Seasons Greetings

Seasons Greetings to all - we have all been very busy this time of year. Above is Ali's picture of her Gingerbread house she made and she let me help a bit; and Arianna's first Christmas appearance in new Christmas finery. I am awaiting Amanda to come over so I can also take her picture and add her to my "girls" Christmas post. Amanda has had a wee setback, she just had surgery to remove ruptured cysts on her ovaries and appendicitis. We originally thought it was her appendix that ruptured but it was the opposite - however she is home and albeit still in a little pain I am waiting for her to come over for her Christmas picture to add. Things are going good and the kids are anxiously awaiting Santa's visit.

ANOTHER YEAR LATER and...

Well it's almost one year that Cody passed and things havent changed much. Tomorrow still is Willy' and my anniversary only this year another year later, now 30 years. Wow who would have thought that 30 years ago that this would be today........
Ya know when Willy and I married it was only 4 years almost to the day that I lost my first husband..well actually didnt lose him because we really never ever found him(last time I saw him was Nov 27,1974 - I married Willy Nov 19, 1977) but... and yeah, well he still actually has never been found but was legally declared dead by dad and the law courts...But the Crighton curse still seems to follow. But I dont want to get into that now - read the book if I ever publish it :)
However I am really not being glib, this post Cody year has been truly awful. I never thought that things could get worse than the days after he passed but believe me they have. I did go back to work in April 2007 after being off quite some time but now am off again since November 2007. I am falling apart and wonder if I ever will be able to be strong. I know I used to be a strong woman but man you just dont know how hard this year has been, not just on me, but on Willy, Marc and Sara-who had a adorable baby girl April 13th, imagine how hard it is on her with me not being able to keep my mind posted on our dear wee Arianna...I love that baby so much, she is the sunshine that keeps me smiling every day and I try, I really try to keep smiling for her but then the other side of my life comes through and I need to focus on them too. Amanda, dear sweet Amanda, she is lost, she is living out in Burnaby with her new fiance and he is very much involved with many things in our lives that we do/dont like and they both know it...and my focus is on Ali - GOD it is so hard to be a strong confident nanny to her when things are falling apart. In the next few days I pray I can let us all know whether our prayers have been at least answered partially...Ali right now is with me and Lisa and Greg are doing their things. I am tired, so very very tired of crying and I really, REALLY dont want people feeling sorry for ME...I want them to pray that Ali and Amanda can get the happiness that they need. I am far far done now from the praying for me bit...dont pray for me, I dont need it...but they do....But I needed to post this for their sakes and to let you know that even though some people say it has been an "uneventful year"...well maybe for them, but for us living day to day with this it has been a very "EVENTFUL" painful year for all of us involved and hope that soon it all stops.
Talk to you all soon, and remember please - Love ya all.

WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME

Amanda and her fiance Chris and below Bernie and Cathi














Hi everyone, I know, I know...long time Cat - well I am back with lots of news
Sara and Michael are now happily married old folks, wedding and Reception all over and done with. New condo bought and ready to move in in a few weeks :) Right now they are in Medicine Hat.
Marc is in Calgary and ready to start a new endeavor with his Uncle Mikey - Marc will have a small percentage of Mikey's new business that they purchased, Marc will be in charge of his own kitchen there...It's of course a pub and they are calling it Mikey's Juke Joint and Eatery...kinda cool. Grand opening is October 31st. I will post pictures when they come available to me. I miss Marc but it's a great opportunity for him.
AND ta da....My little grandaughter Amanda Cathleen is engaged...Chris her "now fiance" gave her a beautiful ring for her birthday and asked for her hand in marriage...No date set yet.
I will keep you all apprised on whats happening. Here are a couple pictures for ya'll to look at.

The Wedding

The wedding went off without a hitch (no pun intended since "they were getting hitched). The day started early - as you know, it was at my house, in the backyard. The first thing I did when I got up was check the weather, our local newstation called for "RAIN???" - how could that be, it has been so beautiful out lately. It was overcast but RAIN...after all the lovely yard work Willy has done it CANT rain....geez louise - (sorry Louise) but...then I watched Channel 8 news and they said it was going to be a nice warm day...and it was...Everything went without a hitch. Michael went golfing - yep, that's what I said - golfing - poor guy, not only did we kick him out the night before telling him it was back luck to stay, his mom made him sleep on the floor - so he got up and went golfing (actually Marc went too as well as Michael's best man). Anyhow wedding was at 5:00 and then came running in at 4:30...sheesh, talk about cutting it close. Anyhow Sara was locked away in the backroom and Michael on the other side of the house, managed his shower and we hurried him out the back just in time. Moments before Sara came out I said to Mike "are you nervous" and his smart ass reply was "nope, just another day"...Suddenly the music started playing, Elvis Presley singing "Cant Help falling in love with you" and out walk Willy and Sara - both of them sobbing, holding back my tears, and muttering under my breath, "I am not gonna cry, I am not gonna cry" when I looked over at Michael and tears were streaming down his face - well sorry folks, I just lost it...and everyone else followed. It was a beautiful day and well, just look at the pictures to prove it. (and baby slept like a baby) :)

Moving Day

Well moving day came (and went) without a hitch...nothing got broken (that I know of); the boxes were stored almost where they were supposed to be stored and the kids are (un)settled in their new abode for supposedly the next 6 months. Things are a little crowded in what I always thought was a pretty big bedroom - but Michael got everything almost squared away last night. Arianna slept the night and Sara managed to get some shut eye too. Cant say if Michael did or not - however as we speak he "is" sleeping now :)
My house isnt even that much of a mess, they got up yesterday morning and went straight to work rearranging the stuff left in my kitchen and putting it - well I dont know exactly where they put it but at least its (almost) all gone out of my kitchen. Out of sight, out of mind.
Now the only thing that "I" have to learn to do is stop planning meals! On moving day I thought I would make a big pot of chili as I knew they would all be hungry - but when they all came back the chili was put on the back burner and out came the phone for PIZZA....Then yesterday I thought I would make a big curried chicken feast - taking out lots of chicken breasts, then around 4:30 I ran up to the store for last minute things for dinner and when I got home Sara told me they had been invited out to a barbecue...Hmmm, needless to say there are lots of leftovers in my already overcrowded fridge. Too bad I am on a diet - if I could eat lots there would be lots of room in the fridge. BUT live and learn - no more planned dinners and as I said before they moved in - everyone fend for themselves...the only one who doesnt seem to learn from this adage would be "moi"...
Have great Canada Day stat off (Happy Canada Day yesterday) and enjoy today off - kick back, have a beer but DONT COOK!

Weddings

What can you say about weddings - except that marriage is a fine institution - at least for some people I suppose. I love weddings. I love the way the groom looks at the bride as she walks down the aisle, I love the flirtatious look the bride gives her groom as she takes his hand as she reaches the front. I love the way the bride gives her "daddy" a kiss just as he lets her hand go to her future husband. It's all so romantic and I just love it. I love the preamble as well - going out shopping for the dress, for the venue, the food. Everything. Well we did all that however when the final t's were to be crossed and i's to be dotted they CHANGED THEIR MINDS....Yes folks, I am talking about Sara and Michael. They were going to have this elaborate wedding "NEXT JULY" but like I said - they CHANGED THEIR MINDS....no not about getting married, they are still doing that however what with all the costs they have now decided that they want a backyard wedding (YES - BACKYARD...MY BACKYARD) and they only want the immediate family. So on July 14th @3:00pm they will be getting married - yes, I did say - IN MY BACKYARD and the only people who will be there will be Sara and Michael for obvious reasons, the Commissioner, again - for obvious reasons. Arianna of course. Then Willy, myself, Michaels' mom and dad Gloria and David - Michael's sister Laura. Marc, Lisa and Amanda and Sara's bf and husband Carleen and Chris and Michael's bf. Then we will celebrate the evening with a small barbecue. HOWEVER in August we will be having a reception (and I dont' think this one will be in my backyard, I think for this one we will rent a small hall) and invite EVERYONE to come and have a little celebration with us.
Now - before I say goodbye, one more thing - they arent just having a wedding in "MY BACKYARD" but on July 1st they are moving, lock, stock and barrel into my house. That's right - they are moving home - the 3 of them, taking over MY BEDROOM and moving in for at least 6 months with the hopes of saving $$$ so they can hopefully afford the future home of the Baird's.
But all kidding aside I am truly looking forward to all of this. I cant wait to have them under my roof - I get to have my hands on Arianna 24/7 and I am sure they both can use a little rest once in a while - and anything to help them save towards the wedding I am all for.
So all of you please do not feel offended if you dont get invited to the wedding, be darned sure that you all will most definitely be invited to the reception in August.
Love to you all
Cathi

Baby steps

I guess sometimes in our lives we have to expect people and/or ourselves to take "baby steps", a few steps forward, a few steps back and very slow steps. Sometimes those baby steps can be disappointing, sometimes they are expected. Life is baby steps whether we like it or not - but we have to accept it. The old saying "God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change" - it is true, but it certainly is a hard one. I am taking baby steps towards accepting some things I can't change but man...it's tough! But c'est la vie I suppose.
Ciao for now!