Hallelujah

I had a little nap this morning, then we took the kids swimming. Sweet Pea went down the big slide, all the kids jumped in, and we all had a great time. We gave the kids showers after the swim so now we don't need to give them baths tonight. Bonus.

My muscles are a bit sore after doing weights yesterday for the first time since I had very minor surgery on my neck on January 18th. I had 4 stitches removed on Wednesday, and by Saturday morning, I knew I would be alright to start lifting again and it felt great to be back. It also ran into a few people I knew at the gym, and that made me feel happy.

But the best news yet, something I just found out today, is that Alexander McCall Smith released a new book in the 44 Scotland Street series! It came out on January 12, 2010, and I just reserved it at the library.

There are about 100 people ahead of me in line, but with something like 14 copies, it won't take that long for me to get it. In the meantime, I am really enjoying The Book of Negroes, and I can't wait to lend it to Michelle, if she hasn't read it yet, as I know she will love it. The author, Laurence Hill, was recently in my town, and going to see an author speak is something I have always wanted to do. I did see Gwynne Dyer speak, but that was back in the mid-90's when I was getting my political science degree, and I haven't been to anything since. I feel embarrassed to admit that I have been living in a cultural vacuum for this long. It is time to break out and start using my brain again. Right after I finish reading The Unbearable Lightness of Scones.

Read more...

A Decision Made!

I decided what to do. Thanks everyone for your input!

I have three picture frames over the couch in the family room. I'm going to put these photos there.
In the basement, I'll put these up, once I adjust the colours to make them more similar.

Read more...

A New Look

It's a new year and it was high time for a new look for my blog. Click through to check it out and let me know what you think.

Read more...

Photography

I have three picture frames hanging in my basement. I plan to blowup a photo of each child to hang in them. When it came time to choose the photos, it was easier said than done. I found pictures of each child, but I wanted them to relate to each other somehow and I couldn't find three that were enough alike. I found two cute ones with all three kids, but I couldn't find a third that was a vertical orientation like the first two.

I've put all the photos here, and maybe all of my loyal readers can help me? Which three should I choose?

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4 (below)
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9

Read more...

Howdy, Stranger

In 1998, DH went out with Ron and picked out a gorgeous cherry wood guitar for me for my birthday. I took lessons a few months later, with Rebecca, a decidedly country-leaning player, and she taught us about the basic chords, pivot fingers, and a bunch of strum patterns. She armed us with a pile of music written with chords we were taught in the class. Rather than practice the same song over and over, there were a ton of songs we could play. I can't believe how many songs have only three chords! At the time, I practiced 15 minutes a day, ever day.

I like singing along with my favourite, folksy songs, and I really love finger-picking to Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and to classic folk songs. I'm definitely a campfire-style guitar player.

In 2002, I took the intermediate guitar class with a different teacher. It was fun playing guitar with my pregnant belly but I didn't practice as much and I never really mastered the chords we were taught (F major chord!).

Over the years, I've played from time to time, and this week, I decided to pick up my guitar again. It was out because DH was cleaning up the living room. The first day I played, my finger pads were screaming after 10 minutes and I had to stop. The second day, I played for 20 minutes with little pain, and by the third, I felt 30 minutes wasn't a problem. My fingers haven't calloused and peeled yet, so I guess I'm not playing enough!

DH has promised to teach me barre chords. He gave me a short lesson last weekend, and hopefully he'll help me out again this weekend. He'll turn me into a rocker chick come hell or high water.

Read more...

Happy Birthday Gramps!

My dad's birthday is tomorrow. Happy Birthday Dad!


Last night , we all went out for supper at Red Lobster. I haven't been there in probably 10 years or more, and I don't remember it being that busy! It was packed! We got there at 5:30 and we had to wait 45 minutes for a table. It was all worth it, because we had a great supper, and the kids are so much more flexible on their dinner time now that they're getting older, so they were fine with waiting.

The food was really good, then we all came back here for carrot cake with cream cheese icing, which is quickly becoming a tradition as the birthday cake of choice for the adults in my family. I haven't baked alone, without a kid or two helping, in such a long time, I was shocked at how quickly I made the cake, but I did miss my little helpers.

After the cake, we intended to play cards, but we all ate a bit too much, and since Tyler, AMF and my dad had gone skiing during the day, and since I was out all days with the kids, was at the gym, etc., I was ready for bed at 9:30. The cards will have to wait for another day.

Read more...

Hello Hockey, Here We Come

DH and I both love hockey. We watch it, play it, and try to attend a professional game or two every year. We figured out kids would play hockey. After all, we are Canadian!

So imagine our surprise when our son and oldest child had little interest in hockey. In fact, he seemed to have little interest in team sports, period. A good game of chess, or some downhill skiing? Perfect! Soccer or hockey, not so much.

We signed Mr. Boy up for soccer when he was 4 1/2 and I ran around with him on the field, holding hands all the while, on the days we could convince him to attend. Wary of committing to 50 ice times in the minor hockey association hockey league, I signed him up for a 5-week session through the city. He feigned illness to get out of one game, had to be bribed to another, and reluctantly attended the other three, despite the level being appropriate to him and having a couple of friends on the ice with him.

So imagine my surprise when Mr. Boy announced that he wants to play baseball this summer and hockey next winter! The baseball idea isn't new, and he does seem to be pretty good at hitting, throwing and catching. And baseball is a team sport where you only play as a team half of the game, and the other half is individual. Sounds like a perfect fit.

I was secretly delighted that he asked to play hockey, despite the shudders I get when I think of getting him to the rink for 6:00 a.m. ice times. Since he'll be 8 when he starts, I've heard that age group gets a bit later ice times, which suits me just fine. I know he'll be a little behind the others at first, but I hope he'll catch up. He's not a bad skater already, and he likes passing the puck and shooting in a good game of road hockey.

Read more...