New this Christmas!

New Little Explorer! Who thought watching a little one open gifts could be so entertaining. She thought the gifts were the wrapping paper and bows! That green tissue paper kept her busy for a long time!





New recipes! Absolutely love the Sweet Potato Biscuits. Will be hard to make them just for Christmas or other special occasions. The Cranberry Relish is another new favorite of mine. Hints of citrus fruit carefully blended all together (but no cooking!) make for a tantalizing taste bud treat!

This is what Christmas is all about!

This is what Christmas is all about! Now the next generation of little girls are getting to know their little cousin. One little girl in particular could hardly leave E's side. M loves babies so the trip up to the Craft Sale was complete for her when she was privileged to "take care" of her.

This is all part of what Christmas is really about. Relationships! While these girls were having fun in the one room, us older girls were getting in a good gab session in the other. To say nothing of the very non typical Christmas meal, complete with chocolate dessert! Thanks girls for contributing to the post Craft Sale supper! This time together should really be part of the Christmas tradition!

"The stockings were hung ..."

We're about as ready for Christmas as we can be. Guest room for E & B (and four pawed ball of energy) is ready. Groceries are bought for the new nontraditional Christmas meal - which I won't argue if it became the new tradition for our home. Presents need wrapping - but they are all sitting in our home right now waiting for paper, tape, ribbon, bows, tags, whatever creativity comes out of our thoughts of the recipient of the gift. The stockings will need to hang empty for a few more months, waiting for K to be back.

I've enjoyed planning our Christmas meal. I've enjoying shopping for gifts of special interest for each of our children. I've really enjoyed shopping for one sweet little girl. The joy of being a Grandma! I'm looking forward to preparing our non-traditional food. I'm looking forward to doing it once again in a few months!

Now. The only irritant to deal with this week is getting the dryer fixed. When I've heard about all the furnace replacements that have occurred with family members the last few years, a dryer is not something to destroy the week.

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care". This year I've spent more time on the "with care" and less on the actual "were hung". I quite like this!

Pinball Clemons

I had the honor and great opportunity to go to the annual Alberta Urban Municipalities Association conference this year in Edmonton. There were all sorts of sessions dealing with municipal issues including opportunities to meet with a number of government ministers. We heard Premier Ed Stelmach speak as well as Brian Mason from the NDP and Dr. Swan from the Liberals and the MLA from the Wildrose Alliance. It was all good, but the best was the last Keynote speaker being Michael Pinball Clemons. He was incredibly dynamic, personal and motivational. He made a number of important points about what is important in life - the main one being a dad and husband! This just was SO awesome to hear! He calls it "substance" in life not just "style". Style is fleeting where substance is (sorry to use this word :)) - substantial! Carrying a piece of leather around the field is just style! He called himself just a "glorified talent". It is safe to say the entire room felt motivated to make a difference in life and as Pinball put it, we make a huge difference in our community being in municipal politics! And yes I did get an autograph on the notes I made about his speech! The photo here is with our entire city of Lacombe council.

Headin' South!

For those of you who do not know, Kev has left for the Antarctic on October 25th for a 5-6month stint at the Rothera Base for British Antarctic Survey. He is just about there right now. Here is a photo of him sitting in the co-pilot's seat in the twin otter airplane.

Final Days!

DOCKED














WAITING TRUCK














REVELSTOKE














CLOSE TO HOME














CLOSER YET!

Day Eight - At Sea

The day had come! A very bittersweet sense of it all coming to an end. Memories of the last days floating in and out of our thoughts bringing a feeling of tranquility. All the beauty we had been blessed to participate in mixed with the idea the day had arrived when it was time to turn around and head for home. Many times we've traveled this same final day of a vacation only this time there were no children with downcast eyes and solemn voices wishing the holiday to go on forever. And yet feeling so much like a child wanting the ship to stay in the far north and not take us back to that final port in Canada.

Our final full day at sea was picture perfect. For having endured rough wild seas we were now being treated with calm smooth waters and warm sunny skies on the very path we had traveled only a few short days ago. We made the most of the day and enjoyed each moment as it arrived. Most of the pictures of our eighth day are courtesy of Cor and Joanne. Cor tirelessly captured with his camera lens life on the Zuiderdam! Our thanks to them for their generous sharing of pictures and creating a memorable holiday!