IF YOU WERE HERE FOR TEA.

*  I haven't had my computer out in DAYS.  In fact, I couldn't even find it this morning when Nory (surprisingly!) was sleeping past 6 o'clock and I had the chance to use it.  Anyways, my computer has been found and both Phil and I are sitting on the couch, watching the hockey game, and wondering WHAT THE HECK Nory is doing STILL SLEEPING!!!

*  GO CHICAGO GO!!!!  Phil and I made a bet before the first round of the hockey playoffs even started:  if Chicago wins, we go to Chicago.  If they lose, we don't.  A little cheering from y'all over there might help me out!!!

*  Wait, I'm pretty sure I know why Nory is still sleeping.  Her molars are (or have been trying to) come in for what feels like WEEKS.  She's gone through spurts lately where she sleeps through the night for a couple of nights in a row, then spurts where she is up every 15 minutes for a couple of nights in a row.  We've been a bit of a tired household.  A bit...

*  Only three more teaching days, an open review day, and then exams!  My science exam is this Thursday and I can't wait to mark all 86 of those bad boys and finish up report cards.  After moving my classroom to next year's location (for next year's teacher), I should be able to socialize until my heart is content......(or head back to the apartment to pack up with Phil?)...

*  Oh ya, I got my braces off!!!!!!  Wednesday night.  I was pretty sure it would happen this day but the orthodontist was only 95% certain, so I didn't want to spread the news just in case.  I really do prefer 100% odds.  And test grades.  Anyways, they are off and I've been eating popcorn and fruit juice snacks like a BOSS!!!  Some of my students are heartbroken that we aren't "twinees" anymore, or that we never got the chance to be "twinees" because they don't get their braces on until this coming week.  Oh well.  Sometimes times are tough ;)

*  This weekend we had a long weekend.  We spent some time at the mall on Thursday, hung out with friends yesterday afternoon, and today we SHOULD spend time getting our packing in order.  By the way, PACKING isn't so much of an action word in this house.  It's more like a describing word.  As in, we have boxes everywhere, empty ones....that haven't been turned into real boxes yet.  I wonder if the packing fairy will come upgrade this adjective to a verb! (OH PLEASE, OH PLEASE!)

*  As of today, I can say THREE WEEKS until we are HOME IN LAKEFIELD!!!!  Dad picks us up from the airport on Saturday morning and we should be running around the backyard by the afternoon (or at least in my romantic view of the situation).  It could actually entail a STRAIGHT-TO-BED CRASH instigated by jet lag and severe case of toddler-induced-now-everybody-hates-the-car syndrome.  Have I told you how much I am FEARING the car ride home from the airport.  I repeat, MORE THAN the long flight home.

*  Update:  CHICAGO WON!!!!!!!!  Ahhhhh, what a nail biter!!!!  Those last 30 seconds were INTENSE, people!  GO CHICAGO GO!  FIVE MORE GAMES until our first trip to CHICAGO!  Haha.

*  Lemon cupcakes are my new favourite.  I think there is something summery and delicious about them.  We had them yesterday :)

*  We've entered that time of year where all of our tv shows are finished and we're into movie mode.  I'm a little reluctant about this transition because I strongly believe that ALL MOVIES are too long and NO MOVIE is good unless it entails love, gossip, and teenagers.  But, I'm trying to hold strong and with 30 dedicated minutes a night, we are usually able to check off a COMPLETE FILM in 3-4 evenings only.  Good, right?!

*   Update:  Nory is STILL SLEEPING.  It is ALMOST 7 o'clock.  Is it a sign of INSANITY that I actually really miss her right now and want her to wake up ASAP?  I think it might be, because she's usually up in the 5 o'clock's which to most people is extremely unpleasant.  Oh well, I'm odd and okay with it.  NORY!!!!!!!!!!!!

*  More to blog about after.  I'm never really sure when "after" will be anymore.  So......let's all just hope it's sooner rather than a week after a senseless blog about Kimye, okay?

My thoughts on KIMYE.

#braceyourself

I hate how he treated Taylor Swift way back when at whatever awards ceremony that was.  I hate the floral print dress she wore with those built-in gloves at whatever red carpet event that was.  I hate that they decided to nickname their daughter "Nori" about four months AFTER us and that their doing so could be associated with our doing so (#wechoseitfirst).  I hate his arrogance and non-stop references to being a God of music.  I hate her sorta-marriage to Kris Humphries and every single selfie where she chooses duck lips over smiling.

YET.

This is a REALLY, REALLY BIG YET.  

I love following her on Instagram (duck lip pictures included).  I read every single story that is posted about them on People.com (today there are LOTS!).  I can't wait to read my copy of their Vogue issue when I get home to Canada this summer (and look at the pictures over and over again).  And I am absolutely, off-the-walls BONKERS that TODAY could be their wedding day!

Makes no sense, right?  There's just something about them that has me captivated. Something that makes me happy for them.  And excited for them.  And.........I told you it was senseless.  But it's the HONEST TO GOODNESS TRUTH!  

I wonder when they'll have another baby......

She's a CHARACTER, alright!

I have no idea why, but I see this picture and am reminded of Ace Ventura Pet Detective!

Today Kumari Poppins called in sick.  This meant I had to stay home from work to be with Nory.  It was so SERIOUSLY NOT disappointing!  I mean.....can you think of a better playmate or housework companion?!  She's always such a help.  You know, from an entertainment perspective.  And I finally got to report "too much happy joke" to Phil when he got home from school!  (Minus the fall that led to some upper lip scratches......and a few tears......)

From KISSY LIPS to KISSES!

REALLY BIG NEWS HERE, FOLKS!  Nory has finally put her well-rehearsed KISSY LIPS into action!  She's KISSING (and it's made our WEEK!). 

It all started yesterday when she gave Phil two, out-of-the-blue, happy-tear kisses.  Then today, I finally got the turn I was hoping for!  When I got home from school this afternoon, I was given both a hug AND a kiss!!! 

Heart melted. 

Forever.

CONFESSIONS.

1)  We've been watching an eight part docu-series called Lindsay.  It's about Lindsay Lohan (the girl I've been referred to as for the last 6 years in the Middle East)....

2)  I go through a jar of peanut butter (or more) every single week.  Also, I really think all you need with that is a spoon.  It's a meal all on its own, right?

3)  There are over 1700 emails in my main gmail account.  And 2100 photos on my iPhone. Both are Phil's worst nightmare. 

4) Sharp corners be gone!  Check out my latest baby-proofing project:

And it's lasted a record amount of time in comparison to the LEGITIMATE CORNER COVERS you purchase at the store :)

Okay.  I think I've released enough embarrassing pieces of information for one day. 

Hope you're having a great weekend! xo

NARRATING THE CAMERA ROLL...

The dress she wore yesterday.  I adore all of the light, comfortable dresses we got her for summer!  (And it makes changing her SO MUCH EASIER!)

This IMAGINATION SOUP has been an all weekend production!  I wonder if it will be ready for sampling tonight....

Give the girl a basketball and she's as content as ever for minutes!  (Her Daddy too!)

My teaching colleague allowed us to raid his daughter's toy cupboard.  We also purchased some household items from him, but that is besides the point.  LOOK AT THESE TOYS!!!!

The mystery behind my smelly LCD projector SOLVED!  Thank goodness for nearby electricians who can fix the issue before teaching resumes!

Phil and I went to see the ballet last weekend.  Two of my little 6th graders were in the show and they were ADORABLE.  Their piece was based on the musical "Cats".

Homemade CHEESE CRACKERS.  SOOOOOOOO delicious.  I am going to give other crackers a try this week!

HECK YES!  After what felt like HOURS and HOURS of hitting "try again" on Ticketmaster, I FINALLY secured tickets for Sara and I!  It's July 9th and we're PUMPED!

Mother's Day 2014 :)

We kept it plain and simple. One baby. Two mamas. And a man that took care of all three of us!  We had coffee and snacks after school.  Homemade pizza for dinner.  And there was lots of laughing, cuddling, playing and enjoying each other's company.  It was the most perfect way to celebrate my second Mother's Day. 

Kumari coincidentally made sure we were matching.  Black, white, and polka dots (hers are difficult to spot in this picture!).

Nory and her GodMama.  Acting silly and saying HOORAY for MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!

I feel so lucky that I am a Mom.  SO, SO LUCKY.  My heart breaks for all of the women who are struggling to get pregnant or waiting to become a mom in other ways.  Snooki getting pregnant again, well that's just a big old SLAP IN THE FACE if you ask me.  Then again, if it happened for her, there has GOTTA BE hope for ANYONE!  

With that, I hope all of you took Sunday to enjoy some time with the amazing women in your own lives.  GIRLS RULE!!!!!!  And that's a FACT! xo

Our Latest ART ATTACKS :)

When you're an extra curious 15 month old who wants to SEE, TOUCH, and DO absolutely EVERYTHING, apartment life can get boring.  Especially in the desert.  Especially in the summer in the desert.  We don't go outside (minus the time it takes us to go to and from the car, really) and the mall gets a little boring after a while.  Home in this limited-play-space place of ours (try saying THAT three times fast!), it's easy for both child AND parent to get tired of the usual toys, books, and games.  So, I've been trying to jazz up our activity repertoire with some arts and crafts to ease the feeling of prison, ha!  Provided Nory's hands stay clean, she is usually ALL IN and I, of course, am FOREVER IN when it comes to A's and C's.  Phil, well, he is a great sport and joins us most days.  

Side note #1:  Although Nory's "stay clean" preference DOES tend to limit much of the mess we COULD get into, Nory makes up for it by thinking outside the box....errr.....craft area?.....and enjoys seeing what our various art materials look like on the floor, couch, her shoes, her clothes, etc.  But, as I tell her Dad, that is what ART is all about!  Haha.  

Side note #2:  Thank you to all of the ALL-STAR MOMS out there who give me inspiration :)

Here are some of our latest art attacks:

Sponge-Painted Flower Magnet for SPRING! 

All contained within a Ziploc bag so that Girlie doesn't quit on me before the job is done!

Ta-da!!!!!

 Coffee Filter Suncatchers for Mother's Day!

Gotta love tile flooring that cleans up in one easy step!

With the help of a little water, and one BLAZING HOT balcony, the suncatchers were finished in no time!  Nory gave them as gifts for Mother's Day.

Living Room "Graffiti" - Our Quick and Easy Go-To Activity

Plain white paper taped to the floor.  Markers, crayons, stickers, WHATEVER.  Have at it!

This morning's graffiti.  A real life-saver when Daddy was busy organizing the kitchen!

The Title (I don't know what else to put at this moment).

I was talking to my Dad on FaceTime tonight and I was telling him that I haven't been able to return to the blog since my last post.  Anything I think to write seems so insignificant in the grand scheme of things.  How can I possibly start talking about arts and crafts and cooking and packing and new toys and tv shows after all that has happened?  It just seems strange to me.  But I suppose that's what people do.  They move on.  And I know Shani would be incredibly embarrassed (and upset!) to know how many tears we've all shed thinking about her and her family.  She would be MORTIFIED actually, screaming "MISS!!!!" and "SIR!!!!!!" in that wonderful, high-pitched voice of hers.  It makes me laugh just thinking about it.  So, Shani.......here goes nothing.  I'm back!

I really do think she has a knack for photography.  I'm convinced it's in the genes ;)

Things have been busy around the house.  Nory is a full-fledged NORNADO most of the time.  She can do a real number on a room in the time span of......30 seconds?  It's a talent, I swear!  Her current favourite things include climbing (everything!), slamming doors, taking the lid off the garbage can, and playing with the salad spinner.  She's started to say "BOBO" in reference to a certain monkey in one of her books and two days ago we taught her where to find her ears.  Our goal is to teach her other body parts this week, although I've been dodging the whole "where is your nose?" lesson in response to a nose-picking, attention-seeking behaviour she does to drive me nuts.  (It was discovered following the last cold she had, and she knows I will chase her down and pull that finger away if I catch her doing it!  Sometimes All the time, this turns into a fast-paced game of tag.  Which she seems to enjoy.  Hmmmm.....perhaps I should consider an alternative parenting method....)

Boxes were dropped off this afternoon for packing up the flat (boo), but I have already decided that the biggest one will be used for playhouse-building rather than packing (yay!).  With some markers, glitter crayons, and stickers - that boring white box will be transformed into one happening abode!  Hey - gotta keep Girlie occupied with SOMETHING as we sort out our life as honest-to-goodness HOARDERS.  Isn't a crafting hay day the best possible solution?

We've been doing many other crafts around the house lately.  I will post pictures in the next couple of days.  Have I told you how much I LOVE being a Mom?  Because I LOVE IT.  Which reminds me, Mother's Day also happened in the last week and I should post some pictures of that too :)

Tonight I'm spent.  It's time to relax with Phil and cross my fingers that our teething babe doesn't do a repeat of last night.  Ah-hem......wake up RANDOMLY for 2.5 hours in the middle of the night.

Cross your fingers too, will ya?!
XOXO

An Angel Somewhere Else.

Sri Lanka - a little piece of heaven in the Indian Ocean.

In the cold, tear-filled halls of the ICU, I looked through the window at our beautiful Shani and told her how much we loved her.  I told her that she didn't have to look after anybody anymore.  That it was time to look after herself - even if that meant letting go.....

This afternoon she did just that.  She let go.  And she became, I'm certain, the most beautiful angel to ever grace heaven.

Shani, we love you so very much.  Please take time for a cup of tea up there.  There's plenty of time for sweeping the clouds and polishing halos.....

You are forever in our hearts.
XOXO