Our new Baby Girl!

Our precious little girl was born on December 18, 2007, at 5:59 pm weighing in at 7 lbs 7 oz. We stayed in the hospital from Tuesday to Friday because Peyton was in NICU till Thursday. We are home now and are all doing great.

New Nephew

This is our new nephew, Reed Austin Nesdoly, who was born November 10, 2007. He was 7lbs 9 oz. Such a cutie!

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year, Kevin, Emily and the girls came to Waldheim for a visit. We spent pretty much the whole weekend with them. The girls are growing up so fast!

Fall Pictures

Cousins

This is me and my sister. She's due November 11 and I'm due December 21.

FINALLY!!!!!!

Ok, after waiting this long to put a new entry on to our Blog we thought we had to have a dooozey of a story to start a new entry off.

We got the decision in our custody trial. Ireland is going to school in Waldheim!


After 3 long years, Ireland can finally go back to school in our neighbourhood. It was finally ruled that Ireland's primary residence will be with Michelle and I. I can not say thank you enough to all the people that have been praying for us for soooo long. I want everyone to know that the prayers were answered, after a solid seasoning of patience apparently needed to be taught.

There's a lot more to the decision than this but i'm just not ready to gloat yet, as there is still an appeals process that can happen from 30 days after the decision. SO, almost home, but for now, Ireland will be starting in Waldheim School on Monday.



PS - here is a photo of me and Ireland watching the Riders hand the Eskies a WHHHOOPIN this summer. (always have to have a picture every post and i'm not sure the pictures last night would have been G-rated!)

OUR KIDS

Ireland's picture was taken on July 23 after we got her hair trimmed and straightened. She could definitely pass for a little Roxy Girl. And the baby's 3D picture was taken on August 1, 20 weeks old, this was the best 3D one he could get since the baby was moving so much and the doc tor was running out of time. It's looking more like a baby.

Baby Ashby

So this is our baby at our 4 month doctor's appointment. There were some cute pictures that were taken, but we only got to keep one. So we got the picture of the profile. When the doctor did the head measurement, the baby was swinging its arm and we watched the baby do this for a while. It's just so weird to think that it moves that much, yet I can't feel it yet. Then there was a picture of just its arm, and what a cute arm it was.

For the baby book, I want people to send me their guesses as to the date the baby will be born, the sex and the weight. Leave it as a post on the blog and I'll write them all down. Make sure you leave your name so I know who to give credit to!

Ireland being her cute little self!

Ireland took this picture. She'll be a photographer some day!

Prayer Request

I'm just sending out a prayer request for all my friends and family. As you may know it is our 4th Anniversary today! Todd has been a challenge over these past years and my request is that you'll pray for my sanity! Hee hee

Ireland Hamm?

Another year coming to a close this Friday in Hepburn. Ashby's coming off another stellar season and you can really tell she takes after her old man. She's attempting the "Never before feat in our house" of maintaining an entire season shutout in net. She's a solid 2 way player who makes the most of her opportunitites going 100% in shot - scoring percentage.

This girl is the whole package and she will be a free agent this coming season as she's going to move up a division in her league. Here's a few action shots...

Ok, maybe only one action shot, as that might be the only move she made all year.

This pic just shows her deep in concentration (Obviously picking out the weak spots in the other teams defense).

PS - I think Ireland's proudest moment was last week when she made a boy cry for his mommy, or maybe it was her dad's proudest moment, i'm not sure.

In honor of Dr Close.

Hey, haven't posted for awhile, but it's because life is the same ol same ol. This is kind of an oldy... but it is a goody... i'll post the answer in a little while if enough people answer.

A thoroughly honest game-show host has placed a car behind one of three doors. There is a goat behind each of the other doors. You have no prior knowledge that allows you to distinguish among the doors. "First you point toward a door," he says. "Then I'll open one of the other doors to reveal a goat. After I've shown you the goat, you make your final choice whether to stick with your initial choice of doors, or to switch to the remaining door. You win whatever is behind the door." You begin by pointing to door number 1. The host shows you that door number 3 has a goat.So, stick with door 1 or switch to door 2?

For those that know the answer... please keep quiet... for those that don't, this is called "The Monty Hall problem". Have at it...

Does anyone recognize this baby?

Baby on a Blog?

Apparently this is a picture of our baby. To me this kinda looks more like a blob, so it kinda makes sense to put it on our blog. Get it... haha... a baby blob on a blog. Wow Michelle is not going to be happy with me that i can turn such a tender moment into a funny.

On a serious note. Michelle and i went to our first ultra-sound appt last week. Mom and baby are doing great, well, baby is doing great, uhh, mom likes to yak anytime she smells something funny. Ireland and I are totally pumped, and now it sucks that we have to wait soooo long for this new addition. For those that are interested we're looking at a Christmas time baby!

I should start some kind of pool about the odds of us having a boy, are my odds better or worse considering our families history so far?

Maybe Baby?

For those that may have been wondering why i haven't posted in a while it might have something to do with this. I didn't know how to blog about anything if i couldn't say anything about this! More info to follow later...

PS - the date of the picture means nothing as far as due date etc, i still have the positive test in my desk to look at once in a while!

PPS - please don't tell my boss.

M.e.l.t.i.n.g....

Last time playing in the snow....it's spring time!

F u N f A c T o R y !!!!!!

This is such an awesome place to take kids....a ginormous indoor playground! We met Jae & the girls and Allison, Change & Hannah here over Easter. The kids had so much fun.

Future Elvis Stoyko?

I guess Michelle has suffered enough so it's time to move on to a real video! This was Ireland's year end figure skating performance. AND before anyone can beat me to it, yes, i'm sure Ireland can skate better than me!

I will say that it is just sick how fast time is flying with her, just this week Ireland was telling me that she is now closer to driving than being born, it made me sad, and i'm sure it made Michelle scared!

PS - i don't know any Candadian female figure skaters out there, so Elvis will have to do.

She learnt everything she knows from me!

Well, you can't say she didn't ask for this considering that pic she posted last week. We had a Rink Day in Waldheim last week, Michelle put on my duds for a hockey game, and apparently picked up my mentality too! Doesn't even know what backchecking is!

Hee Hee

I can't believe Todd ever looked like this....

All you need is Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust!

Ireland had her skating carnival on Saturday. It was a long day for our family. Since I was on the figure skating committee, I created the theme, the costumes and decorations. And on Saturday it all came together. Our day started early, about 6:30 am. I had a pancake breakfast to work at because we were fundraising for the carnival. I was there for 5 hours. Then in the afternoon, I had to get another committee together to help me put up the big Pixie Hollow Tree poster, the theme poster "Believing is just the Beginning", and the poster with Tinkerbell. And at 4:30 we blew up about 150 helium balloons. Fun stuff. Just in time to get them onto the ice for 7:00pm for the show to start. Ireland was in the pink fairy group. She did very well in her skating, seeing as she missed a lot of lessons. She will become our figure skating olympian! This is by far her favourite sport!

March Update!

OK, a lot of you folks probably check in here no just because of my darling, whitty, hilarious personality. Most of you might be stopping by to see what my wife is up to, or what Ireland's been doing etc. So, this post is purely for information purposes, and I'll try to keep my wonderful comments to myself.

Last month was a fairly busy month for the family. Where to start? Well, i guess we should start with the important stuff for those with short attention spans. First off, no news on our court decision, the only thing slower moving than the wheels of justice is me on a breakaway. We're still hoping that we will hear something this month so please don't forget us in your prayers and obviously for the judge who is making this decision.

In February we decided it was time for the pilgrimage to Edmonton, it was time for Ireland to be introduced to the sad fact that our family is an Oiler family. While i got to enjoy the hayday of Oiler time, over the last 15 years we've become accustomed to disappointment. And true to their MO the Oilers held up their end of the bargain. TWO games after i talked to Ireland about Ryan Smyth being the heart of this team they traded him! ARGH! Accompanying us on this trip was Ireland's bud from Waldheim Mia. In the pics below you can see the two of them had a pretty good time.

After we got back from Edmonton we had to deal with the sad news that Grampa had passed away. The funeral was really tough, but it was really nice to see everyone. Without too much detail i just wanted to share one story about why my grampa was special, and how he could make anyone feel good. At the funeral my Uncle Mike told a story, and while i couldn't possibly do as good a job as he did, i'll summarize it for you.

Grampa once told Ireland and I that Ireland had the perfect name. Years and years ago when Grampa was heading off to war, that meant crossing the ocean. The trip was long, and Grampa talked about how cold, and wet, and somber the trip was. Day after day of grey skies, gloomy faces, faced with the reality that all these young men were heading accross that ocean and not all of them would be coming back. (I couldn't imagine sitting on that boat and having to deal with that, it's one of the reasons i'm so proud of my Grampa doing that for me.) Anyway, after days on this boat, in the cold, in the gloom they finally saw land, and at that same time the skies opened and the sun shone down. Instantly the sailors spirits were lifted, and there was excitement. Grampa talked about beautiful green landscapes, warmth, and how excited he was to finally see something worthwhile. That's when Grampa stopped, looked at Ireland and said, "You see, you have the perfect name, because that boat landed on Ireland, and the excitement i felt on that day is the same excitement i feel everytime i see you."

Needless to say i'm sure everyone heard me bawling like Ryan Smyth at the airport when Uncle Mike said that story! (Thanks Uncle Mike!)

After we got back my wife turned the big two-sixer.. the old fart. I say this only because of how she made me feel so old when i turned 25. I also say this now because i know how much razzing i'm going to get this Sept when the Three-00000000 no is coming. Anyway, that's all for now... check out the pics and enjoy.

Sad Day

For those that don't know yet, my Grandpa Wilf Smith went home to our Lord last night. At times like this it's so hard to put into words what you feel. Why am i so sad to see him go? He's where i want to be some day right? Is it because i feel guilty for not spending more time with him when he was here? Is it because i feel sorry for the pain he had to go through to get there? Am i worried about my Grandma being alone (which i know she won't because she's surrounded by family)? Ultimately, it seems rational that i should be happy for Grampa, he's home and that what i should try to feel, but for some reason i just can't get past the sadness of him not being here anymore.

This was the first person Ireland has ever been closed to that has died, so it's a hard time for her as well. I'm just glad that we got to see Grampa just before Christmas this year, while it might have seemed insignificant at the time, it feels enormous now that in some small way we got to say goodbye. Please keep my Gramma and my mom in your prayers over the next few days as we start to cope with the loss.

In Case Anyone Didn't Know!

A Certain someone got to go to an Oiler game this last weekend, I'll write some more about it later, but for now, i just wanted to make sure everyone new this point. Nuff Said.

I'm not a procrastinator...just get things done.

It's February already....Time in our house is just flying by. It's not been a month since out trial has completed, and still no answer. Our life seems to be all about waiting....waiting for other people to decide our future. I can't imagine life if Ireland is to live at her mothers. I think my heart would stop, even when it's at a slow beat right now waiting. I can't stand waiting. God is definitely trying to teach me patience. I'm not a very patient person. I'm the person who shakes the presents under the Christmas tree at least once a day. I'm the person who glares at people when they tell me, "it'll happen when it happens", or "just be patient". It seems that I'm the one in our house that struggles with patience. Todd is a very patient person. It drives me bananas how good he is sometimes at dealing with things. Especially with this court decision we're waiting for. It is killing me being unable to do something to speed things up. Waiting...

And with our house being torn to pieces it seems like. Having a basement that leaks. Not having the money right now to fix it, because of court bills. Just waiting for spring, when our rec room will be covered in water. Just waiting for that too. Waiting for us to win the lottery so that we can pay all our bills and add onto our house, build a deck, put in laminate flooring, pay Todd's student loan, buy him a vehicle he'll be happy with, get a hot tub (that's for me), and essentially not having any more things to do on the house, and we could finally just enjoy it. Waiting...

Waiting for people to tell me their pregnant because they all seem to have better luck than we do...that's frustrating too. That's all I'll say about that, but still waiting...

It seems that our first 3 1/2 years of marriage have been surrounded by waiting...waiting for ireland to be in our primary custody, waiting for babies, waiting for money, just waiting...

I wish for something significant to happen. This is where my patience gets tested all the time. I try to fill my days and months with activities to take my mind off the significant things in life that we are waiting for. Otherwise I think Todd would have to check me into the funny farm. This is by far the biggest, longest wait of a present God has given to me, maybe to see if I'll shake it.

Spot the Church of Christ Kid?

Yup! She's definitley my girl... While going through my videos from the camera and deciding which ones to keep i found irrefutable evidence that indeed Ireland is my daughter. Apparently Ireland did inherit my lack of rythm, had to share it!

blah blah blah

It's -136 degrees outside for the 32nd consecutive day.

I'm ill and on some kind of medication that i had to wait 2.5 hours in an overly crowded medi-clinic for some doctor to look at me for 15 seconds and prescribe me some anit-biotics.

I'm forced to work with my hockey equipment in my office today as i've got a game tonight and it needs to be thawed, and man does it stink.

Having said all that....

WOW!! Every sportscaster can finally end their love affair with Brady...

Do i have a black cloud over my head?

So last Wednesday we, in Saskatchewan, get the worst blizzard that i've ever had the priviledge of seeing. Until we get our decision back from the Judge (Y'all are still praying right?) i still have to drive Ireland into school everyday. SO, Wednesday morning, i get up, look at the snow, look at the temperature, and promptly decide that Ireland is going to get her first "Snow Day" of the year. She was thrilled, i could tell as she rolled over and fell back to sleep within seconds.

So anyway, i'm in my robe and Michelle is getting ready for work. She goes to open our front garage and sees 2 feet of snow in our driveway that our minivan is not going to get through. She's only got about 4 blocks to her work, so, i offer her my nice little 4WD truck for her to use to get her to work, since i'm not needing it that day.

She takes my truck to work. While she's there, one of her co-workers calls in, she lives a mile outside town, and her and her husband are now proud owners of one nice truck in a ditch somehwere that they can't tell where. (The snow was so bad they actually drove across the highway into the ditch and didn't realize it until they were stuck). So, now someone's got to go out and get this lady and her husband. Michelle's boss Cory (one of my good friends) says that he'll go out and get them, so he runs outside to start his SUV... one problem... somehow on the way to work he gave himself a flat tire.

He comes inside and tells the staff the problem, at which point Michelle tosses him my keys and tells him to use my truck. Can anyone guess the result yet?

Let me recap:

- Wakeup
- Blizzard
- Keep Ireland home
- Van immobilized
- Michelle takes truck to work
- Ruth stuck in ditch
- Cory's SUV gets flat tire

Cory finds Ruth and her husband, and after some hard work manages to pull them out of the ditch. Ruth's husband, in his exuberance of getting out of the ditch promptly backed into the rear end of my truck... There's more damage thatn what's showing here, but i just wanted to give you an idea, and ask the question. DO I HAVE A BLACK CLOUD OVER MY HEAD?

I just can't believe how many events had to happen just like they did in order for my truck to be involved in that accident. What makes it even better was that my truck ended up being stuck in 4WD LOW as well, and i don't think SGI was going to fix that! Anyway... cheers...

Welcome to Waldheim

Hey kids, just thought you guys might like to see a winter storm in Waldheim. Ireland got to take today off school, the following pictures show why.

This was the path to my garage at 7:30 this morning, i said no way, not gonna happen.



The next picture is of the front of our house at 2:00 pm this afternoon.















And this is the same thing but closer to 5:00 pm. Ya think it's snowing much?

The next few are of the good samaritan who offered to drive everyone home from Michelle's work. It might have been helpful to know that there was an eight foot drift where a normal road used to be. It's such a whiteout around here that you can't see five feet in front of you.













Well that's all for now, i've got a better story to share with you about today, but i'll wait for the visual evidence to arrive first! Oh well, at least i don't live in Y-knife... i saw it was -35 there this morning!

Thank you to everyone!

Well i'm not exactly sure where to start, so, i'll start with the immediate news first so those with a short attention span at least will know the end result. Yesterday the judge reserved decision, which means that she wants to take some time to look the case over and make her decision. This is quite common in most cases. The discouraging thing is that we have no idea how long it could take. We've been told to prepare for it to take anywhere from 1 to 3 months.

Michelle is telling me to make breakfast so i'll write more later. But since i've got your attention i want to say 2 more things. First of all, thank your for all of your prayers for strength and wisdom over the last few days, they meant a lot and i hoped they helped. Secondly, your prayers are still very much needed for Justice Mary Ellen Wright as she has some big decisions to make.

It would be unfair for me to try and tell everyone how i thought the trial went right now, as i don't want to be overly optomistic or too hard on myself. So, after a few days i'll write a post that says how i feel after i've had time to think about it.