Happy New Year !

It is almost all melted now but this was our belated white Christmas. The bird sanctuary was absolutely beautiful when we woke up yesterday morning. Even the piles of kindling for the firepit look pretty :) We had a great Christmas and Nicholas is here for a Harry Potter festival and is staying overnight. He is having dinner at his other Grandma's tomorrow so we will be on our own for New Years Day. It should be very relaxing and I am planning on doing some garden planning for the new kitchen garden. Miles has extra chain link from the dog runs and he is going to put it up around my vegetable patch. I am so looking forward to having a large kitchen garden. I have been reading about companion planting and have started my seed list. I have a lot of seeds here already and doubt very much that I will need to order any this year. There is so much to look forward to in my garden this year!

Happy New Year!

The Weekend

Lily


On Friday evening, Sean and Destini went to do their Christmas shopping and I watched Lily and Nicholas for them. It was the first time I have looked after a baby in I don't know how many years but she was wonderful. She didn't cry once. I was under strict instructions to keep her awake and that was no problem. Since Nicholas was staying with us Saturday overnight so Sean and Destini could go to the Bigway Christmas Party, he stayed Friday night as well. Then, on Saturday, John, Reena and the boys came out to visit. They brought Nicholas a sled and John took them out in the yard to try it out. Nicholas and Alexander had a great time...

Nicholas and Alexander


...and made plans for a sleepover. They stayed through dinner...

Tyler



...which Tyler really enjoyed. It was really great to have them all around the house. It was a fantastic weekend which we will repeat very soon!

A Time to Celebrate

On August 17, 2011, our grandson was taken from his mother by the Children's Aide Society and placed in foster care in Ontario. Since that day, my son has been in court in Ontario trying to bring Nicholas home. It has been a long, overly drawn out process made more difficult by his mother, unfortunately. But on Wednesday I was able to snap this blurry image at the airport gate as our boys arrived home. I would like to say it is over but it is not. There will be more court dates, more money, more work. But today is a day to celebrate and not worry about any of that. I was finally able to sleep the last two nights and I can't remember the last night I was able to just fall asleep when I hit the pillow without spending time tossing and turning and worrying. That part is over, thank goodness. Today is Nicholas' first day at school and Sean's first day back at work. They are settling into a routine already and Nicholas is very happy to be home. He has been smiling ever since he arrived and I have seen him two days in a row. It has been more than a year since I have seen him right in front of me. Let me tell you, over a computer or phone screen is nice but it is just not the same thing as having him standing right here! All I have to say today is whoo hooo! Welcome home Nicholas!! We missed you.

Homecoming...

Sean is bringing Nicholas home with him from Ontario! We can't wait for them to arrive and Nicholas will be so happy to see that his Ohio Buckeye that he planted with his Mushum is three times the size it was when he left. From the looks of him on Sean's iphone, it looks like his tree is not the only one that has grown... Nicholas comes up to Sean's chin already! Whooo Hooo! We are all smiles today :)