Canada Trip

Well I guess it's about time I write about my fabulous trip to Canada. The fun started when I walked in the front door. Literally. I walked in the front door and went straight into the laundry room to help my mom's dog deliver puppies.

I spent the afternoon helping my dad figure out how to work his iPad, and then spent over an hour that evening climbing through trees to get the chickens out and into their coups. Apparently the rooster who sleeps outside in the trees convinced some of the hens that it's really not so bad outside at night. Cue the mink attack...


Originally I was going to help my mom plant her garden as a Christmas present, but our trip to Europe just happened to be at the same time (I promise it wasn't planned).  So instead I helped out with odd jobs that needed to get done. These included using the excavator to load up the truck with manure and then spreading it on the flower gardens, spreading gravel all over the driveway, cleaning out the greenhouse (and disposing of all the dead mice/rats), cleaning the house, weed whacking the turkey pen, cutting down trees to make a fence, and rototilling the garden. There's no place like home :)


 

The garden before rototilling 

(I forgot to take a picture of the whole garden beforehand)

After rototilling

We had to go through three cycles of about 15-20 passes up and down each row

Clearing rocks and brush so my mom could plant wildflowers

Apparently I've become really soft after living away from home for so long because I kept getting hurt. My foot was a big target; first I had a sharp stick go right through my shoe while I was weedwhacking the turkey pen, and then when we were cutting down trees to make a fence, I stepped on a nail that went right into the bottom of my foot. I had several finger pinchings and squishings throughout the trip as well.


But despite the work (which I loved - it was so great to be outside in nature again) and the pain (which I could have done without), there were a lot of other great things that happened during my stay.

I got to feed little lambs

I went hiking with my parents and my sister Jessica

My mom had an Easter egg hunt for Marvin and I



What could be a better hiding place for an egg...




I went to start a fire and found a bird in the fireplace



I gave my dog Kita a bath and then had to cover her with paste to help her skin



I learned how to change the oil and filter in the car



My parents took me to see "The Hunger Games" after I read all of the books in three days




I had fabulous family get-togethers with all different sides of my family. I spent Easter with the Avis side, and my brother and I did some bunny jousting.

Naturally, I'm the better jouster.
My bunny.

 Nick's bunny.

I spent my birthday with my siblings and relatives on the Orth side. Nick, Kirk, and I introduced a couple of our Aunts to the game BANG.

I went to dinner at my Aunt Kathy's and got to play with my cousin Jackie's ridiculously cute kids.



Baby Rose
Photo courtesy of thefamilykeyes.blogspot.com

Will
Photo courtesy of thefamilykeyes.blogspot.com

I visited my grandma Stockli and her adorable cat Jack

Sooo cute!

I got to spend a day with my best friend Rosie. 

We went for a hike





...and climbed on trees

My mom made some delicious home made chocolate ice cream (the best home-made ice cream I have ever tasted...way to go mom!) It tasted like soft-serve fudgsicles.

AND I GOT TO RIDE A HORSE!

Not that jerk horse my parents used to have. A nice sweet little mare my mom is going to get.

A little gallop on her, and now I am back into riding again. In fact, my mom got me riding lessons as a graduation present. I AM SO EXCITED!

It was a great trip, and I was sad to leave. I can't wait to go back again.