in Vancouver

I made it back to Vancouver. Arrived at 10:45 ish - made it through customs quickly - and made my way to the hotel. Coming to this hotel was a great decision. The hotel room is the best I've stayed in and is beautiful. I'm bagged, but also adjusting to the time change - since I just lost three hours. So what happened on the flight... well I thought I'd share another story of my flight - so I took notes :) This starts this morning while I was still in Hawaii.

So we knew this week that there was a film crew on Maui and I guess I'd been keeping my eye out for the cast... a little...
Paula and I went out this morning for a quick jaunt that turned into a paparazzi job :) We were driving along the ocean and I see a green shirt and then I take a closer look and I blink... no... can't be...

I say to Paula - "um, I think we just passed Adam Sandler"
Nah... can't be... but Paula being a true celebrity hunter pulls into the middle lane and pretends to turn. We sit and wait since no one is coming - and then he passes us and I say "I think that really is him." But we really can't tell for sure - but there are two cars in procession - one in front of his - they are the same vehicle and we start to think - maybe this is security... Paula knows the road better than me - for sure - and says - 'ok, let's follow him to where there are two lanes - if he stays in the right lane we can pass him and see... so we get there... giddy... is it him... and then we pass and it totally is - we pass and see security - security can see it is a bunch of goofy morons and so they just smile at us - and then we sit and wait at the turn... so here are the photos of Mr. Adam Sandler.




Alright - so that was pretty cool and it gave us a story for a while :)
But what else happened...

1:15pm (Hawaii time) - getting ready for flight back to Canada, can't believe we say freakin' Adam Sandler
4:40pm (BC time) - on plane - rescue gum, check, sitting with another cute couple - with any luck they will control themselves till we get to vancouver
4:46pm - Kahului Airport - looking at sign - flight attendant just asked if any of us wanted to stay... 5 hours and 17 minutes to get home today... and we are leaving early...
4:50pm - tired - wondering if I can sleep or rather, if I should sleep - crazy schedule ahead - hopeful hotel tonight is amazing and I can get a good nights sleep - though to sleep without crashing waves in background - it will be sad... oh... crying child alert - please hand out the drugs - please...
4:55pm - moving - hooray
5:16pm - in the air, 16,000 ft - got some good photos of haleakala, 435 mph
5:18pm - "ain't no rest for the wicked, till we close our eyes for good"
5:21pm - fill out declaration card - yawn, tired, coffee isn't helping - it was lame starbucks - missing cafe des ames in pa'ai - mmm soy latte - soooo gooooood!
5:26pm - thought bug climbed down my top.. turns out it was my ear bud for my shuffle... yep - I'm that tired... at least I didn't shout
5:37pm - sleepy - trying to read - was going to watch another movie but nothing I wanna see is on. New love birds are sharing a sandwich... great... maybe I could sleep for a little while.. wait those great cookies are probably coming soon - ha ... mmmm - popcorn would be good right now
5:45pm - I love the string piece in 'as time goes by' - one of my favorites
5:47pm - gum is now stale - need tissue to toss - no sign of less than fantastic cookies - can't believe I saw Adam Sandler this morning - still laughing about that
5:49 pm - completed photo assignment - must remember to mail to magazine
5:53pm - couple update - male subject is going through bag of mixed nuts and picking out his favorite and leaving the rest behind - turns out they just got married...
5:55pm - I see the crappy cookie cart - woohoo!
6:01pm - still waiting for crappy cookie - couple is watching twilight
6:06pm - ok - so the twilight guy just peeled off his shirt - holy moly - yes, I'm being nosy... again
6:10pm - ah.... juice and crappy cookies - hooray
6:15pm - much better after snack - much, much better - 36636 ft, 527 mph, 4 hours and 10 minutes till vancouver
6:58pm - alright - I'm caving - I'm going to try and sleep, 52 pages of book read... need nap...
7:25pm - yeah for me, I slept, and now my jaw is locked, for five cents, and I'm cold. brrrr - ice on windows, 38,000 ft 525 mph
7:30pm - queen of style that I am - I just tossed my water bottle between the seats like a moron - nice person behind me gave my bottle back which gave me the chance to consume tylenol to aid jaw and ear - thank goodness I packed some in my bag
7:34pm - couple is cuddling and watching burned tv shows - smart - I could get my laptop out, but if I do that it will lead to work - trying to avoid till vancouver - ok - so I answered emailed while I was away - but I didn't actually pack my phone with me - well most of the time - I know - it is shocking
7:52pm - turbulence - I see burnt people - many, many burnt people - I was so good - lathered up on my sunscreen - only burned one spot that I guess I didn't get... but it is all better now...
8:07pm - starting to notice sky change - ear still hurts, a lot, didn't know I needed to keep receipts for stuff I bought - great - didn't buy much so I should be good
8:13pm - didn't mention that I was the lucky winner of being screened more thoroughly - the guy was nice about it though - he also gave me $10 after - is that normal? (lol)
8:17pm - pilot is in our part of the plane - when did they start getting breaks - who's flying us through the turbulence - great 38,000 ft and he's having coffee
2 hours and 10 mins left - that was good turbuance - yeeha - and pilot is still gabbing
8:20pm - zip trek guide had going to Calgary stampede on his bucket list - he was pretty excited that our group knew country music - well my friends did - me - well I know some, but not lots
8:25pm - more crappy cookies - orange juice - awesome - 578 mph, 37000 ft
8:36pm - pretty sure my left hearing is gone - I can hear the roar of the plane but everything else is dull and not really making sense - very garbled
8:42pm - definitely not hearing correctly in left ear - pilot just came on and I had to take out right headset to hear - just got the canucks score - love that.. 2-2 tie
8:44pm suns going down - intense cloud cover nearly the entire flight - 577 mph, 37195 ft... ah, princess bride music that's nice with the sunset
9:15pm - I see a star, time to make a wish
9:26pm - bored and jaw continues to hurt
9:45pm - hooray - the satellite is working again...
10pm - wow - 15 min of SNL - my day has come full circle - got to see an SNL cast member and now I"m watching an episode - a crappy one.. but SNL nonetheless - we should be landing soon - hooray for that - I'm hungry
11:02 - luggage has arrived
12:00am - food
12:30am - bath
1am... alright - need to get ready to sleep for a while... stupid time change

What of the hotel... ah... well a few pics...


So the tub was about 6 1/2 ft long and super deep and amazing - and when I left the door open I could lay in the tub and watch tv... awesome!

So tomorrow I'm off to Halifax. Just four hours ahead of Vancouver (that's seven hours change from Hawaii) - good times!
I'm sure I'll have something to share tomorrow night...
Hugs and smooches to everyone! Love you.

last full day...

So tomorrow morning I head back to the main land and the real world. I've pretty much avoided the news this week - other than to look at CNN once and start hoping that volcanic ash will head in this direction so flights will be cancelled out of here.. :)
Not really though - I'm a little home sick and I've still got another eight days to go.

Today included more fabulous coffee, some shopping (first I've done this trip), beach hunting and a look at a nice church. We went to dinner at the Outback and not australian and had terrible service. I had six shrimp and they weren't that good... then we went to a sushi place late tonight - which - I gotta say - didn't hold a candle to the sushi in Quesnel... which was good to know but rather disappointing...

And now for some photos...

This little flower was smaller than my pinky finger nail...

This plant was bigger than my hand - it was HUGE!

quick photo - more later :)

Paula had a professional photographer shoot at the wedding - this is one of my favorites from it... yes.. steeped in hotness :)

more photos and updates

So yesterday I went zip lining/trekking... and I thought I'd better back that up with some actual photographs.


What did today have in store? Ah... well we got up at 2:09 am and drove for an hour to a pick up point. We then got on a shuttle and drove to the top of Haleakala Mountain - from its base in the ocean it stands in full height was one of the top three tallest - higher (in total) than Everest. We got to the top of the mountain at 5:30am - ish - it was about 9 miles before we got to the top that our drive announced where we were riding from. We were riding bikes down the mountain side. Get this... he says - ok - so here is the check point where you will get your bikes - from here back to base it is 23 miles... yes, my friends - that's 48 km and it is by-far the longest I've ever been on a bike. So what happened - well when the sun rose a woman sang and then she yelled at another Canadian for walking it the wrong spot - it was great - I wished he wasn't wearing a canucks hat.. oh and did I mention that it was 24.3 F (that's minus four - yes, and it was still in Hawaii) and the wind was blowing... there is such little water at the top that when it is cold like this the ground water actually points up out of the ground.

The view was spectacular... then the decent... well initially I was scared because I was braking a lot - but about 10 miles in I eased up and got into it. It was a very easy ride with very few spots where you had to actual try to pedal - gravity took care of us most of the way.







Alright - so we finish biking - we've been up for 7 hours - we haven't eaten - so we go to this great town 20 minutes away and it is here that I enjoy the best cup of coffee that I've ever had. Yes, it was sooo good that I took a picture of it. I want to drive there tomorrow just to experience the coffee all over again... and we might - there were enough coffee drinkers there that we might just cause a mutiny if we don't go tomorrow... (if you look really closely you might also see that there was something extra special about my cup of coffee... - you'll need to really really look)


We did other stuff today but I actually haven't been to sleep yet and didn't nap this afternoon and I'm pretty much running on that coffee from this morning... Tomorrow is my last full day here - then I fly back to Van on Saturday afternoon.

Hugs and kisses to everyone... likely more photos tomorrow :)

a couple more pics from tonight

a few photos

Introducing Dean and Paula Dykshoorn - yep - they are married. They were married by Reverend Al on the beach, with waves crashing and hump back whales jumping - it was unbelievable. The ceremony was beautiful.

I went zip trekking this afternoon - I'll have photos of those tomorrow.

Ok - and now a few more from the wedding.

more..

Alright - there are a million things I want to write about tonight but I'm super tired and just done... I will say this - Paula is married - it was amazing and beautiful and fantastic and wonderful.. I could actually feel their love... sick - but completely and totally true - Paula was beautiful, I was a good side kick... I will have photos late tomorrow - or very early tomorrow depending on how sleep goes tonight... last night I got five hours - not bad...

So definitely more to come - about 800 photos taken today... and that was just the wedding - wait till they set me loose on the island tomorrow...

Good night everyone - sweet dreams :)

photos...

I'm not the best flier.. I'm definitely better - but not great.. still paranoid - we haven't even taken off and I see this... yep - very helpful



Then we get about 30 minutes into the flight and see this coming at us....



From this point on things got better though...








It rained most of the afternoon - that didn't stop us from checking out the beach - I forgot how salty salt water was.. and how dried out it makes your skin - but I don't care - I'd be sleeping on the deck tonight or out under the stars if I could.. but apparently you can't sleep on the beach because it is against the rules and the deck doesn't have anywhere comfortable to sleep... but I'm sleeping with the door open... tomorrow is the big day and I'll photos tomorrow night from the big event.

My love to all of you! Kisses and smooches... :)

hawaii

Paula is getting married tomorrow in Hawaii and I arrived here this afternoon. I had a six hour flight today and since I couldn't blog on the plane I wrote all the highlights and the tour down.. and now I'll share with you my day. If you don't want to read the whole thing I will just open with one amazing thing - when we got to the beach we took 20 steps on to it and I saw a hump back whale jump out of the ocean and splash back in - that moment made the flight worth the ride :)

And now - the things I wanted to say as I was flying from Vancouver...

- drugs for kids on flights - okay - 15 minutes of screaming, kicking, clawing - is not fun for anyone
- ah.... see the tic tacs as a reward should have come out much sooner - instant silence - amen!
- flight attendant could be ricki martin's brother or twin

7:15am (10:25am BC time) at this point I rolled back my watch - nausea - right - didn't eat... must eat... mmm lemon fitness bar
7:30am - much better - hooray
7:32am - I am on a plane to hawaii - 533 mph, 35204 ft
7:39am - amazing circular rainbows on cloud tops
8:07am - anxiety snuck in for a few minutes - reading to get past issue, may take stress gum if creeps back - stupid anxiety
8:27am - ate rest of fitness bar - feeling better - plus orange juice - $6.00 for a sandwich - didn't buy - I'll survive - brought a few snacks for flight - might do a pay per view movie - not sure $5.99 for a movie... feet are cold - not wearing socks though - this isn't a complaint - rather be cold than hot
8:40am - 492 mph - 36369 ft - 2 hours into flight
8:50am - quietly dozing when they turn on the heat - blah - feet still cool - phew
Ad on Westjet screen - tell your stress to take a siesta - yes!
mmmm... blueberry brown sugar cookies - note to self - fiji water is over rated

Cute couple next to me is playing scrabble - how awesome is that... I will continue to read my magazine and smile... hawaii is closer by the minute...
9:00am - jaderal - first letter group - yes I'm being nosy but I'm mildly bored and would rather be gabbing than reading - options - jade, lard, deal, read, jar, real, lear, ear
radaes - round 2 - fade, fades, rad, rads, sad, far, sea, dear, dears, ear, fear, fears, safe, fare, fares, - great now he's rubbing her back - love birds
9:06am - eshyaov - vase, shave, have, hay, say, hoe, hoes, yeah, has, hose, ash, yes, shy, ovey :)
- can't believe I'm on a flight to hawaii - I've been daydreaming about what it will look like.. 9:09
Alright - I'm playing scrabble too quickly - need something else to do - more reading..
9:16am - finished only reading material - now love birds are hugging - 3.5 hours till hawaii
baldes (plus free letter) - yes, I'm back to scrabble - bald, saddle, blame, lame, same, age, ages, sage, bless, drab, sale, ale, ales
hmmm.... maybe I should watch a movie ... ok so seriously she hasn't played scrabble before - now there is lame crap on PPV - worse than scrabble - sheesh.. mmm something smells good
9:26am - and she still on the same letters - 10 min - WHAT? - aunti jenni would kill me if i took this long to play a word
9:30am ... still no word...
9:32am - AMAZING - she played
9:37am - can't sleep - too excited - and now they have given up on scrabble - lol - didn't even finish
9:39am - half way there - 461 mph, 38156 ft
- wow - someone just chucked on some perfume - nice... confined space and now we have to smell you - at least a fart would dissipate - this smell is sticking around - blah!
9:45am - I was totally wrong about perfume - it is the love birds - she is massaging his hand with smelly cream - seriously - just go join the mile high club with your smelly cream and be gone... please!
10:05am - slept for 20 min - hooray - couple now has blaket covering up pants - wicked!
10:30am - PPV it is - wanted to watch 'up in the air' - am stuck with sherlock holmes - lol - glad I just watched it - ha
10:36am - still watching holmes - thinking about my feet in the sand... 2 hours 15 minutes...

-wow - more blueberry brown sugar cookies - not better the 2nd time - had water to stay hydrated
11:08 - jaw bugging me plus headache - great.. 1 hour and 40 min left
11:17am I'm still on my way to hawaii - a smile crossed my lips - I can't believe it - hooray for hawaii - 1 hr 30 min -
Ocean and beautiful clouds in all shapes and sizes and puffiness - ah... and some turbulence - great! no seatbelt sign so all is good
11:33am - looking out the window is like looking at an illusion - the ocean mirrors the color of the sky and the few wave tops could be white stasr in the heavens - as if peering through a looking glass - alice might say
1 hr 10 min - an hour and ten whole minutes - and now the lovebirds are doodling together about their vacation - all together now... aaahhhhh...

one hour - it is 11:50am - hooray

50 minutes - 5-0 like hawaii 5-0 and I took a pee break and feel like I'll survive the remainder of this flight
12:22 - yep - closer - the screamer from the start of the flight is looking at me - must be 2 or so.. and she is wearing pink nail polish - sadly she chews her nails and is obviously eating the polish - people save the nail polish for their older years - please!

Landing time - 12:53 - 4 minutes early - multiple children crying... so glad I just took two tylenol - it is 12:27

Nail biter is playing with shared window now it is a game - sheesh - and another is sounding like a trapped seagull while he cries - awesome - 24 minutes - twenty four

12:40 - I just got welcomed to maui - screamer - still screaming .... tylenol starting to work.. mmmm and now it stinks like barf - wicked - nasty - sheesh

12:44 - I see land - I see land - I see it - I see it - I'm really here - we are close - I could swim from here - ok - maybe not... still smells like barf - and we also get to hear the wretching - this is the best flight ever

12:55 - on the ground - hooray! - palm trees... palm trees everywhere...

And about 15 minutes after this I was greeted by Paula and she gave me first Hawaiian lay :)
And now I'm going to load my camera up and share a couple of photos... didn't take much today... well not hundreds.. :)

wow

Soooooo much to share.. I will write a pile tonight... OMG - I just can't even believe this place... can't believe it.

More soon.

Love to you!

the pain of tmj

Today I had my stupid lame dental check up. For 40 (FORTY) freakin' minutes she cleaned and polished and made me want to cry - my jaw throbbed - it was absolutely terrible! Then my asinine dentist says that I should get another appliance (that's dental talk for bigger badder mouth guard) - that an appliance would make it better. I say how disappointed I was with the first guard and how it only made my life worse... but with that he had nothing else to share. Ok then - teeth look fine - see you next time. So because I'm not spending more money on my teeth I'm basically treated as a useless boob! ARG! I have so many curse words I want to throw around - I want to fill a bag with curses and throw it at the window of his office and then I want to get a couple of bottles of ketchup and pour them on his car and then pour jelly belly beans on top - then tie cans to his car and then on the top I'd tie the damned mouth guard that he gave me - I know.. then he could ID me with my teeth... don't care... I would argue insanity due to a lack of professional care - I'd lose - I know... but I'm just ranting.

I need sleep... I'm sure I'll have stories tomorrow - I'm taking the guys for their appointments... let the good times roll!

So good night to you...

"Good night sweetheart, it's time to go, good night sweetheart, it's time to go, I hate to leave you but I really must say, good night sweetheart good night" - love to you :)

sherlock

Tonight was pretty uneventful - we watched Sherlock Holmes - it was decent - I sat through the whole thing - so that should say alot - but wait... what would this place be without a story about the guys... what could have happened today... ahhhh...

Um, so April there was an incident here today.

"Oh... Kyle (pause) what happened to your face?"

Well April, you see Kyle was bugging Michael and he grabbed his toy, and well.. then Michael kicked him in the face.

Wow - that is some brotherly love - Michael kicked him right on the cheek bone and his skin is a little roughed up there and he'll probably get a black eye. Good times.

Oh and on the girly girl front, I got gel nails today. This is something totally new to me - they look pretty special but they actually hurt to put on. I kid you not, that they apply one coat of stuff, then you stick your nail under UV light and then the light causes a chemical reaction that actually caused my fingernails to feel like they'd been dipped in lava - it freakin' hurt - now I didn't cry, but it hurt worse than my tattoo.

And there you go, I'm heading to bed - I'm beat... hugs and kisses to you :)

triangle rain

Seriously, that kind of rain could take an eye out - I think they should have a better warning for the public if this is the kind of rain outside..

a bacterial cold

So Michael is getting over the cold he has... we took him to the doctor today and they said if he looks good for a few days then let's let him just get better on his own, if it returns we'll get some antibiotics... and of course, now Kyle is sick. His cough is louder and he is a bit miserable, but he isn't that bad. This seems like a fairly minor cold compared to some of the stuff they've brought home.

And now for some news about my smart seven year old. He has created a club. Initially I didn't really get what he was talking about, but I made him explain it all and now he is pretty serious about it. He has decided that the school yard is too messy and that some kids are littering an awful lot. During class they have time for everyone to share ideas and he suggested that there be a club of kids that do clean up and that they will write down all the acts of littering and also clean up. Now there are lots of clean up crews and litter crews at school, but this was his own little idea for cleaning up. What I think is really amusing is that he put out the call in class for people to join his little clean team and it was all the girls that agreed to help out. So now he has a posse of girls that he gets to hang out with on clean up days. Helping the environment and meeting the ladies... I know I know, he TOTALLY isn't there yet... he gets upset when there is any kind of kissing in movies... but I don't think we are that far away from it... then he'll be growing a moustache and I'll be laughing at it, and he'll be asking to borrow the car and I'll say sure you can if you paint the house and then he'll be telling me about how he proposed to this beautiful girl and I'll say well that is nice, but I met you first so make sure you know the order around here.

And I'll leave it there tonight - good night my friends, and family! Love to you!

a quick laugh

"Mom, look at that, there is a liquor store here. Just like the one in Quesnel."

I laugh a little, why yes, there is a liquor store. Do you know what they sell there?

"Well, tongues, I guess."

Yep... I love being a parent.

(Note: Yes, I did explain what a liquor store was after.)

easter

"Mom, are we doing the easter egg hunt?"

Yes, but later.

"Why later?"

Well it was minus four this morning so the Easter bunny asked me to put the eggs out for him once it warmed up - he said it was too cold for him to put the eggs out and too cold for you to go hunting.

"Really, but I didn't hear you talking to him."

You were sleeping.

"oh... ok."

So that was our easter - this year I really didn't get a lot of chocolate - some but not tonnes and then the guys got some new lego - which is really a lot better for them than chocolate and they certainly appreciate that more. In fact, I don't know that I'll even do an easter egg hunt next year. I know the history of the easter egg hunt and why it started, but it doesn't need to be a big deal... or for me it doesn't... I like doing scavenger hunts with the guys - they love it - but it can be any time..

Today we also moved the guys room around - Michael asked for his bed to be moved. So I did that and then we purged toys. It is funny how I'm more attached to some of their toys than they are. There is one toy that both of the boys have enjoyed. Thomas the truck - why thomas - well I named the toy that because I didn't get to name Kyle Thomas. That's right - that was the name I really wanted. I told this to my father in law and he repeated it but when he said it, with his accent, it sounded like 'dumbass' and so that was the end of naming Kyle Thomas - I still really love that name though. Absolutely top five favorite names.

Tomorrow we are going on a short road trip - then back to work on Tuesday.

where is the celebrating...

Just kidding...

Tonight I've been hunting online for the perfect bustier. I know, you were totally wondering what I do on a Saturday night - and there is the pathetic truth. I need to get two things this week - 1) a bustier that is amazing and 2) a bathing suit. I haven't bought a bathing suite since university - I still have the same one that we swam around in at the PG pool... it is too big and it isn't great... plus it is 15 years old.

Yep - that's my Saturday night.

And now I think I'll have a cup of tea and go to bed. I'm reading a Deepak Chopra book right now. It is ok, but not outstanding. I'm looking for the next outstanding book.. if you have one - let me know.

30 days of April

That's right friends and family - it is time to celebrate - yesterday marked the first day of the 30 days of April... I accept flowers, cards and phone calls :)

Today I spent nearly the entire day on holiday - I can't actually believe it. We trimmed the hedge, played outside, made crafts, watched a movie and just hung out together... weird :) Oh, and we also jammed out to rock band - it was wicked! Kyle on drums, Michael on guitar (muitar) and me belting it out on the mic... it is weird - I can sing with the guys like there is no tomorrow, but put me in front of people and forget it - I get scared. So it was great. I had fun and so did the guys - Kyle was asking for more tonight... but that was enough for today. And now I'm not sure what I will do with the rest of my night. I have some sleepy time tea at my side right now, but it isn't making me sleepy - maybe it will be a movie - last night was 'Day after tomorrow' one of those ones that I probably know all the words to - so I just have it on the background while I made cards - something else I haven't done in ages.

Alright - well happy weekend - love - hugs, smooches - hugs... love... good night

and today...

Tonight I've been busy building ads and trying to be creative.. and not dwelling on all the work stuff...
I've had Dumb and Dumber on in the background and I completely forgot parts of the movie... it is still pretty funny :) (Look at the fun bags on that hose hound... ah - what a film...)

And what I really liked about this movie was the soundtrack - still have the disk and still like all the songs.

Not much to share tonight - I'm tired and going to read - but before I run off here is a photo of the guys from this weekend. Stylin' it up - as always :)

monday

Well, well, well.... it is year end and I'm busy making sure we've spent all our money for this year. Fun.

This weekend I was a monkey again as I climbed up and cleaned up the other apple tree. The other tree is pretty pathetic though - not nearly as full as the one I loaded pictures earlier last week. Still fun though. This weekend I'm going to try and not think about work and actually enjoy time at home... I've got this weekend at home and then the next weekend (April 11) I'll be heading away for two weeks. Six days of leisure and eight of training.

We went to Nazko on Sunday - my mom treated the guys to a Saturday matinee (How to Train your Dragon) and then took them home for the night - so they were pretty exhausted by the time I showed up. We played outside for a while and then when we went in Kyle started to get into a bit of snit - a little too much clean air and not enough napping and he was an unhappy camper. We got in the car to head home and within 30 seconds he was fast asleep - then Michael gabbed me up for about 20 minutes and then he was out. We arrive at Sylvia's which is nearly the half way point and Kyle wakes up and says - gees you drove fast to get us here - I can't believe it - I suggest that he slept and that is why it seemed fast - nope - not a chance - apparently he was awake the whole time.. I confess that I did (do) drive fast but.. not that fast... (ok - it was fast - but seriously - it still took 40 minutes)

And speaking of campers... we met up with one of my staff on Saturday morning and he started to tell her about the afternoon plans for the movie...

"Yep, we watched stuff on mom's computer about the dragon movie to get ready for the movie, we were watching the camper."

Luckily my staff member put a play on words together... "Do you mean.. trailer?"

"Right, right, movie trailer."

This made me think about why we call it a trailer... and the answer is that 'back in the day' the new films were shown at the end of a double feature and so they "trailed" the film... and the name just stuck. A little FYI on this blog... how about that... :)

And with that - I'm off to read, or play cards or do something...
Love to you - hugs, kisses and... wait, one more hug for the road :)

chocolates for sale

Well it is fundraising time and Kyle's school is selling chocolate almonds, chocolate mints and chocolate caramels... we have a box in my office that is slowly being bought up and then we plan to go out and about this weekend to sell some more... Kyle is pretty keen to go and sell them to our neighbours - of course we won't be doing that since some of our neighbours are selling drugs and pimping others out - lovely! It seems that with spring we also got to have our moronic drug dealers. There was a special meeting at the college tonight about the drug problems in our community, but I didn't get a sitter and will likely get the full bill of what happened tomorrow from others. Solution: I think we should start putting up signs in the neighbourhood that just say things like 'i heart people who honk late at night and early in the morning to get their drugs from our neighbours - yes we know, but the cops don't care', and 'legalize drugs so my property value can go up' and (pointed at their house) 'hey, a-hole, we see what you are doing, we aren't as stupid as you are' and '50 cars visiting daily + lack of police doing a gd'n thing = drug house going full tilt'

So if you happen to want to buy chocolates from Kyle and need them shipped to you let me know and we can work something out :)

And so good night - I need to workout tonight - or try to - something is wrong with the joint that attaches my big toe to my foot and it freakin' hurts... someone told me that it might be a bunion - to which I said 'bless you' cause what the hell is that... and then my brain went... 'april, 'member grandma use to get those, remember her feet' and then I wanted to cry. So then my foot hurt and I was crying (on the inside). Whine, whine, whine.

Alright - hugs, smooches and extra love to you... and you... and you!

hema-what-a

4pm, the playground

It is race on the slide, running - ever faster to get down the slide first... what's that... the slide has a bar installed that is just over three feet tall to allow kids the chance to launch themselves down the slide... except in this occasion it is a kid stopper. Imagine Michael given'er and running, full tilt, into said bar. Now he has a toonie size hematoma in the middle of his forehead. Apparently he smashed into and his forehead immediately ballooned.

Michael described it tonight as smushy - awesome! It is totally disgusting and smushy...

it gets better... lol

So I said I would share. Here I am with Ms Jenny McCarthy - working out to another aerobics evening... good grief... I will say that I retested on the Wii after my workout and am now younger than my actual age, which is something new - I've been testing quite a bit older - so progress... progress...

what's that...

Wild Ape located in Quesnel - climbing apple trees and disturbing the peace, if you attempt to engage with the creature please do so after coffee time or with fruit in hand

f-bomb

Alright - so a little bit of politics - I don't know if anyone is watching this stuff or not but what I found funny in the press right now is Biden. He is the vice president of the USA and yesterday in front of an open mic he told Obama - this is a big f*#$ing deal... as they were announcing the health law... what's funny is that Biden has done this a few times - he once asked a man in a wheelchair to stand up and then talked about the Prime Minister of Ireland's dead mom - rest her soul - only to say - wait a sec, I don't even know what I'm talking about and asks the PM if his mom was alive - which she was not and then he made a joke out of it... Biden reminds me of Bush... blasting off his mouth and saying things that are nonsensical... I'm hoping for Biden-isms - just like Bush's strategery - that was my favourite one.. still is...

what's that...

Well I was going to post some funny photos tonight but for some reason blogger isn't loading my photos properly.
My apologies to you - my beautiful fantastic readers :)

We had a good night of running, chasing geese, getting shoes stuck in mud, faces being kicked and balancing on the teeter tauters (sp???) - And now that the house is quiet I think I'll do some laundry and read a document.. hooray - good times.

I did not bake today - we had turkey wraps for dinner - ok the guys had that with cheese... I had a lame egg white omelette which, seriously, should not be called an omelette - it is snot, plain and simple, snot with a capital 'S' and some turkey and salsa... I know - what the hell kind of lame dinner is that.. well it beat more salad - snot versus salad and snot won... sad, sad, sad.

And now off to write and with any luck I'll come back to blogger in a few hours and the problem will be corrected and you will get to see some new photos... :)

oh good times

So today included tree climbing (wicked - completely my favourite job), muffin baking (rhubarb, pear - don't laugh they actually taste good and are good for you... amazing... whole grains, no fat...), and then freakin' Jenny McCarthy. That's right - my family got me Jenny McCarthy's Wii program for Christmas. I know... it's the end of March but I just haven't tried it. I've been using the Wii Fit and the running/joggin/etc so I didn't think I needed it, but I'm on a bit of a kick right now and I'm trying all kinds of things out.

Jenny's program is crazy - it is definitely worth it - get use to her telling you that you are doing it wrong (it can't just be me... lol) - it is terrible to see yourself on screen - well - it is for me... plus I wasn't wearing the right clothes so between seeing too much skin, to too much gonch because my pants kept falling down... well it was laughs for all... but it was a good workout and I'll do it again.

Anyhow - I'm going to keep it short tonight - I'm tired and have a busy day tomorrow.
Best wishes for the week ahead. Maybe I'll photograph the silliness that is me working out with Ms McCarthy... minus the gonch shots... ha... two hugs plus a smooch :)

weekend

Well congratulations, everyone, for getting through another week. This has been a weird week - with trying to be away but not really getting away.. and then coming back for two short days where I can't seem to get everything I want finished... but I'm getting there...

I'm coming down with another cold, this one feels different than the last one. I have those weird scratchy feeling in my throat - and my ears have been bugging me on and off again...

I don't really have anything dramatic or fun to share tonight... I'm tired and heading to bed...

What I really wanted to get on her to say was more of a wish out to you... that you have a safe and happy weekend and that my hugs and smooches are also available for your pleasure - take as many as you need - the supply will never run out. With any luck I'll take some great photos this weekend and have lots more to share and not be boring and pathetic like this post :)

alright... a couple of pics...

A great glove save by the Italian sledgehockey goalie - it was a great game.


Kyle holding up a crab shell he found at Stanley Park.


Michael enjoying the beach.

A couple of beautiful yahoos :)

more updates - ok - well not really...

Well we made it home and I'll post pictures... I'm just being lame at the moment and not feeling great, but it will pass.

Dinner tonight - because I know you want to know... well it was a pea shoot and herb lettuce salad with halibut and avocado. Oh and some gailan - think of some beautiful asparagus running into some gorgeous broccoli...

Asparagus sits silently in the corner... ah, but she can see someone coming in, who is it, who? Ah, it is none other than the gorgeous broccoli. She remains still and pretends to pay attention to the conversation at her table, but she is unable to keep her eyes off of him. What is his gardener feeding him to make him look so good?

Broccoli sees the beautiful Asparagus in the corner and makes his way in her direction. This is his chance, finally they can speak. Oh, but the damned Eggplant is making her way over, no, no, no. Fudge. "Hello Eggie." And so a conversation ensues.

What could Broccoli see in Eggplant, thinks Asparagus, what... what on earth.. wait, he is... he is... "hooray" screams the inside voice.

"Hello Asparagus"
"Hello Broccoli"

And these two beautiful vegetables get together and drink some water. They talk about their love of the sun and how much Farmer John does for them and how it is such a wonderful evening.

"The stars are so amazing, I love this time of year."
"Broccoli, did you see that shooting star? You should make a wish."
"Asparagus, I don't need to make any wishes, I have everything I want in this very moment."
"Oh Broccoli."
"Oh Asparagus."

And so Asparagus and Broccoli fall in love, and get it on and we get Gailan. Stem of an asparagus, but sweeter; leaves like those on broccoli, but super edible and then little heads - just like broccoli...

What are pea shoots... aahhhhh - well they are the young top leaves and tips of vines on a pea plant. They have a sweet taste to them, and they are super good for you. Two cups have considerable amounts of Vitamins A, B-6, C, E, and K, folate, thiamin and riboflavin. Where can you get pea shoots? Well I bought a bag from T&T in Richmond - Chinese Supermarket - you can get a giant bag of them for $5 - the only down side is that you need to consume it quickly as they don't last all that long... but they are pretty yummy and good way to mix up the salad show...

And because I'm an ultra geek - I'm going to show you what they look like... because I'm sure you care...

quick update

1. Jaw still super painful - can't open mouth wide enough and any kind of angular biting is absolute torture.
2. Sledge hockey was exciting and good to watch - I would recommend it to anyone to go and check out.
3. Stanley Park was beautiful yesterday - we walked the beach and played at the playground - lovely - as always... though the kids were less than impressed that we "took the long way" to go around the park...
4. Sadly haven't had any great sushi on this trip - yes, I've had sushi - but not fantastic sushi... not even close.
5. Went for a great run yesterday along the Richmond waterfront...
6. I love the sound of rain - LOVE IT! I know all the Vancouverites and Lower Mainlanders get less than impressed with it but I can't get enough - not great to run in - but listening to it as it falls and hits a million things - I just love it.

And there is your quick update. :)
More smooches, extra hugs...

tomorrow...

First, my jaw is brutal right now.. I couldn't even put a spoon in my mouth this morning... it sucks - it is painful - boohoo...

Tonight I had to put some extra hours in at the office because I'm heading out of town for a few days - and I'm actually taking a break... well as much of a break as I can... yes, I'm taking my blackberry -but it is more for emergencies as we've actually had two in the last few days...

Kid front... well Kyle is mad and has had two crying outbursts about us going away tomorrow... there is an assembly tomorrow and they are doing some kind of draw for a gift prize for a fundraiser the school has been doing for Haiti - so he is mad that he won't get to be there - so mad that tonight he hid behind a door and cried... pretty uncharacteristic of him... hopefully it isn't a sign of him getting sick with something. He did turn things around later in the evening.. plus we went to our fav restaurant (Granville's West) and he had poutine and we gabbed about the trip - he also read me the newspaper and I LOVE THAT... anyone who will read me the newspaper is in my good books! Michael is as awesome as ever - still loving Michael Jackson...

*The sound of door closing, as Kyle exits the car and runs off to the playground*

"Mom..."

Yes - what dear...

"It's time for Michael Jackson."

Who?

"Moooommmmm, Michael Jackson... you know."

Oh....ok....

*I turn it on...*

"Mom, can you turn it up?"

-----------

Now, with any luck, I'll have photos loaded tomorrow night and lots more over the next few days :)
Hugs and smooches my loves!

eeeeewwwhhhhh

Light sabers flashing... pod racing... scary weird creatures...

"mom, I can't watch, they're kissing.. eeewwwhhhh" (then they cover their heads with pillows...)

boys :)

dinner

Tonight was salad night here... the guys had fish sticks (that's right the meal of champions) - I'm really enjoying the herb salad bag from Save-On right now. I know... it is sallllllaaaadddd... blbblllllaaahhhhhh... booooorrrriiinnnnggggg.... but it is good. What works for me... well this salad, an avocado, a half of a red pepper, and some chicken... oh plus a few pecans and a few cranberries - I tried dried cherries on my salad a few days ago and really like that too - those dried cherries are wicked good - it is like having the great taste of a cherry pie without the millions of calories from the crust... yes - it isn't a pie... and I LOVE PIE... but it works in a pinch since I don't typically have pie in the house.

What of the pesnol in the back situation... well I wrote a note in Kyle's book this morning - I wrote that I was disappointed with the situation and I didn't understand how the other kid writing Kyle a note justified any of what happened - I received a reply in his book tonight - that Kyle was a part of the incident (yes, I caught that - the pesnol was in his back), they were both pretending it was a light saber. A phone call was also made to the other boy's parents. Well... a freakin phone call was made - wow... I bet she left an equally lame phone message for the other kids parents that didn't explain anything. I just remember being read the riot act in elementary school over very small things. I did my time in the principals office - not that often - but I did get called in there... why April, why would you get called in there... well I will give you two examples...

1) I got caught throwing a snowball - I was in grade 1 or 2 - and a pile of us all got detentions for being morons - our principal screamed and yelled about the stupidity of throwing snowballs - we had to write lines and sit in silence - I attribute my crappy throwing arm to this situation - many can vouch for my crappy throwing arm - I make it look like I'm going to throw it really nice and smooth and then I tend to release at the wrong time and off the ball goes straight up in the air... (Jen - why isn't there detention any more - or is that an oddity at our school...??)

2) In grade 4 we had a sub - the sub couldn't hear very well and a few of us mean kids started to hum - except that she couldn't hear the humming - the humming sounded like whistling in her hearing aids... she made the mistake of asking who was whistling and then it was on because of course you could hide who was humming - and so a few took turns humming... now what should have happened in this situation - well the principal came in and figured out which of us morons was being stupid and took us into the hall... oh - finger pointing, we were bad kids.. etc.... and then something happened - he made no threat - later he told us how he wanted us to carry on because he didn't like the sub and didn't want her to come back to the school... ahhhhh... so then what happened - well the class walked out after lunch - we actually picked up all our stuff and walked out into the middle of the field - we left her behind - and the principal did nothing - absolutely nothing - and the sub left and the principal got what we wanted and we began to learn lessons about how adults operate... yes - this situation is sad - but it is completely true. What of redemption - how did the fates turn this back on me... well I was a sub - for one semester at a high school - no - they didn't hum at me - no, I was put through FAR FAR worse... freakin' kids...

it gets better... ha

Alright - so I post the previous post and then I'm talking to Kyle and then he says the note is here.... and here you go... I'm sharing...

"I em sore kyle for poking you in the back with my pesnol I hop you or ok. I thik it hrs a lot to get pokt by a pesnol on the back :( from the jerk that poked you in the back" (alright so I added the last part... but that is the freakin' apology note...)

So here is what I'm going to do - tonight I am going to write out multiple notes of apology and then commit random acts of hurt and then give a note immediately following - I'm sure that I will be fine because apparently that is enough...

I know - I know - what the hell can I do about this... issues - well 1) what was the teacher doing that this scene got out of control 2) what was kyle doing - why did he think it was ok to be in a sword fight with pencils while he should have been paying attention in class and 3) kyle says that he asked for a timeout from the kid because he wanted to get back to work - so a cease fire was issued and then once kyle got back to work the kid stabbed him in the back - so is the other kid a) stupid b) malicious c) stupid

ah.... see they skip all of this in the parenting books - they talk about the joy of sex, the joy of being pregnant (ha), the joy of seeing your wee little baby and holding them and ... oops we forgot the section on a kid stabbing your kid in the back...

a photo and...

First here is a photo from our trip to Nazko yesterday...



And then... what else.. well Kyle got stabbed with a pencil today... in the freakin' back. How is that for education...
What happened... well I got this rather pathetic voice mail noting that he had been stabbed while he wasn't doing his work in class. So am I getting this right... if he'd been paying attention he wouldn't have been stabbed - really - freakin' really - ARE YOU SURE? You might want to leave better voice mails for parents! Apparently, they were in class and doing work when Kyle and another boy started playing "swords" with pencils and somehow this scene turned into Kyle getting it in his spine - no kidding - it is red and looks sore. Kyle brushed off the whole scene. He was more worried that I'd be pissed at him for playing in class because the teacher called.

Now what... well part of me hates his school because what the freakin' hell is that - um... this is Ms... fill in blank teacher that can't spell - I'm your son's teacher ... (because apparently I'm too stupid to remember who my son's teacher is... even though we've had a few run-ins with her... ) during class today your son was playing with another boy and he was stabbed - I'm sure you'll see the mark in his back - the other student has written an apology note... - alright - so let's bust out the angry parent - the angry parent in me wants to know what the hell kind of punishment that is - wow - a freakin' note... a FREAKIN' note - how about I cram a pencil in your back and see how things go - if I stabbed someone I work with a pencil in the back I wouldn't get off with a note - in fact I'd probably get a pencil in the eye or much much worse... what kind of values are we teaching our kids - alright Kyle - little Johnny wrote down that he is sorry he STABBED YOU IN THE BACK - I'm sure he means it... now run along and play... um - SERIOUSLY! Are we afraid to punish - is that the state of affairs now? Suggestions...
(Jen - please comment - I would love to hear your thoughts on this...)

Ah, another fine day in parenting... and Michael - what of him... well same old - "Mom, can I have some chocolate..." - no... "Please" - no, Michael - "please..... plllleeeaaaassseeeee" - no... sorry dude - chocolate can't be every meal...

flowers - for you, of course

saturday

Well this morning I was going to go to work... I didn't... I went for a run instead.

Here I am running across the bridge (you can see our old walking bridge in the background). I did 9.4 km this morning - I was only going to do a 5 km run and then just as I was getting to km 5 I felt like going further - so I told the guys I'd meet them at the rec centre. My knees are not super pleased with me right now... and I had some not so pleasant shin splints earlier - but oh well - I love it - then this afternoon we all went and played hockey in a court near the house - it was great! I just felt alive! I miss hockey sooooo much! I'm hoping we can add hockey in more often... shockingly I didn't take my camera to hockey - so I'll have to load photos from our next experience :)

return

The night talker came back last night.. and coincidentally my husband had two great episodes where he tried to scare the crap out of me again... I got woken up twice to two different issues - first time was to ask me what was up in the corner of the room - and then he woke up and asked me about a race... I'm so use to this madness that now I just tell him to go back to sleep and stop talking to me... with Michael he just blurted out that the voice was back last night but today he added... this time he added that he thinks it might be his bakugan... now this makes a little more sense as the bakugan characters talk to their masters - and some of them only talk to their masters and they talk quietly... so that helped take some of the fear out of all of this... but we will see how this goes...

Happy Saturday - I'm gonna go for a run.

good grief...

This morning I decided to go outside the box and wear a dress. That's right, ladies and gentleman, I put on this cute little dress. Felt like summer - plus 12 today in Q-town - so why not. So I get the guys ready for school, everything is great - I'm feeling good, looking pretty good - ready for the day... and then I get to Kyle's school and someone sees us getting out of the car... now I've barely had a chance to get out of the car and I'm just starting to adjust because of course this dress has crept up a bit... when I get this person pointing at me - motioning to pull my dress down - now - my ass wasn't hanging out - nor was my gonch - but this was enough to make me go home and change.... so yes, lesson learned, buy static guard and apply it to clingy dresses....

Maybe I'll try again with the dress next week...


Signs of spring in the Cariboo....

remember poltergeist....

When I was just about 13 I went to a birthday party where we watched poltergeist - that is a scary movie - to this day I have flashes of this film... the pork chop scene, the freakin' tree... the tv... LORD! And then... and then I had kids...

"Mom.... (long and drawn out...)"

What, hun.. what do you need....

"Mom, someone was sitting on my bed last night."

What...

"They were talking to me."

*And now... you have my full freakin' attention...*

Babe, what did they say to you?

"I don't know Mom."

Well if they come again, come and get me... ok...

"Ok, mom."

Yep - this terrified me... until I remembered who I'm married to...
"Psssstttt... April, wake up... there is someone in the house."
(I hear this - while I'm totally and completely asleep... but this comment awakens me like nothing else... - this would be a good fire alarm for me..)
"April - someone is in the house."
What... what... WHAT
"snoring... snoring... snoring"

That's right friends - my husband sleep talks - or rather sleep scares - as after these kinds of conversations he returns to sleep while I go through the whole house looking... searching.. just in case... - so weird stuff at night seems to run in this family - Kyle the sleep walker who talks while walking and scares the crap out of me and Michael the one with a sleep friend...

a first for me...

Well tonight we lay our fighting fish 'sushi' also known as 'sush' to rest. As we stood around the toilet bowl sending our little fish on his way to fish heaven Kyle began to sing. That's right my friends, he broke out into song... now what would you sing at a funeral... Irish Blessing (my favorite hymn), Wind beneath my wings, I'll fly away, Angel - not in our house - Kyle bust out into O Canada. We all sang - Michael too - and off sushi went. At the end of the song Kyle, bless his heart, started to cry a little. I think that could possibly be the next Tim Hortons commercial - us all singing O Canada and then pan to me having coffee the next day re-telling the heart felt story... and then I could roll up the rim and win a crappy toyota.

So there is another day in the life in our house... never a dull moment.

Well if they didn't laugh at us before...

This is from CTV's website... I actually didn't watch the closing ceremonies... but got texted about the floating beaver and had to look online and see it with my own eyes... freakin' floating beavers - holy crow... I can't believe it!

Saturday

Well I'm a bit boring lately - sorry about the posts... no recipes, no photos - well not since the Olympics... I'll remedy that shortly.
Today Kyle went rock climbing for the first time - so that was exciting for him - he also played ping pong - it was a birthday party. So we took Michael out shopping and basically just wasted a couple of hours. Michael, as I think I've mentioned, has some speech issues - for example - slurpee is shlurpee and little is yiddle - nothing is nufing, and what is yud... it is actually pretty funny and since we love it so much we've started adopting the language - in fact, I've adopted it soo much that I'm now using it at work and some of my staff use some of the words. Nothing like starting a trend. (Ok - I know - I know - this is not good for the long term and we do correct him and work at strengthening all letter sounds...)

yesterday

was fun....

Today was....

GOOD

and today

Laughing, giggling, running girls... a bunch of them... they have decided to play inside of an turned over soccer net.

"Mom, that is a bad idea. Look at them."

I look. "Yes, bad..."

"Mom...." then as if there was a tractor beam he is drawn in to what they are doing and puts his face up to the soccer net and then puts his hand inside the net.

"Mom, they tried to bite my finger."

freakin' awesome...

"Mom, they are bad."

And then he gets really excited...

"Mom, mom, mom, looooook.... eeeeeewwwwwwww.... barbies...."

Good times at soccer tonight - good times... amen for blackberries and tsn posting updates on the game.

sheessh

I know - where did I go... well I have a good excuse - I went to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and I didn't want to post without photos... of course - I forgot my camera cord and am only downloading photos tonight.. so below are a bunch of photos from the last few days. It was amazing being at the games, but I'm glad to be home. Yes, the feeling is electric and it was pretty amazing... but there is no place like home.

And now... for photos...


Luongo and Brodeur


Sidney Crosby


A good old fashion pat down....


Robson Square at night... from the 4th floor of the Art Gallery


Selanne and Koivu - team Finland and Belarus


Beautiful English Bay at night


Pat Quinn and John McKeachie


The Skyy Ice Lounge at Monk McQueen's - definitely worth the visit!

Ah.... a lesson in parenting

For seven years I've been playing the spelling game. When something doesn't need to be heard by sensitive ears I spell it... and today it all came back to me.

Today we are shopping and Kyle says to me -
"Mom, that is C-R-A-P...." (he is right... but wait one second... did you just pull an April... WHAT?)

I hold back my hearty laugh and ask him...

"What does that spell?" And the kid doesn't miss a beat.

"Mom, that spells crap."

Freakin' awesome. So if you are a speller of words learn your lesson from me - one day they will know how to put letters together into words and your spelling days will be over.

I did talk to him about why it wasn't a good thing to do; for the record. I also laughed later about him using the word correctly.

Now off to do laundry - trying to put together outfits for a week of being away. Off to 2010 games! Showcasing the Gold Rush area of BC!