A little conversation with Noé

So I was talking with Noé the other day. He was using his fingers to count and I was trying to teach how to answer when someone asks "how old are you?". Mama: you say I'm 2 years old and you hold up two fingers, see 2 years, one, two. Noé: ya! One, two (pointing at each of his ears).
So what's the news on the house Krista??

Offer in on House!

Well, J and I took a big step and put down an offer on a house. It's a house we've known about for a while. It's not on the market now, (it was for sale last summer) so we have been able to take our time considering it. It's 3 storeys with 4 separate units. We plan on taking the basement at first, as it's the only unit that needs work. The upper 3 units are beautifully renovated. Kinda funny, I was telling J, "So we're slapping down every dollar we have to move into a crappy basement?!" But it will pay off when we fix it up, then move upstairs.
It's 2 blocks from my apartment and 1 block from J's apartment. So moving would be a breeze! We could move with shopping carts and a wagon!
Anyway, we're really excited about it, and I expect we will hear back about it tomorrow.
Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Krista

Tremblant = Awesome

Hey family,
J and I had another awesome weekend away... perhaps our last free weekend before we embark in home-ownership? Well, any excuse to get out on a mini-holiday works for me. For a last minute decision, it turned out great. Fantastic accomodation, good conditions, and most importantly, GREAT SNOWBOARDING!!!
Check it out. Dano, I promise to bring you next time!
Pean

Visiting with Joella

It's been so nice having Joella here for a visit. Lots of chatting and playing with the kids. We. Did some shopping yesterday and today we are off to downtown Montreal to check out some African grocery stores. She has a huge list of special ingredients she needs to bring back to her beau in Whitehorse, stuff he just can't find up there. So this should be interesting!

Message from my iPod

So I finally figured out how to blog with my iPod. So here I am, just finished dinner, babe is boob feeding, Noé is sitting on the pot and JL is cleaning up. Typical evening. Glad you enjoyed your birthday, Mom. Have fun at the 98! So Krista, what do you have planned tomorrow? Happy birthday dear sister!

Today I am a weeping willow tree!

You kids have truly overwhelmed me once again. What an amazing gift for my 60th birthday. What you may not realize is that I would not have been your "tree"if we hadn't had such loving, caring daughters such as you. You made me who I am today along with some inherited genetics from my mom and dad. And of course your dad has done some whittling as well :) I will certainly plant a tree when the time is right, maybe a may tree or a mountain ash or a blue spruce, I will have to decide and find just the right place. I'm sure you will have read your email message from dad before this blog, so we may not have to plant a tree out front to hide the hideous inukshuk after all! We often get comments from people who say, "You have 4 daughters? Wow" and I say "Yeah, wow" I love you all so much. What more can I say. Mom

60 rings on the tree.

To our Darling Momma on her 60th birthday,

We were all having much difficulty deciding on what to get you for your birthday, as this is by all means no ordinary birthday, it's your 60th year. And what in the world do you buy for a mother who means the world to her daughters? Everything seems so... insignificant, so inadequate. After much deliberation, we have come up with something that we feel would be very special. We have decided to get you a tree for your 60th year.

We thought a tree would be such a perfect gift for you because we liked what a tree symbolises and metaphorically, how much a tree reminds us of you.

Roots. You have been the foundation of our home. You have kept us grounded through turbulent times. You have kept us close, reminding us of the importance of family, of who we are.

Growth. You have always encouraged us to branch out, to explore ourselves and to never become discouraged when we fail. You have allowed us to fail, to learn from our mistakes, to mature. You encouraged us to discover the world for ourselves, on our own, but were always there for us if ever we needed. You have taught us to be honest with each other, but most importantly with ourselves. You have always accepted the individuals we were, and the individuals we have become.

Strength. You have bared the many hardships that came along with motherhood, while never giving up on us. Regardless of the dilemma, with enduring patience, you have always trusted and given yourself knowing that we would eventually find ourselves.

Life and Beauty. You are the most selfless, sincere, and loving woman we know. We are all so blessed to have to as our mother, You have passed on to us so many gifts through your affection and knowledge. The lessons you have taught us in life are so incredibly invaluable, as we too shall pass on all these wonderful attributes as the life cycle continues.

So you see Momma, a tree is a very appropriate gift for someone as extraordinary as you. As the frozen grounds of army beach begin to thaw, plant any tree of your liking. (Presumably one that could thrive in such barren and unnourished earth.) And perhaps, when you find yourself missing your daughters, you could look out at your tree, and always be reminded of our abiding love for you.

Happy Birthday Mom, we love you so much.

Mousie, Peanut, Buggsie and Punkin

Noé doing a puppet show for Mathis