Visiting the Nursery

My little girl and i went to the Nursery.

Sandhill Nursery, to be exact.

Yesterday afternoon.

later this week, 

at the end of the school day

my friend and i were hoping to take our 5 kids

but yesterday i decided to bring my little girl to go check it out.

the theme this year is safari.

Hay animals.

Maze.

(no photos of this)

pumpkins...

lots of pumpkins.

and of course the donkeys.

we had a great time.

Cirque du Soleil: Amaluna

on saturday i had date night with my hubby.

we drove to Toronto

after a stop at my parents' apt. we were on our way.

First stop: Tuckers Marketplace for supper.

where is it?

it used to be there.

oh well...

Boston Pizza for supper.

mmm cactus cut potatoes.

Then to the Big Top.

parking.. no problem.

we were fifteen minutes early

(for entering the outer tent..so 75 mins. early for the show.)

we walked around the streets, 

just checking out the area.

The Toronto Skyline looked amazing.

storm clouds overhead, with some sun fighting through to reflect off some windows.

i didn't bring my camera - 

no photos allowed in the show and i wasn't going to leave it in the car. 

Into the outer tent.

and yes, that's what it was.

ooohhh i love the circus feeling.

Cirque du Soleil gave that feeling but so much more too.

i was there not to watch a variety of acts...

but to watch a performance.

after a chilly wait outside for out door to open.

we were in.

i entered into a different world.

i, honestly, can't describe it.

(believe me, i tried and then had to delete it since it didn't do it justice)

Then it began.

the characters began to mingle in the crowd.

peacocks, drums, clowns, lizard (?)

so much to see, not enough eyes to see it.

a story woven together through circus style performances.

laughter..

mouth dropping awe...

teeth clenching nervousness...

wanting to see everything, but missing some.

Live music, 

playing with the performance, 

guiding it, yet, following it.

i tried.

i don't know how to explain it.

go see one and you'll understand.

the problem with a production like that is..

it has to end.

i anticipate, 

i am in awe

it ends.

we wanted McDonalds Milkshakes on the way back to my parents'.

first location:  

"our system is currently down for 5 - 10 minutes" 

second location:

"we are currently have no milkshakes"

third location:

success!

we wanted to stop at a 4th McDonalds just to see if they could give us milkshakes.

what an amazing date night.

thank you daniel for those tickets.

thank you for loving the arts as i do.

*sorry no pics of the night*

Cirque

This weekend I have the opportunity to go see

Amaluna.

i am so excited.

i have been wanting to see a Cirque du Soleil for a while.

My amazing husband got tickets for my birthday

and this Saturday we go.

a song for September.

This song makes me smile.

simple as that.

hope it makes you smile too.

Terry Fox Run 2012: completed

Sunday was the Terry Fox Run

my parents came up to be here for it.

the plan:

my dad would walk the 5km with Dakota in the running stroller.

Dan would bike with Elijah the 10km.

I would run (no dog this year) the 5km.

*I made my decision*

Sunday morning Dan went down to check out his bike, 

and make sure all the tires, bikes & stroller, had air.

while he worked on the bike the kids went to the basement to join him.

from the basement a noise is heard.

SMACK!

then comes the noise of a child crying...

no, crying is not the word..

screaming.

i knew dan was down there, so i didn't run down.. 

and he didn't call for me. 

when the scream/crying didn't subside i headed on my way down.

He had Elijah in his arms.

the wailing was from our son.

his nose was bleeding and his lip looked as though some of that blood was from it.

We got him upstairs and i sat with him on the couch.

we iced.

he cried.

"mommy, i wish this was after."

after the terry fox run, that is.

he was definitely not feeling up to biking with daddy.

but he wanted to still.

by 10:15 we were on our way to the high school.

with bikes loaded up.

Dan brought his running shoes just in case elijah decided to sit with gramma.

the tears continued.

the blood stopped.

the lip stopped growing.

Elijah didn't want to ride.

correction.

he wanted to ride.

he just didn't feel good enough to ride.

tears stopped but were right there, waiting..

he sat with gramma.

i gave him a hug before we headed out on the run.

"i love you" i said.

"love you too" through tears starting again.

"i wish i could do it." he said..as my tears started...

and...

we were off...

dan and i running, 

me fighting tears.

dakota with papa.

i was so thankful i had dan running with me.

we talked most of the run.

and...

i RAN 5KM.

the past years I walked small sections 

this year i didn't walk once.  

i did it.

we did it.

my dad did it.

elijah is going to ride his bike next year, he says.

bottom right: i'm running for - (and with) my dad.  for Jack Verzyden. for Dr. Hillier.

holding back tears.

we did it. 

dad and kota finishing up.

our terry fox run team this year.

i have a daughter.

i'll be honest.

i always wanted boys.

if i had to have a daughter i wanted her second.

but i wanted my son first.

i was a second, and last, child.

i had an older brother.

if i had to have a girl i wanted her to experience having an older brother.

if i had to have a girl.

i wanted boys.

only boys.

i had a boy first.

"it's a girl"

i heard after the second labor experience.

i actually paused in my reaction.

they were the words i, honestly, expected

but not the words i wanted to hear.

i had a girl.

oh crap..that means girl puberty.

that means girl crazy emotions.

i pray my daughter grows into a woman who seeks God

i pray she has confidence, strength, beauty...

i pray she knows her beauty is in her character not her physicality.

i need to be that example.

oh crap.

i adore my daughter.

she easily laughs.

she easily smiles.

she hugs.

she giggles.

she has crazy energy.

she is adventurous.

she is fearful.

she loves to sing.

she loves to dance.

she has an amazing imagination.

she adores her older brother.

she wants to do everything her older brother does.

she is shy.

she is social.

she loves jokes.

she needs mommy when she is sad.

we have been spending tons of time together since her brother has been in full time school.

i don't know why i, ever, hesitated in responding.

I have a daughter.

i have a beautiful, crazy, adorable girl.

she had my heart when i saw those awesome huge blue eyes.

I love you 'kota-girl'.

don't ever doubt that.

Batman

My little boy was playing with his Batman and his Metroman figures.

he liked that they were both good guys who stopped the bad guys.

after playing for a while he had to come get his shoes on to go to meet the schoolbus.

He walked into the kitchen, looked at batman and then up at me.

E: "Mommy i wish we had Batman where we live."

Me: "oh yeah.  what does batman do?"

E: "he stops the bad guys"

M: "We have people in our town that do that, they're just not batman."

he just looked at batman again, and then, questioningly, at me.

M: "what do the police do?"

E: "i don't know."

M: "do they stop bad guys?"

E: "yeah."

M: "so we don't need batman do we?"

a little smile formed and he looked at batman again.

E: "No."

Thank you to our 'fighters of crime'

side note: this was two days ago.  

he loves batman because he fights the bad guys.  

today he ran either 'fight club' or 'mortal kombat' with is toys.  

all i heard was "Ok...FIGHT!"

too funny.

Terry Fox Run 2012

This coming Sunday is the Terry Fox Run.

i have run the 5km the past 2 years and was determined to work myself up to the 10km.

i started training to do the 10km.

i was on a roll.

i was at about 7km.

i haven't run in 2 months. 

i allowed things to get in the way with my training.

i don't know if i'll run the 10km.

i may debate it even up to the day.

last year i ran 5km (with the dog)

Dan and elijah biked the 10km.

my dad pushed dakota while running the 5km.

(See here for last year's post)

little did we know, at the time, that dad had cancer in his neck.

it was, thankfully, treatable.

i watched my dad endure the chemo and radiation.

i watched his body struggle with the entire process.

his cancer was stage 3, but localized.  

it did not spread.

it did not take his whole body.

it did not take his life.

my kids have their papa, 

he shouldn't have to see the radiation/chemo docs again.

that's what he was told.

(the first time the kids saw papa after all his chemo and radiation were done.  easter 2012)

i watched him deteriorate as the cancer was being fought.

i thought about those who have a wider spread of cancer...

have had cancer diagnosed...again..

those who have radiation and chemo for the rest of their lives.

i thought of the families who don't still have their loved ones because the cancer won.

my dad...

terry fox...

mary williamson...

aunt judi...

aunt jill...

dr. hillier...

jack verzyden...

my cousin Amanda (Boyle)

i am running the Terry Fox run for them. 

(and any others i regretfully forgot to mention)

some of those people would not be alive today if they hadn't had treatment..

some of those people lived as long as they did because of cancer research and treatment..

some of those people will be going through it and are praying the treatment will give them the life they hope to continue living...

it doesn't matter if i'm running the 10km.

it doesn't matter if i'm running or walking the 5km

or biking 10km.

i'm running.

that's what matters.

those names will be on my mind while i run.

who would you run for?

school days: SK edition 2

"Dear Jesus, 

thank you for making school, so i can go to it.

amen."

my little boy's prayer last night.

"Dear Jesus, 

thank you that he loves school this year.

amen."

my prayer last night.

day 3 happening right now.

He has been loving going.

he is excited about going.

his sister wishes she was going on the bus with him.

next year, little one.

School Days: SK Edition

grade:

senior kindergarten (sk)

age: 

five

year in school career: 

second

last week, wednesday i believe, i had the chance to bring my big boy to meet his teacher.

(his teacher from last year had retired)

We went to the same classroom he had from last year
and had a chance to speak with her and allow him to look around and get comfortable.

he had a rough start last year and i figured meeting her would help out the start.

we found out his best friend will be back in his class.

that was a relief.

it was a good meeting.

i found out on the weekend that he will also have a new bus driver.

i received a phone call from said driver on Monday.

our pick up time is a little earlier,
but i was thankful for the phone call, and a brief conversation with her.

there are some changes for our boy, but also some consistency.

praying this second year starts better.

we have decided to send him all 5 days.

i told him that he's going to be in school for the same days that daddy works, and that excited him.

i still don't like a 4 or 5 year old in school all day 5 days a week, 

but he hated missing things at the end of the year.

we'll see how this goes.

i will be open to cutting out a day if it is too much.

"mommy i will make new friends."
as he waited for the bus to stop.  
I know you will, little one, i know.