Glad to see them come...sad to see them leave!

My beautiful wife and daughter made the long trip up to spend time with me this weekend. Rachelle and Abbi spent Wednesday night with Brandon and Chandra in Calgary and than made it up to Edmonton on Thursday (after some shopping in Calgary of course). It feels great to have them both around, life is different when they aren't with me. The weekend was a little busy to say the least, fortunatly i took some time off on Friday to spend with them before it got too hectic. I had planned to take them for a picnic Friday, but the wind runinned my plans for that.

Friday night i got some more company as well in the way of Chris and Jena. They came up so that Chris could get some parts for his latest toy (do i sound jealous). It was nice to be surrounded by the familiarity of home.

The long weekend prior, I was able to make it home for a trip. It was Dustin's B-day and so Queen and the boys made the trip as well. It is great that Abbi and her cousins live close enought to spend lots of time together and that I could spend some time with my sister and nephews as well. Keetly is just 4 months, Abbi now 16 months and Cooper is 28 months so it will be great as they grow older.


The other love of my life (Elmo) spent the weekend, i'm sure in heaven. We had some bad luck with the last kennel we left her at in Medicine Hat and of course once we realized we had forgot to look into another new kennel it was too late. Fortunate for us we have great family that love our dog (some of you know that i'm lying through my teeth) and were willing to check up on her a few times a day. After some reflection on this topic i'm sure Elmo is wondering why she really lives with us. When we are gone she gets company 3 or 4 times a day, where she gets let out, pet, played with, treats and than fed. Really its like being a movie star compared to life when we are around.

Speaking of family I can't wait for this summer at home in Medicine Hat. Last summer was hectic to say the least and we did not get a lot of time to just kick back and enjoy it. We finished the renos in Okotoks, bought one house, sold the other, did a fair amount of renos to the new one, had a child (ok that was more spring/winter) and i started a new job.

And to all a good week.

Tyler Ulmer

Surviving!

Abbi and I fairing well as a single parent family.

This week I took on additional responsibilities at work. The lady in charge of the special needs department has broken her foot and therefore will not be back to work for the rest of the school year. Another teacher and myself were asked to take over her responsibilities. It is a lot of work and there is a lot on our shoulders...considering the qualifications for this job are a master's degree as well as being Catholic, both of which I am not! Anyways, between working at my current schools, I am working at the board office and running meetings by the seat of my pants. The extra money will pay for our Mexico trip so if I can hang in there for the remaining month and a half I will be done and have 2 months to rest.

Mother's Day was very nice. I spent the day with both sides of the family. Abbi and I were very well fed and taken care of. I know Tyler felt awful being away, but it is only one day...I guess he will have to make it up when he is back...haha!

Tyler will be heading home for the long weekend...Abbi, Elmo and I are very excited. We are hoping to get our yard back together. Too much dirt and rain is not good for Elmo...I am sick of wiping paws. After the long weekend, Abbi and I plan to go to Edmonton and stay with Tyler for 4 days. The weekend after we will meet in Calgary and visit Brandon and Chandra. It seems like it has been forever since we have made a trip to Calgary, but since it is only a few hours for Tyler and myself it will be a good meeting spot.

A quick update on Abbi. Abbi is saying quite a few words and is constantly talking! We are teaching her some sign language and she has caught on fast. Her favorite word to sign lately is "more" and it usually means "more food" or "more swing." She is in love with her "babies." She puts them to bed, burbs and feeds them and needs to take them everywhere...it is so cute! Abbi is an outside kid! She bangs on the door to go outside and will try to sneak out when we let Elmo out. On the weekend, we are outside the entire day and it is a struggle to get her to come inside for her nap. Over the last month, Abbi cut 6 teeth for a grand total of 12. We had a few rough nights and a red rash on her face due to the teething. The rash has decided to stay around and I have tried many remedies to get rid of it but they all seem to start to work but then later it tapers off. I guess I may have to take her in to the doctor and see if he has any other ideas.

Anyways enough rambling...here are a few pics from the weekend...enjoy!

Auntie Tannis and Abbi!

Abbi's first Popsicle...she ate it all without any help from Elmo!

Abbi found this hard hat at my parents place and wore it all morning, she even ate her lunch with it on.

Rachelle :)

About Time

Well i figured (and was told) that it was about time I contribuited something to this blog. Im sure all that will change when rachelle reads all my grammatical errors (thanks holtz). It seems stange doing a blog since i come here often to see pictures of my family since i have abbandoned them.

For those who havn't read i am living in a hotel in Edmonton taking my first year of Telecommunications for Telus. Life in Edmonton is getting better, it took some time to being on my own and being back in a city i thought i knew. Me and rachelle lived here for 4 years and have made it back for a visit a whopping once or twice in over 3 years. So things had changed a bit and it felt like the first time i had ever been here. I mean all new interchanges commercial parks, it's just amazing how fast things are changing in Alberta.

The biggest change for me was having free time, i have a wife and kid, who has free time. On top of all that i have left a huge list of things to do back at home. I have pergola on the go, my yard looks more like a landfill, my truck moves but its more of a flinstone type thing.

I have posted some pics from my last weekend home. Me and Abbi got to spend some quality time together in the yard and me and Rachelle even escaped for a night on the town.

Well until next time (if Rachelle ever lets me post again)
Tyler

Abbi is 15 months old today!

So I survived a week without Tyler or Abbi. I was very busy so the time went fast. I was very happy to see Abbi at the end of the week. Tyler is back into the swing of things at school. He is finding it very hard at nights as he does not have much to do...which is big change from home. We hope to see him this weekend.

I am posting a few pics of Abbi from the past month. We have really taken advantage of the outdoors. Abbi loves going for bike rides especially when we stop by the park... it has been a struggle to get her back into the bike carrier after the park, but she gets over it quickly. She also enjoys playing in the backyard. She can manage going up and down the slide on her own...I think she really caught on when she was visiting her cousins.

Here is Abbi is her cozy coupe! She just loves climbing in and out...she must make sure she closes and opens the door.

Abbi can spend hours in her swing...we might have to get a rope so I can pull it from the deck.

Her father would be proud...Abbi "played" a bit of floor hockey in Lethbridge with her cousin Cooper.

Rachelle :)