My Kid Went to Blackfalds, and all I got was this Lousy T-Shirt

 I missed the Marathon, but I came out if it with a painted basement, and this rad T-Shirt.  Can't complain.

Everyone had fun (except those of us stuck at home painting.)  Apparently Eli ran 3 km, and slept in the stroller the other 7 km.  All the kids loved the medals, and my dad obliged me and took some pictures.  I'm still sad I missed it, but there's always Blackfalds Fun Run 2011!

I ALMOST Ran a Marathon

Okay, so it wasn't a Marathon, it was a race.  Alright, it wasn't a race, it was a "Fun Run."  And I wasn't actually going to run, but walk.  But, Fun Run kind of rhymes with Marathon, and since I didn't actually end up doing it, I can call it whatever I want!

Today my family is running in the Blackfalds, Alberta Fun Run.  Until last night, I was set to participate. However, we are renovating our home, and are down to the wire, so I need to stay home and paint while everyone else wins the race.  I did send Eli with my folks (with his Lightning McQueen underpants on, for good luck) and think he's going to shine! 

Despite my absence from the race, I did manage to send off some medals for the racers.  Yesterday Eli and I whipped up these little gems:

They were fun to make and super easy.  Eli helped, with a little trampoline jumping break.  I may not be there to see them win it, but my 9 nieces and nephews and Eli are going to be big winners this morning!

Making the cookies.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip, with Skor pieces.

Break time. (This medal making is hard work!)

Wrap 'em in tin foil, with a hot glue gun glue on a ribbon, and there you have it!  I even sent the rest of the cookies along for the adult marathon runners.  I hope they are enjoyed!

And the winner is...

Some suggested that this would not be a fair contest, but let me assure you, that while I was waiting for Si to wake up this morning, I couldn't have been more fair.  To prove it, here is the evidence.  

First I wrote out all your names:

Then I crumpled them up:

In the hat they go:

And the winner is...

And since I'm feeling generous, I pulled another:

Yeah Callie and Cassie!!!  You win the first ever Hands Full of Happiness Giveaway!  Congratulations!  Send me your addresses, and I will mail off your hats.  If you have changed your mind about which one you want, let me know that as well.  YEAH!!!

And for the rest of you, don't worry, I've still got tons of yarn I need to get through, and no shortage of time to use it (humf!)

Thanks all for participating, it was fun!

Last Chance to Enter!!!

My giveaway ends tomorrow night: if you haven't entered yet, do it!  I even added a new hat, and I'm working on another, so if I finish it tonight I will put it up in the morning.  The new hat is so cute:

If you haven't entered the giveaway yet, go here, read the rules, and enter!

Fire Fighter Auntie

Eli "se-weusly" loves his Auntie Adrienne.  He will go to the farm with me if I assure him Auntie Adrienne is there.  He will get on a horse if he can ride with her.  He is convinced that she will give him presents every time he sees her (because she usually does.)

But, yesterday Eli discovered the most wonderful thing of all about his Auntie Adrienne: she is a fire fighter!!! Not only that, but yesterday she was working at the hall just down the street from my parents' house, so we got to go visit her.  Coolest day of Eli's life!

First, we met all the fire fighters at the hall (yes, I sound ultra PC, but when you have a best friend who is a fire-WOMAN, it only makes sense.)  Then we got to explore the trucks.  Eli made sure Adrienne explained what every truck was, and what every element of each truck was used for.

Then he got to get in and drive.

Then he explored the truck and went through all the equipment.

His favourite thing of all was definitely the "lightsaber."

Eli is lucky to have such an Auntie.  Now all I have to do is find a way to keep him away from the fire hall.  Who needs the science centre or the zoo when I've got Adrienne?!

Edythe Allegra Jackson

Today I went my Grandma Jackson's funeral.  I really loved her, and while it was sad to say goodbye, it was incredible to spend a day honouring her.  She was incredible!  In 1982 she wrote her own history and left it with her will.  I couldn’t honour her any better than her own words, so here it is:

Edythe Allegra Jackson

I was born the 7th daughter and 11th child of Isabelle Elizabeth Gibb and John Booth Merrill at Hill Spring, Alberta.

I received my early education at Hill Spring, went to grade 12 in Cardston, one year at University of Alberta and graduated with a BSc from BYU.

I taught four years of High School in Raymond and was Principal for 4 years at Hill Spring, 12 grades.

I married Elwood Jackson. We have lived in 5 provinces and travelled extensively in every province in Canada except Newfoundland. I love Canada and am a devoted Canadian.

I was Secretary Treasurer of the Protestant Sunday School, President of the Protestant Ladies Guild and taught school in the Catholic school system. I was responsible for the rule in the Department of National Defence, that Mormons can hold their meetings in any Protestant Chapel or school building.

I have worked in the Stake Primary, Mutual and Relief Society. I have been choir leader and music director in every organization and sang in the Relief Society Chorus that went to Salt Lake to sing in the Tabernacle.

I have three beautiful daughters, three wonderful sons in law and 9 plus grandchildren.

I have enjoyed travelling; visited Joseph Smith's birthplace in Sharon County, New York, enjoyed the marvellous production at the Hill Cumorah and the spiritual experience of the Sacred Grove.

I have toured restored Nauvoo and visited Carthage and Liberty Jails.

I "walked where Jesus walked" in Israel, boated on the Sea of Galilee, swam in the Dead Sea, climbed the Pyramids in Egypt, explored Petra in Jordon, rode on a camel and Arabian pony, swam in the Mediterranean, viewed the Parthenon in Greece and boated on the Nile.

I have seen the Changing of the Guards, the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, viewed the beauty of Edinburgh and attended conference in Prince Albert Hall when the Stakes were divided in England. 

I have been to Hawaii twice and toured the Caribbean Islands.

I have been to the Ancient ruins in Mexico, Yucatan and Guatemala and to the jungle of Tiki.
We retired in Cardston and I love gardening, quilting, hand work, ceramics and filling my storage shelves.



Since then she had 4 more grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. She also walked the Great Wall of China, explored Australia, and did so much more.  She was an inspiration! I hope I can be like her when I grow up.

Gramma, I love you!

One Reason for Living

While other girls were exploring make-up, movies and boys, as a 10-year-old girl, I was meeting weekly with two friends to talk about the ponies that none of us had.  We dreamed about the day when our parents would buy us the horses we'd been asking for for years, and in the meantime we collected all the tack, brushes and paraphernalia we could, in preparation.

I don't think I was unique in my horse craziness: most little girls go through a similar stage. My "stage" however has not ended yet.  I'm as horse crazy now as I was when I was ten.  My daddy never bought me a pony, but I managed to buy my own when I graduated from college. Then I bought another, and another, and even bred one of my mares so I got another (don't worry, I've sold two, out of necessity).  My life has changed such that I can no longer go off riding for hours and days at a time, but of all the loves of my life, horses are certainly still one of them.

So, it is natural that I try to pass the love onto my children.  Silas is a little small yet, but Eli is ready to cowboy it up.  Today my horsing partner in crime, Adrienne, took him for his first trail ride, and he proved a perfect little protege.  His only worry was that the horse would "buck off his boots", the new firefighter gum boots that he loves dearly, but he managed to go the whole ride without loosing either boot! He did insist that he ride with Adrienne and not me.  I guess I know who is cooler. 



After the ride he even insisted on bringing Adrienne's horse, Stone, back to the field, and carried the halter back to the barn to put it away.  Check out his tongue!

For the almost three years I've been gone from Calgary the thing I've missed most besides my family is my horses.  Being able to just go out and ride whenever I want is a luxury I am glad I can take for granted once again.  I love that I can share it with my sweet Eli, too.  And, while I know that one day Eli will have his own interests and passions, I'm glad that for now he loves this one with me!