A Blue Christmas

We are mindful of our many blessings. We have a Jack in our family.
He's a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin to us.
A friend to many.

He plays rugby; he's very funny; he's in Grade 9 this year; he can
dance, act, crump. He will amuse me to no end this Christmas.

But there is a a family that
will struggle this Christmas after the loss of their precious Jack.

Who also was a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, a cousin.
And a friend to many.

He and his family has worked their way into my heart these last three months.

So we are joining with bloggers, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, nanas
around the world and "tying one on" -- several actually --
blue ribbons for Jack this Christmas.

We will think of Jack when we are at our front door.

As we make our way up the steps.As we pull into our driveway.
As we enjoy our tree each night.
As we look out the kitchen window
at our little lilac bush, a memorial to my mum.

We thought of him last night when we enjoyed our girls' night out.

Please think of Jack and his family this holiday.

http://moseyalong.blogspot.com/2011/12/blue-ribbons-for-jack.html

http://aninchofgray.blogspot.com/2011/11/jack-ed-up-phone.html

http://www.flickr.com/groups/blueribbonsforjack/

Her Junior Year

My friend Angela has sorted me out with all the American names for grades in high school and university - High School Musical has helped as well. I smile when Angela says things like "Oh, she's a junior" - the adjective now is a noun.

Well, Julia is now too, a junior of sorts. Julia started Gr. 4/4th Grade for my American friends -- a new year for lots of adventures and challenges already:

1. comes home on school bus


2. sometimes goes to school on school bus


3. first time in split - 4/5


4. now in portapack


5. tall male teacher


6. now can join school teams


7. made school cross-country team


8. came 2nd in Newmarket schools x-country meet


9. came 13th in Board area x-country meet


10. studies French everyday; dictees once a week

Good times, good times. We are in a good place right now.

I have seen a great change in Julia since she turned 9 and a half -- a sense of humour that cracks me up, ever-growing long legs (90th percentile for height the doctor told us this week), more interest in fashion and shopping, the request for side bangs, the primping in front of the mirror, the first signs of puberty (heavy sigh). She's embraced them all and so have I. Sorta.

But I know I'm ever more thankful, as the changes come fast and the moments to hold on to Julia sometimes seem fleeting. A mom in the US has made me ever so much more mindful of this.

I'm following the blog she writes http://aninchofgray.blogspot.com/.

She lost her son a month ago in a horrible drowning accident after Hurricane Irene made her way through their community. One day there were lovely first-day-of-school photos of her two children and then next day a blog detailing the eulogy at her son's funeral.

I don't know how she copes. My chest tightens when I think of her, of the son, Jack she lost. Sometimes I smile, sometimes I sob as I read her entries. But everyday I look to see if she's posted. I'm inspired and awed by how she's coping and not coping. And I feel ever so thankful for what I have.

Things here are good. I know I'm blessed. Looking forward to a great junior year.

Goodbye School. Hello Summer!

Gr. 3 Gal-on-the-go - September 2010

Very tall! (notice her height in relationship to wreath)

Same dress as first day, but shorter and a much colder day

so leggings were required.

How is it that the school bag even looks smaller?

Much wiser looking young lady.

Nine is fine!

Julia mused on her birthday that this was the last year that she would only be ONE number. I kidded her saying I wasn't ready for the year she would be 10 and two handfuls. I told her that she would for the rest of her birthdays be forever 2 numbers. She corrected me saying that she could live to be 100+ like Great Great Aunt Julia, her namesake (who is 102 and living in the house she was born in Ireland). Oh to be so wise and forward thinking. As Julia's birthday approached, all she said she wanted was a new hamster, a new friend. A suitable amount of mourning time had passed since the loss of our dear Butterscotch back at Thanksgiving, so we just needed to wait for some warmer temperatures to come so we could safely bring home a new pet. The beginning of March coming in like a lamb gave us the chance.

Introducing Roxy.

How can this be -- only a hamster? Seemed easy. We originally were going to be at a dance competition on her birthday. Julia was excited about this way of celebrating her birthday -- looked like the party planned itself. But then the dancing schedule changed and we were going to be home for her birthday. So now the celebration for 9 was being revamped. The "only a hamster" birthday list now included an Ipod Touch -- asking for gift cards and a tighter reign on her spending would make this dream a reality -- someday. And then there was the discussion of a sleepover. I was okay with that, had started the initial contacting of guests to work out a possible date, and then the year of equilbrium that was the year of being 8 came to a crashing halt as Julia disappointed me with some bad choices. Nuff said -- sleep-over cancelled. Hopefully, lesson learned. It would be a simple birthday this year.

Julia's note-to-self on her doodle dots -- a simple statement. Not even an exclamation mark. She was particularly excited this year by the birthday phone calls that came.

Traditional breakfast in bed -- Julia is still sporting her competition hair.

I was pleased that my summer purge made it easy for me to find

the Birthday plate on which Julia dined for the whole day.

Reading her birthday correspondance.

To acknowledge the day, I decided to spice things up with a birthday treasure hunt. Julia and Alyse work on one of the clues.

Nine-year old beauty sports the new now-assembled birthday outfit.

Parts were scattered all over the house and were retreived during the hunt.

A welcome spring cake.

The wish for the next year.

And the birthday table cloth art -- a tribute to the fine showing at the dance competition.

Julia was particularly proud of her cursive signature.

Happy Birthday, Julia. We are off to a wonderful start -- fingers crossed, silent wishes and prayers made that this is a year of many blessings, opportunities, and adventures.

Razzle Dazzle

We made our foray onto the competetive scene this week with the first dance competition in Peterborough, aptly called Razzle Dazzle -- there was no shortage of glitter and sparkle.

Here Alyse and Julia pose during pre-formance warm-up.

Four newbie chums celebrate their Emerald victory

for their Jazz number, "My Boyfriend's Back".

Julia's split jump during warm-up -- look at those curls fly!

Final pose for "I Want Candy" -- Julia's acro number.

Julia is in the red suit, front right.

Double tricks like this lead to the High Gold ranking.

Julia is on the left doing her double-stay.

Shiny, happy girls.

Closing pose for "MyBoyfriend's Back"

Julia second from left, back row.

Julia's jette - front right.

Alyse is behind her.

Julia in her "Y" stand, back right.

Hold that bow and arrow, Julia.