29th Year

As I do with each of boys I think birthdays are a time to reflect. This 29th year has been incredible. It had some challenges too, but it had some of the most amazing experiences too. The highlights that stand out for me are watching Nathan and Lucas grow up. When I broke my foot. How hard that was and how quickly it went by, although while it was going on it seemed like a lifetime. Going on a big family vacation to Florida for Christmas. Playing with Lucas in the snow. Watching Nathan learn how to walk. Going on the MOST incredible vacation with Tammy on the BNL cruise. Weakerthans music. Concerts. Summer with family, Darryl's, mine and our "chosen" family. Dinner with my parents and Tammy and Pat.











Really I can't believe what an incredible year it has been. Really the past decade has been so amazing. I don't think I can top it. I got married, had babies, went on amazing vacations. Wow....

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Last Days of Summer

We have had a really warm fall here and so to cool off in the afternoons I put out the sprinkler and the kids love to run through it.




Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Fall

Unlike Goofball I love fall. I miss the leaves of Ontario. But generally I love fall. I like routine and fall colours. Today our new students started. Fall around campus is fun with anticipation. There is not the stress that comes later in the year. For the moment it's just the excitement. I love to get them all brand new and know that in a year they will be part of our x-ray "world". That in two ears I will be working along side them rather then teaching them. We get to teach them and nurture them and watch them grow.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: Month Seventeen

Dear Nathan,

This week you turned seventeen months old. This weekend we were in Ontario and people kept asking how old you were, I had to do some counting on my fingers to remember. Time goes by so quickly and I can't believe you that much closer to a year and a half.

This month has been quite fun. We spent two weeks in Kelowna and you loved it. You loved the water, you loved being with Oma, Opa, Pop and Auntie Karen. You liked eating chocolate sprinkles on bread and watching Emma shake all the water off. You loved being splashed and loved the water park in Kelowna.


You love dancing. You'll spin or bounce up and down. You also love hand movements whether it rolling your hands for "the Wheels on the Bus" or "Patty Cake". When we watch Little Einsteins now you will pat and lift your hands in the air. We have also taught you a couple of sign language signs and that is helping with your communication as well.

Your speech is coming along, but slowly. You can say a couple of words. Most people who spend any time with you know how much you understand. I can tell you to put a hat on and you will. Or put something in the garbage and you will. SO far you say mum, ball, dad. I've heard you say cat and dog and you know that a dog pants, not barks. Although the other day we were making barking noises and you were trying so hard to do it. But for you to talk back to me is still a challenge. But it's getting there.


You still are quite attached to me. You will go to other people but if I'm in the room you'll want to be with me. Even when we were in Ontario you were great for Lori and Ian while they were babysitting you. But as soon as I came in the door and started to speak you woke up crying for me.

We have been enjoying the outside, people love your white blond hair. Daddy wants to cut it, but I kept putting it off. It is so beautiful and has little curls at the end.



You love to copy everything Lucas is doing. Whether it's a conotation in his voice or something he is climbing on or jumping from, you try to do it as well. I think that having a weekend away from Lucas probably did you both some good. But I think you did really miss him. You learn so so much from him. Even if it seems a little too old for you.


Love you baby

love mommy

Jet Setters

This weekend Nathan and I flew to Ontario for a wedding of a good friend of mine. It was a quick visit but good. I love weddings. This was a beautiful wedding. I love the feeling of love, the dancing, the good food.
It made me miss my husband as he was at home having a boys weekend with Lucas. But it was a really lovely day and it makes me happy to see people I love so happy. Nathan enjoyed having his aunt and uncle and cousin and grammy around to make him happy. He also enjoyed chasing the squirrels around.
We have squirrels in Calgary, but no where near as many trees or squirrels as they have in Ontario. He was also amazed when Alex, a high school friend of ours played the bells during Ava Maria. The reception was also great, although Nathan stayed home with his family, food was delicious. I love dancing and my friend sat me with some very fun, very kind ladies.



Going back to Ontario is always an interesting experience. It's like anytime you go back somewhere you use to call home. Whether it's an old house or school. Many memories come flooding back, like I remember taking the bus to that library, or I remember sliding on the ice in that intersection. I saw old friends at the wedding and we can chat like no time has passed, when really many years have passed.

But at the same time there is that feeling that I don't belong here any more. This is not my home. I've lived in Calgary for 10 years now. One more year and I will have lived longer here then I have lived anywhere else.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

An Ontario Wedding

Last night at my friends wedding I could tell I was nit in Alberta because there was not one country song played =)

Jenn

Smorgy

Tomorrow Nathan and I head to Ontario. A good friend of mine from high school is getting married and I found a great deal to head to Ontario and go see that happen. I'm taking Nathan with me as he is attached to my hip and he's free. Luckily we are just going for a day because it is just about 12 hours till I leave and I just finished my list of stuff we need to take with us.

Life is been kind of busy tonight we met Lucas's teacher for preschool. This was fun, but I know I'm going to have to e-mail the student I'm suppose to see on his first day, because it was obvious he is still quite shy. The whole time we talked to the teacher his arms were clamped my neck. He talked to her okay, but didn't really want to leave me. Nathan on the other hand was cut from a different cloth. He smiled at anyone who would smile back, he would do what any other of the kids would do.

We've also been having some issues with Tigger, one of our cats. We have put her on a special and expensive food. Since it is so "special", we've been doing our best to make sure that she is the only one that eats it, but all of the animals want it. So when I put away her food, both of the animals pretend they are bloodhounds, sniffing all around until they give up and go back to their normal foods.

Last little detail, I was at the grocery store this week and it looks like I am a horrible cook. With having all the vegetables at home my cart has some fruit, but all other food is from the middle of the store.

They'll be pictures and details of the wedding when I return.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

A Mystery

While in Kelowna my laptop would shut down every time I unplugged it even though it said it was fully charged. It would seem like the battery may be pouched. I have been living with it for a couple of weeks now. Last night I tested my friends battery in my computer because that's what I thought it was, but no.... it didn't work. This is the laptop that is a cat, it has many lives. It has had grapefruit juice spilled all over it, Darryl once pronounced it dead after I shocked it and it shut down. So I keep thinking it will come back to me.... but so far nothing.

I think the next step will be to take it to a surgeon. Hopefully he or she can fix it. Please Apple store, let the cat have another life.

Jenn

Happy Birthday Darryl Weekend!

We had an action packed weekend, that included Darryl's birthday celebration. It also included an amazing theatrical show of the Lion King. Lucas, Darryl and I went on Saturday afternoon to see Lion King. It was amazing. The best musical I've ever seen. The costumes were INCREDIBLE! I would recommend if you ever get a chance to see the show to pounce on it. Even Lucas really enjoyed it. I was kind of worried about how he would react, but he did great, although he sat on my lap the whole time.



Afterwards we had some friends over for steak dinner and cherry cheesecake, Darryl's favorite dessert. I often rant and rave about what a great husband and father Darryl is. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful man to spend my life with. He is funny and kind and caring. He is an amazing Dad to those two kids. Tonight he was teaching Lucas how to throw a basketball and yesterday helping him learn to golf. Today he made us dinner and he even made his birthday dinner. Yep, I did good.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Vegetable Garden

While we were away the vegetable garden exploded, so when we came home it was harvest time. I wanted to pickle the beets and we have zucchini coming out the yin yang. We have been eating the lettuce (and sharing it with anyone who wants it) all summer. The potatoes are also looking good. But rather then harvesting them all at once, we done some every couple of nights when we eat potatoes.

There are many reasons we grow vegetables, it's cheaper then buying them, I love to watch it grow, we know they have no pesticides, no gas is used to deliver the vegetables. But my number one reason for growing my own vegetables is the way they taste. They taste so damn good.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn