Xander turns THREE at Chuck E. Cheese's house

Xander went through a phase of loving Chuck E. Cheese -- like, he didn't just enjoy going there to play the games, he loved seeing Chuck E. Cheese whenever he'd come out and interact with the kids.

He even called it "Chuck E. Cheese's House"

So we thought it would be fitting to have his birthday party there, bearing in mind that it would likely be INSANE and OBNOXIOUS for the parents, but wildly amazing and fun for the kids.

Invitation design by none other than Terlie Design Co.

The sample cake was MUCH nicer than the one we got :P

Xander and all of his friends :)

The birthday boy had a blast...

...and some AWESOME gifts!

A big thanks to everyone who showed up and helped make Xander's 3rd birthday party a fun one!

Brief visit to the 2-oh-4

I took a short trip back to Winnipeg to visit with friends and to pick Xierra up for Spring Break.
[Ha, funny they still call it "Spring" break -- when I landed, there was still 6 ft. of snow on the ground (slight exaggeration...slight)]
It was super nice of my friend, Edwin, to let me stay at his place.  Saved me the expense of a hotel!  Also, I got hooked up with a rental car by a good friend - which really helped me out.

Optimus Prime and Iron Man...err... Edwin and Xierra

I was super stoked that so many of my friends made it out to see me, the night that I arrived.  We went to Clay Oven for some of my favourite Indian Food in Winnipeg

Spent the next few days hanging out, spending as much time with my friends as possible, and fulfilling Winnipeg-staple-cravings along the way

"Friendsday" - Breakfast at Stella's, an impromptu GoKart race, a visit to Ikea, an Apple Store visit and billiards

My life is not complete without poutine [at Smoke's Poutinerie]

Another lunch date with my (ex)Apple crew -- this time, Caribbean food at our favourite hole-in-the-wall restaurant, Tropikis

Chicken Roti

Made sure I took an afternoon to visit with my dad -- and of course, he had my favourite filipino dish hot and ready to eat, as soon as I got there :)

Tough to get my mom's side of the family together, since everyone's always so busy -- but thankfully, we managed to coordinate a night for some delicious sushi at one of my favourite sushi restaurants, Sushi Hon

The 'cousins' - growing up so fast

And what better way to end the trip, than with a visit with my longest-standing friends from back home -- my Famous Players crew.  Bistro 7 1/4 for dinner and then Tapp's for drinks

Bloody Mary's are alright, but it still isn't quite a Caesar.

I was only there for a few days, but it was so awesome to spend time with the people I love.  You don't realize how much you miss your friends and family, until you move 900 miles away, and never get to see them - ever.

xoxo

The Christmas season

This season was filled with parties galore!

We went to the city to visit with Brian's old friend, Wojtek, who was visiting from Iceland with his fiancé

I was so stoked to spend Christmas in Chicago.  We spent the season with friends and family and got to see people that we hadn't seen in a long time.  

Gift exchange at Rocky and Lucille's place

 We started new traditions and got to hang stockings with Xander for the first time

We spent Christmas Eve with the Schmid's

4 generations : Great Grandma & Grandpa Schmid, Grandpa Larry, Brian and Xander

My first attempt at making creamed spinach, and it was a HIT! 

Christmas Day
Headed over to my in-laws house for an over-the-top breakfast, and gift opening

wait... we need SNOW to be able to use this!

Mama got her pro series mixer!!!

Since the only thing missing this Christmas, was Xierra, we FaceTimed with her and watched her open all of her gifts from us and from all of the Schmid's.

 We headed over to our aunt's place for a delicious italian dinner in the evening

Like father, like son

Although much of our time was spent EATING, fortunately, I managed to survive having gained zero pounds over the holidays :)

A journey ahead.

Since selling the house back in August, I've been living at my cousin's house without any real direction.  I knew I was waiting for my Visa, but I didn't know exactly how long that was going to take.

The next step in the Visa process, is to wait for the interview - the interview that will be performed at the US Consulate in Montreal sometime in December (if my calculations are accurate).  

A few weeks ago, I took the plunge and booked one-way flights to Toronto, for Xander and I.  We leave in 6 days....for good.

I've decided to go and stay with my sister and her family in Mississauga.  I'll be scheduled for a medical between now and the time of the interview - and that can only be performed by 1 of 4 certified physicians in Canada -- 2 of which are in Toronto, and the other 2 being in BC and Quebec.  Since we'd be heading to Toronto within the next month or so anyway, I just decided to go early.

Although I'm leaving Xierra a few weeks earlier than expected, I think that Xander and I have overstayed our welcome and have intruded in my cousin and nieces lives, far longer than I'm comfortable with.  My niece has asked me "when can I get my room back" a few times too many -- I don't blame her - it's been 2.5 months since she's slept in her own bed.  It's time we go.

So, the next few days are going to be spent tying up loose ends.  I have 1 client order to fill before I go (yes, I know - I'm STILL working!), boxes to ship and bags to pack.  I have calls to make, and things to cancel.  But most importantly, I have people to see. 

My entire life has been spent living in Winnipeg.  I grew up here, went to school here, started and ended careers here.   I built my house and my business here.  I married here, had both of my beautiful children here.  And all along the way, I've met some extremely amazing people.  People who have been so influential in my life -- people that have been so amazing to me, that calling them my 'friends' does not even do them justice.  They've done more for me, than most family members have done for me.  And without them, I would't be who I am today.  It breaks my heart to know that I will be leaving them, but I find comfort in knowing that my true friends will never let distance keep us apart.

...

The countdown to my physical departure starts now.  Even though I haven't left the city yet, I consider this the start of my long journey ahead -- one that will surely have it's share of bumps [potholes seems more fitting].  In 6 days, I'll be in a completely different city - not quite my final destination but certainly one step closer, waiting for the next chapter of my life to start -- a life, sans Winnipeg.

I refuse to say that I'll never be back.  After all, this is still home for my baby girl.  But I can confidently say that my home is in Illinois -- it's just waiting for me to get there.

For those who care enough to follow, please stay tuned, as I document my move to the US.  

It starts here.  It starts now.

a Grilled Cheese Party

With this new fitness regimen I'm on, I only allow myself to have 1 cheat day a week - Sunday.  

I was never really a supporter of trying to pack a whole lotta' bad food into a 24 hour window, but after 6 days of eating clean, I realized that a cheat day was a really good opportunity for me to calm any cravings that I had throughout the week.

Also, I have made an effort to eat clean for most of the day, and just go 'overboard' for 1 meal (2 at best).

My first Sunday, I admit I went a little nuts.  I had dim sum with friends in the afternoon, and then had a grilled cheese party with them at night -- but not just any grilled cheese, I pulled out the big guns and went FANCY.

Here are the 3 kinds of sandwiches I made:

1) French bread, sliced pear and brie cheese - sprinkled w/ ground pepper

2) Multigrain bread, bacon and havarti cheese

3) Rye bread, apple butter, sliced apple, Bothwell cheddar cheese

Go big or go home

I slathered the bread with good old fashioned butter (no healthy stuff here) and pan fried them.  The pear/brie sandwiches were baked in the oven until the cheese got gooey and delicious.

Thankfully, my bread and cheese cravings were satisfied after this little get-together!

A dropped ball?

A little late to be commenting on the Royal Wedding, I know (yes, I watched it live; yes, I loved it; yes, I might've shed a tear or two).  But as I was sorting through my iPhoto, I came across this photo I took at The Old House Antique Mall a few weeks ago:

Did I totally drop the ball on this?  Could this possibly be worth something?  Given the fact that it's a commemorative mug for, none other than, "Their First Child" Prince William - I figure there's someone out there going completely ga-ga for stuff like this, no?


Aw well.


I've spent the majority of my morning making phone calls and filling out applications.  A really bad thing happened last week, which has left me scrambling to protect my identity -- *GASP*  I reassure you, I'm not an undercover agent, I am not a fugitive, nor am I in the witness protection program (or AM I? *dun dun dun*).  I won't go into detail, for now..at least until I get everything in order.


Yesterday was a mediocre day - didn't have too much going on.  Xander and I met my long-time friend Franco for lunch at Earls St. Vital.  Always nice to catch up with him, as it seems his life is moving at such a fast pace.  A week without talking to him, is comparable to missing 2 months worth of the Young and the Restless.  So much happens in so little time - it's hard to keep up.


Here he is with Mr. Xanderman:

Xander with Uncle Franco

Xander and Mama

After lunch, I just headed home with the little munchkin (Xander, not Franco) and waited for Xierra to come home from school.  The rest of the night was super laid back.  Soccer Schmid had a game, so it was just me and the kiddies.  There are only so many days left before I have to go back to work, so I try to embrace these slow moments and take 'em in for what they're worth. 

*sigh* 

• Xander's a daycare so I get the day to catch up on me-things: i.e. running around
• Grocery shop, for real this time
• Yoga with Xierra (and family) @ 430pm