Coming up for air!

I haven't really had the time nor the energy nor the desire to make any posts of late but today, due to the snowstorm followed by ice rain that we've had, it is REALLY quiet at work.

So here's a summary in bullets of what we've been up since my last post.

• A few weekends ago we headed up to the cottage to prepare it for the winter. Bringing in firewood, winterizing the windows, turning on the heated water line etc. I was in charge of feeding everyone and playing with the girls, of course!
  

• A few weekends ago, we went to see the Santa Claus Parade downtown which I have never done even as a child. We also took the girls to see the Ogilvy window. It was, however, really, really cold!







• On Friday the 28th, I had a doctor's appointment so I decided to take the entire day off and take the girls to see Santa Claus at Complexe Desjardins. This has been a yearly tradition since Cara-Li's arrival in 2003 with our dear friends C. & J. Needless to say, the girls played hooky from school :) We had lunch at Baton Rouge, saw Santa Claus, played and shopped in the mall. A great time was had by all!








• On the Sunday, we were invited to G's Christening. It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a lovely lunch. The whole Church thing was cool because Cara-Li is doing Religious Studies at home with moi and so much stuff that we've covered was being talked about during the ceremony. Cara-Li kept looking over at me with the look of 'I know what he's talking about!'. She's much better that I was at her age where I'd just sit there and daydream.

• Last weekend was a real busy one! We fell out of bed on Saturday morning and rushed out to get a tree as we were going to trim it that evening. We walked over to Alex's around the corner and picked up the nicest one he had and wheeled it home in our wagon. The girls were not impressed as they had to walk home.






• Next, Cara-Li had a Gingerbread workshop to attend with her friend C. at the library. Their houses turned out to be works of art!

• Upon her return it was off to the hairdresser's for their Christmas haircuts.



• Alexia then went for nap while Gord took Cara-Li for their annual Skate with Buzz the Bee event at Concordia University. It is a fundraiser where they collect canned food for the less fortunate.





• And finally, after dinner, we decorated our tree. I must say that by this point, I was spent and just wanted to get the whole thing over with. But a couple of glasses of wine did take the edge off :)




• On Sunday, we attended the Adoptive Families of Quebec Holiday Party. It was held at a Dim Sum restaurant. Yummy! And of course, Santa came around and brought gifts to all the kids.






• Once home, Cara-Li changed and was off to a birthday party at Loblaws where they had a Gingerbread House Workshop. Anyone need help with their houses? Cara-Li has become an expert!

• And finally, I have taken pictures of my finished master bathroom. So here are the before and after!

BEFORE

AFTER

Uncover the Cure

This Saturday, Sept. 20th, Gord will be running the 10km run on the streets of Montreal for The Underwear Affair. All runners must be dressed in everything from briefs and boy-shorts to t-shirts and tracksuits, and help fund life-saving research for cancers like prostate, colorectal, cervical, ovarian, and others that occur below the waist. Gord has already raised close to $3800.00 out of his $5000.00 goal and is currently placed in 8th position as Top Fund Raiser for Montreal. Should you want to sponsor him for such a great cause, please use the link below.

Gord's personal page

Thanks :)

Andy Collins for Kids

We had the privilege to attend the Andy Collins for Kids Charity weekend up at Carling Lake this past weekend. Who would have thought we would have had such a fabulous time!


Let me explain... Andy Collins was a local party boy, a bonvivant, whose life ended rathered abruptly at the young age of 46 about 12 years ago. It was at his wake that his fellow party buddies decided that he should be remembered by starting a Funday and golf tournament to help raise money for the Montreal Children's Hospital as he had a great love for kids. And now, in its twelve year, they have managed to raise over $1 million with $225,000 this year alone!


The golf tournament was on Saturday morning followed by a cocktail hour and both silent and live auctions. A dinner followed in a tent set up on the premises with a fabulous live band. Since Gord had to get there early for tee off, we decided to check in on the Friday and make a weekend out of it. Gord and the girls had a head start and myself and L. drove up a little later. L., C. and I went out for dinner upon arriving and let's just say that in a just a couple of hours, we managed to catch up to those that were there earlier. By the time we went to bed, we were, let's just say, pretty happy. Morning did come a little too soon and thus making the beginning of the day a little difficult. Gord was off golfing (with what was described to me as an obscene amount of alcohol) while L. and I stayed with the girls. We enjoyed the beautiful lake, pool and lawn chairs. We had our babysitter K. present at the event (she was being honoured for helping to raise funds with her 'Soccer for Charity' event) so we piled 4 kids into 2 adjoining rooms with K. and we were off for the evening (well almost. We did have some issues). Anyway, we enjoyed our evening of food, drink and dance. The next day was way more tougher than the first seeing that Alexia hardly slept and I was 'on' that night. I do not think that I slept that entire night (or what was left of it).


In conclusion, hats off to all the misfits that helped organize this incredible event and I am sure that Andy Collins is looking down upon you all proud to have had you as friends. And I, not having known him, am in awe at what these people have done in the name of a cherished friend.


And not to mention, that this weekend has for sure taken 2 years off of my life! I am SPENT!