Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was full of lots of fun with the kids!
We were all up at the cottage, and did some cottage jumping for the weekend as well.

We had some Avengers with us

And some quiet peaceful moments

Rory and Sam love it at the cottages.
At Orr Lake we had 4 dogs, 4 kids, 5 adults in one cottage. And all of the other cottages we full too

 

Katheryn actually let me take some smiling pictures

We went to the pumpkin patch (the same place we've been going to the last 3 years)
Nick had lots of fun running all over the place

The pumpkin patch has some fun toys for the kids to play with.
The giant tires were a hit (and I was trying to ignore the fact that tires are latex)

Katheryn got to ride some tire-horses

The boys played Avengers

Nick and Kyle had some races

Nick had some time with Grandma

Katheryn loved the jumping castle. She would get up so high!

Nick had no desire to jump, he was happy just jumping in his walker.

How much do 4 kids weigh?

Nick got brave and went in to feed the sheep. He let them eat right out of his hand!

Nick didn't want to go out into the field to pick his pumpkin (Kyle and Katheryn did though).
But he had his eye on the one he wanted

He just had to lift it up

Good try!

After a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner it was time for the Kushog Lake cottage
And a whole bunch of new cousins!
This time it was 5 dogs, 9 kids, 12 adults and 1 cottage. The weather was fantastic so we all ate Thanksgiving outside!

Katheryn is growing taller every day! I remember when she couldn't do this last year

Rory decided to explore the shoreline

And Nick just to rest

What is more fantastic that a pile of dirt at the cottage?!

Katheryn decided she was going to be queen

 

And baby Gwenny was all smiles as usual

 

Nick's ramp held up really well!

It was a great Thanksgiving, with lots of cottaging!

And the turkey song!
Gobble gobble, gobble gobble, gobble gobble, gobble get.

Puppy time

We've had Rory for a couple of months and Sam has decided that she is a keeper!

We have a routine in the morning and afternoon so that we can walk them to the bus stop (we can even talk both of them together)

Katheryn likes taking Rory for walks

And Nick just likes cuddling with her (she seems abnormally big in this picture... I think it is just the angle)

The two of these guys like getting into trouble together (at least Sam has someone to blame)

Like a typical Bernese, she can be rude when she wants attention

It is fun having a puppy!

Smiles

Some smiles just because

Because sometimes it is fun to share your seat

Because scarves are cool

Because being a Beaver AND Thor is very serious

Because it is a gorgeous day

 Because dressing up is fun

Because sometimes you just need to ring the doorbell and wait

Because today was a great day

Because what better way to fall asleep than a smile on your face

Zoo time

After the SB&H general meeting we all went to the zoo.
Everyone got to pick 1 animal to go and visit

Nick picked the penguins

Katheryn picked the lions, but her favorite was watching the gorillas outside

Nick had lots of fun moving himself around by himself

We stopped and watched the tiger on our way back to the front of the zoo

And we got to take some pictures

This is my favorite. Shows how lucky I am to have these 2!

General Meeting

We went to the Annual General Meeting for the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario. 

Every year we try to go, and every year I bring the kids (or at least Nick). I really think it is helpful for him to be in that environment, even though he doesn't pay attention to the presenters. I also bring lots of toys and stuff for the kids to be distracted by.

This year they had another awareness initiative with t-shirts

SBH

Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

Spirit Breakthrough Hope has traditionally been the slogan of SB&H

There is a new slogan of Strong Brave Human

These are different words for SBH, but it is not specific to spina bifida and hydrocephalus, it is something that is for everyone.

 Everyone is strong, everyone is brave, and everyone is human. 

So here is the thing. Wear the shirt and be aware of how you are strong, brave and human. And when someone else asks you about your shirt you challenge them. What makes you strong, brave and human.

This got me thinking, imagine a day (in June) where everyone wears a shirt to celebrate themselves and what they can do. What makes us the same and what makes us different, what makes us strong, brave and human.

I am excited to bring the idea to Nick's school and even my work.

Another thing at the General Meeting was that I got an award.
They said some really nice things about me, and what I have brought to the organization and done to raise awareness and support in the community. It was really nice and I am so thankful!

Nick and I also got to meet someone I only met online. Jenna is an adult with spina bifida and Nick was excited to meet her. I am so thankful for her perspective and knowledge and it was very nice meeting her in person

The kids also each got a present that had been donated to the organization.
Katheryn got a bunny (that she carried around with her all day... and longer). Nick got a Batman play castle, and the kids have set it up and play with it after school every day!

It was nice that I was thanked at the general meeting, but I am incredible thankful that the organization is there for me and my family. This is why I work hard raising funds for the organization through calendar sales (coming soon) and our SWWR walk