| Happy Friday!!! First of all, an update for those of you who have been wondering if my train story has come full circle yet. Well, it has, and I was tickled pink yesterday to discover that Annabelle's mom had left us all a message of her own in the comments section of the original blog post! Thank you again for all of your messages. There is so much good in this world, and you can all rest assured that you've made a difference for at least one person. Yay for you!! Also, my blog statistics are showing a huge spike in readers from Ireland, so welcome to Annabelle's mom (and yes, I also hope we'll run into each other again!! I'll keep my eye out for you on the train.) and to those I can only assume are her friends and family back home! And now, after all that excitement and positivity... back to blogging! :-) We had the most wonderful day yesterday visiting with my best friend Marlaine and her husband and kids at my parents' house yesterday - they were visiting from out of province - and it was capped off by us all going to a fishing derby organized by my parents' church. We met up with my brother and sister and their families at the derby and we all had a great little get together. The weather was awesome, the hot dogs were plentiful, and thanks to her new fishing rod from Kenny, our daughter did not 'hook' anyone with her aggressive casting style. Really, watching her fish is a pretty spectacular thing! I am also a proud auntie when I say that the only fish that was caught yesterday was kindly caught and thoughtfully released by my niece Janaya. She not only is a promising angler, but she was one of the best dressed attendees! (she was very proud of her outfit yesterday, which featured a necklace she had made "all by herself". love!) So, you would think that after we had long hugs and bid our family and good friends good-bye that we would have milked all the fun out of one day that we could. Oh no... we like to finish our days off with pizzazz around here! Kenny and I drove home separately because he could only join us halfway through the afternoon and therefore had his own car with him. So, he got home before me and the kids, as I had to stop for gas on the way home. By the time we arrived home, he was already upstairs, jammied up and in bed with the laptop. I quietly brought the sleepy kids and our bags inside, had Knolan on my hip and had shut the front door when I turned around and saw our cat Chloe acting kind of like she was short circuiting. Then I looked up to see what she was looking at just in time to see a giant, really huge, gross looking moth land on our front hall wall. Ewww!! I am not good with bugs. I really should blog about the time a spider dropped down on a web right in front of my face while I was driving. That had drama written all over it! But have no fear, this moth definitely delivered in the drama department! There I was with a spazzing cat, Kaycie, who started squealing and running around looking for a cup and some construction paper (she's clearly been watching my no-fail bug relocation technique!), and Knolan, who has likely never seen a moth before, and who was practically stepping on my face trying to get at the moth with his arms flailing like a zombie. All the while, I am trying to be super smart about this, and I am - with my one free arm - running around the downstairs turning on and off a bizarre sequence of lights trying to lure the moth to the front door. No such luck. Probably only entertained the neighbours with my seizure inducing light show. I asked Kaycie to go get her dad to come and help us with the moth since our house is such a mess right now that I didn't want to set Knolan down for fear of the many, many choking hazards strewn around our main floor - remnants of my crazed and frantic efforts to leave the house on time yesterday for our visit. I am a messy lunatic when I am trying to leave the house with the kids! So, off she went to find her dad while I tried to keep track of the moth. I am kind of shocked at the reaction that bugs and other critters bring out in me. I was so freaked out by this thing that I was clearly not thinking straight - as evidenced by my use of Knolan as a human shield. That's right... I am pathetic... every time the moth took flight, I ducked and hid behind my 13 month old's head for protection. How embarrassing. Anyway, Kenny, arrived on scene and I showed him where the moth was hiding in the kitchen. I have to say, I was particularly pleased to see Kenny suddenly recoil when he poked his head into the kitchen and found himself face to face with the moth. It really was grody. (sorry lil' moth!) The series of events that took place next are kind of hard to explain in a blog. Not the actual events themselves, but the overall feelings of hysteria, frustration, giddiness, feline instinct, wonder, disgust, panic, relief, rage, testosterone surge, anger, and then comic relief that we all experienced as Kenny tried to best Mothra. Here's my best stab at it: He tries to 'shoo' the moth out. He tries chasing it through our main floor. He almost has it near the front door and then Chloe attacks it. Chloe starts gnawing on moth, I freak, Kaycie screams, Knolan stares, Kenny tries to rescue the moth, Chloe retreats. Moth flies free... at my head. I release blood curdling scream and duck behind infant. Ken bellows, "Are you serious?!" I commence passionate speech about my life long fear of bugs. Kaycie laughs hysterically. Moth flies toward front door as Kenny lunges and swats it to the ground. Moth is probably praying for mercy. Kenny tries about 5 zillion times to pick up the moth. Kenny finally gets the moth in his hand, whips the front door open and releases Mothra into the wild while slamming the door behind him. We all breathe a sigh of relief. We all freak as we see Mothra fly up towards the ceiling. What?! Wait! It's a new Mothra! Kenny tries to swat Mothra the Second, resulting in moth excursion to the upstairs. Kenny implodes. Chloe takes chase. Mothra the Second comes back downstairs. In cat's mouth. Kenny rescues Mothra the Second. Mothra the Second flies free and Chloe attacks. Kenny rescues Mothra the Second again, manages to scoop him and runs for the front door. And then the most crazy part of all... Kenny swings the front door open, throws Mothra the Second into the dark night, and then rips my wreath off the front door, hurls it into our garden and slams the door shut. He looks at me and says, "Those moths love that stupid wreath!" I burst out laughing while Kaycie peers out the window into the night to see where the wreath landed. I totally wish that life had a "re-play" button. I would have loved to have watched that all transpire. So... that was the epic battle of Kenny vs. Mothra(s). And it was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
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Showing posts with label awesome day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label awesome day. Show all posts
Friday, August 12, 2011
An Update and a New Blog Post: Mothra vs. Kenny!!!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Awesomer Day - With Dramatic Crying Fit!
5 more days until I'm back at work. But who's counting, really?
All I know is that this blog is serving to be a wonderful tool for procrastination. I have giant decrapification plans for today, but spreadsheets be damned... I'm not going to have much time to blog starting next week, so I'd better soak it up while the going is good!
Plus, I had an awesome day yesterday that rivalled Monday's awesome day, and I must share! Be forewarned, though. If any of you thought I was cool, composed, and had super modern, excellent taste in music, you may be in for a surprise.
First item of business for Tuesday was - look at spreadsheet. So, I pulled up my spreadsheet and it said that I was to spend the morning organizing the linen closet and the afternoon cleaning the utility room.
Second item of business for Tuesday was to formally disregard the spreadsheet and go find some place to get my eyebrows shaped and a pedicure. So, off I went to the last place I had a pedicure, walked right in and asked them if they could take me immediately. And they could... joy!
I plunked myself onto the torture table and endured my annual eyebrow waxing/threading. I realize that it probably makes no sense to do this at all if you aren't going to maintain it more than once a year, but as my friend Ashley always says, "whatev". I had forgotten how torturous threading is.
The next part was the only dark shadow on my second perfect day in a row. The esthetician leans over me and says, "I think we should do above your lip next. It's kind of long in the corners."
????!!!
I thought I was the only one who could detect my girl-stache! Mortification set in, and then I quashed my impulse to roll to the right off the table and out the front door. Then I said, "do it".
I don't love the whole "OMG" movement, but OHH EMMMM GEEEEE! That hurt sooooo bad! I will never do that again.
Anyway, back to awesomeness. Once that ordeal was over with, it was time for the pedicure. I leaned back into the massage chair and dipped my feet into the bath and closed my eyes. Ahhh. Why is it again that I don't make time to do this more often? I always kind of thought those massage chairs were tacky, but yesterday I found myself mentally assessing whether I could pretty one up with throw blankets and clever lighting enough so that it might look ok in our family room. Conclusion - no amount of disguising will ever make these chairs look nice.
Oh. There was a second dark shadow on the day. I was jolted out of my bliss by a flash of pain when the esthetician cut my foot! She was very apologetic and polysporin/bandaged my toe right away, but now I am finding myself slightly obsessed with changing the bandage throughout the day - I've heard bad things about infections from pedicures. Keeping fingers crossed that it will be fine.
OK... I now realize I am not doing a great job of making this day sound awesome. Trust me, though... it was. I was out without kids (I love them so very much, but doesn't change the fact that free time feels sooo good!), my feet looked pretty, my face would look pretty as soon as the redness subsided, and I had the rest of the day ahead of me to spend as I pleased. This day was going excellently!
When I left the salon, I decided that since the weather was stupendous and since I might not get this chance again this week, that I would do the one thing that was 100% guaranteed to make me happy.
I decided I would grab lunch for the road and go to see the Forks of the Credit.
Now, I have been trying to see the Forks of the Credit for my entire maternity leave, but due to some road construction, it just never happened. I had kind of resigned myself to the fact that I just wasn't going to get to see them this year. Then I forgot about them. In that moment, I was so happy that I remembered them because I instantly got that feeling of anticipation. I was so excited! And free!
So, I grabbed some lunch and jumped in the van. Full tank of gas... bonus! I always feel like a rich person when I realize I have gas. Rich people probably never jump in the car late for something and see the fuel gauge on "E". They probably never ask their mechanics if there is some sort of super-safe, cheap, work-around solution to your rotors being burnt out either. :-)
I kid, I kid. I have functioning brakes.
Finally.
Anyway, the sun was shining, and the trees overhead were making those awesome moving shadows on the hood and windshield as I drove along. I was smiling to myself and soaking in the scenery as I headed toward the Forks.
Now, I should say, I wasn't exactly sure what the Forks of the Credit were. I'd just heard people talk about them, and I knew there was a windy road there, so I figured I'd like them.
When I got there, I wasn't disappointed. It's not like there was some hidden majestic mountain there or anything, but it was just a really beautiful, scenic drive. Some of the bends are so sharp that it literally feels like the road is going to cross back over itself like a loop! I saw beautiful hills, pretty riversides, an old guy wrestling a dog at the visitors centre... it was wonderful.
And then suddenly the past year washed over me and I burst into tears. This was it. My year with my kids was over. I was crying gigantic, fat, rolling tears all over the steering wheel.
You would think I might pull over and just have a good cry, but no. Not me. I was determined that I was going to enjoy my much anticipated trip through the Forks. So, I just drove slowly, crying and pulling over to let people pass me while I took in the sights. I even oohed and ahhed to myself through the tears.
Why am I like this? Oh well, who cares. I like me. :-)
Then I thought to myself, I should drive back through this road again and just turn on the radio and find some peppy music and have my last memories of the Forks be positive. So, I turned the van around, and headed back into the scenic drive, flipping through the stations.
And then "Orinoco Flow" by Enya came on the radio.
And I started bawling even harder all over again.
Picture the ugliest cry you've ever had. Then picture yourself driving through hairpin turns listening to Enya. It was ridiculous.
I should mention that the reason I started crying even harder is a bit complex. It's because when my brother was very little, he LOOVED this song. I have wonderful memories of him pretending to bang giant drums to the song, and he thought it was just the most beautiful music he had ever heard. So, this made me nostalgic, which usually makes me weepy, which compounded my perfect storm of emotions, resulting in ugly crying. :-)
So, I had now done two complete runs of the Forks bawling like a baby. Perfect! I wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, it was very cathartic. By the time I was all cried out, I was very satisfied with my trip and decided that it was time to cap it off with some retail therapy.
So, I headed out of the Forks and found this:
Umm... it was as if someone designed this store just for me on a day like this! And what is that white thing out front! I would kill for it if only I knew what on earth I would use it for!
Inside was a treasure trove of lots of neat stuff (truth in advertising!). Like this:
And this:
I ambled around the store for a long time. My phone ran low on batteries, or else I would have had many more pictures to share. There were pieces of furniture there that I would have loved to take home with me, but I decided to restrain myself a bit.
I decided that I should buy myself a pair of earrings to commemorate my cathartic trip to the Forks. I also couldn't pass over these cute monkey chopsticks for Kaycie, who has been dying to learn how to use chopsticks ever since she saw the movie "Ponyo".
I think the earrings are just right. They are kind of earthy and they kind of look like hairpin turns.
After my trip to the store, I decided to head home. I got in the van and decided I needed more music on the trip back to civilization. My husband will know just how gleefully overjoyed I was as I cruised over a hill, looking into a blue sky with puffy white clouds overhead, and turned on the radio just in time to hear the start of "Wild Horses" by Gino Vannelli.
I told you I wasn't cool! :-)
All I know is that this blog is serving to be a wonderful tool for procrastination. I have giant decrapification plans for today, but spreadsheets be damned... I'm not going to have much time to blog starting next week, so I'd better soak it up while the going is good!
Plus, I had an awesome day yesterday that rivalled Monday's awesome day, and I must share! Be forewarned, though. If any of you thought I was cool, composed, and had super modern, excellent taste in music, you may be in for a surprise.
First item of business for Tuesday was - look at spreadsheet. So, I pulled up my spreadsheet and it said that I was to spend the morning organizing the linen closet and the afternoon cleaning the utility room.
Second item of business for Tuesday was to formally disregard the spreadsheet and go find some place to get my eyebrows shaped and a pedicure. So, off I went to the last place I had a pedicure, walked right in and asked them if they could take me immediately. And they could... joy!
I plunked myself onto the torture table and endured my annual eyebrow waxing/threading. I realize that it probably makes no sense to do this at all if you aren't going to maintain it more than once a year, but as my friend Ashley always says, "whatev". I had forgotten how torturous threading is.
The next part was the only dark shadow on my second perfect day in a row. The esthetician leans over me and says, "I think we should do above your lip next. It's kind of long in the corners."
????!!!
I thought I was the only one who could detect my girl-stache! Mortification set in, and then I quashed my impulse to roll to the right off the table and out the front door. Then I said, "do it".
I don't love the whole "OMG" movement, but OHH EMMMM GEEEEE! That hurt sooooo bad! I will never do that again.
Anyway, back to awesomeness. Once that ordeal was over with, it was time for the pedicure. I leaned back into the massage chair and dipped my feet into the bath and closed my eyes. Ahhh. Why is it again that I don't make time to do this more often? I always kind of thought those massage chairs were tacky, but yesterday I found myself mentally assessing whether I could pretty one up with throw blankets and clever lighting enough so that it might look ok in our family room. Conclusion - no amount of disguising will ever make these chairs look nice.
Oh. There was a second dark shadow on the day. I was jolted out of my bliss by a flash of pain when the esthetician cut my foot! She was very apologetic and polysporin/bandaged my toe right away, but now I am finding myself slightly obsessed with changing the bandage throughout the day - I've heard bad things about infections from pedicures. Keeping fingers crossed that it will be fine.
OK... I now realize I am not doing a great job of making this day sound awesome. Trust me, though... it was. I was out without kids (I love them so very much, but doesn't change the fact that free time feels sooo good!), my feet looked pretty, my face would look pretty as soon as the redness subsided, and I had the rest of the day ahead of me to spend as I pleased. This day was going excellently!
When I left the salon, I decided that since the weather was stupendous and since I might not get this chance again this week, that I would do the one thing that was 100% guaranteed to make me happy.
I decided I would grab lunch for the road and go to see the Forks of the Credit.
Now, I have been trying to see the Forks of the Credit for my entire maternity leave, but due to some road construction, it just never happened. I had kind of resigned myself to the fact that I just wasn't going to get to see them this year. Then I forgot about them. In that moment, I was so happy that I remembered them because I instantly got that feeling of anticipation. I was so excited! And free!
So, I grabbed some lunch and jumped in the van. Full tank of gas... bonus! I always feel like a rich person when I realize I have gas. Rich people probably never jump in the car late for something and see the fuel gauge on "E". They probably never ask their mechanics if there is some sort of super-safe, cheap, work-around solution to your rotors being burnt out either. :-)
I kid, I kid. I have functioning brakes.
Finally.
Anyway, the sun was shining, and the trees overhead were making those awesome moving shadows on the hood and windshield as I drove along. I was smiling to myself and soaking in the scenery as I headed toward the Forks.
Now, I should say, I wasn't exactly sure what the Forks of the Credit were. I'd just heard people talk about them, and I knew there was a windy road there, so I figured I'd like them.
When I got there, I wasn't disappointed. It's not like there was some hidden majestic mountain there or anything, but it was just a really beautiful, scenic drive. Some of the bends are so sharp that it literally feels like the road is going to cross back over itself like a loop! I saw beautiful hills, pretty riversides, an old guy wrestling a dog at the visitors centre... it was wonderful.
And then suddenly the past year washed over me and I burst into tears. This was it. My year with my kids was over. I was crying gigantic, fat, rolling tears all over the steering wheel.
You would think I might pull over and just have a good cry, but no. Not me. I was determined that I was going to enjoy my much anticipated trip through the Forks. So, I just drove slowly, crying and pulling over to let people pass me while I took in the sights. I even oohed and ahhed to myself through the tears.
Why am I like this? Oh well, who cares. I like me. :-)
Then I thought to myself, I should drive back through this road again and just turn on the radio and find some peppy music and have my last memories of the Forks be positive. So, I turned the van around, and headed back into the scenic drive, flipping through the stations.
And then "Orinoco Flow" by Enya came on the radio.
And I started bawling even harder all over again.
Picture the ugliest cry you've ever had. Then picture yourself driving through hairpin turns listening to Enya. It was ridiculous.
I should mention that the reason I started crying even harder is a bit complex. It's because when my brother was very little, he LOOVED this song. I have wonderful memories of him pretending to bang giant drums to the song, and he thought it was just the most beautiful music he had ever heard. So, this made me nostalgic, which usually makes me weepy, which compounded my perfect storm of emotions, resulting in ugly crying. :-)
So, I had now done two complete runs of the Forks bawling like a baby. Perfect! I wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, it was very cathartic. By the time I was all cried out, I was very satisfied with my trip and decided that it was time to cap it off with some retail therapy.
So, I headed out of the Forks and found this:
Umm... it was as if someone designed this store just for me on a day like this! And what is that white thing out front! I would kill for it if only I knew what on earth I would use it for!
Inside was a treasure trove of lots of neat stuff (truth in advertising!). Like this:
 |
| A skunk feather duster - so weird! |
 |
| Where on earth would you put such a giant silk lantern? |
I decided that I should buy myself a pair of earrings to commemorate my cathartic trip to the Forks. I also couldn't pass over these cute monkey chopsticks for Kaycie, who has been dying to learn how to use chopsticks ever since she saw the movie "Ponyo".
 |
| My purchases are lovingly displayed here on one of the new placemats I bought on Awesome Day #1. |
After my trip to the store, I decided to head home. I got in the van and decided I needed more music on the trip back to civilization. My husband will know just how gleefully overjoyed I was as I cruised over a hill, looking into a blue sky with puffy white clouds overhead, and turned on the radio just in time to hear the start of "Wild Horses" by Gino Vannelli.
I told you I wasn't cool! :-)
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Awesome Day
I know that it's my crushingly superior sense of humour that keeps bringing y'all back to this little ol' blog, but sometimes an awesome day trumps the funny ones.
Like yesterday!
I had the greatest day yesterday. I can't even think of one exception to the greatness!
I have less than a week left to my maternity leave before I head back to work, and so I've been trying to be a bit strategic about how I use my last few days. I've been easing the kids into daycare while I'm home so that I can be around to help with the transition, and now they are both there full time, leaving me with some time to myself before I head back to the daily grind.
I was a complete nerd and did up a spreadsheet (those of you who know me personally likely know of my addiction to spreadsheets) detailing how I would spend every morning and afternoon of my 'me' days for last week and this week. I had glorious plans of dejunking the house room by room. I also made detailed plans as to how I would relax and pamper myself.
So far, as is the case with 99% of my spreadsheets, I have drifted quite a bit from my plan. I am proud to say that I have caught us up on our laundry, cleaned our closet, half cleaned the kids' rooms, almost finished cleaning the basement, and purchased the placemats I have been meaning to buy for 3 years. None of this was according to my precious spreadsheet, but I don't care. I think for me it's the thrill of the plan... follow through is overrated. :-)
BUT... one thing I did execute to perfection was Monday! With bonus activities!
My friend Cathy emailed me last week to see if I wanted to use some of my pampering time to go to brunch and a matinee with her on Monday. Unbeknownst to her, I had labelled Monday on my spreadsheet:
It's like she could read my mind! I was thrilled, of course, and immediately agreed.
And now that it is Tuesday and I am reflecting on my day yesterday, I almost wish that yesterday was Friday, because it was a perfect day.
I woke up, went downstairs and realized that MY HUSBAND had already cleaned the kitchen. Yeeeessssssss!!!!!!! I kind of puttered around haphazardly, packing the kids' bags, getting their breakfast ready, and then lazily went upstairs to get them. They were both in the BEST mood! I love when they are in a good mood in the morning, because mornings with cranky kids are soooooo demoralizing.
Then we piled the kids into the car and went to drop them off at their child care provider's house. Now, there is a big back story to this, but to make it short, things were awesome when I first started taking them, then Kaycie got bit in the eye again and I kept her home for one day, which threw Knolan off and he screamed all morning at daycare and has never been the same since. Mornings have generally been Knolan crying as I pass him off, and Kaycie declaring that she thinks she'll just stay home with me (despite the fact that every single day when I pick her up, she is bubbling over with excitement about how much fun she had!).
But not Monday! We dropped the kids off and Kaycie was thrilled to be there, and Knolan took one look at Kanwal (our childcare provider) and smiled at her and happily sat in her arms and waved as we left.
Yeeeeesssssss!!!!
Then I went home, showered, painted my toenails, (so far, my checklist was filling out nicely!) and jumped in the van and headed downtown for my brunch/movie date.
Although Cathy has a better poker face than I do, I think we were both giddy at the prospect of a few hours of kid-free girl time. I was practically bubbling over, but as you know, free time tends to do that to me. :-) We had a relaxing brunch on the patio at High Park with PERFECT weather. It was so relaxing and it was great to catch up with Cathy AND be able to finish complete sentences (*usually when we get together, we have my two kids and her twins, which is always lots of fun, but as is the case with small children around, often results in fragmented conversations. LOL).
Once we were done, we realized we had a bit of time to kill before the movie, so we went to IKEA to browse. I hadn't been to IKEA in a long time. It used to be one of my favourite places to just gawk at both the merchandise and the people. I bought some plates for the kids and some napkins, but I have now made a mental list of about a bazillion things that I want to go back for. That's the problem with IKEA... everything there just screams at me to take it home. Regardless, I was sooo blissful just perusing the displays and chatting away with Cathy (who scored some good buys, by the way!).
By the time we were through the store, it was time to go to the theatre. We went to see Horrible Bosses (if you watch the trailer, just be forewarned - it's not suitable for work or children), which turned out to be pretty funny. Jennifer Aniston seemed to break out of her romcom mold and was pretty good (but very orange, as Cathy pointed out!), and Colin Farrell was almost unrecognizable thanks to some kind of latex make up, or wig, or something... but hilarious. Was also happy to see Jason Bateman in something again... why isn't he in more movies?
Anyway, we laughed our way through that and a bag of popcorn and then headed home. As a small sidenote, when we got to Cathy's house, we were unloading her IKEA haul, when I heard someone playing the clarinet. I realized it was coming from an open window of a house close to Cathy's. I looked at her, and she explained that whoever it is practices at least twice a day and that it is starting to make her and husband, Rob, a little batty. Apparently Rob is particularly bothered by the fact that, despite the continual practice, this person is not getting any better. :-)
So, our date ended there, and I gave Cathy a hug and was on my way. When I got home, I relaxed for a bit, and then went to pick up the kids. Pick up was also dreamy! Yeeesssss!!! For the first time, Knolan wasn't desperate to escape Kanwal's home when he saw me. He was just smiley and happy and content to wait until I got Kaycie's knapsack on her back. Kaycie was also thrilled to recount the day's adventures for me. I was all smiles driving them home and then it dawned on me. The only way this day could get better was if it ended at Red Lobster!
Well, Ken hardly needed any persuasion at all, so we all piled into the van and headed out for dinner. Of course, our fashionista daughter decided that if we were going out for dinner, that her outfit would just not be complete without the pink cardigan sweater that Gramma had knitted for her. There was no point in arguing with her that this didn't make sense during a heat wave, so we just let her wear it. She looked kind of cute anyway.
I am happy to report that dinner was a huge success. It's a bit of a gamble taking kids to a restaurant close to their bedtime, but we had a great time! Knolan was sitting close to another baby his age, and the two of them kept trying to hold hands and play peek-a-boo with each other through the whole meal. Kaycie entertained our server with answers to questions she didn't ask (for example, the server asked her what she'd like to drink, and Kaycie replied with, "Well, you see... today we went to the park, and I met a dog named Molly!). At the end of the meal, I asked Kaycie if she'd like to share a dessert with me. Well, I might as well have asked her if she'd like me to buy her a thousand ball gowns... she nearly exploded with excitement. I have never seen her so full of glee and gratitude... it was adorable.
And the dessert was.... tres mag-ni-fique! *dramatic finger kiss* It tasted wayyy better than if I would have eaten it by myself.
So, after we said goodbye to the lobsters and to Knolan's new friend (Kaycie called out, "Goodbye what's your face!" Slightly embarassing!), we headed home to put the kids to bed.
When we got home, we remembered that a package had arrived for the kids from my friend, Marlaine, in Winnipeg. The kids were sooo anxious to see what was inside. We tore into it and found a Jumbles stacking set for Knolan and a book for Kaycie. The kids were immediately engrossed. Ken and I got a kick out of how quickly Knolan was able to spread his stacking toy across the entire room!
We could have played for hours, but it was bedtime. While Ken took Knolan to his room, I happily laid in bed with Kaycie when we got upstairs and read her favourite books to her, and then we both fell asleep snuggling like bunnies. Heavenly.
Now THAT'S a great day!
Annnndddd... when we woke up this morning, we discovered that we managed to grow one cute little strawberry. I was starting to lose hope, but it feels like today just might be another great day!
Like yesterday!
I had the greatest day yesterday. I can't even think of one exception to the greatness!
I have less than a week left to my maternity leave before I head back to work, and so I've been trying to be a bit strategic about how I use my last few days. I've been easing the kids into daycare while I'm home so that I can be around to help with the transition, and now they are both there full time, leaving me with some time to myself before I head back to the daily grind.
I was a complete nerd and did up a spreadsheet (those of you who know me personally likely know of my addiction to spreadsheets) detailing how I would spend every morning and afternoon of my 'me' days for last week and this week. I had glorious plans of dejunking the house room by room. I also made detailed plans as to how I would relax and pamper myself.
So far, as is the case with 99% of my spreadsheets, I have drifted quite a bit from my plan. I am proud to say that I have caught us up on our laundry, cleaned our closet, half cleaned the kids' rooms, almost finished cleaning the basement, and purchased the placemats I have been meaning to buy for 3 years. None of this was according to my precious spreadsheet, but I don't care. I think for me it's the thrill of the plan... follow through is overrated. :-)
BUT... one thing I did execute to perfection was Monday! With bonus activities!
My friend Cathy emailed me last week to see if I wanted to use some of my pampering time to go to brunch and a matinee with her on Monday. Unbeknownst to her, I had labelled Monday on my spreadsheet:
"Morning: shower and clean kitchen, take kids to daycare. Paint toenails. Afternoon: go to movie."
It's like she could read my mind! I was thrilled, of course, and immediately agreed.
And now that it is Tuesday and I am reflecting on my day yesterday, I almost wish that yesterday was Friday, because it was a perfect day.
I woke up, went downstairs and realized that MY HUSBAND had already cleaned the kitchen. Yeeeessssssss!!!!!!! I kind of puttered around haphazardly, packing the kids' bags, getting their breakfast ready, and then lazily went upstairs to get them. They were both in the BEST mood! I love when they are in a good mood in the morning, because mornings with cranky kids are soooooo demoralizing.
Then we piled the kids into the car and went to drop them off at their child care provider's house. Now, there is a big back story to this, but to make it short, things were awesome when I first started taking them, then Kaycie got bit in the eye again and I kept her home for one day, which threw Knolan off and he screamed all morning at daycare and has never been the same since. Mornings have generally been Knolan crying as I pass him off, and Kaycie declaring that she thinks she'll just stay home with me (despite the fact that every single day when I pick her up, she is bubbling over with excitement about how much fun she had!).
But not Monday! We dropped the kids off and Kaycie was thrilled to be there, and Knolan took one look at Kanwal (our childcare provider) and smiled at her and happily sat in her arms and waved as we left.
Yeeeeesssssss!!!!
Then I went home, showered, painted my toenails, (so far, my checklist was filling out nicely!) and jumped in the van and headed downtown for my brunch/movie date.
Although Cathy has a better poker face than I do, I think we were both giddy at the prospect of a few hours of kid-free girl time. I was practically bubbling over, but as you know, free time tends to do that to me. :-) We had a relaxing brunch on the patio at High Park with PERFECT weather. It was so relaxing and it was great to catch up with Cathy AND be able to finish complete sentences (*usually when we get together, we have my two kids and her twins, which is always lots of fun, but as is the case with small children around, often results in fragmented conversations. LOL).
Once we were done, we realized we had a bit of time to kill before the movie, so we went to IKEA to browse. I hadn't been to IKEA in a long time. It used to be one of my favourite places to just gawk at both the merchandise and the people. I bought some plates for the kids and some napkins, but I have now made a mental list of about a bazillion things that I want to go back for. That's the problem with IKEA... everything there just screams at me to take it home. Regardless, I was sooo blissful just perusing the displays and chatting away with Cathy (who scored some good buys, by the way!).
By the time we were through the store, it was time to go to the theatre. We went to see Horrible Bosses (if you watch the trailer, just be forewarned - it's not suitable for work or children), which turned out to be pretty funny. Jennifer Aniston seemed to break out of her romcom mold and was pretty good (but very orange, as Cathy pointed out!), and Colin Farrell was almost unrecognizable thanks to some kind of latex make up, or wig, or something... but hilarious. Was also happy to see Jason Bateman in something again... why isn't he in more movies?
Anyway, we laughed our way through that and a bag of popcorn and then headed home. As a small sidenote, when we got to Cathy's house, we were unloading her IKEA haul, when I heard someone playing the clarinet. I realized it was coming from an open window of a house close to Cathy's. I looked at her, and she explained that whoever it is practices at least twice a day and that it is starting to make her and husband, Rob, a little batty. Apparently Rob is particularly bothered by the fact that, despite the continual practice, this person is not getting any better. :-)
So, our date ended there, and I gave Cathy a hug and was on my way. When I got home, I relaxed for a bit, and then went to pick up the kids. Pick up was also dreamy! Yeeesssss!!! For the first time, Knolan wasn't desperate to escape Kanwal's home when he saw me. He was just smiley and happy and content to wait until I got Kaycie's knapsack on her back. Kaycie was also thrilled to recount the day's adventures for me. I was all smiles driving them home and then it dawned on me. The only way this day could get better was if it ended at Red Lobster!
Well, Ken hardly needed any persuasion at all, so we all piled into the van and headed out for dinner. Of course, our fashionista daughter decided that if we were going out for dinner, that her outfit would just not be complete without the pink cardigan sweater that Gramma had knitted for her. There was no point in arguing with her that this didn't make sense during a heat wave, so we just let her wear it. She looked kind of cute anyway.
I am happy to report that dinner was a huge success. It's a bit of a gamble taking kids to a restaurant close to their bedtime, but we had a great time! Knolan was sitting close to another baby his age, and the two of them kept trying to hold hands and play peek-a-boo with each other through the whole meal. Kaycie entertained our server with answers to questions she didn't ask (for example, the server asked her what she'd like to drink, and Kaycie replied with, "Well, you see... today we went to the park, and I met a dog named Molly!). At the end of the meal, I asked Kaycie if she'd like to share a dessert with me. Well, I might as well have asked her if she'd like me to buy her a thousand ball gowns... she nearly exploded with excitement. I have never seen her so full of glee and gratitude... it was adorable.
And the dessert was.... tres mag-ni-fique! *dramatic finger kiss* It tasted wayyy better than if I would have eaten it by myself.
So, after we said goodbye to the lobsters and to Knolan's new friend (Kaycie called out, "Goodbye what's your face!" Slightly embarassing!), we headed home to put the kids to bed.
When we got home, we remembered that a package had arrived for the kids from my friend, Marlaine, in Winnipeg. The kids were sooo anxious to see what was inside. We tore into it and found a Jumbles stacking set for Knolan and a book for Kaycie. The kids were immediately engrossed. Ken and I got a kick out of how quickly Knolan was able to spread his stacking toy across the entire room!
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| Our post Red Lobster package frenzy! |
We could have played for hours, but it was bedtime. While Ken took Knolan to his room, I happily laid in bed with Kaycie when we got upstairs and read her favourite books to her, and then we both fell asleep snuggling like bunnies. Heavenly.
Now THAT'S a great day!
Annnndddd... when we woke up this morning, we discovered that we managed to grow one cute little strawberry. I was starting to lose hope, but it feels like today just might be another great day!
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| There it is! Our pride and joy! |
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