Va-cay!!!

The fam and I just spent a little over two weeks with friends and family, at the cottage, in the sunshine, on the water, and around the campfire. It was pure heaven. We also managed to spend a few days in Thessalon with my parents too, and additionally squeezed in the wedding celebration of a lovely couple. It was busy, yet relaxing, and I really couldn't have asked for a better two weeks (minus the broken dryer, which is a whole other blog).

16 days, three thousand kms later, and it's over... just like that!


(insert two year-old tantrum here)

Seriously, forcing my hand to turn on the alarm on Sunday night was borderline torture - it burned, bad.

Then... up and at 'em at 6am, shower, hair dryer, the whole routine... it was nothing short of depressing. However, I am thankful to have a wonderful job to return to... and we captured some many fun memories in our two weeks, that I will be awhile going through all the pics.

I almost don't have any time to reflect on this vacation as my mind is so busy concentrating on E's fast approaching first day of kindergarten.

Wrapping my mind around that is taking a bit, but I know he's ready, and I am happy that he's looking forward to it.

Not much time left to get my big boy ready for school but ... looking forward to a weekend of shopping to kick things off!


Happy upcoming labour day weekend to everyone!

 

A couple of firsts!

The last 48 hours my big boy had a couple of firsts... just another glaring reminder that he's growing up way. too. fast.

Monday afternoon, my in-laws kept H for the afternoon so that PC and I could take E to his first movie at a movie theatre.  Not an overly huge deal unless of course you're three and a half and have never been to that 'big blue building with all the lights by the bookstore'.

PC scoped out Brave in 3D as a good movie for the first experience. At first I thought it might be a little too intense, but the 3D factor was a good call. I have to say, the last time I went to a 3D movie was well... the Muppets in Disney World, circa 1992. 3D movies have come a long way in 10 years!

There was a beary scary part midway through the movie where I thought E might not like it, but he actually laughed as we reminded him its not real, and just for pretend.  It turned out to be a really fun story and he's still talking about his favorite parts to anyone who will listen.

Great first experience at the movies... the traditional non-3D movie might be a bit of a let down the next time we go, given that E hasn't take off his plastic 3D glasses since it was over!

After the movie, we hit East Side's for a signature strawberry banana float and a bit of supper for the big kids! Then early the next morning, was E's first cleaning with the dentist.  I made mistake of telling him that he didn't have to tell the dentist about all the treats he had at the movies, and that it would just be 'our little secret', and since then, everything he talks about finishes with '...but that will just be our little secret right Mommy?' #parentingfail.

He's been to the dentist once before when he was two... but just to have his teeth counted. This was his first time going through the real deal with the cleaning and polishing, and he did fabulous.  I actually think he might be more tolerant than me with having someone clean his teeth - he literally just laid back and took it all in.  The hygienist was extremely patient and E seemed to appreciate her informing him of her every move.  On top of that he got a stellar report from the dentist (Dr. André Théorêt) and was rewarded with a bouncy ball and a bag of oral care treats, complete with his very own FLOSS (might as well have been a chocolate suckers by his reaction)!

 

All in all, a great first experience at the dentist... I have my doubts that it will be this easy with H, but ya never know!

 

Glengarry Highland Games vs. Thessalon Community Weekend

The August long weekend is finally upon us, and usually for this one I am letting out a huge 'yeeee-haw' but this year, its a reserved yee-haw as I'll be in one location and my a piece of my heart will be 9 hours away, in another!

Yes... with marriage, came compromise, and the compromise for PC and I was agreeing the split the entertainment factor for August long weekend into a year on, year off type arrangement.  Its not the worst compromise I've encountered in my lifetime, but its up there!

For many years growing up and into my early adulthood, the August long weekend meant playing baseball in Thessalon, camping, spending time with family, catching up with old friends, and overall having 4 days of jam packed fun in the community that raised me.  Then I met PC and his long weekend to him meant attending the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville for 48 hours of mass  bands, caber tossing, highland dancing, Celtic music, and a whole lot of flying beers!

Both weekends are a great time... which shouldn't make it an issue, except that it does... because BOTH WEEKENDS ARE A GREAT TIME... and PC and I hate to miss out on a good time!

I have to admit in the 10 years we've been together, I think this will only be the fourth time I have missed out on community weekend in Thessalon, but its still THE FOURTH TIME I'VE MISSED OUT ON COMMUNITY WEEKEND IN THESSALON.  PC has sucked it up more times than I have and missed 'his' weekend, so that we could be at 'my' weekend... so I am really not complaining too loudly because he's not keeping score all that closely (thank god).

And don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy the Highland Games - its quite a scene, and really is well-organized and a site to see if you have never been before. Since having the boys, they do have a love for the celtic side of things too which adds a new layer of excitement each time we go. They light up at the sound of bagpipes, and I must admit I really like hearing them too.

Its family fun no matter where we are, and that's important to me, but not matter how you slice it, its still hard to be away from 'home' even if I am bound to have a good time somewhere else.

Wishing my family good luck in their baseball games this year... be safe and have fun, I am definitely there is spirit - but I'm taking my spirit to the Highland Games this weekend, and I am sure it will no doubt be entertaining!

Happy Long Weekend to each of you!