Thomas Cheesman

Timeline

A life in 144 small moments — beginning with a letter to my children.

Welcome to Dad's Scrapbook of Shenanigans, thus far!

Here is the real reason I made this book: I want you to know the guy behind the terrible dad jokes. (Who doesn't need a red bucket once in awhile?) Life gets very messy, loud, and sometimes tough, but the late great Jack Layton left us with some wicked wisdom before he passed:

Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.
— Jack Layton

Be kind (even when the other person is not), chase what brightens you up, laugh out loud, and never be afraid to be ridiculous. That's how the best adventures happen.

You three are already the greatest chapter of my life.

Patience the Wise
Daniel the Curious
Faith the Spirited

Now go, make your own wild stories — I can't wait to add them in the next chapter.

Love you more than you will ever know, Dad.

47 years · 144 moments

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Chapter One·Calgary & The Foothills

Chapter One

Calgary & The Foothills

There is a lot that happens in our younger years and it is too bad we can't remember it all. A lot of these images in this period I don't recall myself. I have glimpses of what my life was like but rarely do those glimpses line up with the recorded past. I remember all these people well, even though I don't recall the times in mmany of these photos. The kindness and love from my family played a big part in how I grew up and the kind of person I grew up to be.

1980·Calgary

Born

ook out, Calgary. Thomas has entered the chatroom! Blessing number 1 was being born, I believe life is a gift, I just don't buy the primordial soup story we are fed growing up. The truth is: nobody knows how or why life exists so I think calling it a blessing is appropriate.

1980·Calgary

Grandpa Lakeman

Meeting grandpa for the first time, I really miss him. He passed when I was 13 or 14. Before Cancer he was so strong and athletic. He and grandma would compete in the provincial senior olympics and had so many awards and trophies. He was a great man.

1980·Calgary

Me and Granny Docherty

I miss Granny, I miss the naps we had and to this day I equate the smell of toast with the smell of her house. I have many memories of her place in Edmonton from all the visits we had.

1981·Turner Valley

Learning to Walk

These things are illegal, I am lucky to be alive! Haha, all the cool toys were taken away for my kids generation. Come to think of it I am lucky I survived childhood.

1982·Turner Valley

Laundry day

Damn Laundry, I tried - but a nap was in order. That or I tried dressing myself and passed out midway, totally plausible lol

1982·Turner Valley

Auntie

Christopher and I crawling on Auntie Eleanor. It doesn't matter who you were, give us a chance to climb on you and we'd take it. Auntie Elenor was always kind and happy to see us.

1982·Calgary

Mom napping

Mom was trying to nap. I wasn't letting her. I still give mom a hard time from time to time, no more climbing though, we would both probably break. I am proud of Mumzie for taking care of her diabetes and making better life choices.

1982·Calgary

With Father and Chris

Father, Thomas, and Christopher. Just 3 dudes in their blue jeans kicking back on a hot day. We are pretty good looking people aren't we. I know where my kids get their good looks from :)

1983·Calgary

Granny visits

Some how Lakeman's have more strength then shows, we may be skinny but we are stronger than most. Granny Docerty was so strong she broke her arm, JK

1984·Turner Valley

Out of the city

Six years in the foothills - mountains close, oil derricks scattered through the trees. There drilled the oil while "Grasshoppers" pumped it.

1984·Turner Valley

4yrs old

A lot of family photos with "the Kids" ends up being all kids together in all photos, nowadays there are varieties common and solo shots all the time.

1985·Turner Valley

Diagnosed - Hajdu-Cheney

It is a miracle I was diagnosed. How the doctor found the cause of my syptoms when they were so minor and the disorder so rare is beyond me. I think being diagnosed early and getting the Calcimar Shots when I was 7 made a big difference growing up.

1986·Turner Valley

Kindergarten class photo

Class of 1986/87. My teacher was Ms Dallas, the big guy beside me was Kevin and we were friends for a while, I don't know what happened to him, if he moved or what but I don't remembe him in grade 3 and 4.

1986·Turner Valley

Learning to skate

One of my first memories. Forward was OK; turning and stopping were horrible. My ankles had limits other kids didn't. I just did things my way.

1986·Turner Valley

In the sun with Grandma Lakeman

I can tell it's Turner Valley by the fence - I remember that fence well. Mom and dad built it and stained it. Then they made a huge garden down one side of the year.

1986·Turner Valley

5 or 6 years old

Here are me and ma bros. Geeze we had dark eyes, especially JP. He looks possesed here, sometimes I thought he was possesed by the devil because he was always in trouble or up to something

1986·Turner Valley

6th birthday

Happy birthday! I see my friend Adam here, we played together a lot because I didn't have a lot of toys like TMNT figurines and toy cars whereas he had buckets of toys similar to what my kids have growing up. Lots of fun!

1987·Turner Valley

Notice Fluffy, my first cat?

Mumzie is Ripped! Watch out or she'll pick you up and toss your ass. She got strong so she could stand up to my father and anyone else. Nobody messes with Mummzie!

1988·Turner Valley

Don't mess with my family

Mom won competitions for being the strongest in her weight class. She got a trophy for this that was as tall as me!

Chapter Two·The Migration North

Chapter Two

The Migration North

My memories of these times are more sticky and precise. I can rememeber the halloween costumes, the wedding, the farm at Teepee Creek. It was a big change when my parents got divorced and my mom remaried. It was a whirlwind of a year.

1990·Teepee Creek

Halloween

remember those panel walls. The farmhouse there was something else. The sump pump always failed or something would happen and the basement would flood. The stairs upstairs were deadly steep and slippery. It was an odd home but very cozy all the same. I don't know where we found candy in the boonies.

1990·Teepee Creek

The Big Migration North

Killer Geese man, stay away from these smart bastards. Ducks are much more friendly and fairly harmless. No duck ever chased me, I can't say the same for the darn Goose.

1990·Teepee Creek

The double wedding

Brian and Dave proposed around the same time. They had a double wedding probably because they did everything together. I think they are best friends where Dave gets Brian into trouble.

1990·Teepee Creek area

Grade 5

I was going through a phase and got my ear pierced, this was before it was cool. I kept it for a couple years but eventually felt better without it. I can still put a piercing in my ear after all these years.

1992·Edmonton

First city

Mom remarried in 1991 but it was fast and they had some issues to work out. They took a 1 year break and we moved to Edmonton and then they got back together and we moved to La Glace for a year.

1992·Teepee Creek

Summer Time Date Night

Mom looks so good for her hot date with Brian. One of the few they had. Farmers don't go on dates, their idea of a date is going to the city to pick supplies up and going for a bite to eat at the buffet of KFC.

Chapter Three·The Temporary Migration South

Chapter Three

The Temporary Migration South

This was an abrubt change and I am still not sure what the heck happened between mom and Brian to cause them to split up for that year. They rushed into things and Brian was young which probably played into it. In any case, as long as me and my bros were with Mom we were home.

1992·Edmonton

Kilarny? School

am not sure how it is spelled, it was an Arabic school and I was one of the few white kids there. I didn't mind the school at all and I had one good friend named Omar.

Chapter Four·Reunion & The Farm

Chapter Four

Reunion & The Farm

This period has few images but it had a disproportionate impact on me growing up. We lived in La Glace for a year before moving back to Teepee Creek area to build another farm. 2 years on that farm feel like a decade because of how much work went into it in that time. All new fences, corrals, harvesting the hay off the 1/4 section by hand with a swather and square bailer. My bros and I hung out on the trailer stacking bailes while Brian and Dave tossed them up and mom drove. It was a family event. After the Teepee Creek Farm was built Grandpa Cheesman (John Cheesman) sold it and we were forced to move. We had to stay in Spirit River for a month until we could move to a new farm near Little Smokey. Brian started to get ill with what was later diagnosed as Sarcoidosis which ended his career and our farming.

1993·La Glace

Back together

om and Brian found a place together. This is the house we lived in in La Glace. There was a trailer home beside us when we lived there that caught fire. It looks like nothing was ever moved back to the lot after all these years.

1993·Smithers, BC

Splashing with Chris

Visiting Auntie Laura and Uncle Docherty and they took us to a lake to swim and we boated to an island that had a cabin and spent the day and night plus the next mornig out there. I went Kyaking in the morning and the water was perfectly still in the sunrise. One of the most beautiful moments on Earth.

1995·Teepee Creek / Sexsmith

A farm, a barn, and corrals

Three years building it out. Cattle, chickens, and pigs. Those posts in the corral needed dug by hand because augers and machines couln't pound the posts in. That took us a while but damn was the corral strong.

1997·Little Smokey

Into the trees

Boreal forest in every direction. Quiet, layered, alive. We lived next to the green belt and Crown land so it was very natural and far from people.

Chapter Five·College & The Keg Start

Chapter Five

College & The Keg Start

A lot can happen in a few short years. I moved away from home right after graduating, back then that was normal. Kids stay with their parents for financial reasons nowadays. My College years ran into my Keg years pretty darn quick. If Ihadn't gone to college I wouldn't have met Leah and she wouldn't have introduced me to Melanie. And if I never met Melanie I wouldn't have m own family.

1999·Valleyview

Graduated high school

illside Jr/Sr High. Is where I graduated in 1999 from. I went there for only 2 years but came out with a lot of friends and fun memories. Except for one when I was skipping school with a couple friends and one of them broke her arm.

1999·Grande Prairie

College - Swan City

4 years in this College and a Trade I never got to use. The memories I got and the things I learned in the sciences mean a lot to me, I am able to talk the same language doctors and lab techs speak.

2000·Valleyview

Pharmacy

Summer at the local Rexall. It was not the best job. Working indoors all summer, the smells were strong and I didn't get to work in the pharmacy like a couple other students did. But I did get to help the owner/Pharmacist count all the pills for inventory.

2001·Grande Prairie

Chef Darrel Johanson

I owe a lot of my culinary education to this man - the great Chef Darrel. We didn't always agree and often butted heads. Together we made a great team and made it work under harsh circumstances.

2001·Grande Prairie

Met Melanie

Melanie is the only one who got close to me. I never wanted a girlfriend much, I felt I was a burden with my condition. Melanie was so kind and lovable I couldn’t help it. I thought if anything happened to me she would be a great mom for our kids.

2002·Grande Prairie

The Keg - part-time

It started part-time while finishing college and turned into a 19 year career! I started part time just to pay for school and cut the amount of student loans I needed.

2002·Grande Prairie

Power Engineering - final year

The technical career path. This is a SAGD- Steam assisted gravity diffusion - pumping hot steam underground to heat the bitumen them separating the water from oil and then sand from oil.

2002·Grande Prairie

The first big Keg party

The Keg had an anniversary party or something and the front of house staff all got to dress up and wear some flashy glittery makup, it was a wild night

Chapter Six·The Keg Years

Chapter Six

The Keg Years

The Keg years are a major block in my life. I spent 11 or 12 years there, it aged me 33 years. The stress was incredible because keeping good staff was so hard and finding new staff was nearly impossible for a time. Grande Prairie goes through intense periods of growth and the service industry suffers huge. Do you want to work your ass off in a restaurant for minimum wage or go into the oilfield and make triple the minimum wage? So much happened in the Keg years I cannot include it all here. I am sorry to Keggers if you are watching this and I didn't mention you. Towards the end of my Keg years I was starting to really feel the degeneration in my feet and shoulders. Since stopping work the pain I deal with is less but the degeneration has been more intense in my later years. By the time I was going to culinary school I was dying inside just getting through a 4 hr lab on y feet. Smoking gave me an excuse to sit down, in the industry it is frowned upon to take breaks and sit doing nothing, its so stupid.

2002·Grande Prairie

Getting a Groove On

welve years grinding through Keg kitchens - line cook to senior, paying off student loans, building the chops.

2003·Fort McMurray

Petro-Canada SAGD practicum

Here is a photo from 2016 of a similar place to where I worked. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NEXION_LONG_LAKE_2016_(25747944776).jpg">jasonwoodhead23</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0">CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2003·Grande Prairie

HCS sidelines, kitchen calls

Insurance won't cover power engineers with HCS. The Keg promoted me to Asst Kitchen Manager that fall. Cooking it is.

2003·Edmonton

Visiting Mel and Leah

I made a few trips to Edmonton to visit Melanie and Leah. It was never easy and it was always kinda awkward. Part of me was broken because Melanie moved and I was afraid to get into a long distance relationship. Perhaps mt biggest mistake in life was not persuing Melanie but at the same time I don't think I would have the kids I have if the time hadn't been right.

2006·BC

Keg Cup in BC

One of a few Keg Cups I went to. If you ever see spring break videos? Now imagine a winter version with a ski hill, condos, hottubs, and 100's of like minded and aged people?

2006·Grande Prairie

The Cheesmen

I think Chris farted… I was also going through a phase where I wanted to grow my hair out. It didn't look good so I chopped it off fairly quickly

2006·Grande Prairie

Family united again

Mom and Dad moved up to GP. Chris came up from Vancouver. Dave, Shannon, Marlee, Kristina, and Clarisa visited. What a reunion.

2006·Grande Prairie

Brian and Dave

Double Trouble? Nah, Tripple. Alone these 2 are relatively harmless, get them together and shit gets disturbed. These 2 burned down a campground once… That's a story for Grandpa Cheesman to tell though.

2006·Grande Prairie

The Girls

I always like this shot, it isn't often that someone isn't shying from the camera in our family. I never understood it but each to their own I suppose.

2007·Calgary

Visiting Father

My bros hanging out with me in Calgary. I can't make out who we were visiting here, probably a friend of the family. Jim

2007·Grande Prairie

ME, warped

I don't know what I was doing here, Dalyn was taking pics and I was doing something from the Matrix perhaps. I always liked this shot.

2007·Grande Prairie

Dalyn and I

Speaking of Dalyn, here is the nice chap. I wonder what he's up to now? The guy could not be on time to save his life, just the way some are.

2007·Grande Prairie

ME

I always think I look better in hindsight, back when my shoulders were going and I still had most of my jaw. Man those were good years!

2008·Grande Prairie

Tara and I

Tara and I worked together forever, she was there before me and there after I left. She is one of the reasons I stayed on so long and she made leaving very hard.

2008·Grande Prairie

Courtney

Courtney and I hung out and drank beers, carved pumpkins, went to the drive thru at 3am for fun. Always up to shenanegans but harmless ones.

2008·Grande Prairie

Kent and I

Kent was trouble, he could hold liquor amazingly well, I don't even remember some nights with this guy. I remember a lot of vomitting though

2008·Grande Prairie

Lauren and I

A really good person and a cool lady. I miss you Lauren! Lauren is teaching in Turkey these days, we still chat once in awhile.

2009·Las Vegas Nevada

Bachelors Party!!

Jeremy was engaged and decided Vegas was in order so he and KC planned this trip and we all went and had a blast. I can't say too much- what happens in vegas stays in vegas. But I will share a few things- Walkign and walking and walking. The strip is so long when your feet are an issue. But, I don't think about tht, I think about the Price is Right, the food and drinks, the sights, the fountains, the Cirque Du Soleil, the new smells, and the fancy cars.

2009·The Keg

Movember 'Stache

November tradition - chef hat on, mustache up. Hahaha what little mustache there is. It only took 43 years to grow a real mustache and I hate how it looks on me because my lower jaw is so short and a mustache makes it liik worse, like I have no chin.

2009·Grande Prairie

The Boys

We went on this crazy pubcrawl by accident. It was innocent when it started at Moxies, then I won a bunch on a slot machine and bought more drinks for all of us. We must have gone to 6 or 7 different bars on foot that night.

2009·Grande Prairie

The Boys 2

Another St patty's pic with my friends Shawn, Spencer, Blake, Stewart again, Iain, and Jeremy too. We went on an epic pub crawl this night.

2010·Grande Prairie

Iain and Micheal

Iain and I worked a lot together, both in the kitchen and as managers, and also when he was a bartender I was a manager. He is a really good man, miss him, and wonder what the heck he is up to all these years now.

2010·The Keg

Movember 'Stache, year two

Same tradition, another year. Okay, a little better, hang in there 30 year old me, only 10-15 more years to go before that bad boy looks respectable.

2010·Beaverlodge

River Day

I was hanging out with Pete at the River by Beaverlodge. We ran into strangers cliff jumping across the river and hung out getting drunk all day.

2010·Grande Prairie

Janice 3

One of our annual Janice BBQ's, Looks like it is in Muskoseepi park downtown. Prime Rib brought the best out of us at the Keg. It truly was the hero product.

2010·Grande Prairie

Janice 2

Look at that delicious, juicy, tender, flavourful Prime Rib. Slow roasted over an open fire. Each year was a new experience and a little twist on how it was prepered. This one os small so I am guessing it was the dry aged roast I did for 90days!

2010·Grande Prairie

janice 1

I aged the prime rib for 90 days them marinated and injected it with my secret seasoning mix- Guinness Beer, Worchestershire sauce, Dijon Mustard, Green Peppercorns, and Steak sauce. Seasoned with Keg Steak Seasoning.

2010·Calgary

SAIT ACKP1 Apprenticeship

We had a full on cooking competition like they do on TV. I made Duck A La Orange, a traditional French way of cooking and serving duck breasts. I made caramelized sweet potato and orange wedges with a wild muchroom Risotto. I got top marks and had the judges favourite dish!!! Holy Crap, out of about 24 chefs in Calgary I beat them all out. Cooking technique goes far, if you can't nail that you can't be a chef.

2011·The Keg

After work Bevy

I am just hanging out having a drink with my workmates. One of my favourite past times. I sure miss the connection to all the people at the Keg.

2011·Grande Prairie

Drew and I

Drew and I kicked ass at the window at the keg. She rocked expo and I ran plates and the kitchen. We pulled off some miracles didn't we?

2011·Grande Prairie

Just off work

I loved sitting down after work to relax with a couple drinks and a delicious bite to eat. I loved the mushroom neptune, scallops and Bacon, and the three pepper wings were amazing, I wonder if they are still there?

2011·Big Berland, AB

Krishna and Kumar

2 strangers from India came to work as Temporary foreign workers and both were able to stay permanently, I am glad to call them Canadian Brothers

2012·Grande Prairie

Journeyman chef

Earned the journeyman chef ticket. How they wear these hats is beyond me. Bendign over to pick things up or get in a cupboard was tricky, like who wears this crap?

2012·Vancouver

Chris and Bonny's Wedding

Dinner was excellent at the restaurant where Chris and Bonny met and worked. Back then I didn't know anything really, All I knew was from the Keg and my own experimenting. This was outstanding.

2012·Grande Prairie

Mary, Mel and I

2012 Halloween was a fun time, we had a big party in the basement suite and had a blast dressing up and doing shots all night

2012·Grande Prairie

Cleaned Up Kitty

This poor kitten was found in a barrel with about a week's worth of piss and shit and god knows what else. After a really good bath in the sink I decided to walk 8 blocks to Melanies at 3am, this was before we lived together.

2012·Grande Prairie

BBQ Ninjas

I worked my ass off at the Keg, but I conflate the charity work with work often. One of the annual charities I loved to help out was the Reading University at the college. It was so touching to be recognized as a BBQ ninja for slinging hot dogs and burgers for the kids.

2012·Grande Prairie

Janice!!

I held an annual charity event to raise money for the Braiden Sparks Memorial Arts Fund. A fund some of us at the Keg set up to honour Braiden. He passed away after drowning on a vacation. He was a fun guy, a brat, but fun. 1 time I had to tell him no he could not work without pants. hahaha, kids.

2012·Calgary

Nursing Home

Gramma Lakeman, Reink in the stripes and Lex in the cotton blue button up shirt, of course there is papa Marty too

Chapter Seven·New Restaurants, New Family

Chapter Seven

New Restaurants, New Family

In a matter of 3 years my stable Keg life was turned upside down. First I met Melanie again, then she got pregnant, then I had an "Oh Shit" moment thinking about my ability to work hard for the Keg and my need for self preservation for a future with a family-something I never thought possible. Melanie and I basically too k a huge gamble -threw all the cards in the air and changed employement, bought a house, got pregnant. For a few brief weeks to get ready for Patience I was an unemployed bum. I had a job lined up so it isn't like I was totally irresponsible.

2013·Grande Prairie

The Red Room

he home we bought and moved right into had this cherry red lipstick bathroom. It was cool for a bit but in 2019 we repainted it finally

2013·Grande Prairie

Keg Party

Staff Party Jan 1st, 2013. Me and Stewart having a blast as always. We were always hitting up the bar and if we didn't go together we were often running into eachother.

2013·Grande Prairie

Ed

I miss Ed and April, they were good folks and a lot of fun, many people referred to April as Mom and I am sure her passing was difficult.

2013·Grande Prairie

Ed and Ryan

Ed trying to kiss me, god he stunk of booze and cigarettes. Just like a dirty old uncle hahaha. Thank you April for bringing him in to work.

2013·Grande Prairie

Rics Grill

Started Sept 24 - Patience's birthday. Stayed until we shut down to transform into Township 71. Rics Grill was plagued by problems and we did everything we could reasonably do to keep it afloat.

2013·Grande Prairie

Patience napping on Melanie

The pose is oddly similar to Mels tattoo. There are a few of the kids passed out on Mel like this. What Album is that again?

2013·Grande Prairie (QE2 Hospital)

First UltraSound

Patience's first picture February 7th, 2013, she is literally the size of a nut here, probably 6 weeks aybe 7 weeks along.

2013·Edmonton (Royal Alexandra Hospital)

Routine Checkup

Travelled to Edmonton to check the heart and make sure things were flowing the way they should. With my syndrome and Melanies family history of Fibromyalgia we had some extra testing to make sure Patience was growing well and healthy. We have a remarkable health care system as much as we talk trach about it.

2013·Grande Prairie (QE2 Hospital)

Patience is born

Patience is FINALLY here!! Hooray, I am a dad now! I never imagined being a dad when I was growing up and I am forever grateful to be blessed with not just one but 3 healthy kids. Way to go being so strong for an eternity of labour and eventual Cesarian.

2013·Grande Prairie (QE2 Hospital)

A new Baby to take home

Patience getting to go home finally. It felt so long in the hospital with no sleep. It felt so great to go home and just be a family. Work was always nagging though

2014·Grande Prairie

Mary and Patience Chilling

As a toddler Patience was always hanging with Mary and chilling on her bed or Mary would be on the couch with us, It was all fair game. Mary was so gentle with kids.

2014·Grande Prairie

Patience Visiting Dad

Patience came to visit dad at work one afternoon, such a cutie. Thank you Melanie for the visits and surprises, they made those long days feel better.

2014·Grande Prairie

Juicy

We always knew this girl was something else, nothing changed in 13 years! I think if anything has changed it is the firmer belief in Patience and seeing her blossom has reaffirmed my beliefs.

2014·Grande Prairie

Madison and Patience

Canada Day Parade hanging with friends at The Keg. I tried to stay connected to my Keg family but it just didn't work out. Madison and her sisters have been constants even after all these years.

2014·Hope, BC

Road trip stop somewhere like Hope BC. I think

Patience enjoying freedom from the car seat on a long drive to visit her Auntie Bonny and Uncle Chris.

2014·Grande Prairie

Chefs Compete for top Dino

I got invited to participate in an outdoor event just outside of town. Dan Aykroyd was there, Phillip J Curry was there and a bunch of celebrities. A highlight of my career for sure

2014·Grande Prairie

Ric's Kitchen Crew

Srijohn and Saurahb taught me a lot and were great team workers who had immense culinary experience and passion.

2014·Grande Prairie

Township 71

Opened Township 71. Lester and Rikky came to Calgary for some training with me. One night we went for a walk downtown and found a ton of cool bars and things on the street to pose with. I had a blast with Lester this night.

2014·Grande Prairie

Township 71

The new restaurant was spectacular and by far the best place in GP. It was too bad the economy tanked and the NDP ruled Alberta at the same time. It wasn't their fault that the oil and Gas Industry tanked.

2014·Calgary

Patience and Gramma Lakeman

I wish you could have got to know gramma, she was a fun lady and said the most random things. Her advice to me: keep your hands nice and warm so girls want to hold hands with me. She said my hands were always warm and that meant I'd be a ladies man. She was a hoot

2014·Grande Prairie

Smoked Salmon Spring Rolls

An inhouse wine dinner I did and this was 1 course. A smoked Pacific Salmon springroll and Sake. I don't recall the sauces but one looks like some sort of sweet chili and the other a derivative of a hoisin sauce.

2014·Grande Prairie

Dessert

Triple Chocolate Raspberry Cake with dark chocolate fudge and fresh raspberry coulis. I made this a few times and it was always a hit. I need to find the recipe I used for it and make it for my family.

2014·Grande Prairie

Township 71

I put some of our hero dishes up for a photo shoot for a local magazine. I never did see the magazine. But the pictures turned out great.

2014·Calgary

Visiting Great Gramma

There was one trip to visit Gramma in Calgary where we spent a couple nights when Patience was really young. I snuck this photo because Gramma is very averse to getting a picture taken, I don't think she knows to this day.

2015·Grande Prairie

Grand Parents visiting

Mom and Brian came to help with the new arrival. We had to get some games of 20,000 in and take turns being humiliated ;)

2015·Grande Prairie (QE2 Hospital)

Introduction to Daniel

Daniel right after being born, Mel is such a trooper to go under the knife like this. Daniel was born by cesarian as well because the risks of problems after having one once are greater.

2015·Grande Prairie

Daniel

Holy Shit, I have a son too? What did I do to deserve this? I think the first time since my Granny Dochherty had kids were there both a son and daughter in the immediate family.

2015·Grande Prairie

Daniel meets Papa Dan for the first time.

Dan meet Daniel. Daniel was named for his Papa Dan, Melanies friend Daniel, my best friend as a kid was named Daniel. I guess it''s just a good name. Daniel is a biblical name, most famously borne by the prophet Daniel in the Old Testament (Book of Daniel). As a young man taken into Babylonian captivity, he remained faithful, interpreted dreams, survived the lions' den, and rose to prominence through wisdom and integrity. His story has resonated for centuries as one of courage, resilience, and unwavering trust in God.

2015·Major's / Tractor Jack's

Long stretch in the kitchen

Same kitchen, two front-of-house personalities. Anchored 2015-19, then a little here and there to 2021.

2015·Grande Prairie

A new chapter

T71 closed in June. First time since childhood without farming or working - new dad, taking time, plan in pocket.

2016·Teepee Creek

The wedding

Married in Teepee Creek. Somewhere both Mel and I grew up at different times around. Me in the early 90's and her in the later 90's with her Nana and Papa

2016·Teepee Creek area

Wedding day Groomsmen and Bride and Groom

The Groomsmen looking handsome as ever. Thanks to Christopher for jumping in last minute! Miss you Mikey :(

2016·Teepee Creek area

Daniel, The Dude

The Dude! That's what Daniel was called every time he gave the thumbs up. He was always sticking up his thumbs when he was satisfied or just content. Still does too.

2016·Grande Prairie

Cool Down After Work

Patience and I just chilling together outside in the dark in the winter, why not? I think I was shoveling snow and she came to help. I can't count how many times we just sat on those stairs and hung out.

2016·Teepee Creek

Beautiful women

Nana betty looks so sharp and and I never saw her looking so good. I think this was the first time that people started to question her mental soundness as she was having troubles with her speech. It was still kind as ever and the parts that made sense were very thoughtful.

2016·Landry Heights

Savanna and Daniel

Hanging out at Papa a Jims back when Daniel was itty bitty. He sure liked Savanna. He has a fun frined and a bottle so he's happy.

2017·Grande Prairie

Faith

Faith born, just look into those beautiful eyes. I know she didn't get those from my side hahaha. They changed over the years but they still have the marbled color going on which is pretty cool.

2017·Grande Prairie

Patience and Daniel came to meet their new Sister

And Faith was born and the family completed. Such a blessing again to have a healthy baby. I don't know if Melanie could tolerate another C-section and after seeing her cut open a 3rd time plus having the 3 blessings already it was time to appreciate what we have, not that we didn't appreciate everything else. Many couples struggle to have children and many struggle to find love in the first place.

2017·Grande Prairie

Same same

The pose is oddly similar to Mels tattoo, there is a picture of Patience passed out like this too. Must be Destiny? IDK but it's a cool tattoo and a cool pic.

2017·Grande Prairie

Daniel

What a handsome little man? He loved to play in the play house and now, at almost 11, he is fixing up and building his own playhouse.

2017·Grande Prairie

Patience Swinging

The swing was always a hit with the kids, here Patience is just enjoying the cool breeze through her hair.

2018·Sherwood Park

Quinn and Kayla Wedding

Quinn's Groomsmen. Me Jamie, and Quinn had a blast at the wedding, I never knew Jamie but he's a cool guy. Quinn I knew from working with at the Keg of course and he was unusually kind and smart.

2018·Othello Tunnels, Hope, BC

Fun in the wind

We were driving through some tunnels on the way to Calgary from Chase and the kids love to have the windows all down to hear it and feel the cool breeze.

2018·Home Sweet Home

After work Cuddles Rule

I wish I hadn't had such long and so many days at work, 50-60hrs a week is too much for anyone. Poor Melanie doing all that work too, she was just counting the minutes 'till I got home. Being home all day taking care of kids is not easy!

2018·Grande Prairie

Quick Shot with Jenn

We were headed to the Festival Of Trees here, I remember everyone came to get me after work so that we could spend time at the festival. Jenn is the best. Nobody else ever had the kids for the night without us which makes Jenn family.

2018·Grande Prairie

She thinks this is fun

Sometimes you just go with it. I am not sure the context here but it looks like we were goofing around.

Chapter Eight·Family, Body, Recovery

Chapter Eight

Family, Body, Recovery

2019 was the most pivotal to my career as it ended a bit abruptly because of some bones growing from my Calcaneus, a large bone in the bottom of our foot. It grew off the bottom and was digging through my flesh. The foot surgery was technically a fail as my foot collapsed and the screws all broke. One half started to poke out the skin as it started unscrewing itself. I could make out the head of the screw through the skin. Since I stopped working my body has continued its gradual degeneration and accelerated some. I enjoy my life and family and wouldn't change this for anything. Being able to rest when i need, sleep when I can, and participate with the family is a blessing. If it wasn't for a series of blessings I would be so stressed. Clint organized a gofund me while I was in the hospital. We were nominated for new furnace and built in AC then a local company came and upped the deal by throwing in a new water heater and installing the new kick ass toilet. We also got awarded the Be My Huckleberry contest prize provided by Chance Vigan, one of the best Chuckwagon Drivers out there. Mom has helped out quite a bit over the years too.

2019·Grande Prairie

Chronically Disabled beyond my shelf life

ermanent disability, between my hands, shoulders and feet I was a mess. Not a hot mess, just a dang mess. Look at that hook on the bottom of my foot, imagine walking on that!

2019·Landry Heights

Popsicles

Family Popsicles with Papa Jim and Leslie. We hung out outside because of the stupid Covid bull shit. However, it was warrented in some cases where people have illnesses already, We have to be careful and respectful of them even though we may be fine.

2019·Grande Prairie

Settled, twice over

These 2 were always up to something together when they were young. I was told this is "King Daniel" and he was riding his throne.

2019·Grande Prairie

Flowers and das boot

Daniel was standing in a natural flower bed and I thought it could make a cool shot, I like it! I miss those cute boots. Now its all plain cloths.

2019·Kelowna

Kelowna Lake Resort

Rob gave us a few days in the condo he rented at the Lake,it was a place he used to take his family when they were young. Since we visited the place had burnt down in a forest fire.

2020·Grande Prairie

Pandemic

Empty streets, masks, the whole thing. We had to find a creative way to put the kids with Santa for our annual Santa photos. Santa sure got off easy during Covid lockdowns

2020·Jasper

Jasper Stop

A summer vacation stop through Jasper park and we found this cool tree stump so we played around with the camera taking cool shots.

2020·Jasper

The famous hole in the log!

We found this amazing lake on the most beautiful day, I so wish we had kayaks. I am pretty sure this is Mildred Lake.

2020·Jasper National Park

Mt Robson

We stopped at the tourist centre to check out the view and it did not dissapoint. We had a tailgate picnic before exploring. Perhaps when the kids are older we will hike it.

2021·Grande Prairie

Pool time!

Faith having a blast filling the pool. Always happy to help out with the hose hahaha, I bet she will help again this year, almost 8 years later.

2021·Grande Prairie

Daniel and I

Kids really have a calming effect on me and make me a better human. Daniel has a gentle soul with a quirky side that makes him special. I learned over the years that Daniel is his own way and it is hard to change it. Pick up your mess Daniel!

2022·Grande Prairie

Spinal fusion

Hardware in. A long recovery, and the slow rebuild. I had that last accident and then a couple small ones tht pushed me over the edge. My neck fractured at the back of my c2-cr and my c3 slipped in front of C@ and C$. It is a miracle that I lived.

2023·Grande Prairie

Coming back

Return toward normalcy. It was quite the ordeal to layer on the Covid protections. Remember me trying to mask up under the face shield in the begininning?

2023·Grande Prairie

Patience and I hanging out

Patience and I after some time out of the Halo, my throat is closed and healed up a fair bit so this is a few months after getting out, at least. I am so happy to be out and with my family in one house.

2024·Grande Prairie

Swan City

Grande Prairie is home to some impressive birds, Swans. I hope they live long, I think there aren't that many left.

2024·Grande Prairie

Feeding Swans

These birds eat Canadian Geese babies for lunch and can put the boots to them. Ironically they don't have the same nasty reputation of the Geese. Grande Prairie has a secret defence force ready to deploy mid April - mid October

2024·Jasper

Shallow lake between Hinton and Jasper

Such a nice spot to cool down on a hot day at Jasper Lake Sand Dunes just off highway 16 coming up to Jasper from Hinton. We never plan to go so it’s a rough shot off the highway as we join all the tourists. I think sand toys, towels, and floaties are in order for a special trip just to them.

2024·Clairmont Pond

Fishing with no luck

One Day one of us will finally catch a fish! We have never caught a fish after 3 seasons, cudos to the kids for still trying after these years. I cannot wait until we actuallly get a fish, it will be sooooo special.

2024·Grande Prairie

Teddy!

Oh Teddy, so soft and cute. Patience had a favourite and I think it was Teddy. Teddy was special and came to us after being orphaned as a baby. We bottle fed this turkey and she just never stopped growing.

2025·Grande Prairie

New Parking Spots

2nd time we got this part of our road fixed, hope it lasts this time, what a pot of work on one spot.

2026·Grande Prairie

Into the ring

Daniel started boxing. A couple of months later, Faith laced up too. He is really good at it but is losing interest now that his buddy isn't in there with him. One day you will learn to find your own interests irrespective of your friends and family. Sometimes that's the hardest thing.

All Classical PortlandPortland, OR