Also...

Also...

This happened..

Sonia.. you're basically Tom Sellick

- How am I going to fit everything in the car? -

That is my question. How? HOWWW?

In a few days the girls and I are going to smoosh ourselves (and all our crap) into the the jeep and take an estimated 15 hour drive across Western Canada. 

Our Route!

I'm actually excited. The kids are surprisingly good in the car and at least I won't have to do dishes....

We make our first stop in Vancouver where we get to catch up with my cousins and friends until we make our way up to Squamish for Sher and Jason's wedding! WOO!

I'm getting really excited. I'm beginning to pack...I should have started earlier..and I should be packing now. 

(Instead I've been hanging out and watching old seasons of Big Brother...)

This is the first leg of a long wedding-journey. Lots of friends to see and family to catch up with! 

I'm sure I'll have more interesting and fun blog posts soon... once I begin adventuring... but.... just keepin' y'all updated on ma life.... because you were probably wondering... or somethin....

Just remember to pray for me. Two young kids, me...bags.... in this:

My home away from home.

the man... err... girl cave

I am now the proud owner of a man-cave. Girl-cave? Whatever.

My basement used to be a place of storage and laundry...and spiders. 

Things have changed (obviously right after I had all my summer visitors. Sorry guys!).

A friend of mine started working  up north and needed a place to store some boxes, a queen size bed and (hallelujah) a TV. A big TV. A nice TV. 

All I can really say, is that I might be doing a whole lot more laundry now. 

...

I was going to write about my new (wo)man cave in the basement.. 

Instead I would like to say that I just won a contest.
I nevvvver win anything. 

The question on the station was "what was the strangest way you have ever woken up". 

When Jackie and I were little, and visiting our dad, he would wake us up by BLASTING "Man of Constant Sorrow" (from the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack) as loud as he could. 

It would shake the house. 

Oh, and when THAT wouldn't work, he would throw toilet paper rolls at us. 

Thank you dad for the story, and thank you Amp Radio for the Gabriel Iglesias tickets!!!

(for Gabriel Iglesias clips, click here)

I'm. SO, Excited

I really don't have a lot to write. 

I'm just really, REALLY excited about September and the two beautiful ladies who are the main event(s).

My amazing month starts of with, my dear friend, Sheridan's wedding.
 Sher and I met a long time ago in a mystical land called Qwanoes. We had rigid routine (which were bent), strict bed times (that were broken) and a certain rule called the '6 inch rule' that was completely ignored. 

We went on to a life of aquatics and propane 'sales'. (Hank Hill would be proud).

I can't imagine a life without her. We have had SO many laughs and ridiculous adventures.. nothing of which should be documented on the internet.. 

Basically, I love this girl. And I love the guy she is marrying. 

Sher, I love you and I wish nothing but the squarest, best and scratch-and-winniest life together. 

Sher and I /w fishbowls; en route to Lethbridge; my wedding; BBJ's; my bachelorette party

The second wedding of the season is for my little sister Jackie.

I have clearly known her for a little while.

She has been my best friend for 24 years. We have laughed together, cried together, lived together, traveled together and even shared a car...together..

(it was a firefly. it was badass)

As I was looking through photos of the two of us, I realized just how many memories I have with her. Every photo reminded me of the moment, which reminded me of another moment.

Bystead's Hill, sea-doo ing in Winnipeg, countless ferry rides, snow sculptures on mum's car, bed jumping, dark tag... we literally have a lifetime of memories together. 

You and I together will have more memories than our two marriages combined. Insane. 

I couldn't have asked for a better little sister... except for when you stole and sold my diary... or when you told my middle school peers that I was a lesbian...that was less fun. 

I love you so much Jackie Bear and I can't wait to see you walk down that aisle and marry one of the most awesome guys ever. 

Kyle, I am so excited to have you as a brother. You made my sister's world brighter and so so SO much more fun. I have never seen her so happy. I love you!

Jackie and I at Vancouver Children's Festival; as really cute toddlers; wearing ridiculous 90's clothes

Losing in Vegas; my engagement photos with jackie; photo op day with Sarah Upton; wine in Italy; my wedding; Jackie's university graduation

A Non-Chronological Account of Summer 2013

We rocked out at G&G Blenkin's house

We ate ice cream on Government Street in Victoria

We had Sonia's 4th birthday party

Calgary entered party mode

Jackie bought her wedding dress!

Kiki pushed Auntie Bear and Sonia on the new RadioFlyer

We had LOTS of cotton candy

Ciaran and I cuddled and made faces

There were Baba cuddles...

...and Baba dances

More fair food

and some of the WORST face painting known to man

We had a nice family date at an old family hangout

we rocked the fashion world

and we rocked Canada Day in Chestermere

I SERIOUSLY lucked out.

and Kiki lucked out that I had a scarf she could wear after a dip in the ocean at Dallas Road!

There was tragedy - and the amazing city-wide reaction to it.

Sonia got to see A LOT of horses

We bonded with the ocean

Kiki danced at her first concert (front row!)

Sonia and Rowan had their first kiss

Sonia was really excited about turning 4...

we stampeded

and ate lemons at Auntie Carrie's

Sonia met a moose

and Kiki gazed over the ocean

we bought a backyard park

and we celebrated Sher's bachelorette! 

We visited the petting zoo at Beacon Hill

and we visited Sitka for some juice/beer

we partied for Amy's bachelorette

and had a few naps...

Sonia DANCED HER HEART OUT to live rock music

and had the biggest lollipop of her life.

Kalyn had her first head wound at Heritage Park

Sonia touched her first snake at Uncle Daron's with her cousins!!

Auntie Shauna and I had a very traumatizing grocery shop

Sonia found a starfish

and Kiki was SO HAPPY TO BE IN THE OCEAN

AND lastly... there was LOTS AND LOTS of thumb rehab.

Welcome to the Badlands

New province. New home. New routines. New friends. New phone number. New...everything. 

All these new things make me feel the need for a new look, new feel, new direction...

 

As I was driving from Calgary to Lethbridge one weekend I realized that I live surprisingly close to 'Canada's Badlands'. I couldn't believe it. Since I spent most of my life living on the West Coast I found this really crazy. And fitting. So far it has not been super easy living out here. I don't know a lot of people and I don't have nearly the same size of support net that I had in Victoria.

The French called the badlands "les mauvaises terres a traverser" meaning "the bad lands to cross" but what they didn't know was that as they walked across these 'badlands' there were treasures underfoot. The badlands are littered with dinosaur fossils. These fossils have changed our impression of the world and it is still possible today to find evidence that could rewrite history. 

I will find the fossils beneath my feet eventually.