Thank You!

Thank you for all your kind words. Life is going on in our house, but it just doesn't feel the same. Anyone with kids will laugh, but our house is too quiet. We keep imagining that we hear or see Shadow.

People who don't have pets or who are not pet people think we are a little bit crazy. I think it has hit me more than anyone else. Just thinking about him brings tears to my eyes.

The kids would like a new pet. I am definitely not ready for another one. When we are, we will probably get a dog. Zach is hoping it will be this summer. We will see.

In the meantime, we try and think about all the wonderful times we had with him, and read such heart-warming comments from all of you.

It really helps, so thanks from all of us!

It's a Sad Day in our House!

It's a sad day in our house. Today we had to say goodbye to our beloved cat Shadow. My husband and I rescued him from the SPCA 3 months after we were married. He was born on the day we were married. He was a very special part of our family.

We have known for a week that he was getting worse from complications from diabetes. We told the kids on Saturday to prepare them. Needless to say they were very sad.

It hit Zach very hard. He cried on and off on Sat. and Sun. Dahlia spent more time cuddling Shadow over the weekend. Noah said he would miss him.

We took tons of pictures of him and the kids said goodbye one last time before they went off to school.

The vet kept assuring us that we were doing the best thing, but it doesn't make it any easier. I think it's harder for me and Carmi. The house seems so empty without him. I am going to miss his morning wake up calls letting us know that it was time for breakfast. I am going to miss his little meowing "tell off" letting us know that we left him at home alone too long. Most of all I am going to miss his little face and soft fur. He loved it when you rubbed right under his chin. He always seemed to know when you needed a little cuddle.

We held a "wake" for Shadow tonight. We ordered pizza and reminisced about how he loved to try and get into the pizza box and try and snitch a piece of pizza. We watched SpongeBob in his honour (I'm not sure why...maybe it was the fish thing!) and we looked through pictures of when Shadow was a kitten.

We know that you are in cat heaven Shadow. WE love you and we miss you. I hope you're up there chasing fish and mice and having a grand old time.

Do you laugh or cry?

First, I would like to thank everyone who has been visiting my site. Illness invaded Levyland last week and this is the first time I've been on since last Monday. Noah had a throat infection and a terrible cold. He past the cold onto his mother. He can never say that he doesn't give me anything :-)

Now...To laugh or cry?

Do your kids ever do something where you don't know whether to laugh or cry?

We received a fedex package (a big box). It was filled with little Styrofoam peanuts. Last Sunday, very early Sunday morning, Dahlia woke me and asked if she could empty the box as she "accidentally" dropped her ring in it. In a sleepy haze I mumbled yes and turned over (an echo of "I found it!" filled my head) as I drifted off asleep.

As I woke a little while later, I found a floor covered with Styrofoam peanuts. Not just a couple, but entirely covered. You could not see the carpet beneath.

As I yelled for Dahlia she came running and said that I said it was okay. Well I did, but it was 6:30 on a Sunday morning. I didn't really know what she was talking about.

At this point everyone came running. The room was filled with giggles and "Oh my g-d!". We started to pick up the pieces, but the static from the carpet and the peanuts grew. The peanuts were sticking to their pajamas. They looked like they had little white boots on. The peanuts were going everywhere but in the box. The giggling grew and grew. Eventually they started to make "snow angels" on the floor. (I have a great picture of Dahlia and Noah making angels in the snow, but I don't know how to post it.)

They had a great time. We're still finding remnants of the of the peanuts all over the house.

What amusing things have your kids down that you just wanted to pull your hair out?

I'm Back!

It's quite late here (or early, depending on your perspective) but I just wanted to say I am back. It's been a long, tiring week and I just could not get to the computer. I think the weather is getting me down and I feel as though I am coming down with something. I have had that feeling when you feel like you're getting a cold, but nothing develops, and you just feel sort of crappy.

Now that the whinning and excuses are over, I want to talk about some special friends.

Very good friends of ours just had a baby girl a few weeks ago, and they're coming to visit us tomorrow (they live about 200 km away). I can't wait to see them. They are really special friends. Our children call them Auntie and Uncle and they're kids call us the same. Carmi and the husband have know each other since elementary school and the wife and I have know each other since high school.

It's funny how we hung around the same group, but we weren't really friends. We became reacquainted at a mutual friend's bridal shower and really became friends. I consider her to be my closest friend. We are can really count on each other.

I do have to qualify that Carmi is my best friend!

We try to get the 2 families together every 6 to 8 weeks. As much as we would like more...Life sort of gets in the way. Sometimes we speak on the phone 2 or 3 times a week and sometimes we can go 2 or 3 weeks without speaking.

I admit, that sometimes I feel a little guilty not calling her more than I do. As I have already admitted here...I really don't like talking on the phone. It sounds like such a cop-out to say that I'm tired from work and life and once the kids go down, I just don't want to talk to anyone.

However, when we do speak, we always pick up as if it was yesterday.

It's nice having a friend like that.

Do you have a friend like that? Call them and say hello. You'll be glad you did.

When Will I Feel Like a Grown-Up?

When will I feel like a grown-up? I can't be nearly as old as my parents were when their children were the same age as mine. When I was ten my parents were ancient.

My husband and I have been together almost 21 years. (we met when I was almost 17 - a story for another time!) We've grown up together, yet some times I can hardly believe what we've accomplished in those years together. We both recieved degrees, began our carreers, marriage, bought a house, had a child, moved to a new province, bought a new house, had 2 more kids and yet I still feel like that young girl waiting to feel like a grown up.

Some days I feel like I am so old. Doing all these grown up things with so much responsiblities. Other days I wonder how can I possibly have a 10 year old, I'm just not old enough. Okay, I know I am but I don't feel as if I should be old enough. Does that make sense? When did you feel like a grown up?

Out of Mouth of Babes!

The children were thrilled. On the way home from work/school on Tuesday, we picked up the new SpongeBob movie.

How do I really feel about SpongeBob? I love SpongeBob! I admit it. I think he and his friends from Bikini Bottom are a hoot. They makes me laugh. Now for my big secret...for 30 minutes every afternoon there is quiet in my house. All three of my children sit quietly on the couch and watch the show. There is no fighting, nobody is bickering about the channel or the best spot on the couch. Only giggles and many bouts of laughter.

As we watched the movie, there was a scene where Mr. Krabs (owner of the Krusty Krab) is set on fire by King Neptune. He's running back and forth on the screen because his pants are on fire.

As were watching it, Noah pipes up, "He should stop, drop and roll." His siblings, unimpressed, reply "This is so funny!" His parents can only stare at him with wonder and amazement.

They really do take everything in.

"You're right Noah." we reply. He's only 4 and he never ceases to surprise us with his intuitive mind.

While we were marveling at Noah's comment, we chuckled again, "Mr. Krabs, said underwear, Mommy. " and begins to giggle with glee.

Oh, the mind of a 4 year old. It just makes you want to smile.

It's hard to let go!

It's hard to let go and let them grow up. First of all, it can't really be that long since they were babies, and secondly I am not old enough to have children that old! :-> Okay, well maybe I am, but I don't feel that old!

Zachary is 10 and now that he has reached double-digits he's informed us that he is a pre-teen. How can he be a pre-teen when I just brought him home from the hospital?

My pre-teen, my 10 year old, went on his first school ski trip today. Zach has never gone skiing before. I was up all night thinking of different scenarios of what would happen. I worried all day about my little baby.

He had a fabulous time. Zach can't wait to go again. To his horror I kissed him in front of a friend when he came back. I was so glad to see him in one piece!

I guess part of being a parent is knowing when to let go. We have to start letting him go and encouraging him to be more independent.

I love his smile. I love the way he gets so excited with a story that he can't wait to get the words out. I love how he laughs hysterically before he can get to the punch line. I love how much he reminds me of his father.

It's hard letting go, but at the same time it's exciting to see where he is going.