Living on the east coast has many advantages. I loved the ocean when we were in California. The smell of the salt air, the sand, the water … All very appealing especially to one that grew up on the prairies. As I gaze out my window to the harbour, I take a deep breath and taste the salt in the air. I am fully accepting of this being our home. It is new, a little intimidating at times and very far from family, but it is our city now.

(see he totally know J is going to cook him!)

Taking advantage of fresh seafood and farmer’s markets we are starting to learn to cook the fresh foods of the Atlantic (mostly J since I am not really all that into dealing with our food if it is still alive).

We started off simple. Mussels. Mmmm, J steams then with a broth, garlic and basil … My mouth is watering at the thought.

Then this past Saturday night we cooked up a couple crab … J & Becca picked them out a the fish market and brought them home. I really really cannot touch a squirming nervous animal that totally knows it is about to die. Thankfully my adoring husband has overcome his phobias. The meal was so yummy and we hope to make it a Saturday tradition to make up a fabulous seafood meal, bought locally, prepared together as a family.

Note: Even the cat is sniffing around!

Becca helping Daddy

I love this bowl, my MIL brought it for me … Isn’t it awesome?!?!?

This past year has been so hard on me. Much harder than I would like to admit, even to myself. Yet it is all coming together, my family is getting closer again, J is loving his dream job and I am discovering what it means to be a stay at home mom, a creator … It is all coming together. Life is good. Now if Ethan would just pop those teeth out and sleep a little … well life would be near perfect

So my Precious is under the protection of Apple and therefore at the Apple hospital. I am so so so so hoping they can recover my bookmarks, knitting patterns and some doodles I have done over the past few months. Darn moving. Moving is to blame. We moved and I forgot to back up my hard drive like a good geek. All pictures and important stuff is on my other computer, thank the heavens. I think I would be losing my mind if all the pictures were in trouble of exiting the digital world into the abyss of nothingness.

Lesson of the Day … BACKUP like monthly. Seriously. My iBook has endured endless hours over the past three years, of hard core use. I am not completely surprised that she is in need of some repair.

So without my laptop I am a little spacey, disorientated and well, not on the computer that much. My iMac is in our room, tucked away from where the children play and were all the action is. He gets lonely back there and honestly I cannot keep up with everything without better access. I hope to have Precious back soon (they think Wednesday) but it all depends on how grave her situation with her is. Until then I shall wander aimlessly, muttering to myself …

It is Spring Break in this area next week, so I think me and the wee ones are going to hibernate while the big kids rule our regular spots. The library is booked solid next week (the museum, the science centre … all the cool spaces). I figure why fight the crowds, we will have our kingdom back after Easter.

I apologize for the lack of posting.

I have a lot going on in my head and my world.

I am very tired.

In other news, my laptop DIED last night. Three years of hard core usage and she is showing signs of wearing out.  We are hoping it*just* overheated. I am calling Apple today, since the sexy beast is still under Applecare protection. I was so proud of me. I did not completely loss my mind when the computer collapsed in a heap of mush. There were some tears and I thought my heart might explode, but I did not completely lose it.

Ethan crawled up three stairs at the library.  Go apartment baby!

Becca painted for over an Hour yesterday .. the girl has an amazing attention span as of late.

I have been knitting … a lot. Not taking pictures of said knitting, yet. Why do I feel like there is still so much to do and I just cannot get a handle on it all?

Are we ever just done? Caught up and dare I say, bored? Or does that just like never happen as a parent?

Oh Beegeez … Single Moms/Dads … those that have partners that travel all the time or work insane hours … I Salute YOU!

This parenting gig by yourself is HARD. I am so tired. Yet I have had a total BLAST with the kids while J was away. I refused to get cranky (helps that I feel less like crud and more like normal). J is back in town but has visiting professors to entertain (aka take out to yummy meals and drinks, sounds great eh? Yeah well typically they talk about chemistry .. soooo yeah I will take a pass! hehe). I even took some time to organize our bedroom a little. Being that it is always last to be settled when we move there were still pockets of chaos. Truly there still are pockets of chaos, but manageable ones.

I have woken up to Becca in my bed, sleeping peacefully, we have gone for winter walks to buy ice cream, played hours and hours with Playmobile, nursed, napped (not me of course) and have enjoyed each other. Being their mom never ceases to amaze me.

I am sure that I could not be an attached parent solo. I am going to need some sleep soon. Ethan has popped out his seventh tooth, finally adding one to the six he has had (his last tooth emerged while we were still in New Mexico). Becca has not stopped talking, I am not even sure how she breaths. Yet we get in public and she is this cute, shy, coy child. At home … Banshee, a beautiful spirit, WAILING THROUGH THE HOUSE (minus all the death references). Honestly, I quite enjoy she spirit and I am not complaining … however I am thankful for a little quiet time.

I am very much looking forward to the gallent return of my partner in crime, so I can slip away to get some sleep and a little time to myself.