2011 12 Review

December went by in a flurry of activity. During the first week, I managed to decorate the house for Christmas, between packing and taking Charly to kindergarten. That weekend we had the staff Christmas party at our house.  Ended up taking the kids out to my Dad's for that night, where they had a grand time playing.  Charly had 2 days of kindergarten and then was off again when I took Sarah to doc in Calgary for a followup - doing well but needing to keep fighting with meds. Then we flew to Phoenix for a week's vacation.  We took our carseats onto the plane with us, so the kids were strapped in for most of the flight (awesome for dealing with Sarah), but a royal pain to drag around the airport ... since 99% of the people can carry their "carry-on" baggage fairly easily, there were no carts or such available to use. At one point we did make use of a wheel chair!  We had expected to fly out at 8am but found out the night before that the flight had been rescheduled to the afternoon. Flight went well, kids behaved, and we all happily arrived in Phoenix, to stay with my in-laws.  We had a great time there and did not really want to return, other than there was so much to do before Christmas arrived.  The trip back went okay, other than a delay, small planes and tired kids. I think I posted details / pictures from our trip so won't go on about it now. 

Got back very late Sat, unpack Sunday, 2 days of kindergarten for Charly while I shopped for Xmas, then another trip to Calgary to meet with a nutritionist for Sarah.  She said not to take Sarah off wheat, to give her a multi-vitamin since Sarah's off veggies right now, increase calcium, and in general just keep doing what I've been doing....Sarah is consuming just barely enough calories to keep her going and for now that's all that is needed. Handling the dairy and egg allergies is enough right now, on top of general toddler pickiness. 

Then school was out for Charly until January so had my hands full with both kids and Xmas prep. Xmas eve was spent at Aunt Janice's house with the cousins, nice relaxing time.  Christmas morning was the expected excitement from the kids, fun of unwrapping presents, and the joys of getting toys out of packaging.  Christmas afternoon my Dad came into town so there was 6 of us for turkey supper. This was the first time I've ever cooked a turkey before.  I've cooked chickens, ducks, geese, and wrens but not a turkey.  Followed directions and it turned out wonderfully.  For the dressing I followed a slow-cooker recipe that didn't turn out well, mainly because I hadn't read the recipe well enough ahead of time and so started it late... and it needed more seasoning.  Supper was good and filling.  Kids were worn out so it was a fairly early bedtime.  Boxing Day we weren't up to traveling for. the weather was great so we managed to get the energy up to take the kids to Bower Ponds for skating. It turned out to be lots of fun for all of us, and completely wore us out. 

Spent the next week playing with the kids new toys (especially Lego), and finally finished unpacking from our trip.  New Year's Eve we went with the Diamonds family to the Calgary Zoo's "Zoo-year's eve" light festival.  Started about 6pm and at 8pm there were fireworks there.  The temp was just barely warm enough for us to stay.  The 2 little girls were tired by 8pm and did not like the noise from the fireworks, let alone the cold and crowds.  There were lots and lots of lights to see, many outlining animal forms, some dancing to music.  I am glad we went but won't be back until the kids are older.  We stayed overnight at The Diamonds and rang in the new year with their warmth and friendship.

There have been so many little things that have happened with the kids lately that I never got a chance to jot down, so will see what I can recall...

• by Christmas Day the kids had "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph" down pat, and were familiar with other carols too. The kids love singing, so every time we get into the van I am bombarded with either them singing or listening to kids on a DVD singing.  I have become very familiar with some of the Sesame Street songs! 
• Managed to get the kids outside once in a while - the weather during December was very nice. At one point the kids took their tricycles out for a spin! 
• Charly has been enjoying kindergarten, and Sarah is a bit jealous of not being able to go.  He is slowly growing more comfortable holding a pencil and forming letters. Seems like all the kids in his class like him, which goes a long ways.
• I have tried potty training Sarah on and off since last Spring.  At the beginning of December she was down to having one pee "accident" a day but then with our chaotic life, she went down to having one success a day.  Will restart training again in January once we are back to a routine.  she knows what to do and when, but just doesn't want to make the effort half the time.  stubborn girl.
• Been digging back into genealogy more lately, and it is like an itch I just can stop scratching LOL.
• Resolution for the new year ... lose more weight (so original, I know) and to get more structure into the kids lives.  Start planning meals more ahead of time, reorganize some of our rooms, get the kids on more of a routine.  And to go to Vegas :)

Flickr, but this time also added the video there instead of to U-tube.  Enjoy!

December photos and videos

A story & poem that I just have to share with everyone

I searched the internet but was unable to find the author of this. Earliest dates it appears is in 2009, where it has been posted from someone who forwarded it ... Glad to see it still been circulated and remembered.

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport.. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, 'I love you, and I pray you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough, too, Mom.'

They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'

'Well...I'm not as young as I once was, she lives so far away & has her own busy life. I have some challenges ahead, and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I pray you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

She began to smile. 'That's a prayer that has been handed down from other generations. My parents use to say it to everyone..' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I pray you enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'

Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear..

I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Then, she began to cry, and walked away.
 

2011 videos

I finally pulled a bunch of videos from our small camera, and discovered ones that started almost a year ago!  Here are a few:

Kids on Daddy's shoulders

Charly playing soccer

Playschool finale - Charly on tampoline

Playschool finale - medals handed out

playschool finale - group photo op

At Vernon - Sarah feeds goat

Vernon wind storm   (long, not too exciting unless you were there!)

Drumheller waterpark

drumheller waterpark 2

Kids playing on the trampoline

Phoenix Zoo - giant turtle (This was one of the first animals we encountered at the zoo)

Phoenix Zoo - cheetah and then panther

Phoenix Zoo - feeding GIRAFFE

2011 12 trip to Phoenix

Go to 2011 12 trip to Phoenix, a set on Flickr, to see all photos!

Dec 10-17, a great break away from winter. Stayed with Jeff's mom and had a great trip!  Celebrated Sarah's birthday there, went to Wickenburg, AZ to stroll around, went shopping at Macy's, JC Penney, and other stores, went to a wonderful playground at Anthem Community Park, and then completed the visit with a trip to the Phoenix Zoo: Wildlife World.

2011 11 Nov

Go to 2011 11 Nov, a set on Flickr, to see all photos!

Photos - Charly's 5th birthday parties, Remembrance day wreath, snowman, beginning of Christmas season.

October 2011

October - started by getting the new tenants into their places. Then Jeff went to Minneapolis for a few days.

Finished off another round of swimming lessons for the kids.  Sarah was just repeatng the smae class because she can't advance until she is 3 yrs old. Charly redid Sea Otters and passed it.  He is becoming more and more comfortable in the water. The Dawe has great instructors.

The weather cooperated so we were able to fit in a few more playground trips. Spend one glorious afternoon at Bower Ponds playground, where we went for an hour but ended up staying for almost 5.  The kids continued to use the trampoline outside as long as they could, until finally it was put away for the winter.

Charly switched from gymnastics on Wed afternoon (where he was all alone) to Monday afternoons with 5 other kids.  He didn't like having to wait his turn again, but is enjoying being with the other kids. I am glad for the change too since Sarah's lessons are Wed morning, and 2 trips to the Collicutt in one day is just too much for me.

Charly's friend Koen turned 5 so we went to his birthday party. That was the only excitement we had for Thanksgiving - we were all thankfully to just stay home together.

We got our flu shots soon after they were available.  There was a flu making its rounds here but we managed to avoid it :)

Fri Oct 28 - took the kids and Charly's friend Koen to the Clagary's zoo "Boo-at-the-Zoo" event. Started at 6:30pm, there were displays and activities set up throughout the zoo. Fortunately the rain held off and we weren't too cold until after 8:30pm.  I was expecting to see more animals, being at the zoo, but there were enough things to do that we weren't bored. 

Mon Oct 31 - Charly wore his costume to school. We had a nearly supper and then Papa Doug took the kids out trick-or-treating for just under an hour. Lots of fun and excitement there.  Then we went to the Collicutt Centre for their halloween event. They had free swimming and skating (which we skipped), and 3 of the field houses were open and set up with at least 7 bouncy castle-things. One field was meant for 0-4 year olds, second for 3-7 year olds, and the other was more sports oriented for the older kids.  My kids played and played and played.  They were so tired be the time we left. Charly burst into tears because he didn't want the fun to end, LOL!

Photos on Flickr
videos:
Trick or Treating
Halloween fun at the Collicutt
Slide at the Collicutt

September 2011

Well, Autumn has arrived, to the dismay of most people.  For me, I love Autumn.  I love that the variety of weather, the air is cripser, and each ray of warm sunshine becomes more and more precious as the cold winter starts approaching. I love the leaves turning colours and falling down.  If only we could skip winter and just go to spring after Autumn :)  This September was quite wonderful in weather, and we had some of the hottest, dries weeks for the year in it.


September of course brings school starting.  And this year Charly entered Kindergarten, full of smiles and excitement. He has a very experienced teacher so he is in good hands. There are more girls in his class than boys, but so far it looks like they will all get along okay. There is a set of triple girls to keep us all trying to figure out who is who. Charly goes every morning from 8:38-11:24, and gets about every second Friday off for one reason or another.  So far the mornings have gon well, in terms of getting up and out the door.  The school is only a few minutes drive away,  but the time getting everyone ready and into the van seems to take lots of time, and it will get worse once winter hits.  The first week I had to wake the kids up each morning - Sarah was not impressed by this at all. but they quickly adapted.

After I drop Charly off at Kindergarten, then I take Sarah with me, running errands, grocery shopping, and we try to be back at the school early enough to play at the playground for a little while before Charly is done.  So nice to shop with only one child :)

Sarah took about a week to accept the new schedule, and is now okay with leaving Charly in his class and going off with Mom for the morning.  She's had a rough month, between scheduling, and medical issues.  In august she had a bowel setback, had to essentially restart her at full Lax-A-Day strength again.  September was up and down trying to slowly reduce that, but so far she's back on track.  She's had numerous doctor visists and they are all satisfied with how she is doing.  Toward the end of the month Sarah caught a head-cold and shared it with the rest of us.  How nice. 

Second week of September, Gymnastics started for the kids on Wednesdays.  Sarah goes while Charly is in kindergarten.  It is a parented course so we can finally attend :)  Even though Sarah is the outgoing and athletic child, for the first 2 classes she only showed her stubborn and independent side, refusing to do what the rest of the kids were doing.  The third week she changed her mind, and with more sleep the night before, had a great class.  Charly goes in the afternoon while Sarah and I watch or wander around.  turns out that only one person (Charly) signed up for his class, but it is still being run anyways.  So Charly gets lots of one-on-one time with his coach (same coach as from last year), and since he isn't waiting for other kids to have their turns, he is getting lots of exercise during the class!

The last week of September we added in swimming lessons for both kids, Tues & Thurs just before supper.  I get to drop Charly off with his instructor and then take Sarah to her parent & tot class. We all get a work out and are hungry and tired when we get home!

During this month, we had numerouse visitors - STR & Helen, Ellen, John & Margaret, and my friend Kim. It was so wonderful to see everyone! 

My husband's birthday slipped by quietly. Everyone, including me and the kids were out of town.  We had gone to Calgary for Sarah's doctor checkup (all okay) and didn't get home until after supper.  We'll have to make sure next year's party is extra special (he he he)!

I took the kids to the Lacombe corn maze. So many things to do there - slides, swings, bouncy pillow, animals to feed, tractor pulled train, etc so we never did get a chance to walk through the maze.  But since we had done Bowden's maze it was okay with us.  Kids had lots of fun!

Of course with school back in, all the kidsget together and share their germs.  So the month ended with us fighting off bugs. Sarah had a fever for one day, Charly for the next with Daddy also down that day.  I did my best, suffered through lots of sinus pain and congestion.  Daddy and Charly recovered quite quickly (not normal) while Sarah and I continued to fight off the cold symptoms.  Thank goodness for Kleenex and Tylenol!

And through the illnesses I struggled to keep the usual day to tday stuff going, plus 2 of our renters had given notice to vacate at the end of Spetember, so I was running around showing prospective tenants the places, arranging cleaning, etc. The townhouse was rented out to a nice couple so hopefully they will treat the place with normal descency.

October photos (Flickr)
Video Bouncy pillow 1
Video Bouncy pillow 2