Little People Christmas Party, 2011

This year the little people of Alberta Christmas party was on the same day as the Zeniths Opening basketball tournament. So, I called Granny and Grandpa-911. Alyssa and Rob went to the tournament, Granny watched Mark and Grandpa drove the boys and I to the Christmas party. It was very much the same as every year. Chinese gift exchange for the adults, a little person Santa comes for the kids, potluck dinner, and raffling of items brought by people attending the party. Preston won a lego game in the raffle, and I won a bowl of candy. Grandpa won a golf shirt and golf balls, if I remember right. There were lots of little people, especially young children. There was even one little person mother with an average size newborn baby.

On the way there the weather was beautiful. However, by the time we left the party there were 4-6 inches of snow on the ground and it was snowing hard. Grandpa got us home safely, driving in the center of the highway with no regard for lanes (when there was no traffic around) so that if we slipped we'd have further to go before going off the road. It was a stressful night, but I was so glad it wasn't me driving!
Kids waiting for Santa

A hurricane without the rain

We are having an extreme windstorm. It is is 14 degrees Celsius when normal for this time of year is a high of 2 degrees. The west wind is blowing harder, yes actually harder, than I have ever seen it blow here. We have sustained winds of 75 km/hr with gusts in some places over 140 km/hr. We have had many windstorms, but this is the first time it has toppled our super heavy trampoline. Also, shingles are flying off our roof like crazy. Alyssa and I had to tie down the BBQ up on our deck because it was moving all over. I was afraid it would slam into a window. We also removed the toys from the sandbox because they are also taking flight. Here are a few pictures. ...apart from the wind it is a lovely, warm sunny day.

Now there are several out of control grass fires blazing...one west of Lethbridge and one or two South of Magrath and Raymond, as well as other places, I understand. Downtown Calgary is like a war zone. The winds at the top of the Calgary tower were gusting at 150 km/hr. Lots of windows shattered in the wind.

Happy Halloween from the Doigs

Alyssa is Thing 1 from the Cat in the Hat. Her friend was Thing 2. Austin is Link from the Legend of Zelda...not an elf or Peter Pan...Mark is Aladdin and Preston, a power ranger.
Granny fixed us up with the Aladdin costume. Mark wore the hat and didn't try to take it off. I thought it was pretty cute. Rob is away at a conference and Alyssa had a volleyball practice so Mark and his caregiver, Kaylee, handed out candy. Mark stayed in costume all day long.

Austin has wanted to be Link for about 2 months and talked about it every day. I finally had to sew the costume when we couldn't find anything like it in the stores.
This is my creation, the snowman pumpkin. I entered it at the school's pumpkin carving contest at the school. The pumpkins were a little green still. They were from the garden.
I carved this pumpkin for Preston who wanted a dragon pumpkin. I thought it turned out pretty well.

15 Years Ago Today....

......Rob and I were married in the Cardston, Alberta Temple. Look how young we were! Life in the past 15 years has had lots of unexpected twists and turns, but I am grateful to have had Rob there to share each joy and heartache. And, if you think we've changed in the last 15 years, just look at the family pictures we took at the wedding. The families had sure expanded and grown up since then too!

Preston on the treadmill

One Saturday morning, I told the boys, as I always do, that they could not have any screen time until their jobs were done. Preston asked if he could go on the treadmill for an extra job. I guess I had been stewing over the boys' excessive inactivity more than I had been stewing over the need to get the house clean because I allowed it. After a while, I even let him watch his show while he was going. Who would have thought that he would go so long, barefoot in his pajamas. For the record, he also did his other jobs.

High Honours

Friday, there was an assembly at the school to recognize academic excellence. Alyssa was awarded a certificate for high honours for having an average over 90%. She missed out on top academic this year, but should be very proud because her average was over 1% higher than last year. Keep it coming, Alyssa, you are well on your way!

Volleyball champions, three weekends in a row!

Alyssa is playing on the Magrath Pandas grade 9 volleyball team. Her team has had the same very committed, intense and talented coaches since grade 7. In addition most of the girls on the team either played club volleyball in the off season and/or participated in volleyball camps. The team is very strong this year. So far they have won all three of their weekend tournaments, as well as their league tournament. Alyssa plays middle, usually, and is in the starting line up. Volleyball is a really big commitment. They practice 4 days per week and have had tournaments the last three weekends.This is a picture of their team today with their champion t-shirts after their win at the ICHS Birds of Prey tournament. They are holding up 1 finger as they are #1.
Alyssa makes the pass.
Alyssa, #15 is ready in case teammate, Kassi Bogdan gets blocked on the hit. But Kassi gets the kill.
Set.
Dive
Ready for the serve receive
pass
Serve