So today was a bit of a bummer, my dad and I spoke and he and I have decided it would be best for his health if he stayed home for Christmas, as he is quite ill at the moment. My dad is undergoing a special treatment for a liver disease, and he is experiencing significant side effects. It would be very difficult for him to endure the 8 hour car trip from Outlook Sask. and also to stay in a house with loud-busy kids! He needs to rest frequently, and sick to his stomach and quite confused often - Not to mention the handful of medications he needs to take each day too. This will be our first Christmas EVER where we have not run the roads, and and have constantly been in the good company of family and friends. It will be a little strange, quiet, and perhaps a little lonely without grandparents and cousins around for the kids, but now is the time better than any to create new traditions, and memories! Need to put on my "fun" thinking cap and sort through this! Shouldn't be hard - right?

Okay, so we have had one heck of a week last week! Extremely cold weather again!! Cars that don't want to start (would help if we plugged them in to keep block heater warm in -40ish weather)! Umm, let's see,,,children climbing onto counter-tops eating food out of containers in cupboards, plants being tossed out of pots, and soil rubbed into couch cushions, kindergarten Christmas Parties at the Banff Springs Hotel, CIBC Staff Party (although I no longer work there, they still invite me) at the Canadian Maple Leaf - indulged in the chocolate souffle too much, went home feeling like a stuffed bird! The kids have so far missed catching the flu that is spreading through town, although Travis frequently yelps that his "hiccup" hurts and he needs medicine! (His hiccup apparently is his forehead) We are all looking forward to the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Clause ( my dad, and "naa" -Judith doesn't want to be called grandma, so the kids call her "naa" cause they think it sounds cool)! Usually this arrival requires multiple garbage bags to unload gifts, and then a lot of recycling to follow after opening. I am one step ahead of my dad this year, I got a pack of 36 AA batteries, and have sharpened my wire cutters to get into the new toys faster and get them powered-up for the day of non-stop toy craziness!! Bring on Santa!!! Will up load photos when this blog site wants to cooperate, it is fun blogging but tends to be a little frustrating when I am unable to post photos to share:(

Home, Home on the Range....

So here we are on another snowy, cold day in Banff. Today, there are 6 children hanging' in the Ball Household, and it looks like it will be another "inside day", -25 without the wind chill. Today, I can't help but to feel a little reflective on my time living here. Both my kids were born in this beautiful town, and our first home was purchased here as well. We have such wonderful friends, and great jobs here, that it is such a heavy feeling that we are leaving it behind. Ottawa has a lot to offer indeed, it is just the thought of having to start all over again, and having to create a sense of community in a larger city setting. We do look forward to seeing our friends and family that will only be a car drive away fro visits - rather than a day of travel between cars to airplanes to cars again. We are excited about having a larger space for our family to live in, and the very thought of having a garage, sends us over the moon with joy. (It-s the small things that matter sometimes) Steve will get new work experience, with a variety of opportunities in his field in Ottawa, and I will finally be able to pursue my dream to obtain my degree in nursing. My kids will have more options for extra curricular activities that a larger city offers, and the convenience of scheduling. It's just we have formed amazing friendships - gained family, during our years here! Some have moved on (for similar reasons as we will be), and many remain. Trying to look on the bright side, we will be able to spend our holidays here, rather than flying to have holidays in Oshawa, Ontario! That will be a nice change!

Steve's family just left from having a pre-Christmas Celebrartion!! My kids are so spoiled!! I guess that is one of the advantages of living far away, they get more than one Christams!!

Our first attempt at blogging!

Hi Everyone!

This is our first official blog ever! We hope you enjoy catching-up on some of "the good, the bad, and the ugly" in our day-to-day life! Currently, we are living in Banff, Alberta, with an impending move to Ottawa, Ontario in the summer of 2009. Both Kennedy and Travis have just finished celebrating their birthdays, Kennedy is now 5, and Travis is now 3. --And more importantly we have survived their parties! Steve is still busy working his full-time day job, and his evening part-time job, while I work full-time at home running a dayhome, and attending school during the evening, working towards my Nursing Degree. There is never a dull moment in this home!