Sep 9, 2017
BEST BUDS!!
OK, I know I just said in my last post how Macie and Wade fought more this summer then ever before, but really these two are the best of buddies. This summer was hard with Mom being super pregnant and then having a C-Section, So I do need to cut them some slack. When it comes down to it, these two play together all day long, having adventure and creating there fun. If they are not off playing then they are on a crazy walking, biking, or beach adventure with there mom and/or Dad. Today was Cops and Robbers, Thursday was our last big walk and picnic before Macie starts full time School. These two love each other so much and I hope all this time we and they have spent together will keep building there relationship and build an unbreakable bond.
KINDERGARTEN!!!
Why are we here, why are we already at this point in Macie's life. In some ways I am happy, Macie and Wade fought more this summer then they have there whole life probably. Macie is starting to outgrow playing Dinosours and Paw Patrol with Wade, and is enjoying doing more structured things throughout the day. Not that they fought a lot, but definitely had to find more things for them to do separately and had to intervene when they played sometimes as the fighting was leading to hitting and meltdowns. Playing at the park and the beach going for lots of walks and bike rides kept them pretty happy and mom sane, but come winter we won't be able to do that all day long, so having Macie in school and Wade in Pre-school will definitely help. I just hate that they are gone all day and all week. I wish school was only 3 days a week, until middle school. I do enjoy my space and some time to myself, but over all I enjoy spending time with my kids and I am really going to miss having them home with me. Thank goodness for Kansas.
So Macie started school on Wednesday, but only went for 2 hours, then Friday was her first official full day, then Monday it Starts. All day, 5 days a week. Which is crazy to me. I am so glad I held her back and definitely know that that was the right decision to make for our family and for Macie. Her Teacher is Mme Valerie and she is in the French Immersion program. Her school is literally in our backyard and on Friday I loved spying on her for recess and watching her running around and playing. I hope she has a great year learning and making new friends.
So Macie started school on Wednesday, but only went for 2 hours, then Friday was her first official full day, then Monday it Starts. All day, 5 days a week. Which is crazy to me. I am so glad I held her back and definitely know that that was the right decision to make for our family and for Macie. Her Teacher is Mme Valerie and she is in the French Immersion program. Her school is literally in our backyard and on Friday I loved spying on her for recess and watching her running around and playing. I hope she has a great year learning and making new friends.
Sep 4, 2017
Kansas Baby Blessing
September long weekend 2nd-4th in Cold Lake.
This was the weekend that we scheduled to have Kansas blessed at church. Kalinda scheduled a Friday evening fire pit with Cold Lake and Cherry Grove friends to come and visit and of course play.
we set up the bouncy castle and a ladder to cross the fence to access the park. In all we had about 16 adults and lots of children.
The weather held out pretty good so we were able to cook some hotdogs and marshmallows.
Grandma and Bailey and Grady made it from down south as well.
With all the commotion of kids coming and going to and from the park we had some other visitors from the neighbourhood join us. Apparently the ladder can allow flow from either direction. This boy cam across the fence and was jumping in the bounce house, enjoying a drink, playing on the trampoline..
List of Friday Guests
Burgess (Jeff & Cassidy)
Ellis (Cory & Mel)
Fenton (Colin & Elissa)
Hamilton (John & Natalie
Toone (Nathan & Lindsey)
Whitehead (Truman & Renea)
Vadnais (Julie)
Yochim (Steve & Pam)
Grandma
On Saturday Danny, Diane and Jenae drove up from Glenwood. They got a little lost in Cold Lake looking for our house but, with a little coaching, they made it. We set up the Tent trailer for them to sleep in.
Corrine and the Girls made it later in the afternoon, had them set up in the basement.
Grandma and the kids were in Kansas room.
Sunday
Another big day. We all got ready and made it to church early, how sweet is that. Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Mark were there at church when we got there.
In the Circle for Kansas blessing was
Daddy
Jeff Burgess
Vince Burgess
Colin Fenton
Adam Vadnais
Daniel Hunsperger
Mark Waggoner
Bishop Gusa
Some of the blessings, were that Kansas would have the health, desire and ability to serve those in need, to have the capacity to understand the Gospel, a strong desire to learn about those who have gone before, to attend the temple to do work for those that have passed before. That she will have loved ones on the other side of the veil watching her here, and that some day she will be a mother who will teach her children the gospel.
Of courses the caveat to all of this is based on free agency. She can choose for herself if she wishes to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
She slept the whole time during the blessing.
After church, there was a family gathering at our house and a large number of friends who have supported us during our sojourn in the great white north.
the food was delicious, and the visit was nice, however as people started to leave, it was time to have the house back to ourselves, and to get ready for school, and all the other things that come with fall.
This was the weekend that we scheduled to have Kansas blessed at church. Kalinda scheduled a Friday evening fire pit with Cold Lake and Cherry Grove friends to come and visit and of course play.
we set up the bouncy castle and a ladder to cross the fence to access the park. In all we had about 16 adults and lots of children.
The weather held out pretty good so we were able to cook some hotdogs and marshmallows.
Grandma and Bailey and Grady made it from down south as well.
With all the commotion of kids coming and going to and from the park we had some other visitors from the neighbourhood join us. Apparently the ladder can allow flow from either direction. This boy cam across the fence and was jumping in the bounce house, enjoying a drink, playing on the trampoline..
List of Friday Guests
Burgess (Jeff & Cassidy)
Ellis (Cory & Mel)
Fenton (Colin & Elissa)
Hamilton (John & Natalie
Toone (Nathan & Lindsey)
Whitehead (Truman & Renea)
Vadnais (Julie)
Yochim (Steve & Pam)
Grandma
On Saturday Danny, Diane and Jenae drove up from Glenwood. They got a little lost in Cold Lake looking for our house but, with a little coaching, they made it. We set up the Tent trailer for them to sleep in.
Corrine and the Girls made it later in the afternoon, had them set up in the basement.
Grandma and the kids were in Kansas room.
Sunday
Another big day. We all got ready and made it to church early, how sweet is that. Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Mark were there at church when we got there.
In the Circle for Kansas blessing was
Daddy
Jeff Burgess
Vince Burgess
Colin Fenton
Adam Vadnais
Daniel Hunsperger
Mark Waggoner
Bishop Gusa
Some of the blessings, were that Kansas would have the health, desire and ability to serve those in need, to have the capacity to understand the Gospel, a strong desire to learn about those who have gone before, to attend the temple to do work for those that have passed before. That she will have loved ones on the other side of the veil watching her here, and that some day she will be a mother who will teach her children the gospel.
Of courses the caveat to all of this is based on free agency. She can choose for herself if she wishes to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
After church, there was a family gathering at our house and a large number of friends who have supported us during our sojourn in the great white north.
the food was delicious, and the visit was nice, however as people started to leave, it was time to have the house back to ourselves, and to get ready for school, and all the other things that come with fall.
Aug 30, 2017
HER FIRST MONTH!!
Kansas first month has been pretty awesome. I don't know how I lucked out and got three babies that are all amazing sleepers, but somehow I did, at least so far. Kansas is already doing 5-7 hour stretches at night, then eats and goes right back to bed for another 3-5 hours. It has been so wonderful to not feel like a Zombie 24/7 especially when having two other kids to parent. She loves tummy time and snuggles and is always pretty happy and content in the morning and afternoon when she is awake, she does a huge long nap in the afternoon and then is up for 3-4 hours in the evening. She gets a little bit grumpy in the evening and likes to cluster feed and be held the whole time which makes putting the kids to bed a gong show. When Mark's around it is not to bad, but when he is gone trying to get Macie and Wade to sleep has been my biggest challenge. Kansas hates her baths, like scream bloody murder, and she doesn't love at first getting put in her car seat but eventually calms down and either falls asleep or looks around. We have been able to get out lots of mornings and go for walks. She has blocked tear ducts like Macie did and I am putting breast milk in them daily in hopes they will go away a lot sooner then Macie's did. The poor girl still has horrible baby acne, but thankfully she is so cute that it doesn't annoy me too much. Her hair is to dye for and every time we go out I get comments on it. You are a pretty awesome baby Kansas and we are so grateful we decided to have another baby and you came to our home.
A wonderful friend (Jen Isackson Photography) did newborn photos for you and they turned out amazing. I can't wait to frame them and put some in your bedroom.
A wonderful friend (Jen Isackson Photography) did newborn photos for you and they turned out amazing. I can't wait to frame them and put some in your bedroom.
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| This one is my favourite |
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| I asked for this photo to not to edited, as I want to remember the red mark on your forehead and the horrible baby acne you had. |
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| love that she took some pictures of me and Kansas, I am not very photogenic, but they turned out so good, and I will love having them to look back on. |
Aug 25, 2017
DAY DATE!!
When I had been home from the hospital for about a week, my sweet little Macie came upstairs when I was lying in bed and brought me a letter she had written. She had asked if I would go to the Cookie store with her (Sobeys), the French fry store with her (McDonald's) and the Ice Cream store with her (Dairy Queen). Then she said how much she misses spending time with me and misses me taking her to do fun things. My heart sunk a little and I knew this little girl was needing some Mommy time. It also didn't help that I could barley hug them and couldn't get down in her bed to snuggle her to sleep at night. So I promised her once Mommy could drive again that I would take her on a date, just me and her. So this Tuesday I was finally past 3 weeks post C-Section, So I could finally drive again, Kansas is taking well to a bottle, and Mark was leaving for work on Thursday. So I pumped a bottle in the morning and that afternoon me and Macie headed out for our Mommy/Daughter Day Date. I suggested one change up in the list as she had a lot of junk food ideas on her list, so instead of going to the cookie store we went and got Manicures and Pedicures. It was so nice and relaxing and Macie loved it. Then we hit up McDonalds for some Happy Meals, After McDonald's we went and got a couple of groceries, then went to DQ for Ice Cream. It was so nice spending some quality time with Macie, I almost forgot how nice it is just spending some one on one time with her, she is such a sweet little girl with such a goofball personality. I just love her so much and excited to go on more dates with her and to bring Kansas with us on some Mommy/Daughter road trips.
Aug 24, 2017
THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE AGENCY
I am no one special, I have no degrees, no honors. Although that may dub me the weak and simple of the world, I cant take claim to being prophetic either*. This past year I have contemplated the principle of free agency. Its always something that we are told is paramount to our spiritual progression, one of Gods greatest gifts to his children. A principle that was fought over in a premortal life. This principle has never imbedded itself deep into my mind as it has recently, and therefore has not been impactful in my life as it should be. (The same can be said for the principle of being a child of God.) The freedom to choose brings great power into our lives. Just think about those great men and women that have chosen to do the right things all their lives and the massive impact that their choices and experiences has had on people after them. Moses chose to listen to God in the burning bush and return to Egypt. Nephi chose to follow his father in to the wilderness to obey Gods commandment to leave Jerusalem. Of their own free will they made a choice that led them down a path of confidence in their belief in God. As they chose the right, the priesthood that they held was amplified, until it was needed and used. The power to make a choice has so many ramifications that are not just a consequence of the choice or limited to the moment it is made. As the song goes "choose the right..... be safe through inspirations power...there is peace in righteous doing...there is safety for the soul*
This past weekend, I witnessed the power of free agency. I saw it in the temple when a brave young woman made a very hard decision. At a time of great pressure, when a weaker son or daughter would have just went the easier way in the moment. This awesome girl who was sitting across the alter from her husband to be, did not have the spirit of joy that should come at this point, she took the higher road and listened to her heart. She was not ready to make the commitment required. This choice will empower her for years to come. In the future when she will face difficult decisions, she can look back on that event, when the easier choice at that moment was to say yes, to please her fiancé, to satisfy the guests who came to celebrate, she can hold her head high and have confidence to take the path less trodden and know that it will work out.
It is like that for all of us, if we use this free gift to make the hard choices that are based on rock solid principles that we know to be absolutely true. This starts with the simple choices, like choosing to pray daily, reading scriptures often, ponderizing spiritual insights, making the most of the Sabbath day. All these things will add power to our lives. It seams as a person gets on in age, no matter the decade, having strength and power banked up is immeasurable. During these last days, when there will be many who will say "lo here is Christ or there" *, or "take advantage of your neighbor" * if we yield to these paths of ease, we will fall, and lose our confidence in ourselves and our ability to make optimum choices that bring so much power and enjoyment into our lives and in the eternities.
I don't know who will read this, whether is just my children or family, but my hope is that we look deep with in ourselves and find the power to make the choices that bring about much good now and in generations to come.
*1 D&C 1:23
*2 Hymn 239
*3 Matt 24:23
*4 2Nephi 28:8
This past weekend, I witnessed the power of free agency. I saw it in the temple when a brave young woman made a very hard decision. At a time of great pressure, when a weaker son or daughter would have just went the easier way in the moment. This awesome girl who was sitting across the alter from her husband to be, did not have the spirit of joy that should come at this point, she took the higher road and listened to her heart. She was not ready to make the commitment required. This choice will empower her for years to come. In the future when she will face difficult decisions, she can look back on that event, when the easier choice at that moment was to say yes, to please her fiancé, to satisfy the guests who came to celebrate, she can hold her head high and have confidence to take the path less trodden and know that it will work out.
It is like that for all of us, if we use this free gift to make the hard choices that are based on rock solid principles that we know to be absolutely true. This starts with the simple choices, like choosing to pray daily, reading scriptures often, ponderizing spiritual insights, making the most of the Sabbath day. All these things will add power to our lives. It seams as a person gets on in age, no matter the decade, having strength and power banked up is immeasurable. During these last days, when there will be many who will say "lo here is Christ or there" *, or "take advantage of your neighbor" * if we yield to these paths of ease, we will fall, and lose our confidence in ourselves and our ability to make optimum choices that bring so much power and enjoyment into our lives and in the eternities.
I don't know who will read this, whether is just my children or family, but my hope is that we look deep with in ourselves and find the power to make the choices that bring about much good now and in generations to come.
*1 D&C 1:23
*2 Hymn 239
*3 Matt 24:23
*4 2Nephi 28:8
Aug 4, 2017
JURASSIC FORREST
Since we moved up to Cold Lake, we have heard about Jurassic Forrest and how it would make a good trip for any dinosaur lover. Wade being a dinosaur lover, we finally made plan to go for a visit.
Mom and Dad gave the kids a few months to prepare to go, work and save money. They tried so hard to earn money for Jurassic Forrest. The date was set and so we waited day by day. The forecast for our trip looked like it was going to be a wet one, and so the night before we left, we told the kids the weather might not allow us to go to Jurassic Forrest. They were quite devastated to say the least.
Well there was a break in the rain in the morning so we said lets go for it. Packed up early and headed out. It turns out, that we hit the break in the weather perfectly and were able to enjoy the morning looking at dinosaurs. Holy cow its a good thing we had bug stray though, wow the mosquitos were bad. Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of the mighty T-rex, I am not sure how we missed the big attraction, I guess just living in the moment. And after the tour of Jurassic Forrest, what trip to Edmonton can be complete with out a nice meal at a restaurant that is not found in Cold lake.
Macie looking for fossils in the rain with a BBQ sauce brush
Mom and Dad gave the kids a few months to prepare to go, work and save money. They tried so hard to earn money for Jurassic Forrest. The date was set and so we waited day by day. The forecast for our trip looked like it was going to be a wet one, and so the night before we left, we told the kids the weather might not allow us to go to Jurassic Forrest. They were quite devastated to say the least.
Well there was a break in the rain in the morning so we said lets go for it. Packed up early and headed out. It turns out, that we hit the break in the weather perfectly and were able to enjoy the morning looking at dinosaurs. Holy cow its a good thing we had bug stray though, wow the mosquitos were bad. Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of the mighty T-rex, I am not sure how we missed the big attraction, I guess just living in the moment. And after the tour of Jurassic Forrest, what trip to Edmonton can be complete with out a nice meal at a restaurant that is not found in Cold lake.
mom is super pregnant
Wade found what we has looking for.. a looney glued to the femur!!!
Elders Quorum Barbarian Night
Total Success
After months of planning and talking it up, we did it. Most guns and ammunition at a church event since the mountain meadow massacre.
Rob Bunnage hosted the event and had a good arsenal to choose from, as well many brethren brought more than enough guns to make any shooting enthusiast drool.
There were tons of targets, skeets and bullets. It was a blast.
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