2012 at a glance...

So, I didn't do a Christmas letter of what's been going on in our lives this year, but I thought I would do a quick post about the whole year! It has been full of happiness, and pain...busy, crazy, wonderful, and sad all at the same time. 

 My Brody has been playing hockey, and he loves it. In fact, before the season started this year he was on the count down, "How many more days, Mom?"

He's in Novice and it is so amazing to see him progress since last year. From a kid who was scared and couldn't skate hardly at all...to a kid who I've seen pushing his way into the corner to get the puck, and has scored 6 goals so far. It has been so much fun watching him!

We had soo much fun this summer when Jess, Ryan and Eric came to visit. I loved every minute and would have gladly kept them all summer! It was a surprise for the kids, and Brody had a great big smile, but again, like no time had past, they were off doing what kids do and having a ball!

 I got to have one of my California sisters for a week, and it was so much fun. It was a busy weekend with softball and such, but the kids tired each other out, we had beautiful weather, and I got to show them where we grew up and the beauty of our little town.

 We didn't have much time to vacation this summer, but we made a little trip to Calgary to see Jamie and Jody and took the boys to the dinosaur museum.

 We had a new little cousin, and a GIRL!! Kelsey had little Harper, and the kids are sure excited. She is still so small and tiny and it is just so fun to have another little girl around all these crazy boys...

 We did get one vaca this summer, and we went over to Spokane and to Silverwood park. We enjoyed the area soo much last year when we had to return our moving truck, we decided to go back. It is really pretty, and the theme park was supposed to be lots of fun, so we thought we would try it out...

 The 'Drop' ride was a little much for Gracie...she kept her eyes squeezed shut till the drop, then she said "The wind just made them open! I couldn't help it!" And she looked a little green after, but I am proud of her for trying!

 The park was ok, lots of kiddie rides and shows. The kids had alot of fun!

 We had our annual Henry reunion, with lots of fun and laughter like always.

 Look at those Great Grandkids all lined up for the pinata!

I am so glad we were able to have it, especially knowing now that it was Gramma's last year. She so enjoyed riding around on her scooter, talking and laughing with the kids. Her and grampa loved to have everyone around for that loud and crazy weekend!

 It was the 100th Year Anniversary for my tiny hometown of Del Bonita. It was a really fun weekend. We got to see people we haven't seen for years, enjoy company of family and friends, and play a little softball and enjoy the fireworks. It felt like it did when we were younger, when there were lots of people in Del Bonita and we had the Del Bonita Days on the last day of school...

brought back alot of wonderful childhood memories...

 The kids all played ball this year as well. Cooper played T-ball, which was kind of a crazy time, but by the end, he was learning a little.

 Gracie and Brody played coach-pitch, and they were quite excited that their Dad was the coach. So was their Mom...until Dad's schedule dictated that he was not there 3/4's of the time and she ended up having to help!!

 Gracie took clogging and had the opportunity to go to competitions which was quite the blast from the past for myself! It was fun being on the parent side of it, not having to stress about too much, and getting to enjoy each song and dance and step away when she was done. 

And this year, we have 3 in school! Cooper started pre-school, which is held right in the school where the kids go. So, he gets to walk to school with the kids and he thinks he's pretty big! I am a little sad, but glad, because I get 2 1/2 hours to myself! But at the same time...I have time to myself, there are no kids...and my baby doesn't need me as much! 

It has been a crazy year...but a good one for myself and Dustin as well. Dustin is still working in the ER in Lethbridge, and now has a permanent job, where the hours are not quite as long. We (especially Mom) enjoy it as he is home more in the evenings and weekends, and he gets to have the chance to coach Brody's hockey team as well. I'll take a slight pay cut anyday to have my man home to be husband and father to the family!!

I am still enjoying Young Women's, being a Mom, and trying to keep my sanity while running our families busy schedule! Its a crazy, wonderful, mixed up life... but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

Merry Christmas one and all! And I'll try and keep a better record of the next year, so I don't have to cram it all into one post at the end!

My Gramma...

It has been quite a roller coaster ride the last couple of weeks. And just when I think I am doing good, I think about it, see her empty chair, think about phoning her, and remember. She had a good life; and long, full happy life. so I shouldn't be sad, because she is whole and healthy and having a wonderful reunion with family and friends...

But it still hurts...

You know who this beautiful woman is?

 This is my Gramma, Iris Maxine Wiggill Henry. She was born on July 8, 1931. 

She passed away on October 2, 2012.

She had 3 children, 10 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. She knew everyone of them, and probably could tell you each of their birthdays.

Everyone loved her...

She was married to my grandfather, Edgar Henry, for nearly 66 years. Can you even imagine? They were married when she was only 15 and Grampa 19, but they stayed married, through 19 moves, 

3 children, 2 house fires and all the fun and laughter in between...

 Alot of people sent cards and messages, each expressing their sympathy and sorrow. Their love for my Gramma, whom many had said was the Heart and Soul of Del Bonita, was amazing to see as they sent their kind words and came to honor her at the funeral. She talked to everyone who came into the store; stranger, friend and family. Many people stopped in just to see her and visit again and again. She loved to visit. She loved to hear what was going on in people's lives.

When I go into the store I can see her there, on her chair, by the bum bench, waiting to hear how my life is going. Hugging my kids, calling me 'Jeccitha Dawn'...

 I was devastated on that Tuesday when I heard. She couldn't be gone. She was supposed to come to the house on Saturday for Thanksgiving Dinner. I was excited for her to see how I had decorated. She loved family dinners, and getting to see the kids, visiting and playing cards.

How could she be gone?

And how do I tell my kids...

Gracie and Brody were very sad...and we had a good talk about how we knew that she was in Heaven. That she was healthy and happy and waiting to see us again.

Gracie said, "But it will be so long..."

And I told her that to us, it would feel like a long time. But in Heaven, time is different. It goes by so quickly, that Gramma will hardly have time to miss us before we see her again.

And we will see her again.

My Grampa has been so brave. It hurts my heart to see him, though. We try and visit with him alot when we are there, because I know he probably misses her so much. They always played cards in the mornings before he went out to the shop to tinker away. And she was always worried about what to make him for lunch, even though I don't think he ever cared what it was, as long as he could eat it...

Every year we have had reunions and Christmas dinner. Gramma would fuss and fret, but she always loved them. She loved her little scooter because she could go out into the yard and see what all the kids were doing. She loved to just watch every one being together and enjoying each other..

So, I am going to try and do that. I want her to be proud of the woman I am, the mother I am, the daughter I am. Every day I try and think that she is watching me, waiting to hear how things have gone, and I want to be able to tell her how I have enjoyed my life. How much I have loved raising my kids, the things I have learned, the things I have seen and done. The people I have met, the friends I have made and the lives I have touched.

Can I make a difference like she did? Can I be the Heart and Soul of something, like she was, where there are so many that have loved her that there was barely enough room to fit them in the church as they came to honour her? Can I be a person like Iris Henry?

I will try.

 Everyday I will try harder to be a better person and mother and friend and daughter...

because I know she is waiting to visit with me...

and I want to be able to tell her all the good in my life...

Thank you for being my Gramma.

Thank you for being an example to me and my kids.

For always being a loving friend, a shoulder to lean on, a warm hug, a good laugh.

I will miss you until I can see you again, but I know you are happy and healthy and waiting.

I know our Heavenly Father has great work for you and will keep you until we can see you again.

Then we will have the biggest, loudest, funnest card game ever!

Because thats how we Henry's roll!

Because you taught us to laugh, have fun and enjoy life...

I love you Gramma

I'm Back!!

No, I didn't die in the cold Canadian winter.

I didn't even get lost in the snow!! We didn't get much this year anyways, which I'm very grateful for. I think Mother Nature knew i would need to be EASED into the cold, so I'm sure next year will be extra good and cold!!

We've been extra busy with so many things going on, so here's a quick recap before I try and stick to the blogging again. I finally have my computer setup and the Internet connected so I SHOULD be set!

 Brody started hockey this year. He wasn't super excited at first, he said he wasn't a good enough skater, but within a couple of weeks he was really enjoying it, and now he loves it. He scored his first and only goal this year at the last game when the team played the moms. That's right, I played hockey, equipment and everything...

 We moved into a new house in January, and it was officially ours in March. Its only 1 block from the school, playground and ball diamonds. The kids are loving school, lots of fun things going on! Here they are ready for Spirit Day. Go Blue and Gold!!

 We didn't get much snow, so they only got to go sledding a couple of times, and we finally got a good snow for a snowman, I had to go out and teach them how to make one! They never had, but they loved it and were very sad when he melted and fell over...

Gracie took clogging this year, and though she was hesitant at the beginning, she really shone at the recital. Then at the beginning of May, she headed for Lagoon, Utah for competitions....

more on that later!!

And Mister Cooper-man turned four. Can you believe it? FOUR!! He can't be that big, I refuse to believe it...But he gets to start pre-school in the fall and I'll have 2 hours, 2 days a week all to myself... I'll cry then...

Look What I Made!!

So, I love my camera, my good Canon, so I want to take care of it. So I have a great camera bag. It hold everything for my camera: cords, books, lenses, even the video camera. The only problem is its BIG and BULKY and it does not fit in the bottom of the stroller, AND its a pain to lug around. I have a case for my video camera that the DSLR fits it, but that's all I can carry, just my camera with attached lens. And neither of them are very cute ...

So I started looking into camera bag purses, and they are ADORABLE! But, have a ginormous price tag on them that I really cannot justify. So, being the oh so creative person I am (somewhat creative, but really cheap...) I Googled it. And got lucky. There were TONS of different tutorials to make your own. I really liked this one on tatertots & jello, and this one on Vanilla &Lace. Two different approaches, Two Super cute results!

So then I went on a search for a bag....

Well, not really a search, but I kept my eyes peeled for the last few months, looking for a bag that would work, ( for the project and the budget!)

I was at the Thrift Store looking for some things for ANOTHER project, and I walked past the row of purses, and I thought, "Why Not?" and I found this one...

Nothing spectacular, but cute, had a great base, easily cleanable and was in pretty good shape.

3 reasons I REALLY liked it?

1. It had room for camera, lenses AND purse necessities.

2. It had a zipper pocket on the inside, and two pockets on the outside.

3. The price...$7.99!

So then I rounded up the rest of the supplies.

Some foam, sticky Velcro, thread, material, and two sided tape.

I really like the lining of the bag, nice and bright. So I wanted to Follow the Tutorial about splitting the lining and working with it, like the one on tatertots & jello. And I lucked out and found this material in Walmart. One little block section was all that was required!

So first, I split the seam down the middle with a seam ripper.

Then I measured the base, length and width. Then up the sides about 6 inches.

I cut the foam accordingly, keeping the base about 1/2 inch smaller so that the side pieces would fit and not be too snug.

I was using 1 inch foam, and I think it was a little too thick. So I left it for the bottom, to give extra support, and for the two long sides, and two short sides, I split the foam in half.

Then I used my double sided tape to stick the foam in the bottom and along the sides. I found that the purse itself was quite sturdy and I didn't need to add cardboard, or plastic to reinforce. It would totally depend on the bag and the type of foam you used.

Then I hand stitched up the seam. I suppose you could use a sewing machine, but I didn't feel like it. And, with the extra padding under it, I had to take it in a bit to make up for the slack.

I measured 2 pieces of foam for the dividers. Then I took my cutesy material, measured them to cover the foam pieces, and wrapped and used the two sided tape to glue and hem the ends. The ends were a little longer than the foam. Approximately the width of the Velcro, so you get a little 'hinge' effect when its in the bag.

Again, you could totally use a sewing machine and make nice little pockets, but I was feeling lazy, and in a bit of a rush. (I was too excited to get this done!)

Then I stuck the 'rough' side of the velcro to the divider. That way, if I ever feel like not using one of the dividers, you don't have the 'scratchy' part on the inside of the bag!

I put the 'softer' side of the Velcro inside the purse. I used one divider on each end and saved the middle for the camera.

And with the 'hinge' effect of the flaps on the dividers, it kind of hugs your equipment.

So I have a pocket for the video camera, or an additional lens...

And everything fits in so nice, with room for a wallet. So when I head to the rink, or the zoo, or wherever I'm trying to capture our lives...

I have all my stuff, safe and protected...

And looking pretty dang cute!!

Happy Halloween!

I LOVE Halloween!

I love that you get to dress up, and people don't think much about it.

You go to people's houses and get treats...(or at least, you send your kids, and they get YOU treats!)

I love the Spookiness of the decorations, and the fun of decorating your house.

So I love it!!

This year was a little different on many levels.

One: I wasn't feeling the creative genius that comes with finding Halloween costumes. I really like the Theme dynamic and we (meaning I the mother) like to dress in a group. So Years past we've been everything from pirates, to Austin Powers, to the Clue Game.

This year was Comic Book Characters revisited.

Here's my kids at the Halloween parade at school.

There's another thing that was different, they got to wear their costumes to school.

They liked that.

I stayed for Brody's Halloween party, and I think he is a little off on the pumpkin face there...

Two: We didn't have or stuff together, very well. So we made our pumpkin that day. And again, Mom had to clean it out because my kids are grossed out by pumpkin guts...

I think they each got one scoop out and were like, 'Eww! Gross! I can't do this!"

What kid doesn't like pumpkin guts?!

Three: My kids have never been Trick or Treating.

What?!

Yep. Never.

At least not door to door.

We've gone to Disney and then Ward Trunk or Treats, but never have they run through the neighborhood, knocking on doors, getting candy for their mom, I mean treat bags.

And what fun is it, if Dad doesn't join in?

Ya. I'm married to that.

But its all good, I am Cat Woman after all!

So when Liza Dawn invited them to go Trick or Treating with them, they were pretty excited. And I was too. Every kid should get to experience that. And every parent should get to let them without worrying about candy that's poisoned, or child abductors, or razor blades, or hypodermic needles, or generally scary things that may happen to your kids on All Hallow's Eve.

That's why we sent these guys to go with them.

Betcha all the Scaries kept their distance with these two walking around.

Surprised we didn't get a call on behalf of the welfare of our kids...

Happy Halloween!!