I thought today deserved a post. We are celebrating our 31st Anniversary. I cannot explain how short the time has seemed in so many ways! Let's see what I remember about that day? Well it was hot. We think about 30 above. We had about 14 people at the wedding. We had a supper at a great steak house in Fort McMurray but we don't remember the name of the restaurant:) insert later we think it was called the Pier?
But I do remember the ceremony, walking down the isle, my dad giving me away then expelling a heavy sigh ( which everyone laughs and says sounded like he was just glad to get rid of me) and the great evening after with our closest family and friends. Then 31 years flew by! Of course there are so many memories in between, mostly with our two beautiful daughters, and most especially always our corny love! All the towns and houses we have lived in and all then life we have lived. WOW
Happy Anniversary Don!
Our Travel Blog
- Don and Donna
- 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:)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Summer? Hopefully:)
Well I think summer is here. I am just worried that last weekend, which was 3 full days of fabulous, unheard of May long weekend weather, was summer. That happens sometimes in Alberta, if you haven’t noticed?
Since our last blog May went by far too fast. My work is picking up the pace. As I filled in my monthly activity report wow – not much wonder I didn’t feel time to breathe. I think Don felt somewhat the same. June just plain scares me.
We had a great long weekend camping with Paul and Mary. All of us had family throughout the weekend, and the great weather didn’t hurt either. Don and I were on our own, which is unusual for the May holiday. Most recent years have been all the family with quadding and fun, but this year as happens when your kids are actually adults, they had other things to do! But we were lucky as Lindsay and Jeremy came out for Sunday and spent the night before returning home to Fort McMurray, and Tracy, Cal, Bake, Emerson and Reese came out for the day Sunday. We actually spent quite a bit of time playing on the beach, which was a treat. I keep referring to the weather, but really we are normally in winter coats and fighting off rain and snow the long weekend. This year we fought off sun and bugs – a nice change!
May is a fun month as Blake and Lindsay celebrate birthdays, and Don and I celebrate our anniversary! 31 years for us.
June is crazy – weekend camping with Lindsay and Jeremy, weekend moving Lindsay and Jeremy to their new home (can’t wait to see it), weekend camping with Tracy, Cal and the kids, weekend off (yardwork, fence building?), then into July. 2 weeks at the Saskatchewan cabin, and then boom, July is half over! Don’s mom and dad will celebrate their 60th Anniversary while we are there.
August we have 2 weddings and my mom’s 80th birthday! Can you believe my mom still works almost full time at 7-11?
Also Don and I hope to take Blake and Em on an overnight camping trip. They just love camping!
So that seems to be summer for us. We will see if all goes as planned. If you don’t hear from us at least you will know where we are.
Happy Warm Summer days to all!
Since our last blog May went by far too fast. My work is picking up the pace. As I filled in my monthly activity report wow – not much wonder I didn’t feel time to breathe. I think Don felt somewhat the same. June just plain scares me.
We had a great long weekend camping with Paul and Mary. All of us had family throughout the weekend, and the great weather didn’t hurt either. Don and I were on our own, which is unusual for the May holiday. Most recent years have been all the family with quadding and fun, but this year as happens when your kids are actually adults, they had other things to do! But we were lucky as Lindsay and Jeremy came out for Sunday and spent the night before returning home to Fort McMurray, and Tracy, Cal, Bake, Emerson and Reese came out for the day Sunday. We actually spent quite a bit of time playing on the beach, which was a treat. I keep referring to the weather, but really we are normally in winter coats and fighting off rain and snow the long weekend. This year we fought off sun and bugs – a nice change!
May is a fun month as Blake and Lindsay celebrate birthdays, and Don and I celebrate our anniversary! 31 years for us.
June is crazy – weekend camping with Lindsay and Jeremy, weekend moving Lindsay and Jeremy to their new home (can’t wait to see it), weekend camping with Tracy, Cal and the kids, weekend off (yardwork, fence building?), then into July. 2 weeks at the Saskatchewan cabin, and then boom, July is half over! Don’s mom and dad will celebrate their 60th Anniversary while we are there.
August we have 2 weddings and my mom’s 80th birthday! Can you believe my mom still works almost full time at 7-11?
Also Don and I hope to take Blake and Em on an overnight camping trip. They just love camping!
So that seems to be summer for us. We will see if all goes as planned. If you don’t hear from us at least you will know where we are.
Happy Warm Summer days to all!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
You Have Got To Love Life!
Well hello everyone. We are still here, still moving along and still taking time for adventures once in a while.
A few years ago when Don and I started trying to get out more and farther on our holidays, I bought Don a picture frame that says “We followed our hearts rather than our itinerary”. That is really how we have lived our life, always a bit off the path that others may choose. We purchased our first RV before we even purchased our first home. And there will never be any regrets over that. I hope our girls feel the same way when we have the opportunity to remember all the days and nights spent camping when they were little, and now as we camp when we have the chance, with them as adults with husbands and a family.
Since the mortgage seems to be paid off at about the same time as everyone else (which was supposed to be everyone's BIG dream when we were young), our children received great educations and are established citizens of society, and we are happy, no regrets.
So back to off the path! One of our favourite places to visit has become Laughlin, Nevada. Although we both love a chance to visit, eat, drink and shop in Las Vegas, for longer times, we prefer the paid back atmosphere of Laughlin. As well, basing in Laughlin affords the opportunity to easily visit other places we enjoy, such as Hoover Dam, Kingman, driving Route 66, etc.
What is off the path about that? We drive, not fly. People ask why, confused as to that choice. Often we have been asked why we would want to spend that much time in a vehicle together. My answer is always the same – why would you not want to spend all that time together with your spouse? Driving allows you a chance for casual conversation, catching up on life, and yes even working on the laptop. So often you hear the quote “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” and that is what our holidays are like. We may not know what the walls of a resort in Mexico are like, but we do know the beauty of the hills of Montana, the flowers in the dessert, the lake country in Idaho, the coast line of Washington or Oregon, and on and on.
Although we may not have given flying an chance in some opinions, driving is our choice.
We just returned from a great vacation in the Laughlin area. We spent a Saturday night on Freemont Street in Las Vegas, and took some time to shop at my favourite outlet mall along the way. Sunday we were off to Laughlin, and spent a great week there. We drove to Lake Havasu for a day and soaked up the sun, drove out to the Hoover Dam and saw the completed bridge project, drove to Kingman Arizona for lunch and through the odd but historic community of Oatman, and spent a great three days with Walter and Pat. There was lots of time for lounging and visiting, and catching up with each other before we return to life!
What better way to welcome spring?!
A few years ago when Don and I started trying to get out more and farther on our holidays, I bought Don a picture frame that says “We followed our hearts rather than our itinerary”. That is really how we have lived our life, always a bit off the path that others may choose. We purchased our first RV before we even purchased our first home. And there will never be any regrets over that. I hope our girls feel the same way when we have the opportunity to remember all the days and nights spent camping when they were little, and now as we camp when we have the chance, with them as adults with husbands and a family.
Since the mortgage seems to be paid off at about the same time as everyone else (which was supposed to be everyone's BIG dream when we were young), our children received great educations and are established citizens of society, and we are happy, no regrets.
So back to off the path! One of our favourite places to visit has become Laughlin, Nevada. Although we both love a chance to visit, eat, drink and shop in Las Vegas, for longer times, we prefer the paid back atmosphere of Laughlin. As well, basing in Laughlin affords the opportunity to easily visit other places we enjoy, such as Hoover Dam, Kingman, driving Route 66, etc.
What is off the path about that? We drive, not fly. People ask why, confused as to that choice. Often we have been asked why we would want to spend that much time in a vehicle together. My answer is always the same – why would you not want to spend all that time together with your spouse? Driving allows you a chance for casual conversation, catching up on life, and yes even working on the laptop. So often you hear the quote “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” and that is what our holidays are like. We may not know what the walls of a resort in Mexico are like, but we do know the beauty of the hills of Montana, the flowers in the dessert, the lake country in Idaho, the coast line of Washington or Oregon, and on and on.
Although we may not have given flying an chance in some opinions, driving is our choice.
We just returned from a great vacation in the Laughlin area. We spent a Saturday night on Freemont Street in Las Vegas, and took some time to shop at my favourite outlet mall along the way. Sunday we were off to Laughlin, and spent a great week there. We drove to Lake Havasu for a day and soaked up the sun, drove out to the Hoover Dam and saw the completed bridge project, drove to Kingman Arizona for lunch and through the odd but historic community of Oatman, and spent a great three days with Walter and Pat. There was lots of time for lounging and visiting, and catching up with each other before we return to life!
What better way to welcome spring?!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Spring Drive!
Is that spring drive as in where are we going? OR spring drive - as in what drives you in the spring? LOL
It's BOTH!
First you need to see our precious grandchildren:) New picture at the left!
So yes spring does seem to be here. There was so much snow this year that Don is actually moving it around, trying to dig our way out of the yard. There is so much gravel and sand on the streets now, it will be nice when that is cleaned up. The Town does a great job, but it can't come soon enough for me:)
We are heading down south for a week, stopping one night in Vegas, and spending the rest of the week in our favorite Laughlin! I'll be sure to post from there and let you know how much fun we are having. LOL
I am going to stay connected to work and try to keep building my contact list through the week. We'll see if that turns out!
It's BOTH!
First you need to see our precious grandchildren:) New picture at the left!
So yes spring does seem to be here. There was so much snow this year that Don is actually moving it around, trying to dig our way out of the yard. There is so much gravel and sand on the streets now, it will be nice when that is cleaned up. The Town does a great job, but it can't come soon enough for me:)
We are heading down south for a week, stopping one night in Vegas, and spending the rest of the week in our favorite Laughlin! I'll be sure to post from there and let you know how much fun we are having. LOL
I am going to stay connected to work and try to keep building my contact list through the week. We'll see if that turns out!
Have a great week.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sorry for the Absence
Wow – how can I expect any followers if I don’t keep the blog up to date. My apologies to anyone who actually reads this.
The last time we talked it was right before Christmas. We had a fantastic time with everyone. Christmas with the grandchildren is so much fun. And of course the food is always so good. Blake really enjoyed the season this year. He visited Santa so many times, and actually enjoyed it. Emerson was still very hesitant but she still enjoyed it a lot in her own way. Santa this and Santa that:) Of course Reese was her quiet sweet self. I can only imagine next year when Reese is a year old!
Santa was kind this year. We got an iPad. What a cool toy!
After Christmas Don and I went to Tisdale for a family visit. We had such a great time seeing everyone. I convinced Kathy to host a New Years Eve party, as well as a New Years dinner. Even Ken & Brenda travelled, and it was good to see Don’s family all together.
We had an overnight visit with my mom as well, which was long overdue.
January hit us and we were back to work. Well Don was, I didn’t actually start until January 10. It has been an easy transition for me returning to work, probably because of the job. I am consulting as a Regional Capacity Coordinator on a project called KnowledgeConnector.ca. The goals of the program are to develop sustainable individual and organizational leadership, build community networks, and ensure sustainability of strengthened communities through access to quality learning and development opportunities. When not travelling throughout my communities, which encompass North East Alberta, I am at home doing “paperwork and planning”. So far loving it.
My contract is complete March 31, 2012, at which time regardless of whether Don retires or not, we are planning a 2 – 3 month trip to the East Coast!
As for 2011, we are busy enjoying the grandchildren as often as possible, planning some camping trips with everyone, another northern quad/fishing trip with Lindsay and Jeremy, etc. We are also going to get a membership at the senior campground Warren and Cherie are at, in anticipation of getting a summer lot as soon as Don turns 55. I know it sounds corny, but it is a nice place and you can quad in and out of it. As well there are sites that our family can use for $12 a night, and our rental is only $400 annually.
We are going to make a quick trip to Vegas at Easter time, which we always enjoy.
Winter has been aggressive this year. I think we have the most snow ever since moving to Alberta in 1980!
Have a good rest of the winter, and we will report back after Vegas!
The last time we talked it was right before Christmas. We had a fantastic time with everyone. Christmas with the grandchildren is so much fun. And of course the food is always so good. Blake really enjoyed the season this year. He visited Santa so many times, and actually enjoyed it. Emerson was still very hesitant but she still enjoyed it a lot in her own way. Santa this and Santa that:) Of course Reese was her quiet sweet self. I can only imagine next year when Reese is a year old!
Santa was kind this year. We got an iPad. What a cool toy!
After Christmas Don and I went to Tisdale for a family visit. We had such a great time seeing everyone. I convinced Kathy to host a New Years Eve party, as well as a New Years dinner. Even Ken & Brenda travelled, and it was good to see Don’s family all together.
We had an overnight visit with my mom as well, which was long overdue.
January hit us and we were back to work. Well Don was, I didn’t actually start until January 10. It has been an easy transition for me returning to work, probably because of the job. I am consulting as a Regional Capacity Coordinator on a project called KnowledgeConnector.ca. The goals of the program are to develop sustainable individual and organizational leadership, build community networks, and ensure sustainability of strengthened communities through access to quality learning and development opportunities. When not travelling throughout my communities, which encompass North East Alberta, I am at home doing “paperwork and planning”. So far loving it.
My contract is complete March 31, 2012, at which time regardless of whether Don retires or not, we are planning a 2 – 3 month trip to the East Coast!
As for 2011, we are busy enjoying the grandchildren as often as possible, planning some camping trips with everyone, another northern quad/fishing trip with Lindsay and Jeremy, etc. We are also going to get a membership at the senior campground Warren and Cherie are at, in anticipation of getting a summer lot as soon as Don turns 55. I know it sounds corny, but it is a nice place and you can quad in and out of it. As well there are sites that our family can use for $12 a night, and our rental is only $400 annually.
We are going to make a quick trip to Vegas at Easter time, which we always enjoy.
Winter has been aggressive this year. I think we have the most snow ever since moving to Alberta in 1980!
Have a good rest of the winter, and we will report back after Vegas!
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
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.
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.
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