happy birthday granny

And just like that summer vacation is a wrap and what a fun summer it was!



Luckily we got to wrap it up in the best possible way. Celebrating Granny's birthday with an early (and ginormous) lunch, so kids who are starting school tomorrow could get to bed early and World's Cutest Nephews that live a million miles away could get back home in reasonably good time.

I am sure all of your families are perfectly delightful, but I have the absolute best one out there. True story. Lunch was a real collaboration. Uncle Dave and I prepped and cooked. Michael barbecued, the girls occupied TWCN and Auntie Mel kept the Grannies company.

We shot an absolutely epic family picture, where everyone's smiling except one disgruntled family member. I won't be so rude as to call them out in such a public space, but everyone who looked at the shot afterwards laughed their faces off. Even the disgruntled one.

We drank a million coffees and a couple of bottles of wine. The grandkids completely charmed their Grandmother (easily done, as I am sure you can imagine). There were lawn tractor rides, after Abby was done cutting the grass of course. And an absolutely adorable gluten free cake.

It was the perfect way to celebrate the lady who..... well there are hardly words..... my Mom is just great, not perfect, but she has never done anything less than the very best for all of us and she continues to be our Mom and takes care of us in ways we don't always realize we even need. Before you even realize you need her.... there she is. Her heart is always in the right place and we are so lucky she gets to be our Mom and even better.... Granny to our kids. We love you Mom, hope you enjoyed your day xoxo

it's my favourite

This is my favourite age. I have said this very thing a million times in my Mom career. Whatever age my kids are at currently is mi favourite. I know a lot of moms get all nostalgic about the newborn stage and the baby stage and so on but I rarely have felt the desire to move time backwards. I have friends and family with babies and toddlers and I love the pictures and videos they send me, but I can often be heard remarking to Mike, glad it's them and not me because as cute as the little tyke is tossing blocks all over the living room and pretty happy with my life being virtually block tossing free. I, for sure, enjoyed while I had it though.

The newborn all swaddled up in blankets with nothing on the agenda, but sleeping and eating. Super fun. The baby in the jolly jumper, the crawling, cruising, learning to walk. Pretty epic. Four year olds who come home from school with stories about friends you've never met and shaky over sized printing. So much fun! I loved it. It was my favourite stage, while we were in that stage and it still remains true today.



The 13 year old with the cellphone that texts me things so funny and random that I have to take a screen shot and send it to my friend TC. Who suggests shows we can binge watch together like Once Upon a Time. Who is quick witted and responsible and can make her own breakfast. Who runs with me and makes me listen to cool music. Yep, 13 is definitely my favourite age.

Then we have the 9 year old, who may be the most literal almost 4th grader you've ever met. The one who after overhearing her Dad joke that he "drove a Dodge Stratus" said um, excuse me, but he drives a Ford Freestyle. (if you get the Dodge Stratus reference we can totally be best friends). Who puts away her own laundry (in a kinda, sorta, good enough way). Who can pour her own cereal and put her own waffles in the toaster. Who likes to watch Frozen and eat popcorn. Yep, 9 is most definitely my favourite age.

my running buddy

It's no secret that I've been on the look out for a running partner, pretty much since I started running. I know lots of people that run, but finding the ideal running partner is not as easy as it may seem because there are a lot of factors at play. I have running friends who I have to rule out because of speed or stride or geography and then finally someone approached me. They wanted to start running, would I do the couch to 5k with them? I couldn't say yes fast enough.

She is my perfect match in stride and speed. Well actually she's a titch faster than me which makes me faster, so win win win. This afternoon we wrapped up the first week of running and she's totally in love with it. Which yay for me and her!!

Since she's just starting out I've loaned her some of my running gear, old race shirts, a pair of compression capris and such, but what she needed was new running shoes.

And here's where I take a moment to tell you how fabulous my brother is. Those who know me know I think the absolute world of him. He's been tremendously encouraging to me since I began running, sending me a care package of technical t-shirts and socks to get me going way back in the early days before I had any kind of running paraphernalia. He really is the best brother ever.

So today a box arrived that contained a beautiful new pair of running shoes to help out and more importantly encourage my new running buddy....



because he is also the best Uncle ever.

And yes The Abster is my new running buddy. It's still early days, but for the moment she is loving it. The pretty new Pearl Izumis are helping to seal the deal, for sure, but it's also a great time for us to be doing this. We head out for a run and it's just the two of us. No distractions, no Dads, no little sisters, just time for her and I. And that's good. So if your friends with Abby on facebook feel free to shoot some encouraging words her way as we work our way through the next seven weeks of the program. So proud of that kid.

mmm mmm good?

This story is based on actual real life events.

I bought a new purse recently. It's a rather large tote style that all the fashionistas seem to be carrying and it's a beautiful buttery yellow. I bought it online at Zulily, which if you haven't heard is my new favouritest website. I actually just bought Maya a Christmas present from there last week. Yes a Christmas present. I hope we can still be friends.

Anyway the purse arrived and then I thought, hmmmm that is way larger than I was envisioning. And wow that is pretty yellow. Like yellow yellow. I kept asking Abby if I could get away with carrying such a bag and she assured me I could, but she's twelve so what does she know. So the purse sat in the closet while I dithered about it.


 
Last week there was a coffee date with Auntie KK, also known as Anastasia Beaverhausen at our local Starbucks. If I wasn't capable of keeping secrets this would be the point where I tell you that Auntie KK has to order for Michael at Starbys because the thought of ordering a coffee there scares the pants off of him, but I'm an excellent secret keeper, so..... oh wait......

Anyway, we're in line and Auntie KK is telling Mike exactly what to say to the barista, so he'll be able to exchange money for a frappacino when the lady behind Auntie KK says and I swear to God this is true...

Excuse me, but where did you get that delicious bag?

And so begins a conversation about where Auntie KK purchased her purse... it is a fossil bag she purchased as a Christmas present to herself and she lurves it, by the by.

Over coffee I tell Auntie KK about my recent purse purchase at which point she stops me to say only old ladies still call them purses, what I bought was a new bag. So I tell her all about my new bag and my fear about actually using it because clearly if the last five minutes in line at the local starbucks have taught me anything it is that she is an expert on bags. I texted her the above picture after our coffee date and her text back was OMG I love it!!!! So I switched my stuff over and started carrying it right away. It's been almost a week and I've received five compliments on it, nobody has told me it is delicious yet, but I'm remaining hopeful for that Holy Grail of bag compliments.

the pancake king

It began well over a year ago. Whenever the kids slept at Poppa's he'd make them pancakes in the morning and they'd tell him he made the best pancakes in the entire world. Whenever the Kids slept at Granny's she'd make them pancakes in the morning and they'd tell her the same thing. So Granny and Poppa enjoyed a little friendly trash talking back and forth until they finally decided to settle it once and for all with a pancake cook off on Pancake Tuesday.... obviously. Last year ended in a tie with Poppa winning best decorated pancake and Granny winning best no frill pancake. We all had so much fun that the kids decided we needed to make it an annual event.

This year Poppa and I went head to head in the cook off and just like the Apples to Apples debacle of Family Day 2014...... well I don't want to come out and say he cheated, but I got the impression that the judges were strongly influenced.



Yes, Poppa is the 2014 Pancake King, but I, as runner up, will fulfill his duties should he have to leave office before his term is over. The girls took turns throwing a pity vote my way, so at least I didn't get completely shut out. And in happier news I never have to make Uncle G-Mac cookies again.

Actually in really truly happier news, the entire night was a laugh fest from beginning to end. On top of being pancake day it was also Mike's birthday, so we had cake and we sang and we told a million stories and stuffed ourselves silly. There isn't a better way to spend an evening!

And now I'll spend the next 364 days working on my pancake recipe so I can attempt to dethrone the Pancake King in 2015. Wish me luck.

ricky

How can it possibly be twenty years since I've seen your face? Miss you every day. xo

to the bay

The Around the Bay road race is as old as the hills. Older then the Boston Marathon, even. I wasn't crazy enough to run the 30k around the bay, but I did feel confident enough to tackle the 5k to the bay and back. Spoiler alert....... I was over confident. You see it's been a kind of miserable winter here. A miserable never ending winter. It's been too icy or just too darn frigid for running outside. I gave the ole college try a time or three, but it really was hard getting out there. So treadmill running it's been. I read recently in my running magazine that you can't really train for a road race on a treadmill and I am here to tell you they are 100% right. Gosh my legs are sore today!

So I wasn't at my best. I have a bit of a cold, but even still yesterday was pretty much dipped in awesome sauce. It's been a few months since I ran a race and just before I found myself wondering why I was even running it. I'm not competitive by nature, I have no chance of winning... why was I running a race?



Then I got there. Got all bibbed up....



and I remembered, because it's freakin' amazing. Yes it is. It's fun, so much fun. I mean you're surrounded by thousands of people that share the same love so there's a little bit of a party atmosphere. Then you're off and the crowd thins out and suddenly I'm just running with one of my most favouritest people in this world. I always run alone, which I love as well. Gives me time to clear my mind, recharge and come back ready to take on the homework, dinner, tidy up, refereeing arguments and all that fun stuff, but it's pretty darn fun to run with Kim. Usually she insists I go ahead and not let her hold me back, but I was not at the top of my game and she pushed me right through to the end, which I greatly appreciated.



That's her right there telling me... you can do it, don't stop running now, we're almost finished.... and so on. She's awesome! Although I may have not believed her right at that moment because my lungs were on fire. Damn cold! It's not even a really bad cold, but boy could I feel it when I was running.



But I did make it to the end. You should see the event pictures from the finish line.... Kim looks happy and great and I look like I'm going to die! I think I might buy a copy of it.



I will never tire and I will never be unemotional about seeing my family at the finish line. I hope they know how much it means to me that they take the time out to be there. I truly love it. And not just because they bring me flowers :) On an unrelated note... look how tall my kid is. When the heck did this happen? This growing up shit has to stop!

So the stats... well we ran it in 44:21.... six minutes slower than my best time. I finished 1651 out of 2100+ runners. 968 out of 1342 women. and 111 out of 149 in my age class. More importantly I was out there and that's a win right there. Where do I sign up for the next one.

Also.....



I have the best family ever. This is the card that was with my flowers. Year of AWESOME for sure! Love that they get me!

santa shuffle

You guys!! Today was awesome. I mean I kind of had a feeling it was going to be awesome, but then it was even more awesome then I was anticipating. My life is pretty great and I have some very special people in it. I am so incredibly lucky.

My sweet cousin/dear friend Kim, who I did my last race with was planning on running in the Santa Shuffle, so I decided to join her. Then I convinced my SIL, KK, to join me as well. Then Abby got a hold of the idea and decided she'd like to try the 1K, but not by herself,  a quick phone call to ML remedied that problem and ML was joining us too.



Don't you love the snow? It actually ended up being a beautiful day for a run, but it was a little slippy getting out of the parking lot. Oh and guess who forget she had vents in the bottoms of her running shoes until she ran through the slush and soaked her feet... yep, this chick.



If you know ML, you know she never does anything by little bits. A quick trip to the dollar store had them outfitted in Elf appropriate garb. Oh and she made them a play list full of One Direction and Christmas music. She's a keeper that one!



This race was pretty low key compared to the other two races I've been in. So low key, that I actually missed the start of the Elf Walk, even though I was standing right there, hopping around trying to warm up. I didn't miss the finish though. ML & Abby crossed the line 4th & 5th.



And got the medals to prove it!



This little chick was a great cheerleader, but she was also pretty pissed at me. It never occurred to me that she would want to walk in the 1k, so I told her a little fib and said she need to be 7 to participate. You know what happened next, right? The kid that crossed the finish line third was about 3 and yes, Maya noticed. Oops. I made it up to her, by letting her have the Lindt advent calendar that came in my race package. I may have shed a little tear over that one.

Then it was our turn. This was KK's first race. She runs her 5k a couple minutes faster than me on a normal, so I told her not to let me hold her up, the same as Kim had told me. We all started together, but then KK was gone like a shot. I ran half the race looking at her back, but then she turned it on and I didn't see her again until the finish line.... and she was so nervous about it. She's a total rockstar that one!



She finished 10 minutes faster than her best time! Ten! So proud of that chick!!



When I rounded that last corner.... oh my. There they were... my family, at the finish line, cheering me on. I don't know that I will ever not be emotional at that moment. There is nobody in the world richer then me right then and I know. I so know it.

This wasn't a chipped race, but they did have a guy at the finish line telling you your time as you crossed the line. I crossed the finish line and headed towards my peeps and the guy said 38:14. I may have stopped turned and screeched at him... WHAT?! Then I turned back to Mike and said, did he just say 38?! He did! Holy shit. My previous best time was 43:59. I beat my best time by 5 minutes! I still can't believe it.



Then it was time for medals and another picture or two because, wow, we all accomplished something really special!

another year

So our basement flooded this week. Not too much, but enough. Luckily Mike's Dad is the best Dad ever. Mike called him incredibly early in the morning and he had it all fixed up before we got home from work. He's pretty amazing like that. Love him.

Also from the list of things I could do without... "that day". The one that passes quietly with little mention. The one that marks that yet another year has passed since I last saw my own Dad. This year Abby is the same age Dave was when it happened. Mike asked me not long ago when I would tell the kids what actually happened and I didn't really have an answer, but I didn't feel like the time was now and yet some how my Mom had to tell us.

What do these two events have in common, well on the outset, nothing, but it's just one more reminder that he's not here. My Dad was a handy guy, mechanically inclined and helpful. A broken sump pump? He could have handled that. I could have called him incredibly early in the morning and said, hey Dad the basement is slowly filling up with water, could you help us out? But I don't get to.

Recently my Mom gave Abby an earring tree that my Dad had given her many many years ago. Abby was thrilled to have it. We brought it home and she stood in the kitchen cradling it in both hands. We talked about the Grandpa she'd never meet and one point she looked at me and said, Mom, I would have called him Papa and then she cocked her head to one side.... Would he have liked that? Yes, he would have.Very much. 

Those conversations are tough. It's heart breaking for me to think he'll be nothing more than a decades old photograph to my kids. I wish very much that wasn't the reality, but it is, so we make it work. I feel I've made my peace with it, but there are times it all creeps up on me. I don't dwell on it for long, but allow the moment and appreciate how lucky my kids are that Mike's Dad is Papa enough for two.

birthday dinner

While yesterday was Mom's official birthday, today we gathered the whole damn gang together to eat some grilled meats, salad, pretty purple potatoes and, of course, birthday cake. We're always happy when Uncle Dave and Auntie Mel are able to join us for family celebrations. Of course we always wish they could stay longer. Today was just a short one day type of visit, but a little visit is always infinitely better than no visit at all.



Even better Uncle Dave did all the bbqing because he's awesome like that. They also brought the most delicious sausage (maple bacon!!!)  with them. It's so good it's almost worth moving up north for. Almost. Most likely we'll stay down here and have them bring it to us. Yep, that works.



It wasn't a fancy night, by any stretch of the imagination, but perfect none the less.



Granny was suitably loved on and she had happy birthday sung to her twice because Maya missed the first time around.She got caught up in a game of fetch with Adelaide, you know how it goes.



Happy birthday again Mom. Love you!

race

Did I mention that Uncle Dave and Auntie Mel were back this weekend for another visit? We've been very very lucky this month, they've been in the hood three times!!




Uncle Dave was racing on Sunday afternoon, so they came down a day early which was a bonus.




That's Uncle Dave in his race gear in the center of the picture. Blue, black and red jersey with the tatted up arm.




So Uncle Dave biked his guts out while we sat in the grass and waiting for him to whip past us every 10 minutes or so. There may have been some snacking, some knitting, some ipoding and some reading during the nine minutes and fifty-fives seconds he was out of our sight.




We cheered and clapped and encouraged, but it just wasn't Uncle Dave's day, he rolled across the line 22nd. Although his teammate, The Archbishop, scored a spot on the podium by coming in third.







So the great news is we got to hang with The Hipsters, the not so great news.... I think that was the last race Dave's going to be in in these parts for the year. Boo!

blinked

0.002 seconds with my brother. That's what I got this weekend. Heck it may have been shorter than that. How is that possible, you ask?

Well Uncle Dave is a cyclist. A pretty hardcore cyclist and this past weekend he was in town to ride in the Paris to Ancaster race. This is not the type of bike riding Uncle Dave typically does. He usually sticks to the road, but some of his cycling club were riding in it and he thought it would be fun.

What is the Paris to Ancaster race? It's a 60km race over some pretty tough trails, farmland and roadways. You can watch a condensed version of the race here.

Mike got to hang with him and a couple of his buddies for a bit longer. He helped out getting them to the start line so they could leave their car at the finish line. He's good people like that.

The cool thing about this race is it cuts right through my backyard.... more or less.




That's the Abster just before the bikes started whizzing by. We had our eyes peeled watching for Uncle Dave, but the rain that morning ensured that everyone was covered in mud and all kind of looking alike.

We cheered on hundreds and hundreds of riders and it really was my pleasure to do so. If all this running has taught me anything.... a little encouragement goes a very long way. We got lots and lots of thank yous, smiles, head nods, and finger points for our support. Lots of them asked how much further and one guy asked we had any vodka. And then finally we saw him. Or rather, he saw us and called out HEY! By the time we realized it was him, he was here....




The guy at the back with red stripe.

After our 0.002 seconds with Uncle Dave, Granny and Abby went down to the finish line, where Uncle Dave was looking for a hug.




But this was as close as she was willing to get..




So at the end of the day Uncle Dave came in 204th overall out of 1307 riders and 57th out of 284 riders in his age group. Nicely done Daver.

best day ever again

My grandparents brought their children to Canada from Guernsey when my Dad was just a baby. Guernsey, for those who don't know, is a little island in the English Channel between England and France. It's also the setting for the excellent novel, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, such a great read. If you haven't read it yet, I suggest you pick it up pronto.

Anyway back to the post at hand. When I was a kid my grandparents belongs to a Channel Islands Social Club, as did my parents and various Aunts and Uncles. We attended lots of picnics with that club in parks around the area. Since such a big chunk of my extended family belonged to this club, us kids logged many hours playing with first cousins and second cousins and visiting with great aunts and uncles. It remains one of my greatest childhood memories.

That's why I was thrilled to spend the day doing the 2011 version of just that. We packed up some eats and spent the day at a local conservation park. Where there are plenty of tall trees offering shade so we could sit and visit. A great lake that the kids were in an out of all day. And a whole mess of aunts, uncles, cousins and grand parents to play with.



The kids, of course, declared this the best day ever! Little MyPie put another million miles on those water wings as she doggy paddled after Abby and the bigger kids all day. She crashed for 12+ hours when I got her into bed.



The Abster, my little fish, spent more time under the water than she did on top of it. My entire day was spent watching where she went under and trying to predict where she would come up.



Luckily we had Grandma there for an extra pair of eyes and hands with all the little ones in the water.



I think I too have to declare this one of the best days ever! I hope I give my girls many more of these! My only regret is I didn't take more pictures, but I was too busy swimming.

And for Allison because she called me a "badass" which I loved because I am so the opposite of that. A very scary in the lake, swimming hair, no make-up picture of my nose piercing.



The stud didn't photograph all that well, but it is a sparkly purple stone.

best day ever

The girls dubbed Saturday the "best day ever!"

All thanks to Granny of course who had the great idea to spend the afternoon at a local campground. She packed up a little picnic lunch, grabbed some blankets, shovels and pails and we were off.



I hadn't been out there in years and I really don't know why we don't go more often. The water doesn't get too deep too fast and there lots of shade to be found under the large trees near the water.



Maya loved digging around in the sand and once I remembered we had water wings in her swim bag she was dog paddling around behind her sister trying as hard as she could to keep up.



Abby who is very likely half mermaid spent hours and hours in the water swimming here and there and then back again.



Thanks Mom for a fantastic day... how could I tell it was a fantastic day? Well we came home water logged, exhausted, not sun burned and with butter tarts! So yeah... best day ever. Hope to do it again soon.

38

Contrary to Maya's belief I did turn 38 on my last birthday. Wow! When you say it out loud it's really kind of surprising. I'm not one that gets bothered by my age. I don't feel 38... I guess. I'm not sure. I've never been 38 before. Maybe this is what it feels like.

I like 38. I like it a lot. Life is crazy and full and busy and so much fun. Personally, spiritually, emotionally I feel the best I've ever felt. That's not to say that the years prior to 38 were anything to sneeze at.... it's just more.

I was thinking the other day about being 38, thinking that when I was a kid 38 seemed so old. My parents seemed so old. Then I realized that my Dad never got the chance to see 38. Then being 38 felt weird. I'm older than my parent. Weird. And a tad unsettling if you think about it.

And when I say old I don't mean ancient. I mean grown up. Together. They seemed to have it all together. Well clearly we know my Dad didn't have it all together, but my Mom sure did. The one who got left behind to pick up the pieces. To put us back together again. I've said many times in this very space how I think she's amazing for holding us together like she did. I admire and respect her for that more than I could put into words. I owe this awesomeness that is 38 to her.

Recently I had to be a grown up. I told Mike I didn't feel like a grown up and he didn't feel like a grown up either, but we had each other as we muddled our way through. My mind kept going back to my Mom, younger than I am now and newly on her own trying to figure out how to be a grown up on her own because I imagine she didn't feel any different than I did. I have to assume that what looked like being grown up and together was really just getting by on a wing and a prayer. It's always an interesting experience when you get a huge dose of perspective isn't it? Thanks a trillion Mom.

happy birthday jmn

Last night was party time here at the blogmother ranch... which is not a ranch in any stretch of the imagination, but we like to live with illusions of grandeur. So last night was Jammie Movie Night, but a very special JMN... it was JMN's second birthday. Yep, for two years now my best girls have been meeting in my living room in their jammies to drink punch, eat junk and watch a movie.

The birth of JMN was a total accident. It started with an invitation to the movies which I didn't realize was an invitation to the movies because the words - hey would you like to go to the movies with me on Saturday were never actually uttered. So there was that mix up which led to plans to actually watch a movie at my house at which point I said... don't be alarmed, but when you show up I'll likely be in my jammies because y'all know I love my jammies. And it just sort of snowballed from there.

I was kind of surprised when I realized it had been two years since our first official JMN in which we watched Sex and the City. Doesn't seem like it's been that long. It's truly one of the best things I have given myself. I am so happy I get to call these ladies, some of my best girls, my Jersey Girls friends. I love that we have all promised ourselves one night a month when we get to take off our Mom hats, slip into our favourite comfort wear and watch a fun movie with a side order of catching up and connecting.... oh and killer punch.

I could go on and on about how JMN is good for my soul or how even my girls can tell it's an important evening for me or more increasingly sappy reasons it's the best thing ever, but I think you get the picture. I have said before that I hope one day the local paper is covering JMN's 50th anniversary as a human interest story...... 2 years down 48 to go.

Thanks ladies.

thank you

There is nothing like facebook for making you feel the love. I usually reserve that statement for the day after my birthday and all the facebook birthday love I get, but I was so very touched by all the lovely and sweet comments people left after we posted Abby's great news. Also lovely, all the lovely words from my bloggy peeps. Folks who know us only via the interwebs, thanks for being excited and happy and weepy with me. I'm so incredibly touched.

This morning at church Abby's arm shot in the arm when our new Minister asked if anybody had any celebrations. I'm celebrating that my heart has no more holes, she announced as she dropped her change in the celebration bank. The rest of the congregation applauded and this very happy Momma got all weepy once again. Who am I kidding.... I'm getting weepy right now just thinking about it all. It was just a lovely moment.

I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge all the love and good thoughts that have been sent our way the past few days. I have read and re-read all the comments and we are just touched beyond belief. A big thank you to each and every one of you... and hugs. I've got hugs too. I hope you can all feel them. xo

girls day

Today was the big day.... Girl's Day. I think this is a five year old tradition. Every year for March Break Grandma Linda gets us tickets to see Disney on Ice. We did skip one year and saw the Backyardigans Live instead because the show that year was High School Musical and Abby was too young for that to even be on her radar.



Once again we kept it a secret from the girls. Only saying it was time to have a girl's day. If you've been hanging around here for a while, then you know that Abby is always completely oblivious to where we are going, even when the evidence is right in her face. We were wondering though, if this would be the year that she figured it out before we got there. She had mentioned Disney on Ice a couple of time the past week, wanting me to find out when it was coming back.



So, was this it? Was this the year? Almost. It finally all came together as we lined up outside the arena to go in. Usually we get her all the way into the venue and even then we have to tell her why she's there. She thought we were going to see Gnomeo and Juliet, so she was bummed for about 60 seconds, but then.....



the show started.



And there were Disney celebs to wave too....



and Disney Villians to dispense of. You accomplish that by yelling BOO!, by the way.



We had really great seats, right at the corner of the ice. So we had lots of close up peeks at the skaters.



The light up souvenirs, that was what I thought might tip Abby off because we brought last year's toys with us. Maya's fit in my purse, but Abby got a big wand, so we had to carry it in. When Abby asked me why we had it I told her in case it was too dark in the theater and she bought it.



Why did we bring last year's toys? Well consider this a blogmother PSA - if you bring last year's model in you can exchange it straight up for this year's model. So today we handed back the wand and the heart in a globe toys Grandma Linda bought them last year and got brand new Minnie spinny light up thingys instead. Did you have any idea you could do that? I didn't until the guy who sold them to us last year mentioned it. I'd never heard of that before so I tried googling it and nothing comes up on the internet about it that I could find, but it's true. We ended up having to pay $2 because Abby's wand was $2 cheaper, but Maya's was a straight trade and it will be a straight trade next year if we go and take them back. Now don't you wish somebody had told you that?



Another fantastic girls day. Even if I was feeling way less than stellar. Nothing perks me up more than seeing my girls having the time of their lives. I'm not quite sure who enjoys Disney on Ice more... me or them or Grandma Linda. Hands down one of my favourite days of the year.