Once Upon a Day

sorry to do this to you...

2009-05-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

but it must be done....the main reason is they give you this tiny little edit screen to type everything into and it drives me bonkers, especially now that I have my 24" AND adding photos makes it ridiculous.

check out THIS it's much more homey over there...

Basically, if you don't....no more pictures or words for you.

Sorry....I know it's a pain but TRUST me when I say that posting using this format is a much bigger pain.

ok

2009-05-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

a) I lied, apparently. That post yesterday said if you clicked on the photo you would get a huge one...but for some reason you don't. Nothing happens. Don't know why, the only thing I did differently was that I used my imac to do the post.

b) I forgot to mention the Quote of the Day: "...Illumine the lamp of your heart..."

That's what B said during prayers. She changed all the "my"s to "your". She did this because it was actually her little purple bear that was saying O God, guide me (including actions), courtesy of B herself.

c) You may never see me again because today I am getting the full fledged photoshop! Not only that, but Creative Suites 2 (an older edition than the link....but STILL!). I will be spending a lot of time really being able to edit photos now, instead of just adjusting them. Oh the possibilities.

d) Kiana is with us this weekend while Kira works. At the moment she is, hopefully, sleeping in the "media room". B said she wanted to sleep in there too. Hopefully B fussing about "sleeping" is not going to disturb Kiana too much...don't wanna mess with a, fingers crossed, 3ish hr nap.

There are sweet photos taken today but will have to wait until later when I get my photoshop.

well, I didn't get photoshop installed until today (the next day) so, here are the added photos.

We had a good time playing outside even though the weather wasn't the greatest.

(In order to take a photo with both kids in it, I had to lean out of the window....B said it looked like I had a baby in my belly...then laughed)

I'm "mac"ed out

2009-05-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

Yessiree, it arrived today. All 33lbs or whatever it was. It is HUGE! With time I will get used to the shortcuts. The keyboard isn't a problem. And after a day of taking care of Kiana tomorrow Kira is gonna get me CS2! Yes, the full photoshop plus more.

So anyways, on another note. Instead of sitting at home waiting for the computer to arrive today Kira, Laylee, us and the kids all went to Willow's Beach. It was beautiful. A touch windy and thus a touch chilly in the shade but lovely. And for the most part the kids played swimmingly together. I even have photos to prove it (now forgive me, don't click on the photo unless you want your screen to explode with a photo. My files are huge and I haven't bothered learning how to decrease their size without photoshop).

Here are a few choice shots:

(while I'm waiting for those huge files to load...)

I am really keen to get this job I have applied for. Well technically I didn't get it but there was a possibility, if I waited through one more job posting, I actually would get it. I am hoping that early next week I will find out. I find that, in nursing and probably my life too, I thrive under pressure. Now not 3Royal type pressure (though it was ok there for a while, before management reared it's ugly head), but a steady type of pressure. I find that if all I have to do REALLY is give out meds, wash/change/walk people and make beds....yah, I don't excel. The less I have to do, the less I will want to do, which is not a good thing. I think I said before when I first switched to my current job that it was not a long term place for me. Unfortunately I didn't realize just how short term I would want to be there. Too bad though 'cause I like the people I work with and get a kick outta the other 1/2 of the ward (that I don't work with but do have breaks in the same room). We'll see what comes with that.

I'm hoping my patience and my attention span for blogging returns soon...

"See you later Butterfly Girl"

2009-04-25T18:47:00.001-07:00

That's what the really great musicians downtown said to B as we left. 2 early twenty's guys, one on the guitar and one on the fiddle. I rarely, if ever, stop for the street musicians because they are so humdrum but these guys were GOOD. Bluegrassy music and really laid back. In front of Munroe's of course (I noted the mime waiting for the good spot). The guitarist just leaning against the doorway and the fiddler sittin' on his skateboard (I said they were young).

Too bad we only had $2 to give them. Both kids "danced" for about 15 minutes. Right and the "butterfly girl" comment was because we had participated in the earth walk and there was face painting at the end, B obviously got a blue butterfly....again.

On another note: B has been testing MY (and all other adults in this house) limits. The last 3 nights now have involved a screamfest. My theory is because she's up just after 6, spends the majority of the day outside, constantly interacting with someone and not napping. This makes for an exhausted girl come 6pm! I've mentioned before, way back when, that I finally came to the realization that yelling back DOES NOT WORK. Luckily she is very receptive to my speaking calmly to her and can usually talk her down from an incident before it becomes full blown. That was not the case last night (everyone got just about as worked up as her)but tonight I could. Last night she ended up eating dinner alone in the dining room while the rest of us ate in the kitchen. After a few minutes of her eating then I went to her and said that if she was ready to act properly and say sorry to everyone she could come sit with us. She said she wasn't ready yet. She sat through another bowl of rice (with grated up zucchini, egg and peas of course) calmly eating before she said she was ready. She fell stone cold asleep by 6:15pm, with no story or anything (due to the outburst). That fit was prompted first by not wanting to come inside for dinner then secondly not wanting to come back upstairs after getting into pj's.
Tonight, another fit on her behalf but can I complain? It's 6:57pm and both kids are asleep. Somehow Steph managed to put M in his crib, give him his soother and baby (he sleeps with the doll I made him now....awwww), turn out the lights, turn on the music and leave!
I think these kids, B especially, is going to be going through -major- adjustment when we leave this house. Here she has attention, full attention, probably 90% of her waking hours. I think all that attention and stimulation tires her right out. We had quite the routine at the house (which is, officially, no longer ours)...but things have been switched up now. There are definitely pluses about living here!!!! I think we are all just struggling for a routine. I'm sure it will come. Then off to France we will go! Ha! Good luck with routine there!
As I mentioned, the closing on "our" house is complete! As a result we ordered not one but TWO computers from apple.ca on Friday night. I got the 24" imac with increased memory and Steph got the 13" aluminum macbook. We figured no time like the present to congratulate us on a job well done with that house. We poured blood, sweat and tears (literally) into that house, and it is much better off because of it. Now I hope, someday, we will find something that will suit us that much better.

I'm sorry to do this...

2009-04-22T22:45:00.000-07:00

but I have to!
Does this:

remind anyone of THIS? (is that mean?)
To make up for that, here are a few photos from the park the other day. As you can see, B is still avoiding photos as much as possible (I tricked her into the above by saying she had jam mouth and I took a photo to show her what she looked like).

And a photo from today at Solstice Cafe. M was sleeping in the stroller.(and ps, the last post was my 100th! not bad for a few months work hey?)

I wanna

2009-04-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

post, and I wanna edit photos.
Too tired.
Worked 2 days in a row, 12hr shifts.
M still not sleeping through the night.
B waking up close to 0530 (seems earlier when typed that way).
Still out of my routine here.
. . . perhaps after I get my new computer, that I will order on Friday, I will begin again?
(I think I've decided on the 24" imac.....no thanks to you guys.)

Aunty Maymay's here for a few days, I'm sure we'll have fun, perhaps I will take photos of it? Perhaps I will even do an entry?

I think she takes after Aunty Maymay

2009-04-15T22:29:00.000-07:00

(see what I mean I always need to be watching him)

Today at the park Brielle, Dante and Saul learned "go, stop". Basically Dante held his right arm up in the air and yelled "GO!" and the other two ran around in circles or willynilly until Dante switched arms and said "STOP!". Kira said it was the perfect game for Dante 'cause he could be bossy and loud. I guess B got sick of it though 'cause she said it was her turn to say go and stop. She switched spots with Dante and. looking back at me and Kira on the bench, said "I'm going to say 'GO' but I'm not going to say 'STOP'". And, after saying "go", she promptly turned and walked back to the junglegym. Dante and Saul looked lost but Kira and I encouraged them to keep running! HA! Gotta keep those boys on their toes.

Brielle July 2007 (15 months) and Marcel April 2009 (15 months)

A quick post...

2009-04-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

'cause if I don't...I never will.

Today the sun was SHINING (for most of the day). We started out bright and early with our ever enthusiastic compatriots the Antinuk/Tsui clan (plus Penelope) at 9:30am! Yes we get out of the house early. Walked up to Beacon Hill Park to the petting zoo. I took this of a peacock while waiting for the goats:

(ok so maybe it's a bit difficult to figure out first, but take the time, I really like it)

Was able to catch the "running of the goats" (from the barn to the petting area) at 10:10. The link to youtube is not mine but pretty cute. I thought, maybe next time, we would tie red scarfs to the kids and put them in front of the goats... It was really cute, unfortunately my camera was super exposed and I didn't have a chance to change it so I didn't get a good shot of that.

(I told you it was crap....I admit it)

Brielle went into the petting area solo (I think perhaps that was illegal), well, with Dante as a companion. She didn't even ask me to go with her, she just headed to the gate. A few pictures: B brushing off all the sawdust that the other kids were piling on the poor goats, not sure who's checking who out and Dante blending in nicely with the billy goats same colour scheme and everything.

(so sweet, the bigger ones though, it sounds like it hurts when the butt heads,
either that or they just have empty skulls)

After meeting up with Niecia and Lily (the 3rd musketeer, unfortunately the 4th -Hannah- wasn't there) we headed over to the playground where snacks were had
and playing around occurred. I have to keep by pair of eyes going separate ways these days now that M is so mobile not to mention climby.
Got home around noon put M down for a nap and B played outside with Ahda. Basically she stayed outside all day. At 5ish pm we got a call saying our last "subject to", financing, has come off our place so it is S-O-L-D. Whew! We celebrated with a very rushed dinner at Il Terrazzo (lame website but super food) as it was verging on the kids wind down/bedtime. It was yummy.
So there you have it. A sunny day in the life.
I guess I had better start researching my mac...

---

2009-04-07T20:39:00.001-07:00

(a photo taken last month, M's the conductor of the train B made)

So I really should be typing an entry but I'm just too spent!
In short:
- Got two offers on the house after open house. Both for over the asking price, which is pretty much unheard of in this market. The process seems to be taking F-O-Rever but by Tuesday we should know if it's a complete go or not (when the conditions are removed)
- The weather has been fantastic for the last two days. Totally pooped the kids out by going to the park in the am instead of playgroup (B slept from 5:30pm-6am yesterday). It's a whole other level of organization I need to relearn though. Potty breaks pre and post trip as there isn't one around, snack organization, coffee pickups, DIRT and toys.
- M is a super-duper climber. Luckily he isn't too much of a daredevil and is pretty steady on his feet but I do have to keep an eye on him at all times 'cause he could end UP anywhere at anytime.
- Realizing I would LOVE to live in VicWest but even with an unlimited cash search on MLS there are very few places with 3+ bedrooms.
- Still getting use to the logistics of living here. I use to be able to multitask so much better (aka bake and surf) when everything was on one floor! AND running up and down those stairs all the time? It's nuts, and doing the hurdle over the gates at the top and bottom...
- I have a few new shots on my camera...but alas...it's downstairs and I ain't going running down there now.
- Anyone wanna do some research on the best mac (kira?) to get for someone like me? Photo editing being the main drain of resources. Doesn't need to be the fanciest and though I would love a laptop, it's not a requirement. Though a few things to do with the house are going to set up back some with our profit....I should be lined up to get a nice upgrade to this hunk o' junk.
- We had a good evening. Went to Ferris', I'm really enjoying their warm spinach salad, then gave the kids a bath and put them to bed. B actually let me braid her hair (though she said from now on only Ahda can do it 'cause I pulled it too hard....). Steph's back at work this evening. At least the year is almost over and he will relish being paid during the summer!

I found a penny

2009-04-05T14:08:00.001-07:00

and I picked it up....
then I picked up another 2 along with a dime.
We'll see what happens with that.

I can't help myself...

2009-04-04T23:31:00.000-07:00

she's just too stinking cute! We went to a birthday party today. I left M at home 'cause I had never been to their house and was not sure what he would find to launch himself off of AND 'cause I knew there were going to be lots of people. There was a fantastic face painter. Good thing this was Lily's 3rd birthday party 'cause if it was her 2nd, B would NOT be into the face painting yet! As it was she wouldn't let anyone take her picture. I finally convinced her by saying I needed to take one so that Aunty Maymay, uncle Q, Tonton Etienne and Tonton Laurent could see her butterfly. I got a few shots off that way. I'm sure you guys don't mind me using you.
--------------------------------
In other news, the house hit MLS today, there is an open house tomorrow. We meet with the realtors tomorrow evening to field, what we hope will be, multiple offers! Nerve wracking much?! OY! At least the house looks great in the photos! Once again, pray for the quick sale so I can get rid of this piece of junk (it had it's day and it is a lot better than the one before...durn technology constantly changing) and get myself using a mac...which will also involve getting used to new photo editing programs so you will have to bear with me.
That is all, good night.
Quoteish of the day: I asked B if she liked living at Ahda and Dido's house. She said no. I asked why not and she replied it's not big enough! I told her that not many houses were bigger than this one and she pointed out the window of the car to the scotiabank (the one with the clock and temp) and said that one is. So apparently we'll be living at the bank, hopefully all the money is included in the sale price.

a little this, a little TAP

2009-04-02T22:12:00.000-07:00

For Aunty Maymay and Uncle Quinn

The dress fits perfectly, it's very sweet. Mayms she's gonna be able to out tap you when you next see her, well, with her energy at least.

And M? Well he's been feeding himself for a while now (won't usually let us get near him with the spoon), but I'm not saying he's the most cleanly diner! Here he is, one on one, vs half an avocado.
-ok- FRIG! This computer. It's taken be -forever- to do anything. Let's pray that the extra $5,000 I am hoping to squeeze out of potential buyers will get me a nice new computer...and fast.
Ok, you know what, it's taken me over 2 hrs to make a little picture medley (and not due to lack of skill). It's 11:27 and I need to go to bed. Hopefully photoshop/my computer straightens it's self out by the morning and I will be back to add the photos of Marcel.Ok, so it involved firefox "not responding" and needing to be restarted but I got it done and all before midnight, so...basically 4 pictures edited into one shot and it only took 2 1/2hrs. Not too shabby hey? HA!

Done, and DONE!

2009-03-30T21:28:00.000-07:00

The big three has come and gone! I am so glad I pared down on my crafting 'cause I was actually able to enjoy the party! We (the 4 adults of the household) stayed up until 11pm the night before decorating...for a 3 year olds party! Oy. Can you tell we are birthday people?
That meshy thing was an ikea canopy strung up in the play area with balloons and silk flowers to decorate it. The ribbons hanging down in the background are helium balloons in the living room. And in one of the craft photos to follow you will see the pink ribbon hung above a green table in the dining room. Of course the obligatory Tanna banner was out in full force as well, wrapping from the front porch, through the hall, and to the doorway into the kitchen.

While I remember, I will say that a funny notion struck me at work the other day. I was telling someone about the party planning and they said "oh, so you are making the cake?" And I was clueless for a minute there. I guess because it never struck me *not* to make the cake. A bought cake is pretty much sacrilegious in the slobo household. So anyways, here is a picture of the cake (luckily I took one the night before 'cause all the other shots are from the back of the cake):

(can you tell what her present favorite colour is?)

It was made using this delicious recipe for gluten free white cake. It is so yummy that I declared to all the facebooking world that I was in love with sorghum. It was iced using a banana cream cheese icing dyed blue. The whole cake design was not of my making, B requested it after seeing in on the cover of this book, one of my many VV finds.
Before cake was had the kids indulged in a little crafting. I cut out crowns from foam and let the kids go at it with foam sticker flowers and stars as well as sticky jewels. Of course they also got their initial to decorate the crowns with (thought about doing the whole name but figured, among other things, it would take up too much space). To actually make them into a usable crown I had hole punched 2 holes on each end and laced them through with a ribbon to fit each kid. Easy, adjustable and not messy...the perfect kind of craft (and trust me, I thought about many different variations including fabric and also felt).

During presents, the kids crowded around the jewellery box we gave B. It's a fantastic find from Super Chance. I think it was $5ish and it's a super nice old wooden one with a swiss music box. The ballerina dances and, unlike most newer/cheaper models, her legs actually bend at the knee. The kids were quite fascinated. I've been holding on to it for MONTHS, waiting for her birthday. I think it was just that much more special too 'cause she started her dance class the day before.

Can you tell she was a touch smitten with her snow white costume that my parents got her? Yes, you read me right...MY parents got her that outfit. I think my mom was conflicted over the purchase but they couldn't help themselves, they know how much she loves dressing up at playgroup. That and the fact that she doesn't relate it to Disney at all, having no clue what any of that is all about, made it easier for them to swallow. Apparently my dad insisted on the matching purse, earrings and necklace which B absolutely loves! That middle picture is B trying to wink. My mom is attempting to teach her, but with Steph's genes...it may not be possible (he's more of a blink/winker)

There it is. A 3-year-olds party in a blogshell. Maybe next year I will have this lens and be able to include more people in the photos than just the party girl?

ballet and tap

2009-03-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

B started her first dance class on Saturday. Although I am pooped tonight from the day of partying, I am trying to fire off a quick entry about that day so that I don't get too far behind.
She started out much like she did at gymnastics, although this class is not parent participation. It was the first time she had ever sort of been left somewhere she didn't know the people or what was happening. The kids were in the dance studio and the parents where on the other side of a wall of windows. She sort of watched the other kids before class actually started. You could see the kids who were used to these types of situations 'cause they were running up to each other and making friends. Funny though, there always seems to be a leader that other kids follow (that's just a side observation).
She did quite well. She observed most of the class, participated when they were running around but not attempting skipping until the second go round once she had seen the teacher do it. Funny, she is a kid who likes to know what is expected of her and be able to do it properly before trying it. This class will be good for her. Unfortunately the picture taking opportunities were very rare 'cause there was a reflection on our wall of windows. I did get a few shots though:

If this isn't a face of fear, anticipation and uncertainty I don't know what is.

She liked the bar...but did branch out eventually, once class got started.

At one point B said she was tired. B! Tired! HA! I sent her back in. Half way through class they switch from ballet to tap. Part way through tap she came out saying it was too noisy. You know how I convinced her back in? I told her that her Aunty Maymay knows how to tap dance and loves it. And then when she comes and visits next time, she will show her! So Mayms, better dust off those taps shoes! Oh and I forgot that as soon as she went back in that time, she went straight to her "teacher" and tried to tell her that "My aunty Maymay knows how to tap". And this last one I just LOVE...it makes it look like she didn't participate at all, which isn't true. I just loved everything about catching her before she joined the noisy tap group again.

Just say "No."

2009-03-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

That is what I have decided to say. I have decided to not try to stress myself out re: crafty goodness for b's party. I just didn't have the energy nor the time to plan and plot in advance. I've decided to concentrate all my efforts on the one craft that the kids are going to participate in during the party instead of trying to do multiple ones with minimal effort (by necessity not choice). So there you have it. A party will be had and a cake will be made and decorations will be supplied.
B said "no" too tonight, but it was to stop me from taking any more pictures. Yes I had her swaddled in a towel and pinned between my legs so she couldn't get away....but the light in the early evening in the bathroom is FANTASTIC, how could I not?

As evident above, a bath was had. And thanks to the light, pictures were taken. Prepare yourselves for overload.

...Oh how sweet...

B wearing her "high heels" (aka blocks of some sort) and then her giving M a scalp massage (aka making his hair, what little he has "funny"). And lastly, M having a little drink....of bath water...yuck.

the planning has begun

2009-03-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

( ok and does B not look a touch like THIS in her small bottom right picture?)

I have officially started thinking about B's big 3! I wanted to make fusion plastic treat bags but, after a half hearted attempt tonight, have bypassed that idea. I did finish her tutu for dance class that she starts on Saturday (and must remember exactly where that takes place before then). As Steph is out playing soccer tonight and the parents are away, I am going to Michael's tomorrow night to gather party supplies. I'm trying not to go the trinket route in the treat bags. This is the first year we'll actually give treat bags out so, it's a new thing for me. I have planned a homemade item that I think is cool, but not going to give hints (it's not that exciting, don't want to build it up...). Today I did at least write out a list of attendees, the kids at least.
I guess I am hoping that Michael's will inspire me tomorrow.
B said she wanted her cake to be gluten. Then asked if me and M could have it. When I said that we wouldn't be able to she said that she then wanted it gluten free. Very sweet of her, but I told her that I would make her cake gluten then, maybe make something smaller for me and M.
I know I said I won't talk more about this moving business but I think that we did a good job transitioning B (M's still a bit more flexible). We didn't talk it up too much and we tried to make her new room familiar enough. We put the glow-in-the-dark stars up, she still has her bedtime music and doda and we follow the same bedtime routine. Thankfully she feels comfortable in her new temporary home and so do the rest of us.
Sorry for the semi-lame-o post, just trying to get back into the swing of things.

well we're in, and I'm back

2009-03-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

Finally settled in at our new digs (pictures to come once there are some decent ones taken). Steph and I cleared out, packed and stored everything in less than 6 days. All that is left in our house now is basic furniture and food in the fridge. We even took the bathroom. Ok well, the bathroom was gutted to make room for a new and improved one still in the making.
I'm not as sad (is that the word I'm looking for?) as I thought I would be. Maybe I should just say I'm not as emotional as I thought I was going to be. Perhaps 'cause it's still been go, go, go since moving everything, then doing two shifts right after but perhaps it's because we've walked into a pretty sweet set up. Lovely house, lots of room, great location....and best of all....built in babysitters (for the most part). Steph and I actually both slept in on Sunday! Can't remember the last time that happened. I know the whole living with the inlaws/parents thing isn't for everyone but, we've done it quite successfully before and now, well...now I'm just worried we are going to get too comfortable with the "it takes a community" mentality.

Last night in the house. Steph and I had packed that Saturday but we all slept there one last night. When me and Steph continued the packing process the next day, after dropping the kids off, I found this:

B had packed her own little box, unbeknownst to us, and put it on the pile. It contained the crocheted croissants that Ai had made her for her birthday last year. I thought it was just so cute, I had to take a picture.

That's what we had to deal with, I think at that point we had everything from the bedrooms, laundry area and bathrooms packed. I also thought it was fitting to get a picture of meals during the confusion 'cause we had a bunch of them from when we were renovating the house before we moved in. Full circle.
One last comment re the whole moving process. The only bonus of using disposable diapers, besides the convenience of course, is the ready availability of wonderfully sized boxes.

-------------------in other news

M's been in a great space these days...really developing and very adorable. He's finally sleeping in a crib, granted it's right beside our bed. And, more importantly, he's chosen something to cuddle, something that B never really did. He chose a gagely lion that my mom made into a puppet. It's really cute, he cuddles it when he sleeps. When he's awake he also cuddles random things then wants to be held as he's cuddling it.
B is becoming more and more the big sister. She wants to hold and carry M all the time. M puts up with a bit of it but now just wants to do everything he sees her doing.
B's 3rd birthday is this weekend and I am feeling VERY unprepared. She has a cake design chosen out but I haven't chosen which type of cake to make (GF or not, possibly not, and just make something for myself on the side), nor what else to do during the party. I'm sure it will all come together but I think I am still decompressing from the move and settling in here.
All in good time.
Oh and I had barley soup today. Exciting isn't it? Well it would be if you knew that barley contains gluten. Yes I am finally trying to test whether M is sesitive to ALL glutens or just wheat. Thought that potato/mushroom/barley soup would be a nice attempt. It was a hit for everyone but the kids. Oh well....I guess we'll just have to see if M reacts due to nursing.

hopefully

2009-03-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

I will get my computer over here, to my parent's place, and get back into the swing of things today.

No promises though.

it's begun

2009-03-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

The great purge that is. We're planning on sleeping in our new, temporary home tomorrow night! Today we attacked the kids room. That was a big job. Luckily I had actually organized a bit (packing and labeling boxes) as they grew out of things. Even still, it took us about 4 hours of solid work. The room now contains "B"'s mates bed (as she doesn't sleep in it), an empty dresser, 2 empty bookcases and a crib that contains Brielle. The closet is empty. We filled 4 black garbage bags and 3 smaller white garbage bags (50L capacity for those interested) to send to VV (though Lale swooped by and scooped up the clothing to peruse). These are the boxes we've packed.....

(there is another pile of boxes to the right of these now too, more kids stuff)

We're only taking one suitcase and one large tupperware container of clothing for the kids and one suitcase of stuffies/books. That's pretty good if you have any idea as to the amount of kid stuff we have.
-------------------
On another note. All day, everyday, B wants me to read her the "big bad wolf" story. Strange hey? She went from being freaked right out about some books, especially those related to wolves, to only wanting that one. I guess that's the thing. We took note when she was scared and didn't force her into getting over that fear. We explained why she shouldn't be scared but didn't push it when she didn't want to have anything to do with them. It's the story about the wolf and the 7 kids that she likes.

question...

2009-03-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

Does this:

remind anyone of ------THIS ------ ?

oh and Laylee sent me this video clip of "zoom zoom zoom" from the Ayyam-i-Ha party

Sometimes,

2009-03-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

the only way to stay sane (and away from the mind numbing mess) is to go outside. Luckily, after a day or two of snow, the sunshine returned. This morning we walked to e-town SS then returned home via the grocery store and the thrift store (where I had to hold myself back from buying grobags for $6, the only thing that helped was that it wasn't 100% cotton). Had a little lunch and inforced a 45 minute "quite" time in the bedrooms. Ok so B wasn't quiet but I set her up with snacks, her computer and books and said if she called out for me I wasn't going to answer but I would be back when the microwave beeped. Worked like a charm. I tried to get M down for a nap. Mostly it was me getting 45 minutes of shut eye while holding a squirming and sometimes screaming kid, convinced that he would go down (which he didn't). Probably due to the fact that he fell asleep in the stroller coming home for ~45minutes not 1 1/2 hours earlier. But it was wishful thinking.
Once the house was up and attem again, I decided we would go to the library. B wanted to walk (aka walk/stroller) so away we went again. I return my late book, making waldorf dolls, that I hadn't had a chance to really look at and we read a book or two until M started fussing about so we went to the park behind the library where fun and photos occurred.

Our adventure continued, 'cause it was only 4pm and Steph had a staff meeting and wasn't going to be home until later. We walked the long (uphill) scenic way home. Now let me tell you. If you have been to e-town, you may only think you've been to e-town. Let me be your personal guide and you will see why we want to look for our next house here. I told B we were going to walk down the forest path, a little walkway full of garry oak trees, that connects 2 streets. She, of course, asked if there were going to be bears 'cause bears live in the forest. I said no, but little did I know that we would see....

2 of them, on the path above then into the backyards.

Then home. Played in the garden for a bit and talked with Janaya :( (<----- that deserves a emoticon 'cause we are going to miss her). Both kids have been asleep since 7. B before 6:30. Ahhhhh....evening, how I love you. But back to my beginning thought. Perhaps it's the mess or clutter. Perhaps it's the mindset I am in when I am home. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. The point being, if I am out of the house we are all that much happier. I guess that is why I have 4/5 weekday mornings set. To get us up, moving and out the door to happier and more productive spaces (not that we don't enjoy being home and have our crafts and whatnot).
disclaimer, not sure what the heck was up with my focus today....sorry 'bout that.

for kicks...

2009-03-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

My intelligent, professor of a brother sent me this link to The Perception Laboratory's Face Transformer. Turns out he is going to look like my (our) dad's twin when he reaches 80! I thought I would play along... not so flattering, however the Botticelli is much more agreeable, in a painted sort of way.

Take a break! Transform yourself!

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Looks like our house will be on the market by the end of the month.
TO DO LIST:
Decide what we're taking to the 'rents
Decide what we are leaving to "stage" the place
Pack up the rest and store either in U-Pack or garage
Get the bathroom renovated
Do minor fixes/paint touch ups, yard work

oh ya, all of this (besides the bathroom) is to be done NEXT week as it's Steph's reading break and the only time we can do anything productive together. I am looking forward to the big purge though. Ready to junk some stuff. Lots of the stuff we have had for our 8 1/2 years of marriage and though we love it (fish dishes), it is not in the greatest condition anymore and no time like the present to start fresh.
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Time change hasn't affected us in the slightest which is soooooooooooo fantastic. B hasn't had a nap that I can remember but she is generally pretty content through out the day and falls asleep without a fuss close to 6:30...asleep before the 1st microwave beep! Oh it's so lovely but we sure put our time in with her. Baby (?) M is conking out around that time too although, unlike his sister, he's still getting up a few times throughout the night. Too bad it's going to go to h-e-doublehockey sticks in a hand basket when we move. Oy the joys of parenting.

WOW

2009-03-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

I noticed today that I was seeing ads all over the internet.
Turns out my adblockplus had stopped working.
I lasted less than a day, it's reinstalled now.
Those ads, they are everywhere but I don't think you notice them until you've been without them.
Thank you Adblock!

Il est mort.

2009-03-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

The squirrel that is. The pest control guy caught one at the bottom of the tree and we called him right away. He took him away and released him somewhere (I assume as they are a more humane company) however, Friday night (after both of us working all day) we heard a different sound coming from the roof. It was scratching but not the same. Well, when he came Saturday afternoon....the squirrel was no more. Good news for us, as there is no more scratching, no so good news for the squirrel. May he rest in peace.
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More good news. While the kids were eating lunch yesterday I decided to just do it! I threw all the ingredients for the Oatmeal-Millet bread (oatmeal-millet just flows better that millet-oatmeal) into the bread machine and hit "grain" and "2lb" loaf. I figured that if it didn't work, it's only about $5 down the drain. Took 4hrs 10min to make but only took me the time it took to measure all the ingredients into the pan, which I completed while B ate so not very long. It turned out pretty well, maybe a touch moist so I might cut back a bit on the water and perhaps premix the dry ingredients (minus the yeast of course). But, you live you learn I guess. It is definitely not as good as the stuff in the oven but a heck of a lot easier/faster so I guess that is good.
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B had her last gymnastics class yesterday. It was pretty exciting to see how much she had changed since her first class. She was jumping up and trying to talk with the teacher, answering her questions and doing the activities. She was doing somersaults down an incline by herself. I think she may have done one on the flat ground too but definitely on the slope.
I was so proud because one of the tasks was to "walk like a bear" across the beam. She was doing great but then fell and hit her leg and knee. Had a little cry but was ok, we moved on to another task. When we came back from a potty break she asked to try the beam again. No prodding from me, just wanted to try again. In the car ride home I explained how brave and courageous she was to get up and try again even though she got hurt the first time.
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An outtake of things to come:

The big move.

2009-03-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

So I guess it's happening. We're selling (or about to try to sell) our first home. Without a home to call our own.

Definitely mixed emotions. I worry that (yes it's a list):
We won't find another house in a reasonable time, for a reasonable rate, in a reasonable location.
We will regret giving up this location. Library, rec center, grocery, parks, ocean, kid's school (when the time comes)...all within a walkable distance.
I will miss the light in this house.
I will miss not having to close curtains (except in bedrooms) ever 'cause we're high enough up and/or the neighbors house isn't right there looking in our windows.
We will be stretched to our budget limit.
We won't find a tenant half as fantastic as Janaya.

I'll be happy (when we find a perfect place to call our own) that:
We won't be on top of each other all the time.
Hopefully M will start sleeping in his own room.
The kids will have their own space to play instead of being crammed into the living/dining/computer room.
We will have a bit more space.
We won't have to think about moving again for a while.

In the meantime, we're moving in with my parents. This weekend may, in fact, be our last weekend at this place. We are going to be moving our stuff over there then spending the following week packing up this place and getting it "showable". We have to do minor repairs/touching up as well as redoing the bathroom. We are hoping to have it on the market by the end of the month. The realtor came yesterday and will be giving us her assessment in the next few days. I know it is going to sell for more than we bought it for an put into it, but how much more is the question. And will the suitable buyer come around.
Anxiety-mania.

ok, a step closer to sucessful playdough.

2009-03-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

(future cookie stealer)

The problem is that I change more than one thing each time I make it so it's hard to narrow down what made the difference. This time, though I was pretty much resigned to making regular playdough, I used straightup rice flour (granted it was the "asian" variety that's bought on the cheap) and added a tsp or so of xanthem gum instead of doing 1/2 rice and 1/2 cornstarch. That's the only difference I could think of between regular and gluten-free. But I think more key than anything was the discover of this site, it's part of the instructables.com. Using that sight I determined that I wasn't cooking the playdough quite as long as I should have been. The end result is a touch oily (not sure why, maybe I will try omitting the veg oil next time) but super smooth and B was quite excited 'cause she could roll it out herself, unlike the previous batch that was super too floury and the first that I had to peel and pluck off my hands.
This was made using:
1 cup cheap rice flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1/2 Tbsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp xanthem gum
1 Tbsp veg oil (though I will try only 1 tsp next time)
splash of vanilla (seems to preserve it longer)
I followed the instructions on the above link and added the colour after cooling it, then mixed the regular food dye into it. Didn't feel like grating beets or anything for something that may not work.

Up to the minute play by play:
This gave me confidence to try the bread. I was able to mix the dry ingredients earlier today so though it speeds up what I have left to do, it feels like I have been working on it all day. We only had 2 eggs in the house so I had to wait for Steph to get home (then feed the kids, put the kids to bed, eat dinner) before I could finish it off.
OY! here's hoping. oops yeast proofing alarm off, gotta go see if I can move forward.
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Yeast is good to go. Berwyn is working his magic now....beating away. Glutenfreemommy says for 15 minutes! That seems like a long time but I guess not? We'll see. Thankfully I'm not doing it by hand. After this I have to let it rise for 1 - 1 1/2 hrs THEN cook it. Oy it's gonna be a long night. But how rewarding if it actually works -and- tastes good.
While we wait for it to rise, I guess I had better mention in this post that it's the Millet Oatmeal Bread from Glutenfreemommy.
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Just peaked in the oven (following instructions on blog) and saw that the middle of the towel is up! yipee. I will let it finish rising for the hour, then bake. Hmmmmm warm homemade bread with butter.
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Ok just had the heel of the bread (which is the reject normally but in homemade warm bread....yummy) and it was DAMN good! Seriously. Hello sandwiches made on soft bread not toasted! It opens up a whole new world. mmmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Above, Berwyn berin' his magic. Fresh outta the oven, yes that's steam.

I guess it is only fair

2009-03-01T14:16:00.000-08:00

if I report my crafting disasters as well as my successes right?
I'm on playdough batch #2. I knew there was a reason why I had never made it before. Part of the problem, aka my excuse, is that I'm making it gluten free so I don't have to worry about M munching on it. I tried a batch last night. Mind you I started at about 10 so that may have been mistake number 1. It seemed to be going ok....I was kneading and kneading. It was getting less sticky but I decided to throw a bit more "flour" in. Yikes! I had to slime it off my hands and into the garbage.
This afternoon is my second attempt, using a slightly different recipe (and again adapted as I didn't have the ingredients). It's cooling now but seems quite stringy/sticky. Oy.
Will update later.
No more salt in the house for attempt #3 if this one fails.

A weekend of parties!

2009-02-28T21:51:00.000-08:00

Friday was a success I would say. Thanks to my mom for pulling through with decorations and, along with my dad, hospitality once again. The 3pm start was different for our group who are used to am get togethers, but I think that all kids handled it well. Basically went straight into the 2 planned activities starting with the fabulous idea of making lei-type necklaces thought up by Kira. Of course the necklaces weren't the perfect bit of straw followed by the foam flower and so on, but the older kids enjoyed it at least. It was nice to have a craft even if only the parent's appreciated the thought. We then went on to the gift giving. Each kid (parent) brought a wrapped gift. My mom decorated a cardboard display with the word Ayyam-i-Ha and we helped the kids throw a fishing line (swiffer minus the mop part, with a bit of ribbon tied on the end) over to "catch" a gift. I remembered doing this as a child at many a party and have always thought that it is a fantastically fun thing to do.

(I helped the kids fish, B's wearing her necklace, Kira attached the presents.)

After that there was eating, socializing and playing. There were 12 kids ranging between 5months and 5 1/2 yrs old! That is A LOT, good thing we have a nice big house to hold all these parties. Some people stuck around and joined in a potluck dinner that was really good. I'm so thankful that we have so many friends and family around to celebrate holy days, days of celebration and everyday days together with.

(I didn't have time to take photos, these were stolen from my dad's camera)

This morning started with a birthday party for baba, then the e-town Ayyam-i-Ha party, then a visitor for dinner THEN I went off to baby warming event for a family friend. This family and my family go way back....way, way back. Back to the days of a shared tv being carted from one house to another, 4 apart (and later closer to 6 long blocks), for a week at a time. It was interesting to me. Usually I am not too into these types of sharing circles but for some reason, tonight I was all about it. Maybe it was because it was at the Kool's house and the smell alone was just so all encompassing the second I opened the outer door. Maybe it was because it was for Mari and cherishing her in the last month of her pregnancy. Maybe it was the group of women that Enid had invited. Maybe it's because I'm a mom and feel, somehow, more connected to these women now. Maybe it was the dim candle light and everyone in a circle. Whatever it was, it was nice to be with a group of women who were all so obviously there just to support Mari. Enid had a wonderful idea to make a saori weaving, I didn't get to stay long but it made me want to make one.
Tomorrow off to children's classes though I think it's more of an Ayyam-i-Ha celebration with waffles made by Dusty (and my loving family is always looking out for me and bought some gluten free pancake mix so me and M could partake too). Can't wait.
The fast starts on Monday. Time for some serious meal planning and shopping!
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oh and the squirrel is still at it so I guess the pest control guy will be back on Monday and reposition the traps, or something.
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I really gotta pay more attention to B when she talks so I can pick back up with the Quote of the Day's.

Please excuse the photo quality.

2009-02-27T08:45:00.001-08:00

I couldn't wait. I love it. The fabrics I have had forever. The floral ones are pillowcases, the striped was a shirt I bought when we lived in Halifax (used the same material for a bit of Sam's quilt), the striped yellow was from even before Hali (like '03!), the blue berry (?) print was napkins also bought at VV. Jane donated the unbleached cotton that is on the backs and the pinking rotary cutter. The letters I cut out of remnant fabric I bought once. I printed a font off on the computer then traced it onto the fabric, cut it out and sewed it onto the triangles (yes the 3rd -A- is reversed but I just didn't have the energy to change it once I had done it).
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Ayyam-i-Ha present day #2: Come and Sing. A CD by Susan Engle and Jean White Marks. We had the record when we were little and it brings back the memories. Most of my friends talke about the Dr. Sears Ayyam-i-Ha song but, truthfully, I don't remember that from childhood, it's Come and Sing that I remember.

let me state once again,

2009-02-26T20:53:00.000-08:00

for the record, the absolute redonkulousness of this computer.
I -finally- finished the Ayyam-i-Ha banner. Yes it's a day late. I had grand notions of the kidlets waking up Ayyam-i-Ha morning #1 to a decorated place, prominently displaying this banner....Apparently that was this morning. I was pretty convinced it was tomorrow. Goes to show I put too much actual thought into it and not paying attention to the details. So to reference back to the computer, I took some horrible photos of the banner (dark, unable to capture full banner...) and was trying to fix them as much as I could and compile them into one photo but photoshop is not cooperating so you will have to wait until tomorrow when it's up at my parents (bringing it over there for the afternoon party). Since there needs to be a photo to this post, here is what I made the kids last year (most have seen it on facebook). It's felt fish, one for each day, and a bamboo fishing rod. There are magnets in the fish and, obviously, on the rod.

(ooooh, B was so darn cute)

Oh but that banner. I thought I was in the clear. Only the sewing the pendants on the bias tape left. Turns out a) my sewing machine light is out b) the bias tape I bought was about 1/2 the width I thought it was making it very difficult to fold over and c) I threaded the machine wrong the first time and after swearing multiple times at it, discovered the error. After all this was cleared up and worked out, it was smooth sailing. There will be photos of the banner (can you tell I love it?) along with party shots tomorrow (or soon after).
I wanted to make the no-frills chocolate (cup)cakes tonight for tomorrow but with all the hassle of getting this banner finished and trying to decorate/clean up, I just can't. Maybe there will be time tomorrow morning.
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I left a note for the pest control guy and it started like this "Dear Pest Control Guy..." what followed were our squirrel woes. He set 2 traps and will be back tomorrow to check on them. It was last night around this time that he was going nuts up there...tonight.....nothing. So here's hoping.
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Presents on day #1....Padraig slippers.
I swear, next year I will be organized earlier, I really want to make decorations like Luckybeans did one year.

Don't buy a house, ever.

2009-02-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

Within the first month of us living in our first place the basement flooded, taking out a chunk of the basement suite's drywall and prompting our first late night call to the 'rents for rescue. Turned out the shelf that is in the laundry area (upstairs) had fallen, disconnecting the water hose to the washer. We run a load and....voila a partially soaked basement.
Soon after that (maybe a few weeks) it's POURING rain, like seriously pouring...not just cats and dogs, dinosaurs. Due to the aforementioned event we were unsure whether a tared up area in the foundation was actually leaking or if it was from the washer mishap. Regardless there was a downspout that wasn't connected properly and we had noted, on previous downpours, that a puddle of water collected right around where the tarred area is in the basement. So being the ever-thinker-aheader I go out and reconnect the downspout (which I had done in the past but the wind blew it down again). We immediately go to bed. About 15 minutes later our tenant is banging on our door. As we go to answer it we note that there is water streaming down around the island/stove. Right, well apparently it was also running down into the forced air vent and into the basement suite. Sweet. Call #2 to the handyparents. My dad and Dusty come flying over with sump pump, shopvac (or maybe we had that still from the 1st incident) and ideas. I was inside, still pregnant I believe, trying to catch the water and dump it into the sink. It's still pouring. Our tenant is in the basement trying to catch that water. The menfolk are on the roof trying to figure out what happened. Turns out when I reconnected the downspout it dislodged the connector on our flat roof. That means that all the water caught and continuing to be caught on the roof was pouring through our house. Right. Lovely. The guys jimmied something up with plumbers grease and some tubing and then we had our roof redone. Goodbye tar and gravel, hello torched.
The latest, that I can think of, is occurring as I type. A squirrel, caught in the flat roof. Ok maybe not caught but actively attempting to scratch through our ceiling. I guess the house looks comfy and he can smell that there is good eats or something. Ok, seriously, there are 3 small holes in our ceiling and he's still digging! It's driving us nuts. We think it gets in through the mandatory ventilation in a flat roof, between the actual roof and the ceiling. The previous owners had let ivy grow up the side and it got in under the roof so the mesh, that is supposed to prevent this from happening, was compromised. So now a squirrel is driving us nuts, we have holes in our ceiling and I worry that Steph isn't gonna wake up in the morning 'cause he'll be mauled by a squirrel in his sleep. Pest control is alerted and will be coming to pay it a visit tomorrow morning (humanly, they have live traps for squirrels but more importantly -yes I am at that point- is a written guarantee), we bumped it up from a visit Friday.
I am sure there are more. But it's a hassle. Don't do it.

Let me just say a few things:

2009-02-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

1) I am oh.so.happy to have a little boy back who is not the screaming, crying, clinging little kid we've had for over a week. I can let him go down and he will play. There's nothing in the world like it.
2) I am really wanting to start making my own gluten-free bread and thinking of referring back to my go-to-gal, gluten-free mommy. This Millet Oatmeal recipe to be exact. The problem is I have never baked bread (shame, shame I know) and it's a little scary, especially to put all the effort into it and then it flop. I have been very lucky in that basically everything I have made, gluten-free, has turned out well. It's risky business baking with internet recipes, so maybe someone has a tried, tested and true easy recipe for gluten-free bread? I'm sick of paying up to $7/loaf, and they are 3/4 a regular loaf size.
3)hmmm I'm sure I had more...
4) oh I think it was that I was relatively productive today. Made roast chickpeas this afternoon, while feeding the kids lunch and cleaning the kitchen...and preparing the roast veggies for dinner. Went to playgroup after being holed up with sick kids for a week (with outings to work and parent's rescue) it was nice. Also discovered, before I left, that Steph had forgotten his lunch so drove that by to him. I think this all may be due to the fact that I had 4 shots of caffeine today. 2 in the form of lovely americano from Discovery and the other 2 in a cinnamon dolce latte while hanging out at the mall waiting for Steph's lunch period to start. That also might be the reason for my lack of attention and resulting in the momentary stall of memory and what I wanted to write about.
5) Ayyam-i-Ha party on Friday, gotta finish my banner! I haven't worked on it in over a month probably. At least now I have the bias tape all I have to do is sew the pendants on and viola a Ayyam-i-Ha banner to last through the ages.
6) We need to start planning our next step in this crumbling real estate environment. Gotta just get the ball rolling, decide what we are doing then figure out what we need to do to achieve it.

Disclaimer alert:

2009-02-22T23:38:00.000-08:00

a) This was drawn under duress, directed by B
b) She told me to draw me, then M, then after, herself and finally Steph and the order of skill increased with each one
c) She wanted M to be laughing, not sure what happened to his eyebrows
d) She wanted Steph to be laughing
e) It's my first computer coloured drawing and it was done at 11:30pm

I think that's all.

I'll tell you what NOT to do...

2009-02-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

decide, at 4:30, to head downtown walk around a bit then eat dinner. Don't do this because the first restaurant will be closed, the second will just be not right (too pricey, too dark, too loud), and the third will have a 30 - 40 minute wait. You'll move the car from one parkade to another then eventually park on the street. Finally you will order your food, which takes a bit longer 'cause it's "Dine Around Town" and busy. Afterwhich you decide that maybe you should take the order to go. When you get up to tell them that, you see that they are bringing your order. And when it gets there you have to wolf down 1/2 of it and take the rest home 'cause it's already 7pm. Oh, and don't forget that you are dragging two sick, coughing kids around with you.

Foto Faturday

2009-02-20T20:23:00.000-08:00

I guess technically I should be posting 2 since I missed last weeks, what with all Marcel's nonsense.
This was from our family outing today (thanks to Steph's pro-D day). I was waiting outside Dragon Alley with M sleeping in the stroller, enjoying the sun and a good americano.

And this one for fun, taken on our baby beluga trip. It was made using Poladriod.

In other news, while I was putting M to bed I was watching The Disappearing Male, a CBC documentary. Now THAT is scary stuff. I didn't get to watch it from the beginning but I was able to catch enough to be rewarned about plastics/chemicals. They really make it understandable.

ixnay last post!

2009-02-19T12:42:00.000-08:00

Well the "marcel's miracle" part anyways. He's super wheezy and has a terrible cough. My dad's thinking an upper airway infection...time for some antibiotics since it's gone on for 3ish days now. OY! But at least when I am at the dr (once B wakes up from her nap) I will get a req for some bloodwork to rule out allergies.
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enough about that, will update when there is one.
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Work, new work. Don't know how I am going to pass 12hrs and stay busy! I guess my time will be spent learning all about home care set up and liaisoning and the sort as that is basically all that is done there (besides daily care stuff). Though the ladies were in a flap 'cause a pt got a chest tube inserted. That was pretty much on of the focuses of my previous floor so I was able to assist with set up and everything. Whew. Other than that, the nurses are nice but there aren't enough chairs or hands (since basically everyone is "total care" meaning you have to do everything for them). It's not that busy just sorta, time consuming stuff. Not running-with-your-head-cut-off busy.
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Just to toot my own horn again. Got 91.5% on my ECG class (no need for further congrats, you've all congratulated me already). Not too shabby for a gal who studied for 1hr the day before the exam and 1 1/2hrs the day of, without doing approximatly 70% of the homework.
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After I had finished studying on the Monday before my exam, I stopped by good old VV. I thought I had struck gold when I saw The Children's Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett. Last children's classes we focused on Friendship but neither Laylee nor I had any books -specifically- about friendship so I thought this was great. I looked under the friendship section and found this story "Why Frog and Snake never play together". Now it must be said that it is an African folktale that "makes us think about how much companionship the world has missed because people are told they 'can't' be friends with each other", but STILL, do kids get that sort of moral at a young age? I was shocked when I read the story. Basically it's about a snake and a frog who play together, then their parents found out and told them they can't play together. The frog parent says snake can hurt the frog and the snake parent says that they are on bad terms with the frogs. So I though oh great! Memories of the racism dance flooded back. But no, the end of the story the kid frog and snake see eachother from across the field (or whatever) and know they can't play together but are thankful that they had that one day to play! Wow. I was not impressed. The book is a compliation of stories and poems from around the world...I think I will have to read a little further until I decide whether it's a keeper or not, I bought it already. I just think, for the young, it is more straightforward to teach them what is right rather than teach them what is wrong then explain. So, we'll see.

Our blogging prayers have been answered

2009-02-15T19:02:00.000-08:00

Or so it seems. All you have to do is let a thought out into the blogging world and it will be answered. Marcel had no temperature (ok not no temperature obviously but not a high temp) all day today. And no rash. Everything pretty much went away. He's got a bit of a cough but that could be due to strained vocal cords what with his 2 hrs of on and off screaming last night. I think he had just had enough of the temperature fluctuations and had reached that breaking point. Today he was great though, seeming to be back to his usual self. Hurray (wanted to say hurrah but can't figure out how to spell that).
Anyways the rent's are back from their vacay to HaVaiiiiii, just in time for me to cram from my ECG final tomorrow. Skipping the am playgroup, dropping the kids off with my mom and heading to Discovery's lounge to learn what I gotta learn. I also start orientation on my new floor at VGH on Tuesday. Gotta fit in some food shopping too 'cause lunch/dinner and snack preparation and make or break a shift (being 12hrs and all)! And to add the gluten-free on top of that, it doesn't really leave any last minute choices.
Off to a girls night coffee. Later.
What's a post without a photo (I try to minimize such posts)?
As I sat here trying to edit the photo while one screen after another froze up on me...I decided to add this Macbook (figured I needed it with all the photos I do) to my wishlist and thought I might as well throw on a true full fledged photoshop ( I like how the introductory line is "adjust photos in half the time" that had me sold) too while I was at it, since I would have the computer for it. Plus there are way more photo actions available than there are for elements. Anyways, here's the photo, it was a bit blurry and quite grainy due to the ISO, so I added effects:

The party must go on...

2009-02-14T17:41:00.000-08:00

right?
So in spite of the events of the night before, the Valentine cookie decorating party was had.
The kids were a bit nuts (even before the cookies) and Marcel only wanted to be held, but here are some photos of our efforts.

Kira stated that it was a very "bloggable moment" 'cause in addition to making mainly cream cheese as icing, we used Kira's lovely stash of Barley Green and Barley Green related items for colouring the "icing" (ok so we had to add a drop of two of dye too, but could have been wonderful).

(gotta start seating B where Dante sits, he always get the good light!)

Baba popped by to say hello but I think the madness scared her away (that and the fact that she and Kit were going shopping...baby shopping of course!). The actual painting of the cookies lasted about 5 minutes. Probably could have lasted a touch longer if there were some supervision/direction given but all the moms were busy with the littler ones. The cookies were using that same sugar cookie recipe I adapted in an earlier post...yum yum and they worked out perfectly and now I also have a freezer full of dough at the ready for a rainy day. Although Brielle won't stop asking for cookies, talking about cookies, whining about cookies....we'll see how soon I put us through this torture again.
This post was started last night and finished this evening.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY I hope everyone had a good day. We went for brunch at Demitasse despite M's continuing fever. Last night it got up to 39.6! That's HIGH! Luckily it came down within 1/2hr of Tylenol. We have a game plan now for him. Going to act according to different possible scenarios, the best being if the fever stops and he gets a rash which would equal roseola (which he has had once before though I don't remember the temperature going on this long). So I'll keep you in the know as things hopefully don't progress but rather just go away.
Sorry about the layout of this post, just don't feel like going back and trying to arrange it better, blogger only shows about 1/3 of the screen so it's a pain to move things around.

Our first emergency room visit...

2009-02-12T20:50:00.000-08:00

At least we lasted until baby #2 hey (granted the "family" doc is still in Hawaii)?
And no, it wasn't because M fell off the chair, or the playtable, or the bed, or the couch or anything else for that matter. He's fine, lets just state that outright then get into the story.
Last night Steph said "listen Marcel's breathing is funny." I said it was fine but did say that he had a bit of a temperature. This morning before going out to playgroup I took his temp but it was fine. When we got back around 12:30 I took it again and it was 37.9 so I gave him some motrin.
Steph got home around 4 and I went out around 4:30 leaving him with the kids. He called at 6:27 (that's exact, I just checked my phone) saying something's wrong with Marcel and that I should come home right away. I bought my things from Tillicum mall and drove home. When I was passing Lampson School I called saying where I was and he said that he would bring the kids out so we could go to a clinic or something. I told him to hang on and I would just take a look at M first.
As soon as I came in Steph showed me Marcel's dusky (blueish) hands!!! Oy! He said he noticed it when he was changing his diaper, then noticed his breathing again and when he lay him down he just...lay there (this is the kid who we put a leg over for diaper changes to hold him down). Needless to say I told Steph to stay with B and I took M directly to emerg. I bypassed triage and just said "My baby's hands are blue, I don't know what's wrong with him". We were seen pretty quickly initially, temp taken 38.9! but O2 sats good and his hands were pinking up. (On the whole drive over there I was listening to/for his irregular breathing and had a hand on his carotid pulse! He as pretty out of it, I actually lightly hit his face a few times with no responce, to which I pulled over and heard his breathing).
Got some Tylenol into him by 7:30pm, about 20 minutes after getting there. Saw the doc by 8:00pm. Thought that it might be due to immunizations (1 week ago, but he didn't have MMR so that was pretty much ruled out), but decided the hands and breathing were probably due to his temperature. That if left much longer perhaps could have developed into a febrile seizure (I have a glimps at Tanya's pain and worry with Jack and his fevers). Oy man.
By our drive home at 8:30pm (less than 1 1/2hrs after getting there) he was back to his tired self and promptly fell asleep in the car. So we'll be watching his fever over night and into tomorrow. There were no signs of ear or throat infection and no rash so... here's crossing all fingers and toes that it was just a fever gone wrong.

mini update:
His temp went up to 39.2 last night around 3 but was pretty chipper (not the same symptoms as earlier in the evening) with Tylenol it came down to 38.5 by 3:30. He's still sleeping this am but his forehead felt normal.

Ah HA. Finally.

2009-02-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

Marcel is finally a walker. Today, he is walking more than he is crawling. finally.

(don't mind Brielle and Steph making all that racket)

So today was Strongstart as usual. Fun, fun, fun, same old.
Kira had to go off to do a typing speed test so I said I could take Dante and Kiana while she does that. Lucky for me the two littlest traded off naps so I only had one to handle at a time. I tried to edit the photos into a nice storyboard for you but SERIOUSLY, this computer has definitely seen it's day. The speed and processing is just not.up.to.par (I know Kira, I need to get a mac)! So, you're stuck with individual photos of B and Dante showing off their muscles that were growing with each bite of stirfried rice.

After Kira got back we all got cookie cutting for the Valentines cookie party on Friday. I suckered those kids into doing my dirty work, if they hadn't helped out today I wouldn't be blogging, I would be baking cookies for Friday. Whew.
The 'rents are gone until Sunday and my final ECG exam is Monday...guess I'll be craming, I'm sure it will bring back many highschool, college and university memories.

I -will- be back...

2009-02-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

(steph took these I think....when I was at work. Note the dress under the bag)

just feeling very low on energy....can't find the time between entertaining kids and completely vegging out to do any entries.
We did make the dough for our Valentine cookie decorating party (thanks to Ai and Mayms coming to play with kids) though. I froze and refrigerated most of it but B did get to make a batch. Too bad they were just a bit too cooked (still edible) and stuck to the pan (good thing I did a practice run on our pans in our oven before making all the heart ones) but still yummy.

How was my day?

2009-02-07T19:55:00.000-08:00

Don't ask if you don't want to know.
Quote of the day: "You guys sure have a lot of train wrecks up here" ~A Dr visiting our floor today.

So arrive on the floor.....2 RN's short. I have 5 patients. This is the breakdown:
pt 1 - bedridden, 1-2 assist to move, isolation precautions, wound to be packed and redressed
pt 2 - bedridden, 1 heavy to move, isolation precautions
pt 3 - bedridden, 2 assist, isolation precautions (meaning change my gown and gloves between pts and each time I enter the room)
pt 4 - nurse going off said he had apnic periods and his code status (full) needed to be addressed. Sedated, lots of secretions that need to be suctioned
pt 5 - medically stable but also on isolation precautions

THANKFULLY a RN came in for 8hrs to "workload" and attacked my room with me. Seems manageable right? It was until my pt 4 decides to start obstructing his airway around 1500hr. Respiratory therapy came up....basically by 1845hr the pt was in ICU, after being intubated ON THE FLOOR. I'm just lucky that all but one of the docs were wonderful, supportive and friendly and the RT and I were not backing down in that we could not do continuous deep suctioning. Thank goodness a month ago I put in my status change to casual! Done and done.

Foto Friday

2009-02-06T21:08:00.000-08:00

disclaimer: may not be the typical foto friday subjects but at least there are photos
So today Kira's van was packed full, perhaps for the first time. Ai, Kira, myself and attached kids went up to Duncan to visit Emily and kids. Besides the fact that I hadn't brought my cell and apparently I was the only one with her number.....and we didn't have an address.....and no one we called (at least 5 people) were home to help us.....the trip went well. B went straight for Maelle's purple (little people?) castle and Emily said Maemae (or Mymy?) was tickled to have a girl around. B said, on the way up, that she was going to take care of all the babies. After general play, my hair got cut by Ai while the rest of the crew ate a lunch of bagels, cream cheese, salmon and fruit.
After more play Emily got her hair cut while the kids played with homemade playdough. I have yet to venture into the homemade playdough but I think that's because my dad got a bunch of Hallowe'en sized ones from Costco so I've just been living off those. Kudos to Em though, homemade is always so much softer.
Pretty soon it got sorta hairy...jumping on beds was had!

but all settled down with a joint reading session led by Sam

Thanks Em for having us, your kids are wonderful and generous. Thanks Kira for driving and organizing food and thanks Ai for being hairdresser for the day. And most of all, thanks kids for being such loving and sincere creatures.

already?

2009-02-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

B saw me sneak a scone...she wanted one. As I was getting one I asked Marcel if he wanted one. I was about to break one in half for them to share but B said she could do it. She broke it and I watched curiously to see how it was going to play out. She automatically started to hand him the one in his left hand but she realized quickly that it was bigger and switched hands!

It's all relative

2009-02-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

but the question is: How spoiled am I? So usually my parents are around to help out with the kids and/or just play with them on a VERY regular basis... They are away (Hawaii) for two weeks and what do they do? They fly their youngest daughter, Auntie Maymay, in to take their place! Yes, that's right, Mayms arrived from Montreal last night, just in time too 'cause I work Saturday and Sunday and I'm sure Steph will appreciate the help in his 14hr shift with the kids on those days. FOURTEEN HOURS!
Here she is reading B A Salmon for Simon (the things you learn finding a link for a book...it's into it's 12 printing and first published in 1978), oh my love for Canadian focused books. There is just something so special about being able to identify with the story and pictures.

Marcel is just about caught up with his vaccinations. Due to the fact that Maymay got in at 11pm I decided NOT to ask her to hang with B while I got M to his 9am apt. Instead Brielle came with me. Why you might ask? Well 'cause I knew that M wasn't much of a crier and thus, won't traumatize her and 'cause she is always interested in playing doctor I thought she might find it interesting. Marcel, as expected did wonderful, less that 1 minute crying, basically the time it took for the nurse to give the injection and a few seconds afterward. Because we were delayed with getting him vaccinated, didn't want to introduce things to his body while we were trying to figure out what was causing his rash, he's due for multiple trips. I am multiplying those multiple trips because I requested no more than 3 shots per visit. But like I said, in 2 months time we will be caught up leaving only his 18month ones to be given around 21 months or so. In other health related news, his rash under his chin seems to be drastically better! He's had 2 complete days of the homeopathic medication so HOPEFULLY it's doing some good and not just because whatever was eaten (by me or by him) is out of his system. We hung out with Lale for a bit today and she noticed that it looked better too.
Other than that, Marcel was in a giggly mood today. Just laughing away. Such a change from about a week ago where he was just plain unhappy. Maybe he is feeling better with the meds? Maybe it's just his mood? He's definatly not getting more sleep so it's not that.
Oh! ALSO, yesterday Brielle and I were listening to Ella Fitzgerald. I thought she might like the music. Anyways we got to talking and B asked if Ella (that's what she calls her) still sings. I said that no she doesn't, then corrected myself and said that she's dead (I believe I stated it just like that) but maybe she sings with God. Didn't know I was going to be crossing this bridge any time soon. So we talked about it and I told her that when people get really old they die. She said that Baba is really old but she's not dead. I said that you need to be really, really old. Anyways the conversation stuck because she asked me about Ella again in the car to playgroup today. She said that we weren't going to die. I explained the "cycle of life" to her...saying that it won't happen until we are really really old. When I said that I felt a -fraction- of what parents who have children who they know are going to die before them feel. Just a little twinge. The emotions that I pray that I will never EVER have to experience , with my kids or with any of the kids we know and love.

This too, shall pass...

2009-02-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

So first it was the lack of sleeping (ahhh, who am I kidding, this one is still going).
Second was the whining...thankfully it's pretty much, on an ongoing basis, stopped.
Third B saying Mommmmmy. I know some mom's kids call them that but I just can't stand it...ok maybe if it was not drawn out into an incredible whine and said approx 70x a day I would be ok with it...but she's passed the mommy phase and back to mom, mama etc.
Fourth was the why's....mostly over with perhaps 'cause her vocabulary and understanding has moved on.
Now, you might ask? Well, it's the baby talk. Oy Vey. No good. She can obviously talk normally but she does this baby talk voice and it's not good, not good at all. I try not to answer her when she uses it or ask her to speak normally. Ah well, just another hurdle I guess. In the grand scheme of things, not too horrible.
I've started giving Marcel his homeopathic meds again, starting today, so hopefully now that we have a clearer picture of what is causing his rash the meds might actually do something

Here are some snaps from Fernwood playgroup today:

If it were up to Marcel, he would never leave the little car, he climbs into and out of it by himself...though he slips under the hood in the steering wheel-less one

B taking some time to look at books

M hangin' outta the car and B running away from my camera.

Both successful shots if you ask me.

Ok, slightly excited

2009-02-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

can't share on FB incase there are other RN's on the loose....
The floor I had applied to for a temp part-time job just called me back. I had been told before that the job was already filled but the manager called to let me know in person but she also told me that I was next in line for it AND that another one was going to come up at the end of Feb. So, you never know....usually when a permanent job comes up (and this one would be 'cause the RN is retiring) there is some shuffling so...although I may not get it, at least there is another chance for me. 8 hr shifts, ward closed Sat noon - Monday morning....yah, pretty sweet.

just because...

2009-02-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

I'm a thoughtful, planning ahead kind of gal I am going to make the spaghetti sauce and tapioca pudding for dinner/dessert BEFORE I drop the kids off with Steph so I can go to my class. I already snuck some chopped up spinach into B's "grrrrl cheese samwich" (<---that's me, not B) but planning on more in the spaghetti sauce as well as broccoli, corn and veggie burger. Made possible as M is napping and B is -supposed- to be napping.
Back to books...
Something else to add to the wish list is this book, it's called The Important Book by Margaret Brown.....I just found out, in finding the link, that it's the same author as Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon, no wonder I like it. On the other end of the spectrum there is The Dress Up Book! Jeez, the book is in her room and I can't find a link but it's INCREDIBLE annoying, yet she loves it so I have to suck it up and read it.
Edited to add that the reason I couldn't find it was because it's called The DressED Up Book.

Books and goings-on

2009-02-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

Quote of the day: "...Just like Maymay is your Aunty."
"I call her Maymay though. What do I call Quinn?"
"I don't know, what do you call Quinn?"
"Alive."
-random much?

Books relegated to the top shelf where B can't get them even with her stool. They have been chosen by her 'cause they are too scary and are for when she's "a little bit bigger":
Peter and the Wolf, Caillou The Wolf, There's a Wocket in my Pocket and Animals do the Strangest Things. First two are self explanatory, she's got a thing for wolves. The Dr Seuss is because there is a part that says "the only one I'm really scared of is that vug under the rug" and don't know what it is about the animal one.

Brielle is still sleeping in the crib....so much for my big plan of her wanting out then that would be the end. She likes it in there. Funny since she's had freedom from it since about age 15 months or so (after and before cosleeping). Bedtime routine has been working out well though. If she is nice and quiet after I leave until the microwave beeps, 10 minutes, she gets two songs. Her favorites are Teaching Peace, I think you're wonderful and Blanket Blanket. Blanket Blanket? you may ask. Yes. It goes like this (obviously sung to Twinkle, twinkle tune):
Blanket, Blanket on my bed
you keep me all toasty warm.
Blanket, blanket lay on me.
Blanket, blanket help me sleep.
Blanket, blanket on my bed
you keep me all toasty warm.

Tonight she asked for Light, light and Blanket, blanket but before I could start she realized that they would sound the same since the twinkle tune is my go-to tune, she requested something else instead! Ha!

How far she's come in a year. It was about a year ago that we couldn't even get past the first page or two in Going to the Doctor or Going to the Dentist, where she would cry if she saw someone hurt, freak out if she saw a toy with only one arm or leg. Tonight, she's sleeping with a little bear that only has one arm. The other day she told me that it only had one arm and when I asked her where the other one was she said she thought it was in the garbage.

She also asked for a baby sister today...

I need to starting thinking about B's birthday party...

Marcel is still teasing us with his walking ability though he is, on his own accord, walking from thing to thing (not just person to person with bribing anymore). His rash under his chin is sticking around and it's just frustrating. If I could find our chequebook I would pick up his homeopathic medication.

Foto Friday

2009-01-30T21:59:00.000-08:00

I tried to edit a photo but my ridiculously slow, farty computer is acting up and so is photoshop so I may have to search for an oldie...

These peas got B eating veggies. She loved picking them out. She also loved eating an apple each time we left the house, picked from our apple tree, during apple season...maybe some day we will have more fruit trees.
It's ten pm and I need to go to sleep as I have to be up at 6 to work a 12 hr shift starting at 7:30.

those crazy vultures...

2009-01-29T19:02:00.000-08:00

So in nursing school we talked a lot about horizontal violence. Nurses jostling for position at the same level. I, thankfully, have yet to experience that in my career....motherhood on the other hand. Yowsa! It's like there is constant competition. Luckily I don't feel that within our "group" but maybe because of that I am that much more susceptible to picking it up in the various playgroups we go to.
It's interesting that we try to instill virtues like patience, understanding, generosity and truthfulness into our children but sometimes don't practice them. In one particular playgroup we go to it's just outta hand. The food comes out on a tray with 4 or 5 spoons. All the mothers (it's all mothers/caregivers) are standing behind their child and as soon as the tray is down they are like vultures. Diving and grabbing, making sure that their child gets everything without minding what else is going on. One of us has actually experienced another mother using her spoon to take the food off of our spoon! How is that teaching our children how to behave? I remember when the first of our group went there, that was her impression and it hasn't changed, now we just make sure to get to our own table (with visitors if they want) so that we don't have to join the mad scramble.
Today I was told that "no one is allergic to water". Seriously. That's what she said to me when I was filling water cups at snack time. I was taking a moment to see if a) the kid wanted water and b) the parent wanted the kid to have water. Ohhhh it just had my blood boiling. If there was any reason to leave this playgroup it would be because of the moms. How sad is that? I guess we just have to try to be examples and push through.
It just saddens me that women need to act this way. I wish that everyone was just a little bit chiller. That they could be just a little more understanding and/or flexible with different types of mothering (as long as it isn't seriously endangering a child).
Anyways, I was told that I was neglecting my blog so there you have it. I'm tired and NOT wanting to go to work tomorrow so I'm not even going to reread this entry.
If there are no more posts....ever...it's because Marcel's screaming has been the death of me. He's learning to express his displeasure/frustration with screaming. Trying to nip it in the bud but driving me nuts in the meantime.
B at said playgroup (they always have a fantastic craft section set up with a specific craft. Today it was Chinese lanterns...I told you it was a wonderful playgroup), in the snow white dress (yes they also have a dress up/make believe section) and princess cap...concentrating on gluing and sparkle sprinkling:

B helping Kiana open her present from Johanna, Dante opening his...

Thanks Johanna! Brielle was all over those crayons and Marcel? Well, Marcel was so excited he was squeaking...literally ;D
-----------------------------------------------
Congrats to:
Nadia and Tom ... one step closer
Laylee (and Hannah) ... for the first diaper free DAYS
Kira ... for getting 100% on her spelling test
Ahda and Dido ... for going to Hawaii on Saturday, no wait, I take the congrats back...harrumph
Discovery coffee ... for their 3rd anniversary on Saturday
And all the rest of us... for surviving another day

Trying to strike a balance.

2009-01-26T22:22:00.000-08:00

I was just looking through photos of our trip to the pumpkin patch, as well as filing away all the photos I got printed the other day, and loving it! I love looking at the memories and friendships I've made and the friendships that Brielle have made. But, I am trying to balance between the age of (over/excessive/ridiculous) documentation and just trying to capture enough to remember the times.
I think that shooting in raw is helping me cut down on the obnoxious amounts of digital photos being stored. That's not to say I don't TAKE the photos but I am more discerning about what I actually process and keep. I think in the long run it will work out better because not only will I have fewer, perhaps more meaningful photos but they will also be super duper quality. That being said, I have an auto backup on the computer and though I have deleted photos from my hard drive, I have not instructed it to delete those deleted files from the backup...
And with that, this entry is over....no photo for you!

there's nothin' like a dinner...

2009-01-25T21:54:00.000-08:00

that the whole family can eat together. Tonight it was beans and rice. Now usually I refry my own beans, a la Ai, but we didn't have any canned beans so I used Amy's organic refried beans. Now if you are a bean hater I understand...the usual stuff may as well be dog food but this Amy's stuff...I could eat it with a spoon. We usually use it on pizza instead of tomato sauce which is why I had it on hand. Threw in some onions and chopped up veggie burger, and put it on top of rice. Topped it all off with feta, avocado and a fried egg (salsa and hot sauce for Steph). Oh so yummy. We all ate it up and that includes both kids. So, give beans a chance but only if they belonged, once, to Amy.

We changed around the living room a bit, I was getting sick of the glider rocker basically in the middle of the room. Now there is a kids wall with toys and books. Marcel explored it all this morning.

After standing on the chair he promptly climbed up onto the chest then onto the play table. What followed was
The quote of the day: "Marcel, look in my eyes. That is very dangerous" -Brielle
Seriously, that's what she said and I didn't want to forget it so I ran over to the computer desk and wrote it down.

Marcel continues to keep us on pins and needles with this whole walking thing:

but, not yet

and there were somersaults

2009-01-24T22:10:00.000-08:00

(she walked the beam with me very lightly holding her hips)

So FINALLY Brielle was able to start her first organized sport/activity of her life! Last week the community center had my blood boiling. We had talked about going to gymnastics for days then, 1 hour before class was supposed to start, they call and say the teacher couldn't make it. I was fuming, we were already on our way, B was dressed in her outfit, we had an after-gymnastics-snack. Oy I had half a mind to call and cancel the rest of the classes to avoid future disappointments.
Today Steph had the kids in the am....B had a busy day walked to Beans & Greens, the library and back. 2:30pm, time for us to go to gymnastics. She fell asleep in the car! Oy vey! I carried her out of the car and into the gym. I knew how upset she would be if she missed it but she slept through my feeble attempts at waking her up: "Brielle, we're at gymnastics", "Brielle do you want some water", "Munchkin, we're here", "Brielle, do you want to do some gymnastics"...all whispered into her ear. No luck. Even taking her jacket off and switching positions failed. Finally, 10 minutes into the class and successfully missing the warm-up she semi-woke up. The first round of tumbles she wasn't quite awake. Just stood around with her hands in her mouth while I, sometimes literally, lifted her up and over things. Half way through though, she really got the hang of things. She even did somersaults down an incline, with assistance of course....one kid didn't and I was cringing each time thinking about a broken neck! The teacher was quite good actually, made the stretches that B slept though, quite interactive by making them relatable to things the kids knew. Like putting peanut butter (figuratively of course) on one foot while sitting down and jam on the other...then making a PBJ sandwich.
Unfortunately because it was very much a parent participation thing AND because I had a dazed kid on my hands I wasn't able to take any pictures besides the one at the start of the post which was after class.
Next week I'm working and the 'rents are away...I have enlisted Ai's help though so Steph can be with M while she's with Brielle. B's excited for that, she said she'll have "MORE fun with Ai"...harsh hey?
One thing I realized was that Brielle is shy. We know how talkative, interactive and imaginative she is but when she's around people she doesn't know, she gets quite quiet. Most of the gymnastic class she was occupied with watching the other kids. She also said that she did things a little bit differently (when she couldn't do something I think). Funny, it was really easy to tell which kids had been in "classes" of some sort before 'cause they knew the routine.
All in all, it was fun, I hope she is more alert and comfortable next time. By the end of the class she was doing great so I think next week will be a whole 'nother story. She's also very cautious and I think this will help her be a bit more daring/adventurous which is good, in small doses that is.

Foto Friday

2009-01-23T13:02:00.000-08:00

Almost forgot about this.
The weather has been fantastic around here lately (at least I think it has, at least on my days off). We went for a little walk to the condo building across the street to look at their fountain. It was off but I found this snowdrop (?) on the way. Ahhhh Spring, I can practically smell it.

It takes a community...

2009-01-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

you know the saying. Well this week it was demonstrated time and time again.
1) Monday, playgroup. Kiana fell and cut her top lip open....we all came to the rescue and helped get Kira packed up and home.
2) Before that, she had told Laylee and I about another friend of ours who's little one had been sick for around a month. The mom was really worried and not satisfied with what she had been told by the doc. We thought to send her to a pediatrician as family docs aren't always in the know about everything. I ran the info past my mom who promptly told my dad when he got home. He thought that the "diagnosis" the fam doc gave wasn't accurate either and said if she went to emerg she would see a pediatrician right away. The point is...without having us (the community) around to bounce information and ideas around with baby N might not be getting the help she needed.
3) *though much less intense* I went to work Wednesday....apparently Kira forgot and showed up at our usual joint with coffee in hand. When I didn't arrive and she couldn't get a hold of me, she called my mom who reminded her where I was.
It's community/family like this that is just irreplaceable and invaluable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our group of friends have been feeling really helpless. The friend in item #2 is in the hospital with baby N and we really really wanted to show that we care, are concerned and constantly thinking of them. So today a few of us rallied together. This morning, Kira came bearing gluten-free cornbread ingredients (along with 3 kids and coffee) and Laylee with chili stuff (and Hannah). Brielle and I had baked my cranberry scones (from this post) to fuel us through the morning though we can't send them along to the family 'cause they have dairy in them.
It was wonderful, the mama's barricaded themselves in the kitchen and the kids ran free! I wish I had gotten a picture of the cooking but didn't get around to it. These are the cornbread mini loaves Kira made, I haven't tasted them so I can't vouch for them but I am sure they are tasty. The chili looks great too. Kira is hoping to drop off the food later this afternoon. Here is a picture of just some of the mischief those kids got into...
I think Dante is looking through his "binoculars" at the stars on B's ceiling...

Organization is the key

2009-01-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

...at least that's what I tell myself.
I FINALLY got the pictures printed that I needed in order to complete "operation organization" (so I just made up that operation right now...but it works no?). If I haven't mentioned already I have a good memory (though in stating that, I can't remember whether I have mentioned it before). Anyways, cruising the 'net one day I came across this fantastical idea for organization. Don't ask me where I saw it 'cause I do too much cruising to remember BUT the idea stuck. This is what you do:
1) categorize toys into containers
2) take a picture of what is inside the container
3) develop 2 copies of said photograph (I added words too as B will be learning to read at some point).
4) tape one copy of photo in or on, depending on type, the container and tape the other copy where that container is to be located (once very obedient child has finished playing AND put toys in proper container).
Confusing? Nawwwww...here are some photos to demonstrate. It works for toys NOT in containers but that have specific spots on shelves. I actually do have a photo for where the house, plane and bus go but for some reason, didn't add to it my "all that's fit to print" folder.
Here's my attempt at organizing toys. I think I will need to get some packing tape though 'cause I am pretty sure the tape I used was dollar store tape. We'll see how long it takes Marcel to get his poky little fingers under the picture and rip it off.
My categories include: people & furniture, animals, tea & coffee, lego, food, make believe & dress-up, dolls & stuffies, music and cars, trucks & trains.

My other area of organization is their artwork. I was looking all over for metal strips ~1"-2" wide so I could hang up artwork on the wall using magnets. Of course I found these at Ikea and have been pretty much happy ever since. I got 6 of them and you can see how I placed them...
(Brielle, engrossed in those thrift stickers I scooped up a while back)
I am also trying to keep on top of photographing artwork so that I can compile a book of their artwork, to see progression and whatnot, when they are older. Being the hoarder that I am, this may make it easier to *gasp* recycle paintings. Found that idea online too. And just in typing "recycle paintings" I was reminded of yet another idea, this was to make wrapping paper out of artwork...so not necessarily painting something specifically to be used a wrapping paper but instead, using something you already have. That might make it easier too rather than merely throwing them into the blue bin.

I feel like I'm being neglectful

2009-01-20T07:43:00.001-08:00

no, not to my kids, to the blog :( -emoticons, gotta love 'em, though they do interfere with the use of brackets-

Quote of the day: "Mom, I don't have a very little bum." ~B She said this 'cause M was sitting in her old booster seat on the ground and she said she didn't use it any more, I guess that's the reason why

I'm just feeling bogged down these days. We get up, after a restless night with at least one kid. Steph's off to work. The am is usually ok, Thank goodness for Teaching Peace. Almost every morning B wants it....puts on her "party hat", grabs the wand Camelia gave her and dances around. Marcel shakes the rattle that was Steph's when he was a baby. It occupies them for a while. If you look back at this entry you will see a good example of this. Jeez louise, I just realized that was 2 MONTHS ago yesterday! We're outta the house by 9:15 at the latest, off to one of the playgroups. Either get home for lunch and hopefully naps or to my parents for the afternoon. Dinner, maybe an hour of play, bedtime stuff then bed. Usually they are both in bed by 7:30 (though B's not actually asleep until closer to 8:30 which means we're in and out of the room every 10-15 minutes as per routine....but at least there is no crying and we set the routine) The days aren't that bad when analysing them but up all through the night (every 2 hours last night with M), hitting the ground running by 7:20 when Steph leaves and not really resting until 8:30pm. I've usually got just enough energy to keep the kids happy, not the house or dishes. Try to get an hour or two to myself on the computer, reading or crafting then bed.
Basically if I don't see my friends who don't have kids because our time out of the house is the am but it's always a child-related activity, especially now that M is mobile and needing interaction and exploration. I feel bad. I want to see them because they are very important to me but I feel like I have no time without sacrificing needed down time.
All that being said, we're having a girls night out to a chick-flick on Friday hopefully the kids will behave. It will be needed after working tomorrow and Thursday.
Does today deserve a little sunshine and rainbows?
Ok so the day was mostly low lying clouds and wet but at least the rainbow is there...

Oh and one other thing I have decided is to try to put a title up on each entry. I found it confusing to differentiate each entry at a quick glance. So there ya go...
Ok ready to get my scrubs washed for tomorrow, get me and B dressed (Steph dressed M before he left) and head out the door. Swing by Discovery Coffee on my way to the Ferwood playgroup...the day starts again.

Three things I have decided...

2009-01-18T14:17:00.000-08:00

1) to celebrate minor achievements/milestones like they are going to be permanent. If B only wakes up once during the night...GREAT! Well done. Bravo. Perfect. Let's do it again. If M takes a few steps, same thing. Acknowledge these achievements like they should be acknowledged. B's diaper free now...does that mean she won't have the occasional accident? nope, but who cares? She's diaper free!

2) to dress to the nines whenever you (and by you I mean B) want. She -always- wants to wear her "wedding dress", the dress she wore to a wedding in AUGUST. I thought, why the heck not? Let her wear it! Why try to keep something pristine (not that I was going to that extent) when she is just going to out grow it? Now she picks, within reason, what she wants to wear and that's what she wears. She's really into the dress up these days. She always wants to wear some sort of dress at the playgroups we go to.

3) forget being tired. This is a mental one for me. One day I just realized that there is no point thinking about how tired I was because a) it wasn't going to make a difference and b) there's nothing I can really do about it. I just stopped thinking about my exhaustion. For some reason, it seems to have helped...most days.

Living in the day, in the moment is what I am getting at with this post I guess. Enjoy!

Post #3 of the day....not bad.

2009-01-16T22:15:00.001-08:00

So I got a letter (yes snail-mail) in the mail today. It was a friend who said she enjoyed this blog and appreciates the (questionable) wisdom that it imparts....ok I may be paraphrasing just a touch. But the point is, I appreciate the appreciation.
I find that making my entries, helps to keep the creative juices flowing. I think more about composing photos while playing, try to squeeze a little craft in here or there be it with B or one on my own, and think more about how and why I parent the way I do. I remember a year ago I was in such awe of luckybeans. I read about her insight and "saw" her organization, creativity and seeming ease with parenting and, to tell you the truth, it sort of discouraged me. It discouraged me UNTIL she made an entry about her 30th birthday. In that entry, one of her thoughts was that she had been parenting for 1o years, TEN YEARS! This is when B was -maybe- 1 and a half years old. I think that without luckybeans having made that entry I would have thought that I could never get to that place that she is. But when I realized that she had 10 years of practice, I then had a goal. I had something to aspire to without feeling like I would never get there. So, thank you Luckbeans for being so open and inspiring and I am thankful that I am able to provide a bit of inspiration, encouragement or just plain entertainment.
We all have experience that benefits one another, we just need to have the courage (and time) to share it.
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That and this is my second night in a row crafting on my Ayyam-i-Ha garland (semi based on one from soulemama's book). Unfortunatly for you a) it's not done and b) you won't be seeing it until closer to the date anyways.
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Can't have 2 posts in a row without a picture now can we? This was also taken at Goldstream. I think it might be one of the best photos of my mom, -ever-. She was being pulled by Watsi and trying to keep her footing on the very slippery path but, somehow looks super relaxed and happy (maybe because her 3 children, son-in-law and grandchildren were all at the park together).

2009-01-16T11:59:00.000-08:00

I wanna use onceuponaday.blogspot.com but apparently it's taken...hmm I wonder if changing to it-happened-one-day.blogspot.com is going to mess everyone up? Or will it be redirected? Gotta investigate. But that once-upon-a-day hasn't been used since 2005 and there are no entries and no way to contact the "owner" poop for me I guess....

ETA: never mind...too much of a hassle, I figured out the old links for tackling didn't get redirected...so back to tackling each day.

Foto Friday

2009-01-16T11:49:00.001-08:00

Actually on time.
Another shot from Goldstream Provincial park.
After the salmon run.....bones, bones and a seagull.

a bit of a break

2009-01-15T13:21:00.000-08:00

Oh the days of single-child motherhood, you can't truly appreciate nor take advantage of them until they are gone! B's with the 'rents as M is starting to catch up with his vaccinations. We got home and I put him down for a nap then I took the recycling out (took 3 trips, we've missed a few pickups). I am now in the beginning preparations for dinner...it's 1:23pm but I've only got the one sleeping kid so time to take advantage right? Wonder what I am making? I thought you might.
Silver Beet Pie from recipezaar.com although, of course, I can't have the pastry crust so instead I use a recipe from the Essential Vegetarian Cookbook I got for my bridal shower (yes 8 1/2 yrs ago). It's a brown rice tart shell:
1 cup brown rice
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
*cook rice in plenty of water (I just use the rice cooker) until tender. Cool rice. Place rice, cheese and egg into a med bowl and mix well. Spread into pie plate like you would a pastry shell, bake at 400F for 15 minutes

Also we are having roasted veggies. As of now I have made the rice, cooked leeks/mushrooms for filling, chopped all veggies for the roasting and wilted the silver beet. Now I gotta figure out what the final steps are that I can do NOW before the last bit of cooking close to when Steph gets home from school. I gotta go chop the silver beet and cool the rice so I can make the "crust".
TTYL
Hey, maybe after all this I will actually have some time to chill out...or get started on that Ayyam-i-Ha "garland" I am GOING to make for this year.

oh so casual

2009-01-14T22:01:00.000-08:00

Quote of the day: (gotta start carrying around a notebook to catch phrases being said)
"I love Kiana, I love her, I love her, I love her" ~B
She also wondered whether Kiana was going to be wearing pink shoes today as both herself and I were wearing some (she was infact wearing pink shoes when we saw her later)

Notice of change to casual status officially received...6 scheduled shifts left on 3Royal....28 days or so...

I just ordered 206 photos from costco (who, surprisingly, actually does ok prints). So it will be a task and a half organizing and dating them (yes I am that organized, with my photos at least...). I figured out at the beginning of this month that I can import the pictures from my camera using the date shot_01... as the file name. And since costco prints the file name on the back....makes my life easier, or at least it will next batch of photos I order.
So this batch includes: Aquarium pictures, Hallowe'en shots, November and December shots. Also mixed in there are M's ABC's so I can put a little book he can flip through together, not the nice one I actually get bound and whatnot. But most importantly the photos that will accompany our grand toy organization scheme around here. I'm hoping it will help with cleaning up and putting things in the right place. It deserves, and will get, an entry unto it's self but will have to wait until after noon tomorrow (or as soon as my dad can get the photos from costco and I can implement the plan).
Another outtake from the ABC photoshoot. I liked the composition and the movement in this shot....it was taken during one of the many repositioning/distracting and reconcentrating baby (?) M.

2009-01-13T14:26:00.000-08:00

And FINALLY he is on his way, sorta, after being plopped down on his feet that is.
This was the longest he had walked until today

and then...

This is, by far, the longest distance he has walked. He sorta started last Friday with steps but I kept it kinda on the down low 'cause I didn't want him to walk farther while I was at work on Saturday and Sunday. How selfish of me! Steph knew though so it's not too bad.

Just when things are looking good....

2009-01-13T12:57:00.000-08:00

Nothing about the routine changed AT ALL, yet come 2:30am she was up on and off until 4! Yah, not happy campers around here. Eventually, after her saying she didn't like her bed, I stuck her in M's crib (which thankfully Steph had spent hours cleaning out). She slept after that. So now during her nap she's sleeping in there again. What have we gotten ourselves into? I think what we have decided is to just automatically put her in the crib each nap/sleep and when she says she doesn't want to be in there anymore...that will be it. No more going back in. Gotta have a game plan before we need one.
Here are some photos to brighten the mood...These were taken last week at the e-town Strong Start program.
My little climber

B is loving dressing up these days

This is the kid who wouldn't keep a sun hat on, my little frog prince

2009-01-12T19:23:00.000-08:00

Made these Trail Mix Quinoa cookies but only put chocolate chips in (kept some batter out to add only raisins for B)...I didn't put as much sweetener as it called for but I think I underestimated it a bit...could definitely use a bit more...but I'm sure I will eat them.
As per Kira's request: I made these Carrot Zucchini muffins for a potluck breakfast at playgroup awhile back (ok granted I made them a week early as I was mistaken on the date) and people seemed to like them. Good way to get some extra veggies in picky eaters. I am pretty sure that instead of all the gluten-free flours one could just use whole wheat or white flour because, really, who has all those types unless they need to? In fact, she adapted that recipe from the one and only Martha so maybe those non gluten-free-ers can just follow that link... Sugar is always able to be reduced especially when baking for kids.
On the topic of veggies. my favorite tip for extra veggies is cutting the very tips of broccoli off and putting them with rice (either while or after cooking) that way they can't be picked out. Also making wild purple rice on the stove, that way I can add the broccoli as well as chopped spinach and sometimes finely grated carrots too as it cooks and the veggies get disguised with the colour. When B was younger I used to do the broccoli tips tip in yogurt too (oy the things they have to put up with). Oh the days when I only had to deal with one extra eater......

Oh, AND "ch ch ch changes"!!!
Oh yah, the straw has broken the camels back... actually the camel is managing to dodge that final straw. After many years (ok some off on maternity and one in Halifax) of loyal service, I have decided it is time to switch to casual status on my unit and see what else is out there....or more specifically what new types of patients I am going to have the pleasure of healing. I officially wrote in my 30-days notice...haven't heard back from management, granted I just emailed it this afternoon. We'll see what kind of havoc I have brought upon myself.
AND super proud of Kira...jumping in with two feet and getting back to school after a 9 year absence....jeez doesn't that make us sound old?

2009-01-11T21:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was January 10th so off to work I went.
I think it was lucky that my first 2 shifts fell on the weekend, that way the kids got to stay with Steph and didn't have to be shuffled around too early in the am. It's funny because I thought that Marcel was going to be my worry but it seems as though he is doing fine. Steph brought him to work both days about 1/2 way through my twelve hour shift and I fed him. Brielle on the other hand, Ahda says she cried for me 3 times on Saturday. She said as I was leaving "But I will miss you. I will be a little bit sad because I want to be with you"! What the heck am I supposed to do with that? She said it another time or two today too but the kidlets are in very capable hands and many more eager pairs to help out.
As for work....OY! We were working 3 nurses short on Saturday....that means there were 5 RNs (plus me who has reorienting and thus wasn't SUPPOSED to be counted, and 2 4th year nursing students)! My buddy and me (were supposed to be working as one) had seven, yes SEVEN patients. Now, ok, maybe on some medical/long-term floor that's ok but where we work the work load is 3 or 4 MAX on a day shift! It was nuts. Completely unsafe. I mean we got everyone up, washed, taken care of, made sure their vitals were fine, medicated them and made sure things were addressed but when the last 6th and 7th patients were dumped on us (when the 3rd staff member had to go home due to a back injury....that could have been prevented if we weren't 2 short to beginning with...) we knew very little about.
But there we have it. I gotta make some decisions "should I stay or should I go..."
All that AND the good news:
Thursday night (after a few very rough nights in a row) we decided to use that sleepy time music for B to go to sleep with. She used to use it when she was a baby but she didn't seem too into it at around 18 months or so and we just stopped putting it on. Anyways at Ahda's suggestion we decided to hook it back up. That night she woke up 1 time. ONE TIME! That's nuts if you look at some of the previous entries. Anyways I guess Steph just told her that she was still tired and she should go back to bed, and she did. Friday and Saturday nights were basically the same. And she's going to bed pretty quickly too. No gate needed the last few nights. So that's great, we're getting a lot more sleep around here. Still doing the old routine: pj's, brush teeth, prayers, hugs + kisses, story + 2ish songs (by mama or papa), then giving her Steph's watch with a 8 - 15 minute timer on. For me, when she stays in bed and is quite, when it beeps I sing her 2 songs, if she gets out of bed I sing her one. The combo of routine and music seems to be working, at least for the time being. OH and last night.... her first read diaper free night! No accident! Oh jeez ain't I proud. She didn't have a diaper on and I asked her if she wanted one for the night and she said no. Tonight's the same, I'll update with the score...so far B: 1 bedwetting:0.
OH! AND M's taking steps...about 3 at a time. Mostly when I plop him down as far away from my body as I can reach. He'll just stand there for 1/2 a minute or so, then walk those 3-4 steps to me. And no, it's not the fall/lurch that he was doing over the holidays...these steps actually count.
I haven't used Berwyn in a while, I think he's feeling neglected. What should I make?
This is a lot of text, I'll through in a picture for fun. How about an outtake from the abc's? He wasn't feeling J for jacket!

Foto Friday

2009-01-09T19:37:00.000-08:00

Almost forgot about a photo what with all the brain cells required NOT to think about tomorrow...
The reason why this photo may seem confusing is because I inverted it. The main branch section on the top end of the photo is the reflection in the water in a pond at Goldstream (the top white part is snow at the edge of the pond).

2009-01-08T19:43:00.000-08:00

So my facebook status "Katrina thinks it's not fair...they do everything right but the sleep just doesn't happen" had some crazy comments: If you figure out the magic technique that brings on sleep, please share it with me... -and- ...and me! -and- My baby also still wakes up 3 or 4 times.... I don't know what's going on............. -and- i'm with you there! i'm crossing my fingers baby #2 is a sleeper! -and- at least we all know that we are not alone and it's those darn baby books that tell the lies (for the most part) <----that was me -and- yeah I have being doing the tricks of the books since baby was 3 months. They haven't helped us...
This is prompting me to write an entry about something I have been meaning to for a while, false expectations. All those books that are "required" reading while pregnant build up an expectation of what parenthood/babyhood is going to or should be like.
The books say that babies should be sleeping through the night at 3-5 months (I think out of all the babies I know, and there are many, three actually fit within that parameter). That cry-it-out works, or that not co-sleeping works, or that co-sleeping works, or rocking works or doesn't....
I guess there are three trains of thought. The first being gather as much information as possible from books and follow it to the letter. The second is gather as much information from books and take it with a grain of salt. For me, I fall along the third thought process. I didn't crack a book while pregnant with either kid. Ok that might be a lie I think I did read some of Dr. Sears Baby Book but mostly to follow along with weekly development. I find what worked best for me is instinct. Instinct and family/friend's experiences.
I know that it seems like some babies have personally read those baby instruction books but most have not. It probably comes down to personality of the parents...I was able to go with the flow but I understand it is important for others to go in with a head full of knowledge to tackle problems. I just hate how new moms (in particular) are set up, from the very beginning, to feel like failures because their baby isn't doing this or is doing that. I guess that just emphasizes the huge amount of importance I place on support networks and socializing with other new (and old) parents. I wouldn't be the parent I am today without many of my close friends and family.

Sorry if it's a bit disjointed but what is to be expected with a 2 3/4 year old and a one year old, both of which have yet to sleep through the night on any consistent (even inconsistent) basis.

2009-01-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

This is B's alphabet...taken at 1 year and 2 weeks old...

So the kids don't sleep but at least I'm productive during the day.
Q was the prop/baby master.
Ahda was the B occupier.
I was the shutter clicker.
M was the mostly cooperative 1 year old (to the day) subject.
These are the results, can't let B have an alphabet and not M....

2009-01-06T16:16:00.001-08:00

quote of the holidays:
"Tonton Etienne, you have big muscles." ~b
Oh you should have seen that boys face...as red as the kitchen he was putting together, you could almost not see it though because his smile was so wide.

2009-01-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

Some kids are sleepers and some kids are not and that's all there is to it.
Our kids, unfortunately, fall into the latter category.
That being said, B woke at 2310 (for about 20 min and could be due to the nap she had at dinner time while in Ahda's arms) but we did the same routine as the night before and she went back to sleep until just after 6.
Yihoo! Playgroup here we come!

2009-01-05T21:53:00.000-08:00

overall turned out to be an ok day but only because Ahda and Quinn saved the day.
After holding out as long as I could at home (10:15 or so) I headed over to the 'rent's house. I was sent to bed and the guardians for the day took the kids out for a walk. I slept for about 2ish hours! After rising, I ate some salmon (yum) and did my ECG homework that I have been procrastinating on for the past 3 weeks. Left the kids there to go to my class and actual feel like I understand the material, the theory at least, the practical part may take some learning. I can recognize the different rhythms and find myself answering questions and/or knowing answers to others questions. So that's a relief! Hopefully I feel the same way come exam time.
And both kids went to bed pretty easily...
And I am at my lowest weight since pre-babies (I'm sure do to the fact that I have to forgo the obligatory muffin/scone/treat with coffee....too bad M's not sensitive to chocolate too, for my sake that is, I wouldn't wish any of his sensitivities on anyone let alone my poor son) ...
And, hopefully, the kids are gonna have a good night and we can meet all our friends in the am...

All that and I am beginning to think about Ayyam-i-Ha, don't want to leave it too late and not be able to do what I want in regards to decorating the house and having this cd to give the kids (oh the LP memories).

AND I need to start thinking about alphabet objects to make an alphabet book for/with M, middle kids (and here's hoping he will be or maybe have a partner in the middle too) ALWAYS keep track of these things.

Also Brielle requested I take this shot:
while I was taking photos of "the doll" for the earlier post, not the greatest but what the heck!

2009-01-05T09:58:00.000-08:00

Since Maymay insisted:

the whole shibang

face, up close

the most time consuming part, the hair....I guess about 3 solid hours!

and clothed thanks to Giselle

The instructions I used are two posts back. I am planning on making another for B's b-day (already got the hair all picked out) but waiting for this book from the library to see if I can improve it at all. That and I want to make hers a couple inches larger.
Quite proud of him.

2009-01-05T07:34:00.000-08:00

Ok, I was so looking forward to getting back in the swing of things, getting back to the routine (for at least one more week). Not that I haven't enjoyed sleeping in, seeing family, eating yummy meals... It's just that I guess when I know what I am doing each week day, I feel prepared. I feel like I can plan the rest of my time because I know what I am doing. With no schedule it's mayhem, don't know when I am going or where, don't know what I am going to be doing or who I will be doing it with. I guess I'm like I kid. Don't they say that kids need structure and schedules so they can feel comfortable in knowing what is going on?
Well, like I said, I -was- looking forward to getting back into the routine but it's all been shot to h-e-double hockey sticks all thanks to a bad night. The bedtime routine was started with both kids around 7. After prayers I read B two books, as per usual, while Steph put M to sleep. B didn't end up actually going to sleep until 7:45/8. First problemo. I went to bed just after 10. M woke up for just about 2 hours at 11. Luckily B slept the rest of the night....Oh wait, no she didn't. She screamed and/or stamped her feet for about 2 hrs on and off at around 4:30am. Steph dealt with her for a bit but I could tell he was getting frustrated (today is his first day back at work) so I took over. I know that it is partially our doing. We've gotten lazy and have started laying with her or letting her come to us.... But I think, now, if we ever want the two kids to sleep together we need to get her to fall asleep, in her bed, pretty much by herself. She does good, usually, at bed time but it's when she wakes up throughout the night. The end result, which finally worked, last night was having the gate on her bedroom door, and when she would get out of bed and scream I would close the door until she was back in bed. Eventually when I asked her if she was ready for sleep, she said yes, and I opened the door one last time and she fell asleep until 7:20 or so. It's hard, tiring work but someones gotta do it I guess.
I just look forward to the day that the kids can sleep together in the same room. I think it will bring B such comfort and she is such a good big sister that she will make sure that M is ok and enjoy being the first to see him when they wake up.
So no routine for me until tomorrow. I had told B last night that we couldn't go to playgroup because she was going to be grumpy due to not sleeping. I asked her if she remembered me saying this and, this morning, she said yes. I guess we'll see friends tomorrow.

Picture overload/Marcel's a year (on Wed).

2009-01-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

Well I must say that I feel incredibly blessed and thankful that my children have such loving grandparents, aunts and uncles, brother/sister and friends. Marcel's 1st birthday was overflowing with love (some from near, and some from far away) and very special. No, he didn't start walking but I guess it'll come with time...he's standing a lot more on his own and even took one step away from the kitchen to me.
On to the details of the party. It was ball themed, well circle themed actually because aside from using only balls/balloons I had no ideas. As you can see in the photo below, we had cupcakes, some topped with blueberries on a toothpick. Marcel, the man of the hours, didn't however get a round cupcake, he had a special purple (cream cheese dyed with juice crushed from blueberries and blackberries) STAR. The cupcakes were a hit! I personally, passed all the compliments on to Berwyn without whom it would not have been possible. I used the No-Frills Chocolate Cake (which I've made before so I knew it was good) and Carrot Cake recipes both found at Gluten Free Mommy. The carrot cake turned out a lot sweeter than I had originally intended but I figured tackle one issue at a time, and for Marcel's 1st it was dealing with the gluten (for B's first was dairy-free, egg-free and only used maple syrup for sugar).

Quinn's bright creation, note all the circles involved!
The fruit salad had grapes (round), apples and mango and watermelon balled with a melon baller, banana rounds and orange.... There were also round chips, pita chips and crackers.

Ahhhh, cousins,
A more realistic view of the cousins....love in a time of pretty much constant instigation.

He, unlike his sister, actually ate his cake (maybe due to the sugar content?)...

So proud that my creativity is wearing off on others....in this case, Laylee! She made those finger puppets. There are 8 animals and Old MacDonald but B took them off faster than I could put them on.
M meeting the, as yet, unnamed doll. Thanks mom, without your prodding I would not have made it and M would just be another boy without a nice doll to call his own (and hopefully name, when he ever starts talking).
Reading all about his new toy.
At home....oh so cute.
For M's doll I used a combo of this website and this website, I found the combo to be really helpful because without the other for a reference it was really confusing. So my mom "encouraged" me to make it, Giselle made the sweater and scarf and he's stuffed with wool that my dad's mom and dad had carded waaaaaaay back in the day to fill a blanket. I read somewhere that all the love and thoughts of the person making the doll are passed on to the doll, if that's so, this doll is extra special 'cause it's just bursting with love.
The kids were fantastic. The key to a successful birthday party for children under about 6 is to have maximum 5 kids (not including b-day kid/siblings). That way things don't get out of hand. We've been very lucky with the 3 b-day parties we have had thus far with these kids....hoping the calm streak can last for a lot longer, at least until the end of March when we have to do this all again.

Foto(s) Friday

2009-01-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

Photo overload due to the fact that I have a photo overload. No "artsy" photo this week.
Family hanging in the kitchen:

Getting reacquainted with old friends:

Getting turkey dinner ready:
ETA: oops, noticed I didn't resize the photos but, frankly, I don't got no time for mucking about with them. I gots some muffins in the oven, a kitchen to tidy and a head to hair.

2008-12-29T19:21:00.000-08:00

The well loved family cat has finally bitten the dust....

The kitkat clock that is. It's been around 8 1/2 years, I guess it was just his time. Both pegs that hold his eye broke off and he now looks like this:

He also hadn't wagged his tail or even moved his eyes in YEARS so we should have anticipated this.

Any suggestions for a new clock?

2008-12-28T20:38:00.000-08:00

Obviously the above is her tracing inside the letters of her name I wrote. The following is B's FIRST ever person drawn completely by her. I didn't draw the circle for the head, which I have been doing. She's all about saying "I don't need you anymore". She said it when I said she could try drawing the circle (which she's been doing for a while) for the head on her own. She also says it to Ahda 'cause when she goes to the bathroom she turns on the light, gets onto the potty and then gets up to the sink all by herself....Oh she's growing so big, so fast.

Foto Faturday

2008-12-27T20:09:00.000-08:00

oops, missed Friday but what is to be expected with all this family business going down?
I guess my shot for this week is of my ECG course manual (that I haven't cracked since last class....2 weeks ago):

2008-12-25T22:14:00.000-08:00

So now that the snow is finally melting away (though not too quickly so as to make it super slushy) and the temperature is getting back up there to normal...I thought I would post one last bunch of wintery pictures.
These were from Monday. Sunday night, during my periods of wakefulness, I started thinking about how to make a sled for Brielle. The weekend before we had walked down to the grocery store and it was quite tiring for her. Steph was carrying M in the backpack and I didn't trust my footing enough to carry her somehow so, she had to walk. I was inspired by Juliet's sledding pictures however we don't have one (and why would we own one with the amount of snow we usually get? We are lucky we had a snow shovel that we got last year) so I had to think of an alternative. A few ideas I discounted were the sandbox lid (too bumpy and no way to tie a pull rope on), a big tupperware bin lid (no place to tie, though I did consider drilling holes) and the excersaucer bottom (this was the most feasible but thought the snow might get up and over the edges). This is what we ended up using:
There was duct tape to cover the front and side holes so no snow came in. Some people do say the best inventions are thought up at night (ok maybe only I say that, ok maybe I have only said it this once....but it could be true).
We tried to play at the park behind the library, after failing to get eye drops for the kids oncoming pink eye from the pharmacy.AND we discovered that the library got whole bunch of new toys! Oh, the joy! Was just like Christmas (ha) which, by the way, our family has postponed until boxing day....not that we do anything other than gather around my parent's well loved table and eat. But Quinn and Mayms are in town so everyone is happy (though many more of the family members are still missing)

2008-12-22T06:54:00.000-08:00

Ok so maybe I was bragging a touch last weekend when I talked about shoveling. Steph, yesterday, got up in the am with the kids, shoveled the walk AND our flat roof! It just keeps snowing here! It's lasted over a week and showing no signs of stopping!
In between shovelings, Steph built a snowman with Brielle. As he was rolling the bottom ball I said he had better stop because he wouldn't be able to lift the middle one up with the size it was. What do you know? I was right....pictures to prove and to see the final product. Me and M stayed inside and watched from our bedroom.
In other news: I'm outta xanthem gum so no baking for me, although the weather requires it!

ETA: this photo of the snowman, the next day, after a night of -more- snow.

2008-12-21T16:04:00.000-08:00

Brielle actually came to me and said she wanted elastics in her hair this morning.
"Lots and lots" she said.
"How many?" I asked.
She held up all her fingers (and thumb) on one hand.
"Five?" I asked.
"Yah, five."
We went to her room and I counted out five elastics. Then she spotted another on the floor. "Six!" she says. Oy yoi yoi, I thought but who am I to deny another person their sense of fashion?

2008-12-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

Feeling rather creative the past couple days...

1) started M's "waldorf" doll... using this website for a pattern. I decided that though the dolls from Bamboletta are absolutely, positively, undeniably lovely...I couldn't spend $150 on a doll, so making it was the only option.

2) starting to adapt recipes. I guess Berwyn is making me feel more confident with my skills. We made these "Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies" (with no icing). The catch is, I had to adapt it to be gluten free! I followed the recipe but used 1 cup potato starch, 1 cup almond meal/flour, 2 cup brown rice flour, 2 cup white rice flour and 3 cup sweet rice flour as well as adding 2 tbsp xanthem gum. They turned out stupendously. Brielle and Hannah had fun using cookie cutters on something other than playdoh.

3) whipped up my now famous cheese scones (from thi s post) but to shake it up a little, and because it was for breakfast, I changed it to a cranberry scone. Changed the milk that was called for to 1/2 and 1/2 cream (thought it was needed to offset the tartness of the cranberries), doubled the amount of sugar and added 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cranberries instead of the cheese. It's weird because I was never one to veer off the recipe at all...but here I am. Maybe it's that I am understanding the ingredients a bit better now that I have to. Either way, I'm excited about it.

4) The other day, while shopping for the fabric for M's doll, I told B to pick out a fabric from the remnants bin and we would make something with it. Well today, almost a week later, I ask her what she wants me to make with her chosen purple felt. Can't remember what she said first but settled on a bag. She chose which bag, of the ones she already has, she wants the new one to look like. I went to my fabric stash and chose 3 different fabrics for her to choose for the lining of the bag. I thought she was going to go for the elephant themed one, very childish....but no, she chose the very hip pussy willow design. So here we have the final product. She was doing so well with her choices, but then goes for the alphabet ribbon for the handle (I had to gently steer her away from the pink and brown lined and polka dot ribbon....just too clashy)...I decided to let it go. That this was HER bag and it didn't matter if I thought it matched as long as she chose what she wanted and likes it.

my photo staging:
B's photo staging:

2008-12-19T19:17:00.000-08:00

Lesson(s) of the day:
Ask your kids to clean up...
If they won't clean up ... try to make your kids clean up...
If you can't get the kids to clean up...make it fun
If you can't make it fun...trick them into cleaning.

We were at the mall play area again...I know, but I've stated before that Friday is the only unplanned morning each week, not only that, also there is nothing to do on Fridays! No activities at all for the kids, ANYWHERE (ok there is usually strong start but it's canceled this week and last and another program but it's $3.50 -per kid-). So we find ourselves at the only free, indoor play area...the mall. So kids are playing, running around, needing talking-to's, just having fun. After about an hour or so, they start feeling cooped up again. They shove a little when walking past each other, or have trouble sharing, or have little yells.... So Kira and I suggest they put the big lego blocks through the little basketball hoop. The legos are chosen because a) there are PLENTY of them all over the play areas floor (but to be fair, they were strewn out like that when we got there) and b) there are no balls. Kira's crying out "ten points", "five points" and "wow, I don't even know how many points that is", when a little light bulb goes off in my head. I scoot over and grab the big tub the pieces go into and stick it under the hoop. Voila! We a) got the kids to clean up b) made it fun and c) tricked them into it all in one shot. I must say I was mighty proud of myself. Especially when another little kid came over and joined the "fun". The kids also went on to put away to foam pieces without being asked.

Foto Friday

2008-12-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

Like I said, running out of photos, must get my creativity on! Lucky for me, and you, I snapped a keeper out in the snow the other day.

2008-12-15T21:23:00.000-08:00

It snowed.
On Sunday we woke up to SNOW! Now most of you know that this is rare but what is even rarer is that it is now Thursday and the snow is still around (in fact, it's been added too). This is because it is FREEZING out there (with the windchill).
Sunday we all bundled up and trekked down to the grocery store and the coffee shop to get out in the snow. B didn't really know what to make of it in the beginning....

but quickly "warmed" up to it.
Luckily, being the hoarder and ever-thinking-ahead gal that I am, I bought these lovely winter boots this past summer. I got them at that same thrift store where I got the stickers, for $5 if I remember correctly. They are sheepskin and warm as warm can be. Because I had these and Steph had runners I volunteered to shovel the snow. I lucked out because it was super powdery, much to B's snowman-making dismay. She stayed out with me and fed the plants snow while I shoveled. My feet stayed warm and dry. It was a good day. Then we ventured inside where I made a makeshift chili (using tempeh burger as the "meat" as all fake meat has gluten) and those, now famous, scones.
ETA: The top day says Monday, that's when the entry got partially written but photoshop was being a bother so I couldn't resize/crop the photos for a couple days.

2008-12-12T23:14:00.000-08:00

Foto Friday also coincides with the ONLY unplanned weekday. Mondays through Thursdays we have activities/playgroups and are out of the house by 9:30ish. I somehow convinced some of the gang to come to my house this am. I'll start out by saying that I spent the morning cleaning! Kira was bringing the coffee and luckily we had baked Crispy Quinoa Cookies (with minor adjustments as usual, no chocolate among other changes but let me say YUM) at my parent's place yesterday, so I had those as well as the muffins from the other day to feed us all. I will pause to say my hand sure was wishing Berwyn was more portable! All in all, it was a fun visit, I got a clean living area, coffee and not having to leave the house in the rain out of the deal.

B didn't want to get dressed...just wanted to wear a housecoat. What's the big deal, hey? Why not? We were staying inside anyways...pick your battles (she did get dressed, no questions asked, when we went out later).
B "helping" Nola walk. But truly Nola can pretty much walk, but it made B happy, and apparently Nola too.

Foto Friday

2008-12-12T22:46:00.000-08:00

...again!
So I am running out of my "photography" shots. The FB group is running themes that I haven't been so keen on, thus no creativity in the photography realm for me at the moment. Here's one from the theme "boundaries":

2008-12-10T16:59:00.000-08:00

Was working on getting M's last square for his b-day invite and captured these keepers.

2008-12-09T12:19:00.000-08:00

B's not napping, but playing quietly with Playdoh, and M is standing at the play table. I look over at what he is playing with and am reminded of the story of how we got the little toy.
Stephane had booked a table at the MEC gearswap. At the table beside us there was a little boy, about 4, and his younger brother, around 8 months. The older boy was playing with a My Little Pony when I started looking at a magazine with B. It was a British Columbia magazine and the main article was about wild horses. The boy edged over, closer and closer. Finally the 3 of us were looking at the magazine together. We talked about horses, how his family wanted to move to Saltspring, that they were painting their house... After a while he went back to his table and was looking for his other horse. He was very insistant about it and even got his mom to help him find it. When he finally found it, he brought it over to B so they could play horses together. He was very sweet with her and they played for about 10 minutes together.
When we were packing up to go home he said that B could take the toy home "and keep it forever". I said something to the effect of "oh that's very nice thank you, but I think it's ok, thank you for sharing though". Something like that. He kept insisting that she could take it home, that he had more at home. I didn't know what to do so I said "ok, do you want to check with your mom first?". He went over and asked her and she came over and told him that it was up to him, it was his toy and if he wanted to give it away that was ok. With this interaction I was so greatful that B was able to meet such a generous/caring/patient child (gives me shivers just thinking about it again) and to see the mother treated her child with such respect and maturity. I think that it is going to be one of those moments that I will never forget.

2008-12-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

He has arrived (and yes I do believe he likes looking at himself in the bread box)....
He has a name.....
His name is BERWYN!

Thanks, Kira, for the great link to Behind the Name. It's "white" in Welsh, apparently. I thought of mix, or blend (Horst was a contender but the shortened version didn't really work....) names but went back to names meaning white. So Berwyn means white but it also sort of sounds like his sounds too! Oh it's just all too perfect.
I made my first item, me and Berwyn, these cookies with minor adjustments. They are quite the success though, like the recipe says, at the end you really do need to mix the chocolate chips in by hand 'cause it's pretty dry batter.
Side note: Those magnets on the bread box. Yah well lucky for you I have a good memory. It took a bit of searching but I remembered the seller had "monkey" in her business name. I thought it was funkymonkey but turns out it was lovemonkey. I saw her stall at the babyfair this past year and just couldn't get over how cute the magnets were. She is based out of Nanaimo and will do custom magnets and little wooden families. Seriously, so cute. Check them out.

and it's Foto Friday

2008-12-05T15:40:00.001-08:00

This was another entry a couple weeks ago for Photography Paradise on Facebook. It was one of my first photos shot (and edited) in RAW.

2008-12-05T15:19:00.001-08:00

So bath time last night went as follows:
I usually bath the kids and then Steph rescues me by taking M when he's done and getting him all dry and PJed up and I finish washing B's hair and playing. Last night Steph did the first part of the bath time routine. For quite a while now B has refused to sit on one end of the bathtub (near the taps) because there is a little scratch on the bottom of the tub. So Steph has M in the bathtub and I put B in (on the scratch side). I leave. She flat out refuses to sit down there and wants to sit on the other side but due to the layout it is very difficult to keep a hand on M if he's closer to the taps. Usually I let her and M switch sides but they are squished in one half of the tub 'cause I can't reach the far end. I hear B screaming and crying because she doesn't want to sit down. I go and say, as I have MANY times before, that it is just a scratch, it's nothing, it's fine. I leave again. She won't sit, M's ready to get out and Steph has definitely reached his limit. While Steph takes M out I talk more to B about her situation. I say it's just a scratch it won't hurt her. She said it will hurt her bum. It's then that I realized I was saying it was a scratch, meaning the paint was removed, and she thought I mean scratch, like when she gets a scratch or scrap. I showed her another scratch in paint on the cupboard (yes the bathroom needs redoing) and finally got her back in the tub. She went from not even wanting to sit on that side of the tub (even when said scratch was covered with a washcloth) to touching it and basically forgetting about it. It was then that the realization hit me, once again, that children very rarely "act out" they are acting a certain way for a reason. Sometimes that can be an irrational reason but a reason none the less. Instead of getting frustrated (which I would have if Steph hadn't dealt with the beginning stages) I sat and talked with her and tried to understand her thinking. I am lucky that B is able to express herself and help me understand how to help her.

And no, we don't bath the kids every night but this warranted it no?

2008-12-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a day to forget! M didn't sleep well the night before and I woke up with a MAJOR crink in my neck/shoulder. Such a crink that, when in the car, I couldn't turn to look at B in the back seat. Overall the day was nothing spectacular (though I did get coffee delivered to the house by Kira and finally found B a winter coat) but I came to a realization.
Being a seasoned zombie (for the last 32+ months) I can function pretty well day to day. What I can't do on a regular basis in engage with the kids. I can make sure they are fed, dressed, relatively clean and get out of the house at least once a day. I can do those things but have the minimal amount of energy to really "be who I want to be" with them. I -want- to be the mom who has everything organized and is able to do everything (and have a clean house). I look forward to the time when a) they are sleeping a bit better and b) they are out of the house a bit (preschool/kindergarten) so I have time to organize things I want to do with them. I look forward to that time but I also cherish this time because I know they are only at this stage of development and discovery for so long. My parents always said I looked to the future all the time. When out on a hike I would ask what we were doing next, I was always wanting to know. I don't think it was because I wasn't enjoying what we were doing but I think it was more that I liked being prepared. I think that has changed now. Though I do like to feel prepared, ever since being pregnant with B I have really lived in the moment. I have really lived each stage with these kids, I just wish I could live it a little less like a zombie.

Here is a new video of M and his new talent:

And I may be crossing off the kitchenaid from my wish list! I'll update with a photo later if it all comes to fruition.
And another video for good measure (and to make up for the above's poor quality):

Why does the sun go down? What are you supposed to do again?

2008-11-29T17:11:00.000-08:00

So after a very UNrestful night we went to Demitasse and acted like zombies (thankfully Ahda joined us and entertained B).
After coming home, B and Steph conked out and I was (stuck?) with awake M. He wouldn't sleep so I stuck him in the stroller and out we went. I grabbed a coffee and was about to head for the library to do some research for dinner when I spotted that the local thrift store was open. Everything was 1/2 off today. I got the motherload, and when I say motherload I mean THE MOTHERload, of stickers for $2.50.

(the photo doesn't do it justice)

I think that someones mother got sick and tired of their daughters sticker collection and chucked it. The mom must have walked into their basement a million times and cursed the stuff that her daughter STILL has in boxes so decided to get rid of some things. Little did she know that those stickers could contain so many memories. Myself, these stickers didn't belong to me but they brought me right back. I remembered going to the store (specifically The Rubber Stamp Farm which also sold stickers) and buying one square at a time of the stickers. Then carefully peeling them off and putting them in a photo album. Oh how I treasured those stickers. The ones pictured below brought back memories for me....how about you?
On a side note here:
Went out to get a movie (I can't remember the last time we watched one), and stoped at the corner store beside it. Now that place is a world unto itself. It's a convience store/thrift store! Yes, it's true. The middle aisles are the "convience" and the outer edges are the thrift. Archie comics, priced individually or so the sign says. Three quarters of a shelved wall had mugs. There were ancient, and dirty, Fisher Price toys. Oh anything a heart could desire at 8:30 at night I guess. Needless to say, I bought our chocolate bars and left, but did definatly get an eye full!

Foto Friday

2008-11-28T12:58:00.000-08:00

So I am realizing that, perhaps due to ongoing lack of sleep, my environment is REALLY affecting my mental state. I say that there is a direct correlation between amount of sleep and amount of patience. I thought that it only affected my patience with the kids but apparently it's for my environment too. More specifically the lack of order (read: MESS) in my environment. Perhaps it is because I have to do more specific cooking now for my diet (can't just throw in a pizza without making it first) so cleaning a kitchen to cook in it, then clean it again gets to be quite tiring. I know, I know, it's gotta be done but I guess I feel like it's just never ending. We finish dinner and Steph and I are so pooped from dealing with/raising kids all day that we want to sit, sit and do more sitting. And the kitchen doesn't get done. Then in the am everyone is rushed getting out the door (Steph wakes up with B and gets her breakfast) that the kitchen doesn't get done. Then it's lunch and there is no time/no patience on the kids end. So you may ask why I am blogging instead of cleaning? That's because I made lunch, run the dish washer 2 times, made a pancake batter (of day old rice and all the baby food I made M that he won't eat) to make then freeze later and had the kids out all morning. Oy.
Good news: B just was laying on the couch and said she was "just laying down" and I suggested she move over a bit so M couldn't reach her and bother her. She did but a couple minutes later she said she was going to go lay down in her room < :D >. I said she should close her door (which she NEVER does) so M won't come in, and that's what she did. Maybe she actually just put herself down for a nap!!! Luckily she doesn't wear diapers for naps anymore, going on a month or so. She's getting so big.
I guess I had better take a photo or two to spiff up this entry?
Start a trend maybe? Foto Friday? Sounds good to me... I entered the first of these photos on the "photography paradise" group on facebook. They have a different theme each week and it really makes me go out there and try to capture something new (read: not the kids), which I really enjoy. This week was Flora/Fruit (I wished they did only fruit because it's a more interesting topic in my opinion).

ETA: She did not go to sleep. She was calling me and turns out she had climbed into the crib but couldn't get out. Ahh well, at least they are both to be before 7 with little fuss!

2008-11-26T12:11:00.000-08:00

to WORRY about:

travel plans to France next summer - to aeroplan or to not aeroplan...

well thankfully this one is off the list after at least 2 hours of frustration with an agent and their lousy website. But apparently "free" tickets are costing us over $1500! That's all I will say about that!

m's eating issues when we GET TO France...um no bagettes, no pain au chocolat? OY!
b's constant pushing of boundries
work, work and work...more specifically going back to paid work :(

soooooooo, instead of all this, I thought I would just post about something else instead.
The other morning it was -quite- lovely here in Victoria so instead of driving downtown, we went along the walkway which was beautiful. Don't let anyone tell you that living in E-town stinks. B walked most of the way and M slept. So glad we can do that sort of out door activity in the middle of November. We thought it might rain on us at one point but it stayed sunny for most of the day! The unwelcome fact is that, since that day the weather has turned *cold*. Please do note the sneakyness of the photos of B.....heeheehee

2008-11-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

Last night was a family dinner...12 adults (as two were busy and missed the dinner), 2 children, 2 infants and 1 dog (that was relegated to the basement). Lovely dinner of salmon (both "Alert Bay" style and teriyaki) made by Dido. He slaved away all day... I know, I was there. Kit also brought some lovely additions. Laylee brought her famous roasted veggies. Nadia, myself and Carlee all learned from her though she still makes the best, by far in my case. But I must say, I thought my cake was YUMMY! I topped it with cream cheese icing, so really... can it go wrong? But the most important development in the dinner was that B and Hannah got their own kids table for the first time! Other than getting up and playing between bites it was suprisingly successful! I made sure to place myself as close as possible to the little table, just in case. This morning we woke up to leftover homemade gluten-free buckwheat buttermilk pancakes (can you say that 10 times fast?). The reason for all this baking is that I was getting frustrated with the limited things I could feed poor M. He needs to increas his solids intake since I'll be back to work in a bit. And since I was getting pretty sick of the standard tapioca/rice bread I thought I would expand a little, especially since I actually enjoy baking. I have found some gluten-free (ie flour free) oats so I'm going to try oatmeal on M. Even if he doesn't like it a) -I- can eat it and b) it's great for baking with so I can expand my horizons even more. They played wonderfully this am. Both kids love cleaning, or at least they love playing with the broom/swiffer:
Then they played in the crib together, heck it's gotta be used for something right? Just laughing. B was telling M practice being gentle by laying down and M would pat her face and B would say "gentle". It was very sweet. But the next time I popped my head in, B had sucessfully removed both her and her brothers pants and socks!