Dinah, won't you blow your horn.

For a couple of weeks now, Jillian has developed a fear of the train whistles that haunt our home in the wee hours of the night. We live along a river, on the other side of it are the CN tracks.

Now this is the sign that stands stoic as the rumbling steel giants roar past, yes, you read it properly!! NO WHISTLES at this crossing.

Now, I am no fool, I know that under certain circumstances one should blow the horn, animals standing on tracks, car stalled or crossing in between wig-wags or I suppose the odd crazy drunk passed out lying belly up sleeping in the rails. But MR. Conductor, must you play tunes at three, four and five in the morning? Are you jealous that I live in a BEDROOM community and I might(OR NOT) be sleeping. Fear not I haven't had much rested slumber in a few weeks, my little one hears your beckoning from a distance and wails above your horn. While Mommy(yes, Daddy too) has the gift of getting Jilly-bean to settle rather quickly I am left to toss and turn and count your toots well into the night until dawn.

So I am begging you, please , please stop calling me in the starry night, roll quietly down the rail.

I need sleep, please, pretty please, sh sh sh............

Festival fun

The Mid-Autumn Festival

This Saturday is the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, we are gearing up for the festivities. The girls and I went shopping today to our local Asian mart to shop for some candies, moon cakes, pomelos and some different lanterns than we had last year. There were slim pickin's on the moon cakes , we picked out the mashed red bean paste, the only ones that the girls will eat.
They didn't have many lanterns left either(horrible Mom for procrastinating, jeez), we had some real sweet ones last year, they lit up and played music. Jillian's was a long string of fish of different colors and Jennifer's was two long strings of the traditional red lanterns. Jillian was able to destroy hers in seconds and went to work on her sister's, in the end we were left with one that lit up and one that played a catchy Chinese tune(it stays in your head for days).

This Sunday we will meet up (if all goes as planned??)with a group in London, have some yummy desserts then at dusk get ready for a parade of lanterns.

It is a beautiful sight, gorgeous little ones dressed in traditional costumes carrying their lanterns, some homemade, some brought home with them from China.

Our family will have our Chinese food dinner on Saturday, finish off with moon cakes, then walk our neighbourhood with the lanterns. Our neighbours look forward to seeing the girls and it takes a very long time to do the block as everyone come out share the festivities.

I have to look at our traditional outfits, I think we may have to purchase a new one for Jennifer who just won't stop growing!!

There is this story about the moon-cake. during the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to the foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Backed into each moon caked was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attached and overthrew the government. Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend and was called the Moon Cake.For generations, moon cakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates, wrapped in a pastry. Sometimes a cooked egg yolk can be found in the middle of the rich tasting dessert. People compare moon cakes to the plum pudding and fruit cakes which are served in the English holiday seasons.Nowadays, there are hundreds varieties of moon cakes on sale a month before the arrival of Moon Festival. I love this photo, this is one big moon cake!! What is everyone's favourite flavour?

How is your family celebrating the Moon festival, do you have any of your own traditions?

I will post some photos of ours next week.

It is really melting my heart watching my daughters and the bond that has been lovingly created between the two of them. Mind you it has not always been this way, I can remember the look that Jennifer had standing looking out the window at the airport as she saw her sister for the first time. I truly believed she thought Jillian was going to be a newborn baby not 14 months old and not someone who was going to take her toys, need attention, get affection and interrupt her life as the only child. Jennifer had a lot of resentment, showed a lot of anger toward me especially because Jillian clung to me. There was a lot hands on her sister, she pushed her, tackled, and hit her. Then there was Jillian who had to held 24 -7, if Jennifer came near me Jill would come at her with her claws out ready to attack, she didn't want to share.Big time jealousy issues with both girls, it was very challenging, not unexpected but far worse than I had anticipated. We made an effort to take Jennifer on outings of her own once a week with Mommy or Daddy, this was a big help, it was her time , no Jillian and all the attention was given to her. This also gave Jillian one on one to bond with Mommy and Daddy and have some alone time. As Jillian got a little older and her mobility and verbal skills improved there was some positive interaction happening and I found my self looking for games and toys that both girls could play, my favourite(and still continues to be)was Fisher Price's little people's zoo, farm, and the doll house. It has been over a year and a half that Jillian joined her forever family and I would say that the last six months my girls have been inseparable, they are lost without one another. They are not without their sister squabbles, fighting and then turning around and hugging. Jennifer the angry little girl has turned into a very protective, loving big sister and jealous Jillian has turned into a loving little sister who looks up to her big sister for guidance and affection. They are sisters and the best of friends.

Jillian sneaks into her big sister's bed to cuddle, again this melts Mommy's heart!!

The most beautiful sound is the two of them giggling and sharing some together time.

Sisters.

God made us sisters, our hearts made us friends.

Love keeps us bonded thru thick and thru thin.

Being family gives permanent ties, for which I am grateful to be in your life.

Though our paths may lead down separate roads, God gave us each other to help with the load.

God had a great plan, as He always does.

Growing together was the best for us. I can't imagine my life without you.

Sisters are for keeps.

And forever true.
Author Unknown.

Quiet Zone, shsh, please.....

How do you keep a 2 yr old QUIET????
A couple of weeks ago my hubby started a new position at his company, it's in the same department but he was promoted, a job he has worked hard and studied hard for.
This position has very different hours than what we were accustomed too, see hubby's old hours were so wonderful, he was always home all morning or all evening, he was always underfoot.The girls were lucky to have Daddy around so much , so was Mommy!!!
The new hour are nights and days , 12 hour shifts (6am to 6pm, vise versa), the last 2 weeks hubby has been on nights.
So my dilemma is how to keep my children quiet, especially the 2 yr old who volume control only has loud and even louder.
We live in a very small little bungalow, the washroom right beside the our bedroom. My kids think the washroom is a playground, they party in there??, I don't get it either, but they do?
So I have spent the last two trying to teach whisper, tip toe and quiet. Well we as parents all know when you want tor expect something from you kids they are going to do the polar opposites, right?
So I have put out clothes the night before, kept the kids downstairs, shuttled them outside as quickly as I can in the mornings but I am still finding these new hours a total pain in the ***.
So short of this product, I'm at a loss.

Any suggestions out there in bloggerland for one frustrated Mommy?

Fall fair time.

See the crazy Mom following the ride making sure her babies sit down.

Still a few years before I have to worry about driving , thank goodness!!

A very tired Mom, one enthusiastic Jillian. She is like the Energizer bunny,

she rarely wears out. I love her sense of adventure, her love of life, she is one

happy little girl.

My big girl, she could of rode the carousel all day. Jen loves horses. She has such a love for animals and such a gentle way about her. It would not surprise me if someday we have a vet in the family.

This was the first ride of the day, Jen is too large for the ride as you can see.

Jen humoured her little sister and rode on it, what you won't do for love.

I think the expression on her face is hilarious, we are not amused.

The ride started Jillian covered her ears and didn't looked to impressed.

We had just spent $27 dollars for a ride all day pass, at this point I am thinking oh no we might have just wasted some money!!

Here comes the big scream, the look of terror, the ride ended abruptly and she was escorted to her Mommy and Daddy. Thank goodness this was the only ride that she took a dislike too, the rest of the day was filled with giggles, smiles and lots of belly laughs.

Grandparent's Day

GRANDPARENTS AND CHILDREN.
Grandparents and grandchildren,Together they create a chain of love Linking the past,With the future.The chain may lengthen,But it will never part.
~~Author Unknown

Happy Grandparent's Day to Jennifer's and Jillian's Grandpas and Grandmas, you are very special and we love you with all our hearts.

Thank you for your hugs, kisses and all the special times we have together.

xo xo

Run, don't walk.

Run, don't walk to The Seventh Diamond , she is needing some support.
Please visit.

Worless Wednesday

First day of Sr. Kindergarten.
Love you big girl.

Garage raising

On September 1st, our garage looked like this, we had floors no walls.
There was a happy Hubby but he was a little behind schedule, due to
cement scheduling and weather.


Settle back girls, this hottie(LOL,LOL)is mine all mine, sorry.
I know your all jealous, diggin' those shorts and socks aren't ya?

On September the 2nd Hubby started hammering some walls up and

it was like a call out to the neighbour guys. One by one they came over

with carpenter aprons filled with hammer, nails and good will.

By the end of the day we had three walls built and my hubby had the

biggest grin on his face, like a kid on Christmas morning.

Today again, all the neighbourhood guys all came over, built the last

remaining walls and with brute strength lifted them up and set them in place!!

I like this photo, it looks like the guys are all placed against the wall for a

"time out".

This wall was extra heavy , built with 2 by 6's not 2by4's , so they was a

lot of grunting and groaning getting this big baby into place.

What a great bunch of guys.

There you have it , all the walls of our garage up, thanks to a great bunch

of neighbours.

This couple of days reminded me of a barn raising.

My hubby and I were overwhelmed at the generosity and good will of our neighbours.

They came out and give us their time, expertise and hard labour.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you , word can't express our gratitude.

Happy birthday Mom

Mom,
Today is my Mom's birthday, I want to wish her every happiness and tell her how much she is loved.
Birthday hugs and kisses,
Kerri, Jeff, Jennifer and Jillian, Jack too.

I'd rather be....

I'd rather be anywhere, or doing anything but...
you guessed it , housecleaning.
Have to clean the castle, we are having a birthday party tomorrow for "Nana".
So off I go to be intoxicated with the heavenly scents of lemon, bleach and pine.
Have a nice day, hmmm...