Time to Build a House

Well, we have the blueprints in hand. Now we need to get cracking on Lacombe County, Apache, other random permits and of course Mr. Banker. So much to do, so much to decide, so little that has been done so far. But, we have prints...

So for those of you who haven't spoken to me in the last 6 months, you may not know that Josh and I are taking a crack at building a house. Depending on how the permitting, pricing and selling the mobile goes, we hope to build this year. If things go sideways on some of the above, then we just keep on planning and tackle it next year. No big deal as we hope to be on this location for the rest of our lives.

If you know anyone who would be interested in buying a 2004 Mobile Home - 16x76, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large deck, nice sized kitchen, big laundry room, etc., have them get in touch with us. I think we are listing it for $88,900. Have to talk to the accountant about GST stuff.

If all goes well in the next couple weeks, we probably won't have much of a life this summer, so if you want to see us you'll have to drop by and swing a hammer ;) Okay, maybe we won't put you to work, but if you are able bodied and have a skill and don't want to help - steer clear!

Anyhow, we'll keep you posted on how things go. Keep your fingers crossed that we can get through the first raft of paperwork and get the mobile sold!

4H Public Speaking time

Thought I would do a quick post this morning. School buses aren't running because of pea soup fog, so I had an hour to kill. I have to tell you that having Rylee in 4H is so great for us and yet so strange. I don't feel old enough to be participating as a parent :) One thing that Josh and I are incredibly proud of is Rylee's public speaking abilities. Last year he did a presentation on Rodeo and won 1st in his club. This year he is doing his speech on bull fighters and he did the research and 95% of the writing other than some fine tuning and it is great. He is determined to go to the next level this year, so we are encouraging him to practice, practice, practice. I will have to post some pics of the actual speakoffs on February 7!

One thing Josh and I have learned from Rylee's 4H experience this year is that we have far too much knowledge and ideas to sit back and just be parents. So, since we are currently going back and forth to Red Deer for 4H, we have decided to start our own western light horse and rodeo 4H club based out of Tees next year. Looking forward to all the trials and tribulations that will be involved with that.

Anyhow, best go get the kids ready for school. Later...ps

Happy New Year!

A new year, a new beginning. I try to keep up with this darn thing and yet, here I am months after Mexico, a month after Christmas and just now getting to it.

Our trip to Mexico was excellent. The weather was between +28C and +35C the entire time we were there. The kids adored swimming and hanging out. We took a Pirate Ship Adventure that was amazingly fun. We also did a day trip tour in a UniMog down there into the back country and around that was very educational and a lot of fun. We stayed at a very family friendly resort in Puerto Vallarta that was right next to the Marina so we got to watch the huge cruise ships come and go. One day we caught a cab to the Malecon where we just walked and wandered and took pictures. If you ask the kids what they liked best about they would say swimming. However, I truly believe it was a trip they won't forget.

Christmas this year was spent at the ranch with my family. Everyone was home for Christmas and my mom and dad's house was fairly bursting at the seems with 16 people for dinner and presents and such. But a good time was had! We had an excellent Boxing Day with Mom and Dad and Terry as well sledding, toboganning and getting stuck in the neighbours field.

New Year's Eve brought about another great time with our group of friends in Lacombe. Lots of games and BS and fun. Some of us made it to the hot tub and some us didn't get to bed until nearly 4am (which by the way at 32 is WAY too late).

Since then it's been back to the grind. Work has been plugging away for both Josh and I. We are working at getting our plans finalized and permits in place to build a house this year, but there are a lot of stars that must align for it to happen, so if not this year, then next.

Til I get on here again, Happy New Year from the Storey's! ps

14 sleeps til Mexico!!!

Well, who can believe Halloween is a week away? Life is good here in Clive, Alberta. This morning, the sun is shining, there is none of that awful white stuff on the ground and it is supposed to be a beautiful weekend.

Rylee and Jordynn are doing great. School has been going really well for both of them. Rylee is loving his 4H club and the riding they are doing. We can already see the difference it is making in his riding and his confidence level. Jordynn is going to start swim lessons in November.

Both kids and both parents are super excited to be headed off to Puerto Vallarta in only 2 weeks time! It is the first time for the kids going somewhere like that. We saw the ocean in California, but it was cool and crappy, so we are excited for them to actually be able to swim in it. We are planning to take part in one of the sea turtle release evenings and do the Pirate Ship Adventure. The kids are also insisting on riding some of those poor skinny horses on the beach, so we'll see.

Halloween is just around the corner and I must get cracking on the costumes. Jordynn has decided that she wants to be a cheerleader and Rylee is going as the devil with his horse as an angel (for 4H). Both should (key word) be relatively easy to make, so we'll truck to Value Village this weekend and see what we can find.

The hay is in and the horses are out and we are ready (ish) for winter to come. Thank goodness for the rain we did finally get because we have plenty of pasture and just barely enough hay to get us through the winter months.

Sassy just got back from 2 months at Jody Elliott's and she is in fine form. She is not particularly ambitious, but she has a great break on her and she is solid. Lily is coming along great - she still has a lot of gas, but still respects the bit. Muddy is about ready for someone to jump on her and we've got 5 yearlings that will be ready to start next year. Lots to choose from if you know anyone who is looking for well built, well bred quarter horses.

Anyhow, I best get busy. Take care! PS

Fall is coming quickly

Well, Fall is just around the corner and we are ready for it. The hay is up. Not much left over for sale, but we have enough to feed our horses for the winter and that's the main thing! It was a bit of a gong show trying to get the hay up this year, what with moving in first of July in the midst of a drought, followed by 4 inches of rain. Originally we were not going to do our own haying, but with the insane prices this year, we decided it was in our best interest. Our first big purchase was a swather. A steal of a deal, or something like that. Cheap, but in farm equipment - cheap means old and old means in need of repair and in need of repair means grumpy Josh. Follow that with a borrowed baler that didn't work, then a boughten baler that was cheap, so follow above. Then we decided we didn't want to pick anymore bloody bales, so borrowed a round baler, didn't work, co-erced a neighbour to help us out. Now, the second cut is up and all we have to do is bring them in.

That leaves finishing our tack room and fencing for fall chores and then maybe, ha ha, some relaxation. Actually, our relaxation may take the form of a trip somewhere warm with the kids in November while they are off for a week. But, we'll see what the deals look like.

Rylee had his first riding day of 4H with the Red Deer 4H Horsemen on Saturday. What memories it brought back to have him in the ring. Crazy! 4H has all gone to having to wear helmets now, so that ruffles the little cowboys feathers, but he will get by.

Just got back from the Keith Urban concert in Calgary last night. Terry and I, Mom and Kim met up with my third cousin Candice and her friend and whooped it up. Great concert, great company, great fun and best of all, no hangover!

That's all for now!

ps

Fall 09

My gosh time flies ridiculously fast. I keep telling myself I will do a better job of keeping this up. Guess that is not so much the case. Well, I can hardly begin to figure out where to start since February.

After 2 horrendous house hunting trips and one successful one, we finally found "the" place. 7 or 8 trailer loads of horses, farm stuff, and a moving van full of household belongings brought the whole family to our new location outside of Clive, Alberta. For those of you who don't know, that means we are 15 minutes east of Lacombe, just off Hwy 12 is. For those who don't know where Lacombe is... well, you will just have to come visit.

Since we got here, I have started my position as Account Manager with ATB Financial in Lacombe. Josh started out with Profab Welding and has since made a great decision to join the team at Metalex Metal Buildings out of Stettler. We spent some time getting to know Lorisa and Clay and I have a good feeling about them, much better than I have had about certain others in the past (who shall remain nameless here, but not forgotten by me - all I can say is Kharma can be a bitch). So far he has really been enjoying his job.

Jordynn and Rylee have really settled in here. Rylee started Grade 5 and Jordynn started Grade 2 in Clive at the end of August. They both love their teachers and are quickly making friends.

As for us, it's a lot like we never left. Have spent some time camping and playing ball and hanging out. You know you are good friends when you can just pick kp where you left off just like you had never been apart.

Well, rather than spend a ton of time boring you with more details, I will sign off for now!

ps

Wow, can you believe we are almost done the second month of 2009? I am beginning to think I am losing time somewhere! So much has happened since I last posted. I totally don't even know where to begin. I guess maybe I'll begin roughly where I left off, in December, at least.

I guess you could call December 19 our Black Tuesday or whatever the hell day of the week it was, Thursday? Not sure, don't care. Josh got a call from his boss saying that they would not be going back to work after Christmas as the company was in trouble. Did I mention prior that we moved up here to Godforsaken nowhere for this job? Perhaps I mentioned how much I love living here to some of you. Well, rest assured, I am still well and truly pissed that after we relocated for a job for friends that now we are stuck here trying to sell our farm in the middle of a recession in the dead of winter and everyone wonders why I am just a "wee" bit stressed. Josh was offered a position back in Red Deer, but we are STILL waiting for an official offer that has a dollar amount attached to it, so that prospect seems a bit bleak. Stay tuned, there is more.

Christmas - hmmm - well, it was interesting to say the least, which is probably the most that should be said. Actually, for the most part it was lovely. My whole family was here, which for me was terrific. I really felt that after all we had lost throughout 2008, it was a good way to end the year. Tony and his now-fiancee Kim were here as well as Terry and Mom and Dad. If we forget about the stupidness of a few hours of one day then, we can count this as a very special occasion indeed. Would you believe the kids even found hairs from Santa's beard and reindeer hoof prints in our yard? Christmas magic is amazing stuff!

New Year's Eve we spent in Red Deer with some terrific friends whom we dearly miss up here in Timbuktu. Karla and Richard are the hosts with the most and they had a Vegas themed hot tub party. We had an absolute blast. If ever you've wondered if 10 people could fit in a 6 man hot tub, have no fear, it is possible, but totally not recommended unless you are very "close" friends.

Amidst an upheaval of life and limb in January (listing our place, giving my notice at my job, the kids upset because they (Rylee) don't want to move), we went on two adults only holidays to the tropics. Talk about a cure all - at least temporarily.

The first trip we took was with Arny and Melissa and Greg and Cheryl, also Rod and Lisa and their posse from Didsbury. We hit the Mayan Riviera at Greg & Cheryl's request and it happened to coincide with the Snider's impending trip so plans were hatched, trips were booked and we all arrived in Akumal at the Gran Bahia Principe Coba mid-January. I could go on and on about how good it was (which would probably make some of you jealous), or I could tell you about all the little things and people that came close to ruining it for some of us (which would just serve to stir up shit and prevent me from dwelling on the positive) or I could just say that it was good. Although, I will advise - language was a huge barrier, housekeeping was very inconsistent for a 4 1/2 star and the nights were so cool you needed pants. Josh and I will not return to Mexico in a hurry. It was terrific to see Arny and Melissa and it was very cool to learn (with Mel) that I can actually swim in the ocean and enjoy it and that I can snorkel with fishies swimming all around me and not freak out. Life is good.

Second trip was to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for my high school best bud's wedding. It was fabulous. DR was just like we remembered. WARM, WARM, WARM. +28 all day and evening, no need for wraps or pants here. We all arrived on Jan 29 and stayed at the Gran Bahia Principe Bavaro in the Royal Golden Club. Tanya and Jeff's wedding was beautiful and it was so great finding out that after 14 (yes, 14) years after graduating high school that Tanya and I are still great friends and we just picked up right where we left off. Trish and Kevin were also a hoot to hang out with and Wayne and Marlene and their respective significant others were terrific as well. And we can't forget Granny. I still think Josh has a thing for Granny! So, we would go back to the Dominican in a heartbeat, but have many other locales to get to first, like Jamaica, Cuba, etc. The service was fantastic, the people were over the top friendly, the day trips were really great, what more can I say.

Now, it's mid-February and life goes on. I have a job opportunity in Lacombe and I don't know if our place is going to sell. Josh has taken a good job up here, but I have given notice for mine and am done at the latest July 1. I am beginning to wonder where life is leading us, but as unfortunately, I can't control it, I must just soldier on.

For anyone who followed mine or Josh's long and amazing 4H careers, I have to tell you that Rylee's first ever attempt at public speaking is next Thursday. I am SO nervous for him. Gosh, was I ever that small? He is so adorable in his cowboy hat and chaps talking about rodeo. Any bets on whether or not I will strangle any judge that criticizes him???

Anyhow, all is well here if a little stressful and unknown.