And We're Back

It has been a while. I have actually sat down a couple times to write a "comeback" blog but never went through with it. It just felt weird... where to start, what to say/include, what not to say/include, write about what has been going on, write like I never stopped blogging, make it serious, make it light and comical? So many possibilities, so much pressure (after writing pressure, I feel silly. Hahaha-Like there is a lot of pressure writing a blog which only my mother reads- Hi Mom!)

But anyways, tonight I am ripping off the band-aid. I am just going to sit down and blog. But I am going to take the easy way out by splattering the blog with pictures.

So here are some pictures of what we have been up to lately...

Drinking hot chocolate. Yes, that is right because up here in the Great White North the summer is chilly.

Growing out our hair so we can ROCK the pigtails.

Sleeping at the dinner table.

Making oatmeal raisin cookies (Kenny says these are wasteful, pointless cookies but Harps and I adore them).

PLAYING HARD!!!

Barbecue Picnics. We have had a couple of these... so fun!

Licking the icing off carrot cake cupcakes

Picking flowers... Harper LOVES flowers. Whenever she sees one, we all have to take turns smelling.

Eating lots and lots of Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches. Peanut Butter is Harper's favorite thing. It is always the first thing she asks for followed by yogurt and juice.

Petting horses at Fort Edmonton with Spencer, Micki, Morgan, Sue, Elizabeth, and Mason on our brother's trip.

Hanging at the Zoo! We got zoo passes when we got here and we go ALL THE TIME!!! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the zoo. Harper walks around doing a little dance with her arms that we have not yet figured out or captured... but it is stinkin adorable.

Finding new hats (Harper sporting a mesh strainer... someone call vogue, I smell a new fad)

Coloring, coloring, coloring, and more coloring with this cool dude.

Eating only the outside of the grapes. Because everyone knows the middle is just gross. :)

Chilling in our little red chair

Unrolling the toilet paper

And dining on sushi with these sensational people.

So that is what we have been up to lately along with unpacking and getting settled.

See ya in 3 more months... just kidding. :)

A Subtle Tribute with a Promise

This picture/flag adorns our living room wall. I was hesitant to hang it in such a prominent place, but am glad it ended up where it is. Everyone who comes over comments on it and we tell them all it is our subtle tribute.

But now for the promise, life has been crazy lately adjusting and getting everything taken care of here. But, I have gathered all the pictures that I want and need for my "we're alive"/ "back to blogging" post, and I plan to do it sometime this week. Probably Tuesday or Wednesday.

A Pet Peeve With a Touch of Hypocrisy

I should be doing school work right now. My husband and mother who are in the room with me probably think that I am typing my research paper... little do they know! ha ha ha

But anyways, something happened tonight that reminded me of this pet peeve (I love you regardless, Kenny). Youtube videos bother me. Not the videos themselves (ok, well some of them) but the sharing of youtube videos in a group setting.

For instance, have you ever been in a group setting when someone breaks out their laptop to show the newest youtube video they stumbled upon? KILL ME NOW!!! When this happens you will end up watching youtube videos for the next 8 years of your life (ok, I realize that is an exaggeration, but it is a long long long time... like a couple of hours at the least).

It becomes a video competition. It may start out with funny videos, then leads to everyone sharing a couple of their favorite kid videos, followed by their favorite baby videos, next comes the favorite animal videos, followed by the favorite tv/SNL clips, then come the injury clips (these ones I actually do not mind due to the hilarity of people injuring themselves in stupid ways), then come the sad, real-life story videos, followed by the grossest, nastiest video (I am thinking back pimple here), then their is a need to uplift the mood so you start back in with the funny videos, and the vicious 8 year cycle has begun again... UGH!

And what makes Youtube especially bad in group settings is the expectation and pressure that comes with watching another individuals favorite youtube video. It is all because the person who suggested the video watches everyone else to see their reaction to their favorite video. I feel the need to put on a performance and react in a way that will validate their video choice. And I am not that good of an actor, so it can get tiring.

And not only is the suggester watching but everyone else is judging your reactions too! For instance, when watching the injury videos in a crowd, I do not feel like I can enjoy them as much as I normally would without being perceived as cold-hearted. I can't smile as much or laugh as hard. People may think I am harsh and cruel if they knew how truly funny I think those videos really are, so I must stifle my joy and happiness.

Now here comes the hypocrisy part...

This is a link to my all-time favorite youtube video, dates back to my dorm days. And just know that you do not have to watch it. But should you choose to view it, don't worry, I won't care if you like it or not. Be comforted in the fact that I am no where near you and will not be judging your reaction. It is a no pressure, youtube video (therefore, it is kind of not hypocritical). So enjoy it... or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHrkT3Zm0eQ

P.S. We only have like 10 days left in Texas. I am sad about leaving my family. I am exciting about moving to Calgary and setting up shop. I am terrified of the humongous change that is taking place and have been having crazy nightmares that everything we have planned falls through when we get there and we get stranded and strapped (once in my dream we had to live in my brother in-law and sister in-law's basement and one we lived in the U-haul with all our stuff).

***BONUS***

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago by Mandie McMurdie. Here are some of Harper that turned out AMAZING! She is so cute!

Sicky-poo SLUMBER PARTY!!!

Yes, that is right. Miss Harper is sick... AGAIN! UGH!

Uncle Cole, Aunt Riley, and Miss Harper have been fighting a virus all week.

It is no fun. Fevers, Chills, Aches, and Sore Throats.

We went to the doctor. They said it will pass... Seriously??? It will pass??? You can't pump my kid full of some kind of drug so I don't have to see her uncomfortable. (And i know that I am being extremely whiney and ungrateful because I have a generally healthy kid. She has no major or minor health issues in life and is an extremely blessed little girl in that department. But still...)

Anyways, Riley was home from school today and my mom was out all day, so we decided to have a big sicky-poo slumber party.

We watched Caillou and the movie Horton Hears a Who (first time seeing it... so cute). Had pizza, juice boxes, and orange cinnamon rolls. It was a grand time! Just see for yourself....

Our blanket palette and pillow mountain (believe it or not, this whole pile of pillows came from 2 beds, Riley's and my parents. Pillowmongers!)

Harper had a blast climbing over, so Aunt Riley joined in.

Harper did not last through the movie.

Does anyone else's kid get EXTREMELY sweaty when they sleep. Even when she is not sick. She sleeps, she sweats. If she sleeps on you, bring a change of clothes.

We Miss You!

So today has been a total blogging day! I don't think I have ever blogged so much in one time period. But this one is important!

1st Birthday

As promised, here are pictures of the Birthday Extravaganda. It was overall a fun day. Harper won't remember a dang thing but we had fun.

One of Harper's favorite things is Gingered Beef from Pei Wei. Everytime she puts a piece in her mouth she scrunches down and says MMMMM really really loud. It is so stinkin' cute and hilarious.

Her she is on her way to her birthday dinner sporting her new shades...

This is the cake that I made... I saw it on my favorite food blog, Annie's Eats, and had been wanting to make it ever since. So Harper's birthday was a great excuse. It is a Neapolitan Cake. It was fun to make and was actually really yummy!

This is what the cake looks like inside... that was my favorite part.

This is Harper in her birthday Tutu made by Riley and her friend Sam.

Harper's favorite food is black beans, avocado, and cheese. So that is what she ate and the rest of us had taco salad.

This is the smash cake... She did not get that into but it was still fun.

The party attendees....

Miss Harper is the best little girl ever! We love having her in our family. She is just so fun and sweet.

BIG NEWS that starts with a definition

ex•pa•tri•ate

–verb (used with object)
1. to banish (a person) from his or her native country.
2. to withdraw (oneself) from residence in one's native country.
3.to withdraw (oneself) from allegiance to one's country.

–verb (used without object)
4. to become an expatriate: He expatriated from his homeland.

–adjective
5.expatriated; exiled.

–noun
6. an expatriated person: Many American writers were living as expatriates in Paris.



Kenny's four months of training are up and just this week we received news of where we will be headed. Harper and I are going to be expats (well kind of Harper, she is going to be a dual citizen but me for sure).



***And just to clarify before I get going, I don't like the 3rd definition... I will never loss my allegiance to the great state of TEXAS!!! I will always and forever be a Texan first and foremost (and I realize that I going to have to step up my Texisms before going. For example, I am going to say yall more than I do now and I am thinking about picking up howdy as well)!



But anyways, back to the big news... We were assigned to go to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We have had a strong hunch for a while that is where we would be headed but did not want to tell anyone as to disappoint or get hopes up (the majority of Kenny's family currently resides in the area). But we are happy and excited and nervous (this is mainly me- I do not do well with change... never have and this is a big change) and sad and overwhelmed.

We were given 4 months before they want us up there and will be flying up for a weekend in a few weeks to get things set up and checked out. So it is exciting and frazzled and thrilling. We are looking forward to the adventure and the Canadian candy bars (when we first got married I told Kenny that if we moved to Canada a couple of things will happen on a daily basis 1) I will eat a candy bar everyday and 2)I will wear long johns every day. I am not sure that the candy bar thing will stick but the long johns sure will)! :)