Shawn Got A Job!!!

Finally after months and months of waiting, disappointments and stress Shawn has gotten a new job! I am so very happy and excited for him. As you may remember Shawn was laid off from his long term employer in April. While he did get a years severance package it was still a very stressful time for our family.

Shawn has always been a very hard worker, in reality a bit of a workaholic. There wasn't much down time for him. Shawn has worked in Toronto for the past 12 years, the commuting meant even longer hours and time away from the family. Well over the past 7 months we have made up for that. We had a bit of a struggle in the beginning getting used to Shawn being around so much, changes in routine, TV watching and meals were hard to get used to in the beginning. Shawn likes to be busy so all kinds of jobs around the house have gotten done- we even had our Christmas lights up in October this year! He spent a lot of time on the golf course and the one thing I am the most happy about is the fact that Shawn has gotten back into coaching hockey. It is great for him to be involved in something he loves and now can make time for. As hard as it was in the beginning to get used to having him around I know know we are going to miss him. The time he has had to get back in touch with the girls and their lives has been wonderful. It has help him see where his priorities now lie. So now I will have to take over the grocery shopping and meal cooking again.

Shawn starts his new job on Monday. It is in Toronto again but with a much more flexibility which means he can still coach and make it to important events for the girls. Shawn is our rock, he is the provider for our family, he is the one who is meant to protect us. It has been hard on Shawn, feeling like he failed us in some capacity. I always held on to our motto of everything happens for a reason, that there was the perfect job out there for Shawn we just had to wait for it to show itself. Well it has, I hope he is happy there and that it is everything he wants because he sure does deserve it!!

Josie Turns One!

I don't really have a very big family. There is just me, my parents and my two brothers here in Canada- all our other relatives live in England. Over the years as we have grown up and gotten married our family has expanded. I never had grandparents or cousins around when I was growing up. We did have a group of close friends, all also first generation immigrants, that become my "adopted" Aunts and Uncles.

One thing that I really enjoy is watching the interactions of our ever growing families. My girls have great relationships with my parents, we typically eat at at Mom and Dad's once a week. The girls will call up their Grandma just to chat, I speak to my mom daily and we take family vacations together. I am glad my girls get to have these experiences that I never did.

Another great thing about our extended family is the cousins! We have 6 granddaughters now in our family. My girls, Nicole 18, Katie 16 and brother Paul's daughter Jadyn 14- these 3 spent a lot of time together as they were growing up. My mom babysat them a couple of days a week and we did a lot of day trips and such together. My brother Adam is 8 years younger then me- he was my baby when we were growing up. When I started dating Shawn Adam was 10- we took him everywhere with us, Wonderland, the movies- it was great.

Now Adam is a grown man with a family of his own. Drea 4, Addie 3 and baby Josie who turned 1 on Thursday. I love having these girls around. They keep our family young, full of laughter and I get my baby fix in since I have a few years before grandchildren. It is fun to have them for Christmas and Halloween as these events can always use some childhood wonder and spirit. I love seeing my girls with their little cousins, all down on the floor rolling around. The girls are very proud of their cousins, love spending time with them, love how the girls scream when they see them, and love posing for silly pictures with them- they may be the most photographed kids on the planet!

Josie is my youngest niece. She is just about the happiest baby I have ever seen. I don't know if it is being the 3rd child or what but she very rarely cries, she laughs and giggles all the time. I was privileged to be present when Josie was born. I really wanted to see a birth from the other end so to speak and Teresa was comfortable enough- being the 3rd time maybe- to have me and her mother there when Josie was born. Other then my own girls she is the freshest baby I have ever seen. I think that is a special bond that I will always feel towards her.