Super Saturday

I realize my blog has been extremely boring, and just many words about puke. Well, I am happy to say that all is well. We are all WELL. Life is back to normal today.

I was at a most exciting photography workshop on Thursday in Vancouver. And it really opened my eyes, and the information, and knowledge I took from it. Amazing. The very night, I actually started implementing my plans. I started using that info to help my workflow.

So, that is a behind the scene look at the past week. It was full of lows, and a lot of highs too.

We are making many discoveries this week, and plan on making perhaps major change in our life. Just making sure our plan will work. Top secret right now.

Well, I got to go. Mom in Law just walked in with a boat load of scratch and wins! Time to see if we won something good!

Happy Saturday!

And now, my husband has it.

Nuff said.

I had it too. Yesterday.

Yesterday, all of the puke caught up with me. And I too puked. Just one, and really awful. Today, I am feeling on the mend.

Please puke. Please stop. I cannot have any more sickness around here.

Spoke too soon.

And then, my big boy called me from school today. He said his tummy was not feeling good. So, I picked him up, and the two others a bit early. And yes, he did throw up. Poor guy. That is a second go-round for him too.

Now, that is all six that have had it. Be gone tummy bug. BE gone!

Normal again.

Everybody is back to normal, like nothing ever happened around here. Except we washed about 6 extra loads of laundry this weekend. And A LOT of extra cleaning due to the germ factor. I woke up this morning, and thought how could this weekend be over already. I already want a weekend back!

Happy Monday!

Crackers and Apple Juice. And, Baked Potato Chips.

Well, no more throw up/puke/vomit. Everybody seems to be recovering quite nicely.

I am very thankful for this! Tonight, chicken noodle soup for the troupes and some white bagel.

I love this!

Shook me all night long...

Well, now with Claire and Courtney now sick, that means all six of the kids have had this. Since before Christmas to now. Not a good way to end last year, and not a great way to start the year off.

The laundry has been chugging all night long. I cannot sleep. I just hope and pray Cliff and I stay healthy.

I am supposed to run tomorrow. I had dreams of going to bed early. Here it is 1:12 in the morning. I somehow think I will be rather sleep deprived again.

I hope they both feel better tomorrow. And, hopefully we can catch up on the insane amounts of laundry.

Wowser.

And two more

Well, Claire got sick tonight, and then poor Courtney. Her very first time throwing up.

I feel so bad for them both. This will be all of us now, except for Cliff. He hardly pukes! How does he do it?!

I sure hope I don't get it. Especially because I kissed them all good night, and well, Courtney puts her fingers in my mouth.

Thursday

Well, I thought Caroline was getting better, but she drank water this morning. And well, you can guess. She got sick again. Poor little girl. I hope today she starts feeling better.

This morning. there was a Michael Jackson marathon on Much, and the kids were listening and enjoying. Reminds me of when I was little! I LOVED his music. Still do actually. I have many of his songs in my ipod.

Well, the sun is out and we are off to school. I was hoping to walk #500in2010. But Caroline isn't up for a walk, so I guess we drive again. I will try for a run tomorrow evening.

I got to bed before 1:00 a.m. last night, and stayed in bed until 7:25 and I feel like a new woman. Seriously, I was getting a bit sleep deprived after the night before.

So, off to school we go!

Yesterday...

Yesterday was one of my most awful days I would have to say. I bet if I looked back at my blog, I would find many other posts like that.

It was just a bad day. I don't think I would have won Mother of the Year award.

Now, we have more puke. Caroline this time. Needless to say, I am exhausted today. I have zero energy.

I am just thankful the sun is out, and it is a brand new day. I am hoping we are at the tail end of puke. So far since Christmas, it was me feeling brutal, Cameron, Carly. Catie, then Catie last week again. And now Caroline. Poor bubs.

She says...

Caroline, up, open, locked. Catie. Buddy. And the usual Momma, Daddy. Nonna, Pappa. Nannie. Milk.

Daily the words are flying out of her mouth! Phew. We were starting to get a bit worried about Courtney. She is proving us wrong now! We knew you would.

So exciting!! She is growing and changing so much!

Wet, and now saying every word she knows over and over and over. So good! So happy.

New Year - New Decade! Welcome 2010~

Self portrait of us, at the strike of midnight January 1st, 2010~

Wishing you all a happy new year!

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