Victoria Day

Beautiful sunny day here. Breezy and a bit cool, but a perfect day to be outside.

I joked to my family that I did a triathlon this morning while they all slept. My version of a triathlon went like this:
15 minute jog, immediately followed by a...
25 minute bike ride, followed almost immediately (upon preparation of coffee, toast, yogurt and gathering of newspapers and search and find of reading glasses)by...
10 minutes in the hot tub
Ahhhh! I'm sure Dara would approve.

Once I got that out of the way, I started laundry, made breakfast and tidied up.

Carol stayed over last night - we were up late watching Moonstruck. Ev and Leah weren't impressed with the New York accents but we all loved Cher.

Carol kept me company today and helped out with the tidy up. The younger girls still aren't feeling that great. Some kind of weird bug going around.

In between hanging laundry outside on the line, Carol and I read the paper on the deck, made lunch and watched the girls in the hot tub. At 2:30 I got a call on my cell from C - up in her bedroom, needing help getting out of bed!

Her surgery was last Tuesday - she is healing beautifully, but probably overdid it last night when she had friends over for dinner, then hot tub. C was out and about with us today - got a few looks but I think people are used to seeing anything these days.

We finally managed to get cleaned up and out of the house @4:00 (!) for a visit to see Gramma and Grandpa. Some pix from our afternoon:
In our front yard waiting for the big girls

In Gramma's back yard



The drive back home was via a few old haunts - places I went with my parents oh so many years ago.

Stoney Creek Dairy (we proclaimed today to be an Eat Dessert First Day)


Then back up the mountain, along the escarpment to the Devil's Punchbowl. At least, that's what it was called when I was growing up. The Devil seems to have disappeared - probably a politically correct omission. The girls and Carol were impressed.




And finally, Leah trying to clean up the residue from her bubblegum ice cream.


Gonna go tuck in Leah, then get my stuff ready for tomorrow. C and I had beauty plans, but they will have to wait another day. Need to have an early start tomorrow. Busy day at work, and have to leave at a decent time in order to meet mom to attend the Leonard Cohen concert. Can't wait!

Last weekend, this weekend

Cheer competition:
C with her fellow captains leading the team onto the stage


Ev showing off top right:


Installing the hot tub:



Hugs goodbye to Gramma and Grandpa


Cleaning up the gardens

First day in the hot tub!


and at 11:00 tonight, we enjoyed a delicious free-form strawberry pie made by Ev

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.