The Kemp Family

March Break

2008-03-16T09:08:00.002-04:00

A few pictures from March Break. A great family trip to Killington, Vermont.

Family Day

2008-02-18T23:12:00.003-05:00

Today was the first official "Family Day" in Ontario. For most employees in the province (Wendy and I included) it was an extra holiday. The boys were also off school. We made a trip up north on the weekend. The boys had a great time playing in the snow and Wendy and I enjoyed a bit of a rest from the regular routine.

Back to the grind though .... Wendy is off in Waterloo on a course for a few days so I am home alone with the boys. There was a time when the very thought of doing this alone (even for just a few days) would bring on an anxiety attack. Now I find myself really looking forward to it.

I made spaghetti tonight ... and the boys were amazed that I actually knew how to make it and it tasted almost as good as Mommy's. I should make a point of cooking more ....... I doubt that 25 years from now when they may be married themselves their future spouses would appreciate their up bringing in a house where Daddy's doesn't know how to turn on the stove (he makes great microwave popcorn though ....)

Still went out to curling tonight and had to get the boy across the street to babysit. Easy $$$$ for him ... the boys were sound asleep before he got here and they didn't make a sound (at least not one that the babysitter could here with his iPod turned up as loud as it could go ....)

Getting them packed up and shipped off to school in the morning could be an adventure .... guess we will see ...

Steve

November - National Adoption Awareness Month

2007-11-04T10:16:00.000-05:00

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. At the end of October I attended the Ontario Adoption Resource Exchange and participated on a voices of adoption panel. I am used to public speaking in front of large groups but never on such a personal issue. It was difficult but rewarding to perhaps help others.

Looking forward to the start of ski season ... with Paul playing hockey it is going to be a challenge to fit everything in.

Summers Over

2007-09-26T20:45:00.000-04:00

Have not updated in a while ... September is always rough .... back to school and routines. Here's some pictures ..............

Graduation Day - So Proud

2007-07-14T09:21:00.000-04:00

Hopefully these are not the only graduation pictures we will every post :)

Ride for Heart 2007

2007-06-03T20:00:00.000-04:00

All four of us went downtown for Ride for Heart this morning. Paul managed to complete the 25km all by himself. Out of 12,000 bikers we saw maybe 1 or 2 other kids around Paul's age that were biking on their own. He did a great job.

Randy rode with me on the tag-a-long. Much easier than finishing on your own pedal power the entire way but still quite an accomplishment for a four year old. We had a great time and the weather co-operated so we could get our ride in before the rain came.

The 25km ride starts at Exhibition Place .... goes east on the Gardiner Expressway to the Don Valley Parkway. North on the DVP to the Bayview/Bloor exit where you turn around and head back to the CNE. There is also a 50km and a 75km ride as part of the event but we though we better start slow.

They went to bed without much fuss tonight. I don't think I will be too far behind them.

Its Been Awhile (Again!)

2007-05-28T18:58:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if anyone is even looking at this anymore. It has been so long since I have posted anything. The boys have grown up, moved away for University and got married. Time just seems to be flying boy. Here are a few pictures anyway .... no wedding pictures yet ... that was just a joke.

Maybe We Over Did It

2007-02-11T08:50:00.000-05:00

A fun ski weekend but I think we may have worn them out. Spent all day Friday at Beaver Valley and skiing with the boys from 9:30 to 4:00pm. Friday night checked into the hotel and went for a swim before bed time. Got up the next day for another 6 hours on the slopes.

They had a great time in the powder (lots of snow) and fun with the cousins. We will see how today goes ... a couple of grumpy kids :)

Steve

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T11:35:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year from all of us. Wendy took the picture and Paul doesn't stand in one spot long enough to be captured in any photo .... need higher speed film I think.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-24T10:42:00.000-05:00

Our second Christmas as the Kemp family. Not much to say except that we are having a great time. The boys are so excited about tomorrow. No snow .... but still its starting to feel a little bit more like Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Everyone!

Long Time No Here From

2006-11-12T21:42:00.000-05:00

We may regret this one someday .. Paul and Randy had their first ride on a motorcycle today. Our friend Shawn took them for a ride. I don't think they will forget this day for a while.

First Day of School

2006-09-11T20:38:00.000-04:00

Randy's first day of school in Junior Kindergarten and Paul's first day in Senior Kindergarten. Sorry about that sweater Paul.

Wake Me Up When September Ends

2006-09-04T18:46:00.000-04:00

Back to the regular routine ... kids in daycare/school, 5 day work weeks and dark by 6:00pm. Hopefully we can find a way to beat the winter blahs ... skiing seems to help quite a bit. Hopefully the boys will be ok adjusting back into the routine. They have had a great summer.

A New Look

2006-09-01T09:38:00.000-04:00

I decided to change the name and look of our blog. I was getting bored of the old one.

Some Pictures for You

2006-09-01T09:29:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th Birthday to Randy (August 29th) and first lost tooth for Paul (August 30th). Hard to believe that summer is winding down. Lately they have been having fun with their new skateboard.

Missing Grandpa

2006-07-27T20:19:00.000-04:00

Two years ago today my Grandfather passed away suddenly. He lived a long and fulfulling life but it ended in an instant. I hope he is watching or can somehow sense all of the changes that all of us have gone through since he left us. I think of him often and miss him. He influenced me in many ways and I very much appreciate everything he did for me and taught me along the way.

2006 FIFA World Cup

2006-06-09T06:11:00.000-04:00

Randy In Goal
Randy "In" Goal
Paul In Goal
Warm Ups
Hip Hip Hooray

The 2006 FIFA World Cup starts today. I never have really been that interested in soccer but with the boys around it has made it a little more exciting. Paul and Randy had their first game last week representing the "Yellow Team". They had a great time and Randy even scored two goals ... they were on his own teams net but he was just as excited either way. They slept well that night ..........

Mother Day - Belated

2006-05-16T08:57:00.000-04:00

Mothers Day has come and gone ... and I missed it .... I am out at a conference in Banff, Alberta and Wendy is home with the boys (and her mom for help). This is the first time I have been away for this length of time and it feels really strange. It is a nice break and I am really enjoying myself but I definately miss them. The mountains are just beautiful ... I'm sure someday when the boys are a little older we can all come out here as a family and enjoy the surroundings.

Mothers Day Is Coming

2006-05-11T17:27:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls.

But everyday I am growing
I'll be grown up someday
And all those tiny handprints
Will surely fade away.

So here's a final handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small.

Love,

Paul

Eagles Nest

2006-05-03T19:26:00.000-04:00

This is really cool ... can't stop watching it for some reason. Its amazing that I can sit here in our kitchen with a laptop with no wires connected to it and watch a live video feed of an eagles nest from Hornby Island in B.C.

http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp

Their site claims that they are getting 10,000,000 hits a day.

Steve

Go Fly A Kite

2006-04-30T15:14:00.000-04:00

A beautiful weekend weather wise. Just the way I like it ... not to hot and not to cold. Lots of sunshine. We went to the park this morning and flew a kite. Wow, I have not done that in a while. Will probably go out for a bike ride later. I had to work yesterday so I am taking tomorrow off. I'm looking forward to some time for myself. Not sure what I will do.

Paul's Proboscis

2006-04-12T19:21:00.000-04:00

Wendy and I got a call at work today from daycare asking us to come in to take Paul to the doctor/hospital. According to Paul, Alex P. inserted a bead into Paul's nose. Wendy took Paul to the doctor and luckily the doctor was able to extract the 1cm diameter bead from Paul's right nostril.

I didn't measure Pauls nostril but I am fairly certain that normally it is less then 1cm wide. It turned out ok in the end ... but Paul was very concerned for a while that the bead was going to be stuck there forever.

Our Supermen

2006-03-21T18:41:00.000-05:00

Paul and Randy with cousin Charles (on the Left)

Happy Family Day

2006-03-21T18:22:00.000-05:00

On March 21st, 2005 the four of us started our permanent journey together as a new family. The year has gone by very quickly. In some ways it seems like just yesterday but in others it seems like they have always been with us. We celebrated today ... we made a collection of pictures for the boys as a reminder of all the things we have done in the past year. We also had chocolate cake with ice cream and candles. I took off work an hour early and picked up the boys to spend some time together. Its nice to have this extra special day to share as a family .... we hope that it will always be an opportunity to talk about how the four of us were able to come together for all our benefit.

2006-02-26T14:21:00.000-05:00

Just Us

2006-02-26T14:17:00.000-05:00

Weekend of Fun

2006-02-26T14:02:00.000-05:00

Paul, Riley and Randy

Pauls Tie

Paul and Riley

Randy, Braedon, Paul and Riley

Paul, Riley, Braedon and Randy

A fun time was had by all this weekend. The boys had their best friends over for a sleepover. They all had a great time. I am sure that there will be many more times like these over the next several years. They seem to get along really well. Paul dressed himself this morning and decided to where a tie for the special occasion.

Happy Valentines Day

2006-02-14T20:40:00.000-05:00

Our first valentines day with the boys. Lots of fun ... Randy and Paul both exchanged valentines with kids at school and daycare. It was "twins" day in Paul's junior kindergarten class and Paul and his friend Riley were to dress the same for the day. Wendy took them out shopping last night and they both got Superman shirts .... Paul came home exhausted and wanted to go straight to bed. We managed to keep him up until after supper but definitely no arguments from him trying to get him to sleep. I think he had a busy day.

Skiing at Horseshoe

2006-01-28T17:04:00.000-05:00

Another great day on the slopes at Horseshoe. The boys are loving it and doing great. They moved them up a level today. They can turn and slow themselves down (a good thing). They have absolutely no fear. It was such a nice day to be up there.

A Few Words from Randy

2006-01-22T08:04:00.000-05:00

u=5057j0000808789iuireiyouopprrrrr

00i7-i6080=m08mi= 0-mm/,8,/o,.o7i6ltytiur
juio
,o5v
ti4
965ui00m nim5in659m65979m06709494

We Are Done

2006-01-22T07:57:00.000-05:00

Everything with the adoption is now final ... kind of anti-climatic to say the least. We thought it was going to be this big day where the four of us went to the court house and had to speak in front of a judge. As it turns out, we went to get the mail and found an envelope with two signed adoption orders in it .... Randy's was finalized on December 13th, 2005 and Paul's was done on January 6th, 2006.

For me it felt strange to think that some people somewhere had considered our relationship with the boys up until that point an interim one. They were a permanent part of us from very early on (sometimes I think maybe the connection was there before we even met them). If someone had tried to take them from us before it was finalized I would have fought them to my death.

I love the boys so much and couldn't be happier that we are now an "official" forever family.

Winter at the Cottage

2006-01-09T21:15:00.000-05:00

We were up north on the weekend ... everything looked so nice covered in snow. We had a great time and the boys enjoyed time with Grandma and Grandpa. Happy Birthday to me :)

Twas The Night Before Christmas

2005-12-24T19:52:00.000-05:00

Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
People were sick
And Dad left the house

Our stockings are hung
by the Chimney with care
Filled up with presents
that we will pay for next year

The kids are all snuggled in their beds
Ya right .... dreams of suger plums will come
after midnight when they lay down their heads

Kids awake at 4:30 to see who's been here
Dads up till 2 wrapping presents and drinking beer
Tomorrow is Christmas
A great time of year.

Instead of snow storm
Its a raining tonight.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Love ... Steve, Wendy, Paul and Randy.

Sick Again

2005-12-20T06:47:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it ... we are sick .... again! We were down in Leamington on the weekend for Wendy's family Christmas gathering. There are 13 neices and nephews on her side of the family all around the same age. The boys had a blast ... especially playing outside in the snow. I felt fine most of the weekend including Sunday night. I went to bed Sunday at my regular time and woke up early to empty the contents of my stomach ... I stayed home from work yesterday and felt terrible all day long. Last night Randy was sick too ... so far Paul and Mom are ok. I'm going to stay home again today. Hopefully I can go back to work tomorrow. I feel much better this morning than I did yesterday.

Itchy Itchy

2005-12-14T15:15:00.000-05:00

Randy got the chicken pox ..... a week goes by .... Paul gets the chicken pox ... another week goes by ... Daddy has the chicken pox. Paul and Randy were both ok. So far I am all right but the doctor says that chicken pox can be fairly serious when you get it as an adult. I'm sure I will be ok.

Christmas Concert

2005-12-07T05:49:00.000-05:00

Last night we went out to Paul and Randy's Christmas concert for daycare. They were both so cute and did a great job. Randy sang the Antler Hokey Pokey and Paul sang Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer -and- The 12 Days of Christmas. Paul was so tired that he almost fell asleep on stage .. it was a school day for him and no nap ..... so staying up until after 9pm was a little hard on him. After the concert we went to Tim Hortons for hot chocolate with Shawn, Tammy, Braedon and Riley.

On a whole though the evening was very stressful and bittersweet. Paul and Randy's foster parents were up visiting for a week. We saw them at our house for a quick visit on Thursday night and that seemed to go ok. We ordered pizza at home and played a few games together before the boys went to bed. We invited them back for another visit so that they could see their Christmas concert.

It was a big rush to get everyone organized and out the door. We all went out for dinner at a Chinese food buffet place and then rushed off to the school for the concert. To be honest I really didn't want the foster parents to be there at all .... its selfish I know but I resent the fact that I have to "share" them with anyone. I'm not convinced that it is in Paul and Randy's best interest to have on-going contact with them. They are going to have enough trouble understanding how at birth they were taken from their birthmother ...

I don't think they need the added burden of feeling like they were taken from their foster homes (especially since we were the ones doing the taking). Randy seemed ok with the visit (I don't think he even clearly remembers them). Paul on the otherhand had a difficult time and it tears me apart watching him struggle through it.

Busy Busy Busy

2005-11-19T20:09:00.000-05:00

Last weekend was my sisters wedding in Waterloo. We had a great time and the boys looked fantastic in their tuxedos. Wendy and I were the MCs and the boys sang grace before dinner ... to the tune of Frère Jacques:

Bless This Food Lord, Bless This Food Lord
And us too, And us too
We are here together, Praising you Forever
Bless This Food, And us too.

Very cute ... they were a hit and so well behaved the whole time. They were even quiet in the church. Grandma thought they need a distraction to keep them quiet and she gave them rubber frogs to play with. The boys played with them alright and made "ribbit, ribbit" noises through the ceremony.

Today was the Santa Claus Parade ... sure was alot different from last year. The boys seemed to have a great time. They seems almost more excited about seeing Batman in the parade than Santa.

Ready for Snow

2005-11-06T09:34:00.000-05:00

We had a fun day yesterday at the ski hill. We bought a family membership for downhill skiing this year and now all we need is a little snow. We picked up some ski equipment for the boys and they got to ride the chair lift with us. They seem very excited. The last picture captures Pauls first wipe out ... the first of many I'm sure.

Halloween

2005-10-31T19:33:00.000-05:00

Took both boys out trick or treating tonight. Sure was alot different than the last 25 years or so. It was alot of fun and the boys enjoyed getting candy and a few other special treats. Randy didn't last long running from house to house ... he just ran out of steam. Paul lasted a little longer. They seemed to have fun at home handing out the candy too.

Happy Halloween Everyone

It's Early

2005-10-28T05:41:00.000-04:00

You have probably noticed that the frequency of postings on here has dropped drastically. I just can't find the time to do it anymore (expect at quarter to six on a Friday morning). I'm getting ready for work and everyone else is still in bed. Our adoption process is almost finalized; we are just waiting for a court date to sign all the paper work with a lawyer. Everything is going good with the boys ... Paul seems to be really enjoying school and I've noticed that both Paul and Randy are changing like crazy. Randy's speach gets clearer every day it seems like and Paul is starting to be able to write his name.

I didn't get to see them last night or this morning because I had to work late and go in early today ... I miss them when I don't get to see them at night. At least the weekend is coming up. I tried to talk to Randy about adoption the other day ... I thought he understood when I told him that he and Paul were adopted. I said that it made him special and it was up to him whether or not he wanted to tell his friends or not.

The next day at daycare he told all of his classmates that his daddy told him he was a doctor.

I don't remember reading anything like that in any of the adoption preparation books?? I guess he will understand more in his own time.

After Thanksgiving

2005-10-09T19:13:00.000-04:00

I ate too much Turkey, I ate too much corn,
I ate too much pudding and pie.
I'm stuffed up with muffins and too much stuffin'
I'm probably going to die.

I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate.But I wish I had known when to stop,
For I'm so crammed with yams, sauces, gravies, and jams
That my buttons are starting to pop!

I'm full of tomatoes and french fried potatoes My stomach is swollen and sore,
But there's still some dessert so I guess it won't hurt if I eat just a little bit more!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Cleaning the Couch

2005-09-30T18:59:00.000-04:00

Welcome to parenthood .... Paul came home from daycare today and decided that it was good time to throw-up on the living room couch. He has been complaining about having a stomach ache for a few days but we thought he was ok (no fever or anything else to go with it). The good news .... after he painted our couch and carpet he said .... "I feel much better now Mommy".

He is back in the living room again but this time with a bucket :)

No picture to go with this post .... I'm sure your disapointed about that.

Fall At The Cottage

2005-09-25T19:31:00.000-04:00

We went up north for a short visit this weekend. It was a little cold but we had a great time. We took Wendy's mother up with us and the boys seemed to enjoy having two Grandmas around. We went for a walk in the park and had a campfire in the morning by the like. We also got a chance to take the tractor out for a quick ride. Lots of fun. Hopefully no one will be too cranky.

I like being the one with the camera. I never end up in any of the pictures.

Steve

Apple Picking

2005-09-11T19:43:00.000-04:00

We had a great weekend with the boys. We went to Applewood farms on Sunday morning to pick some apples. Randy seemed interested in picking them. Paul seemed mostly interested in eating them. We had alot of fun.

Start of School - Return To Work

2005-09-05T18:12:00.000-04:00

Well what can I say other than RATS! Our time off with the boys is over and it is time to step back into reality with every else. Last week the boys spent their first week at day care just so they could get used to it before we start it full time tomorrow. Paul has his first introduction to Junior Kindergarten tomorrow morning. Wendy has been back to work for a week already but I don't go back until Wednesday. I am kind of suprised by how little I am looking forward to returning. Wendy seemed kind of excited about getting back to the grind but I can't say that I feel the same way. The boys were excited about doing something new too ... especially when they found out that they got to where their own back packs.

I doubt that I will be able to blog as often as I have been. Hopefully someday the boys will be able to go through this journal on their own and get a few laughs. We have sure come along way in just a few months. It seems as though everyone is happy this weekend.

Visit With Yogi Bear (and Others)

2005-08-23T11:38:00.000-04:00

We had a very busy few days .... on Friday morning we packed up all our camping gear and our camper and headed to Jellystone Park in Amherstberg (near Windsor). We stayed three nights and had a great time with all the activities in the park.

We got to see alot of friends and family that we have not seen in a while. Wendy's brother Tim came for a visit in the park with the twin boys (Gregg and John) and Taylor. They had a great time in the pool and around the campfire.

We rented a four wheel bike and raced around the Park. Wendy and I had to do all of the peddling. It was funny when the boys would immitate us huffing and puffing as we peddled. We both need to get back to the gym.

On the way home we stopped in to see Kevin, Trish and Faith. Kevin and Trish are friends of ours from University of Waterloo days ... we have not seen them in ages and decided to drop in on our way home to see their new addition. Kevin and Trish adopted Faith from China around the same time that we adopted Paul and Randy :) Kevin, Trish and Faith all seem really happy ... lots of smiles all around. Kevin and Trish inspired me to start this blog ... check there's out at http://faithhomecoming.blogspot.com/

We also stopped in to see our friends Kevin and Rodd in Cambridge. They were having a hot tub party.

The boys are driving us a little crazy today ... they really need to catch up on their sleep after such a busy weekend.

Cycling Around Fairy Lake

2005-08-11T20:51:00.000-04:00

We had a great time tonight walking with the boys on their bikes at Fairy Lake. I think Paul will be ready to take his training wheels off soon ... next summer for sure. It is hard to keep up with him when we are walking along. Randy is a little slower but he sure doesn't like to let older brother get too far ahead. Randy says high to everyone as we travel around.

Time At The Lake

2005-08-06T20:55:00.000-04:00

We spent some time up at the lake with the boys over the past week. What a wonderful time. It makes me very happy to see them enjoying a place that has always been so special to me. It's sad that my grandfather is no longer around to enjoy them although somehow I think he is aware of all that is happening. I see, hear and feel him everywhere when I am up there.
Grandma managed to catch a few fish off the dock with some help from the boys. What a treat :)

We had a great time over the past week with Grandma and Grandpa up at the lake. The boys jumped off the dock about 100 times. We went canoeing together and enoyed the paddle and motor boat. Cousin Jessica and Aunt Kathy also joined us for a few days.

We were also able to spend some time with Great Grandma. It seemed like she enjoyed watching them run around so full of energy.

What a great week .... everyday I think about how lucky we are. They have been with us in person for just over four months. It is strange how it feels like they have always been with us and the rest of our family. They are really a joy to have around.

Steve

It's Raining It's Pouring

2005-07-26T08:44:00.000-04:00

Its raining today .... I think this is about the first day it has rained all summer. We had a great time camping again the past couple of nights and went to a family reunion where more of our relatives were able to meet the boys. We have plans to head up north to the cottage but not sure when. Paul and Randy are doing great. We are a little worried about September and how all of us will cope with more changes ..... hopefully we will be able to get into a routine that will work for all of us. Paul seems to be excited about school but I'm not sure that he understands that Mommy and Daddy are not going with him :(

I am going to miss them alot .... its been a great opportunity to spend so much time together as a family. Hopefully we can find a way to do it again sometime before they reach the age where they want us to drop them off at school a block away so that their friends don't see us.

Its raining really hard.

Camping

2005-07-18T09:46:00.000-04:00

The four of us camping at Mikisew Provincial Park :)

Time is Flying By

2005-07-18T09:34:00.000-04:00

So far we are having a great summer ... one of the hottest on record here. We took off for a week camping with the boys and had a great time swimming, feeding chipmunks and roasting marshmallows. Wendy is looking forward to going back to work more than me I think ... I could get used to the stay at home dad idea I think. We are getting into a bit of a routine and things are going well ... will be hard in September when we are apart from them so much.

Happy Birthday Paul

2005-06-28T09:02:00.000-04:00

We celebrated Paul's 4th birthday on Saturday (and Sunday too) ... it was insane .... had a few kids over on Saturday and cousin Charles stayed overnight until Sunday. It was very hot so we spent most of the time in the kids pool and playing with water guns. Turned into an accidental Batman theme party ... Pauls entire room is now decorated with Batman stuff. He is really enjoying a Batman scooter but he has not quite got the hang of it yet. We were worried about Randy being jealous of all of the presents to Paul but he seemed ok.

Suprising how "normal" it all seems ... feels like we have had them all along :)

Fathers Day

2005-06-16T14:07:00.000-04:00

Walk a little slower daddy, said a child so
small. I'm following in your footsteps and
I don't want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you.

Proud Parents

2005-05-31T12:46:00.000-04:00

Our boys finished their first set of swimming lessons today. We picked up their progress cards and they both did great. They have come along way from the first day of lessons ... Randy wouldn't even get in the water at first. Its kind of a neat feeling to be so proud of them. The weather is great and we had a picnic lunch outside .... lots of fun. They both seem really happy.

Victoria Weekend

2005-05-23T20:30:00.000-04:00

We had a action packed Victoria Day Weekend. Wendy's brother Tim and Family came up for a visit on Saturday. All of the cousins had a great time playing together. On Sunday Paul and I went for a bike ride in the park ... we cycled along for a while and to our suprise we were stopped by the police ... they had rifles and asked us how we got into the park. We found out that there had been a bear siting and the police and closed the entire park off to everyone (except us somehow). Anyways they eventually captured the bear and everything was ok.

Today we went to a farm. The boys got to ride ponies, milk a cow, ride on a hay wagon, chase after chickens, roosters, ducks, emus, horses, cows, goats, sheeps, pigs etc. etc. They had a great time ... I think their favorite part was talking about all of the different types of poopies all over the ground .... gross!

2005-05-13T08:07:00.000-04:00

Our boys on Mothers Day ... we are so proud.

The Morning After (Mothers Day)

2005-05-09T07:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was amazing ... Wendy had a perma-grin all day long. We went to a Mothers Day tree planting thing at the park in the morning. Wendy planted four trees with the boys. The local newspaper was there and took their picture ... we will wait to see whether they make the front page :)

Wendy's mother and two of her brothers came over with their kids in the afternoon. Paul and Randy played with their cousins and seemed to have a great time. BBQd hamburgers and corn on the cob ... just had a blast.

It felt like the boys have been here all along.

The Boys Are Asleep

2005-04-27T20:16:00.000-04:00

The boys are sleeping .. whenever we are feeling a little overwhelmed you just watch them when they are sleeping .... angels. Things are going great .. swimming lessons every Tuesday ... lots of bike rides and playing at the park. Tried to fly a kite today but it was a little too windy and the kite broke. They are definately testing their boundaries with us .... especially Paul .... it seems like they are responding to us and as long as we are consistent they seem to get it.

Our Boys Are Home

2005-03-27T09:36:00.000-05:00

We brought our boys home on March 21st, 2005. What an amazing experience ... our daily lives have suddenly changed so dramatically. I just finished putting out the Easter Eggs and baskets .. can't wait for them to wake up this morning they will be so excited.

Yesterday I went out and bought my oldest son (it stills seems strange to say that) his first 2 wheel bicycle (a big boy bike as we call it) with training wheels. He loved it. We also got them there first wagon. Yesterday we went out to a Maple Syrup Festival where the boys got to go for ride in a hot air ballong, ride on ponies, a trail ride on a wagon with horses and taste maple syrup. We had a great time.

I'm sure there will be many challenges but just hearing them both call out for Daddy makes it all worth it.

2005-03-27T07:27:00.000-05:00

Wendy and Steve at Sawyer

Third Visit - Things Are Really Moving Now

2005-02-24T00:06:00.000-05:00

We were up north with the boys again last weekend. Had a great time with them and everything went really well. Stayed at a really nice lodge ... much better then the regular hotel. So much to do before they arrive ... the placement date has been moved up to March 21st.

Things are really happening fast now ... I just hope we can get things ready in time.

Second Visit

2005-02-08T23:29:00.000-05:00

We had our second visit with the boys last weekend. It went really well but it sure is tiring. Lots of driving and lots of energy required to keep up with these two. We had them overnight on Saturday and everything went fine. The kids got alot more sleep than I did ... everytime they made any kind of noise I couldn't help but look up to make sure that they were ok. We went ice fishing and pulled them around on the sleigh ... Paul and I went to the pool for a few hours and had a great time.

Tried to go out to a restaurant with them a couple of times ... didn't work out to well. Its hard to get them to do anything for more than about 10 minutes. Can't wait until next time ... the plan is to have them for the entire weekend.

Went out mini-van shopping last night :)

An Amazing Experience

2005-01-29T10:47:00.000-05:00

I can't even think of any words to describe the experience of meeting our boys for the first time last weekend. Having them greet us at the door by jumping into our arms as their new Mommy and Daddy was an amazing thing. I don't know what I expected from the first visit but I was really suprised by how well we seemed to fit together.

I was struck by how much they needed us. All along I have been thinking somewhat selfeshly about the whole experience. I wanted a family so bad and I wanted the experience of being a Dad ... I never really thought that I was helping anyone else. It really struck me that the boys need us as much as we need them ... I feel so lucky to have been chosen to be given this chance ... it also feels really good to be in a position to be able to provide them with a good home where they will be loved unconditionally. I feel like I already have a different perspective on why I'm here and what really matters. My experience at work has changed some how ... even just this first week was different .... I felt like it had more meaning .... like I need to get the job done .... I now have the responsibility to provide for these two boys and my family ... it feels good.

I really enjoyed watching my wife interact with them. She has been waiting for so long for this chance to be a Mom and now that she is one everything I thought about how she would be has come true ... she was so good with them. The boys are great kids, full of energy, healthy, smart and loving. We had so much fun with them and I think they had a great time with us as well.

Even after just the first visit it was very difficult to leave them behind when we went back home. I'm preparing for this to get harder every visit. I don't think they are ready to come with us quite yet ... but I know the day will come when they will not understand why we are leaving without them. The next few months are going to be very exciting but very difficult at the same time.

One funny tidbit ... the boys think we live at the hotel. We had them on our own for a few hours and we dropped in to our room to get a few things. Never thought anything of it but after a few minutes the oldest one says "Where's my room?". They are definatelly a little confused and it will take some time for them to understand.

I can't wait to get them home.

Getting Close Now

2005-01-16T06:47:00.000-05:00

Its 10 to 7 on a Sunday morning and I'm sitting here updating this Blog that no-one is reading. Only a few days now before we meet our new sons for the first time. We are leaving for Elliot Lake on Thursday for our first meeting with them over the weekend. Feeling really excited and extremely nervous at the same time ... will we be good enough for them. Will they run towards us or run away ... who knows? We were trying to pick out a toy to take up to them when we first meet them .... nothing I saw seemed good enough .... how can you possibily find that perfect gift. I am already starting to think of them as my own .. we have their picture up on the fridge and I can't help but look at it everytime I pass. I am constantly wondering what they are doing at a given moment.

Also thinking about how our lives are going to change ... it will be awhile before we can enjoy a quiet dinner/evening together. We will have to try to make time for ourselves sometime. Time seems to be passing by slowly as we wait for our first meeting.

Have talked to them on the phone already and have heared those little voices say "Hi Mommy" and "Hi Daddy" ... wow ... that was unexpected. We were worried so much at first about how the kids would adjust ... now its starting to seem like its us that will have to do the adjusting.

Hold on to your hats ....

2004-12-19T16:20:00.000-05:00

Wow things are really happening now. We found out that we were matched up with two boys (ages 2 and 3) that we found out about at the adoption resource exchange. We have not met them yet but we expect to sometime early in the new year. They are so cute .. and they seem like they are doing really well. These kids are going to turn our lives upside down and inside out .. we can hardly wait. They seem like the perfect match for us ... lots of energy ... and ready to get involved in all kinds of activities. I can hardly wait to get them up north to the lake .... I just know that they will love it. It is such a good feeling to know that we have put all the pain behind us and we are moving on.

I Feel Like Shit

2004-12-10T18:50:00.000-05:00

I feel like shit today for some reason. I took the day of work and didn't do anything. Lazy ass. I had alot of stuff to do but just didn't feel like doing anything ... not idea why. I have curling tonight so maybe that will help get me out of this funk.

Good news on the adoption front .. we found out that we are one of three couples being considered for the two boys (2 and 3). We meet with the social worker to find out more on Monday afternoon.

We have also been shortlisted for the set of 3 siblings (2 boys and a girl). OMG would they ever turn our lives upside down.

Excited but a little scared too .... life sometimes just doesn't lead you down all the paths that you expect.

Still waiting

2004-11-17T21:01:00.000-05:00

Last couple of weekends have been busy. Two weekends ago we spent the entire weekend at an adoption retreat training weekend. We spent the entire weekend with 6 or 7 other couples learning about adoption. It was very emotional and at times difficult. We learned alot about potential problems with adoptive families. Many adopted children have alot of issues to deal with.

This past weekend we spent the entire weekend at something called the Adoption Resource Exchange. We expressed interested in four sets of siblings:

A girl and two boys (3 all at once .... this would send us for a loop thats for sure)

Two boys ... ages 2 and 3.

A brother and sister.

Things are moving faster now ... maybe we won't be waiting long?

International Adoption - Russia

2004-10-30T19:19:00.000-04:00

We went to an international adoption seminar this morning to find out about adopting from Russia. The name of the agency that put on the seminar was called Adoption Horizons. Sounds really great ... expensive ..... but great. Total cost is about $38,000. Got to meet some families that have already gone through the whole process. It was really neat to see but also very emotional. You have to travel to Russia twice. It would be an amazing life experience.

Our Homestudy Is Finished!

2004-10-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

The social work/counsellor dropped off our completed homestudy report on Thursday night. Its great that it is finally over with but somewhat anti-climatic. It sort of feels like well ok now what.

We basically just have to wait now ... hopefully we will be matched up fairly quickly but I know that it could take some time.

Last Homestudy Session

2004-09-29T00:24:00.000-04:00

Just finished our last session with the social worker. She turned out to be really great but I'm still glad its over with. She just has to write her report and then we are off to find agencies and see if we can get a match somewhere. When we first started with this I wasn't really sure if I was ready buy now I am so confident (probably over confident). I feel like we are ready to start our family and accept whatever challenges come along with it.

It makes me so happy to see Wendy happy .......

Our Profile

2004-09-26T20:30:00.000-04:00

The next step for us was the create a profile to describe ourselves. This is our first attempt and it is still a work in progress. We are not really sure what to put into one of these things?

Steve & Wendy

Hello! Wow ….. what a decision for you to make ….. possibly the greatest decision you will ever make in your life! We can’t imagine how conflicted this decision would be for you but wish you the very best in your journey to find the best life for your child and hope that our profile gives you insight into us.

About us

We met in our first year of university. Steve was the guy upstairs with the loud stereo and I was the studious girl on the second floor. Although friends through university, we didn’t start dating until our 4th year. We knew within months of dating that we were meant to be together and plunged into marriage in 1994, only 4 months after graduation! We tend to laugh often and just enjoy our time together.

Steve speaks about Wendy

Wendy is the apple of my eye. I feel like we are a perfect match. She has a wonderful laugh and smile and truly lives life to its fullest despite its challenges. She is fun to be around and is instantly liked by everyone she meets. She enriches my life and the lives of many others every day.

Wendy is a teacher, not by training, but by her very nature. She has a love of science and the outdoors. She seems to notice the little things like an unusual flower, rock or animal that I would have just walked by –or more likely over- before I met her. She comes from a large family and we both enjoy spending time with them. She is eternally optimistic and always seems to be able to find some good in every person and every situation.

Wendy likes to cook, especially for a large group during the holidays

Wendy speaks about Steve

Steve is a very loving, romantic mathematical genius! Seriously, I really don’t know anyone who can do math like Steve! Steve’s a traffic engineer and relishes playing in traffic and trying to solve ridiculous problems like gridlock! The interesting twist is he’s not geeky or like an engineer. He is well liked at work and is truly a nice person, a guy who you can talk to without feeling belittled. He cherishes his family and enjoys playing with all of his 11 nephews and nieces. Children are drawn to him, either to read a book, play a game or just hang out. I think it’s mostly to with his quiet patience and that they sense his respect and love of their individual personalities. Steve enjoys the outdoors, although he’s a big fan of flushing toilets and showers. Understandably, he loves his Grandparent’s cottage and fishing at the "Lake’. He enjoys all types of music and is known to pick up the guitar and play a tune once and while.

Our interests as a couple

You would think that after moving over 32 times in university, we would be sick of travelling! Although, we love having a home base, we enjoy seeing the world and would relish to share these opportunities with our children. We also like playing tennis, curling, hiking and just about any outdoors activity. But I think, our favourite times together are unwinding on the couch after a day at work to discuss and laugh at our work and day’s activities.

Our Families

We are fortunate to have a very large circle of family to share our love and joy of becoming parents. Everyone was overjoyed with our ‘announcement’ of pursuing adoption. Although they may not be familiar with the details of our struggle with IVF, they know that this journey is extremely important to us and are very supportive.

Our Views on Adoption

We think that most families are formed at birth but we feel it is extra special to have our family formed this way. It makes us unique and special. For a long time, our focus was getting pregnant but have come to realize that those few months are really a small period in a lifetime with a child.

Fingerprinting

2004-09-20T21:32:00.000-04:00

Had to go for fingerprinting today. I understand why we have to do it but it still seems like an insult. Its amazing how "qualified" you have to be to adopt. Meanwhile, so many people are out there having children that just don't seem equipped to handle it.

Had our third session with our social worker that is doing our homestudy. One more session to go and then we are done. Have to sit there and bare my soul. Somone who had a father that beat them everyday for 18 years has no problem going out and impregnating half the town. Meanwhile I'm sitting here having to explain that I can still be a good parent even though my mother spanked me once when I was 4. BUT I'M NOT BITTER.

Looking forward to finishing the homestudy and looking for a match :)

Adoption - So Far

2004-09-18T21:13:00.000-04:00

We are just starting on this journey. My wife and I really don't know what to expect. After many years of trying the good old fashion way we decided that something musy be "wrong". We started with doctors and specialist poking and proding and test after test. Eventually we got fed up with the fertility clinics and realized that we didn't need to conceive naturally to create a family.

We went to our first adoption seminar in June of 2004. We were really nervous at first and not sure what we were getting ourselves into. The seminar was great and we met alot of couples just like ourselves. We left the seminar feeling really positive about moving forward.

The next step was to start our home study. So far we have had two sessions with our councillor and it is going great. They ask alot of really weird questions but so far its not too bad. We are not really sure what lies ahead.