Thursday, May 21, 2009
The trip out to the camp we were staying at was almost as much of a challenge as finding it. Lets just say that after two days of driving, somewhere around 15 hours in total, both Levi and Natie had had their fill. Their cups were overflowing.....with tears. And no tears in their state could come free from whines. They howled, and as Dor tried to stay focused upon staying on the twisted string of a road, I tried to con Natie into at least a temporary silence so that we could both focus on not missing our turn. I was unsuccessful, but we thankfully didn't miss our turn, and were flagged down by Calvin, who was waiting for us at the end of the drive. I could have kissed the ground when I got out, but the smidge of better sense that I possess restrained me.
Now to the more condensed account.
Manda and her kids were able to come out that afternoon/evening (Josh was also able to join us more towards the evening), and even provided us with food. :D All of the cousins were drawn automatically to the course gravel drive and busied themselves with making roads, piles, and just playing with the dirt in general. This was the boy's number one occupation the entire stay, followed by their natural propensity to wrestle, ie dog pile each other. The girls alternately busied themselves between war and peace. Most of them (Natie, Addie, Lydia, and Geneva and Emmie somewhat) are at a territorial age when it comes to dolls, and doll equipment. The camp owner also keeps two horses, so the girls picked handfuls of grass to feed them. The next day I presented the kids with bubbles and a number of blowers. That kept some of them busy all day.
The last day of M and B's stay we all went into town and spent the afternoon bowling. The kids loved it, and what adult can complain when they're playing in a bumper lane. Manda took hoards of pictures, so hopefully some of those turned out.
Then we went to a very pretty park were we ate an early dinner and the kids played on the sets, and where Calvin fell in the river. He was retrieved, all was well. :)
Tam, Dor, her kids, and I returned to the camp for one more evening. Manda came out again and after lunch we all headed to the local dollar store to pick up traveling bribes...er amusements for Nat and Amos. Then we were off to Spokane, where Tam was to fly out from on Tuesday.
After Tuesday, and Tam's departure, Dor and I were headed back to Edmonton. We again took the trip in two days. For the most part it was uneventful, as we didn't lose our way anywhere, but a portion of narrow road was not the most friendly with its blowing snow. We made it back to Edmonton late in the afternoon, and began the process of unpacking.
Now I'm attempting to obtain a summer position as a nursing assistant here in Edmonton. And if the Lord wills that I do obtain one, my summer will be set out for me.
TTFN,
Jode
PS I shall attempt to post a couple of Dor's pictures of our trip in the near future.
Now to the more condensed account.
Manda and her kids were able to come out that afternoon/evening (Josh was also able to join us more towards the evening), and even provided us with food. :D All of the cousins were drawn automatically to the course gravel drive and busied themselves with making roads, piles, and just playing with the dirt in general. This was the boy's number one occupation the entire stay, followed by their natural propensity to wrestle, ie dog pile each other. The girls alternately busied themselves between war and peace. Most of them (Natie, Addie, Lydia, and Geneva and Emmie somewhat) are at a territorial age when it comes to dolls, and doll equipment. The camp owner also keeps two horses, so the girls picked handfuls of grass to feed them. The next day I presented the kids with bubbles and a number of blowers. That kept some of them busy all day.
The last day of M and B's stay we all went into town and spent the afternoon bowling. The kids loved it, and what adult can complain when they're playing in a bumper lane. Manda took hoards of pictures, so hopefully some of those turned out.
Then we went to a very pretty park were we ate an early dinner and the kids played on the sets, and where Calvin fell in the river. He was retrieved, all was well. :)
Tam, Dor, her kids, and I returned to the camp for one more evening. Manda came out again and after lunch we all headed to the local dollar store to pick up traveling bribes...er amusements for Nat and Amos. Then we were off to Spokane, where Tam was to fly out from on Tuesday.
After Tuesday, and Tam's departure, Dor and I were headed back to Edmonton. We again took the trip in two days. For the most part it was uneventful, as we didn't lose our way anywhere, but a portion of narrow road was not the most friendly with its blowing snow. We made it back to Edmonton late in the afternoon, and began the process of unpacking.
Now I'm attempting to obtain a summer position as a nursing assistant here in Edmonton. And if the Lord wills that I do obtain one, my summer will be set out for me.
TTFN,
Jode
PS I shall attempt to post a couple of Dor's pictures of our trip in the near future.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The trip to Idaho was by no means a short one, but it was nice to be able to take a road we've never traveled. We did have some minor hang ups in Calgary, as we missed our turn, but we completely blame it on inadequate road signs...which in my experience is a common problem. But yes, that takes care of all of the self-inadequacy issues that would otherwise croup up. :D Yes, I can read a map..no I cannot read what is not written there. I find it kinda of funny how the driver is typically the one with the best idea of where they are (cuz hey, they are the one paying attention!) yet they are also the least able to look at the map when needed. Thus the one who was not paying such keen attention is brought back to reality to see if they can locate some kinda of make due turn to get them back to good... when in truth they are not entirely sure where they even are. A somewhat daunting task. :) I consoled myself with the fact that we were able to experience more of the city instead of letting the opportunity pass us by. From Calgary it was smooth sailing. We went through mountains, and mountains, and more mountains, and saw wildlife, and wildlife, and more wildlife, and made it all the way to Cranbrook in one day. That actually isn't saying much considering that google maps said that we should have been there hours ago.
But what we the kids doing all of this time? Well, one of my sides got a nice work out, as I reached back to appease Nattie with pretty much whatever I could get my hands on that would interest her. Amos was pretty satisfied with his books and trucks for most of the distance, and really only required reaching help. Levi periodically took naps, cried, was fed, played with, and changed in the ridged, systematic fashion that most destination travelers try to take. By a destination traveler I mean those who travel for the end, not for the sake of the journey. On a couple occasions we tried to momentarily divert/exhaust the kids by letting them out to run around. But 2 minutes outside in the gusty mountain air was about as much as this wimp could take. We also tried to do this for meals, but those or us with long hair tended to spend the meal eating hair with our food.
The next day we made it to the US of A, and had to adjust to speaking of states instead of provinces, and driving in MPH instead of KPH, and spending green cash instead of, well you know, colored money.
Driving through ID was quite pleasant, and I for one was glad to get out of the chilly mountains. Beautiful farm land. We were surprised when we looked down from the road on the giant bluffs to Lewiston below, no one had informed us of it's beauty, with it's huge lumpy hills and winding rivers. Nor did anyone inform us of how big it was, or how many dead-ends and one-ways it has..this would have been useful information. :D Needless to say, we had a very inferior map, and neither Dor or I knew where our turn was this time. We ended up in a graveyard. Who knew gas stations were so hard to find, if they had even carried local maps. We put our brains together, which didn't amount to much. Hey, I would like to see you try, whoever you are that would laugh at our plight. We were lost with three children who equated slow speeds and lostness with crying and screaming. It was like being on reality TV...fear factor. We obviously found our way out or I would not be writing this account, I would be trying to figure out how to create a fire using a granite headstone and a stick.
To be continued again
But what we the kids doing all of this time? Well, one of my sides got a nice work out, as I reached back to appease Nattie with pretty much whatever I could get my hands on that would interest her. Amos was pretty satisfied with his books and trucks for most of the distance, and really only required reaching help. Levi periodically took naps, cried, was fed, played with, and changed in the ridged, systematic fashion that most destination travelers try to take. By a destination traveler I mean those who travel for the end, not for the sake of the journey. On a couple occasions we tried to momentarily divert/exhaust the kids by letting them out to run around. But 2 minutes outside in the gusty mountain air was about as much as this wimp could take. We also tried to do this for meals, but those or us with long hair tended to spend the meal eating hair with our food.
The next day we made it to the US of A, and had to adjust to speaking of states instead of provinces, and driving in MPH instead of KPH, and spending green cash instead of, well you know, colored money.
Driving through ID was quite pleasant, and I for one was glad to get out of the chilly mountains. Beautiful farm land. We were surprised when we looked down from the road on the giant bluffs to Lewiston below, no one had informed us of it's beauty, with it's huge lumpy hills and winding rivers. Nor did anyone inform us of how big it was, or how many dead-ends and one-ways it has..this would have been useful information. :D Needless to say, we had a very inferior map, and neither Dor or I knew where our turn was this time. We ended up in a graveyard. Who knew gas stations were so hard to find, if they had even carried local maps. We put our brains together, which didn't amount to much. Hey, I would like to see you try, whoever you are that would laugh at our plight. We were lost with three children who equated slow speeds and lostness with crying and screaming. It was like being on reality TV...fear factor. We obviously found our way out or I would not be writing this account, I would be trying to figure out how to create a fire using a granite headstone and a stick.
To be continued again
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Hey ho. I'm sure that I have much to post about, and thus I sit down to do so. I am currently writing to my blog from Edmonton..where I sit, but how did I get here? As of the beginning of this year Mark and B had been working to hatch plots involving a trip down to Idaho to visit with Manda. I tried to tune this out as much as possible at the time to avoid disappointment in the case that they were to travel while I was yet in school. At the same time Shawn and Tam were still in Washington, and so the hope was that they would be able to remain there till after Mark and B took the trip---the more the merrier you know. :) It at one point looked like Jord and Dor might even be able to make it down. Thus making it at least four of us girls present, so I held my breath for my finals to be over.
It just so happened that Mark would able to wrap everything up that he needed to four days after my last final, so it looked promising. At the same time, however, Shawn had been unable to extend their stay in WA, and Jord's plans had also been foiled. The day after my last final I found out from Tam, who had just driven all the way to MI, that she was willing to fly back to ID, if we girls were all going to be there. So we called Dor to see if there was any way she would be able to make it, but traveling alone with three little kidlets is a daunting task for any superhero..and Dor was sane enough to know it. :) Three days before take off, and two days after finals, it had been decided that I would take a bus to Edmonton the day before Mark and B were scheduled to leave in order to assist Dorry.
I took the night bus on Monday, which enabled me to be here at a little after 8:00 am. We had to wait a little while for Levi's birth certificate to come in, but all is well that ends well, we departed around noon. Ok, this is off topic, but is all well that ends well? I think not, as it seems to be the same as saying the end justifies the means. But regardless of that, we were headed to ID.
To be continued
It just so happened that Mark would able to wrap everything up that he needed to four days after my last final, so it looked promising. At the same time, however, Shawn had been unable to extend their stay in WA, and Jord's plans had also been foiled. The day after my last final I found out from Tam, who had just driven all the way to MI, that she was willing to fly back to ID, if we girls were all going to be there. So we called Dor to see if there was any way she would be able to make it, but traveling alone with three little kidlets is a daunting task for any superhero..and Dor was sane enough to know it. :) Three days before take off, and two days after finals, it had been decided that I would take a bus to Edmonton the day before Mark and B were scheduled to leave in order to assist Dorry.
I took the night bus on Monday, which enabled me to be here at a little after 8:00 am. We had to wait a little while for Levi's birth certificate to come in, but all is well that ends well, we departed around noon. Ok, this is off topic, but is all well that ends well? I think not, as it seems to be the same as saying the end justifies the means. But regardless of that, we were headed to ID.
To be continued
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