It's been so long since I updated this blog... but alas, life has taken over and things around here are a little on the crazy side.
I certainly haven't had much time to scrap, and I really miss it. I think I have been to two crops since my last post, and those have been the only two times that I have done any scrapbooking. And I don't even have any pictures of my latest layouts. But one day, I will catch up.
Work has been pretty busy for me, soccer has started for the kids, I haven't been feeling well, and Tom... well he's got his stuff to deal with too.
We did however, get down to the cottage for the most of May long weekend, and it was some family time that we all really needed. It was pretty relaxing and the kids were pretty well behaved. We had a few moments, but all in all, it was happy times.
And mother's day was pretty good too. We went for brunch, and then poor Eric was soooooo sick and spent the rest of the day on the couch. I know it sounds awful, but with him out of the picture, it was easier to get out into the back yard and get some work done.
The kids and Tom all got me something for the garden, and Tom worked on the garden, digging, expanding and spreading soil.
... And then it snowed, yes in May, it snowed and delayed planting yet again, and I am sooo disappointed.
Anyway. That's a short update, but an update nonetheless.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGHAN!!!!
Sorry - I almost forgot to send you this message (I did remember earlier today) - I'll make it up to you little sister - somehow!
My Grandmother's Album
Grandma had a hard time, when we were all gathered in a room together, figuring out who everyone was, which child belonged to which parent, etc. So in an effort to help her remember who all of us were to her, who she was to us, and well... just to remember, I, with the help of my family, created this scrapbook for her.
It was this book that my step mother, Janet, looked through with Grandma a week prior to her passing. And it was then that Grandma remarked that she had a wonderful family.
It was this book that my step mother, Janet, looked through with Grandma a week prior to her passing. And it was then that Grandma remarked that she had a wonderful family.
I hope this book made a difference for her. It will live along side the pages I intend to make in her memory. Family - this is a call for memories. I have memories that I am going to document in scrapbook pages. I would love for you to share your memories with me to turn into pages, and I will in turn give those pages to you to hold on to... and then one day... they too will make their way into an album.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Goodbye
On Sunday, I received a call from my parent’s telling me my grandmother was not doing very well and it was probably time to come and say goodbye. I struggled at that point because we have a sickness in our home, and I thought, surely if she is not on her way, she will be if she gets this cold/flu that I may give her by exposing her to it. I hung up the phone, and as soon as I did, I picked it back up and said I was on my way.
When we got there, they had just given her morphine about an hour before and she was asleep. A little moaning here and there, an old body working very hard to stay alive. I held her hand, and in my mind told her that if she was ready, she should go. Stop fighting, and just sleep. Go see her loved ones in heaven that I know she loved and missed.
Well, she never woke up after that sleep.
Last night, as I was laying down with baby (who is now sick) to put him to sleep, I decided I was going to back up to my gramma’s and just lay down beside her, hold her hand, and say the things out loud that I was thinking on Sunday night. But it was too late, and that makes me very sad. I really wish that she had not been by herself as she left us.
But I did go to see her. My father and stepmother were there. My little sister, and my big sister and her husband. And we sat in her room with her and remembered her, and laughed, and cried, as we waited for the funeral home to come and get her.
I didn’t really learn anything about my gramma last night that I didn’t already know, but it was wonderful to hear memories of her. She was a caring, compassionate, forgiving, loving and beautiful woman. She loved us all beyond belief and if for nothing else, she deserves all the gratitude in the world for that.
At Xmas, as she was celebrating her birthday, I came to take her to the xmas concert being put on at her nursing home. Although not the best venue, it was great to just be there with her, even if she wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. Afterwards, as I was walking with her back to her room, I asked her if she had enjoyed that at all, and without hesitation she said NO! It made me laugh quite a heartfelt laugh, and she looked at me and said – “Well, don’t tell me you enjoyed it.” I laughed again, took her hand and gave her a kiss, and led her back to her room.
For Xmas, from the whole family, I made a scrapbook for my grandmother. She was always so confused about who everyone was when all her grandchildren and great grandchildren were in the room with her. So, I made her a book, to show her who we all were, and who she was to us. The book started with her as a child, progressed to her as a mother, then a grandmother, and then a great grandmother of five children. Those roles in her life were some of the most difficult roles a person can fulfill and she did it all with love, patience, understanding and forgiveness.
I say forgiveness, because I know she was lonely. She was in a nursing home, and we didn’t visit her nearly often enough. I was so busy raising my family, and I always figured I had tomorrow if I didn’t go today. And you never really knew if she knew who you were, or remembered that you had been there. But when you walked into the room, her eyes lit up and she smiled, and that made it all worth it.
I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with her as I was growing up, but the time I did spend with her was happy. I used to play euchre with her all the time, and go to the games that she would play with her friends at legions. I loved those times! And when she was with me, she was always 100% with me. She didn’t have chores to do, things to get done, etc. She focused solely on me, the whole time, meeting all my needs and ensuring that I was entertained and happy.
She was a beautiful woman, and I love her very much. I hope she is in heaven with the ones she loved in life.
I love you grandma. Goodbye.
When we got there, they had just given her morphine about an hour before and she was asleep. A little moaning here and there, an old body working very hard to stay alive. I held her hand, and in my mind told her that if she was ready, she should go. Stop fighting, and just sleep. Go see her loved ones in heaven that I know she loved and missed.
Well, she never woke up after that sleep.
Last night, as I was laying down with baby (who is now sick) to put him to sleep, I decided I was going to back up to my gramma’s and just lay down beside her, hold her hand, and say the things out loud that I was thinking on Sunday night. But it was too late, and that makes me very sad. I really wish that she had not been by herself as she left us.
But I did go to see her. My father and stepmother were there. My little sister, and my big sister and her husband. And we sat in her room with her and remembered her, and laughed, and cried, as we waited for the funeral home to come and get her.
I didn’t really learn anything about my gramma last night that I didn’t already know, but it was wonderful to hear memories of her. She was a caring, compassionate, forgiving, loving and beautiful woman. She loved us all beyond belief and if for nothing else, she deserves all the gratitude in the world for that.
At Xmas, as she was celebrating her birthday, I came to take her to the xmas concert being put on at her nursing home. Although not the best venue, it was great to just be there with her, even if she wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. Afterwards, as I was walking with her back to her room, I asked her if she had enjoyed that at all, and without hesitation she said NO! It made me laugh quite a heartfelt laugh, and she looked at me and said – “Well, don’t tell me you enjoyed it.” I laughed again, took her hand and gave her a kiss, and led her back to her room.
For Xmas, from the whole family, I made a scrapbook for my grandmother. She was always so confused about who everyone was when all her grandchildren and great grandchildren were in the room with her. So, I made her a book, to show her who we all were, and who she was to us. The book started with her as a child, progressed to her as a mother, then a grandmother, and then a great grandmother of five children. Those roles in her life were some of the most difficult roles a person can fulfill and she did it all with love, patience, understanding and forgiveness.
I say forgiveness, because I know she was lonely. She was in a nursing home, and we didn’t visit her nearly often enough. I was so busy raising my family, and I always figured I had tomorrow if I didn’t go today. And you never really knew if she knew who you were, or remembered that you had been there. But when you walked into the room, her eyes lit up and she smiled, and that made it all worth it.
I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with her as I was growing up, but the time I did spend with her was happy. I used to play euchre with her all the time, and go to the games that she would play with her friends at legions. I loved those times! And when she was with me, she was always 100% with me. She didn’t have chores to do, things to get done, etc. She focused solely on me, the whole time, meeting all my needs and ensuring that I was entertained and happy.
She was a beautiful woman, and I love her very much. I hope she is in heaven with the ones she loved in life.
I love you grandma. Goodbye.
Monday, February 16, 2009
I had the most wonderful weekend! I spent Saturday with my goof friend Lisa scrapbooking at the LIITD online crops.
I have 6 layouts done. Not much chance I will accomplish much more over the next couple of days, but you never know.
The layouts are posted below.
I have also started reading a book named "Honey, I wrecked the Kids" and it has a very interesting perspective on parenting and discipling children. I love this book, I love the methods described in. And I put them into practice. Not once this weekend did I raise my voice at the kids, and I always tried to understand the situation before reacting to it. And the kids responded to it too. They were a lot better behaved, even Owen. It was a great dynamic, in my opinion. Now I just need to get Tom on board!
Talk to you soon.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Because I wish I was still there
This post is going to be full of pictures of Mexico...
Because we had such a great time, and because I wish we were still there.
Life here is busy as usual. Not really too much to report on.
Because we had such a great time, and because I wish we were still there.
Life here is busy as usual. Not really too much to report on.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Happy Birthday and Other Milestones
Here are some of my latest layouts.
The gingerbread disaster and my monster son.
Eric lost his first tooth at age 5. It was the tooth he was born with. Yes, I said born with!
I had to take him to the dentist because it hurt. Turns out it was infected. Took x-rays, and there are still 2 teeth to follow, one just at the edge of the gums. And we saw all his adult teeth, just waiting to pop out.
And Grandpa - you owe me $100, as Eric is pretty sure that's what the toothfairy is bringing him!
Emma had wacky hair today. This latest less than 30 seconds.
Emma celebrated her 4th birthday with two of her friends and had a great time. I think this is the first time she has had friends over that are just hers, and no shared with her brothers.
The highlight of the day was doing make-up and the candy necklaces - Owen's favourite part!
The gingerbread disaster and my monster son.
Eric lost his first tooth at age 5. It was the tooth he was born with. Yes, I said born with!
I had to take him to the dentist because it hurt. Turns out it was infected. Took x-rays, and there are still 2 teeth to follow, one just at the edge of the gums. And we saw all his adult teeth, just waiting to pop out.
And Grandpa - you owe me $100, as Eric is pretty sure that's what the toothfairy is bringing him!
Emma had wacky hair today. This latest less than 30 seconds.
Emma celebrated her 4th birthday with two of her friends and had a great time. I think this is the first time she has had friends over that are just hers, and no shared with her brothers.
The highlight of the day was doing make-up and the candy necklaces - Owen's favourite part!
Ciao for now.
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