baby, it's cold outside

my fingers are stiff and cold and barely working, but i just had to tell you...we're FREEZING here!!! (Sorry to those of you who may be thinking of vacationing/moving here... you know who you are!) Can I just say when the weatherman woke me up this morning and said "It's a frigid -38 degrees Celsius, and with the windchill it feels like -50" I wanted to throw the blankets over my head and settle in for a long winter's nap!! They say it's gonna get warmer, but we'll see about that. Don't get me wrong. I'm a seasoned veteran of cold Canadian winters, but this is a bit ridiculous.
So, to brighten my day I am having a little giveaway. (I've never done one of these, nor entered a blog giveaway, so this should be fun) Whoever comments with the correct answer to my question will get a surprise from me in the mail (it'll be worth it, I promise) In your answer, you must name the movie and who said this quote..
"Welcome to the Himalayas"
Stay warm....
abdo

Ft MacLeod Tri

Better late than never...
The boys competed in a triathlon this past August.
It was FREEZING cold. Last year it was BOILING hot.
But the weather aside, it's always a fun time
Bruce did the individual Sprint race while Dean and Owen competed as team "BIG GUNS" (seriously, they came up with that name on their own)
Here's they are after it was all done
I may have to diversify my training...but then who would take the pictures?!?
Seriously, it's a great family event, so if any of you have "do a tri" as your New Year Resoulution we totally recommend it.

hallowe'en

So, atleast it's not Christmas yet. Here's how we spent Oct. 31

Indiana Jones, me (the blind witch!), and Superman


How OCD are my boys? Check out the organizational skills!

We heart Fall

It's not too often when Dean and Owen are THIS happy to work, but when the work to be done is raking (NOT cleaning their room) they are more than happy to oblige. This was a nice Fall day, literally the only nice day we had. We had an early snow and the leaves hadn't fallen or changed their colour. Welcome to Canada, eh? FYI, that snow did melt, but by then, the leaves were just soggy and disgusting. So much for getting family photos outside this year.

the big cheat

Does changing the background of your blog count as a post?
For all of you missing the Crew, I promise we'll return to blogging all about our fabulous lives very soon. (I hope you noticed that sentence was dripping with sarcasm!)

random shots

Some quick pics of what we've been up to lately...

at the end of a chilly, but dry, Run for the Pumpkin, Owen's triple threat "Sty in his eye, bloody nose, and scab from a bike fall", making strawberry jam, our little Ronin (ok, he's not REALLY ours, but...), Bruce modelling his new cycling shirt and Dean loving one of the sponsors, eating the bounteous harvest that is around (Taber corn was SO good, fresh potatoes and beets,too), putting our best foot forward after the Melissa's roadrace.
We've also been making salsa, swimming, practicing piano, eating salsa, coaching runners, laughing, studying, babysitting, getting massages, working...
life is good.

*to see the collage in larger than life format (if you dare), just double click anywhere on the image.

before and after

The last day of school- June 27, 2009


The first day of school- August 31, 2009

We are slowly getting into our "school schedule." Life is good here. The boys have great teachers and are happy to be back. I had to do a long run on Friday and so I asked if either one wanted to come along. After a long pause Dean replied "I would...but I'd miss my spelling test." I'm not sure if we as parents have cultivated that "school is important" vibe in him or if he thought he was choosing the lesser of 2 evils, but I'll take it. Owen had to miss school this morning. He has a sty in his eye. He was hoping this would give him xray vision.
I think they've watched enough cartoons for the summer.

my "living" room

I don't know about any of you, but I've always had this one dream about my house. To some (like BDO) it may seem a little
silly, but one day I'd like my living room to be clean. Is that too much to ask? I totally get that toys will be out and messes need to be made (and yes, more often than not, they do get cleaned up) but all I'm asking for is a small space where I could sit and chat with a friend or read a book and not have to see this...my living room doubling as a garage!!!

And then I am reminded about a story I once heard. (I will now attempt to paraphrase). A family had a small plot of land just outside the town they lived. His sons were in charge of milking the cows in the summer and the upkeep of the field. Their neighbour farmer came to the dad one day and told him all that was wrong with his farm- the fence wasn't fixed right, the grass a little long, etc. The dad replied
"It's a good thing I'm not raising cows. I'm raising boys"
So Bruce, even though I'd rather that you found a different spot to do your teaching, thank you for raising boys!
We do all kinds of "living" in our room!

just me and my ipod

Saturday morning's 8 miler was a beaut! A little breeze, sunshine and open road. The idea of socializing with the girls is my main motivating factor in rolling out of bed on run days. But today, the other 2 girls wanted a challenge.

Ugggh!

Didn't someone famous once say "Showing up is half the battle"? That is my philosophy, anyway.

I was not feeling so adventuresome and thought I'd stick to road running while they chose to run in the coulees. (I would be so happy if just one person who reads this blog does not know what a coulee is and has to google it. However, I know my following is small, and most of you are from here! I just think it is a great word.)

Luckily,I brought my music because I kind of figured today I would be a loner. Or aloner, as it were.

We've got a wide variety of music on that ipod, but the tempo (is that the correct musical terminology?) of a song by the Killers was working for my speed that day. Whenever I hear that song, I think of this snippet- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ae3tFI8wXE
Who doesn't love Nike commercials?

another month's gone by...

holey moley... it's been a while, but good news...The Stewart's are still alive.
Unlike our American counterparts we are STILL in school until the 26th. So we're still field trippin', sports day attendin', hot lunch plannin', soccer playin'...you all get the drift.
I did a run yesterday here in Lethbridge. Ladiesfest is a 5 mile run open - you guessed it- to only women. You get a rose at the finish line...and chocolate! How could I resist. I suppose I could have kept my registration fee and just bought my own Bernard Callebaut, but then I'd just feel guilty. It was good.
Bruce and Owen each did a triathlon in Vulcan last week. For those Trekkies out there...actually I don't think anyone that reads this blog is a huge fan, but whatever...Vulcan has totally embraced the whole Spock thing. Google Vulcan Alberta and you can check it out. That said, both the guys did well at the tri, even if the weather was not in co-operation. (PS- I hear the new movie is awesome, it's on my list...any movie aficionados out there that want to comment?) Dean and I continue to believe we are the best support crew/cheerleaders EVER!!
We are really getting into summer mode. This past Wednesday night I let the boys stay up until 10pm...to watch WIPEOUT. It's a family fave. Bonding as we laugh at others' misfortunes and pains. Check it out sometime. I guarantee at least one outloud HAHA moment.
Well, it's late and I just wanted to say hi because... it's been a while, so

HI

Why I run

Good Saturday morning, everyone!
I just got back from a morning run. It sure feels good to be out there with my running girls - it's an entire body, mind, and spirit workout.
I appreciate the life lessons we share as we're pounding the pavement. Bru asked what the "topic du jour" was. We talk about anything and everything, but here's a little sample:
technology (specifically, texting. Yes, I am a text virgin)
musings on motherhood (the good, the bad, and the downright hilarious)
aging parents
body image in the media and in our mirrors
FOOD (it's a chicken/egg thing- do we run because we love to eat or do we eat so we can run? We've decided it's a little of both)
our spouses --and 99.3% of the time it's in a positive light ;)
books we're reading
books we want to read (but maybe the movie will have to do)
the best products to get blood/grass/vomit (you get the pic) out of _fill in the blank_.
I really could go on and on.
Now you see why we are long distance runners- we have to be to cover all that!

If you ever get the urge to join us, come on out. The more the merrier.
If not, that's fine, too. Just find something that you love doing and take a little time to do it every day.
Watch this www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k and you'll know what I mean.

Have a SUPER Saturday.

The Road Runners

The morning of the Lethbridge 10-4 roadrace started off kind of on the cool side, but the weather heated up once the gun went off. I ran the 10miler while the boys ran the 4.

We'll spare you the pics of the actual event...the after shots are so much nicer. I ran a 1:50, Dean came 4th in his age category in 48:16 while Owen came 3rd in 37:21. Bruce ran a respectable 25:35, good enough for 2nd in his age category while Grandma showed us all up and did the 10 in 1:27, coming in 1st. Some nice hardware, eh? If it sounds like we're bragging, well... we kind of are, but don't you think we earned it?

It was the 36th year of this race. It has gone through many course changes. Bruce and his sister ran the 10miler when he was 8 years old. Och now has a goal of doing it next year...he'll be 7!!

My boys...so proud of 'em!!!

It's me...again

So you have all learned my little secret.

A blog is just like my real journal.

I wite on a regular basis for a time, and then...I don't know, years go by and my entry looks a little like this

- we lived in Pocatello while Bruce did his M.PT

-had a baby boy ...actually we have two now

-older said children was baptized a few months ago

(you get the drift)

So to those people who have not given up on me, I commend you. You have a lot of patience!!

The Stew Crew is hitting the pavement this weekend a local road race. Stunning details to follow, but don't hold your breath!! J/K

One of our "quality" family activities is now spent huddled around a small screen...watching youtube clips! (Who watches tv anymore?) Anyway here's one of our favorites. This one's for Brecken...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5BxymuiAxQ

You'll be singing it all day!

run, run as fast as you can...

It is official. I have now become a Stewart.
Now, many of you thought that happened when I married Bruce nearly 14 years ago, but no. This morning at 6am I left the confines of dreamland and my nice, warm bed...turned on the computer, and...signed up for a roadrace!!
"Sounds crazy to me, with a capital C" was what I would have said before I was a runner. Now I am just really excited.
Melissa's Road Race is run in Banff and I am going to tie up my laces and be on the start line this September with some of my best friends. I'm a newbie to this race, but it's celebrating it's 30th Anniversary. Bruce will come and cheer me on. Now that he's into multi-sport events he doesn't have time in his training schedule to train for a 22K (13.67 miles for my American friends). I told him if I could do it, anyone could.
Gotta run..

disclaimer for the next post

The next post was a nightmare to create. It took me ...like a dozen times to get the video component to upload! Maybe some of you out there can relate to the madness.
Then, after I crossed all my fingers and gave the computer one of my "Oh...NO YOU DIDN'T" scary mom looks...well, see for yourself. It's the best I could do
Have a great night. Maybe you, too, will be inspired to get your groove on!

so you think you can dance...Canada edition

The other night we had some family time...no work, meetings or activities. I think that is what heaven is like. Anyways, the boys put on some music and that is how the "busta move" session began. Some really worked the floor and some not so much, as you will see. I LOVE this video because whenever I watch it I always get a big smile on my face. I never would have thought I would be the mom of 2 totally different boys; nor did I forsee that my husband would be an original b-boy himself! What a life...life is good!

We're having a FIESTA

In our house, we celebrate Mexican Thursday, our own family tradition. It just seemed that for the longest time each Thursday dinner was some kind of Mexican meal...tacos, fajitas, etc. So now it is one of our favorite meals of the week. Unfortunately, we were mising sombreros..these cowboy hats have to do!
What are some of your family traditions? We'd love to hear about them.

And my personal fave, Brucie doing the dishes!!! What a good guy.

My Ochi

For the LOVE! I have been at this computer longer than I care to say and I CANNOT cut the double pic out of this post. So, the 3 of you who may see this, please cut me some slack. Yesterday at the boys school they held the monthly Recognition Assembly. By the end of the year each child will have been acknowledged for some kind of achievement- personal, academic, sport, service, etc. It's a neat opportunity. So, Owen's teacher called us on Tuesday to say he'd be recognized this month. We are so proud of him.

Here's a clip. Mr. Wilson, the principal, says what his teacher wrote on Owen's certificate ,"Owen is doing some amazing writing these days and he continues to be a tough one to fool with most math questions".
My certificate would read, "Amy has never used her camera to record anything (obviously), but she tries" (not entirely successful, but you all know me- I lack a technology gene!)

I'm signing out ...time to watch The Office.

Okay, last blog post of the night (even thought it's the first that anyone will read- can you change the order of your posts?) This is a terrible picture, I know. The shadows are all over the faces, i should have zoomed in...a photog I am not. But this made the blog because the ties that we got the boys for Christmas finally came...6 weeks late, but who's counting? (Perhaps they had to shear the sheep in Scotland) Needless to say, Dean and Owen were "knighted" into the Stewart clan with their very own Stewart tartan tie. Rather handsome, don't you think?

more food shots

I realize that iIam posting these backwards (as you read this you ,too, will see what I mean).There's not much to do in Lethbridge except have fun with food, I guess. This night ,we made Arctic Twister Treats (a Christmas gift from another Stew Crew)

The boys were so happy to try this out

Add some vanilla ice cream and fresh blackberries...

Voila! Such a yummy treat

later we tried Reese's PB cups. You can't go wrong with either flavour.

more whip cream fun

Gentlemen, choose your weapons

One good shot...

deserves another

dinner party turned frat party

Ever had one of those nights that you just couldn't think of what to make for supper? It had been a long day at work and another -20C kind of day. So the boys suggested hot cocoa and pancakes

Things started off fairly normal...well, normal for us...

And then it turned into a scene from some "G rated, Phi Sigma Epsilon pledge week" movie! They say it's not a party until the whip cream comes out...and who better to educate the boys in the finer points of whip cream etiquette than their father!!

Here's a pic of supper...that's right, that's melted Toblerone! For one night only I was the coolest mom on the planet.