Does the fun ever end?

Summer of 2012 has come and is almost gone. The kids are back in school and James is back to work. Seems like I just blinked and it was all over. The kids had the opportunity to go to some sleep away camps and they had a blast.

Kids are happy with their new schools(Jagger has moved to High School this year) and Kennedy changed to BHS for her final year of High School and she is really enjoying it. I am glad as I was a bit worried about her changing schools in her last year. She has done very well and took it all very well. It was her choice and she is not sorry for her decision. Sunday already and just wanted to share that we are still alive. I know I have not posted in quite awhile. I should really start up again. James and I are working hard and just trying to keep the wind in our sails. With soccer, Madison reffing, bringing them to friends, sleep overs and the dreaded school supply lists....we are keeping our heads above water.

Time to start updating again...

Well it has been a very long time since I have wrote anything here on our blog.
So much is going on in our fast and very busy lives.
The kids are growing up so fast. This month we had Colby's birthday, he turned 11 and Jaden's as well. She turned 9.

Insane that my baby(Presley) of the family is now 8 years old. A baby no more.

I have recently retired from volunteering from my adoption agency..although I love that role and have been doing it for the past 15 years, I just don't seem to have as much time these days to dedicate to that so I decided to hang up my hat for now.

My Mom is not doing well and has been in the hospital for 2 weeks now. Her heart is not working well and causing her many problems. A little prayer for her would be welcome for those that beleive in prayer. My dad has been an angel taking care of Mom for the past 5 months(24 hour care) all by himself for the most part. I think big changes are coming for the both of them in the near future. Sad but it happens as we get older.

Jaden is trying out for inter-city soccer tonight and is so excited to have been asked to try out. She really loves the sport and did very good during the summer. Almost every game she got a goal and was so proud of herself. She is very competitive and always tries her best at everything she takes on. She loves a good challenge.She is in Cubs with Colby and her cousin Kate and always looks forward to it. Her newest challenge is she wants to learn how to snowboard..Lord help me!

Presley had her tendon lengthening surgery in September and has recovered nicely. She is walking flat on her foot and we are happy with the results. She does her exercises every night and wears her brace to bed each night. She doesn't like having it on..but it is very important to keep her tendon pulled to ensure that the results of the surgery remain for as long as possible.She goes for Physio and is a real trooper.

James is doing well...his braces have been on for a year now and his teeth are nice and straight...What a difference. He has about a year to go and then we get to see them beautiful chicklets sans metal. He is enjoying his job at the school and is doing good overall. He too is waiting for surgery..sees the doctor at the end of the month. Hopefully surgery will be soon and he can be on the road to recovery.

Colby is doing good...he has his challenges but overall he is your typical 11 year old who challenges everything I say. He loves playing videogames on his laptop and can spend hours on there. He loves going to Cubs(he is a leader of a group) and really enjoys it. He moves onto Scouts next September officially.

Jagger is 11, going to be 12 in March. Jagger is starting to show the attitude that comes with being that age. Somedays I find it hard to deal with as up until now he has been such a great easy going kid. Attitude starts and my stress level goes up. Funny how they start tuning you out at that age. Hmmm maybe I should start doing that. Jagger loves going to Scouts, he is off this weekend going to Winter Camp and is really looking forward to it.

Kennedy is now 16 and is growing up to be such a great young lady. She is trying hard in school and has decided she wants to go to Dawson and study Illustration and Design. I am thrilled she has an idea of what she would like to do and my god is she talented. I will take some pics of her work and post it here later. Driving lessons are coming soon....my baby will be driving a car...oh my!

Madison is 14 and in grade 9. She is in the enriched program at school and is doing good. Now can we talk attitude....she definintely has that. She has spunk and charachter and that makes up who she is. She has a strange sense of humour like her Dad and is definitely the sweet lover in our family. She is my dessert hoover. LOL.

So that is it in a nutshell...when the stress hits max I look at my picture of Jaden writing in the sand in the Bahamas..and the stress melts away. Oh..to be in the Bahamas again.

St Lazare Cooking Classes - CHECK IT OUT!!

Learn to be a better cook

A La Clementine

2576 Bonaventure St., St. Lazare; 514-799-5570; sst41@yahoo.com; www.alaclementine.com

Topics: Mediterranean and French cuisine, and special-occasion cooking.

Instructor: Sherry Egerton, experienced home cook.

Format: Single sessions on Saturday and Sunday mornings, three or four-course lunch. English or French. Demonstration and some participation.

Time: 10 a.m.

Number of students: Eight to 11; groups, minimum of eight.

Price: $80; $340 for five sessions, including meal cooked in class and a glass of wine.

Starting: Oct. 2, 2010

This course is given by a good friend of mine. She is an amazing cook!

Well Summer comes to an end soon...

And they are back to school. Everyone is starting to get back into the school morning routine. Bags- check, lunch box downstairs-check, papers to be signed-check, clothes on-check, hair-check, teeth brushed-check, washed face and hands-check, lights off in room-check, bags packed=check, homework done-check, breakfast eaten-check, shoes on-check and of course cheque book on FIRE-check and all this before 7AM in the morning...call it crazy...call it our HOUSE!!!!!

6 kids and 4 different schools...YIKES!

Meanwhile I am getting ready as well to leave for 7:15am...

Pictures and more info to come.

Karen

Summer is creeping in...

Well the warm weather is here...and the pool is up and ready. We had our first dip this past weekend. Lots of work going on in and outside of our house. Always something to be done.
Here are a few pics I snapped from 2 weeks ago and on the long weekend.









Here is a picture of our friends twins..aren't they adorable? They are waiting for Mom and Dad...who should be heading to China in July we are hoping. How exciting for the girls and their new family who is waiting for them.



I will post some more pictures and updates soon...we have the kids in soccer and with practices and games..we are busy most nights....

School is almost done...can't believe another year has already flown. Kennedy heads to Sr High School, Madison heads off to Jr High School..Jagger grade 5, Colby grade 4, Jaden grade 2 and Presley in Grade 1.

Fun stuff up ahead.

More updates I promise.
Hugs!
Karen

Our Baby is Graduating....

And what a beautiful baby she is...Madison is going to High School...ahhhh I am getting old.



Just had to share,
Karen

Olympic Fever starts today

Well the week is almost up and we are ready to celebrate Chinese New Year this weekend.
Wanted to wish all our family and friends a Happy Chinese New Year. Tonight starts the Olympic games in Vancouver. All those medals you will see on the winners, the Gold, Silver and Bronze...were made by my brother and his team at the Mint in Ottawa, Canada. How cool is that.

May they shine brightly...hopefully many will go to our fellow Canadian athletes.

A little bit about the medals..

Medals by the Numbers

2.05 – kilograms of gold used in production of medals
30 – number of steps in fabrication process
95 millimetres – width of Paralympic medal
100 millimetres – diameter of Olympic medals
399 – medals for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games
500 grams to 576 g – weight of medals, among the heaviest in Olympic and Paralympic history.
615 – medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
903 – kilograms of copper used in production of bronze medals
1,950 – kilograms of silver used in production of medals
1976 – the last year the Royal Canadian Mint created medals for the Olympic Games


More facts:

All medals for the 2010 Winter Games were manufactured in the Mint's Ottawa facility.
It took one year of planning, innovation and prototype development to bring the ambitious design of the athlete medals to life and proceed to production.
There are a total of 615 athlete medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
There are a total of 399 athlete medals for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
Weighing between 500 and 576 grams each, Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games medals are among the heaviest in Games history.
34 Mint engineers, engravers, die technicians, machinists and production experts have combined forces to create an unforgettable series of athlete medals.
Over 30 steps, representing 402 days (2817 hours) of precision manufacturing, were taken to produce the medals.
The undulated (wavy) form of the medals for the 2010 Winter Games is a first.
Every Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games medal is unique – no two designs are the same.
To strike the medals into their unconventional shape, a total of 12 undulated dies had to be computer-sculpted and milled.
Given the undulated (wavy) form of the medals, the motifs and text had to be individually laser engraved.
The undulating form of each medal for the 2010 Winter Games was inspired by snow, the sea and the breathtaking natural environment of British Columbia.
The unique design of every medal for the 2010 Winter Games reflects the athlete's individual story and achievement.
The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games medals include Braille on the reverse.
A clear, protective coating has been applied to prevent tarnishing of all medals for the 2010 Winter Games.
Each medal was struck nine times with 1900 tons of pressure – that's the weight of 760 cars piled on top of each other.





Check it out: http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-medals/vancouver-2010-medals/

Proud of my baby brother and all his hard work. Bravo Jason!


Hugs,
Karen

Those dancing inmates..check it out!

Our week..

So the days are flying by since I have been back to work. It has been almost 4 weeks and I am enjoying my new job. Lots of challenges but it is interesting, educational and working on many projects. I am glad to be there.
With the hours in the days flying by James has been amazing and does the groceries and prepares dinner so as soon as I walk in the door supper is served and we eat together.
I was worried that eating together every night might happen less and less..but I enjoy our family dinner where we laugh, talk and share what happened over the course of the day. Sometimes of course it doesn't always turn out that way and we have crying, fighting amongst other emotions..

This weekend the kids are busy and we are driving. I should have a meter installed in my car now.

Kennedy has a sleepover with her good friend, Jaden and Presley are having a few friends over for a play date. They are looking forward to it. We will make cookies together for their snack. They will love it.

Madison is away on her grade 6 Grad trip at Jouvence. She has been looking forward to it since September. She was all packed and ready to go on Monday...even though she wasn't leaving until Wednesday. She comes home on Friday. The house has been much quieter without her smiley(wink wink)face around. We love you Maddy...and miss you ..

Had dinner with some friends this week..always a good time...talking about adoptions and helping in any way I can.

Thinking of the people of Haiti as I watch CNN each night. So happy that some of the orphaned children have been brought home to be with their families who were in the process of adopting them. My heart goes out to all those who are now without their families, without food and a home to call their own. It is so horrible to watch but incredible at the same time to see the resilience of so many who are trying to go on with their lives regardless of the devastation around them.

I have 2 friends of mine who had just arrived in Haiti, arrived in their hotel and the earthquake hit. They were so fortunate to make it out of the hotel that collapsed on top of them and find their way to the Canadian Embassy. They are home safe and sound. Thank God he watched over them!

Presley gets her new brace(sporting kitties and hearts) tomorrow. She will have to wear it all day day..and she is not a happy camper about it. She needs it though as her right foot has been getting worse. Her knee is always hyper extending and with the brace they are hoping this will help with that.

Always a busy life...but it is all good...we are so fortunate...we are alive...we have a home..love, family, friends, food, clean water.....we are so lucky to have what we do.

Hugs,
Karen

Adopting a child with Special needs-What lies beneath that label..Check it out!

Some pictures from Colby's birthday celebration

I thought I would share some pictures from our crazy home.

A weekend of Birthdays!

Well today is our Colby's 9th birthday! WOW! 9 years old I can't beleive it. That means I now have two six year olds until Sunday and two 9 year olds. I love you Colby and hope that you have a wonderful birthday. Colby has cubs tonight and he loves going..so we will have a quick supper(his favorite-Shepherd's Pie) followed by his birthday day (cake with ice cream cones all around) and than of course presents.

My niece Kate also celebrates her 8th birthday today and a party will be held for little miss tomorrow. Our girls are going to the party and than the rest of the family will head over to Nancy's for Kate's favorite meal of Spaghetti. We love you Katie..Happy Birthday sweetheart!

Sunday brings Jaden's 7th birthday and both Colby and Jaden love bowling so we will go to play bowling(our family and Nancy's as well), have lunch there and finish things off with Jaden's birthday cake. She has chosen Sponge Bob this year. I hope you love your presents Jaden. Big hugs to you my baby girl.

My babies are no longer babies and are growing up so fast. Time just goes so quickly you don't see them growing up...you turn around one day they are 2 and than you turn around and they are 7. I just can't beleive it.

Jaden and Colby..we love you so much. You are so special to me and Daddy and life would just not be the same without you both in it. I thank my lucky stars everyday that you are part of our family..

Enjoy your BIRTHDAY weekend. We love you!

Mom and Dad

10 years have flown by...

This Friday was our 10th anniversary. We celebrated with a ring for moi and Wee Fit for James. Hmmmmmm...I still like my gift better. LOL
Anyways we celebrated at one of my favorite restaurants "La Perle". They have the best Hunan Dumplings aside from the ones I make. We had a nice dinner and were finished by 8pm. Kennedy was holding down the fort while we were out...we headed to the video store and ended up with a family movie for everyone. We came home..the kids were excited to see us. We had hot chocolate, watched "9" which was pretty good, we made a fire in the fireplace and just vegged out. It was a nice evening...and we ended up where we belong..home sweet home.

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband James...who has helped me with our brood...we are a pretty good team. I love you honey! Are you ready for 10 more? The picture below is too funny...he makes me laugh...we were at the museum where there were some unicorns...



Next year we will celebrate out 11th anniversary, standing by my brother in Miami while he says his " I do's" to his lovely lady. We will than leave for a week in the Carribean. We are all looking forward to it. A nice way to celebrate our anniversary I must say.

Hugs to all,
Karen

First day on the job...

Well my first day has come and gone and it went very well. I think I am really going to like it there. The people were warm and welcoming, invited me to dine with them at lunchtime...and with meeting new people and finding out about what I will be doing and what projects are in the pipeline for me. I recognized a few faces who I had worked with before and knew a handful of people as well so that made things easier. All in all a great first day. Day 2 tomorrow...looking forward to it! Thank you to those who were thinking of me today. Appreciate the kind thoughts!

Karen

The end of the year...

Well I cannot say that I am sorry to see 2009 go...it was a tough year for us...or should I say challenging. Anyways..onto bigger and brighter things and challenges in 2010. Happy New Year to all our friends and family. We love you so.
We have spent time this holiday season with family and friends and that is truly special to us. There is never enough time in everyones' schedules except for holidays and we took advantage of that this year.

We visited Colleen and Alan's and had a great afternoon with the kids. Thank you for the invitation and we hope to see you very soon. We headed up to Jason and Deanna's in Ottawa for the day. Nancy and Kevin and their kids came as well and my Dad joined us too. We spent the afternoon at Jason's place and than all went out for a nice dinner. A great time was had by all. Thank you both!

New Year's Eve day we headed up to Burlington, Vermont for two nights. The kids loved their time swimming and playing and shopping. Nancy and Kevin were there and what a nice surprize that Sue and her 3 kids joined us there as well. The kids played together for hours and enjoyed each others company. Hot chocolate was had by all. There were many Montrealers's at the hotel that we had recognized from past years. Seems like spending New Year's with family in front of a roaring fireplace or by poolside is the way to go.

And now...the time has ticked away and this week we are heading back to work and school. The time off has been amazing.

Tomorrow I start my new job and am really looking forward to it. My new company is located about 3 buildings down from where Nancy works so perhaps we can meet up for lunch once in awhile. It has been almost a year since I have been in the work and home routine so I am expecting a bit of a tough week..but it is time for me to get back to work. Bills have to be paid.... My job is something I have not done before (Education) and I am really looking forward to the new challenges. I have a friend who works at my new company so that will help. New year, New start...great way to start the year off.

Should be a challenge as I will now leave before the kids get on the bus and will be home around 6pm (weather and traffic permitting) so James will be holding down the fort in the AM as well in the PM...thank god he loves to cook.

We will have to change our routine a bit as we will need to make the mornings go a little smoother and less stressful.

Anyways..here are a few pictures from the past week or so..

A little taste of Christmas 2009

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus

Karen
AKA Mommy

An adult evening out...

Last weekend we were lucky to get out and have ourselves an adult only evening. We shared dinner with my cousin Colleen and her hubby Alan and my sister Nancy and Kevin. We had a great evening catching up and just being together. Definitely have to do that more often. As you can see in the picture my sister loves having her picture taken and was trying to be mysterious....LOL

Thank you Colleen for the great cookies...they were quickly eaten and enjoyed.

Love you guys!

Pictures this Christmas Eve

Here are a few shots taken this evening. We had Nancy and her gang over...we played Charades and we had a lot of laughs...Santa is on his way...and you can see some of the letters that were made for Santa..Cookies(peanut butter and chocolate chip) were made tonight...and Milk of course for the big guy.