Sleep Is Good...

I moved my cats over to my moms house at the end of last weekend to get them used to the new house and my mom's two cats before we head out to Europe.

Ben hid as soon as we got there... he somehow figured out how to get under the recliner and stayed there until after dark. As soon as everyone went to bed he sniffed around the basement pretty good and got quite relaxed and has been great ever since.

Jaike was very pissed off when we arrived but toured around the whole house right away meowing his head off. I thought that he would adjust the best since he lived here for a few months a few years ago but once everyone went to bed his "meowing" turned into a loud "mooing" and he woke me up every ten to twenty minutes the first night.

My very first cat who has always lived at my mom's "Spook" has been the best. He does not hiss at my cats and couldn't really care less that they are there... he did come downstairs the first day and quite blatently pissed all over the basement mat however!

Lynx is my mom's baby and he is really not impressed that my cats are here at all but he has also been really good about the whole situation. He hisses and growls if my cat comes near... and yesterday he came downstairs and decided to piss on my bed like a dog! My matress was standing up against the wall but he stood beside it... raised his leg and pissed on it... like a dog... I couldn't believe it!

This is my bed... it's not so bad but it's in the middle of the basement and Jaike continued to keep me awake "mooing" every ten to twenty minutes the second night as well... it was very very frustrating... I had thoughts of locking him in the laundry room, or taping his loud mouth shut!

The highlight of day two was a visit from my beautiful niece Tevin! We planned out how we are going to change my mom's front window into a fort in a few years when she is old enough and had a great afternoon playing :)

Last night my mom saved me and found me ear plugs that worked wonderfully... I finally got to sleep and it was a good thing because I was really starting to lose my sanity!

This morning I got up and all 4 cats were sitting in the living room with no hissing or growling... they all just layed there and stared at each other.

These two actually are getting pretty close to each other... they may end up friends after all... and as of tonight all have been seen using the litter box so hopefully we will have no more obnoxious accidents.

It's been kind of fun hanging out with the family... last night my Uncle Jan treat us all to dinner at boston pizza and today my mom made my favorite dinner ever! (Ginger Beef and Cantonese Noodles!!!)

My dad was downstairs tonight, picked up a white lighter and said "whose lighter is this?". Both Kent and I said "it's mine" at the same time so he claimed us both liers and took the lighter with him. A few minutes later Kent noticed the lighter was back on the table on my dad's smokes with a big "T" written on it. We laughed and Kent decided he was going to add to it so I told him to change the "T" to "Twit"... not sure if dad found it funny but it was freaking hillarious!

I will try to keep updated but I'm going onto night shift at work next week and I'm battling with this guy to get onto the computer to update. Jenna I signed up for as many shifts as I could with you before you leave so get ready for the all nighters! I'm looking forward to it! (and I better not lose my most dedicated reader!!!)

More on the saga soon...

And Then There Was Sun

It's been a crazy stressful week at work but luckily we had a wellness event planned for this afternoon and we all headed out rafting down the Bow River

One raft headed out before us and "the wellness committee" all claimed their own raft and suspiciously paddled furiously to catch up with us!

Genieve got rid of the skirt and we were off to go rafting in the sunshine (we warmed her that now pictures of her in her underwear would be appearing on the net and in agency slideshow presentations!)

The wellness committee did catch up and G.I. Joan was ready for the kill! We had a good laugh at how commando the whole group looked :) They got too close and we started soaking them with our paddles so they zoomed away down the river after the other raft...

and we sailed peacefully down the river...

all wishing that we had a beer for the travels...

At times we were going so slow that we wondered if we would hit downtown before nightfall... it was kind of a relief when I spotted tall building behind Susan's head.

We passed the other rafts earlier when they had all pulled over for an icecream so we pulled off of the river first and vegged for a bit waiting for the others to show up.

about 15 minutes later they sailed on by...

Carmen had lost her show and it was floating down the river ahead of the raft so Genieve swam out and saved it!

and right behind them came the commando committee...

We docked the rafts...

Unloaded and headed for home :)

I woke up this morning and thought about backing out and not going but I'm really glad I did. It's something I havent done before and it was a major stress relief from the week to just get out there... paddle... giggle... and float... I totally recommend it!

R.I.P.

I have a funeral to attend this afternoon. This world has lost an amazing woman and it just won't be the same without her. Rest In Peace Carla...

CARLA AMANDA LARSON
1976 - 2006

Carla Amanda Larson came into this world on a sunny Sunday morning on February 29, 1976. She left this world on a sunny Sunday afternoon on July 16, 2006.

Carla was a unique woman whose passion, beauty, humour and free spirit were expressed in her art and music.

She is survived by her mother Mary McCorquodale; her father Darryl Larson; stepmother Deb Zutter; her six siblings, Christy, Scott, Dylan, Desiree, Casey, Graham; her close friend Stephen; her paternal grandparents, Gordon and Gladys Larson and her maternal grandmother Joyce McCorquodale; her aunts, uncles and many cousins, all of whom loved her dearly.
Carla was predeceased by her stepfather, Joel Shortt and her maternal grandfather, Bruce McCorquodale.

Goodbye "Little Skeezix." A Celebration of Carla's Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY'S Eastside Memorial Chapel, July 19, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.

Forward condolences through http://www.mcinnisandholloway.com/ .

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Mental Health Association, for their efforts in furthering research and treatment for Bipolar Affective Disorders, Suite No. 400, 1202 Centre Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 5A5 ( 403-297-1700).

In living memory of Carla Larson, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Eastside Memorial Chapel, 5388 MEMORIAL DRIVE N.E., CALGARY. Telephone: 403-248-8585.

Grandma Lil

I went to Vernon this weekend with my brother Kent and my father Bruce to go and visit my Grandma Lil. She had her hair done right before this picture was taken and looked absolutley wonderful!

Grandma Lil took us for a tour of her new home which is the Vernon Rest Holm. She really is comfortable there with her new best friend "the other Lilly". This is the view right out her bedroom window. It really is beautiful there.

She took us for a little walk and we saw all of the grounds which is a bautiful little park with many little benches along the way to stop and rest :)

My sister Genitta couldn't make it for the trip but she was definitly with us in our minds and in many of our stories. In fact our motel room was right across the street from the Tac Mobility in Vernon. Genitta used to work for Tac Mobility and knew the owners quite well. We had one very memborable trip to Kelowna up the street for a Tac Mobility event a few years back so I thought it was kind of neat that Tac was right across the street.

We were just up the street from Grandma and had a few really nice nights telling stories and watching movies on the tube . Unfortunetly Grandma had a hear attack early Saturday morning and went into the ICU unit of the Vernon hospital. That didn't stop our visit however! We were able to get in to visit her for about an hour after lunch on Saturday and then headed to the beach for about an hour.

This is a me and Bruce taking a self portrait on the beach.

and this is Kent and Bruce getting out of the water. I didn't put on my swimsuit so I didn't go for a swim but Kent and Bruce said is was warm and gorgeous. Kent wants to get a few friends together and go back camping very soon. After the beach we took two angels Linda and Fergi out for dinner. Linda and Fergi take care of Grandma's everyday needs and appointments. They are the reason that I can sit back in Calgary and know that Grandma is well taken care of. They are truly two angels on earth!

We went back this morning and got to spend a little over an hour with Grandma before we headed back out on the road. She was looking a lot better when we left than she did when we arrived so I think she is going to be alright. It was a really nice trip and I feel really fortunate that I was able to get out there for a visit!

A B-Day & An Anniversary

Today my little godson Jordan turned 8.

We had a party planned for him at South Glenmore Park but sure enough it started to pour and hail about 5 minutes before the party was about to start.

So we moved the party up the hill to my place. It was a little bit cramped but luckily I had cleaned up a little bit during the day so it was do-able!

Anthony ran out to get pizza and my aunt Chantelle brought cake and gifts.

Jordan had a blast opening his gifts and blowing out all 8 candles!

Jordie really wanted to so he got to cut the cake himself this year.

He did a really good job and we all enjoyed the pizza and cake.

It was great to see Chantelle, Rob, Becky, and little Payten again, it's been a few months since we've gotten together and wow is Payten ever growing big and becoming a little person!

It is also my sister Genitta and brother in law Tavis' one year anniversary today. I can't believe it has already been a year since the big day! Happy Anniversary guys!!!!

The Boys are Back In Town

I got a call from my little angel Avery on Wednesday evening. Their dad drove down to Saskatoon last weekend and they are in Calgary for a visit!

I was so excited so I talked to Genitta and set up dinner at her house for Thursday evening.

The boys got to visit with Tevin and see how big she has gotten over the last couple of months. Kent also came by for a visit so it was a good old family get together with lots of fun, chatting, and games to be played!

It's really good to have the boys home if only for a visit :)