I'm a big cheater pants...

I've figured out how to back date posts... so I'm going to try to catch up on the year and they will actually show up chronologically rather than when I actually wrote them! Just like the way I (used to) scrapbook. I love it!

Off to Grandma's

Spencer got to go on his 10 year old trip to Grandma's. Can you see his little head sticking out of the cockpit window? He had a fabulous time

Dance 2009/2010

Hayley and Ashley are in their heaviest year of dance yet. Not as busy as some dance families, but busy for us! Hayley continued in Lyrical, Jazz and Ballet and added a twice a week conditioning class. Ashley participated in Jazz, Tap and Ballet. We found ourselves running back and forth to the dance studio just about every day in the week. It's a good thing that we live so close. These pictures are of Hayley's jazz routine, Space Mountain.

Originally, the silver mask was painted on with a make-up brush but that was a bit tricky as the makeup did not spread very well. They then switched to an air brush technique which was less work for me.

 

After the teased hair, french braids and silver spray paint, I had to wisk her home, let her shower, dry her hair and put her hair in ringlets. Almost mission impossible considering that her hair does not curl easily. It's hard to see, but her hair is now in ringlets.

This little red costume is Ashley's jazz routine called "Where's the Fire".



Ashley's tap number was called "Rock n' Roll Cuties".

Cute little sailor ballerina.





You're Fired!!

Okay, well I wasn't really fired, but Paul thinks it's funny to say that I was fired and that's what he tells the children. I happen to be a part time Resource Teacher with very little seniority. When schools hire an extra part time Resource Teacher it's usually because they've squeezed some extra money or have a few extra special needs kids. They can't be considered long term positions and when you have the least seniority, you're the first out the door. Anyway in April 2008 I was given notice that I had been "surplussed" which means "there's no work at this school but we think there is elsewhere in the district". Within a week my school had figured something out and picked me back up. In April 2009 they let me go again with the promise that "things could change". They didn't change, but I found a nice position at another school and I was promised by the district that I had three years protection against being surplussed. Paul said I won the "immunity idol". We don't watch Survivor, but he thought it was funny anyway. In May 2010 I received notice that my position had been eliminated. "But what about my protection?" apparently this situation didn't qualify, but they did offer me a part time classroom position instead teaching grade one/two. So, I decided not to look for Resource elsewhere but to stay put at my school... okay so that's the background.

Shortly thereafter during dinner, Spencer and Hayley had their heads in their hands and were shaking their heads. "What will we do?" they said. "How can we show our faces in public?". "Our mother only works ten months out of the year and she only works half of the week and every year she gets FIRED!!" They are so naughty, but they were so funny!

Ashley's Baptism

Ashley was baptized on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. This was just three days after the dedication of the Vancouver temple which you can see behind David and Spencer in the photo below.

 Ashley was baptized in the dress that her Nanny made for my baptism.

The old man turns 40!!

What an attractive family! They all got their dad's looks.

Billy Stone

OBITUARY FOR WILLIAM (BILLY) STONE 1955-2010

We are sure that heaven became an even brighter cheerier and livelier place when Billy arrived there on January 18th 2010! Billy had a great zest for life and could always make people smile. IF you knew him - you know what we mean. ANyone who has ever come in contact with him even for a few moments has never forgotten him or he them - he had a fantastic memory for faces. We, Syd and Angie Greenfield and our family, had the privilege of being Billy's care family for 29 years. He taught us so much about unconditional love and loving life to the fullest and being enthusiastic about every moment. Billy had downs syndrome and he also had an enlarged heart - not just physically - his heart was truly big and loving. He will be sorely missed by us and our daughters: Amanda (Paul); Sharon (Blaine); Christal (Sam: Katie (Neil) and our son David (Amber, our 11 grandchildren, dear friend Maureen Collins, our extended family, and his many friends.

Billy was preceded in death by his mother Agnes Darling Stone and his father William Frederick Stone, and his dear friend Terry Ball.

Billy is survived by his sisters: Diane Paisley of Cobble Hill, BC and Freida Hutcheon of Saskatchewan and their families, and his best friend Paul Beaven who has been with Billy since thery were children in Woodlands, and then residents of the Miller home in Surrey. They were apart for a short while and then both came to live with us in 1981. Our children were raised with them. Billy is also survived by good friends Derek McDiarmid and Bill Crickmer who also lived with us in our home in Langley for many years.

We never had a dull moment living with Billy, just thinking of him causes us to smile and chuckle, and we now have wonderful memories to cherish.

Billy was always a people person, he loved to ham it up and have fun. He was a devoted fan of the real Batman (played by Adam West) and in fact many people and children instantly gave Billy the nickname of Batman because he talked about him constantly. He loved Elvis, Michael Jackson, Bryan Adams, Johnny Cash, George Strait, marching bands, parades, bagpipes, the circus, parties, dancing, playing the air guitar, Princess Diana, Mickey Mouse, Superman, Zorro and the Lone Ranger to name a few of his passions. But most of all Billy loved hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries!!

We wish to express our deepest appreciation to everone at Langley Association for Community Living Bridge Centre where Billy attended the day program for approximately 25 years. We also wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Sunshine Club past and present for providing wonderful social opportunities for Billy and his peers for many years.