Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here's hoping this post finds you all happy and healthy!  I have decided to end this years blogging with a quick little note about our year and what I hope to accomplish in the New Year.  This past year has been another year filled with activities, birthdays, accomplishments and the odd quiet day sprinkled here and there.  The kids have grown up and continue to do so at a pace I am not so comfortable with.  Blake turned 11 in March and is becoming a young man.  Yes he does have his "childish" days and I will take them as they come because I know that they will end someday.  He has grown in all his sports as well, playing an amazing year in Peewee Lacrosse.  The game was a much more physical game this past year and exciting to watch.  He also has come into his own while taking his drum lessons.   This year he learnt how to play "Beat it" by Michael Jackson and even wrote his own music to drum too.  This to me is quite an accomplishment.  He will start the new year with a Winter Lacrosse Camp that runs from Jan-March where he will pick right up into the regular season.  He is an amazing kid and we are lucky that he is maturing so responsibly and we couldn't be more proud of his accomplishments this year!


Our middle daughter Grace who turned 10 in June has also had an amazing filled year.  Her #1 love is her music and this year was no exception.  She recorded her first song on CD this year in an actual recording studio and we soon realized that that is where she belongs.  She loved it and the song "Tomorrow" from Annie actually brought tears to my eyes!  All I could say is "that is my kid!!"  She also performed in the Grandstand show again this year with the Calgary Stampede.  As this was her second year we all knew the ropes a little better and were able to watch her perform beautifully.  She has grown up before our eyes and with each opportunity she encounters her wings get even bigger!  Grace expanded her talents this year by auditioning and landing a role in Storybook Theatre's production of "Annie" as one of the orphans.  She started rehearsals in August and the play ran in October for 18 shows.  We took part in helping out as much as we could with Storybook and as a result have also made them a big part of our lives now.  Grace has since been back in the recording studio, recording her second song of the year, this time taking her sister with her.  She will finish the year off and ring in the new year performing in the National Production of "The Wizard of Oz" playing here at the Jubilee from December 28th- January 2nd.   We are happy she loves what she does, because she surprises us everyday!  She is an amazing kid!


Ella, the baby which I cannot say for much longer turned 7 in March as well.  She is our head-strong, strong willed little young lady.  She has come a long way this year and we have noticed has developed her dad's sense of humour.  It is so fun to watch and crazy to hear some of the things that come out of her mouth so quickly.  She too has spread her wings a little more this year starting with her dance.  She is taking ballet, musical theatre, and tap.  She loves her teachers and that makes it so nice.  She also started vocal lessons with the same teacher Grace uses and the comments coming out of the studio is that Grace is our classical singer and Ella is our "Pop" star.  I totally can see that and is loving being in the studio as much as Grace does.  Their coach asked what we feed them at home or maybe simply it is in the water at our house but both girls can sing.  That is amazing and we are blessed.  She too recorded her first song on CD this year, singing "Honey Honey" from Mamma Mia.  The pictures we have from that shoot are priceless and the music amazing.  Ella LOVES school,  especially reading and has found herself second in her class for reading level.  We couldn't be more proud.  Most times she walks and reads and we are instructed to help steer her as she can't walk and read at the same time.  This kids has a book in her hands  almost all of the time.  I suspect if we let her eat while she read she'd do that too!  She is a smart cookie and I keep telling Greg she may have your humour but she has my brains!!  Ok not really!!


Greg and myself have also been keeping extremely busy.  Aside from the taxi driver title we have taken on some additional hobbies.  Since we had been working so closely with Storybook while Grace performed, Greg has landed a role in the Christmas Production of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"  He plays Comet and Donner and after watching him, know that this will not be his last role.  In fact both him and Grace have been asked to audition for Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat


All in all, it has been an amazing, fun-filled year.  I know that this is not the end our our journey and we hope that the new year brings us just as much health, happiness and adventure.....


Merry Christmas to all and a Happy Healthy New Year


Tina