Still Alive!

Yes, we are still alive! This poor neglected blog...I am sure no one even bothers to stop in anymore :(

Sometimes, life just gets in the way and this blog (and the time that it takes to post) seems to have fallen by the wayside. So sorry.

Today, I came to revisit the blog in search of pictures of our family cat who has left us today. So sad :( He has been ailing for a while.... we all knew it was coming.... but when he took a turn for the worse today, we knew we couldn't put it off any longer.

It is such a tough decision to have the life of a pet ended. And it is even harder to try to explain it to the kids. Yes, that's right, we discussed it with the kids. I know not all parents do that. They tell their children that the pet "went to the farm" or "ran away" or....

But we made the decision to have an honest discussion about the difficult but, in our minds, most compassionate choice we could make.

The Girlie said "I don't want to have any pets anymore because they always just die!!" (This is the third pet this family has lost in four years) And as difficult as it was to hear those words between the sobs and tears, it gave us an opportuntiy to talk about life, and death, and how important it is for us to value and appreciate the time we have with those we love.

So thank you, Eddy, for the life you have shared with us and the gifts you have given us all over the years! You will be missed :(

WPS Half Marathon Relay

This poor blog has been sorrowfully neglected but I wanted to post something so that you all know I am still alive!

Last weekend brought a new milestone to me. I participated in the Winnipeg Police Services Half Marathon and ran the relay with a friend. What does that mean? It means I ran 6.55 (1/4 of a marathon)! Woohoo!

My initial intention was really just to run it. No expectations regarding time, just do it! But as the race got closer and my training progressed, I began wondering what my time could be (I also sort of needed to figure out where to begin the race based on a half marathon finishing time).

At first, my goal was to be in under an hour and a half. Not speedy (by any standards!) but respectable enough for me. Then I began to set my sites a little bit higher and secretly hoped to be in under 1:15. Could I? I wasn't so sure but thought it might be possible.

The morning of the race was cool and overcast, with a light drizzle on and off as I got ready to start. This race was extra meaningful, as it is a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, which is near and dear to me, having lost so many important people to that despicable disease.

And then....we were off. With so many runners starting at the same time, it took me a while to find my groove but a little past mile one, I finally fell into my pace and felt good.

Because of the less than hospitable weather, there weren't too many spectators, but those that were out provided great motivation to keep going. So grateful for those that come out to cheer runners on...whether they know them or not! What a gift!

Around mile 2, I saw bagpipes up ahead and decided I should take off one of my earphones to give my full attention to them in honor of my Scottish grandfather (he being one of the many lost to cancer). As I take my earphone off, I feel my earring fall as well! Oh no! This earring was not just any old earring, but my beautiful diamond earring bought for me by my husband that I never. take. off. What to do?

I stopped in my tracks and started looking for it. What are the odds I'll find it? In the middle of a street? With runners all around me? (Sorry to anyone that had to dodge around me. Oops!) All I could think was "time is a tickin'" and "I'll likely never find it" "How long can I possibly justify looking for it?" when suddenly...there it was! Amazing!! Someone must have been looking out for me :)

I picked it up and started running again...all while trying to get my earring back into my ear (yup...that's right. Straight off the ground and back into my ear. Yuck! But what else could I do?!)

As the run progressed, the crowd of runners thinned more and more and things were feeling a little lonely. Then...there it was! The relay hand off! What a thrill to see my relay partner smiling and cheering me on as I approached her! Fantastic motivation to run hard right to the end. I can't believe I did it!

After the relay exchange, I pulled off to the side to make my way slowly back to the park to wait for my partner to near the finish line so I could join her to run the last few meters. Just as I neared the path to the park the fourth place man finisher ran past me! That's right! He (and three others) ran the entire half marathon in about the same time as I ran half of it. That is incredible!!

But like I said, I set out to a.) finish and b.) do "okay" My official chip time was 1:13:41 so, even with my earring adventure, I still beat my 1:15 goal! Woohoo!

Here is a race photo from the WPS website...taken at around mile 5-ish, if I remember correctly.



I still can hardly believe it!

Growing Up!

I can't believe that we are nearing the end of January and I have not posted a single picture from the holidays! Ugh. I will...sometime soon.

But, in the meantime, I just couldn't NOT post this...

Last night, the girlie lost her first tooth!!




There it is. So tiny. Yet, I remember how big it looked when it first appeared in her sweet little mouth. Seems like just a moment ago.



She was SO excited to have finally lost a tooth and couldn't wait to see what the Tooth Fairy would bring.




In the morning, she had a wonderful surprise. The Tooth Fairy (whom she says she saw, by the way. Apparently she has long brown hair,a purple stiped shirt, pink tutu, blue wings, green crown with purple and pink jewels and a pink and purple wand. I LOVE the magic of six year olds!!) had exchanged her tiny tooth with 5 shiny loonies. Hooray!!

Not only that, she also found another tooth was ready to fall...right into her open hand!

So now, here she is, with two less teeth than she began the weekend with.



And now the Tooth Fairy gets to make a return visit. (I wonder what she'll wear tonight?!?)

Happy Holidays!!

I have SO much blogging to catch up on but...

in the meantime....

From our house to yours



We are wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season!

Baby Boy E -- One Day Old

Check out this little peaunt... just one day after his birth... still fresh and all curled up. Sigh...



What an adorable little face!



Sweet baby yawn (gotta love those!)




And one in color just to show off his lovely baby skin and the hat I knit for for baby boys but hadn't used until now due to the extreme girl streak I was on :)





Welcome to the world little man! Your parents waited so patiently for you....and you were clearly worth the wait :)

I was blessed to be a part of your journey!

Little Miss E

Another adorable baby girl to photograph!

Here is a hat I knit just for such occasions




SO sweet!



Isn't she cute?




Mom says this is one of her first smiles not associated with gas!




Here is the proud big sister

And the whole beautiful family!

It was such a pleasure to be a part of your journey. Little E is a very lucky girl to have joined such a lovely clan :)

Sisterly Love

So, can you believe this baby is two months old already?

SO cute!

Sleeping like an angel..

We had so much fun!

I also took a few shots of her beautiful big sisters.

The biggest big sister...

The little big sister

How sweet are they?

Here is a shot of all three

These girls are going to break some hearts, I think. We had a fun afternoon and hope to do it again soon :)