Summer is over, and Halloween is around the corner!

I promise every year to get better.... and I think I just run out of time with my crazy, busy life!
After swim team finished we went on a Royal Caribbean Cruise and relaxed for 10 days.
School has started: Shaina is in year 7 and Hunter: grade 5. Shaina celebrated turning 13. And we spent a day sailing Lake Michigan to close out the summer!

Summer is moving along

Last night was the annual 4th of July fireworks display celebrating Independence Day. I unfortunately had to work, but made it home in time to see the fireworks.
Swim team is going well, only a few weeks left. Softball, soccer and flag football are over for the season. Shaina is enjoying Junior Coaching for my local swim team. Hunter and Shaina also compete on that team. Hunter still has a few months left of Long Course on the other swim team. A lot of festivals and carnivals this time of year. Enjoy my snaps.

Swim Season is here!

Hunter competed in his first away meet of the season last weekend. He did very well and achieved his first Regional Time. This is a state qualifying time. You need to have 2 event times to compete in a Regional Meet. The season has just started and Regional Meets are at the end...he has until September to qualify. Go Hunter!

Sports, sports and more sports!

May is here... And it was still cold and even some days with snow! But out of the blue came 26℃ today.. unbelievable, so I headed outside to absorb some warmth as it is apparently only going to last 2 days and the temps will head south again...ugh.
All of our sports have been delayed for weeks due to crap weather, other than swimming (it's indoors).
Shaina has started playing softball, she didn't have much opportunity to practice (weather), and her second game is tonight; they were crushed in their first game this past weekend.
She is also playing soccer and enjoying it.
Hunter is back playing flag football (it's gridiron with no tackling). And of course he is still swimming. He missed his regional time in his breaststroke by .04 seconds and therefore missed out on competing at a state competition. He has just started the summer series and is looking to improve on all of his times. We are off to Indiana this weekend for more swimming!
The Blackhawks have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs again this year... My friend Kristin and I went to see them win game 6 two weeks ago. They are into the next round. Each team plays best of 7.

Finally some warm weather!

Another snowy cold month: March. Fairly uneventful, short course swim season came to an end. Then 3rd quarter of school ended, which then lead us into Spring Break! One week holiday to our usual warm destination of Aruba. Attached are some warm photos!

It's Still Snowing

Hello everyone. We are nearing the end of February, it's still snowing and living in sub zero temperatures! WHEN WILL IT END.
For those of you that didn't know, I blew out my shoulder in mid December and finally got around to having surgery on the 10th of February. Surgery went well, 4 screws instead of the expected 2, but I figure my rotator cuff is there to stay now.
Winter Swim Series is over. Our last meet was over the weekend. Both Shaina and Hunter were trying to achieve Regional Times. Shaina missed one by 3 seconds and Hunter sadly missed his by .04 of a second! If they had achieved the times they were looking at their swim season would have continued for a few more weeks and would have given them the opportunity to compete in a bigger swim meet series. Summer Swim Series starts up in April.
Our calendar is very open right now! I've started rehab and am not working at all until I can start using my arms. I could be in a sling from anywhere from 4-8 weeks...ugh.
We have a possum that has become a regular visitor on our deck and Spooks the cat is desperate to go outside and investigate.
More snow is expected this weekend and Dave has become quite the pro with the snow-blower.

Happy New Year

Welcome 2014, every year I promise to get better updating this blog! I start well, then get busy with life I think.
This winter has been extremely cold with temps often dropping to -20'C. Shaina and Hunter have missed many days of school, which means the end of their school year will now flow into their usual summer holidays.
The kids had a great Christmas, the next one may be on a lower scale as they got everything they wanted!
Dave just turned 50 on January 29. I organised for one of my chef friend of mine, Pat to come over to our house and prepare a six course menu with wine pairings for 10 of Dave's closest friends. We had a great night and the food and wine was fantastic. His birthday also coincided with his annual Lighting Incentive Trip. This time I got to tag along.
Turks and Caicos Islands, here we come! We had forgotten what 28'C feels like...ahhh so good. It is a quick 5 day trip, but we're ok with that.