She Can Stand On Her Own Two Feet

I found out the other day that Adrianna stood up to some girls in her class with great dignity and was a shinning example to those around her.

Adrianna and 5 other girls were practicing to perform in the upcoming talent show when suddenly she found herself kicked out of the group. Not sure why and rather upset she was asked to relay what happened to Mrs. O (SEA). Mrs. O listened and without giving any advice asked what Adrianna was going to do about the situation. Adrianna stood tall, looked at the group of girls then turned to Mrs. O and said, "I'm going to hang out with my other friends." Mrs. O was sure to let her know that she handled the situation better then any adult and that she was so proud of her dignity and how she didn't let this unkind group of girls wreck her spirits. The next day another girl was kicked off the team and Mrs. O had a talk with her about now she knows how she made Adrianna feel the day before and maybe next time she should help a friend instead of following the crowd.

I know that Adrianna generally doesn't worry about what other people think and that she definitely beats to her own drum but once in a while I worry because there are times that she seems so quiet, too laid back and easily bossed around. However, Mrs. O sees a girl that is well taught, has strong standards and does not get pushed around, if there is something that she doesn't like she leaves the situation and doesn't care what the others think.

I hate hearing about situations like this where my child is hurt by the cruelty of others, it makes me want to protect her from the outside world BUT I'm so proud when I find out that she has NO problem standing on her own two feet!!

Blubbering Idiot

You know how much I just LOVE showing my emotions (I'm rolling my eyes). This morning was one of those mornings where I TRIED to hide them but there was no way, those tears were coming whether I wanted them to or not (in fact I'm still crying).

There is one week left of school and I always find at this time of year emotions are high for many reasons school is just about done, summer holidays are coming, friends are going to be missed, teachers are going to be missed, etc., etc., etc. So as things are starting to come to an end so are all those routine things like morning reading in Eli's class.

Today was the last morning for parent/child reading and the class had a surprise for the parents. The students lined up in front of the classroom and thanked us all for giving up our time to help them and to help make grade one such a successful year for them. Each child then gave an example of what their parent may have sacrificed to be there reading with them. There were lots of great reasons such as cleaning house, walking, running, yoga, shopping, sleeping, working, etc and then last was Eli with his big smile looking at me said raising money for breast cancer. I think there was an instant ahhhhh across the room (those darn tears are rapidly falling again). We were then served muffins and given a paper flower and card that our children made for us.

Exactly why am I crying? I really don't know. We talk about it and he sees me doing stuff for The Weekend to End Breast Cancer regularly but I guess when I heard it come from my child's mouth it hit home. He sees what I'm doing and he understands. Wow. PLUS today is my first 6 month check up and it just reminds me of how lucky I am to be a survivor and to be a part of wonderful moments like these.

Really I shouldn't be surprised and the other days conversation should have been a clue. I was at the school counting money from the popsicle sales and Eli happened to walk by and asked what we were doing. I told him and he proceeded to ask if the money raised was for my breast cancer. No, I'm at the school its for the school. He figured it was for both. Recently we did a fundraiser for breast cancer and he saw me counting and rolling all the money so I guess when he saw me doing that he automatically put the two together.

My children teach me things all the time and this morning was another one of those great lessons.

Creatures of the 'Not-So-Deep'

Today my sister-in-law Nikki and I took our children up to Belcarra Regional Park where we joined Metro Vancouver and Belcarra Beachkeeper volunteers to learn about the creatures exposed at low tide and living in the ocean nearby. We searched for sea life on a beach walk, played a seashore game, saw subtidal creatures at the pool on the wharf, and made an ocean creature craft to take home. It was LOTS of fun and such a beautiful day!!

The kids (left to right: Keidis, Adrianna, Eli & Kaya) at Creature Craft

Adrianna & Eli engrossed at the Puppet Show

Adrianna & Eli just about finished at Game of Life - Ocean Edition

Learning about crabs at the Rockin' Dock

Adrianna & Eli checking out the Creatures Close Up. They wouldn't touch anything!

Keidis, Adrianna & Eli on the Guided Beach Walk looking for Creatures of the 'Not-So-Deep'. Lots was found!

My hermit crab and starfish!

Off To Dental School

Tonight was a sad but fun night because we were saying farewell and good luck to the Keyes family as they head off on their new adventure to Boston where John will be attending dental school for the next 4 years.

We all got together at my brothers place with his family, my sister Trish, my sister Tamsen and her family (just Les was missing). The cousins ran around inside and out having so much fun playing together while the adults had crazy fun playing a board game inside (would crazy fun be a good description?!!).

Something we did manage to do was get a picture of all the cousins.....who knows when it'll happen again.

left to right: Aiden Keyes, Eli Haddad, Kaya Kenyon holding Ophelia Kenyon, Adrianna Haddad holding Abby Keyes and Keidis Kenyon

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

Let me take you back 14 months ago........it was May 2007 and I was about to go in for major surgery followed soon after with months of treatments......I decided to take my wedding rings off because I wasn't sure how much weight gain and swelling I would endure.

Bring you back to current time July 2008 and unfortunately I am still unable to get my wedding rings back on and trust me I try LOTS. For some reason I really felt that I could get my wedding band on THIS time and I was going to try until it was on. Well.......15 minutes later I did get it on BUT I had a swollen, red finger and a VERY VERY tight ring on! I tried and tried to get it off but of course it just made my finger bigger and redder.

Les and I spent part of our evening last night trying to get the darn thing off! We tried the usual trick of dental floss and soap (we've tried with success in the past) but it didn't work. The Internet is great for many things such as 'how to get a ring off a swollen finger'!! Our next trick was taping my finger really tightly just above the ring to the knuckle, then keeping my hand above my heart for 1/2 an hour, then while my hand was still above my heart icing for another 15 minutes. We then quickly untapped the tape, sprayed my finger with windex and then twisted the ring off......the article said it WOULD work.....it DIDN'T. Needless to say I went to bed with a pounding, swollen, red, sore finger.

I woke up this morning with a pounding, swollen, red, sore finger and I told Les we HAD to get the ring off! So......out came the drummel and the metal cutters. He tried the drummel first (yes, I let him), however, quickly after starting to cut the band my finger become rather HOT! He couldn't understand what the issues was but HELLO there is a metal plate under my ring and now your trying to cut it with a really fast moving metal contraption what do you think is going to happen? Yes, its burning!!!!! Of course, he didn't 100% believe that he was burning me so he had to try again (and yes I let him) well it didn't take long and again my finger was burning. So needless to say the metal cutters quickly snipped my band.

So I now have a swollen, red, scrapped up, blistered finger and this is what my wedding band now looks like.......


...........................guess I'll be heading to a jewelers sometime in the future to get it fixed BUT on the bright side at least I ONLY forced the band on and not my engagement ring too!!!!!

Sunday Outing

It was such a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon and there was no way we weren't going to go out and enjoy it! So we packed up a picnic lunch and this is where we ended up.............

Stave Lake

We went up the logging road about 10 minutes and found a spot to enjoy. The water was crystal clear and not too cold either, probably helped that it was so hot outside and that we had no shade to protect us.

everyone had a blast.....even if some of us LOOKED a little grumpy!!

Really the only downfall was that there was garbage everywhere from campers that decided leaving all their junk behind was okay. Also, because we hadn't planned to go up a logging road we took the car and rocks got stuck in the brake rotor so all the way home we sounded like we were dragging a tin can of rocks! Les spent about an hour taking it all a part to get the two small pebbles out. Oops....guess next time we'll take the truck BUT good thing he's such a handyman!!

Hairdos

The kids and I tracked down Auntie Trish today after school for what I thought was just haircuts/trims but NOPE new hairdos it was! Eli wanted a mohawk?!?!?! So VERY VERY smart Auntie Trish gave him a faux mohawk. Adrianna surprised me with wanting a hair cut and she found a very cute one where the bangs are straight.

It always amazes me how different one looks when a new hairdo is given. Don't they look AWESOME?! Thanks Auntie Trish we love you and your incredible gift of haircutting!!!

NO Strike!!!

In the Vancouver Sun today (click link to read article) it states 'Save On Workers approve new contract'. In our house this means that work will soon be back to normal for Les!!

Temple Construction Update

It was such a beautiful day today and the whole family was home so we decided we'd venture over to Langley to see how the Temple construction is coming along.

Its only been a month and a half since we were last there so there wasn't a huge change but progress nonetheless......such excitement!

Adrianna & Eli with construction of the Temple behind them!

Hot Dog Sale!

We had a VERY successful hot dog sale on Saturday raising just over $500's!!!

THANK YOU to all those that supported our fundraiser and a HUGE thanks to Cooper's Foods for sponsoring the whole event!!

This was taken at the end of the day. Left to Right: Diana, Nikki & Jen (PLUS all the kids)!

It was such a success we'll be back during the August long weekend!

And More Sewing.....

Trish came over again last night to help finish sewing the last 15 girlie bags. I have to say we had quite the efficient system going!

She'll be helping our step mom with a hot dog sale on the Island tomorrow and I'll be doing one at Cooper's Foods tomorrow so we each have 20 bags, lets hope we can sell a bunch!! By the way they are on the website too (or should be soon) if your interested Team ALL FOR ONE

If your in the area PLEASE come out and support us.

Twisted Sister Is In The House

Music is almost always being played in our house and there is no one particular genre you'll hear. However, Les has been introducing the kids to some music videos on YouTube and the band that has Eli bouncing around the house of late is non other then Twisted Sister (of course a couple of their songs are in Les's music library). So he is now constantly humming or singing the chorus of 'We're Not Gonna Take It' everywhere and anywhere.

He thinks these guys are rather goofy and still can't believe that these guys are guys and not girls because of their long hair and make up! Although I don't know how appropriate it is to tell your grade one teacher that she should go onto the goggle website type in Twisted Sister and then click on images to see some funny pictures (images of the band such as the one inserted above)! YIPES.

Sewing, Sewing and More Sewing

Trish and I spent all day making more bags to sell to raise money for The Weekend to End Breast Cancer. By the way all these bags will be added to our current inventory on our website Team ALL FOR ONE unless we sell out at our hot dog sell this coming weekend.