Peever.org

Blog

Apples Are Coming

June 2, 2013
peever
Lexi & Ashlyn
1 Comment

Finally a nice weekend to be outside. It’s starting to feel a lot like summer and with a month of school left Shan and I are already getting the summer cleaning out of the way so we can enjoy a little time with the girls.

This weekend flew by. Helped Ponch move on Saturday to their new place in Oakbank. Such a nice place, I am so happy for them. The winter has taken it’s toll on me and I woke up on Sunday feeling like I spent the day in the gym. Or at least what I think that might feel like. I wonder if Brey was sore?

After the move I picked up Lex and we went to get the camper while Ashlyn was napping. We got the air conditioner fixed so that I could be more patient and fun to be with while camping. I also got to some yard work and got the central air unit cleaned out and ready to go. So I could be more patient and fun to be with while at home.

Lexi and I went to see “Epic” today. Great movie and it was great to get out with her and just hang out. It seems awful that we have have been slipping out while Ashlyn is napping but it’s the only time I can give her 100%. Those of you with 2 young kids know exactly what I am talking about. So often I find myself torn between the girls and Lexi usually gets the short end. Ashlyn still needs so much extra focus that I find it hard to play with Lexi properly and still take care of Ashlyn. As soon as we get into something I am breaking character to change a diaper or discourage Ashlyn from some kind of bodily harm. Or she just jumps into play and the girls fight over the pink stroller or the shopping cart.

That being said Lexi deals well. She usually just keeps on playing and checking in with me every 30 seconds.

“Are you playing daddy? Are you ready to play again daddy?”

Ashlyn is doing really well in her big girl bed. She is going to bed good and sleeping in a little. Super happy for her. She is talking so much now too. At times she won’t stop, mostly in the car. We just smile and nod a lot. The funny thing is that as soon as someone else is around she goes mute! Shan jokes around about picking up hitchhiker on the way to CGY this summer just to keep her quiet!

Bon Jovi Still Holds Up

April 8, 2013
peever
Reviews
Add comment

A few weeks ago I went to see Bon Jovi at the MTS Centre. My cousin Colin called me up with free tickets after seeing Lexi singing “Living On a Prayer”. It was a bad week for me because I was diagnosed with a lacerated ear drum so I wasn’t going to go. In fact Colin said it would be OK for Shannon to bring a friend so she asked Tara Bosak to go in my place. Long story short Colin showed up solo for dinner so I decided to go at the last minute and I am so glad I did.

We were in the first row on the floor just outside the coral of old 80’s chicks who way overpaid for VIP tickets. Oli Jokinen was actually sitting in the seat next to me. It was cool to be chatting with him throughout the concert. At one point the crowd was super loud and he told me to save some cheering for the Jet game the next day. They were playing the Flyers in the afternoon so he would not let me buy him a beer and he did leave before the encore. This drunk dude bumped his way out of the row behind us and I said to Oli “must be from Philly” and he delivered a fake elbow. It was hilarious.

Anyway, back to Bon Jovi, he was awesome. It started a little slow and he doesn’t have an arsenal of dance moves but when the classics came out there was an awesome energy in that arena. At one point during Bed of Roses this lady was flapping her wings for Jon Bon to come over and she gave him a necklace of some kind. Then she broke down in tears and her husband had to console her. It was like a train wreck to watch but it also made me think what a bad ass Bon Jon was back in the day.

I think there was some issues with Sambora not being able to continue the tour and you could tell Jon felt bad about it. He did double encore and ended up being onstage for like 2.5 hours. It was unreal. Big props to Colin for thinking of us, we had a blast.

Christmas Break is Over?

January 4, 2013
peever
Yada, Yada, Yada
Add comment

No wait, I’m not ready yet.

This is really the first holiday Shan and I have taken together as educators. This was the big bonus for taking my EA course and getting a job in the school division. So that our family could be together at Christmas, Spring Break, Summer Holidays. Somehow it all makes sense. During the school year our kids are at day care more than they are at home. Having these holidays together really soften the blow of that reality and over the past couple weeks we have really taken advantage of just being together.

sisters-play

Christmas Eve we went to Nolan’s for our yearly visit with the girls. I don’t realize how much the girls have changed sometimes until Christmas Eve at the Nolan’s comes around. Last year we had a baby who wasn’t even walking. This year they are both running around bouncing off the furniture and serving fresh fruit to everyone. That night when we got home we went back outside to spread our sparkly reindeer food from Kathy across the street. She hands it out to all the kids on the street so it was cool to everyone outside spreading it on their lawn. Lexi loved that. Then we set up some cookies and milk, read “The Night Before Christmas” and off to bed.

Christmas morning Lexi was pumped when she saw that Santa had placed a new bike for her under the tree.

new-bike

JD and Linda came in Christmas day to spend the night so we had a great visit with them. We saw all the Granny’s and Papa’s and even had breakfast with Nolan on Boxing Day. It was great to see everyone and to see the girls with everyone. We got some crazy news this year just after Christmas about a close friends Mom who passed on Christmas day. It really put things into perspective for me and I made sure that I gave out big hugs and pulled my people in close when saying goodbye. The funeral was beautiful tribute to a beautiful person and I am so sorry for their loss. The strength they found in each other over Christmas was truly admirable.

On the 29th Joel and Jen graciously offered up their place for our annual Christmas get together. Usually we do the restaurant thing but it was a bit late to get reservations this year so big thanks to Joel and Jen for hosting a potluck on such short notice. It was great to get out and see everyone. Nice to skate a couple times with Drew while he was here as well.

Speaking about skating Lexi has been working hard on her skills. There is this amazing little rink at Southdale just for learning to skate. It eliminates all the negative stuff that comes with learning that tends to sometimes discourage kids from learning. Things like frozen feet and testicles. It’s awesome and I have been taking Lexi as much as possible. Hopefully she remains interested and we can get out more and more this winter. I was really surprised how naturally she took to it. She was getting up all on her own the first time. So proud of her.

skating

New Years Eve Shan and I cancelled our “plans” and just had a nice quiet night. We fell asleep on the couch watching “Pawn Stars” in our PJ’s and it was perfect.

My New Years Resolution this year is “to be more flexible”. Take that any way you want.

That being said I made another little observation at a little social gathering this Holiday Season that might influence someone else’s New Years Resolution…

Before the guitar came out!

Before the guitar came out...

After the guitar came out!

Once the guitar came out.

First Sleepover

December 16, 2012
peever
Lexi & Ashlyn
Add comment

They both even use the “spitting paste” to brush their teeth. A couple times they butt heads a little bit but for the most part Lexi was a great host and even gave up the pink cup to her friend. Ashlyn worked so hard to be noticed it was almost sad at times. I fixed a bed for the girls and Ashlyn came running down the hall with her blanket and barged right in. She had no interest in the movie so she passed the time poking Lexi’s friend and trying to steal her stuffy! It was adorable. The girls slept great in the living room and didn’t wake up until almost 8am.