ola

A quick ola that is. The days are heaven but the nights hell - hence the reason for a very quick post - I have to get to bed. The kids and I have not been sleeping well. All three of us in one room, squeaky doors, dogs barking, Grandpa using the coffee grinder and roosters crowing makes for many sleepless hours thus far. Oh Mexico.

So the update: The kids did very well on the flight to Mexico even with a four hour departure delay due to frozen toilets. It was a very long day. We have been exploring El Nogolito, the mountain village where we're staying as well as the pool and the grounds of the house. The kids are having a blast although I have to admit that Elliott does cry a lot. Kate is in love with her cousin and wants to know where he is all the time. Tomorrow morning we're heading to the beach for the first time. It's hot so it's got to be a morning visit before the heat of the day. We are drinking tequila, eating guacamole, chasing chickens and taking public transportation. In other words, we're just keepin' it real.

Here's just a couple pics (it's taking a long time to upload) and lots of love from me and the sun bums. Special kisses to you Papa.

 Elliott and one of the many chickens that jump through the gates to our yard daily.

 Aidan making art with his art. Check out the vegetation in the background.

 Me and the sun bums - literally. Kids seem to gravitate to their natural, naked selves in the sun.

Kate waiting for Aidan to join her for another jump in the pool.

Adios amigos!

dear santa,

I thought I better write early in order to give you a heads up and time to prepare for my Christmas wish list. It seems to be growing daily. Last week I told Aunty Candace I wanted a roller coaster and a puppy. Those asks still stand. I would however like to add 2 things: a chainsaw like Papa only with sparkles; last but not least a phone, and yes you guessed it a sparkly phone.

I have been very good girl and am nicer and nicer to my little brother. I promise.

Love, 

Kate Bronwyn Jorgensen

a note to my teenaged kids

Dear Kate and Elliott,
If Mama ever complains about you being lazy teenagers and wasting the day away as you sleep past 9 then 10 then 11 - please remind me of these days of my life - and I promise to shut up and enjoy every moment. Love Mama

Needless to say my babies are not sleeping here at Aunty and Uncle's - at least not at night.  They seem to have adjusted to a Calgary bedtime but are still on a Moncton wakeup. Which means Mama and Elliott up at 3 am sneaking around looking for breakfast - then by the time I get him back to sleep Kate's up and we're working on a  am second breakfast. Yikes.

In other news my extreme anxiety over our flights out here were in vain - almost. It was a very trying 8 hours but there were no fits from either so I am super pumped. The guy who sat in front of Kate - less so. If she opened her tray table up once it was 120 times. He didn't complain until deplaning and even then he wasn't too snarky. I wish I could say that I would have been the same pre-kids but I probably would have at least given the new me an evil hate filled eye.

Upon deplaning Kate was very happy to see her cousin Aidan and Grandma Sherri. Since then they both have been a tornado of activity and chatter. Elliott over night has turned into a wild man - climbing everything! They're both digging all Aidan and the Bedard ladies' toys. Kids do love toys.

In short aside from the sleep we are having a great start to our trip. We love you and miss you Papa. Kate picks up lots of toys and tells me that she's going to show you them and have you fix all the toys that are broken or missing batteries.

A few pics...

 Sleepy time with Aunty. Upon closer examination I believe Aunty is in her undies. Ooops.

 Our musical men.

Jessie quickly found a replacement cowboy hat here in cowtown.
xoxo aj

court side

We took over our Court yesterday when our favourite lady friends Ruby and Laurie came over to enjoy the gorgeous afternoon. The kids literally spread out over the entire cul de sac.  They were so content making tracks and enjoying the final days of Fall.

 Whose kids are those?

 Ruby and her fancy road kill. 

The babies. Who admittedly are looking less and less like babies. 

Two more days until we're off. It's tough packing for three people for three weeks and possibly three different seasons. I am trying to pack as light as possibly so please excuse me if I'm wearing the same thing daily. 

Ciao, aj

bye bye kate

We said bye to Miss Kate today as she's headed to PEI with Grammie Donna for a few days. Three sleepovers with Grammie and the cousins. Good luck guys! Have fun babes. It's been less than an hour and the house is already too quiet.

So the countdown is officially on again - eight days until the kids and I are off to Calgary and then Mexico. I am totally terrified of the travel and the sleeps. Kate has been having a terrible time sleeping through the night and Elliott is in full teething mode again. Hopefully I will be too drunk to notice. Kidding! All totalled Cody will be wife and kid free for just over three weeks. So I ask, who is on holiday? His diet will suffer but not likely his intake of television and restful sleeps.

I just downloaded our a video of our entire night trick or treating this past Monday. If you have the time I thought you might enjoy it.

So that was it, roughly 30 seconds. We made it next door and then Kate announced "All done I want to go home." There was no talking her out of it. We were bummed out, but that's where we headed. Luckily we didn't get too many trick or treaters so we could at least eat our own candy if not the kids'. Can't wait to show it off in Mexico.

Cheers everyone -see you westerners super soon. xoxo aj

happy 75th

Happy birthday CBC. Radio one and now two have been the backdrop sound to my whole life and now my babies' lives. It may sound silly but I love you.