2012 - What a year!
Busy, busy and one more busy.
But, we are nothing more than thankful for it all because it brings time spent with friends & family, vacays, hockey games, riding lessons, Horse Shows, happy-hours, golf games, and so on. Busy keeps us happy.
If you can believe it this will be our second christmas in the same house!! As I was decorating this past month, I could not figure out why it wasn't stressful and why it didn't take re-arranging of all sorts. And then it came to me - I've done this before. I've done this before in this same house. We have become accustomed to change, needless to say. And I couldn't be more settled or happier in Prince George.
Neighbors. I didn't understand the importance of these types of people until we moved to Twinberry Drive. They text when you leave your garage door wide open on a cold winter night, to remind you of happy hour, to fix the gate, to remove the snake hidden in the corner of your garage, and last but not least - to celebrate holidays. You know you have made friends with your neighors when dropping over for a visit turns into ordering in Chinese dinner and then laughing and talking until late hours of the night. I am thankful for wonderful neighbors and I'm so happy to say that they are only a house or two away. They are our family away from home.
Friends. We have amazing friends. I love the morning texts, just to say hi. I love the emails - just because. I love that you understand our crazy, narotic schedules. I love that we can swap kids due to crazy narotic schedules. I love that we may have not seen eachother in years, but when we do we pick up right from where we left off. I love booking phone dates. I love facebook so I can see that some of you are now dating, married, or watch your children grow up. I post my photos for the very same reason. We have met wonderful people in Prince George through work & activities. You all know who you are and we love you all. Life would not be made exactly as it should be without amazing friends.
Family. Grandparents are awesome. This past August my parents asked if the kids could come visit them, not for the weekend, not for a week or two but for one whole month - while that registers I will say it again - ONE WHOLE MONTH. It was amazing for both sides - well, except for Gigi Ed as the kidlets were apparenly driving him crazy on the first day. Thank goodness they stayed for a month as this is how long it took both Gigi and the kidlets to adjust to eachother's routines. Jason and I became honeymooners again and went to movies, several dinners and even stayed out way too late - so late we needed a ride in to retrieve BOTH vehicles followed by naps in the afternoon. What kind of parents nap in the afternoon - parents whose kids are gone for ONE WHOLE MONTH. What was so wonderful about it all, is that the kidlets were able to spend time with Papa Dennis & Mami Chantal as well. They reunited with their cousins and had more than a few stories to tell when they arrived back home in Prince George. They also learned a few things while being away:
Me: Gross, which one of you farted.
Bella: Not me.
Brax: you smealt it, you dealt it.
Me: where did you hear that? School? (trying to hold my laughter in)
Brax: Papa Dennis
Thank you ALL for a wonderful month, we are all very grateful.
Careers. I am so very proud. This past spring Jason was selected to represent Team Pacific as Head Coach at the World Under 17 Tournament in Quebec December 28th - January 4th. When Jason began his coaching career not so very long ago, I always looked forward to the summer and to the christmas break. As Jason recently started his own Consulting business - Becker Consulting, my summers are as well consumed with hockey. Christmas break this year, no different than the summer break - consumed with hockey. We don't complain, we don't get tired of it. We are nothing but proud of him. I am looking forward to a pleasant yet adventurous trip with my dad to Quebec to watch some of this talented hockey. And shopping, Dad just doesn't know it yet. I'll break it to him once we get to Montreal.
I continue to participate in alot of "part-time" activities and if I add them all up, it makes me "full-time" BUSY. I took on a new position with Scotiabank in early June as a Customer Relations Representative and absolutely love it. I continue to volunteer with the YMCA, consistantly keep at my exercise routine at the gym and of course taxi the kidlets around to activities. FULL-TIME busy. It's all good, to be perfectly honest I can't sit still anyways.
Kidlets. Crazy Train. Yep, get on board the crazy train - that's how we roll around here. They keep me on my toes, that's for sure. Bella has got something to say about everything ALL THE TIME. "Mom, you are going the wrong way again." "Mom, can you buy me a horse?" " Mom, it's just a frog - get over it." Mom, Mom, Mom. The only time I can keep her quiet is when a Cougar player comes nearby. She turns a lovely shade of pink and will sit silent for several minutes at a time. She loves everything about school, her teacher, and horses. This is her second season training with a horse named Chico from the Spruce Ridge Pony Club. They have a special bond and an amazing relationship. Chico's eyes light up when Bella walks in the barn, and not just because she has a carrot hidden behind her back.
Braxton is my vibrant, enthusiastic about everything, story-telling kidlet. "Dad, when I grow up I want to live in a gingerbread house." "Mom, did you know that a frog's brain is yellow?" "Coach Craig, did you miss me at hockey practice - I missed it because I was throwing up everywhere." "Mary, did you know I'm hawaiian?" My little book of knowledge. I have to admit, it's refreshing and amusing. He also is full on Mr. Hockey. He can hold one heck of a hockey stance but he can't stop a puck. He loves to skate fast and thank goodness he is not one of the kids who slams themself into the boards to stop. He has also learned to dress himself in his equipment, probably because he didn't like the way his mom dressed him.
The Dog. Barkley. The greatest listener in the house. He is the perfect fit. We don't dress him up and take "cute" pictures of him or bake him birthday cakes for his birthday - people who do that are weird. But I do talk to him while I fold laundry and he does seem quite interested. I guess if that makes me weird, so be it.
We would like to wish you all a Safe and Happy Holiday Season.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Jason, Jaime, Bella, Braxton & Barkley the dog.
