Monday, June 6, 2011

Busy, Busy, Busy

So I know that I have been slacking in the update department and I told myself that I would try and play catch up on the blog today. Part of the reason is that the weather has been nice, it finally stopped raining and we have been outside. We also had a houseful of guests for 2 weekends in a row so I have been catching up on things around the house. But since it is a beautiful, sunny and warm afternoon, I decided to enjoy quiet time out on the patio while Arabella naps...and so there is so reason for me not to catch everyone up on what we have been doing!!

I am not too sure where to start, but a shopping trip to Costco is as good a place as any right?? Why you might ask? Well, first off it is seems like I am there at least once a week. And there is always something new and exciting that we think we need to buy. And so on the particular trip in question, Arabella wanted to see the lobsters. She loves to watch the lobsters in the tanks at the grocery store and was very excited to see the large tanks at Costco. So since it wasn't too busy of a day, we went over and checked them out. The man behind the case took out a huge lobster for Arabella to look at and she even touched it...after I did first of course. I couldn't believe how big it was. And normally I would have just walked away. After all, Jay has all the fresh lobster he can eat when he is in Nova Scotia on business and really he is the only one who eats it. I used to eat lobster when I was little and my dad had his own lobster pots...not sure what happened to my taste for it, but I am OK with not eating it. Anyway, the man proceeded to tell me that they were flown in fresh this morning and the price was right, $7.69 a lb. Once of the claws was a big as my hand. Arabella started asking if we could get a lobster, so I called Jay and asked him if he wanted one...and so we ended up with a lobster in out cart! I swear Arabella thought we were going to take it home and have a tank for it, like it was a pet. She started to call it Mr. Lobster and I started to feel sick about his upcoming demise. So when we got home, I took him out of the bag he was in and let him walk around a little on the kitchen floor, Arabella seemed to enjoy that part and then we put him in the largets backing dish that I had and put him back in the fridge.



Arabella wanted to keep seeing him...seriously, she thought he was a pet and we were going to keep him. I kept telling her that she and Daddy were going to eat it for dinner...at the time it didn't seem to bother her. Making matters worse was that every time I opened the fridge, he was right there staring me down. Honestly, I started to feel worse and worse about the whole thing. Later that night, Jay got home from a customer dinner and I was telling him about our day with Mr. Lobster and so he wanted to see it. As soon as I opened the fridge, he says "OK, now that is freaky"...and I ask him "What?" and he replies "Seeing the lobster in the fridge like that is freaky, good thing I didn't open it in the middle of the night" and then I say, "Serious, Jay you eat them, does it really freak you out" and he replies "But they are already cooked and not moving around like that, you can shut the door now." So at this point, I feel horrible and can't wait for it to be cooked and out of the fridge! So the next night for dinner, I get the pot full of boiling water, and I just can't bear to put the lobster in the water. I used to watch my dad do it all summer long growing up, but now, I am sick to my stomach. So Jay finally has to step in

And then this was Arabella's reaction when se tried it:

Jay enjoyed it, but, this will probably be the last time that I buy lobster for a while!

Arabella has been making awesome progress with her swim lessons and she loves that 2 of her best friends, GiGi and Allyson, are in her class with her! She loves to be in the water and we are looking forward to our pool being open soon!



On a bright, Springtime note, the Cherry Tree outside my kitchen window bloomed. When it blooms, it is beautiful and the pink is so bright, it is hard to not smile when you see it. My only issue with the tree is that the blooms don't last longer than a week. But while it is blooming, it is a welcome sight!


In between the rain drops, we have been trying to plant and spend as much time in the fresh air as possible. Arabella planted the sunflowers that Grampy sent to her and also a bunch of tomato plants. She loves to garden and take care of the plants by watering and she watches closely to see how they are growing.




Sometimes she just lounges around like a lady of leisure, rides her tricycle or has a fun time playing in the hammock!



Super Girl

Here is just another reason why I am loving my new camera...without it, I would not have been able to capture these shots of Arabella on Saturday! I will admit that a camera that takes 7 pictures per second is a little much, but at least I won't miss shots like this anymore!






Friday, June 3, 2011

Thursday's Thoughts (A Day Late...)

Hearing: The Elmo's World theme song on Sesame Street. Arabella has a fever today and woke up vomiting last night so we are lying low today and she gets to watch some TV.

Tasting: Tim Horton's coffee with just a drop of milk.

Seeing: Beautiful sunny skies, I hope it lasts all weekend long and then some!

Smelling: Cleaning products...time to get rid of the germs that Arabella caught...

Feeling: A tired...between school work, Arabella feeling sick, birthday parties and visitors, I need a little time to rest...but who knows if it will happen...

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Sleeping Beauty

Arabella looked like a little angel tonight when she was sleeping...must be the new sheet and comforter set she received from Uncle Mike and Uncle Jeff for her birthday!

Sad Day In Sports History

On Monday night, as I was logging into Yahoo to check my email, a headline grabbed my attention..."TRESSEL OUT AT OHIO STATE"! Now, I know that I graduated from the University of Connecticut and I am a Husky, but I also know that Ohio State sports are in my blood with Mom being from Ohio, I grew up on the stuff. I can still see my mom yelling at the TV when the Buckeyes were on playing football...and now I do the same thing. I think that the first time that Jay heard me doing it, I think he thought I had lost my mind! Ohio State football is like my second religion, when we lived in Ohio it was great, we even went to a few games and there is nothing like being on campus when the Shoe is full with over 100,000 screaming fans! And I am sure that my love for Ohio State football will be passed on to Arabella - she loves watching football and she knows who to cheer for already - who knows maybe one day she will be a Buckeye. I knew that there were some issues going on with some of the players, but being here in Canada, I am removed from US college sports, so when I saw the headline, I clicked on it. I quickly scanned the article and then ran to the guest room where Mom was trying to sleep...and I promptly woke her up! Over the past few days, I have looked at a few of the stories online and it is sad, the end of an era is over. I came across these front pages and thought I would share -
Front page of the Youngstown Vindicator: The front page of the Canton Repository:
The front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
The front page of the Columbus Dispatch:

For as sad as this news is, I know that this will not change the history and legacy that Tressel has a Ohio State. Thanks for the great ride and thanks for all the wins over Michigan, Coach Tressel!

And for all the haters of Buckeye football, especially those people up North, you know Michigan, just remember that Michigan still holds the record for the largest NCAA scandal of ALL TIME...something to the tune of roughly $600,000 of money going to the Fab 5 in hoops!

Dori & Ronnie's Day Lilies

I have been meaning to share a few of these photos since we got back from Florida but time month of May just flew by! It is hard to believe that it is already June...where is 2011 going?!?!? Arabella and I stayed with Dori and Ronnie when we were in Jacksonville and we fell in love with the backyard oasis. It was so calm and quiet and Arabella loved the pool. However, the main attraction in the backyard are the day lilies that they cultivate. Each one is more spectacular than the last. Here are a few of our favorites...but it is hard to pick just a few...Enjoy!







Wordless Wednesday