Time to Start again

Not sure if anyone is reading this blog anymore, but I decided that I would start posting on a regular basis again.  I think it will be easier for us to keep in touch with family and friends afar.

So one way I am going to do this is to start Project 365 again.  I tried this the year mum fell ill and as she got sicker my camera came out less and less.   It is already January 10th and I am 10 days behind... but I will start today and see where this adventure takes me.

Today when I went to let the dog out I noticed my front porch was covered in "papers".  Upon closer inspection I realized it was our mail.  Our regular carrier was on holidays and the new carrier was unable to find the big Yellow mailbox on our deck... so she hiked through the snow and dog messes to just dump it on the front front porch.  The kids normally let the dog out and rarely look around, so it was easily missed.
Thankfully Alexander's passport didn't arrive until today when our regular carrier was back and it wasn't lost.   We don't know if anything is lost or if I have recovered it all!
The photos were taken with my iphone due to it being on my person at the time.

Time to say Goodbye

Miss Bailey's Copper Adventure AKA Snickers, was our very big, loveable, energetic, and all around sucky dog!  We got her in September 1999 after choosing between 9 other puppies.  Madison was just 10 months old when we first went to see the litter of all chocolate lab puppies.    She was a welcomed addition to our growing family and loved by all.  Only one flaw that we tried to cure her of right to the very end and that was her ability to lick every inch of you as you walked in the door!!

This morning Snickers wasn't herself.  She was laying panting heavily and just couldn't get up.  We got the kids ready for school and called the vet after they were in school.  The vet had us come right away.  They did a few tests but things didn't look good.   Eric and I had come home while they did the tests and got a phone call about 1230 that she had a couple of tumors in her chest and abdomen and that she had seized on the ultrasound table.  She was heavily sedated but they felt that the "cancer" had spread to her brain.   The decision was made to have her put to sleep and not suffer anymore.   Until this morning she had be the same old Snickers.  It came on very quickly, for her a blessing.

Eric and I decided that the kids needed to go and see her at the vets to say their goodbyes.  There is nothing worse then coming home and finding out your parents have had your pet put to sleep.  We picked them all up at school.  Each one had time with snickers, they talked to her, stroked her, and hugged her.  There were many tears, and some laughter as the kittens next to her tried desperately to get our attention.  The kids had the whole vets office in tears.   Bekah asked for Snickers' collar to take home.   It was hard for us to stay with her as they put her to sleep so we took the kids and left.  

For 11 1/2 years she has been our companion, our household security guard, our extra pair of eyes outside with the kids, a sled puller, a lean on pillow for movies and an all around great dog.  She will be sadly missed.

RIP puppy girl, we love you and miss you.

Bekah Turns 6!

On Thursday May 20th, my baby girl turned 6 years old. She was so excited to be turning six, that she had been counting down the days for the last month!We did morning gifts and cake and cupcakes with the daycare kids that afternoon, and went out for dinner that night!

On Monday May 24th we had our usual family/friend birthday bash.  It was a huge success, the weather was perfect.  

We BBQ'd burgers and sausages, had many different salads and veggies.

Bekah's theme this year was tinkerbell.  We got her a pinata filled it with lots of candy treats.  Her cake was tinkerbell with cupcakes around decorated with mini tinkerbells on them.

She was spoiled rotten and a wonderful birthday.

Quinn Turns 8!

Our littlest man turned 8 this morning at 6:19 am!  He was so excited for his birthday to come and frankly so was I.  He slept in until almost 8:30 this morning and came in for a huge birthday hug from Eric and I.  We then all went downstairs where his gifts were waiting for him on the couch.

After getting things organized at home and ready for the party, we headed out the door to Putt Hutt.  Quinn was having 10 friends come and play mini golf with him.  It was a great party, lots of excitement had by all.  A really fun game of mini-golf.(think 11 kids in the dark swinging clubs, while hyper on ice cream cake and pop!!!!)
After his party, we headed back home for some supper and more cake with our family and friends.

All in all I think Quinlan had a wonderful day!  He is one very happy little boy!

HAPPYY 8th BIRTHDAY QUINLAN ERIC LIGHTFOOT!  WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Finally a Diagnosis

For many years now, Eric and I have been vigilantly pursuing answers as to why Quinlan has so much trouble with some every day tasks, writing, cutting with scissors and staying organized.  Tasks that his younger sister can do easily.  We have been told that he is 18 months behind his actual age, or that he is a boy and boys do things slower.  We have also been told by people who are supposed to recognize issues that he is just lazy and holds his pencil too tight!   Finally after struggling for so long we were able to take him for a full psychometric testing.   We met with the psychologist on Nov 17th and she agreed that there were warning signs and flags going up that there were some learning issues presenting.  Quinlan went for 4 hours of testing (broken up over 2 days).  On Wednesday January 6th we met again with the psychologist who gave us her findings.  Quinlan has been diagnosed with a Disorder of Written Expression due to multiple contributing factors.  A major component of the diagnosis is a features of a visual cortex based dyslexia.  Although it can't be fully diagnosed until he is 9 years of age, he scored lower then then first percentile on the dyslexia test. Quinlan has fine motor skill problems as well due to hyper mobile joints. Quinlan has also been found to be of high intelligence, he scored in the top 25th percentile, showing high average to superior intellect.  He just can't get it out on paper!   With our new found knowledge, we are able to have an Education plan in place to help Quinn learn and stay on target with his peers.  This will include computers and software, tests done orally, and/or a scibe.   We are excited to learn more about this complex learning disorder and to do what we need for him.

Christmas 2009

Christmas this year was very hard on us, as it was the first one without Mum.  He absence was felt fully throughout the festivities, but she was never far from our thoughts.  Eric and I kept things are "normal" as possible for the kids. Bekah, Madison and I went to Church. Madison and I were singing in the choir at the "chaos" service (family service).  I started helping out this year with the Jr. Youth Choir and love every minute of it.  I sent the girls home to Eric while I stayed and helped the adult choir in the alto section for the 8 pm service.  We I got home, we gave the kids their Christmas Eve Jammies, put cookies and milk out for Santa and tucked them in for the night. 

Bekah and I ready to go to church

Once the kids were all tucked in and finally asleep, Eric and I went to town on the gift wrapping.  We have always stayed up late on Christmas Eve to wrap.  I think we finally cleaned up and went to bed just after 3 am.  This is how the living room looked before the kids woke up.

At 7 am sharp I was awoken by the sound of Liz, Megan and Dad in the house. The kids had started to stir but hadn't woken Eric and I up yet.  4 hours of sleep was barely enough but it was time to start the day.

This picture is of Liz opening her 70th Anniversary special editon The Wizard of Oz collectors editon.

Dad was here taking full part, watching the kids open their gifts and taking pictures.  It turned out to be really great morning.  There were some tears with certain gifts, but we made it through.

We decided this year that we were not going to be taking the kids and running all over with them.  Everyone who wanted to see us was welcome to come to our house. The kids stayed in their new jammies all day, and played with their new toys.  Eric and I cooked the turkey for the first time at our house :) It turned out wonderfully.  We had a few mishaps with the gravy but all was saved and a great feast was had.

Last year mum ordered a crisco christmas hamper, and in one of the packages she bought was a package of Turtles Chocolates (her favourite) Liz brought them over and after dinner we all toasted mum with a turtle in hand!  A very fitting end to dinner!

The rest of the holidays will be spent spending time with Family and friends.

Since Hallowe'en

On Saturday Nov 7, Eric and I were able to steal away to Niagara Falls for a night just the two of us. It was the first time in over 8 years that we had gone somewhere overnight just us. Alexander and his friend Ethan were here with Bekah and Quinn and Madison was at a friends house. It worked out perfectly. Our Room was upgraded to a "Riverview" room. The first pictures is what we saw out our window. It isn't the greatest of shots as lighting was low and it was out the window. It was the opening ceremonies for the festival of lights that night. As we were walking in the beautiful warm weather, we got to see fireworks. We had a nice Quiet dinner together and a quiet evening. Sunday morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the falls. It was 6 am and I was up taking pictures. I really should have brought my tripod! We had a great time away it is definitely something we will try to do more often. Its much easier now that the children are older.

On Friday November 20 my Dad's cousin Anne and her husband Doug came for a visit from England. They had been on vacation visiting their eldest son Joe in Indianapolis where he goes to University. They took a short break from him and came to Ontario to visit family here.

Dad picked them up at union station Friday evening. We went out for dinner and had a visit back at our house before they retired to their hotel. Saturday we had a great morning visit and went out for brunch. It was such a beautiful weekend weather wise that we decided to go and walk around the town of St. Jacobs. It was so nice to be in the shops this time of year. Everything was decorated for christmas.

Eric snapped a few pictures of us as we came out of one of the shops.

The kids loved having family visit from so far away. Anne and the girls had an instant connection. The last time they were in Canada was in 2000, before Quinn and Bekah were born.

Saturday evening we did a BBQ and had burgers, hotdogs, Salad, Beer, wine, pumpkin and lemon pies. Then it was off to the livingroom to do some bealtes rockbanding :) Anne and Doug were amazing :) We laughed and played until after 11pm.

Our visit was short, but it was a good one and the kids won't forget their family in England.

Here are some of the photos taken that weekend.

On Friday December 4th a new little critter was welcomed into our home. His name (for now) is Skylar. He is a 12 week old Tabby with lots of heart. This little guy stole my heart from the first time I saw him. I can normally look at kittens and puppies and walk away no harm done, but this little guy didn't let me off that easy. No one wanted him, he was too "frisky". After much deliberation and visits to see him, he finally came home with us. He is the coolest little guy. He plays very well with the kids, never bites or scratches. In fact we have rarely seen his claws except for when he is trying to jump on something and misses! He is fully litter box trained already and learned just yesterday how to use the scratching post.

The dogs and Max (the other cat) are doing great with him as well. There was a bit of hissing Friday into Saturday but Max established that he is big brother and all is well now. The pictures are from his first night with us.

I should mention that he has one of the loudest purrs I have ever heard!!!

Now I am gearing up to Alexander's birthday this Saturday. He turns 15! Time has sure flown past us! He is almost taller then me, his feet are huge, and his voice is deep. He is no longer my wee boy with the chubby cheeks, he is growing into a fine young man.

Now we will start gearing up for the christmas season. As you all know it will be a difficult one for us this year without mum, but we know she will be here in spirit.