It's good to do things that scare you

So here's my official rafting post! I figure that since I don't do many daring things, when I do something like this I need to make a big deal out of it.

Here goes:

First a short video. We went through this rapid, then paddled back in to "surf." We all got in the front of the boat except one of our guides and tried to sit it in the little eddy pool at the bottom of the rapid. Our first attempt didn't take, but we made it the second time. I was nervous because this is the part where 2 people fell out of our boat last year, but there were no casualties this time!



Me and Mel "before"


The whole group posing for the obligatory "before" pic, blinded by the sun, in front of the awesome Otter Bus!



Look at us, all smiling for the camera (click on any picture you want to see bigger). We'd been trying so hard all day to have a picture like this!


White water all around. So fun!



My weak sauce jump pose. I should have done the same as Mel and Emily who jumped once, then went up a second time with better pose ideas! Next time, next time.


WOO!


DIG. Our guides gave us commands for paddling: DIG - forward stroke, BACK - back stroke, HOLD - hold paddle in the water for 2 seconds, RIGHT BACK, LEFT DIG - spin like a top in the rapids...lol.


Here we go...


My crew! We had tons of fun on that boat for sure.


We even managed to steal the other boats' bucket! These buckets are not there for any survival reason. They are simply used to splash attack the other boats. Since we were the only group on the water, split into two boats, it kind of felt like treason, but only for a few seconds. Darn it all, just when we had decided to relent the fight since they had no bucket, they found one that had washed downstream and continued to dominate us. BLAST! Val is much too good of a water fighter.


The "after" picture. I think we look pretty dang good for jumping off cliffs, falling out of the boat, getting rained on and climbing up a muddy hill.


Next adventure. Skydiving anyone?

Random words from this post: Samurai, raft, guns, rails, blue, elusive, superfluous

We've had a lot of fun lately. That seems to be our lot in life and I shall accept it.

Ryan's school year is winding down. Report cards are done, the last week of school is progressing nicely. Last week they had a family dance and Ryan got to DJ. He had tons of fun playing with a DJ program on the computer and I got to help pick some songs. We attended for about half the dance and then had to head home, but it was great fun and Ryan did a great job.

DJ Samurai and his minion. You better believe he wore his velvet suit.


Cutting a rug on the dance floor. I realized I like dances much better when I have a say in the entire playlist.


Ryan giving me a tutorial on the bike. I actually got it into second gear this time and went farther than I ever have before. Woo! Now I just have to figure out how to signal...hee hee.


I went rafting with Mel and Val and some other ladies from Wetaskiwin. I went for the first time last year and had a blast.

Here's our group before we got in the raft.


I stole these rafting photos from another rafter (that's why they're so small) but I will hopefully have more to share later. Here's our first rapid of the day.


It started out lovely, then we got rained and hailed on, then the day ended lovely. It was so much fun!


While I was gone, Ryan and the girls enjoyed the company of Jason, Kate and their family as well as Jeff. We're sad that this was Jeff's last weekend staying at Chez Layton! We're happy that he and his family are starting their new adventure down south. The boys had an extremely manly night out - shooting guns, eating steak, riding motorbikes and watching Austin Powers.

Father's day was a good chance for us to celebrate Ryan and our dads. We had a big breakfast before everyone had to leave in the morning, the enjoyed a lovely day with family.

Maddie couldn't quite make it out to Wetaskiwin without falling asleep. She was up early to say goodbye to Ben and Brigham.


Visiting with Ryan's family out on their railless deck. Nobody wants to put rails on because it seems so roomy!


Grandpa and Madeline seriously discussing the societal implications of Prince of Egypt.


Ryan enjoying a well-deserved snooze.


Claire and Grandma


The two dads, pondering life and the meaning of it all. Little did we know at this moment, but another future dad should have been included in the picture.


Congratulations Greg & Steph! Such exciting news!


A typical family picture. Love it.


Blue steel.


Ryan enjoying the spoils of the day. Yay for new tools!


Grandpa getting some help from Maddie.


Claire's riding class has also finished for the spring. We'll be back at it again in the fall though. It's such a great program and she's learned and grown so much from it.

Maddie saying "hi" to the elusive cat that we chase at riding every week.


Claire enjoying her walk with Babe. She's even done trotting a few times this year!


Claire's riding group this year. This photo is priceless. They were in the blazing sun, one girl was upset and needed her dad in the picture, two girls were wiggly, one girl was trying to chew on another girl's shoe and Claire, if you can believe it, was the best one! I think it was because she was in her comfy chair.


Other activities that don't correspond with photos: Claire went out several times with Lisa for special things like the last GRIT playgroup, the Snoezelen room at Capilano School and the GRIT zoo day. We've finished the transition meetings for her move to kindergarten, met her aide for next year (she's great!) and feel like everything will be very positive. I got a night out with Kathy and we enjoyed the Olive Garden and some good conversation. Lisa and I took the girls swimming. I am 28 years old and had my first professional manicure/pedicure from Natalie for a birthday present. I'm afraid that it was wonderful and I now have another superfluous thing that I want to spend money on!

Speaking of style...here's Claire getting a tag-team haircut. We're so glad to have talented stylists in our family!


The short, summer cut.


We're looking forward to a lovely summer holiday!

Newsflash

My blog posts have been quite lengthy as of late. I feel like I need to issue a public apology. So, there it was. Peace.

Alliteration FTW

A smattering of simple situations we have shared simultaneously and singularly.

Claire fell asleep on the floor one day and Maddie (somewhat) gently put a pillow under her head. It was very sweet to see.


I can't believe the school year is winding down. Claire celebrated her last year with the GRIT program as she moves into kindergarten next year. She also had her last day at preschool this week. I win "Parent of the Year" award for forgetting my camera on that momentous day. But luckily her teacher made each student a scrapbook of pictures from the year and we will be getting a copy of the slideshow that they compiled. I will have to post some of those pictures at a later date to redeem myself.

The girls at the GRIT year end picnic.


A front row seat at the funny improvised puppet show. They loved it! My favourite character was Adam, the evil monkey.


Claire and I enjoying the park after the picnic.


Madeline is fearless. She will climb anything!


We celebrated the convocation of Auntie Mel and Uncle Greg with a lovely lunch at the old apartment building. Congratulations guys!

Claire in Auntie Mel's grad hat, a.k.a. mortarboard.


Madeline, not to be outdone, in the same pose.


That same day we had everyone over to our house for another get together for my birthday and the graduates. Here I am preparing the shish kabobs. Who doesn't love kabobs? I ask you! No one. That's the answer. No one doesn't like kabobs.


Maddie and Grandpa having a serious chat.


Greg faithfully tending the BBQ.


So, I turned 28. Why does that seem so much older than 27? One thing I do have to say, 30 is seeming younger and younger the closer I get to it. I remember when I thought that 30 was basically senior citizen status. My opinion has obviously changed. I will make an exception in a few months and tease Ryan about reaching that ancient milestone.

I did get royally spoiled with many thoughtful gifts and cards from friends and family. I am very lucky.

Getting ready to blow out the candles on my yummy Oreo Blizzard cake. Of course I had Madeline's help. She's very considerate in that way.


Mel, Claire and Greg relaxing on the sleepy couch. Everyone falls asleep on that thing! It's a trap.


What's a party at our place without Rockband? Check out the intensity. This isn't just a game. It's serious. Fun fact, I have recently ventured into the world of expert guitar. Please, hold your applause. It's only on easy songs.


Claire loves listening to music with daddy's headphones. She gets so relaxed!


RANDOM: Yummy chicken lasagna.


Here's the recipe: (Thanks Lisa!)
Saute 1 cup chopped onion with a splash of oil.

Then add:
3 cups cooked chopped chicken
1 clove garlic
basil
salt
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can tomato soup
1 can tomato paste

Simmer for 20-25 minutes. Prepare lasagna noodles.

Mix together:
3 cups cottage cheese
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 Tbsp parsley
pepper

In a 9x13 pan layer noodles, then 1/2 of the cheese mixture, then 1/2 of the chicken mixture. Repeat layers. Top with mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes.


Here is a shot of Claire's profile and bouffant hair style. There are many days where Ryan and I contemplate shaving all her hair off. Because she's sitting or laying down so much and constantly moving, it gets really tangled in the back. She must have a sensitive scalp because brushing her hair after baths is torture for all parties involved. I sit her on the ground, wrap my legs around her to pin her arms down, use one hand to hold her head and try to gently work the brush through with the other hand. We use copious amounts of conditioner in the bath and even put leave-in conditioner/detangler on her hair after. The only thing worse than brushing her hair, is trying to cut it. So we're faced with a dilemma. The last time we cut her hair, it took three people working together for quite awhile to tame the hairy beast. Luckily we have talented hairdressers in the family.


After so much rain lately, it was heaven to have some warmth this week! So we took full advantage of the sun. Notice the beautiful green lawn in all these outdoor shots? Ryan has been meticulously tending to it, banishing unwanted weeds, mowing, whispering sweet nothings to the tiny green blades...everything. Good work.


Enjoying the swing.


Maddie braving the sprinkler. After all that talk about the lawn, that little dead patch there is where an ant hill used to be on which we poured boiling water. It actually seems to work pretty well.


Claire enjoying her swing.


Maddie and her friend Isabella warming up after running through the sprinklers.



Maddie-isms:

"I want macaroni pizza."

Before laying down for a nap she said, "I will have dreams about nice crocodiles and nice umbrellas."

Randomly one day: "I love the Jonas brothers." Disclaimer: The Jonas Brothers are not a part of our daily routine in any way. I think she saw them on the Disney channel one time? I have no idea! I swear. Really. This isn't sarcasm.

While driving in the car, she announced that she was naming her feet. She chose the names "Heavenly Father" and "Jesus" and proceeded to have a whole conversation between her holy feet.

Sometimes I just laugh and laugh at the things that come out of her mouth.