PLANET ZORBADOR

Ever since Quinn could talk, he has been playing with language.  For a long time we joked that he was from Planet Zorbador.  We pretended to speak back to him in "his chosen language".  This morning he broke out into randomness again and I caught it on video.  Q, you are hilarious and unlike anyone I have ever met.  I Love you all the way to Zorbador and back.  Thanks for always making me giggle.

Zorbador - kind of like a bouncy ball planet

HELLOOOOO!

Late Sunday afternoon, Quinn and I wandered down the street in our hood to get a much needed haircut.  On our way home we decided to pop into our local optician to try on some glasses.  Every pair of glasses I tried on Q laughed at me.  He decided to get in on the action and tried on a pair or two.  The funny guy that emerged with those glasses on had my giggling all the way home.

SUNDAY NIGHT SHOW NIGHT

For a very long time we have been doing Friday Night Family Movie Night.  As of last week, Quinn suggested we do Sunday Night Show Night, as in we all take turns performing for one another.  There are no rules attached, you can sing, dance, tell a joke, perform a headstand etc.  This was the opening performance for "Sunday Night Show Night", helping set the tone for this new found family time in the Fitz household.

A DECADE

I am not sure how it happened but Kieran is officially double digits, never to be in the single digits again!  I remember Kieran joining our family as though it was just yesterday, it is frightening to think that 10 years has gone by.  Everything that I understand from other parents is that the next ten years goes by even faster.  We started the celebration early, like 6am early with snuggles, gifts and breakfast.  A day of school and a birthday party followed at the Monkey Vault.  Kieran had some old buddies from Annette as well as some new friends he has made at RSGC. Happy Birthday Kieran! You are one of our greatest gifts in life. 

The tradition of decorating so they wake up to a decorated house

And bedroom door

6am. November 11th, 2015

His very own ukulele, some music and picks

A new watch from Grams and Claw

Lego Ninjago spinners from Quinn

Thank You Quinn!

Thanks for being such an awesome brother gift...

Quinn is so thrilled with his new Lego he picks Kieran right up off the floor!

Slowly...

Figuring...

This Gift...

Out...

Shocked and Excited...

We are getting another dog!  Welcome to our family FRODO!

Birthday Cousins!  Nora turned 11 on November 8th.  We had a family celebration at Milestones.  The server asked if they were twins and Kieran quickly replied, "I am her brother from another mother born a year apart!"  Pretty much!

Sunset Monkey Vault styles

Opening his gift from his buddies.  A new LiteHawk Quad copter

Poppy and Nana, appropriately gave Kieran money.  10 cents in pure edible chocolate and some real money for his bank account.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is always the greatest day as a kid and for it to fall on a Saturday night is outrageous excitement.  Kieran decided early that he wanted to make his own costume and he was inspired to make a vending machine.  He had a vision and he worked hard each evening on his own to turn that broken down box into a vending machine.  It was amazing to see it all come together late Thursday night.  After a fun Friday at school filled with a Halloween parade and movie afternoon the boys were excited for Saturday to officially arrive.  We went trick or treating in our hood and managed to connect with a few neighbourhood friends along the way.  As always, too much candy was collected and we still have tons around the house.  Thanks to Grams and Claw for popping over to see the boys in their costumes and to Jally and Pete for coming and celebrating the night with us.  Quinn lost his TWO front teeth before going our trick or treating that night.  A big night indeed!

The Hot Dog was excited to be a hot dog even before Halloween so he put it on over his uniform to do his homework

The rebuilt box, spray painted, holes cut in, straps added on, shelves constructed

Reinforcing the shelves to straighten them.  One of the only things he required support on.

Using a glue gun to put the candy in

Cellophane and a light added...

A few finishing touches, Fitz's Snacks, please pay here and a calculator

Friday afternoon parade

Mr. Kearsey dressed as "Barf Bag" a character in the novel Holes that the grade five's read for their first novel study.

Parading through the park, I spied a hot dog!

Grams with her wig and funny glasses

Grams, Claw and Kieran

One tooth has been knocked out by this point.  The other one is very wiggly so Dave just pulled it out.

Gap grin hot dog

Very cool vending machine

MISS MAE

Mae retired to us from Chocpaw Expeditions last January.  She has been an amazing gift to all of us.  After an incredibly fun summer filled with cottage adventures, she started limping on her front right side.  We assumed it was a flare up of an old injury, potentially arthritis with the change of seasons and didn't worry too much about it, but ten days later it seemed to be getting worse, not better so we took her to the vet.  We were shocked and saddened to learn that she is suffering from an aggressive form of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma.  As we understand it, it has likely been growing in her for some time and once they begin to limp it is too late to do anything about it.  Understanding that our time with Mae is limited, we are doing our best to keep her comfortable for as long as we can with the use of pain medication.  In the past few weeks, she has definitely taken a turn for the worse.  She has had many good days and a few bad and we know that she is not long for this world, but we will be forever grateful for the time we have spent with her.  She is a remarkable dog, kind, caring, gentle and incredibly loving.  She helped us overcome our fear of not being able to love another dog as much as we loved Zaphod.  We now understand that each dog gives us a piece of their heart to help fill ours with a little bit more love.  Thank you Mae for loving us.  We love you deeply and promise to do so forever.

Mae tending to her sheep on Sandy Lake

Mae and Quinn snuggling on the landing

Hanging in the Humber

Maeve and Mae

I found these two snuggling in bed together on Thanksgiving weekend.

THIS IS 40!

My 40th birthday was celebrated in stages.  It started a few weeks early with a lovely dinner at Kalendar on College with mum and Jal and a big basket of 40 gifts to mark the occasion.  A celebration at the cottage before the boys headed off to sleep over camp and a lovely dinner out with just Dave the night before we went back to work.  The official day was celebrated at Camp RSGC at Geneva Park in Orillia with our first day back to work and a cocktail party that evening with all of our colleagues.  As I marked the day that started this next decade for me I could not help but feel much gratitude for the opportunity to grow a little bit older each day.

The boys were very excited to lay out the numbered gifts around the table

WOW!  Over The Top!

So many great things.  Fave candy, cookies, treats from my childhood.  iTunes, facial and magazines. Oh My!