Mama's lamed up with two "boo boo"s as Mira likes to call them. Last weekend I participated in a 460km run from Toronto to Ottawa for charity. Now before you read too much into that last sentence, I did not run 460km myself. Myself and 100 other runners too turns running many mapped out 10km legs over the three day event, eventually bringing our running total to 460km. We ran from Queens Park, Toronto to Parliament Hill, Ottawa.

We ran through Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Brighton, Courtice, into Cobourg and then stayed the night. The second day we ran through Trenton, Kingston and ended up in Brockville. We then ran from Brockville to Ottawa on the last day. I personally ran 68km those three days. I ran 18km the first day, 26km the second day and finally, 25km for the last day, ending on Parliament Hill with a big smile and aching legs.

Mira was taken up to Ottawa by my good friend Anastasia and they were able to meet us at the end of the run and so my daughter was able to share in the run in her own special way.

The unfortunate part in all this is that I have somehow injured my knees. Yup, plural. Not quite sure what damage I have done, but I'm sure it's tendon related somehow. I am currently sitting on my couch with my legs elevated and an icy hot patch on each knee joint.

Now, I'd like to pin it on the run, but I must also admit that the day after returning home from Ottawa, I fell HARD down my hardwood stairs, causing a severe bruise to my tailbone and my left elbow. It is likely that some of the damage to my knees may have been caused by the fall as well.

So, for now it's rest, icy hots and some advil and a search for a good sports doctor if it doesn't clear up on it's own :( Until then, I have Mira kissing my boo boos better for me :) That part isn't so bad.

Mira turned three this past weekend. She had a great little party with all of her little friends. My stepmother played Martha Stewart and brought her amazing party ideas over to my house this past Sunday.

Mira had chosen out her 'princess' birthday cake from the Superstore and she had chosen 'princess' napkins to go with her princess cake. She is already the little party coordinator. Mira had 3 of her friends over and they made crafts (thanks to Pam's camp-minded organizing!) and played the game "bowling for chickens/rabbits" and they had a glow-in-the-dark party with glow necklaces and glow bracelets. My basement is finished and provides a perfect playroom for Mira to call her own.

Her friends were generous with their time and the gifts that they brought for Mira. She had a great time and I believe that all of the other kids were exhausted by the time the party ended (always a good sign that it was a good party!).

My little girl is 3 and it is so hard to imagine that three years ago, my little girl came into this world completely helpless and dependent and now she is coordinating her own birthday parties! Eeek! Where is the time going!! Happy Birthday Sweet Pea!

Mira will soon be starting her much loved school as of this Wednesday. She has been speaking non-stop of school and everytime she sees her ocean themed backpack hanging on the hook downstairs, she tells me, "Mama, I go to school". She then insists on wearing her backpack to wherever we happen to be going and tells me about her friends at school and how she is going to play with these little buddies of hers.

Last spring, she was enrolled in a one-day-a-week program to see how she enjoyed the school-like environment and structure. Little Miss Mira completely thrived and couldn't run fast enough from the parking lot to the front doors of the community centre at 9:15am sharp.

I would fondly watch her holding hands with her little friends, sitting on the teachers lap while they were being read a story, singing a song with the other kids while dancing in a circle and being more than happy to be encouraged to try new things. New art projects would come home every class and I could see her beam with pride as she passed me her little masterpieces and said "look Mama, it's for you!". Those little masterpieces cover up my refridgerator.

This fall, instead of one morning a week, she will be participating in a three mornings a week program that will extend throughout the entire normal school year. She has already been asking me when she starts school and when she can see her friends again. Although they likely won't be the same friends as her first class, she will make others easily I am certain. I am more grateful that she now has a rich learning experience to look forward to every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. The positive path to learning is being established and I'm thrilled.

The only thing I am going to have to explain to her is that she is not quite big enough to ride a big beautiful yellow school bus, an object of her affection it would appear. Next year.....

I love the lyrics to this song and I always think of Mira when I hear it on the radio. I am not usually a huge country music fan, but I am a huge fan of this song.

I Hope You Dance By: Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone) I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

Many congratulations to Maryanne Helms (nee Challies), Grace Frye (nee Challies) and Susanna Rose (nee Challies), all of whom are choosing to expand their little families in unison! I have already posted a congratulatory post for Maryanne and her husband Pat who welcomed little Will into the world mere weeks ago. Yesterday, the youngest Challies girl gave birth to beautiful baby Cora and while Grace was in labour, Susanna was announcing that she was pregnant with her third baby! Susanna and Rick are due with their third kiddo in the Spring. What a fantastic time when these three beautiful sisters can share in motherhood together. Love you guys and congratulations. xo

I met a very brave man tonight. This man, Francois, somewhere I believe in his mid to late 40's showed up in the park behind my house with his 11 year old daughter and his strong french accent.

I said hello, of course, and he introduced himself and his dog. We began talking about the neighbourhood and how long he's been in Georgetown, the usual "hey, nice to meet you neighbour" type chat.

He eventually revealed to me that he had lost his wife a mere 3 years ago to colon and ovarian cancer. This man went on to tell me about the 3 year battle his wife and him had battling this terrible illness. When drugs here in Canada stopped working, they picked up and moved to Mexico to try alternative methods of treating cancer. When those methods failed to work, his wife sadly passed away.

He told me of the struggles being a single dad and raising his 11 year old daughter without his wife. He worries all the time about her, the only child his wife and him had before she passed away. He tries to put on a brave front when she is around and tries not to let his fear obvious, but who could ever blame him for being terrified of something happening to his precious girl.

While we were standing there talking, he began looking for her as she had disappeared from sight momentarily. We found her, approximately 50ft up in a large maple tree, stuck. He was trying not to be overcome by fear and he spoke to her calmly and quietly and she was panicking.
Once she was out of the tree, he revealed to me that not only is he scared of something happening to her physically, but he has so many other fears about raising a lone daughter, especially now as she is getting older. He is afraid of introducing another woman, when the time comes. He's afraid of how she may feel, having been such the focus of his attention, especially over the past 3 years. He's afraid about having to explain the birds and bees to her, when traditionally that role would be filled by her mother. He's afraid that between the two of them, the amount of hurt and loss she has felt, that she will never open up and love fully the way she should because she will be afraid of losing again, like she did her mother. So many fears for this single father of one......I cannot even begin to know how he must feel. To lose not only your wife, the love of your life, and now having to raise your daughter with so many uncertainties and questions.

This man, Francois, is doing the best that he can. I admire him for the strength that he passes onto his daughter. Life hasn't stopped for this little family and they trek on, holding onto eachother despite their incredible loss.

A huge congratulations to Pat, Maryanne, Anna, Josh and Emma on the arrival of the 6th member of their family! Little Will was born on August 6th down south and from what I'm hearing he is a perfect mix of Maryanne and Pat's three other children.

I can't wait to meet their new little addition hopefully this fall.

Maryanne is the most incredible mother and the love for her new son is already overwhelming I'm sure.

Congrats guys! Love to you all xoxo