Happy Birthday Moira

This picture brings back a lot of memories...
Your birthday at least 26 years ago.
I remember your dress, I had the exact one but in mint green.

We hope you have a great day! We love you.
Hopefully Taylor did not leave your gift on the couch :)

John, Erin and Marina

Happy Easter!

This was an exciting Easter - Marina had a ball finding all the eggs that she decorated yesterday. The huge excitement started, when she discovered the little chocolate eggs and jelly beans. Happy Easter to everyone.

Friends

Marina and her good friend Calla at the pool.

Our week

We have had a busy week! Last Sat/Sun, Marina and I were out gardening and getting ready for summer. One neighbour was admiring her tulips ready to blooom, and another was thatching the moss out of her green lawn - it was a sunny beautiful weekend. On Wednesday afternoon, it started snowing and did not let up all night. I believe we had over a foot of snow! The town came to a complete stand still by Thursday morning - the power was out in many parts of town, all the schools were closed, and so were many stores. Marina's first dance class was cancelled. It is amazing the change that three or four days can bring. Today, there was no gardening, but "tubing" down the hill by our house instead - I can not believe it is April tomorrow.

These are a few photos from our week.

Lastnight, my hockey team held a fundraiser. They played a game against a group of locals. Entry to the game was by donation and all money raised was split 50/50 between the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Kidney Foundation. They raised over $2,500.00 in total. Great job ladies!

The Wonderful World of Disney

They are amazing boys. I love just knowing that they are there, creating memories that will last their entire life.

I remember my trip to Disney Land as a kid. We were there for the 25th anniversary of the park. I was 8 or 9, Moira was 11 or 12. I locked myself in the washroom on the plane, Pirates of the Caribbean was my favourite ride, I got a beautiful Alice in Wonderland doll that Marina now has, I tried French Onion soup for the first time, and ate about a million orange juice popsicles. I remember that it was the end of March when we went - because my mom's birthday is the 30th, and I saved my money and took her and my sister to dinner - I was so proud to pay the bill.

I can't wait to hear all their stories when they get home.

Dress Dilema

You may all recall that Marina "hates" dresses. This summer John's brother Bill is getting married. I recently bought her the cutest little dress for the wedding. I told her it was for Uncle Bill's wedding and that ALL girls wear dresses to weddings... didn't work. I bribed her with chocolate to try it on... that worked. She looks so adorable in it, but I have my doubts that she will actually wear it for the wedding. Tonight, we were playing dress up. She was the princess of course, I was her Prince. She wore this purple princess dress and cape and decided that THIS was the dress she would wear to Uncle Bill's wedding. I am hoping she will change her mind by July, if not... sorry Bill.

She had a birthday party this weekend, and like her own birthday in January - she refused to even entertain the thought of wearing a party dress. She said "but mom we are not getting married, it is just a birthday". I guess I should just be happy that it has seemingly sunk in that all girls wear dresses to weddings. I really do feel sorry for the lady that shows up to Bill and Kim's wedding in pants.

Thank heaven for little girls...

There is nothing more exciting for a mom than dressing up her little girls room. Marina has moved into a big girl bed, and this weekend I had a ball getting it all ready for her first big night. She is thrilled that Taylor has decided his new spot is at the foot of her bed. It was a bit depressing pulling apart the crib though, it reminds me of how fast she is growing.

Poppa's Doctor

While we were in Vancouver, Marina decided that she would be poppa's doctor. She really enjoyed taking his blood pressure and giving him medicine (aka - Cheerios). She understood that he was not well, but getting better. Today, dad has been admitted back into the hospital. His doctor calls it "housekeeping" - his new kidney is working very well, but his body is in a bit of shock that he has a good kidney. He can not get his low blood pressure/high blood sugar under control so they want him back in the transplant unit to monitor and help him. He has had amazing care - we are very lucky.

Home Sweet Home

We are home - and it sure feels good. There is nothing like your own bed when you are not feeling 100%. Marina is probably the happiest of all of us - she missed her dog, her toys, her routine. She enjoyed every minute of the time with her cousins, her Poppa, her Grandma, her Granny, her Aunts and Uncles. Auntie Chris, Uncle Jim and Casey - thank you for the side trip to Victoria, Marina had a great time. These are some photos from her time in Victoria and Vancouver.

YVR

We have been in Vancouver for ten days now and as I am sure you all know everything is great. Marina has been an absolute angel. She has spent a lot of boring days at the hospital and hanging out inside but she has never complained and has made me really proud. She is enjoying her extra time with Me Me and Poppa.

Thursday night her cousins arrived from Stewart. Yesterday they all went to Toys R Us and spent some money they all had saved up. Thank you Ron and Faffie - your Christmas money was spent! They each got to pick out something (see photo). They spent the afternoon at Granville Island playing. This afternoon they are going to Science World, and Monday is the Aquarium and Stanley Park I believe. It has been nice for me too, knowing Marina is having some fun, it gives me a chance to relax at home and heal.

Happy Birthday Cousin

I don't have a brother, but I know what it is like to have a little brother. I have a cousin that tormented me while growing up, as though he was my bratty little brother. He got into my "stuff", followed me around, mimicked my friends, yelled profanities into the tape recorder while we were singing our rock songs - all the things you would expect from a baby brother.

It is Shane's birthday tomorrow, and I am happy to report he has turned into a fine young man and is soon to be a father.

Happy Birthday Shaner - I am so proud of the man you have become, a little surprised - but definately proud. You are a constant reminder of Grandpa Sewell - and I mean that as nothing but a compliment.

We love you, and hope you have a great day!

Live2Share

When I was a little girl, one of my favourite stories to hear about my birth was that I was very jaundice - and incubated for several days. In her attempt to explain to a small child what jaundice was, my mother told me that there were two types of blood in my body when I was born, her's and my dad's, and they were fighting over who was going to be inside of me. After several days, my dad won, and we share blood types. I used to imagine a battle going on inside of me, and that my dad's troops emerged victorious. Who knew that some 35 years later that victory would be such a blessing.

We share blood, skin tone, eye colour, asthma, and stubbornness. On February 08th we will enter Vancouver General Hospital and six hours later we will share one more thing... a kidney. Dad has been on dialysis for almost two years and we are finally here! He embraced a complete change in lifestyle with grace and amazing persistence. He is truly my hero.

I am so proud of my dad - the next several months will hand him a lot of difficult days. He is a fighter though, and I my blood... my kidney is his ally - it has been for 35 years and I am confident we will once again emerge victorious.

3

Marina turned three today. It is absolutely amazing to me that our baby is 3! She had a party at the Growing Space (a local drop in kids center) and so many of her good little friends were able to come - she had a grin on her face all day. We tell her on a daily basis that she is our princess - and I think today she truly believed that she was.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all. The three of us celebrated the New Year at 7pm lastnight, as Marina was in bed by 8pm. She had a busy day yesterday that included her first movie! I took her to see Charlotte's Web. She really enjoyed it, although I rather suspect it was the popcorn and candy that was the major attraction! We bought party hats and horns and danced to Barney for an hour before bed, that was just enough to do her in. This photo was actually taken during my last trip to Stewart. Marina and her cousins were hanging with Uncle Jim for the afternoon. They ended up in the bar drinking Shirly Temples from shot glasses and playing Keno and pull tabs! The things that will happen when you are the children of hoteliers!

Our Christmas

It was perfect. We cooked our turkey on Christmas Eve, and had our friends Kevin and Sheryl and Mike over for dinner. Too much food, too much wine but lots of fun. Christmas day started with Marina sleeping until 9am (thank you Santa!). She was thrilled with the kitchen that Santa brought her. Our neighbours Bruce and Betty or - Grandma Betty and Poppa Bruce if you ask Marina, came for Christmas brunch. The day was extremely relaxing. We went to our friends Travis and Lani's for Christmas dinner where we enjoyed the company of about 18 other people it was a nice end to a perfect day. Boxing day consisted of more food, more wine.... and more visiting. We spent the evening with our good friends Steve and Shelly and their kids Jessie and Chiara. Jessie and Chiara had several friends over and Marina was in her glory with the older kids (they are all college age). They showered her with attention! Soon, it is back to reality... less food, less wine. I definately think we will wait until January 2nd for that though.

Happy New Year to you all!

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

Dear Editor:
I am eight years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says " If you see it in The Sun, it's so."
Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West 95th Street
September 21st, 1897

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there ia a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas, how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not belive in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus coming down, but what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all of the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart a baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Merry Christmas to all our cherished friends and family.

Love John, Erin, Marina and Taylor.

Granny

Marina and John are in Victoria spending some time with Granny Jean. Today is her birthday and the visit was a surprise. This post is for you Granny. Happy Birthday and enjoy the time with your special girl...

Stewart

Marina and I went to Stewart for a week to spend some time with my family. Marina had so much fun with her cousins. These pictures are of kids on the snowmobile track they have around mom and dads house and out the back. Wyatt and Lane each have their own machines and I was amazed to see how good they are at handling them. Marina rode on the back with Wyatt (keep in mind he is 4 and she is not yet 3!) and they had a ball! She held on tight - and Wyatt went slow so not to scare her. I couldn't help but laugh everytime they passed because they are so tiny! It was so cute. Lane took me for a ride on his machine - I felt like a kid again. I had forgotten how much fun it is.