Dance results

I am so proud of my girl, she did so well at her feis last weekend.  For this feis, the organizers flipped the schedule so that the older kids dance first thing in the morning.  Now, if you have a teenager, you know how well getting up at 6:45 am goes over.  I especially, have a lovely darling girl who HATES to get up in the morning.  However, this time, she was amazing.  We stayed at the Hyatt, which is a wonderful hotel, and we were to bed at a normal 11pm...(did I mention she hates going to bed too!)  I called her, rubbed her back, slowly got her moving before I hit the shower...when I was done, she was awake, playing on her IPOD, WOW!  I have to say this is not normal!

She got dressed in her dance paraphernalia, complete with wig and a new "pouf" styling for her hair, and we were downstairs for 7:45!  She helped the younger dancers warm up, stretching her self, and being happy!  :)

I am so proud of my girl!  the positive attitude paid off, and she came home with a first place medal, two second place medals, and best of all a 4th place trophy.  I am thrilled with the results, but more thrilled with the young lady and her actions of the day.

We had a great drive home, and a wonderful time together.  I love mother/daughter bonding time! 

A Holy Place

When I was home a few weeks ago, my mom and I were going through some paperwork of my sisters. Mom's intent is to put the "important" stuff in a memory album as a keeper. We sorted, made piles, and decided what to put where. One of the last documents we came across was an essay Cory wrote for one of her Education Classes, based on 'My Holy Place". I knew I had read this shortly after she died, but had forgotten about it. Her "Holy" Place was not a church, not a building, but a place where both had played growing up. Dunvegan! I hadn't really thought about it as a "Holy Place", but it is a place so close to my heart. Not only did we play on the hills and valleys growing up, but I also worked at the Historic Site for two summers while I was at university.

There is definitely something special about the hills of Dunvegan. Over the years when I have driven home, I get antsy as soon as the bridge comes into view. As I drive down the south side of the hill, the anticipation grows; yes! I'm home!!!!! The bridge and valley peeks into my view as the road curves east to west, getting my closer....there it is! Down over the bridge and start the climb home up the north side of the hill....home... 15 minutes away!

I feel a connection there. I only really lived there when I worked at the site, but it's there. Why? Because my dad also grew up roaming the same hills? The years we spent as kids? I don't know, but I do find it amazing that my sister and I felt the same connection, even though we never spoke about it. When I reread her essay with my mom, I told mom that I had the same feeling. I think she was amazed, but then just smiled at me...another connection I have with my little sister! It warms my heart to know we had that in common, perhaps someday we'll have the chance to share our memories together once again.

Bella, Bella, Bella!

Last weekend was Valentine's Day...I wasn't home. However, I was able to share a lovely Valentine's Day supper with my mom; probably the first ever since I was in high school.

I arrived home late Monday night, and was told not to plan supper for the next night! I was thrilled with this plan! My lovely husband had pawned our children off with a fabulous friend; and he and I had a few hours alone. After being gone for 5 days, it was a great opportunity to sit down and have a good "Catch up" with Dear hubby!

Supper had been picked up from "Supper Essentials" here in the city; a fabulous meal with full instructions as to how to prepare and even when to serve. It was a wonderful menu of shrimp for an appetizer, then onto wild mushroom soup; followed by an entre of steak, potatoes alfredo, and asparagus wrapped with bacon, then culminating with yummy brownies and chocolate sauce. Yum! To top it all off, hubby had picked up a very fine red wine!

I attacked the wine with gusto....yum (have I said that already?), as he proceeded to prepare the delicious meal with the agreement that I would clean up. I could deal with that! I proceeded to sit down at the computer desk to check some emails, play a little on facebook! The phone rings....it's the kids reminding their dad to turn off the tv (there was a hockey game on)....as the kids are talking to their dad, he wandered out of the kitchen to check out the game on tv! LOL As he wandered away....dear Bella wandered in......can you see where this is going! Bella was the first to sample our supper....yes indeed, yummy steak!

Without trying to laugh too hard at my very mad husband, I found my keys and headed off to the store to replace the steak. I headed to Sobey's first; not too far from our house. Not a steak to be had; yes there was pork, shrimp, lobster, even lamb, but not one steak in the deli department.

Off to Save-On several minutes away. I did find two delectable tenderloin steaks...not cheap, but we're worth it after all the drama. While I was gone hubby had started the bar-b-que, and was in the final stages of preparing everything else. Poor hubby dear I felt so bad for him. But the steaks were wonderful, the evening together was a rare treat (no pun intended), and it was nice to have a quiet evening at home with no activities or homework to supervise.

And Bella.....she spent the rest of the evening outside, looking in with her big brown eyes!

February!

Oh my gosh, despite all my good intentions, months have gone by without any words being said. Hmm...how does that happen? Anyway, last weekend I went home for a funeral...an uncle...Uncle Marcel. What great memories I have. He was the "Old Dutch" guy...yes, when I was a kid, Uncle Marcel sold Old Dutch, and of course, you know what that meant; as kids we couldn't wait to go and visit! We rarely had chips in our house, but oooohhhh to go to Uncle Marcel's and Auntie Marg's that was a treat!

I hadn't seen Uncle Marcel in a few years, and somehow that's okay as I know life gets busy and as our families get larger it's harder to get together. The memories are still there and strong, he was such a kindhearted man who gave the best hugs! I will never forget the day I brought Robert home to meet mom's family! Now, you need to realize this is a huge family with 7 brothers and sisters...aunts and uncles are plentiful! Whenever a grandchild brought a I knew in a heartbeat that Uncle Marcel would have nothing for approval for this young man I had brought to a family event! They were both French!! I knew that for Uncle Marcel, I had picked a great guy!

The funeral was yesterday, and I have decided I really dislike funerals. I wish there was more celebration of life; make me smile; make me remember the best of the best! I feel so much for my cousins, they are hurting and there's nothing I can do that will help. Time, well, yes, everyone says time will help, and it will, but in all reality, there's still an emptiness, a void if you will that will never be filled again. My heart aches for their loss. I send them my love and blessings. Life has changed, it will be different from this moment on. I love you Uncle!

Starting again

I have been wowed by all my friends blogs, so I have decided I need to get my butt in gear and get it going again!

We had a crazy busy summer with holidaying and reno's, and I didn't get any scrappin' done, but I've vowed to get at it again!

Keep on the lookout!

Carinne's new dress