Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Hardly ever




I realize I hardly ever take photos of the kids, or the family anymore. I still have Carly's birthday photos in an organized envelope on my desk. I need to buy an album for her still. All of my personal stuff kind of put on hold. I have her next birthday at the end of August! I hope to have that all squared away by then. Time flies by, and I have other stuff to do all of the time. 

So, I have decided that I will be buying a point and shoot camera to take on family outings and vacations. Easy, no pressure. Just family memories. I need to make more of those. I was thinking of the importance of photos. Dane Sanders only has one photo of him and his Dad. His Dad died when he was a wee little guy. Click on his link that says "two by two" to view his story on video. His Dad wasn't into photography, as a result no memories. 

Cliff, he has two SMALL albums of photos that I put together for him. I fortunately have a whole bunch! I was the first born. I feel fortunate to have those, and all of the memories my Mom and Dad saved for me along the way.

Anyways, I have decided I need to enjoy my family time, and just shoot snapshots just for fun. Nothing creative, just fun snaps of the family and our life together as eight. 

So, if you don't take any photos...maybe you need to take a few! Your kids and family will thank you. Sometimes it is not about getting the most technically perfect photo. I have to remember this daily! 

Now, I need to find a photog. to take our yearly family photo. The last time we had a professional photo Courtney was just sitting up, and had no hair. My how all of us have changed since then. Life has changed since then!

Professional photogs? Who would like to shoot our family session? Any takers?

Cathy xo


Combo






I am thinking that I may combine my blogs. Instead of trying to upkeep all of them!

What do you think? I am working on some very exciting changes that will happen this summer.

I need to simplify, and besides most everybody knows me by my real name now ;D

Comments and ideas appreciated!

Love,

Cathy xo

Monday, June 29, 2009

Radio Interview today

Buzz Bishop interviewed me. 

From his twitter feed: will have interview with @cathyempey on @virgin953 this aft. what's it like to be a mom of SIX?! a local jon and kate styled story coming up (Listen in between 4 and 4:30 this afternoon)

If you are not local here is the link to the online player!

Interview with @buzzbishop on @virgin953 today between 4 and 4:30 talking all about life with a large family. Langley's Cathy and Cliff + 6!


Time is pst. 

http://vancouver.virginradio.ca/player


Cheers!

Cathy

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Last full day!

Wow, today is the last full day of school for my three big kids! Tomorrow is a half day (and a fun talent show to watch) and that is it!

In September, I will have four kids in school! One in Grad 5, one in grade 3, one in grade 2 and one in Kindergarten.  

How exciting!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Take a little trip...

Cliff got to use his Christmas present tonight from my Mom. He says thanks Mom! He had a half an hour intro flight at our local airport.

 He loves flying, and so he got to practically fly and land the plane.

 I brought Carly and Cameron to watch him. I am happy for him. He deserves good things :D




Monday, June 22, 2009

Post No. 1000

My not so baby baby Coco. She is a Momma's girl. She doesn't talk much, but the other day in the van she said "BOOM BOOM POW" just like that! She just keeps those fingers in her mouth! She loves her fingers!


She likes to sleep on me. You see her hair, well her sisters put soap in it and it was all gross! She is getting so big! 


I found my passion again! 


She still misses our feeds! She grabs for me every morning and night! 


When I began this blog, back in May of 2006. I had only 5 kids and they were all 6 and under.

Over three years later, 1000 posts later, thousands of readers later. I sit here, doing pretty much the same thing! Blogging that is. Except I keep too many blogs! LOL. I am so glad I decided to blog. I look back and think wow, did we really have this or that happen. What a good way to collect the memories that I would most likely forget by now. I wouldn't want to go back. I don't think.

Lately, I have been feeling rather blue. I have been feeling down. I feel the stress of my life eating at me. Sometimes I feel like I cannot swallow or breathe. I don't get enough sleep. And when I do, it is on the couch. 

It could be the month. Maybe because I have been thinking of my Father in Law. We had our first Fathers Day without him yesterday. I could tell that Cliff was missing him. He went out golfing  with my Uncle, and my cousin's husband. I  know he wished he was with his Dad too. I know Cliff hurts, but doesn't really share this with words to me. He wore his "Big Earl Golf Classic" shirt, and used his Dad's golf  clubs because "they are better than his!" We tried to fill the weekend with fun, and enjoyment. But it didn't really work I don't think. He said he really enjoyed Saturday, so that is good. Today is a new day. Another first has passed.

It is a Monday. I have six kids, that are 9 and under. This summer, that all changes. My first born starts his double digits! He will be ten. Three more school days left Three more sets of lunches to make! That means all of the paper work comes home. That means I will be doing some year end organizing! I will conquer that after a weekend away with the family. Taking off for a weekend at the beach. Father in Law would have wanted us to do that. He always wanted us to have fun! So, at the year mark of his passing  on Saturday we will be on the beach, making sand castles and eating bbq'd foods. We miss him. We cannot believe that the year mark is almost here. That will complete the first YEAR. 

Heavy stuff. This year has really taken its toll on us all. I certainly feel older, less happy. And without running like is not that great. I have been eating too much of course. And so not many of my clothes fit. I have my twenty year reunion this September. I am sort of looking forward to it, sort of not. I have less than three months to get my act together. I am going to get my teeth whitened. I am going to lose about twenty pounds LOL. I should have been only ten, but this is life right!

So, I have to get on my feel good plan again! Enough of the crummy eating. I have my first physio appointment tonight, and one next week. I am hoping he can get me on track so that I can get back to running. I was hoping for the full marathon in October, then the half and now really I would be happy to run the 8 km run in Victoria. I would be happy to run over 5 km without any pain. I am hoping all will be well, so I can put all the parts back together. That healthy eating, exercising and the healthy mindshift! I know it will happen, and I just have to be patient with this all. I have only gone on four runs since that horrible run of April 4th

Well! I wonder what the next 1000 posts will be like? We will be entering the tweens. Enough said. 




Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Fathers Day








Happy Fathers Day Cliff! 

I hope you have enjoyed your special weekend!

Yesterday, I sent Cliff to the spa for a sport pedicure, a back massage and a facial treatment. I took the kids to the parade, so he could get some well deserved down time. This morning Cliff is out golfing with some wonderful family members. I  know he is having fun!

I love you Cliff! Thank you for all that you do for us on a day to day basis. You are a hard working Dad, and we appreciate every moment with you. I know our kids will grow up remembering all of the wonderful things you do. I am happy that they have you. 

I hope that this weekend was happy enough for you, as I know this is your first year, first Fathers Day without your Dad. We all miss him! We are sorry that he is not here with us today. 

Love Cathy (and your six kids) xo xo xo xo xo xo xo

Thursday, June 18, 2009

My other job...




For those of you who do not follow my boudoir blog, well over the past weekend I was working on a special project, and my awesome friend Carol of Carol Kerfoot Photography came to my boudoir to take some photos of me, doing what I love to do more than anything...photography! I just love the finished result! Be sure to check out her amazing work! 

Oh, and thanks to Kaitlin for making me up! 

So, enjoy!

Cathy

Friday, June 12, 2009

Crazy kinda, well really crazy. Really.

It is Friday, and really I am glad that it is, but it just means that I have Cliff around during the day to help which I just love! 

The last week has been rather trying. I felt like I was losing all control. I was not, but I think with lack of sleep, and just the sheer busy of my life has left me a little drained. 

On Wednesday I went on a field trip with Cameron's class to the waterslides. It was so much fun! I slid on the rides over and over. Great fun, and would make for a great family trip one day. I am not quite ready to bring all six kids there just yet. Maybe with some extra hands (Like Jon and Kate have LOL) it would be do-able. But I would be worried about losing somebody even though the gates are locked and they couldn't get out. Too many hiding places! It would be a stressful time. 

Life has been stressful enough. My work is keeping me busy, same with all of the family obligations. I made it into bed only ONCE this week. Every other night, I pass out on the sofa exhausted. I need to get more sleep in my BED. But it hardly happens!  I have to work on this I think. It seems to be in the family though, because I know my Aunt, my sisters, my Mom etc. have or still do the same thing LOL.

We are counting down the weeks left until school is out on the 25th of June. On the 26th of June we leave for a weekend away. Why? To "remember" Cliff's Dad aka Grandpa. On the 27th of June marks one year of his passing already. It really doesn't get any easier to not have him with us. Only harder at times. He is very missed still.  So, instead of getting phone calls etc. we have decided to go as a family (with Mom) to our favourite summer spot. We will play on the beach, and BBQ and have a good family time. Last year, this time was a very unhappy time. We want to create some happier memories.

I am still injured. I have made an appointment with a sports physio person that has come highly recommended. So, I hope that I can get back into running again. I need my stress relief!! I miss my runs! I have only gone on 4 runs since my last bad run that was on April 4th. 

I am also going to join a local gym. Enough is enough. None of my pants fit, and I am tired of feeling like this. I am going to do some cardio there, and do some weights to strengthen up my body. I have my 20 year reunion coming up in September. I want to feel as good as I did this winter!! I miss that feeling.

Anyways! I am excited for my cousin, who is due with her second baby June 18th, and my Granny is going to turn 88 on June 16th. Lots of excitement going on!

The end of the school year is always crazy, and I look forward to having a more leisurely summer if that is possible. We have two of our girls going to summer school, two kids going to a RCMP cadet camp program, we have the PNE, we have another trip to our favourite summer spot at the end of summer. Oh, and several birthday kids too! And, of course, in September Catie enters the school system! She starts Kindergarten! So hard to believe! She was born when Cameron was entering Kindergarten. 

Lots and lots of stuff to be excited for!

Happy Friday!

Cathy xo

Monday, June 08, 2009

you might need earplugs, or maybe turn down your volume...

 

Well, as you know we spend A LOT of time in our van. So, I thought I would video a little bit of our ride yesterday. We are short one child here (our son) but all five girls were in the van. We actually had to stop at the side of the road because it was so loud in there. It was actually louder, but we missed that capture. All of this over Timbits...Goodness me. 

Happy Monday!

Cathy xo

Friday, June 05, 2009

just one of the girls





We FINALLY bought our youngest child Coco, her own big girl carseat (she is nearing 19 months already! ) Last night we practiced. Today, her first test drive!

 The pictures will tell the story!

So, I guess next we will buy her her very first pair of shoes!



Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Matching Family Friends

Oh, it was so nice to have a quick visit from a family that means a whole lot to me. It was my friend Lisa, in her exact same van (same make and colour) her 1 son, and 5 daughters popped over for a few minutes. It was so good to see her and hug her. Life has not been the same since they switched schools. I am officially the largest family at our school. It was always nice to have the support  there. Now, it is a lot more lonely at our school. 

We are going to try to get together after school tomorrow! And it will be just like before, except all of us a little bit older.

Lisa and I, plus our 12 kids (combined) 2 boys, and 10 girls. I cannot wait!


World's worst parents?

I don't know, but when your almost five year old daughter escapes the house, and gets locked outside and tries to climb up the fence (on the inside of our yard--we have double fencing to keep the kids in ha ha take THAT) And that child is screaming and crying at the top of the fence stuck. Cliff didn't hear her! And a neighbour girl is about to rescue her at the same time Cliff was going to find the location of the child who was stuck!  She asked why the kids cry all the time. She also asked if he has a wife LOL. Pardon? Is it any of your business? Have you tried keeping the peace with six kids? I would say crying and loud is just part of childhood, and especially being outside. Should I be keeping my kids quiet? Not allow them to express who they are (within reason?)

It is not like we party the night away, and the noisy times are not all day, but comments like that just sting.

Uh, 21 year old single girl. Just you wait. 

Anyways, Daddy was in *charge* of just Catie (aka escapee/monkey) Courtney and Caroline. Cameron was at a play date, and I was out with the big girls at their yoga class. 

When I heard about this, I felt so attacked. And it just made me want to pack up and move to some large acreage where kids can just be kids with in reason of course.

Just had to vent.