Whew!  Friday, where have you been all week?

On Tuesday, I thought it was Wednesday.  Wednesday, I thought it was Thursday and Thursday I stopped keeping track.  Things are good this week, mostly, but somehow I got lost in the week.  I think having Valentine’s Day on Tuesday did it – getting valentines organized to hand out, etc just sort of added a day to my week somehow.

We also had the excitement of a first loose tooth for our oldest, with the added excitement of it being so loose we yanked it after dinner.  Ping!  It went flying.  I had tried pulling and wiggling it to no avail before dinner, but afterwards we tied on a little floss and hubs did the deed.  I was so amazed and totally amused by how gruesome and fantastic it was.  I can’t believe my kid wasn’t more traumatized by it all, I thought at some point his bravery would give way, but nope, survived the pulling and the aftermath, all smiles.  I seem to remember standing around with floss tied to my teeth, willing myself to slam a door and being too chicken to do it when I was a kid.  Barftastic and just the kind of thing seven year olds love.  And the tooth fairy made a sneaky appearance, leaving money and a nice little note.  Yet another milestone for my gigantic, growing kids.

I also haven’t touched my sugar bowl since back in January.  Nor my brown sugar canister.  These are significant details if you know me well. Read about me and sugar and the Domestic Diva sugar detox, here.

Well, anyway, Friday is here and I’m glad.  I like the weekends, even though technically with no school, no daycare and no naps I feel like I’m twice as busy with the kids.  But it’s lazier, with a slower start to the mornings and just more pajamas in general.  What’s not to like?  I’m finally getting over my strep throat and trying to look and act like a real live human being.  I know, I’m fancy.

So, here are some noteworthy bits I’m happy to share:

~ First and foremost, did you catch the amazing video of Dee, the Cocktail Deeva, sharing her journey as she underwent a breast ultrasound?  It’s really mindblowing to read some of the breast cancer stats and risks for women with what are called dense breasts.  Dee shares a ton of info and actually takes the camera with her for the ultrasound, crazy brave lady.  It’s a definite watch and share thing – get the info into the hands of other women in your life.  I wrote about it here:  Would you take it all off for a good cause?

~ I shared some tips for wining and dining your valentine over on the Electrolux Canada blog and honestly, who cares if the holiday is over – the recipes I linked to in that post are to die for.  Go check them out, they are so tempting!  And up right now on the blog is a Family Day post with a whole family favourites idea for Monday if you are lucky enough to have a holiday.  How to actually do something as a family, especially if the weather is sort of uncooperative?  Well, I say bring on the food, the dishtowel wars and see how crazy you can get in the kitchen.

~ I was invited to guest post over at Merry with Children, and my post “What if you celebrated gaining instead of losing” looks all purty over there.  Head on over and check it out – if you don’t know Merry’s blog, well, you are welcome and please make me some of the yummy food she features.  Yesterday’s recipe damn near did me in.  Thanks to Merry for the kind welcome!

~ And here on the Little Miss Mocha blog I wrote about welcoming Fisher-Price to the neighbourhood, and a post about the great laptop drowning of 2012 – also known as “thank God I didn’t yell at my kid when it happened” and “looks like nobody earned a halo this week”.

~ Voting is still open over at the Canadian Family Tales of Bliss competition – I would love you to read my entry “The Overflowing Life”  and vote if you have not yet done so.

What’s up for your weekend?  We’re going to be celebrating something we made up called Taylor Day and it went from a small mention after Christmas to some sort of crazy affair where we’re baking muffins tomorrow (a favourite treat), making something special for dinner, possibly heading out to brunch on Sunday and now I hear there are gifts.  I don’t know who’s in charge of this event, but I think the use of the word “snowballed” would not be inappropriate.

Until next week, lovelies.  Keep your head up and your coffee cup full.  I don’t know what it means either, but the coffee part sounds good.  And my kids are off all next week so I should have good stories to share by next Friday’s recap.

Wish me luck and no grey hair (none yet, if you believe my hair stylist, which I resolutely do.  Pfft.  As if you wouldn’t.)

This post was tentatively titled “Why I didn’t yell at the kid who dumped coffee in my laptop” and also ”kijiji is no place for your adorable children” but I figured I’d start at the beginning.

So after a bit of crazy week, I got up Saturday morning with my youngest, and took her downstairs for some quiet playtime.  My oldest was already up, getting in some Wii time in the basement, and I waited to call him up, figuring a bit of peace first thing was a nice treat.  Ever notice how when kids get together, the volume doesn’t just double, it multiplies enormously?

Well, we were enjoying ourselves, and I took the time to make a cup of coffee, and sit down with my laptop to jump online.  That’s how my son found us twenty minutes or so later when he came bounding up the stairs and into the kitchen.  No, he didn’t tackle me and spill my coffee.  Yes, I set it down as he approached, just in case.

No, he wanted to sit down at his own computer, an older laptop we have set up for him, so he settled into his chair and slid his laptop over in front of him.  Doing so moved a large piece of brown paper we have had covering the table, and it made a large raised area of paper, and so I stopped him, asking him to move it back before we messed everything up.  He shoved it back, the paper yanked out and my coffee toppled, sloshing all over my laptop, and over half of the keys.

Time froze.  I froze.  My kid didn’t even realize what had happened, and in truth, I still don’t know how it could have spilled.  Two movements, back and forth.  Two seconds, lost in time.  And suddenly I’m moving, and I realize it’s on my laptop, it’s spreading near my Kobo, my iPod and I’m wondering why the hell I’ve gotten in the habit of dropping them near my computer.  It seemed handy, and logical before but as I madly tossed them onto dishtowels to absorb the coffee and started cleaning, I cursed myself.  Ugh.

My son realized something was happening from my quick motions, and watched me jump up.  Before he could ask, I told him what had happened.  I could tell he didn’t understand at first that he had done anything, didn’t realize that his movements had caused it.  And in that moment, any anger that might have started building, disappeared.  I cleaned up as best I could, I gritted my teeth in worry at what might come next if it didn’t work after being dried off, and I explained to my son what had happened.  I was right – he hadn’t realized.  And he was sorry, I knew.

I tried to find a way to be more mad at him, after all, I knew the laptop might be dead.  I thought about saying more, knew I could raise my voice or yell if I tried.  But, because a few minutes had passed before he even understood, I had a hard time getting mad.  Don’t get me wrong, I get frustrated with my kids, I get irritated, and I’ve yelled over far less.  And I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t mad, but it just didn’t seem worth it.  He hadn’t meant to do it, he wasn’t being random and rough, he hadn’t jumped on me or tackled me.  My coffee wasn’t taken out by a swinging sword or light sabre, and he had been sitting down the whole time.

I gave up, accepted his apology and just worked on cleaning it all up.  I did give him the eyebrow when he asked for breakfast a while later and told him they’d have to wait a bit until I was done, what with the drowned laptop and all.  Hey, I’m human.  But that was it.

Sometimes you have to see the big picture.  Sometimes you have to realize when things happen due to carelessness or when they are just lousy luck.  Sometimes kids deserve to get yelled at for being thoughtless or rude, but he hadn’t been either.  Sometimes you don’t know what’s coming next.

Seven hours later I helped him get dressed and ready for a birthday party, helped him with the card I had bought, got the gift I’d picked up all organized and sent him off with a kiss.  Sent him off to a birthday party that had actually taken place the day before, right after school was let out.  Through some misunderstanding, and miscalculation, I had noted the party down on Saturday in my calendar.

And that’s why sometimes it’s safer not to yell.  Because less than eight hours later, you’re going to screw up too.

If you get lucky, your kid will make the same decision you did and not yell at you.

Hey.  Parenting is hard sometimes.  So is being a kid.

We’re both gonna be okay.

Some days I can’t hide anything from my kids.  They catch me sneaking a snack, hear me if I rustle a bag that I don’t want them to see; it’s amazing.  Other times I manage to hide a big cardboard box in my office for days, out of plain sight but easily visible to anyone who entered.

The delivery had come just before lunch a few days earlier but I’d waited for the perfect moment to bring it out.  I wanted both my kids home, with enough relaxed time to play and enjoy without suddenly having to head out somewhere or eat dinner.  The box I was hiding, you see, was our first delivery from Fisher-Price.

Well, Sunday rolled around and suddenly we had this window of time – afternoon snacks were done, dinner was a couple of hours away and things had been goofy, noisy and we all needed to find a way to slow things down.  But I didn’t want to ruin the kids’ fun, they were playing together, but oy, the running, the squealing, the games of tag.  We were all getting too tired for yet another tag wipeout.  I have two kids spaced four years apart – the three year old keeps up, and gives back plenty but collisions are usually dramatic and tired kids don’t take corners very safely.

Enter, the big cardboard box.  I called the kids over and got their attention pretty quickly.  We unpacked their goodies and their eyes got wide.  Okay, mama’s work just got a whole lot cooler.  There was an adorable My First Dollhouse for my three year old, and an Imaginext DC Super Friends The Joker’s Funhouse for her older brother.

We got it all unpacked, and it just so happened that we were out in our living room rather than in the family room with the other toys and the television.  In the moment it seemed like an easier spot to unpack things.  It was kind of nice, just late afternoon sun, no other toy clutter to distract them, and they busied themselves with the new toys.

And there was quiet.  Oh, they were talking, and playing, and showing each other the toys, but the vibe was relaxed.  They played for a while, and we started organizing for dinner.  I realized after a while that they were playing together - not just side by side. They were curious about what the other was playing with.  I wanted to be in the same room as they were, listening in.

Seeing the sweeter sides of our kids is a good thing for all of us.  They enjoy each other, and we want to be around to watch them.  I always want my kids around, but some days they bicker, or play too wildly, or need interventions to keep the peace.  I love when they can just play, and the intensity dials down, just for a while.

Funny, the two toys are still standing in our living room, where I don’t typically allow them to keep toys.  They’ve added one more, and are calling it a neighbourhood.  And somehow it is neutral territory, free to either of them.  I can’t quite tidy them away, just yet.

Welcome to the neighbourhood, Fisher-Price.  Our first delivery, and opportunity to experience the new offerings, and so far they’ve gone over wonderfully.

“Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Mom and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

No?  How about taking some of it off?  We’ll get to why a little later, first I want to talk about health.  Our health.  Women’s health.  You, me, your sister, your mom, your aunt, your best friend…and maybe someday, your daughter.

As we get older and start to own our health as adults, there are a few spectres that loom more than others. Heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and cancer, and most notably for women, breast cancer.

Why does breast cancer bring out our fear, our outrage, our anger so much more than other diseases? It’s not as though we can’t hear the warnings of heart disease in women, or that we don’t consider the threat of other types of cancer. (You may remember the last time I wrote about breast cancer…)

I think because a diagnosis of any disease, especially one as destructive as cancer, brings with it a loss of control that we so desperately want over our own lives. Suddenly what we do, how we do it and our very futures are threatened.  Breast cancer goes even further, threatening our physical and traditional ideas of feminine identity. We may recognize our facial features, our hair, the curve and sway of our hips as part of our female appeal, but there is no arguing that our breasts are an important symbol of femininity. Whether we are delicately or generously endowed, they’re ours and we are often paralyzed at the thought of losing them.

There are ways, however, to bring some of that control back into our lives if we make decisions to be proactive about our health before a crisis happens. This may mean adopting a healthy lifestyle and doing things we know are good for our bodies – eating good foods, staying active and avoiding habits that might raise our risk level. It also means taking action to monitor changes in our bodies; doing self-exams, seeing our doctors for annual checkups, and taking advantage of tests like mammograms as they become appropriate. Your doctor can recommend when you should have your first mammogram, as it relates to your risk factors: health, family history, breast density and more.

If there were a way to go one step further to monitor your breast health, a way that is actually more effective for those women whose breasts are considered “dense”, would you do it?  What if there were a screening tool that had a better chance of catching tumours in dense tissue, allowing earlier detection?  I hadn’t heard of a breast ultrasound until I saw this amazing video of a bold, brave woman I know trying it out for herself. Yes, on video. Yes, the whole thing. You may know her as the Cocktail Deeva, creator of Boobfest, promoter of “feel your boobies” t-shirts, and living out loud expert. Well, watch for yourself as she faces her worries about her own breast health, shares her story, and takes you along for an ultrasound, partnering with VIP Breast Imaging to deliver vital information into the hands of women.  Watch it, learn from it, share it – but maybe do that watching at home instead of work, and without the kiddies around….while gracefully filmed, the girls definitely got some camera time.

I’m amazed at her heart, and her willingness to face her fears and brave any awkwardness so that she can share her experience with us.  After watching, I feel this would be time and money well spent for those with a higher risk of breast cancer or breast tissue too dense for a mammogram to prove completely effective.  Does it cost money?  Yes, it does, as it is currently offered outside the public health care system. But the amount is less than I spend on coffee in a year (at home, or out, not even combined).  It’s less money than you spend colouring your hair if you do it in a salon, the equivalent of a couple of fancy dinners or few celebratory evenings spent at your favourite pub.  It’s one less shirt or other clothing item picked up while shopping each month.

It’s not a decision anyone can make for you, but I think we are always better off when we have more options for information, for better care, and to feel like we are in charge of our own health.  It is good for our bodies, hearts and minds to own our destinies as much as is possible.  I can’t tell you if I will ever be diagnosed with breast cancer, but I’d love to tell you I had done what I could for prevention, and early detection if the diagnosis came.

Here are some details you might want to note:

~ 40% of women have what are called “dense breasts”

~  the breast ultrasound is called an Automated Breast Ultrasound – ABUS

~ VIP Breast Imaging is the only company in Canada that provides this service

~ according to their website, ABUS is safe, radiation-free, non-invasive and painless

~ no doctor referral is necessary

~ there is a cost associated with ABUS, but I was pleased to hear there is a program in place to help underprivileged women

For more information about VIP Breast Imaging, their mission, their team and to decide if ABUS might be right for you, contact:

VIP Breast Imaging Toronto

525 University Ave
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2L3

Phone:             647-350-2229

toronto@vipbreastimaging.com

Disclosure:  I was asked to share this video on behalf of Cocktail Deeva, and VIP Breast Imaging in Toronto, and as a courtesy, was invited to visit VIP Breast Imaging myself.  As always, you can be assured that impressions and opinions are my own.

So I’m sort of loving having a Friday round up of what’s been going on around here.  Sometimes there are little things that don’t make it into a full post, sometimes I hear things I’d like to share, sometimes people are awesome and I want to say so.  So it’s TGIF time again, and here’s a little of what’s been shaking my tree this week:

- First off, if you ever have a choice between strep throat and, say, jumping in front of a moving vehicle, I’m going to have to tell you to get cozy with those wheels.  Really, the sore throat is just the tip of the iceberg.  I was so relieved to get antibiotics and start feeling….zzzzz….better.  Oh, sorry, did I doze off there? Right.  No one tells you how long you’ll feel exhausted.  Whew.  Though I probably needed the sleep, so silver linings, right?

- A word to parents – we may not get the thrills we used to now that we have kids, I know.  But I’m here to say if you put a kid to bed with the most ridiculous case of hiccups ever heard, one who says solemnly “I think I’m going to throw up” while you are also solo parenting, and just decide to trust your instinct that they will not, in fact, spew their dinner all over the fifteen blankets they sleep with – that, my friends, is a rush.  Especially when you’re actually right, and they don’t.  Hiccups, for the parenting win.

- I wrote about kids joining the Super Bowl party over on the Electrolux Canada blog, and if you checked it out, you’ll have found a little tip at the bottom to keep you out of the doghouse for years.  I’m helpful that way. Guys, I’m talking to you.  And yes, the Super Bowl may be over but I shared some tips for parents who are trying to include kids when the grownups want to get together.  Yes, it can be done, but there are ways to make it more fun for everyone.  And a brand new post just went up on how to wine and dine your valentine – full of advice and great food suggestions for a romantic day!

- I took a deep breath, and wrote this post about endings, and how there’s always a way to be happy about what was shared, learned or what may lay ahead.  Many thanks to EverythingMom for the two years I spent with them, and all we accomplished together.  What lies ahead? Your guess is as good as mine, but having doors and windows open is a good feeling.

- I am bowled over by a project that has been in the works for someone I know, and am so honoured to be able to share it with you.  But  you have to stay in suspense for now.  More details to come, but let me just say, it’s fabulous and brave and so worthy.

- I’ll be guest posting over on a blog you probably already know and love next week, so keep your eyes open, I’ll be linking it up.  If you don’t know her, well, then I’ll be happy to introduce you!

- And lastly, I’m still sharing my story in the Tales of Bliss contest over at Canadian Family.  If you haven’t checked it out or voted, I would love you to take a wander over.  While what I wrote means a lot to me, seeing the support shown so far has multiplied it endlessly.

For enthusiasm in new beginnings, I am grateful.

For deep personal connections, I am thankful.

For trust that was placed in me, I am better.

For wisdom shared with me, I am smarter.

For faith placed in me to be great when I dared for good, I am braver.

Much gratitude to EverythingMom

 for the truth, work, hopes shared over these last two years.

~~~~~

May this year bring good things to us all, with opportunity to support one another in new ways.

I’m looking forward to what may come next.

Where did this week go?  I swear I make lists for an army of people to achieve – it’s like I pretend I will do nothing but tackle my lists all day long.  Oh, wait, I have to nurture these two kids and actually feed, clothe and care for them all day?  Oh, right, that’s where my days go.  Good thing they’re so cute, or boom – off to the gypsies they’d go.

Actually, I can’t blame the kids this week.  I was off to a roaring start, when Tuesday greeted us with an aggravation – our truck had been broken into overnight.  Ugh.  Cue plans changing, travel postponed, repairs booked.  Then as we got our brains back in focus, I got sick and am still sick today.  Can’t win ‘em all, so I’m laying low and just giving thanks for school and daycare that have kept my days quiet and my work doable.

So here’s a little of what’s been going on around here all week:

- I wrote “Don’t let winter get you down” over at the Electrolux Canada blog – all about making some fun plans for the weeks ahead to fight off the winter blahs.  Oh, and as it was pointed out to me, I may have mentioned wine.  And, um, Bailey’s.  And, um…okay, just go read for yourself.  How else are we supposed to stay warm?  Watch the Electrolux Canada blog this weekend to see my tips for surviving, and even enjoying, a Super Bowl party with your kids [update - just posted!]

- I am now a proud Fisher-Price mom, and will be working with Mom Central Canada and Fisher-Price.  If you are on Twitter, you can follow along with us by checking out the #FisherPriceMoms hashtag.  We’ll be having fun sharing stories, like this one about keeping kids busy in winter, and doing some reviews.

- I also became a KinderMom!  Yes, I’ll be pairing up with Kinder Canada and Mom Central Canada, and joining the #KinderMoms community online.

- And I’ve been busy thanking so many people for their votes in the Canadian Family Readers’ Choice competition.  My Tales of Bliss story called “The Overflowing Life” is up on the Canadian Family website, and voting is open until March 9, 2012.  I’d love if you’d come read and consider voting for me here: 

- I was asked to guest post over on a lovely blog you may know, so will update on that once it’s live.  Don’t you love suspense?

- Ooh, and I’m midway through my Sugar Detox with Domestic Diva, going very well and learning so much I didn’t know.  I’ll be writing about my experience when I’m done so stay tuned!

And that’s the week, in a nutshell.  Though why we’re measuring things in nutshells, I have no idea.  I’ll be spending the weekend recuperating, writing, resting and running after my kids.  In case you wanted to know, or were into alliteration, or something.

What’s been keeping you busy?

When the mercury drops without mercy, and snow covers the ground, there are days when I wonder why I live in a province so well known for its unforgiving winters.  I’m not someone partial to cold, I don’t particularly embrace winter sports, so what on earth am I doing living in Saskatchewan?  And that’s not all – born in Ontario, I’ve also lived in Manitoba.  It’s like a buffet of cold weather.

Now before I had kids, cold days were a perfect time to cuddle up with a book, a quiet activity, or a movie.  It was nice to meet a friend over a steaming cup of coffee, especially if we could sit somewhere with a view of what I really love about winter – the beauty of a world covered in sparkling white.

Ah.  There it is, the reason why I stay and stay, though winter challenges me every year.  But now, with two young kids, how do I get from November to April without losing my mind?  I’m not going to pretend that it’s always easy, or that there aren’t times when my imagination fails and tempers run short.  We’re human – little and big, we have our limitations.

Most days go by pretty quickly though, and we just seem to find a rhythm that works.  I find it helpful to forget about facing a whole winter cooped up.  That gets scary fast, my friends.  No, for me, it’s all about taking things a day at a time.

When we feel slow and quiet, we read or build with blocks or building sets.  When they want to be close to me, but I have work to do, we gather at the kitchen table.  It’s become the space where we get to be creative together.  My laptop is parked there for writing, and each child has a generous stash of crayons, markers, paper, colouring books, activity books, and other supplies.  My oldest has more books and markers, of course, but the littlest has a magnetic drawing board and small chalkboard to use as well.  We keep everything handy in a hutch nearby so anyone can grab a project and come to the table to share creative time.

Rotating through our toys seems to help – my kids love toys that engage them and allow them to play in different ways, so we try to keep this in mind when buying.  Swords and costumes help them role play, toys that encourage open play help them have fun in different ways each day.  My youngest loves anything to do with food, so loves her play food, tea set, coffeepot and sandwich fixings.  Sometimes she cooks in her kitchen, other days they picnic on a blanket in the family room.  They also both love to help in the kitchen, so we got them matching personalized “Head Chef” and “Sous Chef” aprons for Christmas.  And if all else fails, we build forts or hiding spots out of pillows, or even just a big jumping pile for them to take turns leaping into.

There are some great ideas over on the Fisher-Price site in their Play & Learn Family Activities section that I can’t wait to share with my two kids, especially my youngest.  At three, she’s still home with me a fair amount, and loves anything new I can bring to the table for pretend play.

My final solution to cabin fever is to get out of the “cabin”.  Yes, we play, we pretend, we read, we snuggle but once in a while it’s time to brave the cold and go back to my roots.  I said I loved to spend time over a cup of coffee, didn’t I?  And I still do.  Only now my coffee dates are either or both of my kids, chairs pulled up close with milk and a cookie in front of them.  They love to be treated like grownups, and I love to have the time with them.  And amazingly, we all come home happier and ready to play.

What’s your favourite way to keep your kids busy when the weather outside is grim?  Do you find the winter days longer than summer?  Any survival tips to share?

Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Mom and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Sometimes timing is everything.

Sometimes crazy and brilliant come together in a memorable way.

Like this week, when I felt a special kind of goofy descend upon our family.  It didn’t last long, but for four days it felt like I was spinning plates.  Just a lot of things going sideways or adding trouble to an already busy routine:  the babe starting a new daycare, the temperature dropping to nearly minus 50 degrees with windchill, school buses being cancelled.

Add in a quarterly bookkeeping appointment that always has me filing and organizing at the last minute, and a little sprinkle of solo parenting for four days and I fervently wished for a cloning machine.  I couldn’t seem to be everywhere at once.  If the babe was tired at home, I simultaneously had to be waiting outside the school doing a rare pickup because of the cold weather.  Showering in the morning was done in a rush while two kids played and drove each other crazy nearby.  I couldn’t let any of it go, because it had nowhere to fall.  So I hung on and waited for Thursday to end, and thank God, end it did.  With a PVR taping a single, solitary minute of a show I’d wanted to watch for a week.  Thanks, technology, you can bite me.

It wasn’t all crazy, not at all.  In the quiet moments, I was doing work I enjoyed and writing things that mattered to me. So no complaints but some days I just wonder what the hell is going on.

And I haven’t even gotten to the part about one of the first mornings when, at 6 a.m., my son and I heard a sound so loud from outside it sounded like part of the house broke off, or something important popped in my head.  Buried in pillows and blankets as we were, him having already made the early excursion down the hall to my room, we couldn’t tell where the sound had come from, nor what it had been.  But I know we both jumped a foot, and then could barely breathe.  And then my seven year old comes out with it: “I know how to call 911 if someone breaks in, Mom!”

Well, that’s a relief.

But to think that either of us have to be breathless in the dark, waiting to hear something, anything that would tell us what we had heard the first time, and both thinking the worst, well, that’s a gigantic mental twist that I’d rather not live through again.  I downplayed whatever I could for him, told him I was listening to see if his sister had fallen out of bed (lie, lie, lie), but my heart hammered in my chest.

We survived, apparently it was some random mystery noise that is as of yet unexplained.  We tiptoed down the stairs trying not to wake his sister, or, you know, clutch at each other and fall down them.  I’m plenty brave about a lot of things, but this isn’t one of them.  The babe woke shortly after, and we had barely calmed down before the morning routine hit us and we were off and running.  You know, with my heart still pounding and basement still unchecked.  It’s dark down there, you know.  I had to wait and check it later.  (Oh come on, I’m not a total pansy, it’s just had this happened any other time in fifteen years there would have been 200 pounds of husband, 200 pounds of dog and/or an alarm system to keep me from worrying.)

But this one day, nada.

In the middle of all this random silliness, I happened to come across something I had never heard before.  And I like it so much I’m going to create a category for it here on the blog, because sometimes I need to be able to write about random, crazy stuff and you’re going to want to say it.

Yeah, you are.  And so am I.

Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot.

You read that right.

I’m sure I’ll soon have a little more W.T.F. to share with you.  The world is full of it – if I’m not living it, I’m reading about it and rolling my eyes.  And most of the time it’s not worth losing sleep over, but you have to be able to share it, laugh about it or just go…seriously???

Here.  Have a little W.T.F.

You’re welcome.

Your turn!  Tell me about your week – any W.T.F. you’d like to share?  What went off the rails for you?

Sugar,

Oh, honey honey

You are my candy girl

And you got me wanting you

~ Sugar, Sugar by The Archies

If you’ve ever had a little look around this blog, you may have noticed the long running tagline at the top that says “Sweet cravings and salty language”.  If ever I were to be accused of having vices, those two would probably top the list.  (Any of you waving your hands to mention my impatience and my tendency to stay up past midnight for no good reason can just zip it.)

Well, anyway, it’s no secret that I love me some sugar.  I stir it into my coffee, my tea and sprinkle it on my toast.  I like to indulge in public, and sneak it when no one is looking.  I once had a friend out me at a dinner party, to a room full of people I was meeting for the first time, that I like to sneak chocolate with my first cup of coffee, yes at 6 a.m.  That’s how you get a name for yourself, right there.  I also am known around certain circles (hello, Twitter!) as having a deep love of all things chocolate, especially Toffifee.  I am also a great enabler.

I named my blog for my love of coffee and chocolate, and one of my first published pieces was entitled “Chocolafession”.

Sugar and I are hot and heavy.

However.  There comes a time in every sugar lover’s life when they wake up and realize they aren’t 25 anymore, and that perhaps fueling themselves purely on sweet things is not just silly, it’s actually pretty foolish.  I can’t say I mind being known for my sweet tooth and chocolate cravings, but I admit, it makes me crazy that I have such a hard time saying no.  If it’s in the house, I want it.  My mood is instantly improved by it.  (And to be honest, writing this is making me want it badly enough my teeth hurt.)

And I just gave in.

See?  That’s what makes me so annoyed.  Don’t get me wrong, I will always love being the girl who loves her sugar, but I want to enjoy it on my terms.  Giving control of my brain over to something that doesn’t even have one doesn’t sit right with me.  And knowing that it’s a habit that must be affecting my energy, and worse, my health irritates me even more.  I’d rather enjoy my sweets when I really want something, and am taking the time to savour it than just using sugar and chocolate as easy fuel when I’m busy.

I’ve been invited to take part in something special that is starting up right away, and I would love some company if any of you have been looking for a way to battle this particular vice.  I’m going to dive in with the ladies from Domestic Diva and join their 28 Day Sugar Detox.  There are a few reasons why I think this will be a good way to move forward – first, I hate deprivation and just quitting cold turkey doesn’t work for me and second, I know enough about one of the founders of Domestic Diva to know that she’s smart and down to earth about this stuff.  And I know how busy she is, and that she has two kids similar in age to my own!  So I know she understands how busy some of us are, and how hard it is to juggle something new in.  She’s living it!  But she’s also been where I am and has made good changes to her own life with the resources they’ll be sharing.  I love the idea of learning why the hell I’m craving sugar sometimes all the time, and how to get to a point that I feel nourished and satisfied enough that I don’t feel the sugar crazies the way I do now.

You can check out all the details on their website, along with many more posts and articles they have been creating.  We’re starting Monday, Jan 23rd, and going for four weeks of learning, trying out suggestions, sharing our experiences with others and finally making the move to get sugar off our “vice” list.

Sweet wishes to you if you decide to come join in!

Disclosure:  I’ve been invited to join the 28 Day Sugar Detox compliments of the ladies of Domestic Diva.  However, I volunteered to share my story beforehand, and to share my thoughts after all is said and done because I really believe they have wisdom worth sharing.  All opinions are my own.

 Photo credit:  Jade Gordon

Taking part in SOC (Stream of Consciousness) Sunday:

It’s funny how our minds work.  I’ve been doing some thinking about this blog, and my writing, and feeling badly that I haven’t been taking the time to write here.  And my mind turns that into “I haven’t been writing much, I should fix that.”

But the truth is, while I may have gone a bit quiet here in the last few weeks of last year, I was actually doing writing that made me very happy. I started blogging for the Electrolux Canada blog and have had plenty of fun brainstorming ideas and planning out the content I want to feature each week, then writing and editing each post.  And while I think I haven’t been sharing much, the truth is that over there I was writing about life, kids, entertaining, cooking, being organized for the holidays, surviving holidays with the kids and a little fun holiday wine pairing.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and have great things planned for the next couple of months.

I also have written two pieces for the Barbie I Can Be The Voice campaign, and these have been such great explorations of emotional development and raising a daughter to know her own mind – I’m the better for having written them.  I’ll be keeping them close to my heart as my daughter grows.

So it appears it’s all in my head.  My personal blogging slowed down during a busy time, but my writing work has picked up and that’s something to be thankful for, not regretful.  I’ve been coming up with ideas, plotting out content, and writing my heart out here and there.  I’m hoping you were reading some of these other pieces, but I promise to keep adding more here as well.

Perspective is a funny thing, isn’t it?  Oh, and by the way, I can promise more writing here but my freelance work isn’t going to slow down anytime soon.  I’m actually looking to add more as I add more work hours to my plate.  So if occasionally I have to balance that with what I do here, I’m going to enjoy it instead of worrying about it.

Whew.  Has this ever happened to you?  Did you think it was writer’s block or that you were stuck?  Sometimes I forget everything else I’m doing – you too?

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post as hosted by All Things Fadra. It’s five minutes of your time and a nice way to let the words flow.

Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
Link up your post on Fadra’s blog over at All Things Fadra.
Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

“Sit on the couch, please.”

Such a grown up tone for a small voice, but she knows it helps me take her seriously, helps to set the mood.  She has something to show me, and it’s clear I’m to pay attention.  Amazing how a three year old knows how to set the stage so all the players know their lines, isn’t it?

She patters to the centre of the room in bunny slippers that are standing in for ballet shoes – in her mind, there is nothing to separate the pink nosed creatures from real ballet slippers.  What, yours don’t have ears?

I had asked if she wanted help putting on her tutu, and was held off with a hand and a quick answer.

“No, Mama, I got big and now I can do it all by myself!  Watch this.”

Sigh.  For her, every change is a celebration, hard evidence of babyhood left behind.  I celebrate them too, but certainly in a much more bittersweet way.  She will need me for other things, so why be sad that she doesn’t need me for this?

She doesn’t need me for this.

And that’s the line that threatens me lately – with my youngest having turned three, I can’t really say I have any babies in the house.  And although I commonly refer to her as “the babe”, the reality is she is growing swiftly into the girl she will be.  I am starting to see who she will be, I see her gaining strength, coordination, sly ways of communicating that don’t come naturally to toddlers.  No, she is exploding into girlhood, elbow dimples be damned.  (God, I will miss the elbow dimples.)  She is bold, chatty, strong, sweet, and so clever.  We try so hard to do more than fawn over her looks, knowing we don’t want her to think we only value the precious curve of her cheek or her silky hair.  But beauty she has in spades, so we will just love it all and be happy that her looks come with fiery fearlessness and keen thought.

I sit where I’m directed and wait as she fusses to straighten the pink tulle, and brush the hair out of her eyes.  And then the magic happens – there is a ballerina in the room.  Maybe only the tutu would give it away, but I’m treated to a performance with as much heart as any other more easily recognized.  She moves from each piece of furniture to the next, holding on as though grasping a barre, extending one leg behind her.

Ballet is her special thing, you see.  Months ago she started showing off what she called “her moves” and they were pretty impressive for a two and a half year old.  Where did she learn it?  No one knows.  Yes, a few shows have a bit of ballet in them, but she has a big brother and not many would ever get screen time.  And she sees plenty of other things she doesn’t adopt and develop a sweet affection for.

And just like that we are done.  I’m charmed, and heartbroken all at once.

“Bravo, bravo!”  I clap for her and she bows, again and again.

A grand finish.  I carry her to the next room and breathe in her silky hair, and pretend time isn’t completely slipping through my fingers.

Anyone know if that actually works?

January.  A new year.

How did we get here so quickly?  Forgive me, but I’d like to know where November and December went.  I feel like I got ready for back to school, zipped to a conference, then fell into birthdays and holidays and what can be best described as static.  Like when a radio isn’t quite tuned in correctly and while you know the station you’re trying to find is in there somewhere, you can’t get through all the chatter to find it.

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”
― Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God

For me, 2011 was definitely a year that asked questions.  If it wasn’t nailed down or attached to my body by skin and bone, I wondered at it.  Never have I felt so fulfilled, yet restless at the same time.  No complaining here, my life is too full of wonder, of blessings, to ever dare raise a complaint, but what a mental unwinding.  Questioning areas of my life is something I do all the time – should I change things, add things, let go of things?  Should I move on, stay?  Should we change where we live, change neighbourhoods, homes, cities?

I questioned until my head spun and my teeth nearly rattled.

And then the end of the year came along, and I find myself taking a deep breath.  I am hoping that 2012 is a year that answers.  I’ve grown weary of the questions, the restlessness.  I long to find the life I know that is waiting for me and settle into it the way we do into a very large, soft chair.  And that’s the really funny thing about people like me, and maybe you too – I’m so convinced a better life is out there waiting, that I’m willing to sometimes be halfway miserable today so I can imagine it, aim for it.

However.  There comes a time in one woman’s life where it all gets a little tiring.  That house, this house?  That city, this city?  Who cares?  Deep down, I do, of course, but sometimes you have to worry about things like soaking up your children while they are still small.  Making tea in the afternoon instead of coffee, because why are we rushing anyway?  Breathing through discussions that would normally strain nerves.

Comfort and joy is a phrase we hear often through the holidays; a line from a song, a sentiment that scrolls across a card.  I’m going to take it from that song, that card and tuck it away to bring out when I need to find some direction, when I need reminding that I can find it right here, in words, in books, in my children’s endless wonder.

This year, wherever I am, whatever I do, I know what I really am looking for are comfort and joy.  Comfort in a life that suits me, rests my weary head, cheers my soul.  Joy in the little bits of the day that knock me over when I slow down enough to see them.  Stop setting ideas aside and write it all out – the silliness, the wonder, the frustration, the laughter, the joy, the weariness.  When my head gets too busy, I stop letting go when I write.  I can write anything I need to, but this little corner, my corner, goes quiet.

So I’m slowing down.  I have so many things to write, and write I will.

So this is my wish for us all:

May the new year bring us answers to our questions, comfort to our hearts and joy to our spirits.

Did last year ask or answer questions for you?  What do you wish for in the new year?

Photo credit:  Mario Gonzaga via sxc.hu

So last week was a bit crazy, juggling work and solo parenting and coffee – oh, I was in fine form.

It’s easy to tell when you are running a bit off your normal pace, isn’t it? I can always tell the difference between smooth sailing and choppy waters, and oh, my boat was rocking.  Two kids, two businesses, husband in the US for the week – did I mention my sitter went back to university in September?

But it was all for good reason, and I was balancing it all until Thursday rolled around and I dropped something messy.  I can’t think now what it was because all I remember is letting out an “oh sh*t!” in front of my almost-three year old.  Sigh.  Of course.  You would think at the rate my husband swears that he would be the one teaching the kids these lovely words (and in fact, he inspired this post about the “f” word when my son was younger.)

This time, though, it was me, and sure enough, her eyes twinkled and she chirped it back at me.  I bit my lip and started to correct myself and distract her, but she was having none of it.  Nope, she gave me a smirk and with a dimple she chortled “Ha ha – Mommy, that sh*t makes me laugh.”  It was all I could do not to burst out laughing.  Off she went, and I hoped we were done.

But of course we weren’t – and you’ve all been down this road, right? The next day she couldn’t get her ski mitts back on by herself while we were driving.  She was in her carseat, struggling, and I had to ask her to wait because I was driving.  She insisted on doing it herself…and then I heard:

“Sh*t!”

Sigh.  I tried pretending to misunderstand her by asking if she’d heard me say “sit” the day before.  Nope.  Was it “skit”?  Nope.

She’s nobody’s fool.  She knows what she heard.

Oh well.  There are far worse things she could have repeated and I haven’t heard it since, so I’m crossing my fingers and running my lines. Hopefully next time I drop something I’ll be able to save myself with an “Oh, sugar!”

Swear jar, anyone?

Photo credit:  stock.xchg

Just wanted to take a moment to thank any of you who came to read me over at the Electrolux Canada blog these past couple of weeks. I’ll be writing a weekly blog post for them and am really looking forward to sharing all I have planned!  Today is Sunday, which means a new post is probably going up tomorrow…ooh, can’t wait!  It’s a good one too.

They were kind enough to officially introduce me here, and then I started off with my first post, called “The Sweet Life“.  I confessed to plenty of shortcomings, shared a bit of what I love and what I think about this whole business of waking up and realizing that a whole household is revolving around me.  (Well, not just me…but you know what I mean.)

I love being able to create the life we want, and make it fit our dreams, our goals.  But I know we’ve met damn near every hurdle along the way, and if we haven’t hit it yet, I’m sure it’s coming.

So here’s what I think about the whole “be more amazing” thing.  I think it’s an awesome way to acknowledge that what we do already is impressive.  All the planning, the effort, the energy – it’s daunting and enormous and I love being part of something that says “it’s already fantastic”.

Looking for ways to do more, make it easier, enjoy more – all right up my alley.

So I hope you’ll continue to read and enjoy what I’m sharing over on the Electrolux Canada blog!  I promise to try to help you do more, make it easier and enjoy more (and I’ll share where I’m succeeding and slipping up along the way!)

Raise a glass, or a coffee cup, whatever you have with me, won’t you?

Cheers to being even more amazing.

Because I love the idea that we already are, where we are today.

Don’t you?

Disclosure:  this post was written by me, without any prompting from Electrolux Canada.  This one is just for fun.  

Photo credit:  stock.xchg

I’ve been looking through pictures from my son’s birthday.

He turned seven recently, and I’m still so amazed by him.  I know we all go through that initial swoon period where we are floored by our ability to create these small people.  I’m sure I’m supposed to be quite over it by now, and trust me, there are moments when I am so over it.

But those are the moments when I forget all the good, all the special things that I would never stop to notice without him.  With him by my side, I pay attention to details, I wonder at the world and I laugh more at silly things.

I could write a list of a hundred things that I love about him.  When I write about him, you can tell what he means to me.

He’s smart and sweet, funny and honest.  He’s sensitive and stormy, loyal and curious.  He’s handsome, and can already knock me down with giant hugs.

That’s just ten things and I’m sure you’re already rolling your eyes. So what I will tell you today is one of my favourite things about him.

Out of the blue it will come, sometimes mid-conversation, sometimes out of the silence.

And it’s so sweet, so often, that we sometimes forget how enormous it really is.  We are raising him with love, and we tell him we love him, but there is something beautiful happening right before our eyes.

He loves, on his own terms.

He says “I love you” all the time, and he says it first.

And not just once in a while, it’s all day long. “I love you more, no backs.” “Je t’aime.” “Love you.”

Anything I could write about how it makes me feel to hear it would fall short.  We love to know our kids can love like that, don’t we?  Their love is sweet and pure.

But what I love best, is how willing he is to say it first.  And I wish upon him a future where he doesn’t lose that confidence, that security in the people he loves.

I want him, as a teenager, to be able to say it first.  I hope for him, as an adult, to tell the people around him what they mean to him with ease.

I want him to love with his heart wide open.

Imagine, if we all did.

Photo credit:  stock.xchg

There are pumpkins everywhere, scarecrows and ghostly creatures share space in each room and I’ve been sneaking Halloween candy for a week.  Fall garlands with orange and red leaves add to the décor, and we are happily immersed in October fun once again.

This year, we’ve added a small fenced in area on the lawn complete with a tombstone and bones, and are having fun juggling spooky and cute decorations.  With a toddler and a seven year old, we need to find a balance!

One of the funny things about being a parent is creating new holiday traditions for your new family while reminiscing about everything that made holidays special when you were a kid.  Somehow I am the grown-up, buying costumes and candy, but I can’t help but remember candy in pillowcases, and the desperate glee of sorting through my haul of goodies.

I might still have that sweet tooth.  Okay, fine, I’m known for it, and even though I’m sneaky, my kids are showing signs of their own.  So we eat lots of healthy, fresh food, brush our teeth often and we’re all the happier for our treats.

We have always purchased and handed out candy, even before having kids.  It just felt like we should get into the spirit of things, and we loved seeing the costumes.  Back then we bought whatever happened to catch our eye for candy, and we always bought lots – heaven forbid we run out!

Then we started our own family, and the first year we took our son trick or treating opened our eyes.  He was just eleven months old, and we took him to the homes of just a few favourite neighbours.  Those neighbours brought their wee ones to our door as well, and we were faced with a quick realization – none of these babies or toddlers had tried nuts, nor did we want them to quite yet.  And while none of them needed more than just a taste of this or that, we figured out a plan.  From then on, we bought candy labelled peanut-free, and prepared little bags ahead of time for the smallest of our visitors.  That way, when they got home, their parents would be able to tell which candy came from us.

Now our kids are older, but new concerns still keep us buying peanut free.  Good friends have kids with allergies, and we figure the least we can do is keep up with the nut-free purchases and make our contributions to the holiday safe for all.

This year, we are taking a trip back down memory lane and have a bowl full of Allan candy to hand out.  It’s funny, I can remember the logo from when we would buy candy as a kid – two “L”s side by side looking like little rabbit ears – remember?  They’ve been around for 77 years, and who doesn’t remember Big Foot candies from when they were kids?  That’s a 25 year old memory, friends.  Very cool.

I’m always happy for the chance to get to know a company better – if I remember a name from when I was a kid, and I know they are peanut-free and made in Canada, you can bet I’m going to feel good about making them part of what we do for Halloween.  And that’s what making new family traditions is all about – careful choices that make the holiday all about what matters to you, your partner and your kids.

Our son has an October birthday, and for the last two years has chosen a Halloween theme for his party.  We love it as it gives us good reason to decorate even more and keep it festive for 2 or 3 weeks instead of just a day.  And loot bags get easier when we make them into little trick or treat bags, complete with a few sweet treats.

Halloween will find us handing out handfuls of candy, one of us heading out with the kids to knock on a few favourite doors.  My husband has plans to add more decorations to the front entry as well as to play spooky music through a nearby window.  Our youngest is turning three next month and this will be the first year she really understands all the excitement.  I can’t wait.

And that stash of Sour Grape Slices in my desk?  It’s all in the name of research, friends, and a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

This will be a fun week for us – hope you are enjoying all your Halloween preparations, and that your candy thieving is stealthy.  If you need some inspiration, I’m available for consultations.

Happy Halloween!

~~~~~

Cool stuff to know:  Allan Candy Halloween treats are all made in Canada and are peanut free – the line-up includes:  Allan Intense Jubes & Jellies, Allan Chewy Rascalz and Allan Fruit Buddies (look for Big Foot, Sour Big Foot, Green Thumbs and Hot Lips, as well as Sour Watermelon Slices, Peach Slices, Sour Cherry Slices, Tangy Wild Strawberries and Sour Grape Slices!)  You’ll find these selections at key retailers, including Wal-Mart and Loblaws.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Allan Candy Company program by Mom Central Canada.  I received compensation for my participation in this campaign.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

It is the time of year when I look at my children and marvel.

There will be birthdays, two.  There will be cakes, two.  There will quite possibly be pangs of the heart, many.

For my babies will turn seven and three this fall, and though two small lives are more than I ever thought I would create, it twists a bit in my stomach to know that they are both moving through these young months and years so quickly.

Time is a terrible, wonderful thing.  I am so addicted to their changes, to seeing newness light in their eyes, to their endlessly clever ways.  Yet, I miss the sweetness of the babies they once were.  My arms were full of sweet cheeks, soft blankets and pink toes many moons ago; now strong, brave, noisy children have taken their place.

Their voices mingle and mash, their energy swirls through the house.  Most days they take me along with them – for isn’t it easier to let the wave take you than fight the current once you have fallen in?

We spend years looking inward before we become parents, then as soon as we lay eyes on that newborn face it’s as though we suddenly see so clearly how much of our lives we will give so freely.

Looking down at one’s own path, looking inward, looking behind are pale stand-ins for looking forward, standing first before, then behind a child of your own.  Their horizons reach further than your own and you realize the ocean you are sailing suddenly has no shore.  You become them, they become their own and so on and so forth and if you are lucky, so it continues.

These wee creatures are already eyeing their own ships – who knew it would come so soon?  But I can see the twinkle and the future in their eyes.

An arm around one, the other snuggled on my lap.

We rock in calm seas, and I am overwhelmed at my good fortune.

Photo credit:  stock.xchg

Inspiration struck Toronto this past weekend, and I was lucky enough to be right in the middle of some of the smartest, most committed women in online media.

I attended Blissdom Canada ‘11 at the Hilton Toronto, and like last year, the anticipation ran high.  How could a meeting of this much heart and wisdom ever disappoint?

Sure enough, I was amazed by the creativity and passion by the writers, publishers, and public relations professionals who surrounded me.  I was inspired by women (and a few men!) smart enough to have gone ahead, and generous to reach back to share whatever they could to those who may come behind.

Let us hope that we never forget the importance of supporting one another in this space we share.  Never before have I enjoyed work in a landscape so overlapping in potential competition – yet, the leaders rising to the top are the ones most often seen reaching out, lifting others, and generally sharing what they can to ensure the rising of the collective success.

From panels that made us roar with laughter, to those that brought swift tears, to those who sparked inspiration on how to run our businesses better – we were treated to a generous buffet of knowledge.  Between each session, we shared meals, drinks, laughter, hugs, and discussed our work, our dreams, our plans.  I couldn’t begin to list the number of people who offered inspiration; be it great or small, each snippet will be tucked away and woven into what will come next.

We had a chance to be at our best, while simultaneously growing into more.  I worried – what might explode first, my heart or my head?

But this is when we are at our best, isn’t it?  For all the hours we spend at our computers, thankful am I for the chance to come out and listen, laugh and share.

If we are very lucky, this is one conference that will continue to grow and develop.  Was it perfect?  Probably not, and a lucky thing too, as none of the attendees were either.  Imagine the pressure!  I’m sure there will be criticism, suggestions for improvements, and requests for more, or different.  That’s okay – that’s how we all grow.  Let’s not forget how unique each attendee was, and how individual their thoughts, goals and dreams might be.  To address all of these from 300 attendees, all in two and a half days is an ambitious undertaking.  There is a give and take that goes on as we all learn, share and grow.  Perhaps there were sessions in which you learned a great deal – congratulations, you were able to take away wisdom and inspiration.  If you were in a session that shared knowledge some of which you already possess, then perhaps that was your moment to give to someone else.  Perhaps your discussions or questions or input will help someone else, just as the panelists and moderators were so generously willing to share their insights with us.

This conference is a special, growing thing.  We would do well to appreciate its graces, adore its most fetching traits and help improve it where we see room for improvement.

Enormous thanks to the organizers, the sponsors, the volunteers and all those attendees who bought tickets in good faith that a good thing would come back as good or better than it had been the first time we experienced it.

I’m leaving town with a full heart, an inspired mind.

And I’ll be back, every year Blissdom Canada will have me.

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Why did I come?

We all want to be real.

Will I know anyone?

Wait, I know you.

Will anyone know me?

I wanted to meet you too.

Laughter.

Who else can I find to meet?

Hugs.

More connections.

So that’s what her voice sounds like.

Who knew her eyes had such a spark?

Wait, someone else we know.

She lights up a room.

I didn’t know you were shy too.

Who knew she would blush when teased?

There she is.

She has the best laugh.

Why did I not know she had dimples?

I want to laugh every time she looks at me sideways.

More hugging.

She speaks so honestly.

Where did she come from?

We listen.

What is her story?

Applause.

We share meals, coffee, drinks, treats.

We keep talking.

Tell me more.

Who else can we include?

We keep laughing.

We make memories.

More hugging.

We say farewell.

We have become real.