Box, better than the present.

We purchased this electric piano for the girls yesterday. We are going to enroll Jennifer in lessons, if she enjoys it we can decide to invest in an upright piano. there was some excitement when we set it up in the front room, they tickled the ivories for a while then decided to take the box it came in outside. We the old idea the box is better....

Daddy cut open a little door and window, I set up their tunnel(hoping this wears them out and exhaustion sets in)to crawl through. All I could hear were giggles, belly laughs and lots of girlie screams. After they started to wear down a little Mommy brought out the tea party set with juice and cookies. This helped get their second wind.

A couple of cuties.

Some cuddling going on, yes, it happens *wink*!!

There is that little smile that can melt a glacier(and my heart).

There's some serious beauty.


This was our Sunday afternoon, lots of playing and being lazy. Is their anything better?

Hope your enjoying your Sunday!

Spooky Dude

Being the organized Mom that I am (not!) I went to Walmart to find some items to make Jennifer a witch (this has already changed, a witch wears a dress, don't ya know, ) costume for Halloween.

Browsing a round I purchased 1 metre of fabric for a cape, make up, a broom(could of used mine, but might be riding that night) and some striped stockings, gloves and the cutest witch hat. Jillian and I were finished so I decided to take one more cruise around the Halloween section so I could see if there was anything else I could find to decorate the house(hubby loves to decorate for Halloween).

Now as we are cruising Jillian is hugging me, a little apprehensive about the decorations. I am reassuring her they are pretend, letting her touch them, press buttons and holding some of them. I see her starting to show some interest and excitement when what should happen, the lights went out!!!!!

It went to blackness in an instant, the emergency lights (note, to Walmart, they are dim as a lit candle)came on. All the inflatable(all up on 12 ft. shelves) ghosts, goblins and one huge vampire in a wooden box deflated and fell. The wooden structure came crashing down about 2ft in front of us, the sound sent Jillian literally out of her skin. She came at me like a scared cat, claws and all (note to self, lackadaisical mom, cut fingernails). Jill nearly tore the safety belt from the cart trying to escape, I am franticallyy trying to shove her back in the seat, it is surprising to me the strength she possesses. Her screams are like something from a horror flick, fitting for the occasion, All she kept screaming "Mom, spooky dude".
I put the cart in high gear and get the heck away from the goblins, to my delight(by this time I can't believe it, I can't help but laugh!!)all the scary ghosts, skeletons and spooky ghoul faces are illuminated(of course they are, they having been charging under the million and one lights all morning long!!). This is like a haunted house that I have paid big bucks to go through, screaming once more Jillian is frantic. I am sprinting with Jill on my hip, I run past the pharmacy(screech, I halt, I want some Mommy smarties), I make a b-line to the Advil when a employee(big, scary, far scarier than the freaking ghouls in Halloween section)tells me that I have to get out of the aisle. I tell her that I just want to grab some Advil quickly and I'll vacate, She says she can't see it(oh, I can, but you won't let me down the aisle, it's right in front of you!!). Okay, she must now realize by the frantic screams and my frightened face, I NEED the Advil, she throws it at me(yes, that's correct!!). Just because it's dark, you thought I couldn't see your face, oh ya, I did!!
We sprint to the front of the store , I know for a fact the registers and bank machines will only function for about 10 minutes after the generators kick in. I couldn't believe my eyes, there were a hundred people in front of me!! I began to think if Jillian continued to scream she might clear the room but no luck, everyone held their ground and flashed me dirty looks.
Standing there for a couple of minutes, flashlights came on scene and told us to leave our carts and walk safely to the front doors. What, I just made some great purchases, leave them , I need the Advil, I have a drive home with this child, please!!! No compassion at Walmart, I walked quietly, grudgingly , to the front doors .
After all this , I am telling Hubby about our expedition and Jennifer replies "I don't want to be a witch, they wear a dress, don't ya know. I want to be a cowboy."
Always the way....

Speedy recovery wishes..

My best friend H's Mom fell yesterday and fractured her hip.

Our family wishes Grandma F a very speedy recovery, hugs and kisses.

Happy 2nd Birthday to a special little boy.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, giving thanks for family, good friends and blessings.
For those on the roads this holiday weekend, safe travels.

Apple Picking

We went to our local apple orchard, to pick some tasty crisp eating apples. My favourites are Johna(sp?) Golds and of course the old Macintosh. The kids (Mommy and Daddy too)eat as much as they put into their basket.

"Is this a good one Mom?"

I love this little face. Pucker up, baby.

We found some of the apples a little small and sour this year, I don't know if it had anything to do with having such a dry growing season.

Jillian finding the perfect apple.

Jennifer getting a helping hand from her Daddy.

Checking out the pumpkin' patch.

On our way out of Apple land we bought the best apple pie(next to my Grandma's)we have ever tasted. We must go back again, we are craving another. *wink*

A day of injustice and Sadness

Four Doctors and a U.S. drug company were acquitted of criminal charges relating to the distribution of a tainted blood-clotting product that left many infected with HIV and hepatitis C in one of Canada's biggest public health disasters.
After an 18-month trial, Superior Court Justice Mary Lou Benotto acquitted former officials from the Canadian Red Cross Society, Health Canada and New Jersey-based Armour Pharmaceutical Co. of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and common nuisance endangering the public.
Dr. Roger Perrault, the society's former national medical director, former Health Canada officials Dr. John Furesz and Dr. Donald Boucher, and ex-Armour Pharmaceutical executive Dr. Michael Rodell were charged with one count each of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and common nuisance endangering the public after patients were given the infected blood-clotting product in 1986-87octors in Canadian Tainted Blood Trial.

My emotions today from 4pm on have been anger, sadness and that of disbelief.

How could this happen??? What happened to our justice system today??

What about lives lost, families lives turned upside down, ongoing suffering, financial losses and I could go to fill this freaking page!!

I wanted closure, there was none today, I was in total shock watching Dr. Perrault slither his way out of the courthouse saying he was okay with the verdict??

Well let me tell you how my life had been 10 years ago, it was turned upside down finding out that I was Hep C positive from a tainted blood transfusion. Newly married to a wonderful man thinking my wonderful life as I knew it was over. It jeopardized my employment, I quit my job, too sick to work, it almost cost me an adoption of my daughter. How do you think it was to be on treatment for 18 months, my 3 yr old rubbing my back while I threw up 3/4 's of my day. How did it feel when I discovered hunks of my hair surrounding me in the bathtub one morning, do you care? I am one of the LUCKY ones, I have been inactive for 2 years, what about the ones who succumb to the pain and suffering of HIV and HEP C, what about their loved ones they infected, is there anything more horrific to think you gave the woman or man you love a disease that is going to take their life. What about the loved ones left to mourn and suffer the loss of a parent, sibling, spouse, they now have to live out their lives thinking their family members died in vain? There is also a huge financial burden on these families, having these health issues has cost people their jobs, their lively hood and dignity.

I sit here tonight my fingers shaking at the keyboard from rage, having my own pity party of how this has robbed me of so much. All I ever wanted was someone to say to me "WERE SORRY", this was too much to ask.

So now I say it to those affected so tragically with this scandal, "I am so sorry this happened to you and your family, my heart aches with you, for your pain and suffering. You are all in my thoughts tonight and my prayers.