Sorry we disappeared off the face of the earth....again. We've had a good, busy summer and just haven't had time to update you. We thought we'd share some of our highlights of the summer with you...so here goes:
First Kris:
- going to Montreal and going ziplining
- going to Camp Assiniboia
- paddle boarding on the lake at Mont Tremblant
- seeing many of my cousins
- trying to go wakeboarding (not for me this year)
- going to MiniU
- going to the Canada Day parade at the lake
- pier jumping
- playing soccer
- going to the science centre in Montreal
- going to the orthodontist...NOT!
Now Jen:
- bungee jumping
- art camp
- rock climbing (lots)
- swimming
- shopping
- everything at camp Assiniboia
- ziplining (also more than once)
- sleepovers
- water skiing
- seeing Les Mis
- my birthday!!!
And last but not least... Dad!!!!
- relaxing on the beach or by a pool
- visiting with family and friends
- eating the strawberry pies Jen and Kris both made
- getting out in the boat
- tending to the yards and gardens (sort of successfully?)
- BBQ's
- not having to make school lunches
- successfully avoiding the media when they camped out on our street (nothing else happy about that story)
- going ziplining
- eating bagels on a patio at a Montreal street fair
- finding out last week that I've been elected as an FCA (used to think only old CA's got those!)
So all in all not a bad summer - we had a lot of fun and saw a LOT of our family and friends which was great! Now the kids are back to school and all the activities will be starting up soon.
Thanks as always for all your thoughts and prayers - we appreciate it!
Love,
Kris, Jen and Doug
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
It's summer!
We made it! School is out and we are back from a week at the lake, just the three of us for the most part.
We survived June and celebrated Jen's birthday with early dismissal on the last day of school. The report cards were good, especially considering all that happened in the last term. We will miss the daily interaction and support from everyone at school over the summer but we know where to find you all if we need you. We were also touched by some year end tributes to Karen that will make sure her spirit lives on in that place she loved and spent so much time.
We headed off to the lake for some R&R and took in the local Canada Day festivities and spent some time with friends and family (and celebrated Jen's birthday too). For the rest of the week we were mostly on our own, enjoying some great weather and spending lots of time in the water or out on the boat (remember it was last July that Karen made me turn around on the highway and go back and look at the boat she knew I wanted and then made sure I bought it). All in all the week was great and we enjoyed being at the lake but it was also the first time we'd really had a chance to spend an extended time together just the three of us without things to do and at times that took a bit of getting used to but I think we are finding our way.
This week the kids are off to MiniU and I'm back at work hoping to clean up some of the piles in my office and hopefully get some contractors back to work on our office renovations....do they know I'm not always as patient as I once was?
That's about it for now. We are hoping the nice weather keeps up and plan on making time to enjoy it. We also plan on spending time with friends and family so hopefully we'll see you soon!
Thanks as always for your kind thoughts and prayers
Love
Doug and the gang
We survived June and celebrated Jen's birthday with early dismissal on the last day of school. The report cards were good, especially considering all that happened in the last term. We will miss the daily interaction and support from everyone at school over the summer but we know where to find you all if we need you. We were also touched by some year end tributes to Karen that will make sure her spirit lives on in that place she loved and spent so much time.
We headed off to the lake for some R&R and took in the local Canada Day festivities and spent some time with friends and family (and celebrated Jen's birthday too). For the rest of the week we were mostly on our own, enjoying some great weather and spending lots of time in the water or out on the boat (remember it was last July that Karen made me turn around on the highway and go back and look at the boat she knew I wanted and then made sure I bought it). All in all the week was great and we enjoyed being at the lake but it was also the first time we'd really had a chance to spend an extended time together just the three of us without things to do and at times that took a bit of getting used to but I think we are finding our way.
This week the kids are off to MiniU and I'm back at work hoping to clean up some of the piles in my office and hopefully get some contractors back to work on our office renovations....do they know I'm not always as patient as I once was?
That's about it for now. We are hoping the nice weather keeps up and plan on making time to enjoy it. We also plan on spending time with friends and family so hopefully we'll see you soon!
Thanks as always for your kind thoughts and prayers
Love
Doug and the gang
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Almost summer
June seems to be flying by and we haven't had time to post an update...sorry about that.
This month has been birthday party month (5 down now I think) as it usually is and this weekend was our turn, Jen had her sleepover on Friday night and Kris had his pool party this evening. We seem to have survived and the kids had some fun but there was no mistaking someone was missing. Apparently Karen did teach us enough about organizing a party to make it work though. We have one more friend's party to go on Thursday for Jen, and her actual birthday as well then I think it will be summer.
On top of that we've had soccer (the Grizzlies made it to the win column this week and Kris got a couple more goals), school field trips, exams for the middle schooler and various other recitals and such. The kids both came home from their track and field day with ribbons and they made Father's Day special for me despite the challenges of the day. The trips to the lake have been brief ones to cut grass and plant flowers and we now have some flowers in the gardens at home too. There has also been lots to do at work but we seem to be getting there.
Thanks as always to everyone who helps out so we can do what we need to do and get where we need to go - I won't mention names so I don't miss anyone but you know who you are.
School wraps up on Friday along with a bunch of deadlines for the accountant at work so I think we'll be able to finally enjoy some quiet time and enjoy summer together soon.
Thanks to all who keep us in your thoughts and prayers - after two months we still face lots of challenges but knowing we have many people supporting us helps us along.
Love
Doug and the gang
This month has been birthday party month (5 down now I think) as it usually is and this weekend was our turn, Jen had her sleepover on Friday night and Kris had his pool party this evening. We seem to have survived and the kids had some fun but there was no mistaking someone was missing. Apparently Karen did teach us enough about organizing a party to make it work though. We have one more friend's party to go on Thursday for Jen, and her actual birthday as well then I think it will be summer.
On top of that we've had soccer (the Grizzlies made it to the win column this week and Kris got a couple more goals), school field trips, exams for the middle schooler and various other recitals and such. The kids both came home from their track and field day with ribbons and they made Father's Day special for me despite the challenges of the day. The trips to the lake have been brief ones to cut grass and plant flowers and we now have some flowers in the gardens at home too. There has also been lots to do at work but we seem to be getting there.
Thanks as always to everyone who helps out so we can do what we need to do and get where we need to go - I won't mention names so I don't miss anyone but you know who you are.
School wraps up on Friday along with a bunch of deadlines for the accountant at work so I think we'll be able to finally enjoy some quiet time and enjoy summer together soon.
Thanks to all who keep us in your thoughts and prayers - after two months we still face lots of challenges but knowing we have many people supporting us helps us along.
Love
Doug and the gang
Monday, June 3, 2013
Go Foofighters!
It's been a couple of weeks and we have a few updates.
Sunday was the annual Spring Sprint for the Brain Tumour Foundation. We started participating in 2011 and continued the tradition in memory of Karen this year. We have lots of thank you's as our team was 20 people strong and we have raised over $5,300 (which brings us to over $15,000 for the three years!). The kids and I are so blessed to be surrounded and supported by so many wonderful people! Thanks!
The kids also gave me a big birthday celebration last week...thanks to Shari, Cathy and Grandma for the assistance with the cake and shopping - the kids really appreciated the help and I really enjoyed it all. Thanks again!
School is slowly winding down with more field trips and track and field days and less homework. Soccer is in full swing. We've started planning our summer and if the weather would cooperate more we could get some more gardening and yard work done.
That's about it for now. Thanks again for all the love and support and regular checking in on us. We really appreciate it all
Love
Doug and the gang
Sunday was the annual Spring Sprint for the Brain Tumour Foundation. We started participating in 2011 and continued the tradition in memory of Karen this year. We have lots of thank you's as our team was 20 people strong and we have raised over $5,300 (which brings us to over $15,000 for the three years!). The kids and I are so blessed to be surrounded and supported by so many wonderful people! Thanks!
The kids also gave me a big birthday celebration last week...thanks to Shari, Cathy and Grandma for the assistance with the cake and shopping - the kids really appreciated the help and I really enjoyed it all. Thanks again!
School is slowly winding down with more field trips and track and field days and less homework. Soccer is in full swing. We've started planning our summer and if the weather would cooperate more we could get some more gardening and yard work done.
That's about it for now. Thanks again for all the love and support and regular checking in on us. We really appreciate it all
Love
Doug and the gang
Monday, May 20, 2013
Back to the lake
Two years ago we returned to our cottage with a sense of renewal - after a challenging six months, Karen was feeling a lot better and going to the lake meant going somewhere that she had never been sick. For two summers, she maintained that stable health situation and last fall we closed up in the normal way unaware of what lay ahead.
This weekend, we entered that time gap again and returned again to a place where the last six months hadn't happened but of course it was different this time. Things that have become part of the new normal at home were in our face at the lake....the empty place at the table or the hook with no towel in the bathroom, and of course there was the time spent cleaning up Karen's gardens to allow for the new life starting to grow. All in all, though it was good to be there, to visit with our summer neighbours, be close to Bob and Cathy, and enjoy some time with Maria and Lisa who were visiting nearby.
The kids had no school Friday so we ventured out together to Super Store (I hate Super Store) and did the annual open the cottage shopping spree (knowing we had to go to that store for the best prices on the supplies we needed). It was a successful, cooperative trip (which was good for two kids who normally hate grocery shopping) then after Kris' swimming lessen and supper we headed off to the lake. They were also both a huge help unpacking when we got there then off to bed. Over the weekend, with the help of our friends, we got most of the opening up routine done, mostly in dry conditions, so things are ready to enjoy when the weather finally cooperates.
The past week was pretty quiet, lots of soccer, a choir audition and the regular stuff - almost anticlimactic actually and the coming week should be fairly calm too - more soccer and Festival of the Arts at school along with the regular work and school.
Thanks to everyone who checks in on us regularly, it really is appreciated. I hope the posts are keeping you regular readers up to date.
Take care and enjoy your week!
Doug and the gang
This weekend, we entered that time gap again and returned again to a place where the last six months hadn't happened but of course it was different this time. Things that have become part of the new normal at home were in our face at the lake....the empty place at the table or the hook with no towel in the bathroom, and of course there was the time spent cleaning up Karen's gardens to allow for the new life starting to grow. All in all, though it was good to be there, to visit with our summer neighbours, be close to Bob and Cathy, and enjoy some time with Maria and Lisa who were visiting nearby.
The kids had no school Friday so we ventured out together to Super Store (I hate Super Store) and did the annual open the cottage shopping spree (knowing we had to go to that store for the best prices on the supplies we needed). It was a successful, cooperative trip (which was good for two kids who normally hate grocery shopping) then after Kris' swimming lessen and supper we headed off to the lake. They were also both a huge help unpacking when we got there then off to bed. Over the weekend, with the help of our friends, we got most of the opening up routine done, mostly in dry conditions, so things are ready to enjoy when the weather finally cooperates.
The past week was pretty quiet, lots of soccer, a choir audition and the regular stuff - almost anticlimactic actually and the coming week should be fairly calm too - more soccer and Festival of the Arts at school along with the regular work and school.
Thanks to everyone who checks in on us regularly, it really is appreciated. I hope the posts are keeping you regular readers up to date.
Take care and enjoy your week!
Doug and the gang
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Mother's Day
Another day and another one of those "firsts" we will keep encountering. This one actually turned out to be not too bad. There was the usual apprehension as the day approached but as with last week, the lead up was worse than the day. The bonus in it all was that today was the first day in weeks that we could actually sleep in and not have to get going anywhere in the morning and we definitely took advantage of that part to catch up on some sleep and have a relaxing weekend breakfast at home. We did the cemetery circuit, first to my Mom's then Karen. I heard somewhere that this day is the busiest one of the year at cemeteries and based on the traffic at the two we visited that seems to be true. There was a nice service at Karen's and a balloon release and flowers. There was definitely comfort to be taken from all the other people, both young and old also visiting and taking part. After we went to Grandma's for supper with the family.
The week was another busy one with it's own ups and downs. The kids both experienced some cough and cold stuff through the week but seem to be on the mend now. Kris had his school Spring Concert Thursday which was great and he was the lead guy in the 4 headed monster! Jen and I attended her art show reception at the local MLA's office Friday, along with Auntie B! Kris and I did our best to keep from freezing at the Physiofit 5 km run Saturday morning (run can be defined as brisk walking at my age and I still beat some of the 3 km walkers so I figure I did OK!) Jen completed one of her babysitting course practicum sessions with her favourite babysitter's kids. The rest of the week was the usual school and work stuff.
That's about it for now - thanks to everyone who has checked in on us this weekend (and throughout the week). It's nice to know you are there for us
Take care and I hope you all remembered your Moms today, wherever they might be
Thanks again for all the love and support!
Doug and the gang
The week was another busy one with it's own ups and downs. The kids both experienced some cough and cold stuff through the week but seem to be on the mend now. Kris had his school Spring Concert Thursday which was great and he was the lead guy in the 4 headed monster! Jen and I attended her art show reception at the local MLA's office Friday, along with Auntie B! Kris and I did our best to keep from freezing at the Physiofit 5 km run Saturday morning (run can be defined as brisk walking at my age and I still beat some of the 3 km walkers so I figure I did OK!) Jen completed one of her babysitting course practicum sessions with her favourite babysitter's kids. The rest of the week was the usual school and work stuff.
That's about it for now - thanks to everyone who has checked in on us this weekend (and throughout the week). It's nice to know you are there for us
Take care and I hope you all remembered your Moms today, wherever they might be
Thanks again for all the love and support!
Doug and the gang
Sunday, May 5, 2013
How are we doing?
I've come to the conclusion that there's really no correct answer to that question - we get asked it a lot and you are never quite sure how you are suppose to answer or how your answer is received. I'll tell you what we've been up to and you can make your own conclusion...
It was a busy and long week but for the most part I think we didn't do too bad. We returned to work and school on Monday and with the excitement and anticipation of getting back to friends and normal activities that day went well. After a couple of days with the excitement gone things became a little more subdued. For me visiting lawyers and filling out forms and the other details to attend to also tended to put a damper on things.
By the weekend, things really ramped up with Jen's season ending choir concerts on Saturday and Kris' birthday on Sunday, along with Sunday School wind up. Grandma spent the night in order to take everything in and Cathy and Bob and joined us for church. The birthday party followed and despite lots of apprehension Saturday I think the big guy ended up enjoying his birthday. There was the noticeable absence and the cake was from Safeway not one of Karen's famous ones but the day was beautiful and we ate outside. The choir concerts were also wonderful as usual and somehow the artistic director of PTV managed to work in the song Karen and I danced to at our wedding (both Louis Armstrong and PTV are right that It's a Wonderful World and a reminder never hurts). We were also reminded that in those bittersweet or just bitter moments You've got a Friend. It's interesting how a concert song list set months ago can include songs so appropriate for the moment....thanks Ruth.
Kris also had his soccer season kick off indoors at the university and now waits a couple of weeks until the fields are dry enough to play outdoors.
I also need to acknowledge all the good folks at the office. The monthly denim day was turned into a two day deal for April and the proceeds directed to CancerCare in Karen's memory - they raised a crazy amount of money in two days - thanks to all of you for the contributions and everything else you have done and keep doing for me!
One final thank you for this post - I have the good fortune (if you can call it that) of knowing a couple of very good people who are at various stages ahead of me on this path of loosing your spouse in your 40's - I spent a fair bit of time talking to both of them this past week and really appreciate them lending their ears and wisdom - you both know who you are.....thanks!
That's about it for now - we'll continue to post some thoughts and updates so you can keep tabs on how we are doing. Thanks for caring
Thanks for everything you do for us and for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers
Love
Doug
It was a busy and long week but for the most part I think we didn't do too bad. We returned to work and school on Monday and with the excitement and anticipation of getting back to friends and normal activities that day went well. After a couple of days with the excitement gone things became a little more subdued. For me visiting lawyers and filling out forms and the other details to attend to also tended to put a damper on things.
By the weekend, things really ramped up with Jen's season ending choir concerts on Saturday and Kris' birthday on Sunday, along with Sunday School wind up. Grandma spent the night in order to take everything in and Cathy and Bob and joined us for church. The birthday party followed and despite lots of apprehension Saturday I think the big guy ended up enjoying his birthday. There was the noticeable absence and the cake was from Safeway not one of Karen's famous ones but the day was beautiful and we ate outside. The choir concerts were also wonderful as usual and somehow the artistic director of PTV managed to work in the song Karen and I danced to at our wedding (both Louis Armstrong and PTV are right that It's a Wonderful World and a reminder never hurts). We were also reminded that in those bittersweet or just bitter moments You've got a Friend. It's interesting how a concert song list set months ago can include songs so appropriate for the moment....thanks Ruth.
Kris also had his soccer season kick off indoors at the university and now waits a couple of weeks until the fields are dry enough to play outdoors.
I also need to acknowledge all the good folks at the office. The monthly denim day was turned into a two day deal for April and the proceeds directed to CancerCare in Karen's memory - they raised a crazy amount of money in two days - thanks to all of you for the contributions and everything else you have done and keep doing for me!
One final thank you for this post - I have the good fortune (if you can call it that) of knowing a couple of very good people who are at various stages ahead of me on this path of loosing your spouse in your 40's - I spent a fair bit of time talking to both of them this past week and really appreciate them lending their ears and wisdom - you both know who you are.....thanks!
That's about it for now - we'll continue to post some thoughts and updates so you can keep tabs on how we are doing. Thanks for caring
Thanks for everything you do for us and for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers
Love
Doug
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