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.