HAPPY 38th

Happy Birthday husband!

I was thinking about the first birthday we celebrated together (as a couple). I took you to my favourite Italian restaurant for some tortellini alla panna and bought you a volleyball as a gift, and then we kissed in the parking lot for 42 minutes. I thought you were so hot and I was already madly in love with you.

18 years later, things have definitely changed. I mean, who has time to kiss for 42 minutes?! Never mind that we have 3 kids, an OCD dog, a summer cabin, lots of debt, some grey hair and soft tummies, and a lot more to worry about than what to wear to the Tragically Hip concert. But I also feel so blessed and so proud and thankful to be your wife. I love this life of ours...a life we get to share together. And I still think you are so hot and I am even more madly in love you! (true story).

Hope all your birthday wishes come true!

PARKS, HOT TUBS AND BEARS (OH MY)

We have just recently returned from a 3 day family weekend in Whistler. 90% of the time was spent in the hot tub, pool or gigantic bathtub and the other 10% of the time was spent at the park, strolling through the village and playing cards. We also saw several bears, which was very, very cool.

Thank you R+L for sharing your place. It was a much needed and very much enjoyed family time with Jake. The kids have also decided this should definitely be our next house to rent. I agree, although I am certain I would never leave that bathtub!

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

This is what Jake and I look at in the bathroom mirror while we brush our teeth each morning. If anything, it puts a smile on my face.

Our family made our way back to Pasley last weekend. Despite the very unfortunate job of cleaning up all the crap that fell into the cabin after the boys re-roofed, we did enjoy some sunshine, collecting firewood, building a fire, roasting marshmallows for breakfast, playing lots of cards, going for a row, and being together just the 6 of us (including Kirby)...

1 to 10

Our family likes to use a scale from 1 to 10 to rate something. The "something" could be anything, from a sushi dinner to a weekend at Whistler. Every day when I pick the kids up from school, I ask them how was your day, from 1 to 10?

Today, Sam rated his day 1oo, and Clara's was a 4. Apparently she "lost" her best friend at recess (as in they are not friends anymore), her milk leaked in her lunchbox and made her sandwich soggy and to top it off, her favourite art teacher is leaving.

According to Clara, this is how the scale works:

10=really, really really super dooper looper great!

9=really, really, really great

8=great

7=good

6=just OK

5=not that good, medium

4=not very good at all

3=bad

2=really, really bad

1=really, super dooper bad

0=the worst day ever!

So I guess her 4 day could have been worse?

THE LITTLE THINGS

The little moments always hiding in plain sight are the ones I love.

I'm loving my 5 year old today, even if he chewed 5 buttons off his shirt (above) yesterday. That boy loves to chew on things.

I'm just wishing time would slow down just a bit.

TYPICAL EVENING

This has been a typical evening around here these last couple of weeks.

A 3 minute dinner, followed by playtime on the street with the neighbours and Rocco. Even though I pine for a fenced yard, I'm going to miss this street when we move.

Tonight, the kids played "nature people" and "we are so poor we have to live in the car" (Jake's car).

Speaking of Jake...if you are reading this, we miss you!!