August 3, 2011

  • ahhhhnd we’re in!

    Okay the move is over with and slowly are we settling in.  There are many people to thank.  Friends, old neighbours, extended family.  None of it could have been done with out them.  Literally!

    Boxes are every where and thankfully Nana is spending time unpacking.  I, in my INFINITE wisdom, took a temp job to help out a friend and former collegue at his new company for this week.  It is a bittersweet week with trying to get a place for everything and everything in it’s place AND working AND making sure I have office appropirate clothing while I’m at it!  Slowly but surely we are getting there and boxes are coming in from the garage full to leave the house again empty.  The new house is cooler than the old one and while I miss the coziness of the old house, I am looking forward to creating new memories, and growing with the Monsters in the new one.

    Until then … Venti, 2%, caramel drizzle Starbucks Doubleshot please!

     

July 30, 2011

  • T minus 48 …

    Moving day to the new bigger house is the day after tomorrow.  I am so not ready.  SO. NOT. READY.  However in my defence, every time I attempt to start packing I usually hear, “What’s THIS?” which would require me to stop what I was doing and go and see what article “THIS” was.  And then of course I would have to make a decision about it’s stay of execution or it’s demise.

    This is a long process.  And contrary to popular belief I have been purging.  Four people gather a lot of things over time.  Even with selective keepsakes.  Add in what Nana brought when she moved in, that’s a lot of stuff!

    BUT! the new house is bigger, has a larger back yard, and best of all … a bedroom for each with no ensuite laundry!

    Okay.  Back to packing.

     

July 26, 2011

  • because its true

    this has been circulating Facebook as a status update and it stood out to me because I find it very appropriate not only my life, but in many of those around me!

    I have no idea who the original author is and I’m not purporting to claim as my own in any other way than a motto for my life.

    An old man once said,”There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and the people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the one’s who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.”…

July 25, 2011

  •  

    we went for a bike ride on the Little Elbow Trail in Kananaskis Country.  It was epic!  I can’t recall why OLC wasn’t with us.  This was HWWM and WBC first try at anything close to real mountain biking.  They both did quite well going for 5k in and the same 5k out over rocky ground, up and down hills and of course through puddles!  Wee Blonde Child took one heck of an A over T after hitting a large rock in the middle of a big mud puddle while trying to avoid colliding with me.  It was actually really funny to see, and as wipe outs go, it was really spectacular! Too bad the only audience to be had was Winsome01, me and her brother.  It was one of those times I wished I had a camera mounted on my helmet.

    Here are some picrtures during one of our water/rest breaks.

     

July 22, 2011

  • and they return …

    The girls came home from camp today and while one might think, “well there goes the peace and quiet!”  Actually I’m pretty sure that peace and quiet descended upon the house with their return!  I am really certain that Healthy Weighty Wee Man made enough noise for all three children all week long. 

    Would you believe that at one time I was concerned that he would never talk?  When HWWM started talking his voice was very soft and very VERY quiet! And all too often Wee Blonde Child would speak for him.  Even when she was not in the same room!  I didn’t seek any professional help, I did wait to see how things would progress as each child grew and started doing things separate from each other would Healthy Weighty Wee Man find a voice? 

    Yep.  He found it alright!  Now there are times I can’t get him to stop talking!  Like this past week!  If he wasn’t talking non stop, HWWM was underfoot and in to everything.  The latter I am going to relate to the fact that HWWM is the youngest of three, very active, very vocal children.  Even before he was born there was always someone there, making noise, talking to him and at times even hugging him as best a nearly four year old can to a baby still in utero!

    Now all three are home and quiet has descended up on the house … finally!

July 21, 2011

July 17, 2011

  • Wee Blonde Child and Oldest Large Child go to Camp!

    While I’m sure not to be confused with Ernest goes to Camp, this year both Oldest Large Child and Wee Blonde Child go to camp for a week!  Nana and Healthy Weighty Wee Man were planning to go to Edmonton, but now we are moving, they are staying home to pack the house …. well Nana is HWWM will no doubt get in the way …

    It’s bittersweet taking them out to camp, in so many ways they are still my babies, but both are growing in to beautiful young women.  Too soon for my liking!

     

July 16, 2011

  • more Vegas …

     

    the sunset view from our hotel room

    our hotel from the plane … because I forgot to get a picture out front … Oldest Large Child asked for this picture!

    the clowns at the begining of “O”.  If you ever go to Vegas go see “O” simply amazing and breath taking! 

    In the Bellagio Hotel where we saw Cirque du Soleil “O” … this place was simply awesome! I really was nervous the murano glass light fixtures would fall on my head when we walked under them!

     

    Now the ironically funny part of the trip.  When arriving in Calgary on our way home, I wrote on my customs card that I spent $200 US dollars.  I was in the US for four days and while that’s not an unrealistic amount, it was pretty much my whole amount.  It included food, taxi’s, shoes, gifts, etc.  As I am about 10 feet away from the doors at the last check point, I think it’s all good and I am not going to be stopped on my way out. Winsome01 was the person ahead of me and he isn’t  being stopped, so it’s all good right?  As Winsome01 is about to enter the airport proper, I get pulled aside.  Before I can get his attention to say I have to go get searched, W01 is through the doors!  I go over to the area where I am instructed and an officer comes out and asks me about the money I spent.  I tell him I declared all the money I spent, in an effort to be very honest and it wasn’t only spent on gifts or things, but consumables.  Then I’m asked about my camera … my “good” camera.  With the very nice camera bag.  And two lenses.

    Now about my “good” camera … this is the last gift I ever received from my exhusband.  My marriage may have ended in disaster, but this last gift has been well cared for and put to good use.  I could not have gotten the pictures I have of the monsters playing soccer with out this camera.  And if there is anything I can do most for my exhusband is make sure I get great pictures of his children for him.  There are times I am afraid to take it out and more often I think I should get a different strap for it.  One that wraps around wrist so I’m less likely to drop it (which I’m deathly afraid of!) if such a thing exists.  Anyhow.  I happen to know that the camera and all it came with was very expensive.  More than I could ever afford or justify paying for a camera, a zoom lens, a tripod (which wasn’t with me this time) and a Lowepro camera bag.  And because of this, it still looks brand new!  Which is what caught the atention of the Customs officer when I declared only spending $200 in Las Vegas.  However, what saved my tookas … I had pictures still on the memory card of my kids playing soccer … in the rain.  So after having my luggage rummaged through … the officer seemed accepting of the fact that I wasn’t trying to smuggle something or get out of paying duty on the camera. Within 20 minutes I was on my way out in to the airport proper to find the waiting Winsome01 so we could head home! 

    Now I have a customs declaration card for the camera tucked in the camera bag … just in case I feel the need to cross the border again!

     

July 15, 2011

  • Vegas BABY!

    Bits of the Strip by day …

    and by night …

    We went looking for a bust of Elvis for a friend of Winsome01′s … we did find this.  Although we left that in Vegas.  Somehow I think clearing customs would be a bit difficult with that in our luggage!

    You know what “they say” …. what happens in Vegas …. well I’m not the wild type so I can tell you about it!  Thanks to the generosity of Winsome01, I’m in Vegas!  It is … over stimulating and overwhelming!  Last night we went to see Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles tribute Love.  It was excellent and awe inspiring and … and … thought inducing … how does someone have that in his head and how do you make it come out and happen!

    Just the place I want to get married … between a tchotchke gift shop and a Pizza Hut!

    Anyhow, today also meant I got to hang out for a few hours with a long lost friend from school.  Lisa now lives in Las Vegas and knowing the area we grew up in, I’m sure the webbing in her toes is receeding as Vegas is so lovely hot and DRY! pleased  It was wonderful to sit and have a good chin wag.  I just wished we had more time and can’t wait to go back again and have another visit!  I’ve seen it said and now have truly experienced it, 20 seconds or 20 years, friendship knows no time boundries!

July 13, 2011

  • Dad

    Today marks the start of the 73rd year of my father’s life.  And I’m sure I should get him to write a post about his life and the changes he has witnessed happen in the world about him.  I stop and marvel at times what the worls was like when my dad arrived.  How simple it was.  My dad was raised in a rural village in south central British Columbia on the family farm.  And to my knowledge the family farm still exists, one of my grandfathers brothers was the last owner and as far as I know, it has been handed down that branch of the famly tree.  However I digress.

    Life was admittedly much much simpler 73 years ago, and yet society still evolved.  My dad has lived a great life, he lived all over Canada, in Europe, helped raise five children and served his country by joining the military during a time of relative peace in the world.  Dad taught me to use my hands, to build things, create, to cut wood, drive a tractor, to enjoy the serenity of the world around me.

    Happy Birthday Dad. 

    Here’s to another well lived 73 years.