Weekend Round-up

Sunday night, watching the Juno's on TV.  Computer on my lap.  Trying to remember what we did this weekend. Then I check my pix on my phone and start laughing...

Friday night I leave the Hockey Volunteer Appreciation Dance early to pick up Evann and her girlfriends from a sushi restaurant in Burlington.  Ev, Ginny, Jessica and ASHLEY WITH A BABY!?!?!?!?! I was introduced to Sophia - holy smokes that baby looked like the real thing.  I had heard about these interactive babies that the family studies students have to "parent"  but I didn't know that our high school had them.

The girls reported that the baby was a bit fussy at the restaurant.  Apparently that was nothing compared to how sweet little Sophia behaved during her sleepover at our house.  The four girls all slept in the basement apartment - well three of the girls did.  Seems Ashley was up with a cranky Sophia most of the night - in the bathroom with the door closed trying not to wake the other girls.  Feeding, burping and changing the baby.  Saturday morning the girls had me in tears from the funny stories about all the things Ashley has had to contend with while she has been a "mom".

Here she is feeding the baby in the morning.

Oh those girls are so entertaining!

Saturday Leah played her 2nd last hockey game of the season.  She was in net and did well.  She has grown so much the past few months - it was shocking to see her in the goalie gear - almost towering over me.

Here she is getting strapped into the goalie pads...

Today was her very last game of the season - the girls won again. Unfortunately, they didn't make it into the playoffs.  When the final buzzer went, the moms in the stands didn't move.  Hard to believe that we didn't want this season to end - we have been coming to the arena every weekend since the end of September.  Once again, thirteen girls and their families formed a strong bond that for many of us, will continue  for years to come, outside of the arena.  

After the game, our family decided to pop in on Carson at work.  She was the only wait staff working - and my goodness that girl works hard.  We reward her by making her pose for a bunch of pictures... what a good sport.  

We left her a big tip.

Techno Birthday

Ev loved her little gifts set out on the breakfast table this morning. And I'm told that her she had an acceptable number of birthday wishes posted on Facebook.

Rob and I were all happy to relieve Evann of the stigma of being the only teenager in Oakville without a computer...(of course, we are probably the only parents in Oakville who would give their child a laptop for her birthday, on the condition that she contributes 1/4 of the cost.)

Right after opening her gift, she had to update her BBM and Facebook status...

We had a lovely dinner at Il Fornello's. Interspersed with doodling...

...table hockey...

...birthday calls...

... and playing on dad's phone.

The kids graciously posed for a group shot...

On our way home, they tried out a flexi-camera...

apparently, Leah's ears weren't the best subject for  after dinner viewing...

Lots of fun, lots of laugh, lots of love.

HBD EK!

(jk)

Mom xo

Maple Syrup and Oreos

The last day of March Break.  We capped off our fun week with a trip to the local Maple Syrup Festival.

Ev and Carson both worked today but we were able to find one more girl to join us - our Avry. She kept Leah, Vienna and Eli busy as they chased her throughout the park.

Here's Vienna checking out the sap

We watched demonstrations of maple syrup cooking methods.

Took lots of pictures

After we said goodbye to Paula, Ven and Eli, we hit the mall to buy a few birthday goodies for Evann. Made it home in time to pack up the hockey gear, pick up Ev from work and get Leah to one of her last games of the season.  The team was short a full line and a few of the girls, Leah included, were recovering from bad colds/strep throat/bronchitis.  Despite an excellent effort, they lost 3-1.  Leah was very disappointed "We should have won that game. What could we have done different so we could win?"  

Home for dinner, then Leah and Ev had an oreo eating contest.  One of those win-win contests...

 

One last job to wrap up a great week...

Somebody is turning 17 tomorrow!!!

Wasn't that a Party?

Mom's March Break fun...

I went out with my crazy Irish girlfriend last night.
To an Irish pub.
Great music.
Irish dancers.
2 floors of fun.
Met some old friends, made some new ones.

I'm thinking that the start of baseball season (May) will be when I am ready to have another beer...

Wednesday Morning

Almost 10:30. The smell of fried bacon permeates the house. Pancake batter is mixed to perfect lumpiness. I will pour myself another cup of coffee, cuddle up on the couch with my laptop, and enjoy this silence and solitude.

I wonder which of the seven young women sleeping in this house will be the first up?

I wonder when the last breakfast will be served?

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12:10 Breakfast is served

And spring has sprung

Frosty morning/Shadows

Stay-cation - Days 1 & 2

Like most years, we are home this March Break.  Like all years, we surround ourselves with family and friends.  And food.

During this meal, I found out that Ev and her friends have been contemplating the idea of getting all the moms together for a dinner party.  Of course, I loved it and offered to host a mother-daughter dinner party for Ev's upcoming birthday.  The girls weren't quite ready for that reality... something about being worried about whose mom would be the most embarrassing.

I have no idea what they are talking about...

Carson and Andrew have taken Leah under their wing.  For the past few months, we haven't been able to figure out if Andrew likes hanging out at our place to play hockey or basketball with Leah, enjoys my cooking or really likes just spending time with Carson.
Most recently, Leah has been hanging out at Andrew's.  He is teaching her how to play the drums - apparently she is good enough that the music teacher let her switch from trumpet to percussion in class.
Today Leah was thrilled that Andrew let her use his "awesome skateboard".
Carson always seems to have time for her baby sister.

Saturday night we had all the cousins over. Andrew and the kids played basketball.

What she lacks in form, she makes up in grit

Carson and Andrew changed their plans and made it 14 for dinner.  The kids made placecards, I had 2 ovens going, Yvonne kept me focussed and the boys kept the glasses full.

Uncle Adam and Cousin Brent were duly impressed with Ev's beer cap collection:

Avry loved being with her cousins

We all enjoyed the company of baby Sydney - look at that hair!

Not much planned for the week - just enjoying our time together.

This morning's smile

Those of you who know me well, know that I have what some would describe as an unhealthy scepticism of organized religion.  That said, I do my best to engage my kids in discussions of the various religious holidays, traditions and observances that are happening at the time.

This morning's discussion was about Lent.  I opined that it would be good for us to give up something; make a small personal sacrifice in our rich lives.  "What is something that we really like, that we could try to do without for 4 weeks?"

Without missing a beat, one of my darlings proposed "Boys!?!"

Post-script to Saturday night

We drove to the event through pouring rain. By the time we closed the place, rain had turned to snow.  I had sensible shoes for driving in the car, but I had to walk quite a way to get there... the trials and tribulations of being the Designated Driver.

Of course I left Paula and Brigid at the door of the hall with all the silent auction goodies.  With the wind and snow whipping around us, we struggled to fit a huge framed print into my van.  And a big ornamental clock - at least 5 feet in diameter.  We finally had to take the print out of the box.  Once we had the goodies loaded, we had to pry open the back doors (they were frozen shut). And then we had to coax the doors into closing. And then Brigid had to sit with her print wedged against her all the way home.  And, the ride home took over an hour as the highways weren't plowed.

And, as we said our respective goodbyes, we all agreed "We can't wait to do it again next year!"

Life for Luke

For 10 years, the family and friends of Lucy and Enio Liegghio have organized a spectacular Life For Luke Dinner Gala in support of the SickKids Foundation and the Canadian Chapter of the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation.  


Niemann-Pick Disease(NPD) is one of a group of lysosomal storage diseases that affect metabolism and that are caused by genetic mutations. The three most commonly recognized forms are Niemann-Pick Types A, B and C.


Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC) most often strikes young children or infants. It is not easy to diagnose and it is always fatal. Luke Liegghio, Alex Vaughan and Laura Vaughan were 8, 4 and 6 respectively when they died from NPC.  Their bodies were not able to metabolize cholesterol and other lipids properly within the cell. Consequently, excessive amounts of cholesterol accumulate within the liver and spleen and excessive amounts of other lipids accumulate in the brain.  


My friends Allan and Tammy Vaughan lost 2 children to NPC.  Alex would be 23 and Laura 15, if they were still alive.  I met Al and Tammy in high school up in Hanover way back in 1978.  We never could have imagined how our lives would be affected by this disease.  I was honoured to be asked to be a founding board member of the Canadian Chapter of the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation. We want to do everything we can to keep another family from losing a child. 


Here are some interesting numbers:

• 500 - the estimated number of NPC cases world-wide
• 675 - the number of people at the Life for Luke event   
• 3,340 - the number of Canadians who will be diagnosed with cancer every week.

Raising awareness and money to support research for a rare disease like Niemann-Pick is a challenge.  Events like Life for Luke and the Alex & Laura Vaughan Memorial Golf Tournament have raised over $1 million dollars to support research and support families.  

There are so many charities and causes that need our support - either with time or money.  I'm not able to give a lot, but I am proud of what I can do to make the difference to 500 kids, their families and friends.  

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The Life for Luke Gala was sad, poignant and hopeful.  Amid the tears, there was fun and laughter.  The first few years I attended the Life for Luke event, I went on my own and sat with Allan, Tammy and various board members and on occasion, was seated with local elected officials.  The past two years I invited some girlfriends to join me. Last year Carol, Laurie and Marion bought tickets and attended the gala.  We had fun bidding on silent auction items and dancing the night away.  

This year, Paula, Brigid and Brigid's friend Rosa joined me.  

It was great to spend time with Tammy and Allan again (the golf tournament is June 25th this year).

Paula couldn't help teasing me when she found out that the midnight porchetta buffet was my favourite part of the evening.  I'm kicking myself for not offering to buy the remains of this little piggy.  Oh man, all the food was delicious, but that pork was divine.

We dressed up, enjoyed great food, furiously bid on some great silent auction items, connected with old friends, made some new ones, danced like it was 1999 and had a fabulous evening. There are thousands of these charity events in our area every year. Put on by thousands of volunteers and supported by thousands more.  

Fundraiser by fundraiser, board meeting by board meeting, we are all making a difference.