Rain, rain go away!

It's STILL raining in NS! I'm thinking we should start building an ark or something?!? I do however have a new appreciation for rainy days after seeing them through the eyes of Michael and Abbey. Barb (the kid's caregiver) put an umbrella is Abbey's Easter basket and last weekend I bought one for Michael. It was too funny to see them walking around with their umbrellas. They were so proud. I actually had FUN in the rain! (and they had a blast!)

Mother's Day!

I was blessed with being born into the most loving family...and my wonderful mother Claire is at the heart of it. My Mom is my best friend. She is such a wonderful person, beautiful inside and out and someone I continually strive to be like. She's the first to compliment, or encourage and always sees the positive side of things. I've always known my Mom was amazing and that we shared a special bond but it's only now that I am a Mom myself that I can truly appreciate everything she has done and continues to do for me. She is the most caring, giving person and I hope to be half the parent to Abbey and Michael as she was to me.


Living in Nova Scotia has been really wonderful but I hate, HATE being away from my family. We are so close, that it seems unfair for us to be separated. Last year, 2 days into my summer holidays, my Mom surprised me by showing up on my doorstep with my cousin Claire (named after my Mom...obviously I'm not the only one who thinks she's fabulous!!!) for a visit. I wouldn't have been happier if someone had handed me ten million dollars. Another time, she picked me up from a conference early (okay it was Christian Community Day for all you OCCDSB folks!) and we decided in the car that we were heading to Montreal for a shopping extravaganza! (remember how sore our feet were Mom!) So many awesome spontaneous memories that just instantly make me smile. I've got a ton of them!
The year that I started teaching was the year my Mom retired but we worked for the same school board and so at all the functions people would come up to me and say "you have to be Claire Paquin's daughter"...and I would proudly answer yes. There is no greater compliment to me then that.


I wish I could say Bonne fête des mères in person but it'll have to wait until your visit at the end of the month Mom. I love you more then I could ever express and I thank God everyday for you and our awesome friendship! xoxo

$$ YARD SALE $$

Our subdivision had it's first (soon-to-be annual) garage sale so we decided to participate. Those who know me will attest to the fact that I'm so not a yard saler. BUT after having survived my first one ever today I must admit that I loved getting $$$ for my old, useless stuff! hee!hee! We had sooooooooo much stuff accumulated! It took a week to get prepared but it paid off and it was actually fun! :-) We made close to $1200.00 can you believe it?!? and our basement is so clean and spacious now!

HAIRCUTES!!!

I'm officially renaming haircuts to haircutes!! hee!hee! We took the kids for haircuts Monday night. Always a fun excursion! :-) Michael's great...jumps into the chair and sits through it all no problem. (the sucker is key though I must admit!). Abbey always gets a little weepy when she first sits in the chair but Debbie (our hairdresser) is always quite quick to turn her around.

I find that after every haircut they look cuter but also "sniff!sniff!" older! My babies are growing up! Abbey's hair is FINALLY coming in and Debbie says that next time we might actually be able to cut an even bob into it! yay!

Here's Michael making sure Abbey's hair is cut evenly!

GIRLS WEEKEND!

Friday after school, Mary, Sherry and I took off to Halifax for a girls weekend! We had so much fun! After a near death driving experience (3 point turn on a very busy street with lots of traffic...I'm convinced Mary Major's middle name in Andretti hee!hee!) we arrived at the Delta. We met up with Felicia and Tanya, checked in and cracked open a few bottles of wine! FUN FUN! After Mary made me over...no I'm serious...she made me take out the pearl earrings I've worn for the last 10 years and put in hoops AND she made me put on a strapless top (gasp!) I was ready for a night on the town lol! (don't worry the trusted pony tail was still in place hee!hee!) We had a wonderful dinner at Five Fishermen and then went out dancing. We got our groove on and we're in bed by 12:45...what a wild and crazy bunch! ha!ha!



The next morning we headed out for some SPA treatments, good food and MORE retail therapy...could it possibly get any better?!?!? We caught a movie in Bayer's Lake and headed back to the hotel for some hot tubing, drinking and chatting.
Sunday we headed back to our families but not before a quick stop in Bedford for one last shopping fix. lol! It's back to reality now though. Monday morning came around pretty quick! It was SO great to get away to recharge but nice to come home to my happy family too! Thanks Mary for all your planning! A great time was had by all! When's the next one?!? I hear Digby Pines calling us!!!! :-)

What a Day! Ugh!

Let's start with this morning...Michael woke up and announced that he had to pee on the potty! HUGE BIG EXCITING STEP...especially since he actually DID pee on the potty! SUPER!!! Up to now the potty training was pretty much a write-off. Ugh! Suggestions anyone?!? Where's Aunt Germaine when you need her?!? ha!ha!

Off I went to school (late of course because of the big peeing event) and Steve called to say we had a showing. Murphy's Law...you always have a showing the day BEFORE your cleaning lady is scheduled to come! Double Ugh! Well the real estate agent came early and Abbey, Michael & I were still in the driveway. As we were heading down the street on the tricycles, Abbey spotted the people heading into our house and said "Non, non Abbey house". I started to cry! Although I really want to go back to Ontario I also wanted to yell "Non, non McAlpine house!". Triple Ugh!

We decided to kill time by going into the back woods looking for "treasures"...not five minutes into our walk Michael tripped and fell into a branch and cut his eye lid wide open. Steve still wasn't home from golf yet so my first thought was "I must get back to the house so I can call my Mom!" SO silly...what can she do from Barrhaven?!? Yet I knew that just hearing her voice would calm me down. Guess what...no answer?!? Quadruple Ugh!
Luckily my friend Leslie, who lives down the road, is a nurse and she took a look at Michael and calmed me down. The three of us ended up going for a nice long walk with Myriam and Bébé Melanie (another neighbour) to the park once Michael was cleaned up and had lots of fun!

When we got back (about 5:45) the little girl that lives next door was outside playing. I told her that my kids had to come inside to eat supper and she asked if she could come in too. No problem! She's a cute kid! So there I am "cooking" (Steve was golfing so I made eggs, bacon and potatoes hee!hee!) while all 3 kids are playing with Play-Doh at the kitchen table. Eva (who's 5) says "Why are you having eggs for supper?" So I explained that Mr McAlpine does most of the cooking and I can only cook a limited amount of things and eggs was one of them. Satisfied with my answer, she kept playing then I hear her tell Michael "I'm sorry your Mom is such a bad cook!" HUGE Ugh! (don't know what comes after quadruple off hand!) :-)
Anyway, it turned out to be an action packed day to say the least. My life in the Valley!
Never boring that's for sure!!!

Spring Cleaning!

The beautiful weather has arrived and that means NO MORE PROCRASTINATING on getting our Spring cleaning jobs done! Ugh! The whole weekend was dedicated to raking, washing windows, putting away winter clothing, cleaning the garage, turning over the flower beds, etc. Everyone was busy...check out Abbey's cute gardening gloves! Too funny! I should have worn the gloves..I got a huge blister!!! Busy and very productive weekend...but tiring! No naps all weekend...you know how I love my naps!



Saturday night, my friend Lynn had a farewell party for my former principal. So sad...she was really fantastic but she got a great promotion and is now working at the Board. Our new principal is a man. It's my first time working for a MAN! I wonder if it will be any different?!? Anyway, he seems really nice but he has big shoes to fill...Heather was very good!

The weather just keeps getting better!!! It's perfect right now....sunny, warm and no bugs! Paradise!!! I'm loving it!