More House Updates

Back in July we completed the living room renovations and this month we completed the dinning room/kitchen renovations.  We again replaced baseboards and trim and painted but left the same laminate flooring.  Even though we didn't have carpet to rip out and replace with new flooring it felt like a big job.  Probably had something to do with painting around all the cabinetry.  Les as always did an awesome job! 

Kitchen

Dining Room

Next is the front entrance but that's a couple months away!

Out and About

The kids were off, Les was off, the sun was actually shinning so it was the perfect day to head out and enjoy it all!  We decided that North Vancouver was our area of destination, not only could we go shopping at a couple specialty stores in the area but we could also accomplish another one of our 'Things to do in August' list (we got a little side tracked due to Adrianna's dislocation).

A Skinny Pig we saw at the Pet Store

With shopping completed we headed first for Lynn Canyon and it's Ecology Centre. We first checked out the Ecology Centre.........

Could it be a Smurf house??

What animal do you measure up to??

Then it was off to the suspension bridge (far from a priority for Les)!  However, when we got to the bridge it was really busy with tourists so Les decided we should walk one of the trails (anyway to procrastinate).  We started a trail that would lead us to Twin Falls Bridge and loop us around to the other side of the suspension bridge (this would mean he's only have to cross once). 

We quickly realized that with Adrianna still recovering from her knee injury there was no way she'd be able to do the trail so she and Les headed back towards the suspension bridge while Eli and I continued.  Eli and I also quickly learned that we were not equipped for this hike.  No water, plus flip flops and rain boots are not the most ideal!

A much need rest from stairs!

Mother Nature is amazing!

Finally making it to the bridge we found Les and Adrianna waiting for us on our side.  This now meant that poor Les had to endure crossing the bridge one more time!  Why he crossed in the first place is beyond me?!  A guy thing?!??

Holding on for dear life!!

Heading across for the 2nd time!

 Realizing we were all starving from our adventure in Lynn Canyon we headed to the grocery store for some snacks and head up to Cypress Mountain view point to eat and relax. 

It just didn't seem to be Les's day.  First the suspension bridge and then an incident with dog poo at the view point that had me peeing myself laughing.  He was getting kind of mad at me but it was VERY funny, although I'm sure I would have reacted with much more dramatics!
We then headed to Lighthouse Park located just off of Marine Drive in West Vancouver.  75 hectares of virgin temperate rain forest, this park is home to some of the largest Douglas Firs in Vancouver. 

In the future we'll check out both areas again but next time prepared for hiking with proper footwear, water, camera (all these pictures taken with ipod), food, etc.

Our Family of Four

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my husband and children. 

It's just one of those days where I absolutely appreciate all that they teach me and the time that we have together.  Whether we're shopping together, working on chores together, cooking together, doing homework together, playing together, laughing together, yelling together, crying together, etc. I appreciate it all!  We may not always be the happiest family and may not always express ourselves in the best way but for the most part we show and express that we care for each and that means more then anything in the world to me!

I LOVE my family of 4

The New School Year Is In Full Swing



Eli's Project - Video Games (had to pick what interests him)

The kids 2011-2012 school year has started and boy what a kick off it has been!  We've had projects, tests, title pages, artwork completed and handed in as well as presentations ready to give.  It's only the 2nd week of school!! 

Adrianna is in grade 7, her last year of elementary school - yipes is all I can say!!  I CAN'T believe she's that old already.  My sweet, sweet girl.  I'm not ready for all this growing up stuff is there anyway it can be slowed down?

Eli is in grade 5, full of energy and ready to jump in with both feet.  I just keep asking myself how is it that time goes by so fast? 

Service for the Community

Well after months and months of talking, planning, organizing, etc. the day arrived!

What a fantastic couple hours this morning it was! Les was the driver while Adrianna, Eli, my girlfriend Cassandra, her daughter Savannah and myself walked around the same route we walked 6 days ago only this time to pick up the filled grocery bags of food for our local food bank. Then it was off to the church to drop off all the bags and help unload the continual stream of filled cars.  What an eye opener to see just how generous the community has been. Bags upon bags upon bags of food weighed, separated, loaded into banana boxes, loaded onto trucks and delivered directly to our local food bank.

THANK YOU to all those that donated it touched our hearts to see how willing people were to help out the less fortunate within our own community.

**UPDATE**The results are in! 153, 960 addresses visited, 14,752 hours of volunteer time, 247, 605 pounds of food collected, $672, 852 value of support raised! Thank you SO much everyone! What an amazing job!

Adult Band 101

It's official! As of last night Les and I (my sister Trish too) are members of the ABC Band (Adult Beginner Concert Band). Les is playing his electric upright bass (arco/bowing) and myself playing my oboe (Trish playing a double french horn).

I have to admit I was pretty nervous about this new endeavor but after last night I'm pretty excited. Admittedly I never thought in a million years that I'd find myself in an adult concert band. It's going to be great learning a new musical instrument, meeting new people and doing something we have the same interest in - playing music no matter how experienced or inexperienced we may be!

A Reminder

Going through medical records trying to find a certain document and I came across this (you might to need to click on it to read it better).......

Adrianna at the age of 8 wrote this

It NEVER gets old and ALWAYS makes me cry like a baby.   The interesting bit to this document is that I didn't know anything about it until the last day of grade 3.  She and I were throwing out a bunch of her old school work and I just happened to glance down at the right moment.  Behind closed doors that day I cried and cried and cried.  Oh, how I CHERISH this piece of paper.  It's one of very few emotional expressions I got from her throughout that whole experience.

I DON'T need reminders of what I went through but I DO need reminders of how much it affected ALL of us and at times still does.

Just a Quick Vent

For the most part our medical system has been INCREDIBLY good to me.  However, these past few weeks I've had frustrating moments.........  I couldn't book an appointment to see my Gynaecologist because it's been over 6 months; this meant needing to go back to my family doctor to have a new referral sent.  After seeing my Gynaecologist I've decided to check out some information myself (while he does his own research) with the Oncologist I had when going through breast cancer.  Not so simple.  Yes, I'm still in the BCCA System and always will be but can't actually talk to the Oncologist or any for that matter because I've been discharged.  So.....back to my family doctor to either a) get a referral to speak to the Oncologist or b) hope the doctor can phone the Oncologist and get the answers I'm needing (I'm aiming for this one).  If nothing else my family doctor must be getting paid well for all the visits I'm making just for referrals and that's my vent for the day!!

 **NOTE**Health issue is female related so no need to worry

Matter of Fact Thinking

At the Optometrists office today with Eli who tried to inform the Optometrist that he DOESN'T need glasses. The doctor informed Eli that he's farsighted and so glasses would make his eyes not have to work so hard. Kind of like wearing his running shoes. He doesn't have to wear them but his feet sure are more comfortable and feel better. Eli interjected that no he's only wearing runners because his sandals broke at school today! Oh brother!!!!

BC Thanksgiving Food Drive

The BCTFD Project is a province wide initiative that helps feed thousands across BC who rely on food banks for their basic nutrition needs. 

This evening the kids and I along with my friend Cassandra and her daughter Savannah delivered bags to 166 homes and are looking forward to picking up the filled bags this Saturday, September 17th!  Feels great to be able to do something for our community.

Happy Birthday Les!

Today we celebrated Les's birthday!  Our gift to him was a stand for his electric double bass that he's had since April (leaning up against the living room wall). 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Free is Our Kind of Fun

Eli the Warthog

While the kids and I were out doing some errands this morning we came across signs along the road that read 'free fair'.  We didn't think much of it until we passed the free fair and saw all the fun that was taking place and new we needed to join in!

Eli the Santasaurus

What we found ourselves at was the Northridge Carnival which is put on by the Northridge Foursquare Church.  The kids received free game tickets, free hot dogs, chips and drink, free tattoos, free face painting and played on free bouncy castles and at the wacky photo booth.  Plus lots of free fun prizes won.

Goodies the kids picked out!

Two and half hours later in the hot, hot sun we headed home with a face painted warthog that was sadly sweating away the paint and some fun prizes picked out from the games the kids participated in. 

It's fun to be spontaneous and jump into something that leaves one filled with smiles, laughter and the feeling of pure enjoyment!

All for a Feline

Les spent a few hours in the garage finding scraps of wood and carpet to make a new scratching post for Rudy.  It seems his hard work hasn't gone to waste - mind you that could be because of all the catnip he spread on it!!