Turkducken, Sledding and Tortierre's Oh My!

On Sunday, after Lair was done work we went spent the afternoon with Brent and had a great visit.

The Parenteaus were in town and we were hoping to meet up with them, Ursula invited over to Lisa's for dinner.... TURDUCKEN! Holy crap was that ever good! Lisa did a phenomenal job. It was so delicious words can't describe.

On monday we met up with Lisa, Ivy and the Parenteaus to go sledding. We found a great hill near Lisa's and had a great time. We then invaded the Allan's to sample Ursula's Tortierre... MMMMmmmm. Again, so delicious!

Lair's folks called to say they were coming to town on Tuesday and spending the night for a belated Christmas celebration... They called when they arrived to Calgary... They were Side Swiped by a SEMI on the Deerfoot!!! Thank God they were ok, but the side of Danny's car (New Jetta) is sure wrecked. They were lucky the door stay in tact and didn't get ran over by the semi! So other than being shaken up and upset, they are ok! It's still drivable.

When they arrived, we were outside assessing the damage when my Boss called and left a message for me to call her. I didn't realize anyone had called for a bit then just before we started to open presents I noticed the message.

Ug. So I called her and she needed me to run to the office to tweak the security system. Lucky me, what little knowledge I have, I am the only one who knows how to run it! I was really quite pissed off as Lair's parents just arrived. She was mentioning I may have to go back later which made me in a tizzy as I was cooking a Prime Rib; I didn't want to be in the middle of dinner and maybe some wine and have to 'run to the office'... So I was gone for an hour, I (hopefully) figured out what needed to be done and raced home and haven't been told to go back.


Lairs folks just wanted to go home. It had been a disappointing draining day... Once they left, both Lair and I were in a bit of a funk.

I made the Prime Rib - It was delicious! Way too much for Me, Lair and Quinn, so we'll have leftovers tonight! MMMMmmmm.


Looking forward to New Years Eve. We're having some friends over, some will stop in on their way to other parties, some for the count down, and a few for the long haul. I just have to remember that Quinn will be up at 8am!! Looking forward to yet another fabulous visit with our fabulous friends.

Merry Christmas! 2009

Well the big day came and went. Lair & Quinn went sledding on Christmas Eve in the later afternoon. In doing so, Quinn also got a Christmas Shiner as he landed on his face!! But he was a good sport.




Quinn was so excited Christmas Eve, yet he put himself to bed because the faster he got to sleep the faster Christmas Morning would come.

Lair & Quinn made cookies for Santa, we watched a special, hung the stockings, put out cookies, milk a tart and a carrot for Rudolf.

As well, Santa sent Quinn a video via e-mail! (It may take a few moments to load up)

http://santa.sympatico.ca/watch/dfb1989be265968b812f34fb5d1a08c8 That was pretty cool! (Thanks Ursula).

And lastly we checked where Santa was on NORAD and he was in South America!

He was super excited because of these presents under the tree...

So imagine how he felt when he saw THESE under the tree!:

Christmas Morning Quinn was up at 8am and burst into our room. He open his present from Santa, Hungry Hungry Hippos, we opened our Stockings, then slowly sifted through the pile of gifts. We took our time and relaxed.

Lair then made us Eggs Benedict with a few new additions - asiago cheese dip!? OMG so good!

We hung out and relaxed and played with Quinn's new toys, then headed over to Janine and Mikes for Christmas dinner. Her cousin Christina (who both Lair & I know) was there with her b/f. It was a casual and fun evening.

So all in all, this Christmas turned out to be A-ok with no stress!

Yesterday, Boxing Day, we went car shopping and decided we just don't have the finances for what we want/need right now. We are Debt free and do not want to take on much more, so we'll wait and see how January goes, how much money we can save and go from there. We will get a second vehicle, just not sure when... Maybe when the Money Fairy stops by!?... Come on Lady - we just want $10,000!!! Is that too much to ask for??

Zoo Lights!

We decided tonight we would bundle up and head off to the Zoo lights. Our thermometer showed -20 so we figured not too many people would be there... and we were right! We bundled up well and had a great time.

Quinn's sleeves are a little short so his wrists were cold. We'll buy extra long gloves to get him through the rest of winter.

Lair's neck/head was chilled, so next time we're out in the super cold he'll also wear a hoodie with his toque and scarf, and for me, the fronts of my thighs got cold quick* so I will invest in some Long johns.

We got some hot chocolate, ate a cookie, walked around. It was nice. We got to go inside the new conservatory... I was pretty disappointed; but I will give it some time to grow into itself...

* In Jr. High I trudged to school on a cold cold day, I really didn't think I would be able to make it to school. By the time I made it to the bottom of the hill my legs were frozen (Litterally). When I arrived I went straight to the nurse and she thawed me out slowly. I had severe frost bite in the upper legs. The Principal drove me home and I had to stay home for the week as my legs needed to heal and couldn't be exposed to the extreme cold... Well, I do believe this incident 22 years ago still has some effect on my legs in the cold. I think I may have been frost bitten tonight as they were really starting to sting at one point before we went for our second inside warm up. Crazy!


Re/Max sponsored a really cool thing - Talk to Santa via web cam! To see our visit with Santa, Go to www.santavision.ca Click Santa Visits, Click Dec 22, s22_46 :)

Quinn was in awe that santa was on the TV. He was standing there wide eyed and shy LOL So cute.

Christmas is almost here!

So we are super happy we sold the van, except a cold snap hit for 2 weeks (-30). Lucky for me, a girl at work lives IN my crescent! So she has been giving me rides for the past 3 weeks. She can not give me rides home as she often works late and has things she does after work.

The same we selling the van, Lairs work has asked him to work part time in the sales office - his hours have slid a bit, so he goes to work for 7:30am and is off at 3:30, so he is able to pick up both Quinn and I!

Nice how it all seems to fall in place at times :)

We've been looking on line at vehicles. This weekend we test drove a Hyundai Tuscan and compared it with the Santa Fe. We like the Santa Fe better, except it's just out of our price range. We looked at the CR-V and didn't like the inside one bit so crossed it off out list. Test drove a Mitsubishi Outlander. It was pretty good. Hopefully we will find the right vehicle between Christmas and New Years. I would like to head down to the automall to see what all they are 'blowing out' since it's year end. Undecided whether we'll go via dealer or private sale...

If we don't purchase something before New Years, we will have to figure out a way to car pool as the girl currently driving me will be away on vacation a few weeks.

We put up our tree early this year. With time so limited during the holiday season, I wanted to be ahead of schedule with at least the tree. Quinn wanted to decorate it, so I put on the lights, then let him go to it. And you know what? He did a Fabulous job! I am so proud of him. It took him about 2 hours. Most relaxed tree decorating I've ever had!







Quinn saw Santa at Chinook Center. Only waited for about 20 minutes. He asked for Hungry Hungry Hippos and a watch :) I can't wait to see his face when he gets it! He knows he's been a good boy, so thankfully his request was easy to fill.

We went to celebrate with the Lymburners. Noah turned 2 and Caleb turned 4. It was a nice visit with Darcy and her fiance Mike. They are getting married in Victoria (where he's from) next October. This visit was pretty good. My heart has settled with the situation.



Though thinking about everything with Dave last year at this time does bring me much sadness... I sure miss the guy :(

This year things are a little sticky with both Grandpa P, and Grampa A. My dad's ticker is only running at half capacity, not the greatest situation. He's never really taken good care of himself and is now really feeling the consequences.

Lawrence's dad has been battling cancer in one way or another for 10 years, plus a good 20 years ago when it all started. He's lost an eye. Now it's in his belly and body; inoperable; no point in Chemo, just trying to live life and manage pain. I guess the last 2 weeks have been a nightmare for pain and sickness and meds then to top it off he is having issues with his good eye. They were supposed to come here for Christmas but Danny was to stick around home without company till they figure things out. Our hearts go out to him and Goldie... We may go last minute to Medicine Hat for a day, but if that doesn't work we'll go have dinner with good friends.

Work and home life suck all my time and energy :( I can see the allure of a maid! Wouldn't it be nice to have everything done and dinner on the table... hmm, maybe I need a house wife! LOL Life with a family and working is sure different than being a stay at home mom. Oh well, the money is nice and before I know it, Quinn, and Lair for that matter, will be in school!...

I didn't make it once to the gym in November. A major cold hit me, and I am still having sinus issues.... Hopefully in January, when we have 2 cars I can get back on schedule with the gym.

Work has been good. Quite quiet. Makes it easy to car shop on-line LOL I have between christmas and new years off. I am really looking forward to some quality Quinn time. I sure hope we can get a second vehicle in that time so I am not stuck at home, or having to drive Lair to work for the car.

Calloway Park Responce.

To remind you what happened in July, at Callaway, at the Ball Pit, the teen gal who works it accidentally dropped the Big Heavy Metal bar they use for measuring height. This bar hit Quinn in the head as he was sitting on a step putting his shoes on. He cried lots but after a few minutes was fine. There was no goose egg, or blood. We all 'shook it off' and had a great day. On our way out I wanted to complain that they shouldn't use a big heavy metal bar. They insisted Quinn see the Medic (although it was 5 hours after the incident). I checked off that I wanted someone to contact me regarding this incident.

That was in July.

I sent a reminder e-mail in October that I was still waiting for my answer.

In November, I got three 2010 Season's Passes through the social club at work ($18 each! killer deal! Regular $69!), and on my application, I made a note I was still waiting for someone to contact me.

Well finally, I got a phone call yesterday in response to the complaint I lodged in July.

The over all issue for me was concern that this wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last issue with the height bars. The guy explained that these are actually new as of the 2009 season. In the past they used wood, but found that the wood would shrink or expand and the size measurements were not consistent from week to week, month to month, as well the wood would shrink from the bottoms slowly grinding off, or break when the ride attendants would joust with them ect. So they decided to try the in-house made metal bars.

He said so far the metal is the most consistent for measuring height and maintaining it's accuracy. So they do intend to continue using them, HOWEVER, because of the incident this summer with Quinn (the first injury reported due to height bar), they will be stressing the importance of handling the bar when people are near. He said they are updating the training manual and will stress the importance of this new info to the trainers and employees. And they will see how the next season, Season two with the metal bars, works out.

I am satisfied that they are making new policy and procedures with care and attention to the ride attendance.