Live from Pittsburgh

I am sitting in bed right now eating some yummy pineapple and watching cartoons with Curtis. I just got out of the shower, it is 8:15 and I thought I would updates you on our trip so far. It will make it easier to remember if I only have half of it to describe on my way back :)

So I got up friday morning (the 18th) around 7h30 and got dressed and ready right away. All I had to do was put my close on (already out and ready), get my face cleaned up and make my bed. After I did so, I went upstairs and helped Nicole. While she got in the shower, Brian and I got what was left ready. I made sandwiches and got fruits, juice and snacks ready for the trip. I also even managed to pass the broom and get the dishes away so we wouldn't come back to a too messy house ! By 9h15, we we're pulling out of Oakville with our TIm Hortons Coffees in hand and 3 kids plugged on Ipods, Ipad and coloring books !!

The trip went really well. The kids were nice to each other and very patient. Oakville is not much more that an hour from the border so when we crossed in Buffalo, everyone was pretty excited ! We knew we only had about 3 or 4 hours to go (Plus we were stopping to shop on our way there). We could only check in to the Hotel around 3pm anyways so we were in no rush. Our first stop was a toilet stop by the end of Buffalo (don't remember the place). Then, SHOPPING :) At the Grove City Premium Outlets place. Which is an amazing place ! I am actually pretty excited because I think we are going to stop back on our way back :) Great deals. Nicole and Brian went to the Nike store for Kids and got for 125$ = 3 pairs of shoes, 2 T-shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, laces and 3 pairs of socks. Afterwards, they were in shopping in a few places. As Nicole went into Nine West, I figured I didn't need to be tempted by pretty shoes again (not until finding my prom dress anyways) so I decided to go find BCBG to take a look for my dress. As I walked in, I saw a complete wall with a BUNCH of pretty amazing dresses ! I texted Nicole to ask how much time I had and she told me plenty so I started grabbing ! One of the girls working there was really really sweet and respectful. I told her the only thing I knew I wanted was for my dress to be short and bubbly, and that I was going for a more neutral of basic color. I had spotted a few grey dresses online that I quite liked so I grabbed them. She showed me this champagny white dress and told me "this one isn't a model from this year but we still sell so many... it fits like a glove". I left it there because I wasn't sure of the color on me and I already had 6 in hands ! I headed to the fitting room. A bunch of no's and a maybe later, I came outta there with one dress I still wasn't sure about. I walked over to my fav girl and asked her to help me out. I told her the one I had was more what I was looking for but it still wasn't giving me the wow factor !

So we went back to the front of the store. She showed me this cute little patterned dress. I told her I wasn't sure of the pattern and that I didn't want to look back on pictures later and say "what the hell was I wearing, or thinking" lol. I still took it with me because even if it was a pattern, it was black and white only so it was still simple. While looking, she came back to this one dress that she had mentionned at first. She said "I know your note sure about the color for you, but if you are not too closed on the idea of trying it, you should. I am actually pretty sure it would be nice because you have a peachy colored skin." So I added.. "Ya I guess ! And I was thinking of maybe going to the tanning salon to try to get a little tan for graduation."

"Exactly ! Just try it on for me" she said and started laughing. The price tag said the original price was 300 but it was marked as 220. I had thought about it before and figured I didn't want to spend much more than 300 overall for dress/shoes/accessories. Anyways I thought 220 wasn't too bad and it didn't matter if I went over my budget a little ! So I went into the dressing room again. Turns out I chose that one !!! Beautiful. The girl really knew what she was talking about. And I thought if she really wanted to make a big sale, she wouldn't of pushed me towards that dress. Which I really appreciated. I got to the cashier and almost feel off my feet when my total came up to 69$. HAhahahah !! I looked at her and said "How much" ?? She started laughing and said "Yap.. you heard me right!" Couldn't believe it ! As I was looking at it I was pretty sure I had saw it on someone I knew before and I was right ! Miss Catherine had it for her prom in 2009.

I was happy with it because I didn't want to spend to much, yet I wanted a pretty BCBG dress that was going to make me look cute and still stay beautiful through the years, like on pictures and stuff. I look at my high school prom pictures and am still happy with them so I want the same effect this time. I told Catherine if I looked half as beautiful as she did, I was going to be reallllllly happy ! Here are Catherine (beside the yellow dress) and Lauren Conrad rocking the said dress ;)

Now I still have to decide what I am going for as far as shoes, clutch and accessories. Something that will contrast like a red or a pink.. Or I am also thinking and liking more the idea of going for a similar neutral color.. Any advice ? I will be looking for that in the next few days :)

Anyhow, after leaving the outlets (didn't buy anything else, no time !!), we headed to Pittsburgh. On our way there I found out that I passed my math !! SO happy ! I couldn't get over it ! We checked in to the Marriot around 4. Nicole and Brian went out to get beer, wine and snacks so I stayed with Kennedy and Dylan. We went down to the pool and they swam with other kids. Curtis was in another player's room ! We have almost all the last floor to ourselves so the kids are having fun playing mini sticks in the hall way ! Dylan had a game yesterday morning (they won) but Kennedy and I stayed in bed and hung out at the hotel. We went back down to the swimming pool so I went in with her. We had the whole swimming pool to ourselves as it was 7:30 lol. We were up since 6:30. Kennedy slept with me and Curtis in the other bed. Dylan slept in our other room with Nicole and Brian. It's a very beautiful hotel. Later, we all went for lunch at Panera's (bakery where they serve nice soups, sandwiches and salads) and then went to Dylan other game. It was a tight game but I guess they usually loose agains this team so everyone was quite happy that it ended 2-2.

We came back to the Hotel around 4:30 and while Brian went down to the pool with other dads and all the kids, Nicole and I rested a little in our beds !!! I didn't sleep but just the fact to lay down for a while and relax was awesome ! We were pretty tired. For dinner, most families ordered pizza together but a few of us had had some the night before so we decided to order some chinese food (Best I ever ate) across the street. Turns out Nicole and one of the dad's had already had some and knew what was good. It's called P.F. Chang's and is amazingly tasty and good ! We all had dinner downstairs in the lobby area and spent most of the night there ! This time, Kennedy and Dylan slept on the opening couch in Nicole and Brian's room so Curtis and I had the whole other room to ourselves ! Each our big bed for the night :)

Today, Dylan plays Pittsburgh at 11 but I guess they are pretty strong so we have no expectations ! But we never know !! Besides that I don't know what will go on.. The rink we went to yesterday and are going to today has a Lacrosse store and practice box on the second floor so Brian and Curtis spent alote of time there yesterday! I am guessing they will do the same today !! :P

Pittsburgh is a really WEIRD town !! The people are nice but the way it is built.. ? It's like built on a mountain or something ! No flat surfaces what so ever ! You are either going up or down ! Worst than Gaspé lol. And it is quite old. But some of the house... Gorgeous. There are really nice places !

Anyhow, that's about it until now. Having lots of fun and enjoying every minute of it ! I'll keep you updated ASAP. :)

Liar liar pants on fire !

Why the title ? Simply because I feel a little bad about being absent for SO long. And because my last entry ended with :

"P.S.: Probably won't write until monday night or tuesday. Have a great weekend y'all <3"

Total lie. I know. It's just that when I came back from Qc, I really needed to focus on my math test that was coming up so needless to say my blog was one of the last things on my mind. Sorry. But anyhow. I'm here now aren't I ? :) So first, because I won't remember every single detail and secondly, because it would be way to long to write (and read) I'll try to do a resume of what has happened since my weekend to Quebec.

That weekend turned out to be exactly what I needed (and I knew it) because even if things were getting a bit better here, I still felt like being with someone I knew and getting away for a while. Sara Ann and I went shopping and hung out at her place during the weekend. We did some catching up and some Pep talking to each other and watched Tv a bit. And of course, we went for our routinely supper at Enzo's downtown. And for our last night together we sent Jay sleeping in the guest room and slept in her bed just like old times !!! It was really fun and therapeutic. I took the place back to Toronto with Porter and got home around 8 monday night (january 24th that is).

Coming back wasn't too bad (appart from the fact all the planes in Qc City seemed to be leaving for sunny destinations besides mine!) and the week went well. Hockey was starting to be a little less present during week nights, as it is soon ending and Lacrosse season soon starting. In fact, maybe I mentionned this before, but the boys have started monday night Lacrosse skills in Burlington to get back into it and do tryouts in April. So aside from doing my regular work routine (getting the kids off to school, cleaning, laundry, etc.) everytime I had a loose moment, I would do math. I was going pretty well. When I wasn't sure about something, I would write it down and then send it to one of my mom's friend to get explanations. I would also go online on these math websites so when I'd get fed up on doing some work in my books, I'd go online and try to step out of the routine without stoping from doing math. So much fun.. !

So anyhow, the following weekend (jan. 29th & 30th), all I did was work on my math. Monday the 31th, the kids were all off school for a PD day. I took them to Bronte Creek National Park (10 minutes away from here) and we went sleighing and skating on an outdoor rink they have. We had lunch there a the little snack bar and spent almost 3 hours having lots of fun over there. The kids really enjoyed it and so did I ! It was pretty cold out but we were well dressed :) Unfortunately, I hadn't cheked the batteries in the camera so I didn't get to take much pictures ! But here are pictures of the kids I took that day.

That week was a short one for the kids, as wednesday was a snow day. And it definetely snowed ALL day ! Nicole didn't go to work because it wasn't nice enough so everyone was home ! Curtis played outside with the neighbors almost all day. Kennedy and Dylan did also but not as much. So while they were outside, Nicole managed to get some of her work done and so did I ! It was a nice day overall ! Brian was home that week which meant I had my 4 day weekend which I was looking forward to, to get done with my math studying and do a last big look up on all I needed to know. I really regretted the way I did things that weekend because I was off for 4 days.. Then working tuesday but leaving tuesday night... and off until the next sunday. Even now, I still can't believe I didn't realize how much non sense that made... I could of taking my tuesday and have been home for much longer. I could have left wednesday night (the 26th) to go home.. Drive to Rimouski and back the day of my exam.. and then come back as planned on sunday the 13th. It would of given me 4 extra days. If I simply would of taken that one extra day off... Still can't believe it lol. But anyhow.. what's done is done and I guess all I can do about it now is laugh !

So I took the plane tuesday, february 8th around 6h30 and landed in Qc at 8 where Sara Ann picked me up. I went to bed around 10 at Sara Ann's to get back up at midnight to go take the bus to Rimouski. got in Rimouski around 5:15.. packed my big suitcase in a locker.. had breakfast at the bus station's restaurant... had a coffee... Read the paper.. and around 6:45, called a cab to head to school where I sat down at the cafeteria all morning doing math. Thankfully, one of my friends in the same situation joined me around 9 and then another one (who had already passed the test) sat down with us to do one last check up on everything. I then went out for lunch with Valerie (friend from my BAC I hadn't seen in a long time) so it took my mind off the test and we did some catching up :) I felt pretty good about the test going in but it turns out it was pretty hard once again... I cried a bit coming out just because of how uncertain I was. I still don't know how it went. But like one of my brothers was telling me.. It's the kind of thing that when you do it so many times, you just can't predict how it's gonna turn out anymore. You'll just finally get it one day but without even knowing what you did differently. The test was feb. 9th so I am guessing I will be getting the result in about 2 to 3 weeks. That's usually what it takes. What's done is done and whatever happens will happen. With the recent discussions I've had with my family and boyfriend, I just won't let this test get to me anymore. I will take it over as many times as I need to but I certainly won't let it get into my way.

So this coming spring, we will move in together and then what happens happens. We had the work talk, the baby talk, the everything we want talk.. And we are on the same page for everything and are both very happy. Plus, some things happening in the family in the past few weeks have made us realize how lucky we are to have each other,to have our families and to be happy and healthy. So like I said.. whatever happens, we will deal with it and try to not let it bring us down ! I say that but I am pretty sure if I don't get it right, I will be really desapointed and sad but... It's just normal. And like every other time, I will have everyone to make me see the bright side of things. I look back on my latest blog entries and feel so bad on how much I've complained !! It wasn't easy but it was certainly easier that other situations I could of been going through. So I am really grateful for all I have.

The kids have been really great lately so that makes it easier too. And this coming weekend is the big weekend in Pittsburgh for D's tournament. We are leaving friday morning, stopping to shop a little and then heading to Pittsburgh. His tournament starts saturday morning so we will be spending most of the weekend watching his games, following his team to meals and whatever activities they have planned and of course, some shopping ! We will be staying at the Courtyard Marriot downtown Pittsburgh !! And hopefully I might find my prom dress down there, as it is April 30th ! :) And then monday night we are attending the Pittsburgh-Washington NHL game !!! That is what we are all looking forward to the most. I have to say I am pretty spoiled by these bosses ! They don't want me to pay anything ! I am pretty excited :)

So only tomorrow left to work and then PITTSBURGH here we come :) We will only be coming back next tuesday so I certainly won't be writting before wednesday but I don't want to make any promises about my next entry lol ! So all I can say is "À la prochaine" :) And have a nice weekend <3