Goodbye 2010

I'm sitting here in my livingroom reflecting on 2010 and wondering what I should write. Quite alot has happened in our lives in 2010. To think this time last year we are about to put our house for sale to move across the country and start a new life and now here we are nicely settled in our new home, town, province. It has been a hard year to be away from part of my family, however having my sister and her family near by has been a blessing.
2010 was also the year we stopped our Ethiopian journey to begin a new adoption journey, which we are as well settled into and waiting for news in 2011.
Chris and I both started new careers and are both happy with our choices. We are both very happy for the choices we made for our family in 2010 and so far all is falling into place as it should. I would like to say 2010 was a horrible year, as we are begining another year without a child in our lives but I can't say it was horrible. It was a year filled with new adventures and happiness. We really are in a good place in our hearts and our minds to begin 2011.
There were definitely moments of pain, sadness and fear in 2010 but it all worked itself out for the best and we all came out ahead in the end. So cheers to 2010 and blessings to 2011.
May 2011 be as filled with new adventures and happiness as 2010.
I would also love to post that 2011 will be THE YEAR for us but I can't. My attitude going into 2011 is hopefully it's the year for us but if it's not meant to be the year that's ok, we will deal with things as they come and be all the stronger for it.

Blessings to you all in 2011.

Skating and Sliding with Friends and Family

We got together with friends and family yesterday to do some skating and sliding and had a wonderful fun day. It's so nice to enjoy the outdoors and have some good laughs.

Ziggy even got to enjoy the sliding.

2 Months

Yesterday marked 2 months of our wait for Quinten. The exciting thing of the 2nd month is that we were told our dossier would probably not be shown for the first 2 months, unless special circumstances came up. Now are dossier will be placed in priority to be shown. We are so excited and can't wait for the call.

I had a dream last night that we received our baby, this was the first time in our whole journey that I saw my son's face in a dream and he was so precious, and I still remember how it felt to hold him, someday that feeling will be real and I won't have to dream it anymore. We are ready Quinten, please come home soon. xox

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all. This was the first Christmas in my whole life without my mom and dad or seeing my brother, and although it wasn't the same without them, Christmas was still a good Christmas. We got to see them on skype and I had the privilege of spending Christmas with my sister and her family. Chris was working so I went and stayed at Ren's house. I started off the day with them opening their gifts, then we all headed over to my cousin's place to have breakfast. After a great breakfast and few hours at home, Chris and I returned to my sister's house for dinner. I also received a beautiful gift from my brother in law, he sang me the song Hallelujah. It was amazing.

I miss my family back in ON more than I can describe but I realize it's the way it has to be for now. I can't wait to see and hug them all again soon. We were blessed for so many years with having our family close that being apart makes it a very hard adjustment, but one we will all get through together. I love you all very much and can only wish that we have a good old fashion Beaudry family Christmas again soon. xoxox

My encounter with....

A moose...


Led to little damage to my new truck :(

I know....I was so lucky. I turned on my high beams and there he was, I was almost stopped when I hit his back legs and his large butt ended up sitting on my hood for a little ride. The only damage to the truck is a large butt print on the hood. No scratchs or any other damage anywhere. I was completely freaked out, and I don't know if the moose is okay as I didn't go back to see but I'm happy to be alive and well enough to post it on my blog. Something I hope to never experience again!! Made me realize just how fast it could be over.

We Won!!!!!!

When we first moved to our small town we saw that they have Christmas lighting contest for best lit house/street/cul de sac...ect. and I said to Chris when we moved here that I wanted us to win....Well we did. We won Best Lit Street 2010. And yes...there is more than one street in our little town...lol. I only wish I could say "I want to win the lottory" and actually have it happen as well...no such luck so far.

One Month

We have officially completed one month waiting in our new adoption. It's great to finally have one month down, the next month will be fast as it's December and then on to month number 3.

Last piece of the puzzle.

Yesterday, I got an amazing deal on a crib, I saved $200 off the price and got a great transition crib for $159 in the color I wanted as well. Chris and I had the pleasure of putting it together and we are now officially only missing the last piece of the puzzle....Quinten. We are ready, and the room needs to be used.
Here are some pics...we can't wait to share with you all the completed package with Quinten in the crib sleeping peacefully.

First step.

Daddy-to-be enjoying himself

Finished product

With bedding

the complete package

(just in case you are all wondering....the bumper is for decor only and will be removed once Q arrives and the mobile strings will be shortened as not to be a chocking hazard)

We were going to spend another few hundred on a matching dresser but decided to save the money instead. I don't think it looks bad at all...what do you think?

Happy Holiday

I created this elf video and cannot stop laughing. I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did.
Click link below.

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/kksX5IS8tnkdbMlq

Christmas 2010

This is something I created for my parents and brother's family that won't get to see our tree this year.

This photo album generated with Smilebox

It's that time again...

The time that I slowly start to sneak some Christmas items out of storage and place them around the house to add some festive spirit, and by slowly I mean 6 bins and 4 boxes. Come on...all who know me, know I can't just do it slowly it's all or nothing. This is actually the first year in many that I won't do all my decorating at once. Tonight I had to create a garland (small craft project) so I only had time for a few items to come out and i've chosen to wait a week or two for the tree to go up (another 3 bins full). Seeing as Chris is on graveyard I hope to be able to have most of the decorating done by tomorrow night and then that feeling will start to take over.
You all know that feeling...that feeling of joy, love, family and happiness.

Decorating my home is a long process every year but is always worth every minute and it brings life to my home. I hope you all take the time to enjoy decorating as it's not a chore, it's done for the love of the season and for that FEELING!!

Pics of the inside to follow.

Last weekend, we installed our outdoor lights and really enjoyed our time together. It was the first time since Chris and I have been together that we installed the lights together. He usually installs them for me and I take care of the inside, but we enjoyed our time together so much that I think from this year on we will always install them together. We enjoyed it so much we did it twice! Well we didn't do it twice because of the joy but we did do it twice because we found larger lights in our storage and had to make it right. Being the corner lot we had to decorate the front and the side of the house and with extra lights left over....Chris decided...why not do the truck.
Here are pics for you to enjoy.

Front of the house (we can't reach the top so I did the windows instead)


Side fo the house

Have have 3 of these little guys going up the driveway...a gift from my husband.

Back of the house deck and the fence

and here is the truck...We may be hicks but we are proud ones!

Owen's Halloween

Here are pics of my nephew Owen dressed up for Halloween... so cute.
I miss them all so much. I so wish I could go visit them soon.

Happy Halloween

Another Halloween another Birthday another great day.

Chris and I had a wonderful birthday evening last night. I woke to a great breakfast, carved some pumpkins and am now relaxing before the kids come out.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Here are my carving skills for this year.

OFFICIAL OFFICIAL

Although I posted a few posts back that we were officially waiting again....I was wrong. We were waiting as our dossier had left Canada on it's way to our US agency. But today we go the OFFICIAL word that we are now on the list and that our dossier can be shown any day. It mentioned in our email that "although it could take from 9-18mths please be aware it could happen much faster and that we should be ready to get the call any day" YAHOOO.....how exciting and scary all at the same time.

So my counter has been updated to reflect the new date and here we go...our new roller coaster ride has begun and we are climbing the hill....hopefully this roller coaster only goes up...!!!

I've had a really rough, stressful month worrying about a bunch of thing a but after a few weeks to a month funk, i have kicked myself in the butt again and took one step forward and we are now back on track.

Please join and ride the ride with us again, I promise this ride will end differently then the last.

NEEDS HELP!!

Chris and I are needing your ideas. We are racking our brains trying to find ways to save extra money to help in our adoption journey. Although we would love to walk to the end of a rainbow and find our pot of gold, we have to be realistic and find other ways.

We have heard of many people who have done fundraisers to help bring their children home and we are looking for ideas as well as how we can go about doing a fundraiser. I'm scared that people out in the world will feel we are crazy if we ask for funds. So to those who have done fundraisers, how did you go about it, how did others react to it and what is the best way to get started?

Any ideas will help. We are so close to the finish line but yet feel so far away. We are simply looking for suggestions as we are begining to run out of ideas.

We thank you in advance for your input.
Nat and Chris

TRUE FRIENDS

On Thanksgiving weekend, I finally got to meet someone I have wanted to meet for almost 3 years.
When I first began my adoption journey I received an email from another adoptive mother named Tammy. The bond I felt with this soon to be mother was something different. I knew from that first email she knew exactly what I was going through, the pain I felt and the emptiness inside was something we shared. Tammy was my first "adoption friend", a TRUE friend. Someone that I could only hope to meet someday but knew even if I didn't that we would be friends forever.
Over the years we have shared moments of pain, and moments of joy, including the arrival of her daughter Josina over a year ago. I also got to meet Josina and wow what a wonderful child she is. They are amazing with her and I can only hope to be as lucky someday.
Having moved to BC had given me a greater chance of meeting Tammy someday, she was one of the first people I told we were moving, in hopes that we could meet half way someday and this past weekend we were able to make it happen.
Luckly for me, Tammy has family that lives just over an hour away, and with her kindness and generousity she volunteered to pass some baby items on to us and bring them with her to her brother's home for me to pick up. Although Thanksgiving weekend was a crazy busy weekend for both of us we both made the time to meet and I am so happy we did. As soon as I saw Tammy I felt I was hugging someone I knew for a long long time. The bond I thought we had was there, and although we didn't have much time to sit and chat we did go out for a coffee and it was like I was chatting with an old friend.
She is truly as nice, kind and generous as I thought she was and luck for me I go to me her husband Sidney and hang out with Josina.
This meeting has opened up a new stage to our friendship and I can't wait to spend more time with my TRUE FOREVER FRIEND.
Thank you so much for always being there for me throughout the last couple of years. It's always been nice to know that I wasn't alone and that you always knew and felt what I was feeling. Your friendship is cherished everyday and I look forward to being FOREVER FRIENDS and discussing the joys and pains of motherhood with you. xo

Family Visit

I am slightly behind on my blog posts this month. So instead of writing a book I'll post alot of pics with small explanations....enjoy.

Mid Sept my mom and dad left Sudbury ON and took the long trip to come see my sister and I in BC. They have been here for over a month and it has been great. I definitely don't want to see them go. While they were here we did a few family trips in the area.
Our first one was an nice drive to Clearwater to see the waterfalls. I would never have imagined such beauty within a few hours drive. Take a look at what we saw.

Mom, Renee and I with my giant leaf

all of us

Ren showing us her new firm booty

Majestic

Dad and his girls

Mom and her girls

The next weekend we went for a local scenic drive and to Kelowna (sorry Alysia we were only there for a quick ride, I promise to let you know next time I'm there)

What a beautiful town Kelowna is, since i've moved here all I hear is "I don't like Kelowna" "Kelowna sucks" but wow, I would move to Kelowna it's SO beautiful, the scenery is definitely worth it. Yes there is more traffic then Kamloops but compared to Sudbury the traffic is nothing.


Then was thanksgiving weekend. On Saturday we decided to go to the Salmon Run in Chase. It was pretty neat to see. We had never seen it before and although there were many fish that had died it was quite interesting to see how many fish were there and how the whole cycle works.

there was always a male and female fish together and they were so bright red

Chris, Me, Renee and Pat

I know, we are super cute...thanks..

On Sunday we had Thanksgiving dinner at my sister's. It was great having my parents there with us, I only wish my brother and his family could have joined us. This year we were thankful for family and friends. For having the opportunity to have started a new journey to becoming parents and for our health. Here are few pics of us celebrating together.

Danika, Samantha and Jessyka....beautiful girls

Ren and Pat

Memere and Jess

Enjoying good food and good company

We are coming near the end our my parents' visit and we are sad to see them go. However we have had a wonderful time with them and can't wait to see them again.
Have a safe trip to Arizona Mom and Dad, we hope to be able to go see you in your winter home this year. Thanks for the visit we love you.

OH...and I can't close this post without showing you all the new additions to the family. Miss Oreo and Muffin.

Miss Oreo

Muffin