Back to Reality

I won't bore anyone with the details - but I had an AMAZING vacation!!!

Focusing on the little things,

eating breakfast with old friends,

checking out the sights,

laughing in the rain,

drinking around the world,

dancing in the street,

just smiling and waving.

Meeting (Gaston was the best character to meet)

and greeting

searching high and low.

Enjoying the scenery,

posing for pictures,

and making out in cars.

Acting like a kid,

tasting new things 

and riding fast rides.

Chilling on the beach,

checking out the wildlife

and enjoying each other's company!

12 people, no email or phone calls. 

Now back to life.

Playing Catch Up

My youngest sister is now officially married! She looked absolutely stunning, both her and her new husband seem truly happy.I can’t wait to see the pictures. It was a small wedding, but she had a wicked pair of emcees – they did a wonderful job and looked great, if I do say so myself! The marital advice went over will, especially when husband decoded the words of women. I even managed to sneak in a bit about the priest and needing 16 husbands.

A week in St. John’s allowed me to get a bunch of stuff crossed off my bucket list too. We went to Moo Moos for ice cream – the turtle cheesecake was divine and my brother in law is still talking about the English Butter.

I ate French Fries on George Street, when we had the rehersal dinner at O'Rielly's Pub on kiddo’s birthday. There was live entertainment and they played her a birthday song as we danced to her turning 13 and to the happy couple.

I wore a dress, and high heels. My emcee abilities made more than 1 stranger laugh (although they are strangers to me no more). I danced until the wee hours of the morning after the reception.

We went out to breakfast at Cora’s with my parents, my sister and her family.

We attended the Newfoundland Folk Festival where we watched The Once in concert, from the third row. I even braved the men’s port-a-potty!

We went on a boat tour, on one of the hottest days of the summer, where the whales put on a show for us, leaping in front of the boat. I laughed and joked with the captain.

We hiked around Signal Hill with my niece and nephew, and picked some delicious blueberries.

All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better week of family, friends and fun. Now I need a vacation!

Bonfire Night

As a kid one of my favorite holidays in Newfoundland was November 5, bonfire night. I'm using the term holiday lightly, because I don't actually remember getting a day off school for it. People gather up anything flammable, pile it up and set it on fire. Then depending on the size of the fire we'd roast hot dogs, burn marshmallows, and just dance around like hooligans, and chase the cast off flankers.

Last night husband, kiddo and myself put fire log in the chimenea and celebrated Guy Fawkes Night away from home. (Ok, its not the roaring fire of tires and boughs and anything else flammable, held down on the beach, with 1/2 the community, but what can you do; we did blare the Newfie music, and have a few swallies.)



Silly me, burned my marshmallow.






You can click here for more Bonfire/ Guy Fawkes Night Info

A puzzling senerio

I wasn't in the mood to watch television last night so I picked up a puzzle, poured myself a cup of wine and cleared off the dining room table, then I tracked down the hammer and a pair of scissors.




When husband came upstairs to check on me, I was face and eyes into it.



Literally, he has lost track of time and I had fallen asleep. So this morning I plopped back down and finished the sucker off (the puzzle not the wine, that was long gone)




I might have used the hammer once or twice, but I didn't have to use the scissors once!


Notice how the box and the finished puzzle look nothing alike? Who's bright idea was that?!

Kiddo turns 11, I turn OLD

Yesterday was my baby's 11th birthday! She awoke yesterday to breakfast in bed, and was asked how she would like to spend her day. "Mom, I think I would like to go the beach." So being the most awesome mother I am, I made a few phone calls and we headed out to my friend's trailer at Knight's Beach to spend the day tubing.




We talked her through the hand signals, and warned her that she definitely would fall off. I have to say, I was very proud of the way she hopped onto the tube, like a seasoned pro, showing no fear or apprehension at all.





When she fell, she jumped back on and went again....she did really well. She LOVED it.


Then came my turn....





I learned a very valuable lesson yesterday. Things I did regularly from ages 13-21 are NOT the same when you are 33! I used to be able to hang on forever - water skiing, wake boarding and tubing, yesterday 20 minutes on the tube felt like 6 years, and the fun rolls are no longer fun they hurt, every part of me hurts.

Happy Birthday Bria! Mom loves you!!