5 Pounds

That's all.

That's my first goal.

If I can achieve that, I can set another goal. A bit more ambitious, but still within reach.

Than another, and another.

5 years it's been nagging at me. 5 years I've made half-hearted attempts.

I love you, babies, but this is one reminder of my pregnancies I do not want hanging around.

Joyous Heartbreak

In one week, two things have gotten me thinking of how my boys are growing up. First, the return of a co-worker who just spent 2 weeks split between the east and west coasts of Canada getting her children settled in at university. Second, Tracy's post about their 13th anniversary.

In one moment I am counting down the years. In the next I am holding on so tightly to the present.

In one moment I am trying to picture them ten, fifteen years older. Trying to imagine their faces, their personalities, their interests and pursuits. In the next I am struggling to memorize every twinkling eye, every goofy grin, every painful tear.

In one moment I am longing for easy days, quiet morning coffee. In the next I am providing the vocal stylings for a female superhero, helping to rescue an innocent victim.

Last week we had a glimpse of the future, as we both were off work while the boys were in school. It was wonderful and confusing at the same time.

Sometimes I am caught off guard by what we have done by becoming parents.

It's getting old, isn't it? Gosh, it's been so long since I posted...blah, blah, blah.

If anyone, anyone, is actually still reading here, I will be shocked. And flattered.

I think summer has officially ended here. It's turning into an early, cold, wet fall. The boys wear their rain gear to school more often than not. And it rained during our family photo session. And while I actually like rain, I do prefer it when it is broken up by periods of sunshine.

Leaves are starting to turn yellow. Already. Mountain peaks are turning white.

This summer brought a lot of fun. Hubs and I went to France for 2 weeks, my parents took the boys while we were gone. We've had some time in the mountains, but mostly have been enjoying our own front yard and all our city has to offer.

This summer also brought some self discovery. Goals that once occupied my mind have diminished in importance and been replaced. A veil of jealousy has been swept aside to reveal that some things just ARE and that's all right. And new experiences cemented my thought that I know so little of this world and its people. This is what travelling does to me. Seeing a different country and culture, and realizing how well it fits with my outlook.

I see changes in my future. Not quite near, but not so distant as they once were. And I find this comforting.

Hangin' By A Thread

I had to get a post in before 31 days had passed before my last one! I couldn't let this go a whole month without reaching out!

I've found a new hobby. Something to throw my attention at with total abandon, foresaking all else. Cleaning, dishes, laundry, child care, blogging. Work continues because, well, they give me money!

I've learned how to knit. And I love it. In the space of 3 weeks, I have completed a short scarf and a dishcloth.

And have added about 20 projects to my "queue" on Ravelry.

Seriously dangerous.

I'm currently trying to figure out how to link my WIP's to my sidebar with no luck. Because pics are always nice.

Yes, I Had to Stop Working to Post This...

So, living in Calgary, smack dab between peaky (is that a word?) mountains and bald-ass prairie, we get some interesting wildlife within our city limits. The city deals with skunks, gophers, rabbits, deer, and coyotes on a regular basis, and the odd cougar to spice it up a bit. Porcupines can be common too. And, every now and then one of the peacocks escapes from the zoo and ends up terrorizing some urbanite.

The type of wildlife you see is usually dependent on where you live:

1. Near the large provincial park within the city limits
2. Near urban park spaces or the river
3. In the suburban outskirts (we had a salamander vacationing on our back porch when we first moved in)

Now, having live in or just outside of Calgary my whole life, I've seen quite a bit. Deer, bears, and cougars are regular visitors out by my parents' place.

Working downtown, the most common sighting is the Canada Geese. Around now, they are setting up home, laying eggs, and soon will be wreaking traffic havoc as they push the babies out of the nests (commonly built on the second floor roofs of the office complexes, and apartment balconies), and hustle them across streets and down sidewalks towards the river. It's an awesome thing to slam on your brakes during your morning commute to allow a mother goose to herd her babies across the street. They don't like to be confined by crosswalks, you see.

But I've never, ever, seen this.

Fantastic. 'Nuf said.

Random Thoughts on a Thursday Afternoon

We've started booking our 10th anniversary trip. France and Belgium. Yay! I've been wanting to go for years. 5 years ago we were booking our last pre-baby trip. I wanted to go to France, Hubs wanted to go to the Carribbean. We compromised with St. Martin/St. Maarten. Probably best anyway, I would have gone crazy in France...

7 months pregnant + all that wine not being consumed = 1 unhappy me.

So, now we are going, sans children. So far we've booked our first 6 nights. 5 in Paris, 1 in Mont St. Michel. Then back east through Normandy and into Belgium we will head. Bayeux, Juno Beach, Rouen, Lille, Vimy...so many things to see.

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It's review time at work. I dislike filling out those forms. I'm always chastised for not seeing my strengths, which stems from a fear of sounding like I am in love with myself. So, this year I tried to at least make it fun for my supervisor to read.

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My typing is atrocious today. I don't know what my issue is. And Blogger keeps messing with my font and layout. Grrr...

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It seems spring has finally arrived to our corner of the world. I'm always hesitant to declare that before the May long weekend, but I am eager to work on our landscaping. A new shrub, some new herbs, some potted flowers. We just had the lawn aerated this week. The boys have spent the better part of the week trying to avoid all the little dirt pellets that resulted from that. Ah, they take after their mother.

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My little project is just about done (close to 6 years after I started it!) I'll post a picture before I take it in for framing. Still not sure where it's home will be, it's not really my style. It had started out as a gift for my niece, but she's definitely grown out of it now.

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Hubs and I had the pleasure of a weekend away in Victoria, B.C. a little while ago. I was there for a conference and he joined me afterwards. It had been over 5 years since we'd been there. We used to go at least once a year. It was so nice to walk around, relax, enjoy each other's company. And the accomodations weren't too shabby either. Next year hopefully we can take the boys for a holiday and introduce them to a city we love and all it has to offer.

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Hubs turned 35 this week! He says it's a big number. I can't really comment, being a year away from that. But it does seems like a big number. Big enough that I now have this urge to create a list of things to accomplish before I'm 35. It will have to be a short list. I've only got 10 months.

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We cleaned out our closet this week. Donated 2 bins, 3 diaper boxes and 1 large bag full of clothes and shoes.

Two Months

That's how long it's been since I last posted.

Almost as long since I last even opened Blogger to check my favourite blogs.

Yes, I've been busy, but I've also been uninspired.  And rather than leave a string of posts discussing my lack of anything relatively important to say, I've taken a break.

I've fought with computer programs.

I've embraced my new little piece of technology.

I've picked up an old project.

I've travelled and continued booking more trips.

I've played with my kids.

I've gone on dates with Hubs.

Basically, I changed up my routine a little bit and have refreshed myself.  This year, when February rolled around, I was in a rut.  I was no longer interested in work, keeping house, cooking, my health, and writing here.  I was going through the motions, but there was not a lot of enjoyment there.

For my birthday, Hubs bought plane tickets for me and our youngest to go down to southern California and spend a week with my parents at the timeshare in March.  I am not at all ashamed to admit that when I opened that confirmation paper with our flight itineraries, I broke down into tears.  It was just what I needed.

We spent that week in the sun, shopping, playing at the park and at the pool, at a classic car rally, seeing all the grandparents, at the beach...so rejuvenating.  And I always love seeing all our parents so relaxed.  There is something intoxicating about the home away from home they've made for themselves.  In the evenings, once the little boy was asleep, we relaxed with tea, cookies, and old TV shows.

And now, I am ready to embrace spring and all that comes with it.  Playing outside, gardening, deep-cleaning (big kudos to Hubs for cleaning out the garage already!), grilling, going for walks (and maybe even runs!).

It is warming up outside, Easter is coming, and the grandparents are coming home...spring MUST be here!