Riding the Monster Truck!!!

Susannah and Sam rode first, and then Laurence and Abigail rode!! They all LOVED it :) WE've seen this at the trade show here in Sherwood Park...and at various other events, but we've never actually had a go because the line ups have always been too long - but today there weren't really any line ups - and that also meant that the rides were also longer!!! :) The kids had a blast going all over the hills and doing donuts :) Great fun :)

It was a hot day - something like 28c and we all caught the sun again - cooled off with lots of drinks and ice cream!!! Who would have thought we would still be having this gorgeous weather in September! I topped up my tan nicely :) So nice to be outside making the most of this gorgeous weather!!! Although it is set to be here all this week, I am sure it won't be around for too much longer!!

Please keep this family in your thoughts......

The six year old little boy of a family from a website I used to belong to is very sick at the moment and needs to be kept in our thoughts. He has a long and difficult journey ahead of him - but children are strong and have been known to fight tougher and worse prognoses than this. With all the support behind him that this little boy has, I am sure that he will come through healthier and stronger than he was before!! Please keep this little boy and his family in your thoughts over the coming months. If and when I am given more news I will pass it on.
xx

We had our family meeting yesterday with the oncology team and while we already knew what we were going to hear as far as diagnosis etc we were nervous about what they would say in regards to treatment.

Aaron has stage 4 Neuroblastoma high risk as it has spread to his lymph nodes, bone marrow and spine and his tumor is in his left adrenal gland. Our biggest fear going into the meeting was that they would say it was to late and we would just keep him comfortable but that didn't happen so we are hopeful.

He started his first round of Chemo today at 2 and will have 5 days of chemo in his first round. We will then wait about 21 days and do another round. After the second round we will be sent to Calgary to have his stem cells harvested and those will be sent off to be tested and they will hopefully be clear of all cancer cells and will be able to be saved for transplant back at a later date. He will come back and undergo 3 more rounds of chemo and then at that time they will do more scans to see what is happening with his tumor. If necessary it will be at this time that they will remove it surgically if need be. He will then have one more round of chemo and then it will be off to Calgary for a few months where he will receive really intense chemo and the stem cell transplants.

Once those 2 stages are complete about 9 months time he will do oral chemo and radiation to hopefully get any final cancer cells that may be hiding in his body somewhere. Then hopefully remission.

It is going to be a very long hard road but with all your positive thoughts and prayers from those of you who believe I just know he can beat this. He will be home in between treatments etc so that will be nice to have him home. We are going to try to get back to a little normalcy starting today by bringing the other kids back home and taking turns being here and being home for them and taking them to school etc.

Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and I know you all want to know what you can do to help and really that is the most important thing right now. Don't worry if the time comes that I need something more, house cleaners/babysitters etc don't worry I will have no problems asking you all.

Thank you for all that you have done for myself and my amazing little man and I will update and give more detail when I can.

Love you all
XOX

Mini Monster Truck!!!

This mini monster truck is worth $25,000!!! It has a Honda 1.6 16V engine 4 wheel drive and 4 wheel steer and a tube chassis.

Takenzie Rules!!!!

Today we went down to Rimbey to see the CMRO's (Canadian Mudbog Racing Organization) last racing event of the season. My friend Tamie was taking part in it!! To be honest I didn't really know what to expect - apart from what I had seen on her Facebook page!! I love hearing about it all from her though and it always sounds so much fun!!

Lloyd has always loved dragsters and racing - he used to go and watch back home. Last year we went ad watched some other kind of racing too.....that was great fun!!! We knew one of the men racing there too and it is ALWAYS so much more fun when you know someone taking part!!!! :)

I really wanted to get to one of Tamies events this year and find out what this mud bog racing was all about - the idea of all that mud flying just seemed like Laurence and sams idea of fun and the I knew Lloyd would love the noise and the cars and trucks!

OMG What a brilliant experience!!! The ground literally shakes with these cars and yet even though they are like normal dragsters - they are going througha really long ditch full of wet boggy MUD!!! the mud flies EVERYWHERE!!! Hahahaha I had it on my pants and Susie got it in her SHOES!!!!! It is sooooo loud too :) The first few cars in the top class went so fast I didn't even have time to take a picture - they were just GONE!!! :)

The above pictures show Tamie in her run!! The MC was saying that she did soooo well this year that she didn't really have to race today as she had already won the year I think!!! (Tamie correct me If Im wrong!!!) - anyway afterwards her Facebook status afterwards read: "Got junk parts on two wheels broke fender and carb acting up no one took vid but i still managed a first place run"

Tamie - you have my TOTAL admiration for getting out there and doing that so often - OMG you are sooooo brave girl!!!! :) Congratulations :) It looks soooo much fun :) But rather you than me ;)

Now, there was a big shiny fire truck there today and we just couldn't decide - is it there to keep the mud bog all soggy and muddy OR is it there to hose down the dirty trucks afterwards?????

Ok and Lloyd wants to know how much it costs to take part as he thinks it looks like a lot of fun!!! ;) Me??? I think I prefer the 'sitting by the fire pit' part you posted about last night lol!!!!

Hobbema Wildfires...

Taken as we drove up Hwy 2 this afternoon. I hope they got them under control fast. There was no fire when we headed down there this morning but by the time we left to go home at supper time, there was thick smoke that could be seen for miles :( As we got closer it seemed to be from quite a wide area of woodland :(

Busy at the books!!!

Morning studies....

Art journaling....

Art journaling has played a big part of our Summer this year. My oldest Daugher took part in a music journaling workshop with me where we created art journals based on music and lyrics and how music effects our emotions. WE were taught how to turn coposition books into art journals using mod podge and gesso amongst other mixed media.....

Abigail and Sam soon wanted to join in the fun!!

Of course their art journaling takes other forms - but the creative method is similar and they have great fun!!! This week they continued to work on their art journals - both on the covers and on the art inside!!!