You might be a redneck if...

You were at the Saddledome tonight! We went and saw Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall. It was quite entertaining, we saw Jeff Foxworthy last summer.. or maybe it was 2 summers ago... anywho, he was good, but I really enjoyed all three of them, especially at the end when they all were on stage and feeding off of each other.

It was fun to be out on a date with Nick... we used to go on dates ALL THE TIME.. but since I got pregnant and have been super sick, that's kinda fizzled. We went out for a really rushed dinner before hand, and then after the show, we just talked on the way home, and it was nice... we talked about old relationships (random, I know) and about our datingness (like that word? I was gonna use "courtship" but is just sounds so formal..). It was fun to just sit and chat, I mean we talk all the time, but tonight, it was different, and I liked it. I really love him and am so grateful for him in my life.

Tonight was a good, fun night! =)

And the Saga Continues (Part 3)

Sorry this is being dragged out so long but life is crazy and kids have needs! So back to the story....

So we get into the major city and capital (Kingstown, also where my dad and his family grew up) and it reminds me very much of New York! There are street vendors everywhere -a very large marketplace- and half of them are selling bootlegged movies and music! Disney's Princess and the Frog was being pushed quite heavily when they saw Liv lol. It was like I'd said in the first post, such a different world. I loved that you had to interact with people in every setting. Walking down the street there's street vendors, and I love that they're not pushy. St.Vincent isn't uber touristy yet so 90% of the people who go through the markets are locals. So through the markets, you interact with people, at the grocery stores, there's at least 3 or 4 people at the checkouts working the cash, bagging, helping you to your car... I loved it! In Canada I usually favor self-checkouts and ATMS (usually drive-through) but it was so nice to feel so connected to so many people... it reminds you that people are people and I just really enjoyed it! So back to the markets, there was fruit of all kinds, there's a fish market by the harbour (I stayed away) and then you can buy clothes and stuff (all really highly priced and clearly from the states). I think the majority of people there do their shopping in a mixture, purchasing from people on the streets and in the grocery stores.

Market

So we decided to visit family first and then get our groceries before heading back to the guest house. We met up with my mom's cousin at the bank (love that they had ATMS that accepted our cards! We just withdrew and got out some Eastern Caribbean money or EC$ which looked a fair bit like Canadian $... maybe it's 'cause they're a part of the British Commonwealth as well so the Queen was on their moola too.). So my mom's cousin, Calvin was one of the only people I remembered 'cause he had just moved back to the Caribbean from New York and I remember visiting him in the States. So I think he had a busy day that do so we talked for a little bit and then we were off to my Grandpa's.

EC$

So my Grandpa is my Dad's father (my mom's dad died shortly after I was born) and my parents are divorced, but my mom is soo sweet. She gets along really well with my dad's family and she's the one who called and made arrangements to meet up with all of his relatives. Anywho, so it was wonderful to see my Grandpa, he has Glaucoma as does the majority of my dad's side and can hardly see, so it was soo nice to have him be with my children and meet them. He hasn't seen me since I was just a year or two older than Liv, He has pictures from my Dad, but I brought a large photo album with pictures of my family from the birth of Liv till now... don't think I put wedding ones in... but maybe.. can't remember. Anywho, we brought some gifts for him and my aunt Rosie lives with him and takes care of him, but she was working that day so we had a nice visit just with him. The kids just loved him! They sat on his lap and gave him tons of hugs and kisses... it was soo sweet! He happens to be their only great grandfather that's alive now and it was just so wonderful to see them together.... my family!

Grandpa & the Kids

After we visited with my Grandpa, we went back to the market, got the food we needed and then took another van-cab back to Layou (the town where the guest house was and where my mom and Grandma grew up).

So, the guest house wasn't anything extraordinarily beautiful, but it was perfect! It's kinda set up like a motel, each room has 2 double beds, a bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink, a wardrobe to hang clothes in and a TV (only one channel). Our room also had a mini-fridge which was awesome for us 'cause Nixon pounded through a LOT of milk! Our room also adjoined to another room which we had the kids in. So there was about 10 or 12 rooms and then on the main floor, there was a big kitchen with a little rec-room typed thing attached. So we had a fridge and stove and cooked a bunch of our meals, it was really nice not to have to eat out 3 x a day for 2 weeks!

The Guest House


Liv eating in the rec area, my mom cooking in the kitchen, Nixon sitting on the step

One of my favourite things about St.Vincent was how much fruit there was and how green it was! At the base of the guesthouse there was a fairly large open green space with a couple of mango trees, and some orange trees and some lime trees and a fruit called sugar apple, Papaya and Coconut... among some pretty flowers and plants! It was soo neat to see so much that you can use and live off of. When I got home, it seemed like such a waste that we have all these ornamental trees that pretty much don't do anything. Anywho, I just loved how simple it was... we wanted limeade... so we picked some limes and made some juice... we wanted a mango, we went and picked one! I was beginning to think I could live here happily ever after lol... I really didn't miss home at all... just my friends and family!

Some of the Fruits & Flowers that were at the guesthouse

A Day Of Rememberance

So today we took our kids to the war museum here in Calgary in honor of remembrance day. We taught them about the poppy and about their great grandpas who fought in the war. It was such a wonderful experience and the ceremony made me tear up. I am so grateful for those brave men who fought in those wars and their wonderful wives who supported them, and for all they gave up for their country and for our freedoms... some even their lives. I am grateful for those brave men and women who are fighting today, for their efforts in trying to make a difference. I love this country and am so proud to be called a Canadian. I feel so blessed to have been born and raised in such a free and peaceful country and love our American neighbors and in my case, family members and friends, and all they do as well to make this world a better and safer place. I can't imagine sending my son or husband away not knowing if they will come back or what will happen, but am so grateful for the strength and faith those men and women had then and so many still have today. Below are some pictures of Nick's Grandpa Bridge (look like someone you know?) He was a veteran and a wonderful man, and along with Nick's Grandpa Larsen who was also a veteran and amazing man, we are remembering them today.
Lest we forget.

Thoughts...

So I find myself on a friday evening reclining while watching Liar Liar with my laptop and a pint of Haagen Dazs Mayan Chocolate ice cream. Nixon's asleep, Liv's at her cousins for a sleepover and Nick's somewhere on the road between here and Edmonton returning from a business meeting. Now what do I do? I look around me and see my basement covered in food, toys and playdough, yet the urge to clean does not seem to manifest, no matter how much I say "I should...". I am quite behind with work and know that more is coming in the week, but still.... no urges. So, I do something that I frequently neglect and haven't done in some time... I blog. Now, what to blog about? Well, you've all seen my new blog design by now, and Yes, I do blogs as well as all that other stuff. I really love the way my blog turned out, it feels very.. ME! But this isn't my business blog, so enough about that. Lately I've been full of gratitude. I feel like I have so much and don't really deserve it. We have a beautiful home, a vehicle I LOVE, two happy, healthy children, a happy home, an amazing husband who is just so good to me despite my clear insanity and my amazing friends. I think that if I had to pick the 2 things that I was the most grateful for this year, it would be the gospel (even though I'm really not the best at living it to my fullest, but that's what progression is for right?) and for the people I have around me, both friends and family. My two closest friends, Kelly & Bree have been so good to me, they really are both just amazing women and I'm so happy to have them in my life, especially over this last year. I have so many other wonderful friends and really miss my close ones from Winnipeg & from childhood. As I reflect, I realize that this year has been an especially tough one. Despite my many blessings, I have had a rough time, figguring out post-partum depression that seemed to fester into I don't know what; stresses of managing a home, a business, partnering with some amazing women for another business, the guilt of my businesses, being a good mommy, wifey and friend and who knows what else! But looking back, all I can say is that I survived! And that survival was in large part to my best friends. They made me smile and talked me through a whole lot of issues, they took my kids, they threw parties, they let me vent, stress and cry. But most importantly, they let me just be me, and didn't judge me one bit for doing so. To them I am unbelievably and forever grateful. I know the Lord had a special plan when he put those women in my path, they are exactly what I need and combined with my wonderful Husband, they keep me going. I love them, I love Nick, I love my sweet little babies and I am truly grateful for the peace and joy I have been feeling recently.

You might be a redneck if...

(this one I took...)

For Nick's birthday, I bought him tickets to see Jeff Foxworthy. Kelly & Weston came with and it was a good time! Jeff was so funny! We had the absolute worst seats in the house though, completed with sitting next to THAT PERSON! You know that person... the one who laughs entirely too loud at the jokes that should only warrant a chuckle, that person that while he laughs even harder at the jokes that should warrant a regular laugh keels over and hits your leg (as if you didn't hear the joke too). And, according to Kelly who had the misfortune of sitting directly beside him, that person who smells like soup... and not the good kind! Despite THAT PERSON, it was an awesome evening that included a story about a guy getting his nipple bitten off by a beaver, many stories about his book signings at Walmart and the encounters with many rednecks there, a very well supported theory on age and size appropriate clothing (if you are over 15, you should NOT have "juicy" written on your bum...) and of course, ending off with his signature "You might be a redneck if..." jokes. It was a good time!

The Love of My Life

So I wanted to pay a little tribute to Nick, I have been blogging (inconsistently) for a while now, but I really haven't blogged a whole ton about my husband. Recently, I became even more aware of how special our relationship is, and how lucky we are to have each other. But mostly, how lucky I am to have him! Nick is a wonderful man, he's so selfless and kind, and is always trying to do whatever he can to keep his (unstable) wife happy. He holds his friends in such a high regard, as close as family. He reminds me of what it was like back in the day when your word meant everything and deals were made on an oath and a handshake! He really is just this amazing man that I know the lord put into my path! We all have our ups and downs, but he seems to always be able to see the bigger picture, and isn't afraid to apologize or make things right. I love this man with all of my heart! He's such a wonderful father, our kids just adore him, but I don't blame them.. I do too! He is just soo kind to me and everyone he meets. I don't think I've ever seen him be mean to anyone... Even this week.. I've been gone EVERY night this week, and during the day I've been gone or working. I did manage to get a bunch of laundry washed & dried, but the mountain of those clean clothes on top of the couch just kept multiplying and the floors were a disaster, and when I came home from a long evening out, he had folded the laundry and cleaned the kitchen! I know that to some of you that may not seem like a big deal, but I'm grateful that he does those small things for me, and that he doesn't complain either! (Not even when I leave at 6:30 and come home after midnight... he just asked me if I had fun!) I am so grateful that I get to spend eternity with him! This fall we'll be celebrating our 5th year anniversary, and I can't wait to see what the coming years have to bring! I love this man so much.. and he truly is the love of my life!