Merry Christmas 2023 from the Badger Family
What a crazy 2023… so many ups and downs… it really was a roller coaster!
Where to begin…
After a tumultuous ending to 2022, we went full steam ahead into 2023 like a bull dozer.
While January rolled on, we kept the pressure on our contractors and insurance company so we could move back to the homestead we know and love. A garage was built for us to be able to stay on our own property while we can clean up and rebuild our beloved, lost home. I am so completely grateful to my mother and father in law to have let us stay in their home while we built the garage as well as host us over the holidays. It was a really hard time and it was so good for the girls to have somewhere comfortable to be during that time of year.
February came upon us… this saw the four of us moving into the garage back on our quarter and our first 4-H communications event. Me, as a mom, and Zoey as a last year cleaver. She wrote a speech about our dog, Newt. He’s a mini aussie so she spoke about his breed and his character. Then she added how much Newt adds to our family and farm. As a first time participant, I was so proud of her accomplishment!
The beginning of the month, we went to a farm in Grovedale to pick out Zoey’s first 4-H lamb! Shae, as an honourary cleaver, chose her own lamb as a companion to Zoey’s. Both were tagged for when we could pick them up in March.
MAAAAAArch 5th… we brought Marshmallow and Kanga home with us. First time with lambs for any of us on the farm and it was definitely a learning experience! They only got out 3 times and luckily we had Ace to help me put them back into their pen after each time. Newt (the mini aussie) on the other hand was dead set on getting into the pen with the lambs to bully them. Unfortunately, he did manage to get his teeth into Shae’s lamb’s tail and we had a little doctoring to do. But Kanga ultimately was ok and Shae was able to make sure he made it to achievement day.
April brought Easter, more lamb-walking, a new-to-us side by side for the kiddos to terrorize the animals with and my 41st birthday.
Marshmallow and Kanga learned to lead pretty well. Kanga’s tail ultimately fell off due to the trauma it sustained but healed none-the-less with some TLC. We managed to block all of Newt’s remaining attempts at gaining entry into the lamb pen.
Cordell prepped for yet another plant turnaround at work and helped me prep for the first of our calves to hit the ground.
May raged into our lives like the wildfires raged on Alberta… we experienced so many emotions with the wildfires and the ominous air they cast. Even though there were no fires in our immediate area and were never evacuated, the girls usually had some sort of suitcase packed by the door for the first couple weeks of the month. Zoey’s had the necessities — clothes, toiletries. Shae’s had toys. Her logic was that I can replace her clothes but her toys are very precious to her. Which was pretty valid logic, when you think about it.
Despite all that, life went on. Soccer started and I ended up “coaching” Zoey’s team this year. I use the term loosely, of course. I learned a lot from the other coaches in the age group.
4-H pre-achievement day brought the first of many baths for Marshmallow and Kanga. I taught the girls all I know about bathing animals… from when I used to bathe horses for parades and shows and 4-H when I was younger.
With the damages to our 5th wheel travel trailer, insurance saw fit to pay us out for it. We used the money to buy a new-to-us motorhome from a neighbour. The girls were excited to go on our first camping trip and make some amazing new memories.
June! What can I say about you? So, so, so, so much!
Our first 4-H achievement day. Poor Zoey was miserable due to dust allergies and it’s such a long day but she was a trooper! All the cleavers were! She didn’t earn any special awards but she was fairly diligent on making sure her pen stayed clean, Marshmallow was brushed and she showed that little lamb to the best of her abilities.
Soon after achievement day, we called it a wrap on our 2023 calving season. With 17 healthy calves and one molly mule on the ground, I call it a success. Cordell says I’m crazy for taking a selfie with each calf when I capture them with the calf-catcher to tag ’em and give them vitamins but I don’t care. It’s completely worth it!
In all that chaos, we managed to get a new pool set up and filled in time for Zoey’s birthday party.
Our oldest girl turned 9 with the piercing of her ears… making her look even more mature. I’m not ready for her pre-teen years!
And yet another milestone for the family… Shae’s kindergarten graduation! What a fun day that was!
After cows and calves were branded and vaccinated, we shipped them to the summer pasture so our pastures had a little room to breathe.
With calving season and Cordell’s plant turnaround behind us for the year, we turned our focus onto more fun things. July long weekend, my dad’s side of my family likes to do a big group camp at Peace Island Park in Taylor, BC so the girls and I packed up the motorhome and took it on our maiden voyage. It’s definitely a learning curve to drive but we managed and arrived in Taylor unscathed. The girls and I very much enjoyed our first trip out… renewing and kindling friendships with cousins.
The very next weekend saw us in Leduc for the 5k Foam Fest… first one held here since B.C. (before Covid). Zoey and I kicked butt and had a blast while Cordell and Shae hung out in the kidzone waiting for us. We are already planning on attending it again in 2024.
That rolled us into Teepee Creek Stampede weekend. If you know us, you know we are very much involved with that event year after year. This year, we drove the motorhome down to the grounds for the weekend. Shae rode a sheep and the girls were thrilled to meet lots of rodeo queens. Especially since Shae has decided she’s going to be a “Rodeo Queen Champion” when she grows up.
With calving season and Cordell’s plant turnaround behind us for the year, we turned our focus onto more fun things. July long weekend, my dad’s side of my family likes to do a big group camp at Peace Island Park in Taylor, BC so the girls and I packed up the motorhome and took it on our maiden voyage. It’s definitely a learning curve to drive but we managed and arrived in Taylor unscathed. The girls and I very much enjoyed our first trip out… renewing and kindling friendships with cousins.
The very next weekend saw us in Leduc for the 5k Foam Fest… first one held here since B.C. (before Covid). Zoey and I kicked butt and had a blast while Cordell and Shae hung out in the kidzone waiting for us. We are already planning on attending it again in 2024.
That rolled us into Teepee Creek Stampede weekend. If you know us, you know we are very much involved with that event year after year. This year, we drove the motorhome down to the grounds for the weekend. Shae rode a sheep and the girls were thrilled to meet lots of rodeo queens. Especially since Shae has decided she’s going to be a “Rodeo Queen Champion” when she grows up.
Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to my dad’s brother not too long after that. My uncle Ed was in my life a lot when I was younger and he and my dad lived together. His health had been declining for quite some time and most of his siblings as well as his kids and grandkids were able to be with him in his final days. It was good to see more of my family again… even with such sad circumstances.
The month ended with another fun camping trip closer to Cordell’s work so he could see us in the evenings and didn’t have as long of a commute.
Then all of a sudden, it was August!
August brought a little more grief… we managed to get the old house cleaned up, filled and packed. The whole process has been very bittersweet. Excitement of the new beginnings combined with the sadness of burying the old house. I did, however, learn to run a packer.
After we busted our butts and the pad was built, the girls and I decided to run away to Sylvan Lake to visit my sister, Jenn. Along the way, we drove through Jasper National Park and did the glacier tour at the Columbia Icefields. It was so amazing to see again and the girls loved it.
At Jenn’s, we managed to fit in a couple amazing beach days, some back to school shopping in Red Deer and even did up the floor plan of the new house. Jenn was so amazing at seeing my vision of our new home come to life.
Why are summers so short? Oh right… because we go so crazy for those 2 months, us parents need a rest!
Back to school for Zoey and Shae… grades 4 and 1 respectively.
We managed to get the floor of the new house poured before the nights got too cold and it could cure properly.
The year marched on into October… we were full steam ahead on the house, hell-bent on getting to lock up before winter hit us.
4-H started a new year — guess who volunteered to be the new general leader of the club? Yep, you guessed it. Like I didn’t have enough on my plate. But it’s all so worth it to have such an amazing group of families backing you up!
November took us to lock up on the house. We know we have been on borrowed time with having such a mild winter this year!
Zoey brought home Jigsaw, her 4-H market steer. She’s very excited to be doing a different project this year. With my help, we’ve managed to get a halter on him twice now.
The girls and I have had some fun visiting local Christmas markets… even seeing Santa at the Teepee Creek Cowboy Christmas market!
In between all that, Cordell has been either working or working on the house. Catching the odd NFL football game when he can!
He was definitely grateful that the cows have been able to graze on our hay field for the additional month, saving us feed.
That brings us into December!
How fast this year has flown!
We found the room in our tiny living space for a small tree that the girls decorated with dollar store crafty ornaments and I mentally attempt to prepare myself for this coming holiday season.
Shae and I are going to start going to a weekly gymkhana night at the local indoor riding arena now that I have my horse back from 3 months of training.
Along with planning every stage of the house build, we are somewhat impatiently awaiting for another cheque from our insurance company. Oh how things happen fast until the money runs out!
I’m hoping to be in our house by this time next year. That timeline allows for delays in materials and services… some have been hard to come by on this build.
Regardless, we try to keep things rolling as well as keeping busy with school and extracurriculars. It’s never a dull moment around here!
Here’s hoping this “letter” (aka novel) finds you and yours healthy and happy.
I hope your holiday season and your 2024 brings you joy and contentment.
From our homestead to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
From Cordell, Pam, Zoey & Shae
