saying good-bye

I have avoided this topic for long enough. I have put it off in my thoughts, dreams and discussions with others. The loss of my beloved pets. I have buried the hurt, the guilt and the pain of losing you. Today, I felt ready to face my feelings openly and honestly. I finally looked at a picture of the two of you and it was very hard. My heart ached for you.

I have heard it's helpful to write a letter to those you have lost, in order to find closure and say good-bye. Here goes.

Dear Barney,

You were my first child. You came to me in 1992 for what was supposed to be a weekend. I was pet-sitting you. Your name was Mineau at the time and you belonged to my dear friend Leah. She asked if I wanted to keep you and I shouted "YES!" I quickly changed your name because you were a boy and you were born in a barn. How clever. You were the only kitten in the litter to survive. I felt so lucky.

I used to put you on a leash and take you for walks. I would take you outside my apartment building for picnics and we'd sit on the grass. I thought you would enjoy the fresh air. Instead, you would crawl into my shirt and sleep while I read a magazine. We used to play hide and seek and you'd run down the hall and hide in the closet. When I found you, you'd pounce out and meow- like "there, you found me!"

We moved alot in the beginning. It seemed the more I moved, the less material things mattered to me. I left alot behind. As long as I had you and my photos, I knew I would be fine. I would reassure you along the way to our new home saying "Don't worry Barney, we're on the road again and it's going to be okay because we have eachother."

In 1996, I introduced to a hyper but loving dog, Sable. You were annoyed with her at first but you grew to really love her. You soon became fast friends. One day I came home to find an exhausted mouse in between the two of you. From what I could gather, you must have been playing "toss de mousey" all day long. We finally let him go!

I wish our time together could have been longer but you grew tired and old and it was time to say good-bye.

Dear Sable,

I first laid eyes on you in 1996 and your name was Pewee. How pitiful. You were mal-nourished and emotionally fragile. You were born on a farm and being mis-treated. You were often left to your own devices, scavenging for food and shelter. The first day I brought you home, you ran away! You didn't know where to place yourself. You were so insecure and unsure of my intentions. I went looking for you and found you at the animal shelter. I think you were happy to see me and I won your trust. We started off on the right foot after that day. I brought you home and you spotted my cat. You tried to eat him. I promised you that you would never have to hunt for food again and gave you a big bowl of dog food. Before long, I could trust you with Barney. You grew healthy and strong. You now suited the name Sable. You were lean, beautiful and sleek. Though your new found confidence turned you into an Alpha dog, you always remained tender and sweet. You'd comfort me when I was feeling down, you'd turn into a lap dog when I needed you to. I felt I had my very own family with the two of you.

The day came when I had to let you go. I couldn't take you with me to a smaller apartment. I was so devastated but thankful I found someone who loved you like I did. Chris took you for the last couple years of your life. Though your passing was sudden and tragic, I am at peace knowing you spent your last days on this earth running free in fields, knowing you were loved. I don't know if I will ever be able to own a pet again because the loss seems so unbearable at times.

Rest in peace my furry children.

taking time to stop and smell the tulips

As spring fast approaches, I am reminded of an adorable little boy who didn't need prompting to stop and smell the tulips in his very own garden. My Justy Boy. He was so little back then but I am glad he hasn't forgotten to stop and enjoy the simple things.

Time really does go by quickly and in the midst of it all, you capture some of the most precious moments with family. As his Auntie, I stand back in awe of what a little gentleman he has become. He has always had eyes for his Momma but he even offers me some attention every now and then. He has grown into a smart and fun-loving little man. Often times when visiting, Justy will greet me with his "big baby blues" and bright smile and say in the sweetest voice "Hi Auntie", as he wraps his arms around my waist and gives me a hug. I love to smother his face with kisses and despite all of his coolness, he still lets his Auntie love him up.

I love when he is excited, you can hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes. There is no holding back! He loves to hear stories (especially funny ones) over and over until his belly aches. As he grows up, I have to keep some "cool" stuff in reserve because I fear he will grow bored of me. Then just when I least expect it, I make him laugh his head off again and I walk away delighted! He told me he wanted to learn how to "beat box" and I don't think he knew I had a clue what he was talking about until I burst out with my very own beat box beat- it was pretty good, if I don't say so myself. His expression was priceless! I don't think he could believe his ears! His auntie actually knew how to beat box and she was pretty good! He kept asking me to do it again, do it again! I humoured him all the way out to the car where his mom awaited! We busted out into one big belly laugh and waved goodbye. That is the toughest part. The goodbyes. I miss them so much when we have to go home!

I wonder what Justy will be when he grows up? I wonder who will steal his heart? I wonder what he will think about his sister when he's in his 20's? I wonder......

my favourite things to say as a kid

Hey- I didn't say they were nice. However, I used them sparingly and with just cause (most times). Please note: at least none of these were racial or prejudiced in any way. I was taught never to use such content at a very young age. Thanks Dad!

• Leave me alone. My Dad owns the street. My Dad's the mayor.
• Sike!
• Shut up, you stooge (as in 3 stooges)
• Come here you little bugger (to my dog who I loved)
• Fine then, see if I give a care!
• You're not my best friend.
• Like, gag me with a spoon.
• I'm not allowed to lend (when I didn't feel like sharing)
• My sister will beat you up.
• That's totally gnarly.

the writing on the wall

I took my sister home for her 35th Birthday. It was one of the the most powerful experiences in my life (so far). You see, I wanted to return to our favourite childhood home. I wrote to the owners (who, to my surprise were the ones who bought the house from us in the 80's). They remembered us for more reasons than one. You see, the owner explained that we left a big piece of us when we moved away and the writing on the wall remained after all these years! I couldn't believe it.

My father began renovating the bathroom just before they separated. My mother allowed us to use it as a mural because it would "eventually" get covered with new dry wall. The job never got done! We moved and left the bathroom in this condition and the new owners were going to finish the job.... only they left it for 20 years!!!

Carrie and I used it as a canvass for self expression. We used to write poems on it, names of our favourite bands, our favourite boyfriends and we'd also get our friends to sign the wall! It was covered in people's signatures!

For whatever reason, the new owners learned to live with this unsightly mess and they grew fond of it. Never did I expect that this wall would still exist when we returned to our childhood home. The new owner explained that though they loved the wall, I called at the right time because they would finally be covering the wall within a month. Talk about fate. That wall needed to be seen by us again. It represented so much to my sister and I. Our identity, our past, our wonderful adolescent years; our growth, our loss.

So there we were. We drove up on a lovely October afternoon in 2004. Over twenty years later. I blind-folded Carrie and told her I had a surprise! We walked up the stairs and into the bathroom. Off came the blind-fold and there we stood in front of this wall. Carrie looked at me in disbelief. It was the most exhilarating experience. I could hear our hearts pounding out of our chests. It felt like we had transcended back into time together.

We were home again.

the winding road home

One thing I miss about living in a small town was the winding road home.

The drive home was a chance for me to pay attention to my surroundings, clear my mind, reflect and watch the seasons change before my eyes. On one particularly beautiful spring day, I met a new friend. To my right, there was a barn and some cattle. In front of the barn was one lonely minature pony. I called him Charlie. I would look out for Charlie everyday and wave to him. He would be grazing or trotting in a small circle every time I drove by. I finally told my husband about him and he began looking out for him too on his way to work. Despite all of his cuteness, Charlie looked really lonely. He was put on a long leash out in front of this barn and he would sometimes look up at the cars passing him on the country highway. I made sure he knew I noticed him! I promised him out loud that one day I would stop along my way to work to make a formal introduction.

One day, I noticed Charlie was gone. His leash was wrapped around the fence. I imagined the worse. I went home and cried to my husband. "Charlie is gone", I said. "I will never be able to pet him like I promised." My husband tried to reason with me and said there could be lots of reasons why he wasn't there. He could be warming up inside. I didn't believe him. For days, we both were on the look-out for Charlie. Nothing. No sign of him. I gave up hope. We both did, I think.

I finally trained myself not to look at the farm when I drove by because it only made me sad. Until one day, my husband came home and announced "Charlie's back!" I was so excited! We had to take a drive to see him. This time I got the chance to stop and say hello, in person.

As soon as we drove up, Charlie walked over to me at the fence. Call me silly but we were fast friends and I think he recognized me. He had an odd expression for an animal. There was a familiarity there. Perhaps we were friends in a past life or something. I kissed him and talked to him for a long, long time. We fed him lots of long grass and he even showed off for us and began trotting around like a "show pony". I think he liked the attention. I told him we were so happy he was back.

For another season, I got to enjoy Charlie. It was fall and the leaves were now turning. I would stop and pet him and talk to him about my day. He became a very good friend to me. I would sometimes beep my horn as I drove by when I was running late and couldn't stop to say hello. I never once saw anyone pay any attention to Charlie. Not his owners, not anyone else driving by.

I lost sight of him again come winter and he never re-appeared this time. I prepared myself for that possibility. I am still sad when I think about him but so glad we got to know eachother a little bit.

the shape of a mother

I stand in the mirror. It is not so uncomfortable afterall. Took a good long look at myself. Though the image is not perfect and hasn't been for many years, something looks different.

I turn to the left and turn to the right. Long pause. I admire this and that. I have strong hopes of becoming physically fit but I am still strong. My husband tells me almost everyday that I am beautiful. I know he means it. He is a man that goes without saying things unless they are sincere. There is something comforting in knowing that even when I don't feel very good in my own skin sometimes, I still have one person in this world that thinks I look "like a greek statue"- his words.

I smile in the mirror at this shape of a mother. I shall embrace it.

encounters

She stared at the man standing at the phone booth. She looked closer and recognized him. His posture, hair, stature and voice were all familiar. He turned around and caught her glance. Big smile. His laugh lines were even more endearing.

They walk and talk and enjoy a spontaneous light lunch in Jackson Square. Get caught up. He asks for money. Hesitatingly, she hands him her last twenty dollar bill. They laugh. He walks on with his day and greets a friend to his left.

He told me "Homeless people are human beings just like the rest of us."

He is my uncle.

congrats to my blog sista

My beloved friend Laurel is celebrating her 100th blog anniversary. This means she has shared over 100 stories of courage, laughter, fear, love and loss, milestones and pondering reflections! Bravo Laurel! We embarked on this blog journey together, knowing our stories would free us in some way.

We are gals who are always looking for forums in which to make sense of things and to challenge ourselves in ways that aren't always comfortable. That is, to know our limits and reach beyond them. To seek to understand ourselves and our loved ones and to continue to grow as human beings. We know we are far from perfect. We just try to conduct ourselves in a real way. Sometimes fumbling and finding out the hard way but overall, we have turned out okay!

I love you Laurel. Thank you for inspiring me to continue to write, despite my fears in doing so, at times. Thank you for challenging me when I second guess myself and for leading me to the light.

We will always be two school girls reaching out to eachother. Vulnerable yet so wise.

Love to thee.

time

Though the clocks sprung forward this week, I clinged to time standing still. Funny how despite my yearning for spring, I have made a conscious effort not to wish away time. You see, for every season or occasion in the future that I long for, means I pay the price with time. I actually listen to my old fashioned clock tick sometimes and just look at our baby and snuggle with him longer.

I have told my niece that though there are many things to look forward to in life, nothing is more precious than the present. It is what we know, it is the here and now and that's all that counts. We have control over what we can do with our moments and how we can savour them all.

It is what we call soaking it up. Time well spent.

John Travolta

It doesn't matter what film he is in. He makes me weak. He makes my heart melt with his younger roles in Welcome Back Kotter, Grease, Saturday Night Fever or Perfect. John seemed to disappear for a while though and we didn't see him age too much on television. I've seen some interviews and movies but none for a while. Last week, some girlfriends and I went to Moms and Strollers at the theatre. Great time had by all! The movie was Wild Hogs, starrring you guessed it- John Travolta!

He is now in his early 50's and he is still a heart throb! I will always have a soft spot for this man!

Hubba Hubba!

the baby whisperer

I was given a book to help me on my mission towards a settled baby. Way back, three months ago, I reported that I felt our baby was entering "the settled baby stage". That lasted all of two weeks. It was wonderful when it lasted.

Now we are at the six month mark. I REALLY need some more solid sleep so I can function and escape this groggy fog I sometimes feel throughout the day. The party's over! It's time for him to settle for longer periods through the night. No more two hour intervals!

I have quickly learned that this baby market is exceptionally vast and lucrative! There is a book for everything you could imagine! There is a product for everything you could imagine where babies are concerned. I have fallen for a few marketable products that just didn't pan out for what they were worth. For instance, the Bumbo. It is a cute "ergonomic" chair for babies to support them in sitting properly and comfortably when they are too young to hold themselves up. You can use them for many versatile reasons- feeding, playing, bring it to the beach or over to your mother-in-laws! It's made from non-toxic durable plastic in Africa and it's very light-weight! Sound appealing? Our baby tolerated it for maybe five seatings. He squirmed in it and wanted out- FAST! I sold it last week to another new mother who has been "drawn" in like I was. I took the money and ran! Hey- I was upfront, I told her that my baby just didn't enjoy it like I knew her baby would! haha!

So now I read this Baby Whisperer book in two nights. I found most of the stuff common sense and some of it helpful. However, there are so many schools of thought. I have been guided in so many directions by "sleep experts" and nothing is the right approach. It confused me more than anything. This whole "is your baby sleeping through the night concept" is a hoax. There is no-one that can tell me that they have a baby who does this- consistently in the first year! If there is, send her to me and I will be the adult whisperer and give her a piece of my mind. I say this with a lighthearted kind of kidding. Really. I just have to persevere and go with my gut. That is what I have learned! I know our baby well enough now that I have an idea what is going to work. Time, patience, consistency and warmth.

I should write a book and call it "I don't know everything but you've gotta start somewhere!"

Look for it on bookshelves next year when I am more rested!

Good night!

body image

I was horrified today watching a television commercial from LA weight loss! Its premise was that "skin was in and food was out". My goodness, what is this world coming to?

I am really worried about the young girls growing up today. They are subjected to this crazed body image stuff at such a tender age. They grow up way too quickly and this added pressure is just not fair.

A friend of mine hosted a birthday party last month for her 8 year old daughter. The evening promised to be fun filled with an "all night dance party" for five of her girlfriends. "All night" just made it sound really appealing but they crashed at eleven after dancing the night away in the living room to their favourite music! My friend baked a delicious chocolate cake for the party and when she brought it out, there was no response! The only person who had a piece of the cake was the birthday girl herself. One girl piped up and said "Oh, I can't eat that or I'll get a fat butt."

I think it's wonderful that kids say no to eating junk food often or they are health conscious but this came from a different place. It represents the fear, worry and anxiety young girls have about their looks when they really should be free-spirited in this time of their lives. Cake is a wonderful treat to bring out on a special occasion!

How sad.

I want all of the young girls in my life to be healthy both in body and mind. I want to reach out to them and say, yes- nurture your bodies, treat them right, stay active, eat your veggies but for goodness sakes, be a kid! Go out and play and have a happy heart! Don't concern yourself with such matters.

the golden oldies

When I was a kid, I didn't enjoy listening to "golden oldies" music. I remember trying to make a run for it whenever the radio would blare such tunes like "Unchained melody," "Why do fools fall in love," and "Earth Angel." I used to cringe. I would picture old diners with juke boxes and boys with slicked black hair standing tall as the pretty girls in poodle skirts walked by with their pig tales and rosey, innocent cheeks. I think I watched "the Fonz" in action one too many times.

I did much of my growing up and youthful activities in the 90's. Things were much different then. We used to go in large numbers to dance clubs and dance the night away! Clubs began staying open until 2am and we'd stay until the lights came on! I was living on my own in my early twenties so a curfew was irrelevant but I stayed out of trouble- for the most part. I used to wear long boots, short tops underneath blazers because I wasn't that brave and jeans usually. ICCK. Back then, I thought I looked so good. I was a pretty good dancer (if I don't say so myself) and I always had a blast with my friends! We always played it safe and took a taxi all over town or we'd stay in a hotel if we were too far from home. We'd pack in as many friends into our rooms as possible which would make the accommodations really cheap. We'd usually eat a big breakfast with a large group of us before we headed home with a headache from the night before. Pretty innocent fun and lots of laughs were had. We'd listen to hip hop and dance music all night long!

I wonder if our baby will one day hear the music we used to listen to and cringe? Will our music be considered "the golden oldies" next? I am not really sure. Somehow I feel the music of my time was less authentic and not as celebrated. There is something to be said for the true "golden oldies". I think they will outlast the test of time.

Ice cream

My husband often dreams of really light and easy things. Things like birds, fishing, wildlife, etc. I believe this represents a psyche that is at peace. My dreams and the frequency of dreaming coincides with what's going on "upstairs" for me and usually is a good indication of my overall wellness. Lately, my dreams have been about real life things that I may be struggling with in reality. However, good news! I believe my seasonal low is lifting!

Last night, I dreamt of ice cream!!!! What a wonderful treat not only to dream of something yummy but to dream of something that represents a lighter side to me. Ice cream is good for people of all ages. It is a treat that is timeless. We often outgrow our childhood tastes but ice cream remains a part of us.

Just think for a moment of what it would be like if ice cream could be found everywhere!! You'd walk to the park and were able to indulge in the trails of ice cream along the way. It excites to me to think of ice-cream as a part of our baby's life too. I wonder what his favourite flavour will be? A few of mine are tiger stripe, peanut butter chocolate and orange sorbet.

My husband says every now and then he gets a glimpse of the little girl who still lives in me. She comes out every now and then but especially where ice-cream is concerned! I told him about the ice-cream truck who used to drive down my street playing whimsical music to entice the children. It worked for me! As soon as I would hear those familiar tunes, I would run up to the house and shout with glee, "Mom, the ice-cream man's coming, the ice-cream man is coming!" Usually she would hand out her last bit of change and I would be the first in line ordering a vanilla/chocolate swirl cone. I would savour it down to the last lick. My husband got a chuckle out of this story. Last summer, in our new house, I saw him running towards the house and he too, began shouting, "The ice cream man's coming!" He was so excited for me because the same kind of truck is now making runs through our neighbourhood. How sweet of my hubby for sharing in my excitement. It was precious! I think I squealed just as I did when I was a kid.


I remember going to the famous "Stoney Creek Dairy" as a special outing as a kid with my family after our Sunday evening meal. The weather was so warm and there was nothing better than ending a warm summer day with ice-cream! Together, my family would line up in the massive crowd outside that wonderful dairy, waiting to get our fix. I would stand there with my finger on my lip reading the 101 flavours to choose from. My grandpa would always order the same flavour every time. Black cherry or maple walnut. He loved watching us enjoy our ice-cream. I remember staring in awe if my dad ordered his banana split. I would watch him sample each mound of ice-cream covered with delicious toppings. Strawberry. Butterscotch. Hot fudge. I always asked for a taste of the banana.

A few years back, I learned I was lactose intolerant so ice-cream was out of my life for a while. I missed it. Life just wasn't the same. Last summer, being very pregnant and knowing I would be without other summer treats like strawberry daiquiris, I knew I had to find a way to be able to enjoy ice-cream again. Have you ever heard of lacteeze? It really works. I carried them in my purse and I would pop a couple of them just moments before arriving at the ice-cream parlour and I was fine!!!!

If everyone on this planet were as excited about ice-cream as I am, I am certain there would be peace on earth.

baby's first blizzard

We had plans, darn it! The baby and I made it into my home-town for a little visit this week. We had plans to see aunts, friends, old co-workers and others. We were blasted with Mr. Winter today and it is still coming down! We tried to venture out this morning to our favourite toy store and our trip was short! As I carried the baby in his car seat into the store, I looked back at the empty parking lot and shook my head. "I gotta have rocks in my head! What am I doing out in this?"

We spent the day at Mom's. This baby of mine does not need toys! We had a blast! I put on my famous "wabbit hat" and made funny faces at him all morning long. I wonder what he was thinking but he didn't seem to tire of my exaggerated bunny faces. I think I belong in theatre! Once the performance of my life was over, we headed to the bedroom and had one long nap!
Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z are always a good way to spend a blizzard too!

I am not looking forward to the aftermath. My husband misses me and I am looking forward to heading home!

the "C" word

Not a great topic. I know. It is taboo and no-one wants to talk about it. Just this past week we have known 3 people who have succumbed to this dreadful disease. Just this past week, I had lunch with four friends. I was the only one who had not lost a parent to this disease. Just this past week, one of my dear friends sitting at that very table had recently been diagnosed with the disease at the tender age of 33. Just this past week, I had dinner with my 8 year old nephew at a Chinese restaurant and his fortune cookie said, "You will live a healthy and prosperous life." He clapped his hands and said "Yay, I won't get cancer!" I looked at him in disbelief and asked him to repeat what he said. It was exactly what I had heard. My conclusion- we had better start talking about this.

I must admit, I have very little awareness about the disease but what I do know it has afflicted too many people I love. What do we do about this? Just sit by and ring our hands together hoping it will not arrive at someone else's door step? It is the most helpless feeling of all.

a trip to the dairy farm

Don't get me wrong, I am happy to be breastfeeding our baby. There are so many benefits for both of us. It is a small sacrifice in the big picture. Day in and day out, it is a time that I can spend with the baby and enjoy. He is quite playful and comical during his feedings lately. He will play hide and seek and peek-a-boo while he takes a break. Other times, he leisurely sips away like he's enjoying his version of an aperitif. I gotta say that it isn't always wonderful being occupied for almost 8-10 times per day- especially on days when I have a huge to-do list. However, I remind myself to exercise patience, as it is one of the most natural things a mother could give to her young. I often joke when whisking the baby away in my arms while excusing myself to my guests- "sorry, time to take a trip to the dairy farm", I say.

The next time I pass a farm, I will wave and blow kisses to these wonderful and patient creatures. Geeeeeeeeez.

bug boxes

What random thoughts I have swirling in my mind. Today on my way home from a friend's, I got thinking in the car about all of the fun things I can do when I open my day-care.

Bug boxes came to mind.

I used to love collecting any little creatures from spiders to toads, ants and potato bugs and my favourite of all- salamanders! Mostly I would house them in baby jars or margarine containers. My attempt at keeping them in their natural habitat would be to yank out some strands of grass from the earth and viola! Home sweet home! I am sure it would have been more advantageous to feed them, water them and give them some breathing holes! I always forgot those details and would often wonder why they didn't live past a few hours. Poor little critters!

My biggest and most successful achievement was an old mandarin orange box that I transformed into a small landscape for my salamander collection. I put lots of dirt in there with a little pond of water. I couldn't determine their food source so I just gathered whatever I could think of that might appeal to them. Crushed up potato chips, ants, grass, beetles, etc. I looked after them for several weeks and they were thriving! I was amazed! I considered myself to be one great care-taker. It was the highlight of the summer for me. Waking up in the morning, I'd run out to greet my friends in the garage! After a few weeks, the novelty wore off and I became pre-occupied with something else. That happened a lot when I was a kid. I forgot about my friends in the orange box and God knows how long it was before I went back for them! They were all dried up and resembled the hard & stiff, plastic toy lizards I had inside. I felt so ashamed!

After remembering this story, I don't think I could ever encourage taking little creatures as hostages! I just couldn't stand it.

On to the next idea.....

the Window Man

Okay, after much blushing, I can laugh at this! It was the highlight of my day, in fact. I am sure it wasn't for dear old Mr. Window Man! He got the surprise/shock of his life today! We have had major renovations happening at our place for the last week. Looking good but God Almighty, enough already! Please leave. Now.

We are having all of our windows, eaves, soffit and fascia replaced... blah blah blah.

There has been a man hanging around our blind-free windows for days now and I can't keep up to his movements around the house! Fischer is amused because his interpretation is that there are life-size mobiles dangling in our windows. Each time he sneaks a peek at "the Window Man", he smiles and squeaks with amusement.

Today after my shower, I thought I heard him at the back of our house. The coast was clear!You know where I am going with this. I ran with my towel wrapped around me into the bedroom to change as quickly as possible. You guessed it! Towel drops to the floor and who pipes up on a ladder? I was mortified and I am sure he was too! That'll teach him from over-staying his welcome and hanging out in people's windows all day long!

I am over it. I really am.

not as advertised

The king size bed we bought the other day was tested out today! It failed miserably! My husband was drawn to this bed because it promised for a steady and solid sleep... no waking from your wife's tossing and turning, wine drinking or bowling tournaments. You see, the commercial demonstrates a bowling ball being tossed down onto the mattress and the sleeper remains un-disturbed. The memory foam is supposed to soften the fall or commotion. The other demonstration was a wine glass full of red wine sitting on the bed while a woman jumps up and down on the bed like a lunatic- the glass remains full!

Tonight, I wanted to test my own theories about this bed and prove my husband wrong! We weren't brave enough to sip wine in bed so I asked him to go and get us two big bowls of cereal- corn pops to be exact! We never eat sugar cereal but it was a special event to be had in our new bed! Picture this- there we were, sitting on the bed, taking turns eating our corn pops while the other one bounced on the bed. Result- never cry over spilt milk, I tell you!

Not as advertised, I am afraid. Nevertheless, a comfortable night's sleep still awaits us.

Good night!