Tingling with Anticipation...

Friday is my birthday and my loving husband has been planning something for weeks now. He has managed to keep it a secret thus far, although I know on Sunday he was fast approaching a point where he was going to erupt and tell me just exactly what he had planned. Of course this was when we were trying to sort out what I should be packing (he has told me that its an overnight excursion) and wanted me to trust him. I however don't think I'm the only woman that might have some reservations around a man picking out her outfit. I am, however a woman who loves a surprise and because he has worked so hard on this I will place my trust in him. Apparently he has had some assistance in planning this event, but hasn't told the children where he is taking me in fear that they spill the beans. Lord knows he's having a hard enough time keeping little 'hints' to himself as it is. If I was the kind of girl who persisted in being given some kind of idea as to what he was planning, I'm sure he would have broken by now. Call me crazy, but I'm happy to be kept in the dark.

There has also been an unexpected number of packages delivered to me. Mom and Dad's arrived just over a week ago, my friend gave me a gift bag last week, and today I received not one, but two! A package came from Tawny, wrapped in lovely lime green paper, and another had arrived earlier from Roisin. It's been hard not opening these packages, and I've even managed to hold off on Mom and Dad's (which is saying something since its been laying around for so long). But today I couldn't resist, I opened the one from Roisin, telling myself that I couldn't be 100% certain it was something to do with my birthday. Of course it was and inside I found a beautiful necklace and bracelet that will be just perfect for this weekend.

If I wasn't feeling a little bit celebrated before today, I sure am feeling it now.

I'm also looking forward to beginning this book. I think its going to be an absorbing piece, especially since I am so interested in psychiatry, and certainly the way it was perceived/practiced over 100 years ago. I'm trying to branch out in the type of literature I've been reading and just finished a non-fictional autobiography entitled 'A Piece of Cake' by an author called Cupcake Brown which tells a gripping, if appalling tale of how the US Legal/Foster system could so horribly fail a child in the 1970's and 80's. Thankfully this woman triumphed to become a lawyer in a top-ranking firm.

Wanting and Needing

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work I heard a knock upon the door. At 8:00 this usually only means one thing: my mate the friendly post man has a very welcome package for me, or mine.

Turns out this box was addressed to me and the Allenby Clan from a very special Canuck we call Sage Longbottom, better known as Dawn. It was full of mine and my family's favourite Canadian things: Reese's pieces, Lucky Charms, Trident Gum, tuna, Pad Thai sauce, and a big package of these:

Here is where I add that I am probably the most gluttonous person this side of the Atlantic. My greediness came out in full whack as I proceeded to stuff my mouth with these wonderfully scrumptious peanutbutter chocolate treats and did not stop until today, when I reached the bottom of the bag. In my very weak defense I did manage to stop on occasion, trying to convince myself to share, if not with my mother-in-law, then at least with the kids. But I fobbed myself off, letting the evil cow inside me win. The cow convinced me that the kids could have the bag of Reese's, and the gum, Andy could have the Twerpz (or at least half that bag) that they could all have the cereal and every other goody, so long as I got the bag of PB cups.

Nevermind the fact that there were numerous other gifts in there for me such as a beautiful handmade scarf and hat, and treats from Lush. I'm not even putting a dent in what was in that box of gold. To top it all off there was a lovely Chinese game that we can't wait to try on the weekend.

It is times like these when I hold my friends and family so dear, for remembering all the little things of home that add up into something very big. We are truly blessed to have such caring people love us from afar.

Starting Over

This year began very quietly for Andy and I, we ended up having dinner out and retiring home by 10:00 to have a drink and welcome the New Year by ourselves. The weeks leading up to Christmas were rather hectic and I found my self experiencing a multitude of emotions, the end result being my disinterest in blogging. I seem to have found my way back though and am looking forward to both blogging and exercising with zest, a few weeks away from both have taken their toll both physically and emotionally. Exercising will not only assist my body in getting rid of the 1/2 stone I put on over the holidays (and most likely am still adding to) but it helps keep my mind focused and clear. Writing will only help the cause I should think.

We were all spoiled to excess over the holidays and didn't stop at the personal gifts for each other. Andy and I proceeded to buy ourselves that big double door fridge, as well as a clothes dryer (we had a little unexpected 'income' just prior to Christmas). Both these appliances have gone a long way to save my sanity, especially the dryer as I think I would have preferred to wring my own neck with jeans than hang one more pair over the radiator or door.

Connor's New Year Resolution (I haven't made any) is to drink only ice-water until the end of January, at least while here in this house. He has a fascination with the fridge's ice-maker/water dispenser and loves using it. Surprisingly he has stuck to it thus far bless him. We'd only dared to hope that this would be one very positive effect of the new fridge and we didn't even have to 'push' the kids into it. Fingers crossed that it continues even after the novelty wears off.

Oh, and how could I forget to mention one of my other favourite toys, Sky+. This happens to be the UK's equivalent to TiVo. My only thought around this new addition is 'What on earth took us so long?'