Canadian, eh!

The hour is late. The snow has flown ALL day today. The snowblower went for 2 hours to clear the driveway and the rink. The kids are dying to go back on the ice tonight. The kids' parents are trying to talk them out of it until tomorrow, saying "It's too late." " Dad will have to shovel again".

To which Sara replies,

"Come on, Dad, you're Canadian, eh?"

We laughed.

And they skated.

Success!

Well, it's cold enough to freeze spit before it hits the ground around here. Frostbite city! But perfect for making an ice-rink. The kids got to hit the ice today and were quite thrilled with their dear old dad and all his GREAT effort in getting this going. An ice rink in their own front yard! What more could a kid ask for?? (except maybe a few friends to drop by to join them and/or play some hockey with). Time to get out the hot chocolate and marshmallows!

PS_This was their first steps onto the ice while Steve was adjusting their helmets to accomodate toques (did I mention it was cold enough to freeze your nose hairs?). Don't worry, I wouldn't send my kids onto the ice without proper hockey helmets! (Face mask and all, we love their teeth the way the are!)

The Ice Rink Part Deux

Watching Daddy work outside...
The ice rink in progress...

Steve is bound and determined to make his own ice rink in the yard for the kids. We have talked about it for a few years. Now that we have moved, we have a nice, flat(ish) level front yard.

Over the Christmas holidays, he laid out the plastic and watered and watered. Countless hours outside over several days. Gallons of water (and that ain't cheap no more these days!).

Then a warming trend that lasted well over a week. So much for that.

The forecast now calls for cold weather for over a week.

Out come the hoses again. But first the plumbing had to be fixed after an elbow broke (you know, you have to move the outside taps AND add a hot water line to the outside taps because that's what you need to make an ice-rink). THEN out came the hoses, after the snow was leveled and a good base made.

Water.

More Water.

More Water.

Please cross your fingers for dear Steve. I'll let you know what happens...

Winter Wonderland

Mother Nature gave us an unexpected day home today.So we hit the slopes armed with toboggans and all the winter gear we could find! We followed up with hot chocolate by the fire. Wonderful!

Fun at the Lodge!

Tom and the boys surprised us with an overnight stay at the Great Wolf Lodge... one of our favourite places to be (and definitely one of Kurtis's all time favourites!) We went last weekend and had a blast!

Kurtis loved the arcade. He hit the jackpot on this machine. Check out all the tickets on the floor. Over 1000!

Ryan in the wave pool.

Playing the games with great concentration!

The kids got to make their own T-shirts (Connor made a pillowcase). They all worked SO hard and carefully and did a great job!

Tom and Ryan after a slide ride.

Checking out the animals in the lobby.

Thanks, guys, for the great surprise! We had so much fun!

2009

Another year has dawned. It brings freshness and hope with it.

We have had a good holiday this year, definitely better than last year and the year before that. We have two new homes and new traditions, which has made it easier. We have been busy spending time with family and our kids. It has been good to be busy.

We have made it through a very difficult year. We are in a better place than we were last year. We have grown, grieved, healed and progressed. This year we will continue to grow, grieve, heal and, Lord Willing, progress. We are journeying, and our journey will never be done.

I've shared before the analogy of grief as a cloak. This was shared with me by a very special person who has grieved before me. The cloak some days is heavy and overbearing, almost impossible to move forward under the weight. Other days, it is a light spring cloak, easier to carry, although ever present. I have felt the cloak lightening and becoming more manageable to carry. It will always be there, though. Make no mistake, we will never be the same. We may look OK, we are OK, but we are not the same. We grieve even though we may appear not to be.

We have been blessed through our year. God has carried us through. Your prayers, thoughts and tokens of love have carried us through. We have been blessed with good health, laughter and love this year. We have been blessed by you, our family and friends, from far and near.

Thank you.

We are filled with HOPE. May your year also be blessed with HOPE and peace.