While I was away....

....Mr. Jonah lost another tooth. One in the front! This is tooth number 5 and he looks so cute having only one tooth in the front! I had him pose in his new Cape Cod sweatshirt. He loves it.

The Cape Cod Crew

L to R - Nel, Lorraine, Me(back), Judy, Lee(back), Monica, Jayne, Lindy

I have blogged about my experience in Cape Cod and posted some pics, but I wanted to tell you about the wonderful ladies I was with - the Cape Cod Crew!

As is often found in groups of women, there can sometimes be tension, not getting along and even catty issues. Not this week!! We all fit together like we have all been friends for years. It was a great feeling to be able to just be yourself. So without further adieu....introducing the Cape Cod Crew!

Monica - OMG, need to squeeze her up, put her in a bottle and sell her on the store shelves. She is ADORABLE! I know a lot of grown woman hate to be called that but I mean it in a very good way! LOL. She makes me giggle and her laugh is contagious. Monica is a brilliant photographer and her layouts are awesome. I tried to rub up on her just to get a smidge of her creativity.

Nel - Frickin hysterical this gal is. Not only does she have the funniest stories and "good news-es", she is so down to earth. I felt like I have known her for a long time. And she was so kind to go into town and get my missing scrapbook piece so that I could tour the town with the other gals. Thanks Nel!

Lindy - Have you ever met or known someone that smiles when they speak? I met her! Her name is Lindy. And I am serious, she smiles when she speaks. Even when she is fired up about something, there is a smile. Lindy sat at the scrap table with us and made a beautiful altered box. Now I am on the hunt for shoe boxes! Loved meeting Lindy and look forward to the next time we meet.

Lorraine - The Cupcake Lady - I haven't tasted her work, but I have seen pictures. Amazing work. You need to check her out. Lorraine is half my size but she packs a punch. I love that she is so matter of fact. It is refreshing really. Lorraine was also kind enough to help me with my elbow therapy exercises and is the one who found Jonah his "Frankie" and even modge-podged it for me. Can't wait to see Lorraine again and sample her cupcakes.

Jayne - Love my Jayne. We were roomies and there was no awkwardness there! We laughed liked schoolgirls and chatted until the wee hours in the morning. I have chatted online with Jayne since last summer when I became a forever student at Feeling Scrappy. When Lee told me she was invited, I was thrilled! Jayne is so down to earth and so talented! I loved creating with her and getting to know her better.

Judy - Sweet as sugar is Judy. She didn't know me from Adam and that did not matter to her. Judy is engaging, interested and full of pitchah! And has the most awesome Boston accent EVER! I only got to spend a day and a half with Judy, which was too bad. But I am so very happy I got to meet her!

And then there is Lee.....there is so much I could say about this woman. Lee is an amazing friend to so many people. So gracious to open her home to us. Lee was a wonderful hostess, gave us a tour of the Cape, always made sure we were comfortable and having a good time. How could we not? I don't think I have ever laughed so much in one weekend. Lee has been very supportive with my roller coaster of a year and this time away was exactly what I needed. It is so nice to talk about many things in life with someone who is real and doesn't sugar coat things. Lee lives authentically. I admire that. Thank you Lee for a fantastic time away and giving me the opportunity to meet such amazing women and see the sites of Cape Cod.

Cape Cod Holiday

This is so overdue! I came back from my fantastic holiday in Cape Cod and was plowed over by work and life in general!
The trip was amazing. The ladies, even more amazing. I will be posting separately about them :)
I drove down with Lee. So great to chat away! And I have 2 major milestones from that drive!!

1) I didn't fall asleep! I tend to fall asleep when riding in vehicles. Has nothing to do with the company. I started to lose consciousness toward the end, but the point is I made it! LOL

2) I used a public washroom. Not once, TWICE! Lee got to witness my gagging reaction to having used a public loo. To me, washrooms are like bowling shoes - seats of a thousand asses. Gag.

The 5 days in Cape Cod were refreshing. We shopped, we ate, we chatted, we shopped, we toured, took photos, hunted seashells and shopped some more!

At Lee's recommendation, we had some "must see" spots:

Scargo Tower - It was not as big as I had pictured from Tricky Dickys description (he was a character and a half!). The view from the top was beautiful. Scargo Lake is actually shaped like a fish, fins and all.

Glass Blowing Museum - a quaint shop with some beautiful pieces. They have a viewing window so you can see how they blow and shape the glass.

Local Scrapbook Store - how could we not visit here!! I really liked this store. I wish we had one in Ajax just like it. The gals in the store were so helpful and patient with all my questions. They had great treats in there!

Local Cemetary - ok, I admit it seems weird to go to a cemetary, but this was unique! It is the resting spot of many revolutionary and civil war vets. It was fascinating to read the inscriptions on them. Some were specific - Died at 47 years, 6 months and 18 days. Some were vague - Died at sea 1807. Some even told stories! So-and-so died after being captured on a rogue ship and was drowned. I love history and being in the cemetary was eye-opening.

We also drove by General Hale's house (I took a picture of his grave), stopped for some All American Ice Cream, walked the beach and toured the grounds to take in the beautiful flowers and natures smiles. We also created. I made a clipboard with the help of the girls, especially Monica who helped me file since I couldn't with my elbow. We also sat in the gathering room and chatted away - until I leaped out of my chair because of a grasshopper figurine that scared the shit out of me. He had been sitting beside me the whole time and I never noticed. When I did, I yelled. What a fool. I took a picture of him. LOL.

We sat and chatted about any and everything, laughed wholeheartedly and meshed together like peas and carrots. It was a fantastic time, thank you again to Lee.

Here is a slideshow of some of the pictures that were taken.

Friday Fill-ins - June 12

Probably the only time I enjoy pink is on flowers.....oh, and cotton candy!

This picture was taken in Cape Cod. I believe they are called Rhodadundruns.

I have no idea how to spell it! LOL

If you would like to participate, please visit http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/ Be sure to leave me a comment to let me know you participated and I can check it out!

And...here we go with mine! Answers are in bold.

1. I grew up thinking that my kids would also camp at Orchard Grove. Still makes me sad that it is gone. Best times of my life were spent there.

2. Feeling Scrappy was the last website I was at before coming here. I was checking out the sketch that was posted!

3. Why don't you take a hop up your pantleg? Is a saying (by my Daddy) I will never forget.

4. Scrapbooking or reading helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the impact you have had on my life.

6. The smell of athletic equipment can be very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to my scrapbook class at Sandy's, tomorrow my plans include a belated anniversary date night with my one and only and Sunday, I want to enjoy Jonah's laughter as he takes in Canada's Wonderland!

Who is your Idol?

Who is your Idol?

This is a very accurate test. Give it a try!

PLEASE try it without looking at the answers. No peeking otherwise youll ruin it!!!

1) Pick your Favourite number between 1- 9
2) Multiply by 3, then;
3) Add 3, then again multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get the calculator......)
4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number....
5) Add the digits together

Now scroll down..... .... .. ... .. ... .. ..... .

Now with that number see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below :
1. Einstein
2. Richard Branson
3.. Jacob Zuma
4. Mother Teresa
5. George Bush
6. Gandhi
7. Brad Pitt
8.. Bill Gates
9. Charlene O'Hara
10. Tiger Woods

I know, I know !!!!
I just have that effect on people - one day you too can be like me!!! Believe it!

PS. Stop picking different numbers. I am your idol, just deal with it!!!!

And there is your Sunday humour :o)

12 Years ago

It was 12 years ago today that Sean and I were married. Hard to believe how fast the time goes! I still remember the day like it was yesterday. My parents threw us an AWESOME wedding. Exactly how I dreamed.

And here we are 12 years later, still very much in love. More in love now, then the day we were married. I never thought that was possible, but certainly dreamt it. And now I am happily living it.

Happy Anniversary Sean! I love you very much. I look forward to spending many more anniversaries together.

Letting it go in Cape Cod

Last week, I was off for a few days in Cape Cod thanks to a generous invite from my very good friend Lee. It was an amazing trip and the ladies were wonderful! I will be posting pics and more details of that soon!

Cape Cod had a major impact on me - in a very good way. There were many things I was holding on to, or rather, wouldn't let go of. And I knew that I needed to do just that. Let it go.

As some of you know, I, like many others, have had a challenging year. It started out with a death of someone very dear to my heart that I am still struggling with and continued on thru to the present with unemployment, illness, trips to hospitals, car accident, broken elbow, elbow surgery and recovery, preparing to have a hysterectomy and just general uncertainty of our financial future. Needless to say, it has sucked ass large. And yes, I do know there are others worse off than me. I am not that ignorant. I am aware of the issues from all over the world so I do not need anymore of the "things can be worse" emails. Sometimes we just need to wallow. :o)

There were some realizations that I was not prepared to deal with. The biggest one being support. I have often "been there" for people but found when it was I who was having turmoil, they didn't have the time of day, or frankly didn't care. It was not that I expected it, I was just taken aback that the "places" I thought I could go to for support, were closed. And the places I least expected, were wide open! Many people have said, when times are tough, you realize who your real friends are. This year, sadly, proved it to be very true. In so many ways.

I was starting to carry anger around with me. That anger grew after my husband was being blamed for someones cancer. Appalling and unbelievable, I know. But it happened. That threw me over the edge.

I kept praying that things would turn around. I also realized that if I didn't let things go, they wouldn't turn around. Thank God for Lee and her invite to Cape Cod. It is amazing what dipping your toes in the Atlantic Ocean and watching a sunset can do for your soul!

A couple of the ladies and I went for a walk on the beach to discover and take pictures. I stood at the edge of the beach and waited for the ocean to roll up to me.

It was not as cold as I expected it to be! But what a great feeling! I just stood there, mezmerized by the beauty of this place and the feelings that wash over you.

Afterward, I went up to Monica and Jayne and hugged them. I am sure they didn't realize why, but the emotions hit me like a wave and I just needed to hug! LOL. They probably thought I was just being "Crazy Char".

One of the last evenings we were there, we all watched a beautiful sunset.

From the start.....

.... to finish.

I have "seen" many sunsets, but very rarely are they "watched". The last time was with my husband at our honeymoon spot. I was due! It was spectacular and breathtaking.

The sunset completed it for me. Again, I felt emotional and went to hug Lee to thank her. I am quite sure Lee understood the hug. At least I hope she does. I am truly grateful. The year may be half over, but for me, after this trip it is a new start.

I really had a wonderful time in Cape Cod and I will share some more details soon.

Until then....much love,

Char

SK Grad

Yes, that's right. My bubbaloo is graduating! LOL
How cute is it that they dress the Kindergarten kiddies in a cap and gown for a picture?? I just had to purchase the package. Toward the end of the month they will have a mini ceremony so they can receive a certificate and the blubbering parents can take photos. Then it is summer break and hello Grade 1!!

And yes....Pretty sure I will be one of the blubbering ones :o)