Hello blog-o-sphere,

Once again, Jenn and the kids have made their, what seems to be an annual event, migration to Edmonton. As a result, I have been once again tasked with updating the blog. I don't know if it's more for your enjoyment more than it is for Jenn to keep adding things to my list of things I need to do while she is away. Maybe it's just another way to keep me busy and out of trouble (ie. having fun without her).

The last two days have been typical of being by myself; yesterday I had chips, cheesecake and beer for dinner.

Today, being "Gourmet Thursday," I boiled Kirkland Signature ravioli. It's the new pierogi. The "gourmet" is that I drizzled some tomato sauce and sprinkled "Spaghetti spice" over the ravioli. The spice is the gourmet. Yum.

As a side story, for those who know me, I used to live alone before Jenn entered (invaded) my life. Those were the days when Jenn and I worked at the Faculty Club and I lived in a small basement suite off of Whyte Ave. The apartment building was called "The Branding Place." It was a cute brick building on 85th Ave. Anyways, since I worked at the Faculty Club and supplied lunch and dinner most days of the week, I did not need to buy much groceries simply because I didn't need to buy much food, and also because I spent most of my money after rent and bills on beer and cigarettes.

For those days that I had to eat at home, since I was not at the Faculty Club, I had to fend for myself. Eating out was not much of an option since a dinner out was the equivalent of two or three pitchers of beer at the bar back then. One of my cheap solutions was PIEROGI's. I had a 20kg bag in the freezer. I think there was only room enough in the freezer for a loaf of bread beside the pierogi. Those nights I was not at the Club or was hungry after the bar I made a large plate of pierogis and toast. Usually, if there was extra money, I made my pierogis with butter and ground pepper. If I came into some money, like at Christmas or from my income tax, I might have onion, bacon and/or sour cream; however, there was no guarantee that my pierogi had anything other than butter and toast. For a while people laughed at it, but I didn't mind. I loved few things more than I loved pierogis.

So now, I am alone again, and the new pierogi is the ravioli. I didn't check Costco yesterday when I was there, but I need to go back for coffee and cream. Maybe I will buy a big bag of pierogis.

I still love pierogis, but in the last 4 years I've learned to love three people more than anything I have ever loved before;

(PS. I miss my little family)

Three, thus far, is a marvel. Three is all scabby-kneed, bug-watching, tool-loving boy. Three is peeing in the potty. Three is a little bit more rational, a little bit more thoughtful, and odds-defyingly, more cuddly.

Three is "reading" books in bed by himself and coloring with deliberation and panache. Three is playing ball with other kids at the park, and at home, it's a little less Elmo and a little more Blues Clues.

Three is also, as I have come to find out these past two weeks, napless. We have dropped the nap, and, well, it's been a problem.

It's a hard nap to drop, this last one. It's a long stretch from bright-and-early to well-past-dinner-and-very-very-well-past-Finn's best hour. The past two days, though, we've turned a corner, or, if you will, crossed a bridge.

Finn no longer needs his afternoon nap, and it seems, to wimpy me, we're walking away from babyhood and toddlerdom and passing over into the world of child. Sniff.

Oh, Baby Finn, you'll live on forever in my heart.

Tulip Festival is as advertised: heaps, boatloads, beds, and beds of tulips.
Some of us enjoyed the tulips more than others.

"Oooooh, pretty colors."

"Stupid flowers." (I think Finn misses the camping tent we set-up together in the back yard.)

Is it just me, or does it seem every Leite outing is merely an excuse to eat fried sugar-laden dough? (It's just an excuse to eat. As you can see, I am wearing my weekend uniform; a plain white shirt and sunglasses.)
"Thank god for the sugar dough." (The first "Beaver Tail" had sugar and lemon juice on it. The second one had Nutella and icing sugar. It's so amazing. Oh, and for those who don't know, a Beaver Tail is like a flattened doughnut, with more sugar.)
"Whee! Sugar!" (Rose just likes going outside.)

"

This little lady is ever so slowly learning to walk.
"Ever so cutely, I think I'll tip-toe over here towards the edge."

I don't know if it comes across in the pictures or not, but Finn loves Dadda.
Really, really loves him. "Best Dadda in the whole wide world" kind of love.
And I think the feeling is mutual.
"I think I have grown tired of flowers now, Mama. Home please." (The sugar rush may be over, but I think Rose is upset we did not make it to the breakfast buffet downtown this weekend. I know I am disappointed about it.)

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

You are loved and missed very greatly. Now that I am mother, I appreciate your love, kindness, and support all the more.
I treasure all the time we have together and look forward to seeing you soon!
p.s.

Something will arrive for you sometime today!

Playing with her brother's toys.

This pretty much sums up mornings around here. What you don't see is all the coffee consumed. Cuteness and caffeine, that's what is fueling the Leite household.

An army of Elmo cupcakes!