Scrapbook Retreat

This is a picture of Kerri and me that I took by holding the camera away from us. I think I did pretty good.

Working Hard

Here is Debbie and Krist consulting on a layout, we do a lot of sharing.

Family

Here we are taking a break with family to celebrate my sister Jude's bday.

Scrapbook Retreat a Success

Another fun year at the retreat with great food, a lot of space, great company, a workout gym and steam room, and time for socializing in the lounge. I am not sure how many pages I did, who's counting anyways, (I know some of you are counting). I am known in the group as the one who takes a lot of time getting started. I will post some of my layouts in a bit. These pics are a few of my family and friends during the retreat ( very missed: Cindy, Cathy).

HerE aRe SOmE of The PiCturEs . . .

. . . that I am going to Scrapbook at the Retreat. . .
Chumma showing off his newborn baby boy to his brother Real.

. . . decorating the tree. . .

This year it was Kolby's turn to put the star on the tree and Kade's turn to turn on the tree lights.

. . . Halloween. . .
Kade didn't seem to like his brother's costume this year.

Kade The Football Player

Kade and his brother were playing football in the house. I know I've told them thousands of times not to play rough games, but they are both boys' boys, and this time Kade broke his arm (last time Kade got a black eye). It didn't seem that bad at first because he wanted to keep playing games and he favoured it a little. I took him to the hospital around 3:30 and they took x-rays at 5:00, which Kade was surprisingly cooperative, thanks to the x-ray lady. The doctor looked at the x-rays and said, in a matter of fact way, that Kade has a crack in his arm between the wrist and the elbow and he will need a cast right away. I didn't know what to do, they didn't even give me a chance to cry, and they started to prepare his tiny little arm. I called Real right away and told him and he didn't believe me at first until he probably sensed that I was about to cry and he was on his way from work. Kade was great and it happened so fast, well that part went fast. They asked him what colour he wanted and before I knew it, Kade had a blue little cast on his arm. We were in the car by the time Real got to the hospital and Kade seemed so brave showing his daddy his blue cast. Kade has to go see the doctor in two weeks and take his cast off in three weeks or so. I am not sure he understands how long this is, because when he asked when he can take it off, I told him just ten sleeps. He started to do that quiet, pitiful, lose your breath cry and said "I don't want to keep it on for ten sweeps". We will be busy helping him along to get through the next few weeks, maybe with a little bribery.

Kolby the Hockey Player

Kolby had a lot of fun during the Terrace Hockey Tournament this past weekend. The team played awesome and the games were very exciting with 1 win, 1 tie, and 2 losses. Kolby played well even though he wasn't feeling 100%; he scored 6 goals in 4 games. We kept asking him if he was feeling healthy enough to play and he continued to say he is feeling Good! He is one determined kid with a lot of heart for the game. We knew different though because he wasn't playing his video games. We are very proud of our little hockey player. Kolby is feeling better now and ready for school.

He is missing his Gram though. Mom went to Vancouver today to start her 4 weeks of radiation. She is feeling a bit excited about this final step of her treatment. She is looking forward to relaxing, reading, shopping, eating out, and other 'Fun Stuff' for her. My dad is with her for the whole time and my sister is there for the first two weeks to get them settled. I am very happy for her to be in the final stretch, but sad that she will be away from us. I am used to mom and dad being there for us everyday. I think this is the longest they have been away from home and I already miss them. We will phone often and they will keep track of our daily activities on here. We love you guys and Miss you!!!

She Did It!!

Yes! My mom did it! My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer just this past summer. This experience was hard to take on for everyone in our family. It was difficult for me to talk about it, I mean really talk about it. My sister and I had each other for support and at first we would phone each other and not talk at all . . . just cry. We have a close relationship and this brought us even closer. I also have a really great husband who knows how to keep me going. When times were really difficult we turned to the boys who bring such great light to our world.

She has had surgery and chemotherapy within the last 6 months and survived. Not only survived, but kicked it! She is a strong, determined, woman who persevered through the tough times (some very tough times). There were days when she was in so much pain and agony and so very tired, beyond tired, but she kept going. My dad stood with her through every step of the way; through the long nights, through home remedies, through prayer. They say, 'if you can get through cancer together, you can get through anything together'. Our whole family (we have a huge family) and many friends were there for her in different ways; with food, visits, gifts, daily phone calls, care packages, and prayer. I Thank god for many things in my life, but mostly for giving my mom the strength to get through this. My mom is caring, strong-willed, supportive, wise, and a provider of a loving, comfortable and safe home for her family. I love you mom.

Back to School???

Yes, it's that time again, back to school. Is it me or does the time go by faster and faster every year. There has to be some way to slow it down, some way to stop and enjoy the moment, the second. This holiday, we slept in every day and stayed in our pj's way past lunch. One night, I said it was time to put on your pj's and Kade thought it was pretty cool that he already had them on from the morning. Now, the hard part is getting ready for our regular routine. Time to put away our decorations, hopefully more organized than last year, time to get our school clothes ready, time to stock up on lunches and recesses, time to clean our vehicles, time to get into a regular reading schedule, time to start another happy and healthy year!!!

I love my coffee. . .

Coffee is my time to stop and think, well actually not think at all, I just sip and enjoy the smell and taste of mocha. I like my coffee extra hot because I want it to last as long as possible. The day starts with planning what to eat for breakfast for four, sometimes just for three because most times I forget to feed myself, then getting ready for the day, finding clothes, looking for shoes and hats, cleaning and laundry, packing snacks (snacks are very important especially for boys), then 'what's for lunch?', then 'what's for dinner?', then cleaning and getting ready for bed, not to mention the phone ringing off the hook all day everyday, thank god for call display (of course we don't screen friends and loved ones - just those stinkin' telemarketers, but that's another post). So . . Ya, Coffee is my time of the day to just enjoy every sip, it gets me through.

Welcome Everyone

Hi everyone, I just thought that I would create a blog for updating you on our daily lives. I have a few ideas of what I would like to include such as trips, special events, games, scores, school, scrapbooking, etc. Please feel to respond to any of my titles.