Home from Paradise...

Wednesday my family arrived home from an amazing vacation.  My parents, sister Julie and her husband David, niece Charlotte, and my family spent a week at the Crown Club Paradise in Puerto Vallarta.  The week went by far too fast... and so many great memories were made!  And if you can believe it, I didn't access computers the whole week!

We loved our resort!  It had been recommended to us by friends and although it was only rated a 3 and a half star, we were told it was perfect for people with kids, and it was!   We enjoyed dinner together every night at the various restaurants (Mexican, Japanese, Italian, and French) and loved the outstanding nightly shows.  Daytime was spent lounging by the pool and beach -  jumping waves, reading, dancing, swimming, napping, playing bingo, shopping from the vendors and meeting new friends.   The girls had their hair braided, my father para-sailed at the age of 74 (on his bucket list), and the kids enjoyed participating in crafts at the kids club and the watersides.  Scott, David, and Matthew had fun playing water polo, water basketball, beach and water volleyball, and bowling.  

Our resort was the perfect size, as Matthew could wander at leisure and we didn't have to deal with elevators.  We woke every morning to sunshine!  This resort catered to kids and had ice-cream, hotdogs, hamburgers, nachos, fries, onion rings, served daily at the snack bar.   

Being altogether made the trip extra special... And we became friends with Paul, one of the entertainers at the resort who organized the sports during the day and danced in the shows at night.   He took the time to get to know our family, especially Matthew and let Matt call out the numbers for Bingo.  Matthew and Paul switched ball hats for the week too.   On Sunday, Paul's only day off (he works from 9 - 6pm at the pool and then 7:30 - 11:30pm in the shows daily), he was running in a half-marathon so we went out and cheered him on as we all wake early even on vacation.   He commented "it made him so happy, he almost cried".  We knew his family lived many hours away and I have ran a half marathon before and know how much support from others means.   On Monday our last night, we left the resort and went to Pepe's or Pepitas (Not sure???) with new friends we met from Williams Lake, Cliff, Lynda and Abby.  We took Paul to dinner too (the only night there is no show) to celebrate his race and it was a wonderful night!

Above is a video of our photos put to music...  and below are some snippets of the Saturday night show which was over the top outstanding.   They had princesses, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Madagascar, StarWars, Pirates, and so much more!

Tuesday night they pulled Scott and I up to represent Canada in a dance off (it didn't help that our kids kept pointing at us, encouraging them to pick us).   We went up against two other couples, one Mexican and one American.   We ended up winning ~ I think it was because Scott almost dropped me twice... sorry folks, no video!

Anyway, I have found myself really sad since we came home.   Tomorrow is David's surgery to remove the cancerous brain tumour and I am so glad he was able to come away for the week to Mexico.   We all kind of forgot about reality for a short little while....  I think the taxi driver must have thought we were a crazy family because when we got into the cab my daughter who was waving at Paul started to cry, then my son's eyes welled up, then my sister Julie started to cry, and then mom and I.   No one wanted to come home...

The coming of spring...

As we enjoyed a little bit of sunshine today (and hail too!) and the days are getting longer, we are reminded that Spring is coming.  I love that the sunshine brings everyone outside.  I have been having so much fun watching the little one year old from a few doors down stop by our house on his daily walks.  He likes to play with the Easter eggs and carrots we have on our lawn.  He also visits with the bunnies at our front door.  I am often accused of decorating too early in the season but I just can't help myself.   I know the kiddies love it too.



This past week we heard the wonderful news that my sister Julie and her husband David will be having a boy in July!   I couldn't be more thrilled for them.   We would have been happy if the baby was a girl but given everything that David is going through a baby boy is perfect, and they already have Charlotte.



Tonight we are counting down the hours until our family trip to Mexico!  David's brain tumour surgery is scheduled for three days after we get home from Mexico, so everyone is happy that the doctors gave him the "ok" to get away as well.   It should be a lot of fun having the whole family together as my parents, Julie, David, and Charlotte will be joining us!


I have promised my family that I will not touch technology while we are away so

             adiós a mis amigos!!!

She is my sunshine!!!

Today I burst with pride (and tears) as I watched my daughter Megan, who is in Grade One, sing You Are My Sunshine in front of her whole school and many parents at the Neilson Grove Elementary Talent Show.    Every night since she was just a wee baby I sang this song to her right before bed.   It is a song that means so much to both of us.

Spring Break Tradition

Every year for the past five, my kids and I have taken a day over Spring Break to cruise the skytrain and Sea Bus.  We also do this once over the summer too.   We leave in the morning, eat lunch in North Vancouver, play at the pit at the Quay and then come home.  It has become a tradition that both the kids and I look forward to.

Today I reminisced with my Dad who came with me on one of our first trips.  Megan was 21 months and Matthew would have been almost four.  At that stage in life, Megan was a really easy going, quiet, docile child, so my Dad and I were astonished,  when we arrived back at the car after our trip, when Megan refused to sit in her carseat.  I remember that moment like it was yesterday (I CANNOT believe it was five years ago - ahhh).  My Dad and I both took turns trying to push her down to get the buckles of the carseat done up but she keep arching her back and pointing at the trains.   She loved that trip!!!   Each time the skytrain stopped she said "mo people, mo people".  Her brother Matthew thought we were hurting her because she started screaming and so he started crying too.   My Dad and I started laughing with exhaustion.   Eventually we got her into the seat but it wasn't without a great deal of effort.

ALL 3 FELL ASLEEP on the way home!

So today as I took them for the umpteenth time I felt a little sadness as I remembered that particular trip.

Last night we had our nephew sleepover and he came along on our trip today.   The kids had lots of fun (especially since they got to skip school - my spring break started last week and my kids aren't off until this Friday - the con of working in a different school district than your kids). We hopped off at the Broadway station and enjoyed an impromptu trip to visit Daddy at Vancouver City Hall.   When we arrived in North Vancouver, we ate lunch at Eastside Mario's (kids eat free over Springbreak) and had fun playing in the ball pit in the Quay.

Wrap ups

This weekend saw the end of Matthew's regular season hockey and soccer play.  His hockey team played a great game against another South Delta team and lost by one.  It was the other team's first win of the season and the smiles on their faces were well worth the loss.  Matthew has such a love of the game, it is always fun to watch him play and listen to his commentary after the game!

The fall/winter is a busy time in our family.  Megan skates twice a week for 2 hours each time (1 hour off ice training and 1 hour on ice), dances Thursdays for 2 hours, and attends Sparks on Tuesday nights (I am one of her leaders).  Matthew plays both hockey and soccer.   Scott is also one of the coaches of Matt's soccer team.   Matthew thrives on being active and being outside and never complains about going to anything.   Megan, on the other hand has been less enthusiastic these past few months about skating.   I wish the "intensity" of the activities didn't have to heighten as the kids aged.  The increased time at the ice rink this year took the 'fun' out of it for Megan.   She does love to skate but also loves to come home from school and relax or have friends over to play.   This year the balance scale was tipped too much towards sports.  This Friday is the big skating show and although we look forward to event, we are also happy to see it end.  Next year, we definitely plan to scale her activities down.

Saturday afternoon Matthew warmed up from his day at the soccer jamboree with a nice, warm, bubble bath!

Can almost see the finish line...

Again, I am the last one awake in my house.   The silence is a beautiful thing!   This evening I have worked diligently to finish my final, large assignment for my Education 500 course, Educational Research and Methodology.   This class has been mostly content and has involved statistics (mathematics) I have not done in over 20 years.   It has required a lot of focus, relearning, and perseverance... with lots of frustration along the way.  The professor warned us to get started on this last assignment early, as it was a big one and I am glad she did.   I feel like I have been running a marathon (I've actually only ever run a half-marathon) and I have needed to pace myself... getting it done bit by bit.

So as I was about to pack it in for the night, you can imagine my delight to see an email in my inbox from the Harvard researcher who co-authored one of the two articles I am critiquing in my assignment.   I can't believe she took the time to respond to my email questions.   It has given me the necessary shot of energy I need to finish the final leg of the race!

I am almost there and I can't wait to taste the sweetness of victory tomorrow night when I hand in my paper - and it will be made even better, since tomorrow afternoon begins my spring break.

Surprises

I, similar to many other parents in BC struggled with what I was going to do with my kids today.  I had pre-scheduled (at least in my mind) that Mon - Wed this week I would tackle my large and final assignment for one of the two Masters classes I am taking this term.

Unfortunately there are always "surprises" and with the strike that is occurring this week, my children are now at home with me during the days that I had planned to get school work done.  Argh!

Knowing this, my kids were completely understanding when I explained that they would be spending the day with one of my friends who has kids the same age.  ~ I am so lucky to have friends who graciously swoop in and offer to help out when needed!

Anyway, I as I quickly hopped into the shower this morning my last words to the kids were "get your bathing suits on, pack your bags with your towel and underwear, and make your beds!"

To my "surprise" when I walked out of the bathroom ready to pounce on any child who hadn't completed  my instructions, I was shocked and touched that they had decided to make my bed for me, knowing that I was sooo busy!

My kids make me crazy!   I often have to tell them over and over and over again to do this or that.   But today they "surprised" me and it was wonderful!  I love my kids...

Simple Pleasures

One of the many gifts of having children is when they remind you to enjoy the simple things in life.   I was reminded of this at dinner tonight with Megan.   Thursday nights her and I eat alone.   I pick her up from dance at 6:30pm and by the time we get home, Scott and Matthew have headed out to Matt's soccer practice.

We call it "Girls Night" and I try to make it special.   Sometimes we go out to dinner, or I'll bring home a special dessert just for us.  Other nights are more typical but regardless, we both look forward to our time together.

Tonight our dinner conversation went like this:

Megan:  Today was just the best day ever.   It was so exciting, Mommy!

Me:  Really?  Why?

Megan:  It was the first day of the month.

Me:  Yes, it was.   I can't believe we are in March already.

Megan:  Yup.  But that's not why I was excited.  We got our desks moved.   Mrs. Monk always moves our desks on the first day of the month and when I go into my class I have to find my desk.   It is so much fun.

Me:  Wow, that would be fun.

Megan:  It is... and each time she moves us she put us with new friends.   I love my new group.  I am sitting with Nicola, Carter, and Logan M.

Me:  Maybe I should try this with my class.

Megan:  You should!!!

Megan:  (without missing a beat)  I sure hope it rains tomorrow.

Me:  Rain, are you kidding me?   I hope it is sunny.

Megan:  NO way!   I want it to rain.  I can't wait to use my new umbrella, it's going to be so exciting.

Wouldn't it be great if we could consider all days the "best day ever" just by getting to sit beside to new friends and looking forward to the rain.   The life of a child is truly a treasure!