Summer time fun - so far.

Talk about FUN - why the heck did we NOT get a pool before now. Noah is LOVIN' it. C-c-cold weather, rainy weather and all! It doesn't stop him!

I finally finished the gate (that locks for safety purposes) - and I can breathe a sigh of relief now!

Despite the sucky, cold, rainy weather over the past week - Noah has been in the pool every day but one! I love hearing the splashes, screams, giggles....
I've decided that after this week - no more working around the house for me! I'm done... the rest of the reno's we are leaving for a contractor!! Yippy.... let the fun summertime fun begin! Noah's gonna have to keep up to me!

Monday & Tuesday (June 23-24) we had Jacques niece (Michelle) with their 3 kids come for visits. Monday night, the kids were between the pool and trampoline. Most of the photos of the trampoline were blurry - how do you get 4 kids all jumping at the same time - in focus? LOL Noah LOVED having the kids here! Thanks for stopping in Michelle - anytime!


We 'used' to have a beautiful screened in Gazebo on our deck until Friday morning. The photos below are what we woke up to :o( I am certain now that this gazebo was defective. We purchased it on June 3 and assembled it around June 8. Since then, we noticed that water had been pooling in the canopy (and it shouldn't have been considering the roof is sloped and the water should drain off)! Well, Thursday night we got a little too much rain for the canopy to hold and down she came with the weight of the water.

We had 3.5 inch screws holding the posts into the deck to ensure the wind never took the gazebo... check out the photo below. The weight of the water was enough to pull the screws right out of the wood.

It was too bad this happened because we were having company for supper on Friday night then Noah's 'End of School' Party on Saturday - oh well! At least it didn't ruin the glass on the table as well!

We had Nico & Amy (Jacques 2nd cousin and his wife) for a beautiful supper on Friday night. What a blast - so glad we live close to them now. They are AMAZING people! Can't wait to spend more time with them!


Nico got on the trampoline with Noah - did the 'popcorn' (where Noah lays down, Nico jumps and Noah bounces - like popcorn - in the middle of the trampoline). It was hilarious - man, did we ever laugh hard. Check it out, click on thumbnail to view.



We had an 'End of School' party for Noah and some of his classmates on Saturday. We had 3 families here - which was a GREAT turnout considering 1. It's Canada Day weekend, 2. It's the Grand Falls Potato Festival kick off weekend, 3. We gave invites out only a few days before school was out AND 4. Noah was new to the school. It was super fun to sit & relax with some other parents watching the kids play, swim and have fun as well! I love party's.... don't you?

I had to include the before and after photo of the 'welcome summer' sign. Noah was VERY proud of the creation that he made with only little help from me. I printed the letters, he cut all of them out (over the past week), I traced them to the big banner and he painted most of the letters by himself.


So you wanna hear some irony....here goes:

Ironic small town story #1: The first little boy we met on Noah's 1st day of school was Zack. A week later, we were driving to the states and Jacques pointed out a hotel. He told me that he was a Best Man for a friend of his from university at that hotel - a friend who he had lost contact with. Another week later, Jacques came home from Noah's soccer practice and said 'guess who Zack's dad is?'.... this guy (Stephan) that he had been best man for 12 years ago. AND, while he stayed for the 1st month with his mom (before she moved) - they live DIRECTLY across the street from her - so it was surprising they didn't bump into each other there as well. So, Stephan, his wife Autumn and Zack were at the party. I have since found out that the last day Stephan and his wife had heard from Jacques was their wedding day. Jacques teased and told them when he met me that I told him he had to ditch all of his friends!!! "What a guy" is all I have to say!!! LOL Note: Zack is the boy in the bottom left photo!

Ironic small town story #2: So we're chatting with Stephan & Autumn about what brought us to Grand Falls... how it took us so long to sell our house, how the other house we put an offer on fell through, how we had little choice of what to choose in Grand Falls....etc. I continued to explain about the only other house in the running with this one - where it was, tax prices, the things we didn't like about that house, why we chose this one, etc. Well...after the next guest arrived and after sometime (knowing the family was moving, that he was an RCMP and the location of the house) - I figured out that this was the other house we saw (twice) and did NOT chose. Ooooh...I felt terrible and never did tell him that we'd seen this house! I know for sure this house has been on the market since last August, as well he is commuting between Fredericton & Grand Falls - so it 'has' to be a sensitive subject.

So summer is off to a GREAT start - despite the rainy weather. We have an extra long weekend (Jacques took Monday off and has Tuesday off) to spend family time together - fun, fun, fun.

Congratulations NOAH!

I am way too proud of Noah! Friday was his last day of school and he passed! WHOOPIE! In September, my 'baby' boy will be in grade 2. Ummm, when did he grow up so fast - pout, pout!!!

He had a really tough year personally (being separated through the week from his dad) yet still managed to have his BEST report card to date. He was so self directed and disciplined to do his homework. I trusted him to self-lead and complete his homework on his own (by survival as a single parent Monday - Friday, rather than by choice) rather than sitting with him every night to do it which I had done in Kindergarten. Okay...well I was making supper while he'd complete his homework. Obviously, this worked and I am beyond excited to see his improvement as well as to see his growth - both academically and behaviorally throughout Grade 1.

Friday at lunch we went for the lunch (at the place of 'his' choice - which was McDonald's) - to celebrate his successful year!

Congratulations buddy, we are so proud of you! Keep up the great work in Grade 2.

Please say a prayer

Friday was the last day of school at Noah's school. For most, it was a happy day filled with celebrations of their summer vacations being started. Upon arriving at Noah's school, I suspected something was wrong as there was a police car and several other cars parked 'illegally' in the school bus 'spots'. As I walked in the school, I could feel the tension in the air. When picking Noah up, he told me that he was so scared earlier that he felt like he was going to have a 'heart attack or throw up'. He explained that the principal had made a very serious announcement for all the students to go to their home rooms and for teachers to do head counts.

There were some students that jumped the fence in the morning to go swimming farther down the river from the falls (seen in the photo above) and one of the young girls was swept away by the strong current. The other students ran back to the school to get help (around 9:30 am). This young girl was a student at Noah's school. Full story from CTV.ca at this link. In fact, her older sibling was a graduating student at the school as well and their ceremony was later that day on Friday.

I can't stop thinking about this poor family and continue to pray for them. Please pray that this family finds strength through this horrific time.

Noah, friends and girls

Noah has been making friends - very easily I might add. I'm so happy for him....it's been a rough couple of weeks with no children to play with.

Just last night (after I kicked Noah outside to play), a little boy (Logan) rode his bike over and asked he could play with Noah. A little over-excited to be playing with a new friend, Noah had an error in judgement (while we were meeting with the contractor for our renovations). He and Logan, took off to watch the baseball game across the road - only he FORGOT to tell us he was going. When Jacques and I came back in the house - Noah and MIMI were GONE and no where to be found. Okay...talk about a sick feeling..... So I remember him asking if he could go over to the baseball field sometime with Logan. I got in the van, drove and voila - there was Logan & Noah sitting on the bleachers and Mimi under the bleachers eating some one's left over Tim's. Okay, so we have since talked about some ground rules and consequences should these rules not be followed (like telling us where he's going). Looking back at it, it was kinda funny to see Noah sitting there enjoying a good game of baseball and Mimi under him enjoying a good feed of Tim Hortons!!!

Now, tonight Logan (4 doors down) came over with another little boy, Rene (from 2 doors down) and the boys played. Although it had to be split up to go to soccer, I overheard the boys making plans for Friday night - the last day of school!

At soccer tonight, I recognized that Noah was mainly hanging around the girls from his class. Small towns are kinda cool.....5 kids on HIS team are 5 of the 13 kids in his class! Brittany & Gabrielle are two of his favourites. In fact, Tuesday night Brittany called him to chat. The chatted for several minutes, acting all silly and goofy! She is a sweet little 'thang'. At soccer tonight, she was saying to Noah as goalie "Noah, just try your hardest, I know you can do it", fixed his glasses, patted him on the back, etc. Then when he was playing with Gabrielle, she kept trying to jump on his back for a 'piggy back' ride.

So cute and so happy that Noah's been making friends so easily!

Pools & Fences....dreams coming true

So our weekend was a 'labourous' one - but a dream in the making! Saturday we began putting up a fence in order to have our pool. This morning we finished the fence then by this afternoon, we put up the pool and began filling it - YIPPY! I can't believe it - this is something I've dreamed about since I was 8 or 9 years old. Next weekend, my dad will be coming up from PEI to help me build a deck (between our existing deck and over to the pool). I hope it will work out to the one end of the deck carried over to the trampoline (so you can walk right into the trampoline - thought this would be super cool (but we'll see if it's do-able)!! I've just emailed him the photos of where the deck is going to be for him to 'draw' the plans.

Below are the photos of where the deck is planned to be...



The next photos will be probably of the deck being built - stay tuned!

To get caught up...

If you wanna get caught up on what's been happening in 'our' world....read this posting called 'So much stuff...to get caught up on' on my Be Grateful 4 Life blog!

Thank heavens for little 'chatty' boys

To make the long story, short. Noah got Jacques out of a(nother) speeding ticket this year.

On our drive 'home' to Grand Falls (in two separate vehicles), I lost Jacques in my rear view mirror (partially because I was chatting with my mom) but then realized that there had been a cop on the side of the road with a radar. So I pulled over and waited. And waited, and waited and waited. I called him several times on his cell - but no answer. Just as I began to worry....he drove by tooting his horn. So I pulled back out on the highway to follow.

He called and explained that he had indeed been pulled over by this cop for speeding. As the cop was talking, asking 'do you know why I pulled you over?' question Noah's in the back seat saying (and anyone who knows Noah, knows he is a LOUD talker) 'Daddy, is the police going to give us a ticket, Daddy?' and in front of the cop Jacques responded 'Yes, he probably will'. Jacques also explained that he was trying to catch up with me (because we were just moving and I didn't know what exit to take - a little white lie). So when Jacques went to get the registration - the 2 coolers with all of our fridge items were blocking - so he had to explain to the cop that he would have to get out of the car.

Jacques got a lucky break....the cop said don't worry (ran his driver's licence) and let him away with a warning - thank heavens for little boys!!

A long time...

Okay...it's been a while since I posted and will probably be a while longer. So many wonderful things are happening - that are keeping us really busy. I only get a few minutes here or there to log on to the computer to check my emails, banking, blog, etc. A far cry from the amount of time I had spend on the computer since Jacques had been gone. Well, thankfully this is all changing.

I tried to write as our process continued over the past week, so we could remember how Noah handled our move, as well as Mimi (our dog, poor little thing she is so confused).

The timeline of what has happened and what has been going on and what is going to happen...

• Friday the 23rd - my LAST day of work (whoo hoo)
• Friday night - adult going away party
• Saturday - engagement party for our niece (who came from Alberta) - Jacques was a little hung over, therefore he was a little late arriving at the engagement party!
• Sunday- brunch at my sister in law's for everyone
• Sunday afternoon - LOTS of work around the house
• Monday - my first day unemployed, did some shopping, etc
• Tuesday - made 16 phone calls to change address, etc
• Wed & Thurs - worked my butt off trying to keep up with the packer (man, these guys are super efficient and really fast. I'm not so sure i will EVER pack myself again)
• Friday - movers loaded the truck
• - Noah's last day of school (boohoo, saying goodbye to Madame Small)
• Saturday/Sunday - relaxing in Moncton with Luc & Denise, went to a movie & Crystal Palace with Noah. (poor guy, he is really not himself. I think that this move is bothering him more than he is letting us know. We are just allowing him to feel the feelings and talking alot. He's been fixated on the Game Boy Advanced that we didn't find when we packed....he's been crying off and on about not finding it, very upset with me because I told him we would probably find it when we moved.) He also had a sleep over at Owen's on Friday night. On the way to Owen's, he told us he really didn't want to sleep over and he just wanted to have a play date because he just wanted to be with us, that he would miss us too much (this has NEVER happened on the way to Owens). We asked him why and told him he didn't have to sleep over if he didn't want - but wondered what happened between this point and the day before (when he was so excited to go). He told us he was joking...and we shrugged it off. Then, before we left....he came running over to give us a hug and kiss (usually WE have to force a hug&kiss out of him before we leave). By Saturday morning (around 9:30 am - early), Noah asked Isabelle where we were and if we she thought we had forgot about him. VERY STRANGE? We arrived around 10:30 am and Noah was VERY cuddly with me when we arrived.... I guess these little things are Noah's way of grieving and feeling sad. ME, I feel so happy about leaving except for when I see his pain.
• Sunday - drive 'home' to Grand Falls (in both vehicles)
• Monday - close, get keys, and clean new house (and put up trampoline)
• Tuesday - our 'stuff' arrives and the unpacking begins!
  

By the weekend, we hope to be mostly unpacked to put up the fence (for Mimi) then on Jun 11-12 we will come back to Dieppe to close the house in Dieppe (as well go for ALL YOU CAN EAT Ribs at Montana's - just for Jacques)!!!

Then life resumes.....hooray!