Grade 1 is A OK

Grade 1 seems to going without a hitch. I know, famous last words.  It was an easy transition from her SR. Kindergarten class as it is all the same kids in her class. Just a new teacher and Lily thinks she is pretty awesome. She wears high heels and gas painted toe nails. 

Below she is decorating a shoe box to bring to school to keep her  school shies in. Oh and if you are wondering, that is a picture of Terry Fox petting a snake. 

Kilimanjaro Count Down

In two weeks I will be all packed and full of Turkey dinner ...and about to embark or I should say continue on a journey we committed to last October. 

Many people have been asking me how I am feeling and I have to say I am a little more nervous now than I have been all year.  Maybe anxious is a better word. With two weeks left I still need to grab my sleeping mat, silk sleeping bag liner, get these cool patches sewn onto me summit jacket, alter hiking pants, and finalize my medical kit and my snack bag. Not too bad really. 

I have taken to sleeping in my sleeping bag. I have two and I want to see which one keeps me warmer.  I am also anxious about my hiking boots. I think I just bought pair number 5. Returned 3 and the 4th will be my backup.  MEC now expects me every week. Why am I so crazy about boots you wonder. Here it is in two words, Flat Feet. 

Counting Down to October 2015

I can't believe that I will be on top of this mountain in less than 9 months.  On top of being on top of a mountain I will be climbing with 5 of my dear girlfriends, plus another 12-14 people who have signed up to live a dream of a lifetime too.


To give some history on this climb, I had thought about doing this at some point in my life back in the early 90's.  I had written a list of things I wanted to accomplish in my life on the inside cover of the book, "The Snow Leopard" by Peter Matthiessen.  Not only did I have written down Kilimanjaro, I also wrote down the following two things in the order that you see it below:

1. adopt a baby

1. have a baby biologically (god willing)

I got really close to this climb in late 2008.  I was asked to be a part of "Climb for The Cure" climb with Wood Gundy.  But as it happened it was the beginning of the global recession and the climb was called off.  So I gave up on my dream...for a little while.  Instead another dream entered my life and her name is Lily.


For those of you who do not know my story you will have to go back to the beginning of my blog on my journey to adopt Lily.  But remember, at the time I wrote this list I had no idea I would be diagnosed with breast cancer.  In hindsight I just found it fascinating how life played out for me. 

What's New Pussy Cat? Backdating to 2013!

Hallowe'en was a huge success this year with lots of build up.  Lily new from the very first time we spoke of Hallowe'en that she was going to be a kitty cat.  Even when I knew the temperature was going to drop, and purchasing a penguin costume, that kitty cat was not budging.  So I had to put on lots of layers that rainy night and gave her penguin costume away to the neighbour.

CANDY!! 

It is making me crazy.  Now I get what my friends have said all along..."just take half of it away that night when she sleeps".  But I did not and now I am faced every single moment of the day with, "I want candy".  When I say "no" the request gets louder and louder until it is a scream and cry and a huge meltdown.  I have been lucky this far not to expereince too many of these so now I am in unchartered territory.

HELP!

So I am looking for some good tips.  Lily is now stashing it in her pockets, backpack, toys, boots, you name it.  I can't really take it away as she has made it a full time job to sort it (which is kinda fun and I remember doing that when little)

It is a Happy New Year!

Wow - 2015 Already!

I know so many parents say, "where does the time go" and I too sometimes think that but for the most part, I know where the time goes.  I work hard to parent in the moment, count my blessings daily and laugh as much as possible.

Like all things in life, there are good days and not so good days but for the most part this mamma is very happy and grateful for all her blessings in life.

I am not an avid blog writer the way I used to be when I was waiting and bringing home Lily.  I want to change that.  For the past couple months I have been throwing around thoughts in my head about writing again and, what should I write about?  I have so many topics to choose from.  As I settle into motherhood, school life and home, I put forth another life opportunity for 2015.  It has been on a list of mine since 1996 and the greater universe brought it to my doorstep at the end of October last year
.  

Mount Kilimanjaro

Where was 2014?

Seriously, what happened to 2014?  I just realized I have no posts for that year.  It did exist, honest.  I have pictures to prove it.  So here you go:

Lily's 5th Birthday which was of course Frozen theme (like every other 5 yr old)

Lily's first day of SK - starting French Immersion with Madame Carpenter

Summer playing with her friend Estelle.

Lily started ballet class in September 2014 and will continue with it till June 2015.  I think she might like it.  It took four weeks to get her to participate but she has certainly made up for lost time.