BBQ delights

"We should have everyone over if Sandra is coming."

He says this a week into being sick. A day after a six hour wait for a test. I stare at him in disbelief.
"Let's do it simple," I replied.
"Sounds good," he responded.

The guest list went out. People volunteered to bring food, salads, chips, smores and buns.

7 hours prior to the dinner party, he starts to make his meal.
Raw veggies of green beans, carrots and peas.
Cooked beets, home fries (four trays).
Homemade hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks (shallot sauce included).

And guess what? We had leftovers (with plenty to give to people) and plenty of food to have this weekend. We had plenty of sun. We had plenty of laughs with water balloons and water guns. We had plenty of good conversations (my favourite is the GoT references). We had a really good time.

So end result. We should have had everyone over and we did. Good job, love

xoxox

A moment

Going to Grandma B's home.

Hanging with my friend, my second mom with my friends little (and not so little ones...4 and 6) with my little but growing one. 

Take 1. Grandma B decided to take the gals to the park. Mine cried all the way there. On the swing. All the way back. 

Take 2. Grandma B took the gals and guy to the basement to play. Everything worked splendidly until the guy left leaving the littlest gal in tears. 

Take 3. Grandma B still having the gals and the guy said that she would love to take all three and for me and my friend to go for coffee one day. "Go for an hour and half". 

In that moment the guy ran off with a toy, the littlest gal started to whimper. "Okay maybe you two could just go and mail a letter." 

Such a great afternoon. Loved the offers and the visit. And she really is a great honorary grandma. 

Love

look at you, you are almost ten months old

When they say to watch it, they really do grow up before your eyes...its true. Thinking back to how little you were to now it is pretty incredible. Not only that but to see what has happened in your shore little lifetime. You've gone from head control, to body control, to crawling control to now standing (with assistance)...and I know that you will learn more and more but I am truly savouring the present as your littleness will leave us so fast. Too fast.

Already the teeth are coming by the mouthful. You have a total of 6 now with two more cutting through. And let's just say you have been taking full advantage of the food situation, using those chompers to the best of your ability. Dad's green beans, peas, snap peas. Not to mention pasta, mexican food and french fries! YUM. And with summer has come lots of fruit. Nectarines, oranges, watermelon, cherries, blackberries and raspberries. Plus the continuation of strawberries from the garden. I've taken to making lots of muffins for you too with all our fruit of plenty. You seem to be enjoying this morning snack.

You are also saying a few words. Dada is a big one. In particular at your Dad. I guess we could say that Dada is your official first word (sorry, Ga aka Gam or Grammie). You like to whisper Dodododo lots and direct them towards the dog with loads of encouragement. I caught you on camera the other day meshing "whose that?" Probably more "whoosdat" and a couple of other sound like words. It's starting....

You continue to crawl up a storm. Library programs are your favourite as you like to tear down all the books off the shelves. Ha ha. In the morning I just sit on the couch as you go from kitchen to tv room to living room leaving havoc in your wake. Ha Ha. DVD's everywhere, your toys strewn apart. I finally had to baby proof the cupboards so that I wouldn't have to pick up the cans of food and casserole dishes everyday.

We have also bought you a baby pool to hang out in. That way you are occupied when your father and I would like to have a "spontaneous" water fight. HA HA. You have expressed your immediate displeasure when we spray each other with our water guns. However when the water balloons came out and I got one on the head you broke out in the best belly baby laugh we have heard in awhile. It was hilarious. You actually love to laugh. And when you do, I laugh, resulting in you laughing some more. Laughter really is contagious! :)

We have been doing quite a few summer festivals with you in tow. I don't know if you are all too pleased with them but you are tolerated our indulgences in our summer food. Taste of Edmonton green onions cakes and dips in the city hall pool. Kdays Hot dog enclosed in a pickle and battered in a corn dog and you giving in to the carousel (on the bench). Heritage days/dog walk. Picnics in the park with a little spray park fun. Markets with some petting zoo animals (that you may not be quite ready for yet as you clung pretty hard to me). Lots of dog walks wth Dad (and sometimes me). Plus you have had some meetings with your other baby friends at a few outings like Street Performers, Park outings and the library. 

Summer has been treating you (and us) pretty good, so far. We shall see what awaits in August!

love

Let's go to the east!

We were off again. Myself and babe. New Brunswick bound. This time for a whopping three weeks! And you know what?! It was pretty fantastic! As per usual I was nervous flying. Why oh why would I choose a midnight flight with a baby??!! But guess what. It was only one (slightly) rough day with no jet lag for both of us as we recovered nicely with our lack of sleep one day to our tremendous amount of sleep the next in the right time zone! Yay! Note to self: would totally do that again (although not with Mark, he hates those flights).

Once there mom and dad had all my favourite foodie things: sugar doughnuts and raspberry jam, mussels, lobster rolls (and lobster), tuna burgers, poached apples and pork chops, gumdrop cookies, and butterscotch pie. YUM. And yup, time to start working out for moi!
For the first little bit the babe did a bit of strangeness with everyone. But slowly and surly she warmed up to Grampie and Grammie (or Gam, or Ga as that seemed to be said by babe and Grammie exclaimed, "She knows my name!"). Every morning she would have some grandparent time as I would sneak off to bed. Lots of play and then her outdoor walk with Grampie as he tossed her on his shoulders and paraded down to the woods. Apparently they did lots of chatting throughout.

Then we would all rest for a morning nap and be off to whatever the day brought. That would be visiting relatives, going for ice cream down the street, and visiting relatives. Uncle Ron, Aunt Barb, Aunt Mary, Nan, Cheryl and Keith, Margaret and her partner, Kathryn, Josh and their little man, Ian and Karen and their kids, Rino and Beth, Heidi and Ryan with their little man, Jason and Angela and their three, and let's just say the whole village of Stanley.

No joke about the last statement. On Canada Day everyone that I saw with Grammie would go, "This must be your granddaughter." Yes it looks like I am related to a little mini celebrity. Speaking of Canada Day, Grammie had their own float for the "Quilters" that Grampie drove down. Very exciting. And the parade, although small had heart!! Wheelers, farm animals, fire trucks, with candy, chips and freezies to hand out to all the littles.  And there was the "Village of Stanley" float where they did an honorary mention to both MY Grammie and Grampie for their work on the council. Way for me to think about the generations and the history of this place (i.e. my summers with my grandparents and my little love for that place). Plus I had the added bonus of seeing the fireworks with my husband on FaceTime as my dad was on fire duty and my mom was babysitting.

Another trip involved seeing the camp that my Grampie helped build. I don't think I had been there since I was a little girl. We had sandwiches, did the tour around the place, walk the beach, admire the lake. AND admire the butterflies, sample the wild strawberries and catch a look at the tadpoles. Downside those blackflies were out. Upside, babe seemed to have to reaction to them even as she got bit, poor thing.

here was some downtime away from the little one at times. Mom and I went to bootcamp a couple of times, yoga and of course got to see a bunch of movies on their android box. PLUS my indulgence Orange is the New Black and Game of Thrones, the later that I still haven't stopped thinking about. Gosh I love that show!

AND I had some Dad time too, kayaking the Nashwaak, twice! The first was slightly shallower than the second as I may have had to get out and push my kayak out of the rocks. Nashwaak 1, Tracey 0. But then the second time around I rocked it. Nashwaak 1, Tracey 1. Plus at that time my husband had come so that is always nice.

Plus I got the ultimate tour of the firehall. That's right, fireman's daughter right here. I got to try on the uniform (heavy), go in the truck and look at the whole hall and check out the vehicles. Very cool. Don't think I could do it though, even though Backdraft is still a favourite. That is tough stuff as that uniform is heavy and I wasn't even hauling a hose or anything. YIKES!

AND so I don't go on and on here are a few other things done. I got to go running in the evenings. Running legs are a little rusty but they got activated! We visited Killarney Lake where sand was eaten and baby tossing in the water was had. Hysterical giggles had by all as many spectators couldn't stop laughing as well. BBQ's with family. Dipping in the kiddie pool. Dipping in the river. Visiting a covered bridge, suspension bridge, oh my!

And then Mark came for the last week. Tours of the Woodsman museum, Fall Brook Falls, Region Museum in Fredericton where we saw my Great Grandfather's crutches. Walks on the bridge in Fredericton. Real fish and chips by the lake. Tours of Stanley where we had some ice cream and saw a black bear! Church dinner with real strawberry shortcake and three jelly salads with marshmallows!! Then walk through the Baptist and United church cemetery.

And my personal favourite thing to do was sit on the veranda in the screen room at night swinging on the swing. I loved hearing the bullfrogs croak and looking at all the lightening bugs in the night sky. Another fond memory of my childhood as I remember when my cousins would collect them in jars with grass on the bottom (they never stayed lit...i wonder why? wink wink). I would in turn sit with my grampie, aka my buddy, as he would make moose calls out in the distant. AND he was pretty good too.

Then we were on the plane again. And might I say, flying with two is way easier than flying with one! I even caught a movie this time around. And we survived with fewer meltdowns than usual, even with a three hour delay.

I found this visit brought on quite a bit of nostalgia for me as I was bringing my little girl to a place that I would visit from the very city that I am currently in. I will treasure this trip just for that.

love

nine, nine oh so fine

Well well my little monkey you continue to amaze me with all the changes that happen in just a mere four weeks! AND to see such a little personality shine through at such a young age is just really cool! So what is going in this last month....

Well lots of climbing climbing climbing and with that comes the occasional fall. One particularly traumatic one that involved you climbing and falling on a toy after that resulted in a bit of blood and a resulting shiner. Baby's first black eye....argh. You took it better than I did.

You officially have four teeth and your little toothy grin is pretty darn. Two top and two bottom. And when you are happy you squint those big blue eyes and give the widest grin. And sometimes we are lucky and get to hear that wonderful little laugh, squeal of happiness. Speaking of happy your emotions are big. When you are happy, you radiate big happiness. When you are sad (you may) cry, sob, attempt at hyperventilating (just so you know I am the queen of blueies so you got nothing on me!). You give us big drama and I kind of love it.

You just make us smile and give us big laughs. You are full of sillies with blowing bubbles and spitting and smacking your lips. Always seem to look to us for reactions of reinforcement (we don't really encourage the spitting part, wink wink). You love to clap your hands and "if you're happy and you know it" is probably a big favourite right now. You love tickles, arm rubs, and being chased around the house. Plus peek-a-boo is a big thing and you love to do it with a blanket to anyone watching.

We are starting to hear more talking with my favourite wolf howl as you round your mouth and sing a wolflike tune. I think you enjoy the sound of your voice (as your father would say...just like your mom). I may be inclined to agree as you do lots of chatting around the house and to all the people that you know. And I think that we have had some pretty awesome conversation myself :).

I stopped doing the official mom's group as you seem to just crawl away and I spend more time chasing you. Actually that is basically what I am doing right now. You have probably outgrown the library too really but the mom's I have met told me to continue to go as we enjoy seeing each other too. I now have an unofficial mom's group that is starting with lots of outings, something you should enjoy!

You and your dad have been having a routine going for awhile now which involves bath time. Why you say? Cause you like to move and climb in the tub too and really it is just easier to hop right in than constantly helping you sit. ha ha. AND it is a bonus for two little ladies.

The summer is about to start now. And your father is pretty pumped to feed you all his vegetables from his garden. And I think you will be excited to eat them too. Especially the potatoes and carrots. Right now you are digging the "baby baking" I am doing too, with banana bread and fruit muffins.

I know I tend to say it a lot but you really are just pretty awesome. Until 10 mos...
Love you lots!

White Wonder aka Kitty

When tomorrow starts without me

Don't think we're far apart

For every time you think of me

I'm right here inside your heart

Margi Harrell

I first met Kitty in January 2007. I saw him in a flash as I was picking up the bachelor. White cat with bright blue eyes. He was shy and quickly retreated to his room (what later became my office). I had never been a cat person. Truthfully I just never got them. Cats in general seemed to show a certain aloffness that I didn't fancy. Little did I know that in that instant me and Kitty would be taking a long journey together.

It was a wonderful relationship that the bachelor had with his pet. I listened to the stories that both Kitty and the bachelor shared. Hockey with bottle caps, where Kitty could retrieve them in his mouth. Kitty reminding the bachelor when it was mealtime for both. Kitty kept a tight ship of fun and work that they both seemed to enjoy.

Then I came along with my loud, squeaky, dancing self. Kitty and I didn't really see eye to eye in the beginning. But I came up with a plan...I love animals. I love holidays. In fact the two should go hand and hand. HA HA. One of the first fights I had with the (now) boyfriend involved dressing up Kitty in holiday garb. I am pretty sure there was a holiday collar involved and there was definitely bells. The boyfriend (and Kitty) would not be degraded in such a way. Imagine dressing up a cat. Who is this woman coming into our home? ha ha.

A snowball fight occurred on another day. I greeted the boyfriend with snow in the face one winter afternoon. Snowballs quickly made and thrown in the house. Screeches coming from my direction as snow managed to go down my shirt, water dripping from my face. Retaliation was on my mind but Kitty would not have his best buddy be attacked in such a way. That was the fateful day that Kitty bit me. Blood even rolled down my leg. I jested, "how dare he bite me" but couldn't help smile that he was so protective of the people he loved. Not aloof at all.

I was now the girlfriend in the boyfriend's life and I chose to live with both Kitty and man. That was when we both started to adapt to our new life together. Kitty indeed had to compromise. I took his spot in bed and possibly some cuddles. A diet was strictly enforced (as per vets orders). At times I would see him shoot off to his scratching post taking out some frustrations.

Then the games would ensue. We would all take turns hiding behind the couch and creeping around, "psyching" each other out. Bat the ball back and forth. Zig zag across the carpet with feathers. Play with bags on the ground. Slide ice on the floor. Sometimes a scratch would result but it was all in good fun. He was a garden cat (you had to be with the boyfriend) and he loved it. Kitty would smell the flowers leaving a trace of pollen on his face, or munch on the bit of cat grass that was planted for him.

Kitty became accustomed to my early morning wakings. So much so that if I decided to sleep in on a Saturday or Sunday he would come into the room at 6am and remind me that he is in need of food (as it was me that had enforced the diet...or what he thought as it came when I came). He would meow in my ears at first. Rubbing his face on mine. Purring persistently. I would roll on to my stomach so he couldn't bug me and he would hop onto my back and meow straight into my ear. I would try to buck him off but he would brace himself onto my back so that there was no losing him. Little doubt that of course he got fed.

There were times though that Kitty felt the need to take a little vacation. He would take a little jaunt out in the alleyway of our apartment or to the park out in the back. I swear he would watch as we all scrambled to find him, calling his name. And it wasn't just me and the boyfriend. The brothers, the mom and dad, friends have all been seen out in the alleyway calling Kitty's name. Not one summer would go by when we lived in that apartment where we would not be looking for Kitty. Always finding him in both exasperation and relief. Because in the end we all loved Kitty. And Kitty loved us.

His cuddles were the best. Most of them were reserved for his buddy, and his friend, my boyfriend which later became my husband. Kitty would hop on his lap while he was on the computer and just snuggle getting pets and warmth. He loved being petted right at his shoulder blades or right under his neck at the collarbone. Sweet deep purrs of gratitude would be returned when you gave him just the right amount of love.

It was a special bond they both had and I the opportunity to see and participate. They lived a lot of life together. 16 years in fact! They had seen people come in and out of their lives. Some stayed, others didn't. Some moved in and stayed for the long haul (me). And those some brought in more family (me again and welcome Bentley). And more family again (little babe).

Kitty saw a lot of changes and managed to adapt to each one with the Kitty ease that made us love him all the more. He moved to many places finally settling in on our last home. With that he enjoyed many views out the window, many rooms to hide, many plays along the banisters swatting our hands, many things to scratch (ahem the rugs...and the scratching posts) and many places to go out in the yard and remain safe.

He was an incredible cat. He was our Kitty although like his name he was quite a wonder. We loved him and we will sorely miss him.

Thanks for all that you gave us little guy. Rest easy now.
XOXOX