Fall in Winnipeg

What a beautiful day it was today. We took the kids to St Vital Park for a little hike. A rare 14ºC for a Winnipeg Fall day.

Natalie

Andrew

Matthew

Andrew and Natalie

The kids raking the leaves at Poh Poh and Kong Kong's house.

Peanut Allergy

As everyone knows, Andrew has a peanut allergy, we had him tested again this summer and he is also allergic to mold, dust mites, cats and dogs, maybe horses. After the test, we sent him for a blood test for the allergies and it came back negative for peanuts. We were hopeful that he might outgrow it.

So we went for a peanut challenge with the allergist. Introducing peanut slowing into his system. First on his lips, then ingesting it little bit at a time using peanut butter on a cracker. He came up to two crackers with lots of peanut butter on it, he struggled to eat it. I wasn't sure if he had enough to eat of whether he wasn't feeling so good. When he finished eating it, he continued playing and then he started complaining about tummy pains. I took him to the bathroom twice and nothing came out. By this time, he was scratching and rubbing his eyes. He started having hives on his body, like little mosquito bites. He was having an allergic reaction, he was getting cranky and wanted me to hold him. So the doctor gave him an epinerphine shot, she told Andrew to count to 10 and then he would feel better. It was amazing, after 10 he felt better. Just like that. She said that if he didn't get the shot, he could have thrown up and just gotten worse. After that we had to stay in the office for another three hours to make sure nothing else happened. What a day!

I wasn't stress as I knew we were in good hands. It was really educational for us. Knowing and understanding what to look for when he is having an allergic reaction. It seemed like it was nothing and he was a little cranky, and rubbing his eyes and a little bit of scratching of the hives. At home I might have just brushed it off and it could have gotton worse. Poor little guy. After that shot though, it didn't take very long for him to get back to normal. It was like a wonder drug.

So Andrew is still allergic to peanuts, has an epi-pen which he wears around his waist(he is old enough to take charge of it) in a little pouch that I made and a medic alert braclet. So much responsibility for a little guy.

Anyways, I wanted to share with you. If any of you are purchasing a twinject epi-pen in Canada, there is a special that gives a fee medic alert bracelet with your purchase. Check it out here. http://www.twinject.ca/ It expires on the 30th of April 2009
In the US, there is $20 rebate for your purchase. It is on their site http://www.twinject.com Not sure when that one ends.

Well the rest of the family is doing well. Matthew is doing well in school and is preparing for reconciliation, to do his first confession. He is reading and writing really well in English. We are are not sure about french, no homework yet but he can say things to us in French and he seems to understand his teacher.

Natalie, has a busy schedule. She is doing her gymnastics once a week, religion classes and goes to the library for her story time. She keeps me hopping. On Friday mornings, I take Andrew and Natalie to the neighborhood pool for free swim. It is really nice as the water is warm, no blue lips for my skinny kids.

Andrew loves school, always smiling when he gets on the bus. The eight 5 yr olds on the bus were complaining about where to sit so now they have sitting assignments for them. So funny!

It is so much fun to listen to them at dinner discussing what happened in school during the day. Most days, they include Natalie in their conversations. So precious. I am bless with these three darlings, sometimes devils, only sometimes...

Well we are enjoying the fall colors and the loads of geese flying and settling around, spending most of our time indoors though. Not too much biking. It is pretty cold and the kids are looking forward to the snow.

The boys are back at school

Andrew just started kindergarten and really enjoys it. He goes on the bus at noon with 3 other kids and comes home on the bus with Matthew.


Here is Andrew and Natalie waiting for the bus.


Andrew (first day of school) with Jerry the bus driver.


Mum and Natalie getting both boys home on the bus.

Every other day, Matthew is biking the 4.5km to school. It is pretty chilly at 7:45am so we have him bundled all up with bandana and neck warmer. He bikes with Kyle, so Kyle gets his exercise and then picks him up at the end of the day. Matthew just learnt to bike on 2 wheels only about 3 weeks ago! (He is doing awesome)


One week later, Andrew got rid of his training wheels. He is going to bike home from school today!


Natalie not to be left behind, gave up her tricycle for training wheels.
She wants to go on the trails with the boys so she has been asking to have her training wheels removed. I won't be surprised if she is on two wheels soon.

I love Summer, I love Warm Weather

Summer in Winnipeg is great, sometimes the mosquitoes can get to you but there are ways to prevent it! minor problem.

We have been spending a lot of time outdoors:
Hanging out in the back yard,


Hiking at WhiteShell Provincial Park with my kids and my mum and dad,


Going to the Beach,


Camping and relaxing at the fire pit with friends, Hannah and Luc,


Going on a Roller Coaster Ride at TinkerTown with Meagan(Natalie went Twice!)


and handing out in the Park


I love just being able to slip on our shoes and out the door, no jackets, no show boots....
Wonder why we are going to Costa Rica?

The kids are having a blast and so are we. I think my favourite past time is hanging and playing with the kids... I am fortunate to have the opportunity do just that. You can do whatever you want.

From my last post, someone asked me what Wizard camp was and here is a brief description I took off the sales page. You can have both, money and a fulfilling life!

"There is no greater skill than the ability to manifest what you want. This is the magic of the wizard!

The wizard archetype, also known as the magician or alchemist, is able to turn “lead into gold”. The unique quality of the wizard is an ability to manifest their desires in the real world. There are 7 specific steps to creating anything. At Wizard Training Camp, you will learn and practice these steps and come away with skills that will change the course of your life.

You will learn:

• A highly developed “reality creation” technology.
• Specific clearing processes to make space for higher wisdom.
• Enlightened principles for creating success without struggle.
• How to tap directly into your intuition.
• How to see through the illusion of the world and come from a higher perspective.

The Wizard Training is special. If you would like to learn how to manifest exactly what you want in the world, be there."

Summer is a beautiful time

Kyle and I have just returned from a trip to BC. We were on course in Squamish BC, it was awesome. The weather was great and we met some pretty amazing people, that is our group picture.
The course was 1 week and we spent a few days after in Seattle visiting Cornelia, Victor and the kids. Did some sight seeing and then hopped on a ferry and went to visit Aunt Mary and Uncle Lloyld in Victoria. We flew from Victoria to Vancouver on a sea plane. That was a great experience. If you ever get a chance it is worth it. The views are spectacular and if you are not in a hurry, you can go last minute and get a deal on the price. The highest they fly is only 2500ft.

The kids spent a week with my parents and then a week with Kyle's parents. The had a great time. Thank goodness for family. Here is a picture of them with grandpa Edginton.
Andrew just turned five and Natalie three. The are growing fast. Natalie always says that she is a big girl. When we returned from our trip, we went to Bird's Hill provincial park for their birthday party. Here are some pictures.
Erin(cousin), Matthew and Andrew in the sand.








We had to protect the candles from the wind.








Natalie cutting her cake.








Kyle making lunch with his sister Holly.








We are enjoying the Manitoba summer and spending time with family and friends. We are off camping at a friends place this weekend and looking forward to it. I do hope everyone has a good summer.

Happy Canada Day

Canada Day in Winnipeg
We all went down to the Forks Market Downtown and had a great time. We went early afternoon and caught a couple of shows. Even daddy had to do a little performance.

The kids did some crafts,(that is Natalie with the little blue hat)







and everyone had their face painted.
















(Mummy was taking the pictures, no face painting for her!)
Another fun day in the sun!

My Soccer Stars

Matthew and Andrew are finished their soccer for the season. They had an awesome time. Matthew was the most improved player in his team and Andrew was the one that shot the most goals in his team. It was busy in our household with soccer Mondays to Thursdays. Now that soccer is done, they have a bit more free time to play in the back yard together. We fill the mini pool everyday and they have a blast!

Here are some pictures from soccer and their fans.