This, That & The Other

The Best of 2009

How do I sum up a year that has been...well...let's say, not short on crazy busy? Well, since it's still just as busy, I decided to post a favourite photo of each month.

Our first family picture in a long time - Gabriel's Baptism, yet he's the only one who isn't happy.

I love watching this guy when he is focused on an activity.

They have had a year of sibling rivalry so to see these rare moments is worth capturing.

He does have a million dollar smile!

Our first month of CSA farming. Loved it!

Our first Forever Family celebration.

Mommy went back to school. She's loving it but wow, it makes it all so busy.

From the top of Mount Tremblant. Makes me miss home.

Out at the apple orchard. These kids love their apples.

Thanksgiving at Wasaga Beach. Two minutes later Gabriel was soaking wet - soaking.

What a smile!

 All the cousins having a ball.

That's our year in pictures.

Jenn

The New Do!

After thinking, trying and talking so much about what to do with Gabriel's hair, our friend Terri Ann came to the rescue last night and patiently did twists in his hair. He sat so well and actually enjoyed the process. And of course, he looks so darn sweet!

Jenn

Today She Is Eight

Every year on her birthday I am floored that another year has passed and she is another year older. Not the baby girl I once held to sleep, nursed so beautifully, and loved from the moment of her appearance in the world. But now the girl growing so quickly in front of my eyes and she still fills me with love as she did eight years ago today.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart.

Jenn

A Truly Canadian Effort

Christmas, or the holidays, without snow can seem depressing. It's just not right! After a December 25th of pouring rain all day, we woke up this morning with about 1/2 inch of snow on the ground. Sam, and our little neighbor Justin weren't going to pass up on the fresh snowfall so they worked for a while to make a snowman. Even if it is only about a foot tall, it shows the truly Canadian effort two five year old boys can give.

Jenn

What's Happening

I know, I know, it's been a while. I've been thinking lately that I might give up the blog as time is just not there and the absenteeism is. I have decisions to make but for the mean time, here is a bit of what we have been up to in recent weeks. The holidays are here and visiting is at a peek.

We have visited these cousins a few weeks ago.

We didn't send out holiday cards this year - had to make time management decisions - but the kids made cards for a few friends.

 

Celebrated with part of my family last weekend.

Keeping busy but keeping it all simple

Happy Holidays to you!

Jenn

Hello Again Blog

Hello again blog. So sorry to have lost touch lately In order to keep you up on what's been happening around here since my last post. I'll do a recap.

- Ubuntu was highly successful and the evening raised $12,000 for our baby house in South Africa. Thank you to all those who supported and helped out with the event. Building is going well but of course, more help is needed in order to get through the next phase of building. Anyone still wanting to help, I'll be holding a fundraising crop at Scrapbook Memories early in the New Year.

- We spent a wonderful summer with my Mom who was so incredibly generous to give us herself for the summer while I returned to school. We really miss her around here but we are happy that she is finally enjoying her retirement and spending more time for herself - she deserves it.

- School. Hannah and Sam returned to school with minimal end of summer blues. They have been doing quite well but Hannah has a little struggle (and so have I) with french math. It could be a breaker this year, Here they are on the first day of school.

My schooling has been crazy. It's not that the workload is too much, it's just managing it all that has been challenging for me. I am in the school doing my placement each morning, which I love. I have fallen head over heals for all the little ones in our classroom as they bring me lots of smiles every day and I am learning so much from them. The school work part is the hard one. I try to work on it every day and when I am not, I am thinking about it. It consumes me. I have to get a bit better grasp on it and I am working on that. But, that being said, I LOVE my courses. Every day I adore Montessori more and more. My days are filled with a lot of "ah ha" moments.

- Sam has become a Little Dragon. He and his buddy Justin are in the early learning stages of Karate. His level is called Little Dragons. While Justin takes it seriously and has the potential to be a true master, Sam has continuous warning by the teacher each class to act a little more seriously. If you know Sam, you know he is dramatic and often mixes a little bit of a show-tunes type drama in to his every day talk, well, it's not the best thing to do at karate. He loves the outfit though.

Hannah has started tennis lesson and attends a Tuesday evening sports night called "Girls on the Move"...and she is!

- We missed apple picking but managed to get the kids out to the apple orchard this fall - we just bought apples instead of picking them. The kids were just as happy with that.

- Gabriel has been spending some good time with his little buddy Rachel. As a whole family, we have found true friends in the Gayniks, and so blessed for it. We spent Thanksgiving with them and took the kids to the beach in the afternoon. Surprise! We were the only ones there. Rachel loves water as much as Gabriel and the two of them went in, fully clothed. Wow, you should have seen the sand in the bottom of the bath tub after we got them back inside. This is them before they were fully soaked.

- Life is busy here, but all is good. Halloween is this weekend and the kids are talking about it non-stop. Except for Gabriel, he doesn't get it yet but he should love it because he loves answering the door. Pictures to follow soon.

Jenn

UBUNTU

When we traveled to South Africa last year to adopt and bring home our sweet Gabriel, we were touched beyond words in meeting his foster family, the Grants. He was their first foster child they brought in to their home and as difficult as it was to see him go to Canada, they did with love and encouragement. Since Gabriel, they have fostered, cared for, and loved several abandoned and orphaned babies. They have had to move the baby facilities out of their home in to what is now a wonderful baby home called iKhaya LikaBaba.

In the short time since we have been there, the Grants have continued to dedicate their life to the babies, have had the fortune of wonderful volunteers from their community and all over the world help them in their commitment, continuously seek the support of donations from all over the world, and most of all, have given many babies the love and life they would not have had if left behind. They have now outgrown the baby home and unfortunately with out a larger space have had to turn some babies away, so now they are building that larger space but they need help to do that.

After returning home, Mike and I knew we would want to help them continue their work and love in some way and now it is going to happen. I came up with the idea of dedicating an evening here in London to raise funds for the baby house. I approached Art for Aids International here in London and asked if we could have a gala evening with the sale of their wonderful art and proceeds would go to the baby home. They agreed and when I approached some wonderful friends to help us out with the event, it suddenly became a group of enthusiastic supporters who collectively have helped me put together a fantastic evening of art and music on Friday September 18th.

It is going to be a great evening with wonderful art work for sale, many pieces made by African and Canadian children as well as beautiful framed photographs by Dave Chidley  from his visit to South Africa (they are wonderful!), and The McAuley Brothers will bring us their musical talents.

So, what can you do?

Come out and support the night by buying ticket, getting your friends to buy tickets, purchase art work for yourself or for someone else, or simply make a donation. If you want to suppot the night but know you can't make it out, you can also purchase "virtual tickets" as a donation. Just call me at (519) 474-6256 or email me at jennandmike@rogers.com and we can make arrangements. ANd of course, we would love to see you there so if you want actual tickets to attend the evening, just let me know.

Jenn

Big Things For My Boys

I know I have been a bad blogger but I have really just been a blogger with very little time for herself lately.
Anyway, August has been a big month for the boys of this home.

This one turned two.

Someone in this picture turned the big 40!

And this one lost his first tooth last night.

Things are exciting and busy here.

Jenn

Night Class

Here is proof that I have been to the beach while here on my course in Florida. This is about as far as I got in to the water because we actually had our night class last yesterday at the beach! How awesome is that? On Tuesday and Thursdays we go twelve hours straight in class but last night our teacher put a little twist in it and we went to the beach to have our class. How Montessori is that?!? It was fantastic. One of the highlights happened just as the sun was about to set. Everyone on the beach stood towards the sun and watched it set. Not just our class, but everyone at the beach. What and unforgettable experience.

Jenn

Student Once Again

Classes have started and I am back at it. And loving it. I am currently in Florida  (have I mentioned the heat is unbearable at times?) for some hands on training for the next few weeks then it's hit the books hard. I am also here with some of the first group in the program and they have scared me slightly as to how much work this course really is. They have been pretty honest about it and it scares me, but hey, it's only eighteen months, right?
So today we are working in Practical Life. To those of you who aren't Montessori familiar, I know it means nothing to you but it is one of my favourite areas of the classroom. Sam's too!
Well, I have to study so it's in to the books for the rest of the night.

Jenn

A Proud Moment

Sam is like crazy scared of animals. He enjoyed the zoo when we went about a month ago but was really cautious about approaching each animal area. He always asks, "what can ____ do to people?" When really he is asking, "Can cows eat people?".

Today I took the kids, along with my in laws to Upper Canada Village. It is a beautiful place on the St. Lawrence River, in Eastern Ontario, which I have very fond memories of visiting when I was a child. Just driving out to it, I found myself reminiscing of good times in my childhood. Sam loved it as well. I was a bit surprised as I thought he might find it a bit boring. Come on, how many 5-year-olds find life in the 1800's fascinating? Well he did. I was even more surprised when he approached the sweetest baby calf and wanted to pet it. This is huge for Sam. Later he even sat down, beside a cow, in preparation to try milking it but just couldn't bring himself to touch the udder. I really don't blame him. I didn't want to either..
Needless to say, I was so proud of him today. He surprised me in many ways. His courage was amazing but I guess he really was nervous as he pet the calf as his other hand is hold tight to his own privates.

Jenn