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Random Facts About ME!

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?

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!

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

This is the Week That Was

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!

While They Were Waterparking

My beloved and I got up early, that is, early for this retired set and headed over to the 8 C's so that Cameron could go on his surprise Birthday trip.

This is some of what we did while they were slipping and sliding...

Not shown here, Pappa out on the cul-de-sac with 4 little girls-2 riding their bikes, 2 trying to ride a two wheeler with one little pumpkin putting on the brakes as Pappa was running with them-what fun!

Also not shown, the many coloured glasses washed and rewashed as we drank our way through the hot day! Juice and water people! Nanny and Pappa reserved the scotch and 7 until we got home!

Also not shown, the delicious big, red, bing cherries that Pappa picked up at the local market. Picture red cherry juice dripping down the little one's chins-and not one, may I add-drip on the clothing! Gold Star Everyone!!!

It was a wonderful day. And we are so glad Cameron and his Mom and Dad had such a great time too!

A tired, but happy camper!

Happy Birthday Cameron!