Routine

Things have fallen into a routine here at Casa Patterson.  After a crazy RRSP season and my surprise trip to Florida, I have been occupied with my routine schedule: mornings to clean, do errands, prep for supper; afternoons for Mad Science; Mondays nights are Kid's Club, Tuesday nights are our business meeting, Wednesdays are free, Thursdays are Bible reading/prayer meeting.  Mad Science is almost at the end of the school year's schedule so time should open up for me to try and make some headway on marketing my cruise blog and doing some spring cleaning.

Sometimes routines are good...and then sometimes you feel stuck in a rut.  Right now, I don't feel stuck and am enjoying the warming temps and the spring feel in the air...except for the 5-10cm I hear we are expecting tomorrow night.  It can't all be sunshine and roses : - )

Heather is in England for two weeks visiting with Phie (one of her old roommates).  Mom and Dad are finally making their way home from Florida.  We should all be in the same place come April 10th - Heath's birthday.

Well, I should tuck into my tax spreadsheet.  I am almost ready to take things to the accountant.  I will truly be glad to get this task checked off and off my 'to do' list. 

Home again, home again, jiggitty jig!!

Mom always used to say that phrase most times we returned home from a trip away or even a trip to the grocery store.  It's one of those things that tends to stick in your mind even when you're an adult (or pretending to be)!!

I love travelling but it is always nice to come home.  I walk through the door and feel instantly content.  I very much missed my man while we were away.  We always travel together and he was an element that was missing while in Florida.  I have been hugging him multiple times a day and asked him last night if he was tired of his wife 'pawing' him all of the time...he wasn't : - )

It was great to be able to pull off the huge surprise for Mom's birthday.  She kept saying "this is the best birthday EVER!!!".  We spent a lot of time shopping and enjoyed the sun as much as we could.  When winter's dark days sucks the energy out of you, sunshine puts it back!

Here are a few pics from our week away:


In front of Mom & Dad's condo

 

The lake near their complex



With Ang & Keith Burge and their boys

 

Heath at Reg & Lois Burge's timeshare in Orlando



With our 'adopted'/honorary grandmother, Ginny

Daytona Beach

 

Daytona too!



Surprise!!!!

Last Tuesday, Heath and I pulled off a big 'coup'!  What started out as a random thought (wouldn't it be nice to surprise Mom for her 70th) turned into reality.  We brought Dad in on the secret and Tuesday, we hopped on a plane to Orlando, Florida.  Mom & Dad's friends, Carl & Nancy, picked us up at the airport and took us to the condo.  They went inside first and Heath and I followed a few minutes later with some birthday balloons.  We walked right in the condo and I said "I hear someone here has a birthday today!".  I pulled down the balloons and Mom's jaw just dropped.  She couldn't say anything..I don't think she could even process that her daughters, who should have been in Moncton, were standing in her living room in Florida.  Once she finally processed that we were truly there, she started crying!!  It was kept quiet for almost a month and a half and I can't believe that word did not get through to her somehow.  We were very quiet about it and didn't tell too many people so it obviously worked out well.

We have been in Florida over 4 days now and time is just flying by.  We spent the first two days just constantly on the run, shopping and visiting the Burge's.  You know that I hate shopping, right???  Anyhooo, we did find lots of deals so it was basically worth it.  The weather was gorgeous for those first two days that we mostly spent in the car.  It poured rain and then the temp dropped for the past couple of days but yesterday, it was got up to almost 70F so Heath and I had some pool time.  It is supposed to be higher temps for today and tomorrow as well.  We hope to hit Daytona Beach tomorrow and relive our teenage years when we spent quite a bit of time there.  Bike Week was this week so we didn't dare go near the beach until the crowds cleared out.

Dave stayed home and I must say that I really miss him and it is definitely wierd travelling without him.  We have been apart for several days before but we ALWAYS do our 'fun' travelling together!!  We are blessed to be able to have a visit with Mom and Dad and Mom said that this was her best birthday EVER!!

Must toddle as we are heading to Deland for Sunday morning meeting!

On the tear....

Things went great this RRSP season but you can never plan enough for the final day!!  I didn't count up how many appointments Dave had yesterday with those 'last minute' folks but I would guess it was around ten meetings...and he didn't get home until 11:40pm last night.

I was teaching yesterday afternoon and called to see what was up on my way home and had to go to the office and process paperwork because he had to meet with yet another client and wouldn't have time to put everything together and take it to the courier.  Needless to say, the delightful Beef Bourguignon that was supposed to be for supper became reheated Chicken Stir Fry for him and a can of baked beans for me.  Sometimes the best laid plans just don't pan out ☺

Today we'll be processing all of the paperwork from last night and tidying up the chaos that ensues when Dave is on the tear with no time to put things where they live.  Regardless of the craziness of the last day, we are very thankful that the markets have pretty much recovered and people are starting to invest again.  The past two years have been a real struggle on that end of things so all of the activity is a very good sign.