Sick Days

Well, it's been a rough week ever since we had a beautiful night to ourselves at the Swan Lake Castle last Sunday. The place was gorgeous and we even had our very own elevator that opened up into our room. Hot tub, pool, dinner out with no kids... it was almost like we were single again. If you are looking for a place to stay for the wedding, this is a hard place to ignore - plus the waterslides are right next door. Unfortunately, they weren't open yet.

Smokin'!

But of course we are still parents and we were asleep by eleven pm. 

Anyways, ever since it's been hospital city here. Kennedy has had an ear infection which ironically means he is leaking out of his nose and eyes. It's been this way since Monday and he's on antibiotics but there's been no noticeable change. I had the nurse duty for the first half of the week and Jaime has been doing the second half but it's wearing on her - she's in bed at 7 after getting Kennedy to sleep. Avery is beside me on the couch, watching Rescue Bots and I'm wondering how I thought I would be able to make a weekly memories post for this blog. I mean, that involves dedicating an hour or so a week to it and the kids and housework don't seem to care about my schedule.  

Avery stayed home on Thursday so she'd feel better for a birthday party sleepover on Friday but that also didn't end well - she came home at 10.45 because she 'missed us'. Sadly, all the other girls also wanted to go home. I guess they weren't quite ready for a slumber party yet. 

Carrie, our student is also feeling sick so she's getting to experience a true Canadian cold, complete with Buckley's, And yes, it still does taste awful. 

Okay, short and sweet, unlike this sickness going through our home. Have a better weekend. 

Annibirthery Day

So May 6th is Jaime's birthday. It's also pretty much the day she decided, despite all the evidence presented, to take a chance on this chump. She told me years ago that for whatever reason, on the night of her 23rd birthday, 8 years ago today, she saw me join her table of friends and co-workers at a pub in PG for a birthday drink and by the end of the night said 'Yeh, he'll do.'

And I've been doing ever since. :)

Today she told me she still remembers what I was wearing - blue shirt and suit jacket (I call it Hollywood casual). She was wearing a simple tank top with a floral pattern that I have never seen since.

It's odd to think of how long it's been and how fast it's gone. 3 houses, 2 kids, 2 dogs, 5 moves, don't know how many jobs... and throughout it all, we're still together because.... well, she's my best friend.

And as I sit here typing this a few minutes before going to work, she's upstairs having a birthday night sleepover with Kennedy and Avery in our bed because that's who she is. I imagine she is pretending to sleep as I can still hear Kennedy giggling away and saying "I Am A Ro-Bot".

I Love You, baby. Happy birthday!

the Other Side of The Street - Memories

Well, after that last post by Jaime I guess I should recall my earliest memories for two reasons. One, it will help me as I get older and my mind starts to go. And two... um, I forget what the second reason was. 

Anyways, I agree with Jaime that I first met her through work; I was a short-term foster parent and she was one of the many part-time students that were willing to provide respite either by taking the kids out for a couple of hours or in some cases staying overnight while sometimes I had to make plans to sleep elsewhere (no, this was never a popular option with me or any of the other houseparents). So she actually was sleeping in my bed many months before we met, just we were never in it at the same time. 

She was dating someone else when I first met her - I was preoccupied with my own relationship matters ending. And to get it out of the way - yes, to those who are late arriving into our movie - I was married back in 2006. I met a girl and we got married in 6ish weeks - it was over (in my mind) in a month but I really threw in the towel after 3 months. I will always remember this because during my self-loathing I would wonder how Tom Green and Drew Barrymore were married for five months when I could only get to three. I mean... Tom Green....come on! 

Anyways, sometime the next Spring I believe I met Jaime (2007?). I recall paying her $40 for some extra 'babysitting' one Saturday - it was really just an excuse to spend a few minutes with her debriefing and to show her I was made of money (ha, joke's on her). She invited me to a Sushi night but being the introvert I am, I basically arrived late, threw a bottle of saki on her table, said hello to the 1/2 dozen other friends of hers that were there and left as quick as I arrived.

I occasionally would bump into her during work-related events involving the kids - she'd bring them to Rec night and join in on a floor hockey game or something. At this time I was never expecting much or even really seeing her as a romantic option in my life - again, my own issues were still going on plus she was 13 years younger than me. For the record, she still is 13 years younger but it's not as creepy anymore when you use the 'Creep or No Creep' Formula for dating. I was right on the edge back then. More on that another time

Our First Christmas Portrait Photo Shoot

So... we started to hang out a few times playing trivia at the pubs I guess - it was a nice group back then and the only time I think I ever felt like I was in a group that wasn't primarily because we all worked at the same place. There was usually always a fresh face or two at these things so you'd never know who would show up - sometimes it was Jaime. Sometimes, we would be at the pub she worked at (I recall a lunch hour meal with Jaime as our waitress). But nothing ever transpired or made me feel like anything ever would be where we are today. Then somewhere in there I heard she broke up with her boyfriend and I was like 'oh'.

My FIRST real moment with Jaime - she asked me if I would take some Christmas pictures of her so she could send back to Parry Sound. They had never been out here and I guess she thought I was good with a camera. So we took some pictures of her at her house on North Nechako, a few around PG, then up to UNBC and took some more up there. After we were done we were inside the Atrium looking at the pics and there was this one... I wish I could find it on my computer but I can't... anyways, the shadows, the lighting, just everything about it - it was perfect. Those who do photography, golf, heck, even hunt - there's that time when you just know - that's a perfect shot the moment you let it go.

It was one of those moments that lasts longer than you probably think it does but neither of us said anything. I couldn't even look at her or I may have tried to kiss her. And I think she would have been okay with that (I found out many weeks later it would have been).

Life went on - she loved the pictures and after she had some time to herself she started to call me up at 11pm - saying she was 'in the neighbourhood' and wanted to know if I wanted some company. Trust me, I wasn't a booty call.

This 11pm phone call happened for many weeks, the Spice Girls' reunion single (aka Friendship Never Ends) was on steady rotation on Much (it sucked but was always coming on) so that must have been November 2007. After the 3rd time it came on, I'd yawn and basically say I'm going to bed. Jaime would take the hint and in a remarkable case of self-restraint, say she was going home too.

That's it for this week...

Jordan, my boy from another mother

Avery, our girl that changed everything.

Our back-up baby, Kennedy