The kids enjoying park time with grandpa
Aug
14
Last Wednesday night my family went to go see Walking With Dinosaurs and I have to say it was fabulous. We had purchased the tickets months ago and actually managed to keep it a secret from our boys right up until we were walking towards the stadium. As we were walking towards the entrance my youngest son and dinosaur enthusiast, Branden, saw a sign about the show and gave a little shriek. He was so excited to get inside and see the dinosaurs.
The stars of the show, the dinosaurs, were wonderfully done. The speaker was entertaining and the sound effects were fabulous. It was a perfect blend of entertainment and educational facts. The show was perfect for all ages. Even my baby girl, Pryde, whom is only 9 months enjoyed it. Well, she really only watched the first 45 minutes with the help of munching on pieces of a hot-dog, but she was really well behaved.
Branden was so into the show that he was even shouting out the names of the dinosaurs before the speaker announced them. What do you expect from a future paleontologist? Sterling was very entertained as well, but seemed to get momentarily distracted by people who where using their flashes while taking pictures. Since using no flash photography was one of the rules to being at the show, people who didn’t follow the rules caused minor upset to him. One of his Asperger traits is that things are supposed to be a certain way and if the rules say something you are supposed to be doing what you are told. Either way, momentary distractions aside, he enjoyed the show as well.
Of course after seeing the show we then were off to purchase some of the dino merchandise that can cost a small fortune. This could have been set up a little better as they only had one set up for all of products so can you imagine a staduim full of people all trying to buy stuff. There were huge lines, before, during, at intermission, and after the performance of people trying to buy $30 t-shirts and such. Our boys were able to pick out a couple of items each and away we went. We were all exhausted and done but we had fun.
I would recommend checking this performance out. Although the seats may cost a bit it is well worth it. Enjoy!
Category: Observations
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Aug
09
I have to come clean and confess to a guilty pleasure. I enjoy researching real estate and no, I’m not an agent. I love looking at homes in different countries and locations imagining what it would be like to live there. I’m pretty sure I can’t be the only person who enjoys this little pass time.
I am primarily drawn to two types of criteria. Older, character style buildings and being near the water. Ever since I was young I loved old buildings and have wanted to live in an older style home. They have so much character and are beautiful to look at. As for the water, who doesn’t enjoy the sounds of the lapping waves on the shore. Imagine sitting on your patio in the morning sunlight, enjoying a cup of coffee and looking out over the ocean. It seems so ideal!
Before relocating, my family lived in the lower mainland of BC amongst all the greenery and not a far drive from the ocean. My husband was raised on the North Shore where he had a view of the ocean from his balcony. It is absolutely beautiful there and my husband misses it very much, as do I. I was on a recent visit with family and loved being able to look out at the water everyday and the peacefulness of being surrounded by all of the tall trees. It made me sad to leave it but that isn’t where my family is anymore.
I have recently found a new location that is an ideal place to live. At least it is for me but not so much for my husband. It is a place I had never thought of moving to but I think it is perfect. My new dream location is in Mahone Bay and surrounding areas in Nova Scotia. I had always been intrigued by Scotland so New Scotland isn’t that far of a stretch.
For many years I have had a fantasy of living in a smaller town area with a house near the water. Spending time with my family outdoors near the water and going to quaint shops. Perhaps even opening a shop of my own. Having a bit of a simpler life! I have imagined having to and how I would go about selling at least half of our belongings to prepare for the move. Looking at the schools in the area and activities available. Yes, I go into details in my little fantasy world. Mahone Bay matches everything I have been searching for.
Mahone Bay has a population of approximately 900 people. there are many old, heritage style buildings and quaint shops. It’s within an hours drive to a main city and is just plain beautiful. Not to mention we would actually be able to afford a place on the water with acreage for less than what our house here is worth. That should be reasons enough but a big extra is that they have an Autism centre that is supported by the local school district. It offers information and support to families that need it as well as socialization programs for teens and after school programs. For a mother who has a child with Aspergers this is a huge bonus. Support like that is such a benefit for families and anywhere we live we need to take his needs into consideration.
Alas, this type of move isn’t a possibility at this point in our lives. My husbands work in the Business Intelligence field requires him to be near certain city hubs and if we were to move I would think he would wish to move “back home” to be near family. Maybe we will get the chance for something like this a little later on in life. For now I will just continue browsing and dreaming of what it would be like.
Category: Family
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Aug
05
Today marks a milestone with my husband. We have reached the big 10 year’s of marriage. Yes, we have managed to survive having 3 kids, mood swings, family vacations and all of life’s little surprises.
To share a little bit of this with all of you I have created a quick little slide show. Hope you enjoy and Happy Anniversary honey!
Category: Family
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Jul
25
I have been enjoying watching my son spin stories about what it is he is going to be when he grows up. Right now his dream is to become a paleontologist but maybe tomorrow his dream will be to become and astronaut. We all know how it is with kids and their “when I grow ups”. I remember wanting to be a vet, a dancer, a singer, even a Duke from the Dukes of Hazzard. Okay, my strangest thing I wished I could be was She-ra. Yes, I used to watch He-man and all of those types of cartoons and will admit my imagination got the best of me. But who wouldn’t want to have the ability to change into some gorgeous amazon type woman to could defeat even the toughest of enemies?
As I grew my desires changed. I pictured myself graduating high-school, going to University and then pouncing into the world of business. I loved the idea of working in the hustle and bustle of a large downtown office and having a career. I didn’t quite make it there though. Instead of finishing high-school I left home and had to work to pay rent. Then I became a young mom at 19. This was not the life that I had envisioned for myself and I knew I had strayed so far off of the path I had envisioned that I was in another dimension.
When my daughter was a couple of years old I decided I needed to make some changes. I couldn’t continue struggling the way I had and I went to a Business College to gain some skills. I managed to work my way through an Executive Secretarial program while still working at a local department store and being mommy. Not the easiest of balancing acts but this is what needed to be done. Not long before my program was completed I was asked by the school administration if I would be interested in accepting a position with the school once I was finished. Of course I had said yes. This is why I went to school in the first place.
This position was a great stepping stone for me and led to another opportunity with a software company that had me starting as a receptionist and ending up as part of the Y2K team. That is pretty much where my office life ended as the company I was working for went through a really big round lay-offs. I decided to take some time off, then I got married, went through some health issues, got pregnant, you know the drill. I never managed to get the career I had at one time been ambitious for but I had managed to work in the world of business in a busy downtown office.
I have now been a stay at home mom for over 8 years. Although I love my children the hopes of being a part of that business world once again is still there. I would love if I could find a perfect balance that would allow my to be a part of both worlds but right now my main world in my family. My children need to have mom around especially my little princess who is only 9 months old.
I now have a series of new dreams. I dream that one day I will be able to return to school in some fashion and get a high-school diploma. I dream that I will one day own a business that I will be proud of and be able to say “That’s mine!”, but my biggest dream is to have my kids pick up after themselves without me having to nag them. Some dreams may never be realized!
Category: Blog Challenge
4 Comments
Jul
22
The other day while on our yearly visit to BC my 5 year old boy, Branden, made a fantastic discovery. After climbing out of my truck in the parking lot of a Boston Pizza he found, what he would adamantly insist, was a fossil. He was so excited about his find that no one had the heart to tell him it was just one of those clumps of gnarly cement that you can find left behind in newer developments.
From that moment on it had to stay with us and be brought into the restaurant. He was so excited that he couldn’t stop talking about it. As far as he was concerned this was the fossil of a baby T-Rex’s arm and he even went as far as to show us where the indentations were of the two fingers and the palm of this baby dinosaur. Now, our little guy has had a love for dinosaurs since he was about 18 months old and that has never changed. He has watched all of the Jurassic Park movies, he has toy dinosaurs coming out the ying yang, he even has a wall decal 6 feet long of the skeleton of a T-Rex on his bedroom wall. Now I know some of you are questioning us allowing him to watch the Jurassic Park movies but the dinosaurs eating people didn’t bother him. As far as he is concerned that’s what dinosaurs are supposed to do. You have to understand this little guys depth of loving dinosaurs. He has decided that he wants to become a paleonpatologist (that’s how he pronounces it) when he grows up.
This excited little guy then proceeded to tell everyone who was working in the restaurant about his find and what he wanted to be when he grows up. They would of course smile and give a little laugh thinking that he was just being so adorable but they didn’t understand how truely excited he was. Branden went on to explain how he was currently only a kidologist as he wasn’t an adult yet and he was never going to get married because he was going to be to busy working. Not sure what his little girlfriend would think of that but that is what he was thinking. He had this whole future paleontologist thing figured out.
This “fossil” then returned home with us and my boy started to question the validity of his find. He asked if maybe we could give him a hammer to try and chip away at the fossil. Our answer of course was a big “I don’t think so!”. He then asked if we could bring this rock to a real paleontologist to have them make sure it was a real fossil. What could I say to the little guy? He was so enthusiastic about this bloody hunk of cement that was probably just the last dregs off of the truck when doing the curb in the parking lot that I said, sure. We can go up to Drumheller and I’m sure we could talk to somebody there. He seemed satisfied with that idea and walked away.
What happened next came as a surprise. He walked over to the table, picked up his precious find and hucked it onto the patio. I of course was a little flabbergasted and asked him why he would do such a thing. His response with tears in his eyes? ”It’s not a real fossil mom. Its just a plain old rock!” My poor little mans dreams of making a glorious discovery were just thrown onto the hot vinyl of my mother-in-laws patio. I felt so bad for him. Luckily he has an older brother who just said “Come on Branden, let go and Beyblade battle.” and off they went to play.
Branden still wants to be a paleontologist but he is also currently an excellent Beyblade battler.
Category: Kids
2 Comments
Jul
21
3 Valley Gap
Creepy Travel Companion
Me and Pryde
My Crew
Category: Wordless Wednesday
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