Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary to us!

 

 

On October 9th Cal and I celebrated 10 years of wedded bliss!!  It really doesn't feel like it's been 10 years.  As I was looking back on our wedding photo's, it is amazing how fast 10 years have gone by.  October 9th, 2004 sure was a fun, love-filled day!  I'll never forget our wedding day.  There were some unplanned memorable moments that will always make us laugh and many love-filled, fun, beautiful moments that we will treasure forever. Over the past 10 years we've had our ups and downs and everything in between but at the end of the day, every day, I thank my lucky stars for my loving husband and the beautiful family and life we have built together.  Together the hard times are bearable and the good times are even better :)  We are a great team, Cal Cameron!

 

So much has changed in 10 years.  A move, career changes, a little bit of travelling, new friends, new experiences and of course, three amazing children!  We are very blessed and thankful!

 

I am not sure what the next 10 years will bring but I am sure they will pass just as quickly as the first 10.  So here's to making them just as memorable and amazing as the first 10!  Love you so much, Cal :)

 

xo Tracy

Reality Check

I've received some really sad news this weekend.  On Friday I learned a high school classmate has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  We weren't terribly close but acquaintances and although high school was 16 years ago, most days it feels like just yesterday.  So when I heard this sad news, of course I automatically thought of the person and all my memories relating to the fun and good times in high school.

Then this morning a friend called to let me know that her husband has been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  He was admitted to the UAH one month ago, due to frequent falls.  Now after one month, a tumor has been found and he has been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  He started chemotherapy on Friday.  They believe they've caught it early and the hope is after 4-6 months of chemo and possibly radiation he will be transferred to the Glenrose to learn how to walk again.  This news is devastating and my heart goes out to my friend and her family.  They have a little girl, who is almost one.

Of course there are terrible things that happen in our world and in our own communities daily.  But when the news is close to home, it seems to 'hit home' harder.  My prayers and thoughts are with these two friends.  My heart breaks for them and I am at a loss for words.

This is a reminder to hug your loved ones tighter, don't sweat the small stuff and love like there is no tomorrow.  Because you just never know what tomorrow might bring.

xo

It's a looth tooth!

Em has a loose tooth!!  She was complaining at supper time about having trouble biting her food.  I told her not to worry, she has a dentist appointment next week.  She continued to complain so Cal took a look and proclaimed, "I know the problem!!  You have a looth tooth (a favorite line from a Bernstein Bears book we love!)!"  Em was squealing with excitement - visions of $100 bills in her eyes ;)  lol!!

Then the questions started, "Will there be blood?  I might get a little bit scared if there's blood."  "Will it hurt?"  "What if I swallow it?"  Oh Em, always thinking of every possibility!

I have to admit, I was a little bit sad when I felt that teeny-tiny, little baby tooth wiggle (she has the smallest little chicklets!!).  I felt like she wasn't old enough, when in reality she really is.  Just not ready for her to be old enough, I guess ;)

So the tooth fairy will soon be visiting our home again, this time for Miss Em!  I am definitely taking a photo of her beautiful baby-toothed smile, tomorrow morning :)

After feeling slightly emotional over a baby tooth (pull it together, Tracy!), at bedtime Em asked me, "When I'm older you won't have to tuck me in or sing me a song, will you?"  Slow the *bleep* down, Emerson ... seriously!  I told her that soon enough she will be an adult and she might not live with Mom and Dad anymore, so for the time being we should enjoy this special time together and that we will tuck her in and sing her songs for as long as she likes (which in reality will probably not be as long as I would like!)!  She's so independent, that girl but then at times not - perfect 5 year old ;)

This week has been a very good week at school for Em!  She has been excited at the end of day.  Previous weeks have not been so exciting.  She has told me that Kindergarten is boring and there's been a few days where she has complained that Kindergarten is soooo long, she doesn't get to see me for soooo long.  This last complaint really surprised me!  Kindergarten is only 1/2 hr longer than preschool.  But I think the bus ride at the end of the morning really feels long to her!  A few days into bussing, I requested that she sit with her friend Nathan and since then the bus ride has been more fun :)  I also think Emerson is having more fun this week because 1) They each have their own iPads now (duh, what child wouldn't find that exciting!!) 2) They began 'letter of the week' at the beginning of October and she is coming home every day with new French words 3) Kindercooking has begun and she got to bake monster cookies this week!

We love you so much Em and can't wait for the tooth fairy to visit you!!

xoxo

Mom

Yes ... errrr ... no?!

I have a hard time saying no ... especially when it comes to helping out with anything to do with my children!!  Actually, mostly when it comes to volunteering with anything to do with my children!!  I can say no quite easily to most anything else, when I come to think about it!  Do I get that from you, Mom?!

So that has lead me to quite an interesting volunteer 'career' (seriously, I feel like this is almost a full time job ... on top of my full time job, oh and my part time job!!) ... Including Lago Lindo Preschool President, which also encompasses a position on the Lago Lindo Community League Board, Secretary of the Ecole Bishop Savaryn Parent Council, Scholastic Book Order parent for Em's class, Treasurer for Blake's hockey team and assisting on the ice during Em and Reese's ringette!  It's busy, busy, busy but fun and I really enjoy it all!!

The kids are definitely not used to me being away much at bed time but now 3 Tuesdays a month I have board meetings.  It was funny, because I didn't expect them to really care but they do ... awww, they really do love me ;)  I do think they might be used to it now!  Little turkeys!

I had visions of spending 3 mornings a week working out at the YMCA while Reese was in preschool (by mornings, I mean 9-11) but instead I've been volunteering on field trips and doing volunteer work :)

Cal is also a busy, busy man!  His new job is busy and he is head coach of Blake's Novice hockey team.  I'm speaking for him but from what I can see it's like coaching thirteen 7 & 8 year old's and three 2 year old's ... (you guessed it, the 2 yr old's being parents!!!)!  Kidding aside, they have a great hockey team, some wonderful parents, awesome kids and I foresee a lot of growth and a lot of fun this season!!  Cal was also recently asked to be a Coach for Bauer's 1st Shift Program, which is a hockey program for 6 to 10 year old's who have always wanted to try hockey but have never played.  Bauer outfits the kids and coaches in equipment and host's a 6 week program.  Cal is assisting his friend Dale.  The sessions run every Saturday afternoon for 6 weeks.  It sounds like a great program and I am so proud of Cal for taking on these roles, sharing his love and knowledge of hockey :)

I am extremely grateful for these opportunities and for the time we have to devote to our children's school's and activities!  Not complaining at all .... but I really should work so 'me' time in to the schedule somewhere ... oh, and some sleep would be good ... all a work in progress ;)

ttyl!
Tracy

More back to school pics because they're just so darn cute!!

Emerson was soooo excited to receive a postcard from her Kindergarten teacher a few weeks before school started!!  What a great idea!

Emerson at the First Rider's event at Northlands.  Learning the ropes of riding the bus ;)

Our cuties, 1st day of school for Blake, staggered entry day for Emerson

I always promise a silly face picture if they give me one 'nice' picture!!

Ready for school!

The girls are in good hands

Staggered Entry day is over, she loved it!

We now have to get used to referring to Bishop Savaryn as Em and Blake's school!!

Rainy day - Em's first full week of Kindergarten

Finding her hook!

Reese's 1st day of preschool!

Goofy kids!!

My baby, all grown up, excited to head into preschool!

Reese loved her 1st day of preschool!

Excited to see Dad at pick up time on her 1st day of preschool!

Reese joins in the fun!!

Reese's 1st day of Preschool was September 10th.  The poor girl had to endure listening to her siblings talk about how much fun school was for over a week before joining in the fun!!  I wasn't sure how Reese would react to being dropped off at preschool - turns out she's a veteran ;)  She was so excited and happy and independent!!  When I parked at preschool and went to undo her car seat, she said, "Bye Mom!!"  I told her I would at least escort her to the school and say good bye in the classroom!!  No hesitation from her :s  From watching Em at preschool the last few years, she knows the routine quite well!  She is loving preschool, loves the crafts, the stories, the lessons, the songs, her teachers and her classmates!  It breaks my heart just a little bit, to see her so independent and growing up so fast.  But I am very, very proud of her and very, very happy for her!  It's fantastic that she now has her own 'school' and friends :)  Here are a few photo's of Reese on her first day of Preschool!

2 Thumb's up for Preschool!

Reese did not want to wear a jacket and rubber boots on her first day - darn AB weather ;)

Miss Reese in her classroom :)

Em's first days of Kindergarten!

Emerson's staggered entry date for Kindergarten was on the 2nd of September!  She spent 1 hour in her classroom, with 6 other classmates.  She had a blast but was upset that she could not go back until the following Monday!  Staggered Entry is a bit of a tease for all the students who are more than ready to start!!  Emerson's teacher is Mme. Cena.  She is a good friend of a friend of mine and so I've been hearing how fabulous she is ;)  Emerson made sure to say "Boujour!" to Mme. Cena and is very interested in learning new French words and even more interested in impressing Mme. Cena ;)  Emerson's little buddy, Nathan, is in the same class as her.  She was excited to be in the same class as Nathan.  Nathan is the younger brother of one of Blake's best friends and Nathan and Emerson played on the same soccer team.  The 4 of them are all basically joined at the hip and it was nice that Emerson had a familiar face in her class!  Emerson's first full morning of Kindergarten was on the 8th and that was also the first day she rode the bus home from school!  We went to the school to watch her get on the bus and then rushed home to wait!  She ran off the bus and right in to my arms :)  She was very excited to see us!!  I love those moments :)  She is enjoying school but has asked if she has to take the bus.  She finds the ride long and told me, "It's so long before I get to see you Mommy."  That really tug on my heart strings :s  She does need to take the bus because Reese's preschool is over at 11:15 and she is dismissed from Kindergarten at 11:22.  There is an approx. 10 minute drive between the preschool and school, so I would never make it to the school in time for Kindergarten dismissal.  Nathan recently started riding the bus and I requested they sit together, so I'm hoping this will help her enjoy the bus ride a little more!  As far as school goes, she is loving Kindergarten and learning so much already!  She comes home with new French words and many stories every day.  She is very excited about their upcoming field trip to Sobey's!  We are excited for Em and look forward to seeing her grow during this school year :)  Here's a few pics of Em on her first days of Kindergarten!

Staggered Entry Day!

Off to her first full morning of Kindergarten!

Found her name!

She's home!!