03/08/09
Sept 29 (Mon): CONGRATULATIONS TO ROB AND JOANNE!!! And welcome to their new baby daughter, as yet un-named, who arrived Saturday evening. Baby girl Vrooman was born 7 lbs 11 oz, 21 inches long and healthy according to Jo, who also says that Will is adjusting well.
Sept 28 (Sun): And we just keep on rolling........Monday night, Andy had another filling replaced, but this time she managed not to damage her tongue any further! Tuesday afternoon, I went and got my stitch out and there was nothing to it. Hardly felt a thing. But it's so weird now without my lump! I had it for years and now the top of my head feels so bare. ;-) Andy had an eye doctor appointment Tuesday night and came home with her pupils so dilated that they freaked me out. She still has perfect vision.
Wednesday and Thursday nights, we finally had time to get moving on the fence.
Andy also managed to do some more crack filling. Thank goodness for our new 1000W spotlight (also used in this shot above of me painting wood seal on the cut end of a 2 by 4).
Yesterday, after Andy took Comet for a checkup at the vet and I went to the Farmer's Market, with most of the horizontal rails in place, we started on the vertical, picket boards....with the help of our supervisor.
We got 5 panels done, some partly in light rain. In the evening, we went to Vickie's Monthly Jam party, had a really nice time, but only lasted a couple hours as we were quite exhausted.
Today was "Family Day" at my work. As I am a member of the Social Committee, I had to help set up in the morning, and as Andy is such a good sport, she gave me a hand. We took over and set up our portable gazebo and boom box with kiddie tunes, and helped get the coverings on the tables and put out chairs. Then Andy had a rest.
We held it in the back courtyard of our office building.
One committee member has access to that large tent top, some fair-style games, helium, and this Bouncy Castle. Ben and Grace loved it. This is Ben coming down the slide, and Grace mid-air inside.
We then had lunch from the same caterers Andy & I used for our July BBQ.
After their hot dogs and salads, Ben had some Cheesies and Grace some Doritos that got them both in rather an orange way (and yes, there are bottom teeth missing).
Then it was games time. They showed off their hula hooping prowess and tossed some bean bags.
Then came the animal show where the fellow talked about several reptiles and some mammals and then let each of the kids feel them.
Next, we were first on the pony rides - and got to have two turns before any of the other kids realized they'd arrived.
To finish the day, we coloured & blew bubbles, then Scot and Monica arrived just as we were having the 3-legged Races, Egg on a Spoon Races, and everyone's favourite, the Candy Toss.
Tonight, Andy went and got another load of picket boards from Home Depot, then we made sure to start watching the Singapore Grand Prix early as we knew we would be crashing early. It's 10 o'clock and we're both headed under the duvet.
Sept 22 (Mon): Lots going on here. We had a great week and weekend. Monday night we went out for dinner for our one month anniversary to The Outback. Tuesday, Andy took me to the doctor who cut a hole in my head and removed the contents of a sizeable cyst. I could have come away without a stitch, but would not be allowed to wash my hair for 2 days. Well, there was no way that was going to happen, especially when I had to go to work. But the doctor had a heckuva time getting the one stitch in, as apparently I have a thick scalp. Let the jokes begin!
In the evening, we finished taking down the old chain link fence on the west side of the house.
Friday night we went to see Blue Man Group at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.
The show was good but not great. We were expecting far more big laughs....belly laughs.
Saturday, Don from Perfect Post Holes was here just after 8 until just after noon installing 12 posts for us. Although he brought an auger, sometimes he had to battle rocks manually.
Check out the size of the rock in the neighbour's driveway - it's a monster!!!
Andy loved his little cement mixer.
Et voila. Notice how we brought the fence out farther than the old one. It will now be flush with the front of the house compared to where you see the green, metal pole. And you can see that monster rock from another angle. The neighbour is going to use it in his landscaping.
I did housework and Andy trimmed the plum and peach trees while he worked. Can you see the difference?
Early in the afternoon, Scot and Monica dropped off Ben and Grace to stay overnight. Since it was 26o, we took them to DQ for a Blizzard, then down to the splash pad and playground at Spencer Smith Park.
From there we went to Bronte Creek Park only to find that the Play Barn closes at 4 and it was 10 after. Home and I made the kids their requested Kraft Dinner while Andy went to Home Depot, then everyone helped unload the car. This is only a third of the pickets we need.
In the evening, we played Scene It - Disney Edition. Grace and I won both rounds, but each time we were all on the final space on the board and had to battle it out.
When we put the kids to bed, they were out in 5 minutes. In the morning, we took them to a McDonald's with a PlayLand. They enjoyed that, but after almost 20 minutes still waiting for our food, I got my money back and we went and ate at a different McDonald's. Holy chaos at that first one!
Then we were off to Webster's Falls for our hike - and for the first time we felt they were ready to climb down to the bottom. We explained we thought they were ready for a bigger challenge, but that it would be tough. They loved it! When Ben got down bottom, he was scrambling over a few rocks. When he stopped and looked back at me, I asked him if he'd looked up yet, pointing over his shoulder. He turned around, saw the falls and was completely blown away. It was so cute.
We also hiked downstream for about 10 minutes, had a snack, then returned and climbed back up to the top. We had warned them to save some energy and when we were going up the rock and metal stairs they told us it was a good thing we told them that. At the top they were "pooped!!!"
We then went to Subway, got subs for all of us plus Mom and Dad, then took them out to visit. Mom is still pretty immobile - and bored - but slowly improving. At least Worker's Compensation has finally come through! Grama, however, has not been doing so well, so Mom is a bit stressed over not being able to go in and check on her. Scot and Monica arrived after their night in Toronto to visit also and pick up the kids.
Andy & I then borrowed the van to go to buy a wood stove we had seen was on sale. However, after waiting over half an hour for it to be found and brought out from the warehouse it looked nothing like the picture in the sale flyer. Too bad as it was a really good deal.
Tonight, Andy had another filling replaced, but this time managed not to bite a huge chunk out of her tongue while her mouth was frozen. Good thing as that chunk from two weeks ago is still barely healed. Tomorrow I go get the stitch out of my head. I suppose that's going to hurt. :-(
Sept 14 (Sun): Busy day today. Dad came over first thing this morning and he and Andy got that corner post out of the ground.
It's a substantial piece of concrete - and in this shot they have already chipped some chunks off with the sledgehammer.
With the "boulder" out of the ground, we headed off to Home Depot to buy the new posts and 2 by 4s, taking advantage of having dad's van while it was here. Also got a light switch, which dad swapped into the office for the blasted dimmer switch. Hallelujah. Then we sent him home to grumpy mom, who is still dealing with a great deal of pain from her broken knee-cap.
Andy and I then took down the gazebo frame....you can probably understand why from this picture:
Unfortunately, two of the top bars are horribly damaged, so we will have to bodge together some bracing for next summer. After this we continued working on taking the fence down, however, I had to give up and come inside. Firstly, the lonely neighbour wanted to chat...and chat....and chat. He was already drunk when we first went outside about 8:45 this morning, so was being a royal pain in the ass. Dad has now had a good taste of why we need the fence up ASAP. Plus the humidity today was staggering. It was 90% and we've had heavy rain off and on, but the sun also came out in the late morning, taking the temperature with the humidex up to 35o. Andy has a much better tolerance for the humidity and the neighbour, so she continued working outside, while I did housework. But she did move to the front, in the shade, working on administering crack filler to the driveway.
We've got ALOT of cracks. Then, when it was a bit quieter in the back yard, she made progress with taking down the chain link fence.
The metal posts will be cut apart with our lovely, new reciprocating saw. Tonight we are both knackered and watching the Italian Grand Prix.
Ok, a bit more of Ottawa....One of the best things we did was go on a tour on the Amphibus.
It took us around on land, showing us all the fantastic buildings and landmarks, plus then drove into the Ottawa River.
It was quite a different perspective looking up.
We visited the War Memorial.
And the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Of course, we toured inside the main Parliament building.
We walked along the Rideau Canal.
We went to the Museum of Nature.
And we went to the Sound and Light Show in the evening when they project a show onto the building.
Sept 13 (Sat): Ok, so I'm going to start catching up slowly, but first a bit of here and now. We're quite excited that the post installers are coming next weekend to get the fence started on the west side of the house. Before they come, we have to take down the chain link fence, and we have one dilemma. The former owners built the back fence beside the chain link, so we are trying to get the one post out so a new one can go in the correct spot on the property line. Andy happily pried a panel of the existing fence apart to allow access to the offending post and played in the mud this morning.
I worked on power washing the driveway (and cleaning some rocks for Andy) as we want to get it patched and sealed before winter.
Today we were pleased to finally get to meet Andrew, who was born in July to Sarodha and Kalpana. There was a shower at Carols' house this afternoon. Kalpana on the left and Sarodha, the birth mom, on the right.
Brian, Fred, and Phil were dying to hold him too.
Andrew, or "little Andy" as we were calling him, is quite the eater.
Had the windshield replaced the other day - got a nice crack on Labour Day while visiting Westfield Heritage Centre, and it was growing.
Considering all the chips we got when we drove across the western provinces last year, it's amazing this didn't happen sooner.
Now to the catching up. As we still don't have the official wedding pictures, I'll start post-wedding. Sunday morning (Aug 17th), those of us who had stayed overnight at the hotel met for breakfast back in the same private room where we'd had the reception. The breakfast buffet was fantastic - far too much delicious food (for Mumsy & I it brought back great memories of the Baltic Cruise). Then we packed up, checked out, and Andy took her parents along the promenade beside the gorge and falls, hence the picture in the previous entry. Then we came home.
It was great still having people around. It made it feel like the party wasn't over. Mumsy and Dad were staying for a couple more weeks and John, Rowan and baby, Lyra, (from Virginia) were here till Monday morning. In the afternoon we all took Lyra to the water park at LaSalle Park. Then the gang had a round of Carcassonne.
The next morning, Rowan, John and Lyra headed for Toronto Airport early, then the rest of us loaded the car and drove to Ottawa. Stayed at Trish's Bed & Breakfast called Radclyffe House, which was super nice, and her "gourmet breakfasts" were delicious. This was the day that we got a call from Mom in the evening that she'd fallen at work, broken her knee cap and is now laid up for three months - oh, and she's in ALOT of pain. If it had to happen, thank goodness it wasn't before the wedding!
Tuesday we toured the capital and watched the Changing of the Guard.
Sept 10 (Wed): We're on...we're off...we're on...we're off. I know! I think we are making progress. I can't upload the same, nice, easy way I used to but at least I have the more complicated way.
We visited grama for an hour and 45 minutes tonight. She watched the wedding video and it seemed to really pick up her spirits. Afterward, she actually sat up in bed chatting for about 25 minutes. Lately she hasn't been able to sit up more than about 3 minutes so this was very good. Anyway, maybe I will get some time tomorrow night to add some pictures, but we have to do groceries and a couple chores first. One teaser for you, Mumsy and Dad being playful at the Falls:
Sept 8 (Mon): Hi Everyone. I think we are finally back up and running. I will update as soon as I can, but spent most of tonight online with tech support. They've moved us to a new server.
We still don't have the professional pictures from the wedding, but I have tons of pictures from the last few weeks of touring Andy's parents around southern Ontario.