was so good about it. But was not impressed by Sir Humps-a-lot's tactics! Hahaha
Annabelle on the trampoline. Lov'in every minute of it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!!!

Joseph Merrick, aka The Elephant Man

I just finished a fascinating book, "The True History of the Elephant Man", by Michael Howell & Peter Ford. If you're feeling sorry for yourself, which I think everyone does from time to time, perhaps it would be good to reflect on Joseph Merrick. Usually called John Merrick, from a mistake made by Sir Frederick Treves, Joseph likely suffered from neurofibromatosis type I and Proteus syndrome not elephantiasis. Here are some parts of the book which really touched my heart and I hope yours too.

A favorite of Joseph's
"False Greatness", by IsaacWatts

Tis true my form is something odd,
But blaming me is blaming God;
Could I create myself anew
I would not fail in pleasing you.

If I could reach from pole to pole
Or grasp the ocean with a span,
I would be measured by the soul;
The mind's the standard of the man.

At last, Treves said, he asked a friend, "a young and pretty widow, if she thought she could enter Merrick's room with a smile, wish him good morning and shake him by the hand." It was essential that she should betray no trace of revulsion or embarrassment. The young widow whom Treves approached was Mrs. Leila Maturin, whose husband, Dr. Leslie Maturin, had died in 1883 within only two months of their marriage. She listened to Treve's proposal and his description of the Elephant Man, and without hesitation accepted the role in which he was casting her: an introduction of beauty to the beast, if with strict limits on the hopes of a transformation.
Treves accompanied Leila Maturin as she was taken to the little basement room to meet Joseph. She entered his room with an easy grace, smiling as she approached him, reaching out and taking his hand as Treves presented him to her.
It was all too much, Jospeh could not speak. Slowly he released her hand and slowly he bend his great head forward to his knees as he broke into heart-rending sobs and wept uncontrollably. The meeting ended as quickly as it had begun.
Afterwards Joseph confided to a rather shaken Treves that this was the first time any strange woman had smiled at him, let alone taken his hand in greeting. The event itself was, however, a landmark, ushering in a wholly new phase in the life of the Elephant Man.

As a specimen of humanity, Merrick was ignoble and repulsive; but the spirit of Merrick, if it could be seen in the form of the living, would assume the figure of an upstanding and heroic man, smooth browed and clean of limb, and with eyes that flashed undaunted courage.

Bad hair day!!!

Annabelle has some difficult hair. Cowlicks, crowns, and curls that are out of control. The other day she woke up and had a lovely dreadlock in her hair on one side. I started brushing it out from bottom to top. She has very fine hair, just beautiful and soft, but not very strong when ripping out knots so, consiquently her hair just ripped out. Not from the root of course but a patch that looks like we took the buzzer to her head. Also many chunks that were a long bang length and this has made it impossible to make her hair look pretty anymore. She looks ragged all the time. Look at that pile of hair. I was pretty concerned as it was coming out but we had to geet this chunk of matted hair out or it would have looked even worse.
So today, her and I went out and I checked at Hairwaves to see if they had an opening for an appointment. No prob getting in and so this is the new hair cut. It will still look funny growing out the really short parts (about a 1inch diameter circle on her head) but at least she can look like I take care of her again! I think it is cute. She loves it!

Alive!

I always wanted to be free
‘Til I was bound and then
I always wanted my own way
‘Til I saw that I find my life when
I lose it

You make me come alive
You make me come alive
I found the secret
It’s only when I let go of what I want in this life
You make me come alive

I used to think that me, myself and I were all that mattered
But You’ve shown me all this world can give
Cannot compare to the joy that comes from
Giving away
And as I follow after You
Now I need to
Leave my past, myself behind
This I will do

I always wanted to be free
‘Til I was bound and then
I always wanted my own way
‘Til I saw You‘Til I saw You

Written by Rebecca St. James and Matt Bronleewe

Biking fun, a great night out!

Although many kids are very great bike riders by 4 and 5 years old, I have not allowed my kids much practise time in the past. The main reason is that, having them so close together it was very hard to get out with them because each one would need help in their own ways. So, tonight I thought, hey, we have not even been out on the bikes this year so, as Adam was home and we declined our camping trip due to some dark clouds in the sky, we decided to take the kids out. It started slow. Joshua is great this year and I would say, is almost ready to have his training wheels taken off. He loves it! He was especailly excited when I told him that he will be able to ride his bike to school this year and that I will get him a back pack that is big enough to keep his helmet and gear in and buy him a lock. Boy did that ever spur a smile. Annabelle is good, too but forgets to look up and then runs into things often. She fell off a couple times though and it didn't even scare her. She is well on her way to being a great little biker. Joel only has his trike and gets a little frustrated because it is difficult to pick up speed. Once he gets going he is good though.
What a nice night out. I love to see the kids experiencing new things and loving them. Now it will get less and less nerve racking taking them out for rides.
Daddy helping his little lady learn the ropes
Joshua just motoring around
Joel getting help from Daddy. We went to a big parking lot to let them practice in safety
Proud as can be!
Joel going for it!

Camping Redsand 2007 & Copper River Fishing

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy 4th Birthday Annabelle!!!

Just what I've always wanted, thanks. (Before Annabelle's gives stylish haircut)

Family came over later, you rock dudes!!!

Added bonus of honoring your sister's birthday, sweets.

MMM Cupcakes!!! Cheers!!!

Annabelle had a few wonderful friends over for her party.

Pin the nose on the clown and coin drop. Party classics!!!

My beautiful baby girl turned 4!!!!!! Boy do I feel old.

Sweetly Broken... what a beautiful thing it is...

As you can see, it has been a while since our last update. Not because we don't want to but simply because we are so stinking busy, in a great way though! So, updates and pics to come when I am not quite so tired!

Jenny, thanks so much for the gift for Belle, she absolutely loved it andkept mentioning that Gavin had got it for her. Cute! And, we did go to Red Sand and camped but by the time we left I forgot to phone. Sorry. I had told someone else that we would call them too and I forgot. Had a great time though and wished when we were out there that I had a cell phone. Oh well. And we caught a Spring on the copper tonight but I was not practised at using the net and we lost it. It sucked but it was a beautiful fish so we will be out again soon. God bless!

And everyone, keep checking in as you never know when I will add 10 posts all at once to make up for lost time!

Night night