Pickles

So its official - we are pet owners....or just owners of a pet. This pet is a kitten named Pickles and he is just about 5 months old. And I am SO shocked that I actually LIKE him! I always look forward to coming home from work and playing with him. So our cat vs. dog debate has been laid to rest after 4 years.... and I lost ;( Ben was more stubborn than I thought!
But thankfully its worked out really well so far!!
Random facts about Pickles:
-favorite food: peaches
-favorite toy: a skipping rope and the toilet paper
-wakes up: 5:30am (like clock-work)
-loves: running water
-steals: pens

And the other day when I was getting lunch ready, I set a cucumber on the table and somehow he jumped onto the table ans when I looked back he was holding the WHOLE cucumber in his mouth.

So he is rather entertaining!



In other news, my sister Morgan had here third baby boy on September 12th - Everett Cole Danskin. I have only seen pictures but he is so cute! That is our 16th niece/nephew. Its crazy how fast the family is growing - but they are all so much fun.

I hope all is well and everyone had a fabulous summer!

This is what I did...

NOTHING!! Can you believe it!? I think I was just too stunned to say anything. She actually walked right into the bank and everyone just stared as she walked by. Nobody told her or anything! Isn't that terrible? I am terrible.....

WWJD?

This week Ben and I stopped in at the bank over our lunch break. As we were walking down the sidewalk Ben points out: "Johanna - oh my gosh - you can see that lady's butt!" And in my mind I'm thinking she must be showing some crack out of the top of her jeans. Oh you could see crack alright....but not at the end you normally would.
This heavier-set woman is wearing a tiny short yellow cotton skirt and it is hiked up so high you can see both bum curls!!!! Really!
It was incredibly shocking and disturbing. I just froze - do I run up the sidewalk to tell her I can see her bum or just let her walk along not knowing that she's showing the whole world her rear?
I see pros and cons here:
Cons: the closer I get to her, the more hideous bum I'd have to see
This may be a new FSJ style and she may be really offended
Pros: Like ripping off a band-aid, it would be over quickly
This would likely save this woman some embar-ass-ment as she is about to head into the crowded bank

So - What DID Johanna Do? Post your best guess and I will be back soon.

Oh the insanity...

Having a house = insanity. Well it depends on your house I guess and how handy your husband is ;)

I love our home.... it is a 1978 bungalow and it had many key updates when we bought it such as a new kitchen, windows, appliances, doors, bathroom, etc.

There were some obvious changes we wanted to make such as: painting over the 'dusty rose' paint in the living room and the peach in the kitchen. And we plan to remove the pink carpet in the near future - well probably in the fall/early winter.
But it is AMAZING how one little job leads into another and then another until the whole place is in shambles. We finished the guest room upstairs and just as we did so - our renter in the basement moved out. Which is fine as we wanted to turn it into a completely separate unit with full kitchen and everything.

However..... there are illegal bedrooms in the basement - there are no windows. So, Ben being a handy-man as well as my fabulous brother-in-law Steve, thought it should be no problem to cut through the concrete and put in three 48" by 30" windows.
So this is day 3 of working on one window and constant drilling and banging. Ben has drilled about 175 holes through the one foot deep concrete in the perimeter of where the new window will be. And then using a sledge hammer to chip away at the concrete.

This is crazy -and there are 2 more to go. I am hoping we have the window in tonight so I can mud and paint tomorrow before the cabinets arrive Wednesday. It will all be worth it in the end, but I am more than ready to be done this project.

Have a great Victoria Day,
Johanna

The Cat vs. Dog Debate

You will never believe this - if you know anything about our past. We have devoted numerous posts over the last years about this much heated debate between Ben and I.
We are actually planning to get a cat. I KNOW! That is crazy - I can't believe the words came out of my mouth one day. I think it started when I was looking through some classified ads with a cute picture of a kitten - and Ben just about melted into a pool beside me. I totally realized how much he loves cats - like he reallllly loves cats. He runs across busy streets just to pet a cat (then I get really grossed out that his clothing is covered in cat hair)....and aimlessly walks through pet stores just to see the kittens. Then he told me his story of his family cat Tigger:
Tigger was around a few years before Ben was born and lived until Ben turned 17. Then she needed to be put down at the Vet. Ben went to the Vet with his cat, watched her be put to sleep, then took her home in a box, and buried her by himself. He was heart broken. When he told me this story -his eyes even glistened a little bit. He will never admit that and when he reads this post he will completely deny it. And for all I know its an act just to get me to cave in....
So anyways, in my compassion I told he we could look for a kitten under a few conditions:
a)Ben has to scoop te poop every other day at the most
b)Ben has to vacuum up all the hair every day
c)We need to finish our basement suite downstairs with a separate laundry area , so we don't have a litter box on our main floor.
d)We get claw covers for it so it won't scratch the leather
e)it must be spayed/neutered.

and on the upside:
a)cats are more independent and I won't feel as guilty about being at work all day as I would with a dog.
b)cats use a litter box and dogs make yellow spots on our lawn
c)when we go away a cat is easier to leave behind with minimal check-ins by a friend/family member

So I can't believe it - see how nice I've become??!?!

Anyways, thats my story for the day. Have a great day everyone!

Don't hate us.... ;)

I humbly say "Hello" to the blogging community. I hang my head in shame that it has been over a YEAR--- A YEAR!!! I am sure 99% of you have given up on us and I am also sure that 98% won't even see this post. But this is my grand attempt to reconnect and do less facebooking and more blogging.
A year in nutshell:

-Ben and I live in Fort St. John. We lived with our good friends/cousins Braden and Erin until May 2008
-In May we bought our house
-Ben is still working at Eagle Vision Video Productions and receiving several opportunities to travel and work on video shoots
-I started work at the City of Fort St. John in January 2008 and tomorrow is my 1 year 'anniversary' there. I love my work
-we STILL don't have a dog and there's no way Ben will let me unless we get a cat, so the pet discussion is over
-there have been multiple births within the family and we enjoy our nieces and nephews and our 'honorary' ones as well
-Ben's brother Bryan is getting married to his girlfriend (finally) this May in Portland, Oregon


All-in-all we are loving life, and God has been good to us and our loved ones. We hope the last year has been treating each of you well.

I look forward to posting soon,
Johanna

Life Back in Canada

It seems time has gotten away on us once again. We have had a crazy last month and a half....to say the least. Our flight back home was pretty interesting. Our first plane had problems with the landing gear so we had to board a Spanish Airlines 'loaner' plane to Coppenhagen. That was the scariest flight ....ever. Some seats had broken seat belts and the seat cushions were coming apart here and there, and during take off, the plane kept 'revving' up slowing down then revving up again. Worst of all, because Ben's seat had a broken seat belt, he had to sit about 7 rows ahead of me. So, there I was, alone in the back, with empty seats with broken seat belts around me. I think I prayed the entire flight! SO finally we arrived in Coppenhagen and had fun checking things out in their mall-like airport. Then it was off to Seattle...10 hours. In Seattle we had a 3 hour layover and at this point were still on Switzerland time and trying to stay awake at '4am' when it was technically early evening in Seattle. Then it was off to Calgary and met by my dad, uncle, my sister Morgan and our nephew Tyson. When people ask how it was coming back in the country, the first thing I think of is "BIG". Everything looked huge! Even the butter and milk containers looked huge!
After 2 weeks with my family in Frontier, I joined Ben up in Fort St. John to have Christmas with the Haab Family. A week later, we were down in Frontier again for Megan and Jordan Rempel's wedding and two days later we were making the 16 hour trek back up north. It was crazy. Since then we have moved into Braden and Erin's basement suite and settling nicely into life. Ben is enjoying his work at Eagle Vision Video Prod. ( www.eaglevisionvideo.ca ) and I am on the job hunt and waiting to hear the results from a recent job interview. I was a little unsure of moving up here and just didn't know what to think....but I am finding myself literally loving our life here. Its been fantastic. We are having fun re-connecting with friends and family and even meeting some new people.
So, there's a bit of an update, sorry it took so long! And all the best in the new year!
Love and Hugs,
Johanna

My Inadvertently Abusive Husband

What am I gonna do about this?? Really...!?!? Lately I have sustained bruises to my chin/jaw, nose, thigh, back of my head, butt, etc. People this is no exaggeration. The chin/jaw was at work when I needed some help taping a paint roller onto an extendable rod. I held the two together while Ben wrapped duck tape around....just as a lady with a baby & cat was walking by, the tape had a cut in the edge and snapped when Ben was holding it taught. His fist met my jaw with a loud popping noise while I was mid-sentance saying hello to the woman. He really hit me hard....I was stunned and my 'temper' instantly fired up.....as Ben wouldn't stop hovering and kissing me...telling me how sorry he was in between uncontrollable bursts of laughter. I just walked away with all the attitude I could muster and got back up on my painting ladder. I am not angry person.....but when I am spontaneously bopped in the face ....I am not a happy camper. It wasn't long until I was laughing hysterically.
Incident #2: Ben drops me on my head onto the cement floor. I was somehow pushed off our bed during a 'wrestling match' and he was holding my arms and pushing my body off with his legs.....then let go...and 'thwump'...thats pretty much it...I don't know how else to explain it.
Incident#3 Never dare Ben to a towel-whipping match....you will pay.....with purple thighs.
Incident#4 Ben was taking off his sweatshirt and as it was stuck over his head....I took the opportunity to poke him in the belly. It was like setting off a mouse-trap and his cat-like reflexes caused him to unintentionally punch me in the nose.
Incident#5 This one he totally did on purpose....but I am not sure he thought he would hurt me. We were having a crazy night play-fighting (I should learn...I always lose except for when I accidently jab him in the eye) and he decides to pull me up a flight of stairs by the legs of my jeans......It was hilarious at the time...but my bum told me later that it wasn't a great idea.
Thats all I can think of at the moment....but maybe thats the brain damage kicking in...
I am think of asking for a full set of football padding for Christmas.....especially a helmet for everyday use. Its not a bad idea I'd say....

Crazy Hair Day

Hello All! Time has really been running away on us and we've had little or no time for an update. My sister has had a year-long countdown and I never thought the number would get down to the teens! As of Monday it is exactly two weeks until we land in Calgary. I can say we am very excited to see family and friends and certain food items we've missed! (AKA: steaks, meat in general, and chips other than 'Paprika' flavored...) You see there is plenty of meat over here, however, you really pay an arm and a leg for it. We received an extra-special treat when Uncle Dan & Auntie Rosmarie were visiting Switzerland earlier this month and took us out to a restaurant for steak dinner. Our mouths are still watering....it was amazing. A taste of things to come....;-)
On the other hand, leaving the country is whole other story....we're very sad to leave new friends, Mocha yogurt , pounds of the best chocolate and Johanna's favorite: Schoko Muesli. But most of all we'll just miss the country. Its beautiful and completely rich in culture and heritage. And all of our German skills may go out the window...
Recently Ben and I went to an Artists Party in Basel which had a "Crazy Hair" theme. For those of you on Facebook, you've likely seen some pictures, but many of you haven't so here goes...!





We have also had the opportunity to go rock climbing for Ben's Birthday. His boss gave him the day off and took us climbing with his family. It was crazy. We start at a point about 400-meters above a valley and then climbed 200-meters up to the summit. It was intense! Here are some pics from that day, Oct. 12th. They definitely don't do the cliff justice!

Castle Adventures

We don't know anywhere in Canada where we can drive four hours and see two world famous castles....except maybe the Enchanted Forest castle by Revelstoke......but that is not centuries of years old or a historical site whatsoever! On Sunday we took Bryan and Andrea on a little road trip with us for 4 hours through Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Our final destination was Fuessen in Bavaria, Germany. There we visited Hohenschwangau Schloss, where King Ludwig II was born and grew up and across the valley Neuschwanstein Schloss the 'fairy tale' castle he built when he became King. This is the world-famous castle that the Walt Disney castle was modeled after...and it was just an incredible day. We will miss EUROPE!! Here are some pictures for your enjoyment ;-)