February Update!

Winter finally arrived in February just in time for our trip to Ottawa and skating on the Rideau Canal!

Jason and I went to the Capital City February 9-10-11 to take in Winterlude festivities. I hadn’t skated in over 12 years (and that was just once… before that, was Grade 5!), but I am happy to say we had a great time skating on the canal. Thanks Carolyne for lending me some skates! We took Brayden skating a few times in Oakville before we went to Ottawa so that I could practice, so I was ready to go when we got there. The weather was quite cold, but we were dressed for it. We stayed in a beautiful suite at the Minto Place hotel in downtown Ottawa. Very nice hotel, and we made use of the boardroom in the suite to hold ‘meetings’ to decide our itinerary for the day and recorded it on a flip chart - haha! We had dinner with my cousin Kimberly and her boyfriend Marc, wandered the city, checked out the ice sculptures, skated twice, took in one museum and had two fabulous dinners. It was a great getaway! Here are a few photos from our trip.

Brayden's Birthday!
February 16th marked Brayden’s 11th Birthday. Yes, ELEVEN. Funny how he is getting older and taller, but me, I am still 25 ;) It’s so true – time flies, and kids grow up very fast. Brayden started his birthday on Friday with gifts from Jason and I in the morning and a huge chocolate cupcake for breakfast. He spent the evening with his Dad, Amanda and his brother and then returned home Saturday for his party. My mom surprised Brayden by flying in on Friday night. It was really nice to have her there, it’s been awhile since she was able to spend Brayden’s birthday with us. We took Brayden and his two best buddies, Christian and Matt, to Playdium Saturday afternoon, and then back home for pizza and cake. Auntie went all out (as usual) with decorations, cake, balloons etc. The Frasers joined us too. It was a busy and fun birthday for Brayden. Thanks to everyone for the wishes and gifts!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Wow, it's 2007! That means that Brayden will turn 11 this year, and me, well I started counting backwards after 30, so that will make me 27 in April! haha!

Jason and I went away to a 'cottage' on Rice Lake for the weekend leading up to New Year's Eve with two other couples. It was an absolutely beautiful spot and there was nothing 'cottagey' about this place - we were in no way roughing it, that's for sure. The pine cottage sat on a huge lake front lot with a wrap around porch, two fireplaces, a pool table, four bedrooms and three full bathrooms. It was gorgeous. We spent our time eating and drinking and eating and drinking and eating and drinking some more. It was a relaxing time and great to be away. We watched movies, read, played pool, went for a walk, and just hung out together. It was really great. Thanks to Jason and Sandy and Anne and Gary for inviting us!

Here are some photos of our weekend getaway...

BRAHMAAAAA!

Christmas Has Come and Gone...

I can't believe it - the holidays have come and gone already. I have to admit I was a bit stressed out before Christmas thinking of everything that needed to be done, bought, people to visit, etc. However, after all is said and done, it was a great holiday and we are so lucky to have so much family to visit with. It was a very busy time making sure we fit everyone in, but we did and I am so happy that it all worked out! We had Christmas with my dad at our house a couple of days before the 25th, my mom was here from North Bay to stay with us for a few days (I love being able to have overnight guests now!); we had a great Christmas Eve dinner at Bev and Luigi's; Christmas dinner was with Jason's mom Linda, Alois and his three sons, and Jason's brother Pete and girlfriend Carolyne; and finally we had a lovely meal with Jason's dad Bob, Lanto, and his sisters Carol and Jenny on Boxing Day. Brayden celebrated with his new brother and his dad's family before Christmas so it was really great to have him with us all day on Christmas. Brayden finally admitted to me that he 'knew the secret' and this was the first year ever that he didn't put cookies out for Santa. Each year my mom brings him some 'reindeer food' to sprinkle on the lawn. Brayden obliged Grandma and put on his boots, but on his way outside he told her 'This isn't happening next year Grandma...' It was too funny! I suppose 10 years of him believing was a good run! I had to work between the holidays since I don't have any vacation time built up yet at my new job. Speaking of which...I LOVE my job at the hospital! I won't go on and on about it like I have been doing lately (sorry everyone...) but I am so very happy there and really made a wise decision!

Here are some photos from Christmas.

Our tree!

Christmas with Dad

Brayden's favourite gift - an iPod Nano!

Mom Christmas morning

Kitties under the Christmas tree!

Christmas with Linda, Alois, Phil, Fred, James, Pete, Carolyne, Jason, Mom, Brayden and Me!

Fall Beautiful Fall!

September has come and gone and October has arrived! Where did the summer go? Although I am no longer a full time student, September still feels like a time for new beginnings and the official start of the year. September and October bring the most perfect weather. The humidity of the summer is gone, the sun is lower in the sky and seems warmer, and it feels good to wear a sweater in the evening. I always feel a bit nostalgic in the fall too. I can remember the excitement of starting school each year, the fun my sister and I had jumping in a freshly raked pile of leaves, and looking forward to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. Every year when I see the colours of the leaves changing it feels like I'm seeing it for the first time. The beauty of nature amazes me.

This fall has been very busy so far. Brayden started Grade 5 and is also enrolled in the Kumon Learning Centre to help him with math. So far so good, and he proudly brought home a math test from school with a big 'A' on the top! He is also taking fencing lessons at the Canadian Fencing Academy here in Oakville. Perhaps it's all about the 'sword', but that's OK, he really seems to enjoy it and I think he's progressing very well!

I have enrolled in a course at the Ryerson University School of Continuing Education, and my goal is to complete a 'Certificate in Publishing' in about 2 years. I'm currently taking 'Copy Editing for Books, Journals and Reports'. So far so good, but it does take some discipline I haven't had to exercise in a while when it comes to reading and studying.

We've had a lot of social events this season too - two housewarming parties, apple picking one weekend, Jason went to a Leaf's game, I have had book club twice, and we had dinner for Jason's Mom, Linda and Alois, who both celebrated birthdays in September.

Today is Thanksgiving Day and I have a turkey in the oven. This is the first time in 10 years that I've attempted to cook a turkey. The only other time I did, it was disastrous. I cooked it for three days and it was still frozen in the middle! I'm a bit older and wiser now and I am quite confident that it will turn out this time. Smells good anyway! As I type this my mom is on a plane somewhere over the Atlantic on her way home from Ireland. That means we won't have her here for our inaugural Thanksgiving dinner in our home, but Bev and Luigi, Brayden, and my dad will be here to enjoy it with us.

Jason and I took a long scenic drive to the Niagara area yesterday. It was an absolutely gorgeous fall day and we followed the 'Waterfront Trail' all the way from Lakeshore Road in Oakville right into Niagara-on-the-Lake. This little town is probably my favourite place on earth. I spent a lot of time in this area as my grandparents lived in NOTL when I was growing up. The downtown is so quaint, the tree-lined streets with old Victorian homes are beautiful and the orchards and vineyards as far as the eye can see are breathtaking. Here are some photos from our trip.

Grapes and Vineyard at Inniskillin Winery

Niagara River view from Queenston Heights

A very festive home along the Parkway

My grandparents' former home. I can't go to NOTL without driving by :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Heart & Stroke Walk For Heart

On Sunday, September 24th, I am participating in the Cheerios Heart & Stroke Walk for Heart for the fifth year in a row! Our goal is to raise money in support of heart disease and stroke research and health education programs. The reason? Heart disease and stroke remains the leading cause of death in Canada. As many of you know, my family has a serious history of heart disease, in particular my dad. I have seen first hand the amazing results of research with regard to heart health, surgery and recovery.

You can help me raise funds for this important cause and help the Heart and Stroke Foundation reach their goal of $3.2 million for life-saving research. To sponsor me online, just click the link below to access my secure fundraising page. Or, you may also sponsor me by cash or cheque (payable to Heart and Stroke Foundation).

Thanks for your generous support!

https://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/Secure/Page.asp?PageID=1450&RecordID=85193

copy and paste this link into your browser - or click the link over to the right ---->