Winter Wonderland - Glow Promotions One - We had a blast!

Every year, I get invites to Glow Promotions Winter Wonderland. (These I get because I rent their amazing stuff for the children's enjoyment at my work so if you would like invites... LOL)

You can see it all at: http://glowpro.com/ . The kids absolutely love every second and this year I ensured we got there right at the beginning for maximum play time. I have put pix and clips here to share the fun.


Evan joined us for the fun. He and his mom being there has sort of been a part of the tradition each year so we were delighted they could make the fun with us.

The kids started with a bouncy raceway.

The big kids, E & Big D headed for Treasures of the Carribean and Little D headed for the Bucaneer something... LOL with Mich going with them and me following the little one. Great Teamwork!

They got some cotton candy with the free tickets we were given and then they took in some mini golf.

They took it all quite seriously. There was contemplation, lining up of
shots... clearly skilled athletes!

Then they had a blast with some "snow / bubble" machines that were happily spewing stuff at us with Christmas music blaring in a fun way. Kids were everywhere, beaming with excitement!

Then we headed over to see Santa, and chat with him, get a coloring book and candy cane from him, have a picture snapped and .... how about an artificial snow fight too???????

Big D was clearly reflecting on whether or not that was the real Santa and from the look on her face it was a no-brainer... so since she looked sooooo skeptical... and Little D was so psyched, I honed in on the old standby and had a whispered convo on the side... "look, I know he isn't the real one but he obviously works for the real one, so this is an opportunity to have a convo with him and he will pass it on to the big guy"... after a second or two of mulling that... she was equally psyched.

Once done with Santa, we checked out the Alien Laser shooty thingy... and Big D snuck to the front of the line to interrogate a Glow person to find out what it was about as she is soooooo like her mom... once getting the details she came back to me and said a resounding "NO Way!" Ev was brave enough though! Way to go dude! Little D would have done it but as her sis wasn't...

so next we all decided to bounce and velcro ourselves to a velcro wall! that was a blast! Just the suits alone were crazy! They were huge and crunchy! you could hardly walk in them let alone bounce and fling yourself... hahahahahahhaha... I would recommend this to anyone!

We had to go on the Treasures of the Carribean again and this time Little D wanted to go which meant I had to go too... I was cool with this as I have done this one many times... It rocks! good for kids and adults... and the race part of it is sooo much fun!

The pics show Little D looking quite triumphant at the end and then Big D and Ev had a race and Ev wiped out at the end... LOL... he was fine but cute how Big D is checking on him.

We also had free tickets to the Midway and the kids all won stuff... Ev did a wicked shot at getting a chicken into a pot... way to go!!!! and the girls tried that and darts too!

This event is sooooooo much fun! and you can go to it without tickets too! I heard it on the radio... there were lots of things we didn't even do... but the best part was we went for the entire time so the kids could enjoy at their leisure and go back and forth to faves.

Big D has a Big Day

Today Big D made her First Reconciliation at church. We have some pics capturing the moments and two video clips.

As you can see she did not seem terribly stressed to have to spill any mistakes or bad choices she may have made. The last two pews were filled with excited, anxious, nervous 7 - 8 years olds and this picture shows our big girl while she waits for her turn. She is next.

So when it was time, she and I crossed the church to where the priest was in a room waiting to hear what she had prepared to share.



So she was out pretty fast... hmmm.... must not have had too much to share... that is either good cuz she makes good choices or she kept it all in... well she looked happy so we then headed to the altar to light a candle.
This looks pretty easy from the picture... but wasn't actually...

the candle in the middle went out just as we got there and the wick was very wet and wouldn't relight...

When I told D to just light hers from another little lit one she got a sort of concerned as it had been clearly explained to light it from the middle one...

This led to a bit of a science discussion as I very quickly tried to explain... it won't work cuz the wick... blah blah blah... but on high speed as kids were forming a line... LOL

Then she got to go over to a big shepherd banner that she had told me about and put a sheep on. She really seemed to like this.

Our other little one definitely wanted to put a sheep up too.

The pictures and video clips are not great I realize... sorry about that... but they were taken with the cell phone.

I forgot the good camera as we were at a sleepover the night before with 22 other kids and I had zero minutes sleep. It ended at 9 a.m. and this started at 10 a.m. So I made out with what I could... LOL

Then came the part that made my heart melt, all the kids who had the big day gathered on the altar and sang.

Kids singing always gets me. They were so sweet and when you watch... it is funny cuz they suddenly get louder... D was in front row and her feet are a movin'.



Then came time for the presentation of certificate... documentation...
and a gift too...

D was excited when they said they had a present for all the kids!

It is a Guardian with little medals... she is very impressed!

This is also her favorite priest... I know favoritism is not a good thing... but
she finds him very funny so she got to confess to him (there were two there) and then she got her picture with him too.

And then onto the treats, snacks and the cake she has spoken of for a week!


And you know what it was a yummy as it looks!

There was lovely sandwiches, fruits with chocolate dip, veggies and dip, sweets, and McD's orange drink.

It was planned beautifully and hats off to the teachers who put all the time and effort into it as well as the music director who led the singing!

We were thrilled to have cuz Mel along with us who had volunteered at the sleepover as we rarely get time with her anymore... so yay Mel!



We finished off with a picture of the two girls in their matching dresses (one from big Delisca ages ago and one from Nana Linda :) ) .

Our little D loved the sheep so much.

It was a good day even though we were tired.

D talked to me about how she felt about it.

She is very lucky as she has 3 godmothers! Aunt C was sick though so hope she gets better soon.

And Grammie who is out of the country can't wait to see all this as she would have been there!

So... way to go on the big day, big D! You were great and we are very proud of you. (doesn't the singing melt your heart too? :) )

Show Me the Money -- what'd ya think?

Hey there,

anyone catch the preview show of "Show Me the Money" game show last night hosted by William Shatner? I love Bill Shatner, really I do... loved his "I am Canadian!" have it on my mp3 playlist... yes, I am weird! He is soooo great on Boston Legal (almost pee my pants every week at him on that... brilliant man, brilliant! the writing and the delivery!) and I alway did like Jim Kirk... I just could not get passed the perm on TJ Hooker but like the 911 show he did too (was it called 911?) he should sooooo not quit his other gigs though ... game show hosting is not his forte (with an accent on the "e" - how do u make your keyboard do that?).

anyway... I clearly digressed

what did u think of it? I sort of liked it.... sort of didn't... they seem to get a lot of chances on it...
and the dancers.... and Bill dancing... with the colorful vest... hmmmmmm.... I just don't know...
I love it when they whip the cylinder thingy open to reveal the money amount ... I found myself holding my breath... that was cool.

so I must ask a sort of women's libber kinda question....? will there be female guests? and if so... will there be absolutely drop dead gorgeous male dancers trotting around for them... bending and grooving and posing and shaking their sexy butts... ???? or will there only ever be chicks dancing...? (Yes, I realize that saying chicks is not a women's libber thing but since I am a chick I can do it dammit!)

Like what is with the chicks in glitzy outfits posing on game shows anyway? is this the 70's still?

How about having celebrities dancing with the cylinder like Hollywood Squares... so when Bill says "You need a dancer with your answer"... and who wrote that catchy line... what pipe were they smoking?????? then you could look up and almost pee your pants when you see... crap! help me out! who would you see??? instead of 13 dancing ladies u would see 13 diff. celebs dancing their individual dances... oh okay!!!!!

I got it! Since it is an ABC show there could be ABC celebs... yummmmmy! Patrick Dempsey, Dr. McDreamy sashaying with the tube ready to open it for you... drool, drool! or McSteamy! or the yummy guys from Lost... or how about the Desperate Housewives... how about the warm and fuzzy posse from Extreme Makeover Home Edition... Ty Pennington... ahhhhhh... and you could through in some other celebs too to balance it out... like news anchory types or comedians etc...

anyway... just my thoughts... cuz.... oh ya right! it is my blog! :)

p.s.

so Bill if you ever read this... and I highly doubt that would happen, u can rest assured that I love ya... but think monochromatic if you keep this gig! try to be more spontaneous with the delivery and keep up the brilliance on Boston Legal!

oh and ABC execs... I would love a cushy tv consulting job so just courier the contract on over... :) (ya or Entertainment Weekly... I would like to write for them too!) :)

Deal or NO Deal

So I stay up until 3 a.m. this morning... you ask what pray tell brought on my insanity knowing that I had to get up and begin the task of readying / arguing with children, getting ready for work etc.... well, Howie Mandel was on t.v. with his addictive game show, Deal or No Deal, which I love and it came on after I finished on my laptop catching up on stuff and so I kept watching...

Yes, I was like everyone else... first time I watched I was confused... set sort of W.W.2BA Millionaire-ish... amazingly stunning women... shiny cases and possibly a math element... throw in some dollar signs and the amount of stimulation blurs the cognitive powers for an episode or two... but the excitement, the intensity brings you back and by then you get it... and R majorly hooked.

so as I said.. it is like... 12:30 a.m., I am watching... and Howie then talks about coming to Canada and needing a toque. (Did I spell that right?) ... so I am thinking... hey here is a deal... I can go on this show and bring him a Toque... that is a good deal right... so Howie... how about it? Deal or NO Deal?

LOL

so since I am already WIDE awake and I love the show... did I mention that? I go to www.globaltv.com and fill out the application. What an application!!!! I feel I have applied to the military, the questions, I was under a blinding light of scrutiny. One of my friends was chatting to me on msn while I filled it out and she had a gander at the form herself and said... "uh huh, way too invasive"... I say "Not invasive, an adventure!!!!" That is the difference between risk-takers and non-R/T. We throw ourselves into the wind (and often get splashed in the face) and the others spend time putting galoshes on... (Did I spell THAT right?).

So after gathering photos of my supporters to submit... and of course did not have a pic of Kimmy on this computer... so I am scanning at 2:45 a.m..... is insanity & insomnia reasons to go on the show? Then I realize my pics were all to many KB. So Heigh HO, Heigh HO, resizing I go.

Once all is said and done, and I click "SUBMIT" and wait for the little liney thing at the bottom to go across, a Thank-You message appears... whew! my nocturnal work accomplished... I can go to bed...

Ya! Right! Now I really can't sleep! Was I too saucy? Was I too tame? Was I too irreverent? Did I clearly articulate my enjoyment of the show? What kind of Toque would Howie want?

Then I pondered the game... my hubby collects games you know... I was in Zellers the other day trying to choose a version of Deal or No Deal for him for Xmas... almost got a migraine... what the heck were they thinking????? how many versions of it are there!!!!!! Seriously, as a business woman, I get the marketting angle and the need to appeal to a broad group of people but color me so confused.... needless to say I chose not. There is a card version and an electronic and a flippy one and a dvd one... :~

(I worry so much about spelling!)

So then I am thinking about what to wear if I got on the show... Have you noticed it is not like the old game shows... Like if you were on Price is Right... you could just wear jeans and a shirt... Like an "I luv Bob Barker" shirt... but on Deal or NO Deal people usually dress pretty spiffy... so then I thought... crap! I should apply to go on What Not to Wear to figure out what to wear on Deal or No Deal...

Then I began to think about my supporters I put down... and really regretted my choices... I mean honestly... I can see family any day. I should have put down Rick Mercer... cuz I think his acerbic wit is phenomenal and I read his blog every day... although he does not blog every day! but I check there anyway... Then I would have Rosie O'Donnell cuz she gets sooooo excited and I love her! Never missed her show... try to see her on the View! She would be very supportive and she would get a hoot out of Rick. I would love Oprah but I believe the Angel Network keeps her extra busy and supporting me on a game show would be selfish instead of helping others. I would want Dustin Hoffman just in case some aspects of his role in Rainman are remotely true so that he can tabulate odds while cheering me on. I would want Robert Munsch there cuz he is a Canadian Icon! and I would luv to meet him and I bet he could cheer you on in a very cool fun way... like his story telling... (smile!). Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear to keep me in line fashion wise and Ty Pennington cuz he is so sweet... wouldn't a hug from him be great! ummmmmmmm.... I can continue... I am sure if anyone has read this far..... you know I can continue... Mickey Mouse... he could be there too.... LOL

Well now that I am semi ready for work and one kid has been breakfasted, I should start on the other... I have thrown my hat out into the cyber ring of applications for the show and I shall now tried not to wait with bated breath... and if I don't get on... that is ok, right...? right? I am still a valuable human being... really I am.... and I will save money on Tums! :)

p.s...... am I the only one walking around whispering "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World"?

Alone at Home

Yesterday, I experienced a truly novel experience...
I was alone at home.

Many years ago, I had experienced this often.

but now this experience was thought to be extinct from my life...

apparently it was not extinct... merely seriously endangered.

My hubby, (after much persuasion) took the kids out for an hour and a half approximately,
and I roamed the house briefly for about twenty minutes listening to silence...
I had forgotten what silence sounds like. If you do not take time to listen to
silence... u cannot appreciate it! :)

After mulling what I could do and how the minutes were ticking away, knowing
when they would be back... I quickly discarded choices of laundry etc.
and selected a book and a pillow and a blanket... ahhhhhhhhh!

When u become a mom... u cannot even go to the bathroom alone...
sure....everyone laughs and says "ya right" but it is true... they walk in
on you... or they pound on the door if you lock it. When u manage to
persuade your spouse to let u lie down for that rare moment of rest...
they walk up to your face and say "mom, r u asleep????" in basically a
yell!

so I read a book for about 8 minutes and passed out. It was lovely!

and seeing as how I have blogged it, I can come back here and read about it
to remember it really happened and I can re-live it vicariously via the typed
words... :) ahhhhhhhhhhh

Titz N Glitz 2006

"Titz'n Glitz is a powerful breast cancer fundraiser, for women only, to support friends, neighbours and people they love who are diagnosed with this unpredictable disease - breast cancer. The evening is a roller coaster ride of fun, emotion, art and camaraderie that encompasses everything from cocktails, eats and girl chat, to moving personal stories and a spectacular parade of costumes. Don't expect the usual because, like its name, Titz'n Glitz is anything but."

I had never been to this event... I had heard so very much about it... on Friday when a mom gave me tickets I was so thrilled... would it be as fun and as cool as I had heard? oh crap... G has hockey... where can my dearest children be so that I can enjoy these free tickets...

after several phone calls and much super sonic planning, the girls were headed to visit C in their jammies with some stuff to amuse them...

as men are not allowed to go... my date was another colleague and friend, Hopey and behind the girls car seats were Emily and Eryn looking lovely!

we arrived at the Marriott and after flirting with the guy at the underground parking as the sign said "full" he let us go by and we parked under the hotel... we looked great and we were excited!
the event was fabulous and I will be going every year from now on!

www.titznglitz.com Make sure to click on the video button on the side to see how cool the whole thing is!

The incredible feeling of sisterhood, and community, positive energy, excitement, acceptance, joy, empathy, passion, joie de vivre, was so empowering... and we only got to be there for 1/2 the event...

the creativity and festive atmosphere was charged with zest of life... the women surrounding us were smiling and giggling and beaming and sharing... the costumes were funny, and satirical and compelling... the auctions and fundraising activites were comfortable and friendly to participate in...

the chocolate fountain was divine as was the scrumptious offerings in the auction ballroom

the comedienne mistress of ceremonies was excellent! as was the mistress of music.

the Press a Breast painting was fun and empowering... it really gave you pause for thought as you pressed your breast in paint and put it on canvas... the many other women around you similarly expressing themselves and making a concrete impression, a tangile moment in time for one to cherish.

To see pix we took that night, go to this msn space http://dunbardomain.spaces.live.com/ and select photos and then in the albums... choose Titz N Glitz... :) We would have taken pics of the amazing costumes but as there are some activities where cameras are not allowed, we were trying to use the camera just now and then...

A Night Out for Hubby & I

Remembrance Day... first time I think in all the years G & I have been together that we did not catch some of the coverage from Ottawa... the only moment of remembering I did today... I admit shamefacedly... was when we walked past a poppy discarded on the floor at the movie theater! :(

wow! a night out! just him and I... just the two of us... whatever shall we do... or talk about...
Jo and his stunningly luvli wife N came and spent the evening with our darlings so we could spent time just the two of us...

it also gave J & N some increased kid exposure time as apparently they and nature have decided that it is time for them to climb on board the Parenthood Plane...

Big D sat staring out the front window for an hour waiting for them to arrive... my girls were off the charts excited!

so after we should J&N around and left the cell #, we headed out for some quality time as a couple...

basically chose the first restaurant nearby... LOL... hmmm... steak maybe...

so we tried finding topics to talk about... we tried to keep each other awake.. LOL
the main topic of convo was how tired we are...

Just think Jo & N, this will be you guys someday!!!! u think not but it happens to us all!

I had the most, utterly, delish and delectable, divine Singapore Slings! I have had quite a few in the past 20 years and either these were the best or.... I just don't get out enough!

The couple beer Hubby had was adding to the sleepiness... while we waited for food...
the food was good... not as amazing as the Sling mind u... but... time smiling at my hubby without a kid climbing over me or whining at me or pulling at me was a wonderful treat!

Then the night got more exciting as G announced his mouth felt weird after eating some of his supper... since he has severe anaphylactic allergies... that is not a good thing guys... so we hauled out his TwinJect and I read the directions over and over to be prepared should I need to stab him in the leg with it!

Eventually we thought we would brave on to a movie... which was good... Man of the Year with Robin Williams...

arrived home to find N & Jo both looking pretty sleepy for youthful gorgeous newlyweds on a Saturday night just approaching midnight...

thanks for the evening N & Jo, Big D and Little D... and G! luv u all

My achin' head!

a million years ago... I had no idea what a headache was... never really had one until I was about 25... and then they descended upon me...

moments without headaches are precious few and far between

I have tried it all too... seen neurologists, various medications, homeopaths, chiropractic adjustments, accupuncture, feverfew, etc. etc. etc....

One brilliant specialist looked at a scan and said in surprise and I believe delight... "Look, you have two migraines and a tension headache at once!" Like I gave a crap... I just knew I was in frickin' pain man!

I used to take some heavy duty stuff to deal with the pain until I became a mom... but now I have it down to a science so that I can be alert for my kids... I try to be as in touch with the pain and its location as possible... so that I know... should I reach for Aleve, Tylenol Ultra, Sinus medication or just some ice.

I use gel packs on my achin' brain a lot... only prob.. is they just are not cold enough anymore! so I cut holes in the band to make em colder on my skin.

And Tiger Balm... oh blessed Tiger Balm... where would I and my loved ones be without thee!!!!

Supposedly headaches disappear or diminish with menopause... I look forward to this! :)

Patterns on the Ceiling

The other night, while G did homework with big D, little D and I went upstairs. We wound up laying on our big bed and staring up at the ceiling with the lights out. Not something we have ever done before. Our ceiling is very high and above the main window is a 1/2 circle window with sections in it. As the street outside has many lights and lots of traffic, the different lights shining through projected the outline of that window repeatedly all over the ceiling. As the lights were from different directions and distances the shape, size and degree of light varied in all the reflections. Little D and I loved it. We talked about how it looked like spider webs and then she pointed to one that lay perfectly on the point of the ceiling... (our ceiling is not flat) and she said "There is a heart in that one mumma! That one is for you!" Then we noticed that when a car would drive by on the street, a new reflection of the window would appear and move across the room. That delighted us and we laughed together... claiming them as hers or mine etc. If a car came from the other direction it would of course cross the room the other way... at one points she called them ghosts laughing... but as I did not want nightmares... I tried to explain what they really were. The best part was when G went over to Gram's and Gramps. He said he would be back shortly and we heard him go down the stairs outside.... when he started his car in the driveway, a tremendously bright outline appeared and we giggled together.... "look mumma, that is daddy's" she exclaimed! As he slowly back out of the driveway it moved a different direction and then zoomed away. After homework big D joined us too. It was a wonderful fun and cozy experience. They have asked to do it since too! It is not something I would have ever clued in to... we have been there for 3 1/2 years... I never even noticed the ceiling like that.... So glad we took the time to not only see it but then to enjoy it. In this day and age... when life is all about the hubbub... taking time to really enjoy your kids and the simple pleasures in life is something few people do.

Family Fireworks

I was tremendously lucky. I had an incredibly magical childhood. My dad was definitely the kind of dad that was stoic and quiet and did not snuggle or play with you but he always wanted to make everything perfect and special. Still does.... I am still having a magical life in many ways because of him and my mom... I wasn't tremendously lucky ... I still am tremendously lucky!

Every summer for the majority of childhood and adolescence right through to young adulthood, Dad would take us to Cleveland Beach and he would set off fireworks. I loved every second! Some times it was with other family members, sometimes we took part of the neighborhood... kids cramming into the car... sometimes it was just us four with strangers nearby watching... LOL... but I loved it! And it was almost always near my bday too! Not intentionally but as my bday is at the end of the summer, I would hug that thought to myself...

The magic wasn't just the fireworks... they were cool. The magic was the anticipation, Dad saying it was coming... the loading of the truck... the drive out to the beach... the sound of the waves while holes were dug to put them in... the smell of the sea air.... love those sounds and smells... and the careful precision and meticulousness my Dad put into every moment.

This year, my kids got to enjoy it for the first time! For me that made it even more special!

.. my video is so short... doesn't capture the magic at all. My cousin Alex captured much more of it... but until I learn how to compress a video... LOL.... this will have to do!

Thanks Dad!

Overwhelming Grief and Overwhelming Love

Today I went to a funeral service for the loss of the son of one of my dearest friends. He was only 29 with a very young daughter and a son on the way.

The anguish that my friend is experiencing cannot be articulated in words. It is tangible. It emanates from her every pore. The pain and sadness this family is going through at the loss of a son, brother, husband, father, and friend is breath-taking.

The multitude of friends and loved ones was truly overwhelming... there were people everywhere, last night at the visitation and today at the service. People overflowed from the chapel, the hallway, the lobby and several other rooms as well with us trying to watch a screen showing the service in another room or trying to listen over speakers. At every turn there was love. The comments, the poems, the readings, the hugs, the tears.

The photo montages that were large and at every turn showed all parts of his life. His friendships, his smile, his caring, his interests, his love of family, his marriage, his joy at fatherhood. The trophies and awards around us showed his accomplishments. The floral arangements which had his belongings intertwined amongst the blooms were so personal and such a tribute to his personality and passions. The overflowing nightstand of snacks off to the side gave a feeling of his presence right there with us. Such love went into sharing all of this with those of us who came to share our respects.

As a mom, I have, out of love, compassion and sympathy for my beloved friend, tried to picture how I would feel if I were to lose a child as she has. The glimpse of agony that fills my heart just at trying to picture it cannot possibly resemble what she now feels.

I hope with all my heart that all of the love that surrounded them today will continue to buffer them and heal them and nurture them in the dark days ahead.

True friendship is a rarity. My friend Linda is a true friend. She gives more from her heart then anyone I have ever met. I have only ever wished the absolute best for her. Right now, I wish healing for her with all my heart.

http://www.ebituaries.ca/Ebit.aspx?DaId=982268594

More With Honey Then With Vinegar

Have you ever really taken some time to ponder this? The old addage re: you get more with honey then with vinegar is not just an old addage... it is true! It possesses much veracity!

The world is full of many many people and without doubt, you are near and about quite a few of them daily as you weave in and out of your tasks... days seem to meld into each other and varying degrees of exhaustion and energy meander through both your body and spirit... but when you interact with these people in a positive manner... with a smile... or with patience... God! what a virtue!... the world really is a brighter place! Trite though that made sound!

When you moan and groan and stare at people in that vacant manner that at least 85% of the general populace wears for the majority of the time, time drags on slower... life seems oh so much suckier then before... did I just type "suckier"... LOl...

Find irony and laugh at it!
Smile and see how people react!
Say thank-you and mean it!
Seek the silver lining in the cloud.

I truly believe that the darkest day somehow holds a glimmer of light... you just have to have the bravery to look for it...

(oh and remember... the seeking is much easier when sought with friends)

wow... who the heck am I today?

p.s....... if perhaps the idea of reflecting the positive in the world.... you could perhaps go for the happy medium like the product above... it is a combination of honey and vinegar so at least we then would know that when we see your scrunged up sour face at life... you also balance it with the occassional beaming smile...