J

Well, you've met my two kids, now meet their daddy!

J is truly the love of my life. We've been together for almost four years and have lived together since literally day one. J is a welder and welder-fabricator in town. He absolutely loves what he does and enjoys going to work every morning. There are days when I wish he had a cleaner job (my landlord once asked how I "balanced two men", J leaves in the morning white and comes home black, hahahaha!) but I love seeing how happy he is.

We actually met in high school and graduated together. Apparently we both had "crushes" but were always involved with other people. Fast forward to a few months after graduation after we had both moved to the same new town, we met for coffee and the rest is history.

J is of Metis background and is fairly proud of his heritage. We are a hunting family, though I haven't let him hang up any heads ... yet. I knew from the first kiss my life was changed forever but it hasn't always been easy. We've both had to learn a lot and compromise. We've been through quite a bit together but the reality is: we are both better people who live more balanced lives and are able to achieve their dreams, when we are together.

I should mention that we are (on the surface, anyway) complete opposites. Oh sure, our values match and our visions of our future mesh perfectly ... but really, we're so different. From having completely different backgrounds, upbringings, experiences and educations, we are always learning new things about each other. It's really fun.

J is also a guitar player. I love it and so do the kids. Literally, when its bedtime, he'll pick up his strat and start playing quietly and both kids (well not always Joe 'cause he's not always running around) will come up and sit on the amp or on his feet and just chill out. It's so cute. It's probably my favorite time of day.

J is just the most awesome person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I'm still so blown away at how lucky I am to have him in my life. Even after all these years, at least once a week one of us will burst out laughing and say "Could you ever have predicted THIS in high school?" and then we giggle and cuddle. Haha. And the truth is, I could never have imagined someone so amazing.

Joe

So you've met Kirby the kitty, now meet Joe, my bearded dragon!

Joe is now 2 and 1/2 years old. It blows my mind. We got him when he was just 9 weeks old and was such a little fella!

He's now 23 inches long but is still my baby boy. So how did we end up with a lizard? Funny story. J and I had been together for almost a year. Our first year was a really really really really rough one (maybe I'll explain that another time). And finally, a year into it, we were stable again. Our favorite store was PetLand. J always admired the reptiles and wanted one soooooo bad. We literally went every single day to visit the animals and we knew all the salespeople. Finally one day, I said "Alright, if you can find and buy all the stuff we need to have a lizard, we can get one."

You see, lizards aren't like bringing home a kitten or a puppy. There's sooo much to think of. Lights, temperatures, substrates, diet, vitamins and minerals, finding a vet, finding a tank ... its a lot of work. Basically I figured J would try for a day or two and give up. Apparently I was wrong. Within a week everything was ready for our new bundle of joy.

J had already picked out Joe and was visiting him multiple times a day, on lunch breaks, before school, after school, while I shopped for groceries ... he just loved the little guy. I wasn't expecting to really feel anything, I mean really, its a lizard. But that first night, I learned all about sleepless nights and parental anxiety lol. Joe was so weirded out by the move that he wouldn't lay down and sleep. His cage was at the foot of our bed and I stayed up all night just watching him, trying not to panic that he wasn't sleeping. Stress is really bad for reptiles and I could tell my 9 week old baby was stresssssssssssed!

Somehow we made it through and before you know it, Joe was our first child. He's been to Silver Star Ski Resort on a ski vacation, Tofino for a family vacation, to the cabin, and to grandma and grandpa's. Since we've had him we've moved 4 times and he's been a little trooper each time. In the summer months we like to take family picnics at parks and let him get some natural sunlight. He likes to ride shotgun on Dad's shoulder on walks, sleep on Mom's tummy during movies and hang out when Mom does homework. He loves to come out and visit when we have company and people are fascinated by him.

Most people doubt a reptile can have personality, but I'm hear to say, they sure can! Joe is the master of the evil eye. Whether he is not impressed with today's salad or Kirby stole one of his precious crickets, he can give the stink eye like no other. He loves people. Loves them. Joe adores coming out for visits and most people fall in love with him right away (well, except for my close friend HydroBoy, he hates Joe because he is deathly afraid of him). My mom likes to carry Joe around on her shoulder, he had naps with my dad, my mother-in-law introduces him as her grandson ...! He's truly a part of the family. He's just amazing and I love my big boy.

Kirby-cat aka Princess

So I'm sitting here at home doing anything but finishing up the paper that's due this afternoon (hahaha!) and I was thinking I should introduce some of the most important people in my life. I'll start with Kirby the cat since she is cuddled up on my lap.

Kirby is our youngest "child", yes my pets are my kids. (I know, ridiculous but I'm 21 and going to school full-time, I'm not quite at the kids stage in my life so my pets will have to do!) We got her last summer when we moved into the place we live in now. We brought her home with a "full health guarantee" only to realize, mere hours later, that she had fleas and worms. Poor baby. We brought her to the vet ASAP and she has been a picture of health ever since. (Speaking of vets, ours is a jerk. Currently he sees both Kirby and our bearded dragon, Joe but has been nothing but awful to J and I. He treats us like the dirt on his shoes and is so rude. I realize that we are a young couple: J is 23 and as I said, I'm 21 ... and when he first met us I was 20 and J was 22 but Kirby was spayed the moment she was old enough, our pets go for regular check ups, are up to date on their shots and are well looked after. No need to be rude.)

Anyyyyhow, I swear Kirby makes my days complete. I'd never had a cat before and when we first brought her home the poor thing was petrified. She ran away, she hid .. I was devastated. You see, I'm probably one of the most affectionate people you will ever meet. I shower J, Kirby and Joe with hugs, kisses, cuddles and non-stop attention. So when Kirby was afraid of us, I thought it would be that way forever, my dreams of napping with her and watching movies with her on my lap were shot. At first J was pretending to be a hard-ass and said the cat had to sleep outside of our room, so he shut the door at night. After a week of her crying at our door and me crying in bed because I just want my kitten, he caved and she now sleeps wherever she pleases (usually on top of me somewhere).

Immediately Kirby's favorite thing was her "brother", Joe the beardie. She naps beside him during the day, runs to him when she's in trouble, refuses to eat until he has been fed too and gets very concerned if we carry him out of her sight. Unfortunately, originally Joe hated her. Poor bugger would get so distraught we had to put up a barrier between the two. Now he grudgingly acknowledges that she is a part of his life but shoots me the eye when she curls up next to his cage for a nap.

Since we live in a third storey apartment, Kirbs is an indoor cat but she has recently begun exploring the balcony as well. Our little munchkin completely runs this household. Mornings begin bright and early 7 days a week because if she hasn't been fed by 6:30 or 7am she stands on my chest, puts her nose to mine and stares until I wake up. She hates to be locked out of rooms, including the bathroom. Silly kitty sits on a towel on top of the toilet while J or I shower every day and gets royally offended if R doesn't do the same. When you use the washroom she sits outside the door or occasionally tries to break it down. At 3:45pm every work day she sits at the door waiting for her daddy to come home. He pretends he thinks she's annoying but you should see the way he talks to her when he doesn't know I'm home. And she worships him.

Kirby comes on all kinds of trips, from visiting grandma and grandpa, to camping and heading out to the cabin. Even at my parent's house she runs the roost. Within minutes Kita, my parents dog, has completely submitted to her and she takes over her dog bed, the table, the counter and occasionally the top of my dad's head.

Although we've only had her for just shy of a year, I can't imagine my life without that little butt. The first time (and last time, for now) we went away without her, I cried every night and made J "knead" my hair like she does every night. The sound of her purrrr is intoxicating and I will do anything to get my fix. If she looks even slightly comfortable I will do anything in my power to keep it that way, even if I am in complete agony in a contortionist position. Yup, I love my little Princess.

~ C

Just another manic Monday .... *

... I wish it was Sundayyy!! I hate Mondays, haha. They're always a harsh reminder of how I wasted my weekend and did not accomplish anything school related whatsoever~! Since the weather has absolutely sucked here in Van, we didn't do much. I honestly feel like reminding the weather that it is June and will soon be summer, these freezing cold temperatures can end anytime now!

Let's see ... this weekend I got to spend some precious time with my Aunt and my cousin .. err, cousin-in-law ... errrr, future cousin-in-law .... errrrrr, hopefully future cousin-in-law?, in any case, two of my favorite ladies that, despite us all living in Van (and its suburbs) we never get together. We hit up MetroTown which was fun, even for this shopping hater! :)

Since I had homework to do, I spent some time procrastinating and avoiding reality on the internet! I found a super awesome new blog, http://thepioneerwoman.com/ and I have become addicted to her love story. Probably the best story I've ever read and its not over yet! Definitely check it out! :) Also, she has some super awesome recipes and photos. I love her homemade and easy sounding (I haven't gotten to try any yet!!) recipes! As I endeavor to one day conquer the kitchen and be an amazing housewife on the weekends, I love homey and classic recipes. So far I have more than mastered my crock-pot aka my best friend.

Annnnyway, I really don't know where I'm going with this post today. I'm feeling very much like cuddling up on the couch with Kirby-cat and reading a book while a fire crackles and I sip tea. Today is a very gross, grey, rainy Monday in June. It looks more like January save the leaves on the trees. I either want summer to get here and be hot or just have snow and the dead of winter. Full of storms and hot chocolate and fires. I hate the in-between of spring.

Well, I must start (and finish!!) this assignment so I hope this post finds you enjoying sunny, hot weather!

~ C

* "Manic Monday" by The Bangels

Weekend Fun!

Well, its been awhile since my first post, so I figured I should try to update! I know its Tuesday but I'm still kinda recovering from the weekend! Haha.

Friday night some of our high school friends (J, R and I all graduated together so we have a ton of mutual friends!) came down to celebrate J's birthday (it was on Tuesday). I worked and was expecting to come home to an empty house because I figured the boys would go hit up the 'rippers or something. But instead I came home to a full (very full!) house of boys eating pizza and playing rockband. Well they played until well after 5am, I'm sure our neighbours were totally impressed lol. I went to bed around 4am and was up at 8am, expecting to go to a conference out at UBC.

It was grad weekend in my hometown and my "little brother" C was graduating. But I didn't think I could make it into town. He's not my biological or legal little brother, he's my real little brother's best friend. His parents have some major drug issues and he left them 2 years ago. He moved in with friends down the road from us because my brother (M) is a year older than him and left my parents home last year and he didn't want to burden my parents. But he spends a great deal of time there and he is really a member of our family. I was devastated at the thought of missing his graduation but as we are currently vehicle-less, I knew there was nothing I could do about it. But R surprised me and we rushed out there! It was fantastic! Everyone was really surprised and C was thrilled.

Since its totally small town Canada the whole town really comes out and celebrates! All the families of grads host BBQs and you go around visiting. Its a lot of fun! I got to BBQ-hop with my parents and visit with a lot of friends. It was great to see some people and catch up. J and R drank at R's parents place and I ended up there later in the evening as well. Later that night, after I helped J be sick and pass out, I went back to my parents place to have a good drunk talk with my baby brothers and we all passed out downstairs together. M was out first but C and I had quite the convo and hung with the pup. It was great since I don't get to see them as much as I would like. C and I had SOOO much fun but since we didn't crash 'til around 4ish, I am crazy exhausted!!! Sunday was all about J, R and I trying to get our tired selves home and ready for the week. Monday was particularly rough!!!

This week is pretty exciting since two of my best friends are graduating from university! YAY girls! It will be sad to see them but also really exciting! :)

Anyway, that was my weekend. Lots of fun but now I'm way too far behind in school stuff! Hope you are well!

~ C