Another Day, Another Party!

 Hello friends! We have been busy and partying over here. Since Thanksgiving last month, my baby sister who got married in January - announced she is expecting! So I am to become an aunt, again, for the 9th time! 😁 My best friend is also expecting a baby, just about a month or so before my sister! So a lot of good news :) 

My mom turns 68 tomorrow, so my siblings and their kids came over yesterday (with the exception of my eldest sister who lives in NY) and I think my mom enjoyed it a lot. She was feeling sad apparently (alone and abandoned were the words she used, via my step dad) so I think the party did a LOT for her mood. She's going through a lot with her siblings and Dad (estates, wills etc) so it's stressful and sad. 

After tomorrow, I will continue the partying for my OTHER best friend's 35th birthday surprise party. She mentioned a couple of times she'd like a surprise party - so her husband and I got the ball rolling on that over these last few days. She's had a rough year and I think she'll be happy!  (but sad cause her dad passed away in the summer and well, that sadness just doesn't ever leave someone any time soon). Otherwise, I am looking forward to heading out to NY in a couple of weeks for Thanksgiving and spending time with my sisters and nieces! :) Sending love and good vibes to everyone xx

Thanksgiving!

 It's Canadian thanksgiving today. My siblings went off to my older sister's - I didn't go, I needed a break (but used work as an excuse) I still have anxiety from the wedding planning. So it was a quiet weekend - my friend's birthday party and some general errands. My mom is leaving for almost 3 weeks tomorrow - to see my grandad in Trinidad. So it'll just be myself and my stepdad for that time- wish us luck! 

It feels like time is flying... Halloween, American Thanksgiving and then Christmas! Seems like the year is pretty much over, crazy.

My Summer Wrap Up - with pictures!

 Summer has come and gone! It seemed to fly by so quickly. After my last blog post, I seemed to have a never ending carousel of visitors! My nieces came, some stayed a few days with us, some stayed one night. My mom loves to have the kids over, but I find it so stressful. To be honest, I am finding all my family gatherings stressful lately (left over sadness from my sister's wedding) sigh. We also had the lovely lady who took care of us when we were kids stay with us for a MONTH. She is wonderful, easy guest to have around but working and then entertaining after work was so draining.

But we all took her out and showed her the best Ontario has to offer. She went to Ripley's the big aquarium, we took her to a buffet, she did some shopping, ate a lot of good food and saw all of us a lot. But boy I am glad to have no visitors! The weekend before she left, my mom rented a cottage in a tiny town 7 hours north of Toronto. I am NOT a country girl! But it was a beautiful little getaway. I thought I had video of being on the lake on the pontoon boat, but I cannot find it so far. I am going to add some pictures (literally 3) of our time there. 

Work continues to be busy, but Thanksgiving is coming soon. We need more long weekends in Canada.

This was the view from our cottage - just gorgeous. The original cottage we chose had no water, so our hostess graciously upgraded us!

We took a drive up to see these falls in Aubrey Falls Provincial Park - just beautiful!! It was a short walk from the car to the view, well worth it! Next, this was the view while we were on the lake on the pontoon boat!!

Above - you have the view of the lake, the hostess and her husband were nice enough to take us on their pontoon boat, it was pure bliss! Last but not least, I saw these cute little moss thingies, and thought it looked like a mountain on a mountain, lol!

Bad at Blogging

 Oh gosh! I meant to come back guys. My trip was wonderful. I am now wrapping up a week off of work, so while I did relax, I have to go back to a mountain of work :/ I did the Toronto Carnival (similar to Trinidad's carnival) and I had an OK time. My cousin came in from Ottawa and is asking if she can come again next year, and honestly, I don't know, lol. It was a lot. I got a ticket for driving through a part of the city I should not have. Maybe next year I can take the train down and skip driving in the core? But she also felt faint and we ended up having to leave early which I don't mind but I think I am over driving people around for a while. It is a recurring theme where I drive folks to and fro and they cannot return that favour. I will say though, my cousin was super nice and we had a blast.

When I figure it out, I will post some Bermuda/Caribana pictures!!

Slogging Away

 Oh my gosh, this last week has been bonkers! I cannot wait to go on my trip next weekend. A few days away is just what the doctor ordered. So many requests, my boss is being stubborn, it goes on and on and ON! Just, ugh. I hate going on trips sometimes. I feel like I deserve the break, but something goes wrong and work and then I feel all crummy. 

Otherwise, life rolls on. On Father's Day, we took my dad out for brunch. He let us know his brother is ready to retire. Currently, my dad lives in the apartment of his aunt - when she died, she willed it to our uncle (dad's brother) so now, if my uncle sells, my dad either goes and rents a room, lives with one of my siblings (no one has real space) OR he moves to the Philippines with his wife. Meanwhile, I am not earning enough to buy the condo which I would like to do - and I don't want to buy it when my dad lives there, LOL. Ugh, life!

Trouble Up Ahead

 I know no one is reading! I am just here expressing my thoughts. My grandad did visit, and it was pretty nice. We had to interact with one family member who is really nasty but we lived. We got a 4 generation picture, which is so sweet. Truly a few days to remember. My birthday passed and it was fun, I have been partying every weekend, LOL. No complaints! It feels good to be loved and appreciated. I have lots of birthdays to celebrate this month and I am so happy for that.

On the other news, my brother told us he wants to separate from my sister in law. Apparently things have been tough for a while :( ugh! the worst. so we are hoping they go to counseling and discuss their issues, i worry for my niece who is 8. my parents had the worst divorce and things are very rocky for us, still. I DO have a vacation booked however, so I am excited about that :) I am off to Bermuda with a friend for a few days at the end of June!

Life Rolls Along

 Work is busy, life is busy. My grandad who is 93, is coming to stay for a few nights in June - so I have to clean my room bit by bit - hot mess! I have done like .5% - pray for me. My car is on the chopping block, I just need to clean it and do some cosmetic touch ups before selling. I am just so lazy, can I outsource it?! Plus, cars are so expensive. It is so different from when I sold my car the last time about 5 years ago or so. Sigh! A lot to do and I want no parts of it. Meanwhile, May is shaping up to be very busy! I have a wedding reception and friend meet up next week, the long weekend in two weeks, then another friend meetup at the end of the month. Along with seeing a friend this Saturday. Throw in some mani/pedi time, it is going to be quite costly as usual. I am so looking forward to the summer and sunshine however. I hope everyone out there is being safe, I am as always sending love.