Yup, glad I didn't enter into this competition. Darrel, Dale and Tina are really decent shots. I think Darrel and Dale had farm experience, not sure about Tina...she's fairly coordinated and "good with her hands", maybe that accounts for it?! At any rate, I don't think I would have hit the target with every shot, like these guys. Jack shrieked with laughter each time the gun was fired, it was rather entertaining just anticipating his reaction.
We had such a good time at Fort Edmonton Park on Monday with Tina and Dale! The weather agreed wonderfully, 25C and a little breezy. Warm but not too hot. More pictures to follow but this was a fun moment. Watching Jack laugh and shriek was a hoot, one of the best moments of the day for me.
In horror I realized tonight that I had not posted any pics of the Andersons in Vegreville at the giant pysanka! We used to not bother with "giant" anything but since having children we've developed a considerable enthusiasm for little parks to eat lunch in on the road with a strange tourist attractions (even better if there's some motion to the thing that mesmerizes the children), and the inevitable washroom facilities nearby. It's a good thing! This was kind of cool, it was quite large, and it rotated. Jack could not be convinced to stand for a picture, hence he was in and out, running up and down. A note: we do not travel with him naked but he had spilled his apple juice all over his clothes, requiring a quick visit to afore mentioned washrooms and the new clothes weren't on yet. Yeah, don't think he cared.
These pictures are all from Anne's (my MIL) garden. Her garden is so beautiful, lots of colourful flowers to feast your eyes upon. (And full of good ideas, after seeing her Hollyhocks we have decided to put some in the 18" wide space between our garage and fence line that is a weed infested eye sore.) I was thinking about why we go "home" while we were in SK and again tonight. We go to Shaunavon a couple of times a year, and no offense Anne, but it's not the happening night life or hip things to do that make us keep coming back! It's family, and more particularly it's Anne/Nan/Mommie Dearest. We go to be nurtured, feel loved, fed pies and cakes and cookies, be told we're doing a good job with our kids, have our kids be loved/hugged/admired/praised/rocked/spoiled/carried/adored. People often ask me the ominous question about how I get along with my inlaws, and in particular my mother in law. And I really do have to say that I am a lucky lucky girl, Anne is as good as it gets. She is thoughtful, kind, and patient. I have learned a lot from her and I am very glad I am now part of her family. Anne, I love you, thank you for being you!
Mr. Eric turned one on Sunday, hooray! We had a little party in Shaunavon on Thursday, he had ice cream cake, presents and all. With the flu big in our house we didn't get much done on Saturday once we arrived home, so the celebration was pretty low key. I will have to go and get him a present this week, poor kid! But, he did have a rockin time with his birthday cupcake. He had been almost falling asleep in his high chair after supper, but the sugar in this birthday treat seemed to revive him pretty quick! It was straight to the bath afterward. You can't see it in these pictures but he had a huge glob of icing on the back of his head, it was pretty cute. We love you baby boy, happy birthday! Oh, a side note, we think he said his third word today, "naughty". That makes, uh-oh, no, and naughty the first three!! Yikes! I'm starting to feel guilty about this child's vocabulary. I obviously need to start talking more positively around him to compensate for all the child correction talk that goes on around here. 
On our way to SK we met Grant and camped one night in Dinosaur Provincial Park, about 1/2 hour northeast of Brooks. This was a really neat place. We had a great time hiking in the hoodoos on Saturday morning. The camping was not the greatest, for us camping with small children is really just miserable. I know people do it, love it, have a great time -that is not us. Yup, no more camping for a few years. Other than that though we had a great time. Grant was fun to hang with as always (too bad you don't live closer/we live closer), and I developed a huge crush on his camera. That is a camera to lust after I tell you. It is beeee-u-ti-ful. Okay, next post will show next stop on the trip.
Eric just gets more charming as the days go by. Yesterday his second official word emerged, "no". He has taken to saying it with gusto (a la Jack) whenever he is told no. As in "no baby, don't open that cabinet" or "no baby, don't eat that stick". It is comedy that Jack's first words were ball and dada and Eric's are Uh-oh and No. You can tell what gets said around our home a lot. In the last few days he has also learned how to give kisses, leaning in to give me a wide open mouth if I ask for a kiss. It's adorable. Even when screeching "no" as loud as he can, this little guy is simply a joy. Nearly always happy, curious, cute, (he does look like his mama after all, hehehe), and cuddly. As he approaches his first birthday in a week and a half, I am a little stunned by how fast the time has gone. Don't become a little boy too fast "baby Eric".
We were lucky enought to have the Patrick Family come and stay with us on their way up to High Level this weekend. Jack and Eric love playing with Luke and Maddy. Our kids fit together like rungs on a ladder, first Maddy at nearly 4, then Jack at 2.5, Luke at 1.5 and Eric 1. This seems to make for great playing. Maddy is obviously the surrogate Mommy and 'in charge'. Jack and Luke can play trucks together and all three older kids are good at entertaining baby Eric. I loved having the company of great friends to visit with. As I cleaned my house before they arrived, my eyes were continually falling on the many things that Karly has given me over the years; the picture frame when I graduated from university, the vase and candle when we bought our first house, many great books for birthdays, and last Christmas the board sign that is in the kitchen and says "Love is Spoken Here". It made ME feel so loved and blessed to have such a good friend. Happy holidays Patrick family, we miss you already. Come back soon!
