Birthday Fun!

Friday was D's 4th birthday. We had been giving him little Matchbox cars each day the week before his special day. He loved waking up to a new car! We gave him a garage and he has loved playing with it. Our plan was to have his party on the 3rd but unfortunately two of the three kids couldn't come to the party so we decided to have a family party instead. Grandpa and Grandma came up for the afternoon and we had a nice visit.

I also wanted to show you a picture of our geodesic dome. A larger example of a geodesic dome is the dome in Montreal. It was used in the '67 Expo. It is now a museum. Epcot at Disney World is another geodesic dome.

Family

I got a lot of comments about this picture on facebook so I thought I would share it on my blog.

This is the family at Bear Lake this past weekend.

Summer

Well, I definitely thought that I would write on here more. Maybe now that summer is over and we are getting into the swing of things again!

We had a wonderful summer that went far too quickly. I enjoyed the cooler aspects of summer. I've never been one for lots of heat so this year was perfect.

This is a picture of our family at Arlington Beach. We had a wonderful time with family. The kids so love having the freedom there that they don't have when we are in the city. They can run over to the park and play and we don't have to worry. It is always hard to come back home again after a visit.

The picture of Paul and me was taken by A when we visited Rocky Mountain National Park this weekend. We had a wonderful day. It was a little busy because it was free but we were able to find a parking spot and we did two hikes. We hiked to Alberta Falls first, ate lunch and then hiked Bear Lake. The kids seemed to enjoy the time. E doesn't favor being outside much so we often hear from her that she wants to go home. A likes to run ahead and we often have to remind her to stay close. I got some really great pictures but I don't know how to show them all to you.

We have started school and I have already heard the words "I hate school" and "I don't want to do math." So far I have been able to get the girls to do their work. It is a challenge every day.

I have decided to join a Precepts Bible Study this Fall on Romans. I am a little concerned about taking time away from school but we are going to try and do school in the afternoon. I feel like I need to do a study and I like this inductive style.

I must go for now. It is time to feed my hungry children!

Swimming Lessons

Well, today we finished swimming lessons. D and E didn't move up to the next level. What is it with our children being afraid to put their heads in the water? M is able to move up to the next level and her teacher said that she could probably move up two levels. She was so excited. A was the most disappointed. She has to repeat Level One again. She sat on my knee for quite a while this morning after we got home. She had tried really hard but wasn't able to do some of the things that were required. It is so hard to see her sad. We will have her try again...maybe in the fall.

Happy Canada Day

One of our Grocery Stores in town celebrates Canada Day. This is the 2nd year they have done this. We went early this year so we could get the cool canvas Canada bag. They take pictures every year and this is us! They liked the picture so much, they asked us if they could use it on their picture board next year. The kids had fun doing a quiz and hopefully one of them will win a prize.

We had some yummy Canadian food for lunch. They served Poutine and Beaver Tails. Of course the poutine wasn't as good as DQ or A&W but it was all right for the day. I had never had a Beaver Tail but it was good too.

Classic M and A

Our girls have always loved pretending that they are animals. This is a picture that I am sure we will still laugh at 30 years from now. Can you guess what they are doing in this picture?

Winston, Winston, Winston!

I noticed that Winston's bandage on his leg was coming loose this morning and that he was pulling on it. In an attempt to avoid another trip to the Vet, I found some gauze and an ace bandage to prevent him pulling at his other bandage. We left for the park and when we returned 30 minutes later he had all of his bandages torn off and thrown around the dining room!

To the Vet we went again. This time I took Winston without Paul. He was a pistol. He barked and pulled on his leash. Finally they took him to the back. When the Vet returned he said that Winston didn't need his bandage anymore and that he had stapled one of his wounds shut. He told me all this while Winston barked at more dogs and pulled on his leash some more. We finally decided to finish our conversation outside. In short, we don't have to return to the Vet for 10 days.

Winston is itching to go for a walk; but, at this point, he can't because his collar rubs on his stitches on the back of his neck. Hopefully soon he will be able to join us for a stroll down the street.

Winston had a rough night. He whined a lot and wanted us to be with him. He is doing a little better this morning.

The Vet ended up having to sedate him while they cleaned up his wounds. He has a bandage on his neck and one on his leg. He has to go back to the vet to have the bandage changed later today.

Paul has filled out all the paperwork and got the paperwork from the people who helped him. He is on his way to drop the information off.

Winston was attacked tonight! Paul had taken Winston for a walk around the block and I was kind of surprised that he wasn't back yet but I didn't think too much about it until Paul came home and told me that Winston had been attacked.

They were walking by a house and two pitbulls came running out of the open front door and attacked Winston. Paul didn't know what to do so he yelled for someone to help or to call the police. He couldn't get the dogs off. Someone stopped and helped Paul get the dogs off. Paul said the neighbor was hitting the dogs with his wife's purse to get them off Winston. Winston just laid on the ground...Paul said "like a dead dog." Paul said one dog has his neck and the other his leg. The one was trying to drag Winston away.

Paul brought Winston home and walked down the street to talk to Animal Control. I went to the neighbors house to ask their advice (they both work at a vet hospital). They said that he didn't look too bad but that he should go to the vet. They said that they may shave around his wounds and clean them up and send home some anitbiotics and some pain meds. Winston was licking his leg a lot. He was limping a little when the neighbors were over looking at him.

Animal Control was getting ready to get the dogs and the owner returned home and was told to go get her dogs. Her reponse after her dogs were in the yard was how was the front door left open.

Paul came home and said that there is a manditory court visit.

Paul took Winston to the Vet and I just got a call. Winston is doing all right. He has bites on his leg and on the back of his neck. They are going to shave around his wounds and clean them up. They may have to sedate him. They will bandage him up and we will have to take him in tomorrow to have the bandage changed.

We are very thankful that Winston wasn't hurt too bad and glad that we weren't on a family walk when this happened. It would have been very traumatic for the kids. Paul says the image of the dogs attacking Winston will stay with him.

Welcome

Welcome to Genuinely Julie!

The purpose of this blog is to share more of our life with our families that live far away.
I am excited to start this new journey and hope you will enjoy following along with us.