Grinding it out!

Just a short one this week. I'm writing to let everyone know that next week is a big week in our lives. We are going to be in court from the 2nd til the 5th. Reason for going to court is to determine where Ireland should be attending school now that we live in Waldheim. So everyone knows, Ireland has gone and is still going to the school in our old neighbourhood in Saskatoon. She's gone there since kindergarten, and for the last year she's still gone there despite the fact that neither of her parents live in that neighbourhood. It's meant a lot of driving for me, and somewhat pausing Ireland's life, as she has a lot of friends out in Waldheim now, but can't go to school with them.

Last year we had a homestudy conducted and the results of the professional's finding was that Ireland should be attending school in Waldheim with us. Unfortuneatly her mother contested the finding and then we had to wait til next week to get a court date to work this out. The last month has been pretty stressful, and the last week especially. For all the praying types out there please float one up for us this week to give us guidance, patience, and wisdom on the stand as we testify for Ireland. Thx everyone.

Random Thoughts

First of all, some small blessings to be thankful for.

Without jinxing it i want to be thankful that we are going to have Ireland for part of the holiday season. Without going into detail we had some problems getting Ireland for the 24th so Ireland could attend church on Sunday to see some of our friends become members of our church, as well as a dedication for their son. Yesterday news came down, via the justice system that our request was granted, so it looks like Santa is still coming to Ashby Manor, although a day early i worked out a little arrangment with Mr Kringle! Gingerbread cookies to anyone who can guess the bearded wonder Ireland's sitting on!

Secondly, i went to see the new/old Rocky last night. For an old guy Sly still throws the bombs like nobody's business, for a Rocky fan i highly suggest, it still gives you the tingles when you hear "the music". That's all i'm going to say, no spoilers!

Thirdly, i was slightly disappointed that Yul won survivor... i mean, come on. Without georgle of the jungle he never would have made it!

I was happy to see Peyton and the colts get back to their winning way... being a Rider fan it's nice to see a team that is supposed to win, actually do so!

I'm unhappy with the Oilers losing lately, i'm unappier with a friend of mine sending me this picture thinking it's funny!

I'm also unhappy with the Blades/Flames announcing a preseason game in Saskatoon next year, yet only letting 1400 tickets out to the mainstream public. Ireland would have loved this game, even if it was the Flames.

I'm unhappy that i've broken 2 shovels trying to get the packed snow off my driveway, i'm unhappier listening to those poor british columbians that are crying because they don't usually have to shovel and now they do... poor them!

Finally, i'm happy for Christmas, this is just what i need right now. I love the feeling of catching up with family and friends. We're 2 weeks away from our Court date regarding Ireland's future, and this is the perfect time to be reminded that we aren't alone, and have the support of a lot of people that we might not get to see that often.

I told you... not much... but i try...

Life - Coles notes version

So it has been brought to my attention that some of the readers of this blog may not have a sniff of what i've been up to for the last 10 years because i dropped off the face of the planet. The following post will be the cliff notes, or is it coles notes? Or is coles notes a Canadianism like saying we want Tim's rather than coffee? Anyway, i digress... this could take forever!

Ok, rewind... I graduate from western, and went straight home, despite Johnny one thumb believing i was coming back for college. 4 years in university and not a lot of fun inbetween, other than hanging out with Cherish during the week and Nate on weekends occasionally i just lose touch with everyone possible. My 3rd year university changed my life forever, and in a way i'm guessing for the better, i had a baby!

OK OK, maybe i didn't have the baby, although i just may be big enough for it, but i became a dad and wow was that awesome. Other than the fact i was the biggest chicken on earth and didn't tell ANYONE until she was 8 month pregnant and we got engaged and we were going to my sister's wedding the next week and couldn't hide that from anyone any longer. so on July 15, 1998 Ireland came into my life.

So i was getting married, and had a kid, then a week before the wedding i wasn't getting married anymore. I took Ireland half time and learned quick how a dad takes care of a baby 4 days a week by himself. The first few years flew by in a blur, except when Ireland turned 3 everything seemed to slow down again. I kept seeing this hotty coming out of her apartment across the hall from mine. A year later Michelle and i were engaged and i was getting married for real this time. (Maybe it's like hockey or volleyball and you need engagements to be like practice so by gametime you know what you're doing?)

June 21, 2003 (I better get that date right cause i know Michelle will be reading) - my life complete. Had a beautiful wife and beautiful daughter!

So on life went, until October 2005 when Michelle and I decided it was time to make another change in our lives. Saskatoon just didn't seem to really do anything for us, so after long consideration we decided our family was moving to Waldheim. (Ya, i thought, "where the heck is that too")

It's 30 minutes out of Saskatoon straight north. It's Michelle's hometown that she grew up in, and now after living here for a year man do i love it. The church here is amazing (for being a bunch of mennonites)! It was just the move my spiritual life needed, and it has been awesome for Ireland and Michelle as well. In January we will be going to trial to finally have Ireland able to attend school here. The only problem we've had in moving to Waldheim is that Ireland's mom contested us enrolling Ireland in school out here so for the last year she's gone to school in our old neighbourhood in Saskatoon with me driving her in everyday! A big pain in the butt, but since i have my own business we've made it work for the time being.

Living in Waldheim reminds me of Western in some ways. Except i'm allowed to sleep in this dorm, and i gave up shower parties, and i don't have to go to school, and i don't get in trouble, and i listen in church, and i like the food. Ok, maybe it isn't, but there are so many young couples it's crazy, when i moved in a year ago, out of the 4 neighbours (all married couples) i was the oldest! Everyone is really involved in community and church, so it just feels like home. Except these heathens play instruments in church!!! I play on two hockey teams, Michelle plays volleyball, and Ireland does just about everything (Dance, Soccer, Figure Skating, Club, etc) Ok that's probably enough for now, hopefully you are somewhat caught up. Cheers... from the Ashbys

I am that guy!

My name is Todd, and i am "that guy".

It seems like you hear it in conversation all the time.

"oh, look at that guy, what a fool!"

"oh, look at that guy, if i was his parent i'd fix that behaviour in no time flat"

"oh, look at that guy, if his wife saw him i wonder if he would be acting like that"

When i was younger, I always wanted to be that guy. I know it was a problem, but it was the problem i wanted to have. Some people were born with the ability to go about their work quietly and calmly, never needing attention and sometimes doing anything possible to avoid attention. Well, that just wasn't me, if there was trouble, i was in it. If there was action, i was doing it. If there was a story, i was topping it. Wow what an annoying punk i was as a kid. Wait a second, i'm still that guy.

I'm the guy in our Waldheim league that paid for half a season, and I told them i'm still coming to every game, i'm just playing all offence and no defence. I'm the guy who tried to cause a riot in the Rider/Stampeder playoff game this year. AND i'm the guy who needed his father in law to come over and snowblow his driveway because it got away on me!

I wonder if being "that guy" is transferred down through genetics? Am i going to face all of those same challenges with Ireland? Uh oh if i am. Wait a second, if "that guy" is a gene that's passed down maybe i should be glad i'm "this guy", i mean, things could be worse, i could be "that girl" like my sister! Payback by Maddy may be more than i could handle!

Our baby

We're not making any announcements here, so don't expect it.

Our baby is our bichon-poodle we got at Christmas 2005. She's a year old now and so very cute. Todd is probably the most attached to her. Ireland, as you can see, treats Roxy as a sister. She's constantly dressing her up in Build-a-Bear outfits and she even had a Halloween costume! Roxy has been a good addition to the family. She's as bratty as any other kid sometimes, needing constant affection, potty training, the works. But we love this darn little puppy. She is just soooooooo verrry cute. The next thing we need to work on is training her to do a few more tricks. She's not really too bright in that area, but I think it's more the trainers she has.

Beautiful Ireland

For one of our first posts, it's only fitting that we share a picture of one of the most important people in our lives. For those that don't know, Ireland is now 8 years old and is going to break a lot of hearts when she gets older.

This picture was taken in October in our backyard in Waldheim. We have finally spent a year at this house and Ireland loves it. She's been getting to be such a young lady. The leaves as you can see are on the ground not just to add to the ambience of the picture. But rather, they are there due to growing challenges Todd faces in actually tending to a yard. For a city kid like Todd, mowing the lawn, shovelling the snow, is a lot more difficult in a real yard as opposed to the condo/apartment living Todd's been used to.

I'll do the best i can

I really have no idea if i will be good at this kinda stuff, but i thought i'd give it a shot. Right now i'm just setting up the blog so i won't go on and on yet, but hopefully once this is up and running i'll go nutty and put pictures up and all kinds of stuff.

Here's hoping i'm not as lazy as everyone says i am!