This is a pathetic excuse for a blog. Here is my Halloween photo, posted one month after Halloween. But here are my excuses:
My car was broken into.
My purse was stolen.
I was in charge of Young Women In Excellence.
I put on a birthday party for Wesley's 11th.
Wesley got his Arrow of Light.
I had to help Abby with her Reflections project.
We attended the Reflections assembly; Abby won 1st for choreography.
I had to get a new driver's license.
I had to spend lots of time at the bank.
I'm one of the only non-pregnant women in Scott's family.
Christmas shopping.
Classroom volunteering.
Music lessons and recitals.
Christmas light hanging.
Fruitless potty training.
Result-less carpet cleaning.
Pooper-scooping.
Far too many online scrabble games.

Okay, so not so much a list of excuses as a recap of the last month. Thank heaven for a life that is keeping me busy.

I sneezed today, and Ian said "bless you." I'm sure none of my other 3 year olds ever thought to say this. What he lacks in potty training skills, he certainly makes up for in politeness. (Yes, he occasionally thanks me for changing his diaper.)

The pictures below are courtesy of Uncle Kenneth. Abby Competed in the Las Vegas Highland Dance Association's competition last Saturday and was awarded "Most Promising Dancer." We're just a wee bit proud!

Thank Heaven for kids.Andrew started kindergarten this month.
We hung out with cousins.
Abby started violin lessons.
Wesley's working his tail off in 5th grade.
Ian's tongue is getting looser.
Welcome fall!

Here are a few photos from the big trip. Not wanting to bore anyone to death, I've chosen mostly people shots.

Spent our first day in London after 5,000 hours of travel. Managed to stay awake for most of the bus tour.

In Stamford with Avril and Kay. Humanitarians haven't made much progress there, as the gallows maintain a presence in the town center for public entertainment.









Drove up to Shropshire to the mere district, mere being old English for "small lake or pond." (Cole happens to mean "cabbage.") Spent a lovely afternoon walking in the woods that surround Colemere. Saw no cabbages but many gopher holes, ignorant of the bad omen this boded for our return. (Grumble grumble...)

Headed up to Val's next in Blackburn. Enjoyed amazing scenery and historical landmarks, including Whalley Abbey. (DON'T say "wally." They don't like that.) Also the most magnificent scone with jam and cream ever experienced on Earth. (That warranted a photo, but didn't get one.)

On up to Scotland via Gretna Green and Kilmarnock, AKA wild goose chase thanks to Miss Magellan, our trusty (har) GPS (or Sat-Nav, to use the UK vernacular).

Had beautiful days in Scotland staying with Aunt Jean and Uncle Ralston. Took a cruise on the Waverly,




saw Inverary castle,
the Cowal Games, and




enjoyed priceless moments with family.

Wesley and Abby loved meeting new cousins, Rory and Caitlyn (and baby Emma!). We were even in a parade all together! What can we say- the crowds love us. They even put on an incredible fireworks display at the waterfront in our honor. Despite acute cases of "piper's ear," we were all sad to leave. And now that Wesley has his chanter and Abby has witnessed the World Championships of Highland Dancing, they both have wonderful memories to inspire there practices.

How lucky we are to have such a wonderful family. We will never forget their love and hospitality.

What a trip!
We've just returned from our amazing journey to the UK. It was all-around wonderful, and the impact of it was too great to be summed-up in my wee blog. I knew before we left that it was a charmed vacation that was impractical and shouldn't have happened, but somewhere during our travels I was struck with a realization that, though my heart's greatest desire was unattainable right now, God blessed me with desire #2. I feel so blessed and remembered by Him.
Suffice it to say it was a joyful, educational, fun-filled and healing experience. Many thanks to our wonderful family members, at home and in the old country, who made it all possible for us.

Our contribution to the Canadian economy:



We attended the RUSH Concert last week. You can barely make out the rotisserie chicken ovens on the blurry-bright-light picture, blurry because Scott was busy shakin' his groove thang. A great show, and by the sound of things the fellers don't seem to have aged at all. We all just turned a blind eye to Geddy Lee's gray roots.

Oor Wee Champ So Abby took the beginners' trophy at the Payson Games: 2nd in Fling, 1st in Swords, 1st in Seann Triubhas and 1st in Lilt. No bad, eh?!


Wesley and his buddy Shane risked haggis for the first time today. Wesley thought it was "delicious!" We still haven't told him what's in it.

Who are they marketing to, anyway?
Today I served Andrew his lunch on a paper plate. He asked, "Mom, is this a Dixie plate?" He has been learning to read, and though I was surprised, I figured he had deciphered the word printed under his sandwich. He then followed with "is it stronger than ordinary plates?" We clearly need to monitor the t.v. viewing more closely in this house.

Ian and Andrew at Lagoon last week.

A picnic in the canyon, Campbell's baby blessing, Andrew's last T-Ball game, Abby's first dance performance and Wesley's piano recital. All nice ways to start June.

The WalkAmerica event was inspiring. Here is "Team Colemere" right before the walk, and right after Kristina announced she was pregnant! The timing was very appropriate. My personal page is still up on the March of Dimes website to collect donations. Many thanks to my kind sponsors!

I have decided to join Amanda, Katie and Kristina at the March of Dimes WalkAmerica event tomorrow at Wheeler Farm. If you would like to sponsor me, I have a pretty small goal and donations can be made at my personal page. I'm so glad to have constructive activities to help alleviate the grief.

Check out my bonny wee Abby in her new kiltie outfit. The Highland Games are coming up, along with her first dance competition on June 9th. I don't care if Abby places or not. She'll be the cutest one there, and I'm not biased. (snort.)
My apologies to Uncle Kenneth, who doesn't appreciate the fact that I have the Scottish flag hanging sideways.

Happy 1st Birthday, Annie!

It has been a day full of different emotions. I knew that it would be difficult, but I didn't want Annie's birthday to be an awkward day of only sadness. To try to bring a little purpose to the celebration, we decided to collect stuffed animals to donate to the Alta View Hospital E.R. to bring comfort to kids who are being treated there. We have very generous cousins and friends- we already have around 45 critters, and more coming!

We pot-lucked. We visited the cemetary. Allie sang with Jackson a beautiful song she had written. We released birthday balloons and had familiy prayer. Jeff gave us a printed copy of a song he had written called "Sweet Little Annie." Kristina brought the transcript of a comforting talk. It was a meaningful day, and we remembered Annie with love.

Little Annie caught a cold. Andrew had been very sick, Ian was sniffley. I took them all to the doctor, the doctor said to watch and bring Annie back if she still had a fever the next day. The next day we went straight to the ER, and two hours after our arrival, we stood on the helicopter pad next to our daughter when the Life Flight nurse said it was time to stop CPR. February 10, 2007. The worst day of my life in a nutshell.
A simple little memorial blog seems so inadequate when compared to the impact my sweet little bumble bee had on my life. She was a surprise blessing, and left just as unexpectedly as she came. Hallelujahs for the knowledge that God has a plan for Annie, and for the rest of us. We will have a joyous reunion one day.
Read Annie's Obituary.