It's M-eye Birthday!

Two years ago today, I received my PROSE lenses, and was given my life back.  I thank God every day for my lenses.  I can not imagine life without them.  When Boston Foundation for Sight posts patient profiles they always give a date at the top "Sight restored....."  My sight was restored on October 1st.  October first is my new birthday.  http://www.bostonsight.org/ 

It is quite apparent to me that I still have not found my groove(y) yet.  I used to love writing posts, and writing in general. I seem to have lost my groove.  I wish to find it again.  I suppose I need to be patient with myself ... but perhaps the old me was lost with my old eyes?

We had a really rough week : )  Post-Disneytitis.  How nice it was to forget about homework, and classroom preparations as we frolicked in the California sun.  I am thankful for the memories that we gathered there.  It makes us smile as we talk about the rides and silly things we did. 

Back to reality .... I am finding that I am making many trips to town now that the girl is in junior high.  She has joined the junior volleyball team, so we have weekly practices and games, as well as community band.  I figured if I had to haul the girl to band I may as well join too.  I am dusting off my french horn after a good 25 years.  We'll see how it goes.  (I have become resistant to humiliation, and humiliated I will be : )  The girl plays bass guitar.

The boy is anxious for hockey to begin.  Right after Thanksgiving I will be back to testing willpower.... must not eat rink fries.  I do not need rink fries.  I do not need rink thighs...

random disney pics

boy's birthday gift -mickey hat and baseballs... as if an NBL wasn't enough!

the birthday gift girl picked out for herself - first perfume rollerball

the boys (pseudo) 11th birthday

a trip to the beach, cheesecake and an MLB game ....

girl's 13th birthday

8 years later

old Disneyland photos ... new ones this week!

 

We are so thankful for the opportunity to go to Disneyland again.  Our first trip there in Sept 2005 was after D- had major surgery for recurrence to his liver.  We were told after surgery that they were sorry, they had not been able to get it all.  He would have not survived surgery if they took any more of his liver.  He was not happy to go to Disneyland.  He was very tired and understandably Disneyland was the last place he wanted to be.  I needed to go.  I wanted the kids to go with a complete family.  I wanted them to go with their dad. My older sister was so generous and insisted on sending us, arranging everything for the trip. 

 D- was a grumpy bear and nothing could appease him.  When we entered the gates I marched him straight to the Indiana Jones ride, and told him to line up.  I sat at the exit with the kids, and waited.  He went in a grump and came out the other side with a big smile on his face.  I asked, "Are you ready to enjoy Disneyland now?"  Yes he was!  We had the best time.  It was so much fun and it helped us forget about everything for a little while.  This time tomorrow we will be back, this time on D's initiative.  The kids asked which ride we will go on first.  D was quick to say "Indiana Jones!"  Indiana Jones it will be.

The missing part of our story is that what they thought were remaining tumors on the liver that they could not take, ended up being scar tissue .... from what, we do not know.  He has had clear scans ever since : )

Disneyland

We are going to Disneyland tomorrow : )

We went through old photos of our trip there in 2005.  It was fun to go through photos of when the kids were .... no ... they have never been angels.

camping

This past week we joined another family for a camping trip in the foothills near Sundre.  They scored the most beautiful campsite.  It was nestled beside a creek, 30 minutes in on winding roads.  It was a private group site, so we had it all to ourselves.  Magnificent. 

We camped creekside : )  The sound of the water was lovely.  The water fast flowing and quite loud.

The guys finding a place to put in to canoe the Red Deer River.  They were scouting it out, to see if it was a safe river to take the kids.  It wasn't.  Lots of rapids, rocks etc.  They got tipped .... and are determined to go back and conquer it : )

Pow Wow

I hope this video will work.  If not I will have to load it on youtube and provide a link.

Today was a special day.  The kids and I went to a Pow Wow!  A good friend of my girl was dancing today, so we went to watch him.  It was amazing!

'errrrr

...30 yards.  (clearly I am linearly challenged)

katniss

 My girl fell in love with The Hunger Games books.  She is growing her hair out so that she can braid it like Katniss and has taken up archery.  She is actually very good : )  I am glad that she has found something she can excel at, as she is always complaining that the boy beats her in everything sports related.  The boy has never gotten a bulls-eye, and today the girl got two in a row. (60  30 something)  She was so happy.

My sister just got back from a trip to Europe with 2 of her girlfriends.  The youtube video below is of them singing in a chapel in Southern France they stumbled upon.  The acoustics are amazing.

hopefully this link will work.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5EHZ20TjbI&feature=em-upload_owner

Singing with Lynnae and Gina in the south of France

50th Wedding Anniversary

Fifty years ago, on July 6, my parents wed.  This past weekend our family met in Calgary to celebrate their golden anniversary.  My parents didn't want a party so we had a quiet family supper in a private room at an amazing restaurant.  It was the perfect evening : )  So nice to have everyone all together.

my parents 50th anniversary

fish of the day

65cm northern pike

This morning the boys got up at 4am, to go fishing.  Daddy had been promising to take boy early morning fishing as soon as it was summer holidays.  This is what they came home with.  Boy is beside himself with happiness.  He lives and breathes fishing... and hockey.

this evening

The old cowboy. (gramps)

the girl and her horse

posting pictures again

Katie Katie Bad Dog is still a bad dog.

writing again

Elaine, I need to thank you for drawing me back to my blog.  I had given up on writing, and now am finding it cathartic.  I withdrew from life quite a bit over the past 2 years, and it's time I find my inner groove(y).

This afternoon the kids and I stopped a restaurant to have a late lunch.  In shuffled two elderly couples.  They must have been nearing 90.  It was so sweet, an old lady was slowly making her way to the table but was not using the cane she was holding.  She stopped mid-shuffle to assess the situation.  Her husband standing behind her, gently put his hand on back and said, "Dear, use your cane!"  It was beautiful.  She was all dolled up, having obviously done her hair, wearing a bright blouse, and well chosen jewelery.  (she still had it.  I would dare say a dear old gal can only still "have it" at that age if she is still loved up... and she was loved up : )  The elderly gentleman from the other couple saw that I was observing them, stopped and pointed at me and said, "Your turn is coming, and it will come quicker than you expect!"

My regret of the day; I so wish I had asked them to share advice with me.  "From where you are now, what is the one thing you would tell me about life...."  Next time, I won't hesitate.  I will follow my instinct.

eye on the ball

Daddy and boy have been going out and playing ball every night.  Last night boy caught dad's pop fly with his eye.  Dad is always instructing boy "Keep your eye on the ball!"  Apparently he is very good at following instruction.

(This is just in time for family pictures on the 5th.  My immediate family will be all together to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary.)

girl's grade 6 grad.

Ever since my eyes and my unfortunate brush with all things chocolate chips I have a very difficult time having pictures taken.  I need to get over this, so will be attempting to post more pictures of myself. 

last day of elementary school

This morning I sent my daughter off for her very last day of elementary school. 
They always tell you how fast they grow up.... and now I am part of that chorus.