THE GOODS BLOG: Erika's Precious Little Life ~ April Edition

Happy April and happy spring! The snow is (almost) gone, the grass is brown, and we're coming out of hibernation! In fact, we're expecting 20° in Edmonton today!! The winter seemed short this year but I'm still looking forward to warmer temperatures and keeping all of the windows in my house open. What went down in March? Let's discuss. At the start of the month I had a weekend at home by myself because Tim and Archie were away at Beavers camp. I used my free time to attend a drag brunch with Nicole (so much fun!!!) and to build the Sakura Densya Book Nook Shelf Insert that Tim got me for Christmas. It took me eight hours to make!! So many tiny details. Electrical wiring. SO. MUCH. GLUE. I was pretty proud of myself once it was complete and it looks beautiful on my book shelf. (But also, never again.)

Later in the month we went to Jasper for a snowboarding weekend at Marmot Basin before there was no snow left! We went with Mary and her family, which was a total blast. It was great to get onto my snowboard at least once this winter! Plus Archie's skills have come along incredibly well and we are finally realizing our dream of being a family of snowboarders!

We also celebrated Mary's 40th birthday while we were in Jasper, so that felt very special!

Of course we wore green on St. Patrick's Day and drank Shamrock Shakes!

Tim and I had a very fun date night where we went out to dinner and then saw an improv show (called Magic Michael XXS, and yes, there was stripping). We make a point of having a date night at least once a month and it's really nice to have that adult-only time to connect.

I won a really amazing Super Sweet Staycation prize pack from the Sweet Treats and Latte Festival! It included a free night at the Metterra Hotel on Whyte Ave (so I booked their most expensive room), dinner at a restaurant called Arbour, $100 to spend at a store called Village Goods, and a gift card to a cafe called La Bosco. So we made a point of using ALL of it and enjoyed a true staycation weekend! It was so much fun!

(I'm wearing a toque from the Old Strathcona Business Association since they're the ones who gave me the prize!)

I was also invited to attend the annual Garlic Fest Media & Friends Kick-Off again this year, which has become an event that Nicole and I enjoy going to together. Tons of garlic-filled foods! But our favourite part is obviously Stinky, the Garlic Fest mascot.

I take this?

Archie had Spring Break off of school for the last week of March (and we weren't going anywhere and he wasn't doing any camps) so we formulated "Archie & Mom's Spring Break Week of Fun" where we did fun and exciting activities each day. It was the best week and I truly loved the fun quality time that I got to spend with Archie. Now that he's usually at school all day, I really feel that I'm able to love and appreciate times like this much more.

Plus getting to be Spring Break moms with Mary was great too!

And finally, it was Easter. We spent a really nice and laid-back Easter at home, just the three of us. Tim had a four-day weekend and it was great to just spend a bunch of time together without any big plans.

I have another uterus/perimenopause update. As mentioned in my previous blog, I started taking Chasteberry Plus twice a day... And what do you know? I had a 23 day cycle which was my most normal cycle in quite a long time. I realize that this was just one time but I'm curious to see if it continues. So far, it seems like this supplement is doing what it was supposed to do. My Naturopath also recommended that I start taking Inositol SAP. This supplement should lower my triglyceride levels, promote ovulation/cycle regularity and support my ovarian health. The overall goal is to keep me ovulating for as long as possible because of the healthy and protective qualities from doing so. If these supplements actually succeed at returning my cycles to a more normal rhythm then I will not bother having an IUD put in. (And I still haven't heard from a female gynecologist anyway.) The whole point of Tim having a vasectomy done was so that I wouldn't have to be on birth control anymore and taking unnecessary hormones. So if I can avoid that route that is absolutely my preference. We'll see how things continue to go!

Life with Archie: As always, Archie had a busier month than anyone, ha ha. First he was away for Beaver Scouts Winter Camp for a weekend, which he always has the best time at.

Archie's school had a Winter Carnaval (in the spirit of the Carnaval de Québec in Quebec City) and I always volunteer to help out because it's a lot of fun. They play winter games outdoors, they do a tire d'érable and serve hot chocolate, there are campfires, fiddler music, and they even have a Bonhomme!

Archie attended another Home Depot Kids Workshop and built a Butterfly House.

Archie completed his rock climbing program and I think that he had a great time trying something new that challenged him.

For St. Patrick's Day Archie dressed appropriately for school in green and of course we made him a corresponding lunch/snack.

Archie also completed his snowboarding lessons (and took a bonus lesson at Marmot Basin in Jasper) and we are SO IMPRESSED by how far he has come. He can use the chair lift now and get off without falling down, he can switch edges from heel to toe, he can cruise along pretty fast, and he was doing blue (intermediate) runs on real mountains without much trouble. By next winter he will be better than me for sure.

Archie received his second report card of the year and in advance of this we received an email from his teacher which stated that "it is important to understand that a letter grade of ‘C’ indicates that the child is working at an adequate level for a grade one student at this time of the year. Please keep in mind that many students in grade one are working at an adequate standard." I took this to mean that we should expect that the students would mostly be getting 'Cs'. I even made a deal with Archie that if he got an 'A' he could get a toy AS A JOKE because I was under the impression that no one would be getting an 'A'. Needless to say, I was very surprised and proud when we got the progress report and Archie got an 'A' in Mathematics. It said that he "demonstrated an exemplary understanding, can recognize and represent numbers to 100 and beyond, and independently understands the process of addition and confidently and accurately uses various strategies." He's just good at math! He also got 'Bs' in Social Studies, Science, Art, Physical Education & Wellness, and Music. He did get a 'C' in French Immersion Language Arts & Literature. So I don't know what all of this "everyone is getting 'Cs' talk" was all about because my expectation had been set REAL low. I felt extremely proud to see that Archie is doing so well. And yes, he got to pick a toy. Archie has also recently announced that when he grows up he now wants to be an Architect. Additionally, he said that he wants to go to The University of British Columbia (UBC) to learn how to become one. Tim and I LOVE this plan. I think that Archie had an amazing Spring Break and that he loved all of our adventures!

I could do a whole series on things that Archie eats in a month, but here are the highlights. He ate Somali camel meat, designed his own Chinese noodle soup that included mussels, SPAM, lobster balls, and tofu puffs, and ate a very fun purple Filipino ube crepe.

And of course Archie loved Easter! He was very excited about the Easter Bunny and had a great time hunting for eggs!

I am endlessly proud of this cool kid and genuinely enjoy the person that he is becoming. (But also, he's seven and he drives me absolutely insane sometimes.)

What's on the docket for April? Candice will be in Edmonton on the weekend and I'm really looking forward to seeing her and her family! Tim and I are attending the EDify Best Restaurants 2024 event and I CAN'T WAIT!! All of the best restaurants in the city all feeding me at once?! YES PLEASE! And honestly not much else! I'm sure that we will still manage to jam the month up with stuff even without intending to. THIS MONTH’S SHOUT-OUTS!: April 2nd is Jaelyn Leonard’s 42nd birthday!

Wishing you an absolutely superb and special day! I hope that Matt and the whole family finds all sorts of creative ways to spoil you! We should definitely make more of an effort to get together since we really don't live that far away from each other. I will never forget the way that you changed my life when I first moved to Regina and how you made me feel so welcome. Love you always. <3 April 7th is Melanie Watson’s 43rd birthday!

I hope that you have the most fabulous day!! You have always been one of the most fun, vibrant, and care-free people that I have known in my life and I have learned so much from you. Especially when we were kids and you were the older and more experienced one, ha ha! I hope that Ron has some exciting plans for your special day! I love you very much and I can't wait to see you in the summer!! <3 April 10th is Amy Bull’s 39th birthday!

Words can't express how much you mean to me, my lady! I am so grateful for our regular hang outs and for how comfortable and effortless our friendship feels. There is no such thing as "too much information" with our crew and I love how that allows us to be our real selves. I am so proud of your amazing musical accomplishments this year! I hope that Ray spoils you! I can't wait to celebrate you!! LOVE YOU!!! <3 April 18th is Colen Quinn’s 42nd birthday!

My siamese brain sister for life, I miss you always. You are forever one of the most special and important people in my heart. You've always been my person since we were kids and I think it's because we've always understood each other so well. I hope that you get to enjoy a relaxing day where Jeff spoils you and there is also booze involved. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the summer so much! Love you forever! <3

April 18th is Nadine Ottenbreit’s 42nd birthday!

It is no secret that you are one of the kindest, most selfless, badass women that I know. You do it all and then some! You are someone who regularly inspires and amazes me. I simply adore you! I know that Kyle is going to find an amazing way to celebrate you, because YOU wouldn't have it any other way! I hope that you have an incredible and relaxing time in Mexico - you absolutely deserve it!! Love you very much! <3 April 18th is Lacey Suttie’s 44th birthday!

Wishing you the most fabulous day, you magical mountain beauty. You have been someone that I have looked up to ever since we first met. I love the way that you live your life and the way that you're definitely not a regular mom but a cool mom. I know that Dallas is going to do something great for your birthday and that it will likely be food-related! I need to get myself down to Canmore extra soon because I miss you a lot. Love you. <3