New to Blogging but willing to try

Just wanting to find a way to let family and friends in on what's happening in our world...so welcome to the world of blogging!

We'll start (what's this "we"...isn't it always mom?!) with some catchup from the last few months and lead up to today. Don't worry; Reader's Digest version.

Both boys are busy with piano lessons, swimming lessons and Hapkido (martial arts). Joel insisted on adding soccer to his already busy schedule, but it is his true love! Oh, and don't forget about scouts and cubs, but being a church activity...does that really count?! Somewhere in all of that, they have time for school and are both doing really well. They actually love school and have some excellent teachers this year. Shane is at the Calgary Science School-grade 6, and as the name implies...heavy into math and science. He has already done one 2-night camp out and numerous trips to the Weaselhead (a reserved land area near the reservoir). Friends are very important this year, but he's made some good ones! Joel is still at FFCA (Foundations for the Future Charter School) - grade 3, and seems to think his favourite subject is recess. But to him it really means soccer! His writing is great, his spelling is great, his math is great, etc., etc., etc.! He has a great sense of humour and that comes through in his stories. Mostly we are happy they are happy and doing so well at school.

The boys are the best of friends. Some of their favourite activities are street hockey with the neighbourhood gang, or to just play in their imaginary world (complete with maps, dressup,family and adventures). Earlier this year they made the decision to room together. Who can argue with brothers also being friends!?AND...only one door to close to hide the mess!




Carol is busy this year. She took on extra teaching this year at SAIT (technical college here in Calgary), and has loved it. The new job was finding practicum positions for the mapping students, organizing the companies and organizing the students. A great contract in more ways than one...money, interest, contacts and talking. What's not to love? She is still teaching MicroStation, but has switched from night classes to more daytime classes (see boy's activities above!). She also took on part-time work with a rebar company...just drafting, but it can be done from home or at the office, whenever she feels like it. Jealousy will get you nowhere!! Her health is great...never better. For those not aware...she had breast cancer and a mastectomy on the left side...3 years clear and going for more! She loves to run (training for a 1/2 marathon), scrapbook and golf (a new found love...who knew?!). She was just called as the first councillor in Relief Society (woman's organization at church), which oversees and supports about 200 women in her ward (parish). Nothing like adding to the list! By the way...she considers herself a stay-at-home mom!



John still works for the City of Calgary, in the IT department. His jobs have been varied and interesting the last few years, but his current project is evaluating the potential of Knowledge Management technologies and techniques to address current business challenges such as effective collaboration and succession management. If that meant anything to you...you should be impressed...it is a huge deal to big corporations in managing all that information floating around in their employees heads...specifically management about to retire and no one knows what they do! He is exploring many technologies to collect, store and display all this wealth of knowledge (i.e. blogging!). Besides his day job, he is still teaching for Mount Royal College in their Project Management Certificate program. Some is on-line work and so he can do it from home. Perfect work if you can get it!



He is an exercise maniac...weights, running, ski-machine, pushups...he has a spreadsheet for it all! He does a lot of the night time driving of the boys while Carol handles the day...a good balance. He is also a cub assistant...or do we call him Bagheera (Jungle book and cubs...had to be there)? He is the first to suggest a family walk and VERY seldom says no when the boys ask him to play soccer or hockey.



We're doing well and would love to hear from you all...comment or reply to the blog. No idea how that works yet, but we can all try it out together! Future notes should be shorter!