2009 is almost over!

So many changes in a year, and for sure in the past decade!

• Worried about Y2K, survived.
• Went from one to six kids; experienced five pregnancies this decade
• Suffered one miscarriage
• Breastfed for almost six years of this decade!
• Lost a gallbladder
• Lost my Pappa
• Lost my Opa
• Lost a Father-in-Law
• Celebrated many first birthdays, and more.
• Becoming a real Aunty, and then again!
• Moved six times
• Tried out many different jobs, Pampered Chef, babysitting, belly casting. Interior Decorating.
• Found a job (or found my passion) in Photography!
• Started running in the middle of the decade:
• 5 km
• 10 km
• 21.1 km
• 32 km
• Put on the weight, took off the weight. Put on the weight.
• Was on TV a couple of times.
• Took a holiday to California. First plane ride since my early 20's.
• Lost friendships, gained new friendships.
• Changed MANY diapers for the past 10+ years straight!
• Leaving this decade wishing for a Wii (for the fitness, and for the new dance one!) Looks like fun!
• From a car, to a mini van, to a car. To another mini van, to another mini van to a 12 passenger van!

All in all, it is hard to believe just how fast 10 years goes by. If you were following my facebook status line today, you would had a bit more insight into the decade, and what is ahead for this family of eight!

All I know, is that next year will be the final year (or less) of diapers! So, by 2020. Almost a decade free of diapers, and I will have a 20 year old, 18 year old, 17 year old. 15 year old, 13 year old and a 12 year old. Cliff and I will be getting ready to celebrate our 23rd anniversary that will arrive May 9 the following year! Crazy!

Happy New Year! All the best!

Cheers!

Cathy xo

2009 almost time!

Seriously, this is the best group shot we could get LOL.

Caroline, and her new headband.

Cameron with all of his Pokemon stuff.

What Santa left behind.

Claire.

Caroline going through her stocking. She is happy about her Cinderella Pez.

Cameron helping his sis.

The tree, and all of the goodies.

Carly and her horse stuff!

Catie, and her cheerleader CPK.

Woah! How did 2009 get away on me like this? We had some sickness for Christmas this year. I felt great waking up on Christmas, had my usually yummy Christmas breakfast and then, after the gift opening started to feel really sick. Like I was going to throw up any minute. That feeling lasted pretty much all day, and night. Leaving me the following morning on boxing day. However, two of the kids threw up Christmas night, and early boxing day. Thankfully, it didn't spread or last. Everybody survived!

I have some photos, but unfortunately I dropped our newish point and shoot and broke it. Bummer!

So, off we will go to find a new camera again. I am just thankful I didn't break my 'good' camera. That would have been bad.

I also came up with a song and dance routine for the kids. It was filmed/recorded/photographed. But I don't think by us? I will ask around. It was a lot of fun, and the guests liked it!

The Christmas stuff is already boxed up, and the tree on the front lawn (I am not kidding you!) Cliff dropped it there LOL. I promise he will not leave it there. Just until tree chipping time on Saturday.

I am going to post another video. It was pretty cool. The kids were totally happy with only their stockings. They didn't even think about the tree gifts/Santa's gift. It was cool! I also forgot to mention, on the white sideboard there is a stack of presents there, and they were 'group gifts' for the six. They didn't even ask to open them, so on the 27th they each opened a present!

cheers!

{click on image to view}

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

From our house to yours, wishing you and your families a very merry Christmas, and all the best for 2010!

Cheers!

Cathy, Cliff and the 6 C's

Happy about Hudson [ meet our new handsome nephew ]

Baby love...smitten.

SO proud of you Apes.

Abby playing with her 'Big Sister' gift from us.

Cameron hanging with Abby.

Aunty April, Uncle Nick and Abby's place has fun stuff to play with!

Claire and Hudson.

Catie and Hudson.

My middle sis April, BIL Nick and big sister Abby have a brand new baby named Hudson. He was born a couple of weeks early, on December 11th. The very next day, we drove out to meet the newest family member. It was nice to have snuggles with such a small baby. I have to say, holding him, made my ovaries ache, and they haven't stopped. Love new babies, but I am starting to like my sleep at night. And excited that we are under one year away from now more DIAPERS!! So, being an Aunty is wonderful. I look forward to doing it again in April when my little sis has her very first baby!! Yay!

Hudson. He is awesome, and it was nice to snuggle in with a sweet baby. So proud of you Apes, and welcome to the world little man.

Congrats to you all. Cannot wait to snuggle again on Boxing Day.

Christmas Cheer!

A couple of not so great photos of the kids. I think they are pretty funny. No cooperation what-so-ever. WHATEVER. LOL. (Be sure to click on the images to see the full effect LOL)

You can read their faces and body language really well. They had a great day that day anyways. A brunch out, Santa and a magician. Awesome.



I heard this on the radio this morning, and I knew I had to post it!



Memories, right!!




Cheers!

Cathy

Courtney's 2nd Birthday Party (Better late than never right?!)

Here she is, she grabbed the Mini Mouse in the pink car and started eating the icing off the bottom of the car! She loved it!

Here is most of the group I would say! I think it is time for a larger dining room and dining room table! Whew. Just all squeezed in!

The kids' cake...actually cupcakes underneath.

For the adults (when you turn two, you need two cakes of course!!)

The kids crowding around Courtney. Trying to 'help' her!

Thanks to Cameron for taking the birthday photos for us. I am happy he loves taking photos for us! We were sorry April (the belly), Nick and Abby couldn't make it. xo

I LOVE YOU!

Yesterday, my littlest darling Courtney said "I LOVE YOU" to me. It melted my heart!

Of all the words she could have said, these ones...are the best.

She doesn't do a lot of talking, she sucks her fingers and grunts. She gets her way, her way.

After a not so good morning, that was amazing.

I love you too Courtney xo

Crashed...Zonked....

This is how Courtney likes to fall asleep. Usually right beside me. This is her as her first evening of being 2.

Before her birthday (so still one!) of where she likes to sleep!

She is a funny little girl! Makes us laugh daily!

The last time...

Today, is the very last time I will ever have a one year old on my very own. I woke up this morning feeling really strange about it. I think this bothers me a lot. Cliff plopped her into bed this morning, and we snuggled and cuddled. I wonder just how many more mornings she will want to do this? Every morning it is less and less. I cherish every little snuggle I I can get with her. I know she will always be my baby, but when she is older I know this won't happen.

Tomorrow my baby girl turns TWO. Although I am very happy she is growing, and healthy it is very sad at the same time.

Tomorrow, at 5:34 p.m. we officially have a two year old. Our last two year old. Oh, I cannot wait to see what the next year brings!

Love you Courtney. xo

A is for Apple

We took a family trip to the Apple Barn in Abbotsford. Thanksgiving weekend. The weather was good. But cold. I had to borrow Cliff's sweatshirt.

The kids in the orchard picking a big 25 pound bag of apples. Some went straight into our stomach. Some went into two apple crisps for Thanksgiving dinner two days later. 

Courtney liked this little pumpkin. She is my little pumpkin.

Cliff putting back pumpkins with the kids. The apple picking was down the road. Down a steep road which we walked! When we were there last, we only had four kids I think. OK, nope. Make that five. Oops!

Here are photos from the last time we went in 2006!

Cameron

Claire  (I wish this wasn't blurry darn it)

Catie

Carly

Courtney eating a big huge tasty apple!

Miss Caroline

Cliff with the kids (well five of them, Carly didn't want her photo taken)

Big sister, and little sister together.

All of the kids running to find more apples

The kids with me (and me in Cliff's warm hoodie!!)

Let's try again (OK still didn't work LOL - Not looking, and Carly is atleast in behind this time LOL)

 (be sure to click on the images to see them bigger) 

P.S. All taken on a point and shoot. I have to be sure to take the time to photograph the kids and not try to get the best shots and then edit. Snapshots just for the memories here!