Chicken Soup and Mac n’ Cheese

Posted in Emotions, Family, Letters, Memories by

Dear Grandma,

It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since you so suddenly departed from our lives. It’s been tough – so tough – and not a day goes by where I don’t think about you.

Memories of you sometimes come at the most peculiar times; I may be doing something mundane and routine like changing a diaper or watching TV, or perhaps it’s something more specific, like making homemade soup or attempting to replicate your famous mac n’ cheese. (You made the best homemade chicken soup and mac n’ cheese, hands down, and I don’t think what I make will ever come close to how good yours was.) They never fail to put both a smile on my face and a tear in my eye at the same time.

I never thought someone would have such a significant influence on me, and it’s unfortunate that I’m only truly realizing how much of an influence you had after you’ve passed. Your “isms” speak loud and clear in my head a lot: “Treat others the way you want to be treated!”, “Come on in if your nose is clean!”, or “Kitchen Witch!” Whether silly or serious, I’ll never forget your words of wisdom.

I wish you were able to meet your great-grandbabies. I know Isla and Norah would have adored their Nana. It hurts so much knowing that you passed just a few months before Isla was born, especially because you were so excited to meet her. I’m thankful that you got to “meet” her while I was still pregnant; those moments will forever be etched in my heart.

I really want to thank you for being such an amazing grandmother not only to me and my brother, but to your 16 other grandkids as well. Your love and devotion to you family has influenced us all in so many ways and we can only hope to be as great as you were.

I miss you so much, Grandma, and one day I know I’ll be sitting down with you again to enjoy a bowl of chicken soup and a plate of mac n’ cheese.

60

Monday Morning Coffee

Posted in Monday Morning Coffee by

Happy Easter Monday, everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I know some of you may be back to work, but for those who aren’t, here’s what I’d be telling you if we were sitting down for coffee this morning:

  • We (or should I say Kyle) had a productive weekend doing yard work! We/Kyle tore out our front flower bed, including all the rocks, mulch, and shrubbery, so we can redesign and plant new stuff! It’s still pretty cold in our front yard most days, so it will take a few weeks to finish completely, but we’re looking forward to it!
  • It tried to snow yesterday morning. Actually, technically it was snowing, but it wasn’t sticking. Yuck.
  • The girls had a wonderful Easter! Isla did her Easter egg hunt around the house and Norah had fun ripping apart her basket. (Second child fact: We didn’t do anything for Isla’s first-ever Easter, but since the Easter Bunny brought Isla something this year, he had to leave something for Norah’s first Easter.)

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  • I’m really loving my Jamberry nails! They are so easy to put on (seriously, it takes me about 15 minutes) and I cannot get over the fact that once they’re on, I don’t have to baby my fingernails and wait for them to dry.
  • My mom and I are planning a little weekend getaway in May and I’m looking forward to it! We’re loading up and taking the girls to the Lower Mainland to visit family and friends, so it should be fun!

What would you be telling me if we were having coffee this morning?

Thought Dump Thursday

Posted in Thought Dump Thursday by

Thought Dump Button

  • Yesterday when I was at the park with the girls there was an older girl (maybe 10?) with her older sister (maybe 12?) and little brother (4ish). The 10-year old girl was dressed so scantily and provocatively that it made me nervous: Short-shorts, calf-high boots with pompoms (boots wit da furrr), and a super loose/baggy tank top that “showed off” her spaghetti-strapped sports bra and midsection. It was definitely not warm enough to be wearing something like that, and I was just horrified. Now, it’s spring break and maybe her older sister was “babysitting” while her parents were at work, but my word – I have some serious concerns about my own daughters dressing inappropriately when they get older. There’s no doubt that “Over my dead body” will come out of my mouth more than once.
  • ICYMI, Rob Ford, the former mayor of Toronto, passed away on Tuesday. While I’m not fully aware of his political policies, I understand that not everyone agreed with them (do we every agree 100% with anyone’s policies?) and have even read some “cheers” that he’s dead. All I can say to that is shame on those people. While yes, he was a little eccentric at times and maybe not a stellar mayor, he’s still leaving behind a wife and two daughters. He was still human.
  • I’m pretty sure allergy season has started and that makes me THE SADDEST.