tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28399588216227074302024-03-05T23:32:37.524-06:00Just JordanAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.comBlogger939125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-11478500314487427102018-08-16T09:58:00.001-06:002018-08-16T09:58:17.977-06:00Calder<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6cHIEo3xiIvX8T36jjViuRI1gzy5oCaG6k9TKbGNc-XraXznuqzKOd8eRjWxD73uVsn-xt5JbnhvKpX6Z5XXiIdMIhvgfye6lCmUCpnwstMVKddsc841qqMM4ZSOGceulPO2eKn-8VI/s1600/IMG-6712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6cHIEo3xiIvX8T36jjViuRI1gzy5oCaG6k9TKbGNc-XraXznuqzKOd8eRjWxD73uVsn-xt5JbnhvKpX6Z5XXiIdMIhvgfye6lCmUCpnwstMVKddsc841qqMM4ZSOGceulPO2eKn-8VI/s640/IMG-6712.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu2CXzqz4PvDy_naedov5JaYMXn-yH8tMHv1vM2ZJ70-SzDK8hWlp05JEa1Qi1jtLNq4zn6551xXWH0rpc7p2eFUZ72N7jjGxZaUzmgFFEv1XMCOFVV7aWdbcQ3Ifch4s4exwY5lucWM/s1600/IMG-6959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu2CXzqz4PvDy_naedov5JaYMXn-yH8tMHv1vM2ZJ70-SzDK8hWlp05JEa1Qi1jtLNq4zn6551xXWH0rpc7p2eFUZ72N7jjGxZaUzmgFFEv1XMCOFVV7aWdbcQ3Ifch4s4exwY5lucWM/s400/IMG-6959.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5.5 pound pickerel</td></tr>
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Our biggest boy keeps getting bigger! We have particularly
noticed it this summer at the lake. Calder has been playing a lot with a buddy,
Ben. They ride bikes, swim, build forts and skip around from our cabin, Ben’s
campsite, Calder’s grandparents and Ben’s aunt and Uncle’s (Grandparents and
Aunt/Uncle live 4 cabins apart!). The pair have been nearly inseparable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Calder has been more into swimming on the boat than we’ve
seen. He loves to try and splash people as he jumps in and has really gotten
into diving in off the boat as well. Lawson has been a water bug from the
get-go, but Calder really is giving her a run for her money this year for time
spent in the water. Calder also enjoys tubing, particularly behind Ben’s boat
as it can make the big waves! We recently convinced him to give the knee-board a
go and now we can’t get him off the water!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRuG-u5gbZsQTtgCNwLwqW5M3d0KPhj8x2TON52SiyUFr9xZFThO4ZFR53ydwUCFtUiS4wDDVwxDR7zkFGaZnBvCCCPERmpW1Ly7LTHQFoGSsvZ_c3shiNkSpcwSMA3gyqzysuYE_gW0/s1600/IMG-6308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRuG-u5gbZsQTtgCNwLwqW5M3d0KPhj8x2TON52SiyUFr9xZFThO4ZFR53ydwUCFtUiS4wDDVwxDR7zkFGaZnBvCCCPERmpW1Ly7LTHQFoGSsvZ_c3shiNkSpcwSMA3gyqzysuYE_gW0/s400/IMG-6308.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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Above all else on the water, Calder LOVES fishing. To date
he has caught 36 fish. Near the end of July while on the boat, Calder turned to
me and said, “Fishing is my #1 and the lake is #2”. I told him that was really
cool and asked him where hockey fit in his list. To that he responded, “Oh,
yah, hockey. Hockey is tied for #1 with fishing.” He had forgotten about
hockey. Pretty cool. There are many people that judge the spring hockey season.
Calder would tell you that last year his favorite team was his spring team, and
following that was the Atom team he AP’d on. This is not saying he didn’t love
his novice team, because he absolutely did, but to quote his description of why
he likes those teams better, it’s because “It’s harder”. I am sensitive to all
the spring hockey critics <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">which is
totally on me</i>, but Calder’s statement about fishing and his love of spring hockey
season are indications we are doing the right thing for our son. He has a break
from hockey, which I truly believe in and he also gets to play the kind of
hockey he loves for an extra couple months. Win-win for our boy and our family.<i> (We had to pick Calder's position for spring hockey at Christmas. Hugh and I thought he was a winger or a d-man, but because of a couple of minor factors were leaning toward defense, so that's what we picked. After Christmas he played a number of games with the atom team and they played him at center, which Hugh and I would have sworn was NOT going to be for him. Needless to say, we were wrong. He did great on D, but he loves to score goals and may just be a center-man yet!)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Calder started the summer on fire with reading. We had went
to the public library and picked up a couple of Dogman and Diary of a Wimpy kid.
The first night he was really excited and since it was the end of the school
year, Hugh brought home about 15 more of those books from his school. Calder
was excited. He did so much reading that first part of July. He would read
UNPROMPTED! This is not to say he didn’t before, but the only time we saw this
happen was before bed when he was avoiding going to sleep. He has tailed off on
the reading as the summer has progressed, but we are pretty pumped we saw a
spark of a love of reading him. He has also done some unprompted reading to
Boone at night. #pumpedparents<o:p></o:p></div>
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Calder is a great eater. We BATTLED him for years about
tasting a bite of everything and trying to get him to eat his meal in a good
amount of time. I can now say he is a phenomenal eater. Like the best. He may
complain the odd time about what we are having, but he always eats it. His
favorite foods are anything in a wrap, pasta, peanut butter chicken stir fry, and
perogies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We have spent the summer helping Calder to focus on
kindness. He was really struggling to do nice things for anyone in our
immediate family. He is pretty good with his friends and younger cousins, but
was rarely able to show us the same treatment. It came to a climax on the first
leg of our trip to the coast. We wanted to leave him in Calgary. It was feeling
like every interaction with him was negative, because we were having to correct
behavior. After the dust from the meltdowns (Hugh’s, Calder’s and mine)
settled, we had a really good talk. Calder felt like we were picking on him and
we explained what our job was as parents. Our job is to get him ready to be an
adult. Adults show kindness. It is our job to teach him this. He often feels we
are easier on Boone, but the part he wasn’t understanding was that Boone doesn’t
need to work on kindness. He needs to work on his letters. And so because of
this how we parent Boone and what we work on with Boone is different. I think
the conversation ended at a place where we were all understanding each other
better. Needless to say, we have had our ups and downs, but Hugh and I agree
that Calder has made some pretty great improvements on showing kindness in our
home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlg4tuCqBFZoPP69eh7vd1yPKDmncsvwR3iWRJF8w2VRo_VxUXODn4VXK4xd8GBrVntKy-3J1KaN3w7j-BMMQu9MHNUIqIxD20vNQTFRqfrPlooyoCg8fdoDsIS-_nYPCXOMszAXrz7A/s1600/IMG-6987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlg4tuCqBFZoPP69eh7vd1yPKDmncsvwR3iWRJF8w2VRo_VxUXODn4VXK4xd8GBrVntKy-3J1KaN3w7j-BMMQu9MHNUIqIxD20vNQTFRqfrPlooyoCg8fdoDsIS-_nYPCXOMszAXrz7A/s640/IMG-6987.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calder loves to build! He spent a number of days this summer creating a new Monster Jam ramp at Grandma and Grandpa Fritshaw's.</td></tr>
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Calder is developing a love of cards and doing puzzles. We
have had some not so ideal weather at the lake and we have taken advantage by getting
our game on. Grandma Hamilton is amazing at playing cards with the kids and
they played a lot of war and go fish when she came to visit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Emotions are hard for Calder. On Brad’s last night at our
house at the end of hockey season, Calder complained of a stomach ache. We
informed him that was love! He hates talking about anything emotional or even
seeing anything that contains emotion. Just this week was the first time we
were able to get Calder to watch a movie without having a meltdown before we
even pressed play. We are pretty excited as he has watched Beethoven, A Bug’s
Life, and The Great Outdoors to date. We might be able to have the odd movie
night if this continues when we get home for the summer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyt4lfdsOf8PXOp2cONEIX7vJJmKMU6sX5TwchzQv9m8rzi8_DfSqyry4wJeeuoUZvGd6F7iQqoNALFzdHT1gKgS-voWJQgDbdHj9Ivb-Z8HnVyVTvHEjN6DR7XasqH6tDrqDgtJzDvw/s1600/IMG-6791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyt4lfdsOf8PXOp2cONEIX7vJJmKMU6sX5TwchzQv9m8rzi8_DfSqyry4wJeeuoUZvGd6F7iQqoNALFzdHT1gKgS-voWJQgDbdHj9Ivb-Z8HnVyVTvHEjN6DR7XasqH6tDrqDgtJzDvw/s640/IMG-6791.JPG" width="480" /></a>Last, but certainly not least, Calder’s hair. Last fall I
suggested he get a trim. He wasn’t interested. I obviously suggested it a
couple too many times because it came to the point that he told me “STOP ASKING
ME TO CUT MY HAIR!” Well, that was that. I stopped asking and he never
mentioned it. It kept getting longer and longer, but Calder and I battle a lot
and I wasn’t going to battle the hair. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well,
other than brushing it when he came out of the tub. That I was willing to
battle. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This spring Brad was looking
at our family picture from the fall and mentioned to Calder that he liked the
length he had there. For a few weeks, he said he was going to get a trim and
then just as quickly he changed his mind and he wasn’t getting a cut again. Hugh
and I left it. His hair was crazy long. In fact, every hockey tournament we
went to this spring multiple parents on our team would come to us with a story
about how someone in the stands was asking if Calder was a girl. We would relay
the odd funny one to Calder, but he seriously didn’t care. Finally, at the
start of June he said he wanted to cut it when school was out. Not surprisingly,
he didn’t want the attention that he was going to get when it got lopped off. I
immediately made an appointment with someone I trusted. When the hair cut day
came, he wasn’t ready to go really short, so Erin cut about 6 inches off.
Calder decided at that point he wanted it shorter and described a 2 inch bowl
cut to Erin. We both veto’d it. In the end we found a picture of a haircut he
liked and he was so excited with how it turned out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-26363956331651937282018-07-27T06:58:00.000-06:002018-07-27T06:58:26.786-06:00Boone<div class="MsoNormal">
Boone has become overly affectionate the last week. He is giving everyone around him random smooches. And they’re wet. Be aware if you see him in the next little bit and you are one of his people. Calder and Boone have created a special handshake. It includes a kiss on the lips (and if you know Calder, this would be outside his comfort zone!), and more fittingly for both boys ends in them faking a fart and declaring, “Oooooo, that smells good!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBsiauxBNuxRAS4DkrTMqF5nc0P9TUsiIEiMMbGzd120io340vq1Fk62u0U5LVhN0T2qydcDV8EMdbAkbW-KbKcHDuz3_R4ypcGzQOJ8YnYJ_twBcKfqFpFC_7pOfzmY4urY3uHOPg-c/s1600/IMG-6722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBsiauxBNuxRAS4DkrTMqF5nc0P9TUsiIEiMMbGzd120io340vq1Fk62u0U5LVhN0T2qydcDV8EMdbAkbW-KbKcHDuz3_R4ypcGzQOJ8YnYJ_twBcKfqFpFC_7pOfzmY4urY3uHOPg-c/s640/IMG-6722.JPG" width="480" /></a>Of all of our kids, Boone cries the easiest. And when I say he cries, it is actually more like wails. This summer we have noticed a huge change in this regard. In fact, there have been multiple times when he has been legitimately injured and he hasn’t dropped a tear. Although Hugh and I are both excited about this, Hugh is the most. The octave of Boone’s wail was at a frequency that especially grated on Hugh!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Boone is our bug/gross stuff boy. Last week Calder saw a spider in the cabin and he called in Boone to take care of it. Boone is the one that picks dead minnows and crayfish out of the water and picks earth worms out of the dirt. He is more than happy to deal with any kind of gross creature. And I’m not going to lie, it’s come in handy on occasion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Wj_r91c8HcWgOH4jpJzaj3kgpJ72-mQTWipXhPaPfm5MXHAyt1gVYUMdbiPEUEd2lrlhmfzNB72-knBR_0tghyGUP4TpzAA7eDKjs7Hsdi5vGkcarzfskpbYfA4gv0aN3i0ULP7zhdY/s1600/IMG-6781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Wj_r91c8HcWgOH4jpJzaj3kgpJ72-mQTWipXhPaPfm5MXHAyt1gVYUMdbiPEUEd2lrlhmfzNB72-knBR_0tghyGUP4TpzAA7eDKjs7Hsdi5vGkcarzfskpbYfA4gv0aN3i0ULP7zhdY/s640/IMG-6781.JPG" width="480" /></a>In the last year I have been worried about Boone starting Kindergarten. Calder was reading (I think Hugh tested him at this time of year to be at a grade 2 reading level) when he was 5 and Calder could not only count over 100, he could even skip count (2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s) and add 2 digit numbers. I thought this was normal, because, well, he was my first and I didn’t know any better. Boone can count to 29 almost flawlessly (he will occasionally skip a number), and knows most of his upper case letters. I have tried to get Boone on board with “school” stuff, but he is never interested. In fact, over the last few months he has only become more interested in learning that kind of stuff because Lawson is interested and although she wouldn’t count quite as well as Boone she knows ALL of her upper case letters and most of the lower case. I have recently become more laid back about Boone’s . <i>Note that I said “more laid back” not actually laid backed.</i> Hugh reminds me almost daily that kids develop differently and although Boone will have “school” things to work on in kindergarten, he won’t have the social things Calder was dealing with. Calder is very introverted and found meeting new people and being in school the whole day difficult. To this day, Calder has a few good friends and typically would just stick to them. Hugh and I both predict Boone to be the opposite. He is extroverted and will be happy to be left at the school door and will have no desire to ever leave. He will also be friends with everyone. Including older kids. And by older, I am including all the way up to grade 8. It is just the way he rolls. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hugh is willing to give just about anything to be a fly on the wall of Boone’s kindergarten class. Boone will likely be talking the teacher’s ear off, trying to cracking jokes, most of which will be about farting, and will be throwing his body around feigning falls and body checking kids.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of all of the kids I'm raising, Boone is the one that feels the least like me and because of that I am often in awe of the little man he is <3 p=""> </3></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-34097291806561589652018-07-25T06:44:00.001-06:002018-07-25T06:44:40.335-06:00Girl, Wash Your Face<br />
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So I didn’t totally want to read this book. I felt judged by
the title. So at the risk of being embarrassed, here it is. I am terrible at
washing my face before bed. Like REALLY terrible. I know I should and it feels
good when I do it, but I barely ever do it. So that title made me feel yelled
at. It pointed out something I knew I should be doing, but didn’t bother to
take the time to do. Judged.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But on the recommend of A LOT of people, I cracked the spine
and read it. I am glad I did. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are my big 3 takes:<o:p></o:p></div>
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I live in chaos. 3 kids. A billet turned kid. A husband. 2
full-time working parents. 1 hour commute each day. Hockey. Homework. Piano.
Gymnastics. Baseball. It adds up to crazy. But a good crazy. Like I wouldn’t
want to do without a single one of those things. And within all that chaos, I
meal plan like nobody’s business. I make cake pops for birthday parties. I pack
snacks for the rink. I bake muffins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
take pictures and make photo albums. I turn video footage into monthly videos.
I grow a giant garden (as far as city standards go). I can pickles, fruit,
salsa, and spaghetti sauce. But you know what, within that chaos I don’t plan
elaborate birthday parties with cool cakes and themes; sometimes those rink
snacks are fishy crackers and fruit snacks rather than fruit and muffins; I
forget to get my son read his French books every night or study for spelling;
the kids rarely cooperating to get in the van, I almost always turn into the
Hulk, and we still consistently arrive late to the rink; me forgetting about
swimming registration or a birthday party RSVP. You likely live in chaos too.
It may look similar to mine or completely different, but it is still a whole
lot of crazy. With all this going on the author suggests embracing the chaos.
Take a breath. Find some humor. Cut yourself some slack. And find a tribe of
people who get it. Embrace the chaos. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Amidst my chaos I have to make choices. Sometimes that
choice is finishing making a lesson plan rather than running at lunch. Other
times I am tired and choose to play on my phone rather than bake a batch of
muffins. These may seem like miniscule things, but ultimately what they are is
broken promises to myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hollis
reminded me that I hate it when people constantly break promises and that I
find it infuriating when other people don’t follow through. The thing is I let
myself break promises with myself on a daily basis. This feels like crap. I
don’t want to paraphrase the whole chapter, but what it boils down to is the
more promises we break with ourselves the easier it is to break more. Hollis
suggests picking something easy like having a water drinking goal. Keep the
promise for a month. So that’s where I’m starting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Lastly, I am going to create my own mantra and set a goal. I
am going to use my mantra when I feel overwhelmed, sad, or like giving up. For
now mine is going to be: You are enough. Embrace the chaos. This too shall
pass. I found the goal a bit harder to come up with. Hollis talks a lot about
following your dreams and it made me feel like my goal had to be big. I don’t have
any unfulfilled dreams. I actually felt a bit bad about this at first. Like I
should be doing something like Hollis and shooting for the stars. But, the
truth is, my truth is, my goal doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here it is: my goal is to get my lower
body healthy. I have been really sad the last 2 weeks because my knee and groin
are hurting. I have even been thinking I may have to give up running forever,
that my body is getting too old to run. The truth is that my body has never
failed me before and I would be doing it a disservice to give up on running
without doing the hard work it may take to get back to doing it. I may never
run again, but I can’t possibly know that right now without doing some
investigation and work. I have booked a physio appointment for Monday, so it
has begun. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There are some things I didn’t love about the book. The
first I eluded to in the last paragraph. Hollis talked a lot about building her
business and following her dreams and I found it hard to connect to that piece.
She also referenced her faith a lot. I am currently having an internal battle
with Christianity, so I found it hard to read that she prayed on something and
then made a decision based on that prayer, for example. This is Hollis’s story
and her faith defines her story. I just can’t relate to that part, I guess.
That being said the book was a super easy read. Hollis talks about things that
are hard and that don’t always paint her in the best light. She is authentic
and speaks the truth. I found that piece very admirable. And a good reminder
for myself to not be afraid to speak my truth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-19219459044232691092018-07-13T10:33:00.000-06:002018-07-13T10:33:01.790-06:00My Happiness Project<br />
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I called my Grandma E last week and Danielle this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I started my hockey Canada stuff. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I may have put that on hold until I’m at home. I am using way too much
data watching those videos. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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I put a hold on my running. This one is making me really sad,
but my body is totally not cooperating. I had a groin/hamstring/glute thing
going on since February. That has almost healed, but I tweeked my knee at ball
a couple of weeks ago and it won’t stop hurting. The summer is the best time to
run. I have so much time and the weather is beautiful. I actually feel like
crying as I type this. I want to be healthy and for me being active is so much
a part of it. I guess I have to redefine active to not be running. Sigh. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need a new phone. This seems like a strange thing to put
on My Happiness Project’s list, but taking pictures and videos makes me happy.
Long gone are the days that I lug my camera and video camera around (in fact I
even forgot to bring them to the lake). Unfortunately, my phone is only a 16
GB. I have very few apps on it, because there isn’t space and I am still
CONSTANTLY running out of space to take videos and pictures. I actually hate to
get a new phone as the one I have works perfectly. I have had it for over two
years, though and I am due for an upgrade, but alas, I am cheap, so it might
not happen any time soon!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have started trying to say yes more to my kids. I am not
actually letting them have/do more (hahahaha), but rather than saying things
like “No, you can’t have more milk until you finish you plate” or “No, you
can’t go on the iPad”, I am staying things like “Yes, you can have more milk
once you are finished your plate” and “Yes, you can have the iPad in the
morning for 20 minutes”. Just a little flip on how I am communicating and I’m not
sure if it is making any kind of impact, but this new twist on things is not
only making my brain grow, it is reducing the insane amount of times I say “No”
in a day. And that is a win in this mom’s books.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In June we went to Winnipeg for a spring hockey tournament
of Calder’s. It was a double win as we also got to see our billet, Brad. On our
way there we stopped in Brandon for the night. We went for a swim that evening
and planned on swimming in the morning before we left. The kids were acting
NUTS when it was time to go to bed. Hugh threatened, “If you don’t get to
sleep, we aren’t going swimming.” The kids didn’t respond (and we don’t give
empty threats at our house!). Hugh quickly rephrased and said, “If you want to
go swimming tomorrow you have to earn it. Right now earning it looks like
getting dressed for bed, crawling into bed, and going to sleep. If you can’t do
that, you won’t earn going swimming.” There was an immediate shift in the kids’
behavior. Lawson got on board right away and that allowed us to point out to
the boys that “Lawson is earning the pool”. We are trying to use this tactic
more as it was very effective. And cooperating kids makes EVERYONE happy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFU3Sc-f49GciifTR35F3J8otW69NNpbSJEIpnVLWjSRZ7q_1Kl5sp6PPiGHPqgFUojcn1CWQcuvNmHc48hI0DHFTJ2eJDWT2lLLCtAg6knLNae_KdeaEDABtpdIzIcuMNbFMUuC2cQM/s1600/IMG-6919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFU3Sc-f49GciifTR35F3J8otW69NNpbSJEIpnVLWjSRZ7q_1Kl5sp6PPiGHPqgFUojcn1CWQcuvNmHc48hI0DHFTJ2eJDWT2lLLCtAg6knLNae_KdeaEDABtpdIzIcuMNbFMUuC2cQM/s640/IMG-6919.JPG" width="640" /></a>Summer = Reading for me. I have taken this seriously and so
far read 6 books (two of them 650 pages worth!). The only problem with this is
when I am really into a book (and 3 of them I was) it is really hard for me to
be motivated to do anything else. Lol. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started reading “Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis.
The biggest thing I have pulled from it so far is that I need to stop breaking
promises to myself. I hate breaking promises to other people and yet, I break
them to myself on a daily basis. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hollis
suggests to start by promising yourself to drink more water. I basically am at the
point where I might drink 250 ml of water a day. It is bad. I am always
thinking “I should drink more water”, but never actually do it. Like don’t even
do it for one day “never do it”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
this reason water seems as good a place as any to start. So, I have promised myself
that for one week I am going to drink 2 water bottles a day (1500 ml). I am
thinking I will extend it to a month long promise, but I wanted to start with a
baby step. Initially, I was so pumped to make and keep promises to myself that
I started making a bunch of grandiose plans, but I think I will just start
small and start to get good at this new mindset before I go too big!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-60419048833005924772018-07-12T10:09:00.002-06:002018-07-12T10:09:30.069-06:00Lawson<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“They are getting worser and worser!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lawson may somehow be related to my sister’s
husband Nate. Mosquitos LOVE her. Since we have been at the lake she has woke
up multiple times tossing and scratching. She is a trooper though. We put After
Bite on them and it often stings as the bites are broke open. Lawson takes it
like a champ. Don’t get me wrong. She screams like bloody murder, but she
willingly lets you put it on. Champ.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOKzyAhmnfeXjjE0Djwp1z-LCwd1PpPW5Zag-xuJqg1MSwbY7sKi7LMQXYlSoa1I96ttBRfDtYLuCxQMXNr7v5lgzLrNvv-ScCLWB9k9Z8vVaFplXuWAWxCggVMdVu8H_AA-CvNaLSho/s1600/IMG-6818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOKzyAhmnfeXjjE0Djwp1z-LCwd1PpPW5Zag-xuJqg1MSwbY7sKi7LMQXYlSoa1I96ttBRfDtYLuCxQMXNr7v5lgzLrNvv-ScCLWB9k9Z8vVaFplXuWAWxCggVMdVu8H_AA-CvNaLSho/s640/IMG-6818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is nothing Lawson likes more than swimming. At 1.5
years old she would jump in the lake off our boat and spent hours jumping off
my parents dock with my mom (water isn’t my thing). This year is not any
different. Often the boys will be puttering around at the shore line catching
minnows or digging for rocks and Lawson will be in the background, life jacket
in tow, doing laps. This past weekend things got even more interesting for her
in the water as she decided Jose, my mom and dad’s dog, is her new swimming
partner. Every time Lawson saw Jose in the lake, she wanted to go too. It
wasn’t even that warm on Sunday. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I was in
a hoodie and pants. . . but maybe that’s not a good indication about the
temperature, as I am part reptile. </i>Lawson would go into the lake, Jose
would drop his ball off the dock, she would grab it, swim farther out (as she
can’t throw that far) and throw it. Jose would then jump off the dock and they
would both swim in together. It is completely comical. On Monday when we went
down to the beach the first thing Lawson asked is “Where’s Jose?” Luckily, it
was warmer and the boys took a break from their minnow hunting to swim with
Lawson.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kTGr5K9WBs8UT_r0gkcOVIt7xP6xXY_rz-Xa-tLjCwanQZIkROpZrFLicpUxE9mFvXw4f5vsV9-rUqQywoeW5dm2r3A7nvpPt4WUnDia39K-98Rh9fXu92NRKYnnIlOpOuXYmYMqVb8/s1600/IMG-6724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kTGr5K9WBs8UT_r0gkcOVIt7xP6xXY_rz-Xa-tLjCwanQZIkROpZrFLicpUxE9mFvXw4f5vsV9-rUqQywoeW5dm2r3A7nvpPt4WUnDia39K-98Rh9fXu92NRKYnnIlOpOuXYmYMqVb8/s400/IMG-6724.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And she has started posing for the camera!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lawson is extraverted, but can be shy around people she
doesn’t know. She is also not as chatty as Boone, so sometimes that comes off
as shy. Lawson loves to copy ANYTHING Boone does and tries hard to keep up with
her two older brothers. This week that looked like Calder striking her finger
with a hammer instead of the rock he was aiming for. Not our greatest parenting
moment as we had given the kids safety googles before they started this rock
smashing quest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT8gcqJym2GK3p-kpNbZnShENVO6Xgnol3l7bkSa5oJFuBDPWrfOQyRdfD0DV3H2FMDBmdIP_-bDYKSg1dPWtmHjBpuPai3iE-PGF3mHV1LUBWSdh2EzomVYjsLsfEMB4DO_lYq27of0/s1600/IMG-6930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT8gcqJym2GK3p-kpNbZnShENVO6Xgnol3l7bkSa5oJFuBDPWrfOQyRdfD0DV3H2FMDBmdIP_-bDYKSg1dPWtmHjBpuPai3iE-PGF3mHV1LUBWSdh2EzomVYjsLsfEMB4DO_lYq27of0/s640/IMG-6930.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lawson and I around the campfire. Make note of the smashed up finger :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lawson unfortunately might be going feral. This started long before we arrived at the lake, mind you. When she gets upset or frustrated instead of using her words she makes a variety of grunts, cries, and screams. This can happen in a full out meltdown where she just points and screams or when she is grumpy and wants milk at supper, she might just touch her glass and grunt. It is driving Hugh and me nuts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lawson has trouble saying her “l”, and “r” sounds and Hugh
thinks she sounds British sometimes because of it. She actually has a pretty
good vocabulary, but not that I can think of any of the words she impresses us
with right now, of course<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She likes pink and purple. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I cringed a little when I wrote that.</i> Lawson
loves to ride her run bike, make puzzles, and reading books (she will often
read before bed and fall asleep with a book). <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Out of the three of them, Lawson plays the best by herself
and is the most content if just hanging around adults. Must be a baby of the
family thing! lol<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-55848544634533360612018-07-05T10:30:00.000-06:002018-07-05T10:30:25.590-06:00Initiation Hockey Coach . . . Here I come!I have my Kinesiology degree and in order for me to receive this degree I had to do a certain number of credits in activity classes. I took wrestling, softball, and badminton to name a few. Any of the classes that were 2 credits (some were just 1 credit) gave you a level 1 coach's certification in that sport. Through this I got my level 1 in basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and track and field. I also took 2 credit hockey, but didn't end up with my certification. This spring with some help from Hugh, I was able to get the certification from the university and SHA. To my surprise I was given a Coach 2. Coach 2 qualifies me to head coach a Pee Wee AA team. I was immediately excited thinking I wouldn't have to do any other certification to coach Boone's Initiation team. Dead. Wrong. I was awarded Coach 2, but not Coach 1. I need Coach 1 to coach Initiation. Sigh. I can coach Pee Wee AA, but not 1st year players. Hilarious, really. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today, I started the online portion of the Coach 1. I am feeling a little frustrated. I get that there are many people who don't know about the things this course offers, but with my Kinesiology degree and my Education degree and the fact that I am currently teaching I have a wide range of skills, more than any online course could ever offer. I am wishing there was a way for hockey Canada to recognize the certification I have through my degrees and my teaching certificate. They have deemed I have the hockey knowledge to coach PeeWee, but aren't recognizing my other qualifications. I don't have a solution for this, so I power my way though it while the kids play on the beach!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-29756984851162453892018-07-04T11:09:00.002-06:002018-07-04T11:09:44.428-06:00Weekend 1We always have a busy start to our summer vacation, but it involves most of our very favorite people, so we definitely don't complain.<br />
<br />
My sister, brother and their families come to the lake along with Hugh's brother's family. It is so awesome for Hugh and I how this comes together! I know pictures make posts better, but I am at the lake and it takes some serious effort to get them downloaded, so you will just have to use your imagination!<br />
<br />
Some highlights:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Pizza, deep-fried fish and McDonald's fries, Jes's homemade burgers</li>
<li>Lawson, Cruz and Nash fishing in front of Mom and Dad's cabin</li>
<li>Cuddles with our newest member, Sloan</li>
<li>Leeta washing everyone's shoes on the deck. . . .Including Boone's runners</li>
<li>Calder and Pace taking off with the Dusts for almost the entire day and then out fishing Hugh and Grandpa in the evening (in Hugh and Dad's defense, they were pretty busy with 3 boys in the boat!)</li>
<li>Harper, Boone, and Brynn tubing followed by Brynn and Billy knocking each other off</li>
<li>School talk with Tammy (Billy may have dozed off for a few minutes during that)</li>
<li>Sleeping. Our kids didn't get up in the 6's a couple of those mornings!</li>
<li>Afternoon thunderstorm that included some hail</li>
</ul>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkGZt8RjI6nedhBeZNAyxyLA1AsjDKPG6VoKVZekPsMdwRwzPWzsw9S148R3FBXBApvJ0qqtj2lcuiT9jAjnVK1hzX1SxzMz_MXqJWoQPStZCADQx2uMkSzEEmaGL2Ux5db1JSDCr-f4/s1600/IMG-6881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkGZt8RjI6nedhBeZNAyxyLA1AsjDKPG6VoKVZekPsMdwRwzPWzsw9S148R3FBXBApvJ0qqtj2lcuiT9jAjnVK1hzX1SxzMz_MXqJWoQPStZCADQx2uMkSzEEmaGL2Ux5db1JSDCr-f4/s640/IMG-6881.JPG" width="640" /></a>Things have really slowed down since everyone has headed home, particularly because of the rain. The good part about this it is has allowed us some time to read, watch t.v. , and get a few things unpacked and organized at the cabin. (I had taken the kids to the public library before we left to pick up some books, but they didn't have many that Calder was interested in. Hugh then brought home a pile of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog-Man, and some Mine Craft Zombie ones. It has been amazing to see what these books have done for Calder's interest in reading. I actually walked into my classroom on Friday and he was sitting quietly reading, he read the entire way to the lake not once asking to watch a movie, and has been staying up late to read since we have arrived at the cabin. Hugh and I are seriously pumped!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We are getting a bit of cabin fever, so are headed in to Melfort this afternoon to hit the indoor pool. We tried to do this last year, but Calder ran into the back of the van's sliding door on the way out of Tim Horton's and instead of driving to the pool we ended up driving to emerge for stitches above his lip! Yes, you read that right. The sliding door of the van was opening and Calder ran straight into the back of it. Hugh and I are hoping this trip is a little less eventful!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-21154759514164579752018-06-29T12:43:00.001-06:002018-06-29T12:43:04.203-06:00Kids at workWhat was I thinking? <br />
<br />
I brought Calder and Boone to work today so we could make a fast exit to the lake after school. It is a pretty low key day at school, but they still managed to act like morons during the few moments I needed them to act semi-normal. And Boone broke my wax warmer while he was cleaning my desk. I so wanted to lose it, but he was trying to be helpful and it was an accident. I may have cried a couple of silent tears.<br />
<br />
2 more hours. I've got this. . . And if not, my mom and dad's fridge at the lake is stocked to the rim. Unpacking may be put on hold until the morning!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-24505591163718601202018-06-28T20:42:00.001-06:002018-06-28T20:42:12.871-06:00BaseballCalder played his last year of Senior Rally Cap baseball this year. I helped coach this year and had a number of frustrating moments and a number of proud ones. Calder isn't as serious about ball as he is about hockey and at times this made me want to scream. Fooling around was the name of the game at the start of the year and just when we got that straightened out he learned how to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cf1VuihViQ">floss</a>. And he does that everywhere, not just in the field.<br />
<br />
In terms of his skills, Calder started the year with an incredible upper cut and we spent plenty of time in the front yard with badminton birdies working that out. He made some tremendous progress and I feel confident with some informal baseball fun at the lake, we will have all but left that ugly swing in the past. His throwing went from mediocre last year to pretty darn good this year. We can actually play catch now! It is pretty awesome. And since I love playing catch and Hugh blew up his shoulder demoing a drill at a novice practice in the fall, Calder is definitely my new go-to guy! <i>Hugh can't even throw overhand and has seriously procrastinated going to get at looked at. I suspect he knows it is really bad and doesn't want to learn how bad!</i><br />
<br />
This year we bought Calder cleats, ball pants, socks and a belt. He looked so adorable. Nine year old Calder will hate me using that word, but so will 20 year old Calder and I really don't care. He is adorable in it. Unfortunately, his parents of the year failed to get a picture. Oops. Next year, I guess!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-13137714390426231382018-06-27T14:25:00.002-06:002018-06-27T14:25:12.583-06:00Happiness From FriendsI can't remember what chapter in The Happiness Project that Rubin talks about relationships, but today I was reminded of how much they make me happy. I had my bi-annual final exams lunch date with <a href="https://www.shoestoshiraz.com/">Deena</a>. She is definitely one of the people in my life who are kindred spirits and no matter the time between visits we have a great time catching up, but also ALWAYS have meaningful conversations where we talk about more than just our day-to-day stuff. She touches my soul.<br />
<br />
On my way back to the school today I realized that not only do I need more of Deena in my life, but I need more of all my people. In working out how to make the time for this, I realized that coffee and lunch dates are just much too hard to organize. We are too busy. I hate that phrase, but, well, it is what it is. <i>Way too many commas there, but I can do whatever I want on my blog.</i> Anyway, I then remembered that with our billet/son, Brad, Hugh and I have a phone date every week or two. These are always great visits and both Hugh and I have commented that they are feel good calls. Even if we are tired, or grumpy, when the call gets going, we always snap out of those moods. <i>Okay. Let's be real. It was likely only me who was grumpy.</i> So my new resolution is for each week of the summer I am going to make a phone call to one of my people (save the week we are on vacation to Vancouver/Spokane).<br />
<br />
Doing more of what makes me happy, makes me happy.<br />
<br />
Deena also thought I would really connect with <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/girl-wash-your-face-stop/9781400201655-item.html?s_campaign=goo-DSA_Books&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-O657tT02wIVisDACh3B0gHrEAAYAiAAEgL7I_D_BwE">Girl, Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis</a> , so being the kind, caring soul she is she bought me a copy. I also know that not only did she think I would connect, she wants to be right about thinking I would really connect with it. Subsequently, I will not be texting her next couple weeks to let her know if she won on the "Jordan connected with Girl, Wash Your Face" competition, I will be giving her a call.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-25014330881422410722018-06-25T09:21:00.000-06:002018-06-25T09:21:02.429-06:00My Happiness ProjectSo many people have been posting about the book <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Girl-Wash-Your-Face-Believing/dp/1400201659">Girl, Wash Your Face</a> by Rachel Hollis that I desperately want to read it. I had meant to go to Indigo weeks ago to pick it up. Apparently, it is the kind of book that you make notes in and reference later, so your own copy is key. Needless to say, I didn't get to Indigo. I should have known myself and immediately ordered it online, but alas, I sometimes forget who I am.<br />
<br />
The desperation to get this book has been born from this sense lately, that I just want to be better. I don't really know what that means but somehow Rachel Hollis's book was going to help me be better. When I didn't have it this past Friday when Hugh and the little two were at the lake I got to thinking about My Happiness Project. Shortly after Tripp died, I bought the book <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Happiness-Project-Gretchen-Rubin/dp/1554682800">The Happiness Project</a> by Gretchen Rubin and started implementing many of her ideas into my life to help combat the grief. (I hilariously thought that was a thing!) Like most of the things I do, I feel off the reading wagon and eventually gave the project up. On Friday, with a new sense of purpose, I located the book on our office desk and started off on page 1. I am happy to report that a few of her ideas I still currently hold, which made me feel better about having quit!<br />
<br />
Last night I finished chapter 3. In it Rubin talks about improving her work life. One of the things she does is start a blog. Although this space rarely has to do with my work, the happiness she found from starting a blog reminded me of the happiness I get from writing. She even talks about how she create a post in 15 minutes. . . In my mind I need 30 min to an hour, but you know what, I wrote this in less than 10.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-31042364531572148492018-02-24T11:19:00.001-06:002018-02-24T11:19:55.910-06:00TVHToday, I am feeling glum. It started yesterday and led me to spending the better part of the afternoon in my room thinking, reading, and crying.<br />
<br />
Not sure how I am getting out of this one. I feel like shopping. Clothes don't totally fill the void, but it is strange how spending money and having new things do actually give you a (false) sense of happiness.<br />
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Yesterday was the anniversary of Tripp getting his wings. I woke up like it was a regular day. I truly believe one day doesn't need to be any more sad than any other day, but somewhere my subconscious had other plans. It started when I saw flowers at the grocery store after lunch. It made me think about how before Tripp died I thought giving flowers to family after someone dies was a waste of money. I felt like it would be better spent making a donation to a charity or something, but when Tripp died we got quite a few flowers. They filled our living room. They were so pretty and they smelled so beautiful. And just like a new outfit might make me feel today, those flowers really did make me happy. I remember the sadness I felt when they started to die. I loved them that much. I bought some flowers at the grocery store and just like that the sadness of Februrary 23, 2011 started creeping in. I tried to battle. I really did. I got home and continued on with my plan of making lasagne, but just as I finished and plopped on the couch to lose myself on my phone, Hugh's country playlist started "If I Die Young" by the Band Perry. And just like that I was finished.<br />
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I wonder how tall Tripp would be. Would he like hockey? Would he be an introvert like Calder or extroverted like Boone? He would be able to read. Grade 1. Hardly seems possible. How fast 7 years have went when I think about the boy he would be.<br />
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But then we go to the Blades' game. Our billet, Brad, tosses our girl a puck. She lights up. Lawson loves him and he makes her feel so special. She calls him her brother (as do oone and Calder. . . Calder actually got himself into an argument with a friend at school about it). Lawson held on to that puck the entire game. She was carrying it around the concourse during the second period intermission while she skipped ahead and did some sort of sideways shuffle in front of us. That moment wasn't lost on me. She looked happy and healthy. She is our bonus baby and I'm so glad I have her. Sometimes it does feel like her or Tripp. I could never begin to choose, which I guess is why I never got to.<br />
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Today's plan includes a shower and maybe a trip to Winners.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-34527351004184088332017-11-30T11:11:00.000-06:002018-01-25T11:12:54.853-06:00October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the biggest perks of having Blades season tickets is the fact that I get to see more of Wade (he also has season tickets).<br />
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Hugh and I have been enjoying a bit of alone time away from the kids attending the Blades' games. It is a win-win. We get to watch Brad AND have a conversation without crying, whining, being climbed on, or wiping someone's butt. This picture was taken on my birthday. I am sporting my new Blades' jersey and likely already drank a couple of beer :-). Brad also had them announce a special happy birthday to me. They got my age right (29), but thought I was a guy! </div>
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Boone started skating in Dalmeny this fall. They offer pre-initiation and Boone has been liking it. It runs twice a week, but we have taken off the occasional session. As I said, Boone likes it. He hasn't fallen in love yet. It was a sweet deal in terms of cost, so I don't mind skipping out of the odd session. We want Boone to love hockey, so don't want to force it with him. Boone's first session was hilarious. He is really good at getting himself up when he falls, which is a good thing, because he falls a lot. After about 8 minutes, Boone laid on the ice and stayed there for about 5 minutes. He then picked himself up and skated to the door and let me know he was done. I told him he needed to stay out a bit more and he laid on the ice/skated for 15 more minutes. The boy was sweating (as you can see above). It is a lot of work picking yourself up 84 times. Boone has gotten increasingly better over the last month, but still can only go short distances without falling. He also only pushes with his right foot. It looks hilarious. We can definitely see a bit of Calder in him. When they have put the pucks out and had kids chase them, he will do anything to get there first!</div>
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About the 4th practice, Boone started "scraping" with another boy, Landon. He is part of a family we know from Martensville (thankfully). Landon's mom told me that Landon was calling Boone on and Boone skated over, grabbed onto Landon which caused them both to fly the ground. Boone then proceeded to get up and tackle Landon a number of times. Boone looked like a brute, he is bigger than Landon and a bit quicker to get up. <i>Sigh.</i> There were only two coaches on the ice that day and it took them a while to see what was going on (understandably!). The boys were having fun, but it took a couple more stern talks from the other mom and I before it stopped. </div>
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We carved pumpkins the Sunday before Halloween. Calder carved his own after Hugh drew him the Blades' packman symbol. Boone drew his own and Hugh carved it. I should have taken a picture of Boone's lit up, because I honestly think it turned out the best of all four (not that you could tell from this picture).<br />
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We had a large crew for supper and trick or treating on Halloween. The number of trick-or-treaters coming to our house was small when we started off, so all the adults tagged along to the first few houses. About 5 houses down our crescent, it dawned on me that Leeta wasn't with us. I called to Jes and she replied that she left Leeta at our house. Jes is a bit more free-range than I am, so I swiftly jogged back to the house. I could hear Leeta cooing when I started down the hall. She was all tucked in for her evening nap and completely fine. I wasn't too upset. It was much warmer inside! Lawson lasted about 20 minutes, Boone about 1 hour and Calder 1.5 hours. This provided more candy than we know what to do with. We are glad to have Brad to help us eat it. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-72650276973049651522017-11-17T13:57:00.000-06:002017-11-17T13:57:11.457-06:00September<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
September marks back to school and the beginning of hockey. Calder started grade 3 at Ecole Holy Mary in Martensville. This brand new school just opened up and offers French Immersion. We did a couple of biking practice runs and because of it Calder and his buddy, Kohen, even got to ride their bikes on a number of days. He is loving the freedom and the decreased time on the bus when he isn't riding.</div>
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Hockey got going at the end of August with 3-on-3. It was pretty exciting for Calder as he got to play on the same team with his school buddy, Blake. Blake lives in Saskatoon, so they hadn't gotten to play hockey together before this point.<br /></div>
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At the end of August, we got a new addition to our family. Brad is playing with the Saskatoon Blades and is billeting with us. When Brad first arrived at our house none of us were home, so we gave him the code to our key pad. Once he hauled in his stuff, he had a look around at our family pictures on the wall. <i>I can't imagine what it would be like to arrive at a home where you knew nothing about the people, but knew you were going to spend a better part of half a year living with them. </i>Hugh was the first one home and immediately went down the stairs to Brad's room to introduce himself. Brad wasn't exactly sure what to think, as the man he saw in our photos was not the <strike>terrorist </strike>bearded guy in front of him!</div>
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In the picture above Calder wrangled Brad into helping make some sort of Pokemon card map. I guess I shouldn't really say wrangled. Brad is so great with our kids and truly likes to spend time with them. In fact, the only 3-on-3 games and tiering sessions of Calder's that Brad missed where the ones where he had his own hockey. Brad is so great with the kids that on the way in to one particular tiering session, I was carrying coffees for Hugh and I and happened to look back. Brad had gotten Lawson out of her seat as she was on his side of the van and then he grabbed my rink backpack at her feet and was carrying it. Some time after I locked the van Calder had persuaded Brad to carry his bag, so he also had that over his shoulder. To top it all off, Lawson was dawdling and there were cars wanting to pass them in the parking lot, so Brad was herding her with his foot! Brad also been known to fold our laundry, empty the dishwasher, clean up supper, accompany me on my weekly Costco run, and plays endlessly with the kids among other things. <i>I may be calling him my <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=Dictionary#dobs=manny">manny</a> behind his back. </i></div>
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Calder and I got to have date night to the Blades' home opener as Hugh had to be at the rink for tiering. Calder is so in love with Brad and the Blades that even if he doesn't go to the games he listens on his radio until he falls asleep. There was even one night that when Hugh and I got home he was still listening to the post-game show. We have started watching some of Brad's away games online which Calder also enjoys!<br />
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We spent one fall afternoon at the race track. It was really a great time and I want to remember to do this with the kids again. We knew a bunch of people at the track and it was nice to be outside on such a great fall day.<br />
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Boone did great at the track. He didn't cry and only whined a bit. These are his favorite things to do. And he is really good at them. He also doesn't love to be outside, particularly when it might not be that warm, so the smile on his face says it all. Also, the fact that he isn't looking at the camera is saying something. I have very few "good" photos of Boone. He truly is his own guy.<br />
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Lawson spent most of the race on my knee bundled under a blanket. Lawson is a sucker for her mama and loves to sit on my lap or be carried. This can be exhausting, but I do my best not to complain as it is all I wanted after having experienced the opposite with Calder. Also, I have the circulation of a 90 year old, so I appreciated the blanket and mini heater on my lap.<br />
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There was an NHL pre-season game in Saskatoon in September. I honestly can't remember who Edmonton played. All of the Blades got tickets. One of the players had the flu, so Brad was able to muster up the sick player's ticket and asked if he could take Calder. Not only was Calder at an NHL game with Brad, he was seated with all of the Blades. He was SO excited. I asked Brad for some pictures and I got a number of Snaps. This was the best of the lot :-)</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-67347445698784499972017-11-13T11:38:00.001-06:002017-11-13T11:38:56.652-06:00Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We spent 7 straight weeks at the cabin this summer. I think we may have spent 3 nights at home and one was only because Lawson got an ear infection. We also took a couple of road trips in there, as well. The kids might have washed their hair 4 to 5 times and sandy feet was our norm. It was amazing.</div>
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Hugh and Calder started the summer going up north fishing with my dad, Luke, Luke's father-in-law, and brother-in-law. Hugh said he did incredible as they were on the boats fishing the entire time. Calder learned about pitching in and I'm sure got told on a number of occasions, "What happens on a fishing trip, stays on a fishing trip!"</div>
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Hugh has this goal to visit every provincial park in the province. I thought it was brilliant, as I love an adventure, until we started looking at how many there are. This is now a lofty goal, but I think we could make it work if we plan to do it into retirement! This summer we went to Greenwater Provincial Park for a day. It was a quick trip from the cabin and it was fun to spend an entire day on the beach. We don't do this kind of thing at the cabin, since we have my parents' cabin on the lake and our boat. The kids absolutely loved pitting in on the beach, eating our picnic lunch and building sand castles. Boone and Lawson also loved playing with the kids around us. Hugh and I debated taking the boat to do some exploring, but instead we hauled our bikes and spent a good part of the morning exploring the trails. I definitely would like to do this kind of trip again.</div>
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We love our boat. We don't go out everyday. Our kids like being on the water, but aren't that big into water sports yet. My favorite is a snoop cruise along the shore with a morning coffee, but I think Hugh's might be middle of the day, park the boat and swim.<br />
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I think the kids' favourite place to swim is right in front of my mom and dad's cabin. They are fish and particularly like it when we sit on the dock to watch so they can take off their life jackets. Calder did an excellent job of swimming lessons this June passing level 2. We gave him a "lake" swimming test and he passed with flying colors. This allowed him to even have his life jacket off when we were swimming on the boat. I think he really enjoyed the freedom and got quite good at diving because of it.<br />
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This winter, my mom had asked my dad if he would build her a bit of an outdoor kitchen. We often do fish fries and my mom was hoping for some counter space and a bit of cabinetry underneath to store a few of the tools. My dad took the couple of images my mom had had passed on as ideas and clicked himself to a pizza oven. You might be thinking that my mom must have been annoyed because the pizza oven has no counter space or storage, but my mom knows my dad and this project, as challenging as it was, is completely Lorne. My dad was pumped about it. And Dad doesn't get pumped about much save his kids, grandkids, and dog. <i>And truly, mostly the dog.</i><br />
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Things this project illustrated about my dad. He is brilliant. He took a number of pizza oven designs and melded them into the oven you see. He is calling this the Cadillac of Pizza Ovens. Dad is an incredibly hard working. He spent 100s of hours creating this oven. It was crazy. Lastly, it illustrated how handy dad is. He had never done brickwork before and managed to flawlessly create a thing of beauty. <i>Do not ask my dad to do any brickwork for you. He was very clear that of all the trades, bricklayers might be the ones most grossly underpaid. It was hard, tedious work. </i><br />
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We ate a lot of pizza this summer. As delicious as this look, I think I can speak for my parents when I say we haven't quite perfected the crust yet. It is going to be rough next summer trying to figure it out ;-)<br />
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You should see this girl on her run bike. It is downhill to my Mom and Dad's cabin and Lawson glides almost the entire way. It is quite incredible. We actually rarely used our golf cart to go to Mom and Dad's this year. Lawson was able to independently get herself there. Pretty awesome.<br />
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I spent a night at my friend Twyla's campsite just outside of Wakaw for our second annual girls' sleepover. This was one of the most fun evenings of the summer. I am really lucky to have such a good group of high school friends that I am still able to connect with.<br />
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Lawson (and the boys) were absolutely smitten with their new cousin, Leeta. That being said, I'm a bit afraid of the lasting impression baby Leeta has made on my kids. She honestly did not cry once that I can remember. Not when she went down for a nap, not when she was hungry, and not once "just because." <i>Feel free to <strike>punch my sister in the throat </strike> harass my sister the next time you see her. A baby this good doesn't even happen on t.v.</i><br />
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Remember that time that Calder ran into the sliding door of the van? Oh my goodness. I won't forget it. It was a bit of a miserable day, so we had spent a good part of the morning at an auction sale in Tisdale and then ate a packed lunch on the way to Melfort to go swimming at their indoor pool. The pool had listed their public swimming times wrong on their website, so we headed to Tim Horton's for a donut and to kill some time. On our way out of Tims, Hugh pushed the automatic door to open Boone's sliding door. . . And Calder ran straight into the back of it. Instead of swimming, we spent the next 3 hours at the Melfort hospital getting a stitch. Maybe next year we will get to the pool. . .</div>
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This winter we met Ben and his parents through Calder's hockey team. Not long after the team was made a girl I know from Kip was talking to me at the rink and said a couple of confusing things. It turns out that Ben and his family have a permanent camp site at Kipabisqau, but we had never met them! Not only that, Ben's uncle has a cabin 2 down from my parents that they are always at. Ben's mom gets the summers off as well, so Calder had a tremendously fun summer building forts and "lakes' with Ben and spent quite a bit of time with Ben on his boat. This connection has turned out great for our whole family. We love the Dusts!<br />
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Near the end of August we headed up to Lower Fishing Lake to spend some time with my brother, Brittany and Cruz at their cabin (more pictures later on. . . These are out of order and it is too much work to fix). Before we headed back to Kip we swung over to the <a href="http://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/site-info/all-listings-and-packages/101524/gem-lakes">Gem Lakes</a> and went hiking. I would recommend this for EVERYONE. It is gorgeous and although I haven't really done much hiking I would say it is a moderately easy one. We picked wild blueberries, threw rocks into the lake, and enjoyed a picnic lunch.<i>Where Hugh had to sacrifice his sock for toilet paper as Lawson had to go #2. </i> Our kids love being in the bush, so this day trip fit the bill. After 2 km you have to decide if you are doing a 4 km or 5 km loop. Hugh and let the kids convince us to do the 5. Big mistake. Boone had, up to this point, walked the whole way and we had only carried Lawson on a couple of steep parts. We were about 200 m past the decision point and Boone was whining. We should have taken that as our hint to turn around, but apparently Hugh and I wanted a serious workout. We ended up carrying Lawson for about 2 km and Boone for about 1.5. It was a bit torturous at the end.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />This was the best group shot we got of the 3 kids. Boone was pretending to sleep. <i>Sigh</i>. I would have demanded another attempt, but seconds after this was taken Calder was stung by a wasp. #Itried<br />
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Boone's walking stick. . . He found it at a fire pit along the trial. It is actually a hotdog stick, but he loved it. At one point he "accidentally" stabbed Lawson for the 3rd time and so I forcibly removed it from his grip and stuck it up in a tree. He was sad, as you can see from the picture above. In fact, he was so sad at the prospect, that he was wailing before I even acquired it.<br />
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As we hiked on, Boone remained bawling at the tree I had stuck the stick. Calder backtracked to the tree and grabbed the stick from Boone. Calder gave Boone a swift lecture on "don't stab Lawson again" and Boone's crying ceased. It was pretty sweet. Particularly because this isn't really something Calder would typically do!<br />
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We had some great bike rides this summer. Typically we would go to the end of the lake and back, but sometimes it was just to the park. When we got home for the summer, Boone figured out how to pedal and started riding his bike without training wheels. He got it figured out on our pad at the back of the house. It was a pretty exciting moment for all of us!<br />
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We took a trip up to Emma Lake to see our good friends, the Gateses in August. The have an amazing spot on the lake and the we had an equally amazing time. Exploring a new location is one of our favourite things to do and we got to check out a couple of the interlocking lakes and did a snoop cruise to look at a number of <strike>mansions</strike> cabins. We are definitely crashing their place again!<br />
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My sister, Jes, spent a ton of time at my mom and dad's cabin this summer as she was on maternity leave after having her daughter, Leeta, in May. We were so lucky to get to spend a good part of our summer with her. We even got to celebrate Nash's 2nd birthday at the lake.<br />
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Another highlight for our clan was Hugh's cousin's wedding in Melfort. Our kids were so excited to go to the dance with their cousins. Boone hit up the dance floor like nobody's business. He didn't need any encouragement. Lawson like to hit the dance floor with me, so it was good I was in my comfy heels. Calder and Pace mostly ran around, but hey, Hugh and I were pumped he was out there!<br />
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There were a couple of complaints upon my request for some family photos, but these were taken in under 10 minutes and turned out amazing. Photo credit for the one of the 5 of us goes to Billy!<br />
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I think this is my favourite picture from the summer<i>. I already have it up on our photo wall!</i><br />
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The weather wasn't the greatest when we were at Lower Fishing, but who you're with can easily trump weather and we had a fantastic time. Boone was just asking this week when we were headed back. And he was talking about the winter version, so I think we might just need to crash their place in February again.<br />
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All-in-all, we had an excellent summer adventure. We are always ready to head home at the end of August, but that doesn't make it sad to leave. We love our cabin and the memories made at the lake and are already looking to making more in 2018.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-43256544572411689872017-09-04T09:23:00.000-06:002017-09-04T09:23:16.322-06:00Odds and Ends from JuneAt the beginning of June, with the help of a committee I'm on, I organized a street hockey tournament. It was a really great day (I'm obviously biased). There were so many kids and families involved. Other than wishing for a little less wind, I could call the day a complete success. Calder invited a few of his Huskie Prospect teammates to play. It was a fabulous time! After the event, we headed over to some friends for a bbq. A few of the kids ended up eating their suppers on the trampoline. Lawson kept standing up, so Hugh headed over to lay down the law. Just as he finished saying "You'll get a timeout if you do that again", Lawson held one finger up and said, "one". She then lifted her next two fingers and finished "two, three." Hugh could barely contain himself. Between her sassy attitude and the fact that we had no idea she could even count, let along represent those numbers, Hugh just zipped his lips and chose to walk away before he burst into laughter. In the coming weeks we learned that Lawson could actually count all the way to 9. Hilarious. <div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAlfYWUahdh8mR-revvAWDr2e9lnFR1o8WowAPp9cHcN47xuXnkwmm0DX8UrPLRO9ryz-_vDqtizRWE42TSt-VjcG_6OHsn18_p2VuOBOA9fo3wQKcQA-3yeP1oHuQedw-qsvQikUVzw/s1600/IMG_4145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAlfYWUahdh8mR-revvAWDr2e9lnFR1o8WowAPp9cHcN47xuXnkwmm0DX8UrPLRO9ryz-_vDqtizRWE42TSt-VjcG_6OHsn18_p2VuOBOA9fo3wQKcQA-3yeP1oHuQedw-qsvQikUVzw/s640/IMG_4145.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Our shock over Lawson's counting ability mostly comes from comparing her to Boone (I know, we shouldn't compare). At this time, Boone had just learned the number 4. He kept skipping it when he counted to 5. Lawson's acquisition of numbers made me feel a little better about myself. I had been worried that we hadn't spent enough time with Boone counting and that's why he was struggling. The fact that Lawson picked up counting from what we did with Boone just let me know that Boone not counting was more to do with the fact that he could care less about it than it was about the time we were spending doing it with him. Boone is a social being and has so many talents that truly aren't measurable compared to things like counting to a certain number or knowing all your letters. <i>And for the record, if your reading this </i><i>Boone, to this day Lawson has not counted higher than you! </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6GrC6oGW64ct3ELVCdXcSZ4PaoYE0U4D8nHt_IQY8LuhDd_YUL7adKYcXOtABaIph0dHFI5LuuzXK22UIODLP1EvargcA7TLfc633t7ctUNWo0zVO1IeBQG0zx6wh3UEH78TdfXidOk/s1600/IMG_0992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6GrC6oGW64ct3ELVCdXcSZ4PaoYE0U4D8nHt_IQY8LuhDd_YUL7adKYcXOtABaIph0dHFI5LuuzXK22UIODLP1EvargcA7TLfc633t7ctUNWo0zVO1IeBQG0zx6wh3UEH78TdfXidOk/s640/IMG_0992.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpm0tz4w_bD-nrIEqKXu2AbJ1NgIdQ2iD1lB48tdSujWpGLA6g5LZ3JwZVh1iONbs8xyXaWfSwUHBjbCbyjniKDCTTzUsmiB20EcYoCXas02Ktt02gun0IIOOgHm5BAPSXZoneVVWPVRE/s1600/IMG_1007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpm0tz4w_bD-nrIEqKXu2AbJ1NgIdQ2iD1lB48tdSujWpGLA6g5LZ3JwZVh1iONbs8xyXaWfSwUHBjbCbyjniKDCTTzUsmiB20EcYoCXas02Ktt02gun0IIOOgHm5BAPSXZoneVVWPVRE/s640/IMG_1007.jpg" width="640" /></a>Our kids love the lake and we were able to spend a couple of weekends there in June. Unfortunately, both of them were miserably cold. You can see how Lawson and Boone are dressed. There is obviously no stopping them from getting wet and they weren't too bothered by the cold. This is actually a bit shocking to look back and see Boone sitting there because he did tend to get cold quite quickly while swimming even in July and August.</div>
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Hugh's school always puts on great events and we were able to help them celebrate the end of the year. Boone and Lawson love them some face painting!</div>
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In May, my sister gave birth to a daughter, Leeta. She is an angel baby. Seriously, feel free to hate my sister a bit. We thought her oldest Nash was the best baby ever (rarely cried, ate well, and slept through the night) and then she had Leeta (never cries, eats better and also sleeps through the night). Lawson finally got to meet her newest girl cousin in June. She is pretty enamoured. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqs3S3oTQusNlo4wZC9316OzTpS4xTOKBeIW2Zw6_aw7KFa9KVKW7CwhOMTpRRDNRoV1Z0__6fyd99hVmsIJ-Z-YSfR2fNDrGG_4hA3tH-BIK8w7B6tXAHnWIhwMWBdPqsYzl8rbiSkI/s1600/IMG_4154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqs3S3oTQusNlo4wZC9316OzTpS4xTOKBeIW2Zw6_aw7KFa9KVKW7CwhOMTpRRDNRoV1Z0__6fyd99hVmsIJ-Z-YSfR2fNDrGG_4hA3tH-BIK8w7B6tXAHnWIhwMWBdPqsYzl8rbiSkI/s640/IMG_4154.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Calder loves Pokemon Go. I love doing things with him and so I also love Pokemon Go. There were two mornings in June where because of appointments, I was able to go for a walk downtown with him and play. Boone came the one morning and they even humoured me with a picture!</span><br />
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I am very happy and proud to say, that Calder's ball season ended in complete success. We struggled at the start, but as the season wore on, Calder quickly became a leader in his listening and cooperation. His skills improved and we both had fun. I can truly say that this experience improved our relationship. As apprehensive and unsure I was at the start about coaching, in the end it was the best thing I could have done. It was also great that my nephew, Pace, was also on the team!<br />
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My favorite moment of the season was the last play of our last game. Calder was playing shortstop, bases were loaded and a pop fly was hit just behind 3rd base. Calder ran over and made a nice catch. He then tagged 3rd base, where the runner had not tagged up and almost immediately after the runner from 2nd who had not tagged up either, made it to 3rd base and Calder tagged him out. A triple play. It was crazy. I think the best part about this is the fact that to this day, after explaining the play a dozen times, Calder still doesn't understand how he got 3 players out!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-67500685734491525102017-06-15T12:13:00.000-06:002017-06-15T12:13:40.364-06:00EdmontonAt the end of April we headed to Edmonton for Calder's first spring hockey tournament of the year. It was Easter weekend, so it worked out well for us to spend an extra few days with the kids on a family get-away. It was an extra exciting drive as it was the first trip in our "new to us" van. <i>I have a whole, hilarious post about the old van just waiting in my mind, but as you can tell I haven't been very dedicated to making time to write! </i>The new hot rod has 2 dvd players. The little ones watched Thomas the Train, Calder watched a BBC Dinosaur, and because we took a head set from my sister's van, Hugh and I listened to some fantastic 90's tunes on Google Play on our way up. Boone also loves dinos so he and Lawson also got in on it as well. <i>Ask Boone about the dino with the broken toe when you see him next.</i><br />
<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuNwUZxwMtOoOmRUu0DX-PzJ37X42bGShWMHEOs8dbHvLMbMz8DvkxgL61GgClGia-bRAVqxB1U5WKCXvhZhJvjEKaueH75FnJDneV47meLFLpHAIdK6VMcW1qZVmC__coyN1Kb6jHTw/s640/IMG_3828.JPG" width="640" /><br />
<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL9iDMYrLJtHQ9to8PiRA8FZv-15Zes7hFpVtgZqCEKe5MCBgdXynRu9vrqQzgMd8RCPuEnb8lK40q_ABIm1P-_bwPOidBh0s1w2EmOHO685uQ-4EHOQfCAkkzHNa8DqIG4Xdipjknbs/s640/IMG_3831.JPG" width="640" /><br />
The roads were absolutely horrific. It had snowed and was snowing. There was a foot of slush on the highways around Lloyd. We were happy to have left early, because there were times we only drove 50 km/h. We were hopeful that Lawson would have her nap in the van as we were on the road from 8:30 am until 3 pm, but alas, it was only Boone who crashed. And by crashed I mean hit the hay hard around 10 am. That boy just can not keep his eyes open in a vehicle.<br />
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Lawson did fall asleep in the van. Unfortunately, it wasn't until 5 pm on our way to the rink from our hotel. Hugh took the boys in and I cranked Calder's pump up list while Lawson got a few extra minutes of shut-eye.<i> I was pretty stoked for the game!</i> Lawson was not impressed to be woken up, but I didn't complain about the cuddles I got as we watched the game.<br />
<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RoubDnyupkSGg8ds_sfI-xkgMCzVtEZvLNR97heFZ77hy6i9oHksdCgCxrW9ZuLyjNu1YXFYCle_y4VKfOG2zXHw8k7YW7v69mimtyIks5Hv5Z8IuTOayDcYDn8Kb0XRQbwdUBDO7HQ/s640/IMG_3847.JPG" width="640" /><br />
Calder played all his games at the <a href="http://Richardq78@hotmail.com/">Terwillegar Community Recreation Center</a>. This is a phenomenal facility with a kids' jungle gym and wave pool. Boone, Lawson and I spent time on both Saturday and Sunday racing around there. It was nice for them to have something special at Calder's hockey. We spend a lot of time at the rink!<br />
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<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9P5XcGRWyclFOLTKkdDwLa4vQ_LNOI39B9U2d1wULR3dMuXMmsBNuqfbrvcHRzrsSYF7yIDJD_9odU5MTLiSz46yAJfy2hoMrd_ZaF4qE6AEiUIHNO-7ZqhTKLilnhaEFv1z20m08gk/s640/IMG_3851.JPG" width="640" /><br />
Calder played defense most of the tourney, but the last game he played a few shifts at wing. I think he is a winger, but Hugh isn't as sure. We both agree that at this point he is not a center man! Calder's team lost the tourney to a great team from Calgary. It was the first competitive game we have had against another '09 squad in tournament play. It was fantastic. I wished we could have played them again this season, but it wasn't in the cards. Hopefully next year!<br />
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<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxCD9Vek2XOuZAYg3yteSuvc0SdVKs-PcyDygFrU6DBbqtHlM2O2An89mdOMZClStL6KAOdj2ZrgKaH0D0IyDS6G1BIrjJFaug7hfVtUtGSn5jaAPmjZqam1lYaSnGvX88tA4SbtQ1-M/s640/IMG_3854.JPG" width="640" /><br />
<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIBDWkh5KY7TjCCBOtLoN7uBQPcP3HvxIlFWrrLj9ppfpKavQELpzJIv1rRzHSvAs2hnYfLlND7K5gWiIaCe-eCLNJHQNZZ0byd5epdmbzmSqo13f7SEfjRP36wDGaxUIdAnGBaMKmxI/s640/IMG_3862.JPG" width="640" /><br />
We spent that last half of Sunday at <a href="http://www.wem.ca/play/attractions-at-wem/galaxyland">Galaxyland</a> with our wonderful friends the Oblanders. The kids get along great and so do the parents ;-) Boone absolutely loved the rides. Look at how sweaty he is from running! This ride was a major mom fail, though. I thought it would be fun for the moms, Boone and Jaycee to go on the ship together. We sat right at the back for the full effect. Just as the ride arm was coming down it dawned on me. Boone does not like to be pushed on a swing. Even as a baby, he wouldn't let us push him. THIS RIDE IS A GIANT SWING. Needless to say, Boone hated every minute. But in full Boone style, he was not permanently traumatized (that I am aware, anyway).<br />
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Lawson also loved the rides. I think Calder enjoyed them, but likely would have rather us spend the $75 or whatever it was on the games!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLfgHw7ud-7ff6OPE9gxxV_PgFbu1WStdENQHP7gLfafzYHe8lIFemajwPWq7XNnwUhdAT6V8wqEqn4MP2keRKbX0_7ulx8i1oiiecmtCTPYyzPsLmsIf6t_v4UpQ1n2aoWKGe9x_xyQ/s1600/IMG_3868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLfgHw7ud-7ff6OPE9gxxV_PgFbu1WStdENQHP7gLfafzYHe8lIFemajwPWq7XNnwUhdAT6V8wqEqn4MP2keRKbX0_7ulx8i1oiiecmtCTPYyzPsLmsIf6t_v4UpQ1n2aoWKGe9x_xyQ/s640/IMG_3868.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-AlOv6iI6nVcV9Ko9DQrBs6HsXwVj99_hALet1s9sRu5OT_hOBkqWXVPagGTnz8UfILbC1Q2157OYR6amzz1koBTBy5u5fcjC5BCxCd-5TtxjUsFrh26pBKHUsReQblJAyqN69P_tGY/s640/IMG_3875.JPG" width="640" /><br />
We considered hitting the pool at West Edmonton on Monday morning, but the prices are outrageous. We also knew our kids. Calder isn't big into trying new things and Boone and Lawson would have been too little to do a lot of the slides. Instead, we chose to hit up <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=strathcona+millenium+place&oq=strath&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j35i39l2j0l3.2293j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">Strathcona Millenium Place</a>. This was an amazing pool and the kids never tired of it all morning. I think for our whole family it was around $20. Win - Win. I didn't take any pictures here. We were in the pool. And when you have a two year old and a Boone, all parental hands are needed on deck.<br />
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That afternoon we hit up the <a href="http://telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca/?gclid=CjwKEAjw4IjKBRDr6p752cCUm3kSJAC-eqRtSqcDExdXtIraQ-4i6zx4KgJ8nECKpuT_WTS-1JNVOhoC5Ifw_wcB">Science Center</a>. It was the last day of the Angry Birds Exhibit and we went late enough in the day that we didn't have to battle the crowds.<br />
<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlig9kQhIu2ePxtZp8kU-uDLmYuRpFPIIuXUiJ9vS1eoytAC4pGojlhqI0M74sn3aybNA5HpZ4UvibnSCxgocqQAEeQNLHTFWYDmkLdKbQafb5ybMDVqM_1oNM2FPDcmYMPkYXcJuwlE/s640/IMG_3886.JPG" width="640" /><br />
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<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTevxVsz1uOpubCLcxNbzQYWXGtEN2OwGEx4-EFtwF36WNCj8d2PpfLt0HVqUEE2T8pI2ZTcZSDtzMqBRBWptzchNCaY1hZrQ7ATYh1e4dCE4SQ2KtBH5YMCBubLL0Fc4M4ntt5FtWVQQ/s640/IMG_3891.JPG" width="640" /><br />
<img height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKMWtXzu6f0_5pYm28znpdZE38fE_6IXeGyP6rt_cwkskQEZ4yQ1MKtpU83d0ePCx-zUKISMMj2PDOr1jcF6LhiK02IwMWDz3WK8bT1MZrOJPvxS4tAS_bR1pLbe2fa6C6jkenvC5RQY/s640/IMG_3894.JPG" width="640" /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Tva60iitTqj40mzHUkKBqgpoQmoJO1HK_GXNBv6_AtGqfG2p9tXd5olOPdq3CD-77sJ5_VWfgE0jpIx9ptUZQ6PjoUVnEM4PEmLRt-iNL-p9wLoa2R1nj44UkXYJkdbhB7HW0ORQA_s/s1600/IMG_3897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Tva60iitTqj40mzHUkKBqgpoQmoJO1HK_GXNBv6_AtGqfG2p9tXd5olOPdq3CD-77sJ5_VWfgE0jpIx9ptUZQ6PjoUVnEM4PEmLRt-iNL-p9wLoa2R1nj44UkXYJkdbhB7HW0ORQA_s/s640/IMG_3897.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Everyone loved the magnetic marble wall. There was lots of talk after of Hugh building one for the kids, but thankfully he and our 3 munchkins have forgotten about it! We have enough projects on the go!</div>
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Our family vacation was capped off by a wonderful trip to IKEA. Now you may be wondering how a family of 5 could enjoy a trip to IKEA. Let me tell you. All that has to happen is 4 of those members not be in attendance. Luckily for me, one of the families on Calder's team left their iPad at the rink. Lucky for them it was turned in and we were still in Edmonton to go pick it up. Conveniently, we were in the IKEA neighborhood when we got word. Hugh suggested that he would take the kids back to the rink. Honestly, it was another win - win. </div>
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I love a road trip and this was a great one!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-87295390867908881292017-06-05T09:03:00.000-06:002017-11-13T09:03:56.535-06:00May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It never ceases to amaze me how well Boone and Lawson play together. They are turning out to be quite the buddies. Here our babysitter had brought over a craft for them to do while we were somewhere with Calder.<i> I am writing this in June and can't seem to remember where we were! </i>Lawson was so hilarious with hers. She needed to see the colored side so always pushed it against her face with the non-colored side out!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRjdV6eM5T85JwlEmKy0fqU5NIPFQO7tDCBVcnyhdFnqhXuyxkd2RYxZae-TCbxzeXJkmglvHwE5_gdWY19aPeUWxSNtCl7-f-h4llgN37l5_KmN1kbo6MD3Opihh6VmZdXa2Ze3ugXg/s1600/IMG_3988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRjdV6eM5T85JwlEmKy0fqU5NIPFQO7tDCBVcnyhdFnqhXuyxkd2RYxZae-TCbxzeXJkmglvHwE5_gdWY19aPeUWxSNtCl7-f-h4llgN37l5_KmN1kbo6MD3Opihh6VmZdXa2Ze3ugXg/s640/IMG_3988.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSmbjbURGDpTWjPd9XfLrKKfLgZ5CA6NCGpAwujc6_thKtVK7ZpJyClgCCGANRdCGa0WbUWzKFTgvwgZdghR0BmY2ydihphYTxT-iFtgRF7O_wvZP9ICQbwX5HhpZJIeGZyVNQEHDfv8/s1600/IMG_3998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSmbjbURGDpTWjPd9XfLrKKfLgZ5CA6NCGpAwujc6_thKtVK7ZpJyClgCCGANRdCGa0WbUWzKFTgvwgZdghR0BmY2ydihphYTxT-iFtgRF7O_wvZP9ICQbwX5HhpZJIeGZyVNQEHDfv8/s640/IMG_3998.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Calder finished piano for the year with his last recital. He did the Pink Panther theme song. He worked so hard at the end to get it right and he rocked it. Calder loved playing piano and although getting him to practice was sometimes as bad as getting him to brush his hair, he was adamant that he get to do it again next year. </div>
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We had some friends over for a BBQ. It was a fabulous time and I wish I would have taken more pictures than the one above. We were having a later supper around 6:30 pm and Boone was acting like a moron at the table. After more warnings than he deserved, Hugh sent him to time out. Twenty minutes later, Hugh went into Lawson's room to grab something and came out to find this. Apparently, we had forgotten about Boone. We slipped him into bed and he slept through the morning.<br />
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The Fritshaw kids were able to make a couple after supper play dates in the park. Venture Heights school has a great playground that is easily accessible for the little ones. It was great for Luke, Jes and I to visit, but even more fun for the cousins to get together.<br />
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<i>Please tell me you noticed what is happening in the background of that first picture. </i></div>
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In case you missed it. </div>
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We had some seriously fabulous weather in May. We had Sunday morning coffee earlier in the month at Britt and Luke's. It was so hot and sunny, that Luke brought out some hats. This is one Luke scammed from Grandma. It was my Grandpa Fritshaw's. This will go down as one of my favorite pictures of Calder this entire year. </div>
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Remember that time Jordan got Calder kicked out of Catholic school? Yep. If it was going to happen, this was it. Calder brought home a package to discuss with us. It was about marriage and having children and at the bottom of each page there was a spot to write what we had discussed with Calder. There were so many great things about this package and the main one was that it opened up a honest, meaningful conversation with Calder.<br />
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Now back to the part where Calder is getting kicked out of Catholic School. The first page talked about when a man and woman love each other they get married. When I first read this, I may have had steam coming out of my ears. Hugh and I were able to open up a discussion about how men can marry men and woman can marry woman and at the bottom of the page we wrote it all down, including the fact that God loves everyone.<br />
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Calder drew this picture of the baby in the womb and was adamant I send it to Auntie Jes so she could see what it looked like, as she currently has a baby in her belly.</div>
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Calder had a bit of a mishap at hockey in May. With the help of a couple of teammates he was trying to lift the net off the bench onto the ice and it got dropped on his finger. It was in rough shape for a while and because of how referrals work, he almost wore that thing for a month. Luckily, the original doctor said he could play hockey so he didn't have to miss out on his spring tournament in Edmonton. The day after Calder crushed his finger, Boone crushed his with a paving stone in our backyard. We took Boone for an x-ray after a few days because it was so swollen, but thankfully it wasn't broken either!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-32533416417178216602017-05-03T07:17:00.000-06:002017-05-03T07:17:48.131-06:00April<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We started off April at a Family Dance at Hugh's school. It was amazing. The kids had a great time dancing. And by kids I mean Boone and Lawson. Calder was introduced more officially to the art of bottle flipping and spend a good portion of the evening flipping a water bottle with another boy his age. This was an amazing event and really cool to see so many people from the school community out. At one point they had a jigging contest. The adults went first and there was one man in particular who was AMAZING. When the kids' contest started, Boone meticulously imitated the jigger's moves. I wish I had a video. Boone didn't win the contest, but quite frankly, it was impressive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtuqqjVXGy2hLaEp2zJ6kLdC4tnFgfm-5gB0kLnXrnxLrGia9WHYSHxD5UHsjrg9qT364d973A3TWIrIo_m2OQSBYcwZxVVn7tiPaVoSPKzt75skginXhQaaYBg2h-OWDaejZeB72uxA/s1600/IMG_3813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtuqqjVXGy2hLaEp2zJ6kLdC4tnFgfm-5gB0kLnXrnxLrGia9WHYSHxD5UHsjrg9qT364d973A3TWIrIo_m2OQSBYcwZxVVn7tiPaVoSPKzt75skginXhQaaYBg2h-OWDaejZeB72uxA/s640/IMG_3813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoxHVXyAzd1IjpJKwNcpJ-s3tGcZs5-4m_FB2acMYM0rM4zr3N5SPulocmdInR-iwM29072PbXyDuaabuKPcRn-3jnnTNtS-0fDp4T8RG1I_gT_3X6_KRawMH5hIq8WlNDXKk3-8F0_s/s1600/IMG_3816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoxHVXyAzd1IjpJKwNcpJ-s3tGcZs5-4m_FB2acMYM0rM4zr3N5SPulocmdInR-iwM29072PbXyDuaabuKPcRn-3jnnTNtS-0fDp4T8RG1I_gT_3X6_KRawMH5hIq8WlNDXKk3-8F0_s/s640/IMG_3816.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
This is Boone's attempt at smiling. Typically this is the face I get from him when I pull my phone out.<br />
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Although Calder may have needed a bit of coaxing to play with the boy his age, Boone needed none at all to engage with the kids at the dance. I won't surprised if Boone is one day a lady's man, but right now this was all about dancing and these girls were givin'er. When intermission hit, they started a game of dinosaurs and crawled around the floor attacking and eating each other. It was hilarious. Lawson spent the entire night on the dance floor. She may have not connected with many kids her age, but she did wear the soles of her shoes out dancing with Boone, Hugh, and I. Calder did ask me to dance once. Admittedly later it was because Hugh "suggested" he do it. <i>I'll take it. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlBu3sBmflKqnEPVy4QU6dLKEh2F5nuPXPyqVq3uK6Q0zbQiO2oLZlssu23y09OME3hPB6iwE-A4FJysJkWpsGvNufHSjyROAI201sKuPMKb9lT1V90pv45cJuujxO6bH3oFRO3BMcV8/s1600/IMG_3819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlBu3sBmflKqnEPVy4QU6dLKEh2F5nuPXPyqVq3uK6Q0zbQiO2oLZlssu23y09OME3hPB6iwE-A4FJysJkWpsGvNufHSjyROAI201sKuPMKb9lT1V90pv45cJuujxO6bH3oFRO3BMcV8/s640/IMG_3819.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My finger's full extension 30 hours post-surgery.</td></tr>
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Near the beginning of the month I also had surgery on my finger to relieve a <a href="http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00024">trigger finger</a>. If you click the link you will see some pictures of what trigger finger looks like. <i>Please note that is NOT my finger in the picture. My doctor told me the trigger fingers he typically sees are in women over 90 years old. Sigh. </i>My doctor also told me it would be painless and informed me that he would work in the afternoon if he had it done. . . Well, in my opinion this is a load of crap. I guess maybe if his work didn't didn't include having to type or pick up a pen, or use his hand at all for that matter. My hand was frozen until supper time the day of my surgery and he operated at 10 am. My finger was also so sore the next morning that I couldn't sign Calder's agenda. I couldn't even bend it for that matter. I ended up having to take the day after my surgery off work, but was then able to fumble through the rest of the week. My finger is not in great shape right now. It gets really stiff and is still sore at the incision point on the palm of my hand. My finger doesn't get stuck any more, so I guess I should be happy?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyDTXv3fCid1mqSTbr1bEtmbgYY5AhnPgsCQPUL_BcEok-LuW5KBoqXnKpp7Tac-L0ilOOr2VmYIeCfizLudzEBy1HeYEL7PMNVanp8vqEENhqeePnfj7HlF472HA7DC4ogKthGYuYDM/s1600/IMG_3809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyDTXv3fCid1mqSTbr1bEtmbgYY5AhnPgsCQPUL_BcEok-LuW5KBoqXnKpp7Tac-L0ilOOr2VmYIeCfizLudzEBy1HeYEL7PMNVanp8vqEENhqeePnfj7HlF472HA7DC4ogKthGYuYDM/s640/IMG_3809.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
I haven't written much about Hugh's beard. It began out of laziness around Christmas. Then it turned into a joke to see how long it would last and now I think he really likes it. Myself with some help of a hockey mom hair dresser convinced Hugh to get it groomed professionally. I wish I had a before picture, but here is the after. His beard was about 1.5 times as wide before this! It looks so much better. I think it was a treat for him to get some pampering as well. He has promised me he will go back every 6 weeks to get them to re-shape it, but we will see if he manages this!<br />
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Calder chose to play ball this spring and started some indoor practices in April. I originally volunteered to assistant coach, but when they made the second call out that they were short head coaches, I stepped up. After the indoor sessions I was quickly reminded of why I didn't want to head coach. Calder does not do his best listening or cooperating with instruction at ball (or maybe just with me there). It is frustrating because the only message I ever get from Hugh about Calder at hockey practice is that he worked hard and listened well. Calder and I have a delicate relationship and doing ball together is supposed to give us something positive to connect through. After the first 2 sessions I felt like the only thing ball was going to do for our relationship was damage.<br />
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When your kid throws his glove up in the air and plays catch with himself while playing outfield or when he does cartwheels at shortstop when a ball gets hit to the second base side of the infield, you have to give them a talk. And when they continue to do it after you speak to them, you and your husband might derail on your kid when he gets home about what is appropriate behavior and how to show respect for coaches, other players, and the game. <br />
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Calder LOVES hockey. He just likes ball. This alone may be a reason he isn't taking ball as seriously as he does hockey. I want him to fall in love with the game of ball the way Hugh and I have. The only way this has a possibility of happening is if Calder has a positive experience and this only has a chance of happening if he behaves appropriately. We had a good talk before our first outdoor practice and I am happy to report he did much better. Let's hope for all our sake that this continues! <br />
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During the hockey season Boone, Lawson and I have been a pretty good threesome. We hang out at the rink, run errands, or play at home while the boys are busy on the ice. Here we were at <a href="https://saskmade.myshopify.com/">SaskMade</a> where we picked up my sister a gorgeous, locally made, pottery bowl. They have a kid friendly space at the back with books and this rocker, so if you get a chance you should check it out. Might be a great place to find that end of year gift for a teacher or coach!<br />
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Lastly, I have a friend who runs a NHL playoff draft with a few of us hockey moms. Even if you aren't a big hockey fan, if from now until June your TV will be overrun with hockey, a draft is a great way to get interested in the outcome of some of those games. Not only that, the draft night is a great excuse to get out and visit with some lovely ladies.<br />
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This year I noted to our group that my mom is in a playoff draft and the last place team gets their entry fee back. We thought this might be fun near the end of the playoffs because those of us at the bottom might be in a fight for last. Well, there will be no fight at the end for last. My team consisting of Chicago, Montreal, and San Jose players is completely finished. If you don't follow hockey, Chicago may have been considered a favorite to win the Cup and Montreal was certainly a favorite to make it to the semi-finals. I actually left our draft night thinking I had a chance to win it all. I was that pleased with the team I picked. Needless to say, I'm just hoping the girls don't think I purposely picked this team to get my money back.<br />
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Looking forward to sunshine and spring fashion in May! Happy Wednesday :-)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-12153062036276347482017-04-05T14:38:00.003-06:002017-04-05T14:38:37.120-06:00MarchWe didn't get to a great start to our birthday party season this year. At the end of February we had to cancel Lawson's because she was puking the day before the scheduled event. Lucky we put the call out early, because at almost the exact time her party was scheduled to start the next day, Boone started puking. When we had to cancel Lawson's party, we asked Boone if he would mind sharing his and our sweet boy immediately chirped up "Sure!"<br />
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Two Saturdays later it was Calder's party. Unfortunately, he woke up and puked. Although Hugh and I weren't optimistic about how he was feeling, Calder did eat breakfast. We told Calder about the possibility of having a to cancel his party, just to plant the seed. Calder responded, "I just won't eat any cupcakes at mine and then I won't puke." He promptly puke again. Party off.<br />
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We told Calder he could share with Boone and Lawson the next weekend, but Calder wasn't too keen on that. When we told him the next free weekend was in April, he quickly changed his tune. Fortunately, the weather forecast meant that Hugh could get the rink back up and running for Calder's party.<br />
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When the kids were all born so close together, Hugh and I promised each other they would ALWAYS have their own special day and party. Please note we hadn't anticipated pukefest 2017.<br />
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It was a CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY party. So many people, so much activity. It was great, but I basically didn't take a single picture. <i>Also, I learned never to clean my house before a party. No point. At. All. I cleaned my house twice unnecessarily when the parties didn't happen and the third time there were too many people to even notice that I had picked up all the toys and wiped down the cupboards!</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleo knocked Lawson's supper plate off the table near the end of the month. It was full of food because she refused to eat it. I had been saving it in case she was hungry before bed. When she saw Cleo eating it she burst into full out meltdown mode. She didn't want to eat her supper, but apparently she didn't want Cleo to eat it either!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6wCh313tWolk8uSwee5NkzVFZcxGyzI7jNndTv76_POwaYez0nks6jq7ycUkiryQAip6jZkN_vQUgAEDKENOwtmBHSF_KZNKEJsExBvJNI806tHa1yglTxnwkvHQ47L7s5KZ27IyPSg/s1600/IMG_3773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6wCh313tWolk8uSwee5NkzVFZcxGyzI7jNndTv76_POwaYez0nks6jq7ycUkiryQAip6jZkN_vQUgAEDKENOwtmBHSF_KZNKEJsExBvJNI806tHa1yglTxnwkvHQ47L7s5KZ27IyPSg/s640/IMG_3773.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We went to a couple of playoff hockey games to watch one of our favorite PeeWee players. The Marauders lost the 2nd game, but man was it exciting to watch. We need to make more of an effort to get out to other team's games. What is more fun than watching kids you know play? The answer to that is NOTING. Sport is the best!</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQKjQWDxWqfb8kg5tf46KM3T1bT8kF6u-gFufIwbhTb2R-NOL4_R8U-GUcBlCrTBE_NOyz3K2azGPQg2h_sIQjNj5GQVsCl0sGdjjQBfDrfu1oUAVL6Q0Ryb6w1bsFE6igonAIJ0NiUQ/s1600/IMG_3786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQKjQWDxWqfb8kg5tf46KM3T1bT8kF6u-gFufIwbhTb2R-NOL4_R8U-GUcBlCrTBE_NOyz3K2azGPQg2h_sIQjNj5GQVsCl0sGdjjQBfDrfu1oUAVL6Q0Ryb6w1bsFE6igonAIJ0NiUQ/s640/IMG_3786.JPG" width="480" /></a>We had parent teacher interviews at the end of the month. I had a couple interesting ones. One parent was hot at her kid for his inappropriate behavior (like I mean REALLY hot) and the other parent accused me of telling her student I wouldn't help her. Sigh. These kind of interviews do happen once in a while. I guess I was due! The rest were great, though. I really appreciate the time to get to talk to parents and my students. The opportunity to just chat allows me to learn more about my students and connect with them in a way I don't always have the time to do in the classroom. We also had Calder's parent teacher interview. I wanted to know his percentage grades. Those letters (beginning to meet, meeting, exceeding) are way too vague for me. We joked with Madam about my high school need for grades, but she did give us some numbers and helped me understand better exactly where Calder was at. The best part of Calder's report card and interview were when we learned that Calder had been improving his neatness which was something that he had been asked to do at the last reporting period.<br />
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We had a steak night for Calder's spring team the last Friday of the month. It was fabulous and I can't take any of the credit. Hugh and I did our part at the event by purchasing some raffle tickets. I wish I had some pictures because you wouldn't believe the stuff that was there. There were over 50 prizes and I would estimate the average value of each was over $100. Hugh and I won 3. Yep. You read that right. We cleaned up.<br />
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The prize everyone was talking about contained a night at the Travelodge in the Jacuzzi suite, some luggage, $100 worth of Keg gift cards and a package from Lover's Only. Remember that part where Hugh and I won 3 prizes. You guessed it, we won the vibrator and lube package. I am quite certain we will never hear the end of it from the other parents!<br />
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Shortly after our win, Boone was asking us what healthy food was. I actually got a bit flustered wondering how I was going to explain something I "just know". I quickly realized that I know the 'why' of healthy food, so began explaining to Boone about vitamins, minerals, and protein. Calder helped me make a list of examples of healthy food for him as well. It was a serious win. Boone learned some stuff and I learned how much Calder knows about healthy food. Five minutes later I was getting Lawson dressed for the day and Boone came barreling into her room dragging the new luggage we won at the steak night. Before I could even register what he was doing, he flipped it open and started riffling through the prizes we had won. (I had failed to unpack it from the weekend.) Just as I glanced up to tell him to stop snooping he presented me with the box containing the lube and asked, "Is this healthy, Mom?". OMG. Pretty sure I turned bright red. When I told him, "Nevermind", he asked me if it was toothpaste.<br />
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We can't wait to start bike riding, rollerblading, baseballing and road hockeying in April! Have a lovely day!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-69846259521563707462017-03-24T11:02:00.001-06:002017-03-24T11:02:52.982-06:00Five on Friday<ol>
<li>Boone and Calder are such opposites. Boone has an imaginary friend. Calder has no imagination. I suggested to Lawson on Tuesday that Calder would sit at the table with her and tell her a story and start it "Once upon a time. .. " and Calder immediately quipped, "I will NOT be doing that." I could tell you of countless other times that Calder refused to make believe. . . . . . . .Well, okay. That might be a slight exaggeration about Calder having no imagination, but imaginary play certainly isn't Calder's go to. He did recently write a silly story, though. We found out from Madam that the grade 3s are writing silly stories. Calder, catching the tail end of a lesson, grabbed scrap paper and started writing. He continued writing the story on the bus on the way home from school and immediately shared it with us when he hopped off. Calder was so proud of it. The grade 3s are currently learning about rough drafts, so Calder has started his good copy of the story about a monster who ate a man.</li>
<li>The rink is done. Hugh got it up and going for the kids' birthday party 2 Saturdays ago, but Calder had his final skate last Tuesday. Boone was even out there for 40 minutes. He usually lasts 10, so this was significant. Weather is getting warmer! I love it. I am ready for ball gloves.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ4lMZgaSdx9ZSgsnKd2Wjc9G9xJTKFXWJ6tXVFd-q1B69aI5YjaGnNejnnHwHtgS_OmX_WXnRz9-ad_IPGXevYV22vr7Au4aVYrZ4lVlOzZ8ja-JgQglWStFgiJysx3mzyTGPxsTy8g/s1600/IMG_3752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ4lMZgaSdx9ZSgsnKd2Wjc9G9xJTKFXWJ6tXVFd-q1B69aI5YjaGnNejnnHwHtgS_OmX_WXnRz9-ad_IPGXevYV22vr7Au4aVYrZ4lVlOzZ8ja-JgQglWStFgiJysx3mzyTGPxsTy8g/s640/IMG_3752.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<li>I have been watching The Office on Netflix, but am at a standstill. Michael (Steve Carell) has moved away and I'm not sure The Office will be The Office without him. Can any fans please tell me if I should even bother!?</li>
<li>I have been reading a lot lately. Being on my phone right before bed makes it harder for me to fall asleep. <i>Gasp. Exactly what the research says.</i> Hugh may be an anomaly when it comes to this, but it truly does affect me. Deena recently lent me <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/home/search/?keywords=A%20MAN%20CALLED%20OVE">A Man Named Ove</a>. Deena raved about it, but I am halfway and it is just okay for me. I had been waiting for our school library to have <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/miss-peregrines-home-for-peculiar/9781594746031-item.html">Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children</a> returned, so when it was yesterday, I put Ove to the side, temporarily. I have only read a chapter of Peculiar Children, but I'm hooked. </li>
<li>Boone and I went on our first official date last Friday night to a Blades' game. It was rain check night and our neighbor gave us a couple of tickets. While waiting in line to exchange them a man handed us two tickets for the current game. The seats were located right behind the Blades' bench. We were so lucky to get such fabulous seats! We had such an amazing time. <i>I loved seriously loved every minute, and since I only lost Boone for 20 seconds, the rest of that particular minute was saved! </i>We even ran into Uncle Luke, Auntie Brittany, and Cruz on our adventure. My favorite moment was at the start of the second period when Boone exclaimed, "Mom! The goalies are in the wrong nets!" <i>In novice hockey the teams don't change ends each period. Love learning about kids' world views!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PMFRQG4MpgnoTQ009CDxmI_EqcHN-6M2uxEcKvPEZGHKxFolWQUpbuOdXa9T7XGNXvY5SzmXHWeVmEVakpfdV_2mC3639AY2cUOV470Vp06vtGrSsV3HbjY3TyQR-1piqaqTOtzVaFE/s1600/IMG_3763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PMFRQG4MpgnoTQ009CDxmI_EqcHN-6M2uxEcKvPEZGHKxFolWQUpbuOdXa9T7XGNXvY5SzmXHWeVmEVakpfdV_2mC3639AY2cUOV470Vp06vtGrSsV3HbjY3TyQR-1piqaqTOtzVaFE/s640/IMG_3763.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Happy Friday!</i></li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-17384867950789397172017-03-14T08:18:00.001-06:002017-03-14T08:19:13.413-06:00Happy Birthday, Boone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy 4th birthday, Boone! Check out his birthday photo <a href="http://jordan-hamilton.blogspot.ca/p/boone.html">HERE</a> and the outtakes below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ni1orFOFCgZUILRNTW-jluVJZZMoPCupy_jY7ZlG9dH5KsVo1871srGxaeUNEf6aRjfum4pp6iijLDOdCrANC9E9QQrO6XZabHcOjJ_5kZxhNPDmdMSB8KaJermxx8GUkTgchfOar60/s1600/IMG_7346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ni1orFOFCgZUILRNTW-jluVJZZMoPCupy_jY7ZlG9dH5KsVo1871srGxaeUNEf6aRjfum4pp6iijLDOdCrANC9E9QQrO6XZabHcOjJ_5kZxhNPDmdMSB8KaJermxx8GUkTgchfOar60/s640/IMG_7346.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Unlike Calder, whose locks were almost too long to fit in his birthday picture, Boone loves a hair cut. We can't even mention one unless it is a for sure or he cries. <i>He got one just in time for pictures!</i><br />
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Boone loves to play with other kids and there is never a concern of boredom at the rink as he will buddy up with anyone he sees. . . Whether he knows them or not! Boone is outgoing and needs to be reminded to stay with us in public places. I lost him 3 separate times when we were in Regina at Calder's tourney. Not really pumped to share that, but he is so quick and completely confident in crowded, strange places. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4fbTM_Z4ScTVAK7l4u7whZE2m_ItfBpLNqcANxnCZ9eD8vIAkonUc66x_5bPHppR7m6AyaAaJOPQB3qPDaF9VunzN4cxkHNi1FU0Ppxz68NIuOaMWKN5WSMnM9zLXK4GT01Igeklig8/s1600/IMG_7314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4fbTM_Z4ScTVAK7l4u7whZE2m_ItfBpLNqcANxnCZ9eD8vIAkonUc66x_5bPHppR7m6AyaAaJOPQB3qPDaF9VunzN4cxkHNi1FU0Ppxz68NIuOaMWKN5WSMnM9zLXK4GT01Igeklig8/s640/IMG_7314.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Boone is playful and loves a laugh. And if need be will use any sort of inappropriate potty talk to get one. Boone gets along well with other kids of all ages. He is a hit in Calder's dressing room. A large group of Calder's teammates will shout his name when he walks in and a couple even have to hug him every time. </div>
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Boone has an imaginary friend, Mega. I thought the name stemmed from him incorrectly saying our billet, Megan's, name, but Hugh thought it came from a Pokemon card. Regardless, Boone mentions Mega ALL THE TIME. When I am telling a story before bed, Boone wants me to add in Mega. When we were inviting kids to his birthday, Mega got added to the list. When wondering who was at daycare, he will tell us that Mega was. Boone also randomly tells us facts about Mega. Mega is a grown-up. He sleeps in the day and is up at night. He likes hockey. He drinks coffee. And my personal favorite, Mega doesn't need to clean up at his house because his house cleans itself. We were convinced that Boone thought of Mega as real until one day a month ago I suggest to him that we include Mega when he was listing people who go to the lake and he says, "Mooooommmmm, Mega is pretend." He continues to remind us that Mega is imaginary, but that hasn't stopped him from including Mega in everything. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHQs6BQSTuf07_5wCJJz406JkEwFV7DERN4Ixot_ygERK9YZj1Zpe2ka3-rzZwmzAFKLRCq68c3Oouf3RutbPmNeubsCOBRg8aE0zgw9Ih0YIznpsJ8_enT1wJ6CbVU6MMtEv7ac8MYc/s1600/IMG_7328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHQs6BQSTuf07_5wCJJz406JkEwFV7DERN4Ixot_ygERK9YZj1Zpe2ka3-rzZwmzAFKLRCq68c3Oouf3RutbPmNeubsCOBRg8aE0zgw9Ih0YIznpsJ8_enT1wJ6CbVU6MMtEv7ac8MYc/s640/IMG_7328.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfIxOF99OEtC4yUki4mwUfX9c-IL8zjNYwKItAXTkdgyN4pZjgemI5XxhRqBI0iDo3LgPS73oLm8mxWgNulaF4teFJwABNyZuauLPFtYTLyv21eqZDDNhVwOOUl7730wQy_7smXExjPg/s1600/IMG_7333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfIxOF99OEtC4yUki4mwUfX9c-IL8zjNYwKItAXTkdgyN4pZjgemI5XxhRqBI0iDo3LgPS73oLm8mxWgNulaF4teFJwABNyZuauLPFtYTLyv21eqZDDNhVwOOUl7730wQy_7smXExjPg/s640/IMG_7333.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is what Boone typically does when you ask him to smile for a photo. Sigh. </div>
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Boone is a pretty good eater, but will complain at virtually anything set in front of him. He might gag, but he will eat it. He is also the slowest eater on the planet. At one time Calder held this title, but he has passed it on to his younger brother. Boone can take over a half an hour to eat supper on any given night and it usually ends with us feeding him. Calder outgrew this and I know Boone will, but it can't happen soon enough. <i>And it will likely happen just in time to pass the title to his sister. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthN_SbGcV5JYhUbgEbBi6h_c6sQMV54IXswL3GYa_isr1LaM7Y6OCAlfJH_R1rirSiRheB0GO8AhOYSByLdU0EzodSFBQfUjCl7kHG3h2iyWCUVJxfxN_4321W3T_PNb_ilhc4p8tn8I/s1600/IMG_7360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthN_SbGcV5JYhUbgEbBi6h_c6sQMV54IXswL3GYa_isr1LaM7Y6OCAlfJH_R1rirSiRheB0GO8AhOYSByLdU0EzodSFBQfUjCl7kHG3h2iyWCUVJxfxN_4321W3T_PNb_ilhc4p8tn8I/s640/IMG_7360.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Boone and Lawson play amazing together. I'm not sure if it is their proximity in age or their similar temperaments, but they seem to get along better than Boone and Calder. Both Calder and Boone would say they like playing with each other, but it is rare when it doesn't end in a teary fight. <i>We have teary fights everyday.</i> As I said in Calder's bday post, Boone is really starting to like hockey. He still talks about being a goalie, but after religiously chanting, "Hamiltons aren't goalies" to him the last 3 months, he may be letting go of that dream a bit. <i>I know all the goalies and goalie parents are angered by that statement, but goal tending is the most high pressure position, the most expensive, and the one that can get little to no playing time on future teams if you are a back-up. Yuck, yuck and yuck. I will avoid all that <b>if</b> I can. </i></div>
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Boone loves a hug and is quick to tell us he loves us. He whines a lot, but is pretty good with his manners. Boone is enthusiastic about just about anything. I hope that never changes. The whining and hit the road any time. </div>
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I love you more than ice cream, Boone. Can't wait to see what happens in year #5. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-28240009506882267812017-03-08T06:00:00.000-06:002017-03-08T06:00:06.586-06:00Happy Birthday, Calder!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Calder turns 8 today! Check out his new birthday photo<a href="http://jordan-hamilton.blogspot.ca/p/calder.html"> HERE</a>. <i>Enjoy some of the outtakes below!</i></div>
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Hugh and I couldn't believe how long Calder's hair was until we looked at these pictures. He doesn't want to get it cut and as long as he brushes it, we don't care! Calder gets A LOT of comments and compliments on his hair which I think is a driving force for him not to cut it. <i>Calder was puking on the weekend and as everyone with long hair is aware, it can get in the way. I suggested an elastic or a headband and he chose the headband. Calder later left the headband on the couch and I threw it on to take it back to my room to put away. I clearly don't wear headbands, because when Boone saw me he asked me if I was going to puke!</i></div>
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Calder is fiercely competitive. You will often hear him tell Boone and Lawson that he is beating them to finish his supper or that he beat them to get into the tub. Calder will also be able to tell you how many goals basically every player on his team has and what the score was from a game he played before Christmas. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCo2aBNMYFjXl9xkMoenNqHAaPkg32Y3PNCQzQikF1a_Ce0QKwDIDDTV2B4lQ1DorTLczecYYEovpAjA8vQsMrhGwcuvZ9n7wI47Q1j3FaM7sAKuRSewGEnRcJTN1LvKcUiZ6D87mCMvA/s1600/IMG_7416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCo2aBNMYFjXl9xkMoenNqHAaPkg32Y3PNCQzQikF1a_Ce0QKwDIDDTV2B4lQ1DorTLczecYYEovpAjA8vQsMrhGwcuvZ9n7wI47Q1j3FaM7sAKuRSewGEnRcJTN1LvKcUiZ6D87mCMvA/s640/IMG_7416.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3A1BKONIQSZ86NXq8uPxYg_sB7i_O9cKMrfLe3w2s0PcXiZLWwHaUW2T_xEvKiDPsIEhrNFZcxYmvhysEeMosV4D2awQnn4zLu-XOG_eVTbGvDRUGndcpjCv04-AgkP35xLxuBtPWds/s1600/IMG_7426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3A1BKONIQSZ86NXq8uPxYg_sB7i_O9cKMrfLe3w2s0PcXiZLWwHaUW2T_xEvKiDPsIEhrNFZcxYmvhysEeMosV4D2awQnn4zLu-XOG_eVTbGvDRUGndcpjCv04-AgkP35xLxuBtPWds/s640/IMG_7426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Calder continues to hate movies. And by hate I mean is petrified by them. We watched "Inside Out" a couple of weeks ago. Hugh and I decided WE wanted to watch one, so we told the boys that if they weren't interested they could play upstairs. Let's just say there were many tears, screams, and eyes being covered. Calder is sensitive and we do love that about him. He doesn't like scary and he doesn't like feelings getting hurt. <i>This does not include hurting Boone's feelings. He will do that. Thankfully, we don't hear about him hurting his friends or classmates feelings. So hopefully, it is just Boone. (The plight of the younger brother.)</i><br />
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On the weekend I heard Boone ask Lawson to play hockey in the basement. Calder was observing and I heard him yell, "Boone, take it easy on her!" LOL Calder has just started to "take it easy" on Boone when they play hockey. Incidentally, Boone has just started to want to play mini sticks and shoot outside with Calder. Shocking coincidence!</div>
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Calder loves his screen time. He likes to search videos on You Tube when he watches television or watch non-fiction shows (America's Funniest Home Videos, Dinosaurs, Planet Earth). He recently even got into the 100 Most Deadly Places to Live! We limit that one, but it is actually quite interesting. <i>And even though he doesn't like cartoon movies, he hasn't had one problem with that show!</i> Calder also loves Super Mario World on the Wii. He will often ask for "Family Time", not because he necessarily wants to hang with Hugh and I, but because sometimes we play the Wii as a family!</div>
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Calder enjoys school. I would like to think math is his favorite, but lately he has come home talking about the history of Saskatoon and even took a social studies textbook out from the library. I suspect he just likes learning, but he will mostly tell you he likes recess. </div>
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Calder is becoming more and more funny. He loves to laugh and loves to make other people laugh. Calder is an active, loving boy. We can't wait to see what adventures await him in year number 8. </div>
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Love you more than coffee, C. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-51963998094931798392017-03-03T10:42:00.001-06:002017-03-03T10:42:20.336-06:00February<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Calder had a tournament in Regina the weekend of Lawson and Hugh's birthdays. We had a terrific weekend in Regina. Highlight for all the kids was enjoying the company of the team. There are so many great families and kids associated with Calder's team. We truly are blessed.</div>
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Lawson was the life of the party at the pool. There was constantly a herd of boys helping her on the waterslides, catching her in the pool or escorting her to the hot tub. There was so much kindness Hugh and I wouldn't even have had to get into the pool with her. It was also hilarious how the boys were doting on her!<br />
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As always, Boone was independent. Once we hit the pool we didn't see him until it was time to leave. too many kids to play with. Too much water to splash in. In fact, he was mad at me in this photo because he didn't want to take time away from his swimming to stop and smile for the camera.</div>
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The kids and I went for a special birthday smoothie. It was really relaxing to have some downtime with just my crew. They played so well together at the McDonald's play structure (and you know that rarely happens!).</div>
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Calder loved the friends and swimming, but he also loved the hockey in Regina. He played the tournament as a center-man. Hugh has the players move around positions. Calder will typically tell you he likes center or defense. He can't seem to make up his mind. He had a great game in our B-side semi final and came out with the player of the game award for his team. He is figuring out how to work hard for an entire game and I was pleased that others are noticing that too. Unfortunately, the Sniper's came up short in the game and our tournament ended on Saturday afternoon. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We saw some incredible weather in February, including some extremely warm days. I actually think there was a stretch of almost a week with daytime highs above 0 degrees. It was incredible.</span><br />
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On Valentine's Day we got a call from some friends to meet them on Mini-Mountain at the end of our crescent to do some tobogganing. The weather was incredible and with the sun staying out longer it made for a beautiful end to a great day. Standing at the top of the hill I could look out to Tripp's bench. It was a special night. Also good that we got the sledding in when we did, because the next day there was barely any snow left and the hill was virtually entirely brown by the end of February.</div>
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For Family Weekend we headed to my brother's cabin north of Prince Albert. Again, the weather couldn't have been better and we spent hours outside. Calder was excited to fish and although they spent more time than I can even count fishing, they only caught one! Nevertheless it was still pretty exciting. Luke and Brittany have a gorgeous spot and a beautiful cabin. We will be inviting ourselves out there again. In fact, I may just recommend we make it an annual trip in February. Boone, Nash, and Cruz all got scrapes to the face. Cruz fell into the ski-do, Calder pushed Boone off a sled and Boone got road rash from the snow, and Nash fell down the stairs. I wish I would have gotten a picture of them together, because it looked like they had been in a scrap!<br />
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Calder is obsessed with Rubik's cubes. He has a 3 x 3 and a 2 x 2. My sister and her husband both can solve them, so we packed the cubes and Calder got a lesson or two. Jes even helped me out when I got into it. I am going to try and remember to take them to the lake. I really did enjoy playing with it when we were sitting around. I never did get it solved, but I had fun learning!<br />
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It is pretty flat around Luke and Brittany's cabin, but we found a bit of a slope and took the kids out. I would love to get an old school wooden toboggan. I think Hugh and I might have to splurge on one next year. Nothing like slapping 4 or 5 people on the back of one of those and sending it down a cliff!<br />
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I had a pretty good day on Tripp's birthday. In fact, I shed very few tears. It was just such a nice day outside, spent with family. I had a harder few days after. I just felt down. I can never predict how those days are going to go and just when I think I have my feelings sorted out, something changes.<br />
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The weather is looking up again this weekend. Our rink is in disarray, but I do enjoy the warmth! Happy Friday!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2839958821622707430.post-73824468719774069302017-02-17T13:43:00.000-06:002017-02-17T14:09:29.877-06:00Right where I am - 5 years, 365 daysTomorrow would have been Tripp's 6th birthday. I take photos of the kids for their birthday, but I have no new ones of him. He is my forever baby. . . . It is actually funny. For years I pictured him as a baby, but lately I picture him as a kindergartener. Not sure how or when that changed in my mind. I wish I knew more about how heaven work and what he was doing right now.<br />
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I think of Tripp more times a day than can be counted. I think of him without even being aware that I am thinking of him. There would be no possible way to count even if I tried. How many times a day do you think about your kids? Its the same thing with Tripp. Although, I don't have to think about getting him to hockey or having a snack ready for him after school, his being is woven into the fabric of my life. I think about him not being here all the time. Sometimes it comes from sadness and sometimes it is born of curiosity. What would our lives be like if he were here? What kind of boy would he be? How would Calder be different having not faced a loss as great as a brother? </div>
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Six days ago Lawson turned two. We were talking about ages at the supper table and through a bit of play with the numbers, Calder came to the realization that this year he would be three times as old as Lawson and twice as old as Boone this year. We noted Tripp's age, but being 1.3 repeating times as old, isn't quite as neat. On the way home from piano that night, Calder was still talking about ages. He noted that when he was in grade 8 Boone would be in grade 4. He then started talking about what grade Tripp would be in when he was in certain grades and Calder moved along all the way to when Tripp was in grade 10 he would be in grade 12. Calder then said, "That will be so cool having someone in my school all the time." . . . . <i>Will be. . . </i>Calder was thinking of this incredible hypothetical world where he already had a sibling in school with him and one where he would go to high school with his brother. This conversation made me sad and happy. Sad because Calder will only ever go to school with Tripp in some made up world, but happy because Calder didn't seem sad about it at all. It was fun just to dream about it.</div>
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I still cry a lot about Tripp. I am learning that I have this strange attachment between grieving and my love for him. I feel closer to Tripp when I am crying. This is messed up. And I don't want to spend my life needing to cry to feel a connection to him. I want to feel close to him in happiness. I have starting seeing someone to help me with this. I also continue to worry about what other people think about my grieving. Also messed up. I am working on that too. </div>
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I usually don't cry when I hear about a new baby being born anymore and seeing a squishy newborn rarely makes me feel nauseas like it used to. I still don't hold babies. . . . Since Tripp died, the only babies I have held are Boone, Lawson and my 2 nephews, Nash and Cruz. I feel no desire to hold someone random's baby, so I likely won't hold another until my sister gives birth in May. This doesn't bother me much. I know deep down I am missing out. Babies are so precious. But I also fear the pain that might come with holding one, so I am content just to let others get their snuggles. </div>
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I have been dreading this week leading up to Tripp's birthday since Christmas ended. When the calendar rolls over to a new year I can sense the pain that comes with it. I feel anxious about it. It starts to eat at my stomach. Because of this, I know I will be thankful when its over. I don't miss Tripp any more this week than I do the other weeks of the year, so I know it is illogical to be more sad. But I am, so I will be thankful when February 24th arrives. </div>
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I will be tweeting throughout the day tomorrow how we are celebrating Tripp. If you think of him, light a candle for him, or do a random act of kindness, please feel free to use the hashtag #RememberingTripp . Grieving can be lonely and when we hear about other people thinking about Tripp and learn about the love that gets spread through our baby boy, it makes us smile. </div>
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May there be cake pops in heaven for you tomorrow, my boy. We love you. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16694679593819914694noreply@blogger.com5