Tags
Alberta, Anthropologie, Be nice, Calgary, Canada, daughter, Diana Schwenk, Easter, family, happy, Hump Day Chronicles, living in the moment, Michaela, Relationships, wine
This past weekend, my daughter with beau-in-tow, came home to spend Easter with me.
It’s always great to see her. We don’t often get to visit as we live a three and half hour drive apart.
This time I remembered to renew my parking pass so the kids could park in my assigned spot behind my apartment building, while I legally parked on my street.
In the past, I haven’t done this, so Michaela has had to park a few streets away and move her car every few hours.
Yeah, yeah, I won’t be getting the Mother of the Year award anytime soon!
But before you go getting all indignant about the way I treat my daughter, know that Michaela, AKA The Tornado, has her own way of getting even.
She has this uncanny ability to pretty much destroy a room seemingly by just walking into it.
Within minutes, it looks like a storm has blown through!
I don’t mind. Really. It’s a small price to pay for the pleasure of spending time with her.
…A few years back, Michaela and I discovered Anthropologie, a boutique store that sells unique merchandize, including a mishmash of dishes. At the time, I told Michaela that one day I would start an eclectic collection of plates and cups. She remembered this and brought me two pieces (above) to start my collection…
One of the things I enjoy most about Michaela is her sarcastic wit.
We often lovingly jab at each other.
An endearing habit, that I’ve come to expect from Michaela every time she visits, is the writing of a message on my whiteboard.
On this last visit she added items to my to-do List.
For some reason, she felt that ‘Be nicer’ had to be stated twice.
But be nicer didn’t have to be stated at all. They brought a bottle of wine.
And wine always makes me nicer.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
What did you do for the Easter weekend? What makes you nicer?
Diana, thanks for making me smile. I live in a perpetual storm zone with our family of five. My old neat-freak days were over once all three of my kids could open the fridge for themselves. My daughter even took a picture of our kitchen when it was spotless to inspire us that it really is possible. ❤ I love the fun spirit you have–it sounds like your daughter inherited it.
Blessings & hugs ~ Wendy ❀
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Does the clean picture on the fridge work Wendy? I have so many photos on my fridge and hardly ever notice them! ❤
Diana xo
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We didn’t hang it on the fridge. It’s on my daughter’s computer. I’m okay with our messy family life because it means my children are alive and well. I have a close relative who lost his only daughter when she was 16. I rarely sweat the small stuff anymore. ❤
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You’re a wise woman Wendy. 🙂
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Diana … No reminders needed. You are a very nice person. It’s wonderful that you and Michaela have such a loving and humorous bonding. I also have that joke around relationship with our two daughters, their husbands, and our grandkids. They were with us on Easter weekend. It’s always great hanging out with them.
What makes me nicer? wine and chocolate. Not necessarily in that order or in combination. 😉
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wine and chocolate are good medicine Judy. Glad you enjoyed Easter with your family. ❤
Diana xo
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I’m stunned anyone needs to tell you to be nicer!
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Aww you’re so kind to me Smitty. ❤
Diana xo
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You deserve it!
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We all have affectionate names for each other, don’t we? My mother tended to call me grumpy in Chinese at times….because I’m not as naturally sunny as some other siblings. 😉
I was in Vancouver, healing and enjoying the cherry blossoms all over the city during Easter weekend.
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Sounds like the perfect place to enjoy Easter grumpy… ahem, I mean Jean. 🙂
Diana xo
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LOL! What a sweet daughter you have there, Mama! ❤
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Thanks Rachel, I know. I’m a lucky Mama. ❤
Diana xo
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I think Michaela makes you funnier, Diana! ❤
Wine makes me mellower. Funnier, too, at least to myself. Haha. 🙂
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Haha! Thanks Mark. And another thing, the more you or anyone else drinks, the better I look! 😉
Diana xo
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You look great in any state, Diana. Even New York. Hahaha. 😉
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LOL Well if I can make it there… 😉
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It’s up to you … sing it!
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New York, Neeewwww York!
Ok I’m done now
(takes a bow, the curtain closes)
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What makes me nicer; a good nights sleep, music, beer other people being thoughtful (e.g. giving me beer), pets, blue skies ~going out – Bye Bye 😀

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Thanks for chiming in Graham! ❤
Diana xo
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I’m not allowed to speak until after my first cup of coffee. It makes me nicer.
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Haha! I can relate to that Amkuska. 😀
Diana xo
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She sounds fantastic!
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She is fantastic Julie. ❤
Diana xo
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I love the picture!
I love the gift she remembered because of a conversation you had!
I love the fun you have with your child!
I love her humor!
I love her whiteboard messages!
🙂
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haha thanks Colleen – me too!
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It is special to have daughters Diana, I am blest with two beautiful angels! and I am enjoying their company as they get older. Sounds like you two have it all sorted too 🙂
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She’s the best thing I ever did Karen. ❤
Diana xo
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At times I think I am too nice, I don’t say nasty things to people, my mum taught me to think it not say it
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A wise mum Jo-Anne! So tell me the truth, do you do a lot of thinking?? 😉
Diana xo
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It is always lovely to have daughters home 🙂
I LOVE the two presents she gave you.
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I love the presents too Elizabeth. ❤
Diana xo
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Sounds like you are a victim of karma. I have heard over and over again the words mothers say to their daughters, “Just you wait till you have a daughter of your own. Just you wait.”
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My mom said that! I lucked out though and never said it to my daughter Don. ❤
Diana xo
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Diana,
Sounds like you had a fun visit for Easter with your daughter. Wine will always improve a bad situation, and put an exclamation point on a good one. It seems you had a double exclamation point visit!!
-Alan
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Indeed Alan! ❤ = heart emoticon 😉
Diana xo
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Diana she sounds like a real card. I love to joke around with my daughter, its better to be laughing with each other than disagreeing on things. My gal still loves climbing into my clothes which are always two sizes too big for her. I tell her soon she will catch the teenagers disease and Mum’s clothes will be lame. She laughs at me when I say this. Special stuff, this having a daughter is.
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It is special stuff Kath – so glad you and your daughter laugh together. ❤
Diana xo
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It’s such a unique bond..the mother/daughter. I watch as mine goes through so many of my early challenges. It’s hard to be objective sometimes. She, too, lives a few hours away. When we get together, brother and Dad sit in silent shock as we talk over one another. So much to catch up on… ☺ Van
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That’s so wonderful Van. ❤
Diana xo
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So we both spent Easter with our daughters, Diana, which is always nice, no matter what day it is 🙂
Wine makes me nicer too, I must admit. 😉
Is the wedding still scheduled for next month?
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Yes, how lovely for both of us Jennifer. 🙂
The wedding has been called off Jennifer. There were some issues that the two could not resolve and so I am grateful that they called it off before the wedding, rather than after the wedding. I wish the best in life for both.
Michaela has a new beau and they seem to be good for each other, such is life. ❤
Diana xo
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Oh, Diana, that must have been upsetting at the time! But I would be grateful too that they called it off before it was too late. I hope Michaela has found Mr. Right this time. ❤
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She has lots of time, I think. 🙂
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Oh for sure. There’s something to be said for playing the field. 🙂
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Sweet!
We spent a lovely weekend with friends — they did all the cooking. That’s a first for us! We ALWAYS end up cooking.
Naps make me nicer. I think there would be fewer diplomatic crises and wars, if all the world diplomats and leaders were compelled to take naps every day. 🙂
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Ha! You might be on to something there Tracy!
Glad you had a wonderful Easter Tracy. ❤
Diana xo
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Diana, I love it! It’s wonderful you have that relationship with your daughter … (I always enjoy it when my sons bring good beer when they visit). Seriously, I’m so happy you have that bond with her. Hey, we’re all dorks one way or another.
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haha being dorks is our claim to fame – love it Jim!
I so treasure my relationship with her and am happy you have such a wonderful relationship with your sons. ❤
Diana xo
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fun to know your adult children as friend 🙂
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Yes Bill, it is fun. I love when we talk about things and learn each others’ perspective on issues… ❤
Diana xo
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the secret reward of parenthood’s pains 🙂
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Sometimes, I catch myself staring at her, loving the person she’s become, proud of the values she carries…
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