"But it's not like Claire's mom's!!!"

Cinnamon sugar! That's what all the fuss is about! How on earth do I make my cinnamon sugar?!? On Sunday evening I walked with Autumn's mom. Jeanie asked what I did to my cinnamon sugar. I shrugged and said that I mix the two and away I go. Well, the girls were sure that I made my own cinnamon and would hear none of any other opinion...they ate her concoction with their apples but were sure it was not like mine.

Claire takes cinnamon sugar to school to dip her apple slices in. Lauren's mom called today to find out what I did as it would seem her's is also not like mine! I told her that I pour some sugar in a bowl, add the cinnamon ,stir it with a spoon of all things, and there it is. Presto! She thinks I should write a book! We decided that perhaps there is a market for "Claire's mom's cinnamon sugar" amoung school age kids....I'll get right on that.

Both Autum and Claire are heading to Lauren's afterschool today. Carol claims that she will not be serving apples with cinnamon sugar...we then thought that perhaps she should and tell them that she got it from me and see what their response is.

WHACKOS!!!!

Just a little randomness...

Good morning my sunshines...curled up together playing gameboy. I love the sunkissed cheeks!

My crazy neighbor across the road. She doesn't have the time to get in her garden so she is holding on to winter! I'm quite sure she is making some sort of statement..... at least they have removed the lights from the eaves!

A glorious spring day with some friends....

An all ages football game in the middle of the street. Claire was the only girl but held her own no problem... Run Sam run...
Sam and Isaiah taking a break from the game to play a more civilized game of cars! Sam is dressed in all dark clothes as he is a "spy".
And last but far from least is the most beautiful sight in the world. A pregnant belly due that very day, glowing in the rays of the warm sun! We can't wait to meet you precious girl!!!

It was a warm, warm day and Catherine and Lori came for tea. We sent the boys out to the back yard mud pit and brought them in for luch covered from head to toe. After we ate, we decided to head out front. It was glorious. Claire even went in for her sandals and a short sleeved blouse. The kids played football and cars, soccer, and cars, skateboarded and rode bikes, and of course played more cars! We moms just enjoyed the warmth on the front porch, calling out every once in a while to tell the kids a car was coming. The afternoon got away from us, and before we knew it, suppertime was upon us. The girls piled their boys into the car and took off for home, my kids played on. By 6:30 Sam was toast so he came in to eat and have a bath. He was asleep in no time. The others came in at 8:00, ate and crashed. A fabulous way to spend an inservice day. The girls and I have decided that we need to do this weekly...and by next week there should be a wee babe for me to love!

To celebrate the arrival of spring...

I SHAVED MY LEGS!!!

SNOW??????

I awoke this morning to a white world again. I spent the afternoon yesturday rejoicing at the tulips bursting up from the soil all over the gardens, removing the boughs and cutting dead stalks. I guess I was a wee bit premature in my excitment as it would seem that winter is back. Blowing snow, treacherous roads, accidents all over the city. A good day to hunker down inside, planting more seeds, caring for the things already growing, baking, reading with Sam, and more. Spring will come for real in time, and when it does I ill be so very thankful!

on another note, I read a book this weekend by Cassandra Danz. She will be remembered as Mrs. Greenthumbs. As I was reading this book, I felt as though I were having a conversation with a friend. Not your typical garden book. I laughed through most of it, feeling as though she were right there with me, she being able to express my feelings better than I ever could. Her excitment over new growth and new plants, good compost etc mirrored my own. Sure I had made a new friend, I looked her up online and was very sad to learn that she had died in 2002 after a long fight with breast cancer.

So here's to the continuation of dreaming of days in the garden, celebrating new life regardless of the weather!

WELCOME TULIPS!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

And yes, even Miss Claire, the pickiest eater of all ate the pancakes and drank the milk.

And now it is winding down...maybe

Karen and her kids left this morning, and we are in a strange state. Claire is off to her friends, Daniel and Sam are hanging out together, reading and playing. I am wandering around, reclaiming the house with tears streaming down my face as the quiet deafens me. The beds are made, the dishes done, the laundry in process, the floors scrubbed, the lonliness heavy in my heart.

We had a fabulous few days together. Karen and I sat together alot, talking and knitting up a storm. I made another hat, she a sock for Andrew and a shrug for Audrey's doll. We drank more tea than I thought would be possible. We celebrated excitedly the sprouting of two more daylily plants. We played games with the kids, we went to a movie, and rented a couple as well. We enjoyed the pirate display at the museum. We enjoyed being outside with the kids, although the wind was cool. We laughed late into the night about anything and everything. We watched lots of home movies of the kids when they were younger. We planned our gardens, full of hope for some exciting possibilities.

These are things we used to do daily. Now they happen as special occasions. We long for the "old days". Days when we lived our lives together. Life here is good but something is missing.

So I will spend the rest of this week with my kids when they are here, (they all have various engagments over the next few days) glad for the good times we shared with our friends, glad too for the promise of another visit soon.

Best of friends...brothers is how they view each other. Tough army guys called to the dinner table!

Sam and Joseph camped out in the livingroom, watching a movie. Such luxury!!!

Cards that Karen and I made in the evenings. So fun to have someone in residence to do it with. I never make them to have on hand. I always just do them as needed. This was much better.

Just a cool place to hang out on the waterfront...

Pirate show at the museum...

A captive audience...that is until the real swords came out and then Sam who has no fear needed his mom.

Daniel and Adam moving the canon into place...

Claire "igniting" the canon

A beautiful warm spring day, perfect for walking downtown.

Bring On The Chaos!

It's March Break! Karen and her kids arrive this afternoon for a few days of fun and festivities. My kids are beyond excited, and have been bouncing off the walls getting ready for their arrival.

We started the week off with a bang yesturday evening by joining friends at their house for dinner. Upon arriving, the kids shot off in various directions, Sam getting to hang with the girls. We adults gathered in the kitchen, enjoyed some wine and conversation while dinner prep wrapped up, then sat down to eat as the kids were content to keep playing. They arrived a bit later ready for their supper, Sam looking stellar with glitter eye shadow etc. After dinner we sat around, the girls painting their nails, Sam not being left out again, he looks lovely in red, and then we watched a break dancing show put on by the three youngest. Finally we remembered that the clocks changed so we ushered our kids out and home to bed.

It's been a slow start this morning but in a few hours the pace will pick up immensly and we will be up to our ears in fun and hilarity. Bring it on!!!

HARK! Do you see what I see?!?

When I removed the dome to water the soil this morning, I was thrilled to discover the first of thirty-seven day lily seeds to burst forth and show any sign of life. I am so very excited especially as they were only planted last Monday. Karen sent all of the seeds but one that I actually managed to cross and harvest myself. The one that has sprouted is one of her gems. What a glorious day this is!!! Never mind the fact that it is minus thirty degrees with the wind today! We have new growth!!!

Toque picture as requested...

On friday Lori and Emily convinced me that I could in fact make a toque for my brother. He was wanting a new one and after he suggested it, I wondered if I could in fact do it. I had never knit on the round before and so I thought it might be fun to try. I only used wool that I had here, borrowed some circular needles and so began the process. A couple of things I learned....use the suggested weight of wool, and knit to the measurments the pattern suggests even if you think it will be far too long. I short changed the length by a few cms and the wool was much heavier. It is however a very warm hat.

Friday the girls cheered me on, Sunday I finished it. I shall give it to him tonight with the promise of a proper one in another couple of days made to the proper specifications. I think this will be the gift of the year for all of Hud's brothers and nephews...

Murder Mystery Night

Darrel and Terrance in their roles as the Burger Empire millionaire, and "Rattler" the pro wrestler...

Catherine and Lisa and myself enjoy fabulous drinks and laughter...

Todd and Shannon the mortician and movie star...

Morgan and his friend...

Claire on backwards day...

We may not have much for snow, and the sliding conditions stink,
but the discovery of the exciting ride down the stairs in the
backyard provided hours of entertainment!

Sam the caterpillar. Who he is varies everyday, and the fun with Dad's pj pants was just too good to pass up.

The week thus far...

it's thursday already. The kids have no school tomorrow due to an inservice but we are supposed to have a storm anyway. That said, the week has gone so very fast.

Monday was my running around day, shopping for poppadoms, visiting grandmother who joined the other residents for bowling. Entertaining let me tell you! A stop at the hardware store for supplies for birdfeeder making for the mom's group next monday. Home to enjoy the fabulous weather and plant some seeds. Tuesday was grey and cold, but bookclub was grand. We ate amazing curry, laughed a ton, ate chocolate fondue with fruit until we couldn't move. Wednesday I was feeling rather unwell, enjjoyed a visit from Sal in the afternoon, got jammies on early and hunkered down for the evening.

All of that brings me back to today. I went over to see Susan this morning with Sam in tow. He hung out with a bunch of kids that she cares for, enjoying his time at "preschool". Susan and her friend and I did some card making ... I actually got the fronts of Claire's b-day invites done. Her b-day is in June. We came home for lunch and were surprised with a visit from Catherine and Nate. She is very pregnant, and trhe babe has now flipped"herself" into an unfortunate position. We spent the afternoon trying to come up with methods to turn "her" before she ends up needing a c-section. Supper is ready, just waiting for my family, then I am off to Catherine's with some others for our weekly Grey's gathering.

Tomorrow morning I am off early to get my bro to the airport, glad that the storm is not supposed to hit until afterI get home again. The kids and I will revel in the many cms we are supposed to receive and enjoy the fact that we have a long weekend.

It's A Grey Day!

Not a bit of sun in the sky to be seen! The joy that the sun brought yesturday is disappearing, the cold settling into our bones again. No open windows today, nothing on the clothesline. The seeds in their domed tray only getting warmth from the heat underneath them.

Sam and I are hunkered in after a walk this morning, planning to just hang out this afternoon until the kids come home and the running to piano etc starts.

I have bookclub tonight. " Serving Crazy With Curry" inspiring us to gather early for indian fare. The heat of the curries should warm our bodies and the fun of good friends shall warm our souls!

SPRING...

may have sprung in my neck of the woods! The windows are open, Sam went bike riding today, the snow is running down the street in rivers, and the yard is a mush pit. The duvet is on the clothesline, salmon will be put on the BBQ for supper, and I started seeds today. The sun is shining and I only needed a spring jacket. Hooray for happy weather!!!

It's Thursday...

And I have nothing to say except that I CANNOT get enough caesar salad. Poor Hudson can't stand it but it's all I want to eat! He doesn't eat it, he's just repulsed by the smell. He feels that it has invaded his home and has crept into his personal space! Personally I think he is overreacting! It's not like I eat it in bed!

Oh Happy Day!!!!!!

I just received a parcel from Jodi which contained a fabulous cookbook! I know what I will be doing this afternooon....finding all sorts of wonderful new recipes to try! Thank you Jodi, you made my day!!!

MMMMmmmmmmm......

HAPPY PANCAKE DAY!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN

Here's hoping that it is a day that celebrates you, and a year in which you have many many wonderful days! A year with new found daylilies, the right amount of sun and rain, fun new garden projects and plenty of fabulous photo opportunities! A year in which your mommy heart is full and happy! CHEERS!!!

The results are in....

Of the nine lymphnodes removed from Rosa, one was found to have cancer. The cancer had not spread from the node but she will need to undergo chemotherapy. That will not be able to take place until she is finished healing from the surgery, which could take up to eight more weeks. Her range of motion in her arm is not as good as the doctor would like it to be so that is also a bit discouraging. Please continue to pray for this dear friend that she would not feel anxious and the chemo does what it needs to do.

Early morning conversation with Sam...and then some...

Sam: what are you doing mom?

Cutting up meat for stew

Sam: Raw meat?

Yes

Sam:What is it?

Beef

Sam: No, I mean what animal?

Cow

Sam: Is that blood mom?

A little, yes

Sam: Are you putting the blood in the stew?

Well, I guess some is going in

Sam: Why are you putting blood in the stew?

Oh Sam....how about we talk about something else!

I guess after all that I have lost my appetite for stew and I'll be having a PB&J....

Baby Grace made her appearance yesturday, a healthy wee babe, a fabulous gift for valentines day!

It "stormed" in the night so school was cancelled across the province today. Not anything to play in mind you. Just rain that is now frozen and treacherous. How I long for a huge dump of snow that closes schools and paralyzes the city for a day or two. That's what winter is all about.

Happy Valentine's Day

Oh My Heart....

Sam and I just went to the school to get him registered for primary. What a bittersweet experience! I am so happy for him but I miss him already.

I am going to miss his chatter, hearing him talk to his cars and other toys, listening to things crash in his room as he plays crash bash, cuddling while we read all curled up together. I'm going to hate eating my lunch alone, walking through the house without a million questions about what I am doing, and not having helping hands when I bake, and vacumn, fold laundry and walk the dog.

I am excited for all that he is going to learn and the friends he is going to make. I am happy to know he will get to experience new things, and be challenged in new ways. I am thrilled that he will learn to be independant of me. I am looking forward to seeing how he reacts to being one of the "big kids".

I am scared for this new phase of my life. I have been a mom at home for the last ten years. I'm not sure who I am outside of that. This is a chance for me to grow and learn more about myself, to challenge myself to new things. A time for change...I'm not sure where this new road will take me, and that makes me nervous. I'm not so sure that I am ready!

Today...

Today we said good-bye to a wee babe who didn't get the chance to know her mom and dad. Who won't get to run and play, to experience joy, and pain, love, fresh air and sunshine on her face. Today we hugged her parents and grandparents and held them tight. Today the sun was shining and the wind was cold on the backs of our small gathering as we spent a few moments at her grave site where she is now laid with her great grandfather. Today we looked at her wee footprint embossed in silver, now in a frame, always a reminder. Today we prayed that her parents will someday know the joy of bearing a living babe, and that the pain and the ache will ease for them. Today we shed tears, honoured to be part of such a moment. Today we said good-bye...

Of Birthday's and Shopping and friends oh my.....

Monday was in fact my birthday, but not my 56th contrary to my sister's declaration. I celebrated with part of my family at my birthmom's on Sunday with fabulous food and "naptime" with my brother. He napped and I pretended in support of his cause. The kids did some rug hooking while we hung out talking about push mowers versus gas mowers, building up of the backyard and rock garden construction. My party, my conversation.....

Karen was supposed to come and hang out on Monday, intending to shop at the Hydrostone and enjoy some fabulous lunch together. Thanks to the snow she hunkered down at home in the valley and I went off to Mom's group. I talked to Mom and my sister and a few others as well and then Sally came over in the afternoon, Hud grabbed chinese food for supper and we just spent the evening together. It was great except for the fist fight between my older two at the dinner table that landed them each in their own rooms....

I was given money and gift certificates for the occcasion so today I went on a wee shopping spree. So exciting... I never really shop for myself. I actually found pants that fit me everywhere, some tops, necklaces with Sam's help, and socks. He was hilarious as he said"that one isn't really your style mom" I'm not sure I even knew what was, and "What were they thinking?" when he saw a pretty hitonius one.

Last night a bunch of girls came over to make valentines day cards and consume chocolate. Hilatrity ensued and we laughed fit to wet ourselves. I have pictures but they came out blurry, not sure why...People left in time to get home for Criminal Minds hoping to see Sunday night's unfinished story wound up. Due to technical difficulties it won't be shown until next Sunday. No-one wanted to watch it at my house and then have to drive home alone. I was paralyzed when I watched the first half, and altough some people would have turned it off, I had to see it resolved...

And last but not least, I am heading to Vancouver with Daniel in April, thanks to my father's generosity. We had wanted to go as he will be turning 60, but we need to replace two doors and at least four windows so the trip was going to have to be put off. He called on Monday and we booked the tickets. Look out Andrea, here we come!!!!!!! Hoping to get a fly by the seat of your pants visit in with Lori at the airport when we switch planes too!!!!

Off to cook Rosa's supper and head out to have a visit with her. They removed her drain yesturday which apparently was very painful. Her birthday is on Saturday so Kylie and I intend to take her a breast cake and some fabulous flannel pj's to cozy her up some.

Random bits...

~I can't believe that it is February!!! The time is flying so very fast, and the garden bug is biting. Hard!

~Rosa is doing well, and was up and around yesterday, not experiencing too much pain and had managed to have a relatively good nights sleep. Thank you to those of you who prayed for her. Please continue to lift her up as she waits for the results of the tissue tests.

~Daniel is back at school today and so far it looks as though he will manage to stay for the day. I sent him back yesterday but he was home within an hour. Claire has not missed a beat, Sam is fine, and although my head feels as though it could blow at any minute, I'm good too. Hud is Hud....fine as always.

~We finally managed to get Claire a piano teacher who lives not too far from us. She doesn't normally take private students before the age of eight but she's willing to give it a go. Claire is thrilled and to be honest so am I.

~ We got a dusting of snow last night and everything looks so very pretty, sparkling in the sun....great for lifting spirits.

~ Sam has managed to pass on some size three clothes in the last couple of days. He must be growing which is such a relief. I have to admit I was beginning to think he would be that size forever. He is going to be five in June and I was worried I would be sending him to school in toddler clothes.

~ I'm in the mood for some serious chocolate... off I go to scavenge..