Maybe just for now....

I am not going to blog for a while.

Life has taken on a rough turn, as we lost Roger's sister to suicide early this week. My focus needs to be with him at this time. My girls, my partner, my family all need my full attention. Just four short months ago we lost his dad, and now this tragedy has happened.

Please keep us in your thoughts, prayers and well wishes.

My concentration will be helping his heart to heal, holding his hand, and coping with the fact his family has been cut in half in less than 125 days.

Until that happens, adieu.

Spring Break Gymnastic Camp

Hayley in the foam pit.
Waiting patiently for her turn to swing on the rope and land in the foam pit.
Crawling OUT of the foam pit.
Swinging on the overhead bars.

We put HP in the gymnastic camp over the Spring Break. It was a godsend. It was from 9-4 for Monday-Thursday and she LOVED it. I loved it because she was off having fun with other kids and I did not have to be an entertaining idiot for four days. I also loved it because it tired her out that she was in bed sawing logs by 7:30 at night.

Spring Break bliss.

The day Quinners turned three

Quinn and a birthday friend,

Her beautiful cake. Ice cream of course. Without the cookie center to make it gluten free for me

The crown she made and wore at preschool. We baked cupcakes for her to take, and share. This was her first birthday that we had to make something for school!

Friends eating, playing barbies, and hanging out inside....

While the birthday girl played outside by herself.

A great day was had by all. I was most proud of Roger though, to be perfectly honest. He braved it all, got right in there and helped three year olds paint a terra-cotta pot for a flower to go in. Fired up the barbeque when it was time to eat cheese burgers, and blew up balloons. How do I thank him?

By dumping the water I used to rinse off the knife to cut the ice cream cake up. Yep. All down his pants.

Must be love.

Easter with Quinners

Basket o' eggs.

No basket though, Ladybug bag will do

Look at the gleam in her eye - she knew exactly what to do!

Looking, looking......

Ah-hah! Here it is!!!

Proud new owner of a Barbie Island Princess DVD.

All this excitement, and it is not even breakfast yet.

Spring is in the air - so is a chill

Flowers from Quinners.

Better than anything from a flower store.

It's my birthday and I can brag if I want to.

This is me all bundled up to go to Boot Camp. Yes, I joined bootcamp to whip my bootie into shape before the summer. I was a bit hesitant to go on the first day as you had to step on the scale, have all your measurements taken, and also have your hydration measured. Plus, it is like the first day of school, you don't know anyone, you may not be dressed appropriately, you might get left behind, and not make any friends for 6 weeks.

Turns out I had nothing to fear. I passed the body measurement test with flying colours and even managed to do the 5 required pushups for my instructor. It is cold here at night, and bootcamp is outside, in the rain or shine.....so I am beginning to toughen up. I am (sick as it sounds) enjoying it - so far.
The girls and I went to the park on Wednesday with the other daycare kiddies. We had a ton of fun and I practiced with the two most beautiful subjects (in my humble opinion - but I am the author of this blog, so mine is the only opinion that counts!) and tried out some settings on my camera. Not too bad if you ask me. HP is getting more and more beautiful as time goes on.

And of course, my jokester, Quinners. She always has a "cheese" face whenever the camera comes out. I love her in black and white though.

Today is my birthday, and so far so good. I was spoiled rotten by Roger, as he bought me a gift card for a store that I cannot afford to walk into. Cannot wait to spend his money there! (it is lululemon by the way.....) It is the most overpriced, status symbol active/yoga wear that you can imagine, but it somehow makes everyone's ass look good. That is what I am aiming for baby. Hey, when you are 37 you are feeling lucky it is still somewhat where it was 10 years ago!

Dinner out tomorrow at the Tapa Bar with Roger and friends. Even a babysitter! Getting my hair re-hilighted tomorrow, and chillen' out tonight.

Happy birthday to me.

Ok, Ok, we bought a friggen' HOUSE already!

Lucky #13

The backyard (but I already dream of a zen garden, with water falls, buddha greeting me, and lots of bamboo, potted plants and gettin' rid of the grass.

Note to self - take camera off cool mode.
This is the fireplace (see Buddha - I wanna make him mine!)

Totally blurry, but I was attempting to be incognito and take photos while the building inspector was doing his thing. This is the dining room looking into the kitchen.

Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, 1550 square feet, fireplace, walk in closet, and backyard.
It all it's ugly glory - it is ours.

The floors are new, the upstairs is redone, the kitchen makes me feel as though Austin Powers is going to walk in and say "groovy baby". It is being gutted asap. Rona has already been phoned and scheduled for a demo/redo/upgrade.

Breaking into the Victoria market is tough. This gem was on the market for 340K and we managed to be blessed enough to get it for 300K. Yep. 300K. Where I grew up, one could have bought a subdivision for that amount in the 1970's. So I learn to forget about the numbers, and look to the fact that we will own, have a mortgage and finally have broken into the market.

Just for the record, single family detached homes are ranging in price (for 3 bed/3 bath) from $450,000 - millions and millions.

The total upside is that we will be paying $43 more a month on a mortgage than what we are paying for here in the projects (oops, I mean the CO-OP).

June 23 cannot come fast enough.

Build a Bear Party for HP (or how to spend money at an enormously fast rate)

Lunch at Boston Pizza after the party.....Roger, Earl and I all celebrated HP"s day with a cider.
Hayley showing off her new digital watch that Roger and I bought her. Now when asked the time, she will day....46 minutes after 9. (never quarter to 10)
Roger, Quinn and Hayley - rarely in a photo together.
The signature bear that we all wrote on, and "Cuddles" the rabbit - built by HP.
Her button that she proudly wore all day long.
Hayley showing off her bear. She was stoked that we all signed it and that she could bring it home.
Some little buddies that were at the party.
My beautiful 8 year old girl.
The stuffing process of "Princess" the Hippo that Quinners chose.

Hayley turned eight on March 2nd and we had her party at Build A Bear. It was actually very good - stress free, and fun. Once we turned over the budget to the leader - she took care of the finances and so there was no tears to spend more, and more, and more. It is a place that will easily rob you of cash - spend wisely or your bear will be better dressed than you.

After we took her 5 friends to Boston Pizza for lunch and had cake and opened presents. Such fun for all!

After the party Hayley promptly went home, got a fever, sore throat and the flu and has been out of commission and taking up residence on the couch ever since.

Happy birthday - you partied yourself sick. I thought that it would be years until I uttered those words!

A day at the park...Victoria style!

Hayley with the beautiful Gorge behind her. This is what I see a glimpse of out of my kitchen window and we attempt to walk along it when the weather agrees.
We like to call this the "Gene Simmons-tongue out-rocking out to Bon Jovi" pose. It is her favorite by far.
Quinners and "R" the fauxhawk daycare boy running in the grass.
Quinners riding the whale.
Could not resist throwing this one it. Yes, dear readers, they are in fact daffodils almost in bloom.

I love living in sunny Victoria.

Tribute to the man I love

Roger, I love you, and dedicate this blog entry to you.

How do I love you (I wonder that myself...) just joking.....

I love that you loved me when it was forbidden - cuz I was your boss and you were my employee.

I love you that you loved Hayley from the start.

I love you because you are an individual, and make me look inside of appearances and see what people are inside. Outside you are a grouchy, tattooed, argumentative, opinionated frenchman, while inside you are a dimple sporting, quiet, supportive, loving, great dad, kindhearted, gentle man. Thank you.

I love you because you let me buy a million strollers and still let me vent that they are not the one that I am looking for.

I love you that when you look at less than perfect pictures taken on my expensive camera that you say that it is a camera issue - not an operator one.

I love you because you love me since my oral surgery.

I love you because you eat my gluten free disasters, all the while keeping silent, and then saying, "well that was not my favorite". Gross, mine neither.

I love you because you remember that M&M's are gluten free and smarties are not.

I love you because you bath Quinn, and she loves it that way. You also cut her hair, her nails and hold her hand. You taught her how to wash her hair with a bowl, and for that I am eternally thankful.

I love you because you only want the best for this family.

I love you when we kiss standing up, just because there is not a lot of height difference between us.

I love you because you think that a holiday for us includes going to Quesnel.

I love you because you talk me off the ledge. And that you let me talk you off the ledge as well.

I love you because you let me be a packrat.

I love you because you see the value in having time spent at home.

You are content to be just with me, and for that I love.

Roger, I love you.

Vegas anyone?

Hey, your crown is crooked

Quinn has been wearing this crown she made in preschool lately. She believes that it gives her special powers, as in yelling, foot stomping, toy grabbing, invisibility for snack taking, sleep deprivation, and bossiness.

Oh ya, even without the hat she has these powers.

I wonder if Hayley knows that Quinn is actually eating HER snacks?

Yep, not enough mommy guilt, so I added more

Scuffed nose courtesy of mommy. On Tuesday Quinners ran out in front of me, while trying to NOT fall on her, I grabbed her back. In the process flipped her legs out from under her, and voila - face met pavement. No hands to protect her either. She had a two nostril bleeding nose, and now is sporting a scrape.

Yep, not enough guilt on a daily basis - gotta add more with some blood and scabs.

Good thing no school photos are coming up soon.

The Best Poem Ever

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE

one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a feeling of control over her destiny. .

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect..but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month..and a year...

Pst. I have a secret

I am blogging on my other blog again.

Check me out there too!

Just click on "MY NEW BLOG SPOT" on right hand side. Fellow gluten free readers unite!

RaMBLINGS OR SOMETHING....

I feel that I am somewhat detached from my blog as of late. Life seems to be flying past me, yet at the same time, I am doing what I set out to do in 2008. I am reading more, with two books on the go, and two more coming in from Amazon.ca anytime. I am scrapbooking WAY more. I have completed my entire Vernon/wedding/girls summer weekend away, working on Christmas, and have loads of semi finished-but-at-least-printed-off-the-computer so-they-count pages. I am holding hands with Roger more, reading with the girls, tolerating the daycare kiddies, and drinking less coffee. I feel good.

I attended our Celiac restaurant night out tonight. I always feel akin to how I did when I attended Rotary meetings with my mom. I want to still introduce myself as someone's daughter. Nope. No sirry. This is my organization! I pay the membership! I reap the benefits! Like tonight. I got to dine in confidence with other Celiacs, talking about food while eating food. Ya, my kind of night. Actually I liked the getting dressed up for once, wearing my black boots and putting on mascara.

Life is good.

Celebration of Life

Today was Roger's dad's celebration of life, held in the Sooke Legion. We left the house in plenty of time, which was good, as Quinn decided to throw up in the van about 5 minutes out of Sooke. She had to ride the rest of the way in her shirt, and underwear and shoes. In a different car seat. With the van having the distinct aroma of bile. YUCK. Nothing like being all dressed up and attempting to clean barf up with gas station paper towels all the while attempting to maintain composure and patience. It is all good. There is a great consignment store in Sooke that looked after us, and Quinn looked awesome for her Papa's day.

The celebration was great. There was an awesome turn out, with last count being 275 people. That is 275 people that Gilles touched in some way. That made my heart swell. Quinn and Hayley pinned poppies on the cross in remembrance of him, and there were nary a dry eye when the letter from his mom in Quebec was read. A lovely tribute to an awesome man.

Thank you to all who thought of us today, sent us warm wishes and attended the service. Roger and I appreciate all of you, knowing that you were there for us made the day easier to get through.

Tag - I'M it!

Tagged by fabgrandma, and because I am such a good sport, I will play.

God forbid, If I don't I may not get asked out for a playdate again. Then spend all my day alone.

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
3. Share the 5 top places on your "want to see or want to see again" list.
4. Tag a minimum of 5 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Five random and/or weird things about me:

1. Very nervous about locking my children in the car. Almost a phobia. Especially with my brain capacity some days and the invention of automatic door locks.

2. I weighed 207 pounds on the day I gave birth to Hayley. I weigh 127 now. That is 80 pounds that I lost and NEVER found since. Yahoo!

3. We almost moved to Saudi Arabia when I was younger. My dad would have been a heavy duty mechanic with the oil fields. We never did. I am thankful.

4. When I was in kindergarten, my brother was born. When he was in kindergarten, my sister was born. When she was in kindergarten, we all held our breath. No more siblings.

5. I secretly love watching cartoon movies with Quinn. Especially Madagascar, Over the Hedge, and Chicken Little. Hayley and I could watch and re-watch Harry Potter forever. Not so up to date on what adults watch. I don't really care.

Five places I want to see:

1. Paris

2. Mexico

3. Tofino (again - so pretty)

4. Mom and dad's backyard

5. the inside of an airplane to anywhere without the kiddies for once in my life.


I tag:

LKW
the Queen
My sister
Lynn (free to eat)
anyone from Wet Coast woman

**not giving out links for privacy agreement. Sorry folks!**

Ramblings

I have not been posting as of late, due to many reasons.

Roger's dad passed away on December 22nd, and I have been devoting my time to his needs. There seems like there is a lot to do to be organized for his "celebration of life" that will take place on January 13th. So we have been busy with this.

Also, I am in the midst of some soul searching. I am looking to make my life less "busy" and when that time comes to sit back and enjoy nothing. I am forever wishing this, then when it falls into place, I create new projects, pick up new daycare kids or enroll in some new activity. I am searching for nothingness and hoping to find it soon. My soul needs this.

I am reading a great book that is taking my through my journey, called "Eat, Pray, Love" and I highly recommend it. It is full of humor, life lessons and explores one woman's quest for inner peace. She is easy to read, and very down to earth.

I gave my notice to one daycare boy yesterday, and am talking to another family in regards to the same thing today. I guess this is my way of reducing. thanks Queen! Reducing the sweat, the in and out of the van, the food that leaves my house and the amount of time that is NOT spent with my own daughters.

We were very fortunate that Roger's dad looked after us financially, and for the first time in my life I have the very blessed assurance of being debt free. We paid off Roger's student loan, my van and all the niggly debt that was pestering us. Now what we make, we have. Such an awesome feeling that only those that were in debt can fully appreciate. We continue to be in awe of the foresight that this man had, and are forever thankful to him.

My words for 2008 - appreciate, devote, complete, and inner peace. All of which are capable in my life.

Christmas: Captured in film

Licking the whip cream beaters

fun with nana Margo

Healy'ing on Christmas day in the Canadian Tire parking lot

Quinner running very fast.

Wadya mean my dress is sticking up in the back??

Hayley as a donkey at her Sunday School concert.

Drinking tea with her mittens on - Christmas Eve at Liz's house.

The note that Hayley left for Santa.

Learning to knit a "scrug"- we told her later that it was a "shrug"

Roller skating inside Carole and Eric's house on Boxing Day.