Part of good geneology work is getting out into the field. That way you can really feel the chill on your spine in the graveyard, at night, in the dark, and the cold. The Young Women were taught the basics on capturing and recording important facts that can be used in geneology to create records.
We love this head stone. It is a testament to the man that worked in this environment for his professional career to support his family. This is a hard life, and the work is equally as hard. And the boy? No relation to the stiff. Locky is the YW mascot.

I don't know about you, but I can see two Samuels here, one present and one past, or two Lockys, one present and one future. These are great moments to capture and remember, as one generation melts into the next one. We teach our children to follow the example of the Savior and I can see that happening as Samuel shows Locky, even for brief moments, that work is essential, and fulfilling.

Another young girl in our Ward, who, with her family, serve in ways possible that are commensurate with abilities. This girl, and her brothers and parents, helped clean the church in a little less than one hour. They loved doing what they were able to do.
Of course, at the end of the day, there is always a little time to play. And show off ones basketball skills. Yes, that is Samuel almost dunking the ball. In about 2 or 3 years Alan will be the runt of the litter.

This is how we all felt at the end of the day, the church ready for the Sabbath, and the rest of the day free for the family to do other things. Life is great, and we all could learn a bit from the simple joys and moments provided to us and for us by a loving Heavenly Father. These are the precious moments that make life tolerable when the craziness of the other days tries to choke off the love we all desire.

Alan working at the "Lazy S" ranch. That is going to be the name of the retirement spread. We have had quite a few moments of fun with that one this week. "Ya'll come see us at the Lazy S, and kick back, relax and unwind for a few days!" We even have indoor plumbing. Actually, we know a family here in town that did not have indoor plumbing until just 3 or 4 years ago. That means that when the cold wind blows, they got a real dose of WOW with the morning constitutional. They had to keep the important papers in the house so they would not freeze.

This is a picture of Sister Tanner (L, 1C) and Sister Hudson (R, Pres.). They are part of the Stake Young Women's Presidency. They came up from Edmonton for a visit with the 2 Wards here in town. They brought great messages and inspiration with them. We are glad to receive counsel from our leaders. We also visited with them last week at youth conference.
Life is good, and we are glad to be here, in this part of the Kingdom of the Lord, helping build up the church and share the gospel with others of the children of God. While we do miss Concord, this is our home, and this is where we will bloom, right here, where we are planted.

Happy Thanksgiving from Alberta

So, in case you are wondering, Thanksgiving Day in Canada is celebrated on the same day as Columbus Day in the States. Just as the weekend started, Jacob received a gift from Morgan's family. Can you guess what it was? He was surprised and very pleased.
Thanksgiving Day dawned with us on a family farm of the Bullock family. The family has farmed this area for almost 100 years. Lochland, the youngest Bullock, joined the guys on a Quad expedition into the fields and brush around the farm house. It was the first time Joseph and Samuel had been on quads, and We also managed to get Michelle on one for a ride too. (I think we almost have her hooked.)
Locky ready to take his father for a spin. Of course mom was promised that they would be careful and not speed around too fast, and they were good as gold for about 100 yards.
While the boys were out playing, the women folk went for a stroll through the woods to see the original homestead (see below). Barb shows off a section of fence she built with her own hands, and without meddling from her husband or father. The family has a small herd of cattle, currently 20 strong, chickens, turkeys, and a few other semi-domesticated cats and dogs.
Here is the original log cabin. (double click for a closer look) It was remodeled to enclose the kitchen after several years of having to cook outside in the winter time, which, as you might imagine, is not the best weather in the world. Beside the old cabin are two cars, a '57 Pontiac, and a '68 LTD. Near by is a classic looking barn adorned with antlers of several moose, elk, and deer.

Joseph takes a break from riding to pose for Michelle. Both he and Samuel had a great time, and managed to return the machines in tact, and saving his parents several thousand dollars.
Joseph and Katy racing back to the house for Thanksgiving Dinner.
A peek into the pantry. Everything we had for the holiday dinner was home grown, except for one head of lettuce for the salad. Lettuce just does not can well. But everything else was from the farm, and delicious. Home grown chickens, beets, potatoes, pickles, stuffing, spices, pumpkin pie, crab apple pie,... I am getting hungry again just remembering the details and talking about it.
These are wild Saskatoons, similar to blue berries. I wish I could tell you how great these are, but you will just have to visit to try them for yourself.
After the meal, we played a game to determine who got to help with the dishes. This was a great way to control the stampede to the sink. You start with a pad of paper, and one person writes down a number, then all the others take turns guessing number until some one guesses the number, and the lucky winner gets to help dry dishes. Then on to round two, where the guessing continues to determine a new number. After there are 3 people drying dishes (read that as trying to keep ahead of the dish washer), the game continues with everyone else trying to guess new numbers to replace the original dryers. Samuel and Joseph were the lucky ones to have guessed the numbers first.

After the kitchen is clean and the table is cleared, we all got to play a couple of hands of the Canadian National Card Game, Rook. You have not lived until you have been snookered into a game with a bunch of card sharks. Cheating is absolutely not tolerated, but is expected. I was reminded of playing Liars Dice with Phil and Diane after meals with them.

Birthday for Buster (8 Oct)

How about a quick game of lemon-baguette ball. The game is quick because you only have one pitch and the game is over, unless you have more than one rotten lemon. Joseph won because it was his birthday, and he hit the lemon without breaking the stale baguette. Of course you do have to pick up the left overs and add them to the compost.
We tried to sell Joseph on the idea of an ice cream cake from DQ, or a fancy store bought one from a local bakery. No, he wanted the lemon cake from the new Cooks Illustrated. Amy made the cake from scratch, and Alan made the frosting. We recommend the cake. It is very very good. Buster made a good choice.
And for dinner? Well, since Amy brought some (180) corn tortillas and some enchilada sauce, we were pretty sure what was on the menu. Home made chicken enchiladas, pinto beans (which never last long enough to refry in this house), pico, and guacamole. Que Rico!
Here is the cake nearing completion. The icing is from a great recipe from the same Cooks Illustrated. It is just this side of fabulous, and quite easy to make. The glossy finish is really quite stunning too. And the peaks stand up forever.
Aaron, Samuel, and Joseph waiting for the cake after dinner.

This is the Beaulne family (pronounced Bone). Their oldest daughter shares a birthday with Joseph, so we invited them over for dinner and cake. Their youngest daughter, shown, likes nail polish on her nails, and on her fingers, and on her arms, etc.
See my new pretty hat? Bet you wish you had one just like it!
Peek-a Boo.
Stretching the truth. We measure the children to track progress, and see who is tallest. Joseph is trying to be taller than Jacob, which he will be in about 4 months. But for now all he can do is hope and dream. Samuel is catching up on the other boys. We added Amy to the chart too, but she really has no chance to catch up.
So, at the end of the day, and after trying to pick each other up, a group hug was in order.

Happy Birthday Joseph!

Look Who Sneaked-In When No One Was Looking

Yes sir-ee Bob! That is Amy D chilling on the sofa in Fort Mac. Alan and Amy cooked up a plan to get her up here for a visit without telling anyone for almost 3 months. The total surprise was lost due to flight delays, but everyone here was very glad to see Amy for a few days.
A local Simpson tradition, to read books that other people are still reading. Here Jacob and Amy are in the middle of the Twilight series. It is a multi-volume story about a girl named Bella, a vampire named Edward, and a werewolf named Jake. Check it out!
Samuel and Amy start some chili-con-queso as an appetizer for a birthday dinner for Buster.
Chatting at mutual. Last week all the youth had a combined activity to learn to lead music. It was lots of fun for everyone, thanks to Sister Horne.
How about a little hockey game. Here we are after mutual at the Thickwood Arena to see the Fort McMurray Oil Barons play the Lloydminster Bobcats. The MOB won that night 2-1, thanks in large part to the cheering of the Simpson clan.

We enjoyed Amy's visit very much, and she enjoyed being here. Now we have to find a way to bring Ashley and her family for a visit. Perhaps we will wait until next spring or summer. Since Amy went back home, the temperature has plummeted more than 25 degrees C (50 degrees F). There were snow flurries yesterday out on one of the oil sands sites that Alan is working on.

Hockey Night in Canada

To almost quote Cat Stevens, "Another Friday night and I ain't got no money..."

Actually we started a new skating class this week, all 4 of us. The Arena where we skate is still undergoing a major renovation, and the project is behind schedule, and over budget. (It is not our company) With a little bit of luck the curling ice will be open this year. Many many people in town are hoping the same thing. As for us, we are happy the hockey rinks are open.

The Long and Winding Road. Ok, so it really is just a series of sidewalks the get around the construction zone and to the arena. We do get to see a portion of the golf course on the way in, and now, at the end of the season, there are many many die-hards still playing late into the night.
You put your right foot in, you put your right foot in, and you shake it all around,you do the hockey poke check and you shake up your opponent, That's what it's all about.

The 3 Amigos.
Go Speed Racer.
Friday Night Fever. (or the Canuck Macarena)
Jacob and I are trying to coordinate our hockey stop skills with Michelle's photo skills. This is take 143. She has much patience to work with us, who could not seem to get it right without crashing into each other, or the boards, or other skaters.
The Fort McMurray Waltz. Our instructor, Chris, was a competitive figure skater, and now coaches all levels of skaters, including all the youth leagues. In our class, the adult skating class, there are many new skaters, lots of learners, and a couple of advanced skaters, like Jacob and another young man from Newfoundland.
Whoa Nellie. or How to Stop on a Dime and Look Cool Doing So.

We all had a great time. Joseph learned how to do a hockey stop, and with more practice, like the rest of too, he will continue to get better. Jacob is looking forward to returning to BYUI in January and playing intramural hockey again. We are all looking forward to Hockey Night in Canada, and going to the local games of the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. They are the local Junior A team, and are known around Alberta as the MOB. There is no way to tell whick is worse, losing a hockey game, or losing a fight. And the MOB id reluctant to do either.

In the mean time, we continue to enjoy the time together and the experiences that come our way daily.

Hugs and Kisses to all. See you soon.

Joseph Runs Away (or how to chase other people in the woods)

(kinda sung to the tune of the Brady Bunch Theme Song)
Here's the story, of a boy named Joseph,
Who went running with a bunch of friends from school,
All of them had shirts of Blue, and some headphones,
for their tunes so cool.

They went running, Saturday morning,
in the woods where the bears and moose go poo,
Up and down and round about, crossing streams,
muddy legs and shoes.

In the end, they all finished,
and the medals were given out too,
some were first, some were third,
it was so dang cool.
the 2008 Westwood High School Cross-Country Team
And they're off! It is a great start, a clean start.
Heeeeeeeeere's Buster! At the end of the 3.9 kilometer run in the Birchwood Trails.
My hair needs a drink.
In the Junior Division, Third Place goes to Joseph Simpson.
After the event, we went to the local Tim Horton's. Timmy's, as it is known across Canada, is always busy. This is the drive through line at 10:50 am. The line looks just like this at 5 am, at 4 pm. at 9 pm, etc. The line never goes down. The product is really good. The donuts are the best ones in town. The hot chocolate is very rich, and all the boys love the treat.

Around the World in 8 Days.

Day 1: Fort McMurray, Alberta

Our neighbors children, James and Dakota, brought over some of the flowers they grew in their garden this year. James also really loves it when we get out our motorcycles.

Day 2: Fort McMurray at about 8 p.m. In about 2 months, this will be Fort Mac at about 4 p.m.

speaking of which...

Day 3: Timberlea School, Canada
Samuel on the way to school in the morning. He really loves his teachers and classes. This year, in Grade 8, his class is at the top of the food chain. In primary school, classes from K to 8 are all in one building, but the older students are sequestered in one wing of the building, with very limited access to the library, gymnasium, or other common areas. Next year he will start secondary school, and he is looking forward to not being confined to only one wing in the building.
Day 4: Nuremberg, Germany

Yvette and Lane visit the Franco family in Germany. Here Lini is leading the charge to a shopping area in Nuremberg.

Amy was also visiting the Francos. We love this shot of her in a German bakery. We all remembered our trip to Europe a couple of years ago, and all the boys expressed interest in returning for another visit. I just think they are interested in having such a choice in fresh hot baked goods.
Amy, Carlos, Annette, Angelina and Yvette in the town square in Nuremberg. The chamacos look like adoring fans of three superstar models, or actresses. See the Saint on the corner of the building? There are saints all over the city that watch over the town and the people.

Day 5: Bavaria

Carlos on a "Play Street" in the neighborhood. The red brick pavement indicates that children are playing in the vicinity, and the driver should be extra vigilant. Other streets are primarily for vehicle traffic, and the children all know not to play in the street. We could use something like this here. Our neighborhood is still in the middle of being developed, and so the traffic from the construction crews speeding to the next job, or home to moonlight makes the streets kind of dangerous from 5 am to about 10 pm.

Day 6: Bavaria

Doesn't this look yummy?

Day 7: Just outside of Munich

This is Anette's dinner table. The food is all German. The table runner is from Guatemala. the serving dishes are mostly Polish hand painted pottery. What a beautiful meal!

Day 8:

Rest up for the next round of things to do before winter sets in.