Queen’s 21st Update…

It baffles me how time flies and lucky for me, I have a blog where I can look back at what I’ve been up to. Filling in all the blanks with the things I don’t write… a busy, happy, fun-filled life!

Here’s a re-cap… with links to all the posts you may have missed!

As far as busy… the post I wrote about a beaver chewing down my deck caused a wee bit of a stir! See… for as long as I can remember I’ve had these vivid dreams… usually when I’m stressed… and this one kind of got to me… so, I mentioned it. Unfortunately, a family member read through it quickly and well… believed it to be true! But no… kids are fine, I’m fine, deck is fine… no beaver. But love that family reads my posts!!
Busy… 

Probably one of my “most read” posts was the “Are you mom enough” post… written after the Time article about breastfeeding. I heard from folks all over the world! One person told me that the article I wrote should be printed and sent home with every new mom… tucked under the blankets of the bassinet as she leaves the hospital! I suggested they include a bottle of vodka! Us moms… we have a lot on our plates with the pressures around us but if we just put a little trust in ourselves and support one another… we’ll do a great job! Just this year, five new babies will be born into my growing family. I’m surrounded by amazing mothers… all in it together and doing a fabulous job. My cousin, Elizabeth, is a prime example of an exceptional mom… raising two amazing kids while both her and her husband work opposite shifts! They’re expecting their third baby any day… and how lucky that baby will be!
Are you mom enough…

We had a ball at Halifax’s “Open City”. In fact, it sort of kicked off summer! Follow “I love local Hfx” to stay up-to-date with local businesses and events in the Halifax area.
Open City…

A year at school had me on antibiotics FIVE times for chest infections and pneumonia! To be honest… I’m not entirely sure how I managed to make it through… only taking a couple of sick days. I’m sure I drove my classmates nuts with the hacking and coughing but if they saw me now… I’m the picture of health! September is rapidly approaching and while I’m looking forward to seeing the crew… I’m working to get myself healthy so I’m not struck down by such illness! I’ll let you know how it goes… seriously… who else would listen to my complaints!!!
One sick momma…, Just to be sure…

Helping me get healthy this summer… Evolve Fitness. Three days a week I head to the gym to be beaten up and terrorized by my favorite trainer… Mitch. To be honest, when I started, I had great apprehensions of how it would go let alone about wearing work-out clothes! Mitch put me at ease in no time and so far… it’s exceeding all expectations! I’m doing it… getting in shape to the point that eventually, my “outside” is going to match with how I’m feeling on the “inside”… which is pretty damned fantastic! I’ve never had a commitment to a gym like this before… often starting, all gung-ho to make it work which lasts a few weeks then dwindles off… never really doing anything great and finding excuses not to go! But this time it’s different. Possibly because I really want it this time but also because it’s different with a trainer standing over you and for someone like me… it makes me accountable! He pushes me… makes me want to work harder to prove to him that I can do it… and in the end, I’m only proving it to myself! And it feels fantastic!
Evolve Fitness… , Workout Day One…, Kicking my butt…, I lost ten pounds…

Over the last few years I’ve met some amazing musicians! Just the other night, we headed out to see the first gig of the “Sundogz“, fresh on the scene and ready for bookings! A few old friends who played together in the 80’s are back together… and they didn’t disappoint! There’s great music going on in Halifax, get out there… enjoy yourself. I certainly am!
Something about a boy with a guitar…, Something to live for…, Boy on bridge…

Bones and Spiderman are away at camp this week… neither with computer, cell phone or ipads and I have a feeling… they’re suffering withdrawals! Either that, or they’re realizing how awesome it is not to be attached to their vices for a couple of days! In May, I wrote a post about a site I’d found… a horrible place where local kids were saying nasty things about one another in a public forum. It’s been since taken down but it won’t be long before another appears. I can’t say enough how, as parents, we have to be aware of the influence social media has on our children’s lives. It’s here to stay and used properly, it’s an amazing thing but like everything else… can be abused in the most heinous ways!
#schoolprobz

We live and breathe hockey in this house… most days. Spiderman can’t get enough. There’s regular season… then Spring hockey… then the fabulous Play On weekend…which turns into Summer hockey.  It’s not so bad… two days a week of power skating and one day  week of dryland but with tryouts coming… the stress will start building. He’s committed… and as his Mom, I guess I am too.
PlayOn…

The countdown is on! One month from now I’ll be in France… settling The Tall Blond into her apartment for an exciting year at school and touring a place I’ve only ever dreamed of! I’m nervous… but to be honest, the excitement is winning out! There’s lots to be done between now and then but the paperwork is all in order… tickets are purchased… Visas and Passports obtained. Over the next few days I’m sitting down and planning our trip… and can’t wait to tell you all about it!
I’m going to Paris…

I heard from a few folks over my “Divorce Blog” post… and can’t thank you enough for your support! All I can do is continue to move forward and offer a hand to anyone else going trough it. It’s the least I can do… for everything that’s been given to me.
Divorce blog…

You’ve heard of Prada, Gib, Red, CA, Crazy, Dish and Little-One through various posts in the last few years. Family aside… these are some of the most amazing women in my life!
My girls…

I introduced you to a man that touched many lives in his short time on earth.
Jack Hand…

And to my amazing niece.
Mo…

And my awesome new boyfriend.
The cottage…

And remember the mom I told you about  who posted an ad on kijiji? Her daughter wanted a BlackBerry for her 13th birthday? Well, this week, RIM gave the 13 year old a brand new phone after reading the hilarious article posted by her mother (see the CTV News article here about the new phone)! It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt, that no matter what my kids think… it pays to have a witty mom!!!
Phones for kids…

Much as we tried, we just couldn’t win that saddle pad for Bones’ riding coach! However, I think in the process, we showed her a little love! Thanks to all of you who voted!
For the love of horses…

And finally… because Prada’s husband demanded a “retraction” and not because some woman in the Netherlands was upset with me… apparently the Mellencamp concert was AWESOME the second night at the Dartmouth Sportsplex! Prada’s man thinks it’s because of where we were sitting… possibly the people behind us telling us to sit down and not dance… but on the second night, he and Prada (yes she went a second time because her husband couldn’t go the first night and she’s an awesome wife) got seats on the floor  and had an absolute blast! (Note to self… get “floor tickets” from now on to concerts in small venues!)
John Cougar Mellencamp…

So… that’s what’s been going on since the last Queen’s Update. That… and I’m working on a website, Little-One was in town for three weeks and we had a ball, summer is in full swing and so much more I’d love to tell you about… but a girl’s gotta keep a few things private!

Queen
ox