Rest In Peace My Nan

November 22, 1925 - March 28, 2009

Agnes Brandon.

Daughter, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Aunt

Once again I have no words to express the depth of this loss in my life. She is free now. Free of pain, free of fear, free of the horror she felt as she lost her capacities. And I will miss her forever. My Nan. My boys Grandma-Nan.

I love you. I hope to be the type of woman you always saw me as. I love you Nan. So much. I am not ready for you to be gone.

Because I Wasn't Depressed Enough

In case you thought there was no further need for technology. Now you know what I will look like in 30 years. I believe this picture is a perfect way to sum up my last week.

Updates coming soon ...

My Dad

One of my very first memories is looking at the upper lip of my dad beaded in sweat as he tried to put a barrette in my hair. I remember watching him struggle to make me pretty and knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that he loved me.

I need my daddy.

My Break

Eric. Currently undefeated!!! Championships tomorrow.

Thank you - to those who I have seen in person this week that read my blog, and mentioned they enjoy it. Really I am always surprised at who reads it, and who enjoys it. To those that emailed or posted comments I say thank you too. I am still taking a break - don't expect to hear from me much until my feet return to my common sense home in a couple weeks, but for now I will share a glimpse of our lives as hockey season wraps up.

We are heading to the tiny coastal community of Powell River so that Greg can participate in our Provincial Championships. 26 years since the last team from our home community made it. To call it a "big deal" minimizes how excited Greg is for it. Eric is also undefeated in a tournament right now and plays in his championship game tomorrow.

Caden enjoying cousin time.

This week for me has been Sister time. Friend time. Cousin time. Family time. Healing time.

Gregory. Napping. Or as he says, "resting up for provincials"

Unexpectedly seeing a sister-friend and sharing the aching hurts of racist attacks on my children with another mother who truly understands the pain of seeing your child hurt simply for the color of their skin. I needed to see Christy, even if she didn't know it, so thanks Christy for the warm hug and the expression of understanding. Your family is amazing and I hope one day to be as sweet, warm and gracious as you are. Score one for the hockey moms!

I feel less raw, or maybe just slightly more exhausted and therefore a bit more nostalgic and without the energy to be quite so angry at the internet world.

My sister took this picture. Apparently I am holding her computer hostage so bye for now.

Checkin' In to Check Out

I have 3 half written posts and nothing really to say.

At the moment the blogging joy is gone - stolen really, and I have no inclination to share anything more.

So its a break.

Good luck to my son who is heading off to Bantam Provincials. This is a big, big deal.

Talk to you later. I hope.

Jen

Weird Wednesday

Well for the second day this week, I have called in sick to care for my sick, sick kids. Caden's fever spiked through the roof yesterday and we ended up spending a long night in the ER so they could get a grasp on what was going on. Final Diagnosis: Wow your kid is really sick with a virus. Go home and let him rest.



Oh goody. Poor kid slept through his birthday, woke up long enough to open some presents and then couldn't stay awake through his birthday dinner.

Next son up the food chain is also still really sick, with one more up recovered and the oldest, biggest and strongest son currently healthy and gloating.

Today I spent hours and hours disinfecting beds and bathrooms and hoping that I am spared from the plague that has taken over my family.

Thursday New Dog arrives on the transport van. Big day in our family.

The day after that, Greg's home hockey tournament begins. In case you do NOT have a child that plays at the Rep Level of hockey you won't know that "home tournament" is a euphamism for "23 hours of required volunteering per family". Oh joy.

It's a busy, busy time.

Adding a New Family Member

Well the details have yet to be worked out, but I would like to introduce the newest soon-to-be member of the Common Sense family.

This pooch is a resuce Jack Russell Terrier with some, but thankfully not all, of the same issues that our Annie had when she joined our family. He is 1 year old and has had a rough start in life. We love the breed, and have felt for a while that Annie needs a friend. And so we add this little guy to our family.

It's going to be interesting.

Peace and Quiet Comes at a Cost Around Here

When I left the house Friday morning to attend Challenge Day (more on that coming later) Caden wasn't feeling very well.

By lunch Shel was home sick.

By breakfast on Saturday Tanner was down for the count.

By lunch, so was Eric.

High fevers, a nasty cough and a complete and total lack of energy. In fact, they slept and slept and slept.

Does it make me a bad mother that I actually enjoyed the first 36 hours? No fights, no mess, no bickering, no driving around. Quiet kids wanting to sleep undisturbed for hours on end. It was practically a mini-vacation.

Now that a few are feeling a bit better and demanding food and drinks but still too sick to get it themselves or clean up after themselves? Not quite so fun.

Boys, you can get better now.