Greetings Friends and Family!

After a much needed break from blogging, I am back to report on the Adventures of the Futon Family. We hope that you are all doing well, have been enjoying some of your own adventures, and are looking forward to your next adventure!

The last year and a half, has given us pause to learn some very important things about ourselves, the people in our lives and all that is important at the end of the day. This has not been the easiest path for any of us to travel. Some of the most important things we have learned are:

Family is: everything, who and what you make it, it is worth fighting for. Love your family!

Friends: most come and go, true and good friends are rare things. Chereish your friends!

Happiness: find what makes you happy, fill your life with happiness, and don't be afraid to share it. Happiness does not just happen, it takes work, it is something you need to protect and it is not always easy, sometimes you need to choose to work at it. Find the happiness in your life and may it bring you love!

In the end, as the saying goes 'that which doesn't kill me only makes me stronger' best sums it up!

Where we are at: Please note*** all pictures can be clicked on to enlarge, you must then back click to return to the main blog page***

BabyJ has had a great year in preschool! Attending three days a week has taught her some French which she has enjoyed using. She also took up a new sport this year, golf. The "Big Dog" driver currently swings her as much as she swings it. All in all she is having a fun time with it, which is all we can hope for!

BeaverJ had good year in grade two. His french continues to blossom, he is enjoying science, improving in art, and learning to read both our national languages! This year he too, took up a new sport after enjoying it at school in physical education, Cricket. DaddyJ and I are doing our best to try and understand the many rules of game. BeaverJ continues to enjoy playing Cricket once a week. We hope this will continue as the sport is very interesting.

Living up to those Scottish middle names with the sports of Cricket, Golf and a little Football (soccer)! Who knew......

Recapping the Fall of 2008 to Easter of 2009:

BeaverJ's Birthday(s)

For the start of his birthday two weeks, BeaverJ had a very special birthday party and sleep over with one of his buddies. It was a great chance for him to have some special fun playing laser tag, watching movies until late and a sleep over. In the morning there was even a trip to Tim Horton's for muffins!

For BeaverJ's actual seventh birthday we took him to Legoland in San Diego California. It happened to be Star Wars Days while we were there. Very lucky since the Star Wars franchise was the hottest thing to happen to him since chocolate milk! We had a wonderful two days enjoying the park complete with BeaverJ's "It's my Birthday" pin, where all the staff wished him a very happy birthday.


His birthday dinner was his favourites from In-and-Out Burger: milkshake, cheese burger and fries. This ideal seven year old birthday meal was eaten, over looking the ocean in Oceanside. The roar of the waves, last surfers and setting sun were a perfect way to celebrate.






Upon our return, the turning seven festivities were capped off with Igor-riffic Clone Wars themed party with his school friends. A great time was had eating pizza and cupcakes before taking in the movie Igor (pull the switch) on opening weekend.

Thanksgiving/DaddyJ's Birthday



This year in celebration of DaddyJ's birthday we headed out to Kelowna for a weekend of fun on the Thanksgiving weekend. We took in some beautiful wineries, enjoyed our hotels outdoor watersilde and had a blast bowling!

Christmas BabyJ's Birthday

This year for a change of pace we did not go away for Christmas and BabyJ's birthday. It was instead BabyJ's first Christmas/Birthday at home. We all enjoyed the opportunity to enjoy the snow, home and I even enjoyed cooking Christmas dinner. It is nice to break out the Christmas china everyonce in a while!

Christmas 2008

BabyJ's 4th Birthday

BabyJ enjoyed a quiet and fun filled day of being the birthday girl. She had an "Enchanted" cake and received many of the things on her list. All in all, turning four seemed to be a great time for her.

Mid Winter Fun at Monster Trucks and Super Skills

Disney World 2009 Pictures

In March we were off to Florida for a visit to Disneyworld! This was BabyJ's first trip to this location after being lucky enough to have already visited Disneylands in California and Hong Kong. It proved to be just as magical a visit as wanted and remembered.

While in Orlando we stayed at the world's largets Marriott hotel. Even as seasoned Marriott travelers, it was MASSIVE. It was a great place to stay. The kids in particular enjoyed starting out their days with room service (Daddy) Starbucks from the lobby and ending their days in the million+ gallon pool systems.

Here is a sample of some of our pictures from the five parks we visited:

Magic Kingdom

Bilzzard Beach

Epcot

Typhoon Lagoon

Easter 2009

After returning from our respective trips it was wonderful to have to opportunity to spend time with Grandma at Easter. It was a wonderful pj wearing trip where we all shared in the fun of a holiday meal once we finally got dressed!

June brought us the opportunity to meet Grandma's new horse Bently, learn that BeaverJ would be heading off to grade three and excitingly that BabyJ would be heading into Kindergarten in September! YIKES, where has the time gone?

All in all we are looking forward to a low key summer. We hope to have a few adventures, explore new places and spend time with our loved ones.

We wish you all the very best and hope you too, enjoy a wonderful summer. Please check back soon to see our summer adventures.

Sincerely,

The 4J's