hello

Wow, I have not written on this blog for years. Now is as good a time as any to begin again. Still in a great place in my life. My boys are growing up quickly and my husband is still amazing. I remember people telling me when my kids were babies that time would go by so quickly, enjoy every moment, in no time they will not need you anymore, etc,etc. In my arrogance, I never believed a word of it. When you are in the throws of life, you can only see what is immediately in front of you. I never thought I could sleep through the night, not buy diapers anymore, and that I would always have Ikea plates and bowls in my cupboard. Well, here we are....my boys purchased posh cutlery for themselves from the Bay last month, my washing line is filled with "cool" boxer / brief trendy underwear, and hardly anything can wake me up anymore.

I forget what this list was called...

1. What is your natural hair color?brown


2. Where was your default pic taken?don't have one


3. What's your middle name?lynn


4. Your current relationship status:excedingly happily married



5. Honestly, does your crush like you back?yes



6. What is your current mood?anxious



7. What color underwear are you wearing?mauve



8. What makes you happy?my boys...all three of them, friday nights



10. If you could go back in time, and change something what would you change?nothing



11. If you MUST be an animal for ONE day- eagle



12. Ever had a near death experience?car accident in Nova Scotia...swerved to avoid hitting a black cat, rolled the car. Buggered myself up, but the cat survived...to then be run over by the ambulance...



13. Something you do a lot?watch hockey



14. What's the name of the song stuck in your head right now?Indiana Jones theme song...my four year old is loving him at the moment and keeps asking me to hum it for him



15. Who did you copy and paste this from?clowngirl



16. Name someone with the same b-day as you? Ewan Mcgregor is the same as my son..that is the best I can do



17. When was the last time you cried? in the fall...alot...about my mother



18. Have you ever sung in front of a large audience?never



19. If you could have one super power what would it be? flying



20. What's the first thing you notice about the opposite/same sex? shoes, smile



21. What do you usually order from Starbucks?just a regular coffee



22. What's your biggest secret? Hmmmmm



23. Favorite color?red



24. When was the last time you lied? told my husband the shoe repair shop was closed when I forgot to pick up his shoes



25. Do you still watch kiddy movies or TV shows?yep



27. What are you eating or drinking at the moment?nothing



28. Do you speak any other language?nothing well enough to be proud of



29. What's your favorite smell? fresh basil, Molton Brown products,



30. If you could describe your life in one word what would it be? amazing



31. When was the last time you gave/received a hug?this morning at school



32. Have you ever been kissed in the rain? In Scotland...for sure!!!!!!!!!!!



33. What are you thinking about right now?how much time do I have!!!



34. What should you be doing?tidying the kitchen, laundry



35. What was the last thing that made you upset/angry? My son showing his stubborn streak last night



36. How often do you pray? rarely



37. Do you like working in the yard?no



38. If you could have any last name in the world, what would youwant? I love my name



39. Do you act differently around your crush? definately not...



40. Name one song that reminds you of an ex? I honestly cannot think if one...............but lots of songs that remind me of my husband!!!

birthday again....

Well, it was my son's 7th birthday yesterday. It was truly an enjoyable day for everyone. We just had a family day, as his party is next weekend, and it was perfect. But, you know what the nicest thing was? We went out to White Spot (BC family dining icon...) for dinner, just the four of us. And we sat down, order our drinks. 2 Nat Baily lagers for us, and ginger ale for the boys ( ginger ale is a treat for them, only served on special occassions) Then, as we made our toast, C said "Thank you to everyone for my presents and I had an excellent day, you are the best family in the world"...then he quietly went back to his colouring....What a "parent moment"...we must be doing something right.
Speaking of doing something right...we also continued our tradition of having bubbly on the boys birthdays once they go to bed. This celebrates M and I for getting another year under our belts and doing a pretty good job most of the time. March is a good month for us as R has his birthday on the 31st, so 2 bottles of bubbly in 4 weeks....EXCELLENT.

4 things...

4 jobs I have had..
-bartender
-waitress
-purchasing manager
-hotel manager

4 movies I watch over and over
-it's a wonderful life
-about a boy
-snatch
-billy elliot

4 shows I watch
-24
-canucks hockey
-the biggest loser
-anything on BBC

4 places I have been
- south africa
-new zealand
-australia
-fiji

4 people who email me regularly
-Paul
-my sister
-the library to remind me to return my books
-joe

4 places I have lived
-Edinburgh
-Wolfville, Nova Scotia
-Waterloo
-Toronto

4 favourite things to eat
-pizza
-alaskan king crab
-Indian food...any kind
-olives

4 places I would rather be
-Tofino
-Edinburgh
-The Three Tonnes pub in Ashwell, England having lunch and a pint of cider
-Aukland, NZ visiting my goods friends that I have not seen in ages

4 things I look forward to this year
-going to Aukland????
-my sons' birthday parties
-halloween - I LOVE HALLOWE'EN
-visitors from the UK

my weekend...

We got snow here...hurray!!! Being from Ontario and living out West, it is such a treat for me to see snow on the ground. The boys had a blast playing Starwars with their lightsabers at the beach yesterday. Such simple pleasures, and they loved it.
C went to birthday party on saturday at the local climbing wall. He had never done that before, and he did really well. All I have to do now is lower my body weight so that I can do it with him. It looked very difficult...for an adult. A 45lb 7 year old is a different story...
M and I had an Indian meal on Friday night. Wow, it was amazing. It just reminded me of living in the UK, as it is such a popular take away there. We had samosas, butter chicken, potato/cauliflower, and pilau rice. Only problem is I was too full by the end of it. I have a great Indian cookbook...M is away this week in Toronto, perhaps I will pull it out and try to make something for him when he returns. I think Indian cooking just takes lots of ingredients, lots of marinating time, but it is basically straightforward.
Wish me luck

oooops

Sorry...MOLTON BROWN!!!!! I type too fast for my own good.

Faves....

here goes my list for 2007...

My favorite....

drink - lager and lime or strongbow cider
meal - Alaskan king crab legs. had them over chirstmas and forgot how much I loved them
jeans - tough one.. the ones I feel best in at the moment are Joe jeans from Superstore.,,they are very cheap but slimming.
hair product - Preference by Loreal hair colour...I would be lost without it
body product - ANYTHING by Morton Brown
book - anything by Ian Rankin. I just finished his very last Rebus novel a couple days ago.
comfort shoe - gotta be my Blundstones - "best #^^$&%$ boot in the world" an Australian once told me....
outerwear - anything MEC
bakery - Richlea
Coffee - Melita International for home, Tim hortons for out and about
Store - Superstore
Car - Audi TT - but I will never own one. Or maybe an Alfa Ramero. We used to have one in the UK and I loved it. don't think they sell them here...
TV - I love 24 for some strange reason
Move - Long Way Round - fantastic movie / autobiography about Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman travelling on motorbikes around the world. Hilarious, inspiring, absolutely fabulous!!!

AHHHHHH...

OK, I just experienced my first christmas concert for my son. I could tell that I was viewed by all as the novice parent, as I arrived only 15 minutes before the performance. Everyone else arrived at least 30 minutes early. Needless to say, there were not seats left and very little standing room...I will know better next year. My son was the second class to perform, and boy, the emotion just swelled up in my heart. I cried. Yes, I had tears streaming down my face. I just felt so....I cannot even put it into words. I love every second of it. I even had a lump in my throat for ALL the other classes. They were just so amazing.
I am not mushy, overly emotional in most things in life....but these things just GET me everytime....
1. weddings
2. singing / hearing the national anthem
3. Rememberance day
4. any stepping stone that my children reach....christmas concert was definately one of them.

So, I am still glowing. What a way to get into the christmas spirit.
So Merry christmas to anyone who reads this!!!!!!

ahhhhh

Ahhhh, no school today. My eldest has had a five day weekend, but I honestly think that he needed a wee break. Heck, we all needed a break. The boys are upstairs, engrossed in a Harry Potter DVD, so I thought I would seize the moment. By the way, I cannot wait for the new Harry Potter to come out on DVD next week. I am telling my husband that we are buying it for the kids for xmas, but who am I kidding...it is for me.
Our company is coming from the UK on saturday and I cannot wait. Nothing like a full house at Christmas to lift your spirits. Both my boys are still "believers" in Santa, so that makes it all the more special. M is off work between xmas and new year, I have stocked the freezer with Presients Choice nibblies to have with bubbly, the house is somewhat clean...I am feeling good. Speaking of President's Choice, does anyone love it as much as I do. I only go there about once every 6 weeks, but I love it. Their seafood filo appetizer selection is amazing. It is great to have a stash in the freezer for when unexpected company drop by...which I am hoping will happen often over the next few weeks.
Enjoy the run up to Christmas everyone!!!

I'm still here....and top 5

Top 5 dead celebrities...
1. Pierre Trudeau
2. Julia Child
3. Steven Irwin
4. Princess Diana
5. Dr. Seuss (sp? you know, cat in the hat ..)

Cereals that Rox
1. honey nut cheerios
2. Special K
3. Rice Crispies
4. Shreddies
5. Oatmeal, made from scratch...i qualify that as a cereal...

5 easy steps to impress me on a date
1. open the door for me
2. be on time to meet me or pick me up (very important!!!!)
3. have polished shoes on ( I always judge a man by his shoes)
4. bring me flowers
5. same as Sal, treat me like I am the only female on the planet for the night...

5 reasons not to blog
1. two young boys who seem to sense when I sit down at the computer
2. two young boys who want to play computer games on the family computer
3. two young boys who (thankfully) want to play with ME
4. Lack of topics in my brain when I sit in this chair
5. my life may be a bit mundane to others...but not to me.

Too soon...

About three months ago, we asked my mother to come out here to live. She currently is in Ontario, but since my father died 6 years ago, she has been very lonely and not terribly happy. My only other sibling lives in the UK, I am on the west coast, and my mom is in between. I have been a bit stressed about the the whole move as, strangely enough, since I have had my boys my mother and I have not gotten along that well. We used to be sooooo close, but now....
Anyway, we knew this was the right thing to do and I was feeling better about it. Keeping in mind that I have not lived in the same city as any of my family since I was in highschool, I am used to the independence. I am used to see family a couple times a year and that is it. I am awful for saying this, I know.
I got a phone call two days ago from my mother's friend saying that she is not well (she is 79). She has been so excited to move out here at the end of Sept, apparently, that she has not told the doctor about her poor health in case he told her that she cannot travel. I feel like shit. I feel like a terrible daughter and I am not ready for my mother to reach this stage of her life yet. Am I going to be able to look after her, give her everything that she needs, in addition to looking after my family and 3 and 6 year old sons? My older sister is in denial, and being 6000 miles away, and single with not children, I do not think she appreciates my fears. I feel like am being pulled in all directions and my mothers survival is dependent on ME now.
Can you tell I am stressed?????
I am not ready for this. My mother has never been ill. Well, she has been quite ill for 6 months now, but did not want to tell anyone. She said she did not want to worry me. I tell you, getting a phone call from her friend to inform me how sick she was, that was far worse.
I am a terrible daugher....

home, at last...

We have just returned from our annual family camping trip. I keep telling myself that as my youngest son gets older, this trip will become easier and easier...WRONG. Camping with two young boys is an endurance test. We did have lots of fun and good weather. There were highlights, like canoeing and my eldest catching his first fish. But boy, there were low points, too. I felt as though my fellow campers must have labelled my husband and I as the Nazi-parents as we seemed to be always nagging the kids. All the mundane things were a challenge for my boys....eating, getting ready in the morning, getting ready for bed, etc. They were great for the 'camping activities", but everything else....no way. C told me that when he gets bored his brain does funny things that make him misbehave. Good try! I tried to explain that life is not one exciting event after another. The "filler" between events is boring, but everyone has to do it. I have to sometimes remind myself of this as well.
I know next June, when I am booking this camping trip again I will have forgotten all of this @$^#*, and I will be eager to get on the road again...

Oh Harry...

OK, I have just finished the last Harry Potter book and I loved it! It was so exciting and captivating. I starting reading the first of the series when I was pregnant with my first son, never realizing that my craving for the books would continued for 7 years. I must say that JK Rowling has done an amazing job. I love her for everything that she represents. A single mother trying to make ends meet, a woman in a male dominated profession, and a storyteller who needed to tell imaginative and valuable stories to children. She lived in Edinburgh at the same time that we did. She would sit in a cafe on the High Street and make a cup of coffee last for hours while she was writing her first Harry Potter book. When her daughter would arrive home from school, she would nag her Mother to read to her what she had written in the cafe that day. That is part of what kept her going. An amazing woman.
The whole story she told is wonderful for children (and adults) to read. It holds valuable yet practical lessons for us learn and hopefully remember when life becomes puzzling...
Anyway, enough said. I hope that anyone else who is reading the book has gotten as much pleasure out of it as I have...
I will try to write again soon...and more regularly.

such a sap...

I recently went to a wedding with my family. Now, the people who were getting married were not really friends of ours, but more "work related" friends of my husband. They had a HUGE, extravagent wedding, so four more people coming was not really a problem for them. The entire affair cost around $70,000...if you can believe that!!!!
Anyway, whenever I go to a wedding since I got married, I always get choked up. Most of my friends have already walked down the aisle, so I have not been to one for about 8 years. Considering that I really had little emotional attachment to these people, I figured I would be safe in the tear department when the bride appeared. WRONG! As soon as I saw her, saw the groom, listened to the vows...I was a mess. It was an outdoor wedding, so I could hide behind my sunglasses fortunately.
I really am not sappy. My husband laughs that I am hard as nails. I only cry at "It's a Wonderful Life" every Christmas and weddings. Oh yeah, I am also moved by our national anthem. When we go to a hockey game at GM Place, and there are 18000 people singing the anthem, I get a lump in my throat. I think I feel that way now after spending so many years out of the country and missed Cananda.
What do you guys get emotional about?

tagged...hurray...

Tagged by Clowngirl requesting list of places I eat at...
Well, considering that we have two small children, 6 and 3, we do not get out much. But here is a list that I love to go to when I get a chance...
1. Stella's - on Commercial Dr in Van. Amazing mussels and a vast selection of beers.
2. La Bodega - By the Grandville Street Bridge in Van. Great tapas and sangria. Authentic Spanish food as alot of the clientele are from Spain.
3. The Boot and Sombrero - Ladner. Local pub that does fantastic fajitas. We know the owners, so that always helps too with regard to lock-ins.
4. Any British pub - anywhere in the UK. We can try to duplicate them here in Canada, but it just does not cut the mustard. There is just something quintessential about ordering scampi and chips and a pint of lager and lime, and then eating it in the beer garden. I love it. And now that I have a family, I appreciate it even more as children are allowed. No stupid liquor liciencing laws like here.
5. The Point Hotel - Edinburgh. If you are ever there...try it!!! Best place in town!!!

HELP!!!!!!!

We are going to a wedding on July 1st, and I, honestly, have nothing to wear. Remembering that my full time job for the past 6 years has been being a mother, I have no formal clothes!! This is my opportunity to wear something nice and not worry about getting grass stains or apple juice on it. Well, if I drink too much, I may get a red wine stain, but I can sacrifice that. I went out on my own last night to go shopping and all I could find that I felt comfortable in was a black cotton A line skirt. I bought it, but I have nothing wear with it!!!! I am definately a fall / winter person. I could easily pull something together to an October wedding. I wonder if that is why I actually got married in October????
Anyway, all the styles are wild patterns, cross over, low V neck things that I would look horrilbe in!!!! AHHHHHH the stress. Silly, isn't it?
Any suggestions?

kitchens

All that seems to be on my mind is my kitchen. We are ripping it all out and starting over again. We are not beginning the work until September, but I figure that between now and then I have about 200 decisions to make. This room will be our final big reno in the house, then it will be virtually complete. I cannot wait to do it, to put our own mark on it and create something that we both love. But hey, you can get sucked into the whole reno pretty quickly at some of the shops. We went to a great shop here, and some of the ranges were about $15000!!! Do I really need 6 burners, a double oven and a warming rack??? I ended up purchasing a fridge and range in the ex-display model sections and saved close to $1000.00. I figure I would rather pay less for an item that has a little scratch, rather than paying full price and having my sons (or me!!) scratch it in three months time....Some people would never be seen in that section, but to me it was heaven!!! Anyone have any words of wisdom for my new creation???? Please.....

new book

In the vancouver sun the other day, they reviewed a book written by two british brothers called "The Dangerous Book for Boys". It deals with the condition of the "new" boyhood. In the old days, boys (and girls) played outside in the dirt until the street lights came on. Childhood freedoms are long lost to housing density, absentee working parents, latch key kids and parlaysing parental paranoia. There are too many strangers next door, too many allergies and too little time (to paraphrase the Sun). This book claims boys have lost the art of boyhood, and damn it, he is going to re-introduce it. This is a guide to: making a tree fort, writting with invisible ink, making a real bow and arrow. A list of books for boys to read from Winnie the Pooh to James Bond. I thought it sounded fantastic. As for girls, the author advises avoiding being vulgar around them, as girls think differently to boys, but without them, life would be a bloody long haul....ain't that the truth!!!!
I know all this is sexist and old fashioned, but I found the concept of it to be refreshing...and should apply to the females as well!!!

I am ready for summer...

Yes, I am ready for school to finish! The kids in my son's class definately are! It seems that everyday, there is a little crisis at school. Today, three little girls in his class came up behind me and started calling me names as I was telling them not to vandalize the bikes. Boy, did they pick the wrong parent to mess with this morning....What disrespect! I would never do that as a child. These girls get dropped off by the bus and have NO supervision until the bell rings. They are 6 years old and NO ONE is looking out for them. They were so much trouble this morning, I was informed that the school will be calling their parents. I have a sinking feeling that the parents are not going to be too bothered. They have been trouble for the whole year, and feel bad about that. There never seems to be anyone around to help them go in the right direction. No wonder my boy is scared of them....
There is my rant....we both need a break from the routine until September.

Everyone loves a parade...

Well, not everyone, and especially not me. I never really liked them as a child, and have paid little attention to them since...until now. My oldest son is in our local May Days parade tomorrow. He is so excited! He is on his lacrosse team float, and now I am a parade convert! I have helped to decorate it, we plotted our spot to watch my boy go by and throw some candy to his younger brother...I look at myself and I cannot believe I am at this place right now. My boys are growing up and it is such a pleasure to witness.
So I will be there tomorrow, rain or shine, BEAMING with my boy....any maybe he will throw me a lollipop!!!