Hope everyone had a good Christmas!!!!

Santa found the Rollie's in Saskatchewan Christmas morning....so... we started off the day with J waking up at 6:00am.. Saskatchewan time...yes.. that is 5:00am Alberta time.. and I thought my kids were past that stage.... but oh no... not little miss...she was way too excited...but I am glad!!! We do have the rule "that you must wait for ma and pa to wake before you can open your gifts"...so she was eagerly... pestering us... until we got up around 7:00am.... and yes... it was a bit painful...but we eventually got Grandpa up....(cause we know he likes to sleep) The kids loved their ipods, docking stations, Xbox, DS, PSP games etc... we had Grandma so confused with all the acronyms!!! good thing she doesn't text... or she would really be confused...

After a few days at Grandma and Grandpa's we headed off to the sister's to check out her newly renovated home and drop the kids off... so dad and I are on a honeymoon.. but were too busy..trying to catch up on house work...and not what your "supposed to do" on your honeymoon.. (we're getting too old for that anyways!!! right!!!)

Pictures.. will follow... J has my camera still at auntie C's

Christmas Concert 2008

Only elementary!!!! so T's not included..





Here's our tree and my beautiful Gal!!

Can you beleive it!! Picutures at last

Found the camera... found the cord... all is good and ready to GO!!

My first attempt at wall talk... soon our house will look like a fortune cookie...




Me and my girlie


J's Christmas concert.... fantastic singer...

Christmas Baking...

Well had quite the lazy day... (that is the second quite day this year) and did a little baking and a little cleaning.... caught up with some friends on Facebook.. heard from our friends in Hawaii, of which I am very jealous!!!... but best news... I found the camera.. so pictures to follow tomorrow.... (just got to quickly snap some new photo's)

Looks like were all done Christmas parties... so... now we need to finish our shopping and all will be good...

If anyone has a quick... easy... no fail... must have... Christmas baking receipe... let me know...

My favorite is....

Toblerone Fudge

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup evaporated milk (NOT sweetened condensed!!!!!)
1 (400 g) Toblerone chocolate bars, broken into pieces
Directions
1. Line an 8-inch square pan with wax or parchment paper, with ends of paper extending over sides of pan; set aside.
2. Place sugar, butter and evaporated milk in large, heavy saucepan and bring to a full rolling boil on medium heat, stirring constantly.
3. Boil 5 minutes, continuing to stir constantly, and remove from heat.
4. Add chocolate and stir until completely melted. Pour into prepared pan.
5. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. Remove fudge from pan, using paper handles.
6. Cut into 25 squares. Store in tightly covered container in the fridge.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

The snow if finally coming (may not last long) but for now it's here and the kids are pumped!!! Me.. well, other than being neglectful with updating my blog I have been busy getting ready for Christmas...... I started shopping.... and have made a big dent to the lists and to the pocket book!!!! Kids are getting less... but it all cost's more!!!

Dad is hoping to put up the Christmas lights...this weekend... and....I don't want to say "I told hims so"....but I do remember telling him to get on it when it was +10 in November to put up the light... but what does the wife know....NFL... is far more important...

Great to have the day off!!

Got to sleep in... got some housework done!!.. my house would be spotless if I had every Friday off... I'm feeling prepared for the weekend... cooked a turkey.. and now I don't even have to cook all weekend!!

Posted Wall talk!!! love wall talk .. will post a picture.... for all to see...

I think I am bringing out the Christmas tree this week!!! will keep everyone posted... Christmas... is coming was to quick

Complaining!!!

OK... here it goes... I haven't posted for a while and.. well.. I need to complain... today, I received a complaint that our Dance Club should have some more volunteers (Keep in mind, I am doing about 3-4 hours per week for dance)....maybe... she can do a little more volunteering.... and why do I have to hear her complaints!!!!... it is so frustrating!!

On the brighter side... The boys refereed their first games on the weekend... Dad.. a little out of shape.. but had fun... T - he was a great linesman!!!! (sorry no pictures.. maybe this weekend)

J's bedroom and Halloween

We only had to carve one pumpkin this year!!! the others are getting TOO big!!!



Hours of screwing!!! all paid off




Cute like her mama

What NO Wine???? HMMM!!

Can't figure how to turn this right side up!!! so you'll have to use your imagination!!!

New furnature from Ikea...

OK.... now I know why Ikea's so cheap!!! it has to be... or no one would put the 1 million pieces together.. thank goodness I bought 3 similar items.

So sick of going to the ortho... and I have another 3 years!!!! Last Monday and again this Monday J had an ortho appointment... she has partial braces!!!! and well... now we have to brush both kids!!! thought I was done with that...

The big boss comes tomorrow... should be interesting!!! not sure what to tell him really.....one day I love my job the next day I hate my job...... let's see what tomorrow will bring...

G2G... just started "Breaking Dawn"....

Thanksgiving weekend.... 2008 &2007

2007 - we all had to pick our favorite antique tractor and have our picture taken... and there is of course one of me!!!



2007 - G & G - Gramps.... love it... right up his alley

2008 - We took Oma and Opa... to a trashing demonstration..... the kids still thought it was borring.....

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET!!!

In 2007 we took Grandma and Grampa to the same demonstration.... the guys love it...

Pic's...

Gotta love Auntie!!!


Me and the crazy sister in law!!!!

And just think... I'm "average" size...

It's been a while

For my few followers... sorry it's been so long.... since I painted the kitchen, I have been too busy purging instead of updating my blog.. Hubby is not sure what has happened to me, but it's been garbage bag after garbage bag to the dump... not to mention the boxes to goodwill. I almost feel organized, my house had been clean for about a month... best ever!!!

Here are a few tidbits.. to let you know what's been keeping the Rollies busy.... (and in no particular order..)

1. J started piano... so that means practicing every night and running on Tuesdays
2. J also started dance... so that means running every Tuesday... again
3. T is busy.. with hockey practice and games... not to mention he started power skating...
4. T bough an Xbox 360... now.. he's broke and busy
5. We had dad's sister in from Vancouver.. last weekend... wine/party... sleepless nights...
6. G & G were up on Saturday... for Ham/scalloped potato supper
7. Oma and Opa were up on Sunday... Turkey/mashed potato supper
8. I ran a 5K for CIBC run for the cure last Sunday..
9. Last Sunday.. we had the in law.. Thanksgiving...
10. I painted my bathroom.... "tin roof green" - dark but I like it...
11. I finished my website.. for the dance club...
12. I have been to the gym.. about 5 times in the last 2 weeks...
13. I am almost done "Eclipse"

So.. other than that... I've been just hangn' out...

Here are also some pics... yes... I bought a camera...

Weekend...

Had a going away party on Friday.. Fabulous... Bruce steak night... headed out to Hard & dusty to have some shits and giggles with the high school friends... now... now... nothing like dancing like a rock star amongst Friends filling up with booze and food!!!

My mission this week is to....

1. get a camera.. so you can actually see pictures of the family...
2. get my bathroom painted (now that I have caught the painting bug...)
3. have a fab.. time with sis and bro... coming in from Vancouver//Seattle...

Where are the mashed potatoes....

Busy... home from work and I can not find the instant mashed potatoes.... for the record.. if you have not tried them.. you better not knock them!!!!!

and for all those who volunteered on the weekend.... I remember them being exactly where I found them!!! in the laundry room... under the brown pants.. covered by the white shirt!!!

Painting weekend....

What a weekend... the best ever...You know you had a good painting weekend when you have more wine on your shirt than paint....

Worked like a dog... got the whole house painted by Saturday 12midnight.... then proceeded to get a little tipsy.... the girls.. laughed uncontrollably at my clutter mess!!!! as they tossed a few items..that Willy... filtered through in the morning!! and he calls me the pack rat!!! They.. could not believe the stuff I had...I think they had more fun than me!!!!

Wish I had pictures to show you... but oh no... the camera has not been replaced!!!

Busy Painting!!!

I caught the painting bug... it started with friends helping me spray the deck (100 spindles)... thank you.......... thank you.......... thank you............ now... I have proceeded to paint the pillars.... and the back door...

This weekend we are having a painting party (Dad.. does not know any of this... hopefully he's combining and not around.. he always complains about the crazy colors I pick.. than after a couple of days he likes it) but.... if your around... bring a brush.. I will provide the wine.. beer... and food... we are painting the living room, hallways, and kitchen!!!! it should be fun.... if not eventful.....

P.S. no... booze... until after the 1st coat!!! just kidding

So far so good..

3.5hours into the party.... only one girl has cried and only one door got broke!!! going pretty good I must admit!!! Got supper ready!! and presents opened!!!... now for the movie!!!! ... then home time!!

I wont' be updating for a couple days!!! I'll be resting

Getting ready for 12 girls!!!

OK... better late than ever... I am up this morning getting ready for J's bday party (her bday was in June)... and yes.. 12 girls for 6 hours (1:00pm-6:00pm).. and your right..." I have lost my mind.... I gave J many options... going to Edmonton with a couple of friends... no... going to Veg to swim with a few more... no....going to the movies... no.... so... I guess I'm stuck with them all HERE!!! I aint' going to clean.. cause I can just imagine... what it will look like after.... luckily it's going to be a nice day.. and maybe they can go to the park!!!

Getting into trouble!!!

I know it's been a bit since I updated my blog.....and that is because!!!! I am addicted to reading... yes me!!! I read "Twilight" w/in a week (J was impressed) and I'm half done "New Moon", and if it wasn't for my personal lender being gone on holidays!! I would have called in sick to finish the book!!! J told me today that she finished the first 3 books w/in 3 days!!! (cougarmama.. have you read this series??... if not GET out and BUY it..cause there won't be any copies left at your library)

LoLo thinks her husband is a book widow!! how do you think J's husband feels?

Since the kids have been back to school... I have had registration night... I started training for a half marathon.. and reading!!!

Now I promise to be better at updating.. and hopefully picutures will follow!! (gotta buy a camera first)

1st hockey meeting tonight!! should proove to be intersting!!! and I am NOT signing up for any JOBS!!!! (will keep you posted)

Having J's B-day party on Saturday (not bad eh!! only 3 months late!!!) but they say better late than ever..but who would procratinate with the anticiaption of 11 sreaming girls at the house for 6 hours!!!

Computerized the books for the dance club and am quite excited... (feeling proud of myself) so if anyone needs an excell spreadsheet for your club... pls let me know...

Hope all is well !!!

Kids are back to school!!!

September... expensive month....
School fee's... $100.00
Hockey and Dance Fee's $665.00
Kids... gone back to school...... priceless....

For everything else...there's MasterCard....

Had a great time at Turtle Lake on the weekend... it was cold, but I was able to make it across the lake to visit Auntie G, and her daughter, as well as Auntie J and Uncle E... and there boys.... Sorry cougarmama.....Brightsand... unfortunately was not accessible by boat.... and although it is acceptable in Sask... I try... to stay away from driving while impaired (just kidding)... now we will guarantee you a weekend.....!!!! cause... hockey... is Friday's and Gymnastics are Sundays... leaving the WHOLE day of Saturday free!!!

Kids.. are enjoying seeing there friends... back at school.... T has a new found freedom... (can come home for lunch as well as go to the Shell!!!) J is in a split class, with her friends....

Sorry no pictures.. as I washed the camera... in the washer... it came out clean.. but no longer works!!!! and Kodak wont' replace it!!!! what's that all about!!! oh ya... I washed the ipod as well!!! expensive week!!!

The people we meet!! (on the serious note)

Summer's coming to an end.. summer student's are headed back to school...and we're short staffed at work (what else is new) .... Last night we went out for chinese food said our good byes... to one of the girls at work... now this is one person... whom I will never forget...

About 2 months ago we headed up together to get our hair cut... (a first for her) and had the greatest time.... It was such a moving experience for me....I learnt more about myself in the car than I had in years.... as she grew up very similar to me.. we shared similar stories.. and compared the type of friends that we grew up with and the family that raised us.... If I was 20 years younger... .. we would have been inseparable.

This is truly one of the greatest people I have met... and in spite our age!!! she will be in my life for many years to come...

Books....

Unlike cougarmama... and Jay... I read only a few books througout the summer!!! maybe... I'm too busy cleaning my house!!! NOT!!! however, cougs.... I think you should read "Water for Elephants" I will try to remember to bring it this weekend.... it is an excellent book and I would recommend it to anyone... (Jay also proof read it for me!!!) (if you remember.. can you bring John Dalye?? and we'll grab it from you...)

Now ... I am reading "Twilight" another recommendation from Jay... It's a series... but... Jay said it was awesome... now.. I won't be finished reading it for a while... but will let you know my reviews...

6 more days til school...

No sure why I am the only one counting down the days til school starts!!!! (do I sound a little to anxious???)

Things are getting back to normal.... the house had been cleaned... and now it's dirty again... mom is back to work... and the kayos has begun... hopefully routine will soon follow suit....

Went to the ortho.. for another appointment yesterday... T-got his braces tightened... (didn't hurt as much this time) and he got the Oiler's colors this time... Not so good news for J... she needs 2 phases... w/ means... about a 10K bill.... what are those dentist's thinking.... and now hubby wants to get a second opinion... well... I can't afford to go to 2 sperate places!!! so.. good thing we have SOME coverage...

After the ortho.. we stopped by the pet store to pick up a reptile cage!!! yes we are proud owners of a pet gardner snake... every mothers dream.... (the snake escaped...earlier.. hence the need for a cage... and like everything everything else.. mom had to find it... )

We are headed up to Turtle Lake this weekend to visit family and friends.. it should be good...

PS... Jay - started the "Twilight" will keep you posted...

Summer... 2008

I'm back...

Back to civilization... back to where there is a computer.... It's been a while... and I've received some comments w/ regards to my lack of effort... but.. here's a short one to bring you up to speed...

Summer has been excellent... and expensive..... washed a camera... washed an ipod...bought a boat!!!! Had a fabulous time with friends at the lake....

I also had a fabulous time at the esk`s game.... don`t think the watermelon fan`s had quite as much fun as us!! thanks... auntie Val....

1 week left.. and school starts... and well.... I have officially changed September to be my new New Years.... need to dry out from all the wine and salt out from all the chips...

Here are some pic`s....

Holidays...

If I didn't have time to update my blog... while working... I sureas... don't have any free time to update while on holidays.....

2 weeks... off starting yesterday.... off to the movies today... the city tomorrow... camp lake the rest of the week... life doesn't get much better...

WiLd LiFe At SlAvE LaKe

Every day a young buck walked through our camp ground.. we also seen a mama and papa bald eagle.. as well as a baby weasel.... good thing.. our kids are self sufficient.. cause...Auntie V... had trouble keeping the baby weasel alive!!!

Slave Lake

OK.. 3-4 bottles of wine a day must be good for you... cause if it isn't I better stop.. we had the most fabulous time!!! the family is excellent... sometimes I think I like the family more than I like the hubby.. well... that should be a good sign...
for 6 days straight we drank, swam, fished, skiied, drank and drank!!!!

Summer

The Week with Grandma.. and my couzins!!!

Family Reunions

OK... call me crazy.. but I am one of few (most of you already know) that I love family get togethers..... maybe it's the wine??? but most times it's the company... we headed down to Huxley... for a fabulous time...with a bunch of Thiessen's (that should explain the good time)...I especially love it when I see couzins that I haven't seen for years.. and yet it seems like I seen them yesterday...

It's also great to have the kids back.. but... really.. they have been out playing with friends and having sleep overs!!!! for them... dad always says..."life is not a vacation".... but I'm glad there having fun...

I will get pictures posted... just have to get organized... so stay tuned...

Bizzymama's bizzy w/out the kids..

Got the shed built... got the house cleaned... now what??? I'm off to Camrose tomorrow to get my eyes checked... and then... off to IKEA!!! hopefully I make it back!!! I seem to get lost in the shuffle there...

Spoke with T & J... all is good.. the niece's and nephew.. are keeping them busy.. and grandma.. got them to pull some weeds...(they don't seem to pull weeds here...).. it's very quiet here.. and will be happy to see them come the weekend.. but for now.. I am going to enjoy the peace and quiet... and when I get homesick for them.. I will just have to think of the last time I said.."""for crying out loud... can you just stop fighting for 1 minute?"""

Grandma and Grampa are spoiling the kids!!

Shipped the kids home to Saskatchewan for a week yesterday... hoping to make farm kids out of them w/in a week....Spending a week with my nieces and nephew will tire anyone out.. even T&J...Now... dad and I have a list a mile long that needs to get done... we started building a shed yesterday.. and stopped at 11:00pm (cause we couldn't see anymore)tonight we will put the roof on and it should be done!!!... the internet said it took some guy 12 hours to build.. I told dad that it would take 1/2 the time cause a woman's helping.. and I was right!!!! and... when we went to bed last night we were still talking!! go figure!!! after 13+ yrs..things might be looking up!!

Pictures from Camping

Pictures from our July 1st fireworks

Camping!! oh the fun!!

Dad got a new nickname.. Cyclone Willy.. a little rum and a little tequelia... don't have to say much more...other than you shouldn't eat cocktail weiners when you drink the "cyclone" drink.
J had fun knee boarding and T master skiing on one ski...

Best book I've read this summer..

If your looking.. here's a good one!! "Infidel"

Infidel begins with Hirsi Ali's childhood in Somalia, daughter of a family of nomadic desert herders. Ayaan and her siblings, her brother Mahad and sister Haweya, grew up following the same tribal rhythms that have dictated human existence for millions of years: moving around with their animals, following the rains, all their possessions stacked on their backs. When she was five, in accordance with custom, she was mutilated by men of the tribe, her clitoris cut off so that she would remain "pure" for her future husband.

However, she was not entirely disconnected from the larger world. While she was still young, they travelled to Saudi Arabia and later to Kenya. Growing up in Saudi Arabia, a cruel and violent theocracy where women were oppressed and enslaved, left a vivid impression on her, and even while young she wondered why the law of God dictated that she had to be forever inferior to men.

The defining moment in Hirsi Ali's life came at the age of 23, when her father announced that he had given her away in marriage to a man she had never met. Deciding she could not spend her life in servitude to a stranger, she traveled to Europe under the pretense of meeting her husband there. Instead, she escaped to the Netherlands and was granted asylum. On arrival, she was amazed by the peace, freedom and prosperity available to all citizens, and decided she wanted to study political science to learn why some societies thrive while others are failures. She worked as a translator to support herself, was eventually granted citizenship, and worked her way up to a position at a think tank. Her doubts about the rigid, restrictive dogmas of Islam steadily loosened, and the defining moment came after 9/11, when she realized that Osama bin Laden was accurately obeying the teachings of the Quran and that she could no longer in good conscience remain a member of such a religion...

It's been a busy few days...

School is over.. no more lunches.. and we haven't been so busy as the last few days... Kids did excellent on their report cards..they are both very smart.. must take after their mama.. haha..

Ma and Pa came up for a visit on the weekend.. so we got busy touring the museum, ribstone's, trout ponds, camp lake.. etc... ma helped me weed my garden..it was all good.

Yesterday.. we had a family golf tourney.. the Rollies golfed a 37...WOW...the kids were golfing fabulous... we then got together with the neighbors..and shot off some awesome fireworks..

Kids.. are sleeping in and I'm sneaking out the door to go to work...

Ruth Chris!!!

I was on course in Edmonton... for a couple of days staying at the Sutten... and on Tuesday...I was treated to the most AMAZING supper!!! at Ruth Chris.. I would recommend it to anyone!!!! the food is like no other... started with crab stuffed mushrooms... followed by Chicken w/ Madagascar peppercorn sauce, asparagus w/ holindaise sauce, garlic stuffed potato's and potato's Au gratin!! along with some wine... finshed by a blueberry tea!!! I was so stuffed I could barely move!!! the absolute best... the decor was awesome.... very famous people eat there.. and the only famous person I seen was Chanelle...THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!

Last day of school.. can you believe it!!! I am most excited for the fact that I don't have to make lunches any more!!! The kids are off to the big egg @ Veg.. to have lunch and a swim... (can you believe my oldest is going into Jr high


Ma and Pa are coming out for a visit...should be good... the last time they were here was Thanksgiving..

Klondike Kate!!!

I am constantly working, as most of you know, on my genealogy!!! just one of my favorite past times... When at our annual family golf tourney.. my sister-in-law... wanted to know when I was chosen as "Klondike Kate".... gotta love the 80's

Family Golf Tourney!!!

Had a fabulous weekend... Oma and Opa..made there way out on Friday... and of course, we had some social drinks.. followed by HOT weather... cleaning.. and visiting...gotta love that Oma...

We had about 15 in for a family fun golf tourney... or should I say a "wet" golf tourney... well.. you gotta swing when the opportunity presents itself.. so needless to say we had 3 dry holes out of 9.. but still had a good time... and the best part was the comment's I received when I cracked a drive at the 9th hole..and the ball landed right in line with there drives...One of the comments I heard was "get back in the kitchen"....

The food was amazing...and was all preppared when I got off the course... I only had to clean the kitchen...

Pictures from the storm...

Roxie's VAN!!! Too close for comfort...







About 1 hour ago...

Happy B-Day to my beautiful 10 yr old...

My girl is 10!!! can you beleive it... I love that she is still so excited to get gifts.. so excited that she started counting down the # of days..about.. 10 days ago... and she loves her ipod... She opened her gifts early as dad is away on course this week.... but.. before she went to bed last night we loaded the sims game, all her Drumheller pictures and a few songs onto her ipod... luckily she still went to bed at a decent hour!!! Tonight we have plans to have a friend over for supper and plan her party..

The weekend was great!!! soccer was fun.. the kids play excellent and the camping was even better!!!! nothing beats sitting around an open BBQ and drinking a few cocktails... (what ever happened to the days when you could have a fire.. and not to mention deal with the dangers of roasting marshmallow and dropping them on your couzin's feet... to watch it stick and blister...(see.. I'm still having nightmares of such))

T played his last hockey match.. and had a wind up.. we were also pleased to have a special couzin show up (her foot has since healed...may years later.. hopefully the scare is also gone)

Not sure why.. but I started a herbal cleanze today.. I should probably wait until after hotdog season... but we'll see how long I last!!! no sugar.. not yeast.. and not dairy.. and yes NO bread!! can I survive... I'm not sure.. is hotdog a protein???

Weekend

Off to Millet for J's soccer tourney... it's supposed to rain all weekend...how much fun will that be??? We're taking the trailer.. along with a couple others.. so it'll be fun..

Dad's golfing in a Golden Bear's Golf tourney today...hopefully he stays out of trouble this year..

T's last game and wind-up tomorrow...what will I do????

J went to Drumheller on a field trip today..

Had a great time!! and she got home at 7:00pm... Wel this is the last weekend for Hockey and Soccer.. ask me how excited I am.. what am I going to do with all my free time??? weed the garden??? not..... Clean the house??? not... but I'm sure something will keep me busy...

Kidlins...

T - Gets braces

After a busy weekend in Airdrie... we headed to the city today to get braces.... oh.. my.. talk about bringing back memories... and for some reason I had a huge "flash-back" when the lady brought out the WAX... (that is used if your braces are irritating or maybe the braces have cut the inside of your cheek).... not sure if Big "C" had the same "flash-back" when her daughter got braces...oh..ya.. probably not.. her cheeks didn't get cut up... JUST KIDDING!!! I still love ya!!!

Now.. about the weekend.. everyone should have a weekend without their husband.. since dad had to work...I headed to Airdrie on my own. Without Wilderness at our side made the weekend very very busy but VERY RELAXING!!! .... It was a great tourney.. we had very close games and the competition was excellent...a bad tourney for Wilderness to miss... especially since his boy got a hat trick and scored 3 out of the 5 goals Friday night.... with the game ending in a tie...I wasn't able to make it for that particular game but had play by play commentary via cell phone...while I was on my way...

Now... J had a great weekend.. in the pool and on the water slide every minute possible...she would rather swim than shop!!!! good for the pocket book!!!

Went for a walk tonight... the first one since our run... still have an ache leg.. hoping it gets better with rest!!! I am going to try to have a personal goal of running at least 2X's/week with a distance of 10-12Km/week and walking and riding my bike when ever possible...

The count down begins to summer holiday's..........and NO MORE LUNCHES!!!! Last week the seniors made lunches (a fund raiser for them) but... I think I would pay them every day to make my kid's lunches!!!

Pictures are on their way!!! Prommis!!!

Pictures of our 10K run!!!