Beware of Inappropriate Language

This past week DH and I have been working on a little bathroom redecorating.  Fraught with drama and frustration, as all of our household projects are, we have persevered even when we didn't feel like being in the same room together.  Last night we (DH really) finished the last step--install of the new light fixture and mirror.  While usually a light fixture rests above (and not over top of) the mirror and usually a mirror will allow it's user to see the top of it's head, we are going our own way and embracing the clusterf**k (i know, i know, trucker language but if you could see it, you would realize this is the absolute only term to describe it).  So much so, in fact, that we laughed until we couldn't breathe and decided maybe we'd pitch a realistic home reno show.  We'd follow Mike Holmes and unlike Mike, whose motto is "I'll make it right", our motto will be, "we'll try not to turn it into a clusterf**k".  In the meantime, no comments on the hair, I don't have enough quad strength to squat while using the mirror.....

Easter Moments

Here are a few ways my family and I whiled away Easter weekend:

We gathered some Ridley fur (using the shedding rake--can you imagine raking a dog?  luckily we can as it does the trick to get rid of massive amounts of fur) and made our own dust bunny!

Caved in to the resident Candy Monkey and made this "delicious" cake for Easter dinner.  I was hoping for the lemon curd cake on the cover of Canadian Living last month however, the sugar bomb won out.

My mum gave the girls each a bunny that was made from a mink coat that was given to her by my dad when they were newly married.  Unbelievably soft and what a wonderful heirloom.  And so much better than more candy!

Hope you and yours had a restful and wonderful Easter Weekend too.

    

Grocery Zen

It's so quiet in my house this morning that I can hear the clock ticking on the wall across the room.  Dog is lazily sleeping at (or on really) my feet and everyone else is pleasantly tucked away.  It's too bad that I have to be awake at 6 AM to achieve this rare moment of complete peace but I'll take what I can get.  Crazily enough, I am about to head out to the grocery store in a few short minutes.  One of my many (and i do mean many) quirks is that I really can't stand to be in a crowded grocery store.  Not that I don't love the occasional cart pushed into my leg, the people shoving to get their choice of bananas (i know, sad but true), and long lost friends reuniting in the 2 foot wide aisle by the meat.  Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-people but seriously folks, grocery shopping is not a contact sport nor is it a social outing.  And don't get me started on the "charming" carts that look like race cars.  Really?  Why are we encouraging grocery shopping as a family event? Don't Even.
Hence the early morning.  Wish me luck, I'm going in and hopefully returning while the house is still silent.  I have a new Cathy Lamb book to crack open.

Cathy Lamb should be required reading

Cathy Lamb is one of my favourite authors these days.  Her characters are strong, quirky, and genuine.  Her stories are humourous suffused with a vulnerability that we can all relate to.  In short, they are the perfect escape.  Cathy Lamb is also a blogger and today's blog on Parenting a Writer was particularly insightful.  You need to check it out.  Really.
www.cathylamb.org

London 2012

DD1 had the opportunity this past weekend to go with her swim club to Montreal.  They spent three days cheering on their fellow teammates at the Olympic Trials and had some pretty exciting moments.  DD1 got to see Ryan Cochrane and Julia Wilkinson earn their spots on the Canadian Olympic team and while these two swimmers are not from her team, she did get to meet them last spring when they came to our pool to train.  Joe Bartoch and Richard Harkness from her team made the Olympic list, signed her shirt, and spent time with their "fans" in the stands.  Her swim coach from last year, Brayden, swam in several events and did well despite battling mono for the past three months.  It's not often you get to be a part of the making of heroes.
Here is my summary of the weekend, from DD1:  They ate cookies for breakfast on the bus, laughed until their sides hurt, cheered until they lost their voice, and had more fun than can ever be explained (or so I've heard).  What an amazing opportunity for DD1.  Now, if I could only scrape her out of bed to get to school....

Literary Awakenings

DD2 had a huge literary awakening last night.  She realized that she might, in fact, like books.  Despite her consistent resisting of all things reading, she has been "encouraged" to read several lengthy chapter books for school in these past few weeks.  The latest book for "literature circles" (and i ask you, isn't that name enough to make you cringe and not want to read??) is called Fire Girl and is about a girl who had been burned in a car fire.  Last night she voluntarily finished the book (ahead of schedule which in and of itself is a small miracle) and as she sat down to dinner she burst into tears.  And I mean tears, as in plural,  as in just shy of sobbing.  "This book is amazing.  but oh so sad.  but still so good".  Although she was sad, I love that she discovered that reading is an experience and a good book should make you feel something.  I feel optimistic for her reading future and am excited to think that she may one day share that passion with me.

Procrastination or Preservation?

I really should be getting groceries, making dinner (but i suppose that would depend on the whole grocery thing now wouldn't it?), cleaning the kitchen, or really anything but sitting at the computer writing a blog. That has been part of the blogging lull lately; so difficult to simply find the time to sit still long enough and to think clearly enough to write something that makes sense.  The last 24 hours have been completely overwhelming--not a "i just can't cope another minute" sort of overwhelming but more of a "i have so much to do that i think i shall take a nap" way.  Now that I am through the drama of getting my parents home safely a week early from Portugal (and hopefully getting some proper medical attention---picture this:  full leg cast, from mid foot to hip, for a hematoma on a knee) and now that we have a surgical date for DH (am simultaneously relieved and terrified) , I am (justifiably i think) spending the next several hours completely ignoring all the household chaos.  "What's for dinner mum?"  they ask.  I have no plan for that.  "Do we have any milk?" they whine.  I have no plan for that either.  "I need these forms filled out and signed and money for grad pictures, field trips, and yearbooks" they badger.  And on and on it goes.  And add in a barking dog for good measure.  I should muster it up but truly, I think I will have that nap now.