Sucker Punch

The other night I was trying to organize the thousands of photographs that were never put into photo albums and ended up being thrown into a box.

I have attachment issues with photographs.

Its one of my many issues.

While my children played around me, I sat on the basement {concrete} floor "Ooooo"ing and "Awwww"ing over my babies when they were actual, little tiny babies.

I called my kids over to look at pictures of themselves and all of their baby-ish perfection.

I showed them photos of their dad and I as young kids and adults before children.

They weren't interested.

I was a basket case.

I mean, what has happened??

They were just babies yesterday.

I was just a kid last week.

And now my {almost} 12 year old is deep thinking what he wants to be when he grows up.

My {almost} 10 year old wears a size 9.5 men's shoe.

And my {almost} 6 year old acts like she is 16.

Time.
One big, ginormous sucker punch to the face.
I have the wrinkles to prove it.

**Joining MamaKat this week.  I think she has missed me.**

Favourite Photos of 2013. We spell "favourite" with a "u" here in Canada.

OK, I am not going to lie, but getting back into this blogging thing is kinda like...ummm...hard.
I mean, what do I write about?
What do people want to read?
How can I stay authentic to myself while making everyone happy?
The stress is creating zits and pimples on my middle age face.

*snort*

That is hilarious because I always have zits on my face.
Just breathing causes my skin to break out, but whatever.
Maybe one day I will talk about zits....
....and poop....
....and maybe other gross bodily functions because that stuff is hilarious.

But today I am sharing my favourite photos of 2013.
Just because.

Sooooooo I went through the few thousand photos I took last year and picked out my very favourite from each month.
It was hard.
Not because all my photos were wonderful, but because each photo reminded me of the exact moment I took it.
Each moment=my life.
I cherish the moments/people/animals/memories even if some of them were horrible.
I don't care what anyone says.
There is nothing I treasure more than my photo,s and,  if you're one of those people who takes a picture and never prints it, shame on you.  One day you will regret it and so will those younger than you who want to know all about the moments in your life.
Deep thoughts.
You're welcome.

So here goes.....

Jersey the Dog.
Still alive after his many health and behavioural issues.
Actually, I think this photo was taken before the memorable corgi attack at the pet store.

My baby girl who still looked like my baby.
Something happened throughout the rest of the year.
She grew up.
*sniff*

Saying goodbye to my Daddy's beloved motorcycle with a gazillion photos.
"Biker Bob" as he was known in his biking circle of friends, loved this bike and had many plans for his retirement with this beauty and his Biker Babe {aka my Mommy}.
Enough about that because it makes me sad.

A moment between my oldest boy child and Duke the horse.
I remember this exact moment and the joy he felt as he led Duke up and down the driveway all by himself.

Middle child.
He is handsome.

My baby brother became a Daddy.
I fell in love with my niece.

My son with his 97 year old Great Grandfather.
The Great Grandfather who still packages up cookies and candy for the kids every time they visit.
The Great Grandfather who loves his Great Grandchildren more than anything. My kids only living Grandfather.

My life in one picture.

The first day of school.
There were no tears. There was no stress. Only excitement about the year ahead.
My heart was happy.....because they were.

We have a patch of trees out in the horse pasture that I love alot.
One day I plan on having a pretty sitting area there so I can sit with my girly drink and bon bons and just hang out with the equines.

Disneyworld.
Just making more memories.
This memory included some moans and groans and "Mom, you're taking too many pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

This is my niece whom I fell in love with in June.
In December, I loved her even more.

And, just because I like to change things up once in awhile, I am throwing in one more photo.
I tagged along on my hubby's business trip to Alberta and fell in love with the province.

Dear Lake Louise.
You're pretty.
But cold.
I would've stayed longer if I wore better shoes.
And wasn't afraid of bears eating me.
Love Vikki
Happy 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Boys and dirt and I am the worst parent ever. Dont judge

Ya, so I have two boys.
OK, my husband had something to do with making them, but we haven't seen him in 10 days because he is working 15 hour days for 1 month straight.
So, as of right now I have two boys.
Do you know how effing hard it is to keep two boys busy? 
My daughter can go draw pictures of rainbows and unicorns for hours on end, but, my boys......they cling to me like bloodsucking leeches, not knowing what to do with themselves.
Or they fight.
Or they cling to me while fighting with each other and I have no way of getting away.

Hell.

So, recently I did what every expert parent would do.  I sent them across the road in the construction area where there is lots and lots and lots of mud and a selection of ginormous machinery.
So what.

I told them I would take pictures to document how lucky they are to have a mother who encourages them to play in the mud.
They totally fell for it.
And I enjoyed having my personal space back for just 10 minutes.


Confession.
When we saw a construction worker, I told the boys to get out of the mud before he saw us.
I had visions of the newspaper article about the "Mother and Children Arrested for Trespassing", so I totally pretended that they weren't allowed to be there.
Parent of the Year right here, folks.
Where is my award???
They were a tad confused.
I was a tad amused at myself for being such a terd, but whatever.

Instead, the boys popped wheelies in the driveway and made the best facial expressions I have ever seen in my life.

Like, really.
Have you ever seen anything so awesome?


Me neither.

Stuff

I have owned my Nikon DSLR for a few years now and finally opened the Owners Manual on Tuesday.  I have come to the conclusion that I will never understand aperture, f-stop or depth of field.
And to be honest, I don't know if I want to because, then, I would put too much pressure on myself and freak out and do the ugly cry....over a photograph.
No thanks.
Stress sucks balls.

On another note, I discovered that the reason some of my photos weren't clear was because I had the VR {vibration reduction} turned off.  And, I also discovered the Movie mode.

Doh.

Anyways, that has nothing to do with this post.

Firstly, I took yearly photos of my beloved babies wearing their Daddy's shirt and Mommy's apron.

They are good looking peeps, aren't they?
All was going superbly until Jersey the dog wanted in on the photo session.

He knows how to make it memorable.

Secondly, husband and I have had many difficult discussions this week about life, money, family....and the possibility of a big move out west.
No final decisions yet, but I am one step closer to a nervous breakdown thank you very much.
Pass the booze.

Thirdly, this picture of my toothless 5 year old.
Best. Ever.
Tell me you didn't smile....or giggle......


Fourthly, today, during the school assembly,  I had that moment.
That moment when I realized this is the last year I will ever have a child in Kindergarten. *sniff*

Fifthly, we have major construction on our country road.
My boys are loving the mud and dirt and machinery and mud and mud and mud.


Sixthly, Barbara Walters needs to retire....yesterday.

And, last, but certainly not least.
This video about poop.
You're welcome.

Happy weekend y'all.

 

Hello from Heaven

Confession.
I have been struggling.
Struggling to remember my Daddy while moving on without him.
It sucks balls.

I remember three summers ago while out on the lake for a boat ride, just after my Uncle passed away.
My dad was upset that his brother was going to miss out on fun times like that.
He was going to miss spending time with his family.
He was missing out on life.

Three years later, while out on the lake for a boat ride with my Dad's family....us.....I think the same thing.
My Daddy is missing out on this.









But then when I look around, I see a butterfly fluttering around the boat....in the middle of the lake.
Every single time we venture out onto the water.
My Daddy is there with us.
Not missing out.


Do you believe that butterflies are signs from those who have passed on?
Do you believe they symbolize re birth?

Here for a good time.....not a long time.....

Sooooo.....things are still busy.
Like so busy I go the whole day without peeing.
So busy my garden looks like a weed garden.
This past weekend was the boys lacrosse championship weekend and we watched 8 games. 8 GAMES in a hot arena with sweaty tweens and waytoocompetitive parents.
Then there was soccer and dog training, a sick kid, the final week of school and a huge award for one of my kids.

I have so much to tell you.....when I have more time.

For now, lets share in some random crap.  I enjoy random crap.

1. Last year we brought a large piece of driftwood home from my family's lake shore property and plopped it into a large planter/garden thingy in front of our garage. This year, these beautiful violets have grown in front of it. We didn't plant them. This makes me happy.

True story. These are the healthiest flowers currently growing on our property. The other flowers I did plant.
Whatever.


2. Ike the horse did this. He is trouble.


3. My newest niece was born on June 20. She is perfection. It makes me very emotional just thinking about this little beauty because my little brother is a daddy. The kid who used to eat all of the cookies and steal the remote control from me now has a daughter. My brother is a daddy and his daddy isn't here to witness it.
Or maybe he can see everything and we just have to make sure his newest grandchild knows all about him. *sniff*


4. Jersey the dog might be starting a raw diet soon. Who would have thunk we would end up feeding our dominant/high prey drive/brilliantyetsobad dog raw chicken parts??!!!!!
Dear Jersey. Don't attack little animals, but go ahead and eat this raw animal meat.


5. These two offspring of mine fight constantly. It boggles my mind how two people who share very similar personalities can fight one minute and then play together the next like nothing happened.
This is them kicking grass because apparently that is fun to them.

Only 9 weeks until school starts............   *Prize for the person who knows who sings the song of the title of this post

Oh, hi. Remember Me????

Where do I start?
Ummm.....
....the last three weeks have been busy.

So busy, that I am actually looking forward to life slowing down.
To sitting....
...inhaling.....
...pausing.

What have I been up to?
Well.......

planning and hosting {with my Mommy} a baby shower for my sister in law.
Lessons learned...
it's alot of friggin work
and stress.
Pinterest is my best friend.


a girls-only weekend that took me out of my comfort zone and into moments I haven't experienced in years. 
It was nothing wild and crazy, but I was with girlfriends I have known for almost 30 years.
Girlfriends I drifted away from as we grew and discovered ourselves, and then recently reconnected with.
It felt weird.
And, oh so right.


a trip to Alberta.
Banff/Lake Louise/Calgary to be more specific.
Now added to my Bucket List........
visit every province in my beautiful country.
Holy balls, it was beautiful.


taking care of a dog.
A dog who licked his butt hole until it looked like hamburger meat.
A dog with an ear infection.
A dog who has a food allergy, and now has to eat Veterinarian-prescribed food at $127 a bag.


watching my children play soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics and love every second of swimming lessons.
Life is good.
So good that I want it to slow down so my babies stay young forever.




Bring on summer.