LOSS

A week ago today a good high school friend died.  Her family suffered profound loss.  A loss so large that you cannot help but wonder how and why that can happen.  Erin Grimes Deans, or "GRIMES" as we called her was one of the kindest, most well rounded people I have ever met.  She was intelligent, fun, diligent, hilarious, passionate, up for anything, lululemony and oh so sporty.  She was one of the few people who was friends with everyone.  She was able to bridge the gap between high school cliques with ease and made all the ins and outs of life look effortless and easy.  Erin and I lost touch for a few years and excitedly bumped into one another in Starbucks on Bloor St. West when I was expecting Kieran in 2005.  We sat, had a coffee and reconnected as if we had seen one another just yesterday rather than the decade it had been.  As it turned out we had both ended up buying houses in the west-end and excitedly agreed to keep in better touch.  Erin was diagnosed with a sarcoma on her forearm just 5 months ago, the chemotherapy/radiation treatments didn't work and the disease spread faster than anyone could have anticipated.  Erin leaves her husband, Jamie, her 4 year old son, Hudson and a 2 year old daughter Alexis, as well as her parents, brother and about a zillion other people who loved and admired her.  She fought the good fight, smiled her never ending smile and up until the week she died the gleam of happiness never left her eyes.  Her funeral and celebration of life on Monday was deeply emotional. 

I share this only because I have learned, too young and too fast that one never knows what lies ahead.  I hope to live a long, vibrant, healthy life.  I look forward to watching you boys grow up, spread your wings and fly wherever it is that excites you.  I hope to grow old with your dad, watch the sunsets, travel the world, laugh with family and friends and enjoy retired days together. 
I recognize that each and every day is a gift and should be treated as such.  Erin's husband read a poem at the reception on Monday that affected me.  It made me think, appreciate and hope that someday, when I am gone you two will remember me like this.

You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile that she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you cannot see her,
or you can be full of the love your shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, 
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone, 
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

-David Harkin

 

Erin with her family at a wedding last summer

 

BLUE JAYS GAME

This afternoon we traveled down to the Rogers Centre for a Blue Jays game.  One of Jal's friends works for the Jays and very kindly offered us her tickets to today's game.  She also organized a group of people to come and sing Happy Birthday to Quinn and deliver an amazing gift bag filled with awesome Jays stuff.  She also spoiled Kieran with a bag of goodies too.  Their eyes were bugging out of their heads at the sight of a batting hat, Jays towel, pencils, kids colouring books and Quinn's favourite, a bobblehead doll of one of the Jays.  A huge shout out of THANKS to MO!  Thanks for making the day so special.  It will not be forgotten!  We are so grateful. 

Excited to be at the game.

Cool hat, and naturally a BLUE Slushy needed to be consumed

The Jays Newest Fans

New t-shirts!

8th inning rally, 3 run home run happiness

Part of the delivery, after the entire 117 Section sang Happy Birthday

HAPPY DAY QUINN

The official birthday day was fairly low key.  Quinn and Kieran worked together for many hours building that Lego train set and some more small Monster Lego kits that Dave and I gave to Q.   We had one of Quinn's best buds come over for a play and dinner, in addition to our great buddy Pete and wonderful neighbour Lisa.  It was super casual but very fun.  The only thing Q wanted to do for his birthday was go to a Blue Jays game, so, that is how we spent our afternoon today.

The Lego building continued in the morning.  Lots of parts to the train set

Kieran's gift to Q.  A little Monster beanie that can hang on his backpack

Brotherly Love - Thanks K!

The one eyed monster

Kieran is on presie delivery.  A few small things from Mum and Dad

Wow!  More Monster Lego

Yes! The glow in the dark horse set and swamp monster set!

Pancake messages

With sprinkles in the heart!

The most colourful cake I could think to make for my colourful guy.  Gumballs!!!

Q, you cannot blow out a sparkler!

Quinn and one of his best buds, Jacqueline.  Adorable together!

TO BED AS A 5 YEAR OLD...

And will wake up a 6 year old!  Amazing how that happens!  It's a tradition to decorate the birthday person's door while they are sleeping so they wake up to their bedroom door decorated in some form or fashion.  Here is what Q woke up to!

Last sleep as a 5 year old!

FIRST CELEBRATION!

A big shout out of thanks to Grams, Claw and Jally for carving out some birthday celebration time with Q-Ball.  Grams drove home from the cottage for a pre (Thursday evening) birthday dinner with us.  We gathered at our house before heading to Vesuvios for dinner.  Grams, Grampa and Jally all went in on one outstanding gift, the only thing Quinn really wanted so he was ecstatic to open it the eve before his official birthday.  Many thanks for the Monster Lego Train set.  He built the first part of it once you guys left and woke up bright and early excited to complete the project.  It was a HUGE HIT!  Thanks for all of your efforts and generosity.

Now that is a great reaction!

Yahoo!  The only thing I asked for!   Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!

Post Pizza Ice Cream treat - he's hiding in the Ice Cream Junction sandwich board sign

First small part built.  It's late, I need to go to bed!

SIX

Today marks Quinn's 6th birthday!  The celebration has begun - more photos to be posted later.

This mornings pancake breakfast

THE KEY HOLE HIKE

Our final morning up North we hit the Bruce Trail and hiked the Keyhole Trail.  It is such an incredible thing to see.  Huge rock cuts, crevasses, mini caves, tree top tables, and a few too many mosquitos to count.  We quickly realized that Kieran and I were the sweetest in the family because we definitely got the most bites!!!  A gorgeous place to spend a few hours.  We are grateful.

Q being a goof in a rock cut

They are up on the roof, I was down below in the keyhole

Part of the hike

We found the most amazing creature hanging from a tree.  We decided to bring him home!

THE BEACH

We spent one morning at Wasaga Beach.  Stereotypically, Wasaga has a bit of a bad wrap, but really, the beach is the longest fresh water beach in the world and is truly gorgeous!  It is easy to steer clear of the main street pedestrian mall madness.  We landed at beach 5 for a few hours and hardly had anyone near us for a few hours.  The water is shallow for a long ways out and the boys enjoyed boogie boarding and playing in the sand.  We will be back...

HAIR BE GONE!

About six weeks ago Quinn opted for the shaved head look.  With the heat, gymnastics training 8 hours a week, swimming and over night camp on the horizon Kieran opted to shave his head today.  It looks fantastic!  We have invested in a decent pair of clippers to cut the boys hair from now on.  The cost of the clippers was equal to having both boys get their hair cut once!  Totally worth it!

So long hair!

Dave's barber shop

Some birds are going to be very happy with their new nest makings

Look at all my hair!

GLENCREGGAN GOODNESS

Aunt Norah, Uncle Doug and Fred are such a wonderful part of the Creemore community.  You cannot walk down the street without them knowing most people by name.  Fred works at the local Creemore Echo newspaper and at one of the popular golf courses in the spring/summer as well as at a ski resort come the winter months.  Doug bops around between playing golf, consulting at community meetings, helping bottle milk at a local farm and cruising in his convertible.  Norah keeps the most incredible gardens on their property, does yoga, helps out at the library, walks the beach, visits with friends, swims and entertains often.  Their neighbours across the street keep chickens, who give them eggs daily.  Norah has her own chicken in the coop!  Amazingly while we were there they were moving new chickens into the coop so the boys got to help take the chickens to their new home.  Definitely a highlight.  Swimming in the pool was also a highlight!  Thanks for being so welcoming of us!

Taking corn on the cob to the chickens with Norah

Petting Sydney the chicken

Surfing!

Tossing Kieran

A little more height with the smaller guy.  Fly Quinn Fly!

K moving Sadie to her new home in the coop

Q deposited Maribelle

FARM LIVING

We love the time we spend with Vicki and John.  They are incredibly kind, fun, easy to be with and amazingly generous.  Our boys adore them and are excited at the idea of spending time with them whenever the opportunity comes up.  Once again, John and Vicki invited us up to their place in Glen Huron, we spent one night and the following morning with them before they had to hear back to the city for a party.  A lovely dinner, a wander of the property, some time catching frogs in the bog on their property, pulling veggies from their garden and a berry picking walk through their fields were some of the highlights.  Sadly, I forgot to travel with my good camera so the shots I took are limited and from my phone.  We were hit with a wild wind, thunder and lightning storm on Friday night, the multiple and very different views of the sky took my breath away.  I was so wishing I had my camera with me to capture the beauty better but will have to settle with these.  Thank you so much for sharing your magical spot with us.  We loved every minute of it.

Q settling into the island to draw some tractors

The sky as the storm was descending on us

Moon rising

Silver lining cloud, post storm

There goes the sun