MarMar Madness

When I was a kid I lied a lot.  I took change out my moms purse and my dad's night stand.  I would sneak different clothes to school to change into sometimes and put on a wee bit of make up.  I remember lying about going to a movie in Bangkok with a friend of mine. It was fun for a while but then the guilt overcame me and I had an episode of True Confessions with my mother.  I would also lie at boarding school and hang out with the sailors that were in port (CRAZY!) Some lies were bigger than others.  Little lies were my forte when I was little- but I soon developed a healthy fear of consequences.  In university, one day, sitting around with friends, I was asked why I didn't do anything "bad"...at 18 my honest answer was "cause I would get in trouble".  Why I lied as a little kid?  No idea.  It's not like I had anything really big and awful to hide or needed something and lying was a way to get it.  I learned, growing up, that lying wa...

I love people.  I love having people over.  But since we moved into our wee house 6 years ago - I stopped having a lot of parties.  I shut down to having people over.  Was it pride? Probably some.  Was it embarrassment?  Maybe a little bit.  I live in a tiny house...but my real house is a 22,000 sq. foot warehouse in Mississauga that I visit occasionally.  We have had to sacrifice a lot to start our business and a big house was one of them.  I loved our older, larger houses....and I do like this house, it's just...well...small.  So last year I decided to get over my "small house shyness" and host a party.  I wanted to get to know the ladies that I see at my school lots and have built some cool friendships with.  Last years party was a Pajama Party theme. I sent out the invites and hoped for some cancellations as I couldn't nvision everyone fitting in my wee pad.  I was thrilled - to a degree, when 99% of the invites were a...

Mikka is my most favourite 7 year old in the world.  There is no one like her (unless you count me when I was 7!!) - she is full of giggles, naughtiness, curiosity, humor and compassion.  She can drive me crazy and into a love frenzy in a matter of a moment.  There is just something about Mikka.  Mikka, however, has a disease.  It's not a normal medical disease that one can find in your text book. This disease is passed down from generation to generation and can be over come. Mikka suffers from "Dropsey Disease".  What, pray tell, is this?  Many of you may understand immediately - you have have a spouse or kids, other family members or friends with this illness.  I suffered from it and still find myself  falling into its trap.  Darren has the sickness fine tuned. Kamrin, well, Kamrin is like Kara and hardly suffers at all from it.  Dropsey disease is the ailment whereby you drop stuff and simply don't pick it up.  You drop your...

So - I just packed up Kamrin and Mikka and kissed them goodbye and sent them on their way to the bus alone.  This is their new thing.  Kamrin is in charge of walking across the light at the busy intersection and I know she is very diligent and attentive - so I know they are safe.  However, I still get stressed out about letting them go.  Heck, when I was a couple of years younger than Kamrin I was out riding my bike from our house in White Rock to my best friend, Alison's, 10 Km away!  I have to remind myself that I need to let my kids spread their wings - I can't just keep them close to my side, safe and secure, at all times.  But in the chaos of the morning I sent them off about 5 minutes too soon.  Now I am stressing out that they'll be warm enough.  Ugh.  Luci is still sleeping.  The house is quiet.  I have laundry to do and loads of errands to run.  But it's the weird silence - that which comes after having the kids home f...

When I was little all of our neighbours had pools...okay, maybe not ALL of them but a few did.  And as they did, we made use of them.  I learned to swim at a very young age.  I was around 4 and remember it very well.  We were at our friends, the Peacocks, and everyone was having a great time swimming in their blue oasis.  I couldn't swim in the deep end and just held on to the edges.  All I truly remember of this learning experience is Mr. Peacock pulling my fingers away from the ledge with his sandaled foot as he held a nice glass of something on the rocks and laughing at me as I struggled for survival.  He obviously meant no harm to me and being a dad of a few kids, simply understood the "swim for survival" technique and had it down pat.  He did me a favour that day as I kicked and gagged and laughed out of fear and fun - he taught me to swim.  I found my legs and that was that.  I was a swimmer.  Shortly thereafter we began swimm...

My kids are very cute.  I am sure most  moms would agree with me - every mom thinks our kids are cute.  Our kids come up with some of the cutest sayings and doings.  Today Darren and I took the girls bowling.  The older 2 LOVE to bowl - it's always a fun family outing - not too expensive and pretty pain-free.  My kids know not to ask for food or money for the vending machines - so we can go in and out pretty unscathed.  My favourite part of bowling today was Kamrin and Mikka helping Luci to guide and roll the ball.  It really was overwhelmingly adorable how they talked to her, explained to her and eventually gave the ball a little extra shove to ensure the ball made it to the pins.  It was a joy to watch.  Later tonight - after a fun trip to Costco (Costco is always a fun treat) - we headed off to the skating rink with Daddy.  We have not had so much daddy time in months - it was an awesome treat.  On the way to the rink we wer...

So, the day arrived - a day I have been looking forward to for weeks.  My Date with my Hairdresser.  His name is Alex.   He is happily married with 3 beautiful children.  But he is still one of my most favourite men.  I simply go in there - get my jacket hung for me, am offered beverages and then seated and asked, sincerely, how I am and what is new.  Alex got an earful this morning - but he is a good listener!  We have great banter, share ideas and sarcasm and although he's not my husband - he is still very special to me as he makes my hair shine! :)  My other date was with myself at the gym.  I enjoy sweating and feeling muscles twitch and shake as I push myself to lift more and lift it higher.  It is my time to myself.  A time to think of what's going on in my life right now, watch other people with idle curiosity, or plan my week- while listening to wicked tunes on my ipod.  No phones to answer, no kids to deal with (t...

So, I am doing this thing called Sparkpeople.com.  I did it a few years ago and the hard work gave me some great results.  But, like Oprah, I got tired of trying so damn hard and the weight came back. I am just glad I don't have upper arms like her.  After my brother died, I put on even more weight.  Finally, I got sick of my exercise clothes being too tight and not feeling good any more so I have thrown myself back into the Sparkpeople system and again, am loving the results.  But it's hard.  I wake up thinking of food and run to my computer to see what I am allowed to eat.  I eat it and can't wait till the next thing!  Fortunately I love what they suggest for food and they offer a zillion recipes - so I am satisfied....almost...they don't suggest chocolate and donuts so it's lacking somewhat.  After an hour at the gym today I had to pick up my friends dog, Pepper, for a few days sleepover.  Pepper was alone and as I was getting her I s...

SO,  here it is. My first blog.  My sister, Kara, 3 years older and much more sophisticated in "life", wrote me and said, "You need to blog".  Well, don't you know it but only a few minutes later I find myself on  Blogspot with a  page and am trying to come up with something witty to say in order to impress and flatter my older sibling.  Basically, I have a sister who wholeheartedly believes in me and I love trying to reach up to higher levels to prove to her I am a capable person.  She is my cheerleader extraordinaire and I love that she believes in me.  Funny thing is I have thought about doing a blog for some time. I recently started receiving some updates/blog from a girl who has her own website called fANNEtastic -she has recipes and healthy living ideas and a blog with photos that I have become attached to.  I have no idea who the woman is, but I do love seeing her lunches, sights from her runs and photos from holidays.  My life, w...