Sep
2013

Happy Birthday Daddy!

3I started Grade 1 this week and I love my new teacher, my new class, my new desk, the playground at recess, my pencil case with pencil crayons, my music class, my art class…

He said

6What a week! After last week’s announcement, I finished out my last week of doing Creative (training) sessions at the store. And it was a little bittersweet. There are some people that I have had many sessions with that I have forged some very great relationships with, that I wasn’t lucky enough to have a session with this week to let them know that I was moving on to the new role. While it’s not like I am moving away from the store, it still would have been nice to have some aloha sessions with some of my favourite One To One members.

Friday this week, was the last day I did sessions, and yesterday was my first official day immersing into the Lead Genius role. It has a huge learning curve, but at the same time is very fresh and exciting. I can see myself really likely getting in to this role. Especially after I have been through my formal Genius training which we’re still waiting on hearing back on. We’ve submitted for October 14 to November 1, and are waiting to hear if it was approved and whether it will be at Cupertino or Atlanta.  It mean I will miss Danielle’s birthday and Halloween, but the other date choices we had were not much better. In either case it looks like we might not get that last chance to camp in Wolfie before we pack her up and store her for the winter.

IMG_4226The funny thing about the first day diving into the Lead Genius deep end being Saturday was that it also happened to be my 42nd birthday. Danielle nor I have ever been ones to need a big deal made about our birthdays. In fact, we both agree that the best birthdays just involve being together and doing things we love. Since, Danielle had a gift certificate for a fancy-schmancy restaurant we decided to have a evening doing two things we loved: eating and movies. One to celebrate the new job promotion, and two to celebrate my birthday.

With both things being after Emelia’s bedtime, she got the added benefit of a sleepover with Poppa and Grandma. After dropping Emelia over there, Danielle picked me up at work and off to our grownup evening were we. We started with dinner at a newer restaurant in town called The Springs, in a converted former Baptist church. The meal was nothing short of amazing. Danielle and I shared Baked Goat’s Milk Feta Gratin, as an appetizer that was ridiculously good. Both Danielle made the effort to order something we never eat at home and scored well on that count. Danielle had Honey Lime Maitake Mushrooms and Heirloom Beets (with duck) and I had Harrar Espresso and Black Pepper Crusted Venison Loin. And of course I closed the night out with Crème Brûlée. Why wouldn’t I?

IMG_4234With bellies pleasantly filled with food and wine, we made our to the Westmount Cineplex to see the new Woody Allen film Blue Jasmine. Both Danielle and I are huge Woody Allen fans so we had an aptly fitting movie to celebrate all that we were. And boy did the movie not disappoint. Cate Blanchett plays the central character Jasmine from which the movie gets its name, and her performance was beyond incredible. I’d be surprised if there isn’t an Oscar nomination for her for this movie. The movie was the perfect ending to the day – we came home and retired to a glass of wine and each other’s company.

And as if there wasn’t enough going on this week, we also had Emelia’s first week in Grade 1, not to mention going to school every day. I know that Danielle will talk about this because she and Emelia have been working together at this daycare thing for five and a half years together. But, from my standpoint, like Danielle I was  a little apprehensive as to how well she’d adapt. We had a few issues last year, and towards the end of the year she wasn’t as excited about school as she had been.

What we found was she really was needing the demand and challenge that she has graduated into, in Grade 1. She absolutely has had an amazing time and loves going each and every day. We’re so proud of how she is doing and I love how she’ll talk my ear off about it at the end of each day at bedtime.

Daddy and Mommy still have to adjust to our baby girl being out on the playground with ALL the other kids, but Emelia assures us have the entire playground at her disposal at recess and lunch is like the best thing ever! So, we’ll let the umbellical chord have some slack on this one I guess.

So with that, our week from my side is in the books. I am going to grab a glass of wine and sit down with Danielle and enjoy the last little bits of Danielle’s part of the weekend as I have another day off tomorrow!

Thank you to Danielle and Emelia especially, and everyone else who made me feel so special for getting older!

 

She said

photoThis week was certainly a blur. Not only did we have John changing jobs but we had one other big change in our lives. Emelia’s first week at school full time.

I would be lying if I wasn’t concerned how she would do, she had never been away from me that long other than her week at Pioneer Camp in August and there is a big change in learning from kindergarden to grade one. But Emelia has adjusted beautifully and is over the moon excited to go to school each day. She adores her teacher and she is making new friends in her class.

I could not be happier with how she is doing, and on Thursday we had our meet the teacher night and I am so happy with her teacher this year. She is loving, passionate and makes learning fun. She really wants to know the children on a personal level making a point of meeting each parent and asking them some fun things about their children so she could get to know them better. Emelia just adores Miss Bolger and I know this is going to be a great year for her.

photoThis was not the only change in my little world. With school’s return means changes in the daycare. This week Masie joined us. She is the third child of one of my long term clients and I am thrilled to have another one of their beautiful children in care. Mason (we call her Masie) has blended into daycare perfectly and is just a joy to be with. She reminds me so much of her older sister Addison who I have such a soft spot for. With Masie joining us this meant her older brother Hudson returned full time back to daycare and he adjusted wonderfully and is already making me laugh each day. All in all the 5 children in care now are getting along wonderfully and it makes the days so much better with happy children.

Now with such a young group (compared to the group that just left care) I am going going going and feeling the need for the gym at the end of the day. But we are balancing each other out and meeting the needs of each of them has been an adjustment. But the kids are doing amazing, Emelia is doing incredible in school… basically could not ask for a better start of school week.

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So once the week wrapped up I was certainly ready to relax with John. At the same time I was on a mission, to find the gift for John’s birthday I have had in my head for weeks. The problem is that I have not been able to find this ‘perfect’ gift yet. But I have not given up!

Without a physical gift in hand we went on with the celebrations for John’s birthday. As he said we planned a nice night out. I had a gift certificate from one of my daycare families since Christmas that we were going to use. With a good portion of dinner taken care of John and I splurged more than we normally would have. We had a couple glasses of wine, an incredible appetizer, mouth-watering meals and dessert. All without worrying about the costs. The meal still cost a bit for us but it was so nice to be able to go out to an adult restaurant and not worry about our day-to-day stress and just order an incredible meal. And we had so much to celebrate, John’s birthday AND this incredible promotion at work.

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The dinner was just the start of the evening, we went to see Blue Jasmine. The movie was incredible and once again Woody Allen did not disappoint. Cate Blanchett was incredible in what we both agreed was an Oscar worthy performance. Absolutely amazing.

We wrapped up the evening with some relaxing at home with a nice bottle of wine and spent some much needed us time together.

All in all a perfect end to a week of celebrations. So I will finish my part with Happy Birthday to my incredible husband, I am beyond proud and happy for you. Your passion for everything you do is what makes me love you more and more each day. I know I love you more today than I did yesterday and I will love you even more tomorrow. Thank you for our quiet little life. I would not have it any other way.

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