8 months today

Good morning!

Boyza I really need to get into this blog more often - if you've been checking for updates; I apologize. 
I'll work from current backwards.

Today (post flood update):

It's been 8 months today since the Southern Alberta floods hit in High River.  You may have seen in the Calgary Herald article that said our community and one adjacent was "sacrificed".  It was a 3 week wait before those residents were permitted to enter the subdivision.  We've owned a home in that neighborhood for about 4 years and we'd had another home built, partially tenanted (it was a suited home and the basement wasn't quite complete), and in 2 weeks we were to sign to be the owners. 
Since that time we've had MANY frustrations (including no furnace until January... 2 $500+ electric bills thanks to heating the home with an electric heater) as we deal with insurance and waiting but yesterday after yet another meeting at the home we already owned we received a check for lost rental income and mortgage payments which brings us up to date on those losses AND we learned from my brother in law that he's ready to begin the reno's early next week! 
As for the home we'd almost owned we've no word yet but hopefully soon.  We're hopeful both will be complete and tenanted before summer begins.

In school earlier this month:

Emily and her grade 7-9 school mates headed to Fernie for a 2 day ski trip despite extreme cold.  The bus she was on took 7 hours to travel what should have been 3 hours and had to be rescued/replaced for the rest of the journey from Black Diamond.  It meant that the bus load she was with may have fit in only 1 run that day, instead of being on the hill by 1pm like the others.  It was no hard feelings for her though and she decided not even to bother putting on her equipment until the following day.  Her level of confidence has greatly improved and she proudly proclaims, "I'm ready for blue runs!".

Katie (her mother :)) and her grade 6 grade mates headed to Nakiska for a day of skiing - we had a fantastic time!  The day before the trip Nakiska called to say it would be -40 when we arrived and did we still intend on coming.  Apparently all the other schools said no so ours was the only one there.  I would ride the lift, do the run, and ski right onto the next chair heading up.  As for the temperature I wasn't cold at all.  Actually no one from our group suffered from the temperatures. 

Co-op and AMA have a great deal: $150 for 2 adults and up to 3 kids for lift tickets and rentals.  Did I say great deal!?!?  Skiing is an expensive hobby - 2 adult lift passes go for $144 at Nakiska.  We're aiming for March 1 to go as a family.

The school year thus far:

The kids are doing great!  Emily is in grade 8 and is having her best year academically yet.  Typically she's been the 65% average gal but first term report card had her in the honors with an 84% average!  Katie (grade 6) has always come at her grades a little easier and her first term average was 90%.  I'm so proud of those girls; they've worked hard for it.

As for me in the Elementary school office things are going well.  It was announced in December that at the end of this school year we'd return to private school status, leaving Palliser School Division.  It's been an emotional time as staff decide whether they will remain with the School or the School Division - there will be grieving.  It's okay though.  I'm staying at the school and I don't think that my job responsibilities will change very much.

EMS:

Scott has been doing the Acting Supervisor thing (I may have given that the wrong title) for awhile now and enjoys the guy he works with as well as the responsibilities but likely more than that, the change of being on the street. 

Bouncing ahead (Summertime):

Can't wait!!  Looking forward to spending a bunch of time in the Shuswap again.  Last year the girls and I got 8 full weeks and Scott was there for 4.  He's able to squeak in another week.  I got my Boat Operators License in January (48/50 was my mark) so this summer will also be filled with putting the study into action and 'going places'.  Scott is looking forward to doing a couple day trips and I think we'd all be on board (no pun intended) for that as long as we were confident the weather was going to hold.  After last years flash storm which we were caught in I'm a little leary to go very far and I think if something like that happened again the kids may not want to get on the boat ever again.  It was pretty dicey for awhile.

Another thing we're looking forward to is more canning!  Course for me that also means more picking!  That was so satisfying last year picking (or purchasing what we weren't allowed to pick) and either making jam (strawberry & raspberry) or pie filling (apple, peach & cherry).  I brought home about 27 1L jars of filling and I think we have about  10 left.  We've been able to bless many with jarred gifts of wonderful Okanagan fruit and I'm hoping this year will be no different and that we're able to find other fruits or even veggies (pickled beans anyone?) to play with.

How are you?