NEW PICS

O.K. so, this is highly embarrasing, but here goes. My before picture, at my 40th birthday in October:

Here are my pictures from this morning - 31 pounds lighter.
Yesterday I participated in the Walk for the Cure. I walked 4 1/2 km, then since the other women wanted to keep walking and I didn't have the time, I turned around and ran back to town. A grand total of 9 km.

CATCHING UP

Sorry I haven't kept you all updated lately. Life just tends to get a little hectic sometimes. We are on the final countdown to summer holidays. 5 weeks left! Then the fun begins. Yesterday I managed to book us on a smooth water rafting trip at the Grand Canyon. Now I am getting really excited about going. Today my goal is to book campsites in Anaheim and San Diego. Oh yeah, my other goal is to get loads of work done on the deck.Here is Brian getting started on our work yesterday.One last thing - I finally got a picture of Hannah and Tyrone together.

WORK, WORK AND MORE WORK

This week we received our first shipment of wood for our deck. Now the real work begins. Here are the stacks of wood just waiting for our magical touch.Yesterday Brian and I started making the beams for the deck. Actually I see no evidence of Brian actually working. Hmmm!

O.k., I will have to give him some credit - he was finally able to finish the siding and roof trim.

It wasn't all work though.

Meanwhile, the kids are still working on cleaning up the yard - it was a huge mess. They are also working on the benches for the fire pit area.

So much work to be done - so litttle time to do it all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRIAN!

Just wanted to wish my wonderful husband, Brian, a very happy 38th birthday. Teacher, famous blogger, fabulous father and loving husband, ambulance attendant extraordinaire, up and coming carpenter. Basically a man of many talents. Hope you have an incredibly wonderful day (with me of course!).

REALITY CHECK

Yesterday a school counsellor and the head of the student residence came to Ross. They were meeting with the grade 10 students and their parents. Naomi signed up for all her courses for grade 11. (Can you believe she is that old? - Look at Sonya's blog from yesterday, that is Naomi as a baby there.) She has to take english, but has signed up for Honours english which is basically enriched english; socials (a basic requirement); math - she is taking principles of math which is the highest level and needed for university entrance; biology. She is also going to be taking spanish and foods. The foods course will give her a food safe certificate. The last course she signed up for is yearbook. Can you believe that working on the yearbook is now a full 4 credit course? She was starting to feel a little overwhelmed by the whole prospect yesterday. She is excited about going though, but yesterday it became so real. I know she will do fine there and it will be really good for her, but I am definitely not looking forward to letting my baby go. The man that runs the student residence has been there for years and is highly respected by people. They do a lot of fun things with the kids in residence and give incentives to do well at school. The residence houses 38 kids and everyone I have talked to has had wonderful experiences there. So, reality has come knocking at our door. Some days I am not so sure I want to answer the door.