Beat Norway 8-0.
What a way to start the games!
Iggy rocks my world.

Back story: I ordered a black leather case for my Kindle 2 right after I received it for Christmas. A few weeks later, a case for the huge 9 inch screen Kindle arrived. (that Kindle wasn’t even available in Canada at that time, but the order was my mistake. I just assumed I had a 9″ screen and didn’t measure. Apparently mine is 6″.) I emailed the company to ask for an exchange and though they were painfully slow with their email and perhaps ESL, there was no problem making the exchange. They were going to ship me the correct one free of charge and I could return the old one in that packaging.

Scene: We’re at the mailbox on the way home from work. I check the mail and hop back into the van with the kids with some mail and a parcel.

Mommy: Look Bud! My new Kindle case is finally here!

Primo: That’s too big. It won’t fit. The whole package is too big for your Kindle.

Mommy: I dunno. They were supposed to send me a new one that fit this time so it should be smaller.

Primo: It’s not. It’s too big.

An hour or so passes. We get home, have snack, and I start unpacking our bags from the day. I spot the parcel in my bag so I open it.

Mommy: You were right! This is exactly the same wrong one that they sent me last time.

Primo: Well, Mom. I AM always correct.

Well, duh.

Welcome to Vancouver 2010.

Got kids? Have some fun with our mascots!

The young person who wrote this is a role model for her generation. I sincerely hope that my children feel the way that she does, and that I can inspire the students I teach to think differently as well.

I may have redecorated, but it didn’t last long. We got home from my mom’s on the 28th and I redecorated that day as I unpacked all of the new (& SO cheap) purchases. It looked great, but Christmas was over and I was sick of it so it was all packed away on the 29th with the tree & ornaments to follow on the 30th. I’m still really glad I did it, though, because now it’s all put away properly and ready for next year. November 1st, baby! Down with Halloween. I’m so glad our Thanksgiving is early here so we can get out the holiday goods early – I’d hate to go through all of that work for just a few weeks because no matter when we decorate I want it gone by New Year’s Eve or whenever we get home from my mom’s.

For our New Year’s celebration this year, we decided to devote ourselves completely to the children (duh – story of our lives and we love it) so we threw a “Noon Year’s Eve” party for them and their friends (and, therefore, my friends). We had about 18 people here including us, and just ate some delicious potluck food, played, wore party hats & blew party horns. We did a countdown to noon and then screamed and kissed and hugged. It was all wrapped up by about 1:30 and the rest of the day was ours to clean up & hang out as a family. Once the kids were in bed, the Big Guy and I watched the Flames game as we do every New Year’s Eve, drank hot lemon water and relaxed. We headed to bed shortly after eleven because Bella had been up crying three times already so we just took her in with us. I was technically up well past midnight (thanks to my new toy) but the BG and Bella were snoring beside me by then.

New Year’s Day brought some great friends from out of town for brunch (have I shared my fruity french toast recipe with you? Because OH, it’s freaking amazing.) and then as we were about to head to my school to play in the gym another friend from out of town called and they were on their way over so we didn’t end up leaving the house all day.

I don’t really believe in resolutions simply because it’s time to buy a new calendar, but I do intend to drink more water and more hot lemon. Whether it’s a new year or not. And I still don’t have a new calendar. So there.

Yesterday we went tobogganing in the park behind our house, went to a live performance of Robert Munsch stories and then went to the school so I could check out my room before Monday and BG and the kids played in the gym. By then it was time for supper-bath-bed, thank goodness. We were beat. Then it was time to tackle the 10 bins of Christmas crap that covered our basement floor after being shoved down there so we could entertain upstairs. It’s all away until next year now, and if I ever get time to wash the cat hair and crumbs off the floor it will almost be habitable.

We took all three animals to the vet over the holiday. Thai is fat, Mavi has a yeast infection in his ears and Chloe has thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, her body is eating her teeth, and a bunch of other things. Oh, the joy of loving animals. They get old too quickly. Thai and Mav are 6 and Chloe is 14, so nothing is out of the ordinary. The vet’s recommendation for Chloe is that she get $400 bloodwork soon-ish, and then we cure her cancer with radiation at which point she’ll go into isolation because she’ll be radioactive. If the radiation didn’t kill her, the isolation surely would. Her life expectancy with treatment. Average of 3 years. Without treatment? Average of 3 years. So, I think the decision is to love her and keep her happy as long as we can without major interference. As it stands, she eat & drinks, pees & poops, plays, purrs, and is as happy as ever. She just drinks and pukes a little more than she used to. She’s 14. I’ve had her since she was 8 weeks old. I don’t need to make her suffer. It’s a hard choice not to do a bunch of treatments, but at 14 I just don’t think it’s fair to her to make her uncomfortable in order to extend her life by maybe a few months. As I said, she’s happy & seems perfectly healthy right now and my gut tells me she’ll be that way for a while. If not, we’ll deal with it when the time comes. And when the time does come, how the hell do you explain euthanasia to children? Gah.

On that lovely note, Happy New Year! May 2010 bring you peace, and many many hugs.

Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. -unknown

I have a problem.
I just redecorated.
It’s the twenty-eighth.

I can’t help it. I just got a bunch of new Christmas decorations for next to nothing in the post Christmas sales, and I want them put away properly for next year. Since we’re having a New Year’s Eve party, I am leaving my decorations up longer than usual so the putting away is a ways away yet. So, I just put them all out. Including adding new ribbon to the tree.

I think I need help.

The Big Guy, my most amazing husband, bought me an Amazon Kindle for Christmas – something I didn’t even know I wanted until I held it in my hands.

Sure, I was hoping someone would send me one free, but I wouldn’t have paid three hundred bucks for it.

Until I had it. Now I totally would!

I bought my first book (boxed set actually – the Sookie Stackhouse 8 Book Set) for about half the price of the non-digital books, I had them instantly and have been reading all day. A smash it considering I only brought one book on vacation with me and I finished it four days ago. It’s way easier to read than I thought anything digital would be (six print sizes to choose from and you can read in bright light). My only complaint is that because it’s not a backlit LCD screen but uses electronic ink placement instead, you can’t read in the dark so you need a booklight or headlamp or something if there’s no overhead light (for travel or sneak-reading in bed).

So, what books should I order next?

Do you have a kindle? Love it? Hate it? Want one?

We have had a fabulous Christmas at my Mom’s place. The kids were utterly spoiled and screamed with excitement much of the day. We were spoiled as well, but with less screaming.

Photos to come – Bella’s crying so apparently I’m going to bed.

Merry Christmas!

Eggnog or hot chocolate? Meh. Hot chocolate if those are the only two options, but mulled cider or mulled wine would be much better.

Does Santa wrap the presents or leave them open under the tree? He wraps them in special paper that only he uses.

Colored lights on a tree or white? White. Only white. Ever.

Do you hang mistletoe? I haven’t, because I don’t have any, but now I want to! I hate the thought of missing out on a chance for another holiday tradition.

When do you put your decorations up? As soon as the Halloween crap is put away. Thankfully I’m Canadian so Thanksgiving doesn’t hog my Christmas time.

What is your favorite holiday dish? All of them. Is that cheating? It’s all about the traditions and the way it all fits together. If I had to choose (which, duh…) it would be tortiere, an Acadian meat pie made by my mom using a variation of my Dad’s mother’s recipe. My Dad grew up on it and we have it every Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning with breakfast. It was my Dad’s fave – loaded with ketchup. Mmmmmm. It’s what Santa gets at our house!

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Just one – everyone gets new pajamas which are freshly washed and ready to wear to bed.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White lights, silver bows, silver and white balls, pinecones. I plan to add white flowers when I have some money to spare.

Snow: love it or hate it? Mostly hate it. I live in a country where it’s winter for half the year so it gets old fast. It’s pretty while it’s falling and fun to play in, but a few days would be enough for me.

Can you ice skate? Yep. Figure skated for ten years.

What is your favorite holiday dessert? Grasshopper pie and ice cream with Teddy Bear sauce.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? Tradition is what I’m all about – there isn’t one I don’t love! Building a gingerbread house, looking at lights, eating meatpie, going to my mom’s, and a new one this year – my annual pajama party!

Candy canes: yum or yuck? Meh. Whatever. I like them but haven’t had one in a few years. Don’t care either way, and not what I’d care to waste my calories on.

Favorite Christmas show? The Polar Express

Thanks Swistle for the easily pilfered inspiration!

I’m at my mom’s – and sick. I’ve had a cold for a week and thought I was just about better but now it’s in my lungs and I have laryngitis. But at least I’m home! I hope you all are able to spend the holidays with those you love most and enjoy whatever it is that you enjoy. Even if you have coloured lights.

5 = the number of hours I will be away from my family in the next two and a half weeks. From 8 am – noon tomorrow I’m at work and then we’ll be attached at the hip until January 4th. I can hardly wait!

Except of course when I’m getting my brows waxed and my hair cut – that’s my “me” time, but the kids will be with Daddy & Grandma so that doesn’t count.

Are y’all ready for Christmas? I’m one of those annoying people who starts shopping on Boxing Day and is done by November, but I gave the Big Guy a list of a couple of DVD’s and a couple of gift certificates and am STILL waiting for those. Tomorrow, he says. Grrrr.

I have a little reunion drink/food-fest with the crowd I grew up with next week which I’m totally excited for. Growing up on a military base, it’s pretty rare to have a group who stay in touch (thanks Facebook!) and knew each other for more than a few years. The base was just a few minutes away from a small town so the kids from there came to our base school and, of course, didn’t have to deal with short postings so they were with us all the way through. Many of our fathers took long-term postings to the base so many, like me, were there from Kindergarten though our grade 9 grad. Anyhoo, I’m excited to drink with people who’ve known me since I was wee.

I’m excited to skate with Primo on weekdays.

I’m excited to teach the Big Guy to skate.

I’m excited to buy Bella her first skates & hockey helmet. (The Big Guy and I need to buy helmets too.)

I’m excited to go on dated with my husband whenever I feel like it.

I’m excited to hang out with my mom doing nothing.

I’m excited to see all of my parents’ friends, most of whom I’ve also known my whole life.

I’m excited to sleep in occasionally.

I’m excited to work out.

I’m excited to get the hell outta dodge.

I’s excited to worry about nobody other than my own family for a week. No prep. No parent phone calls. No emails from complaining concerned parents. No worrying about feeding the child who came without breakfast. No worrying about whether someone is going to read with them at night.

Just us. Just me.

Aaaaahhhh.

Only 12 days until Christmas!

Only 6 days until I see my Mommy!

Only 5 days until I say goodbye to my classroom for 2 weeks!

Only 5 days until all four of us get to spend 15 days together!

I am SO excited for this Christmas break! Skating, swimming, toboganning, making a gingerbread house, cooking with my mom, having a houseful on Christmas day, hangin’ with the Big Guy, dates whenever we feel like it. Ahhhhhhhh.

We took the kids to see Santa today and got some brual pictures from the mall chick. Primo was so excited he just ran up to Santa, hopped up on his lap and started talking non-stop. Bella was pretty pumped but just sat on his lap but big eyes.

Five more days of work. Five more days of work.

I can do this.

My kids just got off the phone with Santa. Best thing – EVAH.

Primo talked his ear off and kept interrupting him. Bella said Merry Christmas to him and told him she wanted a new puppy in a purse.

Best.

Do it.

That is all.

Holly is bribing people with free stuff and I’m kind of a sheep so I’m doing it too! I don’t even have five regular commenters here anymore but I’ll give it a whirl!

It’s a “Pay it Forward” thang, and here’s how it works:

The first five people to post a comment here will get something from me, chosen especially for you. Or your kids, if you have some. I might even make it. If you’re in Canada it might be food, but I don’t know that I can send baking across the border.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like your bribe gift, but I hope you will.
2- I will give you something with you in mind.
3- Supposedly I have a year to get it to you, but it will NOT take that long. It might take 11 1/2 months, but not 12. Oh no. Canadians may get fresh baking in a month even.
4- The item will be a surprise. You will also need to send me an email with your mailing address if you are one of the first five commenters.

Here’s the catch: You must do something similar on your blog and offer something to the first five commenters on your blog who agree to play along.

So the first five people who comment here, and are willing to pay it forward on their blogs, will get a gift in the mail from me!

When you get your gift, please let me know. If you like it, please post a photo of it on your blog and tell people that I am freaking awesome and that they should add my feed to their reader. You know, so they know when I post once a week. Heh.

Who’s in? Are there five of you who actually have blogs and aren’t my real life friends & relatives?

I can’t even tell you how much I need a long weekend. I’m not even close to getting everything done that I needed to get done this weekend. I was going to have all of the Christmas presents wrapped and I haven’t even started. I did, however, take my babes swimming Friday with friends instead of doing the grocery shopping.

Saturday morning we went to a town nearby for the annual Santa Claus Parade – our second time going – and the kids had an absolute blast. Primo shouted at “Merry Christmas” at everything that went by ~ “Merry Christmas horse!” “Merry Christmas dog!” “Merry Christmas truck!” We thought the highlight was going to be Santa at the end, but he looked at me and said “but where”s the real Santa? At the North pole, right?” Yeesh. He’s too clever for his own good sometimes. We had the kids all bundled in snowsuits & boots because of the chilly wind and they were toasty except their hands & cheeks. I wore Sorels and Hot Chilis (long johns for winter running) and my winter running shirt under my parka so I was fine, but the Big Guy was chilly in his hiking boots & jeans. We always take Timmy Ho’s out with us so we were all well fed & happy. I don’t let my kids eat candy – particularly candy that’s been on the road – but that didn’t bother them at all. They agree about the whole “food on the road” thing.

After the parade we took Bella home for a nap and Primo & I went to Costco to get some groceries and then to the big Christmas craft show where I bought Bella hair pretties to match her Christmas outfit and Primo spent his money on treats for the dogs. Too sweet. He’s incredibly kind & thoughtful for a three year old sometimes. He loudly interrupted a busy woman at her booth to say “Can you please make a coffee for my Mom?” because he thought we’d waited long enough. And wait until you see his letter to Santa – what he asked for was too cute, and he saved himself for last without me even telling him to ask for things for anyone else. Love that kid, man. I’ll post both of the kids’ letters later this week.

Random Interjection: Bella only peed in her diaper twice all weekend (except during sleeping hours). Whee!

My friend was in town for a quick supper so I dropped Primo off & ran out to meet her & her fiance at BP’s, & then rushed home again for bedtime. After student-led conferences two evenings this week (after school one day and at bedtime another day) and a dinner out with my staff on Friday I’d missed enough quality hours with my babies so it was time to get home and stay home. Saturday night was cuddle time. Sunday morning brought a little Christmas photo session in the living room so I can change out the photos in our entryway frame (results below) and then…I can’t remember what we did for the rest of the day. How is that possible?

I have a blog. Or two. Or three.

Just some of the many things that I can’t keep up with as a working mom, but I don’t want to give it up completely so I’m just getting in here when I can. I’m aiming for once a week right now.

I have some of the cutest pictures ever to share with you – just have to get them shrunk to blog size, which I used to think took no time at all until I was a full-time working mommy. Gah.

Today’s my Halloween party in my classroom and the kids also have one at their dayhome. Bella’s a fairy princess (”PINK!”) and Primo’s a police officer (”I’m going to police all the bad guys into heaven or jail, Mommy.”) We’re all looking forward to our respective days and I’m even more looking forward to picking them up at noon and just hanging out.

Last Saturday we skipped Primo’s swimming lessons to head out to the local petting zoo/pumpkin farm for the annual family photo shoot but it was pouring sheets of rain so instead we came home and did a makeshift shoot of the kids in my m=un-studio and then watched The Incredibles, made milkshakes & popcorn and built a fort with the Fortamajig.

Sunday we made the first two pumpkins that currently reside in our house. Bella made a Mrs. Potato Head witch and Primo made a Mr. Potato Head pirate. Cute, easy and not messy. A perfect first attempt!

Yesterday afternoon the kids each painted two mini-pumpkins while I made supper. Primo chose the primary colours plus white and made purple, light blue, light red and painted two beautiful little creations. I did the same activity earlier in the week with my class of six year olds, and all but two made their paint look like poop. Heh. Bella wanted PINK! and only PINK! so she created two beautiful and bright pink pumpkins and then proceeded to paint her hands and arms right up to her elbows, and then her cheeks. Then she said “Pinkalicious!” Ha! She’s hilarious.

Last night we also opened the tops of the two jack-o-lanterns-to-be and scooped all the guts out to roast the seeds. This afternoon we’ll carve the faces. They both want happy faces but the rest is yet to be decided. I roasted the seeds (and the seeds from my classroom jack-o-lantern for my students) last night after the kids went to bed, in butter, salt & sugar. Mmmm. I even saved them some. They’ll taste them today and we’ll see how it goes. Primo used to love them and a couple o months ago decided that the granola with the “green things” was Daddy’s and I had to make him different stuff so you never know.

I have photos of all of this stuff. A good blogger would post them here. Me? Not so much.

Hi ho, Hi ho, it’s off to work I go!

For the first time ever, my kids went to be without a bath. Well, since they were old enough to get dirty enough to require daily baths.

We spent the day with my father in law. We had to get an oil change and a new van key so we had to take the van to his town and made it into a family day trip. The kids loved exploring Grandpa’s dealership and then we headed out to a lake for the afternoon. Everyone got soaked & filthy but it was great. Grandpa cooked his delicious chicken cordon bleu for supper and the kids, as usual, played on the pool table in his basement. Yes, ON the pool table. These kids get away with so much!

We try to leave there by 4:30 so we can have the kids home by 6 for bath & bed but, like always, we were running late so Primo fell asleep in the van at 6:15. He slept all the way home so when we got here we just plopped him in bed in his clothes and that’s where he stayed. Dirty teeth and all. After several weeks of 5:30 am wake ups we weren’t about to deprive him of a moment of slumber!

Bella stayed awake all the way home watching Franklin and entertaining the BG & I by singing the ABC’s gajillions of times. She loves the applause she gets to she just keeps on going! She didn’t get a bath either, but I did brush her teeth and put her jammies on since she was awake anyway. We got home about 7:30 and she was out by 7:45. An hour later than usual, and I forgot to give her Advil for her blasted molars so we’ll likely be seeing her sometime between midnight and 4 am.

With this whole going back to work crap, I was worried about losing one of my only two days of house time but I’m so glad we went away and spent time with Grandpa while also enjoying a family day. Since I only work until noon Fridays we just did the usual Saturday groceries on Friday (instead of a playdate, which sucked) so we’re pretty much on track for just cooking & a little bit of prep tomorrow and can still have lots of play time. The BG has Monday off so the kids only will be at their dayhome for 3.5 days this week…that will be so nice for everyone! He gets 1-2 Mondays a month-ish off to be with the kids and once my mom retires (Thanksgiving!) then she’ll be able to come hang out with them once in a while too. We’d love it if they never had to spend the full 4.5 days there, but it’s bound to happen – especially when it’s crappy driving weather. The nice thing is that they absolutely love it there and we don’t worry about them at all. (I know! Such a change for me!) Bella wants to go on the weekends too, but Primo’s having a bit of a tougher time. He really likes to go but he wants me to stay there with him. One day last week when he’d had a particularly crappy sleep he called me on my cell at work crying. Ripped my heart right out of my chest and I was ready to quit, but when I called an hour later to check on him he was having a grand old time and was like “Yeah, what? I’m fine! Bye!”

Yeesh. Kids.

I’m tired.