WWDD?

What would Dara do?

I know nothing about this woman except that she is 42 and has a killer body. Not surprising as she is an Olympic swimmer - and silver medalist.

Rob discovered her first in a full-length ad in USA Today - hooray for business trips. He ever so thoughtfully left the paper open to her picture the week that I decided to kick-start a new exercise regime - biking two mornings a week - to be combined with some other cardio on the weekends. I don't know why, but that picture was the push I needed to stick with this.

There are a few other motivators:
Getting out of bed to be on my bike at 6:15 a.m. is made easier knowing that a colleague is at the gym at the same time. Sharing the pain seems to keep me from hitting the snooze button more than once.
Also, I'm back playing slow-pitch and need to know that if I get a good hit I might be able to turn a double into a triple instead of wondering where the hell the piano on my back came from as I drag my butt up to first.

But it is Dara's thighs that have inspired me - I remember having legs like those. I sure as hell don't recognize the ones I have now.

So in addition to a basic 3 times a week workout, I'm also adjusting some lifestyle/eating habits. So what would Dara do? She's whispered a few things to me from the poster:

Dara would have a scotch before dinner, but decline a snack of chips. She will only eat 3 strips of bacon instead of 6 or 7. And she definitely eats only half the fries that come with the cheeseburger at lunch.

Dara drinks lots of water and remembers to stretch before and after exercise. She is a good role model for her children. Her husband is just happy to be in the same room with her.

I think that this is start of a beautiful relationship.

Catching up

Activities that have been keeping us happy and busy the past few weeks:

Hockey Championship
Leah charging into the spotlight


Leah had the largest cheering section, and played her heart out, but the team lost. We were very proud of the girls - it was a great season.


Kremer Cousin Party
I got the best dessert - Tasha's toes:


And where do we find Tanya and Lisa after dinner? Playing Rock Band with the "other" kids.


Day after Good Friday Hike
Mom hosted a brunch - it was great to see all the aunties, uncles and cousins from out of town (that includes you cousin Larry from way out in Stoney Creek - sweet Harley dude!)

Auntie and Uncles

Some of the boys:

Great turn out for this year's Good Friday Hike

Tuesday Night 10:00 p.m.

Home by 8:45. Picked up C on the way home.
Rob is away tonight for work - so the girls were on their own. C actually had to walk to work.
Ev made dinner - leftover tortellini was the plan but I spied some cans in the recycle bin so Mr. Chefboyardee may have made an appearance.
I finally made some banana muffins - only 17 black bananas left in the freezer.
The girls are all up to bed now, Leah had a bath and I tucked her into my bed. Dishes are done, sinks are clean and empty and I'm sitting here with a glass of wine, blue cheese and crackers.
Everyone has their stuff at the door as it is going to be a busy morning.
Cheerleading at 6. I have to be out of the house early as well (though not that early), so Leah is getting shipped to the neighbours when I leave. That is good news all round for Leah and the 3 girls next door - they haven't seen each other for a week.
I have to get to the passport office as soon as it opens tomorrow. I'm supposed to be flying to Washington on Thursday night - just need a passport and - well, let's just see how I do with the passport before I ask for another vacation day....
Just a few more things to do before bed:
Send an invite for the Cousin's Easter party
Find location of passport office
Try not to pour another glass of wine
Find iPod headphones that someone "borrowed"
Get my stuff ready for tomorrow
Stretch
All is good.

Last week

...was March Break. It was relaxing - which means that we didn't do much. Mostly because mom was keeping in touch with work - especially on Monday and Tuesday. However, the girls did get to a movie, had some sleepovers, spent time with Grandma and Grandpa, did some makeovers, did some shopping and made it in to the city for an afternoon. Some pix from that day:

On our way we dropped in to Dad's office - thanks for lunch!


The little girls enjoyed the subway ride -


Ev caught up with Glenn Gould -


Checking out the tribute to workers killed on the job -



Watching for falling cars on Queen Street -



Just realized that next March Break I will be working in Vancouver. Wow!
Thanks girls for putting up with workng mom. Hope you have some good memories from our time together.

Mission Den Declutter

Sunday afternoon - and here I am finally in the den where I should have been last Monday - to declutter.
Finding lots of interesting things - throwing out as much as I can, finding a place for the rest - have only scratched the surface.

i. I've unearthed lots of items of interest that belong to Leah. One is a list of text message acronyms (now posted on her bulletin board)and the other is a sheet of lyrics to Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" (also on her bulletin board).
One evening I heard her in the den playing it OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. She, like the rest of our family, is entranced by that song, and wanted to learn all the words. There she was, pen in hand, listening intently, and madly writing down each word as fast as she could. I helped her a bit, then suggested that we look up the lyrics online. That opened up a whole new world for her. We found and printed lyrics to many of her favourite songs. I'm hoping that I find her handwritten notes - those will be put away in her scrapbook. Memories of my curious, passionate child.

ii. Yippee! I am catching up on family blogs and find that cousin Kyran just published an article on decluttering. Procrastination gives way to serendipity again!

iii. More loose pictures put away. 20 plus cords stashed away (we must have at least 100 cords - I'm sure that we don't have 100 electronic devices). Of course, I still can't find the cord for Leah's camera. I want to download pix from our only March break adventure and can't! However, I did find Leah's runners, gym clothes and library book.

Break time: Leah and I are taking turns reading. Time to stop multi-tasking. The laundry, blog, clutter, lunches will just have to wait.

Fabulous Fifteen

Well, it has come to this. A fifteen year old Ev. How did we celebrate? With 15+ of our closest friends and family.
Let's see:

Sharing birthday cakes with cousin Brandon (6 on the 16th)



With mom and dad, Uncle Ron, Aunt Michelle, the Bassans & McCormacks

With Carson (modelling her grad dress) and Grandpa (Dad keeps asking- "that's a top right?")


And with big sis:


Ev got a call from the Florida Seniors Choir today - she loved that.
Happy birthday beautiful!