Double Purple Stripe Belt

Zachary successfully tested for his Double Purple Stripe Belt at Karate this weekend. He has been attending Benoit's Martial Arts for about 2 years now and really enjoys it. An added bonus...he's quite good at it!

Here he is with Sensei Donna and Jordan, who was helping out at the testing!



Congratulations, Zachary!

For Shame, For Shame....

Well blog reader(s)...it appears that I have been called out regarding my neglectfulness of the blogging world.
It is has been quite some time since my last post. Almost 5 months actually.

There has been many a time that I thought to myself, gee, I should blog about this....but ultimately, there is no time.

Jordan remains on lay off, and I am working a fair bit. We are fortunate that I have had the opportunities that I have so that this lay off isn't affecting us in as drastic way as it has affected some. Things are tough, but not unbearable. We have each other, we have our health.

The kids are great. Awesome. Fantastic, even. They make me proud every day. Even when they drive me crazy. Which also happens...every day.

Zachary is now 7. SEVEN! Doesn't it seem like only a short time ago that Jordan and I were literally racing to the hospital because this baby was coming NOW! He had his own agenda that day-making us rush, and then making us wait-and he has his own agenda now. He is smart as can be, but reluctant to show it to others. He is kind and caring, but reluctant to show that too.

We can see him struggling at a crossroads of growing up , fighting for independance yet struggling to hang on to the comforts of being our little Zachary. This seventh birthday was bittersweet for me. Its like I want him to grow up, but still stay young forever. Chatting at his birthday party, my friend, whose son is the same age, put it best when she said "They aren't kids anymore, they're boys!" Little things, like standing at the door and watching as he walks downt he road to his friend's house, make me proud and sad all at the same time!

He is doing well at Karate, and even won first place for his kata in his age group. He was so proud, but probably not as proud as Jordan and I! Because he placed first, he then went on to compete for Grand Master Champion against two other competitors. He came in a very close second place to a very deserving competitor!

Zack is in Grade 2 now, and speaks French very well, although he is reluctant to speak it anywhere but school. I was amazed when I heard him have a complete conversation with his teacher this week when we were at the Open House to enroll Corbett in kindergarten.

Speaking of which. Corbett is FOUR! In September he will be going to Kindergarten and he is very excited. Kindergarten is his new focus, now that he is finally in karate. He started in the Tigers program at the same Dojo as Zachary. Corbett has desperately wanted to attend for about a year now, having watched Zachary 2-3 times a week for aabout 2 years.

Corbett is still, for lack of a better word, a firecracker. He wakes up, and is on from then until he finally goes to bed. And when he goes to bed, he is still going. He often plays and sings in his bed for about 1 to 1.5 hours before falling asleep! He is a lot like his mom. He has a LOT of energy, doesn't need much sleep, and can't quite comprehend when things don't go his way. The eternal optimist, he persistently tries to find a way to make any situation work out to his sole benefit. You can imagine the tantrums when he is unsuccessful. Intense, yet short-lived, as he quickly finds a way to keep trying!

He is doing so well at his daycare and is well-loved there. We couldnt ask for more! He can spell and write his name, loves to draw things and is like a sponge, trying to soak up whatever information he can.

In addition to working, I have also continued to work on my studies, and recently finished the final course towards my Compensation Management Specialist (CMS) designation. Two more courses and I will have my Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation. I am also taking advantage of my employment at Cambrian College, which allows me to take credit courses at a discount, to start taking courses towards my Human Resources Post- Grad Diploma. The first one is successfully completed and the second one is underway!

Jordan recently renovated our main floor powder room/ half-bath. The floor was rotting and it was at a point we had to get it done! He did a GREAT job!

So, all in all, we are well! I will post pictures soon.....you wont believe how much the kids have grown!

Jes

About Heroes

And I am not talking about the TV Show.

I am talking about real life heroes. And wow, did I ever see a lot of them this weekend.

This weekend, Jordan and I sent the kids off to hang out with Aunt Leanna on Manitoulin Island for the weekend because we were travelling to Ottawa to participate in the 5km Race of the 2nd Annual Army Run.

Early on in the summer I had mentioned to Jordan that I really wanted to participate in an official race, as opposed to the 5km fun runs I have always done. In an official race, you wear a timing chip on your shoe to clock an official time and there are a LOT more people.

It came down to the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Race or the Army Run in Ottawa. I decided to do the Army Run because I think it is incredibly important that we support our troops. I am not pro-war, but I am definitely pro-troops. These soldiers do things that I would definitely not have the courage to do. That is not necessarily why they are heroes though.

The Army Run raises funds for a program called Soldier On. Its purpose is to assist injured soldiers with their unique and individual needs.

Both the 5km race and the Half-Marathon also had an injured soldiers component. 15 minutes prior to the start of each of those races, injured soldiers started their own race.

Wow. Just Wow.

We all have bad days,and many of us in these difficult economic times have a significant amount of stress, but it is events like these that put it into perspective.

Check this out.

These gentlemen are missing one of both of their legs. And they still participated. The weren't fast, but they were smiling. They were happy to be there. They are focused on what they have, not what they don't.

A pretty powerful lesson don't you think?

It is humbling to be running what would end up being my best race ever, and pass these men and women who aren't doing it for a best time, but are doing it simply because they can. Because other people may have thought the couldn't.

I passed a gentleman who had moved off to the side and was readjusting his prosthetic. No more will I be frustrated if I have to stop to retie my shoelace. Or be grumpy because my feet hurt. So trivial.

There were so many inspirational stories, some that made headlines, some that didn't. No matter, they are all heroes in my eyes.

I encourage you to take part in this event next year. You don't have to run, you can walk it too!

We all need a little inspiration in life. There was no shortage in Ottawa this weekend.

Jessica

Beach Beauties

Back to School 2009

I am so excited!

Those who have known me for any length of time know that I am a flautist. It is something that I have always enjoyed and the added bonus is that I have a natural talent for it.

Putting aside life changing events such as childbirth, playing in a full concert band or ensemble is one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. To hear how multiple parts played by multiple instruments can turn a piece of music into something that evokes feeling is one thing, but to participate in creating that sound is entirely another.

I have truly missed it. Then at the 2008 Staff Christmas party for the Running Room fate stepped in!

You see, Frank is one of my co-workers (if you need running shoes, go see Frank...he's the man, seriously). Frank's wife Sally was the music teacher/band conductor at Lockerby Secondary School until retiring a couple of years ago. Sally is now the Concert Band Leader for the recently developed Laurentian University Concert Band.

I was all set to audition, then it turned out that their rehearsal night was not an open time for me. I was crushed, but determined to clear my schedule for the Fall so that I could audition.

Last night was my audition and I have to tell you I was nervous. REALLY nervous.
I hadn't had a lot of time to practice and tend to be self-critical about these things.

But not to be deterred, I went determined to do my best. Thankfully, Sally was very impressed and I am now a member of the Laurentian University Concert Band!

I am so excited!

Jes

Grade 2

Tomorrow Zachary will head off for his first day of Grade Two!

It seems so odd. It is cliche, but was it really that long ago I held Zachary as a newborn baby in my arms? He was so little. He never really had that baby look, instead he looked like a miniature man. He wasn't born with blue eyes like most babies, they were green. They have since turned to hazel, but when he is really excited you can see the green so brilliantly.

How he has grown since then!

He is funny, charming and polite; a very opinionated little boy who likes things to go according to plan. He has an overpowering need to know what is going to happen next, and gets frustrated when it doesn't happen the way he was told it would.

He loves to make people laugh and is a fan of Ben 10, Bakugan, Transformers and his little brother, to name a few!

He likes to read bedtime stories to Corbett, and to play games on the computer.

He is caring and considerate, always eager to cheer someone up who is having a bad day.

He is a great kid, and I can't wait to see what this year has in store for him!

Grade Two! Really? Where has the time gone?



Jessica