Makes My Monday ~ A wonderful weekend

The weather was absolutely gorgeous this weekend. Way too warm for November, but that didn't stop us from getting out and enjoying every minute of it. On Saturday, I took the little ones out. We went to Cheeky Monkeys, which they love. C was still not up to par so she stayed home with Gino. On Sunday though, she was much better and all of us headed out to Heartland Forest for the morning. Joey loves the golf cart and tends to get obsessive with it. So Gino took him through the forest on the cart. He also gave the little ones a ride as well. After we got home we all played outside. The kids got out their trikes and were riding around the driveway. Then they headed over to the neighbours where Gracie and Nick kindly shared their sidewalk chalk. They made all kinds of interesting pictures. They played outside right up until dinner and by then it was beginning to get chilly. Weekends like this totally Make My Monday. To see what is making others Mondays head on over to Cheryl's blog @ Twinfatuation The girls enjoying the Frog Express @ Heartland Forest.

Thankful Thursday ~ All better and more

This week was a write off. We were totally trapped inside..or rather I was trapped inside with two sick little girls. Today, today though, both are up and about and C , for the first time in five days is up off the couch and is colouring and chattering away.
I am thankful that both Abby and C are feeling better.
I am thankful for our health care system. I took C into the walk in clinic and came out with a prescription for tamiflu..and it's covered by our government.
I am thankful that no one else( knock on wood) in our house has fallen ill.
I am thankful for my neighbour, my best bestie , who provides me with health advice and some products from her work. I swear by the salts. I think that is what has kept that yucky virus at bay.
I am thankful for my sister Linda, who baked some yummy , healthy cookies for us and who is helping me make a memorial dvd for my girlfriend's little girl.
I am thankful for a good nights sleep. All of the children, including Joey slept the entire night, which meant I also slept in my own bed all night long.
I am thankful for melatonin , which helped the above children get a good nights sleep.
I am thankful for my husband who has helped with the little ones when he came home from work, so I could rest. He also did up the dishes and ran the older boys around while I rested.
I am thankful for my big boys. I am so proud that Alec has made the roadshow and that Nick is doing well in school.
I am thankful for my friends. Margaret, who watched my girls on Monday, even though they were sick and she risked getting the flu. Anna, that we recently reconnected. Jac , still thinking of other people even through this difficult time.

I am thankful for the swifter, the amount of times I have to wash my floor, well it's just so much easier than say washing and waxing like my mom had to do. Even if I did put the pad for the bottom of the swifter on backwards this morning. I had to rewash the floor, it still didn't take up much time.
I am thankful for Thursdays. Our Thursdays. Our one day a week where we can goof off and have fun , without worrying about the kids or the men. Even if we don't remember what Grey's is about.
I am thankful for Jen, who has made Thursdays what it is.

Special Exposure Wednesday

Playing along with 5 Minutes for Special Needs . My two youngest trick or treaters. This Halloween was so much fun for the two of them. Both ran up to each door with so much enthusiasm, using their manners of course. I captured the above picture of Damien at the library story time. My neighbour and best bestie took the one of Abby, aka Minnie Mouse.

Makes My Monday ~Successful Trick or Treating

This Halloween, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. With the children being sick and the weather not being very nice, I wondered if they'd even get out there at all. However, although C still had a cough, we managed to get out there early (we were the first and only on the street for at least a half hour) It was a pretty unique situation for me this year. I had agreed for C's mom to come along, so that meant her coming to our house. Not many foster parents would agree to this. Also I invited,reluctantly my babies bio mom to join us, because she and her older son, Abby and Damien's half brother were going to be trick or treating alone. That meant grandma (the babies grandma) stopping by, because bio mom doesn't drive. The kids handled it pretty good. The love their grandmother, but Damien has a very strong bond to his grandmother (she raised him for two years prior to us getting custody) It is sometimes difficult for him to part with her. She only stayed awhile and then was off to her own place to hand out candy. Plus Elissa, Joey's worker was there to help with him. So that made 4 adults to my 5 kids. My girl friend joined me with her youngest daughter. So off we went. The children all did well. Abby and Damien raced to each house keeping up with Joey. C lagged behind a bit and gave up after a few houses, insisting her mommy carry her. We did have the wagon, and she hitched a ride for a bit. However once she got in the wagon little miss copy cat Abby had to as well. We did the block and then I decided to bring C home with her mommy and Abby wanted to join us. Elissa took over in the supervising of Damien and Joey.

We got home and C instantly regressed into a toddler wanting her mommy to hold her, but only after she'd eaten her share of candy. C's mom was very good with her. She also made cupcakes for the children, how sweet. She and C watched some Dora while I got Abby washed up. Then Elissa, Joey and Damien came home and Elissa helped them sort their loot. C's mom's ride came and C was fine after that. I managed to brush the little ones teeth and get them all into bed by 8pm. Elissa took care of Joey. By 8:30pm all four kids were in bed, their loot sorted and the lights off. Ahhh time for myself now. All in all, it was a unique and successful Halloween and that has totally made my Monday. To see what is making other people's Monday's head on over to Cheryl's blog @ Twinfatuation .

Friday Fragments ~ What a week

It has been quite the week. I am actually glad it's just about over. This week has been a sad week, but it didn't start out like that.

Monday: I love my Mondays, the children all go back to school and I have my regular routine with the girls in the morning. Monday night was an executive meeting for our moms group. OK OK it is NOT really an executive meeting, that's just what we call it. My co leader of this group was unable to make it because her sweet little girl was ill. So just Margaret and I went and met a friend there, who is not really in our group, but it was bring a friend night after all. Anyhow we had a real good time, and I still made it home by 11pm.

Tuesday: An old friend from high school came for a visit with her beautiful baby girl. What a riot! We looked at old pictures and then at new ones. *FACEBOOK* We giggled at how much people have aged. Not us though, we look the same right? LOL

Wednesday: A sad, sad day. My girlfriend's precious angel passed away. Rest in peace sweet Sydney. My heart goes out to Jackie,her mommy, my friend and my co leader of our Special Needs Moms Support Group. Or as Jac calls it Disabled Mom's Group.

Thursday: Joey stayed home from school sick, although his energy level was the same. He did have a dry cough and just like a man, every time he'd cough, he would moan, " I siiiiiiiiick" He recovered enough to attend his Halloween story time at the library. Abby, Damien and I decided to join him. It was nice to get out of the house.

Today, I am off to the funeral home. Plus trying to get the little ones costumes ready for their school parades. How can I be cheery, when I feel so sad? The girls asked me ," why you sad mommy?" It's hard to explain to them in words they would understand. I just hold them close and give more hugs.

Sweet Little Angel..Rest in peace

Sdyney was a very special little girl. She had a syndrome called Lissencephaly.

http://www.lissencephaly.org.uk/aboutliss/index.htm. She was the beloved daughter of my good friend, Jacqueline. Sydney passed away at home yesterday surrounded by closest family. This is a very difficult time for my friend and her family. Please keep Jackie, Kenny and their family in your prayers. Rest in peace sweet Sydney. We love you!

Syd at Joey's birthday party.

Joey with his very special friend, Sydney.

Say What Wednesday and Way Back Whens day

This is my first time playing along with Missy @ Two Little Monkeys .

Kids do say the funniest things. I was talking about Halloween costumes with Abby, she said she is going to be a princess.

Me: "Well, I don't know what to be?"

Abby, after looking me up and down, " you can be a fat princess mom"..gee thanks Ab

For Way back When's day,, I'm playing along with Cheryl @ Twinfatuation. Here is Abby last Halloween.