2013

I decided to start blogging again so that those who are interested in my nursing school adventures could follow along.  Mostly I think it will be beneficial to me to look back on this and hope I can gain some encouragement.  I know it will be hard and require a lot from my family, I hope the price we all pay isn't too high.
Friday is orientation and I'm kind of excited about that.  I had an oh oh moment today, actually it was a "really, are you that stupid moment".  For some reason in my head, I figured that this semester wouldn't be too bad and why was I worried about 18 credits.  For some unknown reason I forgot that I don't just have 1 nursing class, I have 3!!!!! Oh ya and a lab, plus the abnormal psych class and nutrition class I'm taking from ISU.  I should march right into the doctors office and start medication and therapy. 

A Day Long Walking Tour of Quebec City

My feet are killing me and I'm so tired but I promised myself I would blog. Our day started out with breakfast brought to our door in a picnic basket. It was way cool and the rolls were warm and fresh. YUM

After breakfast we met in the lobby to start our historic walking tour. I have to admit I wasn't excited about that at all, but I went. I found it interesting, some of it anyways. She told us a story about Benedict Arnold coming to the City and hiding in what he thought was a house. It turned out to be an Army barracks full of military men. I thought that was funny.

These were taken on our tour.

These next pictures are of the old campus of the University. They were spectacular and quite large.

This red roofed house is the oldest house in Quebec City.

This really has been a good trip. Lots to see and do. I loved being here with Frank, I just missed not having the kids here. We thought the girls would think it's cool but the boys might be bored. I missed them anyways.

Quebec City

We left the cottage bright and early today, 5 am. Here is mom, Aunt Carole and Aunt Pat. The three of them sat in the back of the van for the 6 hour trip to Quebec City. I'm afraid it may be my turn on the return trip. Oh well it's the least I can do.

We stayed at the Hotel du Vieux that is within the walls of Old Quebec City. It is a beautiful old hotel. Our view from the street and from our room is absolutely amazing. We actually have the best room with the best view out of all of us. In the morning they deliver a basket of pastries, jam and fruit right to your door. Uncle Jim and Aunt Pat said that they were going to bring their basket to our room so that they could enjoy the view and eat with us too. After breakfast we are signed up to take an hour and a half walking tour of Old Quebec. That should be interesting. I sense more pictures.

After an early dinner we kinda wandered around the streets of old Quebec. I think it's now tradition to find some type of mountie for Frank to pose with. He's a good sport. The jester was just tucked in some small alcove.

After we returned from our little walking tour with mom, in the pouring rain I might add. Uncle Jim and Aunt Pat were sad that they didn't get to go with us. So mom decided she would stay at the hotel, she was already in her jammies, and Frank and I went with them on another adventure. The rain finally stopped and we saw the coolest things. The lighting in the streets at night is beautiful along with the interesting puppet dude. It is very European here and very fascinating.

The old part of Quebec City that we are in is surrounded by a huge wall. Hopefully tomorrow I will learn why that is. The streets are narrow and some are cobblestoned. Shops line the streets, it is a beautiful place.

Today was another fabulous day. It was beautiful weather again. Today was the croquet playing day. We had a lot of fun playing today which is funny for me because the game drives me crazy. Frank and Pat won that game.

Last night when we were finished playing cards, Frank decided that he was going to show Pat a card trick. At the end of his trick, when he fired the cards at her, one of the cards fell under the deck. So this morning Frank crawled under the house to get the infamous card. It was too funny.

The Lazy Days of Summer

Again this summer Uncle Jim got the water trampoline. We have a great time hanging out on that. This year unlike years past the water has been extremely warm in the lake. Today the water temperature was 80 degrees, so Lori, Greg and myself floated around on the styrofoam tubes. That was fun except for the plant/weeds that would touch your legs...yuk!!!



No day would be complete with out a friendly COMPETITVE game of bocce ball. We had the mens team that recruited Pat and the girls team. The guys won the first game and the girls won the second. Greg said he'd never played before but I highly doubt that.




Tonight was Lori and Greg's night to make dinner, oh my gosh. We had steak, salmon and shrimp all done on the barbeque. It was so so good. It's going to make our sweet and sour ribs seem like PB&J. I might have to totally re-think the rib thing.

Summer Time

It has been such a long time since I have blogged and so much has been going on. Frank and I went to Ontario this summer to visit family. It's becoming like an annual trip. We love it and have such a great time. This year we went to Ottawa to visit my Aunt Mildred. She's like 95 years old and is still amazing.

Mary Jane met us at the retirement center and brought us lemonade and cookies. I haven't seen them for a very long time. I have alot of great memories of my aunt. She used to take us to the library where she worked, that was a lot of fun. That's where I first heard of the dewey decimal system and learned to catalog books. I remember one of the best one on one times I had with her was when I was in Leamington visiting and she came and took me to lunch and for a walk along the beach. We had the best talks, I remember thinking, "she really gets me." After she had met Daniel and Sarah, when they were very young she went home and painted a picture of them on the beach. It is to this day one of my favorite possessions.

Uncle Jimmy took us all over Ottawa, I loved it, the history, the sights, the company, it's all about who I am. I LOVE living in the United States and being an American, but I am proud also to be Canadian and the history that I have. I always say you can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the county out of the girl.

This year we were able to stay with Uncle Jim and Aunt Pat for 2 weeks. They sure went by fast and we did so much. Uncle Jimmy built me a raft, we had our usual tournaments of croquet and bocce ball and went to the sheepdog trials. The weather was great and seeing all the fam was the best part. We even went to the cottage where I spent many a summer. My one cousin owns it now and it kinda doesn't look that same anymore, except for the docks and the lake.

My family totally rocks.

CINDERELLA

Kelsey was given the wonderful opportunity of playing Cinderella in the Blackfoot Community Play. At the start of rehearsals she was driving back and forth from Rexburg, because she is attending Paul Mitchell Hair Academy. After about a month of that she took a leave from school and moved home for a month. She was ready for a little vacation from school anyway.



It was great that Prince Charming was played by Chasten Ellis, one of her really good friends from high school. One of the ironic things...last year Kelsey was crowned as Prom Princess during prom and Chasten was crowned as Prom Prince.

I was threatened with my life if I posted any of the kissing pictures. There are a few for scrapbooking moments but not for the blog I'm afraid. She said it was awkward to rehearse the kissing scenes in front of the dads. Chasten's dad was the King and Frank was the minister.

Frank also was in the play. The only way he would be in it was if it didn't take too much time. He's so great, he had his lines memorized the first night. "Dearly beloved" We just called him Friar Frank.

It was so much fun to watch the two of them in the play. I loved it so much that I saw it like 5 times. I'm still humming the songs. Kelsey said that one of her favorite parts was when the little girls would come up to her at the end of the play and want to have their pictures taken with her. One little girl was so intrigued by her glass slipper that she asked to see it and to touch it. I even heard one little girl ask her mom if the theatre was where Cinderella lived!

I love this father and daughter picture. I'm so glad they have a talent that they can share.