A Princess and 4 Boys

I have noticed as of late that my blog is filled with doom and gloom. Who wants to read a "whoa is me" blog??? I thought I would mention what inspires me. First and foremost, my husband inspires me to keep reaching for the stars.  I have never had such an amazing cheerleader.  He believes in me in ways that I don't even believe in myself.  When I think I can't do it, Boris is right there telling me otherwise and proving how I can and will do it.  Disney!!  I love every single thing about Disney. I love the parks, the cruise, the movies, the books, the history.  I love how happy it makes me when I walk through the gates and how we make absolutely incredible memories when we go to the parks and the cruises. Howard Schultz is an incredible man.  If you dont' know him, he is the CEO of Starbucks.  He left Starbucks and came back when it needed change. He isn't afraid to take risks, think outside the box and what I have learned t...

There is lots about the hockey season I hate...namely the darn Budweiser light that my husband has in the living room but is rarely there to watch a game.  Those of you who know me well, know that I get spooked by this thing all the time. Our home is a Calgary Flames home.  My dad loved his Senators. It would be a normal Saturday night when dad/Boris and I were texting about the hockey games.  He would trash talk us and we, him.  I am going to miss that this winter so Boris and I are going to a Flames/Senator game.  I am not certain how I will be but I couldn't think of a better way to be close to my dad as I am sure he will be watching and yelling at his Senators while we kick their butts!!!

Hello 39!   I am kind of bummed today...missing dad, I am 39, and just exhausted. True to form though, my awesome co-workers took care of me.  99% of people know me well.

I am a big fan of going against the stereotypes.   I love that Jon is the coolest nerd I know. A dark rimmed glasses, skinny jean wearing hipster who can't wait to join the debate club and loves to cook.  Here he is after his carrot cake lesson with Carly. A few years ago, Boris and I talked in great lengths about our family and where we wanted it to go.  I wanted to move up in my career, I wanted to get my degree and I was/am really career focused.  I don't even remember how the idea came up but Boris ultimately has put his life on hold and has decided to stay at home and take care of the boys and home. He is so great at it and it is a great thing for the boys to spend time with him. When one of them is sick, I know that I can go to work and not feel guilty because they are in great hands.  It is very unconventional as Boris can tell you because he is not part of the lulu lemon wearing club when he volunteers show me another parent who shows up on p...

Boris wanted to give me my birthday present early so that I could go and do something that makes me happy. He gave me a $100 gift card to one of my favourite scrapbook stores ever.   We had some running around to do today and we were heading to moms so they dropped me off and the boys did the errands. I easily spent $120.22. I had a $20 credit and with the penny rounding, my loot only cost $.20.  I took my cute pink bag of Bo Bunny, Adrienne Looman paper and a few embellishments and skipped outside to the waiting van. Boris asked what I got and if I spent it all.  I said I sure did and I would show it all to him at moms.  Little did I know that the gig was soon to be up. At mom's I happily pulled out my treasures to show him and he said "there is no way that this is $100 worth of stuff".  I explained that this was a great haul cause I found some paper on clearance and most paper on average is $2 and I buy two of everything.  I saw the look of math in his ey...

...everyone knows it.  I don't hide my love for Starbucks.  I have a Pinterest board dedicated to it, my next tattoo will have it incorporated into the art, I went to one of the barista's baby showers (that is how often I go). When I go on holidays, I keep the sleeves and write where I purchased the from from.  I even have been known to stop the gay pride parade in Seattle to cross the street to pay homage to the first Starbucks.   I was sad to hear that some of my cousins have never tried a Starbucks drink!!!!  A smile lit up my face when I was sent this picture today!!!

Owen woke up in the middle of the night due to a bad dream so he crawled into our bed.  For the smallest person in our home, I think he takes up the most room.  At 5:30am, I awoke to a foot kick to the head.  Not just a gentle nudge but full on karate kick.  In my head I thought, "enough is enough" and prepared to go downstairs to sleep.  I sat up and noticed that Boris beat me to it. Haha Dad-1: Mom-0. One of the things that Jon and I love to do is to watch Once Upon A Time.  We have been watching it on Netflix so we are not caught up.  Season 3 just came on American Netflix so guess what our good part of the day is...yup, you guessed it!  I have homework to do that is due on Sunday at 11:55pm but I have all weekend. 

It is interesting how food is part of our emotions.  When we are happy, we celebrate by going out to eat or having our favourite meals made by loved ones.  We have cake for our birthdays, reception meals, anniversary cakes etc. I became fully aware of how much I emotionally eat during this last few weeks.  One of the best creatures in the universe knows me better than I know myself and Carly showed up to my house with an entire pie...blueberry from Fife N' Dekel.  For those of you who have never had their pie...go and eat there!!! Well today I am feeling good for the most part and agreed to go on a lunch trip with Carly to one of our other favourite places...Duchess.  I was definitely in my happy place.  Pie is one food group that I would never give up.  It is that item I would take on a deserted island with me.  It is my last supper when I am on death row for killing that person who tried to take a pie away from me.  I love pie. ...

There is this meme floating around Facebook right now about how great your cousins are and I couldn't agree more.  Last week was clearly the hardest week I have had to face in my life yet and without even blinking an eye, Rachel opened up her already hectic home for us.  Had her husband drive all around Ottawa for non-existent Starbucks Tassimo pods and fed us...and I mean fed us.  I am an emotional eater. Stephanie drove from Ottawa to come to our dad's funeral and just happened to know when to pop up to make me smile and when to step back.  This chick is a cool kat and the world better treat her right. 

I am trying to put my life back on track from the blow of dad leaving us way too soon and the sadness of having to say goodbye to my grandma and it is harder than I ever thought it would be.  I now know where the phrase "heartbreak" actually comes from because my heart really feels like it is breaking. In admist all of this, school is back in session and while I am sure it won't last it is really awesome to see Jon leaving for school at 7:45am so he has time to hang out at the lockers before class.  I totally remember when that was super cool.  I love how grade 7 is turning him into such a good kat.  He plans on joining the wrestling team, debate team and want to be part of the ping pong club.  Each night he has told us more about his day than he has ever told us in the previous years.     Owen is in grade 1 now and while Boris and I were worried about how he would be with concentration and focus, he has surprised us both and is loving school...

I had to say goodbye to dad today.  Hardest thing I have ever done. It was so nice to see all those people there who love him like I did.  Normally I am strong and am there for others but I couldn't hold it together. It was so final and real.  There is no way that urn has my dad!  We need him still. I have such an amazing group of aunts that I call my "Glengarry moms" who just knew to come up behind me and put there arm on my shoulder or hug me to hold me up.  I can't imagine this day without my family.   Melody and I are both grateful for them. Goodbye daddy!  I love you.