Indoor soccer- Aundre

Edmonton Sun

Aundre's Team played in the Polar Cup Indoor soccer tournament this week!

Santa visits Keisha, Austin and Mason

They sure enjoyed Santa. Keisha asked if the books were Fiction or non-fiction. We decided that he gave them some kind of FICTION type books to read!!!

Merry Christmas All

Merry Christmas Everyone  (Troy beat me - darn!)

As we celebrate this Christmas, let us all remember CHRIST in our Christmas.  If it wasn't for His atonement and resurrection, we would not even be thinking about Him or celebrating Christmas.  That was the whole reason for His coming to earth.

We wish you all a Happy and Healthy Christmas.

Troy - we will look after those of your family who will be here with us tomorrow.  We will miss you but it is a blessing to have a job to go to.

We are very proud of all of you.
Love you all forever,
Gramma & Grampa

WISHING A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE

Well, another Christmas away from my family, but I still feel close to them.

Here is wishing them a Merry Christmas before anyone else. They are very special to me.

And yes, Merry Christmas to the rest of the Hudkins descendants and all the extended families as we are growing into a strong force.

Love you all (especially Nancy and my kids, and Kouper),

Love Troy

INTRODUCING....... (drum roll please)!

Mason John Hudkins
Born: Dec. 17, 2010 @ 19:48pm, 9 lbs 14 oz
at Fort McMurray General Hospital.

Ho-Ho-Ho

Camilla is getting excited for Christmas!! She's been walking around the house saying "Ho-oh-oh" for the last couple of days.  Can't wait until she sees a 'real' Santa this year!!

P.S.
Totally saw Santa on Saturday and got an epic pic of the girly crying.
Check it out here!

Christmas Lights in Fort Mac

Keyano College

Poplar Crescent

Lions Park

Keyano College

Lions Park

Angels from on high (The Bevans).

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

OLD MAN!

Just a reminder to everyone that Uncle Garth has moved one year closer to me in age today.
Happy Birthday, Garth  xo
Love your "little" older but much wiser sister, Charlene

The Second Stannix Babe

Here's a sneak peek at the next little Stannix!!

Kicking away! Little knee on the bottom right.

Sucking on fingers!!

The head, spine and heart.

We enjoyed watching the baby on the screen.  It was very active!! I don't think he/she will have any problem keeping up with Camilla!!!

Sad News Again

We have more sad news in our family.

 Auntie Roxanne lost her mother just this morning to a massive heart attack. This is just a few days short of one year after losing her dad and then her sister just a few weeks after her dad.

This has been one very rough year for you, Roxanne, and our hearts go out to you. We wish for the Lord's comforting arms to be around you and to bring you peace.  Please know that we love you very much and wish that we could carry some of your burden.

Roxanne & Brent, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your whole family.

Love & Blessings,
Gramma & Grampa

Hallelujah! I thought this was real cooool!!

Hey everyone, please watch this youtube video. This happened recently at Seaway Mall in Welland, Ontario.



It started about 2000 years ago, and was put to music around 1730 by George Fredrick Handel!
Hope every one enjoys this!

Love you all!
Garth

Polischuk's little TBA II

Yesterday we had an ultrasound and got to see our wee little one! 

It was thrilling!!  Life is such a miracle and it is such a gift to be a parent.  The little person was in the perfect position and the tech quickly got the pics she needed, then Graham got to come in and we checked out little TBA II.  The tech said the the heart was 161 bpm (close to Amelia's) and the person measured 6.5cm from head to bum...so roughly the length of your palm.  The person was pretty chill, stretched a bit kicking legs and moving it's hand like it was saluting, amazing, amazing, amazing!  I looked back and Amelia was break dancing inside for this ultrasound but she is a pretty chill kid so I'm not sure ultrasounds are indicative of temperament but whatever we'll take this person, we are super pumped to meet him/her and have them be part of our life.

I am 13 weeks tomorrow and feeling better!  How rad though we get to have another person!  Sending love to you all. Take care ~ Jenny, Graham, Mia & TBA II

Chocolates from the South

Shauna's colored dinosaurs.

OK, so we are a little behind but here are some of the chocolates we made. Calorado and Shauna came over and worked with MacKenzy to help Nancy and Troy with the chocolate making.

Troy built Santas.

MacKenzy and Shauna made Turtles and Peanut Butter Cups.

Shauna made the Santa, MacKenzy colored the Cars, COOL EH!

MacKenzy made Unicorns.

Calorado was the Pretzel Specialist.

The Fire Hall

Today we went to see Uncle Mike at the fire hall! He got transferred recently to the Hall right near our house! We thought it would be super cool to go visit him and see what being a fire fighter is all about.  It was a lot of fun and he did an awesome job touring us around. Camilla even scored a coloring book with stickers out of it!! Thought I would share some pics with you all!

 Daddy and his girl!

Arland tagged along with us! It was super fun to have him!

 

Cami and her Uncle Mike

The helmet actually says "Fire Fighter Hudkins" on it, but I don't know if you can see it very well in the picture. We tried to get Camilla to wear it but she kept ducking out... Pretty funny

 

Uncle Mike: "It's SOO awesome!...."

Sitting in the fire truck! Uncle Mike is captivating us all with exciting stories about driving to fires!

 

Uncle Mike: The real deal

Uncle Arland: The slim-down version (wearing Murph's uniform might I add)..

We got to see all of the fire fighters uniforms and even tried one on!! Pretty impressive!

 

We went through to the work-out room and the kitchen.  Camilla even got to drink some water from their big glasses.  Those fire fighters can cook! We ended our tour back with the trucks and snapped a pic of Cami and her Uncle Mike.  Her face is so proud looking.  What a fabulous afternoon!

Other than that we are doing well. We all had a bit of a flu this week and I wasn't able to eat for a while.  I was worried about the baby, but it's still kicking like crazy! It likes to be active around 11pm just like Cami Jean was.  We are all doing well and looking very forward to Christmas Holidays!

Lots of Love,

Moving Date

Well, we now have a moving date - January 15th.

We would be most appreciative if all Hudkins family muscular males would come and help on Saturday, January 15th. I think a good starting time would be 10:00 a.m.

I have booked a moving company to come on the 17th.  They charge by the hour.  Our thinking is that if our family could move all the small stuff, we will have the professional movers take the furniture.  In this way we will not need our own trucks and it would not take too long either for us on Saturday OR for the movers on Monday.  If you could each bring your vehicles, we can fill them and with lots of people it should not take very long on the Saturday.  Then on Monday the movers will finish the job with the furniture and should be done in less than 2 hours. 

Please let me know who will be able to come and help so that I know how much lunch to prepare.  We very much appreciate all the offers, so now we are taking you up on them.

Love you all much,
Gramma & Grampa

Chocolate Pictures!

Some of the crew hard at work!!

Gramma beating the chocolate!!

Maybe half done? Gramma & Grampa's bed loaded with the goods!

Awesome transfer paper for the cherry almond flavor!

Pretty well done, lots of things full of chocolates as well as a table in the living room and the top of the TV stand!

Chocolate making was great! We all had a good time. Gramma made us some fabulous food to keep us going and we enjoyed getting our fingers dirty with chocolate (and licking it off after).  It was a long process, but all worth it! Thanks to all who shared their knowledge and tips on chocolate making.  Thanks Jenny for organizing all of this and working so hard! Thank you Gramma for hosting! Thanks Grampa for being a trooper, you were the only man in the house! We appreciate everything you did (especially switching out trays). 

Near the end there was a lot of "do you think we made to much?" and "whose idea was this anyway?" (all in good spirits of course!) HaHa.  It was a long, fabulous day, and well worth every second to spend it with family and gain some knowledge from those who are wiser and more experienced!! I also learned that Auntie Sylvia is practically a professional dipper. We missed those who couldn't make it!  Hope to see everyone soon!!

Love,
Addie

TWELVE DAYS OF CHOCOLATES

On the first day of chocolates my family gave to me
A grampa switching out trays
On the second day of chocolates my family gave to me
Two pregnant mommies
and a Grampa switching out trays
On the third day of chocolates my family gave to me
Three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the fourth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the fifth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the sixth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the seventh day of chocolates my family gave to me
Seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the eighth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Eight absent children (thank goodness!) seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the ninth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Nine cheating tasters, eight absent children, seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the tenth day of chocolates my family gave to me
Ten nimble fingers, nine cheating tasters, eight absent children, seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the eleventh day of chocolates my family gave to me
Eleven calls from husbands (or hours of dipping), ten nimble fingers, nine cheating tasters, eight absent children, seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Fives tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
On the TWELFTH day of chocolates my family gave to me
Twelve fondant flavors,
eleven calls from husbands, ten nimble fingers, nine cheating tasters, eight absent children, seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.


O.K. now I better go get ready for church!!!
Addie took pictures and said she would share them.

Love you all,
Gramma & Grampa

A lot of hard work but a great feeling of accomplishment.  Thanks Jenny for once again organizing and getting us going. 

He Hung Up --- Yessss!

This morning I received a phone call from a telephone solicitor.  The conversation went like this:

Me:  Hello --- Hello
C:     Can I speak to the homeowner?
Me:  What are you selling?
C:     I'm with (indiscernable name)  - Do you have a mortgage on your home?
Me:  Where did you get my name and phone number?
C:     Silence - then hung up!!

Yess!  I now know how to deal with these guys.  Don't answer any questions.  Take control of the conversation and come back to them with a question.

Thought I'd share this idea with all of you.  Whatever you do, don't give them any information.

Love,
Gramma

Camilla Finds Her Whiskers

Fondant Making Tips

I made my first batch of fondant today.  It turned out great, but I thought if some of you are planning on doing it at home I should give you a few tips that I realized while I was doing mine and that were missing from the recipe.

*  BE SURE to use a Heavy pot.  (I made a double batch and used my pressure cooker because it is the heaviest pot I own.)

*  Be sure the pot is well buttered before measuring your ingredients into it.

*  STIR CONSTANTLY - only until mixture starts boiling.  I used the medium heat on my stove.  If your heat is too high, your fondant will burn.

*  DO NOT STIR while it is boiling.  Do not be impatient.  This is not a quick process.

*  To check for soft ball stage, dip spoon into boiling mixture (without stirring).  Take a spoonful out and drop mixture into cold water.  Work it with your fingers.  It needs to stay together in a soft ball.  The ball needs to be a fairly firm soft ball, not one that will easily fall apart. 

NOTE:  Even if you are using a candy thermometer, do the cold water check.  Not all candy termometers are accurate.

At the end, you plop the butter into the mixture and without stirring or shaking, allow it to cool to about your body temperature.  I always wash my hands really well and stick my finger straight down the middle of the mixture.  DO NOT STIR IT.  Just put your finger straight down and straight up. 

When it is the right temperature, you can start working it.  Once you start, do not stop before it has turned.  This will take at least 20 minutes.  Keep the mixture moving. If you stop part way through, your fondant will turn sugary and will need to be re-cooked.

I hope the above is helpful.  Every year I need to do a trial run and try to remember all the little tricks. 

Chocolate making together will be fun.

Love to all,
Gramma

Update from Aaron & Chelsey!!

Hello Family!

It's been a while since we blogged, so thought we would give an update. Aaron is FINALLY working in Red Deer! YAY! It's so great to have him home everynight. He is working for a company called DFI, and so far he is enjoying it. He is also going to Red Deer College, taking his 4th class power engineering course, so he has been very busy. Life has been hectic lately with so much going on, but we are so happy with life and blessed for the good things coming our way.

Brooke has started Grade 2 this year. She is doing so well in school and we are very proud. Time sure flys! She is now back living in Fort McMurray.

We spent Thanksgiving camping at Chelsey's Aunty's farm near Boyle.. and we got some fall pics done, so we thought we would share a few..along with some pictures from Brooke's very first concert.. Chelsey took her to......  JUSTIN BIEBER.. she was so excited.

Hope everyone is doing well .....

Aaron & Chelsey
xoxoxoxo

 

We always have to get a goofy picture :)

Brooke rockin' her new T-Shirt!!

Brooke & Keisha patienly waiting for Justin Beiber to show up...

First Snowman of the Season

Yesterday we got our first snow of the season! I couldn't resist taking Camilla out to play, even though it was a little chilly.  We had a great time walking around the yard, pushing snowballs, and making a snow man.  It made me super excited for the Christmas season (it's not too far away!! ).  We are all doing good, and just thought we'd share some pictures from our afternoon out in the snow!