Grandma 'Piggy'

As I sit here with eyes burning with dryness and pain from crying 90% of the day I cannot help but think of how much I miss my grandma. All day I tried to convince myself that it was for the better. She was 90 and had lived a full life. She was full of life. And at the end of the day all the memories of her (and some I had forgotten) came rushing back to me and I no longer had to convince myself that you were okay to leave us here...we are going to be okay and I think you knew that.

I tried to remember everything you were about....and none of that was the last 5 years. Let's be honest......at 85 you are not making your legacy....you've done that and you begin to co-exist amongst the world. You meet some amazing people who dedicate their lives to helping you keep your dignity. And although not all moments are ones to remember they are still moments that all family members appreciate.

I am thankful for growing up with you around, for teaching me things that you probably never thought twice about. For letting me make my own decisions but being there to guide the way. All those little things are what I remember.

It would be selfish of me to have wanted you to 'hang on' until my family travelled to see you in June. I kept thinking...I'm too late. But too late for what? To see you at 90? Because for me it's not seeing you one last time, it was about you seeing me be the woman I am, the mom I am and the beautiful great grandkids that are apart of you and your legacy. Being 'there' doesn't mean you are present....being present means you lived the moments, you felt the love and you gave your heart. I am happy to say whole hearted that I was present and I appreciate you being present in my life. You have seen me....you were proud of me and I know you are now here with me. I guess I should now be on my very best behaviour :)

I appreciate all the memories you have given me. It was always easy to be around you. Never have I ever felt it to be a chore to visit. I loved your apartment....my secret stash of Barbies and Cabbage Patch Dolls, what I thought was the best fold out foam bed/ fort that ever existed. I still remember that pull out couch that I used to sit upside down in and you'd pull it and roll me out......to this day I am still unsure of how you even rigged that up. You are the only person I know to have been on Weight Watchers your entire existence and do it for the socialization......what did you lose on that?...5 lbs in 30 years??? Love it :) The spoons......you will always be remembered for that. My grandma played the spoons in a band! Okay....maybe not a band but she held down the beat at the Thursday night line dancing in the seniors hall. AND you rocked it at my wedding...talk of the town :)

I'm also going to take this opportunity to apologize for the whole Grandma Piggy name. I swear it wasn't because of weight....but my other grandma was just a teeny thing. Now that I think about it I could be the reason behind Weight Watchers....sorry Grandma Piggy....but I really do think it's the cutest name :)

You were a strong woman that I am so proud to have a part of in me and I can only wish to someday be the grandma you were.

I love you with all my heart...always have and always will.

Rest and be free....my amazing Grandma Peggy :)

Xox
Amanda

 

4 Generations

My Mom, my Grandma, Norah and myself

A little bit of Figure Skating...

For our third time out it was pretty good. I must say I am 'feeling' it a bit more. A little less of those off balance moments....although a good skate sharpening could help. I did get rid of the 'Ken Deese' special but it was only with a light touch up 'coaches' sharpening. I think I need some real edges to go with my very real skating :)
We are really enjoying having that time on the ice...just us. The kids are crazy good.....to the point where parents, skaters and coaches cannot believe they sit (in one spot) and either watch us or entertain themselves. I am so grateful that we are at this point with them (hence why we are done having kids). Norah and Zach have both told us that they want to Figure Skate. We even gave Zach the option of hockey and he picked Figure Skating. I guess we'll see :) Travis might get his dream to choreograph a Star Wars solo for him  ;)

Anyways we did get a better video this week but I'll post the one from the week before too.

This one Zach recorded....sorry about it being cut off....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtw6sgXU2x4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-jKd-0fzUs


I hope those links work....

Well...Hi

Yes I know....a bit behind on my posts but I am back :)
I'll just do point form so that I can get to everything:

1) Travis and I decided to do some skating again. I was pretty excited about it as I have been mentioning it for some time now. The kids enjoy watching us and are very well behaved considering its at 6:45 in the morning. We've been out twice now and plan to go once a week if not more. We're trying to ease into it without any major injuries.

2) hmmm....kids are good. They are both doing well in school and with their sports.

3) Zach rode his bike sans (without) training wheels!!!!!!! We were so proud of him. He totally rocked it!!!! He said because he is five now he can do it :)

4) work (Add Love) is ridiculously busy for February. It's exciting but a bit scary at the same time. There is only one of me so keeping up can get a bit stressful at times. I do know I have someone to fall back on if needed. Speaking of....Add Love is now able to do custom ties and bow ties! Any colour, fabric or size. I'm pretty pumped about it :)

Alright...photo time....

Thankful :)

Although life continues to be busy and eventful I try to take some moments and be thankful for what I have.

Norah continues to have an amazing personality that cracks us up daily. Her latest thing is she likes her hair to be curly....but no curling iron. So we've been doing the braid thing before bedtime and that seems to keep her happy :) She loves to dance and to help us make meals. She is quite the pancake flipper ;)

Zachary is just a blessing to be around. His heart is so kind. This morning as we were walking out the door he asked me if we still had his lunch box from last year. I said yes....why? He told me that one of his classmates had lost his....and that even though it wasn't Spider-Man that maybe he'd want his Thomas one. I instantly welled up with tears. How on earth is a 5 year old boy so thoughtful, giving and kind? We searched out the kitchen, found the lunch box, washed it and took it to school for Sam ( who happens to be a special needs student ). I just think of this entire 'good deed' and am so thankful to have him around. I will take what Zach has taught me today and pass it on :)

Just another week

Well.....it was busy as usual. School, dance, swimming and skating took up most of the week...the other time was taken by me catching up with work and recovery cleaning from the week before. Lets hope we can relax a bit now....yeah right.

We skated Friday morning again with Zach's Kindergarten class. On the way to the arena Norah gagged on her granola bar and it all came up....everywhere. Luckily it didn't make it over the seat onto me...but it did cover the back of my seat pretty good....I know...too much information. We had 30mins before skating so I rushed back home and changed her. I was worried she got that flu but she kept telling me she choked....I was on edge all day. Turns out she did just choke....lucky for me I only had one clean up. So.... We skated and had so much fun. Zach's buddies are such good kids and a pleasure to be around :)

Yesterday Norah fell asleep in Dudley's bed....it was the cutest thing ever! I tried to take a photo but it was pretty dark. She even pulled the baby gate across; just like we do at night for Dudley ( he wanders and then cries at the bottom of the stairs.....worse than any of the kids! Lol)

Nothing else too exciting. The kids are currently watching Madagascar 3 while I write this....it's a household favourite.

Well here is a photo of right now....must have been a busy week....no time for photos! Lol

Busy...Busy...

What a crazy week! I'm surprised I actually came out alive! Lol
The week started with Ballet for Norah, Tuesday both kids have skating lessons in Taber, Thursday was Travis' birthday, Friday was the Kindergarten classes skating (in which Travis took the morning off and we both helped out), Friday afternoon swimming lessons, Saturday Zach attended a birthday party and Sunday I had my Bridal show...phew! We made it!

I feel like its never ending chaos but its the good kind. These next few weeks we'll be concentrating on getting a few things done around the house, passport photos, and I have a ton of work to catch up on. Although all the sports activities will be repeated this week I feel as though the birthday and wedding show took a lot of prep time.

Anyway, here are some photos that captured the week :)

Oh Brother....

If I survive this week it will either be a fluke or a Christmas miracle. School, sports, Travis' birthday and only my biggest bridal show of the year. What happened to December? I swear I blinked and it was gone.
Anyways... I've managed to squeeze in some snapshots of dinner shenanigans, skating, dogs and regular day activities.
On a good note...after 3 days of hand washing ALL the dishes, Travis decided to try it....well it worked. Only minimal leaking but I'll take it!