A Corner Table in My World

A Final Blast for 2011

2011-12-31T14:51:00.001-07:00

It's New Years Eve! Amazing, isn't it? Another year has flown by and here we are on the cusp of yet another new beginning. So much has happened this year. So much has changed, been worked through, finished, or abandoned. And while things will always continue to change, and life will always go on, there are somethings that will always remain the same and remain true.

Family will always be the most important thing in my life. Whether we're talking about my parents and sisters, my cousins, or my own husband and kids, they will always be the cornerstones of my life. As time goes on and we grow and change, we may grow apart but as long as we live each other the distance won't really matter.

Finding something to do that makes you happy and that you enjoy is far more important than doing something merely because it's expected of you. I won't go in to great detail about what I'm talking about, those closest to me will know without too much thought what it is, and for the rest of you... The original statement says enough. Find what makes YOU happy, and go from there. As I've learned these last couple years, and this year especially, your life may not be all that you'd once thought that it would be, but as long as your doing something that makes you happy, you may just be surprised by what you've got.

Have a Happy New Years everyone! Remember the important things in life and remember that every new year is another new beginning to be appreciated!

One of Those Days

2011-11-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

So right now there are probably a dozen otherthings that I should be doing. Not onlythat, but I had an entirely different post written that I intended to put upand then this morning I had a little snafu. I don’t know what else to call it without making it seem way moreimportant than it really is so snafu is what I settled on.

I mentioned a while ago that I was havingproblems getting Baby on the ice at skating but that I was using the “wisdom”that I’d learned from my experiences with Boy to get through them, or aroundthem, and not completely stress myself out. Well apparently I spoke WAYtoo soon.

The last couple of weeks I haven’t been able toget Baby to do anything. And I do mean anything. I can’t get her to skate, to do gymnastics,to listen at home, to keep her clothes on… nothing. She’s started having temper tantrums more andmore frequently, she’s always been the most strong-willed of the kids even ifshe’s usually more subtle about exerting her will, and she’s suddenly prone tomassive meltdowns when she doesn’t get her way. Then she’ll have long, drawn-out pouting sessions after the fact.

It’s driving me crazy because I can’t figure outwhat to do about it.

I’ve tried everything that usually works withthe other kids. I’ve tried doingresearch on parenting advice and techniques on websites, blogs, and inbooks. I’ve talked to friends with kidsand to family.

And I’m tapped out.

I don’t know what to do anymore and this morningit has finally just gotten to me. In thelast 7 years I don’t think that I’ve ever come to the point where I really justdon’t know what to do next. It’s hardenough to be raising three kids, essentially alone for 2/3 of the year, buttoday it just seems impossible. I hatefeeling like I’m doing something wrong, or that I’m failing with them, and that’show it feels. I hate that I get frustratedbecause of Baby’s behavior and then snap at all three when they’re just beingkids. It’s not fair to Princess and Boythat they’re taking some of the brunt because of Baby’s actions and it’s notfair to Baby that I can’t figure out what to do to reach her.

And it is selfish of me to think that it’s notfair to me that I’m dealing with this alone? I can talk to the Husband about it but he’s not here so there really isn’tanything that he can do to help. And hedoesn’t seem to have any ideas of what to do either.

So remember how I’ve said that being a parentisn’t always easy, or fun and that sometimes, some days, it really just sucks?

Today is one of those days.

Gymnastics (Updates) and Grandparents

2011-11-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

So remember back in September when I mentionedthat I was going to get my certification to become a gymnastics coach? And remember when I mentioned at the beginning ofOctober that I’d headed up to Edmonton for the first weekend of training to dothat?.. Things have been going reallywell with that. Just in case you’re curious. And I am now a recreational gymnastics coach at our local club.

As of Oct.29 I started teaching 2 parent & tot(18-23month old) classes and on Nov.2 I took on a third class with 4-year-olds. It’s really fun actually and even though Iwasn’t sure how well I’d like teaching the little tiny tots, I’ve discoveredthat I actually do like it, a lot. I also spentmy Saturday afternoon this past weekend coaching birthday parties. Which was also really, really fun.

And while we’re on the topic of gymnastics… thekids are all doing really well in their own classes. Baby is getting better at followinginstructions and doing what she’s been asked, while the Boy is still having ablast doing his classes. I’m not sure I’vementioned this about him before or not- but for a kid that can and will tripover the invisible lines on the ground while he’s walking down a hallway, he issurprisingly graceful and has excellent balance during gymnastics. It’s something of a marvel to me. And Princess? She is doing really, reallyawesome. She’s improving inleaps and bounds and has acquired several new skills since September – most notably,she can do half a back-walkover unassisted, and a full back-walkover with someassistance. Really she’s doing great!

We also celebrated my parent’s anniversary thislast Friday (they are of course also known as Grandma and Grandpa). We went out for dinner at the Keg (dad’schoice) and ate a really wonderful meal. The kids even got into the spirit of the event and each contributedsomething as a gift – the Boy and Baby drew pictures of Grandma and Grandpa,and both the Boy and Princess colored pictures for them too. It was a nice night, good dinner and awonderful way to (quietly) celebrate 34 years of marriage.


Grandma & Grandpa during the summer at Cousin J's

Grandma and Grandpa at the Keg for 34th Anniversary

All in all, it's been a mostly peaceful week and everything that we have going on went really well.

So until next time, and with Love -

~Lacey~

Halloween and a Visit Home

2011-11-01T13:51:00.000-06:00

The Husband made a very quick trip down thisweekend so that he could be here for Halloween – 90% of the fun of being aparent on Halloween, I’m told, is getting to dress up and trick or treat withyour kid. Last year he missed theoccasion so this time around he used great effort to make it back down,arriving about 4:30am on Sunday and leaving again Tuesday afternoon.

As with any visit home, a lot of his Sunday wasspent like this.

And then came Halloween!

Costumes, candy, tempers, attitudes, trips to the farm and fun… Ohmy!

Hope you had a completely awesome Halloween andthat you survived the insanity.

I Love My Kids

2011-10-24T23:31:00.000-06:00

“I love my kids.”

It’s a simple statement really, and one thatevery single parent remarks on nearly every single day. Maybe it’s a passing comment to a friend, acolleague, a relative or even a stranger. Maybe it’s a reminder to yourself of why you agreed to do so much for/with your kids (i.e,driving them to gymnastics, taking them to skating, volunteering as asupervisor for a field trip…). Or maybeit’s the mantra you repeat to yourself when things get tough, the kids getannoying and you need to remember that you really do just love your kids.

I have to admit that most weeks “I love my kids”can be all three of those things for me.

Ok, I’m not kidding anyone. Everyday that simple statement means all 3 of those things to me.

Regardless though, it remains true.

Even when they are driving me absolutely,bat-shit crazy, I love my kids.

Even when I have to lock myself in my room andpray for sanctuary… I love my kids.

Even when they are doing everything in theirpower to make me want to run away crying and screaming, while pulling my hairout… I love my kids.

Why??

Image via Wikipedia

Because when I’m sick or sad, the Boy will giveme hugs and wish me better.

Because when I’m in a bad mood, the Princesswill turn on my favorite song and get me to dance around the house with her.

Because when I’m feeling lonely, Baby will curlup in bed with me and put her arm around my neck to sleep.

Having kids isn’t always easy. It’s not always fun. Some days it really, really sucks. But at the end of everyday, no matter whetherit’s been a good one or a bad one, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Because I love my kids, and they make everythingworthwhile.

Our Adventures at Skating

2011-10-17T14:28:00.000-06:00

So skating started at the beginning of the monthand while it’s been somewhat hit-and-miss so far for Baby, it’s been a hugesuccess for the Boy, at least compared to last year. I think he remembers that by the end of theseason last year he really loved skating lessons and skating in general, sowhen lessons started this time around he was absolutely gung-ho to get going,get on the ice and get skating. He’sdoing great so far too. Which when Ithink back to this time last year, is a huge load off my shoulders.

At least until I turn my attention to Baby.

She really wanted to skate this year. After watching her big brother and sisterdoing all of their ‘stuff’ last season, she really just wanted to be a part ofthe action (resulting in her registration in both gymnastics and skating). She was all for it when we were buyinghelmets and trying to find skates, trying on skates and getting ready for theseason. Then we got there and startedputting everything on, and sort of like what happened with the Boy last year,she suddenly just wasn’t sure that she really wanted to do it. A horrible time to suddenly change her mind,because by this point we’ve already spent the money on equipment andregistration fees, and it places both the Husband (who was home for the firstday) and I in that awkward position of either being the ‘mean parents’ who haveto force her to get on the ice regardless of what she wants, or accepting herchange of mood and giving her an out.

The Boy did the same thing, to various anddiffering degrees (just in comparison to himself) from week to week during hiswhole first season (when he was 3-years-old) and for the first month and a halfof the season last year. During thatfirst season he was all over the place in regards to whether he wanted to bethere, be skating or whatever. One weekhe’d happily go out on the ice, try for a few minutes and then sit with thebucket of toys and play for the rest of the 45-minute session. The next week he wouldn’t even make anyattempt to try and do anything and would only sit on the ice and cry until theinstructors would carry him off. Eventually they did manage to motivate him to some effort but that firstseason was questionably a write off as far as actually learning how to skatewas concerned.

Last year for the first 6 weeks the Boy wouldgrudgingly put his skates, helmet and other gear on, then he’d have a completemeltdown and temper tantrum, refusing to get on the ice, go near the ice or evendo more than watch the ice being flooded before and after the sessions. It was painful, for me and the Husband, andtruth be told there were a couple days when I was nearly in tears – of frustration,anger, embarrassment… you name it. Then,miraculously, one day we got his gear on and he just nervously wandered out onto the ice. (Of course this was rightabout the time we started considering whether we should just pull him from theprogram and try to get some of our money back, and when we’d finally stoppedtrying to constantly convince him that he really did want to skate.)

Now I’m sure you’re wondering, what was thelesson that I learned over the last two years with the Boy? If the initial interest to do something isthere, (whether it’s skating lessons, gymnastics, dancing, piano, horsebackriding, or whatever) sometimes it’s just going to take time for them to be ready to actually try. All we can do as parents is give them time. It’s frustrating, and can be annoying, butthe more you try to convince them to do it, the more you push, or bribe, orfight about it, the harder it’ll be for them to make up their mind. And as I’ve come to learn with the Princess -if it’s not something that they really, trulywant to do and if it’s not something that they’re even remotely enjoying, they’renot going to do it. No matter how muchyou want them to or how much money you’ve spent so that they could.

We spent less 5 minutes convincing the Baby totry out the ice during the first lesson. She lasted 30 minutes on the ice and she actually managed to do okay.(See the pictures below.) The day of hersecond lesson, she’d already dug her heels in hours before the actual lessontime, and told me that she wasn’t going to skate that day. I just told that she didn’t she didn’t haveto go on the ice if she didn’t want to, that she could just sit with me andwatch but that she was going to wear her skates, helmet and other gear whileshe did it. I asked her 4 or 5 timesduring the minutes leading up to the lesson time and for the first few minutesof the lesson if she was sure that she just wanted to watch, each time she toldme that she just didn’t want to skate that day. I didn’t pester her overly much, or try and force her on the ice at all,though the Princess (who was able to be there that day because there was noschool) bugged her about it a bit. Andwould you believe that about half way through the lesson time, she decided thatshe’d go out and try after all? Shemostly went out and played with the toys that the instructors had out on theice, but she decided to go out there all on her own. And I experienced barely any stress over thematter, which is also a major bonus!

The Boy was happy to just get out there and go!

While the Baby started her lesson this way -->

Things progressed more or less like this...

And for Baby ended like this.

The Birthday Party and Thanksgiving

2011-10-13T20:25:00.000-06:00

The Boy is finally 5-years-old!!! I say finallybecause now that his birthday is over and done with for this year, I don’t haveto listen to any more random “I want that for my birthday!” shouts. (Of course, Christmas is just over 2 monthsaway so before too much longer it’s going to be a chorus of “I want that forChristmas!” outbursts… Joy.) But thingsworked out pretty well for the kid this year, he got what he needed, most of whathe wanted and a few other things that not even he had thought of yet! From Carsstuff, Transformers stuff, clothes, crafts, and an actual Box Car, he washappily, materialistically appeased andby the family and friends that managed to make the party he was verygrateful.

Specialthanks to Auntie B, Uncle G, Cousin J, Cousin G, Auntie M, ‘Auntie’ D, Luke andkids, and Grandma, Grandma and Grandpa for coming to the movie and to eat andplay!

Then we were off to Thanksgiving at the farm withthe family. It was, as is typical, agigantic meal that really makes you think about and be thankful for how trulythankful we all are for everything and everyone that we have in our lives. The men spent a good portion of the dayrepairing and re-shingling part of the roof on the house, the women spent theday in the kitchen chatting and cooking (and doing a little bit of drinking!),and the kids spent the day playing, plotting and cruising around the yard in the Gator that Grandpa got the Boy for his birthday. All in all, it was a really good day, areally good meal, and a wonderful time had by all.

As an end note, post-script or side note – while the husband was home lastweek he managed to convince the Baby to sit still long enough to get her hairbraided. We took the braids out on Wednesdaythis week, and this was the result. Eversince she’s been wandering around the house rawring and pretending to be aLion. LOL! It’s super cute, super funny,and after 50,000 rawrs, super annoying… But you know what, even when it’sannoying it still cute and funny, just no where near as much!

My Weekend and Planning a Boy's BDay Party

2011-10-04T18:09:00.000-06:00

So the Boy really wanted a party with a Bouncy House-thing which, unless I were torent just a bouncy house, means the YMCA… again. There’s nothing wrong with that, we’veattended parties there that were fun and done well, but last year when we had theBoy’s party there we were really dissatisfied with the service, accommodations and“games” that we received. The kids stillhad fun but considering the vast differences between what we’d been promisedand what we actually got, we didn’t feel we got our money’s worth. So… no YMCA.

The Boy at 1-year-old

Instead the Boy and I discussed things and decided on doinga movie party. He was especially stokedfor the idea when we discovered that Cars 2 (the “most awesome and cool movieever!”) would be playing! So details on how that all goes will come later…(only a couple more days!)

This last weekend I went to Edmonton and stayed with Jen andEd (the “most awesome and cool” big sister and brother[in-law] ever!) and spentmost of my Saturday and Sunday doing a course so that I can be certified toteach gymnastics. (Gymnastics, you say? Why yes, after 12+ years of not reallydoing anything with that extensive education I got as a child, I finallythought – well, why the heck not use it for something!) It was an interesting course, full ofinteresting people taking it, and I’m really happy that I decided to doit. I’ve got 10 weeks of assistant coachingto do and then another weekend of classes and then I’ll be able to coach. Yay!

While not in class I spent time with Jen and Ed – watching Jenpaint her front door, listening to Ed play video games, watching some reallyfunny videos (thank you for that Ed and I’m going to have to look for the linksto those so I can show the Husband!), talking and going out for dinner. We hit this really cool Mexican restaurant downtown,which was really good – even though I didn’t try the “life-changing” fish tacos– and went to this little cupcake place that had really, really good cupcakes…Even though I managed to forget to eat my left over cupcakes on Sundaymorning. (Hopefully someone enjoyed them when they woke up!)

It was a good weekend. It was fun. And I look forward toseeing them again, hopefully next time without the time constraints. And next time I fully intend to eat bothcupcakes… And maybe try the tacos. Maybe. Until then I’ve got alittle boy’s birthday party to get organized, a bunch of blogs to update,groceries to buy, and a husband to spend time with before he disappears back toFort McMurray for work.

Tales of the First Days

2011-09-27T10:12:00.000-06:00

The Princess -

She startedgrade 2 this year and it didn’t seem to be all that interesting or note worthyof a first day. She insisted that I walkher in, so that I could find her classroom and her locker for her, and thenonce she knew those basics it was “see ya later mom, get lost!” And since day one (now 2 weeks past) shehasn’t wanted my interference or my assistance going in or coming out. Except for that one day when the Mommy (yes,me!) forgot the schedule and didn’t show up to pick the Princess up from schooland she received the stressed phone call from the school - “where the heck areyou mom?”

Princess alsostarted her gymnastics program again and again, I walked her in on the firstday to make sure that she got to the right place to start. It was almost embarrassing though, becausehonestly we get inside and then she turns to me and says “see! I didn’t diewalking in. You can go. Now!” And then on her second day, which was the Boy’s first, she practicallytried to drag him out of the van with her while saying, “I can take him in mom,don’t worry.” Independence is a goodthing. That much independence is sorta apain in the ass.

When the firstday of piano rolled around this last week, I thought for sure she was going todo much the same thing as at gymnastics and school. But for the first time in a long time shewanted me to stick around, not that I was going to leave her anyways butstill. And you know, she really, reallyliked it. Which surprised me a littlebut I guess everyone has their thing. Iguess we’ll just have to see how things go.

The Boy -

I can’t believethat my baby boy is already in Kindergarten!! Next thing I know, he’ll begraduating and going off to college. Orclown school, and with the Boy either could be a realistic option. But on his first day of Kindergarten he wasslightly more considerate of my feelings than his older sister was. He held my hand walking in and pulled meright in to the classroom with him. Ofcourse, I had to go in to drop off his school supplies but still... At least hedidn’t just tell me to go away! Oncewe’d dropped everything where it went though THAT’S when he gave the Baby and Ia quick kiss goodbye and he was gone. It’s been like that since.

He was so excitedabout starting gymnastics! He was honestly, no exaggeration, bouncing withexcitement. And he did great! AbsolutelyAwesome. He listened well, he did (or atthe very least attempted) everything he was asked to do - AND HE LOVED IT! 5minutes after class was over, he was already asking when he had class next.

The Baby -

Baby and I havebeen enjoying some more one-on-one time while the other two kids are at schoolin the mornings, and I’m happy to say that we’re actually both enjoyingit! Over the years, despite a babiesdependence upon it’s mother - and this Baby’s extreme dependence on me for thefirst 11months, our actually enjoyable time that was just one-on-one has beenlimited. That may be something of a commonthing for the youngest, especially when your kids are close together like oursare, but personally I’m really glad for the time to be with just her. (ThoughI’m also becoming more acutely aware that I didn’t ever have much of that samekind of 1-on-1 time with the Boy, and have been trying to find ways to give himmore time with just me whenever I can swing it.)

But back toBaby. Last year she complained about notgetting to do all the things that her big sis and big bro were doing. Granted she was only two, but complaints arecomplaints, and when we started talking about the activities that the olderkids wanted to do, and didn’t want to do this year, Baby made herself VERYclear that she wanted to do some things too.

As with theBoy, Baby absolutely wanted to do gymnastics this year, so bad that she wouldstand next to you saying “I want to do gymnastics too! Me too, Mom!” untilyou’d acknowledge her words and assure her that yes, she could do gymnasticstoo. So I registered her for class andit ended up being a parent-tot class, so I (and Husband when he’s home forwinter) will be doing gymnastics once a week with Baby. We started this class the same week that theother kids started their classes and it’s been fun so far. There are only 3 kids (and 3 moms), includingBaby and I, so we’re not lost in a crowd and the girls are all right about thesame size/same age so it’s cute to see them all trying to do the activities andplaying together. Of course, Baby’soccasional but acute shyness seems to kick in every time the instructor comesnear her, or talks directly to her, so that makes class interesting to becausethen she clings to me (and I’ve been known to call her my little spider-monkey)but expects me to do whatever it is that she’s been instructed to do - whetherit’s jumping on the trampolines, something on the bars, rings or floors, orwhether it’s getting into or out of the foam pit at the gym. But hey, I guess I’m getting a workout. :-)

Both the Babyand the Boy will be starting skating lessons next week - Princess was veryspecific with me this year that she DID NOT want to skate this year - and Ithink they are both looking forward to it. The Boy was very adamant that he wanted to do 2 classes a week againthis year and I’m really hoping that we don’t end up regretting that. Baby is just going to start with one class aweek for this year, and hopefully she’ll have fun and learn something. I’ll keep you posted there.

So those were all our first days, so far, and a bit about howthings went.

See you next time!!!

(Photos and video are just randomshots from the first gymnastics day for both older kids - but I don’t have many because I ran out of memory spaceon my camera card and I haven’t picked up a new one yet... and yes I know thatI could download/upload and delete, but I don’t want to do that. I usually only upload the really good, reallycute, or other pics I plan to use for something, and then replace themem-card. I’ll have a new one soonthough and then I’ll be able to snap pictures of anything again!)

This Weekend!

2011-09-17T01:58:00.000-06:00

So after a couple of busy weeks, we're spending a busy weekend at the farm (off and on) for what is more or less a celebration of Dad's birthday. Jen and Ed are down for the weekend, since they're abandoning us over Thanksgiving weekend, and thus - a weekend spent with the family at the farm. I'm there right now in fact. :)

I've missed having Jen and Ed around, and though I'm busy with my own life and they with theirs, so it's not like we'd spend all our time together even if they were still living in Lethbridge, there are times when I wish they still lived on Peigan and we could visit any time we wanted... even if it was just for a night of board games and drinks. Or a movie, or TV show, and company.

Just a mobile pic of Baby playing at the Mall one day.

It's nice that they live in Edmonton though too, since it gives us an excuse to get up there more often. (*cough* occasionally *cough*) Still, an excuse to go to Edmonton to shop, visit, or whatever is always nice.

Also on the agenda this weekend...

I'm taking the kids to the Lion King in 3D! I can remember seeing this movie in theaters when it first came out and, honestly, I think I'm more stoked to take them than they are to go. Though... Zack is pretty excited about seeing it.

I'll have more up on Sunday when I do my regular post - including talk of the kids first days of school and gymnastics.

Talk to you later peoples!! Have a good weekend!!

25 (Random) Things... About Me

2011-09-12T11:30:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure whether I've posted this here (or on Facebook) before, if I did it was years ago, and so well, this is me - in a completely random nutshell!

1. When I need to calm down, I take a shower anddrink coffee.

2. I've been a stay at home mom for most of thelast 7 years and I don't see an end to that in the near future.

3. I'm writing a book.

4. My favorite ice cream is (still) chocolatechip mint.

5. I NEVER liked the color pink until Ihad a baby girl.

6. I have three kids: Zona, Izack, and Saphira.

7. I love Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis andBattlestar Galatica but I've rarely watched them when they are on TV.

8. I've developed (and groomed) a fascinationwith mythology.

9. I took dance lessons for 16 years and when Iwas a little girl I wanted to be a ballerina.

10. I married my 'high school sweetheart' when Iwas 22 (he was 23) and we've been together for 12 years now.

11. I had never been on an airplane until I was19 years old - we flew to Orlando, Florida. Since then I've flown to Mexico, Toronto, Ottawa, New York, FortMcMurray and Calgary.

12. My favorite color is blue.

13. I got my hair cut for the first time when Iwas 14!

14. I started gymnastics when I was 3 years oldand started student teaching when I was 11.

15. I decided that I wanted to be a doctorbecause I wanted to save people.

16. I decided that I didn't want to be a doctorwhen I realized that not every one wants to be saved and because a lot of thetime even the ones who do want to be saved can't be.

17. I prefer black licorice to the red stuff...and I inherited that from my Grandpa McGlenn.

18. I like to read and write fan fiction about myfavorite TV shows and book characters.

19. I have 2 sisters: one older and one youngerand NONE of us really got along with each other until Jennifer moved out of thehouse and I got my drivers license. Years later we are all very close.

20. Over the years my husband has become my bestfriend.

21. When I had a baby boy, I had no idea what todo with him... actually I still have that problem sometimes ;)

22. If given the option, I'd prefer to stay home9 times out of 10 - but every once in a while I have to get out.

23. I don't want to have any more children.

24. I love to eat oysters with cheese, crackersand some Red Hot Sauce - this I got from my mom.

25. I have always been, and will probably alwaysbe, a 'Daddy's Girl.' I can't help it -my dad is just one of my favorite people in the world.

This is not one of those copy&paste, or complete and forward this to 10 of your friends, type of things... It's really just 25 random things about me.

Informative? LOL!

Where Were You?

2011-09-11T00:18:00.000-06:00

There are times and events in our lives thatbring on moments of reflection where you ask yourself questions like “wherewere you?” or “what were you doing?”… Today, I think, is one of those days. And I think it always will be.

Looking back through history there are dozens, ifnot, 100’s of events that occurred on September 11 that were important enough,relevant enough, to shape the world that existed at the time. There have been natural disasters, importantbattles in distant times, the beginning of important architectural projects,the death of prominent world figures, even the development of new weaponplatforms… Yet few events are remembered as well, or with the same level offeeling, as the terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States onSeptember 11, 2001. Even a decade later,the shockwaves of fear, pain, loss, love and terror that swept the nation, andthe world, can still be felt whenever it is thought of.

I can think back, and I don’t have to try toohard, and remember where I was and what I was doing (or supposed to be doing)on this day 10 years ago. I was livingin my grandparent’s basement and had just started my first year ofuniversity. I remember having to wake upearly that morning for a calculus tutorial and wandering up the stairs to usethe washroom and find some breakfast. Itwas with some surprise that I found both my grandparents already awake andwatching television when it wasn’t yet even 7am. I can remember the sound of shock in mygrandfather’s voice as he told me of the attacks. (At that time, only the firstplane had hit the World Trade Center tower.)

As I continued getting ready for the day Iwatched what coverage the networks were showing. I’ve never really been the kind of person whoregularly takes the time to keep up with current events each day, and at 18 Ireally didn’t think all that much about what happened it the wide-world. Yet on that morning I watched. When I got in my car to drive to school, Ituned the radio so that I could continue to hear the reports. When I got to the university, before I evenconsidered going to my class (and by then I was already a few minutes late), Iwent to the students lounge where I knew there would be televisions playing,and I watched with no small amount of fear as the second plane of the morningsmashed into the Towers.

Class was completely forgotten, and as timepassed that morning the crowd in that lounge grew in number to watch thecoverage and reports. It was in nearsilence that we watched the towers fall. So many of us watched, not just in that students’ lounge or acrosscampus, but through the city, the province, the country and world-wide, wewatched. Whether we were directlyaffected by the losses of that day or were merely in shock that such a thinghad happened during our lifetimes, we watched, we listened, and we paidattention. Now, 10 years later, weremember.

photo from wikipedia.com

November 11 has long been a day of remembrance –for those soldiers who’ve fallen in battles near and far, whether decades agoor just last year. September 11 is nowalso a day of remembrance. But it is notto honor soldiers who willing gave their lives up in battle, it’s a day thatthe world should remember the men and women who, through circumstances beyondtheir control and during the course of what should have been a normal day, weretaken from their families and friends, from their loved ones, and from thestrangers they passed on the streets.

They were taken from this world to make apoint. Politicians and reporters, analystsand world leaders will all attempt to describe what that point was. For you and me, and for every person who lostsomeone that day, the point is clear and the message simple…

There is evil in this world. And when it chooses to flex its muscle it doesn’tcare who you are or who it hurts, as long as it prevails.

In honor of all the people and families thatsuffered loss on that day – I offer my deepest sympathy and even though I knowmy words could never change the way you feel about that day, I hope that youare able to take some comfort in knowing that the thoughts and prayers ofpeople world-wide are with you, especially on this day.

And We're Back To It

2011-09-06T20:12:00.000-06:00

Here we are at the start of a new school year (grade 2 andKindergarten for the Z’s) and we’re back to a schedule that gives us all achance to fit in a little, wee, tiny bit of, what I like to call, “ME! Time.”And I really do mean it when I say it’s only a small amount of time. But even that little bit of time is an awesomereprieve from the constant presence of the kids this summer. Not that I’m complaining about not getting (ortaking) an opportunity to pass them off for any appreciable time over July andAugust, but I’m sort of sorry that I didn’t.

But now that schools back, that means that all theextra-curricular activities are starting again soon too. The first of which is gymnastics, whichstarts next Monday. And this year theBoy AND the Baby (& me) are joining the Princess in the gym. Last year we also spent a lot of time runningback and forth from the skating rink for both the Z’s lessons. The Princess won’t be going back on the icethis year but the Boy is looking forward to getting back in his skates andspending some quality time on the ice (hopefully on his feet). The Baby has mentioned wanting to skate, andlast year she did a LOT of whining about not getting to go out with her bigbrother and sister, but I think gymnastics will be enough for her to do formost of the year.

I am going to put the kids in swimming lessons (finally) thisfall, so that’s going to be something else that they are all going to have todo. Or in other words, it’s something else that I’m going to have to chauffer themto.

Of course Princess has a whole list of things that she wantsto do – piano, horseback riding and wall climbing, just to name a few… So yeah,we’re going to be busy! And that’s justwhat I have to do with the kids.

For myself, this fall/winter I’m going to be getting mycertification as a gymnastics instructor and should be able to find somethingto do with that relatively easy. I’malso registered for another course that I’ll be doing over the next 6months orso (and I’ll save details about this for a later post). But you add it all together and I’ll be verymuch a busy, busy lady.

And you know what? That’s actually about all the time I’vegot for writing blogs today.

Keep an eye out for us – and we’ll keep our eyes open foryou!

THE BOY

THE BABY

THE PRINCESS

THE TRIO OF TROUBLE

Coming up within the next few weeks--- photos of the firstday of Kindergarten, Baby’s first day of gymnastics, the Boy’s 5thbirthday, Grandpa’s birthday and harvest, Falls first skate lesson, and a photosession with the kids…

Well... Good Grief

2011-08-30T18:00:00.000-06:00

In the 8 months since I last updated it’s sort of depressing to admit that not a lot has happened. There have been no GIANT changes in my life, or any of our lives, and in all honesty much is exactly the same. Good or bad, I don’t know, but that’s the way it’s been.

Still… 8 months is a long time to say nothing, even if nothing amazing has happened.

I did go back to work in January – as much because Obie was finally home for the winter and could watch the kids and take care of the “family” stuff, as any great need to. I continued doing that throughout the winter, spring and early summer, but after the husband had gone back north to work (in early May) that became something of a challenge as I working grave-shifts so I ended up leaving that job in mid-July. Now of course I’m looking for another job that accommodates my family life and availability, or something else that I can do. Which is not an easy feat as many of you know.

We actually managed to get away quite a few times this summer. We hit the old family favorite of Police Lake (near Cardston) for camping and fishing in early July. Obie was able to come down for that particular weekend, a long trip for just a couple of days but the kids loved seeing him and we all had a good weekend. I took the kids for vacation to Moose Jaw and Esterhazy (in Saskatchewan) with my parents at the end of July and we really enjoyed that week because we were able to visit with family and see their new place out there. [Thanks Jill et al. for your hospitality and for letting the kids run wild through your house for a couple days… It was really fun.] Obie was down again at the beginning of August for his own birthday and for another camping weekend, at Waterton this time, for Baby’s 3^rd birthday. We managed to get some hiking in and some time at the river too.

Most recently we were all back in Saskatchewan (we only went as far as the Cypress Hills this time) for a family reunion weekend and THAT was a good time too – especially for the kids. We managed to fly Obie down for the reunion and then I took the two oldest kids and we made a camping adventure week of driving him back north to work. As annoying as putting up and taking down a tent each day was, it was also nice to get away just us and spend some time with the older kids before they go back to school. Course the baby wasn’t impressed with being left behind but she still had fun spending the week with grandma and grandpa.

In and around those trips we also spent a weekend in both mine and Obie’s home town for their annual celebrations. It was fun to see people that we haven’t seen for years and spend some time just showing the kids all the places we spent time at as children.

All and all, it was a good summer. It wasn’t smooth sailing – in fact there were whole stretches of time that were really damn rocky – but it was good.

And now it’s over.

School starts for the Princess on Thursday (grade 2 already!), then the Boy has a couple intake/orientation days next week and he starts kindergarten in 2 weeks. I really can’t believe that it’s already back to school, already fall. The next thing I know it’s going to be the Boy’s birthday, then Thanksgiving, Halloween, and then Christmas.

It’s sort of amazing, I guess, but what they say is true… Time does fly when you’re having fun!

Is Santa Claus Coming to Town?

2010-12-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

He's been making his list, and checking it multiple times, but Santa might be a little bit confused about WHERE exactly he's supposed to be delivering our presents this year! No big surprise there, but with a 6-yr-old who at times is too smart for my own good, trying to explain how Santa knows where to take the Christmas presents, and why he takes them to multiple places is starting to become a bit tricky!

Image via WikipediaAnd Christmas shopping? One of the scariest things I have to do each year. What to get, what NOT to get, what the kids need vs. what they want vs. what I want lying around my house for the next few years... It's almost too much! (LOL!) Then of course, I have to consider what I've got to get rid of inorder to make space for whatever they'll be getting new. Like I said, a scary prospect all around!

Anyways, I'm gonna go. I've got to put a Christmas tree up. And prep the boy's room for an early present...

If I don't get back here before the big day - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO!!

What's Happening Now?

2010-11-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

Ha Ha Ha... Not a whole lot!

Obie is finally home for the winter, though there is some talk about a return trip to Fort McMurray before the holidays for another week of work.

Winter has finally arrived, and with a vengence. It's been snowing all week long. Once it started, it just hasn't stopped. Not really. Though I think we might have had a few hours here and there when there weren't flakes falling. I wish I could say that I'm happy to see the white stuff... And I sort of am, but the cold that came with it just doesn't make me a happy camper.

Image via WikipediaAnd Christmas is coming. (Obvious perhaps based on the whole SNOW thing!) We visited Santa at the Festival of Lights last night with the kids and we're starting to get more and more Christmas requests everyday! Right now we are looking at bunkbeds, robot pets, dollhouses and toys, toys, toys... Apparently Santa is going to be a busy, busy man!!

Till next time... Happy Winter and Happy Holidays!

Some Days are Harder

2010-10-14T13:54:00.000-06:00

Maybe it's a cliche. Maybe it's common sense. Maybe it's wishful thinking.

Whatever it is, it is the truth.

Some days are just harder than others. Some mornings you wake up and from the moment you open your eyes everything goes right. There are no crying children, or broken glasses. Missing socks and hiding backpacks are non-existent on those days. Everything goes according to schedule, no one is late or confused or completely absentminded.... And then there are days like today.

Okay, so nothing has gone horribly, painfully wrong. Just nothing has really gone well either. Between the kids fighting more because they are tired and not wanting to do anything at all, and me feeling a bit sick and tired too the morning was something, well, something best forgotten. :( The afternoon hasn't been that stellar so far either.

In anycase, I guess I can only hope that tomorrow is better. Or at the very least, that it's not any worse.

A Typical Day This Fall

2010-10-07T23:33:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

7:00am - alarm goes off... hit snooze

7:15am - alarm still going off... FINALLY get out of bed

7:20am - take first sip of coffee and start feel ~~awake~~ less zombie-like

7:25am - have shower

7:40am - finish cup of coffee while getting dressed

7:45am - get second cup of coffee and breakfast for Zona

7:50am - make lunch for Zona

8:00am - finish getting ready - hair, clothes, brush teeth, etc.

8:10am - complete Zona's hygiene process

8:20am - pull Zack and Saphira from their beds if the shower/dryer/older sister haven't already waken them up

8:25am - start madly dashing around the house trying to get little kids ready to go, while yelling at Zona to finish getting her shoes/clothes/backpack/coat on

8:35am - pile everyone into the van for the drive to the school to drop Zona off

8:40am - drop Zona off at Grade 1

8:45am - pile out of van and go back in to the house

9:00am - start 3rd cup of coffee and get little kids breakfast

9:10am - check e-mails and log-in to Twitter

10:00am - realize that I've been fooling around on 'Net and finally open up writing project

10:20am - start writing/editing

10:30am - get interrupted by kids wanting a snack

10:40am - sit back down at computer and start working

11:20am - get interrupted again by kids wanting lunch and make Zacks school lunch

11:40am - check e-mails again and go back on to Twitter/Facebook

12:10pm - start getting Zack ready for school - brush teeth and hair, wash face, etc

12:20pm - get Boy drressed and get Saphira ready to go out again

12:30pm - sit back down at computer to let friends know I'll be gone for a while and to make sure all work is saved

12:45pm - get shoes and coats and backpacks on

12:50pm - get in van to take Zack to school

1:00pm - drop Zack off and get back into the van

1:10pm - decide what to do for the afternoon with Saphira

1:30pm - hit the grocery/department/book store and browse/buy stuff, visit grandma, run errands

2:30pm - take purchases home

2:40pm - change Saphira and get her a snack

2:45pm - check e-mail, Twitter, Facebook and see if anything interesting has been happening (usually NOT)

3:10pm - get back in van to go pick kids up from school

3:25pm - go into school to pick up Zona and Zack

3:30pm - get out of school only to fight with the kids about actually leaving

3:45pm - win the arguement, and everyone get's back into the van

3:55pm - get home and get kids snack

4:10pm - get Zona changed/ready for skating/gymnastics/dance and change Saphira, and remind Zack to go to the bathroom

4:25pm - leave the house again to get Zona wherever she needs to go...

6:30pm - FINALLY get home again and unload the van of people and all their crap

6:45pm - cook/heat up dinner

7:00pm - force kids to sit down and eat something

7:05pm - force kids to sit BACK down and eat something

7:15pm - force kids to sit BACK DOWN and eat something

7:30pm - give up the fight and tell the kids to get the PJ's on

7:40pm - bedtime bathroom process - brushing teeth and hair, washing faces, potty reminders

8:00pm - tell Zack and Saphira a short made up story and tuck them in

8:10pm - tidy up dinner mess

8:20pm - go down to Zona's room and prep for the next day - pick clothes, pack bag, etc

8:30pm - ready Zona one of her library books

8:40pm - turn off the lights and come up stairs

8:45pm - check e-mail, Twitter and Facebook again, as well as other communities

9:00pm - call Husband to chat with him about the day

9:15pm - decide what to do for the rest of the night - tv/movie/work/clean/etc, and do it

11:20pm - prep coffee maker for morning and get ready for bed

11:30pm - get in bed

12:15pm - double check that alarm is turned on

12:40pm - finally fall asleep...

Seriously,.just looking at the breakdown of my day is tiring me... so I guess since it's 11:30pm right now I'd better get my butt in bed :) Good night everyone!

Playing on the Swing Set

2010-06-05T01:54:00.000-06:00

Zona snagged herself, and the other kids, a swing set this year for her birthday, so here is a picture of them playing!!

We've had a great spring, even with the deluge of rain we've had, and we're looking forward to these last couple of weeks before summer holidays... And of course, we're looking forward to summer holidays too!!! Anyways, here's one more picture to display a different sort of growing up that's happening around our house these days.

(Princess Parties!!!)

There was actually another picture, of just Saphira, that I wanted to put up but I can't get it to load right... oh well. Maybe next time.

The Long Complicated Answer

2009-10-29T12:53:00.000-06:00

So it's time for another post and my big sister gave me the means for this one, when she asked me a question on Facebook today...

She asked:

"So how's this transition back into academic life treating you?"

And my answer is:

The school part is mostly okay - my classes are great but there is, obviously, a lot of reading and work involved and finding the time to do it is difficult... I'm really liking being back at school. It's nice to be able to sit and listen to an adult speak about something that I'm interested in, and having conversations with other 'big people' is wonderful too (instead of just kids all the time).

At the same time, the whole process is just that bit more difficult because I can't do my reading or work when I'm alone with the kids, and that is most of the week. Fortunatley mom has been taking Za&S to the farm overnight on Mondays and Wednesdays - so I usually end up at the University until at least 1am those nights doing work and reading - and Chessenda or Brenda deals with Zo and getting her to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sundays Obie is usually happy to keep the kids to himself for a while, so I can sometimes disappear to school (or lock myself in my bedroom) for a couple hours. Then I usually go back to school after I've got the kids in bed on Sunday night for another couple hours of work.

School is always hard, it's supposed to be, doing it with the kids is more of a juggle then I like. I don't want to say that I'm not going to keep doing some classes and wait until S is ready for pre-k before I go back to do any more... but it might come to that. Or, I'm in three classes right now, maybe I'll just do one from now on. I feel bad for complaining because I am only at the school 2 days a week but I think 2 days, with three kids (and their school, dance, skating and just their "being" kids) is sometimes too much, and I can't imagine how people do full time - school or work - when they've got a couple kids. Maybe I'm just spoiled because I've had the opportunity to stay home for the last couple of years......

It's not that I couldn't do it, because I am and other people do it all the time, but I want to be around for my own kids - I want to dress up and go to Halloween parties with my kids at school, I want to be able to spend time with them and get them ready for school pictures, I want to be able to take care of them all the time when they are sick, or hurt, and I want to be with them when they do really cool things for the first time, or start talking, or potty train... I feel like I'm missing so much and I don't like it, and it's not fair to them.

So that's a really long answer to your question. In short: the transitions been hard. I like what I am doing while I am at school but I don't like what I'm missing by being there. Make sense?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, it's Halloween this Saturday so I should be able to put up a couple of pictures of the kids after the weekend... (For those of you who can, I put up a few pics of the kids skating - from my phone - on Facebook earlier this week.) Till next time!!! Happy Halloween and be safe when you trick or treat!!

Just an Update

2009-10-08T14:58:00.000-06:00

So a full month of school has gone by (for both Zona and myself) and things are looking good. Zona hasn't had any major problems for the last couple weeks and for that I am honestly and immensely grateful! For me, I've done a few assignments and I am just gearing up to write my first round of "mid-terms" in the next week. But things are actually good, and I'm not too worried about the tests - they'll be hard, but I'm prepared for that and think I'll do pretty well on them. So YAY!

As for everyone else... Saphira is walking all over and babbling all the time, and generally just getting into everything and in everyone's way. She and Zack play really well together, which is good since they spend the most time together. Of course, she's still growing like a weed. Personally I think she'll end up taller then Zona. (I'm not sure where Zack will fit in though, I hope he'll be taller then the girls... I guess all I can do there is wait and see, huh?)

Zack's birthday was this week. Three years old!!! I don't really have any pictures (I didn't have a camera, but I'll be checking to see if anyone else might have taken a pic during dinner.) but I will say that we had a good time. We took the kids to Ponyo, a new(ish) movie that's storyline is similar to the Little Mermaid, and then after that we went to Pizza Hut and had dinner and cake and opened presents. The birthday boy happily raked in a bunch of dinosaur toys, including a play mat and a dino-tent, 2 sets of hockey sticks and balls (one foam set for inside and plastic for outside), a basketball hoop and ball, a couple toy cars and trucks, some clothes and some coloring and painting books. And puzzles, can't forget the puzzles. So yeah, he's a happy boy this week!

I think I mentioned before that I had both of the kids (Zack and Zona) registered for dance classes this year. Zona is enjoying her classes a lot and is happy that she actually has a friend from school in one of them. Zack however flatly refuses to go back. I'm not sure if he just doesn't want to dance, he's shy or scared of the teachers (and other students) or if he is just too little for dance still; in anycase, he doesn't want to do it and I'm not going to force him, but I do want him to do something. So I decided to try him with skating. But then, when I was getting info for that Zona heard me and demanded that she get to skating lessons too, so both Zack and Zona are doing skating now too. Zona absolutely loves it. Their first class was last Saturday and all she's talked about since is how much she is looking forward to this weeks lesson. Zack liked it, until he fell on his back and got scared. But he does want to keep doing it. I think it is actually pretty helpful that Zona is there too, because he at least half the reason he's willing to go back is because she's there too. YAY, again! Hopefully he'll keep at it. I'll try and get a couple pictures so that I can post them...

Beyond that... I don't have much else to say. Things are good. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner this weekend - even though Big Sister and Bro-in-Law aren't coming down - and Halloween at the end of the month. That is going to be another whole nightmare, so I'll keep you posted on that, and make sure that I get some pictures of halloween costumes when the time comes.

Till next time - have a great Thanksgiving (Canadians) and hope your October is lovely!!!

Oh, It's Sick!!

2009-09-15T23:42:00.000-06:00

Bah! It's that time of year again people. All three kids are sick to some degree, and of course none of them have the same "symptoms!" It's a pain in the ass but I guess that's what's expected this time of year. Running noses, fluctuating fevers, throwing up and, uh, yeah... It's gross. I hate it because I'm the one who has to deal with it, but what else can I do?

Send them to Grandma's!!

Not much actually. I was just getting ready for bed and 12:30 last night when the phone rang; Mom was calling to tell me that Baby was sick. Then I got a text this morning from Auntie - Zona was sick too. Zack's nose has been running for two days, so that was no surprise to hear at noon, but seriously - the update's couldn't have waited? There was no emergency. No one expected me to go dashing out of my class, run home and get my van and then speed out to the farm to take care of babies.

So then when I do get the kids back what do you think the news was then?

"Oh, they've all just been great. They don't seem phased by it at all."

Like I didn't know that already. It honestly takes so much to get a rise out of the kids when they are sick. They are just troupers.

And how were they when I got them home?

Absolutely fine! Only had to wipe the nose once. Zona grumbled a bit but said she was okay and the Baby passed out before I'd even turned the light off in her room. Maybe next time I'll just turn my cell off in class.

Or not. After all, you never know when there will be a real emergency.

I'm tired. I'm going to bed. School was great though by the way, I'm in awesome classes and the prof's are great.

Till next time!!

Okay?

2009-09-10T19:09:00.000-06:00

I think that the whole school/university thing will be okay. The first day went really well anyways. I enjoyed the classes I'm registered in, with one small exception which I'm going to rectify and with what I'll have left I think I'll be busy, even really busy sometimes, but I don't think it'll ever become something that I can't handle. For now, I guess, I'll keep my fingers crossed on that.

Of course, not everything could continue to be all sunshine and rainbows though. I got through my day fine, only to find out that ZONA got in trouble at school today. Stupid, little, stuffed toys that she can hide in her jacket pocket. She was told on the first day that no toys were to be brought to school - except for on 'special days,' and I told her on Tuesday that she was NOT allowed to take the little thing to show her friends... But the little brat just had to do it anyways. So, ha ha ha, she was told after school today that if she brought anymore toys with her to school (except of course on the approved days) that Teacher would take the toy and not give it back till the end of June. Needless to say she agreed not to take anything else to school.

Hopefully she'll remember. I don't want to have to start searching her bag everyday before I drop her off. I'll do it if I have to, but I really don't want to.

So yeah. That's today. We've got a "long weekend" again - no school on Friday ever means all weekends are long weekends - but I think this one is going to be pretty boring. No plans.

Maybe I'll do some extra reading and get ahead for school...

Wish Me Luck?

2009-09-09T23:25:00.000-06:00

Argh!!! I'm back to school tomorrow :) It's actually a little bit scary!

I'll actually try and update tomorrow night or Friday morning to let you know how it went. I don't anticipate things being to horrible, or painful, but I don't know what it will be. I guess we'll find out.

Till then, I hope your day goes well.

(I hope my day goes well too!!!)

We Survived!!

2009-09-03T00:33:00.000-06:00

We survived the first week of school. Well I guess it's a bit premature to say that, since Zona still has to go tomorrow but I'm pretty sure we won't collapse into a quivering mass of nerves. At least I hope we don't. It's actually been not too bad of a week. A bit busy as we try to get back into the swing of things but we are getting there. Of course, we'll be thrown a bit next week when I start classes, and then again the week after that when Zona and Zack start their dance classes, but I'm hoping that we'll be able to handle it. We have to be able to handle it.

I guess that's really all I have to let you know. Boring, I know. But I'm going to try and post something here at least twice a week. We'll see how it goes. In any case, until next time I hope that everyone enjoys these last lazy days of "summer," including the last long weekend of the season. Party safe and have fun!

Back to School?

2009-08-25T18:33:00.000-06:00

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr

Zona starts school again in less then a week. Kindergarten this year. It's really amazing because it's just like it was yesterday that Obie and I were bringing her home from the hospital and marvelling at how amazing she was. She's still amazing but so much has changed since then.

We've done the trip home from the hospital with a new baby twice more.

We've celebrated 5 years of birthdays.

We've learned so much. Taught each other so much. Discovered so much.

Sometimes, like right now for instance, it's almost unbelievable how much we've all changed. Yet what makes things bearable is realizing and understanding that no matter how much we do change, we've always got one another.

It's also interesting to see how things circle around sometimes too. For instance, I'm heading to school this fall, again. I'm not committing myself to going back full-time or even for longer than just this semester, yet, but I'm going back. I miss school. I'm somewhat worried about how I'll be able to swing University, the kids, Zona's school, Zona and Zack's dance and you know, having a life... I'm sure it's going to be chaotic, a lot of the time, but I've got to try. I want to.

I guess I'll have to keep you posted on that, won't I?

Summer's Here!!!

2009-06-24T22:35:00.000-06:00

It's amazing how differently you view things as an adult, as compared to when you were a child yourself. Summer holidays as a kid were blissful days of freedom. As an adult, as a parent, the summer "vacation" is a complete misnomer. It's not a vacation, not a holiday. It's more work then the rest of the year because while, sure, you don't have to drive kid A to dance class, kid D to soccer practice and you don't have to take kid K to flute lessons (all hypothetical 'kids' made up for this arguement) you have them around you all of the time! There is no 45-minute break from the rat-race while waiting for skating to be done. There is no free time for you to take a break. If you are at home, 99% of the time your kids are there too. And if you're leaving house for some reason, 99% of the time your kids are begging to come with you - if only so that they too can get out of the house for a bit. And folks, honest to God, it makes this whole sham of a "holiday," for parents anyways, one great big pain in the ass!!

And yep, now my rant is done.

(and if you actually bothered to read it, thanks for putting up with it ;))

So it's summer and I haven't posted anything in more than a month (actually I think it's encroaching on two months now), but I figured now was as good a time as any to put up a new blurb (see rant above) and post a few new pictures of the family. [All pictures are mine. All pictures are from May 2009.]

2009-05-07T12:14:00.000-06:00

It's been another month and while I had hoped to put up some pictures or something from Easter, I didn't actually have a camera so I've had to hack the pictures from Cousin Dani! (All photo credits are yours Dani, but I gladly take most all of the credit for your subjects!!)

The entire weekend - starting with Girls Night Out on Friday, through Family Dinner on Sunday was a blast and we all had a great time! But as things like this usually happen the weekend ended and Jen and Ed headed home. Now it's Mother's Day this weekend and another adventure is on the horizon.

This year I'm escaping (for the most part) with my mom for the weekend. I have to take Saphira with me since she still relies on me for most of her food, but I'm getting away from the other two for a couple of days. I'm looking forward to it and I hope that it'll be fun. Hopefully Saphira won't be to unhappy being away from her brother and sister (they are after all her main sources of entertainment!) and that she'll behave while we're in Calgary. I guess I'll have to let you know.

Also on the slate for "Making Mommy Crazy" this month is Zona's birthday - 5 already!! - dance pictures, dance rehearsals and the dance show at the end of the month... And of course, my birthday too, but really we can forget that one for now I think.

Anyways I'd better get a move on if I'm going to be ready to leave with mom tomorrow. Have a great weekend everyone, and to all my 'Mom' friends - Happy Mother's Day!!

2009-04-03T09:47:00.000-06:00

It seems like not too very long ago I was talking about how excited I was that Jen and Ed were coming home for Easter and then I told you all about some of the highlights of that very holiday weekend. It was also about that same time that I was talking about how Obie and I were looking at new van's for our (then) expanding family.

It's therefore hard for me to believe that it was actually a year ago.

But it has been... We've had our van for a whole year now (yep the free satellite radio just expired so we've got another cash cow to feed) and that Easter visit from the family is now turned around and we're expecting the encore. That's right, Jen and Ed are coming home for the holiday weekend again and once again, I'm very excited to see them.

This time we're having a girls night out on Friday. Us three Sisters and a couple 'select' friends are going to listen to music from our youths (you know NKOTB and other 90's groups) and then we're going take our adventures to the neighborhood pub and see if we could possible make as much trouble, for ourselves, now as we did in when we were in University. Of course Meag and Amy have the advantage on us since they're still at that point in their lives but I'm sure the rest of us will give them a run for their money.... I think it'll be the first time in nearly two years that I've gone out with 'the girls' and had it been something more then just a play date.

After that, of course, there will be the usual family gatherings, egg hunts (and boy my kids are already looking forward to that) and big family dinner. Fortunately I don't have to cook anything (maybe a side dish or dessert?) so that alone means this will be an easy weekend. I will try to post up some fun details from the weekend and hopefully put up some pictures too but I've been pretty busy these days - between the kids (all of which are actively mobile), Zona's school and dance, my writing and now a new part-time job I'm constantly running in circles but I'll try to make the effort as quick as I can.

Now I'll bet you're asking yourself "Job? What new part-time job?" and while I can't go into specific details because my work does deal with confidential and sensitive information I can say that it's for an organization that makes (or will be making) environmentally friendly fuels and 'Green' food-grade products. The hours are actually quite minimal at this point (only 10-15h per month) but within the next 9-12months the position does offer the possibility to expand that to full time and with the kids at the ages they are, that actually is a situation that should work wonderfully for me.

So that's today in my world. Or I guess it'd be more accurate to say that's up-to-today in my world. I'll be talking to you again soon, or I should be... I'll try to.

Glad NOT To Be In The Tropics???

2009-02-19T00:03:00.000-07:00

It's been three years since I've been on a real 'honest-to-goodnees', leave-the-country/province vacation, vacation. So when my parents told me they were going to the tropics again this February (and that they were taking Meagz with them) I was so jealous. Not just because it's been that long since I've really had a break, but because it's February in Alberta. [And if you don't know why that might be an issue for me, I'd suggest you look in an Almanac for historical average temperatures in the area.] I don't like the cold. I like snow, I think it's pretty and all, but I really don't like the cold. I like rain, probably the only reason that it didn't drive me crazy when I lived on the coast, but I really, really don't like the cold. So yeah, the tropics would be a lovely escape this time of year and you wouldn't be mistaken to say that I was green with envy.

That was of course 'till I heard from Meagz a couple days ago with tales about how the trip was going so far. I didn't get full details because really it was just a short email and a few FB updates but the heat is far more intense then I'd like (more than she's liking too), the bugs a bit too prevalent, lizards and other gross "little" things too, and the main floor of the resort they are staying on keeps flooding... And their rooms are on the main floor.

Yep, me not so envious now. :)

They are having a good time though, which I'm sure not much could dampen, and I can't wait to hear more about it. Just couldn't wait to say that while I've enjoyed all my previous trips to more appealing clime's in the past and despite my unappealing coloring a week ago, I'm actually GLAD NOT to be in the tropics this February... well, at least not where my parents and Meagz are at!!!

For My Mommy Friends :)

2009-02-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

I saw this on a friends site and had to post it here too!!!

From the Mouths of Babes

2008-12-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned before that I really suck at posting blog updates?? If I haven't I probably should have... And even though I've got the third baby and could use having three kids as my excuse, though it is a valid reason, the biggest reason is just that when faced with a few minutes of free time I generally don't choose to spend it writing a blog :) I am however working on my Christmas update (will include a couple REALLY cute pictures) and I'll have that posted before too much longer but probably not before the weekend. This update is just a short one because Rory said something far too cute not to be memoralized. :D

She wandered upstairs (she's in her own room downstairs now) about half an hour ago, after finally waking up, and plopped down beside Zack on the floor to watch some cartoons. She had a scowl on her face and every time he tried to say something to her or I tried to talk to her, she would bark her reply to us, all grumpy like. Finally it just became to funny for me when she told Zack to move his pillow away from her (remember that he was there first) because his breathing was too loud and she couldn't hear the TV. Granted, he is congested so his breathing is louder than usual, but still...

So I ask her, "Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning??"

She replies: "Yes. I was upside down."

I'm trying not to laugh because, obviously, that's not exactly what I meant but I manage to ask her next: "Were your feet on your pillow?"

"Yes." She responds and she's so serious looking with her scowl and her somber eyes that I'm trying to think of something to make her smile.

So I try one more time. "And your head was under the blankets?"

Nothing. Still just a scowl. "No." I just don't know what to say to turn her mood around.

"You could go get back in bed, with your head on the pillow, and then get up again on the 'right' side of the bed." I tell her.

"I can't." She tells me and I'm trying so hard not to laugh because she is SO serious sounding.

And I also can't help but ask the obvious question. "Why not?"

So she tells me why...

"Cause the other side of the bed is against the wall."

Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha....

I swear this conversation is word for word, minus some minor interruptions from Zack. Yep, yep. It was just so cute, and funny, I had to share it with everyone.

Our Newest Treasure

2008-08-08T21:05:00.000-06:00

After all the waiting, both patient and impatiently, the baby is finally here!!!

So without further ado, I'd like to introduce to you all:

Helyn Saphira Marie
Our precious jewel ;) Born August 6, 2008 [08-06-08]
5:59pm 7lbs 12oz, 21 1/4 inches
(our biggest baby!)

As for information on the actual birth, for those of you who are interested... I mentioned in my last post I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday afternoon and when he checked me I was 3cm dilated. Now at this point [1:15pm] I wasn't actually having any contractions and by the end of the appointment he had made arrangements to induce me on Thursday morning - which would have been the 7th. I went from the doctors office to my mom's office to let her know how things had gone and to visit for a few minutes. By 2pm I'd started to have a few contractions but I didn't think too much about them as they weren't really all that different from what I'd been having for the last week or so.

By 2:30pm I knew they were different, they just felt different and for those of you who've had kids you'll understand what I mean. Mom had an appointment so I left her to head home before 3pm. When I talked to her and to Obie next at 3:30 I asked them to come to the house because although I didn't think it was time to head into the hospital I was getting to the point already that I didn't want to be by myself. Obie made it to the house just before 4pm and Mom got there about 10 minutes later. Obie only managed to shave and change his clothes before I'd decided that maybe we should head to the hospital after all, just in case, and so the three of us got into the van and headed over.

Well, I checked in down at Emergency and they sent me right up stairs to the delivery suite. When we walked through the double doors to the delivery ward the digital clock at the entrance read 4:44pm. If you've attended a birth or delivered at the LRH you'll know that when you get there they hook you up to a monitor to track your contractions for 10-20minutes unless you're obviously delivering and practically ready to push. So they hook me up and check me and right then I was 5-6cm dilated and my contractions were roughly 1.5minutes apart... needless to say, they moved immediately to the actual delivery room.

I get up on the bed in this second room and suffer through two or three more contractions as the nurses get situated, Obie tries to get me settled and comfortable (bless his soul, I'm not sure if he really thinks that a woman in labor can actually be comfortable), and mom is on the phone telling Meagan and my dad that if they come right away to the hospital they might make it before I have the baby. I think it was probably about 5:25pm at this point but I'm not absolutely sure. So the nurse gets me reconnected to the monitor (which keeps track of contraction duration and frequency, and monitors the baby's heart rate to ensure that it's not in distress) and checks me again to find that I'm now a "good" 8cm dilated and she calls for the doctor.

Thankfully, he gets there within a couple of minutes and when he checks me he immediately broke my water since, as with both my other deliveries, it hadn't happened on it's own. So he breaks the water and then says "well just call me when she's ready" and turns to leave. He hadn't even got to the door when I started contracting again and he waited to see how it went, then changed his parting remark to "just give me a shout, I'll be right around here." I think it was three contractions later when I announced that I felt like I needed to push and they called him back. He really must have been standing in the hallway because he was there by the time the next contraction started. They (being the two nurses who ended up being in the room and the doctor) asked me to wait through two more contractions while they finished getting every organized and in place before giving me the go-ahead to push.

As I started to push I happened to glance at the clock, which was right above the doctors head, and it was 5:55pm. Four minutes later it was all over. Obie got to cut the cord again (he didn't get a chance to with Arora) and then I was holding my newest daughter in my arms. :) Her head was really quite blue at first, the cord had been wrapped around her neck and shoulders a bit, and she was just slightly bruised from her speedy trip through the birth canal but otherwise she was perfect and even those 'imperfections' were shortly fading.

Two days later both Saphira and I are at home; happy, healthy and really hot. My mom has the other kids out at the farm, so our first night at home is going to be a bit of an experiment to see how Saphira adjusts to the house and the heat and tomorrow night will show us how she, and Zack and Zona, will respond to the whole 'fam damily' being together. In any case, it's going to be interesting and I have no doubt that I'm going to be very busy and very tired for the foreseeable future.

So there you have it and while she may have held on for 4 days past her due date, she made up for my torture by coming as quickly as, I think, she possibly could have. And in the end I've got a healthy baby girl and that's all that really matters.

calm? Calm? CALM?!?

2008-08-06T11:50:00.000-06:00

That's right, it's August 6. I'm still at home and I'm still waiting to have this baby. For all my grumbling and whining about wanting to JUST HAVE THE BABY ALREADY! I am trying to be calm about the whole situation, I mean stress can't be good for the baby right?

You know, I get the whole "the baby will come when it's ready" thing but seriously if another person says that to me I don't think I should have to be held responsible for my actions. ;) It's one thing to understand it and it's another thing, completely, to have be told that 15 times a day by friends and family, or by complete strangers. To me, and I'm sure that most any woman who's pregnancy has extended beyond it's due date whether by a day or two weeks would agree, that it's far nicer to hear somebody say "I'm sure this must be difficult for you, but you hold on, it has to happen soon." And trust me, I know that to most people a couple days doesn't seem like the end of the world, but to someone who hasn't felt entirely comfortable in their own body for MONTHS - someone who can barely reach their own feet or, Heaven forbid, actually be able to see their own feet without bending over, those extra days are the most exquisite torture... Because by that point you don't care how bad labor is going to hurt, you just want your baby out.

Now I'm sure you're all thinking "well that doesn't seem all that calm, now does it" but trust me, it's probably as calm as it gets. For the last month, one or the other of my kids has been sent off to stay with someone in the family - in the last 5 weeks I think Zona has been at home for 10 days and Zack has basically been gone for two weeks, he was back for the weekend for Obie's birthday but now they are BOTH gone again. I just don't think that I could handle them together by myself these days, at least not fairly because my patience is too short and my temper far to quick to ignite. I don't want to fight with them, or be angry with them over basically nothing if I don't have to. Fortunately both of Obie's sisters have been EXTREMELY good about taking and keeping the kids for Obie and I. I'm sure we would have managed somehow if they couldn't have taken them, we would have had too, but I am really thankful that his sisters wanted to take the kids and that they could. I also know that both of my kids have had tons of fun getting to stay at Auntie B's and getting to 'work' with Auntie C.

But anyways, I do have a doctors appointment today and I suppose we'll see whats going to happen after that. For now I should go try to do something "productive." LOL! TTYL. :D

I Finally Cleaned Out the Camera :)

2008-08-03T00:38:00.000-06:00

So here are just some random shots of the family over the last several months....

Some of Zack and/or Zona at home or on the move:

Camping in Taber in April

My only still photo from our Mother's Day trip to Edmonton

Arora's 4th Birthday Picnic and Party at the Ramada

The Canada Day Flooding on the Street in front of our house

From the Palmer Family Reunion (July) 2008 in Saskatchewan

Finally Obie's Birthday Hike on August 2, 2008

There! That get's us all caught up, in the basic sense, photo-wise to the end of August 2, 2008... Now once the baby comes I won't need to worry about what I've "documented" photographically and what I haven't!!!!

Hope you enjoy!
TTYL :-)

It's Now Officially An Annoyance!

2008-08-01T23:30:00.000-06:00

I'm uncomfortable. I'm cranky. I hurt.

I'M STILL PREGNANT!!!!!

I hate this. I've tried to be as good as I can about all of this, and sure I've complained to anyone who'll listen but I think we all know that I could have been a LOT more unpleasant about it. :) And if I don't have this baby right away you might all get to see just how much 'the bitch' I can be when I want to!!

But seriously, I'm still pregnant and you know for as much as I don't like this, and as uncomfortable, cranky and hurting as I am, I'm starting to feel more depressed than anything else the longer it takes to get it out.... precursor to a (more) serious case of the 'baby blues', I don't know, but I suppose only time will tell. Although, from everything I understand you actually have to have the baby BEFORE you can technically get the baby blues ;) LOL!

Anyways... I'm going to bed now (zzzzzzzzzzz) cause I'm actually REALLY tired tonight and have been having some serious trouble keeping my eyes open for the last 1/2hr... Talk to you again soon - or not too soon if the baby decides it's ready to show itself ;)

Just Something Quick

2008-07-31T00:55:00.000-06:00

Okay so this is just a quick update... It's like midnight of the 30th and I just wanted to keep everyone in the loop and so I'm shooting this off on my way to bed...

I'm still hugely pregnant. I did suffer through contractions ALL DAY on Monday and I really do mean all day - they started at 5:30am and woke me up from a perfectly nice sleep and continued on every 4-8minutes until around 8pm when they finally started to slow down and become less painful. By midnight they were done and in when Obie and I went to bed it took me about 3minutes to pass out dead to the world. :)

Tuesday was a complete bust. I didn't really have any contractions at all but I was so exhausted that it's not entirely surprising that not even my uterus wanted to do anything. (Jokes, I did have a couple contractions throughout the day but nothing really to note.) I managed to get a few errands run and I went to see my Grandma Helen and spent a couple hours visiting with her. Rora also got home on Tuesday - when I got home from Grandma's she was home :) Actually she'd already gone out again with Obie to go and cut the grass over at his sisters house. Which, in and of itself turned into a big gong show, since when he was going over there he went over a bump or had to stop suddenly and the handle of the mower went right through the back window of our Station Wagon (well our Ford Focus Wagon). Yep, you can imagine how that improved his mood after working all day in the 30degree weather, outside.

Today - Wednesday (the 30th) - Arora and I spent the day together. We watched some cartoons and played this morning then when the shows were over on CBC we got ready, got dressed and headed out on the town. We did a couple more errands and then had lunch picnic with Daddy on his break. Then we went to Grandma June's office and I had another massage and Reiki. After that we ran out to Walmart and, finally, got a new car seat for the baby and of course we ended up buying a bunch of other stuff too. But we had a good time while we did it. We played in the toy area and picked up birthday cards for Daddy and for Grandma Brenda (her birthday was actually today ;O). Once we were home it was basically time to cook dinner so I did that while Rora hung out with Obie and then after we ate quickly Arora and I made a chocolate birthday cake for "grandmother." The four of us (Chessenda headed right back up to Calgary this morning) had cake after Brenda got home from work and then it was bed time for Arora. Obie and I just spent more than an hour just hanging out together - talking about our day, the kids and things in general and now, well, now it's time for bed.

So there's the update :) Once I do go into labor and have the baby I will try to get something up on here as quick as I can but we'll have to see how crazy things get once were home. I am going to try and put up some pictures that have been collecting in the camera for the last couple months - from a variety of events and just random days at home.

Till next time - enjoy yourselves and I'll talk to you later!!

Some More Before the Weekend

2008-07-25T14:00:00.000-06:00

[July 23 - 08 - early evening]

Well the doctor didn't tell me to get my stuff and go to the hospital so that I could have this baby :( Not that I expected him too. He did say (without the icky details) that my body was getting ready so it shouldn't be too much longer. All I have to say to that is "no freaking kidding - there are only 10 days till I'm due, it'd better be soon!!!" So Zack and I came back from the doctor's office and had lunch and then played with toys and read a couple 'Bob the Builder' stories. Around 6:30 though I was starting to get tired of having Zack around and sent both him and Obie off for a "Boys Night." Now I'm watching 'So You Think You Can Dance' all by myself cause the boys aren't home yet and feeling so tired that I might just go to bed rather than watch the rest of the episode. It's a tough decision - sleep vs. entertainment...

[July 24 - 08]

I went to bed :) I tried to watch the show for a bit longer last night, but I just couldn't keep my eyes open after a while. Oh well. The boys got home just before midnight and Zack woke me up briefly cause he absolutely would not go to sleep without giving mom a kiss and cuddle. Not something I can get too upset about, huh?? And my favorite little boy crawled in bed with me just after seven this morning and we got to cuddle together for another hour and a half before we decided we were going to wake up and get out of bed. He's a tired boy today though: right now, he's laying on the couch watching 'Doodlebops.' And this is his favorite morning show, normally he'd be up dancing around with the music! Though to be perfectly honest with you, I'm really tired today too. More than I'd expect considering I was in bed by 10:30 last night.

The day seemed to fly by. It's 10:30 at night again, and once again I'm so tired that I'm just going to write a quick note in here and then I'm going to go to bed. So from all the rain we've had this month my flower bed has been a veritable jungle for the past week or so. Bit by bit I've been pulling weeds and dead heading and all that but with as big as I am now it's actually sort of painful to squat for long enough to make any real dent in the weeds. Well Zack passed out for about 1/2 an hour just before lunch so rather than veg I decided to pick a few weeds. After he woke up and we got ready, we went over to grandma's again for a foot massage and Reiki. When we were done there we grabbed an early dinner and went to Nicholas Sheran park and had a picnic for an hour or so. Zack wasn't really ready to go home when I packed us back into the car so when we actually got to the house we stayed outside and I did some more weeding with a bit of help from Zack. It took a few minutes and a couple (okay more than just a couple) mistakes but he finally figured out that he wasn't supposed to pick anything that had a flower on it :) and he actually did a good job helping. He was really cute. And that was just something I had to share. Now I'm going to bed...

[July 25 - 08]

Yep another day and still no baby yet... Oh well, I suppose it'll come when it's ready and not a moment sooner. Doesn't mean I can't do everything in my power to convince it that it is ready to come, right??

Zack and I are just making some potato salad to take with us to Glenwood for the 24th of July Celebrations that are going on tonight and tomorrow. As soon as Obie gets home from work we're going to throw everything in to the van and head on out there. Before we go though, we've got a few things to do so this is gonna be a quick one. What will be nice after the parade and stuff tomorrow, Obie and I are going to leave the kids with to Gram and Gramps Ferris, and Auntie Chessenda, and come back on our own for a night to ourselves. We're going to a wedding on Saturday night (or we're supposed to be, maybe we'll have a baby instead;P) but then we'll have all day Sunday alone, to relax before the week kicks off again and the kids are back. I'm looking forward to it!

See you again soon...

A Diary of the Last Week or So

2008-07-23T09:38:00.000-06:00

Here are some 'diary-type' updates from the last week or so. I started an update on the sixteenth and then again after I got home from the family reunion and then decided I might as well put a few entries together like this for something different... talk to you again soon :)

[July 16 - 08 - Wednesday]
Nine months pregnant, basically, and so friggin' uncomfortable most days that it hurts to breath, to move, to eat and basically do anything else that resembles being awake, alive and otherwise human. Yep, our timing with this pregnancy probably couldn't have been worse. You would think that after the last pregnancy (Zack was due October 9) and being 6-8months pregnant through the summer months then, that I would know NOT to get my self in this situation again, but.... I guess I can't really complain too much. I've only got two weeks at most left before I'm due and the baby is here but man, oh man, if for some stupid reason I end up pregnant again at some point in the future (and I honestly am praying that THAT will never be the case) I better make sure that I'm due during the winter. I really don't want to do the whole summer-preggo-lady-thing again. It really, really sucks and I know that anyone who has ever gone through it can relate.

As for the rest of our lives - well everything is going pretty well. The kids are both enjoying the summer, though even they get frustrated with the heat some days. Obie's working for a new company doing door and window installations (something that he's done before and enjoyed) and I'm trying to wait patiently for this baby to get out of me. Some days not so patiently....

[July 18 - 08 - Friday]
We're just getting all of our stuff packed and ready to go to Maple Creek for a family reunion this weekend. The doctor told me I wasn't in "imminent danger" of going into labor but has said that any traveling might push me there. Part of me hopes he's right and the other part hopes that I'll at least hold out through the weekend. Besides, Obie's told me now that if I'm not actually going to have the baby on his birthday (Aug2 which as you know is also the due date) that "the least I could do" was make sure that the kid would be a Leo like him. You laugh, hell - I laughed, but he's completely serious about this!! That leaves me crossing my legs tight until what, the 22nd? The 23rd??...

[July 21 - 08 - Monday]
We got back from our family reunion (mom's mom's family = the Palmer's) in Maple Creek last night. It was good to see everyone and have a bit of a chance to catch up or just hang out with people. Being pregnant sucked because it limited what activities I could actually do and generally made me physically uncomfortable while camping, but it was still fun to watch the kids playing in the swimming hole, or the adults playing the horse-shoe tournament. And of course it kept me from partaking in the 'grown up' games and activities but then, again, it was still a really good time. I'm already looking forward to the next one in another three years or so! :D

I woke up this morning, at like 5am, with extreme back pain - like the kind you'd have during a bout of hard back labor. Until about 7:30 I hurt so bad that I was whimpering and moaning in my half sleep that Obie woke up a couple of times to ask if I was okay. Once I got out of bed though and refrained from going at all horizontal again for a while, the pain went away and I was mostly fine. Luckily I was able to nap for an hour or so this afternoon to make up for the interrupted sleep... Which was probably a good thing since Obie wants to go to the new Batman movie tonight and I'd like to see it too, but I suppose it'll depend on whether either of us is really awake enough by 9:30-10pm to actually go watch it...

[July 22 - 08 - Tuesday]
Obie and I did go to "The Dark Knight" last night and by the end of the movie both of us were seriously considering going into the hospital. I don't know if it was having to sit in basically one position for three hours, having a full bladder (cause seriously I don't think I've peed that much at once in 6 months), the noise and 'shocks' from watching the movie, or if it was a combination of all of those things but Obie ended up with a couple finger shaped bruises on his forearm from my squeezing during contractions :) When the movie was finally over, and I waddled my fastest to the bathroom for a potty break, I decided to just go home and see what happened. Well, I had that same back pain as yesterday morning until like 3:30am or so before I was finally so exhausted that I was able to sleep through it.

Of course, Chessenda and Arora left this morning to go up to Brandie, Greg and Jerrick's for a few days so I was left home by myself with Zack after about 9am. We ended up going over to mom's this afternoon for her to rub my feet for a while and then we went to the mall and had something to eat at Smitty's. By the time we got back home, Obie was already home from work (good timing on my part, hey:P ) and now they are playing - and watching "Aladdin" - until it's time for the midget to go to bed. As for me now, I'm trying to decide whether I should get myself ready for bed right now so that I can get some sleep, or at least try to, before I get hit with contractions and back pain again tonight....

[July 23 - 08 - Wednesday morning]
I didn't end up going to bed until about midnight last night. I just got caught up chatting with a friend online and then watching "The Hour" on CBC with Obie that I didn't get there sooner then that. Fortunately, or unfortunately since I'm not sure how much longer I want this pregnancy to drag on, I managed to get an almost full nights sleep. I did have some contractions that woke me up around 2am - for about 1/2 an hour - but beyond that it was okay. I am having a couple light contractions now and my back, hips and upper thighs are starting to hurt again but I'm not expecting too much from it. I do have a doctor's appointment again this afternoon so I'll actually get to find out if all the contractions and the back pain have been doing anything to get me closer to actual labor. I've got my fingers crossed that it has :) And just for good measure, I'll knock on wood too. After all, I've finally got my bag packed for going to the hospital, although (and this is a big although) I still haven't got a new car seat for this baby, so maybe I should take care of that today too....

Time Flies When You're...

2008-06-09T00:32:00.000-06:00

It's been a long time. Another two months :) A lot has happened and changed, and a lot of things are just the same.

We bought a mini-van. A shiny black one. It's a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, with the 'swivel-n-go' option. For the most part the rest of it is standard to what all the Caravan's have nowadays but the swivel-n-go is something that is really nice to have. Especially when you've got a 4-year old, a 20-month old and you decide to go on a 5-hour (one way) road trip. Which we did.

On Mother's Day weekend we (being Obie and I and the kids) packed up the van, and tossed Grandma and Grandpa McGlenn in for fun, and drove up to Edmonton to see Jen and Ed. The kids honestly weren't that bad. They were just... kids. But, having those swivel-n-go seats that can turn around to face the third row really helped keep both them entertained and happy (for the most part) when they probably would have been annoying and loud and whiny otherwise. And it kept Zack and Zona happy too. Sorry Dad and Obie ;)

We had a really good weekend. We spent the entire afternoon on Saturday in the waterpark at WEM and we followed that up with dinner at Earls in the mall too. Sunday, Jen and I treated the family to a Mother's Day brunch at the Radisson - the spread was really nice. It had everything from scrambled eggs, bacon and french toast, to crab legs, mussels and prime rib. The dessert bar was just as impressive sporting everything from Jello (which as a group I'm sure we ate more than our share) to a chocolate fountain (which again we enthusiastically enjoyed). After we gorged ourselves at brunch we spent the entire afternoon at the Zoo. We've never taken the kids to the zoo before and they both really enjoyed it. I think Rory's favorite animals were the chimpanzee's and thankfully they put on quite a show when we got to their pen. Without a doubt Zack's favorite thing of the day was the ponies. I'm not actually sure if he'd ever seen a horse (or pony) up close before but I have the feeling that they will forever remain a favorite. Like I said, a really good weekend.

Since then, we had Zona's fourth birthday (on the 19th) and her first dance review on (of course) my birthday (my 25th) on the 29th. I joked to mom and dad that I had enjoyed the four year reprieve of not having to be at a dance show on my the day of my birthday but that with my luck I'd never have the night to myself again! It was cute show and she enjoyed doing it and of course, we all enjoyed watching it - especially Zack. It's eerie but the boy watches dance shows the way most other guys watch a football game. I'm already planning on putting him in to some dance classes when he's old enough... hehehehehehehe....

And that, I think, has basically got us caught up. I suppose I could mention that a thunderstorm went through our area this last Tuesday or Wednesday and it brought some pretty nasty hail. It did do quite a bit of damage to some of the crops, but fortunately not as much as was initially feared. For now, like every other year, the fate of our crops is entirely up to chance. We've had a good week now of cooler temperatures and rain, so our water-tables are high. Now we just need to let it grow, and mature and... we'll keep our fingers crossed and pray that everything will work out to the good. And whatever the outcome, next year, we'll do it all over again.

As for me, well, my current crop is growing and is almost mature and if I never have to go through a pregnancy again, it will be too soon. :) The children themselves are blessings, each one of them, I just don't want any more. Three is good. Three is a nice round, happy number... Besides I might just go a wee bit crazy (or crazier depending on your current opinion) if we had more than just the three... TTYL.

Late Update on Easter!!!!

2008-04-07T21:01:00.000-06:00

Well, like I mentioned last time Jen and Ed came down Easter weekend for a visit and we got to play and talk and eat and play some more... And it was fantastic!!

On Saturday afternoon we all (Jen, Ed, Me, Obie, Zona, Zack, Meagan, Mom, Dad, Brandon and Danielle) went swimming at the Ramada and the wave pools. After swimming we went to Boston Pizza and had something to eat. Unfortunately we didn't really get any pictures from swimming or the restaurant (since there was no way I was taking my video camera into the pool:]) But we do have one shot of Zack at BP's that Jen took with her phone... Unfortunately I haven't got it but it's super cute cause he's in his high chair, with his arms folded and his head down on them - sleeping. I guess we tired him out.

Sunday we were all out at the farm (except for Obie, unfortunately he woke up early that morning with the flu and I made him stay home) and we had a good time playing out there. The kids got all hyped on candy - and I did a bit too since I'm obviously not able to imbibe in the adult drinks, and I think Rory and Zack had fun leading us around outside trying to find all the eggs that the Easter Bunny hid. And let me just put in that, either the whole 'egg hunt' thing is way more exciting and fun when you're a kid, or the wily rabbit that hides the eggs at the farm has been slipping in both skill and enthusiasm for the last couple years. I'm not sure, but I know that if I brought the issue up for discussion with Big Ears I'm sure I'd be told that if I've got any complaints I can do it myself next year.... And I don't want to throw myself on those specific coals just yet. ;) For me, I was just happy to watch the kids and then take all the candy away.

Us 'grown-up-kids' played Rockband on Ed's XBox 360 for, well, most of the day. It was a lot of fun to be able to just hang out and relax and enjoy each other, while not really doing anything at all. Of course Jen, Meagan and I all took our turns helping mom with something in the kitchen for dinner which turned out to be really good. Or maybe it just seemed extra good to me since I didn't get to enjoy Christmas dinner at all, being as sick as I was?.. And all of us had to take our turn at playing with the kids and allowing them to 'entertain' us. I don't think I can say how much fun we had, or how great it was to spend time with everyone again without someone wanting to beat me with a large stick for being so repetitive. But I think, more even than at Christmas time, we all enjoyed it so much more because it's a rarity now.

Once again I think it's shown us how much we took for granted that we'd all, always live close to one another. I'm glad that Jen and Ed are doing so well in Edmonton, and I'm so happy that they are actually enjoying themselves and putting themselves out there in new situations that they maybe wouldn't have if they were still here. I'm happy for them period and I'm looking forward to going up to see them in May and seeing their apartment and having them take us out to the 'great restaurants' that they've found... But I miss them. So as repetitive and annoying as it sounds, I had so much fun when they were here for Easter and I'm already looking forward to the next time we get to see them :)

So What's Up??

2008-03-21T22:43:00.000-06:00

I just figured I'd stop by and say hi to everyone before the big holiday weekend really kicks off for me. I've been keeping myself busy and doing what I can to start getting ready for the new baby. Like I've said before, this baby is bringing a whole whack of other changes to our lives and it's actually been sort of scary. We've managed to get Arora used to sleeping downstairs and away from her brother. At this point Brenda and Chessenda (mother- and sister-in-law) are still down there as well, so it's not like she's all alone but at least she's used to the concept. Now I've just got to figure out how to get my 16-month old to sleep in a toddler bed without getting up and going exploring any time he feels like it; I'm trying to remember how I did it with Arora but of course she was 2-years old at the time and so far the method just isn't coming back to me. In any case I'm sure the entire thing is going to be an adventure and I'll be sure to keep you posted on that.

We've decided on the mini-van we're going get: a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, we just need to decide on the color ;) Personally I'm partial to Black, Obie does like that too but for some reason, and I can only believe it's just to be difficult, he keeps saying that he really wants the Orange one. Now if I've told him once, I've honestly told a thousand times that there is nothing in this world that would convince me to drive, let alone BUY an orange mini-van. If I wanted to look like I was driving around in a giant fruit I'd... well I'd probably take a very close look at what exactly is in the medication I'm taking. Arora is insisting that we 'absolutely must get the Silver one' and we don't typically give Zack an opinion on many of our decisions yet, but in all honesty I don't mind the silver either. In the end I'm sure it will come down to either the silver or the black. It's just the way it is sometimes.

The big excitement for me (this week anyway) is that big sister and brother are coming down for the weekend. YAY!! I'm really excited actually because I didn't really get a chance to hang out with, or spend any time with them when they were here for Christmas. My fault, and Obie's since I'm in a sharing mood, but that's the way the dice fell. So yeah, but it did occur to me that the three months since I've seen them is probably the absolute longest period of time I've ever gone without seeing one of my sisters since I was born. Even when I lived on the coast, the longest stretch was two months. Thank God for the internet and phones and technology, huh??

Anyways, I'm going to try to take some pics and post them after the weekend (will cross my fingers on that) but other than that I'm out of things to say tonight. Have a great, safe and fun weekend everyone and I'll see you again sometime next week!!

These Lazy Dayz

2008-02-18T14:56:00.001-07:00

It's just that time of year again. At least for me. I can look around and see things that I should be doing; washing dishes, folding clothes, getting the oil in the car changed... I can also think of a lot of things that need to be done in the near future; getting the car fixed, detailed and ready to sell, buying a new bed for Arora and one for Zack, getting a new change table since the old one is (sorta) broken... But then I'll look out the window and everything is just grey and blah. Somedays it's even worse and yes, I'll admit, that somedays the sun does shine and it's almost tolerable to go outside - today is one of those days actually. But it's still BLAH!

For some reason February has always been like that for me. Somedays it's as cold and miserable as any winter day could possibly be and others it's almost spring like. We sit around for these 28, or 29, days on a cusp of time that is both winter and spring, and yet somehow, is neither. So I look around myself and see all of those things that I should be doing, or the things that I know need to be done soon, and just can't find the energy, I lack a better way of describing the feeling, to do them.

I'm not really hibernating for winter but I don't yet have the bouncing life of spring, I'm sort of in between. I suppose one way of explaining it would be to compare it to those moments each morning when you're neither sleeping nor fully awake. It's like you're slowly working your way into consciousness and at same time there is that part of you that just wants to roll over and go back to sleep. Sometimes you can hear what's going on around you, and if you're at all like me some times you even respond in conversation, but later you can't remember if it was a dream or reality.

That's February for me. Lazy, hazy days that are neither here nor there, and in a month won't even be remembered.

A New Year and New Changes

2008-01-31T13:50:00.000-07:00

It's 2008. That in itself is a change. The whole rolling over from 2007 to 2008 and remembering to put the right year on things. Sometimes it's a big deal. We had a New Year's Party this year at our house, it's something we haven't done before (for just our friends and stuff, not for our family) and we had a good time. For the week or so before that things at our house were a little touch and go for all of us and I have to be really honest and admit that if it weren't for Chessenda staying with us, my children probably wouldn't have survived that week. Three days in bed and a week without food, or even water really, does a number on a person.

Again, in all honesty it had crossed my mind about the 22nd (of December) that I might be pregnant. But it wasn't something that I wanted to have to deal with, with everything else that was going on. Christmas, Jen and Ed being home, the New Year's party.... Of course ignoring it ended up being probably the worst thing I could have done. And even now, a full month later, on medication (at double the normally prescribed dose, I'd like to add) I'm still sick. I can eat now, thank God!, and I can keep fluids down, as long as neither is in large quantities at once but under it all there is still the constant ache of nasuea. The ever-enduring, always occuring, rolling of the stomach.

Sure I was sick with Rora for two weeks, maybe three; I was sick with Zack mildly for a month or so and than pretty bad for about 10days or so but this is different. With both of them as soon as I got medication and started taking it, within 24 hours or at most 48 hours, I was fine again. I could eat anything, I could drink what I wanted (and I don't mean alcohol or anything like that, cause I'd never do that) but once I took those magic little white pills with the picture of the pregnant lady on them, I really was fine. Now here I am, like I said, 5 WEEKS later and I still have to lay down after I eat to keep food down. I can't drink more than 8oz of water (or juice, tea, or whatever) in an hour without getting sick. I am tired all of the time (way more than with any of the other pregnancies even when I got down to 8 month point and was so tired but unable to sleep because I was too uncomfortable to lay down for more than a couple hours at a time.) And seriously, I'm talking tired to the degree of going to bed at 8:30-9 each night and sleeping for 12 hours straight and even then still being tired but having to get up because of Zack and Zona.

I have, finally, gotten to the point where I'm getting excited about being pregnant again - not for the being pregnant part cause serious, I would be happy to forgo that part all together, but I am starting to get excited about having another baby. It's going to be hard. Oh, who am I kidding? It's going to be Hell for a long time. Chaos. Absolute insanity. But it'll be fun too. Of course there's the fact that I've told Obie that this is the last one, there will be no more children begat by me after this one. And can you believe that he was more than happy to agree?? At this point, after what we've gone through these past 6 weeks, I wasn't surprised. Maybe he'll think to change his mind later on. Maybe I will. But I really don't think we will. I really hope not. Maybe I should print out this peice and save it for a reminder of why we are happy to have this be the last.... It's an idea anyway.

But yeah so thats the biggest change that'll be coming this year. Or at least I hope that'll be the biggest change. Of course it means that we're going to have to get a new vehicle. Can you say, "Hello, minivan?" Yep. And I'm sure if you've ever attempted to put three car seats into the back seat of a car you will understand why. It doesn't work. And considering that a normal sized person can't even shove their behind between the two car seats already present in the back seat of my car, I'm not even going to push my luck. So I'll be selling my car within the next couple months (by the end of April, mid-May at the latest) and getting a minivan about the same time. Gives me a couple months to get used to the new car before the baby comes (the due date of which is August 2, and yes Obie's happy since that's his birthday). Rory will also be moving into her own room. And apparently we have to paint it pink. She wants a pink room. And a bed that doesn't make too much noise. (Trust me, don't ask.) We're turning the TV room into the kids play room too. So yeah, lots of changes this year. Cool thing though - our kids will have been born in 2004, 2006, and 2008! I think that's cool.

Happy 18th Birthday Meagan!!!!

2007-12-13T12:32:00.000-07:00

I can vividly remember the day you were born. It seems oh, so long ago. And of course, I still have nightmares of the first 3 or 4 years of your life. I can honestly say that when you were that young, I really didn't like you. All you did was cry and I have a three-year-old now so I know that, that, isn't normal. It sucked!!

But eventually you got older, and with time you grew a bit taller, and you weren't quite as horrible as your behavior had initially made you seem. Do you remember when we actually put a line of masking tape down the middle of our bedroom to mark our sides????? Or how about the time you cut your hair and told mom I did it, so that I got in trouble???? When I got my own room you became infinitely more likable. :) Does that say something about you or me???

In any case, as we got older you became more than just my sister, you became my friend. We've shared a lot of things: from a bedroom to clothes, car crashes, drunken nights, secrets and adventures; and honestly Meagan, I hope we always will.

Have a great day little sister, you deserve it, and come this evening, I will do what I can to help ensure that you have a great night too. :)

Happy Birthday Meagz.... You're finally 18!!

An Ode to the Coffee Cup

2007-12-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

My favorite little sister came over yesterday and brought us our gifts from Europe.... and ate our pizza.

While we all love our gifts and they are all cute and supremely appropriate for each of us, I think my present takes the cake :) Sure, Jen and I gave many laughing suggestions of what she should bring us back (i.e. the Crown Jewels - we did get a picture of those), I had mentioned that I really wanted something from Piza. I'm not sure that I'll ever actually be able to use it (one day I might try just for S&G) but I have to say that my present, my coffee cup, is probably the coolest thing Meagz could have brought me.

So here Meagan, this is my Ode to the Coffee Cup!!! You Rock Meagan, THANK YOU! (and since you already posted this for public consumption I'm going to put here too...)

A Quickie!

2007-11-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

So here's an update on the whole oven/stove issue.

Allow me to briefly describe the conversation I had with my mom...

Me: It worked before and now it doesn't. It's broken. (somewhat paraphrased)
Mom: Check the fuses.
Me: I will, but I'd rather have a new one.
Mom: And if that's not it then replace the elements.
Me: I will. But I'd really prefer a new one.
Mom: Dad will be home on the weekend I'm sure he'd could look at it for you, if you need him too. (that one's somewhat paraphrased too but that's the gist of what she said)
Me: He can. But I'd REALLY rather have a new one. For Christmas and all. (and I smiled sweetly even though she couldn't actually see it since we were on the phone!)
Mom: It can probably be fixed.
Me: Probably. Though I'd REALLY just like to get a NEW ONE!
Mom: If it can't be fixed, we'll see.
Me: (and I'm smiling really big now) Since it's Christmas and all?
Mom: Yeah, Christmas.

Somehow, I think that my oven will be repaired before a week is out. Though on the plus side, she didn't, absolutely, say no... Right?

The Death of an Appliance

2007-11-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

Oh! How quickly a day can change from happy to, uh, NOT so happy. So there I was, blissfully minding my own business and getting ready to make myself (and the Daddy) some lunch, when I twisted the dial on the stove to turn on the oven. I'd decided to make some chicken wings, since we've had them in the freezer for what seems like forever, and they have to bake in the oven for 15 minutes or so. But what happens when I turn the dial????? I'll tell you.....

ABSOLUTELY FREAKING NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The light doesn't turn on. I'm thinking maybe it's just burned out. So I give the oven a couple of minutes to heat up but when I open the door the air inside feels suspiciously cooler then the air in my kitchen. Not a good thing when the oven is supposed to be warmed to 400 degrees. Still not sure if it's completely broken or if it's just not warm yet, I do something that under normal circumstances would be a very stupid move, I put my hand on the element on the roof of the oven. And nothing. It's cold. So I touch the element on the bottom and same thing. I turn the oven off and turn it back on, give it a couple of minutes and check again... Still nothing. Not a genius idea really, but I had to try. So I check the stove top burners and, surprise - surprise, only three of four work!!!

The real kicker of the situation is that, to the extent of my knowledge - which can be admittedly limited sometimes, I'm supposed to be hosting Christmas dinner this year. That's right, I'm supposed to cooking a turkey and all the crap that goes with it in 4 weeks!!!

So now I have to either get the damn thing fixed or hope that Santa Claus will be generous enough to make an early stop and drop off a new one for me. Personally, I'm hoping for the later and yep, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

It is, after all, the season of giving, right?

Clawing my Way out of Lurkdom

2007-11-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

I've been so... bored with most of what I've been finding on the net for the last month or so that I actually didn't mind not being able to access the net for almost a week. It was like a vacation from my vices and while I've been back online, connected, and without any more kinks for 4days now, it's only to reassure those people who have noticed my absence and have e-mailed me to make sure that I was still alive that I'm writing.

Yes, I am still here. I'm still cruising through sites. Reading a variety of blogs and other online boards, fan fiction sites, news and gossip pages, random factoid websites and a never ending list of other possible distractions and nothing that is really intriguing. It is sad, isn't it, when most of us devote countless minutes or hours each day to the net and very often get little satisfaction from the process. It's hard too during these dry spells to justify the time we're spending online when even as we do it, we know that there are likely better things to occupy ourselves with.

So having a week or so to be able to use the computer and do some writing or to organize some digital pictures, and not have the distraction of the internet at my fingertips was nice. Obviously, I'm not going to go so far as to disconnect my net or cancel my service but this little vacation has been a relief. Very nice. And while I may not be very active online or make my presence known everyday, I won't be forcing myself into exile anytime soon, so it is most probable that I'm lurking in the shadows, just waiting for something to catch my eye and demand my attention...

Till next time! :)

An Update on the 'Toy Situation'

2007-11-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

So I wrote last weekend that I'd cleaned up and sorted through the kids toys and that we were making it Arora's job to pick them up every night. Since then, I've made a few observations about those toys.

1) The old saying "Out of sight, out of mind" really is true.

Since I got everything cleaned up and it's all neatly and conveniently held in toy bins the kids seem to have forgotten that they have those toys that they can't immediately see. So for the past week we've played only with the Mega blocks Lego and with Zack's dump trucks and trains. All the balls and noise makers, the dolls, stuffed animals, puzzles and Care Bears are simply and, apparently, easily forgotten. But do I dare to get rid of them, either to charity or one of our friends with kids? Somehow I don't think that would go over well and personally I can't quite force myself to do it.

2) When an abundance of toys is missing the kids use more 'ordinary' items to play with.

For instance, right now my living room is mostly clear of toys but all of my couch and chair cushions are spread out across the floor and the kids (and yes, I mean BOTH the kids) are using them as 'stepping stones' to move around the room. Of course now I can't sit in my living room, unless I want to sit on the couch springs but they are enjoying themselves immensely. On the plus side, while my living room furniture might be in disarray, my pots and pans and Tupperware are all happily in their cupboards and drawers.

3) Arora's understanding of her job is vaster than I realized.

The first two nights went very smoothly. I should have realized immediately that it was too easy. Now even the suggestion of tidying the room up sends her in to a fit. She's figured out, you see, that after the room is cleaned, it is bedtime. And bedtime has long been a time of arguments with her. I'm glad she's smart but sometimes she's too smart for MY own good. We'll keep battling with her on it and hopefully (I've got my fingers crossed) someday she'll resign herself to the task. [Some one knock on wood please??]

So there it is.... and now I've got to wonder, who exactly is winning the toy battle?

I've Been Avoiding This...

2007-11-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

I haven't written about this and I'm not entirely sure why. No I suppose that's not entirely true, I do know why, I'm just not really proud of the reasons.

What am I talking about? The changes in my life that are happening all around me. All of them beyond my control. None of them overtly, significantly or even directly, affecting the occurrences of my every day life. And yet all of them affecting how I'm looking at my life. What I'm doing, where I want to go, what I want to do.... Still, I haven't really explained, have I?

Meagz is gone to Europe. For a month. I've always wanted to go but there was always one thing or another that kept me home. Now I've got the kids and despite any, and likely all, dreams of travel that I have, I guess part of me doesn't believe that I'll ever actually get my chance to do a "grand tour." Sad isn't it? I've always had everything I've ever wanted; I've never really been denied any thing major and yet here I am, jealous of my little sister because she jumped at chance to go when it fell into her lap.

I'm happy for her, of course I am. I envy her. I don't begrudge her the opportunity. But I'm jealous and I don't like that I am, so I haven't been writing or talking too much about it. I have however been checking my e-mail (and my Facebook) a dozen times a day to see if, and when, she puts photos up or writes a note to us. Yet there is that childish portion of my mind who is still sulking that Meagz got to go and not me.

That is half of what's been bothering me.

The other half, surprisingly, is Jen. She moved. To Edmonton. Again, I am happy for her. I think she and Ed will be happier there, and feel better about what they are doing with their lives now. Me, well I'm just, I'm.... sad? The description fits but not perfectly. I don't like it but I'm glad for them. It's hard to explain.

I suppose it comes down to the fact that I've become used to her being here, within walking distance, if I wanted to see her. It's not like we actually saw each other all of the time. In reality we haven't seen each other all that much over the years, probably once or twice a month, maybe, and every holiday or special occasion. But she was always there if I wanted, or needed, to see her or talk to her. There's not much to be done about it and in all honesty, it's just something that I have to get used to. I just haven't got to that point yet, where it feels right and where I can stop thinking about me and concentrate on how great it is for her, and for Ed too.

I'll get there, sooner, rather than later, I hope, and when I do I know I'll probably curse myself for being selfish and worrying about me. Thinking things like: do I want to stay living in this same house, in the same city, forever? No, definitely not. Do I want to stay unemployed and at home with the kids, forever? No, absolutely not. What do I want to do eventually? I don't know and maybe I should be more concerned about that because, after all, I am already 24 but I'm not too worried about it, I'll know when I know. You know?

So in the meantime, Meagz is doing something I've always wanted to do and Jen is doing what she needs to do to be happy and I... I have absolutely no right to be jealous or selfish because while I may not be doing now what I thought I'd be doing five years ago, I am doing what I want. And I am happy. And more than anything, I want them to be happy too because despite our differences, they are my sisters and I love them. Sometimes I may be envious or jealous, resentful or mad, or even concerned, but under it all I'm happy for them, even if I act like a bitch about it.

But I suppose that fits too, since Meagz has always been the Baby, Jen the Wise One, and me, I've always been the Bitch. And, sadly, I've always been good at it. Maybe I should be concerned about that little tidbit too, but again, I'm really not.

So, though it's a little late.... Bon Voyage, Meagz. Have fun, avoid the creepy strangers, take lots of pictures and be careful. And Jen and Ed, congratulations and good luck.

The Look on His Face

2007-11-10T12:54:00.000-07:00

I cleaned the entire upstairs of my house yesterday, going through toys and clothes and everything while I went. Now I've got the toys separated: stuffed animals, Legos, trucks (and other assorted boy toys) and all other toys. 4 bins. Beyond those I filled a big garbage bag with other stuffed animals, big, small and medium. I filled another bin with toys that are for small babies. Soft toys, chew toys. Those kind of things. And last but not least, I filled a big box with toys that I'm giving away, with fond hopes that I will NEVER see them again.

Yes, it was an industrious day.

You should have seen Obie's face when he got home and came upstairs and you could see the living room without it's ever growing carpet of forgotten toys. It really was priceless. At least to me. He even knew I was doing it too. I'd called him when his older sister called to say she was coming down for the weekend, which meant I absolutely had to clean it. I'd never live it down if at least that much of the house wasn't clean enough for company.

So now we have room to play and everything is organized (once again) so that it fits into containers easily and can be cleaned up quickly and efficiently each night. I sat Arora down this morning and had a very firm, very strict talk with her and told her that each night it was her 'job' to make sure that all of the toys get put away.... I suppose we'll see how it goes. I can only hope that she'll take up some of the responsibility because I also cleaned the bathroom yesterday, and let me tell you, doing that is almost all I can handle. I have no idea how I ever worked as a maid in a hotel but I can assure you I'll never hold such a position again. *shudder* I really, really hope, anyway! *shudder and starts to consider praying ;)*

Of course, for months we've been blaming Arora for the messes of toys. Today, watching my son, I realize that I've been doing her an injustice because seriously... It's HIM. Should have known it was the 'man.' But now with the bins, and thank God they have lids, we should be able to keep him from having a complete hay-day with the toys. Honestly crossing my fingers on that.

Trick-or-Treating with the Kids!!

2007-11-01T00:30:00.000-06:00

OH A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

She was Piglet at 5 months. A devil the next year. Last year Arora was a 'Butterfly Princess Fairy' (she couldn't narrow it down to just one), and this year we settled on being a witch. The decision making bit for the costume, of course, was that it had bright pink in it. But mommy (obviously that's me) was able to find a pair of tights and a sweater in the same shade of bright pink, so on the whole the Witch was a winner!!!

Being only three weeks old last year on Halloween Zack didn't actually dress up. In a sense he was just 'a new-born' and we didn't actually take him around at all. This year though we (and I suppose that should really just be 'I') wanted his costume to be something really cute, but cool too. When I was shopping in Calgary a couple weeks ago I was able to find the PERFECT costume, at Old Navy of all places, and though mom and I worried that it might be a bit too big, we were wrong, it fit great and the boy was as cute as he could possibly have been. Who would have guessed that a Zacky-Kangaroo would be such a hit? But it was and boy, am I glad!!

We went around to a few places in town - to my sister's houses, a couple friends houses and my aunt's house, then I took the kids out to a couple farms and finally Grandma and Papa's. The kids did really well. Eating candy and a 20-minute nap while driving out to the farms kept them happy and for the most part extremely well behaved. I hung out with Mom and Dad for a while and then brought myself and Zack back home. Rory gets to have a sleepover at the farm (yipee, that means I get an uninterrupted night of sleep!!) and I'll get her back sometime tomorrow morning.

A good day, all in all, and I'm certainly not going to complain about getting a bag full of candy to eat... because really, did you think Obie and I would just let Arora have it all???

Some funny stuff!!

2007-10-31T14:29:00.000-06:00

Hey Everyone, I found these while I was surfing some sites today and thought they were funny....

http://view.break.com/389460 - Watch more free videos

and this one...

http://view.break.com/391359 - Watch more free videos

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Am I Unique?

2007-10-26T01:24:00.000-06:00

Considering I've been out of work for three weeks it's not all that surprising that I'd be in need of cash. But am I unique in the fact that for the first time in 8 years and two months I've had to ask my significant other for money to make sure that I can pay the bills? Sure there have been times over the years when I've asked "hey do you have any cash for some gas in the car?" or "do you have any money to pay for the take out?" but I've NEVER ONCE had to ask for money from Obie to pay for the bills that were my responsibility to pay.

Tonight, my dear friends, I broke that record. But then I needed to by TP and milk and bread and therefore I had to go into a store that would have a bunch of other things I'd want/need to buy as well and so I spent the money that should have paid for the house insurance. Yep.... Obie has to give me the money to make that payment. Oh well, it's not like I haven't given him money in the past to pay bills when they end up being more than he expected them to be.

I guess now, I'm just like everyone else.

As Unexciting As I Could Possibly Be

2007-10-25T22:33:00.000-06:00

Nearly three weeks since my last post and I really haven't done all that much, at least nothing much of which is note worthy.

I did quit my job... three weeks ago.

Since then I've perused a number of different options as to what I'll do now to pay the bills and what not. I have actually applied for a number of positions. But I haven't heard anything back. Yet. I'm not too worried. Yet.

Arora is mostly potty trained. And please note the emphasis in that sentence. She is still wearing her pull-ups daily and each night, but she actually isn't having any leaks or accidents.

Of course the whole "go potty in the toilet and you get a treat!" bribe might have something to do with it. Maybe. Probably. The only really annoying, and somewhat disturbing, thing is that apparently she needs an audience in order to go #2 (and yes for all those who can't remember that's not just going piddle). To say the least, it's not my favorite part of the day.

But can you really blame me? I didn't think so.

Zack has 8 teeth. Or at least, part of eight teeth. Of course the distribution of said teeth is sadly uneven. That's right, six up top and only two, lonely teeth on the bottom. I don't know why but the top ones just keep coming in and nothings happening down below. It's sort of cute, although now we can't call him Beaver.

I went shopping in Calgary. I got some new clothes, well, shirts. And a couple of sweaters. And a book on mythology. I haven't started reading that one yet.

Seriously though, other than that, there has been absolutely nothing new in my life in the last three weeks. Sorta sad, huh? Oh well, not everyone lives an overly exciting life and quite obviously I am not of the number who does. Cause really? The most exciting things to note: quit my job and went shopping. Fun....

Happy 1st Birthday Zack!!!!!

2007-10-06T21:16:00.001-06:00

At Burger King!!

Playing

Eating.... And Goodies!

At the Waterslides and Wave Pool!!!!!

(this pic's got everyone who came swimming in it)