Big Changes!!!

It has been a super long time since I blogged, and a lot has happened since the last one, so here is an update! Well, first of all, we are done with Calgary! Yay! It was fun and all but I sure am glad that it is over. We are staying with my parents until the end of the month and then we are moving into one of our friends houses here on the west side. Ben is staying on with Apx, they hired him as a service tech year round. It is quite a blessing actually, and I am happy to say my husband will now be working from Lethbridge. Now we will just have to adjust to being around each other so much! I am working at Eclipse again, and the truth is, I really debated going back at all. But, I truly feel like it was the right choice for me, and after two weeks, I feel like I am really settling back into it. Although I miss my girls, I feel like I am a better mom (and wife!!) by working and having something outside our home.

Now onto something that has been on my mind for the past month. In the first week of August, Ben's cousin Ken was killed in a motorcycle accident. It was the saddest thing and we, as anyone who loses someone suddenly is, were totally shocked. He left behind his wife, who is one of the strongest, nicest girls I have and will ever meet, and two little boys. At his funeral I was listening to what everyone was saying and it really struck me how fragile our lives are. I know what a cliche that is, but it really hit me. When my uncle died last year, I realized how much I needed to appreciate every thing life gives me, and all those around me. And the truth is, I really thought I did. But then something else happens and you realize that there is probably no possible way we could ever truly cherish something to its full potential until we risk losing it. (Or actually do.) The things that were said about Ken were so honest and so heartfelt, and I was so touched by the kind of person he was and the way he conducted himself, and it really motivated me to try and be better. It always bothers me a little to attend a funeral and hear people talk about the deceased as though they were perfect or describe them in ways that they weren't at all in real life. But at Ken's funeral, the things that were said were actually true. He really was one of the truly good ones and you were left with a feeling of being so blessed just to have known him. I know how blessed I am to have a loving husband who treats me better than I probably fully deserve, I have two healthy little girls who make my life the happiest place in the world and I have the best family and friends a girl could ask for. So through the sadness of losing a great guy, what I hope to take from the loss is inspiration from the life he left behind. Inspiration to be the best mom and wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend I can be. And at the very least, appreciate every day I get to share with these people.

Now, here are some pics from the past month. (we have really been all over the place!!!)

At Whoop Up Days... This one is for you Kel... (love you!)

We were in Medicine Hat visiting Ben for a bit, and we LIVED at the water slides. (It also reunited Grace and Soph, and Kaia and Ella, so that was good too!!)

K... here is Kaia's new smile... I think it is hilarious and hope she does it for the rest of her life!

Best Friends already!!
I really love this chick and am soooo glad to be back in the same city as her!!!

Our little fam...

And here is the story of our lives... Kai finally decided to be a big girl and walk!!