I spent the first Sunday afternoon in November at home cocooned on the couch with my scraggly mutt at my feet and my sweet wild child cuddled into the crook of my arm.  Ahhh, home sweet home, after spending four nights away from my family, driving across Eastern Ontario, clocking close to 900kms, those couple of hours snuggled up with my babes was total bliss.  Once they were asleep I flicked on the tv to see if there was a matinee to add to the indulgence.        Anyone remember this chick flick 90's movie with Charlize Theron and Keanu Reeves?  She's dying and decides to take in a new man every month to teach him how... More »

  My job means a bit of travel this time of year.  I have been driving east from Toronto to Ottawa this week and tonight on Halloween I am staying in Kanata, just outside Ottawa.  At home, Auntie Cat has been in charge of all things Halloween tonight.  My parents dropped Roman off this morning at daycare in his bumble bee custome for a day of kiddie Halloween fun.  Cat picked him up and they headed out with our neighbourhood friends for trick or treating with the tots.  I was tempted to buy a mega sized bag of fun sized chocolate and hiding in... More »

  I'm guest blogging for Heather, as super Auntie Cat, or Ca-ca to Roman and will be at home alone with the toddler and terrier for four nights Ahhh! I'll get help from family and friends and have been living with them for a year, but this is my first time playing mommy to the two of them. It's hard to believe that only a year and a couple of months ago I was a single girl living in a loft on her own. When Heather got the call to Russia, I joined her on the journey to Roman and my life has... More »

Did that just evoke visions of a glistening hard bodied man throwing you down passionately between the sheets?  It would for me except that the kick boxer in my bed is a two year old with the kick of a martial arts master.  It used to be a little baby kick, cute little kicky feet easily delt with by  simple solutions.  A little pillow put between us, redirecting his little limbs, even just using the blanket to create a little barrier would solve the issue.  Now, extreme measures may be required. I have a body pillow between us but he can scamper over... More »

For work I travel around to Ontario Highschools, Colleges and Universities, particularily a lot of travel in the Fall.  I looked at my schedule and I am booked to go back to the university I graduated from many years ago.  In fact I did the calculations and 19 years ago I was 19 and starting first year university.  I had to look at that number a few times, firstly because math is not my strong suit and secondly because I could not wrap my brain around the fact that it's been almost 20 years since I was frosh.  Then I... More »

  What would his first three words be?  What three words would he string together in the pillars of a sentance.  Ok I know I was a bit spoiled with Roman's first word being "Mama"and his second being "I love" but come on, he totally set me up for "I love you" or "I love Mama" being the natural progression. lol So it really serves me right that my sons first three words were... "Mama cook egg"  followed by a little nudge in the direction of the kitchen.  Next came "Mama stop talking".  Both made me laugh and for me... More »

    I read an article a while back about a study that was done asking parents that became parents through adoption about their belief in destiny. Basically what was found is that a high proportion of this group believed that destiny had played a hand in their path to their children.  Many sited many a series of coincidences and allignments of events that seemed to defy logic.  As an adoptive Mom I can certainly attest to this through my experiences on my journey to Roman.  Many times throughout the process I felt "guided" and "in the flow" on a... More »

It all began with scrapbooking many moons ago.  Any of you remember "crop nights" and "scrap chats"?  I would go to all night scrapbook sessions that had me cropping and producing layouts till the wee hours.  This was prior to the digital age when making memories was recorded old school.  When the scrapbook era ended and everyone went onto their computers my scrapbook supplies went into the closet. There they stayed until a new calling.... the vision board. I first heard of the concept about five years ago on an Arts retreat in Ottawa Valley.  Everything about that weekend had lasting power but the vision board workshop was... More »

  Today was the day They said it would happen, they said just be patient, hold on and trust that the day would arrive and today it did.  Drama free day care drop off.  No trauma, no tears, no clinging, wailing, sweating, or snotting. It started like most weekday mornings.  Wake up, immediate need for water bottle, clothing hunt ending in too short pants and usually stained top (note to self, go shopping or request new round of hand me downs) oatmeal breakfast with some making into mouth but most onto tray as sensory art, the sock and shoe hunt, Mama trying to... More »

    Today I am grateful for...   I was feeling quite zen in my movement class last night and filling my body with joyful movement and my mind with gratitude for the random delights of the day. These are a few of the random thoughts that popped in.  I thought I'd make a wordle to express it. What words would you include in your cluster?  Go ahead make one for yourself.  It's easy, it's fun and almost guaranteed to might make you say "Gee Universe, thanks for the kale."  ... More »