Nothin Beats Us 3

Bath Time. A Happy Baby. A Warm Heart. Fun Times at Home as a Family. Nothin Beats It.

Where's the Kitty?

The favorite game around this house. "Where's the Kitty?" Hear her bell. Spot the kitty. Hyperventilate and crawl to catch the kitty. Grab, rip, bite, pull, and maul at her. Kitty moves 10 feet away. Chase her. Start all over. Kitty doesn't seem to mind much. Eventually Kodak has enough and runs up the stairs. So far this means safety. I have a feeling it won't be long.

First Time in a Snowsuit

Well, I must say, trying to stuff my boy into a snowsuit that restricts movement when its nap time isn't the greatest idea. This was mildly interesting for a few minutes and then became truly unbearable. And not putting a scarf on him is a bad idea. Woke up with a snotty nose.

Lessons Learned.

Surprise Visit

Mom stopped by unexpectedly last night and it was a welcomed surprise. River loved it too. We don't see her enough!

My Weakness

O Toffifee. You are so Beautiful. Your creamy nougat goodness. What is a nougat? O well its delicious. I can't resist you.

Seagull?

Ever seen those don't litter where a seagull is stuck in a cardboard drink/ice cream holder on a beach? I couldn't stop thinking about this as I watched my little munchin flounder around in this packaging. Who needs the toy?

You Know You're a Parent When

You Know You Are a Parent When.......... You think to yourself during a diaper change..... If I had a conversation with a friend on the phone, I'd say "what's new?" When they asked me the same thing I'd reply, "formed poops, yup that's what's new" "o and maybe crawling and sleeping for 8 hours straight last night" With me... nope nothing's new at all. I bought a new curling iron. hahaha.... Exciting I know.

Road Trip

An air mattress on the floor. In bed with mom. A playpen in a storage room. A stroller. In bed with mom and dad. A playpen in a bedroom. The car. A hotel. Wow River slept a lot of places last week. If this kid isn't adaptable in life I don't know who would be. It was an action packed, eventful week in Calgary catching up with friends, little sleep, but lots of fun. We wouldn't have it any other way.

Recap.

I fly in and get dropped off downtown in the bustling business metropolis of Calgary, after and unsettling drive with an East Indian Cab driver (with some very strong and borderline terrorist views of the world) at Rachelle's work V Lounge. Stroller, car seat, suitcase, diaper bag, and child in toe we were quite a sight. Next was lugging it all through a popular downtown bar at lunch rush! Wow. Needless to say I was happy to get settled into Rachelle's cozy 2 bedroom downtown condo. I finally got to visit my Buffin. River and I shopped. I actually found The Chinook Mall , didn't crash Rachelle's car and managed to take the C-Train all by myself. This was quite an accomplishment for me. Buffin worked but we got to spend exhausted evenings together and even a supper out with Jessie and Sarah at Fiore's with the worst server known to man. Staying out way past River's bedtime thanks to server boy I spent what felt like the entire night with River comforting him the way he likes best. (Ya you know what i mean)

I was thrilled to have Chris meet me for the weekend. With his truck and mom's GPS we had no trouble finding things. A delicious greek feast, a quiet day spent just our family while they worked, a pot luck reunion of mechanical engineers which is always a riot, and a morning brunch later, we said bye to Candace and Trevor and their new home, hoping we'll get to see them again soon.

Next stop Caleb and Rae. and their bun in the oven. Due almost exactly a year to the day after River it was so exciting reliving the excitement, anticipation, questions, and fears through them. A quick but happy visit with 2 fabulous parents to be.

Last stop. Supper with Heather. Its been 10 years since I first met the best Commerce friend I had and she's as lovable as ever. First visit since she became Mrs. Heather Boyer. Catching up always feels good.

Since I flew out we thought this long drive home would best be tackled overnight while the babe slept. Leaving later than planned left us exhausted, and after a near death experience swerving all over the highway at insane speeds, on an invisible patch of ice, while trying to pass someone, left both of us surrendering to sleeping in a Hannah hotel.

Good choice.

Waking up refreshed and filled with an A & W breakfast after having a convo with a strange lumberjack type guy that had custom rigged plane lights, slept in his truck and was searching for a vague and dodgy location (?axe murderer?? no probably not) we started on our way. Sleep 2 hours. Stop to play at Tim Horton's and Stone something Creamery (what?) in Kindersley for an hour to play. Sleep 2 more hours. Arrive home. Success.

First major family holiday besides the lake. Check. Sleep all night long because I'm finally in my own crib. Thank God.

The End.

A few pics from the week

Yes this is a Harry Potter pumpkin sporting a "MO" It was hilarious!!!! Custom made to Rob's measurements.........

Moving and Mischief

Since the little boy who steals my heart started crawling, life has become something totally new. This little man grunted and rolled, breast stroked and belly flopped, and now officially crawls.

It started out slowly. Me sending an email and then looking out to the living room and seeing he had wormed his way to the dining room. Then it was trouble. Knocking over the cat dish, eating cords, ripping paper, tipping garbages and fireplace tools, eating leaves, blasting door stoppers and going for anything he shouldn't. This child LOOKS for trouble. I see a sparkle in his eye as he scans the room for something to destroy. He is extremely proud of himself as he comes towards you showing off his skills.

"No" actually means, pause, possibly look at you momentarily, and continue to do exactly what he was doing previously. Didn't you know? There are many many startling No's and dragging across the rooms to only have him go right back to it. Not surprising to us River shakes his head No frequently. Its a funny game.

There's been fallen baskets of blow dryers landing on heads, hands full of cat food, gagging on leaves, paper, the cat. There's pulling myself up and falling over hitting my heads, and the walking game is the new rage. These past few weeks have had no sitting still, lots of laughs, and tons of trouble in this house.

Speaking of Singer Songwriters

My amazing cousin Kim Wempe, who won "Rising Star" of the year at this year's East Coast Music Awards I might add is coming to town. Kim recently released her new album Painting with the Tides. I listen to all the time. It feels good in my soul. Hearing her makes me feel like she's right there in my car as I drive and brings back so many good childhood memories. I think her lyrics are incredible, honest, and strung together like a poet. She has the talent I wish I had. And she tells the stories of her life in her songs. Enough said. Kim's playing Friday November 26th at Cafe' Sola in Saskatoon. 8 pm. You want to hear something awesome, check her out. Buy her album on itunes, see her website www.kimwempe.com You will love her like I do.... I'm positive.

Awe Struck

Something marvelous happened this morning. I got up before River. I'm sure it will be only seconds until he wakes but until then I have these blessed few minutes to sit in quiet and recap last night in my mind. Coffee is on and I'm hoping to get a sip in. So I'm sitting and remembering the Saskatoon Symphony with Chantal Kreviazuk. Five couples out for an evening was a treat.

I sat transfixed on the stage listening to the beauty, the range, the power, the smooth uniqueness of voice that came from Chantal. I am no music expert but she must impress even those. She plays the piano as well and as effortlessly as she sings. And yet what impressed me most, and what seems to be what impresses me most with all my favorites are her lyrics. Up close and personal, this time hearing stories behind the songs that I never heard before made them even better. I am amazed by song writers. Its a talent that I long to have. Slap that together with the voice of an angel the piano, a flashback to my wedding day, and now a completely composed symphony to go along with it (that didn't even get their music until the day before the show which is mind blowing on its own) and you have a show that I loved. Sent shivers up and down my spine. And it was a fabulous date night. She's gorgeous, spunky, intelligent, funny, and humble, with songs that inspire you to love more, care more, and feel more, I heart Chantal. River's still sleeping, maybe I'll try to write a song. :)

A Hotdog and the Condiments

A sick mom and a sick baby means we didn't make it out to Halloween parties to see friends and kids all dressed up. We laid low this first Halloween as a family. But snotty noses and all we still managed to dress up for a few hours and make the trip out to visit Grandma P and Oma and Opa.... and of course capture the occasion on camera.....