Tagged!

My aunt tagged me in this fun little bloggy game and I had no reason not to play along. I love random posts about random things.

As part of the "game" I am to answer the following:

1. What was your most embarrasing moment?

Funny that this question came from my aunt because my most embarrassing moment (one of them, anyway) occurred at her house when I was about 13. My cousins (all male but 1), their friends (mostly all male, and one in particular that I had a crush on), and myself were swimming in the dugout near their house. Thinking of that brown water that we regularly swam in makes me shudder now. Eww. Anyway, I had borrowed a bathing suit from someone. I'm not sure who because it was too big, meaning that it could not have been my younger female cousin's. We were all taking turns jumping off the "dock" into the water. When my turn came, I jumped in and popped back up for air. However, my bathing suit did not. I emerged from the murky brown water topless. I was absolutely mortified. Even recalling this story makes me embarrassed.

I have many other embarrassing moments but I will save myself the humiliation for today. Let's just say that one happened as early as last spring, while I was subbing in Grade 1. It involved split pants, a stapler, bright blue panties and a cute guest instructor. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

2. Do you recycle? Why or why not?

Yes and no. We recycle paper and cardboard and cans and bottles. The rest of the stuff that I could recycle never seems to make it there. Probably mostly laziness on my part. And also because the recycling centre in town here is really not very accessable in that it is only open for short periods of time on certain days. Makes recycling everything too much hassle.

3. What is the most dangerous thing you've ever done?

I have no idea. I'm such a chicken and always play things safe. I may not have ever done something dangerous. Haha

4. what is your favorite movie and why?

I have a few. Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, Grease. I think probably what I like most is the romantic aspect in each of them. I love Dirty Dancing for the dancing, of course and Grease for the singing and dancing (I love musicals!). Pretty Woman is just one of those movies that I can watch over and over again. I love the shopping scenes and love to watch Julia Roberts' character grow from a lost woman to someone that is confident in herself. Plus, Richard Gere is a pretty darn good looking old guy.

5. Do you follow a sport on TV?

Ummmm, no. Enough said.

6. If you could live at any time in history for 1 year, when would it be?

Totally the early 1900s. I love their clothing, manners, way of life. I just love it. I would have absolutely loved to work somewhere like Heritage Park or Fort Edmonton Park.

7. What was/is your favorite school subject?

Language Arts/ English. I've always loved to read, so this subject came fairly easily to me. Best one to teach? Science. So much fun now that I am an adult!

8. What game do you most enjoy playing with a group?

I love to play games. Board games, card games, I'm usually in! Quite a fun one is called "Things". It is definitely one to play if you are getting to know someone and want a way to break the ice. Be prepared to laugh and be silly!

Ok, I think I am supposed to come up with my own questions, but I'm going to cheat a bit and just tell you to answer these same ones. Also, I am too tired to actually link your blog, so if you are reading this, you have to play along! Leave me a comment when you do so I can go read your answers!

The things kids say...

Yesterday we were in Ponoka at Chris' parents' house. Chris's sister and her 4 children were there as well. The 11 of us were eating dinner and chatting when Luca says:

Luca: "Nona?"
Nona: "Yes Luca?"
Luca: "Why are you so old?"


Needless to say, all the adults around the table burst out laughing, but Luca was quite serious. I can't remember if Nona answered him or not...

God and Babies

This is a conversation I had with Luca this morning. I thought it was pretty cute and a pretty good example of how a 4 year old's brain processes things.


To set the scene, I was looking at photos on my aunt's blog. When I came upon a picture of her son, Luca asked who that guy was and I replied Daniel.

Luca "Is that your cousin"
Me "yes, it is. You're very smart."
Luca "where are his kids?"
Me "He doesn't have any kids."
Luca "Why not?"
Me "Its not his time to have kids yet."
Luca "Are they in his tummy?"
Me "no, he would be a daddy because he is a boy. Only mommies have babies in their tummies."
Luca "Oh. (pause) so, is God making his babies for him then?"
Me "Yes, God is making them for when it is his time to have babies."
Luca "where is his factory?"
Me (after chuckling a bit) "God makes babies in Heaven"
Luca "Oh, so God makes babies in heaven? Does he live there?"
Me "yes"
Luca "Is God the boss of Heaven?"
Me "I guess you could say that."
Luca "Hmmm. God is a boss who makes babies..." (said thoughtfully while walking away)

Our Big Boy

Today was a special day. The fact that it was our 8th wedding anniversary was overshadowed by Luca's first day of playschool.

For the last week leading up to today, Luca has been beside himself with excitement for school. He would ask every morning if "today was school day". He chose his lunchkit (Batman) and his backpack (Ironman - which I thought funny that he even knew who he was. Boys will be boys, I guess. Too cool for the Cars backpack now.).

When we went last week to meet his teacher, he wanted so badly to take his lunch kit and backpack. He was thrilled to give Daddy the tour of his classroom (I had already seen it when we registered), he was a bit shy when his teacher introduced herself, and loved to check out the toys and centres.

Yesterday I began to have mixed feelings about this momentous event. On one hand, Luca's excitement was so contagious, I couldn't help but be excited with him. But the mommy in me was sad, tears threatening to spill, questioning where the time went and how could it be that my first baby was starting school the next day?

This morning, Luca woke up just before 7am, crawled into our bed and snuggled. When I was truly awake, he said "Is today school day, Mommy?", knowing full well that it was. He was thrilled to find a "first day of school" gift waiting for him on the table at breakfast (some Firefighter action figures). He ate his breakfast quickly so that he would have a few minutes of play time with his new toys.

When I got him upstairs to get dressed, he was pleased to choose from his 4 new shirts (that he picked out when we went shopping) for his school outfit. He quickly got dressed and then announced that he would do "spikeys" in his own hair, that he was old enough now. He needed "school hair like Daddy has work hair". (haha)

Another moment of realizing that my baby was a big boy- he hauled his stool over to the counter, squirted some gel into his hands (under my watchful eye so as not to bathe in gel) and worked it into his hair. The end result required a bit of fixing by Mommy (glad to see he still needs me a bit!) but he was so proud to have done it (almost) on his own.

Before getting into the Jeep, photos on the front step were taken.






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During the ride into Carstairs, Luca was fairly quiet, with the odd question about school breaking the silence. We were all lost in our thoughts, I guess.

When we arrived, Luca was excited to see his friends, his teacher and most of all, the paint! We hung his backpack on his hook, took a few more pictures and I started to say my goodbyes before heading out and leaving him for the morning. When it was time for a hug, I got a tighter, longer hug than I have in a long time. There were no tears (although at this point, I was close) and he assurred me that he would have a good day and tell me all about it when I picked him up.

And with that, off he went to explore all the activities.

Dee and I walked down the stairs with mixed feelings. We were both proud that our kids didn't seem too rattled about being left for the morning, excited at this milestone, but also sad for the time that has seemingly whizzed by.

While we were chatting by our vehicles, the playschool class came out of the building on their way to play in the park for a while. Luca and Adelynn were holding hands, bringing up the rear. They didn't see us watching them from across the street among the vehicles. They looked so grown up. So confident. So excited.

At 1pm, when I arrived to pick up Luca, he turned and gave me an enormous smile, ran to me and wrapped his arms around my neck. In my ear he whispered "I like it here!". What a reassurance to me that he did great and was comfortable there.

All the way home he chattered about what they did and stories the teacher read. It was wonderful to listen to the excitement in his voice, with a few yawns thrown in too. When I asked if he was tired, he replied "oh mom, all those kids made me so tired!". He fell asleep within moments of being in his bed tonight.

By all accounts, it was a great first day and he can't wait for Thursday so he can go again.

Secret Daughter

Quite a few months ago, I came across a book during one of my visits to the bookstore. After reading the back cover, I added the title to my list of books to read in my Blackberry and continued on.

I'd see reviews for the book in various magazines and on summer reading lists. I always made a mental note to see if it was in the library, but would then be distracted by my current book(s).

During one of my visits to the library, there was that book again, staring back at me from the shelves. I already had 3 or 4 books in my hand at that point so decided to wait until next time to get it. (Our library is small and I don't usually have to wait more than a week or two to get a book on the off chance that it is out when I want it.)

The next time I went, there it was again, beckoning me, but once again, I had an armful of other books. I left without taking it with me.

Every visit to the library saw me pick up the book, consider it, then put it back on the shelf. I have no idea why I didn't takie it home, when I knew I wanted to read it.

Finally, on my last visit there, I signed out that book and nothing else. From the first page, I was drawn into another world.

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda was an incredible, touching, thought provoking, heart wrenching read.


From the back cover:

On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian village, Kavita gives birth to a baby girl. But in a culture that favors sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter's life is to give her away. It is a decision that will haunt her and her husband for the rest of their lives, even after the arrival of their cherished son.

Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband, Krishnan, see a photo of the baby with the gold-flecked eyes from a Mumbai orphanage, they are overwhelmed with emotion. Somer knows life will change with the adoption but is convinced that the love they already feel will overcome all obstacles.

Interweaving the stories of Kavita, Somer, and the child that binds both of their destinies, Secret Daughter poignantly explores the emotional terrain of motherhood, loss, identity, and love, as witnessed through the lives of two families-one Indian, one American-and the child that indelibly connects them.

Rarely do I find a book that I can't put down. This was one of them. This passage from the book really sums up the emotion in the book:

"[She] managed to find hope in the most unlikely place. In the midst of the poverty and despair of the slums, she showed the fierceness of a mother's love. And how we're really all the same in that way."

Put this book on your reading list and don't walk past it on the shelves! You won't regret it!