2014 Israels Update!

So I thought I would post a little update for everyone on the goings-on here in Alberta.

First of all, I think Spring has FINALLY made it's appearance here.  We had ice on the Lake until last weekend:

The kids thought it would be fun to go and play in the water.  It was actually 20 degrees the day this picture was taken, hence the shirts and T-shirts.

Who are the kids you ask?  They are the youngest son and daughter of my friend Pam.  The 2 of them actually stayed here with us for a week while Mom and Dad packed up their house and moved back to North Saskatchewan. The little girl is the same age as Spencer and in his classroom at school and both of them attended Cub Scouts with us.  Pam was actually a co-leader with me.

Here's a quick picture of the majority of my Cub Pack.  On this night, we were aiming to make some dessert to eat using some coals to cool with.  It wasn't too successful as we didn't have enough coals and we didn't start soon enough.  Oh well!  It was still fun for the kids.

Last month we went to Winter Camp with our Pack and stayed a little closer to the mountains.  Thankfully no tents... just some cool cabins...

Sadly, Spencer got sick the first day we were there and spent the entire day in bed.  He didn't get to enjoy our snowshoeing trek that morning...

We even did a winter walk one evening at Cubs here in town.  We did some Geocaching and cleaned up some garbage in town along the way...

Even though we had one hell of a winter this year, Todd and Spencer were the only ones to get out on the slopes this year. 

And only once at Lake Louise in March...

Lake Louise slopes are still open this week and next week believe it or not.  They actually got a new 40cm of snow on the slopes this past weekend!


We've had tons of cool birds fly through the area to take advantage of the lake.  One of the coolest things we saw was a couple of flocks of pelicans.  This flock of 10 stayed for lunch and a swim...

We even saw a pair of Bald Eagles fishing across the lake one night.

Spencer and our neighbour Kim even took the canoe for a tour last night...

The lake was super busy with boats last night and even a fisherman in hip weighters!

On the lump scene... I go for my 6 month check up on Wednesday this week.  We'll see what the latest ultrasound says.  Earlier in April I had some scar tissue removed under the same breast which went well.  Still very tender in the scar area but it healed up perfectly this time!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a very merry 

Christmas and a happy 2014 from...

The Israels Family!

We Survived the Snow!

Howdy all! We are all hunkered down due to the latest and greatest Southern Alberta blizzard.  The winds yesterday were wild and didn't let up for 24 hours.  It was wild!  This was taken yesterday...

This photo shows some of the snow we have at the back door.  It actually got even higher!

Here is what it looks like from the back yard...

Here is a peak at our neighbours front yard.  The drift is as high as their garage roof! There was NO snow there on Sunday.

Mom is here visiting.  She was due to go home on Monday but we changed her flight on Sunday night knowing that the weather was coming.  Good thing we did.  They actually closed the highway between here and Calgary yesterday for quite a few hours and over night due to low visibility, accidents and drifting snow.  It just reopened again just an hour or so ago.  Many people were stranded in Strathmore over night.

Spencer hasn't spent any time outside as the wind makes the temperature, -17, feel like -30!  He hasn't been to school for 5 days - buses were cancelled the last 2 days. We stayed inside and mostly watching movies and we did a lot of reading.  Hope everyone is safe and warm!  Todd is due to come home on Friday.  I sure hope we don't get any more snow between them and now.  The running joke is that...

"How do you know Allison is going to the airport?"
"There's a snow storm!"  I swear... every time I HAVE to go to the airport, it snows!

Happy and safe travels people!
Ally.

Happy Halloweenie!

I Think We Need a Family Blog Update!

It's been AGES since I updated the blog so I thought I'd take a few moments to do so this morning. 

Here in Alberta we have seen the first signs of colder weather headed our way.  It was -3 degrees this morning when I got up... Brrrr!  The good thing is that we finally got a cold enough bout of weather to get rid of 99% of the stupid flies.  They have been terrible this summer and I'll be very happy to see them disappear.  And yes... I have already turned on the furnace!

Autumn is my favourite time of year.  It brings some amazing wildlife to the lake as they go on to warmer wintering grounds.  We've seen a number of flocks of pelicans again this year (maybe 8-9 birds per flock) - goodness they are huge birds! 

As you see from the photos above, we get some AMAZING sunrises here this time of year too.  Nothing beats the beauty of the sun rising over the lake in the morning!

We have also added a few finned friends to the family...

The whole family has enjoyed watching all the action going on in the tank everyday... even Marlee and Teaco.  We've since added some large rocks and more plants to the tank since I took this photo.  It looks much more natural now and less sparse.

Spencer is growing like a bad weed and he's actually doing much better in school this year with new meds on board.  I think we have finally found the right pills for him... but only time will tell.  We will be meeting with a new Pediatrician in a few weeks to see what he says.

Todd's "having fun" at work.  They have finally hired a cross-shift for his position so hopefully that will help. The new employee starts his job on the weekend before Todd returns home.

We had the opportunity to really enjoy the lake this summer, especially with Penny, Scott, Kali & Logan visiting.  Spencer of course, loves the water and just had to go out and play by himself on the boat.

I'm doing well.  I've been working on getting healthier with the help of my doctor.  Diagnosed with Diabetes in June, along with a questionable mammogram, I have since lost 30+ pounds since August 1st and I'm going for more; no more Diabetes and my cholesterol is down to normal too.  I have an ultrasound rescheduled for mid-October to have my left breast re-examined for signs of change in the questionable area they found in June.  Thank goodness it's not a mammogram and just an ultrasound... damn that thing hurts!!!  Especially when they reposition you 5 times and take 5 pictures at 5 different angles!

I'm off... hope this little update finds you all well!  Take care!

~ Ally ~

Homeward Bound!

Wow... it's been February since I updated the blog.  Shame on me!

Well we have finally pinned down a time to return home for July.  We will be coming home July 5th-17th.  Spencer specifically told me he wanted to spend his birthday with his Momma!

There's a few places we want to go while we're home and people we want to see;  "the girls", Penny & Scott, Judy & Dick, Linda and Rondeau, Christie & Mark and Mom. We're actually driving home so we'll have our own vehicle to travel around in.

Let me know when you'll all be around!

Our Days on the Slopes

Thought I would update everyone with some family pictures of what we've been up to lately.

Just before Christmas we bought a Lake Louise Pass because it also includes the ski hill we frequented last season, Castle Mountain.  We're hoping to meet up with friends there once this season. So far we've been to the ski area 3 times and we've thoroughly enjoyed it.  Here are a few fun pictures...

Getting ready to board at LL for the first time....

Taking a break in the chalet.  Nice eye roll buddy... grrrr!

 

First time up the gondola and on the slopes with Daddy...

Pit stop close to Banff...

Riding the magic carpet up to the top of the bunny hill together, Spencer & Daddy...

Spencer heading down the slopes leaving Daddy behind him...

My guys...

We've been enjoying our family days together.  With Todd's schedule it allows us to go almost every time he's home. The next time we go, Todd's lift ticket is FREE (because of the pass) and Spencer has a Husky Grade 2 Pass which allows him to ski all season for $20!!!!!!  I'll just head up on the lift and take some photos at the top.  The last time we went, it was too cloudy to go up and take photos so I didn't bother.  I would go skiing except I injured my knee at work so I'm off the slopes for now.

Hope everyone's had a good February!

 

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Wishing everyone far and wide, 

a very merry Christmas 

and a prosperous 2013!

Just a Little Update!

Howdy everyone! Boy... it's been awhile since I gave you an update of the family so here's what's going on with us right now.

Todd is currently home right now on his 9 days off.  He's due to return up North on Friday.  Sadly, he won't be home for Christmas but will return on New Year's Eve.  We hoping there's no flight delays like last set.

Spencer and I are headed home for a very short visit.  We leave Christmas Day and return on the 29th.  Yes... it's a REALLY short trip.  We're looking forward to spending time with my Mom, Christie & Mark.  It will be our last Christmas in our family home.

We've had some gorgeous frosty morning here on the lake.  The one morning the trees were covered in horror frost.  So beautiful!!!

Here was a picture of the paved road headed towards our house...

So far Spencer is plugging away at school.  With his ADHD and ODD challenges, he struggles everyday but we plod along and help him as best as we can.  His reading is improving by leaps and bounds now that we use a yellow filter over his workbooks and homework sheets.

Spencer has a bunch of teeth ready to pop through his gums - the problem is that they are coming in behind his baby teeth.  I had the same issue when I was his age.  His top 2 teeth are just waiting to pop out!

Last week I enjoyed Spencer's Christmas concert at the school called "Sparkle & Shine".  Here's a little excerpt of the main chorus.  Spencer is on the far right side with the bright orange shirt on.  You'll have to excuse the 2 little girls that walked in front of the camera and my awful mobile phone video camera (it sucks!)...

I sure hope this video shows up!

Spencer has been enjoying the outdoors thoroughly!  Since the lake is frozen now, he likes to venture out on the ice and join the ice fishermen sometimes.  Yesterday he came home with a little minnow in hand!

Hoping everyone is having a good December!  Our fall went way too fast!!!!


Ally.

A Few Weeks of Change

Well the last few mornings we have woke up to grey winter skies.  We've gotten quite a bit of snow already and the drifts around the house are huge even just for only 2 days of snow.  It's windy here on the prairies!

I'm thoroughly enjoying all the visiting creatures that hunker down in our backyard.  For the last 2 days, we've had large flocks of swans, Canada geese mixed with a few ducks stay at the waters edge.  It's hard to believe that we had beautiful green lawn on Sunday!!

A few pictures from these past 2 weeks...

Fri. October 12
A fiery sunrise!

Tues. October 16
One last autumn sunrise!

 Sun. October 21
Arrival of the swans.  Notice... NO snow!

 

Mon. October 22

Snow has arrived along with more shore birds.

 

Wed. October 24

The ice is beginning to form on the lake.

The drifts in the front yard due to the high winds yesterday & last night.

And that's where we're at today.  Spencer and I are both home with bad colds today so we'll probably be bundled up in front of the tv all day watching movies.  Hope we can both feel better by tomorrow...

 

Sunrises and Signs of White Weather

Hello everyone!

This morning is the gorgeous glow that I woke up to outside my bedroom window... a stunning sunrise!  Every one I see lately, I've specifically gotten out of bed to photograph - I'm in awe of the beauty that I see each and every morning.

This morning I was greeted with lots of red, oranges and fiery yellow!  We still have the odd duck too that hasn't made its way farther South yet visiting the lake.  Dad would have loved this place...

This was the sunrise this past Sunday.  It was swirled with blues, hues of lavender and pinks.

Last Thursday we received our first frost.  It was gorgeous and the crystals on all of the bull rushes and water plants were enormous!

And finally the night before last, we got the first signs of whiter weather coming.  The temperature dropped below zero and got about 1-2 inches of snow over night.  When I went off to work that morning, the mist was swirling over the water in little tornadoes (couldn't stop to take a picture though (so sad) ).

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend.  Spencer and I spent in at home.  I was sick and pretty much didn't leave the couch and he spent it playing with all of his toys in the yard.

Hope this message finds you all well!

 

By the Lake

Howdy everyone!  We are slowly getting the house to a state of "done" but it's going slowly.  One day at a time.  We still have the odd box to unpack.

Today Todd is working on getting the house wired for Ethernet and other media connections.  He spent a lot of time up in the attic yesterday feeding wires to all the rooms of the house.

Last night Spencer and I enjoyed the backyard and took some pictures outside.

Looking South over the lake...

On the dock...

Watching "Muck the Muskrat" paddling out in the lake...

Having fun on the row boat...

One of my favourite photos of the evening...

 

My other fav photo of the evening...

Dick and Judy are due to arrive tomorrow.  It will be good to see them as we missed seeing them in July/August when we were home for Dad's illness and funeral.  We're all looking forward to seeing them!