Running to the end

Every Tuesday, for the last few months, my friend Melanie and I have run laps on the track while our girls are at their synchronized swimming class in the pool. Today was our last run together at the pool since it's the end of synchro this week because the water show is this weekend. (Well, there is technically a "bring a friend" class next Tuesday but we have plans to go a concert and so  Kiandra won't make it.) We celebrated our last run on the track together by pounding out 4 miles and we rocked it. We are working towards running 10K together in a few weeks and we are getting stronger with each run.

iPhone photo after the run with my phone:

iPhone photo after the run with Mel's phone

Snow be gone...

April 4, 2013

April 29, 2013

(most of the melting happened this weekend while I was away)

Almost May and it feels like just the beginning of Spring!

Good things

-choosing to spend the weekend with the people you work with all day during the week on purpose and having a great time.

-laughing so much that you get a "please keep your noise down" phone call at 

1:30 in the morning.

-hearing border crossing stories that make you laugh until your sides ache.

-watching your friend jump in front of moving SUV in a parking lot thinking it was people we were waiting for and then laughing like crazy when she realized it wasn't them.

-Eating at Qdoba

-Eating at Pizza Ranch

-Buying capri pants in a smaller size.

-Janice's fashion advice.

-Comfortable hotel beds to sleep off a dizzy spell in time to enjoy supper and the post shopping day fashion show.

-Photo bombing friends during the fashion show which we documented in photos.

-When Layne dumped out her monster bag and declared: "I didn't really buy very much!"

-buying the dress Kezia had her eye on for $8.00 when the regular price was $60.

-buying Kaden a mountain dew shirt

-texting Kiandra in Banff and hearing about her day.

-Buying a Christmas shirt for 76 cents

-Saying "You know what?" "You're doing great!" and then cracking up every time.

-realizing again, that you do have a dream job with amazing people to work with.

Sound of Music

So...the tickets I originally bought for me and the girls to see The Sound of Music at a local school were used for Saturday's show by Conrad, Kezia, and Kaden. Kezia snapped these pictures at the show and sent them to me:

I think it is awesome that Conrad enjoys taking his kids out and that they enjoy spending time with him. He is an amazing dad.

Celebrating with Ice Cream

Today was the funeral for the mom of two students from our school who passed away last weekend. A sad, sad day. So many of us wanted to attend the funeral to support the family, to pay our respects, and to grieve the loss ourselves. I was told that I would not be able to attend (too many requests-not enough subs) and I was so disappointed. I guess it meant more to me to go than I thought it would.

In the end, I was able to go and I am so glad I could be there. I think the funeral was exactly what she would have wanted...a time of sharing memories. The photo slide show that was playing as people arrived was emotionally draining and I couldn't stop crying. I kept thinking about the loss and how these pictures will become even more meaningful as the years go by. It also reminded me about how important it is to be in the picture (have you read this article?)

One of the things that was mentioned was that Karen had asked to be remembered over wine and ice cream and so they had an ice cream bar after the service. How cool is that?

 It was such a fun way to honour her wishes and to celebrate the life of such a special wife, mother, and friend. Note to anyone helping plan my funeral...I think I'd like my funeral to have dip.

After the funeral, I drove home, dropped off the kids and then it was off to the States for a teachers weekend shopping trip. We kicked off the weekend festivities with appies at Applebees and a pre-dinner ice cream sundae for Lindsay who was celebrating her birthday.

Ice Cream--the food fit for all occasions!

Sound of Music

Another school in our city (where we know some of the students) performed the Sound of Music this year and so I bought tickets for me and my girls to attend....for Saturday night. Kiandra was so excited to see it, and of course, compare it to her school's. Shortly after I bought the tickets, I realized it was playing the exact weekend I had planned to go to the States with the teachers and so I would not be able to take the girls. Then, shortly after that, Kiandra realized it was the exact week of her school trip to Banff and she would not be able to attend. I thought I would have to miss it until my friend Janice was offered tickets to tonight's show and so we went.

It was a great night and a good distraction for the loss our school has had this week. 

And she's off...

Kiandra's high school's band and choir students are off to Banff. Kiandra was super excited and has been looking forward to this trip since last year. (Grade 9 students are not allowed to go but many of her musical friends from Grade 10, 11, and 12 came home last year and shared how much fun they had. This year, Kiandra could go along and she was pumped. We arrived at her school at 8:00 this evening and waited for the buses to arrive.

 Not only did Kiandra have to pack all the things she needed for the week (including ski wear since she will be downhill skiing in the mountains on Monday) but she also needed to pack both her instruments too. She packed more for this trip, than any other trip we've taken as a family.

The three buses arrived just after 8:30...

...to take all these kids to Banff

 By 9:00, they were loaded up and ready to go. I was among the few parents left as they departed  shortly after.

My prayer is for safety (as they drive overnight!), for a good night's sleep each night, and for a good time of making memories.

In the pages...

...of Our Canada Magazine's May 2013 Issue...

...there is a familiar face that you might recognize...

...from this post way back in June 2011. I sent it in for a contest, didn't win the camera offered in the first prize, but will receive a year's subscription and Kaden's excitement about being featured just in time to be his "News" for TUSC this week.

Dear Brain Cancer Tumour

It's been two and half years.
You still suck. Even though you waited
much longer than expected to take over,
your impact will be long lasting to those left behind.
Thank you for the additional time.
Thank you for the memories that were made.
But...you still suck.

Thinking and Praying for those grieving a tremendous loss,

One last birthday supper

Although we had already taken Kaden out to the Dinner Theatre for his birthday...and to Five Guys on his birthday with Kezia, Kaden's choice for his family birthday supper was Mongolian Stir Fry which we did this evening.

Foresight

fore·sight n. 1. Perception of the significance and nature of events before they have occurred. 2. Care in providing for the future; prudence. 3. The act of looking forward.

I'm aiming to do the longest leg in the Marathon this year. It's 6.1 miles. I know I will need to train harder than I ever have to be able to run that distance in a reasonable amount of time. It's a silly goal, but if I am able to run this leg, I will be able to say I have run all 5 legs of the relay. Which means I can say with confidence that "I have run the entire marathon route *ahem *cough *cough over five years*" I have the "perception of the significance" of knowing how reaching this goal will be significant. I'm running twice a week and trying to do at least 4 miles each time. Today, I ran 4 miles in 47 minutes.

and worked up quite a sweat!

I also know that being more active is good for "care in providing for the future" because it will make me a healthier person as I maintain a healthy weight. I also hope that this serves as an example to my kids.

As celebrated my Brother-in-law's birthday with him enjoying a feast of wings and catching up, we are "looking forward" to aging gracefully (not falling off the table like another guest at the restaurant almost did!) and to enjoy our time as we journey through life.

Conrad and I enjoyed the movie "Home Run" after our wings feast and it was a good reminder that God is the God of foresight and He can guide us back to where we need to be.

Fortunately, Unfortunately

Fortunately, my desire to eat healthy has only increased since I began using the my fitness pal app and I'm starting to see the results I want.

Unfortunately, I need a bigger travel mug to take this green smoothie breakfast on the road.

Fortunately, it was Day 3 on the school day cycle and with it being a Friday, this means a super good prep day and it makes the day go by faster.

Unfortunately, since we've been counting down the days of school since Spring Break, we know it is only 47 school days left until the end of Grade 1. *Ack!*

Fortunately, we have covered so much already and my class this year is one of the strongest academically that I have ever had.

Unfortunately, I do have to say goodbye to them in just 47 days.

Fortunately, Kezia's friend Jade was able to come to our house after school.

Unfortunately, we got stuck in traffic on the way home and Kiandra was stuck wondering when we were coming to get her.

Fortunately, she had her cell phone with her.

Unfortunately, she doesn't know street names and so telling her where we were didn't help her.

Fortunately, Kiandra (who had a day off school) stuck lasagna into the oven before she left for the mall and we were able to eat as soon as we got home.

Unfortunately, she didn't leave it covered and the edges got a bit crispy.

Fortunately, it was still delicious!

Unfortunately, we didn't have a whole lot of time left after supper before it was time to leave for Youth.

Fortunately, there was enough time to let Kiandra drive there.

Unfortunately, (for me!) the Youth Pastor invited all the recent Grade 6 "graduates" for Kids Club to come to their first Youth Night.

Fortunately, Kaden was thrilled.

Unfortunately, they had planned a car wash. (Those are extra clothes in the green bag.)

Fortunately, they only washed 3 cars before it got too cold and they went back in the church.

Unfortunately, I was so tired after I went home after dropping the kids off at youth that I fell asleep at 8:00.

Fortunately, Conrad did not and was able to pick up the kids on time and he left me sleeping at home.

Badminton Tournament

I've been helping out with badminton at our school and today I was granted permission to leave our staff meeting early to supervise the Grade 8 girls doubles teams at the Christian Schools tournament. Kezia was able to meet up with some of her church friends who were also playing and also someone she used to go to Kids Club with. She also played her first game against the daughter of one of my friends from the school where I now teach. What a small world!

Conrad was able to watch one of the girls' games before he went off to watch Kaden play at another school. He brought donuts --this matched well with the slurpees I treated them to on the way--and he was able to see their first (and only!) win of the afternoon.

Kezia and Jade played 6 games and won one. The score was close on all but one of the matches but they were giggling and smiling the whole time, so the losses weren't taken too hard. 

The end of an era

Tonight was the last kid's club night for our church's Wednesday night club. Wednesday night Kid's club has been a part of our family's schedule for the last 9 years. Kiandra started in Grade 1 (the first year you could attend) and tonight was Kaden's last (because clubs ends in Grade 6). It was almost surreal to me to see all those Grade 6 kids on stage today as they said goodbye to them and invited them to begin attending youth on Friday nights.  Youth??!! How can it be??

Tonight's final event was a "Let's make a deal!" night with Wacky clothes:

We were served supper at a "Chinese Pizzeria":

Ordering unknown courses of food in random order and eating them with chopsticks:

Trying new ways of eating when the chopsticks weren't working:

And making a LOT of noise:

Thankfully, the end of our children's time as participants does not mean it has to be the end of their involvement in the clubs program. Kiandra and Kezia have been volunteering as leaders since they were in Grade 7. Tonight, Kezia was serving the food to the tables:

And Kiandra was showcasing the prizes on stage:

I'm so thankful for our church. For the passion of the leaders. For the outreach our church has through its camp and kids club program. For laughter and fun. For a time of growing closer to God. For good friends. For the last 9 years.