All About Us!

OK so I saw this on someone else's blog and thought I would give it a go!


Shawn-- 10 years ago:
1. Working at BBDO
2. Just joined the Church
3. Waiting to become a new daddy
Rachel-- 10 Years Ago:
1. Working at Canadian Facts
2. Was incredibly pregnant with Ethan
3. Lived in Toronto

Shawn-- 5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Make it through day without falling asleep
2. Repeat number 1
3. BEO meeting
4. Love up the wife
5. Repeat #4 (maybe I should have a nap)
Rachel-- 5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Get boxes for house
2. Babysit Marie
3. Update blog
4. Clean
5. Laundry

Shawn-- 5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. Nibs
2. Peanuts
3. Pringles
4. Licorice
5. Ice cream with brownies
Rachel-- 5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. Ice cream with brownies
2. Ruffles
3. Dairy Queen ice cream cake
4. Guacamole
5. Reese's Peanut Butter cups

Shawn-- What I would do if I were suddenly made a billionaire:
I would help out as many of our family and friends as possible, and travel a lot, see the world
Rachel-- What I would do if I were suddenly made a billionaire:
I would help my family and friends, build a completely green house and be self sufficient. Travel the world and help people in need. And maybe in there would be one heck of a shopping spree!

Shawn-- 5 places I have lived:
1. Innerkip, ON
2. Hamilton, ON
3. Toronto,ON
4. Hamilton again
5. Stoney Creek, ON (as of the end of the month)
Rachel-- 5 places I have lived:
1. Innerkip, ON
2. Woodstock, ON
3. Brantford, ON
4. Hamilton, ON (Stoney Creek soon!)
5. Toronto, ON

Shawn-- 5 jobs that I have had:
1. Newspaper ad sales
2. Media buyer/planner
3. Paper boy
4. Pizza Hut
5. caterer
Rachel-- 5 jobs that I have had:
1. Try hugs not drugs ambassador (yes it was brutal)
2. Photographer
3. Field Control assistant (market research)
4. Barrista
5. Scrapbook instructor

Shawn-- 3 of my favorite books:
1. any Sherlock Holmes
2. any John Grisham
3. 5 People You Meet in Heaven
Rachel-- 3 of my favorite books:
1. Harry Potter series
2. Da Vinci code
3. Little Women

Mount Albion musings

Today we went to see the kids new school. We were greeted by the principal, Diane Page and Sandy Scott, the LRT. The school is older and in need of a paint job (which it will get this summer) but it looks like a nice school. They did a huge play this year that involved a ton of kids from grades 1 to 8. It was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The set designs were fabulous and the pictures of the event were great. I hope that they do something similar next year and we can see about getting the kids into that. We saw which classrooms would most likely be theirs and where the library and french rooms are. There is a big art room as well with a kiln. The computer lab is nice and big and the gym is too. The teachers were very nice and all said hi to us when we would stop in. Poor Jenna was scared at first but after a while she warmed up and got interested in where things were. We got to see the playground which has some great equipment on it (our current school has little to nothing). Most importantly we found out where the bathrooms are! haha

I think it will be a nice school for them. Everyone seems very friendly and I am sure they will like it there. We are coming back in August for another tour just to familiarize them after their brains turn to mush for the summer. I am hoping I can find some time to volunteer in the classroom like I did at the old school. I love working with the kids and miss being in there all the time. So we all left with a good feeling and we are all excited about what next year holds for us.

Jenna's Ramblings

As Jenna gets older she gets better and better at her reading. I hope she becomes as accomplished as her brother who reads about 4 grade levels above where he is now. In the meantime when we are out she loves to read signs and boxes in stores and what not. So on Saturday we are in a little home decor store in Dundas. In the store there are these cards for sale. Jenna starts reading them and all of the sudden I hear out of my daughters mouth "Die B*&^h Die!" Of course I turn my head around so fast I nearly get whiplash and I see my daughters puzzled face. "Mommy what does that mean?" she asks. I tell her calmly (so impressed that I didn't freak) that it is a swear word and isn't nice to use and we shouldn't say it. Her face said it all. She was so embarrassed that she said such a bad word. She apologized and that was that.

Later that night I am on the computer and she points to something on the screen, using the wrong finger if you know what I mean. I tell her that we use our other finger to point and that the middle finger isn't nice to use. She asks me what that finger means. I tell her it's a swear word too. Her face starts to cringe and she says; "Boy I've been swearing a lot today haven't I?" I answered her back calmly but was laughing so hard on the inside. It's at least nice to know that my daughter isn't familiar with these words yet and the thought of using them makes her sad. So while my daughter learned a valuable lesson, I got one heck of a good laugh (albeit an internal one).

A visit to the house!!!

Oh how I wish I had my camera! Yesterday we took a trip to the new house. The current owners promised to have us over so that we could help open the pool and learn how to care for it. It's the first time I have seen the back yard since when we were last there it was covered with snow. It's going to be a great space. The pool is nice. 3 ft in the shallow end and 8 in the deep. Just deep enough for us but nice and shallow for the kiddies! Even Jenna can stand in it! There are 2 sheds which will eventually be replaced with one newer one. Some horseshoe pits which I think will be going and maybe (hopefully) a swing set will take that place. There is a great cement patio and just enough garden for me to handle. I think with a little work we can make that into one heck of a great backyard! We also got to take another look inside to see everything. We had forgotten so much! The current owners are leaving all their old paint in case we want to just touch up which I thought was nice. He showed me how to use the fireplace and showed me some of the ins and outs of the house. They have been very accomodating and we feel fortunate to have them as the previous owners. The tricky part yesterday was keeping the kids out of the pool! We didn't have bathing suits or anything but that didn't stop the kids from wanting to get in there and swim their little hearts out! They are going to love it when we finally get in there! So we get one more visit which will be great. There are things about the house that we will want to change once we get in there. It's a house with 5 teenagers living in it so some things look just a little beat up. I think a fresh coat of paint is all it needs for the most part. We're going to change the carpet in the upstairs kids rooms as well. At any rate I know we will make it a beautiful home. We are certainly up for the challenge! Less than 3 weeks to go! Yeah!!!!!

My last Sunday in primary

I feel like Wendy in Peter Pan being told this is her last night in the nursery. This is my last day in primary of the Hamilton 2nd ward. It's a mixed feeling I have. I have loved all the kids I have taught over the years in my various stints in primary, but I relish the idea of starting new. I have not been in Relief Society for years at this point. I would actually love to have some time to just be taught instead of doing the teaching. I am nervous to see what the new ward will be like but I am comforted to know that I at least know a few people down there. Not to mention that this isn't exactly our first rodeo. We have moved wards many a time before. But I will sincerely miss everyone here. The Hamilton 2nd ward has become family to me. I have a great love for everyone. The young women in particular hold a special place in my heart. I spent 3 years being their counselor. Some of the best years of my life I must say. The youth have this amazing spirit. That zest for life. I really think they helped keep me young! But today as I say goodbye to my primary kids I know that I will be very sad to not have the opportunity to teach them again. I hope to keep my fingers crossed that I at least get to see everyone once in a while. Assuming I get some "calling free" time in Stoney Creek I hope to come back and visit every once in a while. At any rate it's a new adventure we're heading on and I can't wait to see what the future brings!

50th Anniversary

Tonight we are attending a 50th anniversary open house of a couple that we attend Church with. I was fortunate enough to have been able to do their portraits while I was still at the studio and they have asked me to take some pictures tonight as well. It got me thinking of what it takes to make a marriage last that long.

First things first, divorce cannot be an option. I know it's not on the table for Shawn and I so I assume they subscribe to the same thinking. How can you really expect it to succeed if there is a back door you can duck out of when the going gets tough?

Second, a deep love for the Gospel and keeping Christ in your marriage. I know in particular this couple have a deep love for Christ. They read the scriptures daily and have dedicated their marriage to promoting the gospel. It gives you that eternal perspective when you think that your marriage is not only something to have in this life but throughout the eternities.

Thirdly, a sense of humour. I heard a quote once that said "If you are going to look back at something and laugh about it; you might as well laugh about it now!" I can imagine how many times they have looked back on their lives together and found many hilarious things to laugh at.

Fourth, your posterity. Children, grandchildren...they are the ties that bind. i actually believe they are great grandparents now. I hope I live long enough to see great grandbabies.

Fifth, I think you need a bit of stubborness. Not in a bad way but you need that sort of drive to get you through the hard stuff. We've all experienced hard times and it's always better when you shoulder up and keep on going. What would happen if we all laid down and just let the bad stuff take over?

Sixth, realistic expectations. I think television and movies have really warped our sense of what love is. It isn't all passion and excitement. I actually look forward to the days with us on the porch, eating mushy food and rocking in our chairs complaining about the younger generations. It's remembering the little things. It's being there when the other one is sick. It's supporting your spouse. You get out of it what you put into it in the end.

I know there are a lot of other pieces of sage advice that you all have. I would love to hear them in the comments section. For now I have little ones that demand my attention so I cannot continue. But I will close with this. Shawn and I are celebrating our 11th anniversary this year. I am so grateful to be his wife. I know how lucky I am to have found someone so good for me. I only hope I am that good for him. So cheers to 11 years and to an eternity more of them! Love you hun!

What we are looking forward to in the new house

So the other day I wrote about the things we are going to miss when we leave here. So, I thought I should write about some of the things we are looking forward to in the new house!

- Bigger bedrooms, especially for Jenna who has always been stuck with the "tiny room"

- Walk in closets to maximize our clothing storage. There will be one on the main floor and one in our room

-Needless to say, the POOL! We will hardly be inside this summer if the kids and I have our way!

-The new shopping complex opening soon near our house (well, Shawn might not appreciate what happens to the visa card there!)

-Having a garage, oh how sweet that will be!

-The new school and how it will help Ethan to be successful.

-The opportunity to finally have carte blanche to do what I want to my own home. I can decorate exactly how I see fit.

-And of course, finally realizing the long held dream of home ownership! It's been a long, hard road to get here and we have finally made it. Thank goodness it's finally here!

And it goes without saying that we are also looking forward to seeing you all at our new home. Our family and friends have been such a support to us and we couldn't have made it this far without you. Thank you all so much.

Ethan's math test

Ethan, our oldest has a lot of strikes against him. When he was younger he was diagnosed with ADD. We decided after much deliberation to try meds and they have worked wonderfully with little to no side effects.

When he was 7 I went to his doctor and said "I know Ethan has ADD but there is something else going on." I literally said "my son is weird and I can't figure it out." So off to the developmental paediatrician where we first heard of Aspergers Syndrome.

AS is a form of autism. Those afflicted with it have very little in the way of social skills, often have a motor skill delay and problems at school. They also tend to have very narrowed areas of focus. Ethan has many different obsessions but books are his life. He needs them like he needs air. Even if it's just holding it while we go shopping. Ethan also has few friends, walks on his tip toes, can't ride a bike (he'll be 10 soon), needs help with dressing and grooming (although that is improving), He is a master of the english language and speaks as though he is much older than he is. He is extremely sensitive to loud noises. He covers his ears when even the hair dryer is on. He also has extremes when it comes to his abilities in school. His reading for example is the 98th percentile of other kids his age but his math is in the 35th. There are a lot of discrepancies where that is concerned. So much so that he was recently labeled as having a learning disability. That being said he is a wonderful little boy who doesn't let what he has get in his way of being happy and as successful as he can.

So when I see Ethan acomplish something that is so hard for him I can't help but want to celebrate. Can you imagine my happiness when I beheld my sons latest math test. It was on division (which I remember struggling with) and didn't my son score a 26 out of a possible 27 on it!?! We were all so thrilled! I think his teacher wanted to do a dance! I may just frame it! We really worked hard with him on this one because he has struggled so much; so it's great when you see all his hard work finally pay off. I am so proud of my little boy. He has so much against him and yet he perseveres! So hats off to my hero of the day; my gorgeous, handsome and brilliant little man; ETHAN!!!!!!!!!!

Kids and moving

So we've reached a point where we need to delve into that next level of packing. Where you start packing the things you use on a fairly regular basis. So yesterday I started to tackle the playroom. For those who have seen our playroom you know that is a scary venture! My baby sister was kind enough to come and help which was great. It ended up being a night of negotiations and quickly hiding things behind the kids backs. "Yes Ethan you can keep 3 chapter books but the rest need to get packed for now" Yes Jenna I will keep out the lego but the barbies are going away for now. It made for an interesting night. We broke it up with a nice trip to Hutches for some fries though which made the evening not quite so blah.

So we are back to it today. Shawn was nice enough to hit the local food basics and found some great boxes for me so I forsee some significant process today. Hopefully I can get a lot of it done so that come moving day I will be a lot less stressed out. Wishful thinking? Probably? Eh I digress, yes I am not the nicest person to be around come moving day.....but my cheery disposition always returns! (eventually)

Last month in this house

So as of today we are into the very last month that we are in this house. As happy as we are to finally have our own home I will miss some aspects of living here. Here's what I will miss:

-the lack of stairs a back split has (although I might lose a few pounds climbing down full flights of stairs again!)
-the kids school and the amazing teachers (especially Mrs.DeRoo)
-my daily chat with Shari and how we always managed to linger long past once the kids went inside the school
-the memories we made here. this was the closest thing we had to a "real home" as of yet.
-the neighbourhood park
-living so close to great shopping! (although great shopping is on its way to my new home)

There are more things I know we'll miss but I know how much we are all looking forward to our new home. This is something we waited years for and I know we will make wonderful memories there. Hope that we will have you all in our new home to help make those memories happen!