Wednesday, February 22, 2012

A Multiple Mama Love Story

In honour of Valentines Love season and with the help of some of my blogger friends I am happy to have again this year the A-Ha love series to celebrate February, love, relationships and of course my anniversary- teehee looking at 13 years on Valentine's day.




A Multiple Mama Love Story- So happy to have Andrea of Multiple Mama.com one of my fav blogger Moms share her wonderful A~Ha love story with us today. Like me she is a mother of 4 and I enjoy her witty stories of life with multiples- yes she has a daughter, twin cuties and now a newborn. So honestly just absolutely honoured that she could find time in her busy schedule to share her A~Ha moment with us.




My love story…

This is a post I have been procrastinating my butt around for an entire year.

Yep, a whole year.

Why?

Because my love story is not a great one.

It is not a bad one.

It is just not fireworks and skywriting kind of great.

It is more a collection of the happy mistakes and blunders that turned out well kind.

See, we were set up on a blind date as a result of me having a few drinks and telling a work acquaintance that I hated the other people at the table. All of them. All except her of course. And somehow that gave her, and her husband, the idea I should date their friend.

Makes total sense right? Well, we were teachers and it was the last day of school. Nothing makes sense to teachers by then.

And so there we were on a blind date at California Pizza Kitchen for lunch. I drove myself after refusing to give him my home address. And then I ended it early because my dog was sick. No, really she was. I wasn't just making it up. But, I figured he would think I was and that would probably be that.

And when he didn't call for a few weeks I just kinda didn't think about it.

Maybe the fact that I am never home and didn't have an answering machine at the time had something to do with it. At least that is what he claims now.

But seriously, one thing I know now that I didn't fully understand then is he wasn't my type. And by that I mean he wasn't the unavailable, flaky, unreliable, baggage up to his eyeballs kinda guy. You know that spend half their time in the gym trading tips on how to sweep women off their feet, and then consequently, even if just metaphorically, dump them on their heads?

He was a nice guy. And I hardly knew what to do with that.

Anyway, for one reason or another the entire summer slipped by without us seeing each other again. And finally we were back at school for our first teacher meeting. And the instigators behind our meeting were planning a group outing for all four of us.

And that date?

Well, it was an entire day (like earlier than most single people get out of bed kind of entire day) filled with overbooked trains and no reserved seats, coupled with horse racing, and bets which I never could understand.


But, by the end when we found ourselves back where we started and I had my first opportunity to go home. I didn't.

No, I didn't spend the night. This isn't that kind of post.

We went to dinner. Our third meal together that day. And for some reason it still didn't feel like enough.


The rest is, as they say, history.

Almost seven years later, here we are with four kids and starting a brand new journey in our new house and neighborhood.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

From the archives - my A-Ha moment

 Monday, February 14, 2011


That A-Ha your it moment...

The first time I ever laid eyes on the guy that would be my husband
was say the second month of my college life.
I was sitting in 'the pit' soaking in the college vibe
and then this guy caught my eye.
What a surreal movie moment
It was as if light was surrounding him
a spot light shining down from the heaven
There he walked dressed in suit and tie swinging a briefcase
( yes I did say we were in college but he is preppy like that... picture a black Micheal J. Fox)
and I thought wow now that is a good looking fella
That is the guy I am going to marry!
Screech!!!!!!!!!! What was that... where did that come from!
I instantly panicked because it was the strangest sensation I just knew that it was true even though we had not even met. It didn't help that I didn't plan to get married ever and also I was in a long-distance relationship already to confuse the brain.
So I quickly chastised my self and let it slip out of my mind.
But as faith would have it
The guy introduced himself a month later, we did the friend thing for a bit and
when we were both single
we gave it a try
and
as I predicted
it felt right
we felt right
and I did want to marry him in the end!
In honour of Valentines Love season and with the help of some of my blogger friends I am happy to have again this year the  A-Ha love series to celebrate February, love, relationships and of course my anniversary- teehee looking at 13 years on Valentine's day.
 If you would like to share your A~HA moment please email me at gaylenjc@gmaildotcom I intend on celebrating for the entire month of February!


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

13 years and counting

June 1998 my husband orchestrated the most romantic event that anyone could ever have come up with... well at least for me at any rate :D
In the middle of a very hectic World Cup in France with the Jamaica in the World Cup, most of you may remember my hubbie is a big football (soccer) fan, my husband led me to a spot obliquely opposite the Eiffel Tower right under a wonderful statue of a David and a Lion. And while I was gawking at the statue, the Eiffel Tower in the distance, the bustling of the people around and soaking in the beauty that is Paris my then boyfriend of 2 years had positioned his father with camera in hand and then holding my hand went down onto one knee.

It was the gentle downward motion of my hand that made me look down to see him on one feet and speaking. My face felt flushed and the world stood still
All I could hear was this whoosh of air as I pulled him up.
He said the most beautiful speech I am sure ..... I don't remember hearing a word of it I just knew to say YES :D
9 months later we were married. 
Today marks 13 years of marriage for us.

Hoping the hubster is able to continue dealing with me :D praying for many many Happy more.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone

Friday, February 10, 2012

Love at First Sight

In honour of Valentines Love season and with the help of some of my blogger friends I am happy to have again this year the  A-Ha love series to celebrate February, love, relationships and of course my anniversary- teehee looking at 13 years on Valentine's day.

Today I kick off the A-Ha series with one of my favourite Mommy Bloggers and twitter friends-Kelly Pugliano from MomGotBlog.com

I dare you to not get all misty eyed reading her sweet A~Ha moment
Love at First Sight
This post was originally written for an online writing group; The Red Dress Club. I had been lurking at the site for a while, enjoying the bevy of talented writers. I was very nervous to submit a piece of writing until this memoir prompt came up. I thought of my husband and our first meeting right away and found it easy to share our story. It makes me smile every time I share it and hope it brings a smile to you too.
Thanks Gayle for letting me share my “Aha-Love-Story Moment”!
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Love at First Sight
I could never have imagined falling victim of love at first sight, especially given the fact that I was already in love, or what I thought love to be.  As fate would allow, on a beautiful, warm summer evening that is exactly what happened.
Every Friday evening, a group of us from work would meet downtown at the local watering hole and lament about our week over a cold beer.  On this particular night, my friend Mike was late for the gathering, due to running home to his brownstone apartment to change. When he finally joined us, Mike shared with the six of us a quick story of running into a guy unloading cardboard moving boxes from a car.
It ended up that he was the new tenant in the third floor apartment of Mike’s building and had just moved from out of state. Offering a helping hand and a welcome, Mike invited him to meet us for a drink when he finished. The new neighbor thanked Mike and said that he would meet up with him later.
“I don’t remember his name. Vinnie, Vince, Vic…something like that. I wanted to be neighborly, so I invited him; but I doubt he will show.” Mike said as he ordered his beer.
Mike barely gulped the first swig out of the green bottle before he choked out “Hey! He showed up! That’s him,” pointing in the direction of the door.
My attention moved toward the entrance of the bar. As a handsome, dark-haired, olive-skinned man walked in the door, time began to slow. It felt for a moment that I was surrounded by a bubble where all sound became muffled. Instantly, my breath caught in my throat, creating a dry pocket or lump of air that could neither be exhaled nor swallowed. The flush of chill, the kind one feels when fever sets in, raced from the bottom of my spine to the top of my head, leaving in the wake goose bumps that extended to my fingertips. My cheeks became warm and my heart began to pound so hard, I thought that those around me could hear it. My mind’s only thought: that’s him.
He walked over to my friend and with a quick smile of recognition, they shook hands. Mike draped his arm over his new friend’s shoulder and announced: “This is the guy; he’s my new neighbor!” and looking to his left said “Glad you could make it!”
Introductions began to make their way around the table and one by one, hellos and names were exchanged. When it came time for us to share, my eyes gazed into the biggest brown eyes I had ever seen. I melted into their warmth and kindness. He had an easy, almost shy quality to his hello. “Hi, I’m Vic” he said with a smile, extending his beautiful hand. My mouth was bone dry, yet I was able to mumble a “Hi!”
I placed my hand into his and the rest they say is history…we have been together ever since, blissfully married for almost 19 years. 
 
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 Have a great weekend everyone!
If you would like to share your A~HA moment please email me at gaylenjc@gmaildotcom I intend on celebrating for the entire month of February!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

That A-Ha moment

In honour of Valentines Love season and with the help of some of my blogger friends I am happy to have again this year the  A-Ha love series to celebrate February, love, relationships and of course my anniversary- teehee looking at 13 years on Valentine's day.


 The question I am asking is and they happily agree to answer:
Do you remember that AHA moment when you KNEW he was the one, That this was IT. This was the man you were going to marry!

If you would like to share your A~HA moment please email me at gaylenjc@gmaildotcom I intend on celebrating for the entire month of February!

The month of Love

I got this quote from my friend. I think it genius.
Absolutely perfect for the month of Love as most of us like to refer to February.
Have a great day