Our October Treat

I've been so busy since the MacPhees' visit that I haven't had time to share about our time together. We had a jam-packed time, and I am so thankful that they could come and bring a little sunshine to our autumn. The kids were so excited to see each other that Jillian literally fell down when she first saw us at the airport! We teased her about that for the rest of the weekend! Tracy and I did quite a bit of shopping, although I don't think I got her to all five of our Winners stores, which was her goal. She was successful in leaving some money here, and I was able to spend some, too.

The boys attended the first exhibition game of the new London Lightning basketball team, and the girls giggled and screamed along with thousands of other little ladies at the Selena Gomez concert. I am so grateful that we were able to get tickets! Justin Bieber did not show up as hoped, but Janelle was having too much fun to care. It was such a special experience for Tracy and I to share with our girls.

Great Wolf Lodge truly is a kid's paradise. The waterslides, the wave pool, the lazy river, the water coaster, the giant splash bucket — all four kids loved it all. I told Chris that Great Wolf Lodge is a place I would have dreamed up as a child when imagining the perfect hotel. Since we were there in the middle of the week we practically had the place to ourselves, so no waiting in line for the good slides. The kids even got to dress up in their Halloween costumes and "trick-or-treat" around various places in the resort. It truly was very cool, and especially cool that my kids got to experience it with their cousins.

What I'm thankful for today, on top of a family visit, Selena Gomez tickets, and Great Wolf Lodge, is the reminder that one of my worst fears in leaving New Brunswick has not been realized. More than anything I wanted my children to grow up close to their cousins, sharing experiences with them, and staying in close touch often, and I was afraid that would change if we moved to Ontario. It hasn't changed. They love each other as much as they ever have. They have more fun together than with anyone else. And we can still make those special times happen, perhaps even more intentionally now. Tracy and I are pretty good at dreaming up fun plans to share together, so I think there's a pretty good chance it's going to keep right on happening. We counted down days for months before the special treat of this visit. I wonder what we'll do for the next one?

One More Sleep!

The kids and I have been counting down days for a month now, and tomorrow the long awaited day will finally be here: the MacPhees arrive for a whirlwind, action-packed, 5 day excitement filled visit! Actually, Tracy and the kids arrive tomorrow night, and Blair will join them Saturday evening. Connor and Janelle are so excited they can barely stay inside their skin, and I'm pretty excited, too. Tracy has been here once, just a month after we moved in, when she completely surprised me by showing up at my door unannounced (in collusion with Chris, so I actually did have a spare bed set up!) Things have changed around here quite a bit since then, and I'm looking forward to showing all of them around our home and our city.

The agenda is pretty packed! Tracy and the kids fly in tomorrow night at 5:20, and I know my kids will be asking "how many minutes" from the time they get home from school! I'll have something yummy waiting in the crockpot, and the kids will give their cousins the "grand tour" of the house. Saturday will probably involve some shopping, maybe some fun stuff for the kids, picking Blair up from the airport, and maybe dinner out. Sunday afternoon all the boys are taking in the London Lightning basketball team's first exhibition game at the John Labatt Centre, and they just might come home to a turkey dinner. Monday, despite huge protests, my kids are going to school and leaving their cousins to fend for themselves. Tracy and I may sneak away to get a bit of shopping in then. Monday night is the Selena Gomez concert, which causes Janelle to absolutely sparkle whenever mentioned, and I'm pretty sure Jillian lights right up too! Tracy and I can't wait to share this experience with our girls. Tuesday morning we all get up bright and early and head to Niagara Falls for a couple of days at Great Wolf Lodge. What a way to cap off the visit! Wednesday afternoon we'll all head home and take the MacPhees to the airport. I know it is going to fly by way too fast! But we're going to soak up every bit of fun that we can!

I must get back to my preparations! The vacuuming won't get done on it's own (although wouldn't it be great if it could!) Don't expect another post before Oct. 27! I'll be too busy making memories!

Superbowl Recovery

We attended our first Superbowl Party as a family last night. It was held at the home a couple from our Community Group. We got the invitation about three weeks ago, and Connor has been talking about it ever since. He was incredibly excited — far more so than I ever would have expected. Football has never been a big fan sport in our household. We're all about basketball — Connor and Chris love to watch an NBA game together, and in March each member of the family enters our March Madness predictions on our own personal set of brackets. Of course, as Canadians, it is our civic duty to be hockey fans, and we do enjoy a good hockey game together now and then. But football — I just don't get it! Chris has to explain it to me every time we watch a game (which is a very rare occurance). Therefore, it amazes me that my son is able to "get it", but he does. Something in the male DNA must allow them to understand incomprehensible sports.

So we went to a Superbowl Party. We took two cars, because I knew Janelle would not survive the whole evening. We had a great time! Lots of food, lots of good conversation. Oh, and there was that game on TV that most of the guys seemed pretty interested in, too. They all seemed pretty happy, because apparently the right team was winning. We stayed for the first half, watched the American commercials on YouTube at halftime, and the last part of the halftime show, and then Janelle and I prepared to head out. I checked with Connor to see if he wanted to come with us, and he looked wiped out. His eyelids were droopy and his cheeks were red, his telltale signs of exhaustion. But he was wearing a big smile, and there was no way he was leaving that game until it was over. So I left him and brought my girl home to tuck her safely into bed, and then head to bed myself. I did watch some of the game, but mostly so I wouldn't miss the beginning of Glee, which was coming on following the game. When Connor arrived home, he was all smiles. Apparently, the right team won, which invariably alters Connor's mood one way or the other. It was 10:45 p.m., and he didn't put up much fuss about going to bed. All was right with the world.

And then it was morning. I discovered last night that Connor had not finished all his homework this weekend, so I woke him at 7:30 to complete a math worksheet before heading to school for 9:00. He was a mess. He was just not emotionally equipped to deal with homework, breakfast, washing up or getting dressed. So I did what any good mother would do — I sent him back to bed. What is the point in sending a physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted child to school? Would he actually learn anthing? Would he be an asset to the class in that state of mind? I don't think so. I took Janelle and our neighbour kids to school and came home to have my breakfast. Connor came downstairs just before 9:00. I suggested he give his homework another try. Tears! Drama! Inability to cope! Back to bed! I told him I would wake him in an hour so I could take him to school in time to pick Janelle up to take her to her dentist appointment. I don't think he ever did sleep, but he certainly spent some significant time curled up in his comfy bed in a dark room. That had to help. When he emerged again just before 10:00 I asked him to try getting cleaned up and dressed before he tackled the homework sheet. This time we were much more successful. I'm never awake in the morning until the water hits my face either!

So my son missed two hours of school, all because he stayed up to watch his first Superbowl. Worth it? I guess that depends on your perspective. Connor certainly thinks it was, despite how wretched he felt this morning. And I would tend to agree with him. I mean, he will remember last night far longer than he would remember anything he may have missed this morning between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. And don't we all have to experience the crappy "next morning" feeling to understand how valuable a good night's sleep really is?

I may change my mind this afternoon when I experience the late afternoon version of sleep-deprived Connor. But I know we'll all survive. He'll go to bed early, and a babysitter is coming tonight, so I won't be subjected to a long, drawn out bedtime battle. He's always perfect for the sitter! All in all, Superbowl Recovery isn't that traumatic — as long as it only happens once a year!

Quiet Evening

It isn't often quiet this time of night at my house. The boys have gone flying (yes, actually flying with a friend of Chris's from work who is a pilot, and his 10-year-old son — an awesome tour of London from the air), and Janelle and I got back from her soccer game about an hour ago. She got an award tonight! Guess the coaches have figured out that the fact that she actually touched the ball three or four times and did some running is a big deal for my little dreamer. Now she is sleeping peacefully in the spare room (her just-painted room is still off limits), and her Kenny Loggins lullabyes (our favourite) are playing, very nearly putting me to sleep.

I've had a very busy day, painting the one last wall in Nellie's room. It was such a dark colour it took three coats, and I couldn't tape the corners on the other new paint, so cutting in there was misery! I am exhausted, but it's done! Both kids rooms painted, so Papa doesn't even have to touch a paintbrush while he's here. But he does need to put up a clothesline! If I know my dad, he won't be happy unless he has some kind of a "to do" list. Only one more week until Grandma and Papa are here. I can't wait!

The peaceful strains of "Inchworm" are floating out to me, along with Janelle's precious snores, and I'm feeling an irresistible calling to my book and to the couch. I think I'll go enjoy the last few minutes of my quiet house. The boys should be home any minute, and I'm sure they'll bring plenty of excitement with them!

Making Lemonade

I am recovering this morning from making lemonade.

Last week this time I was very excited about a weekend getaway we were going to take to visit friends in Indiana. Unfortunately, our plans were put on hold early in the week, and I was disappointed. Much of my life these days is wrapped up in what I am looking forward to (and at that time I didn't know my parents are planning a visit in a couple of weeks—Yay!). So I had to come up with something else to look forward to. I succeeded! I succeeded in making so many plans we all finished the weekend exhausted. But I also succeeded in making lots of new memories.

Saturday — Painting Connor's Room!

We've been planning all along to paint the kids' rooms, and I even had the paint waiting in the basement. I don't want my dad ("the painter") to feel obligated to do it when he comes to visit, so I decided this was the perfect time. I (wisely) decided only to tackle one child's room this weekend, and Connor's required the least preparation (ie. the least amount of crap to haul out of it) before I could begin, so he won. We started the day with a trip to Home Depot for supplies, and then I got to work. Chris made lunch and offered emotional support, and practical support later in the day. My first attempt at painting a room on my own was very successful — and supremely exhausting!

My boy does love green!

Sunday — Patio Set

We tried an new church Sunday morning, a bit more of a drive from our place than the others have been. Neither of us felt like it was one that we could see ourselves attending regularly, but at least we've ruled it out and we can move on. However, on the way home I joked "Well, one good thing about attending that church would be that Costco is conveniently located on the way home!" Chris suggested that we stop in at Costco and see if they had a patio set we'd been looking for. No luck — but we still bought plenty of groceries. While I was making lunch I (not very seriously) suggested to Chris that he should go right out and get the patio set we had seen the day before at Home Depot. I stepped outside to put the burgers on the bbq, and when I came back in, he was gone. Twenty minutes later he was back with a brand new patio set — that we spent the afternoon putting together. Well, not all afternoon. I did get some time to sit in the comfy new chairs and read a book.

Monday — The Toronto Zoo

What better way to spend the holiday Monday than a trip to the zoo? Yes, that is exactly what the MILLION people who joined us at the zoo in 30C weather were thinking! We left about an hour behind schedule, drove two hours, and arrived in a 20 minute traffic jam at the parking lot. But by noon we had refueled with granola bars, plenty of water and sunblock and were ready to check out the animals. The restaurants were packed, so we waited a couple of hours to eat lunch. We didn't pressure ourselves to see the whole park. We knew that polar bears were high on the list of priorities, so we headed there first. Then we were off to see the African animals.

"Where do we go first?"

The polar bear exhibit — our unanimous favourite. Although Chris and I both felt sorry for the bears in that way too small pool!

I love the giraffes!

Amazing fish! So many kinds in one aquarium!

We got to the elephants just in time to hear the zoo keeper talk and watch one of the elephants do some exercises. Way cool!

Lazy lion enjoying a nap in the sun.

We ate lunch, walked as much as we could, and took the zoomobile around the park. Then Daddy did the 15 minute walk to the car, while the kids and I went to see the kangaroos and made a quick visit to the splash pad (fully clothed, but it felt wonderful!). At five o'clock, we were back in the car, the kids settled in with their DVDs, and ready for the long ride home.

By 7:00 I was cooking in my kitchen, counting the minutes until the kids would be tucked in bed, and I could climb into my jacuzzi.

I was completely spent after an extra-busy long weekend. But I had made lemons into lemonade!

Stars on Ice

I had been feeling sorry for myself because I didn't have anyone to go to Stars on Ice with. No friends here in London, except one brand new mom freshly home from the hospital with her baby. No babysitters, so my husband couldn't go with me. Then Chris suggested "Why not take Janelle?" He has taken Connor to hockey games and basketball games, but we've never taken Janelle to anything "big" like that. I don't think she had ever even been in a large arena like the John Labatt Centre. I wondered if she would enjoy it — it's not exactly "Disney on Ice". But then I thought about how we were all glued to the TV during the Olympics this year, and how memories of Scott and Tessa and Joannie are still fresh in her mind. Maybe she would enjoy a date with mom, especially watching Scott and Tessa skate in their hometown.

She LOVED it! And I loved watching her almost as much as watching the skating! When I finally got the tickets about a month ago there were only 7 left, so we ended up in the VERY BACK ROW! It was scary being that high! Every time Janelle leaned forward I pushed her back. But it was worth it!

I have to say, watching Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue skate here in London was a unique experience. The proud hometown crowd was wild with excitement went they came out, the first skaters on the ice. Later we got to see their Gold Medal winning routine from the Olympics, as well as their Exhibition routine with the hockey sweater and tutu. I didn't think the standing ovation would ever end! What a thrill!

Then there was Kurt Browning, as entertaining as ever — even skating in hockey skates for one of his routines, Joannie Rochette, who stole the hearts of every mom in the crowd, and Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, my personal favourites whose gravity defying lifts amaze me, along with several other great Canadian skaters. This is the first time Stars on Ice has done an "all-Canadian" tour, and it was clear that this country knows how to grow great skaters!

But the best part of it all was being there with my little lady, whose wide eyes were full of stars the whole time. What a treat to share that "first time" experience together! A precious new memory made!

Pure Gold

Only time for a short post this afternoon. I spent the morning on a field trip with Connor; a very cool fire safety/bicycle safety demonstration at the YMCA Children's Safety Village. Connor loved it, and I loved being there to watch him loving it. Unfortunately, safety demos always remind me of all the awful things that could happen, so I try not to dwell on them too much. Hopefully enough to keep my kids and our home safe, but not enough to live in fear.

When I got home I went back to my lovely little scrapbooking nook and made a few greeting cards, before I need to take my table down to make way for my new office area. I had a wonderful time scrapbooking yesterday, but I finished what I need to do, and now my house needs some attention. Of course, I didn't get right to housework when I finished. Instead I picked up the book I started weeks ago, which I love, and read just a few paragraphs before I found one that was so beautiful I just had to record here.

"I simply loved him as if he were my one and only lover, and he loved me too with the same simplicity of appetite and desire which made me wonder what I thought I had been doing all those years when I had been dealing in the false coin of vanity and lust. I had not known then that all along there had been this other currency of pure gold."

Phillipa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl

It just seemed so eloquent and true that I had to write it down. It describes perfectly what we feel when we find what we didn't know we were looking for. I could apply it to all sorts of situations: finding Mr. Right, first time motherhood, experiencing God for the first time. So often we think we have the real thing, when what we are really dealing with is counterfeit. Pure gold. The whole idea fills me with profound gratitude for the life that I have been blessed to have.

Happy Birthday, Christopher!

Regardless of the risk of inflating his ego, I have to dedicate my second blog in a row to my wonderful husband, who turned 40 (finally!) yesterday. Chris loves to point out that I was born a whole decade before he was (November 1969 to April 1970). This makes me exactly 5 months and one week older than he is, but he milks that for all it's worth! For this reason, I shamelessly celebrate his birthday every year, but especially milestone years like this one.

We picked Chris up at the airport yesterday morning, and began the celebration by going out to brunch at a little greasy spoon that we found in our neighbourhood. Then we come home and found...

balloons...

and a gift...

Yes, I know it was a garbage can, but it's what he really wanted. Remember, we just moved into a new house. We actually decided to return it anyway. Might get a bike rack.

We spent the afternoon walking around downtown London. It was Car Free Sunday, so one of the main streets was closed. Great chance to see what's there without the hassle of traffic. We visited a couple of parks and the fountain by the river. We stopped in to the Market and got smoothies. Tons of great photo ops! ...but I left the camera in the car.

We came home and the birthday boy shot some hoops with Connor while I prepared a yummy dinner of tortellini with meat sauce. Then we played UNO and Pass the Pigs before bath time, followed by a bedtime snack of...

BIRTHDAY CAKE!

While watching Spider-Man 2.

Halfway through the movie, we tucked the kids into bed.  AHHHH, peace and quiet! Then we turned on the fireplace and had a glass of the Mike Weir Carbernet Merlot that Lori gave Chris for his birthday.

Sound like a perfect birthday? I hope the birthday boy thought so!