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

The adventures/misadventures of a dog, a baby, a mom and cat Part 2

The dog continues to miss the dad in this house. The mom ruined all his fun on the walk today. He found an appealing 'thing' to roll in. It was wet and it really would have stuck to his fur just the right way. But the mom ran so fast that just as the dog dropped to the ground he was up again. Now that the dog thinks about it, the dad doesn't like that either. Sigh sometimes this family is no fun.

There is more. The dog was further traumatized over the baby. She keeps continuing her new rampage of inchworm, gorilla arm crawl. And her eyes seem to be only on his food, his toys and his water bowl. She even had the nerve to come over while the dog was eating his food. Although as the dogs thinks he does enjoy when she shares her food. Oh how life twists and turns.

But that is not all. The dog brought his ball to the mom today. It's just not the same as the dad would do it. Let's face it the mom throws like a girl. So the dog has resigned to his fate and snuggles with the dad's shoe on his "keep watch" chair. Someday he will return, right? 

The baby appeared to be doing pretty good today. She went grocery shopping with mom and even went for a walk in the rain to let the dog burn off some energy. She enjoyed touching the wet leaves on the trees and tried to drink the water. She is practicing actual crawling a bit more by pulling her arms out in a "gorilla like fashion". She even showed her grandparents in NB as she chased the phone from one side of the kitchen to the other.

But the baby seemed to notice something was astray. She couldn't say what...well because she doesn't know how to talk but when Mom walked from the living room to the kitchen the baby went hysterical. Inchworm crawled right to be with her and cried in her arms. The mom thought the baby was hungry and seemed to be better after that.

But then the baby went over for supper at Uncle John's and Aunt Marie's and took one look at all the adults and poured her sobs into her mom's shirt. Even Granny, Auntie Ruth and Grandad couldn't make it better. And they tried. Finally the baby got hugs from Granny but kept a watchful eye on her mom and if she dared to go more than 5m away the baby would let her have it.

It wasn't all bad though. The baby was full of smiles at dinner time and she made sure to give mom hugs when her hands were full of mushed up food. The baby even had a Welsh Cake and ate the entire thing. No doubt pleasing the entire table. And her dad called after and she was full of smiles for him to see and for her to give. 

The mom had an eventful day. She slept great the night before as the baby decided that sleeping on that fine weekend evening is just something that she should do. The mom went to the market, even if it was rainy and splurged buying her self a pain au chocolate and a steak empanada. She enjoyed both but needed to tell the dad that he may not enjoy the steak empanada as much as it had eggs and olives in it as well as beef.

She then went to the grocery store with the baby and splurged again buying chocolate covered jube jubes. She had forgotten how much she enjoyed them when she was in her pregnant days so she thought she would trigger her memory (on the chocolate, not being pregnant...she still remembers the pregnancy).

A dog walk, a check on the garden, (so far fingers crossed it is still safe with again no warning of frost or snow) the greenhouse (not as warm as it usually is but still wet and safe) and then she was off for dinner with the dad's family. It was nice to see adults even for a short while. Even if the dog and baby keep her busy they don't converse nearly as much as the mom likes...this may be famous last words when the baby starts to utter the many words that are likely to come in the years ahead. The mom is about to settle in and watch Game of Thrones, although she continues to wish that someone on this planet watches it as the same time as no one can talk with her about it.

The cat has kept to himself today. He has gone from the bed, to the orange kitchen upstairs to the couch. He has looked longingly outside for some sanction away from the dog and baby but it continues to rain so he retreats. He may come out later to be petted...but he has yet to decide.

That leaves another day in this home. Hope your day has been full of adventures and misadventures too!

love

Spring has sprung

"Smells so green and skies so blue, Spring has sprung and now, me too!"

K. Guilmartin

We did the unthinkable. Yes, we planted plants prior to the May long weekend. 

It started with Mark really. On a January evening he was surfing the internet. I wandered into his midst in my sleep deprived state. "I think I want a greenhouse, I think I am going to build one." I nodded and didn't really think much of it (Did I mention my sleep deprived state).

On a February evening, in another sleep deprived wander, my husband said to me. "I think I am going to build 4 garden boxes for the backyard." 

Then March came along and he found some bay windows. "They are going to be for my greenhouse." At this point I think I was getting 4 hour intervals so I had a bit more wakefulness. I paused. Thought how do bay windows make a greenhouse?! He posed a few ideas in his pre-existing garden. I couldn't quite visualize but nodded in agreement.

The end of March neared and the garden boxes were completed and placed in the back. 

The first weekend of April came upon us and a greenhouse was built and completed with the assistance of a brother in law, Jimi and neighbours for the heavy lifting. Where? Beside his garden bed. My reaction...impressed very much so. 

Soil came in the middle of April...by the truck full. Shovelled in to the boxes. Placed in the greenhouse.

Then the planting began. As the above song says, "It's time for gardening." And the plants grew and grew and grew. The hardier of the seeds were planted in the back and watered with a hosing system in place. 

Then this last week more was planted in the back as the greenhouse was just getting to big. So I guess you could say that I had a baby and so did Mark. Mark had multiples raised from from seedlings. How does he do it? ;)  

All jesting aside, I then jumped in. I bought some flowers and planted them in the front.

So we wait. We wait for no frost. No snow. Sheets are ready and waiting just in case. So May long weekend surprise us. Be good. Mainly cause I am on my own with seedling babies and our little baby!

love

When mom is away part 3...although she has been away much more than that

And she returns to salt and pepa's ooooh baby baby in the background. 

Love all of it!

Weekend of fun

A weekend of fun for this group of three...four...five.

It started with a date night and movie that lasted three days as this mom was too tired to watch a two hour movie in completion. 

Continued with two lovely walks in the dog park where even the babe wanted to see the going ons in the world. 

A romantic dinner of nachos and root beer (ha ha) followed the next day with a lovely seafood dinner with grandparents and aunts and uncles (Edey style) 

Flowers, chocolate covered marshmallows...yum yum. 

Ending with a family swim in the tot pool. 

Lovely Family Day Valentine's weekend. 

And just so you know there were baby meltdowns during many of this, cranky moments from both of us and a runway dog at times. But let's just concentrate on the big picture. It was fun! 

Love

On a Saturday after a nap

You just chill on the couch babbling your dreams looking at the ceiling. 

At least that's what she does...

I take a picture....

Love

Oh Christmas tree

You have already provided me with so many memories and stories . And Christmas has just begun. 

We came across you in a family lot with our tiny family of three. We circled around until I came across you standing there oh so proud. Mark took a look at you and cut you down with ease.

It was a wonderful afternoon. Quiet air, cool but with sun. We trekked, I carried little c and Mark carried you in the little red sleigh. Hot chocolate waiting for us with candy canes. The afternoon was quite perfect. 

Then controversy arose that evening when we brought you home. You couldn't fit in our home. So we lobbed your top. We sat you up in our living room and I was unsure about you. You were kind of sparse from what I'm used to. 

You see Christmas tree I come from a family that imported our tree directly from where Christmas trees are a business. My grandfathers business to be specific. Every year a tree would be in our mail. Crazy I know. And those trees tend to have a bit more bulk to them. I started klinging to the old memories. I know. Wrong. And it's not your fault. 

So the decorating began. Mark actually participated this year! And you looked okay. But old memories kept creeping back into my head. Then you did something in defiance. You decided to fall.

 

 

Wrong move Christmas tree. I was not happy. You took down our ornaments. You splashed water everywhere. Pine cones fell from your branches to the floor. And you even decided to drop some sap. Naughty naughty!!!

 

1130 at night we hoisted you up. But you left this family of three anything but happy. Mark downstairs constructing wood to stabilize you. Me holding the tree up as the little one screamed at us all from her car seat. It was no ones finest hour. 

 

But the next day came around. I took a look at you as the sun lit up our room. You looked a bit rattled up with ornaments on your back and falling off your branches. It was time to give you another try. I took out our homemade ornaments. Hung them up. Restrung the ribbon. Lit up the lights and put on the topper. 

 

And guess what Christmas tree? You are quite pretty. You have a uniqueness about you. You are different. But I think the family you chose (and vice versa) is too. 

 

You stand proud and tall. You are not dry. You kind of have an incorporation of both me and Mark. I kind of love you. I light you up and stare at you with glee and warmth. Cause you really do represented Christmas.

So thank you Christmas tree. You have given me more memories in this little week than I could imagine. Some of them are not mine or Mark's finest but then others have been more than incredible. And I think we will be looking at your brothers and sisters in the coming years.

 

Love 

Family of three

With all my wallowing and self pity who would of thought of a turn around? But when your in bed by 1100 and sleep in till 1100 (with a brief intermission of family bonding at 4-5am of hacking and sneezing) you can do almost anything!

That anything included a dog walk (with minor modifications that included breast feeding prior to walk starting). Love our carrier. And loved more conversing with my partner and love. Seeing my friend Bailey on the walk and her new foster pup. Hearing the ice slush against the water. Watching my dog bound through the woods. 

A visit to the hospital to check in with grandad and see how things are going. We may have shown our crazy cleanliness in there but I don't care as I'm done with us all being sick!!!

And last but not least going out to dinner! That's right 6 weeks old infant and we made it to a restaurant. Indian buffet the best kind of food too!  Maybe that isn't a feat but to us it seemed awesome and fantastic. 

Family of three adventures have begun!!

Love

Sickness

So I got sick. It was a few weeks ago. And never had I felt like that before. Some kind of stomach flu. But when I googled stomach flu it actually came up that there was no such thing. But I think that is the best descriptor for most to understand what was happening. 

It was also the first time that I had to call in sick without giving a bit of notice. And I felt horrible. Two am sick calls on a weekend. I know I was sick, blah blah blah. But it's okay to feel bad for the people that are going to be working that shift right? (Wink, wink). Thankfully the charge that I talked to was so understanding and nice about it that I didn't worry. 

Now that I am over the sickness and can actually look at perogies now, he he. I have to give a big appreciation shout out to my partner. I can sometimes be (a little) unsympathetic to his blights of illness...poor thing. But as I rolled down the stairs the next morning half, sleep, with chills going up my back and extreme pain jabbing me from all sides he took care of me. 

He went to the store and bought me five different flavored Gatorade drinks to boost up my hydration and electrolytes. He made me chicken broth and rice to eat. He let me be as I slept on and off the day. And at night when the pain still wouldn't go away and I was still experiencing "chills" he went out again to buy me Tylenol, allowing me to sleep 11 straight hours that night and morning. 

He's a good man. I could learn a lot from him. Ha ha ha. 

Love

I love a good weekend

Especially when it is spent with good friends. 

And when you get to see good music on top of it. 

Like the Dixie Chicks. 

Who were fantastic. Even if I was hoping for some sass. 

But seriously. Love the voice and the music

And then the fun weekend continues. 

With a birthday celebration for a special lady. 

Shopping, catching up and laughs were involved. 

Plus eating out and chatting some more. 

Then I return home to the falling (first) snowfall of the year. 

To watch rental movies with my husband. 

And to cosy up on the couch today and continue watching movies. 

Eat leftovers and have pie. 

Life is good. 

And needs to be savored. 

It's been a long week...

And it does keep going for a bit more.

I have been working quite a bit 

but have managed to have some nights and days off. 

Of them I have laughed. 

And laughed hard. 

Like when my significant other texted a friend. 

And started smack talking in a joking way. 

To find out that it was the wrong number,

Through a FaceTime chat. 

And of others I have cried. 

Wallowing a bit in self pity. 

But having my significant other listen to me. 

Hug me. 

And then attempt (and sort of) succeed 

in snapping me out. 

And then I have felt content. 

Having heart to heart talks with friends. 

Soaking in laughter and fun at a party. 

Enjoying dinner and brunch with family. 

Spending time alone watching movies,

Snuggled amongst blankets. 

I have a pretty grand life. And pretty grand people in it. 

I am lucky. And we are going to have a lot of fun!

Love

Basketball fun

My cousin Kathryn was in town. So exciting to see her as it has been a couple of years. So what did that entail? A family dinner of course. Jimi and Cassie came by for a simple dinner with Egg Nog (Mark may have bulked up after thanksgiving. He he). And salmon, rice asparagus and caprese salad. Yum.

Then we heading to the u of a pandas basketball game against the varsity reds of unb. Coincidentally one of Kathryn's friends was here this weekend too, assistant coaching unb. Exciting.

So me and basketball never really mixed. Mainly cause the team sport thing I was never great at, lack of coordination and all. But going with this crew was quite fun:

- Mark intensely watching the game, chewing gum. Asking him what kind of coach he is and he said deadpanned,"I am the one yelling all the time, whether they are listening or not" (like the unb coach). This put Jimi and me in a fit of laughter. 

- Cassie making little mistake re. the game stating period, goal much to Jimi's dismay. I could totally relate Cassie. 

- Jimi making comments like, "this is intense, I want to get in there," and "get it in the hole!" As we cheered for unb really loud creating the fans for u of a to cheer louder. Too funny. 

- making word of the day, "buxom"

- having blizzards, yum 

- being with family and laughing about your family. 

 

Wonderful visit

Love

Thanksgiving

I am one lucky lady. Yes I did work all weekend and yes it was evening and yes I realize others had thanksgiving dinner while I was working. But guess what? I still got a celebration. 

On Saturday morning we went over to Wendy and David's for a thanksgiving lunch with Lawrence. I got to watch how to bacon aficionados cook bacon in two very different ways. Be warned to stay away from the kitchen as tongs may be used as weapons. I enjoyed gluten free waffles that tasted fabulous. And I got to have pumpkin pie for dessert. And I love pumpkin pie!

I then attempted to make another pie this weekend, a pumpkin on as I have said before I love it! But on thanksgiving Monday after I finished work I realized I forgot to buy some key ingredients. So off to the store again. Ahh. And pie made.  Even if I forgot again to double the recipe and the pumpkin filling was a little thin. He he. 

Then my long lost brother came for dinner tonight. We facetimed my parents and shared laughs and stories. We vegged on the couch like you would after a big meal (of chicken and potatoes). We joked and watched tv. 

Grateful

Love

Steak in the sun, banana boats in the rain

The title was set...

By the dinner companions. 

Corn, steak, and potatoes on the BBQ. 

Salad, pre-made. 

And the sun beating down. 

Very hot hot hot. 

Dessert by the fire

S'mores with oatmeal cookies...

(Watch out they may burn if left too long.)

Banana boats...

And thunder in the background. 

Then rain. 

And then a downpour. 

All in the presence of good company. 

Good laughs. 

Good times. 

Mark and I are getting the hang of this hosting thing. 

Love

Here is the blog post, Jimi

summer: are you coming my way?

i think so. this week it has been slowly escalating to hot hot hot. and i am loving it. and when i need a break from loving it. i hop down to my beloved basement where everything is cool and refreshing! fabulous!

anyhoo...mark is officially on summer break! whooo hooo! i don't think he could feel any better right now. we spent our first official holiday day (well mine was just the weekend off but regardless) at the St. Albert Farmer's Market. so i have never been. HUGENESS and LOVELY! apparently it is one of the biggest outdoor markets in Western Canada. and it lived up to it. plenty of lovely food and other delights. we got ourselves some tasty delights including lovely cinnamon buns, green onion cakes and pasta! yum! definite carbo loading if you ask me!

then mark went to work on his big landscaping project. i on the other hand lazed around (i.e. napped) and then attempted to do some sanding projects. a little frustrated with my project as i don't think it will be what i would like it to be (and it turns out it is a lot more work than i though) but i have to wait and see. future posts on both yard and mine later when all is completed.

speaking of beautiful projects. mark's uncle john made us the most fabulous-ly beautiful bookcase. i don't think we could have imagined it being any better than it is. it is fantastic. wendy, david, and john all joked asking if it was enough space for us. and yes it is. and it is full! as well as our bookcase upstairs. what can i say. i married a husband with a book addiction. i think there are worse things in the world?

i am kind of in half marathon training right now as well. but not doing as well as i should as my motivation is in other places and although there are places to run, i do miss the beloved river valley...that is presently very wet (although with the sun, probably drying out). jimi and i were suppose to do the colour me rad in Calgary today and i was quite pumped about it...unfortunately do to all the floods Calgary had other worries to think about than a little five km race.

AND lets just say that all of southern Alberta is doing a great job in handling this massive disaster...and on top of that the amount of generosity i have seen from Albertans, Canadians and people world wide have once again astounded me. its pretty awesome to see. and to be able to see it again on social media...really shows the positivity of these kinds outlets!

i think that covers it all for me. here are a few pics that i haven't posted this month.

a fire-pit in the summer. is there anything better? it makes for an easy but great meal of hotdogs, banana boats, and cherry pies and mixes in with mark's favourite pastime of making fires.

sibling love on this lovely evening of food.

graduation day with my fellow nurslings!

all dolled up for the lovely occasion. our next stop? home depot of course!

 the grass is back and wilder than ever! and yes it grew once again.

 

 i think mark is in heaven right now as he not only has his yard to play around in but he has "his" dog. we are dog sitting while wendy and david are on vacation. i am assured that this is only temporary. ;)

 i saw my long lost friend jeff who i hadn't seen since may and really didn't even get a chance to talk to all that much! so lovely. and yes this is jeaninne protecting her hair from getting wet as she didn't want to "frizz" out.

lovely friends

 "let's go thrift shopping," i said

"it is the perfect day to do it as it is rainy," i said later

"holy it is really wet," i said even later

"remember the whitemud flood that we got stuck in, in 2004, i think we better go home cause i think its going to happen again," i said lastly

he he. yes jeaninne and i went shopping and i guess some of the roads did flood but not really where we were, all was safe! but we did see this die hard fat franks guy selling hot dogs. we just had to stop and see him. cause really...in torrential downpours he deserved our business!

 ahhh hot dogs so worth it!

 

 no finds for us...but one lucky lady found a cute little toy!

till next time...

love  

It's officially been a week

Everything that is needed has been unpacked and looking pretty good. I have to admit that we went pretty hard with the move. So hard that I was pretty physically exhausted and waiting for the weekend of nothing. But it seems that both of us just can't sit still even if we tried. Lol.

Saturday was looking for potential gardening things to landscape. Mow the lawn and weed the garden for Mark. For me, fix up the basement, set up my desk and make storage shelves. Side note: My scrapbook stuff is set up and ready to go....eek! Then a little rest. Organize papers, make some steak, attempt a fire and settle in for a movie. Sigh. 

Sunday was grocery shopping day. Then off to check out the local market. Yay for green onion cakes, kettle corn, and cheese bread. But boo for no fat franks, teehee. Then a family dinner with some lovely people. Sounds just like what a weekend should be for our first week in our home. 

Love