Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Sorry for the lack of posting, I (Shannon) have been extremely busy since thanksgiving. With work and trying to complete my course, I felt like I had no free time to do anything. Although Josh hasn't been that busy he now refuses to post anything, his excuse being that I somehow am better at it. Anyways lots to talk about, I apologize in advance if this post is a little long-winded.

Us: Josh and I celebrated our one year anniversary on October 14Th. I had to work that day, so the following night we went out for dinner to an authentic Mexican restaurant called El Sombrero. We had planned to go bowling afterwards but they were closed till 9pm due to league games, and that is just too late to bowl when you work at 7:30 the next morning.

School: I have finally finished my Bio 20 course ending up with a B in the class, and am now working through Bio 30. I have also found out that I need to upgrade my math, at first they were going to start me at a grade 7 level, but I did some homework and retested at a grade 9 level. So now on top of my current course and 2 chem courses, I need to complete 4 math courses. I will no longer be able to start nursing school in September, it will have to be pushed back till January 09.
Josh is officially registered to start school in January, he just waiting to get a letter that states he has been accepted, so that he can be approved for a student visa when we come home from San Diego. At first it looked like Josh was going to be upgrading for two and a half years, due to the amount of math courses he needed to take. He was basically going to start at an early elementary level, (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), but after studying for about a month and working through the text book, he was able to retest and has been approved to start at the next level which is a grade 5/6 level.

Work: Josh spent last week taking the carpet and lino and baseboards out of my dad's house, because they are putting hardwood and laminate tiles throughout the house. Josh also got a job at a local doughnut and coffee shop, Tim Horton's, that he starts on Monday at 6am! I also finally heard back about a job interview I went to a month ago, and I was offered a position in chart management at the Alberta Children's Hospital. My last day at Safeway (Von's) will be Nov. 17Th and then I start at the hospital that Monday. I can't wait to start. With my significant pay increase and Josh now bringing in a more steady income, it's a huge relief off my shoulders, and we will finally be able to start putting some money away.

Weather: I don't know if you all keep up with the weather here, but it has gotten COLD! It has even snowed 3 times in the last 2-3 weeks. The day before the first real snow fall it was 23C(73F) and Josh and I spent the day walking around Downtown after I put a few hours in at school. You would never guess that the next day it would be -5C(23F) and snowing in less than 24 hours. We have a weather condition similar to the Santa Ana winds that you experience in California called Chinook winds. This is where warm wet winds come from coast of British Columbia and when they go over the mountains towards Alberta it gets stripped of moisture and becomes a dry heat. This is how we can have super cold days and then the next day the snow is gone and we are in shorts and t-shirts. Josh has had a ton of fun in the snow, playing with dogs and taking them for walks, making snow angels and snow men and even shoveling the snow off the deck and the stairs leading to the backyard. Check out the photo album for pictures.

And just a quick update on my cousin Nolan. He was taken off of nasal oxygen last week, and has started breastfeeding. I believe he is 5lbs or just over now, and is expected to come home Monday as long as he passes his car seat test, which is where they put him in the car seat for a few minutes and make sure his blood pressure and other vitals remain normal. On Saturday he will be 2 months old, so he will be out a month even before his due date.

Well I believe I have talked about everything, and you are all up to date. We are so excited to come visit, its only 13 days and counting.

Miss you.
Shannon & Josh