Pictures

Just another day in Canada

I haven't updated in awhile because there hasn't been much to update. We are all doing well, the kids are adjusting to school and riding the bus and they are all doing fantastic. There are 2 wards here and we have been going to the 1st ward but we still haven't found a house so we aren't sure if this is where we will be. We found a house we really like and it is out on an acreage, but we will have to see. Anyways, the kids have been going to scouts and activity days etc. in the 1st ward and have already made some good friends. They actually do a lot together with both wards, so last week both wards did a service project with the food bank. They were gathering food for them, along with other volunteers from the community. (the food bank was low on food--it seems like it always was back at home too). So Tim took the kids-except Brynley and went to help. It took them about 2 hours but he said they had so much fun. At first Bradley and Ethan were going together from door to door but eventually Ethan got brave enough to do it himself and Tim said he got the most food out of everyone. He's is just such a cutie no one could resist his charm. Also Kinsey and our cousin Jeff were going together and eventually she got brave enough to do it herself too. She also got a lot of food. Altogether they had such a great experience.
Then last Saturday there is an LDS lady who lives close by who's husband passed away years ago and she was out chopping wood for the winter-- we got some trees planted here at Sherry and Rons and then we all packed up and went to help her. It only took us about an hour and we got all her wood cut, split and stacked. She had been out doing that since 9 that morning and when we got there is was about 4 in the afternoon.
We have been so blessed to have the opportunity to serve. I'm also so glad that the kids have been right in there with us helping and feeling the joy of serving others.
Tyler is on the 7-8 grade football team. They have had 3 games and they have won all three. The team is quite good and they have actually won by about 40 points each game. Tyler is really enjoying it and is making some good friends. The head coach is LDS and there are about 6 other kids who are on the team that are too. Tyler also thinks it's cool that there are 3 girls who play on his team as well. Tim enjoys it too because he has been helping coach. He really enjoys that.
I realize I haven't put any pictures up but I will get some up this week.
Bye By(Tyler is kicking me off the computer)

We Are Here!!

It is Sunday, September 7. We got to Grande Prairie last Sunday about 2 in the morning. It took Tim until about 1:00pm to get the cars through the border. When he got to the Canadian border they said that the letter didn't say exactly that we could import it into Canada and they were not going to let him through--again. But he pleaded and they talked to the supervisor and he was able to get through. Yet another sign that we are suppose to be here. So we got here and we are just trying to get all the little things done.-- Change car insurance, health insurance, drivers licenses, etc. The kids started school in the county school-Harry Balfour. It is a nice school and they all seem to like it. They also started to ride the bus which is a new experience for them. Ethan was a little worried about finding his bus at the end of school and came home with an upset tummy. I will meet him on Monday at school to help him find his bus. We are still looking for a house. Everything is only 3 bedroom. When we tell people we have 5 kids they all are amazed and say, ya you're going to have a hard time finding a house. Then when we find one that has more bedrooms, by the time we call it, it has already been rented. It's only been a week and we know the Lord will help us find where we are suppose to be.
We are really loving it here. The weather has been nice. It gets cold in the morning , about 40 degrees but warms up to about 60 degrees during the day.
That's about all the news right now. We will continue to post as things start happening. We really are enjoying being around The Moline side of the family and getting to know them better. We miss The Francis side of the family and hope you will all be willing to keep in touch.
The numbers we can be reached at here are: 780-532-5938 Sherry's house
and 780-876-3965 Tim's cell.
We love you and miss you all.

Carrie

Moving to CANADA

We began our journey to Canada on Wednesday August 26, 2008. We started at 4:00am and it was a great but long drive. It normally takes us about 11 hours to get to Taber, but it took us until 9:30pm to get there this time. We had to stop in Pocatello and take a power nap because Tim and I were both so tired. Then it got windy around Butte and we had to slow way down so the trailer wouldn't sway. When we finally got to the border we had a 30 min. wait to get to the window. Then we had to go inside and get all our paper work done to import all our stuff. We had a fantastic list of all our stuff and handed it to the worker-- all good he said, except it had to be on their paper!! Now anyone who saw our list will understand our stress when they said we had to transfer it all to other sheets of paper. (our list was about 10 pages long) So we went about transfering it all-- adding an estimate of what EVERY single box was worth. It only took us about 3 hours to get it all done and then he said there was more paper work for our vehicles. Unfortunately we had no paper work with us for the cars and so they said we wouldn't be able to take the cars any further. WHAT!!! The worker there--his name was Dion, was so nice he said well lets ask the supervisor-- he just happened to be there. So he came over --now remember we had already been there for 3 hours- by now the kids were running round, Brynley screaming and crying and everyone was starving-- so he said well... and I just begged him, PLEASE just let us go through to Taber and then we would get the paperwork and bring it back when we got it. He decided that we needed a break and said that we could. We had to re-do a few papers so that me and the kids wouldn't have to come back- Tim and his dad would bring the two cars back later. So we finished up the paperwork and we were off. We got to Taber, had some dinner and fell into bed.
We woke up the next morning and started calling the bank, the DMV and the border again. We actually have to export the vehicles from the USA and then import them into Canada. We needed a bunch of paperwork from the bank and we got that faxed right away. Then we had to have them send us the originals so we could have them at the border. Then we had mom and dad go to the DMV in Provo and get us stuff there. They got it faxed to us but Fed-Ex said that there was no way it wouldn't be here until Tuesday because of Memorial day on Monday. So we were going to be here until Tuesday of next week(Sept. 2). I was so disappointed because we were trying so hard to get to Grande Prairie before school started which is on Sept. 2. I was really having a hard time. But as I have been sitting doing my blog the doorbell just rang and it was Fed-Ex. Not only did it have the papers from the bank(we were expecting those) but it had the paperwork that mom and dad sent too. So we have all the originals that we need to get the cars through. We still have to wait until Sunday at 11:00am before the border is ready for us. It is truely a miracle that BOTH packages got here the next day. Heavenly Father has been helping us so much. It is amazing-- when the wind was blowing the trailer all over we said a prayer and even though it was still windy the trailer didn't fishtail all over. When Tim and I were so tired, we took a 20 min. nap and we were not tired the rest of the trip. At the border, it took a long time, but the workers were very kind and helpful. When we told the US Border that the Canadian border had let us go to Taber with our vehicles, they said, "wow, they let you take the cars through?? You must have had someone really nice". Then we just got the packages from Fed-ex on Friday that they said would never get here before Tuesday--if that. We are so blessed and we know that we are very loved by our Heavenly Father and He is watching over us every step of the way. We will post again when we get to Grande Prairie.
Carrie

Cousin Camp

Of course I forgot to take pictures of Ethan's cousin camp but here are a few highlights. We had Justin, Isaac, Sammie, JD and Zhaun-Paul come. They skateboarded, rode bikes, played Skip-Bo, played X-Box and watched National Treasure 2 while eating carmel popcorn. They had lots of fun just being together. The weather didn't cooperate too much. But we will do this again!

Thanks Mark for bringing your boys for the day.

Now these are the pictures for Kinsey's cousin camp. This is our hairdo day. Most of us enjoyed getting our hair done. And aren't they CUTE??

These next pic's are of our dancing. The girls turned on the piano music and danced and danced. These are only a few of the many pictures we have of the most fabulous dancers around.

This was are fun stampin' day. Auntie Jenny brought all of her stamp stuff and we made cards and invitations and all sorts of fun stuff. This was a big hit!! Thanks Jen!!

Overall we had so much fun. Thanks for everyone making the effort to come. Hope you'll come again next time.

It's Summertime!!!!!

School is out and the kids are home for the summer. Yah!! I enjoy having my kids home. The only sad part is that the day school was over, Tyler and Bradley left for Canada. They will be gone until the second week in July. It's only been a few days and we miss them terribly already. But they made it to Grande Prairie safe and sound. It sounds like they are already having a blast. They will have so much fun.
It is fun to have the 3 youngest home and enjoy them by themselves. Brynley took her first little step today. It was only one and very small but you know what that leads to..... WALKING!!
She has a little bit of Holly in her because she has found her screaming voice and that is all she does now-- especially at church.
Kinsey has been a bit sick today. We hope she feels better soon.
Ethan is having his cousin get together this week and he is looking forward to that.

Hope everyone is having a great summer vacation too.
Carrie

Update

Hi everyone! Just wanted to give a quick update on everyone.
Tyler got to go scuba diving with the young men on Tues. He had fun, but got a bit light headed from the water pressure.
Bradley was skateboarding and fell pretty hard on his elbow. Of course it was the one that didn't have an elbow pad on. From all indications it looked broken- but after a little TLC and some rest it just looks like he hurt it pretty bad. Hopefully a trip to the Chiropractor will help.
Kinsey is making some really fun friends at school. She loves to play and play and play. She is also so cute with Brynley. They play so well together.
Ethan is getting taller and taller. I think he will be as tall as Kinsey soon. He is learning how to read and is actually pretty good at it. He loves to skateboard too and just learned how to sketch??
Brynley is doing great. She just learned how to stand all by herself without holding on to anything. She thinks she is so grown up when she does it too. She also loves to drink out of a cup. She laughs and giggles every time she does.
As for Tim and I, we are doing well. I am loving my calling as Primary Chorister. I have so much fun and learn a lot. Tim has been busy getting things ready to start building in Holiday City and for his niece in Lehi.
We are happy and so excited to have spring/summer actually come and stay!!