Scrapbooking

How wonderful! This is the first time I have sat down to scrapbook in probably 2 years. Here are the few pages I have done so far of our wedding. I forgot how much I enjoy doing this activity, especially with all the alone time I have had lately.

Only 9 more days until we go to Switzerland!!!!

Memories

Lately I have been reading back through the journals I have written over the years... it has been an 'interesting' process. I love to read about the good times and can't believe how totally cranky I was as a teenager. I would love to hear about what some of your favourite memories are with me and got this idea from Crystal's blog.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew/know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Soooooo bored...

Here is a tag I found on someone else's site and since no one seems to be updating their own sites (yes I have been secretly stalking all of you) I will add some tidbits of info that you probably didn't know about me!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Yikes... 10 years ago I was a cranky, bitter teenager who hated school, hated boys and hated life... I was a hate-er (shocking I know!)

2. 5 things on my to do list:

a) Go sailing
b) Do a one handed bicycle kick in soccer
c) Write a children's book
d) Learn break dancing
d) Have children

3. What snacks do I enjoy?

Sour candy... I'm a big sucker for sour patch kids

4. What would you do if you were instantly a billionaire?

Pay off all debt, buy a nice house and car, invest some, start a school for children in a 3rd world country were they can learn to read and write and hopefully bring their family out of the cycle of poverty.

5. 3 bad habits:

a) giving my opinion (when unwanted)
b) worrying
c) procrastinating

6. 6 places I lived:

Calgary, Alberta (2 places)
Edmonton, Alberta (12 places)
Lloydminster, Alberta (1 place - so far)

7. 5 Jobs I've had

a) Taco Time (good times when I was 14, lasted 3 months)
b) Panagopalous Pizza
c) Hallmark
d) Parks and Recreation
e) YMCA
(can't stop now... so many more)
f) Holyrood After School Care
g) Netmar Flyers
h) Royal Glenora Club
I) Cancer International Research Group
j) Office of the Auditor General
k) GoodLife Fitness
L) Calgary Science School, Webber Acadamy, Westmount Charter School, Calgary Waldorf School

Okay I think that is all of them...

8. 5 things people don't know about me

a) I'm allergic to almost all animals and outside... thank heaven for antihistamines
b) I'm an excessive worrier
c) I have moved 15 times in my life (averaging about 1 move every 18 months of my life)
d) I have some sign language training
e) I am SUPER organized

New city, new haircut, new adventures...

It is a time of change for us Isackson's. We are settling nicely into our new apartment in Lloydminster. Ian has been working like a dog (the last 10 days straight, about 12 hour days) surveying the Husky pipeline in the city. He is now officially a Party Chief and is excited about the responsibilities that the position entails. Callings are coming our way in the next couple weeks but it is all very hush, hush so I will have to let you know later.

I also felt I was in desperate need of some attention to my hair and chopped a good portion of it off and am having fun with the new look (it is so sad that this is the exciting event in my life). I do admit that I am already getting bored in my summer holidays. Around week 3 is when it usually happens and I am determined to make use of my free time by working on some sewing projects, scrapbooking our wedding (finally) and applying for substitute teaching here in the fall.

I really don't have much time left this summer as we will be gone for the first 3 weeks of August on some real adventures. First we are off to Ian's hometown for a family reunion in Lillooet, BC for a very short weekend and then we rush back to Edmonton to fly straight to Switzerland to see my sister and brother-in-law. We are super psyched for this trip. We plan to see some of Germany, Switzerland and Italy while we are there. I can't wait to share the pictures and stories with you all.

That is about all that is happening right now but I will keep you updated on life with the Isackson's.

Lloydminster Colonial Days Parade

Wow! I don't think I have ever seen more trucks and semi's in a parade than horses. I must say though that I am impressed with the length of the parade and the number of entries. Most were interesting and enjoyable to watch. Some... I wasn't quite sure why they were there but you still smile and wave!

It was great fun to go with some new friends Kalinda and Lara (along with her 3 kids). They have been so welcoming in the short time I have been living in Lloyd and really helped to fill the emptiness that remained from leaving my friends in Calgary. I am excited to spend the summer hanging out with these lovely ladies.

It was so cute to see the girls watching their first parade. They seemed so confused as to why people were lined up along the street watching these weird cars as they drove past. I think the most confusing was when they started dumping out candy on the street. It didn't take them long to start filling their baggies with treats though. The innocence of children is such a blessing to see.

It was no Stampede or Klondike Days Parade, but it was fun and I was happy to be there with friends.

Sad day.....But great friends...

The day came too soon when Ian and I had to pack up and leave Calgary. It was a good year and a half for me living in this crazy city. There were some things I loved and some things I hated. We were very sad to leave our friends, our ward and the beautiful mountains (I actually realized as I was moving our snowboards that we didn't go once while we lived there... tragic). We were also saddened to leave our family there and hope that they may occasionally make the trek to Lloydminster to see us, as we hope to visit Calgary when we can.

Things I won't miss about Calgary... wait, let me start a list

1. The traffic
2. The traffic
3. How everyone feels a need to mock Edmontonians on morning radio
4. The Flames
5. The Stampeders (that is what they are called right? Football is so not my sport)
6. The traffic

I am sitting down to write this after a 2 hour nap from an exhausting weekend. Moving in one city is difficult enough but to move to almost another province, is quite another. We had a whole bunch of great friends come out to help us load the truck in Calgary. A huge thank you goes out to Regan, Bruce, Phil, Alan and his boys as well as the Seidel's. We couldn't have done it without you, especially so quickly.





This is how we felt after packing and loading up in Calgary... it was so much worse after doing it all again in Lloyd. Ian was so great and worked so hard, he is my hero! The Seidel's also stuck it out to the very end helping us clean and say goodbye to our first home together. It was sad but there was no time to ponder on the loss. I wish I had a moment to reflect back with Ian before we left the building. Perhaps it was a good thing however, as it saved me some tears.



These are our wonderful friends Allison an DJ. We had so much fun with these guys playing games and hanging out together. We really, really, really, really wished we could have had more time with our bosom buddies before we moved on. Ian and I will really miss them as we meshed together so easily right from the moment we met. Their laugh is contagious, they are so crazy and we had so much in common. I am still trying to convince them to move to Lloyd...Life won't be the same without them. This picture totally portrays their personality, I love how DJ totally pretends to be disgusted with his wife (he is such a faker and we were so cool taking pictures and hanging out in Dairy Queen).



Single tear.....



Ian and DJ have a 'special' relationship!



I love this face, Allison totally makes it all the time! And yes, we did have fun taking pictures with our U-Haul. It was a great truck and our faith in U-Haul started to be rebuilt with this new model that was gutsy and very reliable.



This was the FUNNIEST thing ever... I didn't catch the picture when it was most perfect but...

On our 6 hour trip to Lloyd we drove through back country as a shortcut. When we were almost to Lloydminster Ian flagged me down to pull over as he thought I was falling asleep (apparently I was a little swervy on the road). We used this opportunity to get out of our vehicles and move around as I was going crazy driving and just couldn't handle it anymore. Ian used the opportunity to go to the bathroom (right out in the open) beside this cow pasture. As he was doing his business, no joke, the cows all lined up in a PERFECT ROW facing Ian as he went to the bathroom. It was the STRANGEST things ever. Dirty Peeping Tom cows!



We are so happy to be done the most difficult part and I now face the joys of unpacking it all and trying to find a space to put everything. I can't wait till we move into something larger (hopefully not too soon though). We made it here safe with no casualties (except something glass that is sounding broken in a box that is yet to be unpacked). Thank you, thank you, thank you again to everyone who helped us get here safely. We love you all and wish you the best. Please keep in touch, we would love to talk to you.

Duhh, dun dun dunnn duhhh duhhhhh...

CONGRATULATIONS IAN!

I am the proudest wife in the whole entire world! Ian worked so hard for his degree and it was so exciting to cheer with his Mom as "our" boy (not quite sure I am willing to share him) walked across the stage.