helllllllllooooooo summer!

Summer has arrived and I love it!!!!! The sun is shining. I am out on my bike again with an added little companion being towed behind in my bike trailer. It's wonderful. And on a sidenote...I feel like my bike was meant for a kid. The little baskets have great storage, it only goes three gears...I predict there will be quite a few bike rides in our future...not just the 4 we have had in the last 4 days.

What has happened in the last month....

With the little: she is practicing her gymnastics skills lately. Swinging on any bar she can find (even if it means it's right above the slide (mom panic). Practicing somersaults. And continuing her love of swings and slides, going head first down the latter. Not to mention the independence that she takes doing them. These adventurous skills were taught lovingly by her dad. She is turning more into a monkey as the days go by (and growing up).

Growing up so much that we are finally starting to see more sleep nights than wake up nights. WOW. I never thought I would see that day come and had no idea it would take a year and a half! Phew!

Her favourite song right now is Handclap by Fitz and the Tantrums. So much so that if you play it, it will need to be played over and over and over again or we will get our out "tantrum" ha. She loves it as it is fast to dance with and slow....but obviously she needs a companion, so as soon as it goes on she must grab a stuffy or doll.

As far as words, we are getting lots of no, and yeah's. Mom is definitely being said with meaning like Daddy and doggie. And we are getting the nods and shakes of the head. She really loves to say car and truck and being in both (the front seat playing that is). Whenever she sees a red truck she always points to it and says "Daddy" which cracks me up. Plus little words everyday that I can't keep track of. ABC's is still a fun song to sing and Frere Jaques, Shaker song, 5 little ducks and the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Plus counting to 10 (can you tell her dad is a teacher...good dad).

We have had dates with friends that she particularly loves. Even though she has to assert herself that she is old too and doesn't need to be carried around all over the place. One particular fun day was going to the spray park/park with friends. All the adults got to sit around, eat pizza and talk and the young ones got to jump around on the playground and splash around in the spray park. It was a great night. Lots of geese and poop though...but still fun all the same.

Our gardens are in full swing. The veggies (Mark's passion) in the back and the flowers (mine) in the front. And some future landscaping next year as we tragically lost a tree last week in a wind storm. Crazily so, that we both watched it as it went from slightly bent to all the way over. The ideas now are flowing with some edible shrubs and pumpkins along with flowers and rocks. Next years project obviously as this years is all about the....

Bees. They have arrived. They have a home and it appears that they are producing. All good news and I am sure more to say except I am no beekeeper and really know nothing about it. Except to say that they are extraordinarily fun to watch. When people say "busy as bees" I actually know what that means now as they are busy. The combs look like artwork. And Mark seems to be enjoying it quite a bit which is fun to watch. Oh and only one stung person so far...me as I stepped on one when they first came in. Not bad. In all seriousness they really do keep to themselves and you can go right up to them without fear as they don't seem bothered. Now mess with their home....that's different.

Now it is just time to sit back and enjoy the BBQ's, the ice cream (toddler's with ice cream are hilarious), sport ball (golf last time) and the weather.

My car broke down the other day (oh game of life) and because of summer I am not even bothered by it. Mainly because of my dear bike (going back to the beginning of this post). I love that bike! However picking the car up tomorrow, fingers crossed!

In the news: The oilers are out of the playoffs. Sad night for me as I really started to get into it. Surveys are out to redevelop the playground in our neighbourhood (yay)!

I just finished Girls the last season. Girlboss. Beauty and the Beast 2017. Gifted. All wonderful shows and movies. And I watched Moana again because I love that movie so much! Also saw Love the Coopers...meh.

That's about it!
Happy Summer
xoxo

April (Snow) Showers Welcomes....SUN PLEASE

Well the news of April:

The Oilers made the playoffs and are presently in round 2 beating San Jose and currently playing the Mighty Ducks. Needless to say every second day is hockey hockey hockey (for Mark). I am usually to tense to watch it so I check the score every 15 minutes or so online...

I have finished watching 13 Reasons Why on Netflix...a little mixed on it. Presently watching Series of Unfortunate Events. Plus finished watching Season 5 of Girls from the library and Moana and Allied.

I just did some spring cleaning. Or maybe just regular cleaning but since I hadn't done it in about a month and a half I will call it spring cleaning. I even took apart our dishwasher and cleaned out the filter and the blade. YUCK. Thank goodness for youtube though as it shows you how to do almost anything!:)

Income tax has been completed and filed. Phew. I hate tax season. Usually makes me annoyed with life as the game of life hits me with something. And it kind of did...but then didn't.

Other things that have been going on:

Two pieces of raison toast has greeted me in my rain boots thanks to a little one travelling all over the house eating.

With that travelling, dancing, climbing, singing, adventure seeking little lady we decided to sign her up in SPORTBALL. and why not. this girl loves kicking, throwing, rolling balls. Why wouldn't she love this. Well she was a little overexcited when we took her to her first class last week and spent most of the time running around (and at times attempting to steal other kids balls). Monkey. She did love the popcorn clean up game where you gather all the balls and put them in a basket. She rocked that one. :)

We also had a family filled evening of Raffi and Dairy Queen. Yes that is right. My childhood favourite. Although he didn't sing from my favourite album (the Christmas album). He did not disappoint with Baby Beluga, Brush your teeth, and Bananaphone. Plus the little lady did pretty good, thanks in part to a few snacks, entertainment and the girl behind her that would smile and talk to her.

Another thing I have noticed is she is starting to take a liking to dresses and barrets. Although I don't know if she has the same feelings towards leotards. It's kind of fun as she likes to pick out her clothes every morning.

Lots of park outings. Basically everyday before or after supper Mark takes her in her push car to the playground for a swing on the swings and if she is feeling adventurous sliding down the spiral slide. Whether it is rain or shine she is outside. Loves going out in the backyard in sock feet chasing the dog and "telling" him what is right or wrong.

New words like cracker, and cookie are emerging. HA. And whenever she wants to say something emphatically it is usually No. I don't think she knows what it means exactly as everything seems to be no...even if i asked if she wanted chocolate....she will learn soon enough what that word means! :)

I don't know if I have anymore news. The bees will be coming shortly. Seedlings of squash, tomatoes and garlic have been planted. The greenhouse has a door to keep in more heat. Voles are being captured everyday. Yes Mark is having lots of outdoor fun.

Let's hope we get some May flowers pretty soon!
xoxox

Springly Things

So it is still kind of winter...and by still i mean an occasional snow fall seems to be emerging every now and again. But spring is a coming. Why? The snow is melting super fast. The sun is out for super long periods of time. The trees are budding. It rains more than snows. AND it's April! :)

So what have we been up to in the last month...

Blokus! So a few weeks ago I went to the tabletop cafe with my besties. We played some pretty cool games like hamsterrolle, cards against humanity, dutch blitz (a fabulous classic that i still love) and blokus. Funnily enough I owned this game. Mark and I got it from his sister's family two years ago! YIKES. Life with a newborn seemed super busy and exhausting that we never did play the game...but since that fateful night at the tabletop....Mark and I haven't been able to put that game away. Although I may need to take a break as I keep losing. CURSES!

The game of life reared it's head once again as I managed to get a ticket and had to enroll into a car seat safety clinic. It's all good in the sense that I should know all this information. But that ticket is nasty. And with all the stuff that happened over the last three months and just a week after my car getting fixed all I could do is let out a big sigh....cause really that is all you can do.

The little gal is sure growing up. Lots of words being said: shoes, hot, socks, coat, cold, apple, nana, water, up and the list continues to grow and grow. She loves her dolls as she takes them to bed, the bath and they seem to be little companions as she plays with her toys. Singing songs like ba ba black sheep, zoom zoom, and the itsy bitsy spider. Really she sings the rhythm more than the words but she does seem to manage the actions too! She loves brushing her teeth, she knows her body parts and is a great little helper unpacking groceries, peeling onions, sweeping, and cleaning up after herself.

Her new adventures are dog walks as she insists on walking yet can't quite do all the distance that we cover so in and out of the stroller, our shoulders or the new (and used) little car we got her. Outdoors is definitely her new love at the moment. Jumping in puddles, throwing rocks, playing in sand/dirt, going to the park and playing with all her different sport balls.

We continue to go to the same places. We have checked out cafe o play again with a mom friend and her little boy. She is definitely getting more out of that place than she did before. We visited a petting zoo and some little play houses at the Mom and Tot's Fair. Been to our fair share of mini gyms and even managed to do a family swim trip to St Albert.

Dinner out x2 for us and pizza in x1. Special kind of awesome this month as I was exceptionally tired of cooking a couple of days and we eat fast and she can now eat restaurant food. I think she liked Boston Pizza over New Asian Village...but like I said....we eat fast.

Mark is busy with his bee making...really the hive making and he discovered his love for the redo centre. I have joined a Quality council at work that I am enjoying. BUSY BUSY BUSY.

In entertainment I have seen some movies: Logan (really good), Manchester by the Sea (too sad for me), The Light Between the Oceans (sad but really good), Trolls (LOVED IT), Girl on the Train (enjoyed) and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (a little blah). I finished the third season of Grace and Frankie (hilarious), have enjoyed Riverdale and just started watching reruns of Road to Avonlea again.

In books I finished a series finally that I started quite awhile ago. The Pittacus Lorre series. Very much a tween book series but light all the same. I am thinking of starting up on L.M.Montgomery again....

Loving the sunshine. Can't wait for all the fun the outdoors has in store for us this month.
xoxo

February you were short and sweet

Oh love month how fast you sweep through our lives. A little month in review again.

• the first two weeks I was still in NB with my parents and the little lady. Lots of walks. Lots of family. Lots of eating. A bit of shopping. Lots of movies: La La Land, Hidden Figures, Passengers, Arrival, Lion, Edge of Seventeen, Sing, and I am sure a few more that have been forgotten. AND I finished a few more pages in my colouring book...something I hadn't done since the last visit! A wonderful visit for both of us
• had a few little troubles when we got back as the adjustment to jet lag was a bit hard on both of us. I feared that I may have had the early toddlerhood drama come upon me and I wasn't ready for the tantrums just yet. Let's just say Valentines Day was a little nerve wracking. The best present given to me was a child taken by her father to the library so I could sit in peace with a glass of wine. Plus the flowers were nice too (wink wink)
• after a week, she settled into a routine and the parents did too. A few dog walks that have become a little slower due to the growing independence of little miss. She only takes to the sled or the stroller for a short period of time and insists on walking the rest. Slightly time consuming but cute when the puddles entice her to play. The other day she walked probably close to a 1.5 km to 2 km as her mom dragged the sleigh behind. As we got to the car she took a look (knowing she hates the car seat more than anything right now) and climbed promptly in the sled and looked at me in a pleadingly to take her on another walk. 
• Just as I write the above I think of other fun little ditties that she does. Like this am she watched as I made her her cereal and shook her head repeatedly when I was about to poor the milk. So she had her cheerios milkless and would repeatedly dip her banana in the dry cereal to get the cereal to stick. Innovative and hilarious (at least to her parents).
• I have been working quite a bit of weekends this month (mainly to make up for the ones I took off when I was on vacay). But we did manage to sneak away as a family on family day no less. A walk in the morning and winter fest (or slush fest in the afternoon). We missed a bit of the events in the afternoon due to nap schedule but we did have some most excellent food truck food (mini doughnuts and poutine). 
• Dad and daughter have been having a blast cruising the city with trips to the swim pool, sea life cavern, library and even shovelling a bit of snow. Plus lots of dancing around the house. Wheels on the bus is hugely popular. And a few rap songs mixed in.
• And I have seen some of my favourite people (Casey and Jeaninne) which is always fun. Casey even babysat for me one afternoon so I could attend a work function. I heart my friends with all I have. 

in the news

• The academy awards just came and left. Huge controversy as the best picture was named La la Land but it was a mix up in the envelopes and it was Moonlight instead. Never saw the actual show as I was working but it sounded embarrassing. 
• Garth Brooks came and went. Played 9-10 shows. I'm not a particular fan of his but was pretty impressed with all that I heard he did in Edmonton. Plus a friend of mine saw Trisha Yearwood in Zara. That was cool for her!

i have been enjoying

• supernatural. 
• working out again. 
• wine and baileys (not together..ha)
• reading the last pittacus lorre book
• getting a bit more engaged in work as i have joined a committee 

that's about it of the month of February. Bring on March. Although I may be a little absent from social media as I decided that is what I am going to try to give up for lent. Facebook, instagram and snapchat! wish me luck!

love

Moments that make me smile

I am watching Jurassic Park right now. You know that scene in that movie. The pivotal scary moment where you just hear the foot on the ground. 'Thump, thump, thump'. You get chills up your spine. The danger is coming. The water in the puddle is vibrating rhythmically to the sound of the 'thump, thump thump.'

That moment always makes me laugh. Always. I think of Jeaninne. We were on a plane boarded to Italy for a school trip. We were overtired and hysterical. Committed to not sleeping. Joking around. Playing games and talking. The flight attendant came around and brought us water. Setting it down on our trays, it rippled in accordance to the plane's engine. Jeaninne quickly quipped, 'It's coming!'  Mimicking the movie, Jurassic Park. 

Still to this day when I see the water vibrate in the puddle and hear the 'thump thump thump,' I am brought back to that plane ride. Our seventeen year old selves laughing and giggling in that moment. 

I love that moment. 

Love

Les miserables

remember this post. well i am practically peeing pants as it is going to be a feature movie. the unfortunate thing is i won't beable to see it with my mom as it opens christmas day...but that will not stop me from seeing it. i will go alone if i have to, although i have a few fanatical musical friends to take so i am sure i will be in good company.



he he. i still remember obsessing over this play when it first came to edmonton. i dreamed that i auditioned for cosette and would dance around the house singing castle on the cloud obsessively. i even think my mom took me out to buy a nice outfit as it was my first big musical to see at the jubilee. she definitely started a long never ending expensive hobby as i continue to see a play (or two or three) a year (just yesterday seeing rock of ages with jeaninne, anita and casey)...fun fun.

this is also the musical that (ironically enough) got me out of my funk when i was in that hard clinical last year. i think just the music and singing it loudly in my office gave me such a tension release. oooo, les miz, i love you so!  you will be such a welcome christmas treat!



love

movies

so i started this post way back when...like really way back...in december. when i now look at it i can see the movies are quite old but here are some that i have enjoyed quite a bit. check out the trailers and then if you feel so inclined check out the movies themselves!

larry crowne: i loved this movie. so cute and fun!



friends with benefits: chick flick with some girlies. i love the kriss kross references.



the way back: an extreme hiking movie...if you are a prisoner. we both liked this one but then read up on it some more and was kind of disappointed that it may be pure fiction.



the help: loved this movie and now trying to forget it as i want to read the book because i hear it is busy! so funny!



one day: mixed feeling on this one. loved it but so sad too...sigh.



my week with marilyn: i really liked this movie. i don't really know very much about marilyn moore but after this movie i was slightly intrigued. hence my new addiction to the broadway musical smash...



and the last one i will show is one i loved! moneyball! watch it!



love

movies and books

with my rotation all wrapped up as i head into my last one, these are a few of the indulgences i had to de-stress:

movies
- robin hood: that would be the second time i saw this movie...and probably a bad time to rent it as like the first time (when we saw it in the theatre i might add) i fell asleep. i really do want to see it because mark keeps telling me how good it is...
- finding nemo: this was from mark's brother's connection. we didn't want to go out, but really wanted to do something mindless so i chose this one. i really can never get enough of this movie...so cute
- role models: along with finding nemo, we borrowed this one because mark had never seen it and i knew he would love it...i was right!
- killers: two words: skip it
- get em to the greek: personally this is not my choice in movies...it was definitely mark and i think he went alone on this one to rent...he liked it :)...meh for me.
- karate kid: okay i know this is a kid's movie but i seriously LOVED this movie and (surprise) it totally made me cry. he he he. so cute
- due date: i wanted a date night. this is what we went to go see. a little mindless but i laughed and enjoyed it...great escapism
- toy story 3: i have to admit i am really loving the kids movies lately and this is no exception. awesome movie and once again i cried. but i really don't feel that bad because jeaninne did too when she saw it. that's right, i am not the only suck.
- life as we know it: cute movie with some laughs. i enjoyed the company i was with too! :)

those movies along with my obsession with supernatural fulfills the television focus of my entertainment.

books
in terms of books, i have been reading (roughly) a chapter a night. therefore, i finish the book in about a month. i am done the book of negros. that has probably been one of my favourite reads this year. great, great, great book. i picked up twenties girl. a total chicklet book: light and funny something i really needed. currently i am reading mennonite in the little black dress. its a memoir and so far, quite a humorous one.

that's it for now
love

let's talk about movies

since i talked about books recently....let's talk about movies. these are just a few i have rented (or gone out to see) recently:

- going the distance: to me, i found this movie quite good. i was going in with some expectations but it turned out to even surprise the ones i had. it was really funny (some inappropriate humor but not enough for complete raunchiness). at one point i was in hysterical laughter and could not stop. seriously love it when that happens (i don't know if anita does...wink wink). cute chick flick film.

- babies: a documentary on how babies are raised (and developing) all around the world (sometimes many similarities and then you see some vast differences). cute movie. the babies are pretty cute (obviously don't see it if you don't like children, he he he). the only thing i kind of wished for was some narration but all and all pretty cute.

- prince of persia: i really loved this movie. i was pleasantly surprised with the story and the actors overall. action packed (which i love in an escapism movie) with a couple of little twists but not to grotesque as it is disney. also brought be back to the movies i enjoyed like indiana jones and the mummy. very good. if you don't like snakes be forewarned...right jo?

ones that i have seen but really wasn't an overall fan was losers, remember me, letters to juliet and the back up plan. they were alright overall but really not my thing.

there you have it. the movies i have seen this past bit. seriously if you have seen a good movie tell me! i love movies and anything funny, quirky, action packed, or a really good documentary i am usually interested in... :)

love

speaking of:

1. life. i had the most amazing lazy day yesterday. sarah relieved me from "lockdown" and mark picked me up. we went to the old strathcona farmers market. hadn't been there and a sooo very long time. picked up pasta and pesto, saw a nursing friend. all was grand.

2. trip. we then went to mec. stocked up on some camping supplies for our upcoming adventure to bc. got a replacement headlamp, a case for the camera, and most importantly some fabulous dried food. AND second most importantly a fat frank because who can honestly not have one of those!! :)

3. sleep. went home. watched the so you think you can dance finale. ellen is fab! had a fabulous nap. after walked the dog as he was hyped up for some trail adventures.

4. movies. saw a bunch this week. everybody's fine: bawled like a baby. note to dad, i need to call you more often and don't see that movie ;) princess and the frog: yes its disney but i really wanted to see it. classic storyline but a very nice ending. date night: i now understand what my brother and mom kept laughing about. very hilarious! bounty hunter: i enjoyed it but it was not as fabulous compared to the rest.

5. harry potter. look at the below trailer.


love

what have you seen lately?

i can always count on summer to feed my indulgence of fast action, funny, blockbuster MOVIES. sadly i have found this summer lacking in all of the above. i must admit i haven't been to the theatre much this summer with all the wonderful weather, training, festivals and scrapbooking there is to do but of the few movies i have seen i have been sadly disappointed. mainly that is: iron man 2, and most recently the other guys.

don't get me wrong i LOVED LOVED LOVED inception, and got quite a few laughs in the a-team and sex and the city 2. but i have missed those big movies like the harry potters. you know the kind...the big screen mega film usually adapted from some kind of book NOT involving a vampire romance. ;)

this begs the question. have you seen any good movies lately...or are wanting to see?

on my wish list:

eat pray love
going the distance
salt
scot pilgrim vs. the world
life as we know it

hopefully those will fulfill what i crave in a movie!
love

i changed it again

wow. i am a crazy poster tonight. this is what happens when there is nothing to do at work. i even changed my blog background AGAIN! but i think i am definitely sticking with this one. i liked the other one, but i couldn't handle the format. i had no dates on my posts, the comments were at the top (when really they should be on the bottom) and i could not for the life of me find the stupid + to take off in the html code (that's right i can sort of read html).

just finished watching alice and wonderland. i am mixed about it. i couldn't really hear the whole movie because the sound was a little off on the television. but i don't really think i get the hype...or maybe the hype was too much so i went in with too big of an expectaion. however, i did see the a-team recently and i must say, i throughly enjoyed it. i really didn't think it would be my kind of movie, but little childhood tidbits came back to me while watching it. plus it was cheesy, summer fun. an indulgence if you will.

well i guess i should stop posting and get to work again!
have a nice night and hope you all are enjoying the summer weather!

love