Cheryl's Update

Hi there Ladies -
So sorry for never keeping in touch - I realize how terrible I am!
Well, guess what- I am returning to Prince George for a one year training position with the Intergrated Land Management Bureau and will be working as a Land's Officer. AND - I am going to take some courses again at UNBC part time as I pursuing a second degree in Forest Ecology & Conservation & Biology. AND the most exciting - I am moving in with Pam and renting her basement off of her. Is that fun times or what?! I can hardly wait.
Bruce has moved up to Houston for work - and to be closer to his kids. I sure miss them - and miss him! At least with this posting in Prince George we will be closer. So much has been going on. Bruce's ex-wife has been battling cancer this past year - it has been such a hard time. She is currently recovering from surgeory in Vancouver still. It's been a tough hall. At least with this PG job - I can see him and the kids on the weekends. My poor doggies are going to be waylayed to mom and dad's for a month - as Bruce does not move into his new rental place officially till August.
I am in the midst of working very late hours - finishing work projects & of course packing. I start my new job on Monday - my last day here in the Chilcotin Forest District is Friday. No break! That's ok.
I am very busy finishing up some courses and studying for my RFT course - which I write in the fall. I am kind of nervous about that.
This past April we went to Mexico - it was great fun. We want to go to the Dominican this Spring coming up. =) No house - no babies of my own yet - my stepkids keep me busy. Besides, we need to figure out where we may settle eventually - and if there will be suitable work.
Facebook me or call me on my Cell- I loved reading everyone's postings. Sarah - what a doll your little girl is. Gina - you look fabulous! Cathrine - love the bike!!!! Take me for a ride! Susan - you did such an awesome job at organizing us all - I wish I could have made the retreat!!
Now off to work - enough of a break. Soon new job -----soon if you can believe it I will be wondering the halls of UNBC again - my gawd I will feel like a DINOSAUR -
Take care ladies, love you
Me

Leadership Changes for Alpha Pi Beta Alumnae

Times are changing… we are growing, developing and evolving as an organization.
We have more active Alumnae members than we have ever had before, and we have all our Chapter Cities active (Alpha, Beta, Gamma & Delta). The group has good leaders in place on the board… Carrie, Lonnie, Jamie, Laura & Gina are all great leaders for our Board and dedicated sisters.

Our Retreats are always fun, exciting and well attended!
We have a strong, good committed sisterhood that we all know we can count on.

The APB Alumnae have been successful in working together as a group to establish many committees, accomplish fundraising goals & support our local communities.

But most importantly we are able to support, and encourage one another in good and hard times.
We are a group of well educated, well accomplished, outgoing, strong independent and confident women.

I think it is amazing that we have young APB Alumnae members who are just graduating and have so much energy and drive, while at the same time we have members who graduated from UNBC almost 10 years go (yikes… are we that old). Some of our more senior Alumnae members have gone on to accomplish wonderful and impressive things. And it is so comforting to know that no matter what stage you are at in your life you have support. If you are an Alpha Pi Beta Sister you have a family of sisters who will support you and encourage you no mater what you do or where life takes you.

As you all know today is my last day as the APB Alumnae Coordinator and I am so excited and proud that a younger sister from a newer generation is taking over this role.
It is so important for the success of our group that the younger sisters get involved, take on leadership roles, host events, attend Retreats and are active in the Alumnae. While at the same time the senior sisters remain involved, active and in touch with the group no matter where life takes them! The younger members are our future, and the senior members are our foundation. Every member plays and important and vital role in the success of our group.

I am so proud and excited that Natalie D will be taking over as the Alpha Pi Beta Alumnae Coordinator. It is a privilege to pass long the position to such a dedicated and out going APB sister.

I am sure that the next two years hold wonderful and exciting things for our group with Natalie D as our Alpha Pi Beta Coordinator.

Please join me in welcoming Natalie D to the APB Alumnae board as our 3rd official Alpha Pi Beta Alumnae Coordinator.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to hold this position for the last two years and I am excited to watch the group grow and change under new leadership.

Your Sister Always ~Susan Grimmer~

New house, new job, kids growing quickly

I'm loving all these new blog posts! we really shouldn't go so long between updates! But who am i to talk, it's been a while for me too - basically since Ollie was born - and now he's almost crawling!!

In march we moved...again. Yah yah, we said the last house would be the last place, but I'm sure of this one...we will be here for a long time! We moved from North Vancouver to Cloverdale - and no it doesn't smell like cows, that's Chilliwack, really we're not that far out! HAHA. For those of you who don't know, Cloverdale is an area of Surrey on the border of Langley. We moved because the market was awesome for buying, and we were able to get a brand new build house for a steal! Thankfully we have an amazing real estate agent who was able to sell our house in 2 weeks, in a market where houses were sitting for months on end! The new house is huge and great for our growing family. It's nice not having a list of "fixer-upper" stuff to do every weekend, and for the first time...ever...we've been able to just enjoy our weekends and do fun family stuff. Not to worry though, Curt won't get bored, there is an un-finished basement for him to play in when he's missing "work" to do, haha ;)


The kids are getting big and growing up so fast! Ollie is rolling around everywhere and on the verge of crawling. He's eating all foods now and hasnt seemed to not like anything (including avocados and peas, which were major yuck foods for Robyn). Robyn has started Highland dancing, to the delight of her g'ma! She took to it like a fish to water and her first class you'd think she'd been doing it for months! I'm also thinking of putting her in gymnastics, since she's quite the monkey at the playground and can scale the monkeybars like no one's business!

As for me, I've started up Mary Kay and I'm on my way to growing my business pretty quickly! About 2 months ago I was at a very low state of mind and I needed something to pull me out. A gf was doing really well in MK and suggested I start too, and I am so glad I did. If anything, it gets me out of the house, doing my own thing, having fun and feeling good about myself again. My goal for the end of fall is to become a Director of Sales.

I've included some pictures of the new house, the kids and the family recently at a wedding.

Update... a long time coming.. Sorry!!!

Hello all of you wonderful ladies!!!

Sorry I have not updated at all. I feel like things have been crazy for me and I keep saying "when it calms down I will post"... well that seems like it will never happen :o)

Well Aaron and I have been living in Delta together since March 2008, so just over a year. It has been nice living down here. I am really enjoying it now. At the beginning, and up until about 4 months ago, I was not doing so well emotionally. I was not happy living down here, missing my PG peeps, and hating my job b/c of a horrible TL. Well I am doing better now (thank god), still miss my PG peeps but doing better with support of my BF Michele and her beautiful daugther, Arianna; as well my TL still sucks, but whatever :o)

Aaron and I are not sure about purchasing a place yet, but I did buy a brand new motorcycle :o) I love it!!!! I went on my first long ride ever this weekend. We rode to Peachland for father's day weekend and visited Aaron's dad and my dad. It was really fun, but cold and wet and now I am super sick :o(

Levo is doing great :o) We joined an American Eskimo club and we go to puppy party's once a month with other Eskie owners. It is really fun and after 2 events levo already knows what Puppy party means when I say it :o) It's really cute!

Aaron and I still do not see children in our future (despite what Shannon wants). But I have a new baby in my life, Arianna. My BF Michele gave birth to Arianna on March 16th. I was Michele's birth coach. Being there for the birth was the most intense and amazing event I have ever been a part of. I got to cut the cord and that was super cool!! I am happy I got to experience that. I love being an aunt and Aaron is doing a great job at it too :o) He adores Arianna, it is really cute to see. i have included pics of Michele and Arianna.

I have been looking at getting a different job, but in this recession I am leary about leaving my job which is a secure one. I will hang in there and keep on doing child protection until it burns me out, or I find another job :o)

Aaron is doing amazing at his job. They love him. He is going all over the world. He recently has been to Sweden, Brazil, and all over the US. He also has possible visits to Dubai and yearly visits to Rio/Sao Paulo Brazil. Which I will definetly be joining him for. We are going together in mid July to San Diego for one of his work things. I plan on doing some shopping while he is doing work stuff and we will have 3 personal days there to check out marine world and a few other tourist attractions.

My family just came for a visit for a week (my mom, sister, neice and nephew). It was nice to see my family again. It has been a long time since I saw them. My sister and the kids stopped by on their way to Toronto for my nephews big surgery, which he is in right now as I write thsi message. I know he will be fine. He has a rare medical condition that is too complicated to explain, but the main purpose of this surgery is to permantly cathederize (sp?) him b/c he was born with Bladder Exstrophy.

My two year anniversary with the Ministry has now gone by and i can't beleive I have been doing this job over over 2 years now. I can't beleive how fast time goes by. It has been 2 years since I graduated... that is crazy! Sometimes it feels like yesterday and sometimes it feels like 10 years ago.

Anyways, I have no idea what else to write right now. I am just happy that I managed to get a post up here :o) I have included some pictures so you all can see what I have been up to. If you are on facebook, you probably have seen these pics :o) They are of me and my bike, just my bike, me and arianna, Michele Arianna and Levo, and me and Aaron.

Take care ladies and I will hopefully post again soon. Sorry if this post is "all over" the place :o)

Life after UNBC

Hi everyone!

Well now that I've offically graduated I've got a job down in Vancouver working for Peter Kiewit as an assistant business manager on the Port Mann bridge highway one expansion project. Ian and I are renting a condo in White Rock and we are loving it here. I've (hopefully) included some pictures of the condo that we are renting. It's in the Miramar towers 1 bedroom and den and faces West which is pretty awesome. Anyways life is going pretty well and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone is the Vancouver chapter. I'll keep everyone updated! -Robyn

Our Den Our Kitchen

Our Living Room Our veiw from our kitchen

Sunset views from our balcony

The Big New Job Begins!

Hi Ladies,

Just thought I would write to let you all know that I am officially licensed as Mortgage Associate with Verico Trillian Mortgage here in Grande Prairie. I finished up my course in March and my licensing went through last Thursday. I have been busy catching up on all of the programs and rates and getting myself reaquainted with all of the stuff I missed while on Maternity leave. I've started some different marketing and advertising plans and will hopefully be getting in some business soon. I am soooo excited to start and get my career on the move. If any of you know anyone who will be needing a mortgage in Grande Prairie or Alberta in general, please pass on my info...or if you're looking at getting one and just want some info or to chat give me a call :)

On an non-work related front we are all doing well and have had a very busy spring and summer with lots of travelling (we went to Hawaii, Mexico, Van Island for the retreat and lots of PG trips). Marshall just celebrated his 3rd birthday...which floors me and Lainey will be one in August...I can't believe how quickly they grow up! Marshall is playing soccer which is over on Friday and got his first goal last week which was pretty exciting!! Lainey is moving around and the busiest little girl you have ever seen...I have a feeling that she's going to be a bit of a handful once she's walking as she is curious and just wants to touch and taste everything she can find lol but I am impressed with her sheer determination to explore. And Matt got Chetwynd and Dawson Creek as accounts at work so he has been travelling two days a week which makes my job at home a bit tougher but he is loving the new challenge and it's bringing in more money so I can't complain too much.

The weather here has been AMAZING the last couple of weeks so we have been busy outside and at the park...I decided that I wanted a good tan and as much fun quality time with the kids as possible before I get busy with work, and here you never know what the weather will be like so I'm enjoying it while it's beautiful! And we're finally getting a non dirt filled back yard which is super exciting...I'm tired of dirt so we'll be getting sod in a couple weeks which means we can lounge in the back yard! It's exciting to see it all coming together :)

I included some pics from the Vancouver Island trip and some recent ones of the kids. So that is the big (long) Gina update...hope you are all doing well!! I will post on how the business is going soon!!

Your sister

Gina

The Grimmer's in Costa Rica

In May I went to Costa Rica with my huddy… We had a great time! We backpacked the entire Upper Peninsula and loved every moment of travelling in South America. Some highlights were… feeding wild Crocodiles in Samara, bathing in waterfall in falls in Montezuma, getting a wicked sunburn on Jaco, and stayed in the oldest historical part of San Jose. We had a great time… The beaches we amazing, and the old streets were beautiful; it was so nice to get out backpacking again and see a different little corner of the world that I have not seen before. I think my favorite part of the trip was Kayaking on the jungle while searching for moneys. But the most memorable part of the trip was spending the day horseback riding on the very tip of the Peninsula. We had such a great time; I just wish we could have gone to Panama as well! Backpacking is not glamorous, but I personally believe it is the best way to experience a country and I love doing it. If you have ever had the travel itch, I say just go out and do it! Miss you all and love you! ~ Susan~

Moving

Hey Girls, I think I finally figured out how to post a message. My summer is going well so far. My husband and I were just in Nanaimo to find a place to live and we found a nice basement suite. We will be moving sometime next month. I'll be doing the post-degree education program and he will hopefully find work down there. We've never lived anywhere but Prince George and our families are both here, so it's going to be weird. Plus I have to leave my cat with my parents since we'll be renting :( However, I'm excited to meet the girls in the alumnae and hope to join you in next year's retreat.

The BIG RETREAT 2 Committee has been formed!

Hello ladies!

The Big Retreat 2 Committee has been formed and now consists of: Natalie B, Natalie D, Keri, Lonnie, Susan, Jamie and Danya.

We will be discussing the plans for the BIG retreat in 2013 and offering suggestions on how to financially prepare in advance.

I will email you all once we have some more concrete info to share! In the meantime, start saving, because it's going to be a BIG ONE!!!

Natalie B