Best Friends

Have I mentioned how much Anderson likes Brutis.

He LOVES him. He will often give Brutis a nice big hug (translated to: tackle the dog and smother him).

Have I mentioned how much the dog loves Anderson and the food he often has....

My Favourite Ice Cream Shoppe

We had a wonderful weekend in Calgary, so we took advantage of it loaded the kids in the van and drove to “My Favourite Ice Cream Shop” in Marda Loop.

Of course the kids loved it – how could you not when you get purple, green and yellow all in one ice cream flavor.

As we sat on the bench and ate out ice cream, I did a little people watching and loved to see people choosing ice cream I would not normally associate with them. Like the Mother of 2 small children that choose Candy Floss along with her daughter, the old woman who came out with a big purple ice cream cone, or the little boy that choose Lemon Gelato.

Here are our picks:
Jackie: Over the Rainbow – but choosen first and foremost for the colours.
Jenny: Banana Fudge
Adam: Lemon Gelato – but he ended up enjoying Anderson’s even more
Anderson: Cream Soda

On My Nightstand - What She Wants

What She Wants by Cathy Kelly

So far this is the thirds book I have read by Cathy Kelly, all her books are based in England / Ireland and I guess you could classify them into Chick-lit. The difference with her book though is they are long, they usually tell the stories of a few different women, and she tells it well.

I like that these book have ‘meat’. So many times I find that a book only skims the surface and does not really let you get to know the characters.

I am only about ¼ of the way through (718 pages), and so far it is just as good as the other two I have read written by her.

On the back cover:

HOPE
Adores her husband. But stuck with two children in the tiny Kerry village of Redlion, so that Matt can follow his dream, Hope just wants to go home.

Her Sister, SAM
Has just got the top London music job she’s always wanted. So why does she have the nagging feeling there’s still something missing?

Widowed VERGINIA
Wants the only thing that she can’t have. Failing that, she wants to nurse her grief in private – without the Redlion locals trying to cheer her up.

NICOLE
Insurance clerk by day and karaoke wild child by night, doesn’t think about the future until, suddenly, it looks as if she’s going to get what she didn’t even know she wanted.

In the year of turmoil that follows, they soon discover that, sometimes, what you get is what you needed all along.

On My Nightstand - Open House

Open House by Elizabeth Berg

On the back cover:

A Woman re-creates her life after divorce by opening up her house and her heart.

Samantha’s husband has left her, after a spree of overcharging at Tiffany’s, she settles down to reconstruct a life for herself and her eleven year old son.
Her eccentric mother tries to help by fixing her up with dates, but a more pressing problem is money. To meet her mortgage payments, Sam decides to take in boarders.
The first is an older woman who offers sage advice and sorely needed comfort; the second, a maladjusted student, is not quite so helpful.
A new friend, King, an untraditional man, suggests that Samantha get out, get going, get work. But her real work is this: In order to emerge from grief and the past, she has to learn how to make her own happiness.
In order to really see people, she has to look within her heart. And in order to know who she is, she has to remember – and reclaim – the person she used to be, long before she became someone else in an effort to save her marriage.
Open House is a love story about what can blossom between a man and a woman, and within a woman herself.

My take so far:
I am about half way through this book, it is incredibly short (at least for me – only 239 pages) and a pretty easy read.
So far it has been pretty sad, sad to see a woman going through a divorce when she did not want one and is forced to deal with everything that brings with it. But based on the book description it looks like the good / happier stuff is coming up.

This is an Oprah’s book club book from 2000, so far I have not had many misses with her book choices.

Blankies and a Playhouse

This winter I was able to purchase a used (but great condition) playhouse for the kids. It was the best $75 I have ever spent.
The kids love it and will usually play for as long as it takes me to make dinner.

The other day they were quieter than usual, so I snuck up on them with the camera – this is the first picture I snapped.


And the second picture because I was laughing so hard at Anderson.

* not sure if you can see in this picture he is wearing pink pants - that is because we had a poop-tastrophe at Anna's and I (bab Mommy) did not have a spare pair of pants for him there - so he wore Jackies - they fit just fine.

Bunny

We have a lot of bunnies in our area – okay I know all of Calgary has bunnies running all over the place and I also know a few bunnies is nothing like a Moose running through downtown like happened last week here in Calgary, but Jackie loves the bunnies, so while at the park the other day I happened to have my camera and she decided to follow one.

We were able to get pretty close since he (she – who knows) was eating something and not willing to give it up.

The Park

When we bought our house 4 years ago we were super excited about having a park right across the street, now we are not so sure about it being a good thing.

On the positive side – we are super close – easy to get to, and easy to run home when someone has to pee suddenly, on the flip side, we are super close – sometimes too close – they want to go all the time.

But they love the park and we enjoy taking them in the evenings. Here are a few pictures from a recently trip across the street after dinner.

Playing Hide and Go Seek with Mommy...

Mr Quackers

An Easter gift from Auntie Kristi and Uncle Marko for the kids – Jackie got a big pink bunny (now known as Dr. Hippidy Hop), Anderson got a large baby chick, or is it a baby duck? Who knows – we say it a duck and his name is Mr. Quackers.

Anderson LOVES Mr. Quackers – he is super excited to see him and recently we have been letting him sleep with him, now when he goes to bed I can hear him talking to him and in the morning too they have a conversation.

The funny thing about Mr. Quackers is as much as Anderson loves him in a healthy way, Brutis loves him in an unhealthy way….

Sweaters

One of the great things about grandmas is homemade stuff. Both kids have a blankie from Granma Hill, a blanket from Grandma Nadeau, a sweater and matching hat from Grandma Hill and also sweaters from Great Grandma Hill.

Anderson is sporting a Great Grandma special elephant sweater, Jackie is showing off the Grandma Hill classic design in pink.

I love them all!

On My Nightstand - Lullabies for Little Criminals

Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill

On the back cover:
At thirteen, Baby vacillates between childhood comforts and adult temptation; still young enough to drag her dolls around in a vinyl suitcase yet old enough to know more than she should about urban cruelties.
Motherless, she lives with her father, Jules, who takes better care of his heroin habit than he does of his daughter.
Baby’s gift is a genius for spinning stories and for cherishing the small crumbs of happiness that fall into her lap.
But her blossoming beauty has captured the attention of a charismatic and dangerous local pimp who runs an army of sad, slavishly devoted girls – a volatile situation even the normally oblivious Jules cannot ignore.
And when an escape disguised as betrayal threatens to crush Baby’s spirit, she will ultimately realize that the power of salvation rests in her hands alone.

My take:
This is another book club book, so far I am about 1/3 of the way through.
I am finding it to be a pretty easy read and enjoying it – I hate the girl’s father – I can’t understand people like that, but being a father at 15 and being a drug addict just might not help you be a well rounded parent.
It is a very interesting book, to see a completely different perspective on poverty, the foster home juggle and growing up almost on the streets.

Before I was a Mom

I have posted this poem before, but it is my absolute favourtie "Mom" poem.

It is as though this was writte by me directly from my heart. It still makes me cry everytime I read it.


Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

On My Nightstand - White Oleander

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

This book is a book club read that I am re-reading. I read it quite some time ago, but if I am going to discuss a book, I need to be able to actually remember some of the details.

Due to camping this weekend, I missed out on some of my valuable weekend reading time, therefore I am a bit behind on my books this Monday. I just started reading it, but I remember really liking this book. It is not a feel good story, but it is very well written.

I am interested to see how I feel about this book not that I am a mother myself (I read it at least 5 or 6 years ago), I am sure I will feel much differently now than last time I read it.

On the back cover:
Astrid is the only child of a single mother, Ingrid, a brilliant, obsessed poet who wields her luminous beauty to intimidate and manipulate men. Astrid worships her mother and cherishes their private world full of ritual and mystery – but their idyll is shattered when Astrid’s mother falls apart over a lover. Deranged by rejection, Ingrid murders the man, and is sentenced to life in prison.

White Oleander is the unforgettable story of Astrid’s journey through a series of foster homes and her efforts to find a place for herself in impossible circumstances. Each home is its own universe, with a new set of laws and lessons to be learned. With determination and humor, Astrid confronts the challenges of loneliness and poverty, and strives to learn who a motherless child in an indifferent world can become.

Tough, irrepressible, funny and warm, Astrid is one of the most indelible character in recent fiction. White Oleander is an unforgettable story of mothers and daughters, burgeoning sexuality, the redemptive powers of art, and the unstoppable force of the emergent self. Written with exquisite beauty and grace, this is a compelling debut by an author poised to join the ranks of today’s most gifted novelists.

This book was an Oprah’s Book Club pick in 1999

Happy Mother's Day Camping

A huge Happy Mother’s Day to all those hard working Moms out there!

We spent the weekend out at the lake, taking advantage of some early season camping.

Thankfully Adam headed out 2 weeks ago to summarize the trailer, make the bed, turn on the fridges and stock the pantry.

We were not sure what we were in for on the first drive out, 4 hours is a long drive for the kids when they are not used to it.

But they did great! Neither one of them slept the whole drive out, but they were entertained by over 3 hours of Dora.

As anticipated Anderson loves it! He is a child that loves to be outside, so I am not surprised that he will love this camping season.

We went for lots of walks where we learned he would rather walk himself than be pulled in the wagon.

Jackie was thrilled to be back at the trailer and sleep in her new bed (one of the bunks). She was disappointed we would not let her and Anderson sleep in the same room (we know there will be little sleeping if we let that happen).

Overall it was a great weekend, kids travelled well, we enjoyed lunch with Blake, Karen and Amy at Blake and Karen’s place, then they all joined us for a campfire Saturday night.

It is great to be back!

We took the camera, but I did not take any pictures, more to come after the long weekend.

More posts to come...

I promise more posts in a few days, I do have a bunch I just have to get some pictures off my camera first.

Stay tuned....

On My Nightstand

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

The Back Cover:
Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.

The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.

My take so far:
I never used to like historical fiction, maybe I had not been reading any good ones since I always found it hard to picture things in my mind. But over a year ago I read “The Other Boleyn Girl” also by Philippa Gregory, and loved it. So when I heard that this book was also just as good (she has written a lot of books, but not all have received the same praise), I decided I should pick this one up and give it a shot.

So far I love it. It is set in England in the mid fifteenth century and the story is set around the Wars of the Roses. I am just under half way and having a hard time putting it down, I would definitely recommend this as a great read.

Pedicure Night

After I had a very long day at work, I felt my feet needed that little something extra.
So Jackie joined me for an at home pedicure.

Can you tell she loved it!

This is a girl who always has painted toes, and often has painted finger nails too.

Doing our nails is nothing new, but this was the first time we did the whole experience.

My handsome boy

Anderson was given a lot of clothes for his birthday and Christmas this year.
One thing he got was a few sweaters,
but he is usually so busy playing and warm, I rarely put him in them.
The other day it was a yucky cold spring day, so on came the sweater,
he was so handsome we needed a picture and
who better to be in that picture with him but me?

Mommy and Anderson (18 months approx)

On My Nightstand

The Finishing Touches by Hester Browne

From the back cover:
Twenty-seven years ago, an infant turned up on the Academy's doorstep, with a note tacked to her blanket by an elegant golden brooch -- Please take care of my baby. I want her to grow up to be a proper lady. Loved by Lady Frances Phillimore and her kindhearted staff, Betsy grew up aspiring to be an Academy girl. But when Franny and her husband, Lord Phillimore, advise Betsy to instead hone her considerable math skills at college, she brokenheartedly leaves behind the only family she's known.
Now, on the sad occasion of Lady Frances's memorial service, Betsy comes back to find the school in disrepair, the enrollment down, and Lord P. desperate to save his legacy. Enter Betsy, the numbers genius, and her business plan -- to replace dusty protocol with the essentials girls need today: cell phone etiquette, eating sushi properly, handling credit cards, choosing the perfect little black dress, negotiating a pre-nup, and other lessons in independent living.
But Betsy may have bitten off more than she can chew. Can she win over the school's snobby headmistress and its handsome but risk-averse treasurer? Returning to London also means facing her own unfinished business, as she crosses paths with her sexy girlhood crush...and blowing the dust off clues to a lifelong mystery: who were her parents, and why did they abandon her? If knowledge is power, Betsy is on the brink of truly becoming her own woman, and embracing the one thing she's wanted all along: a place to call home.

My take so far:
This book caught my interest as an easy read (I like a nice easy read inbetween some of the deeper more complicated books I also like to read), and so far it is a nice break. I am only 65 pages in but enjoying it. I like the fact that there is a bit of mystery to be unveiled and yet it looks like it might also be funny.
I love the idea of a modern finishing school – I think I might have to find one, I love sushi, but still do not know how to use chopsticks. And really, who does not need to know about cell phone etiquette and just how to choose the perfect little black dress.

On My Nightstand

I thought I would try and post weekly on my current book read, so here goes the first one (let’s see how long I can keep this up).

This week I am reading “The Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton. This is a book club choice, and a great one, so far I am about 2/3 of the way through the book and loving it. Here is a synopsis taken from the back of the book:

A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book – a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dock master and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty –first birthday, they tell her the truth and with her sense of self shatter and very little to go on, “Nell” sets out to trace her real identity.

Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell’s death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. A spellbinding tale of mystery and self-discovery, The Forgotten Garden will take hold of your imagination and never let go.


I would love to know what is on your nightstand currently, post it on your blog or as a comment here.

My Birthday

Adam organized a bit of a birthday party for me this year, baby sitters came in, we headed to a local pub and met up with some friends.



My good friend Meg and I!