Change of season, new things.

Amazingly enough, our snow is gone!  Snowbanks over my head a mere month ago, are a distant memory. We have had gorgeous summer weather here for the last week. The kids bikes have been out, sunscreen and hats, and lots and lots of fresh air.  We also got a new patio set, and have been thoroughly enjoying it. You can really tell the season’s have changed when you start to see neighbours out in the yards again. We found out one of our new-ish neighbours are expecting their first child this summer. So it should be fun on our corner.  Parties are now being planned. I am planning two parties for a friend of ours, one is a summer kick-off at the end of June, and the other a 40th birthday in August. They have a great new backyard, and I have an open budget - at the moment. :)  I am also starting to mentally organize for our annual Canada Day bash. It looks like this year will be our biggest yet, with an invite list of about 14 families (70-75 people), and I just pray to  God that the weather cooperates!!  And I have NO plans of twisting anything, or breaking any bones this year.

As a parent, a stay-at-home-Mom, it’s not always easy to make new friends. I mean you see the same group of parents at the parks, or on the street, you already have an existing group of ‘friends’. But to make a new one is pretty exciting.  My girls are at preschool, and most of the class has stayed the same since last year. And there is one little boy who the girls adore, and he adores them right back. To the point that he has proclaimed his love for them and that he plans to marry them. Yes, THEM. As in BOTH of them. Fortunately, he is aware that it will be expensive and has forewarned his parents to date.  Now, the three of them were friends last year, but not like this year. This year we want playdates, and lots of them. He was at the girls’ birthday, and they were at his. So his Mom and I have met, talked and had general aquaintance type conversations over the last two years. About a month ago, we went over to his house for a playdate that lasted the entire day. And because of pictures taken at school, and at the parties, his Mom and I are FB friends. Recently, her and I went out for coffee while the kids were at school, and I think we had a great time - at least I did!  Then the same week, we had them over here for a playdate, and it was another nice afternoon - for everyone. Although he was not too impressed with the insane amount of Barbies and Polly Pockets in my house, he did love the Spiderman and the dress up capes, and the video games.  So we tentatively made plans for another playdate this week. This family has also been invited to our Canada Day party this year.  As Moms know, once school is done, ‘friendships’ can wane.  At our first playdate this was mentioned ever so slightly, and we agreed that is was sad when that happened. Especially when you have kids that love to be together. But at this age it’s hard. They attend the same preschool, but that, in no way, guarantees they will attend the same school. Often times, they are in a different ‘home school’ area altogether, or they go to a different board, or they move.  This little boy, however, does live in our area, but will attend a different school than the girls. The good thing is, the two schools back onto each other! And we will have another current school-mate (our neighbour) attending the same school as the ‘boyfriend’. So I hope that our friendship continues past the summer. Because Mom seems like a really good friend to have. I don’t know the Dad too well, but from what I gather, he and Hubby should get along quite well also. We’ll just have to see how this pans out for everyone. But for now, I have made a new Mom friend. And that is always fun!

Another new addition to our house, is the new treadmill. I have been trying to talk hubby into getting one for about a year now, but it was always a cost issue, not to mention a space issue. But we finally brroke down. Thanks to a Wellness program at hubby’s work, we get half back on the cost of the machine.  So we went to Costco and brought the monster home. Only to realize that there was no way in hell that the two of us would be able to get it OUT of the van, and INTO our basement!! The thing must weigh about 500 lbs!! Thankfully it was a Sunday afternoon, and our neighbours were home.  It took 4 of us to get it in the house, but we did it. (This is how we found out about the pregnancy!)  So now, hubby and I can run to our hearts content!  Unfortunately, the kids are as excited about it as we are. So they like to have ‘turns’ on it as well. Supervised, of course, and for very short intervals.  But it’s good, right?  The kids will develop an interest in keeping fit, that they will carry with them into their adult years.  Right?

And finally, BALL SEASON is almost upon us!!  The diamonds are clear of snow, the teams are decided, and practices are being scheduled!  My league had their ‘Meet the Team Night’ last week, and as always, had a good turn out. It was scheduled for 7-9, and I came home at about 1130pm.  I am on the same team as last year, more or less, except for a couple of new faces.  So I am excited and looking forward to a summer of good ball, and good ball parties. The first of which, is our May tournament. It falls on my birthday weekend this year. Which is also my captains bday, as well as 4 other teammates, and about 5 others in our league.  So it’s ALWAYS a good party weekend.  With a few ball games thrown in. ;)  Should be a good summer.

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Anyone have any good reading suggestions for me?  I am finished my book (The Gathering) and am in search of a new novel. I am not a thriller-type reader, or mystery per say. Definitely fictional, but more of the everyday-life kind of book. So if you have a fabulous book you’ve read recently, let me know about it!  If you live near me, maybe I can borrow it from you. :)  If not, I guess I’ll have to splurge on it.  Though I do have a Chapter’s gift card in the cupboard…. hhmmmmm.