Holidays are D-O-N-E!!!

Ok, I am still trying to figure out how to load photos properly on this silly site! So, they are backwards! Lol!
Christmas was great! The Bishop Clan came down for Christmas Eve. We had a great visit. My favorite gift was from my in laws, a fireplace! I know it's not the same as a wood one, but it is the closest thing I can have for now! It's great! The girls got a Wii for Christmas, actually they got it a couple of weeks early. At Christmas we had fun playing with all the family. Scott and Emma had convinced Grandpa and Grandpa Bishop to play even!

Every year we play hide the pickle. This year Kaylyn had to hide it and buy the gift. Allie found it, even with the added pressure of Emma on her shoulders!
The one gift was very happy to receive was his electric tie rack. You know you are getting older when...... too funny!

Emma LOVED her Cinderella dress and DS! We had originally bought a used one because of her age thinking if anything happened, it wouldn't matter. But in the end we bought her a new one. The other one didn't work too well. We let her decorate it with stickers to make it her own. Now she can stop correcting us by saying "No, it's Kay's DS! I don't have one!"

With Kay still going to her Dad's on some weekends, we thought that it was time for her own computer. This way she can keep up with her school work and not worry about time on the computer. She can watch movies, browse the Internet and so on at her own leisure! No more fighting over my computer! She was very happy!

I tell you, we often wonder about Scott's sense of humor, but as shown here, it is a family thing. He and his brother have the same sense of humor. It is funny to watch the 2 of them together! It was really nice having them here this year.

Christmas Eve in our house runs about the same every year. We had our dinner, went for a car ride to see the Christmas lights at the Winter Festival of Lights, open our Christmas jammie's and watch a movie together. It is a great family tradition that Kaylyn helped plan the year Emma was born. We have enjoyed it ever since!

Emma helped set out food for Santa. She made sure that the reindeer got carrots too! She thought that Santa might want a hot chocolate, so we set out an extra mug with a pot of hot water for him! She thought this was a GREAT idea!

Kaylyn is officially 14! Wow! Where does time go? This year, instead of a cake, she asked for a very special Apple Crisp. It was delicious! 14... man o man!

When the Olympic torch came through Niagara Falls, the girls and I went to cheer it on! We walked down the Falls to watch the lighting of the cauldron. Emma asked to ride on my shoulders, considering the distance I thought her little legs may not keep up. So, up she went! 10 minutes later she was SOUND asleep! Too much for one day I guess!

Our family Christmas photo for this year. I turned out pretty good. Kay's eye make up is really not that dark. For some reason, it looks twice as dark in this photo! We got some really great pictures this year!

Halloween has also passed since I last wrote. Emma decided that she wanted to be "Belle on a BEAUTIFUL unicorn". Easy enough! She was proud as a peacock! She lasted about 45 minutes with Daddy in tow. Just enough... not like we really eat all the halloween candy in this house! I had uploaded a beautiful photo of Kaylyn in her Ice Princess dress, but for some reason it is very blurry. I told her it is suppose to be her last year out, I am not too fond of the big kids trick or treating. Mind you, she has the height.... she was told she could go out next year if she takes her sister! Lol!

Here's hoping this year will be a great year too!

After The Bash

Well Emma's birthday went off very well! We had a GREAT turn out of good friends and family. The ponies were only the start to a busy, eventful day! The kids enjoyed being able to pick their own goodie bags and play some games. I don't think there was enough time to do everything that afternoon!

Emma has become good friends with Olivia at school. She was able to make it to the birthday party. Because she is still learning who everyone is at school, it made it hard to invite kids from her class, but we were happy Olivia could make it.

Kaylyn was a BIG help before, during and after the party. She has a natural knack with kids. They like her. She is doing really well with babysitting. She babysits once to twice a week. The kids she babysits love her! I think it is a good thing!

Well with the new school year comes all the running around! Kaylyn is back in Pathfinders this year, the both of them are in dance and swimming lessons too. They are loving it! Their dance teacher is a close second to Aunt Patti as a dance teacher with a great personality! Ms Melissa is bubbly and full of energy! The girls like her!

I had a great surprise the day of Emma's birthday too. My good friend from high school, Debra showed up with all of her family! It made my week! She is a great person! We finally got our 2 girls together. Debra's daughter is about 1 1/2 year younger than Kaylyn. We often thought about getting them together, but it has never worked out! Well they hit it off! We were very pleased. Avery (Debra's daughter) has a hockey tournament the first weekend of November, so they are back this way again for it. Actually, they are only 2 blocks away!

Scott has disappeared, it's Sunday... we tend to let him be with his football! It's kind of funny! He is still doing well with his business. We are very proud of him!

Long Time, No Type!

Today was Emma's first day at school. We went with her for the 1 hour orientation. Tomorrow she goes for the full morning. She is excited! She thinks that she is going to be going to Kaylyn's school! Her teachers name is Mrs. Clegg. She is really nice and understanding of the little ones. Kaylyn REALLY likes her teacher as well. Her name is Mrs. Sheer. From what I have heard, she is short too! Kaylyn will like that!
Kaylyn has progressed well. She is up to 4'8. She is really happy with her progress. We are too, but she can really feel the difference. She really liked that she could get onto all the rides at Marineland! We upgraded to a season pass so we could go back a couple of times. Kaylyn talked Scott into going onto the Sky Screamer. They had a blast. Emma got Kaylyn back, she made her go on all of the kiddy rides!
We have been enjoying this time of year. We have been to some Buffalo Bisons baseball games and the Ice Dogs hockey. Go Dogs Go! Emma was ok at the ball game, but she and Kaylyn really enjoy the OHL Ice Dog games better!
I will have to write more later, though I thought I should catch up on some of the busy stuff and post some photos!
Ciao!

Emma's Swimming Lessons

We have started going to the YMCA this past week. Kaylyn has enjoyed the gym AND the pool every moment she can. Scott has enjoyed the facilities as well. Emma just wants the pool! We started her in swimming lessons this week. She LOVES the water. Monday I took her in the pool for her first lessons. There were a lot of babies in the class with a couple of other older children besides Emma. They told me at the Y this was the way to start her. After our class on Monday, the lifeguard told me we could sign Emma up for the next level. This was great news! I wasn't shocked, but thought that she might have to learn the basics for a couple weeks! So we signed her up! Tonight was her first class. She did GREAT! I don't have to go in with her which is nice. Emma was the first to volunteer. She jumped right into the lifeguards arms! All I hear is "Mommy! I did it! I did a bob!" Every time it was her turn she'd holler out "I did a bob! I did it! You see me!" She is doing great for her first week!

Pre March Break!

The girls have left us! They have gone to Grandma and Grandpa Broadfoot's for a visit. Kaylyn will go to her Dad's Monday afternoon, but I know that she would love to stay in Thamesford to get that special Grandma and Papa spoiling! Emma is excited to go too! She can't wait to go see the animals on the farm! She looks forward to visiting Henny's house and Kim & Jim's. Now, if we only knew someone with horses, Emma would never want to leave!

Last Monday Kaylyn had her 6 month check up with her "kidney" doctor. It was the first time Kaylyn said "That was a great appointment!" She has become very discouraged with doctor appointments. She thinks that every time she goes they are only going to give her bad news. Last week we found out that we don't have to wait for her kidney to go into failure before we do a kidney transplant. They will allow friends or family matches to donate and they will perform the surgery before they would absolutely have to. This is great news! I was afraid that if it ever came about that she needed one, that we would have to wait until her body started shutting down. Now, remember, this may never happen. It could happen in 2 years, 20 years or never. It is just prepping for the worse. To me this is FANTASTIC news! Kaylyn also asked about her being able to have children.... I let the doctor explain this to her. She is a smart girl. She has started to figure things out. She was not happy, but I reminded her of all the loving people that we have in our life that couldn't have kids on their own and how they chose to have a family! I have been on the Turner's Syndrome website and have found a conference in Vancouver in April. I think if I can arrange the time off work, it would be a great little vacation for Kaylyn and I to take together! She has been approved for the next part of her treatment. We go for our training on needles the end of the month. I am excited to move forward with this. I told Kaylyn that we get to go buy new wardrobes! She can't wait! She truly hasn't grown much over the past 3 years. She has only grown about 2 inches. She is suppose to be 9 years old according to her bone xray! This treatment will encourage her body to grow over the next 2 years! She is just concerned that she just got her new skinny jeans and doesn't want to outgrow them! Hehehe, it's not that they don't make them anymore! Silly nut!

With the girls gone, Scott and I thought we would take this week to sleep and get the house in order. So far I have slept, maybe tomorrow I will start on the house! hehe! We have kidnapped Ryan for most of the week, yet again. It's great having him around. He truly is a good kid! We are very lucky in our family, all the kids are pretty good. 98% of the time.

Sami is in her school play coming up. We have not yet bought our tickets, but the girls can't wait to see Sami on stage! She didn't make it down this way yet, there is still lots of days left in March break though!

I don't know if all this quiet is good. It is weird to not have Emma wanting to be everywhere with you! My shower getting ready for work was actually relaxing! No Emma asking to come and play animals in there! In due time things will be back to normal, in due time! Good luck to my parents!

Our Weekend

We had a very busy weekend. We went up to Oshawa to help Scott's sister in law with her floral shop. Friday was non-stop from 10 to 7, but that's to be expected. We got all orders ready for Saturday which made the day much easier to handle as people came in. It was a great weekend weather wise as well. No snow for the boys to trudge through! Ryan joined us Friday night. Patti had dropped him off at the Go Train in Hamilton and Scott with Tyson picked him up 2 hours later in Oshawa. It was great to have him. He likes to help out. Kaylyn spent the Saturday with Emma. It sounds like the had a good day. They had their moments, but Kay did great as a babysitter. She does great with Emma. If only the two get along that well when we are home!

We came back at noon today just in time for the Ice Dogs game in St.Catharines. It was really good. I didn't realize how much I missed watching the OHL. I think we will looking to future games. They won 4-1, which made it easier to cheer for them. I swear the rink is smaller than the ones the London Knights play on though!

Kaylyn had a bit of a rough day today. When we got home today, she checked on her hamster Jeffery. He had curled up in the corner and passed away while we were in Oshawa. Pour Kaylyn. My heart hurt listening to her sob. She called and texted everyone that she thought should know. I helped her put him in a shoe box. Now, we have to decided what to do with him.... in the nice way. We can't bury him in the backyard for fear that Toby would dig him up.

It has been a rough week for animals. We got another opinion on our dog Toby's ear infections. They have been going on for 2 years. This vet is concerned for our safety. Even though he is a very passive dog, with the pain that he is in, he could very well bite on a whim. She broke down the cost over the next year just to get it cleared. It is quite steep. We love Toby truly. He is everything we want in our family dog. Soooo, I put out some feelers to some friends and family. I even contacted the Bouvier Des Flanders rescue. We have found a home made solution that we are going to try. We are going to give it 2 weeks to see if we can clear it up. If not, we have decided that for Toby's health and our safety we will put him down. Please keep your fingers crossed for us!

On a bright note, we are all home together tomorrow for family day. I have to work in the evening, but we are going to have the day together. I think for my birthday on Thursday, we might go bowling. They can put the bumpers up so Emma and Kaylyn (and myself as well) can enjoy a game without too many gutter balls. Scott is an amazing bowler. He has his ring. He grew up a bowler. I didn't know this at first, but now I love him. Sorry. Hehehe! No, it's fun. I think that will be a great night out for all of us!

Well, I should go. Emma just walked into our room apologizing. She had the rod from the bottom of her curtain in her hand. She said she was golfing! I think some is WIDE awake! Time for some Mommy stories in the dark to make her go to sleep!

School Update

Kaylyn participated in her schools science fair this year. She received a B+ for her shared project about bubbles. I think she did great for her first year at the science fair. She is excited about her project for next year. She is going to do it with her girlfriend Sierra. This years Sierra won and is going on to the next level.

Tonight was registration night at our school. Emma was tickled pink! She mad sure to pack her school bag for the 1 hour registration. She packed her 2 blankets and her pink Yally cat. It was funny watching her decide what she wanted to take to school with her!

She is starting JK this September. Man, was she excited about it! She said "I am going to go to school with Aunt Patti, Sami, Ryan, Mikala, Kaylyn, Mommy, Daddy and Maureen because their my best friends!"

When we got the office, they handed us a bag full of information and games for Emma. She was SO happy to get it!

Kaylyn has been waiting 3 years to be able to show Emma off! She was right up front with Emma looking around. Emma found the sandbox first, so it was a challenge to take off her coat and show her the rest of the room! We explained that school was more than just playing in the sand! She said"yeah, maybe later!"

Wow time flies eh?



Scott has passed his insurance exam. This helps him expand his knowledge and help his clients a little more. The more you know........ He was very pleased with himself. Kaylyn and I had no doubt, but are very proud of him!

Valentine's Day is coming up. It's the time of year we head to Oshawa to help my sister-in-law with her floral shop. The boys dress up "real nice" and do deliveries, Kay watches Emma and I help in the store as best as I can. I call it my part time job! It always makes for a long, but good weekend. We run on coffee, tea and adrenaline! It's the first job that smells nice from the time you start to the time you finish! No stinky people or food.