Saturday, September 10, 2011

9/11 Memories

I have been reading and watching about the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, and it has brought back such incredibly strong emotions for me.  Ten years ago, I was anxiously waiting for Maximilian to be born.  We had just moved into our first home, and we were about to be parents.  There were so many changes in our lives, and then the towers came crashing down.  

I wrote in my journal:

  I am still waiting to have the baby.  We made it easily through the move, and everything has gone well.  Yet, the world has changed forever and forever because of what hapened yesterday on September 11, 2001.

Max, you will read this someday.  Will you understand the horror of it all?  Yesterday, the World Trade Towers in New York City fell to the earth due to terrorist attacks:  planes acting as human bombs crashed into both towers.  

The world will never be the same again.

How will I understand the world you are about to inherit?  How will you understand this world?  How do we go forward?  How do we go on?  I am so saddened by the world we live in right now, yet I really want to meet you. I need you to begin your life and I need to give you everything that will allow you to have a good life and I hope you will live in a safe and happy world."

So, forward we have marched, and ten years have gone by, and actually, they have been such fantastic years because of my two special sons: Maximilian and Bruno.  
  
There will always be adversity and strife in the world, but I struggle with how to prepare the boys for this and make them resilient, and also able to question and wonder about how to make this world better.  Out of 9/11 came a strong urge to raise humble caring individuals that are not self-indulgent, self-absorbed, and pessimistic human beings.  I am still on this quest.....

Seattle Woodland Park Zoo and the Lego Store

 For Max's upcoming birthday, we took a day trip to Seattle.  
We love visiting the Woodland Park Zoo, and we never tire of seeing the animals.  Today on our adventure, this gorilla, Nina did not want me to take her photo, and came over to the glass and punched the glass infront of me!!
 Here are a few shots of the animals; my favourite is always the gorillas.  They are beautiful creatures.



 Here we are having lunch!!!
 Then onto the LEGO store, which is the main reason we travel so far...the boys love viewing the collection, selecting their purchases (money they have saved...), and collecting containers of lego pieces to build their own creations!

 We can never miss a lego opportunity, even if it is for a photo for Mum!
Why can't there be a lego store in Vancouver? 

Back to School 2011




No, I'm sorry Boris, you can't go to school this year....maybe next year they will allow poodles!

Mom is ready for classes to begin!


It's okay Bruno, Grade Three will be wonderful.....
The week went quickly with back to school, Meet the Teacher Night, and myself going back to work after a relaxing summer off! Already I am signing forms for volleyball practices, cross country practices, hot lunch, camp, and various other events that are part of school year.  Here we go until next June, when it will slow down again....

Hope everyone had a great back to school week!

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Angelina turns One!!!!



My dear niece and the boys' only girl cousin is one perfectly beautiful and stunning baby.   Wow, Angelina, you are pure sunshine!

August was fantastic

We took August off; here are some great photos of great times....
 Swimming lessons
 Ferry boat rides....
 The sea and the sky
 Pender Island
 Boats at Otter Bay
 Cable tv...what is that?
 Jumping in pools....
 Scenic views...
 Log walking...
 Jumping.....
 Crabs galore.....
 Rock climbing.....
 Frog hunting...
 Refreshments like lemonade...


 Views to love...
 Lots of smiles....
 Water guns....
 Ambleside with friends...

 Fun times with cousins...
 Squamish.....
 Haircuts for school...
 Silly Mommie....
 Fantastic times with Miss Parry
 Out with old friends....
Beautiful Bruno....