Learning

Over the past three weeks, I have been pulled from my comfort zone and thrown into something new.

I say thrown, however I did have a choice.

I am someone who embraces the "known".  I like consistency, I like knowing what will happen - but also appreciate the little blips that life brings along.

But for the first time in a long time, I agreed to take myself away from the known and take a learning curve.

Instead of my day to day job - I was asked to help out at another company for three weeks.  Didn't know the job, didn't know the people, didn't have the comfort zone and didn't know if I could do it.

I am happy to say that after three weeks, I am walking away with some new insights.  Some things I learned were new - like I can jump in and take charge even if I have no clue of what is happening (well, I kinda new that, but this proved it).  I learned a lot of things about a new business and the products within it.  I learned that I don't need my regular support team to do well (but I also learned how much I do rely on them and missed them).  I learned that I need coffee in the morning more than I thought and that I really really hate traffic.

But I have to say, at the end of it all I was happy with accepting this little challenge and doing well with it.  I also know that I will be happy to "return home" to my mountain on Monday and see what changes await for me there.

zooooommmmm

Well, after seven summers being married, and each summer my lovely husband asking me if he can get a bike - and every summer me saying no - this year I said yes.

I'm not sure why, but I did. 

The bike hasn't been purchased yet - but the riding lessons have. 

I made him tell my Mom and his Mom, both of whom hate bikes.  But reality is - he rides his mountain bikes to work a lot, and if anything - this may be safer.

So stay tuned.....I'm sure there will be more to write about.

The long weekend

One of my favorite things is going out for dinner.  Out to a restaurant, to friends, to family.  Out anywhere.  This weekend I got to go out twice, one of the things making it a fantastic long weekend.

Friday night, the kids hit my parents for a sleep over, and Chris treated me to one more Mother's Day present, dinner at the Boathouse.  A very warm spring evening, on the waters of Horseshoe Bay, just us two grown ups with no responsibility.  We started with appetizers, sharing a bit of each others.  Then onto the main course, when I enjoyed the best Halibut I have ever had.  I'm still dreaming of it days later.  Of course, there was wine with dinner - which I got to enjoy a "taster", a little bit of three different types.  And what would a nice dinner out be without dessert - for me the dark and white chocolate mousse cake (as yummy as it sounds).  Back home, another glass of wine - a perfect night.

Thinking that was my treat out for the weekend, I wasn't slow in accepting an invitation to our friend's the Knibbs for dinner Saturday night.  The afternoon was spent with sprinklers, water fights, even a little pool time (with an extra bonus of scrapbooking for a few minutes).  Then over to our neighbours, with kids in hand.  The kids got to eat, while the adults enjoyed sitting outside and planning more of our vacation together in August.  We ate later, enjoyed a good laugh or two and headed home way past the children's bedtime.

The weekend wrapped up with Sunday being enjoyable, relaxing and full of play.  I got to finish gardening, caught a couple pages of my book, and did a photo shoot with Kaylee while Braydon got to go to the VSO with my parents.  While the rain came Monday, it allowed us all to slow down a bit, get caught up on some "chores" and take it easy.

If this is the start to summer - let the season begin!

The Wishing Flower

Dandelions get a bad rap.  They may be considered a weed to some, but happen to be one of my favorite flowers.  Because once the bright vibrant yellow flowers are done, they make a second flower - in my house we call it the wishing flower.

I think my son came up with the name - he went off to get one and came back with a "wishing flower" and it stuck.  Both my kids love to make wishes and blow as hard as they can.

Sometimes they keep the wish a secret, just in case it might not come true if they tell someone.  But most of the time, they share.

Today, Kaylee and I had some girl time, and went out to do a photo shoot.  There were lots of wishing flowers, and she make lots and lots of wishes.

I love wishing flowers, but I don't need them.  My wishes already came true.

60th Anniversary

Happy Anniversary Wilf and Isabel!  

My children are so lucky to have great grandparents, especially ones so viva-shish as these two! 

60 years ago today, these kids got married, eventually had three children, and were then blessed with five grandchildren and double blessed with two great grandchildren.

Isabel is full of life, will chat up anyone who will listen, loves her family more than life itself and is nearly brought to tears when my children do something cute.

Wilf makes me laugh.  His wit and humour is dry, and while he doesn't get a lot in with Isabel's chatting - when he does, it's well worth the listen.  When Chris first introduced me to his grandparents I instantly felt part of their family.  They truly are great people.

So in a time that marriages seem to go as fast as they come - I hold up my glass high to toast these two in such a great life together.  Congratulations!!

Mother's Day

Another year of being a Mom.  Doing laundry, packing lunches, coming up with creative art to do on rainy day, full of hugs, a few tears, lots and lots of laughter, watching children grown, learn, love and even hurt sometimes.  

Another year of amazing moments, big moments and tons of little important "blip on the radar" moments.

Another year full of growth.  Growth of my children physically, mentally, emotionally.  Another year of my own growth and growth in my relationship with Chris.

Another year to remember, celebrate and another year gone by too fast.

To all the people who help make me a good Mom, thanks.  And most important thanks to my Mom who taught  me how to be a good one.  And that Mom's aren't "perfect" which is what makes them the best.

So Happy Mother's Day.