Snow Day!!!

We heard the worst sorm in years was on it's way and the kids were hoping for a snow day.  Their prayers were answered when we got the call from the school board & the happy dancing began!

The snow was falling fast and we ended up with well over a foot when all was said and done.  Keith had 'fun' on the quad plowing out the neighbours (numerous times throughout the day).

We all had great fun when we got to watch a city snow plow get stuck across the road. 

stuck snow plow

Although the snow plow was struggling, the boys  made sure the Oakville Beaver (our local paper) got delivered.  Neither rain, nor snow nor sleet...

Spencer making his way back from the paper route



Curtis close behind, laughing at the snow plow
as he goes by :)

After he jacknifed himself on the road, blocking it & making a real mess of things, Daddy O went over even managed to help out with the quad/plow combo for them too.  Later on in the day he helped out a other people who were stuck in cars throughout the day.  What a hero he was to many!!

Daddy O helping dig out the struggling snow plow



snow plow getting out after Daddy O helped

We all love snow days...except those that get stuck & don't have someone like Daddy O to help them out!

Safetynet Charity

For Spencer's Birthday Party this year, he asked his friends not to bring gifts but rather to bring clothing, food or cash donations for a local charity - Safetynet.  It is a local charity that helps youth and families in need. 

Spencer had a Pizza Party for his friends and they played all sorts of games  in the basement.  Everyone seemed like they had a great time and we had so much fun with all our friends!

Let the pizza making begin!

looks like we have some pizza lovers!!

It's all good!

Aiden "The Joker" :)

You can take him Tey!

Strategy discussions

Larkin deep into a game

Did anyone say cake?!

Look at the cheeks blowing hard.

Tey looking for Maui :)

He collected $130, food and so many clothes that we filled the back of the Expedition!  Bill Shields, the founder of the organization was so impressed with what Spencer did, he took us on a tour and invited us back on the days they tutor the children in case the boys have any interest in offering up some of their time helping others in that way too.

Spencer getting another generous donation

Taking all our collection to Safetynet office

It was a very prideful moment for all of us to be able to see our efforts going towards helping those in need!!  A special thanks for all of our friends to helped us realize Spencer's dream.

Project Winter Survival

Today we were out with 150 other volunteers to help load cars, trucks and vans of over 175 front line agencies with 3,000 winter survival kits and sleeping bags for the homeless.  It was an inspiring and eye opening day for all of us, not to mention a ton of fun!!

Getting prepped & ready to go

The start of it all

Already felling like we are helping

Our first really big order for Salvation Army

Our greeting the charity & getting ready to tell the
rest of the volunteers how many to load up!

 http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/341700
More pictures of us working hard

Go Raptors!

We were fortunate enough to score some tickets to the Raptors game from my office again and man-o-man what a game.  It had us on the edge of our seats almost the entire game with Chicago Bulls narrowly ousting the Toronto Raptors in OT at the very end.

Pre-game fun

Can't escape video games even when not home

Curtis sporting a near vintage Raptors shirt

Could this be a future Raptor player?

Curtis & Mom's boss going wild to get on the jumbotron

wild and funny mini Raptor's mascot

Mini Raptors mascot had us in stiches

the boys pumped when Raptors tied the game &
put it into overtime

final score...so close yet so far

It was a very tough loss for the Raptors but they played very well and had us all cheering and on our feet hoping they could pull it off.  The boys even got on the jumbotron briefly.  What an exceptional night!!!

Spencer Turns 12!

It's so hard to believe my big guy is almost a teen.  We had a family birthday dinner between hockey games at Kelsey's on Saturday.

Gotta love lava cake dessert

perfect for sharing

and sharing

...me too please - YUM!!!

Spencer didn't know we were doing his card the next day
at Uncle Al & Aunt Becky's so we did a made-up one
Happy, Happy Happy :)

We were invited to the Oliphant Clan for Sunday Dinner.  The boys got to play with Keegen and we had another wonderful feast!!

and more cake - hooray for red velvet!!

We all sang pretty well before all the candles melted

it only took him 3 tries to get out the candles

Somebody is lovin the card with $$

more fun with the toys!

Show him how to do it Keegen!!

We hope you had a great b-day bud!  The calls from Saskatchewan & from your birthday buddy Gary, not to mention the well wishes on your Facebook page.  I think we had a pretty Happy, Happy, Happy lad on our hands :)

New Years 2013

We made the exhausting trip home from Hawaii and then dropped our summer clothes for our winter clothes, the 80+ degree temperatures and beaches for -10 degree Celsius weather and snowbanks, not to mention the 5 hour time change before we headed off to the camp to connect with our friends there for New Year celebrations.  What a complete 180 that was with some jet lag too, but we survived.

It was great to play some darts, have some delicious food and just reconnect with everyone again.

We stayed up for a few more days and played in the snow.  Soooo much fun!!

 We are so very blessed and wish everyone all the very best in 2013!