Christmas is Almost Here

It's hard to believe that Christmas time is almost upon us again. This year has just flown by!
We have had some wonderful times this year, as I sit and reflect back on all that we did.
2008 started off with Eric and I purchasing a new DSLR camera. Boy have we had fun with this. Its really nice to finally have a "real" Camera. As you all know I have been a bit camera happy lately but the photos are just amazing! Norm went out with me a couple times in February and March and we captured some really nice winter shots, and a great photo of Bekah with a chickadee eating on her hand.
The spring months came with lots of planting of flowers in our new flower beds and lots of bike riding and trampoline jumping. After being inside most of the winter with all the snow we had last year the kids couldn't wait to get outside.
Bekah got a new bike for her birthday this year and was outside with the "big" kids riding up and down the street.
We are so wonderfully blessed with our new friends Sue and Carl McKay and their boys. They truly made the summer awesome. With Daycare kids and our own kids the street was filled with no less then 13 kids each and everyday of the summer. We played games in the street, rode bikes, played on the tramp0line, played baseball at the school etc.
In June Sonia moved to BC to be with her mother after her father passed away in April. The kids all said their goodbyes with many hugs and kisses. They miss Nana greatly but the little emails and phone calls help wonders! We are so glad that she and Nanny are doing really well.
In August we are the pleasure of going to Picton Ontario for a Lightfoot Family reunion with many cousins we didn't even know existed! It was wonderful to meet everyone from all over Ontario, as well as some from Alberta. The family resembles were just amazing between Norm and his cousins.
The end of August brought Danielle and Khem's wedding. We had a wonderful time in the beautiful garden of Sue and Chan. The wedding was absolutely beautiful. The weather was great. I was able to get some nice photos of their special day, the candid moments. Afterwards we took the kids to the Dance portion of the reception where the danced the night away. Miss Bekah was on the floor from 8 -11:30 pm. That child has some great moves.
September brought some very new experiences our way. Bekah started Junior Kindergarten at Centennial school. She is in the new program of all day every other day. It was a huge change for me to have 2-3 days a week all to myself. I was very emotional the day I dropped her off and didn't pick her up again until 3 in the afternoon.
Quinlan started grade 1 and was gone all day too. I now had to get up and send my babies to school for full days with lunches packed. Of course it didn't phase them one bit!
Alexander (my biggest baby) started High School. Its so hard to imagine him there. Highschool didn't see that far back in my history until I realized my own child is there now. Where does the time go?
On September 20th Natalie and Shawn had their wedding at the Aberfoyle Mill. Norm was going to be the photographer and about 3 weeks before the wedding handed the job over to Eric and I so that he could video it! Eric and I were very nervous, but got it together and took over 1100 photos of Natalie and Shawn's special day. It took me a while to get all the photos edited and ready for print. I really enjoyed doing the photos and helping being a part of the festivities.
In October our beautiful daughter Madison hit the double digits mark and turned 10 years old. We had a great day at the spa getting fingers and toes painted.
Now as we head into the winter months, we are gearing up for my new stay at home job of doing home daycare with the Region. The kids are just as excited as I am to have some new faces to play with us. It gives me the chance to still be here for my own children and provide some quality home care for children in my area. It will also give us a second income. We are hoping to pay down some things as well as travel to British columbia to visit with Sonia and Nanny!

We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas season. Enjoy the time with family and friends and have a wonderful New Year!