Happy 9th Anniversary!

Dave and I are celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary today!   I have shared many posts about how we met, details of our wedding, and our honeymoon.  Today I wanted to do a little interview with Dave to learn a bit more about him and I answered the questions too.  These are not everyday conversations, and even after 9 years, there are still lots of things to talk about!  And you'll see we are quite similar. I always wonder if we are similar because we have been together for so long or if we have been together for so long because we are so similar. We answered these questions independently of each other.

What is your fondest memory as a child?

Dave: Spending summers in Cape Breton.

Me: Spending my summers playing with friends, swimming all day, eating Kraft Dinner, picked berries, and popsicles.

When did you first know you were going to marry your spouse?

Dave: Sarah was always a match! But those first couple trips to Cape Breton, meeting the family. She stole the spotlight, she was charming, funny and smart...I knew we would be together.

Me: Good question.  I guess I knew for sure when we decided to move up to Toronto.  He moved up ahead of me and then I finished my articling year in Saint John, NB, and moved up a few months later.  I remember thinking that if he hadn't asked me to marry him by the end of the summer, then I would have to say something! Luckily I only had to wait about a week before he asked.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Dave: Candy, Sour Candy or Chips

Me: So many things - watching Instagram stories, plain chips, a nap in the afternoon, and ordering a another glass of wine instead of dessert.

What is your favourite television show?

Dave: Ever? When I was growing up it was Star Trek: The Next Generation.  Now, Game of Thrones.

Me:  Of all time, it is Seinfeld.  I use phrases from that show just about everyday.

If you had 24 hours left to live, what would you do and why?

Dave: Spend it with family...

Me: Spend as much time with my family as I could and really savour the moments.  I am pretty good at doing that now, but I know I would really appreciate it.  My last 24 hours would also include all of the food!  Give me all of the cheese, bread, and wine.

Who is your celebrity role model?

Dave: No idea...Captain Picard!

Me: It is hard to pick one.  I like strong women who own who they are and use their talents to be successful in their chosen fields.  Tina Fey, Meghan Markle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jessica Seinfeld, Carrie Underwood, etc.

What does your dream vacation look like?

Dave: Beach, good food, adventures (hiking, swimming, exploring) - really just like Machu Picchu.

Me: A hotel or villa with a private beach, tasty food, cocktails and wine, yoga, massages, etc., but close to a city where I could experience the culture and food.

If you had $1,000,000 to spend and you had to spend it, what would you do with it?

Dave: Buy multiple cottages on an island for family and kids.

Me: Travelling around the world to all of the places I've wanted to go and ones I've already been to, no expenses spared.  I'm sure I could spend all of it on travel, but I would also buy some new clothes, a new car, maybe a down payment on a cottage or ski chalet ($1 million isn't getting you much around these parts).

Weekend Recap

We had a busy long weekend with a few out of town visitors.  On Friday night we went over to our neighbours and enjoyed some good food.  Q loaded up on the watermelon.  

The next morning I was up before 5:00 am to watch the Royal Wedding.  I loved every minute of it!.  The weather was kind of blah so I went shopping with my cousin Emma at the Eaton Centre.  Then we went over to the Distillery District to meet her cousins for lunch at La Catrin.  

While we were gone, Dave took the boys to the park to play t-ball.

We went downtown to The Drake 150 for supper that night.

Dave, Rebecca, Me, Emma, and Kathryn.  (Unfortunately our other visitor, Lucy, was not feeling well and did not make it to dinner with us).

On Sunday morning, Rebecca and Dave went for a big run.  This it the before when they were still smiling broadly.

I took the boys to church.  E made a crown with flames on it for Pentecost and we had some cake after the service.

For the rest of the afternoon I did some errands, and then we just hung out around the house.  I made this chicken dish and went to yoga after supper.  

On the holiday Monday, we went down to Harbourfront and walked around.  It was a beautiful morning and not too hot.  We rarely go down to this area but they have a lot going on for kids so we want to head down again soon. 

Lucy, feeling better, hanging with Q.

We caught Fred Penner doing a soundcheck!

Big checkers

We had an early lunch at Amsterdam Brewhouse.  It was very nice on the patio and the food/beer was tasty!

After all of our guests left, we had some quiet time and then headed up to the park to play ping pong.

E had his first soccer practice of the season after supper.  

I love long weekends, but they are always so busy! 

Friday Favourites

We had such a busy week with lots of fun things!

On Monday night I got my bike out and then after supper E and I went for a ride.  We stopped to watch some kids playing t-ball and played Pooh sticks on the old train bridge. 

On Wednesday I got to play golf at Glen Abbey.  It was a beautiful sunny day, and the course was in great shape. 

On Wednesday evening I went to family track night with my workout group. I brought E along with me and thought he would enjoy trying out the workout, but instead he just played with the other kids and ate popcorn.  Meanwhile I did several laps of the track and did a million burpees. (E is in the bright green shirt on the right)

And if that wasn't enough, on Thursday night Dave and I went out for dinner at Luma and then to see Come From Away with people from my firm and clients.  

On Wednesday I posted about my favourite marriage advice.

The weekend will be equally packed with fun and family visiting.  I'll need a holiday after this holiday weekend!

Linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for Friday Favourites, and

The Blended Blog for Friday Loves. 

Why I...love the Royal Family

In honour of Harry and Meghan's wedding this weekend, I thought I would write about Why I love the Royal Family....and the answer is easy, I just do, okay?! But seriously, I don't have a really good reason about why I love them, but I have been interested in them for my whole life.  So here are a few possible reasons:

My grandmother always loved the Queen; her parents originally came from England so she had an affinity to the royals.  My grandparents were married in the same year as Elizabeth and Philip, so I think she felt connected to them in that way.  We always listened to the Queen's Christmas Day message.

Charles and Diana got married the same year I was born, and apparently I got up early with my mom to watch their wedding (at about 7 weeks old).

Although I hadn't moved to Shelburne yet, Charles and Diana visited there in 1983.

I always loved Sarah, Duchess of York, for obvious reasons.

Since William is a year younger than us, my friends and I would always dream of meeting him somewhere and marrying him and becoming a princess.  And even though Harry was a few years younger, we always loved him too.

I of course remember vividly when Diana died and since I was in high school, it was very dramatic.

I will be up at 4:00 am to watching the wedding on Saturday morning.  I'm also very excited to see who the guests will be; the Mulroney children are in the wedding which I think is just so cool!

I know there are probably several reasons to not be supportive of the Royal Family, but I am not interested in them.  I think they have done a good job of changing with the times and supporting various causes.  Their pomp and circumstance is a refreshing change from the doldrums of politics.

Favourite Marriage Advice

Wedding season is here so maybe you are looking for some good marriage advice to share.  Here are a few pieces of advice that I like to share:

Don't wait for the right time to buy a house, have children, plan a big trip, etc.  There will never the perfect amount of money or time to do these things. If you spend time waiting for that perfect time, you may miss out and end up bitter.  When we lived in our old house, it had two bedrooms so we knew when we were going to have a second child, it would be time to move into a bigger place.  But since it took a little longer than planned to have Q, we were in the house longer than I wanted to be.  So we started looking for a house anyway, and it was the right thing to do.  When Q came along we were all set up.

Be each other's cheerleader. This can be difficult to remember sometimes, particularly if you are both successful in your own right, but supporting each other's dreams is important.  I'm not just talking about the love language of "words of affirmation" although that is something to note too, but it is also noticing a new haircut or outfit, or acknowledging when the other person has made an effort.  It is also complimenting your spouse in front of other people, both when they overhear you and when they can't. It makes the other person feel special and that is your number one job as a spouse and partner.

Don't worry about being right and trying to be more clever than the other person.  If I trace arguments back in this house, it is often linked to one or both of us trying to outsmart the other one and try to appear more clever.  There is no point, just let it go.

In a book I read about disciplining kids, they used an example of asking your spouse to do something (like help with a chore) and then getting annoyed with them when they don't show enthusiasm for it. So instead of just hollering up from the basement or out from the yard, instead ease into the request and ask them about what they are doing, etc. and then ask if they wouldn't mind helping you out.  It takes only a couple of minutes and then it makes the request a little friendlier rather than as a command, and it may save some frustration!

Weekend Recap

I started my Mother's Day weekend with a little tea party at Q's school.  They served iced tea and cookies and we were invited to wear a hat or fascinator in honour of the upcoming Royal Wedding.  

On Friday night I went to E's school Bingo night.  This was our third time there and we were lucky!  We sat with a bunch of our neighbours and had a great night.

I won the first big prize with my "L".  The prize is a family pass to a rock climbing gym so we will be excited to use that.

I also won a small prize, and then E won three small prizes.  He cashed in one of his prizes for a Minion play doh set and then shared the other prize tickets with his friends that didn't win anything.

When we got home he went right to work with the play doh, so it was a good prize!

On Saturday morning Dave and E set out to the first t-ball practice of the year.  Then I loaded Q into the running stroller and we ran to meet them. It was a chilly morning but we were glad to be out and about. 

On our way home we picked up a few groceries and then stopped at the playground.

After lunch I put away our winter coats, boots, hats, etc. in the front closet and brought down our sandals.  Then I went through my clothes and got rid of a few things and then stored my winter clothes.

When Q woke up, we made our semi-annual trip to Plant World to get some plants for our yard.

A good haul of some pre-made baskets, and lots of herbs.

On Sunday morning I went for a run with a few people from my workout group, a nice 5K on a beautiful morning,

And when I got back there were some Mother's Day treats and breakfast waiting for me.

Dave made eggs Benedict, and lots of fruit.

My lovely cards and gifts.  The flower at the top is a pen that is now sitting on my desk at work.

Ready for church.  E came with me.  Dave stayed home to do some gardening and Q had a three hour nap!

The long nap was on purpose so we could go out in the afternoon.  We tried the Drake Commissary but they were only serving a prix fixe Mother's Day brunch but since it was basically what we had already eaten that morning, we moved on to Bandit Brewery instead.  Dave and E shared a burger, I had the jackfruit pulled "pork", and E helped himself to a few fries.

It was a lovely afternoon with my family for Mother's Day!