Heading Toward 2014

Congratulations, if you are reading this you are one of my few remaining faithful blog readers.  If I could provide you with a medal I would.

Thanks for hanging out....you are loyal peeps!
I will endeavour to blog a few times a month.  Now that I have an iPhone and can blog from the Blogger app, I hope to be inspired to blog on the fly.

2014 is coming quickly and there will be no predictions, hopes or resolutions.

One day at a time is where it's at!

 

I reckon most of my time, energy and thoughts will be taken up with these men in my life anyhow.

Happy New Year!

Come In!

Our new front door is finally installed and we are very happy with the new look.  We found it hard to agree on a color but in the end threw out the red idea and went for grey.  It's a nice, solid wood door that should keep out the cold and any possible thieves!!!

Christmas Catch Up!

The boys all ready to go to their school banquet.  Looking mighty fine, wouldn't you say?

 Christmas Eve at the parents.  One goofy shot is a must!

 And then us all normal-ish.

 The boys 'big' present this year from Nana and Grandad were snowshoes.  Keith and I also got a pair for ourselves and look forward to adding a new winter activity to our weekends!

 Christmas morning at home.  The boys all slept in and we enjoyed a leisurely time of gift opening while the breakfast casserole baked in the oven.  

 Keith and I just exchanged a few stocking stuffers.  We spent a lot of money this fall on the roof, car, and front door so nothing more was necessary!

 Liam asked Santa for Lego and Lego he did get.  

 The older two got Kobo Glos.  Perfect gifts for my bookworms.

 Keith's family was set to come over for a turkey dinner that evening and I was making the meal on my own.  It turned out great and was much easier than I thought it would be.  It pays to be very prepared and organized.  I had a booklet with notes that I followed!

 There was plenty of food and lots of dessert too.  We had a great time.  Nate and Chad organized some games after supper that we adults enjoyed as the three little guys ran around the house like crazy people.  

We enjoyed opening some gifts and visiting after dessert.  It had been a long day and it was pretty hard to get myself up off the couch afterwards.  

So, Christmas has come and gone once again.  Just so thankful, that we are all healthy, happy and together.  I know that these are the greatest Christmas gifts in themselves!

Christmas Balls!

After 'de-Christmassing' the middle school today (Friday was an unexpected snow day so we had to come back to work!) we stopped at High Street for a quick lunch at Mucho Burrito.  I recommend...it was very tasty and fresh!

Who can resist a photo-op with big red ornaments?  Climbing them was unwise...they seemed a bit wobbly!

Frosty

In our neck of the woods you must enjoy it while it lasts!

Flub-dump

Good news!  I like good news!

Keith and I applied for life insurance back in February.  We both had some but decided it wasn't enough with our boys now in private school and a bigger mortgage...these weren't factors many years ago to consider.

Keith passed his medical exam with flying colors (I was surprised to be honest) and I failed (and that surprised me more!).  Rejected, failed, not accepted.

This was due to the fact I disclosed in my healthy interview (because I am an honest person!) that I had rheumatic fever as a child and now have a heart murmur.  They retrieved my medical records in storage as my most recent doctor retired but they weren't happy with the information they found which was really nothing.  My previous doctor never did any testing on my heart.  All my testing (EKG and Echocardiogram) was done when I was a teen and that doctor was LONG gone and those records are likely destroyed by now.  I remember the results of those tests being favorable but my verbal say so wasn't good enough for the insurance underwriters.

So an appointment was made to get an echocardiogram.  That was a four month wait but finally was done on Dec 4th.  

Today I went to see my GP to discuss results.  First of all, I have to say that my new doctor is very prompt.  I entered the office at 10:49 am, was called into the room at 10:50 and was out the door to my car by 10:56 am.  Very efficient which is a blessed change from most medical professionals.  Anyhow...the report said that my heart is very healthy in every way.  No valve damage, blood is flowing properly and it's of normal size.  All excellent news in regards to my life insurance hopefully being approved and putting my mind at ease about this 'alleged' heart murmur I thought I had.

Over my life most doctors have said they can't hear my murmur and a few have said they can hear a soft one.  Today my doctor took a listen and said she 'thought' she could hear something.  But the report says 'no murmur' so I am going with that!

Toasty Warm!

This is Christmas spirit week at the middle school and yesterday was 'winter wear'.  I was very comfortable all day but my poor co worker Jessica was sweating buckets!

The Christmas Carol

We wrapped another successful ACT production of 'The Christmas Carol' over the weekend.  Thrilled for BOTH my boys as they were in their element.  This was Chad's debut performance with ACT and he did very well.  Proud mama here!

Gorgeous head shots!

The ghosts of Jacob Marley, Christmas past, present and future really gave a fright so we had to go and show Liam there was nothing to be scared of.  He was able to see that there was a friendly teenage girl under the grim reaper costume instead of something sinister.

Nate was a superb Bob Crachit and Tiny Tim was so cute.

Liam was proud of his big brothers!

Jacob Marley did almost TOO good of a job being a scary ghost.  Yikes...well done!

Time for a wee rest and then we prepare for the spring show.  Aladdin!

Bitterly Cold

Golly, it's been cold these past few days.  We are definitely spoiled by a milder climate.  These sub-zero temps and arctic outflow winds can seriously make night time walking an effort in pure survival. 

Seeing Santa

Liam was rather quiet during his visit to Santa today.  We checked out the Santa at High Street since we are missing the fire hall kids party this year.  Liam politely answered all of Santa's questions but was unusually mute.  It wasn't until I saw this picture and the placement of his hands that I realized just how apprehensive he was about this whole ordeal!  Too funny.

My Weird Family

This WON'T be arriving in your mailbox anytime soon.