I Never Met a Swede I Didn't Like

I was in my kitchen today and Cali pulled out an old picture of me with my Sweddish friend Theresa.  It made me sigh and think about how much fun I had with her.  So this is a little shout out to her.  I miss you Theresa! 

She was always so kind and patient with me asking her a million questions about Sweden and trying to learn her language.  We had lots of fun getting snowed in, freezing our tooties off at the bus stop, and getting stuck in the snow... twice.    Both times were my fault, but both times it was her that got me out!  (I really don't know how to drive in the snow.)  What a great friend!!!  I would write more if I had time but I just wanted to write a little about her today.  This is the picture that Cali found and brought to me.  Now it is on my fridge next to the stove so I get to look at it all the time.

Hey  remember dancing on the street corner to keep warm?  Duktig flicka!  KRAM!

The Dread Pirate Cali

Okay I just need to add a quick update. I have been keeping us quite busy by attending every playgroup in town that I know of. I am pretty sure that Cali’s favourite is Story Time at the library on Tuesdays. Yesterday when I told her it was Tuesday she couldn’t wait to go. She got ready all by herself and had her boots on to go at 9am… Story Time isn’t until 11am… poor girl. Yesterday’s theme was pirates and Cali made an eye patch and pirate hat which she proudly wore the remainder of the day.

Speaking of pirates I read the Princess Bride over the weekend. That’s a great book… a little different from the movie but yes the book is better. I completely fell for William Goldman’s trick of it being an abridged edition. I was on the library website for a while trying to find the unabridged edition of the Princess Bride; anyway it doesn’t exist. Check out Wikipedia if you have questions.

I am reading a new book call The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova… I can’t put it down. So far it is one of the best books I have read ever; I am on page 300 or so with another 400 to go. I am sure once I am finished there will be a review on here. Good Reads is an awesome resource for anyone that is a reader, I joined the other week, love it!

Lexi turned one month yesterday. She getting nice big chubby cheeks and still looks a lot like her Dad. She is on the verge of smiling so I am sure before too long there will be an update here with a big smile.

Cali and I decorated the Christmas tree on Saturday and now we are counting down the days. That’s about it from here right now.

The Story Girl

So this is a bit of a change compared to my recent book reviews. I read two great books this month, two books that I would highly recommend. First I read “The Witches” by Roald Dahl, I have been a huge fan of his since Mom read us “The Twits” as kids. I have also read many of his other novels but I think that this was the first time that I read “The Witches”. It was cute and a little disturbing as more of his books are, but a great read for kids and adults alike. I am not going to dive into much of an analysis. I just wanted to mention that I read a book I liked.


Last week Cali and I headed to get her H1N1 shot but the line was outside the building; can you imagine? So I made the executive decision not to wait outside in the cold with a newborn and toddler. Instead we headed to the library, one of Cali and my favourite spots in town. She ran in and picked out a couple of books and as we were getting ready to leave when a book caught my eye; “The Story Girl” by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

I had read the entire “Anne of Green Gables” series and the “Emily of New Moon” books but I hadn’t read any of her other books. I decided to pick it up. Once I got it home I simply couldn’t put it down. It was such a great story I forgot what a descriptive author she was. She painted the most beautiful picture of the orchard in which the children played. It made me long for my childhood summers spend at Nannie and Granddad’s on the Gulf Shore of Nova Scotia. It took me two days to read the book; mind you it would have taken less if I didn’t have all the distractions.

If you were a fan of the Road to Avonlea television series you would love this book. Many of the episode plots come from this book. The characters of Sara Stanley, Felicity, Felix, Cecily, Aunt Janet, Aunt Olivia, Uncle Alec, and even Jasper Dale are found in this book. Oh I almost forgot the local witch, Peg Bowen is introduced as well. Such a great book.

In just about every chapter the Story Girl (Sara Stanley) would tell a tale. Her stories were so descriptive and interesting that I almost forgot that they were part of a bigger story. The characters were all unique and well developed through the novel. It made me discover just how shallow the other books were that I had been reading. In this book you really get to know the characters.

I was little disappointed about the ending though. I thought things would be tied up a bit more but I just found out there is a sequel, “The Golden Road”. I figure that book can answer a few of my questions. I will be reading it shortly, after I finish “The Princess Bride” for book club. I have decided that anything that I read in the next year will be children’s literature so I can complete it in less than a week; much easier on my postpartum mind. So look forward to more children’s book reviews.

For anyone who is interested in book reviews here a great site called Good Reads. I think that I am going to join. Be my friend! 　

That's My Girl

Today was my first day at home alone with two kids. We did well. I had supper made by 11am and I finished the laundry. Cali produced a few homemade birthday cards for her Papa, cousin Faith, and Uncle Darryl.

I have to say that the Fisher-Price swing that I picked up a year ago a yard sale made it all possible. They are both passed out right now, so I think that I did a good job. Ed should be home in about an hour to take the next shift.

Here is a picture from today. Cali is her mother's daughter. Passed out with an Oreo in hand. I love my girls so much!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! This year Cali went trick or treating for the first time. I think that she had a great time from what Ed said; I stayed at home with the baby. I am sad that we didn’t get any more pictures of the special day. Cali dressed as a cow, Ed was a cowboy, I was a labour and delivery nurse and Lexi was a newborn. We were pretty cute I must say considering our costumes were kind of thrown together; things are different with two kids.

Cali walked right in the front door with her treats and sat down started eating. I think that she finished off all of her candy within 20 minutes. That’s my girl!!!  I don't hold back on the candy during Halloween.  That's what that night is all about!

After the trick or treating we headed over the Lindsay and Shane’s for the annual party. We had a great time there. The food was AMAZING! I wish I had more of an appetite. I really wish that I had of got some pictures. I am going to have to steal some off and Lindsay and post them later.

Anyway here are some pictures of Cali dressed up and a video of her as a “kitty cow”. Cali has been a kitty for about a month now. It’s so cute how they pretend at this age.  I am just loving two!