Holiday and thoughts for 2014

 It is the time of the never ending holiday and lots of family time (I've been off of work for a week)

So that means a search for some really cool matching outfits

Looking at my beautiful children and how happy they are helps to push that boogie man under the bed.

You know, the one that you can imagine that you don't have to face when you see how happy your kids are

Why can't it stay like this?

Why does this funny-faced little boy need to try so hard to do things?

Why does this funny little girl need to feel that we pay more attention to her brother than her?

Surgery is one of my big boogie-men
And I'm not sure if 2014 will bring any surgeries (I can imagine a couple of potential ones that are always in the background, TC or ACE/mitronoff or of course the shunt), but right now I can't imagine handing this little boy over to a surgeon. I'll scream and shout and cover my face lalalalalala.

But even if it may not be in 2014, it will still happen, one day.

I think that this will be a tough year for Nickolas. The year of realization.
We've had some tears and some heart breaking crying
When Katheryn got skates for Christmas, "I want to skate" (even though he doesn't really know what skating means... or like being cold)
"I hate my wheelchair, bring it to the hospital for someone else"
"I don't want to walk, carry me"
"I can't..."
"I don't want to..."

And I just hope that I'm dealing with it all the right way

But I also know that this year is going to bring some great things for Nick.

He can count to 39, write his own name (and not just NICK, but goes all the way to NICKOLAS)

He's saying "I want to do it on my own" and knowing Nickolas, that is the key!

We are working with his PT on some crutches

This is not how I imagined this post to go. I thought I'd just show off lots of cute pictures, and then it just got away from me.

But all of these things go away for a little bit more when my kids snuggle up, wrap their arms around me and we get a big huge family hug!

Take that boogie man!

Brr It's cold outside!

One of the great things about spending a couple of days at the cottage, is the snow

Katheryn has been dying to go outside and play in the snow!

So we all bundled ourselves up, got out the sleds and were all excited to go!

Even Nick wanted to go and play in the snow

For about 5 minutes

We had the sled all ready for the kids to go in.

But the snow didn't let anything slide on it.

So there was snow-trekking

And snow throwing

And burying mommy

Katheryn didn't mind the cold at all

But pretty soon this face was coming out (this picture is from new years)

He didn't want to go out on the sled, or play in the snow

So we went in for some promised hot chocolate!

And Nick watched the rest of the play from here

And was happy about it

Believe it or not, this -19C day was the warmest of the week!
On our day we went home, this is what we had in the morning!

A Year in Review... 2013

Here are some of my favorite pictures from this past year!

Happy New Year

Noise makers... check

Funny hats.... check

Ready to P-A-R-T-Y... check

Nice warm fire... check

(Someone was not very happy with all of the cold snow)

Even better...
Winter smores!

A quick warm up dance

OK we are all ready for 2014

Or... we will see it in the morning

The rest of us made it to midnight

I even got a New Years kiss!

In the morning it was time for some Wii Dance Party!

Welcome 2014

Ending 2013 with some white stuff

We decided to head up to the cottage for the end of the year

It was beautiful
As long as you were inside...

And maybe if you were shovelling to keep warm

Or if you were a Bernese Mountain Dog
With a coat all ready for the snow

Everyone else stayed inside

and stayed nice and warm

All ready for the new year!