June update

This, this is going to be random. I wanted to write something sentimental. Something smart, something inspiring. But I've been sitting here for almost an hour chatting with my sister on Facebook and my mind is full of none of those things. Instead, here's the last week or so in photos.

 Fathers Day: Pancakes and Avengers. All. Morning. Long. (we never eat in front of the tv. It was special)

I have decided to look at cooking dinner as more of an opportunity to hone my culinary skills instead of a chore. This way, things are much more enjoyable. This Sunday I made a roast (delicious), whipped califlower (not so delicious - mostly because the blender is no substitute for a broken food processer. Lesson learned) and procuitto wrapped asparagus (success!)  
 

 And for dessert, I decided "enough Pining, time to do something to justify those hours of clicking and scrolling" so I made this: Apple and Brie with brown sugar and cinnamon (that's the butter on top pre-wrap and bake). This is the before shot; I ate the after shot. I panicked and skimped on the apple, and let me tell you, don't skimp on the apple. Also, raisins would be a good addition. Just sayin' for next time...

 The house has been kid proofed. Tomorrow is our last home study meeting and we have been busy little bees, bolting down tv's, finding lock boxes for meds, fire extinguishers, baby gates, electrical plugs, first aid kits and the list goes on. I've been whining a little (ok a lot) about it, but really in the end it all doesn't matter. JUST GIVE US OUR KID ALREADY!!!!

Meanwhile, this kid went to his first sleepover camp. No parents, not even 1 out of 4 for a whole 30 hours. Phew. He made it and even had fun (a 7/10 if you ask him). That's good news since he's going to a 5 day sleep away camp in a few weeks...ready for the big leagues!

 I made a skirt! It was super easy, about 2.5 hours. I love it and want to make more but I have a quilt at the quilters that will need binding and another quilt that needs to get sewn together and and and about another 8 projects on my list so we shall see how many more summer skirts get done (that and I need to wait for a good sale at Fabricland!)

 

 About 2 weeks ago on an unexpected sunny afternoon I plunked all our seeds into our garden. Finally. And basically it's been raining ever since. Such is life in Calgary. Despite all the rain, things are growing already The novelty of growing things doesn't ever seem to wear thin for me. I love it. I think it's amazing. This year we expanded our garden and now are attempting to have  beets, carrots, radish, peas, lettuce, potatoes, and onion.Yipeee!

And because of all the rain, I've been doing a lot. A LOT. of this. We got a library card and have actually been twice, which is one more time than the last time we renewed the card three years ago. It was cozy and nice the first few days and now I feel like I'm going to loose my mind if I don't get some consistent sunshine back in my life. I also really need to the sun to shine because it's embarrassing how much time I've spent on Pintrest, particularly the last few days. Enough. Give me my summer!

There's my not sentimental, smart or inspiring post. I feel it brewing, it's right there under the surface, so maybe next time I'll blow your mind with some steller thoughts. Maybe not, but maybe....

Ontario 2012: Epic Family Visiting Adventure

 We are back.

 It was a long visit and a good visit. There were many hours spent driving, many hours spent eating and many hanging wit da family and some friends. Oh, and the heat, for the love of everything crunchy and sweet, the heat was magnificent.

 
I particularly had fun spending time with my niece and nephew stuffing my face, and theirs, with all things sugary, sticky, food coloring full, and delicious :) Also learning more about my sisters new business and how excited and well she is doing at it; makes this little sister proud!

A 40 degree day at Canada's Wonderland

Wonderfully cheap game prizes to boot

Delicious

  And I got a whole day with just Reese where we changed her clothes 5 times, went to the park in a party dress, ate ice cream, watered Papa's flowers and just hung out. 

Oh, and had tea with the Queen

The trip also started a new adventure in our life; Gord did his first block course at the University of Guelph towards his masters for a week while we were there and he's been a typing/studying machine (I had to wrestle him for the lap top tonight) ever since. In two years from now we can stop wrestling.


 I went from being a camera picture taker to a phone/instagram picture lover. I'm wondering if the novelty will wear off, but since I took a picture of our fish in the office to send to a sick co-worker today, just because it was that easy, I think friends and family will be annoyed for many more months to come from my new incessant hobby.

I got to catch up with a child hood friend and meet her daughter. Although we don’t chat much and I haven’t seen her in a few years, I feel a strong connection, a renewed connection and a desire to keep this friendship alive. This idea was hovering somewhere all along, but was set on fire after reading Kelle Hamptons Book, Bloom on the airplane there and was totally jealous and inspired by her amazing group of friends. I want that.

We also learned just how responsible Anthony is. He stayed in Calgary with his mom and he faced a new situation with a friend and their family and dealt with it very well. He also came to our house every day to check on the cats before heading to his moms. On the bus. The city bus. By himself. (Ok, it’s 2 stops away but this is a BIG deal). Stayed on his own for a bit in the morning time and made it to school without being late once. I’ll probably wake up tomorrow and he’ll ask to borrow the car. Sheesh.

We are back at it; the new normal of work and school. We are in full swing of adoption preparations with our home study booked over the next few weeks. We are still looking at August as our placement date and the frequency of ‘holy s!@%’ are coming at a rapid, daily pace now. There is gardening to be done. Oh so much gardening as well as planting our veggie garden if it ever stops raining for a day or two. There is also a mounting pile of sewing lists; news of new babies on the way means more quilts to make, summer means skirts and I have a pile of unfinished projects I need to wrap up. I love being busy so I’m soakin’ it all up!

For now though, sleep and dreams of lists…