Soup, Soup, Soup, GOOOOO

Might as well put a "spoiler alert" out there.  All that cheering didn't help Soup in her 2nd race of the year. 4th place is still in the money, honey.  Now just like with my children, I'll make an excuse.  It was a freaking long race.  Her 1st race was 6 furlongs, this one was double the size (ok maybe not double the size, it was a mile and sixteenth).  Yeah, yeah I know all the horses were running the same distance, but whatever if the California Chrome owner can make excuses so can I :).

Thanks to her jockey Skye Chernetz, she seems to have a great rapport with our Soup.

This time I decided to get right down at track level.  Even a LONG race like this one doesn't give you a lot of time to scamper around trying to take pictures of different parts of the race, so these pics are the beginning and the end of the race.  The Starting Gate Crew (the Cowboys of Horse Racing) make loading these large (massive) horses into the gates look so easy.  Thankfully they wear helmets now.  These particular horses went into the gates pretty quietly.  I can't imagine what it must be like when a horse starts rearing and just refusing.  Amazing the starting crew don't back down and normally all the horses get loaded.  

They're at the post and they're off and running.

They're in the stretch and approaching the Finish Line.

Yes she didn't get her picture taken,in the winner's circle but still so exciting.  If you need a little excitement in your life, head over to Woodbine, these animals are amazing, the muscles - wow, so often their feet aren't even touching the ground.  And how on earth the jockey's stay on is something that defies gravity.  Great job.

Mom, Mum, Mumsie, Mama, Mother - definition "true love forever"

It's been 11 years since my "Mom" passed away and hardly a day goes by when I'm not thinking about her.  You reach for the phone to tell her good news, bad news, accomplishments, exciting news, about something that made you cry or laugh.  Now that conversation tends to start with "I wish I could tell my mom about ......." or "mom would laugh about Cleo and the Chipmunk".  I have tried to make a point of keeping her alive in my life.  When talking to my kids I will often start a story off with "Nana or Granma would be ...  (stealing that last chocolate bar or looking for a cookie)".

My mom was in my life for 44 years and I was also lucky enough to have my "mom-in-law" in my life for 37 years.  Their influence was tremendous.  These 2 women helped to make me the mom I am.

Being the only daughter in a family of 5 and the baby to boot, I had a fair bit of responsibility (my brothers would say I was a brat - who did a pretty good job of a "pout" whenever I wanted something - not true).  My brothers, John and Jim did a wonderful job of introducing me to 2 more women, who have left their mark on me.  Maureen and Eileen added 6 children to our family.  Mom now became Nana and the official babysitter of these 6 children ranging in age from 0 to 5.  Being 12 years old at the time I was "in training" for 15 years before my own children came along.

It wasn't unusual to have John drive by the local park on a Friday night to get me to come babysit.  My favourite job (non paying) in the world.  Changing diapers, burping, walking them to sleep, leaning over their cribs patting their backs, I learned at the expense of my nieces and nephews.  My children Andrew, David and Rachel thank Danny, Jacqueline, Jamie, Julie, Colleen and Miranda for helping to get the kinks out of my techniques (this was the time of diaper pins - ouch)...

My mom had this quiet disposition about her.  She loved having her family around her.  As children we were a part of every aspect of their lives.  If there was a party we were included, we were there until we fell asleep on a chair.  We learned all the old army songs, wasn't sure what they were talking about thankfully, but we could sing along with them.  Christmas dinners - if there were too many of us, there wasn't any fretting about where people would sit or if we had enough dishes, the fact that we were all together was more important than the table settings.  One big happy family, lol, no this isn't a fairy tale, we all had our moments and most of the time mom just let us sort them out ourselves.

Mom in the middle, her family just keeps on growing.  

Mom-in-law was also the ruler of a family of 5.  I married the baby and only boy.  We really are a remarkable combination.  :).  I went from being the only daughter to a daughter-in-law and adding 2 more sisters-in-law into the mix and 5 more nieces and nephews.  Girl Power was starting to rule.

These 2 remarkable women were born in an age that helped to change the way women were treated.  They grew up through wars, depressions, women's lib, burning bras, rising divorce rates, the maple leafs actually winning the Stanley Cup.  (lol just had to add that in)  And during all this still kept their family values, encouraged all of their children (3 each), grandchildren (6+5) and great grandchildren (14 + 7) (gosh I hope I have added right) to instill those values in their own families.

They introduced us to baking (was there anything better than opening that door after school to the aroma of the current fresh fruit pie baking).  Gardening - every year at this time my mom and I would go out to buy her petunias, marigolds, and geraniums.  Jim's mom would start checking on her peonies and making sure the rhubarb and raspberry patch were ready to fill up her freezer.

These 6 women (Mom, Mom, Maureen, Eileen, Lindy and Deni) all so different from one another, but when it came to their most important job all being so alike.  Hard when they had to be, but most of the time "silly putty" in the hands of their children.


I was also lucky enough to move into a neighbourhood as my children were born where I was introduced and fell in love with 4 beautiful women and their families.  Lindsey, Mary Jo, Dale and Sharon helped me raise my children.  Tonsils, chicken pox, birthday parties, hockey, soccer, car pooling, school pick ups.  They made my life as a mother so much easier.  Sharing worries and achievements over a coffee and the odd glass of wine.  A big hug to all the Tribbling Women, the best friends, the best confidants.

Happy Mothers Day to all the Grandmas, Moms, Sisters, Aunts, Nieces, Daughters  in the world, continue spreading the love, dedication to family, causes, true love of this planet earth.  You make a difference in so many lives.

love you mom always in my heart xoxoxoxo

Woodbine is open and Soup is running

It's been a long winter for everyone, but finally Woodbine is opened and Soup is ready to GO.  Yes, eating oats and being combed and having a personal trainer is a tough way to spend the winter, I could handle it.  And I must admit she looks alot trimmer than I do after this winter.  Next year oatmeal for me.

My first view of her was down in the paddock, looking as excited as a 2 year old at Christmas.  Being fussed over, everyone wanting a little piece of her and she is just loving it.

Our Jockey Skye Chernetz getting ready to take over the reins.

The proud owners looking a little more relaxed as she gets saddled up.  Missing David Carlson, who is sitting in a pub in London, England waiting for updates.  I am thinking these 3 guys were wishing they had a beer under their belt about now.

Strolling around the paddock.  

Looks so calm as she enters the gate.  The excitement is mounting.

I am busy clicking away with my camera, not really sure what is happening when OH MY GOODNESS, she is in the lead

She holds the lead and takes away the win.  I am talking to this lovely man who is down with me and he is congratulating me on the win.  LOL.  All of a sudden I am aware of this crazy noise, we both look at each other and I say, "what the heck is that", he starts to laugh and says I would presume those are your family and friends of "No Soup for You".  Yep, the guys, up in the owner's box were a hooting and a hollering like a bunch of banshees.  

So exciting, there were hugs and whacks on the back, back up to the clubhouse for a drink.  A few tears (me) and everyone talking at once.  Hands were shaking, and then wham it hits you again.  SHE WON.  So exciting, when's the next race LOL.......

Enjoy

THE RACE

Having Trouble Sleeping, Try this!!!!

Why do I wake up 3 or 4 times a night?  Why is it so difficult to get back to sleep?  OK I know I start thinking about the things I have to do the next day.  Trust me my life is not that important.

• What's for dinner
• What's the weather going to be like for driving
• Shoot I forgot to fold my laundry
• Wonder what my next blog should be about.......

Definitely nothing that is going to affect the affairs of the world.  Well one day last week, I woke up and I was singing "All of Me" by Johnny Legend.  I didn't even know I knew the words to this song.  So the way my mind likes to repeat things (like counting is another favourite past time when I'm awake in the middle of the night).  I kept singing it and magically it lulled me back to sleep.  

So for the past week everytime I have woke up I have started singing (in my brain).  My favourite nighttime lullabies so far have been:

• Yesterday
• The Letter
• Leaving on a Jet Plane

And it's working, I sing the chorus twice (that's usually all I know) and I'm back asleep.  

O:)

A quick trip to the St Lawrence Market

Saturday morning, a little gray, a little cold, and Jim and Andrew are off to curling at 7:30 am.  What could be better I am still lying in bed.  The cats have been fed.  And no one around too steal my blankets.  Perfect!!!!!

Before I know it, 9 am appears.  OK gotta go, up and into the shower, quick hot water and lemon, dry my hair, makeup on, make a latte and in the car I go to pick up Rachel and David.  The 404 and DVP are great at this time of day.  35 minutes and I am picking up Rachel and then off to meet David and onward to the St Lawrence Market.

It's 10:45 and we actually manage to get parking right on Market St for only $6 for 2 hours, what a bargain.  Before I left Aurora I popped into the bank to get some cash for my market purchases.  Just what to buy, it is just a bustling and exciting as I remember, little stalls everywhere with fresh produce, fish, meat, cheese, olives and the list goes on.

What to buy?  What to buy? What to buy?  So I take my $100 and go to the cheese store.  Big big mistake!!!!  A spanish blue cheese, a stilton, 2 brie and a wonderful gouda that the cheese monger said you should serve with the brie on top, yum yum.  And guess what, $100 wasn't enough.  Out comes the visa.

All this good food around us and wonderful smells and we are all quite hungry now.  There were all sorts of great little places to pick up the famous "pealmeal on a bun", "crepes with all sorts of toppings", etc, etc.  After looking around we decide to go out on the street and have a nice sit down brunch.

Le Papillon one of my favourite restaurants is still there (though I did think it was down a side street the last time I was there).  A perfect morning for a "Morning Glory" to start the day.  

After looking at the menu, we can't decide what to have so we order 3 different things and decide to share.  A Croque-Monsieur - ham, Gruyere cheese with bechamel sauce on egg bread.  too dieeee for.  Eggs Benedict perfectly done.  And of course a crepe with bacon, cooked apple and cheese.  Does everything in France come with cheese on it.  I have to go there O:)  The whole meal including drinks cost less than the cheese  LOL.  And was mighty good.

Somehow I ended up in the back seat for the trip back and David decided to drive.  

Thank you kids for a great day.  xoxoxo