Our Travel Blog

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Driving Miss Donna - what does this mean? Whenever I want to go somewhere, if Don is home he will usually drive. He always says he is driving miss Donna! This blog is for our travels, usually with our truck and fifth wheel trailer, but sometimes in our other wheels. When we are not vacationing check in for updates, although less frequent, about our life at home and our wonderful family:)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2010 has just flown by for us! When I was collecting my thoughts on things to tell you about I was focussed on Lindsay’s wedding, etc. and realized that was last year. In fact as I write this letter Lindsay and Jeremy are celebrating their 1st Anniversary!!

So after we settled in last December back from Las Vegas the year in fact did fly by.

We travelled to the south for three weeks in late March/early April and thoroughly enjoyed the warm weather. We had the luxury of parking under palm trees in Laughlin. A wonderful site out your fifth wheel window. While travelling the area we visited with old friends Pat & Walter, as well as Ivan, Don’s old school buddy.

The summer was chock full of camping with the kids around Alberta, including a great week at Ole McDonald’s Farm by Stettler with Tracy Cal and the kids.

We even managed a quad and fishing trip in McMurray with Lindsay and Jeremy (although the repair bills are another story).

In September we headed to the coast for a month, returning through our favourite city, Coeur delaine, Idaho.

I no longer am working with the Town of Stony Plain as of August. I received a package so you could say I was laid off/fired/packaged out. Whatever they call it in the corporate world. I am doing some contract work right now, but mostly enjoying getting our home in order and getting ready for Christmas.

Our kids have all had busy years as well. Lindsay and Jeremy are wearing out their passports, going here and there, but their most exciting trip was their honeymoon to Greece in late August. They are loving life in McMurray and are looking to trade up from their condo to a house.

Tracy and Cal are busy with their kids and life in general. On November 19 they welcomed home their 3rd child, Reese Peyton Anne! Yet another beautiful grandchild for us!! Blake is 3 and has started hockey and preschool, Emerson (21 months) loves swimming lessons and play gym, and Reese just quietly rides along. They have one busy happy home.

We hope everyone has had a year as great as us. Hopefully next year’s letter will announce Don’s retirement plans so we can move to a new stage in life, which will find us home less and south more.


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BEST WISHES!!

Don & Donna

Friday, December 17, 2010

A New Granddaughter:)

How exciting to report we have another grandchild!  Reese Peyton Anne was born on November 19, 2010 at 11:38 p.m.  She was 19” long and weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce.  She has a full head of dark hair just like her siblings and is just beautiful!  I have been so lucky to be able to spend a lot of time with them.  I have gone to Blake’s school with them, Em’s play time, etc.  Welcome Reese to our family!  Blake and Em have been amazing with Reese.  They are so gentle and caring, and Blake is playing a superb big brother role.  He even assists with breakfast for Em now that Cal is back to work.  Visit their family blog for updates.
A highlight of December so far is Lindsay coming for a week`s visit.  She was able to spend a lot of time with Tracy and the kids, as well as fitting in some shopping/visiting with me.  In mid November Jeremy was travelling for work so I went back to Fort McMurray with Lindsay for a few days.  I really wanted to see their house since they had repainted it to new fresh gray tones.  It is stunning!  I liked the gray color so much I painted our home office the same.
It has been so long since I wrote anything.  .Although we have been busy it is mostly day to day activities of a household and family.  I have done nothing this first half of winter except home repairs and cleaning.  It is embarrassing how much there was to do when on a normal day I would say my house was clean.  I have also spent an enormous amount of time cleaning storage rooms and closets.  I cannot believe the garbage men continue to stop at our place, I would groan if I were them.  As well I have painted the office (a beautiful gray shade), painted and repaired walls, and re-caulked the stairs.  Don put new lights in the basement too.  I wanted to get the ceiling tiles and wall panels painted down there but another month maybe.
On the employment side I have not had success to date.  That isn’t as sad as it sounds as I applied for and interviewed for one position I didn’t get.  I am now in the process of a second interview for a different job and will write about it if I am offered and accept it.  I am trying to be cautious about accepting any position before weighing its pros and cons and being sure of what I am doing.  This particular one is a term contract, ending spring of 2012.  Which of course coincides quite nicely with Don’s hopeful departure.
So we are ready for Christmas and plans are all made.  I will touch base soon again with Christmas photos.  Meanwhile here is the new star of the family, Reese.
reese