Murrayville Mom's Mom

Time For A Change

2010-06-17T15:54:00.004-07:00

Several years ago when I started on this blogging adventure, I was at a loss for a title, so I blithely stole my daughter Cathy's moniker and added an apostrophe s Mom and became Murrayville Mom's Mom. Since that fateful day our middle daughter April started blogging under The Besth Blog (The Besth Life) and then the title of my blog really didn't seem appropriate at all!

Well, times and tides change. Soon the Murrayville Mom Blog will no longer exist and starting today, neither will mine.

I invite you to hop on over to my new blog: Motor Mouth Mom.

http://motormouthmom.blogspot.com/

Please be sure to change your rss feeds and follow me there.

Birthday Wishes

2010-06-16T08:06:00.003-07:00

Today We celebrate my beautiful Mom's 89th Birthday!

Dear Mom,

Even though Dick and I won't get to share this beautiful June 16th day with you, we send you our love and best wishes for a wonderful Birthday!

Thank you Mom for all of your unconditional love, care, worry, joy, your laugh, your laughter. We can't tell you how many times you've carried us through with one of the above!

Have a beautiful day, and celebrate with the family that is able to show tonight! Enjoy the love and the attention, you deserve it all and so much more. We will celebrate together very soon, we promise!

Always and forever,

Dick and Allyson

xxxx oooo

Feeling Sad Today

2010-06-15T14:48:00.004-07:00

Our daughter Cathy and husband Cliff along with their six little children are moving tomorrow. Oh I know on many levels that I shouldn't feel this way. But feel it I do. They aren't moving too far away, only about 65.5 km (checked it out on a google map) which translates to about an hour away vs. 20 minutes. We will obviously still visit, have wonderful celebrations, great chats and lots of hugs and kisses, we just have to go a little farther out to do so. It's psychological.

All of a sudden all of our children live about 45 or 60 minutes away. Feels weird and lonely in The Grove. It's psychological.

I know, we can Skype (if my computer doesn't act up) and of course I expect daily pictures (moving if possible) of all the goings on. It's even going to be long-distance telephone calls. It's psychological.

Enough of my pity party.

We just know they are so very happy with their decision. A lovely home, even relatives close by, just not us! The kids are excited and a little scared too. The unknown, new friends, new schools but the also lots of new adventures, new places to explore and share with us.

Cathy, Cliff, Cameron, Claire, Carly, Catie, Caroline and Coco, may God bless you in your new home. May you have more happiness than you thought possible, more joy than you thought possible and have wonderful new adventures. We love you dearly.

cathyempey.com took this beautiful picture of their children last Sunday

Goodbye Murrayville Mom,
I Love You,
Murrayville Mom's Mom
xxx

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-02T12:17:00.003-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-26T14:45:00.001-07:00

400 Miles and Counting

2010-05-15T13:32:00.003-07:00

Today, Dick and I hit a milestone.

If you read one of my earlier blogs then you are familiar with the 500 Mile Challenge that we, along with about 60 others are participating in.

Today's a big day for us because this week's walking total of 24 1/2 miles brings our grand total to 400 miles!

Thank you feet, thank you knees, thank you legs, thank you Dick for our journey thus far!

These shoes are made for walking!

Baby Love!

2010-05-13T00:05:00.005-07:00

Each time I see one of my daughters with their newborn babe, I am always reminded of what love is and what it is like to be loved.

What I mean by that is, and I think it each and every time, watching a baby being loved by his or her mommy and daddy, the caresses and the stroking, and the gazing and the kissing, and the smiling, well if you were lucky, that's just exactly how your mom and daddy treated you. It makes me well up just thinking about it.

Pappa and I had the pleasure of visiting our newest little Grandson Colby today and that all encompassing love is what we saw today.

First comes love, then comes marriage,

and then comes Colby in a baby carriage!
Amy and Tyler you are blessed.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T09:18:00.002-07:00

Crossing Over the Mighty Fraser River

2010-05-11T13:33:00.010-07:00

This morning my beloved enticed me with the promise of a trip to "Dagwoods" in Maple Ridge. A nice offer of a bacon and egger beckoned, but first we'd have to walk there, which is for us, is about a 55 minutes, one way, over the lovely new Golden Ears Bridge.

Before the bridge opened the only way to Maple Ridge from our place was either by HWY 1 over the Port Mann Bridge and then drive all the way around, or, we could drive to Fort Langley and take the little Albion Ferry over. Both routes took a long time out of your day. You were either driving forever in a ton of traffic, or, you were waiting for sailing after sailing, waiting for your turn to ride the ferry.

Here are some pictures of our last trip over the Albion Ferry. They were taken May 4/09.

All crammed in and ready to sail.

There's Maple Ridge in the background!

Today though we walked over in perfect "walking" weather.

On the long ramp leading up to the bridge you get to look down and see all of the industry going on. So this is what people do when they're not retired! The neat thing is, from so high up it reminds us of when we were little kids and you had little toy towns, little models, all neat and orderly. Everything in its' place. That's what it looks like when you look down from the bridge.

First off, the metal scrap yard.

The bridge awaits!

Note puddle in foreground, called that one in today. Last time we walked here on the 6th, it was about 40' long and about an inch deep and no other way around it but to go through it!

Next up, the gravel pit! It's fun to watch the goings on down there.

Did you know? It takes one load from a Caterpiller's bucket to fill the front truck bed, and one and a half loads to fill the larger truck bed behind it. The caterpiller operators are so skilled when they place the loads into the truck beds, tamping the last load down very gently, which is something we hadn't expected.

The sand and gravel are barged in on the Fraser River and travel by conveyor belts into the yard.

One of the trucks being loaded.

Off the barge, into the hopper, and over to the yard on a conveyor belt for this load.

The foreshore lined with old auto wrecks.

My beloved . You can see one of the barges over his left shoulder.

One of four "piers" that supports the bridge.

Looking East right smack, dab, in the middle of the bridge.

Two crazy old birds enjoying life!

Destination Dagwood is in sight just over the bridge!

We made it to the other side of the river!

This end is equally fascinating, lots of docks and working boats and boat houses. I'm sending my beloved down there with his water colours!

Well folks, that's the walk in one thousand words or less!! And let me tell you, that bacon and egger was delisch!

"The Sins of the Fathers"

2010-05-10T15:37:00.012-07:00

If you were like me and went to Sunday School in the '50s you probably heard a bible passage that goes something like this, "the sins of the fathers will be revisited upon the third and fourth generations". I paraphrase owing to lack of memory, but the passage itself and its' meaning, even though I was but a wee lassy, really stands out for me. Also, the '50s, were weren't so PC, saying "father" rather than "parent" or even "mother" for that matter!

Today's blog isn't religious, it was just the passage that came rolling back over my brain today and let me tell you why.

A little history:
When our three daughters were little girls, they loved gum so much that they would scrape it off the sidewalk, eww, or where ever it was that they might be "lucky enough" to "find" some previously chewed gum, and pop it in their mouths.

I can't tell you how many times I cautioned them against doing so. How many times I caught them in the act, and I hate to admit it now, but even in desperation did the old bar of soap in the mouth trick slash punishment! For that girls, I truly apologize and would for anything in the world, take that back! Not that it really worked anyway.

Fast forward to our delightful Mother's Day Lunch:
After all of the noshing and decadence that a buffet entails, the adults were chatting here and there and likewise the children. Little cousins who hadn't seen each other in a while started to break off in little groups. One little group consisting of Cathy's Catie, April's Abby and my beautiful Niece's son "M", decided to get together under the table. It was a perfect spot hidden from the roving eyes of an attentive parent.

It wasn't until my niece said to Cathy and April, "look under the table" that we saw them there. It just so happened it was right under the table at which I was sitting, so in true Nanny fashion, thinking it would be cute to take a few pictures of them, I simply lifted up the table cloth and tried to get a picture or two of our little darlings. Now If I weren't a Nanny, I probably would have gotten down on my knees, but no, no, no, not me, I just lifted the table cloth up and randomly shot pictures. There, that's my excuse for the poor pictures that you will see below.

Well these three found a perfect little hide-away almost tent like, but with benefits. (And if, I had gotten down on my knees might have noticed). Yup, you guessed it, old, pre-chewed wads of gum in varying colours of white and blue and green!

Unto the Second Generation, at least as far as two of our daughter's are concerned!

Yup, in living colour, Cathy and April's daughters hard at work! Not "M" though, sure wouldn't want to tar him with the same brush! That wouldn't be right!

Still hard at it!

Ooopsie, spoke to soon, sorry Andrea!

Pick, pick, pick, pick!

Getting a better view Abby?

Isn't he a cutie pie?

Standing Joke in our Family! When I take pictures I usually always say, "How is this picture? I don't have my glasses on." They usually chide me, heck, I'd go so far as to say, they make fun of me~wear the shoe if it fits kids~and honestly, I didn't even look at these pictures until I got home and downloaded them. Or, I never, ever would have let this go on!

In fact, it only took the parental units, aka, the Mother's to notice that there was gum under the tables and promptly shooed them all out from underneath.

Disclaimer:
We have no reason whatsoever to believe they actually "chewed" any of offending gum!-LOL. In fact, a very short while later our granddaughter, Coco, was given gum and as I was all Nanny paranoid, said: "What are you chewing?" "Give that to me!" "Coco, give me that gum!" and I scooped it out of her mouth, all the while unbeknownst to me, her mother had given her some!!!!

Poor kid! That's what happens when the "sins of the mothers" comes back to haunt their mother! I owe you a piece Coco, a fresh piece that is!

Others, Mothers and Daughters

2010-05-08T14:06:00.008-07:00

On the cusp of Mother's Day my Mom phoned and told me that a dear, gentle woman, our friend, Pastor Ann Strand, died suddenly. I had the priviledge of working with her as church administrator when our church was in need of an Interim Pastor. Over many coffees in the office and lunches in restaurants and later on, serving on a Synod committee together, I learned so much from this amazing woman. I am sad to think that I will never again have an opportunity for a hug, a shared memory or a smile. Rest in Peace dear Ann. You are loved and remembered by all who were blessed to know you.

* * * *

On a happier note, I am looking forward to tomorrow when two beautiful women, my Mom and my Mom-In-Law, along with the majority of our families will be together to celebrate them. They will meet the newest member of our family, Master Colby, and probably be squashed, stepped on, sat upon, smiled upon and perhaps even drooled upon if they play their cards right, by many of their Great Grandchildren who will be there too!

Our moms are amazing and an inspiration to the family. Both now widowed and in their 80s (I won't say where they are in that category), living in their own homes and living full, rich, and for the most, part healthy lives. We are well and truly blessed. Thank you dear ones for all of your love and care and worry throughout the years! We celebrate YOU! We LOVE you!

O u r M o m s

This picture was taken the day before our Granddaughter Coco was born. About 2 and half years ago and for those who know and love them, they would say they look just the same~fantastic!

* * * *

I dedicate this blog to our beautiful daughter's Cathy, April and Amy. I cannot for the life of me imagine what life would be like without you. Full Stop. You have brought the greatest joy, love and laughter to our lives. A richness unimagined. From infanthood to following your heart into adulthood, what a grand journey it has been. To watch each and everyone of you blossom into motherhood, a gift.

C a t h y

Cathy and her darlings, Cameron, Claire, Carly, Catie, Caroline and Coco.
Picture taken last summer by: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kyleperison.com%2Fblog%2F&h=b70d8

A p r i l

This beautiful picture of April and Nick and their children, Hudson and Abby was taken by Cathy last December. http://www.cathyempey.com/

A m y

Amy and her pride and joy Colby. This picture was taken by yours truly just hours after they were released from the hospital.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!

A Mother's Pride and Joy-Some Blog Love!

2010-05-04T14:05:00.008-07:00

As we lunching at Cathy and Cliff's on Caroline's 4th Birthday, I received an unexpected offer that I couldn't refuse. Cathy asked me if I'd like to accompany her on a photo shoot and not just any shoot, we were going to visit Amy and Tyler's to shoot Colby Thomas only 4 days old.

Now I am very proud of my daughter Cathy, professional photographer that she is.

In Friday's Vancouver Sun her pictures featured prominently in an article about the very crafty Wendy Russell.

On Monday, a blog called A Million Little Details, high-lighed Cathy in the blog showing examples of her exquisite work from a Jessica Claire workshop which she attended last Autum~ http://www.amillionlittledetails.ca/

In it they say: Check out Cathy’s blogsite, here! Her work is seamless! Another specialty of Cathy’s is boudoir, check out her site completely dedicated to this sexy art!

High praise indeed and I say: Watching Cathy in action as I did for the very first time, I was so impressed with how she goes about it. Cathy puts so much creativity and energy into what she loves to do and the finished product shows. She has a real gift.

Here are a few pictures that I took of Cathy in action as Amy and Tyler looked on.

I have to say, that I started out taking pictures of Amy and Tyler's reaction, but soon realized that it was the whole scene~Cathy at work, darling baby boy and delighted parents as they peeked on at their little miracle~that was the real story!

What a great afternoon! Thank you Cathy for inviting me along.

PS: One of the many pictures Cathy took will be the highlight of Colby's birth announcement just as this one was when our darling Hudson Nicholas was born last December!

All together now, everybody say "awwwwww".

The Last Day of April 2010

2010-04-30T20:45:00.018-07:00

Dear Readers, if you follow my blog, you've no doubt noticed, nary a posting for weeks and weeks. I wish it were otherwise, but it seems that Facebook has such a big draw it has really almost replaced blogging for me! I've turned into a fickle blogger.

What a month April has been.

Easter has come and gone with a wonderful family dinner at Cathy and Cliff's house. All of our children were there, including 8/9 Grandchildren which made for a lovely family gathering.

Unfortuantely Kayla was unable to be with us too or this would have made the perfect grandchild photo!

When you put these six together there is no end of trouble that they get into! Note the Easter Egg in Nick's nose!

In September, Dick and I started taking 5 of Cathy and Cliff's children to Sunday School and then back to our house for lunch and then while Pappa was cleaning up the dishes, the kids and I would be very busy making some sort of "art". It has been such a fun time, watching them create and then improve and improvise on their original ideas. The mornings are early for we retired folks, a 9:15 a.m. start and we usually drive them home about 2:00. It is a long day for Nanny and Pappa but a great one for us too. It has been so much fun listening to their jokes, hearing the stories. Making them laugh. Them making us laugh. Wouldn't trade a sleep in for all the world.

Way back in January Dick and I began a 500 Mile Challenge, which was essentially put out there to encourage people to join in and get fit. Each person keeps track of the number of miles you run/swim/etc. and in our case walk, record it and submit it weekly. Laura, one of the moderators of the blog along with her blogger friend Erin, came up with this great idea. So Dick and I decided we'd like to participate too. The blog includes things like profiles of participants, motivational ideas, and healthy recipes. Our daughter Cathy was profiled a few weeks back and then Laura asked us if we'd be willing to write something up, so we did. If you'd care to have a look, you can find it at the following link.

http://500in2010.blogspot.com/2010/04/meet-challengers-allyson-and-dick.html#comments

I have tried and tried unsuccessfully to put the logo on my blog, but it is beyond my powers of reasoning as to how to go about it!

The bulk of April has been taken up with waiting for our youngest daughter Amy to give birth to her baby. With a due date of April 13 or 17, combined with the fact that both her sisters, Cathy and April had early deliveries, so why wouldn't Amy deliver early too. It seems like we've been waiting virtually all month long for this blessed event.

There was always much speculation about when it would be born. Would the baby be born on April's birthday? How about mine? Or the baby's sister's? Or the baby's Oma's? The April 13th date then the 17th, came and went. There were the weekly visits to the doctor, week 39, week 40, week 41 brought not the most encouraging reports, " the baby hasn't dropped", "not yet" and yet, Amy was always so positive and really enjoying this pregnancy. She was the perfect candidate for having an overdue baby if there ever was one!

Finally, the big day came, she started to have twinges, twinges turned into labour pains! Maybe we'll be woken up with a telephone call tonight I'd say to Dick. The cell phone always fully charged and at the ready, in my pocket when we were walking, on silent when we were in church, on the night table, waiting for the call. Night one, no baby! Night two, no baby! Hour 46 of labour--a baby! Our daughter is a Warrior Queen I tell you and Tyler, her beloved is worth his weight in gold.

Here he is! Colby Thomas, all 8 lbs 1 oz. of him! He has downy redish/blond hair and is the spitting image of his daddy! What a little wonder he is. A perfect little miracle.

Just 13 hours old, so worn out from his long journey into love!

People have said to us, "this must be old hat to you, you've been through it so many times before." My answer is this. Each and every time we are blessed with a grandchild it is as if this little one is our very first. You never ever get used to it. It is exciting and scary and it is nerve wracking and exhilarating each time. It never grows old. When I get to gaze at their little face I instantly fall truly, madly and deeply in love. I makes me wonder, how did the world exist before you were born?

Our blessings:

Cameron

Claire

Carly

Catie

Caroline

Abby

Coco

Kayla

Hudson

and now Colby.

What joy each and every one of them brings into our lives. Magical!

At the Library With Coco, Catie and Caroline

2010-03-20T18:27:00.007-07:00

Local libraries are wonderful places to visit, especially if you have a granddaughter or three to guide you through the intricacies of the various activities available to you. That's what Pappa and I did last week while their talented mommy was taking awesome baby-to-be boudoirs of their Aunty Amy.

First off, you can read books at neat little tables made just for your size small.

You can balance bean bag chairs on your head and wander around.

You can play games! Why you can even colour~but not on the books of course.

And in-between you can sit down with Nanny and read a book from the baskets on the table.

I do believe at least two are reading in this picture!

The Bean also likes carting around the bean bag chair.

Of course there's always a computer programme or two for the little ones to challenge themselves to.

It's Musical Computers everyone!

Or, you can play "hide and seek" under the comfy chairs.

Then again, you can lay on the floor, or Pappa can take his shoes off!

And then you can pose under your hiding chair.

Or, you can lounge around and look at the ceiling.

The possiblities are as endless as your imagination. And when you leave they even put a stamp on your hand. How fun is that!

When I was a young girl of 12 we moved to Vancouver from Kelowna. One of my favourite "big city" things was the weekly Book Mobile that visited our neighbourhood. It was stacked full with books and magazines, especially 17 Magazines! I thought that was just great. I wonder what our Grandchildren will remember best when they look back at their visits to the local library. Will it be the computers? Will it be the stamps? Or might it just possibly be the wonderful books and freedom and kindness you receive when you visit? That might be it. Oh yes, we still asked them to talk quietly, that hasn't changed much, but I can't remember ever having my picture taken while I was there can you?

So for a fun time be sure to check out your library. Remember to bring your camera and your library card you'll be glad you did!

Catie's Olympic Event

2010-02-20T11:28:00.005-08:00

Yesterday our Granddaughter Catie had her very own Gold Medal Performance. She mastered the 2-wheeler!

Go Catie Go!

Ready, set, pedal hard!

Pappa running along behind. Like any Olympian, she has her own personal trainer, her Pappa.

She needed a little hands on to make the curve around the cul-de-sac, but she made the turn and off she went again!

"She took to it like a duck to water", said her Pappa, who has I believe, also taught her brother and 2 sisters to ride. 2 more to go in Catie's family Pappa. Can you do it? Yes, I believe he can.

A tired, but happy little girl. That smile says it all!

Olympic Fever all on My Very Own

2010-02-11T17:27:00.013-08:00

Yesterday (11th) I had an unplanned trip downtown to take in some of the Olympic sights. I was all on my own in the big city. Took the Canada Line down and spent about 5 hours just roaming around like a lost dog. It was exciting to see so many people downtown in their olympic gear. Lots of foreign languages were overheard. On many corners, police were there in twos watching, directing. It seemed that at almost every location there were lots of "officials" chalking out and discussing future plans and events, shots. The big party is less that 24 hours away and there was still lots to be done. Many workers putting on the finishing touches to sites. Miles and miles of chain link fences covered with Olympic colours, orange cones and barriers abounded down Georgia by the viaducts. The most disappointing thing was the Canada Pavillion. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, it's a TENT! How sad that we are to be represented that way.

Below is a mini-pictorial of my day.

At the North side of The Vancouver Art Gallery. The Countdown clock, displays and a photo op bobsled!

As the countdown clock said: Only 2 days, 7 hours, 33 minutes and 22 seconds until the Olympics begin. Remember when they erected it? That seems like years ago, wait it was years ago.

The south end of the plaza between the Art Gallery and the Court House. I believe the white structure at the top is where Squire Barnes hosts the O Show.

An interactive "touch-me" screen. When I was there, no one was around so I had some time to play. Then a man from GE walked me through the screen and told me I could e-mail a picture of me to my family. So I did. That was fun.

More of the screen's display

Shot this just after my "picture" disappeared! Oh well.

The line up went on and on and on with people waiting to purchase Olympic tickets. You can make out people at the back curve of the skating rink. I hope they had tickets left!

The new "plastic ice" had just been installed and it really looked like ice which surprised me. It wasn't quite ready for prime time yet.

The "bird" watching the people line up for Olympic tickets

All of the steps are covered like a snowy mountain. This poor man was climbing that mountain, I wonder for how many times he scaled it that day!

Almost at the top!

Looking down at BC Pavillion

On Robson Street another photo op. "You Gotta be here" and I was! Got someone in a group of people to take this picture of me in exchange for taking their group shot.

Artist's video outside of The Vancouver Art Gallery

A very tiny patio with a big heart full of patriotism along Hornby Street

This reminded me of the UN with all of the flags flying

A closeup of one of the gigantic commercial installations on a Vancouver building.

The bigger picture

"Lantern display" made by children from China

The boards at the base of the lanterns. As people walked along them, it made a clomp, clomp, clomping sound.

Place your head here!

All along this section of Granville Street they had various Winter sport "cutouts" for people to squeeze into for photo opportunities which was fun.

Thought I'd take the back shot, while she was being photo'd from the front

Lantern display along Granville Street, north of Georgia

Canada Post got into the act too

Hamilton and Georgia Street, a sight you rarely see-no cars!

Aboriginal Pavillion on the promanade of The Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Only a part of of it was open for visitors. Sadly, not the "show".

Looking out the window towards CBC Corp. from inside of Aboriginal House

Everywhere you look people are very busily putting the last minute touches to the displays

All along the main streets you see plastic cones dotting the lanes. No cars in sight.

Hamilton and Georgia by the main Post Office. Note the plastic garbage bag recepticles on the lamp standards.

Popped into The Bay to purchase a few items, including the famous $10.00 red mittens. The place was swarming with customers. This group is in the first line-up to pay for Olympic items. The line-ups are broken down into 3 more lines. Crazy busy, but only here at The Bay, the rest of the store deadsville!

One of the artistic video presentations inside the Vancouver Public Library "corridor"

This was fun. You folded up paper airplane-like structures and inserted it into a long clear vaccuum tube approximately 3 storys high. It was sucked it up, up, up, then it popped out the top and floated down to be caught in a net below.
If you look closely, you can see one being sucked up the tube. (Just below the black ring)

People very busily folding their planes
In it goes!
The floaters caught up in the net. So much fun to watch. People were cheering.

This concludes my pictorial adventure-for now. My beloved and I are hoping to make another day of it while the Olympics is in full swing and then hopefully at night, to get the full Olympic experience sans tickets! I am so glad I got the opportunity to experience Vancouver in preparty mode.

Olympic Symbols

2010-02-08T16:48:00.003-08:00

Pappa thought it might be a fun thing for the kids to make a stab at interpreting the Olympic rings. This is what a couple of them came up with.

Carly's version of the Olympic rings

Cameron went for all of the symbols

The "official" rings!

Olympic Rings as interpreted by Pappa and Claire!

Pappa and Carly's verson of the the flames

An "Un-Believer's" Olympic Experience

2010-02-08T11:38:00.010-08:00

This is a blog I'd never thought I'd write.

Perhaps it was because we hear all of the negative things about VANOC: massive cost overruns, homeless people being banished from view, autocratic decisions being made. Lawsuits over using the "official" words and symbols by the small business person. Even winning the opportunity to host the Olympics made me mad. I mean how many Februarys can you name that aren't usually snow free on Cypress Mountain? And just the other day hanging the huge Australian Kanagroo flag was a no-no. Happily for all that decision was changed, even a denial that it was a problem at all! No fun Olympics! Well let's just say, I was jaded, I was sarcastic, I was skeptical. Don't get me wrong, I love to watch the Summer Olympics, and the Winter Olympics on TV. But, each and every time the ads run on TV, do you believe, I said: NO! I Don't believe.

Today a new day dawned and I've changed my mind. The torch relay was scheduled to be run just 2 blocks from our house, and after a little debate, we thought, what the heck, let's go for the people running. Cheer them on. Support them. So we went.

We arrived bright and early. The torch was due to pass over the Golden Ears Bridge at 8:45 a.m. On the way down to the route, we passed a new housing development. Management in their wisdom handed out balloons and small paper Canada flags. We each took a flag and walked down the road to stake out our space.

Since we had some time to kill before the torch arrived, and commuters were travelling to their destinations, I started waving my little paper flag and waving at cars and trucks as they passed. A surprising thing happened. People smiled. People waved. Some of the people passed by and did nothing. Some of the people passed by and were on their cell phones-tsk tsk. But mainly, people honked. People gave me the thumbs up. Heads nodded. People called greetings out of their open windows. A VANOC bus went by with all of the torch bearers in waiting. They were all smiling and waving. Waiting for their turn at history. Best response of all? A car from the New West Police Department, waved, smiled and put on their colourful lights just for me! No, not to take me away, but in response for a smile and a wave of a hand, of a flag. The Olympic experience. My experience.

The crowds grew, people were friendly and in a happy mood. The coke truck passed and handed out more flags. People wore flags. People wore red. People wore white. Hockey jerseys. Olympic hoodies. Olympic gloves. Olympic hats, you name it! Everyone wanted to come to the party in their own individual way. This was my olympics after all. I know this is as close as we'll get to all of the action except for watching it on TV. Everything is so close by, yet so far removed from us. But not the torch relay.

Get ready. Get set. Here it comes now!

Anticipation. . .

The music was blasting off this truck, people were dancing.

And right behind, more of the official sponsors. You can see the flags in the kid's hands.

Amy do you dispatch this group too?

This young man was just given a high-five by a member of the Fire Department. He's waiting to run his 300 meters. Waiting for his time in the Olympic spotlight.

There she is now!

Murphy's law!!! Woulda, coulda, shoulda have been a great shot of the torch bearer!

Then the handlers made the group beside us move back and the camera focus was too close. Oh well. She was happy. Sadly the workers didn't know who she was! But she did awesome. She did us proud.

Over too soon!

But wait . . . the exchange!

Awesome. See the van filled with photographers and videographers capturing each and every handoff, each and every step along its' journey across Canada.

Time for her last pose!

And away he goes down 96th! Sorry we didn't know who either of these torch bearers were, but we know people were cheering.

And that my friends was the Olympic Torch Experience, run over a thousand times before this one. What a well oiled machine. What planning. Nicely done everyone! Thanks VANOC!

Now only 5 more sleeps to the biggest party BC has ever hosted. Enjoy it everyone. And if you still have a chance to "participate" in the Torch Relay. Go, you won't be sorry you did.

Go Canada Go!

A Year Under Construction

2010-01-25T15:02:00.009-08:00

Yesterday marked our Daughter Amy and S-I-L Tyler's First Wedding Anniversary as Mr. & Mrs. Moore. Since that beautiful January 24th day in 2009, so much has happened.

Just before their January wedding, Tyler took time off to work on their "suite of dreams" in their Vancouver home. The craftsman style house, circa, 1913, which has been in the Moore family since 1916, had too many wonderful memories to let it go. It was first owned by Tyler's grandparents, then Tyler's Sister, and now it's Amy and Tyler's turn to start new traditions, to make new memories.

Tyler completed the suite to perfection and then he began the long deconstruct upstairs and down. The house top to bottom, back to front, had to be totally gutted. All the while the newlyweds were as snug as two little bugs in a rug in the suite at the front of the house. At one point the back of the house looked like a child's dollhouse with the front totally closed in and the back totally open but sectioned off. It looked as if it were waiting for a child to put in the dolls and the furniture. Thankfully, plywood now blocks off the interior spaces from the elements. The rooms are taking shape. The house is being restored to a most wonderful living space for Tyler and his bride. While there is still so much to do, the home is taking on its' new character, its' new personality.

This is what the front of the house looked like last week when my beloved went over to help.

If the inspector gives Tyler the okay today or tomorrow, Wednesday will be a very big day. Roofers will on the roof and the basement will finally receive it's cement flooring. Top to bottom, a red letter day!

Meanwhile, in the little suite of dreams, another wee project is in the works...they are expecting a baby in mid-April, which pure and simply put, just delights the whole family. Our baby is having a baby and Pappa and I can't wait!

What a year. What a year! We can only imagine the excitement next year will bring. Stay tuned. In the meantime, Amy and Tyler, wishing you both a Very Happy First Anniversary. Dad and I love you very much.

Pink is for Girls, Blue is for Boys

2009-12-12T17:13:00.004-08:00

And if Blue is for boys, then that means . . .

Yes, our daughter April gave birth to an 8 pound 6 oz baby boy on December 11, 2009. He is healthy, alert, and feeding really well. He was supposed to be born on December 23 but he knew that would make it hard for his Mommy and Daddy to plan all of his future Birthday Parties so he decided that the 11th was a perfect day! And was he right! Hudson Nicholas is here and Nanny and Pappa couldn't be more delighted.

Welcome Hudson, we look forward to getting to know all about you, to hear your stories and share your life.

Your journey of love has begun, adventures await. We love you!

New Beginnings!

2009-11-22T16:34:00.005-08:00

I guess when you think about it, each and every day is a new beginning, but today had an extra touch of special-ness and mystery about it.

Today my beloved and I were accepted into membership by Letter of Transfer from Trinity Lutheran in Delta to St. Paul's Lutheran in Maple Ridge. New friendships to be forged, I'm sure. New opportunities to help the community at large are there but for the signing up to do so. New experiences, yet similar too of course from our former church(s), to be lived.

This transfer as it turns out happened on the last day of the church year, saying goodbye to an old parish especially at this time of year seems appropriate. Next Sunday is the start of the church's new year, First Advent.

The congregation is most welcoming including having a cake for us to cut and share. We even had our picture taken as we cut it, just like the day we got married! When we left church today we were happy. Happy to again have a church home, a sense of belonging, which as you can tell from this posting is especially important to us, to an old council chair like my beloved and an old church lady (secretary) like me for many, many years.

After church we took a short 3 minute drive down the street to the local hospital where we met a family also celebrating new beginnings. A dear friend, Cynthia and her husband Mike, delivered a very special, precious, healthy, baby boy yesterday. His name is Jack.

When we arrived, the door was partially closed and we tapped on it, not wanting to disturb, but we heard a welcoming "come in". Sitting up in a chair, was this beautiful, radiant woman, most certainly not looking like she'd gone through anything as wonderful and exhausting and exhilarating as delivering a baby! And baby Jack, a picture of perfection with his perfectly shaped little head, his lovely peaches and cream complexion which his daddy assures us, is like that all over his tiny, perfect little body. He looked so cozy sleeping in his bassinet all bundled up in a blue flannel blanket. Perfection through and through. He looked so cozy, so peaceful. Offers were made to us to pick him up, but we didn't have the heart to disturb him, he looked far too cozy. We satisfied ourselves with many peeks and oooowwwws and awwwwwws. So darling, so adorable.

A sneak peak of Jack and his Mommy and Daddy and the two stuffies his big brother thought would be a perfect welcoming gift for a little brother!

Jack was exactly 24 hours old when we visited and Cynthia and Mike were waiting for the lab people to come so that he could have his "going home" tests. Waiting anxiously to take him home to his brother and his sister, to his grandparents, to life, to new experiences, new beginnings. The wonder of it all, the mystery of it all. Life is good!

Dear little Jack we wish you a joyous, happy life, one I hope that will be filled with great love and fulfillment. The world awaits you, be a good steward of all of the great gifts awaiting your discovery. Welcome to your world!

The Bean is Two!

2009-11-19T19:41:00.017-08:00

On Monday our youngest granddaughter turned two, and while her name is Courtney, and her parents shortened it to Coco, her Pappa and I affectionately refer to her as The Bean. When Pappa and I write out Birthday cards, if we're the second one writing in the card, we avoid reading what the other has written about the birthday person. We don't want to corrupt our original thoughts. Even that in itself is funny as we have both decided that between the both of us we have one good head...anyway, what I started out to say was this, both of us had written about her twinkly eyes when she smiles. And girl, can that little one smile!

The Bean with her Nanny

Amy with her Granny

Coco is a darling little girl, who doesn't need to use many words, because surrounded as she is by her loving siblings, all she has to do is grunt or point and this action brings the item to her, or is described to her, be it a toy, a glass of water, a bird flying by outside the window, she gets her point across. I think that a lot of yacker-doodles could learn a lesson or two from our Bean!

It was so much fun watching her with her Birthday cake, as soon as it came into the dining room, she was almost shy about it, and while the picture immediately below might make it look as if she were crying, she was not. In fact, the more we got into it, the more delighted she became.

Coco was surrounded by so much love, the love of her immediate family, 3 grandparents~Nonna, Pappa and I, one great grandmother, also known as GG and my dear sister Madeleine recovering from a terrific fall down 14 stairs, and one beautiful Aunty Amy, Uncle Tyler and Cousin Kayla. Missing in action due to timing of event, Aunty April, Uncle Nick and cousin Abby.

The proud parents!

Just one shot of the hub-bub of opening the presents, blogger isn't being kind to me so I left it at this one but you get the idea

Bean we are all addicted to you and Nanny and Pappa love you very, very, much. Have a Very Happy 2nd Birthday.

Remember

2009-11-11T11:56:00.004-08:00

Abby's Big Adventure

2009-11-10T15:51:00.009-08:00

For several weeks now, April, Nick, Pappa and I had planted in Abby's head the idea of her sleeping over at Nanny and Pappa's house. Although I am not sure that she completely understood the concept, she agreed that she would like to do that. Each and every time I saw her, I mentioned it to her in some way and at many a opportunity, April and Nick spoke to her about it too.

Last Saturday was designated as the appointed time~the wheels were set in motion.

Library books were borrowed from our local library for bedtime reading pleasure, food that we knew was tried and true was purchased, and the toys and puzzles she liked were set out and waiting for her arrival. Right on queue, the big day came. Ready or not, this was it!

I have to say I wasn't nervous about the visit, but I was nervous for Abby's sake, for all of the ways she would need to adapt to being away from her parents, her bed, her toys, her home, her comfort level. Let me tell you all of the preparation ahead of time worked. She was ready. We read, we coloured, we ate, we snacked, we did puzzles, we fed the newly named Nancy and Natalie their baby bottles (remember those dolly bottles, that when you tip them over, the fluid disappears and makes bubbles?) we bathed, we read some more, and when it came time for lights out, Abby slept in our big bed and didn't wake up for 12 hours. Her very first every sleepover anywhere but at home was a huge, resounding success. She is our big girl!

She is such a joy to be around, she loves to sing, to make up rhyming words, like twirly whirly, (too bad nanny can't spell them!!), she is playful and has the most awesome memory and eye for detail. It was so much fun to see Abby and Pappa bonding, colouring, laughing, feeding the dollys. It brought back so many memories of the Daddy our little girls knew, know and loved. For that reason alone, priceless and wonderful.

Peeking through the window from kitchen to my office, and the steaming kettle steam, Abby and Pappa creating the first of many masterpieces!

I love this shot of Abby looking at her Pappa! What do you think Abby, do you believe him?

Abby feeding Natalie the first of many bottles. This is Cathy's old dolly sans hat!

Abby with a puzzle we purchased for her mommy when she was about this age.

Abby said she liked my bathroom! So cute.

The Saturday night aftermath of play!

On Sunday morning we got up, ate breakfast and took Abby to church. She loved watching the pianist and organist play, she put her little hands up and received Communion and she charmed the bejeepers out of all of the older members of the congregation who hadn't even realized that such a little charmer was in their midst. She was that quiet.

Breakfast dining before we dashed off to church

After church we took her out for fast food and returned her home safe and sound to her eagerly awaiting Mommy and Daddy. The mommy and daddy who have done such an awesome job raising her. This well and truly loved little girl is a joy and a delight and this Nanny and Pappa look forward to more of these visits in the months to come.

I am struck by the similiarities of my neice Riki and Abby in this picture. It's uncanny.

Getting latched in for the return trip home, all cozy under her blanket.

Abby and the infamous Chewy who loves and delights in all of the attention my grandchildren lavish on him!

Abby, Nanny is so proud of you. You had a lot of new things to challenge you in such a short time span and you did it!

We know it was a success because on the way home to her house, she asked if she could come back to our house, today! We love you Abby.

The E8s

2009-11-10T15:07:00.007-08:00

As of late, Pappa and Nanny decided if was okay with the parents and children, to take Cathy and Cliff's 5 oldest children to our new church for Sunday School. Everyone eagerly agreed and a new Sunday morning tradition has begun.

By 8:45 on Sunday morning the E8's big van turns into our driveway. Cliff removes Coco's car seat and puts it in our car, and Coco, who is still too little for Sunday School, and Chewy my car dog toy, are buckled in. The switch is made and off we all go on our separate ways. Cathy, Cliff and Coco off to breakfast and hopefully some restoring of energy, and Nanny and Pappa and Cameron, Claire, Carly, Catie and Caroline drive over the bridge to Maple Ridge for Sunday School. It has been a wonderful experience for all of us. After church we return to our house for lunch and playtime and then we pile them all back in their van and take them home again, home again, jiggedy jig! With the coming of the annual Christmas Pageant, we eagerly look forward to little lambs, sheep, angels, shepherds and singing. Our Sunday excursions are a time I wouldn't trade for all of the world.

On Halloween night Pappa answered the door and who stood before it but 6 of our Grands all decked out in their Halloween finery! After a toidy break, we put out a bowl of candy at our front door and went out to knock on some of our neighbour's doors. It was such a fun time. Thank you Cathy and Cliff for that lovely, happy time. It most certainly was a treat, not a trick!

Happy 3rd Birthday Abby!

2009-10-10T10:03:00.004-07:00

Today is our adorable Abby's 3rd Birthday. Even though I knew it was coming, I can honestly say it makes me stop and recalculate her age. Can it be? The time for her Pappa and I at least, has flown by faster than Christmas Day.

Abby, you are the sweetest little girl imaginable. Your soft voice when you speak to us on the telephone, the way you love your books (she has 100s of them) scattered in baskets in her room, in the living room, even a Potty Book in the Bathroom!, your love of animals and the sounds they make as you imitate them, playing with playdough and bubbles, pretending to sleep, not looking at Nanny's camera everytime she points it at you (can't say I blame you honey, Nanny used to run away from one when she was a little girl), your laugh, your vivid imagination, your phrase which cracks me up~"I do not want to do it!", how quickly you can put together jigsaw puzzles that are for children older than you, your inquisitiveness. I could go on and on, like how much joy you bring to your Daddy and Mommy, how the children at your daycare love you and how you are with them in return. How each time we visit, I don't want to leave your precious side.

Abby, your Pappa and I love you so very much and even though you will be out celebrating Thanksgiving today with another important side of your family, your Daddy's side, we look forward to giving you loves and loves and loves on Monday when our side of the family gets together! Happy 3rd Birthday darling Abby. We all celebrate YOU!

Have a wonderful day today

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Abby Time

2009-10-06T19:07:00.005-07:00

Last week while Abby's caregiver was prepping for her son's wedding and therefore her centre was closed, I had the priviledge of falling truly, madly, deeply in love with our Granddaughter Abby all over again.

I arrived on Monday evening and stayed until just past noon on Friday. During that time Abby and I got reaquainted with each other over many half-eaten meals, bathtime rituals, walks in the garden, searching out toy snakes, leaves, berries, balls and puddle jumping, napping with each other, visiting the local library, reading and re-reading lots of books, making apple betty and wearing silly hats and matching glasses. April and Nick have done an amazing job raising this little ginger-hair girlie. They have much to be proud of. Abby has a wonderful sense of humour, a soft little voice, no butt! and an awesome imagination. One of the things I found out about her that I hadn't know before is that she loves buns. She is a true Great-Granddaughter of my Baker Dad! It was a wonderful few days and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Wonderful News!

2009-10-06T18:52:00.003-07:00

Like a momma hen sitting on her nest, I have been holding on to the most awesome news. . . our baby, Amy and her handsome husband Tyler are expecting their first baby!

These two pictures were taken on the afternoon of the big announcement!

Back in August, August 9th to be precise, we had an "immediate" family only picnic and it was at this fun family event that they sprung their welcome news! Their little one is due in Mid-April. This will be Motor and Diesel's 10th Grandchild and no matter what number of Grandchild she or he is, we are over the moon, delighted and excited.

While Amy is "constructing" their little bebe, Tyler is "constructing" their heritage home. It will be, I'm sure, a race to the finish line! Congratulations Amy and Tyler, we couldn't be more excited!

Ca-Ca-Ca-Catie!

2009-09-09T13:27:00.004-07:00

Catie's New Birth in Holy Baptism celebrated at Our Saviour when she was just weeks old

How is it possible that it's been 5 years since Catie was born? I remember so well that day. We lived in Richmond and Catie was to be born in Langley. Waiting, waiting til the time was right to rip out to Langley. Just one problem though, an accident on the Alex Fraser and we were stuck in a traffic jam miles and miles and miles from the bridge, just sitting there! It was horrible. No cell phone. No communication. Just the frustration of not being able to do anything but sit. By the time we arrived at Catie's soon to be Nona and Grandpa's place, they had made this lovely meal, a BBQ salmon and just as we were sitting down to eat...the telephone rang....she's here, she's arrived...she's perfection! Catrina Lauren was born.

Happily today, the trip to visit her is so much closer, a mere 15 or so minutes separate us now. Soon we will be picking up her Birthday Cake and singing her that happy refrain. Five years old today. And what a day it is, a day of new beginnings, she started Kindergarten today. The world is her oyster.

Happy Birthday Catie, Pappa and I love you so!

Someone Special is Seven Today!

2009-08-19T10:12:00.006-07:00

Carly, this is River singing Happy Birthday to You!

Carly with her beloved and greatly missed Grandpa. This was one occasion that fostered her love of horses!

Jumping, playful, sassy, loves horses, smiley, helpful, informative, loving. All of these wonderful adjectives describe our precious Granddaughter Carly!

Today this darling little girl is seven. I remember the day she was born as if it were yesterday. How come the time flies by so quickly? It scares me to think the time is slipping away and that all too soon our little Miss will be in high school, going to post-secondary, moving up and out of her home. So in the meantime, I for one am going to enjoy my Carly Adventures. This brown-eyed beauty will steal your heart away with one laugh, one look, one gesture. Pappa and I love you very, very much Carly.

Have a Very Happy 7th Birthday!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-12T18:58:00.002-07:00

Same, Same, Only Different

2009-08-04T13:33:00.003-07:00

Yesterday our daughter Cathy posted some pictures in honour of our grandson, her son's 10th Birthday. One of them reminded me so much of one taken about 35 years ago. In my mind's eye, they were identical, but in actuality not quite so much. Hence, the title, same, same only different.

Cathy and her baby sis, April. Cathy had just awoken from her nap. Don't you dig the little pink plastic pants?

Claire, Carly and Cameron. Cameron would be just a wee bit older in this picture, than his mother was above.

Both pictures are adorable as far as this proud mommy slash nanny is concerned. Where has the time gone?

Double Digits!

2009-08-03T10:25:00.006-07:00

Today is our Grandson Cameron's 10th Birthday!

I remember just like it was yesterday, the early morning call from Cathy saying "my water broke". My beloved and I were too excited to go back to sleep and we ended up walking the streets of Richmond on that cool and thundery morning! Today he is officially a decade old. Double digits! Wow.

What a fine young man he is growing up to be. Creative. Jokey. Informative. Gentle. Loving. His parents have done a wonderful job, instilling in him all that they can on how to be a caring and generous spirit. Our world is so much richer. I cannot imagine a life without him in it.

Cameron, Nanny and Pappa love you very much! If the first 10 years are any indication of who you have grown to be, we can't wait to see what the next 10 brings!

Have a very Happy Birthday sweet boy.

All our love,

Nanny and Pappa

xxxoo

JUST COCO, and MOMMY!

2009-07-22T16:15:00.013-07:00

What a glorious week! The sun has been shining which means, that we have some very Happy Campers sleeping under the stars. And while they are sleeping, camping, eating, splashing and playing, Cathy and Cliff's family decreased by half the number of children. Cameron, Catie and Caroline are with Uncle Tyler and Aunty Amy and Kayla. How very lucky for the children and how wonderful of Aunty Amy and Uncle Tyler. They are stars!

Monday to Friday, Carly and Claire are attending a combination activity/summer school camp. I hear they are just having a blast. Today I know, they went swimming. How fun and exciting.

The upshot of all of the above means that while Daddy is hard at work (and doing something fun at an airport I hear), mommy and Coco are footloose and fancy-free and that's where Nanny and Pappa come in! How lucky for us!

On both Monday and today, Cathy and Coco came by for about a 5 hour visit. We ate brekkie and lunch, actually got to complete a sentence, got excited about new things happening, got to catch up on gossip (love that), looked at a ton of photo albums, heard stories, discussed ideas and most importantly, got to concentrate ENTIRELY on the baby of the family, Miss Coco.

Coco has the sweetest laugh, and dimples just like her daddy's when she smiles, and does she smile! We played and played, ate and played some more until we tired her out but good. Today she said the word "up" when I removed her from her momma's old high chair and when she got down, she played with a great toy we bought for Cameron when he was one, a great family favourite, and was babbeling away. Such a delight for the eyes and ears. Sometimes she reminds me of Carly, or Catie, or Caroline, sometimes we see Cameron, sometimes my sister-in-law. A look, a laugh, a certain sound, but one thing is for certain, she is really coming into her own. What a delicious journey!

Here are some of the many faces of Coco captured during our 2 days of visits!

Coco, Day One

She totally reminds me of my Sis-In-Law in this picture. When she was a little girl of course!

A Teaser!

Cathy and her dad checking out the old photographs!
Oh ya Coco-Bean you are one sleepy little girl! She has her brother's eyes.

Coco, Day Two!

Playing with the Brio toy that Cathy's Pappa bought for her. So cool, as you pull the cart along, the egg flips over and over.

I'm too sleepy to stay awake any longer Nanny!

Wake up Coco, it's time for lunch!

Pappa and I will treasure these rare days, thank you Amy and Tyler for your awesome gift of time!

"The Summer of 42"

2009-07-15T12:54:00.008-07:00

July 15, 1967 started off like any other summer day....we didn't even know how little we knew! I was 20 and had to have my dad sign the marriage certificate and my darling Dickie was a wise old 23! Today my beloved and I celebrate our 42nd. Not an exciting number like 25, or 30 or 35 or 40, 50 or 60. In the middle of the really big ones. But it suits us down to a T.

Thinking back over the years, the years before cell-phones, digital cameras, remote controls for TV's, never mind High Def, DVD players, keychains that play pictures, never mind computers or any of that. It was an exciting time none-the-less. The Summer of Love. The Beatles were huge. I remember singing the words off the album cover with our friends Tom and Yvonne the night before the wedding! Neil Armstrong was still dreaming of landing on the moon. We hardly had a pot to pee in literally, but we managed. Managed through the 3 years of university, renting dumpy digs with some truly horrible land ladies! Managed through the births of each of our precious daughters. Made a home for the five of us. We had each other, we had a roof over our heads, we had food in our bellys and a nice soft pillow to sleep on. We had love, we had laughter. Who could ask for more?

Have we been the lucky couple? Who knows. We sure feel lucky. Lucky to have found each other to love. We grew up together. Dick was only 18 when we first met and I was just 15. I remember travelling the No. 9 (Broadway Bus) and hoping and praying that if he didn't get on that one, that we'd meet when we both needed to transfer onto the No. 3 (Main Street bus). And often we did! Here was this handsome guy who had this brilliant smile and he likes me, he really seems to like me! Life was good!

From 2 to 5 to 18+ in our family. We are well and truly blessed.

How did I get so lucky! Happy Anniversay Dickie. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Dick and his parents and our friend Tom just before the service. Thank goodness his Grandfather who travelled from Germany to attend, had a camera!

Dickie signing his life away. My father signed mine-Thank Goodness!

One of the few coloured pictures we have from our day. This one courtesy of my dear sister-in-law.

One of my favourites of the day~I think Amy might have the best one!

It was a modest affair. A dear friend Helen sewed my dress and veil as well as my friend Yvonne's. We got married at Christ Lutheran across from City Hall, then had the reception in my mom and dad's rec room over the garage. No themes, no parting gifts. I can't even remember what song was chosen for Dick and I to dance too. My biggest regret, was that I never even danced with my Dad. That still saddens me to this day. (But I always made up for it where and whenever I could, and told him so each time we danced how bad I felt that we hadn't.)

Another one of the rare coloured photos. There were more of us in this line-up but I think perhaps one of our girls has it. They have scooped a few of our wedding photos. Missing is my beautiful sister and her husband.

My darling, shiney new husband reluctantly getting up to make his speech! Not all prepared and written out as we do now. He of course, got a laugh and that probably started him on his road to speech making excellence (right girls!) He looked so handsome in his black tux. I remember thinking he looked like Omar Sharief (spelling), but looking back today, I can see that Omar didn't hold a candle to my husband! I remember crying when we returned the tux.

Cutting the cake that my daddy baked, but didn't ice. He didn't like that part of being a baker. The topper adorned April and Nick's cake many years later. I made each of the girls wear my veil at their wedding rehearsals! Now I guess, we'll save it for our Granddaughters.

Yvonne and Tom, very much in love. Probably the best picture our photographer took all day. He captured it. They just celebrated their 40th a few weeks ago!

My going away outfit caused quite the stir. Everyone whooped and hollered. Mini-skirts had just travelled across the pond and probably no one had seen anyone wearing one yet. Mine got shorter and shorter as the time went on. I just love this "polyester" dress. I had little black and white shoes that matched. The gloves were worn by Cathy when she married Cliff and Amy carried my little silver purse when she married Tyler in January. My husband, so handsome in his brown suede jacket and yellow shirt and goldy-green striped tie. Like he stepped off of GQ (which I doubt even existed then).

To my beloved Husband,

Thank you for all of the 15,350+ Days!

For Better, For Worse, For Richer, For Poorer~

I LOVE YOU!

Happy Birthday Canada

2009-07-01T12:05:00.005-07:00

Here's hoping everyone is enjoying Canada's Big Birthday Bash, each in your own way. I can't remember how many years it has been since we actually had sunshine. So put on your sunblock, your, flip flops and hats and enjoy! Canada, with all its' worts and wrinkles (sort of like me!!), is still the best place to live. This Winnipeg born Murrayville Mom's Mom is glad to be Canadian.

My Husband, Our Fathers and Our Sons

2009-06-21T13:39:00.004-07:00

When it's Mother's Day, they make such a fuss, so much fuss, that I could quite literally make myself upchuck--I blame hallmark (not captialized intentionally), but FATHER'S DAY, well that's a horse of a different colour!

The Dad's of the world don't get enough credit for all that they do. On TV, most often they are made to look like imbiciles, who can't figure anything out. I hate that. So many ads are demeaning, and okay, some are funny and some even make me smile. None of the men in my life are anything like the poor, foolish dolts they depict--Thank God!

My beloved. I can't imagine going through life without you. So loving, so smart, so funny. You make me laugh each and every day. You have a wonderful way with fixing things. How you love and care so deeply for our children, our grandchildren, our mothers, extended family and me. You are talented, fit as a fiddle. For these reasons and 1,000s more, I am so grateful. Thank you my dear one for everything you have done for us. I love you so.

My Father, and My Father-In-Law. I avoid the section in the card store that says: Dad, Father, it is still to painful to think that I won't see you any more. I miss you both so much. You were taken from us far too soon. There was still so much to say, to tell you. On a day when we honour our Father and tell them how much you love them, I miss being able to tell you how much I appreciate what you have done for me, for us, for our family. I miss our rudders. I miss our hugs.

My Son-In-Laws Three. What a great batch of daddies these men are! Cliff, Nick, Tyler. Seeing you with your children, how they look up to you, how they want you and you alone to share a special moment with, play a trick, laugh with, show you something very important, or tell you something be it big or small. It fills me with joy! My grandchildren and my daughters and by extension me, are well and truly blessed. Thank you my chosen sons. Thank you for loving your family so, for going out day after day taking care of business. You are a blessing to our family.

Have a wonderful Father's Day,

I love you all very, very much!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-27T13:58:00.002-07:00

One, Two, Three, Four ~ FIVE!

2009-05-20T22:51:00.006-07:00

May 22nd what a day, what a day!

Our darling April married her handsome Nick

5 years ago!

Sending out our love and best wishes to you as we remember with great joy, the day you said your "I Do's" at Our Saviour Lutheran Church. Motor and Diesel are so proud of you two, and Motor wishes she had more pictures to choose from, but as she doesn't, here for your viewing pleasure, a few pictures that captured the happiness and joy we are feeling!

Jumping for joy!

Happy Anniversary to The Besth Couple!

It's Three O'Clock My Dear

2009-05-09T11:16:00.006-07:00

That was the title of a little poem that I had cut out of a magazine many years ago, as as fate would have it, it was about love and marriage. Cathy liked it so much that she had the words added to their wedding bulletin. At exactly 3:00 p.m. today, Cathy and her beloved Cliff celebrate their 11th Wedding Anniversary.

We wish them love.

We wish them joy.

We love them dearly.

Happy 11th Cathy and Cliff.

To many, many more!

Three Fingers Old!

2009-05-02T09:56:00.004-07:00

Our darling Caroline Mae is 3 today!

Nanny and Pappa are sending out their love and wishes for a very happy new year Caroline. I remember so well waiting for the telephone call that seemed like it could never come telling us of your arrival. You are our darling little girl Caroline. So full of life. You are funny and make us laugh. I can still cuddle you for a few minutes anyway, before you want to dash off and do something else. I know life has great things in store for you baby. Have a very Happy 3rd Birthday! All our love, Nanny and Pappa. xxxooo

The Many Faces of Caroline ~

Tuesday's Trio

2009-04-28T00:53:00.002-07:00

We dropped into see three of our granddaughters and their momma on Monday at lunchtime so if you see little samplings of food on their darling faces you know why!

This little darling has the most wonderful head of hair-it's like mommy put kiss curls in them and removed the pins-voila-curls. Nanny is very envious of Caroline.

Catie dear reminded me of a little English beauty today-perhaps the new little floral dress added to the charm.

Coco was heading for "lights out" on her Pappa's shoulder and even though she has her fingers in her mouth you can see her smiling eyes!

It's Up to Us

2009-04-22T08:39:00.002-07:00

Each and every little thing I do makes a difference and while today is officially Earth Day, I hope to make it last the other 364 days too. It's up to me, it's up to you. As the saying goes..."many hands make the work light".

Spring Has Sprung in The Grove

2009-04-21T16:47:00.006-07:00

I love Spring, and it has actually arrived, at last. Walking around the neighbourhood the scent of freshly cut grass, gooseberry bushes, flowering cherry, daffodils and swamp lilys fill the air. It is an outrageous riot of assaults on the senses, so different from winter's mouldy earthen smells. I love spring.

We took our camera on our walk down through the ravine today and no where is it more evident that Spring has actually arrived. Here are a few pictures of today's glorious walk.

The view from our front window

Ladybugs = Spring! When I was taking this picture, I hadn't realized there were 2 on the Japanese Maple trunk

The star magnolia putting on a wonderful show for us

I love the way the light captured the "heart" of one of our daffs

The ravine has come to life, the small fry aka, salmon have hatched, the waterbugs are back, as are the swamp lilys. So vibrant with their shiney lime green leaves and yellow cones. They have put on a spectacular show again this year!

The following pictures are taken down below.

The sight and scent from 100s of these plants pushing up through the wet boggy land is something to behold

If you look closely you can see the recently hatched fry

The woodpeckers are having their way with this tree

The view from the top looking down at the stream.

A carpet of greens that will soon sprout delicate purple flowers

Just above this tranquil forest scene is an elementary school just resounding with lunchtime fun

My beloved, my fellow soujourner in life

And Along Came Pretty Little April!

2009-04-07T13:09:00.008-07:00

The wonderful sunny day reminds me of another one, the day our lovely middle daughter, April was born.

Taken circa, 1975 at Hume Park! This girl always new how to accesorize!

It's April's birthday today and on birthday's you give presents, but it is April who gave us the gifts. The gift of laughter. The gift of love. The gift of wisdom. The gift of integrity. The gift of ingenuity. The gift of listening. The gift of fun.

Oh yes, we had our moments, and I'd be a big, fat Pinnochio if I said otherwise, but they were of the everyday variety. We had drama, we had tears, but most of all we had April Sunshine, or April "Star" as she wanted to be called when she was a little girl. She has a ton of friends, a wonderful husband who loves her even more than we do, and an enchanting little girl. She gives life her all. I thank God every day for our darling April.

April and her lovely Abby, taken just before the wedding

Wishing you my darling daughter a Very Happy Birthday. Have a wonderful new year, may it be filled with many blessings.

This picture was taken just a few weeks ago

February Out -- March In

2009-03-02T12:01:00.016-08:00

I know February's the shortest month of the year, or maybe it's just that I'm just getting old, but this month went by much quicker and mercifully much better than February's of olde. I feel like we dodged a big bullet and lived to tell about it.

We survived two "bumps" of earthquake centred right here in Walnut Grove-who knew, and snowflurries that turned into an unexpected snowstorm.

But best of all, so many family visits with our kids equals rich times for us. Our newlyweds have been very busy working on their house and finally moved into a part of it. Amy's dad helped Tyler while Amy and I packed up their household ready for the big move. We even managed lunch out between hefting wheelbarrels of dirt on the men's side and packing boxes loaded with items on the womenfolk's side.

While Abby's momma was living it up Vegas style, we had a wonderful visit with Abby and her daddy at our house. I had promised April that I would take lots of pictures and kept telling Abby, "look at the camera Abby, this one's for mommy!" She grew rather bored of that notion pretty quickly, but I did get off a few sweet shots. And while Nick played soccer and Pappa went out to support them (Uncle Lucas scored a goal-yay, Uncle Lucas) I had Abby all to myself and it was wonderful.

Abby's food of choice-Corn on the Cob!

Playing with her Mommy's Monsheshee's. Vintage all the way!

Looking for clues

Doing her best to ignore me, can't say that I blame her!

Yup Momma, I'm still up and it's after 10:00 PM! Can we do this again?

And February wouldn't be February without a few visits with the 6-Cs and their parental units. We cheered Cathy and her fellow runners on a couple of weeks back. I think they were doing 26Ks that day, but looking at them past the mid-way run you'd never have guessed it. I picked this photo because she was looking right at her daddy as she ran past us. Love the look on her face.

Go Cathy, Go Cathy!

Our happy, little Birthday Girl getting ready to go out with her Mommy and Daddy

Our Jr. Colt-in-waiting-reminds me of her momma!

Our Lounger~dreaming of a visit to toysrus for Pokeyman playing cards!

Carly's whole face is a smile-she can't help herself-I love that!

That's trust isn't it!

"Take My Picture Nanny!"

Pappa and four of his eight pets out walking

Come on baby light my fire -- ooops wrong concert!

Make a Wish Darling Girl!

May your every wish come true Clairey.

And from yesterday~we took the kids to church along with our dear friend Silvana, the children's other wonderful grandparent, Nonna, and came back to our place for lunch and silliness.

In between visits, my beloved and I managed to get in a few long, beautiful walks. And as any walker knows, finding things along the way is commonplace. I have found CD's (would you believe, even one cut especially for Abby's Aunty Jolene and Uncle Dave's wedding), a blackberry (returned to rightful and grateful owner) and keys, keys, and more keys. Just days before Valentine's Day I found yet another set and I placed an ad in the local newpaper asking the owner to please identify. He did, and on his way over to our house to claim them, he stopped off and brought me these two little rose bushes. I was touched by his kindness.

I know Spring is on the way. The walking jackets have been removed, more than three times, and the sleeves pushed up when we walk. A beautiful bunch of forsythia adorned the Altar at church yesterday, the crocuses and snowdrops are blossoming, the huge piles of snow are melting and leaving behind little piles of sand in their place, and a frog was croaking away looking for a mate. And even though February left us pretty well unscathed, I am glad March has come, even if it roared in like a lion rather than a lamb!

Claire, Beautiful Claire

2009-02-24T09:27:00.005-08:00

Today we celebrate Claire!

It is her 8th Birthday today, and when I look at this first picture of her taken when she was a mere week or two old, I am in awe all over again with this little girl. She was so tiny, had arrived very early 20 or so days early I believe. Arriving full of gusto, our little Diva. Her Aunty April who had previously held the crown, Princess passed it onto Claire and she wears it well.

The stars say it all. Claire is playful. She is loving. She has the best laugh. She loves to help cook, slice and dice. She says she wants to be a baker like her G.P. (my dad was a baker all his life). I personally would love it if she were. We need artisans to bake our bread--the staff of life.

You can see the playfulness in this darling little face. Claire won't be bothered or scared off by superstitions. As you can see she will go out of her way to negate them. Our free spirit!

I love this photo of Claire. I had just taken her to the optimologist and he gave her the sticker, which she wanted on her cheeky little cheek. Look into those wonderful eyes, they just draw you in.

The next three shots were taken of course at her Aunty Amy and Uncle Tyler's wedding which also happens to be exactly 1 month ago today! Happy first month anniversary!

I see the young woman she is growing into. A glimpse into her future. A confident young lady is our Miss Claire.

While all around her others chat, Claire feels the joy, the love, the exuberance of life and lives it. I believe the song, "I Hope You Dance" was written with her in mind. This picture captures her to a T!

Yes Claire is our star, the centre of our universe, especially today. When I captured this photo, even the overhead light found her and put her in its spotlight!

Up, up and away darling girl. We don't know what wonderful journey lays ahead for you, but we know with you in it, it will be exciting and wonderful! Have a wonderful journey through your 8s Claire Allyson. Pappa and I love you to bits!

Wordless Wednesday--Memories!

2009-02-18T10:14:00.003-08:00

Winter's Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-04T13:52:00.003-08:00

Tuesday's Treat

2009-02-03T14:04:00.003-08:00

This pretty little bouquet of Carnations was recycled from Amy's Wedding Bouquet, which I took home from Oma's hospital room, and her sister Cathy's bouquet which in all the hubbub of checking out after the wedding brunch she forgot to retrieve from the table.

I just love carnations, they last forever, they look so delicate and pretty and if you're lucky they have this wonderful scent.

Happy Tuesday everyone.

January is Finished

2009-01-31T16:51:00.009-08:00

It seems so hard to believe that the first month of 2009 has already slipped by. And yet, with so much on the go, read: Wedding and all that it entails, it's not really all that surprising.

The snow piles that greeted 2009 are still here. The Christmas lights on the trees outdoor are still hanging there because the lawn is still under a frozen blanket which means the extension cords are buried too. There is a minute patch of green here and there around the bases of trees. It's still so wintery in The Grove that even the Sasquatch paid us a visit. Take a look at him running in my front yard!

All of these pictures were taken on Monday, Jan. 26/09

I think he was hiding in this snow cave in our front yard!

As I reported in previous blogs we had a celebration at the Giggledam on Friday, Jan. 16, organized by April and Cathy which was so much fun.

The following Thursday, the rehearsal. Amy wore my veil and her sister April provided this beautiful tulip bouquet.

Look at these two happy men--relieved that it is Tyler's turn--right guys?

Love their smiles.

On Friday morning my beloved and I drove out to Champagne and Lace to have the beautiful dress steamed and ready to drive into Richmond later on in the day. The girls, their daddy and I met up for a quick bite of dinner before they rushed off for mani/pedis. The photo below was taken knowing "no photos to be taken in Casino", so I'm glad Amy shot this one off before we were told not to take any more!

Saturday's pictures tell it all!

Thanks for these two pictures April~

This picture below was taken by Amy and Tyler's Photographer (sorry I don't know her name)

She captured it all in this photo I believe!

On Sunday morning following the Wedding Breakfast Brunch, we all went our separate ways. So happy for Mr. & Mrs. Moore. It was a beautiful wedding and they did an awesome job in getting it all together right down to the smallest little detail. They are now off on their Honeymoon. Soaking in the warm sun. Taking a well deserved break from all their planning.

Sadly on Tuesday, my dear little Mother-In-Law took a horrible fall on a sidewalk on her way home from shopping. She was admitted to hospital and since then she has had to have the left shoulder joint replaced and had to have 3 or 4 pins put in her broken left wrist. It was and is, so sad to see this fiercely independent lady now laid up in a hospital bed.

Mom, we sure hope you are up and about and doing the things you like to do. Heal up and get better soon!

My New Family Tree!

January certainly has been memorable for many reasons. I wonder what Mr. February will bring? Stay tuned.

A Wonderful Winter Wedding-Who Could Ask for Moore

2009-01-26T19:51:00.022-08:00

If anyone tells you you just can't organize a wedding in 5 months, don't you believe them!

Our daughter Amy married the man of her dreams and her parent's prayers were answered for someone to love, cherish and honour her and his name is Tyler. What a wonderful occasion it was including all that led up to it. Those two planned it down to a T and then some. In case you're not a Facebooker, here are some pictures of the day.

The quality of some is awesome, and many are awful so I left out more than I could put here. Check out my darling daughter April's blog for quality and quantity!

Something Old, New, Sister's too and Blue

2009-01-21T19:54:00.003-08:00

This sixpence has been sewn into all of our daughters' wedding gowns and now it is Amy's turn!

Something new: Well the beautiful wedding gown, pictures to be revealed at a later date!

The white ribbon came from Cathy and Cliff's Wedding.

If you look ever so closely at the top, where the sixpence ribbon is attached to the inside of the gown, you will see a very small piece of Tulle, that came from April's Wedding gown.

There are a whole lot of memories, and most certainly, a whole lot of love sewn up in this gown. Amy, you are going to make such a beautiful Bride.

Wordless Wintery Wednesday

2009-01-21T17:02:00.004-08:00

This Board Says It All!

2009-01-15T23:44:00.004-08:00

In just over a week, we will be adding two wonderful additions to our family as our youngest, Amy, marries her Tyler. Tyler brings with him his beautiful daughter Kayla and we can't wait! What a wonderful wedding present that little girl is to our family!

One button says - "Mom to 3 Girls" and another one says "My 3 Sons" and I most certainly do Heart My Kids! and of course my Husband Dick!

I just had to share!

Skating on Thin Ice!

2009-01-15T19:32:00.005-08:00

Today our grandson Cameron had a skating party. Originally Pappa and Nanny were going to look after the 3 little ones at home while Cathy went along, but Cameron asked if his Pappa was going to come to. That settled it, so Pappa and Mommy went and I held down the fort. Which totally consisted of having Catie fall asleep to the left of me, Coco fall asleep on me and the last little hold out Caroline followed suit on my right! The three of them looked so darn cute. My only complaint: the remote was elsewhere so I got to see what comes on Treehouse TV in the afternoon! I decided Dora the Explorer is my least favourite! But I really liked Mr. Maker and envy him his craftroom!

Meanwhile at the ice arena, Cathy who hasn't been on "skaters" probably since after high school did really well according to her Daddy! Here are a few pictures from this afternoon.

(We think Cameron hadn't been on skates for a few years either, but by the time the session was over he'd regained his form)

Lookin' good momma!

This picture was taken when Cameron was in Kindergarten
And today, same helmet and wonderful smile, but growing into such a handsome, lanky young man.

Winter Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-14T17:43:00.003-08:00

New Year's Eve Nonsense

2009-01-01T13:25:00.007-08:00

You'd think after spending 46 New Year's together, it would be getting old, this celebrating New Year's. I'm glad to report -- not yet anyway.

My beloved and I spent a quiet night at home. It started out a typical night at the old homestead in The Grove, my beloved watching the US/Canada hockey game and me playing games on Facebook. Then we made coffee, had a Bailey's or two, made dinner, brought out the bubbly and took silly pictures. Had a few technical difficulties, returned party hats to heads, made dip, drank scotch and 7, ate a few goodies, watched this funny Brit movie, The Baker (worth renting for the hilarious love scene) and cheered in 2009 with noise makers, blowers and hats (all recycled from April and Nick's move a year and a bit back). A fun night with a fun guy.

Cliffie, I love my new black sweater!

Exhibit A

Exhibit D

Note tacky butter dish ruining scene!

An instant party!

Say no more!

Uh-oh, what's this?

Taps are loose and ready to fall off-Dickie to the rescue. I even got to purge and reorganize in my altered state!

Our pitiful attempt at The Moore speciality-taking pictures of our selves!

I look like an elf with a silver beard, now I don't need to see my sister the electrologist! I love this picture of us.

You two are definitely cut off!

I'm sure you'll agree, they should NEVER, EVER, allow over 60 year olds loose with a digital camera. They can't handle it!

2009 started out great - I hope your's did too! Happy New Year everyone.

It's Going To Be Fine in 2000 and 9!

2008-12-31T17:12:00.004-08:00

In a few short hours, 2008 will roll away. It was a year of great joy and deep sadness. Love lost and love found.

I believe I always start the year with optimism but usually by February the optimism turns to mush and in the case of 2008, a lot of snow, and reality sets in. Perhaps the party hats, and twislers that had been put away, were put away too soon. Maybe that would have boosted up the good vibes had I blown them a little while longer.

When last year shined its' happy beams, we had no idea that we would help friend's celebrate their 40th in Osoyoos, or that my beloved and I would go on a cruise and a visit to Vegas. We hadn't anticipated that Valentine's day would mark the knowledge that our dear friend Earl's cancer had returned with even more of a vengence than the first bout. We grieve for Silvana, Cliff, Cathy and their children. We hadn't expected the wonderful news, when we needed it the most, that we were to be grandparents again in March-this was our 41st Anniversary present. Sadly this little angel Baby wasn't to be and we grieved the loss for April and Nick and Abby and for the rest of our family. And on that very sad, same day, we received the most wonderful news, Tyler had proposed to our daughter Amy! We celebrate that joy with Amy and Tyler, love found and a promise is made.

2008 also brought via Facebook connections to old friends and new. From cousins in Rupert, Calgary, Winnipeg and The Netherlands to friends from our Richmond days who we seldom see. It has been wonderful to share our stories and pictures, our thoughts and their responses to mine have been supportive, affirmative, uplifting, giggly, and crazy.

As we embark on 2009 our family is filled with great anticipation for the wedding of youngest daughter Amy, to her beloved, Tyler. That is all we know of 2009. As far as I'm concerned, 2009 is already a winner!

My prayer for you reading this last blog of 2008 is that even though you can't be certain about too many things, I pray that you whatever you have to face, you do so with courage, humility, grace and good humour. I will try to do the same.

A Plan "C" Christmas

2008-12-26T12:57:00.013-08:00

In my previous blog, I stated that Plan "A" was for everyone to make it to our house for Christmas. The initial plan was to have Cliff and Cathy and the 6 Little "Cs" over for a 5:00 o'clock dinner, with Amy and Tyler arriving after their shifts for re-heats and merriment. Well, that didn't work out.

The long table, waiting for guests that would never arrive!

Plan "B" was to wait a day and see if roads improved in the neighbourhood and hold a Boxing Day dinner instead. Well, that didn't work out either.

On Christmas morning it became apparent that this was going to be a more intimate affair as Cathy, Cliff and the 6 Little Cs and Cliff's Mom Silvana, wouldn't be able to navigate their side streets. After conferring with Amy hard at work at E-Comm, we had decided to cook the turkey and all the trimmings and have just the two of them over for an 8:00 p.m. Christmas dinner, because Tyler has this 4 wheel drive truck with huge (to me) wheels that are getting them through anything and everything.

What I hadn't planned on was a Plan "C", C=Christmas?, but really it should be called Plan "M" for A Moore Merry Christmas! Our soon to be son-in-law- in a mere 28 days - suggested that he and Amy pick us up, dinner accoutrements and all, and take it to Cathy and Cliff's house. It would be late, but it would be Christmas with all of the family! That DID work out.

The little red "sleigh" all loaded with goodies!

We arrived at their home, with all of the food, presents for the little ones, wine and desserts to find their dining room adorned with white table cloths, Christmas poppers, candles and perfection. Just as if it had been in the plans to do it that way all along. It was really quite wonderful to sit down with the marjority of our family (April, St. Nick and Abby) were dining with Nick's family closer to their home (that too had been the plan, and it was most fortunate this year that it was). By about 9:00 p.m. we all sat down, said grace, and ate to our hearts content. Sharing love and laughter, proud of the 6 little Cs as they sat with us, so politely. It was as if they too appreciated what it means to be surrounded by love and family on the holiest night of the year. What a wonderful day it had been afterall!

Thankfully Amy got some pictures of the lovely table and of course the truck full of goodies so I have added them too. Also a few including the long empty table that I was about to set up when the plans changed. Other than the Grands not seeing how beautifully their Pappa fixed up the children's dining hall, I think it worked out even nicer this way. The children that were tired, Catie fell asleep first on the couch downstairs, and 2 x 2 like the animals in Noah's Ark, off they went to bed. The only little one left when we took our leave, was The Bean--she was too excited to sleep!

I had to take this picture, the star was drooping like many of us when we took our leave after a wonderful Christmas!

What a lovely day it was. So I dedicate this blog to my soon to be son number 3, Tyler, for saving the day! Did I tell you, that Tyler's truck is a reddish colour and I can't help but think of a certain someone's red Sled!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-24T16:36:00.003-08:00

Wishing each and everyone a Blessed Christmas!

The weather outside is frightful (ly) beautiful, it will no doubt cause a lot of plans to change, but there is naught can be done about it. I remember one year we ate lasagna for Christmas not weather related, but you remember the Christmas. I am hoping Cathy, Cliff and the 6 little Grands will be here, but our street is in very bad shape. I am hoping too, that Amy and Tyler can make it in from Vancouver after their shifts tomorrow, but I'm not sure if they'll make it. Plan B: Turkey on Boxing Day. But I'd love Plan A better.

Where ever you are, whatever you do, may you find quiet moments of peace, and contentment. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Love Comes Down for Christmas

2008-12-21T16:46:00.012-08:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I get a little teary-eyed thinking about it. Our baby, is getting married in a few short weeks and her sisters planned a wonderful Winter Wedding Tea for her. It was perfection down to the last detail. April and Cathy you are amazing women. With so much going on in your lives and a scant 5 days before Christmas you managed to turn the Bride-To-Be into a Princess for a Day!

Two beautiful hostesses ready to serve tea!

Some of the festivities!

Oma won the Amy Quiz!

Mother and Daughter sharing a moment!

The beginning of a new Tradition, made by Oma

Cups from Granny from Amy's Grandparent's travels in Canada

Cathy's uber-talented cousin, Nicole made this lovely purse containing necessities for the big day, including a wee drop of Vodka! This is what the purse looks like inside, so beautiful. Nicole said to her Aunty Silvana, "look when you open it, it's like a party inside!" So very true, Nicole. What a lovely purse! It just so happens that Amy and April both travelled to Paris several years ago to visit their friends, Vicky and Dan!

"Just so happened....Green Apples!"

The only "man" at the shower, my great-nephew, Jacob. He made the rounds with his Granny, my sister, Madeleine, and then Aunty Laura.

My beautiful niece, Riki and behind her, Amy's future in-law's. So nice to finally meet Leya, Tyler's Sister, right, and of course his wonderful mom, Marilyn!

This is the only picture I got of Jacob's momma, Angela!

To think, had they planned this lovely day for Sunday rather than Saturday, it wouldn't have been possible with all of the snow. It was meant to be, just as Amy and Tyler are meant to be and this shower is just the beginning of the lovely journey.

Clean up and leave taking!

2 very important men in Amy's life, her Daddy and her Future Mr!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-17T17:14:00.002-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-10T20:54:00.003-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-03T19:04:00.002-08:00

Wednesday Woman!

2008-11-26T13:37:00.002-08:00

Love your Brand New Car Silvana!

Wonderful Wednesday!

2008-11-26T11:08:00.003-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-19T17:55:00.002-08:00

6 Puppies in a Bed

2008-11-16T22:34:00.001-08:00

Sit back and watch these six little puppies!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/shiba-inu-puppy-cam

The Bean Turns One!

2008-11-16T16:43:00.007-08:00

Our youngest granddaughter, Courtney Elizabeth, also affectionately known as Coco-Bean officially turns one year old today. We were delighted to be able to help celebrate this momentous occasion, in what we all hope and pray of course, will be the first of at least 90 more, but it's just something about a baby's first that is to be celebrated and rejoiced about.

Only immediate family were present (we really missed Aunty April and Uncle Nick and Cousin Abby) and Cameron who was off partying with a classmate for her birthday, and our dear friend and Coco's Grandfather, Earl.

I think these pictures show how very much loved and adored our little girl is.

Happy Birthday darling little Coco.

2008-11-16T16:42:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-12T15:36:00.002-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-05T00:48:00.002-08:00

Two For Tuesday, Part Two

2008-11-04T18:43:00.002-08:00

Two for Tuesday

2008-11-04T16:59:00.003-08:00

My beloved's uncle

Our Grandson Cameron

The similarities are remarkable.

Five for Frightening Friday

2008-10-31T11:47:00.006-07:00

Thursday Trio

2008-10-30T22:35:00.001-07:00

Two for Tuesday

2008-10-28T11:12:00.004-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-28T10:47:00.004-07:00

Random Facts About ME!

2008-10-25T17:56:00.002-07:00

Random Facts About ME!

I was tagged by my beautiful daughter April

Here are the rules:

Link to the person who tagged you. http://thebesthblog.blogspot.com/

Post the rules on your blog.
Write six random things about yourself.
Tag six people at the end of your post.
Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

**Random Facts About Me**

1. Like my mom before she was made to convert, I too am left handed, as are April and Cathy.

2. I love to read in bed before lights out with both arms tucked under the covers these days,
balancing the book as best as I can without taking them out from under! It gets tricky, but I
can do it!

3. I have this little stuffed dog named Chewy in the back of my car that the Grandchildren
love to hold, but only in the car.

4. People might be surprised to know that contrary to my public persona of loud and
boisterous, half the time I never know what to talk to people about.

5. The best part of my day is coming home and staying there.

6. Things pile up on my desk or counter until I can stand it no more, then woosh out they go.

I tag Kristen (after you get your reading done), and my Grandson Cameron (who's Blog has been reinvented and I can't find!) The rest of my blogger faves have just done this-I think. But if you haven't just let me know and I will tag you! Have fun!

Where Has the Time Gone?

2008-10-24T21:43:00.005-07:00

Oh the guilt, guilt, guilt, of not blogging! This Murrayville Mom's Mom has had a lot going on and yet, not putting it on the blog for a number of reasons.

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times-Charles Dickens most certainly had it right.

Probably the hardest was what for us was supposed to be a very happy secret that came at a time when the entire family was feeling so very sad because we had lost our dear friend Earl. It gave us joy, and the tears were happy ones. Our dear daughter April and her husband Nick told us on our 41st Wedding Anniversary that they were expecting a baby, but sadly for all of us, this was not meant to be. Our hearts were and are broken for Nick and April.

I spent the next week at their house while April convalesed. I plied her with lots of iron-rich foods, and as much tender loving care as time allowed.

On the very day that one of our children was in such anguish and sorrow, another was over the moon with joy.

Amy's beloved Tyler popped into E-Comm where she works, got down on one knee and asked her to marry him! Our baby girl, Amy is getting married in January and her daddy and I couldn't be any happier for them. Those two are just meant to be. (It was Tyler by the way who gave me that beautiful bouquet, he was the mystery man.) Tyler had about a week or so earlier asked for our daughter's hand in marriage. Probably some of you reading this might think that an old tradition, but like his soon to be Brother-in-laws Cliff and Nick, it is like a rite of passage at our place.

The questions will soon be popped!

Meet our soon to be son-in-law Tyler! AKA, Mr. November in the Vancouver Fire Department's Burn Unit Fundraiser Calendar's (available at London Drugs!)

Of course she said YES!

THE Dress has been purchased and altered, the church, the pastor, the organist, the reception venue, the invitations, the DJ, the florist and the photographer are all lined up and the days until the wedding are being counted down. So very exciting.

At a dress fitting. Amy was listening to a message from her beloved Tyler.

And if that weren't exciting enough my beloved and I went on a short but wonderful 4 day repositioning cruise from Vancouver to San Diego-it was our first, and hopefully not our last. Sailing under the Lions Gate Bridge on a sunny Friday afternoon was something that I'll not soon forget. Amy and Tyler drove us down to the cruiseship terminal and April who works not too far away, walked down, and they all three saw us off. That was icing on our cake. I know Cathy would have come down to had it been at all possible. She was in our heart!

Going under the Lions Gate Bridge.

From San Diego we flew to Las Vegas and 94 degree weather! Wow, finding Summer again was awesome. They were having unseasonally warm weather and were predicting the return of the cold of winter the day after we left -- they said the temperatures were going to go down to the 70s! Vegas is garish, and sophisticated and expensive and huge and entertaining, and we enjoyed every minute of it. We flew home via Phillipine Airlines, where we were welcomed by the cold, driving rains of October, and by Amy and Tyler waiting to drive us to our car. Our trip came full circle.

The next night we helped my cousin Geraldine and her Georgie celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. My sister Madeleine and I sang an impromtu line from the song we sang at their wedding when I was but a mere child of 11! Because you come to me with naught save love! Even the words sound dreadfully old don't they? We called ourselves the Twisted Sisters and put it way, way, over the top. Funny, everyone clapped when we finished, mmmmm

Twisted is right!

We left the party, roosted in our family room for a few minutes and decided it was time to hit the hay. When I went into the bathroom to my horror I discovered that the left side of my face had swollen up, I looked like a demented chipmunk. Off to the Langley Memorial Emergency only to be put on an agressive regime of intravenous antibiotics 2 x a day. So the glow of the trip was benched by visiting the IV clinic for 5 days. It wasn't a dental problem and we have no idea what could have caused it. We'll just call it another unsolved mystery. On my last night there, Catie our granddaughter was down in Emergency aquiring 7 stiches to her tiny forehead after her swan dive from the couch to the coffee table corner. Poor little Catie. Happily for both Catie and I, we are returning to normal.

In the meantime, April is continuing to regain her physical health, Amy is all full of plans and Cathy ran a half marathon in Victoria on the Thanksgiving weekend. All in all much, so very much to be thankful for.

A Tiny Tot Comes for a Sleepover!

2008-08-28T19:03:00.010-07:00

Our much anticipated sleepover visit with Catie our 3 year old granddaughter has finally happened and was it ever great.

Yesterday afternoon my beloved and I picked up our Catie-Girl for her first overnight visit at Nanny and Pappa's house. Because at almost the age of 4 she is still too tiny for our booster seat, Pappa tethered her car seat into the Honda and away we went.

On our way home we had a few stops to make and each time we did, Catie wanted to be reassured that she too would be coming along, not just being dropped off home again.

First stop, a "junk food" restaurant, hint: guy has huge big feet! And don't worry Momma, we ordered milk too for the "healthy portion of her meal!" After lunch, Catie spent a short time playing in the indoor playground. It was really interesting seeing her all alone, without her siblings to either follow or relate to in a new envirnoment. At first Catie tentatively interacted with children, then bravely. A funny we observed--when she saw some kids heading towards the slide entrance, she speeded up her tiny steps and ditched in there well before they got there. Pappa and I laughed at that. We don't call her Mighty-Mouse for nothing! There was a big blue slide, which her Pappa and I were sure she couldn't climb up because she was wearing a sweater and trousers that we were convinced would make it impossible because her clothing would make it too slippery-were we wrong--she did it and several times at that!

See how steep the slide is!

Next stop, the grocery store. She sat in this cart with 2 steering wheels and of course, we had to take a picture! Catie already looks like a pro in the driving department, madly turning the steering wheel when we turned corners. It has been years since we took such a little one grocery shopping and we had forgotten how much fun it can be. Do you know, she pretty well likes everything, because she told us so. "I Like That", she'd say! When we got home she helped put things away. I Liked That!

We never had neat things like this when our kids were little!

After drinks and yogurt, Catie got to play outside. Fortunately for us, yesterday turned out to be the better day, weather wise so she tried out her pink princess bike. But really, she was the princess, the bike, just a vehicle to carry her.

Go Catie, Go Catie!

For some reason, maybe just because she's 3, each time she went outside she took her barettes out of her hair!

Look at the look on her face--priceless!

With Aunty Amy's Puff-a-Lump

In for a bite of supper and out they went again, finally dragging them both in so that she could have a bath. While they were outside, I chose some books to read to her before bed, McDuff Finds a Home, Yoko, A Bunny Hears, and How Do you Make a Rainbow. They were all hits, but her favourite by far was the ribbon book, How Do you Make a Rainbow, which I had bought when her one and only brother, Cameron was only about a year old. After kisses, a cross on her head, and assurances that we would be right here if she needed us, she fell right to sleep.

The day started about 6:30, with Nanny pretending she was sleeping (nice Nanny aye?), so Catie grabbed the books beside her and she started reading How Do you Make a rainbow. How did I know it was that one? Well, last night as I was reading it to her, I tapped my finger on the different colours on the page, red, blue, orange, yellow, green and purple, and little Catie as she was reading the book to herself, each time she turned the page, she copied me by doing the exact same thing. It was all I could do to keep from laughing. See, children do learn by example! If that isn't a scary thought to all adults around little kids, I don't know what is!

After breakfast I pulled down some age-appropriate toys-puzzles, blocks to string, stacking items and words/picture matches and she and her Pappa played with them over and over again. Tiring of those activities we moved onto stickers, then snacks and a trip to the local pool.

A close-up of the masterpiece now hanging on our fridge.

At first, Catie was a little hesitant at the pool. It is such a big place, so many people, and quite loud, and I think perhaps her first time to a big pool, so she found it overwhelming. After about an hour of walking around the edges, and allowing her Pappa to hold her in the water (but not really that enthusiastically) Nanny decided that we should go home. As we were walking back to the change rooms I asked her if she wanted to wade in the water before we left-she did-and then she got playful and daring and ultimately just loving it-it was an amazing turnaround to watch her go from a little gal who really didn't want to be there to kneeling in the water, trying to float, kicking her feet, and "saving herself" as she proudly claimed when she fell down.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. She, Pappa and I had a wonderful time together, just the three of us. It was wonderful to have some precious two-on-one time. Playing, watching, learning from each other. What a little blessing she is.

A couple of things I had never realized were:

one, how much this little doll giggles, and

two, how quiet our house is after a great visit!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-27T23:01:00.002-07:00

This is the Week That Was

2008-08-24T21:45:00.016-07:00

The last few weeks have been a little hectic, flu for a few days (all better), then two weeks ago, 3 dental appointments on one day (can I hear the awwwwwww!) and unbeknownst to me, while I was dreading the dental appointments, my good friend Dr. Doug decided that perhaps 2 extractions (not, for the price of one, I might add), might be in order! It was the 2nd, unexpected one that was the more difficult of the two. Thankfully my beloved shepherded me through the long, difficult day and got me home safe and sound. What a doll he is, and I am happy to report that they are healing up well, but now I have a tooth that is turning BLUE!!!! and I don't mean, BlueTooth Tehnology!, so I fear another appointment is in my future, grrrrrr!

Killing time on Richmond Flatlands, our old stomping grounds.

D-Day before the day's trauma began!

On the Saturday following the dental work, my talented niece by marriage, held a baby shower for her sister-in-law, who also happens to be my sister's daughter-in-law! It was a very hot Saturday, but with wonderful fans, lots of water, and great food and family in attendance it was such a lovely time. I can't wait for my Great-Niece or Great Nephew to put in their appearance and neither can my sister Maddie! Quite honestly I'm not sure who is more excited, my nephew and niece, or my sister! We are all so delighted for them. This will make number Ten Great -Grandchild for my mom and I think the stork is wending its' way to our family yet again so an even dozen is coming up! Now since my Daddy was a baker, of course my lovely mom is hoping for a Baker's Dozen-time and tides will tell! And we can all only dream of hope that too will come to pass. We keep our fingers and toes crossed that that day won't be too far off!

Our beautiful Angela with Babes on Board!

Last Sunday afternoon my beloved dropped me off at our daughter April's and Number Two son, Nick's, for a stint at looking after our adorable little Abby! Nanny and Abby had a blast of a week. Neither sun (which made nary an appearance until it was time to return home), nor rain (of which we had a fair share) dampened our spirits. Abby and I really got to know each other, which included waking her up in the morning (momma insisted that we get her back to her Childcare hours), and having the most delightful cuddles with her as she woke up, were highlights of my stay there. Playing This Little Piggy, singing Old MacDonald (she loves hearing my singing-no critic she!!), playing, and giggling were the order of the day, plus our daily morning walks between the August rains, made for a perfect visit. And of course being the new little walker that she is, we all saw lots of progress in her speeding around the house on her new found little pins! There is nothing cuter than a little one when they are learning to walk-arms extended, like tiny robots! Too sweet.

Abby's beauty regime: First, you smear your hair with peanut butter then, you go to a birthday party Nanny!

Abby's handiwork. I don't know about you, but I was impressed!

Abby's 1st Birthday Invite (not cousins!)

No Photos Please Nanny! Abby in walking mode.

Playing in a makeshift cage!

On Tuesday it was my beautiful Carly's 6th Birthday! Sorry I didn't get to do you a Blog my darling, but I can tell you all, that this little 6 year old is a joy and a delight. Her smiles light up a room, she gives the best hugs in the world and has learned so much that I sit in awe of her abilities! It has been so much fun watching her grow into up to be a six year old!

Our 6 Year Old! Isn't she adorable?

Two highlights of our time together also included a visit from Abby's cousins on Wednesday morning. Prior to their visit I kept repeating all of her cousin's names hoping that when Wednesday came, she would know who was visiting. The only name she spoke was "Coco". (But at dinner that night she made a stab at saying all of them!) All of the children loved being around each other, lots of smiles and carrying and playing. It was fun to watch. I don't think Cathy and I spoke more than a dozen words to each other during the short visit, but we most certainly did share a lot of laughter.

Hello mum? Where are you? There are alot of cousins here!

Playing around at Aunty's!

Cousin Claire making sure her cousin gets in on the action!

Make a wish darling Girl!

Eating the Birthday Cupcakes, Picnic Style!

Sorry Coco, no cake for you!

On Thursday my last day at Abby's, her baby cousin Ella dropped by with her momma, Aunty Jolene. What a perfect little doll she is. It was so nice to watch Abby with all of her cousins and two of her aunties. Thank you April and Nick for blessing me with this wonderful opportunity, to be privy to her world.

Can you say cute?

With Aunty Jolene and Cousin Ella!

Pappa's little charmer!

The beautiful flowers from April! Thank you honey.

I rarely mention our third daughter Amy in my blogs, I don't know why that is, but I can tell you life is good for our "little girl". She's our travelling girl, and in October she's going to Maui for her friend's wedding which happens to be on Amy's birthday. I can feel Amy's excitement building already! What's the saying in Hawaii? "Just Hang Loose!"

A beautiful floral bouquet from a "secret" admirer! I'll never tell.

This week, won't be quite as busy, but Catie Girl, who keeps on telling us, that "I am a big girl", will finally be sleeping over at our house! And Pappa and I can't wait.

It is so hard to believe that summer vacay is almost over. I remember when our girls were smaller this was my least favourite time of year knowing they were returning to school and our New Year was beginning again. I am relieved now that I don't need to go out and buy each of them new outfits, new gym shoes, new school shoes, coats and umbrellas and school bags. If you are one of those parent's in the midst of doing this, you have my condolences! I am so very happy I am retired! The torch has been passed.

I hope this last week of "summer" will be a good one for each and everyone of you!