SOME BIG NEWS!

Well, the news is starting to leak, so for those of you who haven't heard the news....

Drumroll Please........

We are very excited to tell you that I am pregnant! Yes, you read that right! Its true. I am due in the middle of March and I find out what I am having on Monday the 6th. It was quite the surprise and we couldn't be happier. It has been a challenge keeping it a secret because I have been sooooo sick. I usually don't have a very good sense of smell, and all of a sudden I can smell everything from a mile away. I have lost about 15 pounds from puking all day every day, and I am just starting to feel better. The only problem is the food that sounds really good are things that I cant get in Canada. If any could figure out a way to UPS me a gandolfo's sandwich, you would be my best friend. I also HATE breakfast, I have seen everything moving in both directions, so I also want sandwiches at 10 in the morning so I can avoid all cereals. Hence the gandlofo's sandwiches. It has been so crazy.

I am not really showing at all, so I haven't taken any belly shots yet. We will keep you posted.

Mick's Birthday

Mick's First Day of School

Mick & Holly
Mick & David

Today is Mick's birthday, I can't believe another year has passed by so fast. I thought it would be fun to post a few pictures of him when he was a little boy. I think the best part of the growing up pictures is to see what the older siblings are wearing and all of the hot styles!

Happy Birthday Mick!

Fantasies

All my life, I have fantasized about fly fishing on a secluded river yet discovered by any angler. With the world being 5/8 water, I just knew deep down that such a stream exists. I fantasized that after a long hike I would discover clear, deep, pools and dry fly slicks all containing large fish. This weekend’s trip was the closest thing to fulfilling this fantasy.

My co-coworker and I fished up Frenchman’s river here in Southern Alberta. We purchased the maps, drove the distance and arrived at the destination. The water was so clear and cold I thought no way was there fish up here. We started nymphing the little pools in search of life and quickly learned they were looking up, when one brave cutthroat took a swipe at my indicator. After switching to dries, we saw many hits but no takes. So we hiked on. That perfect spot is always around the next bend. Right?

When I saw the white fin-tips, I thought it was the biggest brook trout in the world. It took a few minutes to gain my composure. Should I try for it, or just cry? A large boulder protected me from the fishes view. I thanked the Man for placing that boulder in such a strategic position. I threw on an olive-bugger, a few bb’s, said a prayer, and chucked it in the pool with my 4 weight. After five strips, she darted, engulfed and then belly rolled. The fight was epic! She ran out a dozen times hitting deep crevasses. Luckily, I could play her in section of boulders that restricted her from running to far downstream. No chance for me with a 4 weight. When she finally surfaced, I knew that I had not hooked a giant brookie; rather I hooked and landed my first Bull Trout.

By the end of the day I had caught ten fish; two nice bull-trout and eight stocky cutthroats on a small renegade. I would be stocky too, if I had to run from bull-trout my entire life. Unfortunately, the only camera we had was my co-workers cell phone camera. It did the job, but the pictures are a little grainy.