Canada

 For Spring break this year Jon and I headed to Canmore Canada for a week.  Last Saturday after we arrived we headed to Banff National park to look around the town.  Most of Canada was frozen still so we walked on all the rivers lakes and ponds.  This ice chunk was pretty. 

 We walked around Banff Springs Farimont Castle.  It was beautiful inside.

Then we headed to the grocery store to get food to help with the cost of the trip.  Yea there food was expensive.  $5 for a gallon of milk.  lol  Then there was this oatmeal for $12 a small bag.  "Holy Crap' oatmeal must be good but we did not try it. 

 Our second day we hiked Johnson Canyon just west of Banff.  It was a icy hike but beautiful.  The water falls were iced over and people were ice climbing there.

 For Jon's Birthday we went skiing.  Before we went I said to Jon dont hurt your knee,  lol he found a run double black diamond called Wounded knee.  lol he did great and no knee injuries. 

This is across the river looking on the same castle in Banff

 Then Jon and I hiked into Grotto Canyon, trying to take a picture while walking on ice was not easy. 

 In the middle of Canmore was this head just sitting there.  No clue why but we took some fun pictures with it.

Then we went dog sledding.  Pricey to do but worth doing it once in your life. 

We choose to do the four hour ride with a lunch.  The dogs are amazing

and you even got to drive/steer the sled.  We had a blast.

 Our last day there we hiked a mountain that was a icy trip up.  On the way down we decided to sliding on our butts to make it easier. 

 O yea we came across a moose.  He gave us a free car wash. The moose like licking the cars due to the salt on them.  This moose was there for 20 minutes.  A little scary but cool to see.

 Here is a picture of Jon on top of the mountain.  What a beautiful view, but windy and cold. 

 

We had a wonderful trip.  Would love to go back when it is warmer to hike more.

Early Celebration

 We celebrated Jon's birthday early due to Olivia leaving for Spring break with her mom today.

Jon got his favorite Oreo cookies and milk.

 Jon is going on a 4 day mountain bike trip in April with some guys.

Olivia picked out bike tires, bike pump holder, and a bike phone hold.

 Happy Early Birthday

Olivias new project

 Last summer Olivia picked out a book about crotching.  She learned the basic chain and then got stuck from there.  She did not touch it until this last November.  Next thing I know she is making a blanket.  Well she changed her mind and made a scarf for her teacher.  Then she came home with these slippers.  Yeap she taught her self how to make them from looking at Nana's.  What a smart little girl.

California Visitors

 The Dillon's came out for a day visit here in Colorado Springs.  Jon was at Navy so Olivia and I gave them the tour of the city.  Garden of the Gods we walked around.  Visited during a wonderful lunch at a local sandwich shop.  

 We also headed to the Olympic training center for a look around.  

We had a wonderful day.

Thanks Dillon's for the visit.

New project

I guess Olivia has had this dream that she always wanted a purple lion/tiger with yellow wings.
Olivia mentions it is a good dream she has when she is worries a lot that it brings comfort to her.

I told my friend in china about this, and while chatting, she found a cool pattern.  I am not the greatest sewer so I asked some people to help.  I found local help that would help me sew this lion together.
This was our shopping trip to get the fabric and stuffing.  I will keep you posted on how this turns out.
O yea this is Olivia's 10th Birthday present.  Don't day anything things please.

Pet store

 Thursday, Jon gathered the mice and transported them to the mall.  Olivia and I met him there after school.

Olivia shed a tear or two when they were in there new home.  I think she just wanted them to stay a little longer and she wished she could have played with them.  I wish she could have hold them too, but many there were jumpy.  11 baby mice are now at the pet store.

Escape

 So the 11 of the small creatures have figured out how to get out!  Not good.  So far the foil has worked.

 They grow so fast, they are ready to leave our home and join there new one tomorrow.
They are all in a small opening into the wheel.  There mother (snowball) is not a fan.  I think she is ready for them to leave too.  LOL

For the record, 4 mice have escaped, and four have been found!  I hope all 11 are there.

Mystery of the pups

 Snowball and the pups got a clean cage today.  Man they stunk!  I counted 11 pups.
Any guesses on how they came along?   While we were in the process of moving, snowball went to a friends house for less stress on me! (yea that back fired).  January 16th I got the mouse back and Olivia was thrilled.  January 30th we have pups.  Mice carry there pups for 20-25 days.  Any guesses yet?

 My first guess was that was not snowball.  Snowball must have died and been replaced, no worries that would explain babies.  Nope!  Then I was stumped.  Olivia thinks it was a miracle, lol.  Nope!
Our best guess, the house must have had a  boy mouse visitor that was horny and got snowball pregnant.  Yea best guess so far. 

(this is 7 of the 11 pups)

 

Talked with the pet store today.  Babies are safe and can be given to the pet store at four weeks to be sold as food or for pets.  Great news.  Then the lady nicely said that is what we highly recommend glass tanks for mice.  LOL  did not know that.  This must have happened more then once!

1=12

Any one want a pet?

Breckinridge Ice Festival

 Olivia enjoyed the faces from the 7 deadly sins sculpture.

 Olivia enjoyed climbing trees

 Then we headed tubing for an hour.  5 lanes to choose from and the staff would spin you fast or push you fast down if you wanted it.  Families top choice was fast spinning.

1 became 8

Olivia was really concern about her mouse all day today.  She said that she made weird noises all night like a hissing and growling noise.  Olivia checked on her at 7pm tonight and found that.

Buffalo Eye Dissection

 Friday at school, Olivia got to Dissect a Buffalo eye.

She thought the idea of it was cool, but when she saw it, she was not so pleased.

 Jon helped out with her class.  Jon loved it since he has never done anything like this.

 Olivia got some courage to hold the eye after everything was pulled apart.

Jon still grinning from ear to ear.

Wondering where I am?

Yea I hid behind a camera, I don't like anything to do with eyes.

lol



China Gift

Mandy from China sent us these shirts for Christmas.

Jon loves showing them off in public.

Thanks Mandy

We all love them and they fit well.

New house

 Our closet is the best part of our room.... well not really the whole house

 Jon and I get our own bathroom. Double sinks too.

 our over size furniture fits well in our new bedrooms

Office/sewing room, well we need a desk

 Entry way and stairs

 Guest bedroom, already for guest to come.

 Olivia's room, she is thrilled for a closet and...

Olivia's own bathroom

 Kitchen

 Dinning room

Living room

Still need to finish unpacking and decorating.

One more Day

We move in tomorrow at 1pm.