Pic Update

Due to the extraordinarily long stretch between posts, I'm going to keep it as quick and simple as possible.

We took the kids to get a haircut and Kate was
more that happy to get a was, cut and dry!!

She walked around like Queen Bee all around the salon

Despite the funny face, Owen also got a great cut. Finally!!

It was a beautiful Fall morning calling out for some
family time so we put the bikes in the truck and had a
ride around Albion Hills. Both kids did amazing

Owen and Rob took off a did a bit of easy trail riding,
a first for Owen and he loved it

Tailgate picnic after the ride

The last Sunday in October, Bolton holds a 10k fun run.
The kids did a 1km run and Rob did the 10k. Everyone got
a medal and toque for their efforts and even tough it rained
we all had an amazing run

They had a free chili lunch for all runners and a lot of
entertainment for the kids

Cheering Daddy at his finish! Yeah!!

We got everyone home, dried off then recostumed for a friends
Halloween party. I didn't see the kids for several hours and I loved it

Both kids have suddenly grown so most of their pants
were too short. I managed to whip together a couple
bottoms one afternoon thankfully

Halloween dinner, Chicken and bug soup
(dyed pasta)

and Lava buns. (simple dinner roll topped with a rice
flour slurry which cracked when baked)
The kids took some convincing that dinner was ok to eat.
they weren't impressed

They had an amazing time trick or treating and were very
happy to pile it all together and share

People in the neighbourhood were getting rid of
their Fall displays and were offering free bales of
hay so I went around town collecting bales
to cover our garden for the winter.
This made me a very happy gardener indeed 

Another fun morning walk to school, looks like
someone had a joke to share

This was last night a 5pm. If you look closely you can see
some very fat flakes of snow falling. This pic is just so
Canadian to me!

This was this morning

The excitement level here is through the roof!!

THREEEEEEEE

Kate celebrated her third birthday on the 14th, WOW

For an entire week it was all about singing happy birthday, reading birthday themed books and playing birthday baker. She was just a wee bit excited!

My parents were visiting the week before so an early birthday
celebration it was. Balloons, party hats and presents

I made up cupcakes in icecream cones, something I
remember from my childhood. Topped with chocolate
and vanilla swirl icing, they were a hit

Kate wanted a rainbow party so sprinkle cake mix
to the rescue.

The following week was time to get some serious cake
baking done

Four of the six layers. I thought I has three pans but
only had two so baking took a lot longer that planned

No idea how I did it, but I managed to pull this
together without Kate noticing

She was so excited to have another birthday party and
another cake!

Leanne, Sean and Maggie joined us which was really fun, I loved
having everyone join us

Kate loved her rainbow cake and I was pretty proud
of what I was able to create

Might of even had a piece for breakfast

Summer Vacation is Already Over!

Wow!! With only one post in July and none in August it was obviously a busy summer here.
School has started and I'm hoping to get back into a regular routine again, being sure to look after myself as well as everyone else!

Owen went on a 2 week camping adventure with my parents so Kate
and I did a few girls day at the splash pad in Albion

 

We went up to Bancroft to pick up Owen and spent
a couple days relaxing and enjoying our time together

Early July and our garden was looking really happy

First picking from the garden. Beets, zucchini
and spring onions

It was time to head back to mu parents so a trip to the
bulk store for some road snacks, so
many choices

Our two sweethearts

Owen made a very impressive boat with Grandpa and
both kids had so much fun playing with it

Our main purpose of this trip was the Bancroft Gemfest
which was amazing. We all had so much fun exploring

Leanne joined us a couple days later so we did some fabric
dyeing. This is cochineal, a small bug found only on a
specific cactus in only two regions in the world

And they create the most incredible red dye 

I was able to get some Christmas presents made with my Indigo dye

 

Mid August and the garden harvest was starting to
look a bit more varied and delicious

It was time for Kate to move up to a bigger bed as Sean and Maggie will
be needing a crib soon, of course this is what I get when I ask
for a smile for the camera!

After dinner hike, whoopie cushion and all

We spent the day at a local provincial park enjoying a picnic,
beach, playground and family canoe adventure. The kids were
amazing during our hour plus of paddling

First day of Grade 2 French! Owen was so excited to start
as he has the same excellent teacher as he had last year! She
is teaching a 2/3 split and he was one of the 6 chosen from
his grade 1 class. Yes, Mom bragging going on here for sure

Summer Fun

The weeks have flown by at an incredible rate, Owen finished grade one french with amazing results and then took off with my parents for 2 weeks to the East Coast camping, Kate is quickly developing from a toddler to a kid and it's so much fun to watch, Rob has been working on a bunch of projects/renovations around the house and I've been fighting a vicious war against the potato bugs at our garden plot as well as trying to get my sewing mojo back enough to start some form of small business. So, with all that said, here's a selection of photos from the past 6 or so weeks

A couple of days after my radiation we received our compost
and straw delivery at the garden. Thankfully my Mom and
Rob took over and got it all spread out and the kids helped
plant out 17 tomato plants!

Rob and Kate went out for a drive and came home with
this gently used bike and she's been loving it so much

I was still needing rest and recovery and I was doing my
best to do so

Owen went to his first camping trip with Beavers. He had
only signed up 2 weeks before but was really excited to
join everyone on the trip

He didn't know anyone but had an incredible weekend

The happy and tired camper at pick up

I was pleasantly surprised by the 8lb haul of rhubarb

Canada Day crazies

The weather was starting to get warmer so while Owen
was in school Kate and I went to visit Aunt Leanne

We spent the entire time at the newes splash pad
right around the corner from Leanne

Stylish just like her Aunt

Original to the house which is around 40 years old, it
was time for this beast to go. We also got the furnace
replaced and the air vents balanced. Our energy bill has
dropped dramatically and all three floors of the house
are withing 1 degree of each other.
What an improvement

Good morning snuggles

The only time she eats lettuce greens is when she picks
it herself from the garden, of course!

Last day of school excitement. Yes, Kate is still
in her pj's, we haven't had out lattes yet!

Grade one complete and it's time for a run through the sprinkler

I made a batch of sourdough english muffins and will
never be buying store bought again! Amazing

This is my sewing mojo that I was referring to.
Cloth pads. I have been sending these out and getting
tester feed back with very positive reviews so far. I still want
to do some more work on them but am happy so far

Owen's teacher released a couple of monarch butterflies
while he was away with my parents so Kate and I
went and watched the release

She loves helping me in the kitchen, busted for licking
the bowl!

We went up to my parents to pick up Owen from his
awesome adventure and decided to stay for a few days

Of course it involved a trip to the ice cream shop

And I'm Back!!

It's been an interesting few weeks, nothing like recovering from surgery thankfully.
On May 21st I was at Toronto Western bright and early for my treatment, to start my day off I was fitted with this lovely cage, waited, had a CT scan, waited, got rolled into the radiation room, waited, and finally was strapped into place for my 70 min treatment. I kept falling in and out of sleep as it was incredibly quiet in there.

I was monitored for about an hour after then sent home. That was it.
By the time we reached home I was starting to feel nauseous and went to bed. I remained nauseous for a couple of days and the only other side effect was extreme exhaustion which lasted for a couple of weeks. My Mom stayed the week which allowed me to rest as much as possible, which I did!  I still get tired pretty quickly if I don't take breaks throughout the day but I am definitely feeling so much better already. Fingers crossed that this has stopped the growth, I go back in six months for a follow up MRI and we then continue to monitor it for the next few years.

And to be honest, I really hope that this is the last time I write about my little uninvited friend.