Today it really begins

OK - maybe tomorrow if you want to be specific! Today our 2 a week 2 hour practices begin. Tomorrow our first league game of the season begins. And it's a road game, no less. Friday our first long haul road trip (Ottawa) happens where Kaedo will play 4 games in one day! That's a lot of soccer, even for a soccer mom like me! We are looking forward to the season and all it brings and hope the weather gods stay with us this year. Kaedo is excited and has spent some extra time practicing with Craig. Here's to another season of Soccer! can you believe that was his hair mid-season last year?????

just under the wire

Talk about last minute! I looked on my calendar this morning and realized that as far as the calendar says, today is the last day of the week. I don't think I've ever been so late in posting our gnome photo before - let alone taking it!!!! Sterling went to volunteer at an event this morning and Kaedo thought he would be busy this afternoon when Sterling was finished so we headed to where Sterling was and took this weeks picture. For those of you wondering - I did text Sterling first to see if it would be ok for us to come to him and we was fine with it. Thank goodness! No grumbling about having the picture taken yet either. I know we may be close to the day one of them may balk but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that day is somewhere in the far distance. The weather was beautiful here today and Craig and I got the opportunity to spend some time together while Sterling was busy and Kaedo was chill-axing. It was very nice. Sterling has been out biking but is very tired after a day in the sun. Kaedo has been playing football and soccer with Craig and the jury is out as to who kicked who's ass. All I know is that they both had fun.

hunh

I had written this long post about the girls and how amazing they are. Such cool kids, both of them. I saved it to finish it this morning and now I can't find the damn thing. This time it will be short and sweet. My nieces are amazing. Loud but amazing. I don't think I have heard O Canada quite that way that many times in a row. Or Do Re Mi. I am super impressed with how well they sing but am very thankful I always had the headphone rule and no singing rule in the van. I am one of those people who cannot tune it out. Can't. Hats off to Jessica. Seriously. Avery was always up for some fun. She played and laughed and talked and was so darling. Truly darling. Emma is the most "ready for anything" kid I have ever met. She was up for any game the boys were playing and showed off some mad skillz in a few water balloon fights. I had the opportunity to spend some one on one time with her and I just loved it. So, needless to say - it is very quiet here. VERY. That will take some getting used to.

A beautiful Send-off

Yesterday was G.G's funeral and it was a beautiful day. My Auntie R had done a fantastic job of organizing every little bit of it and all her hard work paid off. I think my gramma is looking down on us very happy with her send-off. Family and friends joined together for a celebration mass, then the inurnment of the ashes, then a tea. Jessica and I and our families sat in the second row behind our parents and P and R at the church. It was sad but not overwhelming. However when we got to the cemetery and standing in front of the niche, the tears started to fall. Both Kaedo and I cried a lot and there were many wet eyes. I felt for my dad and mom and my aunt and uncle. It is sad to see them hurting so much. I am hoping that with the funeral over we will be able to move forward from this state of limbo. I hope for my aunt, more than anyone else, that is the case. I said to Craig when GG first died that I didn't think I would ever go to the niche but now I'm not so sure. It was a beautiful place and now my gramma is at rest. Maybe if I need to feel some peace, visiting her will be just what I need.

Week 34

What a great week we`ve been having with mom and dad here and the weekend is just going to get better and noisier (LOL). Jessica and the girlies are on their way and we couldn`t be happier. Both boys are coming with me to the airport and when I talked to the girls this morning they wanted confirmation that the boys would be there. Haven`t got everything decided as to what we are going to do but I know we`ll have fun.

brace(less) face

AFTER

BEFORE

My gorgeous son just got a little bit handsomer (is that a word?). On Wednesday mom and I took him to the orthodontist to have his braces tightened etc and about 10 minutes into his appointment he came out and told us they were going to take his braces off. Yippeee! What a thrill! He and I were just so excited. I might have even been more excited, if truth be told. After three and a half years he was getting them off. What could be more exciting than that? The orthodontist, a kind man who has been doing orthodontia for about 30 years, seemed so happy that we were happy. At times when we couldn't believe how long it was taking, he would reassure us that it would be worth the wait. And he wasn't wrong. As soon as we left the office we booted over to Mac's and he got two packs of gum, which he proceeded to chew as if he hadn't had gum in 3.5 years - ha! His friends were great about telling him how good they looked and when we went back on Friday to get his retainer, one little chickie in the office gave him the once over. Yikes. Maybe if he keeps his mouth closed and head down I might get another year of no girls!

Weekend Recap

What a weekend! First off thank you to everyone who called, sang, texted, bbmed and left me a message on the blog. I felt so loved! We had a great weekend and it sure was hard to get motivated to get back to real life this morning. On Saturday we watched Kaedo play two games of soccer - one loss, one tie, then we came home to relax and open presents. I received wonderful gifts from everyone, especially the boys who picked out and bought theirs with their own money. We had my favorite supper (linguine and clam sauce) and topped that off with a wonderful cake mom made and a trip to the theater to see The Avengers. It was fan-freakin-tastic! Thor, I love you. We decided when we got home that we shouldn't let the cake go to waste so we had another slice - yum! Sunday morning we opened a few presents. The boys had wrapped mine in a towel - HA! We called Jacob and wished him Happy Birthday and headed back to the field for another game. We were all done by 1pm so we headed home and dad, Craig and Sterling pulled out all the outdoor furniture and got it set up. Craig even had the opportunity to clean the garage. Blue job! Mom and I got out of the action and headed to the casino for a couple of hours. So much fun. Even if you don't gamble, the people watching is worth the drive. I have to admit that I am continually shocked at how much money people sink into slot machines. Yikes! We had another great supper courtesy of mom and all spent the evening doing different things. I bet my weekend was better than your weekend!