15-Love & 40-Love

I have been looking quite forward to my 40th birthday. I am not overly sure why but I think it's partly because I am pretty content with where I am in my life. And because of my new goal to practice regular gratitude, here is my listing on this my fortieth birthday:
 
Husband, partner, best friend and fantastic dad? Check.

Kids, that which I always knew I wanted. Check.

Extended immediate (think about it, it makes sense) family that's awesome. Check.

Career/job that I love. Check.

Financial security. Check. 

Good friends. Check.

Minimal regrets. Check.

There might be a few regrets but most are more like wishes that things could have been different. After 40 years, that's probably to be expected.

So here is to 40 years young.

To celebrate, Jay planned a nice dinner with a few close girl friends this past weekend. I am an introvert. A big surprise party is not my thing. This dinner? Perfect.

 

Jay acted as chauffeur so that we could all responsibly indulge in the adult beverages. The location was our favourite restaurant.  We indulged in (what we considered) expensive wine and an amazing 6 course meal. You'll note that there are not 6 courses pictured above.  I missed taking pictures of two of the courses. I was too busy laughing and eating and drinking.

As an aside, I am still dreaming of that scallop (top left). And I thought I didn't like scallops. Converted! I think I was like 12 last time I tried them so.... 

Oh yeah and there was the oyster choking incident.  Mental note, easy on the horseradish when you are going to try to let it slide down your throat.  Horseradish on the back of the throat = choking Kami. And those I still don't like. Similar to the clam slithering down my throat incident of 1985.

And that wine.  It was worth every cent.  

These girls.  Well they made my night. We are all super busy people and I am so grateful they could take the time to celebrate with me.  They might be gorgeous on the outside, but more importantly, they are beautiful people on the inside.


 

It was perfect.  Thank you Christie, Leah, Terry-Lyn and Michelle (who was there is spirit from NYC).

Jay and I are also celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary.   It's a big year.
He and I had our time together in Jamaica and after all these years, we still seem to really like each other.

I fully realize what a blessing that is and try not to take it for granted.




Happy Fifteenth Anniversary Jay! My only wish is for many many more.

Girl time with a little work thrown in

This past weekend I got the opportunity to go out of town on a work related trip. I was asked to mark exams in another city and when asked I said, "YES!" You might wonder why I was so eager to mark exams and you would certainly have a valid point. But you see, the place I was to go, well it's where this lovely lady lives:

Photo curtosy of Tim, Cheryl's hubby and Daddy to Luke (left) and Kyle (right) and big brother Cole (not shown).

Cheryl and her four boys, once again welcomed me into their home. Then I proceeded to monopolize all of Cheryl's time leaving Tim on Daddy duty. Thanks again Tim!

I arrived Thursday night and Friday morning at 5:15AM I got up. You see, Cheryl is one of those people who works out at that ungodly hour and since I was there, well I decided to join her at her early morning boot camp. I'll let you know when my abs are done complaining. It was not boot camp but rather ab camp. I think her trainer, Paul took one look at me and decided to tailor it to my labs. He's quick, that Paul.

Then we proceeded to lie by the pool all morning while her babies napped for over two hours. It was tough I tell you, really tough.

The rest of Friday was spend shopping (on a strict budget!) and dinner. It was wonderful. Kind of like recharging my batteries.

Saturday morning, I got up just before 6AM (yes, I am crazy) to join Cheryl on the last 6 miles of her 9 mile run. Unfortunately she got 1 mile in and was having serious leg pain. Run was aborted but since we were up anyway, we took advantage of the basement gym.

I lost 2 lbs while I was there. With the delicious ground chicken and salsa dinners and oatmeal and egg white breakfasts, how could I not? And I am quite serious about it being delicious. Clean eating is not as hard as we all think. I plan on adopting more of these practices because the level of energy is incredible.

Saturday we put in a 12 hour day at the marking center and 5 hours on Sunday. It was good money and despite how marking exams sounds, I really kind of enjoy it. I love the team atmosphere and seeing people that I normally only get to communicate with online.

And the girl time with a close friend was icing on the cake.

But there's more bonuses.

My boys seem to have missed their Mommy a wee bit and boy are they on their best behaviour. And maybe, just maybe, I have loads more patience with them because we all had a break from each other. I don't like leaving them more than a couople times a year but really and truly, it is a good thing for all of us.

I am so lucky that I have Jay, who can handle a weekend alone with our kids. I came home to a house cleaner than I left it. I know this is something to be grateful for, thanks Jay for taking such good care of our boys!

It's fun to go away but coming back, to where I belong, is equally wonderful.

Friends

Each friend we have in life touches us in a different way. In so many different ways, really. Friends can:

support us
teach us
push us
make us think
frustrate us
hurt us unintentionally
make us question ourselves
say exactly the right thing at exactly the right time
love us
make us laugh until we cry happy tears

And so on and so forth.

I believe that each friendship teaches us something not only about ourselves but how we interact with others. Whether the friendships stands the test of time or is but a blip in time, we take something from each and every one.

As I think back over my life, I analyze the friendships that have come and gone. Why did they end? Do I miss them?

Sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes it is yes. Sometimes I don't even know.

It's irrelevant really. This life is a journey and each friend is a stop point along the way.

Sometimes though, there is a darker more sinister side. Actually that's a bit dramatic. What I mean is, not all friendships are healthy. Sometimes, in fact, they are quite the opposite.

I am easily influenced by what my friends are doing. If so and so is suddenly into macrame, well by golly gee, I suddenly seem to have developed a need to macrame myself (that sounds dirty but I am pretty sure it's not). That's just a random hypothetical example, trust me I couldn't macrame a bookmark if my life depended on it.

I have noticed this though, and sometimes it is best to distance myself from people because I am being influenced and changing into someone I don't recognize. This is not their fault, it is mine entirely.


I'll give you a better example.

Once I was talking to an acquaintance and she mentioned that she had a friend who was obsessed about what was in every single thing her and her family were eating. I asked the acquaintance if that influenced her to start worrying about that too and she said yes, very much so. To the point that she had to distance herself from this friend because she hardly knew herself anymore.

I found that validating because I too, have done the same. Sometimes, no matter how hard you want a friendship to work or remain, it just isn't the best thing. Sometimes, influence isn't necessarily a good thing because as humans, we all possess, to some extent, the need to keep up the Jone's.

I have this dilemma sometimes. How do I stay true to myself and keep from getting caught up in what my friends' are doing? Have they suddenly taken up macrame? Do I need to take it up too?

Surely I am not the only one who finds themselves being swept up in what others are doing?

Jay is a good sounding board with this kind of thing and for the most part, he keeps me in check.

I am interested though, do you sit back and evaluate things like this? Maybe I need to find a hobby and stop over analyzing?

I want to know what you think. Comments have been down over here of late. You all are coming by but not saying hi (ha, I am a poet and I didn't know it). Maybe this will be the post that gets you to pipe in?

The makings of a great weekend

A few weeks ago, I had a really good idea. I needed to do some shopping. You see, last winter, I was akin to a burning inferno so I purged my closet of all long sleeved tops that no longer fit. This year, I am more like an Arctic ice berg and the purging of last year, while necessary, left me with no more than three long sleeved outfits. That and the jeans that I wear on a daily basis were down to two pairs that fit. I needed to shop.

While the shopping here is okay, know the shopping is even better in the city where my good friend, Cheryl, lives; not to mention the company is spectacular. Because you see, what I also needed was some serious girl time. You know, the kind of time with a good girlfriend that lets you hang loose.

So being bright and all, I check flights, confirm with her that the weekend works after checking with Jay and then HUZZAH I booked it.

A trip, on my own, where there was no work required has not occurred since about 1993 (remember New Year's Jenelle?) For me, this was extravagant. I don't do this. My husband also does not go on trips on his own. We are weird like that. I do like a weekend away and my job over the last few years has provided weekend trips frequently enough for my liking. However, I have not had to travel for work since September 2008. Not that I am complaining, trust me. Those weekends are fun but they are also filled with 10 to 12 hour work days. This weekend involved zero, zilch, nada in the way of work and instead provided good conversation, excellent food and some serious shopping.



You can see her take on the weekend here.

All with this gal. It was just what I needed. We chatted, and chatted and chatted some more. You know you have a great friend when you never run out of things to talk about. She also has a knack for making me try on things that I would not normally try on. And then I love them. And then my credit card internally combusts.

I kid.

She also took me for sushi. I have only had it once and it was, putting it mildly, icky. But she raves about it so I had to see for myself. It was delish. I am already craving it again. I am on the hunt for a good local place.

All in all, it was pure fun. I came home yesterday to the smiling faces of my boys feeling great. It was just what I needed.

Cheryl, her husband Tim and son Cole, were gracious hosts and I cannot thank them enough for welcoming me with open arms. I had the best time with the best company.

Let's do it again really soon.

(To see more pictures from Cheryl and Tim's fancy basement where I had the privledge of staying, see my Flikr stream here. )

Why I should go to NYC

So I mentioned how I might want to go to BlogHer last week, but how I am all kinds of scared it would be recurrent of high school. Because I am woman, hear me roar, I also have the distinct right to change my mind, right?

After hearing that this lovely lady, whom I just recently met in real life, is going to BlogHer 2010 in New York City, I am very strongly rethinking my fear. But I read this and this, two very different takes on the whole to go or not to go and what to do while your are there topic and I get even more confused.

Luckily, I have the privilege of knowing Angella in real life and Elaine, Tracey and Karen MEG on line. How do I decide such a momentous decision (you know besides begging Jay that we really need to take a trip to NYC next year, say around August 5, 6 and 7th, 2010)?

Well I interview these lovely ladies of course!

Here is what they had to say to my amateurish questions (FYI interviewing skills are not taught to accountants, generally speaking):

1. This was your first BlogHer, what made you decide to go?

Tracey: I have been blogging for almost 3 years and have been watching the connections made by everyone who attended previously. I was SO jealous that it burned me up! I managed to save enough money from ads on my site and articles for magazines to pay for 80% of my trip. It was my first time doing anything by myself, FOR myself. I felt it was my time.
Hmm, while I am ecstatic for Tracey, I am not sure I can get away with the never taking me time excuse, because, um, well, I pretty much get my fair share of me time me thinks. I am super lucky, that I know.

Karen MEG: I went because I wanted to meet my blog friends, that's for sure. And last year I attended as a head on the Immoral Matriarch's popsicle stick, so I felt obligated to bring the rest of my body this year. But seriously, BlogHer is something completely different than I've ever experienced. It was a challenge for me and something I wanted to "conquer"; I'm one who finds it almost terrifying to talk to people sometimes, and have rarely ever approached anyone I don't know, to talk, chat, whatever. It was a stretch for me to do something totally on my own for a change too; no husband, no kids, no colleagues and entirely UNrelated to work- out of my element. Granted I had met a couple of the bloggers before in Toronto, but it was still intimidating, I mean we're talking 1500 bloggers en masse!

Karen, you and I are a lot alike me thinks and I think it’s high time I conquered this too, what you say, you, me and a few martini’s?

2. Were you all kinds of nervous? Was it anything at all like you expected?

Elaine: I actually was not that nervous. I think it was really cool that the first night OhMommy recognized me first (it was probably mostly the belly, but still...) and I sort of regard her as a bloggy "celebrity" but I immediately felt comfortable talking to her, just like I have in comments and emails via her blog and mine. Since that happened within hours of my arrival I was more laid back about it all after that.

Hmm, mental note, maybe grow a belly before next year so someone (anyone!) will recognize you? Scratch that, my glasses will do it. I hope.

Karen MEG: Well, it was a little as expected, in terms of being completely overwhelming when I first arrived. And I also expected it would be a bit like high school, or even a reunion, because you're always looking around for a familiar face, hoping that you'd recognize someone from their tiny avatar. There were tribes, groups of people milling around together with familiarity, much like you would see the "popular" kids, you know? Because for many it was a reunion. I found the sheer size of it, though, was what made it difficult. As you're only there for a couple of days, you're hoping to find/meet as many of your blog friends as possible, and I found it a little tough as you're feeling very thinly spread. And I hope to heck I didn't act rudely because of it, as it was so easy to get pulled in various directions as you'd see familiar faces go by who you didn't want to miss. There were some that I saw only at the beginning and then at the end, so although I got a hug, there might have been very little conversation and interaction, which was a drag. I did surprise myself, however, at my ability to shout across the room, across a sea of strangers to yell at a face I recognized, and fling myself with open arms into the comfort of those I'd only seen on my laptop screen. I'm a nut, I know. But you gotta do what you gotta do :).

See this is what I imagine and it terrifies me, I am not the type to yell across a room (no one would hear me) but maybe I could run across the room?

3. I am considering going to NYC next year, why should I go?

Tracey: There are a million reasons to go. The main ones, for most of us, is to hug that person you have talked to online. We all want to hear the cadence of the voice that is behind the written words we've enjoyed. The sense of camaraderie was definitely something I hadn't experienced in a long time. I mean, everyone there (except the sponsor/promo dudes) was a writer. We all love to write and read and comment and connect. We all understood the draw that a good blog can have.

Angella : It's NEW YORK. Aside from that, I know that you have a lot of blog friends who you are close to that you would love to meet. Plus, considering that you and I didn't get our work meet up in Vancouver this year, we may have to rely on BlogHer for the chance to say, "hi." :)

Reason enough for me.

The one and only reason I would go would be to meet some of the wonderful women I have connected with online. Because many of them live far far away from the quasi Arctic (have I mentioned they are also very smart?) the opportunity will not arise unless I buck up and head to this here event everyone has been talking about.

Will I go? I still don't know. Obviously it would be expensive to get from here (flip flapping Arctic) to NYC so it's a decision Jay and I must make together and if I told you now, what would I blog about in the future?

I'm nice like that.

But here's the deal, if I go, you go, capiche?*

(certain exepmptions can be made, approved only by me - moohoohahahaha)

Where we were at

Last week we took a little sojourn to Winnipeg, Manitoba. It's a lovely city to the west of us. And apparently us Saskatonians are supposed to loathe those from Manitoba and vice versa. Bah is what I say to that, can't we all just appreciate the differences (and frankly there aren't many) between our fair provinces?

Anywho, if you were wondering why I was awol, that's were we be. Exciting stuff, I know. But it actually was, you see because we didn't just go for fun, we also went to visit. We started off by meeting one of my (many) aunts and two of my cousins that reside in the great city of Winnipeg. Cousins that are my mother's (ish) age and that despite the 35 years of opportunity, we had never met. My mother is the youngest of somewhere in the range of 18 kids (ish). I might be able to name them all...Should I try? How's the for exciting blog fodder?

Here goes....

Nellie
Stan (both from Grandpa's first wife)

The remainder from my Grandma (*no longer with us):

Vicki*
Bernice
Anne*
Fran
Sophie
Julie
Margaret*
Mary
Rose
Benny
John
Pete*
Albin
Jenny
A girl who died ~age 4, her name escapes me

and my mom, the baby of the family, Gloria

Whew, anyone else tired? And yes they were Catholic, why do you ask?

We also fit in some fun, well for the boys anyway. On Sat and Sun, I was marking exams for the organization that I work with. The hotel I was working in and where we stayed had this fantastic play structure. It was well used. Ahoy Mateys!

Oh yeah, we also got put into jail. Well not really, this was in the recreation of a late 1600's harbour town at the Manitoba Museum.

It was the science gallery that was a big hit with our crowd though. Um, yeah, even me, the biggest kid of them all. What am I doing you might be wondering... This is a NASA training module that is supposed to simulate the no gravity atmosphere inside the space shuttle. Folks, there is a reason I am an accountant not an astronaut.

My little man and his alien. Aren't they cute?

The pins, always a hit, as is my nuclear powered flash. Really someday I ought to cough up the dough for a decent one.

A real piece of meteor. Jack was pretty stoked about touching it, being Mr. Space and all.

And a tornado, although without the trailer park demolition, it just wasn't the same, you know?

We also hit Tinkertown with my good friend, Cheryl and her little man, Cole.

The boys had fun while us gals visited. Cheryl and I had also planned a day of shopping, coffee, dinner out and lots and lots of girl time but unfortunately she came down with a nasty virus. Oh and did I mention she is also 19 weeks (ish) away from delivering twins? So yeah, when the girl get sick, she needs to rest and not feel bad about cancelling on our girl time! I know where you live girl, I'll be back. By some feat (she's amazing) she made it to work Sat and Sun so I got to hang with her in between marking exams like madwomen. It's all good.


And can someone tell me what Spiderman has done with my son?

For Misty

I have a friend, one who is very dear to me, despite the fact that we have never met in person. Tomorrow, she will do something that no mother should EVER have to do. She will give birth to her baby boy, Isaac, knowing that he will return to his maker that very same day.

Isaac has a life ending birth defect called Anencephaly. Anencephaly is when a baby develops with little or no brain. So while he is in her womb, he is alive, and well and moving around like any baby would. Tomorrow, he will come into this world and be loved by Misty, her husband and their three older children but they have to do the most difficult thing I could ever imagine. They have to give him back.

If you would, do me a favour and send Misty and her family all the strength you can spare. Pray that little Issac will live, just for a few minutes, so they can witness his life with their own eyes. Just a few precious moments, that's all they are asking for. I don't think that is too much given the sacrifice they are making.

Misty, know that there many people praying for you as you go through this. We are here for you as you face this, this that I cannot adequately describe.

We are here.

Put me out of my misery already

I mentioned a bit back that I was training for a half marathon in April. As of today, that is exactly seven weeks from now, which means I have completed ten weeks of training. The training consists of a short run, about 5km, mid-week and a run on Sunday, alternating long and short (3 or 4 miles) every other week. The long ones keep getting longer, building me up to the race distance of 13 miles.

Last week, I ran the longest distance I have ever run in my life. I completed 8 miles or 12.8km. Less than half way, my thought to myself was, "today, this is going to hurt".

Self fulfilling prophecy? Maybe. Or my body being brutally honest with me?

I wanted to quit so bad but knew that I couldn't. I have to do the distances laid out in my training schedule or I won't be prepared for the race. And 13 miles, without properly preparing....well let's just say that I ain't seen nothing yet if I thought it hurt last week.

So I did it. I finished. I didn't worry about my time. My goal for the race is to finish it. The time is irrelevant.

But the problem is that since I finished last Sunday I have had a perpetual headache. I am not prone to headaches. I normally get one or two a year. I have been popping the drugs left right and center. Don't worry, they are legal.

And tired. Have I mentioned how tired I am? I have been sleeping fine. I normally get eight to eight and half hours every night. And I need that much, trust me. If I don't get my sleep I turn into something from Night of the Living Dead. It isn't pretty, take my word for it. Or anyone who knows me, really.

My work has gotten obscenely busy in the last couple of weeks so the stress levels are up. It happens but once a year and it is a good time to put some money in the bank, or pay my taxes, whatever.

So what is it? The running or the stress?

I am eating enough to fuel a small army and still I am tired. And the headache, while I get some relief, keeps coming back.

Is this my body testing me? Is it testing me physically because mentally I am committed and not wavering from my goal?

For now I will keep going, trying to listen to my body the best I can and take it easy on the short runs. Like today, I was scheduled to do 4 miles. By 2.5 my body was screaming NO. I quit at 3 and quickly sought the approval of my adviser of all things running. Thanks Cheryl, I needed confirmation that I do need to listen to my body. It is smart, it knows its limits.

I will keep going. My goal, it is still attainable so long as I eat right, drink lots of water and rest when I should rest.

And I know this pain, this physical and emotional stress I am feeling, is so much less than some have to endure. And so I do this in honour of them.

If you need me, I'll be downing a side of beef with a protein shake chaser.

Tubal Tales

Remember this friend of mine? The one of the we can't stop laughing long enough to get a photo taken:

Cheryl and her husband, Tim, have been struggling with infertility for quite some time and yesterday! She started a blog about their journey through IVF. She is funny, candid and a beautiful girl, inside and out.

Oh and her, her husband, and their son, Cole have the most amazing blue eyes you will ever see!

Follow their journey on their site Tubal Tales?

I hope you will show her some of the same love and support you have all shown me. So many people struggle with infertility, and I am so glad that she is going to share their adventures.

May there be another blue eyed cherub in their house very soon!

Age 12

I was at camp.

I was barely 12.

It was too soon. I didn’t understand. I was alone.

I went to the bathroom and there it was. I knew what it was but I didn’t understand. I was embarrassed. I asked my friend to tell the counselor. My only knowledge was from a Judy Blume book. As far as I knew there were belts involved.

The worst part was that my mom wasn’t there. I needed her, wanted her. I am positive she never though it would happen so soon and that she would be there when it did.

I survived the week. I still went swimming, I didn’t know otherwise. I hid it from my tent mates. The counselor was discreet in delivering my supplies.

It was awful.

Finally camp was over and I returned home. “How was camp?” My mother asked. I dissolved into a puddle of tears, all that I had withheld for a week spilling over the moment I saw my mom.

“I got my period,” I sobbed.

“I’m sorry!” she exclaimed. She knew that I had needed her.

And just like that it was suddenly all okay.

I may submit this story to You are a woman now. This a book that is currently being compiled of period stories. Check out the site for how to submit. The limit is 3,000 words so I am thinking this is bit short

Winnipeg Day 2

Day two of our vacation will be done via photo journal. The laryngitis I had while we were away has morphed into a full blown summer cold. It is awesome.

We headed downtown to check out The Forks, or the place where the Red River and Assinboine River meet. It's been a meeting place for Aboriginals for thousands of years and there is lots of history. I am guessing that's why there are cobblestone streets in the area. I loved them, so full of charm.

There is also a fabulous skate park. Old meets new if you will.

I think this mantra probably would have served our ancestors, both white and Aboriginal, well and it also works well for the youth of today who frequent the park.

Hey dudes, don't you, like, need some wheels?

Jay could not be outdone, he had to show 'em how it's done.

This was a neat structure around the plaques to commemorate the history of the area.

The top of a bridge that you could see from the bank of the river.


And our intended destination, the Manitoba Children's Museum. It was fabulous and the hit was the locomotive and rail car.

Here they are, Jack is plugging his ears at the recorded engine sounds.

After the museum, we headed the The Forks Market, which reminds me of the markets in Vancouver at Granville Island and Longsdale Quay. Very quaint and the cinnamon buns we purchased were delish.

Next up, I left the boys water sliding at the hotel and hit the mall for some girl time with Cheryl, who doesn't have her own blog, though she SHOULD! I work with Cheryl and she and I exchange emails very frequently.

We shopped hard and we talked. non. stop. The laryngitis I mentioned? The result of a seven hour gab session with a great friend (not really, it's a virus but I am certain the talking didn't help). Don't worry we didn't shop for the entire seven hours, with my track record the house would have been repossessed after a shopping spree of that duration.

Turn out we both have hang ups, me with my abdomen and her with black. I was frequently heard saying, "Cheryl, not the black one, pick some colour" and she was frequently heard saying, "you don't have rolls!" after watching me sweep my hand over my abdomen asking, "Does this shirt show my rolls?"

For the record? I do have rolls, but if camoflauged by the right shirt, no one will ever know. Oh I guess you do now, given that I just posted it on the internet. Ah well, what good are secrets anyway.

After dinner and coffee, we called it a night. The only problem, we live too far away from each other to do that often enough for my liking.

Stay tuned for Day 3, it involves an amusement park, some funky mirrors and me on a skim board. Trust me, you'll want to come back for that.

Back in the Saddle

*please excuse the varying font sizes and paragraph spacing, Blogger apparently is out to drive me to the looney bin - I am ready to rip my hair out after an hour of fighting with it to no avail*

I have a friend, one that also is home almost full time. Her son, Logan, is Kamden's best friend.

(excuse the extreme brightness! Camera and I aren't speaking and my editing skills ar e lackluster)

Her and I are alike in that we need play dates. We need to get out of the house and visit with an adult. We have been doing it for almost 4 years now, ever since the boys were babies. She also has a daughter, Hannah, who is Jack's age.

It was the perfect situation. The kids were occupied and we could talk about anything and everything. And I mean everything. She is an exhibitionist after all and while I might not be that liberal, I am pretty open. We have a lot in common. And I always had diapers when Logan needed one and she had forgotten her bag, yet again.

The last few months though, she's been busy. Very busy. She used to blog. The last post she did was about how she just found out she was having twins. But at 30 weeks she was hospitalized for early labour. Then she was on bedrest.

I've been missing my friend. We have kept up. We've talked. We've visited in the hospital. But there were no picnics in the park, sitting the shade and gabbing, no girl's nights out. The last few summers have been filled with afternoons at the park with her and her kids. I have been missing that. My boys have been missing that.

Seven weeks later and the twins are two weeks old. Healthy, beautiful and perfect.

Meet Rachel Anne and Alexander Douglas (left to right). They are the sweetest and I can't get enough of them.
They are loved by so many. Kamden told me this afternoon right after he kissed Rachel, "I kissed her because I love her so much". I think maybe, just maybe, Kamden has met his betrothed. Who can blame him, she is beautiful.

Here he is giving Alex a manly pat on the forehead. I think Kamden is still small, still my baby, but this? It really puts it in perspective. He's growing up.



There are ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes to cherish. Each and every baby is a beautiful miracle, these even more precious because they shared the womb. The bond they have is unique and truly a gift.

And the best part is that Candace is back in the saddle as she put it. Back at the park, sitting in the shade visiting. And I get my play date partner back, with the added bonus that there are now two sweet bundles to hold.

Congratulations Candace and Devin!

I look forward to many more afternoons in the park, this summer and in summers to come. But sorry, I won't have diapers anymore!

You know you have a problem when....

You are sneaking Starbucks into the movie theatre. Pssst - check out my new red (red!) purse. The accountant is stepping out of the box and go figure, I purchased it in consultation with another accountant , Angella.

My partner in crime. Yes I had a partner. Do you think goodie two shoes Kami came up with this on her own? Oh no. Doesn't Jean look a little shifty to you?

Jean just might love Starbucks more than I do. We are talking intervention proportions people, intervention. I am still in denial though so perhaps you might want to hold off until I hit rock bottom. I can't speak for Jean though, maybe she's ready to quit the hard stuff.

Try as we might, Jean and I were unable to use peer pressure to convince Amy and Candace to begin their rite of passage into latte addiction. Whatever. We know who's cool and who's not.

We had a great girl's night out that involved dinner and a movie (27 Dresses). Thanks for a great night ladies!

Ps - It might just be a Canadian thing but Rotten Ronnie's is a pseudonym for McDonald's. I have to confess all your comments that I shouldn't eat at a place with Rotten in the name had me chuckling all day! Us Canadians have our quirks :-)