Again, With the Random

So I have no post material. No ideas. Even less motivation. But here I am trying to post. I lost my mojo. I am blaming the lack of comments. It can't possibly be my fault. How could it?

I used to regularly get around 20 comments per post. TWENTY. Now, if I get ten I am rocking it. I wonder why no one likes me anymore but this shouldn't be a pity party, who wants to read that?

The lack of dinging in my email has me here, rambling about nothing. Frankly I am boring myself by this point. Enough about that except I must first give a big shout out to my peeps (how lame do I sound trying to be all cool? Yes, pretty lame.) who regularly or irregularly comment. I greatly appreciate it. M'wah, giant air kiss and hug!

On to bigger and more annoying things. Like the fact that my thyroid has decided to start underpeforming. All kinds of awesome. It's still normal but it's dropped and because my body already annihilated my ovaries, it's pretty safe to assume it's now targeting my thyroid. I don't really need my ovaries but my thyroid is kind of nice, you know?

Don't worry, I got over my funk about that pretty quick. In the grand scheme of things, it's no big deal but it's still a bit hard to hear that your own body is kind of letting you down. At least, it is for me.

Speaking of my ovaries (really, were we? no wonder I don't post anymore) I came to realize that I really am at peace with my life. I feel fulfilled by my career, my fitness commitment and most importantly by my family. My boys are so much fun and don't "need" me like they once did. Once you come out the other side you can find yourself again and you didn't even realize you were missing. My identity has become mine again. It's not just Jack and Kamden's mom but it's Kami, who is many things, one of which is Jack and Kamden's mom. That might sound a bit selfish but I'll be honest, I don't honestly believe solely being a mother can be completely fulfilling to anyone. It's like all things, it requires a balance. I feel like right now, all the balls are in the air and I've got things under control. Dear Murphy, ignore me, there is nothing you need to see here. Move along. Thanks.

Stay tuned. Maybe I'll get my mojo back for blogging or at least keep posting random photos with words that say nothing. How can you resist?

Hmm, I thought we were done with baby stage

Today, my "babies" took it upon themselves to re-attach the baby swing to the swing set.

Hmm, still cute but stressing the weight restrictions slightly.

This one is still cute too but the bigger baby is pushing him a bit too high for this Mommy's liking. You know because the safety straps are broken.

And here I thought we didn't have any more babies around here. Who knew?

The Corruption of a Sweet Little Girl

Back last August, I introduced my friend's twins, Rachel and Alex. Rachel also happens to be my Goddaughter and she is, by some strange phenomenon, taking after me in some small ways. Case in point, her shoe and boot fetish (her mom, Candace, already did a post on that).

So of course, being the diligent Godmother, I strive to foster her interests. Isn't that my role? Of course it is, that and some other important stuff.

Naturally this involves something I am very good at, shopping for stylish boots. If she is going to have a boot fetish, she needs to get her collection started off on the right foot (ha!).

A few weeks ago when the wet weather was here, these were prefect.

The above photos is courtesy of Candace.

But now that it has dried up, she needs another pair. Rubber boots are so three weeks ago. We can't have her wearing outdated boots. Not on my watch.

I thought these were perfect:

Am I right or am I right? The cutest, right? And chocolate brown coordinates so nicely with pink and blue and denim...the list goes on and on. These are a good solid classic pair of boots, perfect for her growing collection.

But this is not where my influence ends. Oh no. If I am going to go about my job as Godmother, I am not going to only put in 85%, only a 110% will do.

So yesterday, when she reached for my coffee cup, I just watched (or snapped photos, same thing). It was time to introduce her to my second fetish. See the questioning look in her eyes? She's totally waiting for me to say no.

See the smirk? That's the look what I did and you are not scolding me look.

The peanut gallery, naturally, has a comment or two and Rachael listens patiently.

Fully thinking, whatever lady, I got the cup, I am seeing how far I can go with this adventure.

*wah, wah, whah* The peanut gallery still had a lot to say. Always graceful and attentive, Rachel listens patiently until she gets the chance to sit down and see what the buzz is all about.

"Why does Mami (what she calls me and basically melts me into a puddle of goo every single time) seem to always be sucking on this cup?"

Shhh, we won't tell her about the vodka just yet.

" What is in here that is so good? "

"I gotta know. "

Uh oh, maybe there was some vodka in there. Nah, I wouldn't have left any of that behind.

See, this girl after my own heart, well I have to make sure she gets started on her caffeine addiction early. What? Her parents are tall, and it's such a challenge to find good pants when you are tall.

(No toddlers were harmed by coffee in the making of this post. The coffee was lukewarm at best (no vodka I promise, because ewwwww) and there was very little in the cup at all. Not to mention the spout was closed. Mental damage by association with me, well it's a risk with every exposure.)

Yup, I'm crazy

I got me some random opinions I want to share and you know since it's my blog, you are forced to read them. Ha. Actually if you do read my ramblings I am honoured. I threw in some random photos because I am in a zone with my camera right now (manual mode only thankyouvermuch) and having so much fun developing my hobby 'cause that's all I ever intend it to be. I know that is stating the obvious given my skill level - just call me Captain Obvious - thanks for that one Lori, it's a keeper.

building a pull up bar - dude is buff

First it's time to refill my coffee. Ah, that's better. So I didn't give it up, in case you were wondering. I had a migraine one day last week (also a symptom of my lovely menopause because they only began about a year ago) and thought whatever. I feel like a piece of dog poop stuck to the bottom of someones shoe anyway, I am making a pot of coffee. And that's all it takes. One pot and I am brewing a pot daily.

Life is short. Time is precious. Coffee is good. End of story.

You will remind me of that next week when I swear I am quitting again, won't you? Great, thanks, I knew I could count on you.

Brothers at work - sandbox, best investment ever

I haven't talked Mother Earth crusade forever. Here's my latest and greatest. If I can smell laundry soap on you, you are using too much soap. I have a pretty keen sense of smell, just like my mom, and lately I have been noticing that a few people reek like Tide. Or Cheer. Or whatever. Here's the thing people, you only need a quarter of the amount they recommend on the bottle. That's right, a quarter. Unless you regularly douse yourself, fully clothed, in mud. I am guessing you don't which means your clothes are not dirty enough to warrant that much soap.

The manufacturer of the soap, see, they want to sell lots of soap. If you use lots, you buy more. See where I am going with this?

I should do an experiment because the thing is, if you can smell the soap that strongly on your clothes I am willing to bet you could put them in the washer with no soap next time and there would be suds. There is no way there isn't a tonne of soap left in the fabric of your clothes after the rinse when they smell that strongly. And then people use fabric softener in the rinse yet. Oy. It gives me a headache. I have two words for you. Dryer Balls. I have been using mine for years. There is no static and our clothes are very soft thanks.

Think of the money you will save on laundry soap and fabric softener.

Okay off my soap box (ha!) now. Oh wait, I have another one. iPhones. Apps for iPhones. Blackberry's. Blackberry pearls.

So. Sick. Of. Hearing. About. Them.

I am sure they are great but here's the thing. I don't, I repeat, I don't need one. On any level. I live in small city, Saskatchewan. I can drive 15 min and be anywhere in my fair city. That means I know my city - no maps required. I am, at any time 15 min away from my computer in case, you know, there is a crisis or something. We all know how often it is life or death if I can't get on the internet.

They have their place for business people especially those in big centers. But for everyday Mom like me, it's just another gadget that they are trying to trick me into buying because it's going to make my life so much better. Sorry I am not that gullible.

Oh and if you have one and are just like me, ignore me, like I said, my opinion, for me, about me. Friends?

could he be any cuter?

That reminds me of a ziplock commercial that I saw the other day. It was all about how much food people waste and that if you just bought ziplock bags to store them in well by golly gee, end of waste. I call bullsh!t. Sorry. Who doesn't store their food in some kind of bag or container already? If you answered yes, the for the love of Pete, please get some ziplock bags already. What are you waiting for?

I sometimes wonder about the marketers. I do. They have a very low opinion of average joe's intelligence. It's discrimination I tell you.

I mean, just because I regularly dump my spagetti and meatball leftovers on the fridge shelf, that makes you think I am an idiot? C'mon, work with me here.

I kind of love how much they love each other

And that concludes my submission for admission to the looney bin. I am thinking there's a pretty good chance I qualify. Just think of the blog fodder I'll accumulate there.

A Moment of Complete Clarity

We were driving between Jay's parents and my parents this past Easter weekend bathed in the beautiful golden twilight of the sun on the Prairie backdrop.

I looked over at my husband and back at my two sons and breathed a sign of contentment.

At that moment, I realized that all was right in my world.

It is so easy to get hung up in the mundane details of life and forget the bigger picture. But at that moment, I was right where I was supposed to be.

I still am. There really is no greater gift and I promise not to take it for granted for a second.

Another Pictorial

This was going to be a recap of our Easter weekend, spent with both Jay's and my families. It was just how it should be, good food, good company, cousins having fun, egg hunts and chocolate. I could post some pictures from that but they have my nieces and nephews in them. And they are not my best work.

What can I say, I like a stationary object. So instead, I am sharing a few of my favourites from the time I spent playing with my camera.

One of the multitudes of abandoned farm houses scattered along every stretch of Saskatchewan's highways. What stories these walls could tell, if only they could talk.

Who toiled in the soil here trying to make a go of it in a new land?

What joys, what sorrows were shared within these walls?

Each one is a testament to our forefathers and mothers. Their sweat, tears and triumphs built this province.

I spent part of Saturday afternoon walking around my parent's place shooting random sights. These rails are part of the riding ring my parents built for me a number of years back when I was all about horses.

A fuel tank that Dad has big plans for. Someday. (Can you hear my Mom snorting?)

The pasture fence. It is part of this place, a place that is home to me though I don't live there anymore. I love this fence and its weathered boards. There are so many memories of chasing horses to ride them, pail of oats in hand, halter poised and ready. I always outsmarted the little buggers. Imagine that.

Here's a real horse's ass.

Sorry. I couldn't help myself when he meandered away having realized I did not come bearing treats.

He's pretty handsome from the front too. Internet, meet Poco. Poco, meet...never mind. If it's not a carrot or a pail of oats you aren't interested.

And lastly, the weekend was full of blue skies with big white fluffy clouds. I love them. They are one of the big pluses to living here in this place that can be so inhospitable.

I hope your Easter weekend was filled with chocolate, family and much joy, not necessarily in that order. Okay, maybe exactly in that order.