WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where did the year go? Perhaps a year in review is in order. The year started off with a WOW as we boarded a plane on New Year's Day .... destination .... DISNEY. We spent ten wonderful nights at the Wilderness Lodge and took in all the theme parks complete with rides, restaurants and lots of Characters. We dined with the whole Mickey Gang and all of the Princesses too. We certainly made memories that will last a lifetime. A year later and the kids are still talking about it, anxious to go back. In February, we celebrated Sienna's 3rd Birthday. Another WOW ~ my baby turned 3 ~ where has the time gone? All of her friends gathered at Little Goobers followed by a family party at our home. In April, we celebrated my birthday with a shopping trip to Rochester, NY. April also marked the loss of our dear Uncle Leslie. In May, we travelled to Montreal to celebrate my cousin Simon's Wedding. We spent close to four days taking in all of the sites and enjoying lots of time with good friends and family. In July, we celebrated Victor's birthday with a BANG as the fireworks burst into the sky on Canada Day. The big day started with friends at Little Goobers and ended with a BBQ in our backyard. The little man turned 2. Another WOW at time passing by. The day after his party, we packed up the car and drove off to Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio. The kids had a blast and so did we. We can't wait to make it back for our next trip. August ~ WOW ~ August was a tough one. Sienna had her tonsils and adenoids out. It was a lot to go through for a little girl her age. It made it worse that we came home from the hospital to find her brother sick with the stomach flu. It was less then a day before the bug had passed onto her. Poor thing ~ as if she didn't have it hard enough already. Another day or two passed and I was down with strep throat and fortunately did not pass that on to her. The month did start on a brighter note as my cousin Brian married his beautiful wife Rhea. We went to our first Hindu Wedding for the Friday night festivities followed by the Catholic Wedding and Reception on the Saturday night. The children looked adorable dressed in their Indian outfits. September ~ my little princess started school. She's an eager little beaver and loves school. Her little brother was not so happy to see her leave every morning and go off without him. October ~ halloween ~ and my little ghouls were happy to decorate the house. Sienna dressed as Sleeping Beauty and Victor as a Doctor. They were so sad when the decorations were taken down. But the promise of Christmas was in the future! November ~ brought extended family to Toronto to celebrate Mom's 65th Birthday hosted by my dear brother and his wife. It was great to see all of our family together again. It was the first time in manny years that my mother's family had reunited. There have been a few deaths and losses along the way, but minus my cousins Natasha and Kevin, it was the closest we've come in a long time to having the whole family together. December ~ CHRISTMAS! Woo hoo, the house was quickly decorated and the kids were amazed at the tree ~ fighting each day over who got to turn on the lights. Sienna dubbed my snowman collection "the Snowman Family Reunion". Big gift themes for the year were Princess and Strawberry Shortcake for Sienna along with lots of new arts and crafts. For Victor ~ everything themed after his favourites Handy Manny and Toy Story. And Mark's big gift this year ~ a Samsung 58" Series 8 TV complete with new pvr receiver and blu ray player. As I look back ~ it was an AMAZING year for our family. We are so blessed to have such wonderful children. We made many wonderful memories this year that we will cherish forever. And now my New Year's Resolution ...... to keep up this blog next year and use it to individually capture all of the special stories and memories that bring smiles and laughter to my life.

My Little Discoverer

As I lay in bed with Victor last night, I noticed him sitting up and staring confusingly at the wall. He cocked his head to the left. Then he cocked his head to the right. To the left once more and then back to the right. And then, with a big smile on his face, pointed to the wall and exclaimed, "ME". He had discovered his shadow. I somehow missed that moment with Sienna, and I'm not quite sure if she has even made the same discovery yet. As if our bedtime ritual were not already long enough, we have now added shadow puppets to our list of nighttime activities. How wondrous it is to see the world through the eyes of a child and take pleasure in the simple things. Like the discovery of one's shadow.