Making a difference

Every May, Hubby participates in the CN Tour--a cycling and walking event that raises money for CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario) and the local Candlelighters chapter (an organization that provides financial, emotional and medical support for families with children suffering from cancer). He's probably cycled in this yearly event for the past four or five years.

And every year, the same scenario plays out--he forgets he's signed up for it until about two weeks before the event and then he makes a half-hearted effort to raise funds. He often ends up getting a few donations, but the bulk of it is a self-donation he makes as a result of feeling guilty for not canvassing enough. He generally raises a few hundred bucks, but never anything significant.

Not 2011. This year, cycling the 70km for CHEO and Candlelighters means so much more than it has ever before. The tagline for the event is 'Help Kids with Cancer.' Uh...yeah, as you can imagine, we're pretty emotionally tied to that one.

Over the course of this past year, we have been on the receiving end of the support offered by these great organizations. The programs. The compassion. The thoughtfulness. The respect. The amazing staff. Words are simply not enough. Both organizations have been behind us 125% during this whole process. We've seen how the money they raise is actually spent. We've seen how much more is needed. (Trust us, there was a period of time, we wondered how we could afford to purchase one of those expensive, but oh-so-wonderful blanket warming machines. We so desperately wanted to get one for Ward 4North!) And, in the end, we know how much these deserving organizations appreciate our help--in whatever form we can provide it.

Although it is a big fundraising event for CHEO, it's not the only one--but, the CN Tour is the premier fundraising event for Candlelighters. Last year, the event brought in over $570,000 for both organizations, which is fantastic--but the need is great. So, once again, the goal for this year's event is blowing last year's total out of the water!

This year, with Brooke as his inspiration, Hubby decided to set a CN Tour goal for himself. His team's fundraising target was $2,000 and Hubby's personal goal was half of it. $1,000 seemed a far reach, but he was determined to make it--even if he had to donate the remainder himself, he was determined to see it through!

Well, here we are a week from the event and he's at $1,150! We are so proud of him.

Of course, every bit counts, but this year, it feels good to say we've done our best to make a significant contribution (or at least a genuine effort to make others aware of how wonderful CHEO and Candlelighters has been to us and to many other childhood cancer families in our community). We feel really good about being able to give back to these organizations that have helped us so much this last year.

Anyways, all this to say, that we've set a new goal for ourselves! We are trying to make it to $1,500 by the end of the week. So, if you haven't been completely tapped donating to your own personal causes and have a spare $10 to give to a good cause (tax receipt supplied, of course!), please check out Hubby's site: CN Cycle for CHEO. We would be most obliged!

And, if you are interested in participating, it's not too late to register or volunteer! Lots of races (cycling, walking or in-line skating) to partake in and lots of good, old-fashioned, kid-friendly fun (think bbq, Little Ray's Reptiles animal demonstrations, moon bounces, clowns, face-painting, Craz-E-Crew stunt show, magic show, slides, etc.) that will take place at the Canadian War Museum parking lot (at the Lebreton Flats) during the races and afterwards. You can even bring along the family dog. Definitely not an event to be missed!

Hubby will be cycling the 70km on the morning of May 1st with his team from work. B, Avie and I will walk in the Family 5km. Well, the girls will be waving like royalty from the fine comfort of their little red wagon, while I'll be the one hoofing it, but it'll be fun nonetheless. Hope to see you there!

Something Christmasy for the boys

For my hubby, nothing spells the Christmas season so much as the Victoria Secret Fashion Show. You know the one--the fashion soirée hosted by the most It Girl supermodel of the moment? The biggest fashion event in the world--the one with all of the angel wings and celebrity performers and stunningly glitterific ladies? It generally makes it appearance right after American Thanksgiving and has a distinctly festive feel to it.

Always gets my husband in the mood--in more ways than one! ;) And, it is definitely on his 'lifetime' bucket list. How he ever plans to score tickets to it is beyond me, but there you go.

Anyways, it's a great show. I watch it, too, because I love the costumey fashion and the over-the-top wings and the fab music and the sheer giddiness on those gorgeous girls faces. They really seem to love to be apart of this show! I guess for a model, being a Victoria Secret Angel is akin to Christmas morning for kids. It just doesn't get better than that.

Well, we don't have anything quite like that lingerie show here in Canada, but this Christmas, we do have something worthy of our boys' attention: La Senza's Cup Size Choir.

This is for you, fellas. Enjoy!

Secret Santa

So, I have learned that Brooke is absolutely the worst secret-keeper ever. I should never have trusted her with any kind of insider information, but as she was standing beside me when I made the discovery, it was hard not to include her and take her into my confidence.

Set scenario? Okay. Yesterday, I'm flipping around online while Avie is taking her nap, looking at the Jean Coutu website as Jax had mentioned to me the night before that enlargements were 40% off this week and I was thinking of printing some photos in time for the holidays.

Out of curiosity, I decided to check out photo gifts and found some thermal coffee travel mugs that you can personalize with a photo or drawing. I thought that for $19.99, Hubby might like one with a photo of the girls on it or some of Brooke's artwork. Would make a great Christmas gift for a proud papa who drinks coffee like it is going out of style. And, he never seems to have enough of those mugs!

So, my ''aha!'' moment arrived and as Brooke was beside me, I asked her wouldn't it be a great gift idea for Daddy? She jumped and clapped her hands. ''That's me!'' she exclaimed, as I tooled around with some design samples, "It's perfect!''

I then explained to her that it would be a surprise for Christmas and that she couldn't tell him about it. I figured she'd be good at keeping the secret as she herself had already 'purchased' him some gifts at the dollar store and hadn't mentioned them to him. (Now, I realize it's either because she's forgotten them or simply had no idea what she got him in the first place.)

About 20 minutes later, I hear her knock on the garage door to talk to her daddy (where he was busily working on his own Christmas surprise for us). She was going around with a little notepad and a pen, asking everyone what they wanted for Christmas, so she could send Santa 'our lists' and she didn't want to leave Daddy out of the game.

Hubby responds to her question with ''Clamps. Ask Mommy about them. She'll know the ones I mean.''

Yes, I do. The ones that were on sale in the Canadian Tire flyer this week. (Already bought two of them. No worries. A) He rarely reads my blog. B) He was with me and picked them out.)Naturally, Brooke comes back to me and says:

''Daddy says he wants clams...and seashells.''

Having overheard their conversation, I thought this was pretty funny and had to share it with him. So, I went back to the garage door and said:

''So you want clams and seashells, eh?''

Just then, Brooke pops out from behind me and says to Hubby, clapping excitedly ''Daddy, we just found a special cuppy to give to you for Christmas, but I can't talk to you about it because it's a secret.''

Hubby burst out laughing. ''Oh really?'' He looked up at me, his eyes twinkling merrily. She danced around, clapping.

''Yup! Mommy says it's a surprise.''

Geez, thanks Brooke.

A city cycle for the kids

For several years now, Hubby has participated in the CN Cycle for CHEO (the Children's Hospital for Eastern Ontario). The fundraiser is in support of the hospital and all it does for our community's sick and injured children.

I can't tell you what a relief it is simply knowing that a hospital and staff dedicated to our children's health and wellbeing is so close to home. The doctors and nurses at CHEO were exceptional when B had to make numerous trips there over the holidays. I can't express just how touched I was by the stocking that the nurses gave B on Christmas Day. The stocking (filled with crayons, bubbles, stickers, candy, jewelry-making kit and a puppy dog handpuppet!) was just a physical representation of how much the people who work there care about their patients. It truly made my little girl's day! And, although we have been fortunate enough not to have needed CHEO's excellent services many times in our two and a half years of parenthood, we know that not all families are quite so lucky.

Anyways, this weekend, Hubby will once again be cycling around the city (70 km) in support of this great cause. And, in an added twist this year, he has decided to match whatever he receives in sponsorship with his own donations. Call it Baby Fever or what-have-you, but I think Hubby has been inspired by the appearance of our little cherub to give more than usual!

That said, I'm using this blog to blatantly elicit some last-minute donations from my readers. (Might as well soak my Hubby for all he's got, while helping out a great cause! ;) If you would like to donate to the CN Cycle for CHEO fundraiser (rest assured that 100% of donations goes directly to CHEO and donations over $10 will be accompanied by a tax receipt), please feel free to visit my husband's page.

Thank you for your support!!