The Terry Fox Walk

This year Kate walked for Ally again. In April (at least I think it was April), Ally was cancer free.  We were so excited for Ally and her family.  This summer they received devastating news, the cancer was back, and Ally would need a bone marrow transplant.  We had stopped our daily prayers for Ally and her family, but we started up again.  We were all very excited for Kate to participate in the Terry Fox walk.  It was a beautiful day and parents were invited to come watch.

Alice, Fiona and I walked over and sat on the little bridge and waited.  Kate and the rest of the kindergarten kids all came out and started running/walking around the track.  After an invitation from one of the educational assistants, Alice did a lap with Kate.  Fiona even walked a bit.  I love these opportunities to have the girls do something for someone else, even a simple thing like walking around the track.  Kate did three laps.  She was really proud of herself, and we were proud of her too!

 

Tuesday

Tuesdays.  Not sure if I've ever really written about Tuesdays.  Almost every Tuesday, Alice, Fiona and I travel to Orangeville.  We meet at either Terri-Ann's or at Erin's house and we chat.  Last year we read scriptures, then we switched to a book called Raising Your Children Unto the Lord. This fall we've been reading a relationship book called For Women Only.  The group is me, Kim, Erin, Terri-Ann and Savannah.  These are wonderful women that are my friends and support system.  We sit and we talk and the kids play and it's great!  Today was Griffin's first birthday.  Unfortunately Cedar wasn't there, and I didn't get Norah in the picture.  It's so fun to take pics of all the babies and see how they change.

This was from last year - October 22, 2013.  From left to right it's Griffinn, Cedar and Fiona.

This was today, Fiona and Griffinn.

Parties and Goodbye

Yesterday I was the duty Mom at pre-school with Alice.  Being the duty Mom wasn't too bad this time - the last time I was the duty Mom was when I was 8.5 months pregnant with Fiona.  Alice is really enjoying preschool and I'm so glad.  My sweet friend Michelle looked after Fiona this morning. 

Today was party day.  Alice was invited to Claire's birthday, Kate was invited to Abby's, and then we hosted a goodbye dinner party - okay not really, but we did have Mom, Dad, Wendy and Ray over for dinner before they left to go to the airport. 

Alice and Claire are buddies.  They are really cute in nursery.  Fiona and I accompanied Alice to the party.

Ken dropped Kate off for her party - no pictures of course.  The girls had fun.  Or at least Kate said she had fun even though there were some social difficulties.  Next on the agenda was clean up and get ready for dinner.  Ken made burgers and grilled veggies.  We had a lovely time hanging out.  Wendy brought more books for the girls, and had one final story time.

And just like that it was time for hugs and goodbyes.  I don't like goodbyes.  Who does?  I really don't like goodbye when you're not sure of the next hello.  But, I will instead be grateful for the hello in the first place.  We did so much, and I saw Wendy and Ray so much.  I really had such a lovely time.  It has been such a wonderful three months of family visits.  I feel so very blessed to be part of such a wonderful, loving family. 

I have thought of the lyric from one of the primary songs over and over again the last little while.  "God gave us families, to help us become what he wants us to be.  This is how he shares his love, for the family is of God."  I am so grateful for my family, and who they help me to be.

Niagara

Making plans, trying to consider everyone's needs, trying to sort things out, the weather, sometimes it all seems like such a stumbling block to the fun.  The idea of this day trip changed so many times!  In the end, poor Andrew wasn't feeling well and decided to stay in bed.  The forecast which was supposed to be good, changed and we left in the rain, hoping that the rain would clear.  The girls and I met up with Mom, Dad, Wendy, and Ray at a fast food/rest stop type place quite close to Niagara on the Lake.

We all had lunch and then as I was taking the girls to the bathroom, who did I bump into?  My Uncle David, who was married to my Dad's sister Anna until she died of lung cancer in 2006.  Mom and Dad had a nice chat with him, and then after we were finished in the bathroom, I was able to introduce him to my girls and chat for a few minutes.  It was such a happy coincidence to bump into him and his new wife.

Thankfully the rain cleared up and we went for a little walk around Niagara-on-the-Lake.  It is as beautiful and touristy as ever.  Mom bought some jam or relish (maybe both) for Dad from Greaves, and after a few minutes in the park and a few pictures in front of Anna and David's old place, we set off for the falls.

These pictures are of the rectory which Anna and David lived in for quite a few years.  They leased it from the historical society for ten years or so.  They had moved into a newer condo not long before Anna got really sick - or perhaps while she was sick, I don't remember.  I think Dad got a little choked up when I took the picture of he and Mom.  He loved his sister Anna very much.  I think he was closer to her than anyone else?  She was the oldest, and Dad lived on the 3rd floor of her house in Toronto for many years as an adult. 

We've driven past the falls, but I don't think that we've ever taken the girls out of the van - it's so expensive to park!  As it was, we were still really far from the falls.  We could see the Maid of the Mist boats pulling in and out of their dock, but we couldn't feel the mist from the falls.  Kate, Alice, Fiona and I climbed up to the top of a look out, and then Kate asked where there were more falls.  Perhaps the grandeur will come later?

 

It was a fun day.  After the falls the girls and I stopped and had subs in St. Catharine's and then we were home.  This was the last outing for us with Wendy and Ray before they leave Saturday.  It's been wonderful so far, and I can't believe it's already over!

Pioneer Village

I suggested a visit to Pioneer Village.  Wendy, Ray, Mom and Dad were going to meet us.  Unfortunately Mom and Dad weren't feeling well.  The girls and I went and picked up Wendy and Ray and we had a lovely time walking around Black Creek Pioneer Village.  It was an absolutely perfect day - weather wise.  The girls did quite well - there were moments of crazy, but there always are.  I'm so grateful for the fun that we're having with Wendy and Ray.

Funniest memory - Wendy trying to feed a polo mint to one of the horses.  She also tried to feed Fiona to one of the horses - okay not really, but Fiona wasn't too sure about being so close to the horse!  I also very much enjoyed Ray taking charge of the stroller.  It was great.  And last favourite memory, the girls stuffing sticks into the barrels at the cooper shop.  I think that was the most fun that had all day.  Oh and Fiona in the mill.  I'm not sure why she loved the mill so much but she really did.  She totally invaded a tour that was going on and just stood there watching until I took her away.