Long time no post

I don't count the previous post as a post for today since it is a post I found that didn't get published. But it seems like it has been forever since I have found the time to blog.

A lot has been going on around here this last month and I feel like I just am now  getting into the swing of the new year. 

Christian finished his EMR course in December but had to write his provincial certification exam in Edmonton this month. 

So we left all the kids with his Mom and headed to Edmonton together.

Me in my overblown imagination thought that it would be great to get to go somewhere together alone. You know no kids, romantic right..HAHAHA. I am so delusional. He's writing exams! Stressed! Grumpy! The only decisions he wanted to make was ABCorD. I get it I was being selfish, and I just sucked it up and helped him study, decided where to eat, listened to him complain and he just got to deal with being stressed. 

But while he was taking the exams I kind of had fun by myself. I didn't venture anywhere out of the hotel to far. It was just too cold for that (-32), so I spent time at the very small fitness room, on there machines. I read a book (with no kids to interrupt), and worked on the blanket I have had on the go forever. 

AND I SLEPT IN

All in all it turned out to be a good weekend. 

Christian passed

I relaxed

And the kids missed us!

This time of year also marks the 1/2 way point in Madison's Ballet classes, so all the Parents were invited to watch. And for how much she complains about having to go to ballet, she really does enjoy it, and she is good at it too.

She is growing up so fast, it brings tears to my eyes. 

I am sooo biased but she is beautiful inside and out. 

Dallin turned 9 this month too, and thinking that he really didn't need a big party I had him invite a few friends to a movie. 

We took the boys to Boston Pizza for supper and then took them to see Tron.

WOW can a handful of boys eat a lot and still want more.

Movie, pizza, wings, popcorn, pop, chocolates....empty wallet.

I  will be rethinking that type of birthday next time. 

Now to end off a already full month Christian asked me to go hunting with him for his elk.

Now I am all about the outdoors and love being in the mountains, but I was not really prepared for the trek we went on. (And he went easy on me)

We hiked through the hills (2km) in 6-8 inches of snow while it still came down. Not too bad, I can do this I'm thinking. So we sit and wait hoping the elk will pass through. I guess he says they come this way while eating. Me I am not a patient hunter I guess, so I pull out my camera (with a lot of zipping and shuffling which is not good when hunting I guess, Its scares off the wildlife.)

I take a few shots, but the snow is coming down too thick to get anything really good. 

So back goes the camera (More shuffling and zipping)

This is the point where Christian says "Let's go back to the truck I want to check a different spot"

Sounds good to me, I was getting bored. 

(Don't tell him that)

Well after some more hiking and driving and a little lunch we spotted an elk, off the side of the road in Waterton Park (No Hunting just looking here)

So we watched as an elk bedded down, but we saw something behind in the trees, which turned out to be a cream colored Wolf. 

COOL

I've never seen a wolf in the wild. So I pulled out my camera and put on my long lens and tried to take some shots. 

Again the snow was thick and the animals far so this shot isn't very good but you can see the wolf to the left on the left of the leaning tree. (Its the creamy smudge)

Anyway, my aspirations to be a wildlife photographer dashed, but getting to see something new was pretty awesome. 

Well after this we did some more hiking (another 2km) but this time in the trees where the wind cannot blow the snow away. So we Trudged through knee deep snow. Finally I had to tell him to go on and I headed back to the truck. 

I was tired, sore and really had to pee. Needless to say Don't eat yellow snow. hehe

Now but bottom was cold too. 

When Christian got to the truck bit later, we went home.

Him defeated

Me relieved

I think He will be calling his friends for his next Elk hunting trip and save the unimportant deer hunting for me. 

Less snow 

Less pressure(it took 6 years to get his Bull elk tag)

More my style.

All in all I had fun and got to spend some time with my best friend.