Our Little Life

We've had a busy few days lately. We've been to the Street Performers Festival, the Whyte Ave Art Walk, Farmer's Market, Jimmy Eat World concert, a premiere of Hellboy II, a library giggle fest and a magic show...and Claire got her hot pink wheelchair this week. Plus I have been going to Curves three times a week at 6:30am before Ryan goes to work.

We have been trying to teach Madeline about emotions and the faces that go with them. She has mastered 3 faces...
Here's Claire enjoying Street Performers in her new chair. It was our first outing with the new wheels and it went ok. It's hard to get used to, but it gives her so much more support. One frustrating thing is that at church there are no spaces in the chapel for a wheelchair to go. We either have to sit in the very back row (which usually fills up first) or the front row. I think I'm going to try and petition to get some wheelchair seating for our chapel.

We had a great Canada Day - apart from the fact that Ryan had to work. He is now doing landscaping with TWP (his friend Trevor's company) for the summer to alleviate the $ situation. Ryan's school year wound up with a lot of teary goodbyes from his loving students, lots of gifts from his kids and relief at a change of pace. He has taken a contract with the same school next year teaching grade 5 again. The funny thing is that next year he will be the only male staff member in the entire school! This past year he had one other man to relate to, but he is retiring. Ryan seems destined to be surrounded by girls - only sisters, a wife and two daughters and now an entire school of female colleagues! He is a very good sport!


For our Canada Day, the girls and I started out by relaxing at home, then (along with the Auntie Stephanies) we took in the Silly Summer Parade on Whyte Ave which is always a lot of fun. Then we came home and lounged on our deck with our luxurious pool. After a leisurely naptime for the girls whilst I prepared a yummy meal, we ate with Greg and Stephanie and Steph and took family pictures out on the front lawn. Ryan and I watched the patriotic film "Die Hard 4" while listening to the fireworks. Maybe next year we'll brave the late night and loud noises with the girls but decided against it for this year.



We haven't really fortified our Canada Day traditions since Ryan has usually had to work and so this year I came up with a couple - a nice family picnic-style dinner and a family photo. Hopefully next year we can add to it.

I can't imagine living in a better place - we have all that we need and more. Our families are close, we are free to worship the way we choose, we have so many medical advantages for Claire and so many avenues for support, there is so much funding available for her care, we can drive a couple hours and see the mountains and it always stirs me to look out on the prairie landscape when the sun is setting on a warm summer's night or when the sun is blinding off white snow...this place has always been my home and no other place can cut it for me. I'm so happy to celebrate our wonderful country!