Monday, October 12, 2009

Snapshots of Love

Lorelei on her way to see the Wiggles with dad at the Hope Slide viewpoint. I love this picture, she looks so tiny against the landscape.


Feeding the chipmunks at the Hope Slide.

Sitting under the big carved bear at Manning Park Lodge.



Lorelei, Georgia and Daddy snuggling after a terrific Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma and Papa's.


Little Miss Georgia Leigh enjoying her baby MumMum biscuits.




It's been awhile since I posted any pics of the girls and talked of what they've been up to so I thought I would share pictures from our Thanksgiving weekend dinner. This weekend has been good. Shane and Lorelei had a fantastic time at the Wiggles. The concert started with them coming out in the Big Red Car singing the song of the same name and Lorelei jumped up and was singing and dancing along. Shane said that when Sam Wiggle came through the crowd and missed Lorelei's hand as he was giving High Five's, she chased him up twenty rows trying to get his attention much to Shane's dismay....She thought nothing of running off to meet a real live Wiggle in a crowd of ten thousand people, but Shane just about had heart failure....LOL. Anyhow, a good time was had by both father and daughter and Sam Wiggle survived to do another concert.
Our Thanksgiving dinner was done on Sunday, up at Shane's parents home. His mom is still in Regina waiting for Susan's baby to come so his dad invited the rest of the family up for dinner. He put on an impressive feast of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, turnips, candied yams, broccoli salad and dinner buns. We were so stuffed afterwards, we almost didn't get to the apple crisp I made for dessert from apples off the tree in our backyard. It was a beautifully relaxing evening with the family and Georgia ate more food in one sitting than she ever has before. It's been a struggle not to nap the day away today after such a great feast last night. Too bad Mama Mayer and Susie, Dana and the kids weren't there to share in it.
As for me, I've enjoyed the small bit of mommy/baby time I had with Georgia while Shane and Lorelei were in Vancouver. However I am struggling now with the thoughts of Calvin and Georgia's upcoming birthday on November 10. I asked Shane if he thought that I should put Happy Birthday Georgia and Calvin on the cake and neither of us knows what to do. I suggested putting just Happy Birthday Georgia on her birthday cake and then getting another smaller cake that said Remembering Calvin but I'm just not sure how I feel about it. I don't want to pretend my son never existed and it would be his birthday too, but on the other hand, I don't want Georgia to grow up in the shadow of her brother's death. I'm torn as to what to do. I already know her first birthday will be bittersweet for me as we celebrate the day she was born, but that day was such a beautiful day for us because Calvin was born too. We went from a family of three to a family of five. How do we acknowledge her twin on their birthday? What is the right and proper thing to do in a case like this? How do we acknowledge our son even though he is no longer here with us? Some suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated on this one as we are both confused as to what to do.

4 comments:

  1. Oh Margaret. I just don't know. I found it very hard, only having one of my girls here to celebrate her birthday with us. I'm so very sorry that Calvin won't be here with his twin and your family to celebrate their birthday.

    I made a conscious decision to make Jessica's birthday all about her and how much we love having her in our family. I was worried about that shadow you describe so well, I didn't want Jessica' birthday to be anything other than a celebration.

    It didn't quite work out so neatly in practice. Obviously Georgina was very much on my mind and a surprising number of people acknowledged her birthday as well, without being prompted. I received quite a few gifts 'for' Georgina and cards remembering her. I was very touched.

    I bought two separate sets of thank you cards. I wrote out one set for Jessica's presents and the other to recognise the gestures made in Georgina's memory.

    Ach Margaret. You do whatever feels most comfortable for you and your family. I feel like I tried to go down one road but failed. And maybe it was stupid to think that I could force that day to be solely about Jessica? xo

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  2. Catherine has some good ideas. Just do what makes you comfortable and helps make the day special if not bittersweet.
    The kids are adorable, just precious..


    xoxo Lindsay

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  3. Your girls look beautiful. I have a feeling you will know what best to do and you will do it. No matter what you do, your Calvin will be by your side. Hugssssss

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  4. I like your idea of putting both names on the cake. I think it is a neat way to remember Calvin and also to remind Georgia that she is a twin, and that is something special. But whatever you decide it will be wonderful!

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