Day 250 - New Years Eve 2011

Day 250 is the last day of 2011. Sunny wake up to find Shaina scrambling to get ready for France Practice. She managed to swing it and only get lost a few times and arrived in Millarville 1 1/2 hours late! :-) Meantime back at the ranch, we had a fellow stop to purchase the relegation and 5th place World Junior Hockey tickets we had for sale.

 Britt did my hair with her Nume iron.. before and after.. and these curls stay which is amazing for my hair!

 below our lovely guests and another great sunset

Sheldon and I bustled around, him finishing the dog run and me getting stuff figured for New Year Seafood feast. Good friends, the Cole's popped over to see the house and enjoy beverages and social time. At 5 we headed into the Station where Kaylin served us a delicious meal. Britt had Amber out and once home from practice around supper Shaina took the girls into town to Brooke's for a sleepover party. Shaina carried on to a friends in town for her party and slept over & friends at Kaylin's.

 house warming gift from Cole's

At 7, we said good bye to Cole's and traveled into the city, stopping for a yummy chai on the way, and enjoyed a fabulous WJ hockey game, Russia Vs Sweden. It was a great game 3-1 Russia thru most of it but ending in a 4-3 for Sweden! We ran into many people we knew and they put on yet another great firework show.

Sheldon was gallant standing in line at another Tims for 15 minutes to get us our chai tea to enjoy on the ride home. Great way to bring in the new year! we were home by 12:30! 2012
Happy New year!

Day 249 - Vacation friday

Day 249 was no work Friday! Both Sheldon and I took the day off and us and the girls slept till 10:30!!! That was awesome and well needed. Once up we all cleaned and prepared for company. Sheldon headed to the dump while the girls and I tidied the house. Once back home he put up a snow fence dog run.

 look at the brown fields in back :-( darn chinook taking all our snow cover

 carrot sharing

 feel the love

 dog run starting

 and more, then the fence partially up but then the guests arrived

Our good friends, the Illingworth's from UK arrived at 4 after  a great  Canadian ski adventure. we had a great visit,. I had made the girls request of hamburger soup and we had many appetizers. Shaina again had to leave early to head to work for 5-9:30, of course she stayed to watch a movie at a friends but should be home soon as she had France practice at 10 am in Millarville.

 the fellows who originally drug the log up from the river with it in place

 the charming Illingworth family!

 kids minus Kaylin who had to work

Day 247 & 248- back to work for me

Day 247 had a 9 am wake up for me :-) Sheldon of course was gone by 6:30 as usual. However I did manage to get to work by 10 and get stuff done. The afternoon I spent time stocking up on boxing week bargains some of which was candy oriented :-). Back at the ranch I found Britt just relaxing and enjoying the time off curled up in my bed watching her cooking shows.

Hard to believe we have been living in the house for one month now!

Once home from work and after slamming a cold beer, Sheldon and I packed up returns and headed to the city. Costco and Bed store, Wendy's for a gourmet supper and then to another world cup game. As we were walking to the saddledome, Sheldon said, "sure hope I brought the right tickets!" after a quick look, he found nope, he brought the night before's that we had no one go to!! Thank goodness the ticket office was able to reprint the correct ones. Russia won 3-1 over Slovakia in a very good game. When we arrived home at 11 pm, we found all 3 girls in our bed, watching TV, doing hair and eating! LOL guess everyone enjoys that comfy bed!

Day 248 was sort of a repeat with me and Sheldon off to work, me spending afternoon doing a few errands, washing my car since the chinook weather has the roads dry and some banking. Back at the ranch Shannon and Shaina had rode 2 of the horses and were hanging out while Britt was once again planted in our bed watching more cooking shows! If only she would implement this knowledge and use our new kitchen!

After work Sheldon installed the gas line and barbeque.
Shaina and a friend headed off to the world junior game at 7 after a yummy steak supper Britt prepared. She made creamy cheesy baked potatoes, marinated steak with a secret ingredient (HP sauce) and sauteed spinach!!

 Sheldon and I watched the Hangover II while Britt reloaded her ipod. fairly good night had by all.

Day 246 - relax day!!!

Day 246 was a possible work day.. Shaina came up thru the night still not sleeping well and also being excited to leave to board for first time at 6 am. Once she was off, Sheldon got up to go to work. Finally back to sleep I thought yes this is it! sleep in day but that was not to happen. Coach Lesley called at 9 to plan the horses for France practice :-)

so I got up and brewed a cup of my new favorite tea and checked out blogs I follow. I did plan to go into work but since it was so quiet and relaxing I remote accessed from home. I updated our blog and started the turkey soup, had  a shower and just had a fantastic time relaxing and enjoying favorite things posted by others.

My favorite new things for the year are
1 - Pinterest come try it, you too will be hooked! it is a fantasitc site to pin webpages you like
2 - Candy cane kisses - OK I love candy cane ice cream too so how can I not love these!!
3 - Dermologica daily exfolliant - well I can only hope it helps my adolescent skin..LOL
4 - Serengeti tea - black cardamom, delicious and unique packaging
5 - My new house on the ranch, I am very excited for spring to get flowers (and fencing from the naughty horses), grass and new trees all growing.
6 - Hide a hose vacuum - this is a real must for a new build
7 - Bona floor mop - this is the best mop ever, very glad many said it is the answer
8 - Sunsets from my new house are hands down the very best EVER!!!

Britt had Hannah over for social time and once home from work Sheldon enjoyed a cold beer then loaded two new bales in feeders for the ponies. I caught up on blogging while Sheldon caught up on rest. Shaina stayed at a friends after they got home from a great day boarding and Britt enjoyed her time with Hannah who went home around 8:30.

Day 245 - World Junior Hockey starts

Day 245 started with a lovely low key start. Grama P was up making coffee at just after 9 and taking pictures of the mountains. Sheldon and I joined her, I tried the tea she gave me and have to say it is a new favorite.the tea is in the holey packaging making it a built in tea ball. delicious!!

Soon after Mom, Dad and Travis arrived and I cooked up a ton of Swedish pancakes served with ham and cinnamon buns and about 4 pots of coffee and "creamer". Just after noon, the Oyen crew headed to find a dyson vacuum and by just after one, Grama and papa headed to Medicine Hat. (in great tradition, both sets forgot gifts and such..LOL) Shaina went to work at Warehouse for the big sale day 12:30-6.

At 1:45 Britt, Sheldon and I trekked to town to pickup Travis and Aaron and it was off to Calgary. Dropping Aaron and Sheldon off at the saddle dome for the first game of the world junior cup, the rest of us ventured to chinook mall for boxing day sales.. HOLY, after 1/2 hour driving thru underground parking with not one space we parked across the road, walked in, shopped for 3 hours (Britt being the only one to drop most of her Christmas money!!) we were back to pick up the hockey fans. Sweden won as both hoped. By 7 we dropped off Travis and Aaron and went to walmart looking for TV deals. Instead we found new corelle dishes, tree skirt and much more. Back at the ranch it was snacks and games night.
simply white square!! yes!!

Day 244 - Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Another fun filled day was had on day 244, Merry Christmas to you all. Thanks for the emails and support for our blog and house building. Your support has been amazing and helps us thru the tough times. We wish you all happiness and a joyful season of celebration.

 Xmas morning

 chefs..

 and computer watchers

 potato masher

 turkey carver

 mini Snata

 gravy maker

Xmas dog

 on of our beautiful daughters

 here with Aaron

 Merry Christmas All!!