New Year's Eve

Oh my, so much has happened over the past week. I'll sum things up as best I can....

I think I last checked in on December 20th, when Erin was supposed to be in the Santa Claus parade, but was sick. She was feeling a little bit better that evening, but crashed early and clearly needed some rest. Sunday brought our anniversary (12 years!) and a very tough day for Gord. He was up on the roof clearing off snow and as he was going to get onto the ladder to come down, he lost his footing and fell about 10 feet onto the stone patio at the back of our house. He managed to drag himself to the front door - neither Erin or I heard anything - and screamed in to me for help as he thought he broke his ankle. He managed to get himself to the truck and a whirlwind call to Richinda to pick up Erin and we were off to the hospital. Oh my, Gord was in some pain. We got to Smiths Falls and they took some x-rays and it was revealed that he shattered his left heel bone - yes, shattered his heel. The doctor showed me the x-ray and explained the differences between both of Gord's heel bones - one was pretty much missing. They were not able to do anything for him but referred him to an orthopedic surgeon at Kingston General Hospital for the next morning and sent us home with some pain killers and a splint cast on his leg. Monday we made the long trek to Kingston (slow roads because of a big snowfall the evening before and the roads were not cleared off). Gord met with a number of doctors and had a scan of his foot taken. Essentially, they explained it was a life-changing injury. He will have some mobility issues for life. It was tough to listen to, but we are really thankful as the fall off the roof could have clearly been much worse as everyone can well imagine. Gord was referred to another orthopedic specialist at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston a week later. His leg was re-set in a cast and he was given some pain killers. Emily was good enough to spend the day with Erin, as we didn't know how long we would be in Kingston and she was still on the mend from her illness from the weekend. She had fun with Emily as always!

So Tuesday came and I went into work and dropped Erin off at daycare for the day. She was really happy to see her buddies. Gord rested for the day and did his best to manage his way through the pain. I stopped and picked up a few things to help Gord manage around the house, like a hand-held shower, etc.

Wednesday was Christmas Eve day, and I headed out to do what felt like a million things - to the bank, to the gas station, to pick up the turkey, to pick up a few groceries, and of course to get a well-deserved Tim Horton's coffee!!! I went into work for a while and cleaned up some loose ends before heading off on holidays. Richinda invited Erin over for a play and picked her up while I was at work. Elaine offered to send her lazy boy chair home for Gord who gladly accepted that offer. Andrew helped her bring it here and Gord relocated into a much more comfortable seat. North Bay Grampa came along soon after and I picked up Erin and she was just thrilled to have some company at home!!

Christmas Eve was very nice. Erin, Grampa and I went to pick up some Chinese food for dinner, then we let Erin open up a gift from Gord and I. She got new Christmas pj's and a Hannah Montana Build-A-Bear! She loved it - although I am now seriously regretting getting a wig for the teddy bear as it doesn't stay on very well!! Erin crashed around 9:00pm and I brought everything in for Santa's visit!!

Christmas morning Erin woke up around 7:30am and was thrilled to see that Santa came and brought her some wonderful toys! She was like a whirling dervish opening up all of her presents!! We cleaned up all of the wrapping and Grampa and I got to work on Christmas dinner. People started to arrive a little after 3:00pm. We had a nice dinner and I think everyone enjoyed themselves! The kids had fun in the basement on the playstation and everyone had good visits. Three loads in the dishwasher and everything was all cleaned up! Whew was I exhausted!!

Boxing day came along and we said good bye and a big thank you to Grampa for all of his help. He is naturally pining to go back to Florida. I think February won't come soon enough for him!!! We all stayed in our pj's for the entire day and just relaxed, watched movies, and napped. It was well deserved!

Erin and I ran a few errands on Sunday, and Monday Emily came over again as we were headed back to Kingston to see the orthopedic specialists at Hotel Dieu. It was a really good appointment. Gord was in a much better frame of mind and the doctors explained that the type of break he had is quite operable and they fully expect they will be able to repair the bone. They did explain there is likely to be some mobility issues, but the entire recovery period will be about 18 months, at which point his foot will likely be the best it will get to be. They scheduled another appointment for next Tuesday - unless they get him in for surgery, which will be coming up soon. I think we both felt better after that appointment. This group sees this kind of injury often and provided a pragmatic approach to Gord's injury.

Yesterday, Erin and I did a few more errands and I headed into Ottawa to pick up more dog food for the starving dog (in his mind only!!).

Today, Erin had an appointment to open up her very own bank account! She was very pleased to sign the form and to get a bank book! Then she and I stopped and had breakfast together before heading back home. We plan to have a very quiet New Year's Eve - after all, Gord's not going to be up and dancing for some time!!! Tomorrow we have been invited to dinner at Aunt Eleanor's and I'm sure Gord will enjoy getting out of the house for a bit. We will also start to put away the Christmas decorations for another year. I'll poke away at that over the next couple of days.

I can hardly believe 2008 is almost behind us. I hope 2009, despite all of the economic doom and gloom the media continually feeds us, is wonderful, prosperous, happy, and healthy for all of our friends and family.

Happy New Year!!

Only 5 more sleeps until Santa comes!!

Whew! What a week! I am exhausted....

Last I checked in, Erin and I were heading in to the Children's Christmas party that my work puts on. I forgot my camera (of course), but we had fun. Erin did some crafts, had a hot dog, and we sang along with the band who sang some great Christmas tunes. Of course Santa made an appearance and even had a present for each of the boys and girls! Erin was thrilled to receive a personal talking book from Cranium. It's pretty neat. There are 'whiteboard' pages and markers and there must be an internal memory, as you can record a story for each page you colour! You can only record about 15 seconds worth of content, but Erin had a ball once she figured out how to record and replay (this took her about 10 seconds to figure out!) She played with it all the way into Ottawa, which was our next stop of the day.

We had a fabulous dinner with Jo, Chris and the boys. Aidan and Cole loved their presents, and well, Erin loved hers! The boys gave her a barbie Princess Jasmine and her horse, as well as a Hannah Montana DVD! All 3 of the kids sat down to watch the movie for a while and the adults even had a chance to visit! I had some left over ornaments that I brought for the kids to decorate and they made some beautiful ornaments that any tree will be lucky to adorn!!

Sunday we stopped over to give Aunt Elaine a birthday gift and have a visit while she was staying at Aunt Eleanor's. Afterward, we made a birthday cake for Daddy! Of course Erin picks out the sweetest cake and icing she can possibly find! She had fun decorating it though! We made a nice dinner and sang Happy Birthday to Daddy as he turned 40!

Then the work and school week started once again. Erin was beyond excited for Monday evening, because it was the dress up party for the Sparks, Brownies, Guides, and Pathfinders. She was floating on air and asking me every 5 minutes if it was time to go. I think I looked as forward to bringing her so I didn't have to tell her how many more minutes we had to wait!! The party was hopping when we arrived. I dropped her off and headed into Kemptville to pick up a few things. When I got back to pick her up, the girls were heading off to have some snacks, so a few of the other mums who were there sat and chatted for a bit. Those were some mighty happy girls who came bouncing in after eating yummy snacks! I think it was a great success for all who were there judging by the smiles on the faces!

Tuesday brought news that Gord's car was on it's last legs. We found out how much it was going to cost to fix it, so we decided it was time to get him a more reliable vehicle. That old Honda owes us nothing - you can't beat a 10-year old car with 450, 000 kms on it! It still runs, but only on 3 cylinders! Tuesday evening Erin decorated 2 dozen gingerbread cookies while I buttered 2 dozen buns for the Christmas lunch at her school the next day. I really wished I could have volunteered this year, but it wasn't in the stars. Hopefully next year.

I decided to work from home on Wednesday because I was going to be on a conference call for a good portion of the day - almost 4 hours - what a marathon!! Gord spent the day searching for the best deal on a new car. By the end of the day, Gord announced we were the owners of a new 2009 Honda Civic, that he was picking up Thursday. After school, Erin decorated more gingerbread cookies and I made some candy cane bark as we were heading in to see her Christmas concert with the daycare. They also have a yummy potluck buffet, so dinner was all set for us that evening. Check out the video below! The kids were awesome! The food was good and Erin and her buddies had a great play. Unfortunately for me though, when we got home is when I started to get really sick. I seem to have picked up a stomach flu and let me tell you, it was pretty awful!

Thursday I managed to drag myself in to work as I had a pile of meetings. I got Erin into daycare really early and started my day of meetings. I have decided it is just plain gross to be sick (to your stomach) at work. The nurse gave me some stuff that helped, but it made me pretty drowsy. I can't believe I made it to 4:00pm! That was it for me though! By the time I picked up Erin and made it back home, Gord was home with the new car. Very nice! He had snow tires put on it as well, so it is all set for the winter. We took Erin into Sparks in the new car too! She was excited again because she got to go to Sparks in her pajamas! They had another great night of fun and made some beautiful decorations for the tree! I think she will miss Sparks during the holidays!

Friday was a big day of singing and her class party at school. I was going to do some shopping that day while she was in school. My dad just got back from Florida (welcome to the snow!!) and much to his dismay, he couldn't find anything he wanted to get for Erin! So I picked stuff up for him! I was good with that, because there is no one I love shopping for more in the world than Erin!! (Especially with someone else's money!!!!!) As the afternoon passed, we got hit with yet another snowstorm. It wasn't really snowing all that much but it was really windy and the roads were pretty crappy. I picked Erin up from school and came straight home. Gord had a long drive home too, but was home safely as well. Unfortunately, Erin seems to have caught my stomach flu as she got really sick during the night. She has a fever and we are just laying low around the house today. She is of course VERY upset with me because she is not going into the parade today. She is just too sick. I told her that she should rest so she can be ready for Santa. Poor little thing is pretty rough, but she's keeping a brave face on.

So that's the week that passed us by and the weekend is expected to be pretty quiet as a result of illnesses. Sunday is our wedding anniversary, and it will be pretty low key. Monday and Tuesday we will be at work and Erin at daycare. She'll enjoy playing with her friends as they get more and more excited for Christmas! Hopefully she will be feeling better by Monday.

Enjoy the pics.

Okay, so December is well underway.....

Yup....We went the fake route this year. It's hard to tell the difference though - the real one will go downstairs this year. You have gotta love the pre-lit tree though!!!!!

The Cookie Party!!!! I think this was the only time they sat still all afternoon!!!!!!

I can't believe it's the middle of December already. Every year I say that I'm going to slow things down for the holidays or at least for December, but every year I feel it gets busier. Maybe that's just because I'm getting older and I get tired more easily! Probaby the latter!!!

So December came in, well, busy. Erin had loads of fun at Sparks on the 4th, where the Spark leaders did Christmas baking with the girls. She just loves Sparks and is always disappointed that it is only once a week! Friday was a shopping day in Ottawa for me while Erin was at school. I finished up mostly everything. There are just a couple of little things to pick up at this point. Saturday the 6th was a pure whirlwind of a day. Friday night Erin and I baked 4 dozen plus cookies for a fundraiser for the daycare as part of the Christmas in Merrickville festivities. I had to drop them off early Saturday. Once that was done, Erin got ready for a dual birthday party for her school friends Emma and Hannah. This meant I had a couple of hours to pop into Brockville to pick up a few things for Sunday. Erin had a ball at the 'Hannah Montana' party and was pretty pooped that evening. She helped me bake more cookies for her Cookie party that we were having on Sunday. We tidied up on Sunday morning and the girls all arrived on time and had a great time! I had planned some activities, but they barely made it through one of them. All they wanted to do was to go and play and occassionally drop by for something to eat! They had a lot of fun! Richinda, Jamie and the girls stayed for dinner. While the party was going on, I was making my first moose roast. I have to admit it was pretty yummy! Good conversation with the adults was had and the girls played into the evening so a great day all in all!

Monday came and it was back to school. Jamie and the girls picked Erin up from school for me because I had a late afternoon meeting that I couldn't get out of. Erin ended up staying for dinner. My goodness those girls enjoy each other's company! In fact Tuesday, Erin got invited over for some sliding! She wouldn't pass that up!!! Tuesday and moreso into Wednesday, we got hit with a big snow storm, that included freezing rain, the works. We all stayed home that day. I worked all day and into the night. Thursday brought Sparks again and yet another night of loads of fun! Friday Erin and I spent the day making Christmas presents. Erin loves making things and giving them to people! I think that makes her really special! I took her out to lunch because we had to go out and pick up birthday cards - Happy Birthday Aunt Elaine (today) and to Daddy (tomorrow!).

So here we are to Saturday. In about an hour, Erin and I head to the children's Christmas party that my work puts on. After that, we quickly pop into Brockville to pick up a couple of things, then come home, pick up Gord, and head into Ottawa for dinner with Jo, Chris and the boys. I'm glad we were able to find some time to spend with them. The kids all play so well together, and we haven't seen each other since we went to Disney! That feels like ages ago now! As I mentioned, Sunday is Gord's birthday - his turn for the milestone, as he turns 40!

Next week will be a blast for Erin. Monday, Erin is going to a party with the Sparks, Brownies, Guides and Pathfinders - can you say excited? They get to get all dressed up for it - when she found out, we had to get a dress out and ready. Tuesday night we are back decorating cookies. Wednesday there is a Christmas lunch at her school and we are sending in cookies. I would have loved to volunteer again this year, but I only have a few days of vacation left, and I want to take that time at Christmas, naturally. So Christmas lunch is on Wednesday at school, followed by a Christmas potluck at the daycare that evening. I have no idea what to bring there, but we'll figure it out! Thursday is Sparks again. The girls get to dress up in pajamas for the reading of The Night Before Christmas. Friday is the last day of school for the year (can that be right????) and there will be a party in her classroom, and a Christmas sing-a-long. I will go to that for sure!!! Saturday, well, that is the day of the parade. Erin will be going with the Sparks this year and is naturally, very excited. I hope it's not too cold out this year!!! After the parade, is the firefighters event at the Community centre where Erin will see......gasp.....SANTA! Of course, she will see him today as well. The following Sunday marks our 12th wedding anniversary. Gord and I work the couple of days before Christmas and Erin will hang out at daycare. Oh my.... I'm tired.

Enjoy the pics. I'll post more soon!

Where did November go????

OMG! I can't beleive it's been nearly a month since I posted anything to the blog. It has just been plain hard to get at it, because life moves fast, particularly as Christmas quickly approaches!

All is well with everyone. We did a lot of visiting at the start of November with Douglas down for the annual week of deer hunting. November also brought the sad passing of another neighbour - Bert. Work has been work for Gord and I. Of course, the economic slowdown has had an impact on my workplace, so people are a bit nervous and that adds a whole new level of stress into one's day. To be perfectly honest, it has taken quite a toll on me, but I'm getting through it with the help of home and good friends!!

Erin continues to love her time in Sparks - check out the pictures of her enrollment below (it was supposed to be in October, but we were away at Disney)! I also experienced my first hot dog lunch volunteer day at Erin's school! I had a ball! It was great going into the Kindergarten room and having all the little ones come up and give me hugs!! I helped to cook and prepare 127 hotdogs that Friday.... it took a full day to get the smell of hotdogs out of my nose!!! I am volunteering another day in December, and have to admit that I'm looking forward to it!!

Gord is continuing to do work in the basement - in fact he's working on the stairs as we speak! It's been nice to go down to our 'family room' in the evenings now that we have the tv and receiver all set up!

This past Thursday was parent-teacher interviews at the school. I'll try not to gush too much, but Erin is doing great according to her teacher!! The school also had a Scholastic book fair, so Erin got to pick out some books for her great report, and we donated one to her class. They also had a secret santa shoppe set up, so Erin went in with one of the 'big' kids and picked out presents for Gord and I for Christmas! She had fun with this, as she even got to wrap the gifts up!

Today we went over for a visit with Richinda, Emma, and Erika. We have not had a chance to get together for a while, so Erin and I called this morning because we had some things to drop off and it worked out well. Erin is now colouring Hannah Montana colouring pages! You have to love the Internet!!!

So Monday is December. I can't believe it. I'll try to keep things up to date because we have some very fun things happening in Decemeber, not to mention Christmas!!! Next weekend will be busy. Friday I plan on trying to finish off most of the Christmas shopping. Erin and I then have to make 4 dozen cookies for her daycare as part of the Christmas in Merrickville festivities on December 6th. So yes, that is going on, then Erin has been invited to a Birthday party for 2 of her friends from school. Sunday we are having some of her buddies over for a Christmas Cookie party, then having Richinda, Emma, Erika and Jamie over for dinner.

The following Friday I'll take Erin out to finish up Christmas shopping - she wants to pick up something for Daddy!!! We then have the Children's Christmas party for my work on the Saturday, then we'll be heading in to Ottawa to have dinner with Jo, Chris and the boys, as part of our annual Christmas festivities! The next day is Gord's birthday!

Things don't lighten up the following week. We have cookies to make for the annual Christmas lunch at Erin's school. I volunteered last year, but can't swing it this year, but we will provide some treats! I volunteer on the Friday for hotdog lunch, and Saturday is the Christmas parade in Merrickville! Sunday is our anniversary.... I'm getting tired reading this!!!!

North Bay grampa will be down for Christmas on Christmas eve day, and we are hosting dinner this year. But, I know we will have fun and Erin will love every minute of the action that December will bring us!!

BOO!!!!

Happy Halloween! We have had a whirlwind week and Erin has enjoyed many parties this week! She had a party at school, daycare, and at Sparks! Friday she and I went to the library for scary stories and a Halloween craft! We then spent the day cleaning the house before we headed out trick or treating!!

Erin and I met up with some of her buddies at the community centre for the volunteer firefighter's Halloween party. The girls rammed around squealing and having a ball. They even managed to get a hot dog into themselves!!! After the party, Erin and her pal Kacey and her mom and I went out trick or treating through Merrickville. We did a few blocks and the girls were and had a riot! All afternoon Erin made and decorated paper pumpkins to give out to everyone who gave her candy. Whenever I get frustrated with her, all I have to do is look at when she does something special like this and it warms my heart!! She is really sweet! People were really surprised!

We walked through Merrickville for about one hour then we said our goodbyes and Erin and I headed off to see Aunt Rita and Aunt Eleanor before heading to the neighbours' and home. My heavens did Erin ever get a lot of candy! She was just tickled!! And..... did she ever crash! We were fortunate enough to have a beautiful evening for a walk and the fresh air, walk, and the excitement were just enough to push her over the edge of exhaustion once we got home!

Okay, this is ridiculous

Ahhhh, it was so nice this past weekend as Erin and Gord cleaned up the yard... look what came a few days later.......

So, I am fully aware of the fact that I live in Canada. I am proud to be Canadian. I am also aware that we get snow here. Sometimes, like last winter, we get more than I prefer, but all in all having winter can really be fun. I also know that sometime we get snow in October. But 4 inches??????? What is up with that??????? I hope this is not an omen of what is to come!!! Of course, it will all melt in the next day or so with temperatures hitting double digits again on Friday!!