EARTHQUAKE!!!!

The house is shaking!  It's an earthquake!  Is it?  Or did someone hit the house with a car?????  No, can't be.  It is coming from the back I think. Running.  Oh God, the ice came down.

How could these pretty things cause so much havoc in a few seconds.

Lucas was terrified, my heart was beating a million beats a minute.  It really seemed like an earthquake, the whole house was shaking for about 30 seconds or more.  And it was so loud.  We realized later that all the sound was the ice coming free and hitting the ground, then all the nails holding up the eavestrough being pulled out one after the other along the back of the house. When I walked to the back of the house all I could see out the door was the eavestrough hanging in front of it.  The ice dam that was up on the second story had come loose this afternoon and took the whole eavestrough with it, and hit the siding and our back door and the other eavestrough on it's way down.  The door screen broke and the door jam is all cracked.  We have no idea how the giant ice cube didn't go through the wall or the roof.  We are guessing that it swung down still attached to the eavestrough and came loose when it was swinging. 

We estimate the sucker weighs 1000-2000 pounds.  It is over 5 feet long.  It is simply massive.  It landed on the back step, we don't know if the step survived.  I was just happy that my new exterior light somehow got missed and luckily so did the siding on our new addition.

 

We had had the lower flat roof shoveled off after the storms, but at the top there was nothing we could do.  We have been watching the ice dam get bigger and bigger.  I stopped letting the dog out the back a week ago, now I know I wasn't just paranoid about an ice meterorite coming down on our patio.

You can see all the eavestroughing gone off the second story.

Jason and I went out and took off this ice dam today.  It is at the other end but has the flat roof below it so we could stand on it while we hacked away at it.  We didn't want the whole thing coming down into Sophie's bedroom.  We got most of it off and the last piece that fell was about 300 pounds.  We were able to roll it over away from the siding after it came down, but couldn't move it any farther.  Not my idea of a fun afternoon.

A Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  Ours was very busy as always but everyone was healthy, which was a first for us in quite a few years, so we were very thankful for that.  We visited with family, ate lots of tasty treats and came home tired Christmas Eve, carrying sleeping children from the car into their warm comfy beds. 

Lucas was devastated that we couldn't find our Christmas stockings all month, they seemed to be lost from our move.  There were many tears, but somehow the stars and moon aligned and I happened upon them in the basement in a random box when looking for something else.  I was back in the good books.  Phew!

Lucas and Sophie both love Christmas crackers.  It wouldn't be Christmas without them!

Lucas with Santa on Christmas Eve.  Sophie was pretty wiped out by the time he arrived but she was entranced when he came through the door.  Lucas had found a green candy cane so looked a little off. lol

Santa brought Sophie some movies with her beloved Wiggles. She was so happy, she probably wanted nothing more.

Santa didn't forget Riley for his first Christmas as a part of our family.  He got a warm fleece with wiener dogs (of course!) and cats all over it.  He snuggled up in it in 0.2 seconds.

Lucas bought me a gift this year (with the assistance of his Oma) and he was giddy with excitement for me to open it.  I mean he was standing in front of me with his hands clasped jumping up and down on his toes.  He was so proud to give it to me and I could just feel his happiness and love.  It was a locket in the shape of a heart with "mom" inscribed on it.  It was one of the moments that made Christmas for me this year,  Sophie was also healthy so I needed nothing more.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas time in Waikiki

It was kind of funny how everything was done up for Christmas in Waikiki even though it was 80 degrees and no chance of snow.  Our first night in O'ahu we strolled the main area of Waikiki and saw all the Christmas lights.  The main street in Waikiki is like 5th Avenue, all the super expensive shops that I don't even feel comfortable walking into.  There was an international marketplace that we had alot of fun shopping in though and Jason was able to pick up some Hawaiian shirts that I made fun of but they are actually pretty nice.

This lamp was the first thing I noticed when we walked in our hotel room, I had to laugh at it but it certainly grew on me all the same :)

I loved this little Santa in a grass skirt.  Christmas in Waikiki was completely summed up in this little storefront window, surfboard and all.

This is the entrance to our hotel, it was a very nice hotel and we had a view of the ocean so I was able to see the surf while I was in the hotel for the first few days.

Of course in Hawai'i, it's all about the surfing.  The north shore is where all the big competitions happen and there were surfer dudes everywhere.  We wanted to try it out, but with me being sick for so long we didn't get a chance.  We did rent an outrigger canoe and ride the waves back to shore in that, it was awesome and so much fun!!

The trees in O'ahu are so majestic and incredibly beautiful.  We went for some trips through the rainforests and it was incredible, the trees were so. big.  So different from any of the tree species we have here in Ontario. 

 
Lots more pictures to come, but Sophie just woke from her nap :)

Aloha!

It's nice to be home (if it weren't for all the snow!)  I have been away on a trip to Hawai'i and it was so nice to get away.  In my true style I was sick for the first five days of the trip and didn't even leave my hotel room for the first three days, but at least I was relaxing lol.

Hawai'i is beautiful but different than I expected.  Waikiki is very built up and the island of Oahu has over 1 million people so it wasn't as undeveloped as I had thought it would be.  But the rainforests were incredibly beautiful and the beaches were amazing, the water was warm and clear.   I did go swimming on the last day and it was wonderful.  We also rented an outrigger canoe and rode the waves in to shore, it was a blast!!!

Jason is now in Australia and he will be back just before Christmas.  I have so much to do now that I am back, like starting my Christmas shopping for one thing!!!  Yikes.

Lots of pictures to come once I get them all downloaded.  Stay tuned  :)

Snow Day...Part Deux

Today was another snow day, no school and no work!  Lucas was super excited when I told him that he didn't have to go to school and he was even more excited when we found out that there is no school tomorrow either.

We spent alot of time shoveling outside today, the snow just kept on coming.  I thought we lost the dog a few times, he would just disappear under the snow :)
Sophie didn't care at all about the snow but Lucas was really excited to go out in it again and build tunnels and snow forts today.  He also made a "trade network of streets" in the snow, now I know he is playing too much Civilization on the computer ;)
 

                                              

The amount of snow is pretty amazing for 48 hours.  We have now beat all previous records in London for snowfall in this short amount of time and there is more on the way!

I tried to clean off the van tonight and I couldn't reach the top of the snow with the long shovel.  Needless to say, the van still has most of its snow on it lol.

We came in and got warmed up and had dinner, then at dessert time Lucas bit into a cinnamon bun and lost his tooth.  I knew it was on it's way out but he wouldn't let me touch it.  His top tooth is super loose as well so we may have some gummy Christmas photos this year.



Happy snow day!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Today we woke up to a lot of snow.  Much more than I was anticipating, I didn't even know we were supposed to have a big storm!  So when I woke to the sound of Jason shoveling the driveway for the night nurse I knew that it must be pretty deep.  And it just kept snowing and snowing and snowing, it is still snowing.  We had almost nothing a day ago.  I never did get the Christmas lights up, not a huge surprise.

The snow kept creeping higher and higher up all the window sills.

 

Lucas was very happy that he was having his first "snow day" ever.  He had some computer time and did some drawings, he drew the shirt he bought and a few new ones, then put them all on skateboards.  Dude ;) 

When Jason got home from work they went toboganning with a friend from school.  They were gone a long time and came back exhausted, soaked and rosy cheeked.

Trekking through the back yard was an adventure in itself.

Sophie and I played pretty hard this morning and she had a 3 hour nap late in the afternoon.

Peek-a-boo never gets old  :)

It was fun watching the snow get deeper and deeper.  It just never stopped.  Riley seemed a little tormented.  He wanted to go outside to play so badly, but the snow was literally impassable for him.  I couldn't go out and shovel because I couldn't get Sophie's wheelchair outside.  So he sat and watched the snowy day from the front window with his nose pressed up against the sill.  So pathetic yet so darn adorable.

I'm kind of hoping for a snow day tomorrow.

We're Just Looking

Lucas and Jason got their flu shots on Thursday night, by Saturday Lucas' arm was so swollen, red and hot I was getting a bit worried.  It had become progressively worse and I wasn't sure if it was just a reaction or if it was infected.  Sophie and I had ours done a while back with no issues luckily.  Lucas' arm seems less swollen today so hopefully it is on the mend.  He has had a rough week, Sunday night he was up with a stomach bug and he stayed home from school Monday.  He was so pale and weak and he needed a days recovery at home.  So we watched some Christmas movies, did a puzzle and just chilled.  I made Lucas a special bed on the couch (whenever Lucas is sick I put his pillows and blankets on the couch and get him all bundled up, we have always called it a "special bed" since he was a little guy) and just let him doze.

The mutant arm....

Today we had planned to go to a "Breakfast with Santa" with my sister and niece, but the snowstorm was so bad out on the highway that we turned around.   So we headed to the mall and got our pictures with Santa there.  Santa was great and tried his hardest to hold Sophie up, but I fear this might have been the last year that we will be able to have her sit on Santa's lap.  We may have to leave her in her chair for the picture next year, time will tell.

Circus mirrors at Santa's workshop.  Odd but fun.

Our crazy crew...

Do your kids know the concept of just looking?  Or is it torture for them, basically verging on neglect if they don't get to buy something.  Lucas would make you think that was so.  Because "looking for Christmas ideas" should be good right?  You know you are getting presents soon and you can point out your faves.  Sounded good in theory when I was making the plans for the day.  Hmph.

Lucas could not stop talking about this West 49 t-shirt.  He saw it at our last visit to the mall and he was lovestruck.  Ok, that might be a bit dramatic, but man he wanted that shirt.  He talked about it non-stop.  Have I mentioned Lucas is a boy fashionista?  He is super picky about what he wears and has a definite sense of style all his own.   He wore me down and he got a treat even though we were "just looking" for Christmas ideas today.

He loves this shirt and is so excited that he has something dressy to wear without having to get dressed up.  Yes, he said that. Buwahahahaha! 

Thank goodness I have my sweet Miss Sophie to dress up. 

We have another very busy week coming up. I still have no Christmas shopping done and it will be a while till I am able to get it started.  I have a feeling the time is going to fly.

Ready for winter, kind of.

This year we seem a little more ready for winter.  Sophie has been much healthier for longer than ever before, she is still having seizures, but no hospital stays and no nasty virus or infections yet.  I am sure they will come, but the reprieve has been nice.  We woke up to the first snow this morning and Lucas was excited to see it on all the rooftops.

The view out my front door window this morning...it would be kind of pretty if not for the light standard ;)

I have most of the Christmas decorations up inside and I found a few new decorations for the outside (I love unexpected dollar store finds, don't you?!)  that I put up yesterday.  I want to put some lights outside and some garland so hopefully that will happen before I have to do it standing in 2 feet of snow (like I have done so many times before).

There is something fun about decorating a new home for Christmas for the first time.  Trying to figure out what goes where, what looks right and what needs to stay in the bin.

This guy was another fun dollar store find..

However, I have a few plants that need planting and now the ground is frozen.  It seemed so plausible that I would get it done a couple days ago.  So, garden preparedness = FAIL.  I am not sure if this hydrangea, a few hostas and a euonymus are going to make it.  I guess we will find out in May.

I almost have my act together this year and winter is still a few weeks away. Yay me ;)

The Photo Shoot

I have always had photos of Lucas and Sophie taken at the grocery store photo studio for seasonal pictures.  They always come out pretty darn good, but it has always been difficult to get great photos of Sophie.  It is a very overwhelming experience for her and she has trouble focusing on the photographer.  Lucas is always a trooper and gives his best smiles and will even try to hold her up on his lap for a few shots.

This year I decided to try something different.  We went to an actual photographer - Amanda Kopcic Photography -  and had Sophie's Christmas photos taken.  She was a star and smiled right from the beginning.  The photographer Amanda was so nice, she worked really hard with us to get everything all set.  My mom came to help and we were quite the threesome doing itsy bitsy spider to get Sophie smiling.  We got a few great shots of Sophie by herself as well as some with me.   I am so excited to hang them on the wall this Christmas.  I already have one framed sitting on my kitchen counter :)

We will still go to the grocery store photo studio with Lucas and Sophie together but now I don't have this pressure hanging over me to get a great shot of her by herself.  We can just have fun.

I had to add a photo of Lucas of course, so here is one of my all-time favourites, taken 7 years ago...

Our Charlie Brown Christmas tree

I don't know how, but we ended up with a slight "Charlie Brown Christmas" tree this year.  We have an artificial tree that my Mother in law kindly donated to us over 10 years ago.  Each year more "needles" fall off the tree and this year I thought it would be bald by the time we got it decorated.  We decided to put the tree up this past weekend and Lucas was very excited to help me put the lights on the tree.  We were going to start with the white lights and then layer with the coloured string.  So we circled around the tree a bazillion times with the white lights and Lucas went to plug them in.  Nada.  We did not have sparkle.  We didn't even have a spark.  So we moved on to plan B, we would use only coloured lights this year.  So, I plugged in the coloured lights to make sure they worked (see, I can learn from past mistakes lol) and we started the dizzy dance again.  We took the white lights off and got the new string up and put all the decorations on and plugged it in.   Lucas said, mom the middle of the tree isn't lit up.  And he was right.  The complete middle of the tree was in blackness.  By this time I was ready to throw this tree out the window, it had lost so many needles from the first light removal I had no desire to do this again.  So I grabbed an extra light bulb and started checking them all.  Not fun, since all the baubles were on and they were dropping all over the place.  Lucas was quite impressed that they were at least bouncing when they hit the floor.  I explained that we had the best plastic Christmas baubles you could buy ;).  He thought that was awesome lol.  So I kept poking the tree and about 6 lights came back on when I moved the wires a certain way, but the rest were not lighting.  I figured it was just going be an endearing feature of the tree this year.  You almost can't tell, well, if you're not looking at the tree you can't.

Sophie and Lucas helped put all the decorations on, the home made ones get more plentiful each year.

As soon as we had finished the tree, our dog Riley had curled himself up underneath it.  Maybe it isn't so bad afterall.  Then again, he has pretty low standards ;)

Lucas put the star on the top of the tree like he always does, Sophie thought it was lots of fun to watch him way up in the air.  

Perhaps next year we will buy a big new tree that looks impressive in our new home's front window.  It would definitely have to be prelit. Then again, maybe our current version is more us.