one heck of a cold day man!

Tueday Jan. 17th/2007

Today was sort of a reg. day... got up extra early checking on weather...

Got kids dressed, and took them with me to my amazing Chiropractor. She is sensational!
Healthy Link Chiropractic! Then dropped Lil D off as had to take Big D to a specialist appt. Popped home super fast for a meeting with a friend to help wordsmith a letter and then Big D and I headed downtown for the consult. Holy mackerel! Can't even begin to discuss that experience! me-- speechless!

Then we did an errand and went to Winners and we tried on lots of clothes... but only bought one thing on sale! we were good! off to Walmart for some things work needed and a universal remote now that I moved the tv from basement to playroom.

Here is Big D on a ride at Walmart!



Once home... had pretty good evening with the fam. Big D has given up t.v. for 3 days for a school assignment. So we had kids music on while homework was worked on and we also set up the game "Chicken Limbo"... seriously...

Then as it was Crazy Hair Day at daycare... I tried to get the colored hair product out of Lil D's hair... she was sobbing... so we did a sink shampoo.. and she was tickled pink to wear a "turban" afterwards.

Ended the day with a new episode of Boston Legal. I have to say... I seriously love this show. I laugh every single week... love it! G never fails to get a kick out of me laughing over it. It is so fabulous! Love it!

Week 2 of Vacay... Week 2????

do you know what I just realized... in my entire life of working...
I have never had two weeks off in a row! never!

I had a month off when Big D came but I went to work every day from 4:00 - 6:00 during that month... which was insane...

and then when Lil D came along I took 6 weeks off. Which was wonderful in that I was a mom again but we were moving and packing and well it was also insane.

I have been working full time for 17 years now and never had two weeks vacation in a row... it is just really cool! and the amazing ladies holding down the fort at work are fabulous!

So I did tons around the place last week and on the weekend... still some stuff on my list of to dos but big stuff is done. So this week is to relax and do little stuff...

Now I am sure that two weeks of fun and relaxation would be cool and great etc. But doing stuff around the house has been so wonderful for me cuz it is always on my mind and now the reward is this week... Many of you have said that I am insane having read my blogs and my list... LOL

So today was a hair appointment. My wonderful neice always colors my hair. It is very very very rarely that I have ever had my hair professionally color... Yes... I am serious. Probably 3 times total. But I did today... I let her choose the colors too! I said whatever you decide... go right ahead... LOL... black, blonde, red ... whatever.... I am in your hands... LOL

the salon was eerily quiet... as in no stylists... no customers... was freaky really...
apparently January is quietest month and Mondays are quietest weekdays soooooooooo....

took a book with me... my all time fave author ever!!!!! Brand new... given by a dear friend last week... saved it to start today! thanks K! This is the book if you are interested! I love Bertrice Small!

so she colored it a dark brown with a tinge of copper in it and did foils of both blonde and red!!!! for you more conservative folks I am sure this sounds like a rainbow head... but no! It is fabulous! love it!

Nikki is the most amazing stylist with scissors and color! and everything else too! If you ever wanna check her out she works at HS Studio (click on the word to check it out!).



I was leaving and the snow started... I popped into Penningtons to see if there were any good clearance items... lots on sale... but I could smell a mark down in the imminent future... so while the red price tags were interesting... I could just sense the need to wait... even with my gift certificate / coupon in my purse... so I asked... and I was right!!!!!! whoooooo-------hooooo! I am good! 2 DAYS FROM NOW... ON WEDNESDAY... EVERYTHING ON SALE GOES DOWN ANOTHER 50% OFF THE SALE PRICE! U KNOW U R GOOD WHEN YOU CAN SMELL IT TWO DAYS BEFORE THEY DO IT!

Went to work to show off my new "do" and pick up Lil D. Roads were getting bad. We decided to close early and I left it in their extremely capable hands and headed home to meet the plumber and as Big D would be getting off school.

Plumber did not show do to bad road conditions...

Turned on my mini-lights throughout the house with the fake boughs... while we are now officially entirely de-christmassed... I love these... they make you feel cozy as the snow falls...

the kids loved my hair... hubby complimented it too!

I laid down on the bed in the playroom while kids were playing happily and was reading that book... thanks again Kath! and I passed out! a lovely nap! :)

so this evening I re-organized another ton of stuff and think I will fold laundry while I watch Golden Globes... have a great night guys!

Cinqo

day 5

as u know.. day started off very bad... with school scaring the crap out of me

the morning flew by with phone calls coming in...

Lil D and I opended all the new play dough! :)

this afternoon, I made a ton of phone calls making appointments for next week. Monday has a work / friend lunch, and a plumber visit & a meeting at night. Tues. brings Big D and I having an appointment. Wed --- a facial! ahhhhhhhhh! cannot wait! Thursday --- even better --- a massage and pedicure... now that is vacation!!!! I also plan on walks, music, books and movies.

MelBel is coming over to help me this weekend! I love her sooooo much!!!! Not just cuz she helps me... she is very cool too! I think we will get tons done! and have fun too!

All the stuff around the house will be either done or relegated next week cuz R-e-l-a-x time will be here!

At suppertime, me and the girls took some of their many dolls for walks in little strollers. It was beautiful out. Not cold... just crisp. We had a lovely walk and great fun together!

I had another "found myself" moment too... they were running ahead of me on the sidewalk and being silly with the little strollers... and I suddenly felt a big welling up of love... and thought I am a Mom! I love being a Mom. It is part of who I am and I love it! And I was just so thankful and proud of them and of us having a great time... etc... you know... being in the moment... was great!

When we got back, we went to the pizza place, ordered some delish pizza for sup, then rented some dvds and bought different types of ice cream to have for dessert. The perfect end to a lovely evening... yum!

(so happy the evening was better then the morning!)

scared me like never before

I got a call at 9:56 a.m. today that took my breath away, scared me to death, sucked my soul, aged me 30 years, and then some. The school called me and said my oldest was not there... the Safe Arrival line. I screamed "What!???!!!!" into the phone. The woman was clearly taken aback and shocked so she stated she would check and call me right back. For me time stopped, I looked over at my other child and felt like my heart had stopped, I was holding my breath, I started to put other clothes on and gripped the cordless phone like it was the oxygen it was for the moment. When it rang again.... about 3 minutes later... I was so frozen I did not answer on the first ring... I pressed the button on the second and tried not to scream, as I frantically said "Yes????????!!!!!!!!!!" "She is here after all Mrs. D" and then the tears came... running down my face... I began gasping... I managed to ask "are you 100% certain?" "Yes, I saw her myself. My child is in that class." I thanked her and hung up. My little one asked what was wrong. I explained while crying, and while I am sorry she saw her mom so upset, she needed to know everything was fine, that the school had thought something was wrong with her sister but they were wrong and she is fine and that mummy had been scared but now I am crying cuz I know she is alright and sometimes you cry when you are happy. The principal called moments later and I gathered myself to ask for the reason behind this happening and what consequences would take place. We spoke for some time.

I am still shaken.

day four....

believe it or not... not much to say about day four....

regular morning hubub

went to a Fundraising Committee meeting at the Home of the Guardian Angel at lunchtime. Was there until just before Danielle got off school.

Watched Oprah, still De-Xmasing!!!!!!! why am I surprised... we had 5 decorated trees in our house....

took kids to supper at Zellers. I love the Skillet Restaurant! G had classes.

Big D fell in love with a stuffed animal that was not on clearance and therefore while she was an absolute dear, I was not buying it. She can buy it in 6 weeks with allowance or she can ask Daddy to get it for her for Valentine's. She was fabulous in the store, pushed a cart with cat litter and laundry products in it, while I had a cart with storage containers in it. She had a very sad face on. I asked her "If mommy had lots of money to buy it, do you think I would?" and she responded "no, because you think I have to earn it and it was just Christmas, but it is sooooooo cute" and it was said in a voice that was like the sadest thing on earth had just happened.

This is not quite the item in question. It was a brown and white dog. Was much bigger. (All stuffed animals drive me nuts now a days but the big ones really kill me!!!!) and it stood up. But it did have the big eyes... The big eyes that make us as grown ups think ... what a freaky looking thing.... like Susan Sarandan in stuffed animal form! Same big eyes that make little girls sigh and say.... isn't it cuuuuuuuuuuuttttttteeeeeeee!

The other one... holy energy Batman! was here and there... was like Speedy Gonzales was at Zellers. She was here and there and everywhere... I was tired already but watching her was like.... and when I finally got her to listen she had a complete meltdown at the cash... sobbing on the floor etc....... so I thought about it... pick her up and walk out and discuss with her at home... or do it here and now the right way while people want to pay. I did it the right way... the loooooong way... don't know where I got the energy or the ability to ignore stares and glares. And when it was done... I hugged my suddenly exhausted little Speedy Gonzales and I paid for my purchases.

needless to say when Grant came home from class... I had an icepack on my head.. the lights out and Gray's Anatomy on.

find yourself

I told someone I was gonna find myself recently... course I mostly meant it as a joke...
cuz I know who I am... a mom, wife, daughter, ECE, director, etc.....

but today while crying, watching Oprah, I thought... hey I just found a piece of myself.... no matter how many people tell me I cry too much... I realized today that is a big part of who I am... I am a sentimental, gushy, softie who cares a lot.

joy and loveness

I was carrying on with the kids... and asked if I went away for a week to visit a friend what they would miss... mostly they could only come up with goodnight kisses... shows how much they notice eh... LOL... and in front of them I asked hubby what he would miss... he looked up from his work and looked puzzled... and Lil D said... "you would miss her joy and loveness Daddy"... we all burst out laughing and my hubby looked at her and said... "you are good at this!"

do you remember...?

for those of you who are my age... or around and about... do you remember those thingies we use to rub with a soft pencil on the smooth side and the animal or letter or whatever would then appear on the surface of the item we had laid it upon... ? did I put that really badly?

big D got this rock decorating thing for xmas... and it has them in it! and she should me them and I got so excited I put butterflies on my cell phone and some on my potato bin....

and then I explained to her how they did not have stickers when I was a little girl... we had these things...

my dad's company used to sell tons of them in all different fonts called Geotype... I know cuz I inventoried it... boring!!! LOL but hey man it was a job!

so she felt bad about no stickers when I was a kid so she said... "oh, so your teacher did not put stickers on your work?" and I said ... "Yes... we would get stars... different colors meant different things... and she would lick the back of the star to stick it there." the look on her face was priceless!

Day Three or Jour Trois.. However u wanna slice it! :)

for u visual people, there are a couple of pix... LOL...

& u know I love comments!

started same as others... really... weekdays mornings blur they are so repetitive.

Then once Big D headed to school, I got ready to meet a friend as we were going to Mic Mac. It is on my list you know... LOL. Lil D and I were to meet her on Joseph Howe Dr. by 10:10.

So I am driving along the Bedford Highway at 10:05 and I realize I am not stressed... at all!!!!! It was like an epiphany!!!! I think I heard angels singing .... was lovely! I was not even stressed to go on bridge! and for those of you who know me... that is a big deal! I realized that it was because my time was my own... that was a great feeling...

and then at 10:07 I thought... hmmmmm.... bet my cell phone will ring exactly at 10:10 cuz my friend.... she is not patient... mind u... neither am I... but she is on time and she never takes into account that I am not on time... I DO KNOW HOW BAD THAT IS! at least I admit it and I admit knowing how bad it is. and sure enough, the cell phone chirps out chicken noises at exactly 10:10... I answer it... and instead of saying hello... I say.... "Do you know how predictable you are?" to which she chirpily responded... "and I am on time too!" So I did my return at the superstore where we met up... and then she says... "so we both have to be back by 12, right?" My heart pounded... my stressed feeling instantly was back... "12? I thought we said 2:30....I am certain we said 2:30" so we discussed.

So we got over there to Mic Mac. Lil D made her exchange. She now is the proud possessor of a Magic Silk Hair Cabbage Patch... sorry CP Company... but LaDiFrickin'Da! but as long as she is happy. She got a newborn from G&G for xmas and Big D got the magic hair so and that led to.... her deciding she wanted one and we kept the package closed and exchanged it. She carefully examined each of them and then decided she wanted one with the same dress as her Sissy's has.

She then got to spend her $15 gift card that "Uncle Jo" had given her for her bday. She was a very smart shopper! The little tiny cabbage patches were 50% off. She chose a princess but we found out only the rock stars were 50% off... weird... so we went back to shelf... that was $7.99 and then she chose a sticker case labelled "Best Value" with a sticker book and tons of stickers in it for $4.99 after we looked at a sticker book by itself and then she chose a $2.99 movie! I fronted her the extra dollar and HST. Can't expect a four yr old to know about a gov. wanting it's cut.

We went to Disney store as it was the Semi-Annual Sale! My head was spinning! everything in the store (it seemed!) had a red tag!!!!!! holy smoley! and then it was all an additional 25% off that!!!! so I mulled and mulled as quickly as the allotted eight minutes I was given by my friend permitted... LOL... just kidding K.... and I bought Lil D a pirate shirt to match her Sis' hoody and I must admit, embarrassedly, .... I bought a Jack Sparrow shirt for myself... it was on sale for $9.99 and then another 25% off... :) I also picked up slippers for my other friend who is Eeyore obsessed after calling her and checking in if she wanted me to get them and pay me back. My friend had done her errand so we headed back across the water at 11:45.

Picked up her kids on their lunch break and had a Burger King lunch with them. Lil D was delighted!!!!! Then after dropping them off and having a lil visit at friend's house... her dog is such a sweetie... we played "Throw the fish, throw the fish, throw the fish...... and uh.... throw the fish......" then we headed home as Big D would be ringing the doorbell soon...

Lil D loves to cut stuff... so when we walked in... she got her ladybug scissors to cut open the new toys... and proceeded to cut her thumb... she also cut herself on Monday... forgot about that... she was very upset when I said maybe the scissors are not okay for a zealous cutter like herself... after we first aided... and I opened all the boxes she was happily cutting paper an hour later.

I indulged in an episode of Oprah. It was fabulous! so nice to watch a daytime show... It had the guy from TLC's Shalom in the Home... which I will admit... I have never watched before. What a phenomenal show. It was about Spoiled Kids. And I mean spoiled! Go to the site to see part of the show and read about it!

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200606/tows_past_20060626.jhtml

Some of these kids had diamond earrings and actually every toy from toy department. A friend of mine recently said to me how she was so impressed as she has on several occassions taken Big D to a store. She says she has never been with any kid who did not ask for something in a store. I was so proud. Grant and I work really hard on this. Having said that ... the guest on the show... Rabbi Shmuley is awesome... and I wanna get his recent book.

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/booksseen/200606/tows_book_20060626_sboteach.jhtml

Yesterday, Lil D excitedly showed Big D her new CPK that she got by exchanging the other one and the stuff she bought herself with her gift card. Big D was thrilled for her sister. She did not ask once is there anything for me. Then when I showed her our pirate shirts (Lil D and I's), she was also excited... "cool! we can all where pirate shirts together!" and then they headed off to play dolls. And for those of you who are reeling thinking... how could she come home with Toys R Us bags and a Disney bag and have NOTHING for her other child... get a grip! Big D knew in advance why we were going... she did not have anything to take back and she did not have a gift card. And I got her a Justice League paint and color book!!!! so there!!!!!!

after Oprah, I got ready for a board meeting I had to go to in the evening. G came home. I went to Walmart and did some returns and then the meeting. While at the meeting, I re-newed my work's membership in a resource center... very excited about this!!!! We haven't belonged in a while and I meant to ... but kept forgetting... so...

http://www.stjosephsece.ns.ca/development_frame.html

and so ended Day 3.... ..... ..... .... z-z-z-z--z-z-z-z-z--z-z-z-

The Melanie Present

My neice (you know I can never remember how to spell that) ... gave me a wicked gift for xmas... a basket full of cool tub things... now I must say I rarely, and I MEAN RARELY... have a bath. That is NOT to say I do not BATHE... I do! I am just a shower kind of gal. I use to have a soak now and then b4 the kiddies came along... but now, GUARANTEED, if I am in that tub... a little girl or two are going to come along and ask if they can get in too... so why bother... So this basket had a glass jar full of little beady thingies... I assumed you could chuck them in the water... so I did! and two roses... really neat.. like really roses.. that when you chucked in... they floated with petals open and dissolved slowly... wish I had taken a pic... cuz it was cool, and candles, and lotions... I used all 3 candles Mel! and I am NOT a candle person... do not wish to recieve them (again spelling! LOL) or use them... but after two days of working my tail feathers off I enjoyed every second. NO! Scratch that! I did not enjoy every second. I did not enjoy the numerous times the kids came in and asked to get in. Lil D repeatedly told me that her heart told her to get in..... ya! I know, I know... very sweet... awwwwwwww.... but I was firm... I held my ground or should I say tub! so when I first got in and kept adding hot water to keep my aching back from getting worse... I relaxxed for... about two minutes... my mind was empty for a maximum of two minutes if that... seriously... can't do it... even if I get a massage, I chat to the massage therapist the whole time... how long have you been doing this? do you like it? yada yada.... I just cannot empty my mind... no wonder candles are a waste on me. but the bath oil was delightful! so I yelled for Big D and she got me a book to read... which I did until G brought the kids up for bed and the bedtime ritual was loud and led me to toss the book. I went underwater but I could still hear it all...

My fave part of the basket Mel gave me (& I loved it all :) ) was the note in it:
I have to quote it cuz I loved it sooooo much!

Relax

• relaxation - chilling, doing nothing, enjoying yourself
• relaxation - the act or fact of relaxing or being relaxed
• relaxant - a substance that relaxes
• relaxed - freed from or lacking in precision or stringency
• relaxed - set or being at rest or at ease
• relax - to make less tense or rigid
• relax - to relieve from nervous tension
• relax - to cast off social restraint, or anxiety
• relax - to seek rest or recreation
• relax - to attain an equilibrium state following the removal of stress

and then she ended with...

Take a moment and relax... by any definition you choose. De-stress, relieve, enjoy and be free!

I love her!

Vacay de Janvier Part Deux

Day Two (continued--- the pix I promised)

the basement was a mess... dolls everywhere on the floor, toy dishes, doll clothes.

The food is sorted now! The pretend utensils are organized. The dolls are all happily together on the very old ancient hide-a-bed that Mom and Dad's dog used to sleep on a million years ago.

the thingies that babies can go in are all lined up, strollers, shop cart, playpen,

the table is set for some pretend meals, ready for hungry visitors

this cupboard has little teapots, little bottles, little cup, teacups, a basket of toy

cutlery, plates, bowls and lastly pots and pans. Once done organizing the world of

toy food, babies etc. Lil D told me she would like to do art down there too... so I began to set up

an art table too.

they were most excited with the art area and went to town on it! The last pic shows

my reward for a long day of work! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Vacation in January

Day Two...

started exactly same as Day one... lol...

the morning was taken up with blogging, which I love and find relaxing, then I worked on some spreadsheets for payroll and the input sheets and everything reconciled easily! love it when that happens!

suddenly it was lunch time... Lil D and I headed downstairs to the basement to get organizing.
She was, like yesterday, alternately helpful and a hindrance... but we had lots of conversations and we gathered stuff up and then I moved some furniture and sorted things out.... Big D came home and did homework while we were back at it. Payroll called from Montreal and that went perfect! gotta love it! and back at it again.

I am really pleased with how the kids section of the basement worked out. The girls are delighted. I took pix I will put here later.

then tonight, the gals at work are scrapbooking and I have never missed it until tonight but I am just way toooo achy... so stayed home. Hope they are having fun and I hope they miss me! The Scrappy Scrapbookers! I may have a nice hot bath with some lovely stuff my niece gave me for Christmas.

The four of us worked on packing the stuff on the dining table after supper. I had brought up more boxes today and G brought up the rest.

making progress!

Day One:

so I am thinking of Monday as Day One. I believe some people count the weekend as part of their vacay but I don't so... I will not bore you with the insanity of the weekend... which was as or more insane than other weekends.

So... Monday...

got up regular time and got kids up... began reg. routine of arguing, cajoling, encouraging, bribing etc. them to get dressed, eat breakfast etc. you know the drill... check school bag, packed lunch... saw that one off.. and then debated... hmmmmm.... is this one going to daycare or staying home... tried to discuss with her... so anyway...

Lil D decided to play computer. She is on massive computer kick. Loves it! will play for hours... I swear. I have to pry her away for breaks. worried she will get carpel tunnel... so she was doing that... I had t.v. on (Regis & Kelly - I never get to see them) in kitchen while doing dishes. I actually can have moments where doing dishes... unwinds me! I know... truly disturbing... just started this year... and does not happen all the time!!!!! but this Monday, knowing I did not have to be anywhere until 3:30 for a kid appt.... I indulged in filling sink, washes dishes, while Reg and Kel talked about their xmas vacays... Kelly was in the Greek Isles or Virgin Isles or somewhere like that... hmmmmmm.. that must be nice. wonder if she has to de-xmas? I puttered about my kitchen, trying to find top of the island.

Once that was done, I began to gather Christmas decorations. This may sound like nothing to some people, but if you have ever been to my house, seriously, this is a daunting task. As I have been an educator for 20 years (approx.) and my hubby also... we have been given a lot of xmas decorations. And my hubby loves xmas... so he buys it too. seems he cannot resist... so there is a tonne and we put it allllllllllll out! we hang cards on fishing line.... we have fake boughs everywhere... etc. etc.

Looks like the Christmas Department of 100 Walmarts threw up all over my dining room!

after filling the entire dining table with stuff (long table with 2 leaves in it to extend it!). I began trips up and down to basement... NO!!!! I was not taking it down yet! all has to be packed. I began to take large standing things down... like reindeer from front hallway, giant baking gingergread guy from kitchen, giant grinch wooden cut out, etc. and the plastic deck chairs that had been in dining room for big family meal. And on each trip up, I would bring up the empty boxes for the stuff. I also brought up the full containers of stuff I removed to put out the decor.

SEE! This images clearly show "winter" decorations... they should not be put away... Right???

and this is just some... don'cha luvvvv my mitts hanging there... and just some of my snowmen...

LOL...

yes... I am certifiable... we have discussed this remember...

so what was "Missy" doing all this time? well she was reigning supreme of course... as I was trying to listen to t.v. from a different room... she had put on headphones to play computer... she would shout out... in a cute little voice laden with arrogance... "Drink!!!! I need a drink!!!!" and then if I did not hop to it.... I would hear "Helllllllloooooooooooooo! Drink!!!!!" and then "Food! I need foooooood!!!!!" and change my game, turn down the t.v. etc.... etc..... (should have sent her to daycare!)

she would occasionally decide to help me with decorations... which would lead to long discussions about why Christmas is over, when will it be back, where do we keep all this stuff, etc. Then to make matters more confusing... I explained that I keep winter stuff out.... yes, I am one of those people!!!! I keep the snowmen decorations out and the snowflakes on the windows etc. I enjoy them. So she was dragging me good snowflakes towels through the hallway on the floor all excited to chuck them on the table with all the other stuff when I tried to explain... those are winter and they stay out.

we had the occasional friendly argument... me, 39, her, 4, about an item..."that is a moose in a sweater, he is winter, put him back please" and her response... "uhhhhh... MOooommm!!!!! It is reindeer so it is Christmas!" and so I said "ok, you decide".

The best was when I wanted to put her giant Santa away. The grandfather is obsessed with giving my kids gi-nor-mous stuffed animals. He gets a big kick out of it and of course their faces light up... whereas inside I groan to myself... argh! another big space sucker upper and dust collector... (to think I used to collect them as an adult! ya! not anymore!) so anyway... trying to explain to her that we should somehow pack him up with everything else.... no way! no how! She looked slyly at me and tilted her head to one side with the cute tilt she thinks works on everyone, and then the eyes sparkled and she said confidently "He is a winter thing!" and the eyes dared me to argue. In my perpetual exhaustion... I did not.

Then Lil D and I started to take the 7 million ornaments off the tree... I explained we were only taking soft ones off... cuz I did not want her to touch the fragile ones... so this brought about more discussions about hard and soft and why I had plastic ones in the tray and metal ones and wooden ones..... etc. etc. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz many many discussions..... argh! so the tree is still there but all the non fragile items are off.

Big D came home and we got ready for the pediatrician appt. It was pouring out! Major torrential pouring. She was drenched from the short walk. So we got ready and headed out in the car. We had stuff to keep amused as pediatrician office has crappy toys and decor from the 70's (toys from then too I think) and is in ancient building with miniscule parking lot.

of course....!!!!! miniscule parking lot is goddam well filled on pouring day!!!!! F ! F ! F ! ok then sooooooo the drive was stressful enough with sheets of rain and opposing loud Leapster noises filling air from back seat and now this!!! so we park two streets away and I don't have enough coins for meter.... I rolled down window and beg two people to change my bill but first one looks at me like I am nuts! which I am by the way! and second one also looks at me this way but says "sorry lady, I am out of coins." he nods his head ... like he thinks I am a mess.... which frankly I am as rain pours on me... so I takes my chances and pop 2 quarters in meter and then try to convince kids to come out into wind and rain with umbrellas and leapsters... they leave leapsters as they don't want them wet and we head out, getting soaked within moments... and of course... when we get to building, don't we see someone leave a parking space!!!!!!! .... had planned on doing returns after appt but just went the hell home as I was wiped!

continued to de-xmas... made friend a gift... she visited and got gift... bathed kids... looked for new episode of Heroes... goddam repeat and goodnight!

va·ca·tion

• A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation, especially one with pay granted to an employee.
• A holiday.
• A fixed period of holidays, especially one during which a school, court, or business suspends activities.

no way... is that the definition of vacation... devoted to pleasure, rest or relaxation... stop it!

I am on "vacation" now. To me vacation, means doing the things you want to do... or rather have to do... and don't have time otherwise so you take vacation. LOL

So here is my "To-Do" list for this "Vacation"

• take Lil D to Toys R Us to exchange doll and spend bday g/c she got
• return item to Superstore
• return item to Zellers
• return item to Walmart and pick up shower thingy and return diff one and also drop off glasses as they are making new ones & pick up contacts
• take refundable recyclables back
• mail parcel to English Fam
• mail parcel to Avon
• Big D - pedia appt. DONE! BUT NOW HAVE TO DO WHAT SHE SAID...
• research and select and register resource center
• buy text book for course starts end of month
• chiro appointments
• hair appointment (praying they can fix the current "do")
• spa appointment to enjoy g/c I was given
• De-Xmas entire house --- haha good luck! IN PROGRESS.... ROFL!
• re-organize my closet
• re-organize Big D room and closet
• re-organize Lil D room and closet
• attack playroom with a vengeance
• go through cupboards in kitchen re: canned good inventory
• basement! tidy kid's section and get xmas boxes DONE!
• mittens, hats & scarves in new location
• drawers and cupboards in blue bathroom! argh!
• go for some walks
• make bday prez for friend DONE!
• scrapbook
• make xmas dvd
• blog IN PROGRESS
• payroll DONE!
• other paperwork from work
• end the avon selling stuff, review files and close out

what do you think... nothing like having nothing planned right??? BAAAAA-HAHAHAHAHAH

OH WELL... IF I don't get it all done... I have a list I can access... right???? LOL

Bye Bye 2006 - Hello 2007

well you know you are seriously getting old.....

where the hell did 2006 go? I mean really, did I blink or what?

you know how some people send you a letter with their Christmas card telling you how their year went... some people love that and others say... with a roll of the eyes... are you one of THOSE people? LOL

well I have done it... but did not get to it this year. And I love recieving them too. Seems so hard to connect with old friends and family so it makes me feel connected and in the loop, even slightly involved.

so for those curious friends and fam - here is our 2006 summary... don't stress it will be brief cuz my memory sort of sucks! LOL Oh and for you people who are visual... the pics to all this stuff is on our msn space too... so actually you could read it all and go check out the pics or you could read a bit ... peek at pics and come back... whatever... have some Tim's... come back... ROFL! or not... that is cool too!

hmmmm.... uh.... January passed in a blur... Delisca's Family Day sped by... went to a great child care conference... first time there as a board member for the organization hosting it... that was really cool but made it so much more busy then ever before as was involved in more behind the scenes stuff as well as participating.

uh.... the rest of the winter... must have sped by... LOL... I remember with great delight that there was almost no snow at all! loved that! Mom and Dad were away... was our first winter where they were away for months at a time... but we talked often over webcam so that was wonderful!

March arrived and we took our kids for their second trip to Disney World... yes! I fully realize they are spoiled! I am sorry about this but hey if you had a place to stay around the friggin' corner from the Magic Kingdom and plane tickets for an xmas gift, I am certain you would go every year too so don't look at me that way!!!! It was wonderful!

My fave parts were:

1. when we first drove the the kingdom this time... Dad gaves us directions and we wound up coming out behind the magic kingdom which is really sort of weird... usually you drive by all these funny shaped topiary thingies and start to get excited with the radio turned to the welcoming message and then under a canal and then you glimpse the castle... the way we went... we drove through sort of the staff section of disney behind everything... we saw where the monorails go at night... etc... and then suddenly Space Mountain was directly beside me!!! on my right! I was so excited I screamed! Yes! I really did... gave G and the kids hearts attacks I am sure!
2. the princess lunch at EPCOT... the girls were dressed up and we ate with Mom and Dad and waited for each princess to come and pose with the girls and get autographs! Gramps really like Jasmine!
3. and my last fave moment was one time we were chillin' on a bench in Adventureland, just the four of us, eating those Mickey ice cream thingies with the ears... and the people were zipping by us... all in a rush trying to see things and we were just there... in the moment... enjoying the treats and the warmth of the sun and being together... ahhhhhhhh....

so anyway... spring came and so did the bunny and the kids had a blast... and then our oldest turned 7! holy moly! 7... where did those years go? She loved her party even though the choice event got rained out and we had to go with the contingency plan! She passed grade 1and her family day was awesome in July... she planned it all... we went to the Discovery Center and Putting Edge. It was sort of a rainy day but still we had a blast!

Summer brought about Dad being off for the summer as he is every year.... rolling eyes here... and the kids having tons of fun with lots of field trips. Big D was on field trips all the time and then we also had lots of adventures as a family. These are all on our msn space too. Big D's fave trip was to the Institute of Oceanography. As a fam, we went to Ross Farm and the Fisheries Museum and Port Royal and Fort Anne and Upper Clements and more.

Towards the end of the summer we packed all the crap up that you need for camping... my god! you pack a ton of stuff eh? and we took our new two room tent and headed to Smith's Cove on the Bay of Fundy. We typically camp in a really wooded campground... so we can put tarps up to protect us from wind and rain etc.... but we had carefully watched forecast so we would have several good days and here we were in a lightly wooded site with lots of sky and we were on a little cliff with the Bay right there! and seals passing us by and ... ya... seagulls too! The pics of this trip are amazing and really make you feel like you are right there. I took sky pics and flowers and food and family and fun... I wanted to capture it all. The trip was so wonderful to spend time together. The kids loved everything! well almost everything...

We did not like the almost hurricane like weather that struck us one night! oh my nerves! it was brutal... the rain, the wind and the thunder & lightning was wicked! our "wonderful" new tent... haha! with two rooms... ya that was a crock! there was this thing you hung in the middle which DID NOT creat two rooms so we chucked it! also had a bottom on it which was just like the sides... usually a tent has a tarp like bottom... not this one and also our groundsheet was the shape of our last tent so not ideal! This cool tent also was one of those ones that you just click and pop and voila! it is up... ! ya! not good in foul weather babe! the wind clicks it and pop it goes down or at least halfway down as the frantic people inside try to push it back... it was horrible... scary... freaky... and I have always been petrified of lightning so G goes out to try to tarp... and I am thinking what the hell is he gonna tarp to... there are no trees anywhere beside the tent! and kids are scared.. so I go out to help and lightning keeps flashin' and thunder crackin' and I want cry... seriously... but kids are in the tent hearing us... so I just kept praying... please don't strike us... nothing like major elemental nature forces to bring the prayers on... so eventually we went in the car and watch a movie on the portable dvd... while the van faced the Bay and the storm was magnificient ... well not us chickenshits... but it was in your face... so then G says... it is all over and we get back in the tent... which is... all wet and gross and ... u guessed it! it was not all over!!!! that was the eye of the storm! so we went thru it again! argh!

Summer also brought my cousin Ja-red's wedding which was awesome! and made me think about family a lot! and the arrival of my new baby neice! Which was wonderful and also made me ponder a lot about family!

Fall arrived and Big D started grade 2, and little D graduate to her last class at daycare... the senior preschool... can't believe it!

G decided to work on a Masters degree so that put us on a small roller coaster as he was taking a couple courses and still working full time and all the other stuff was going on too... extra curricular for kids... committee & association meetings and bday parties etc. I got a new cell phone --- a PDA... so my life would be fully organized! it works pretty wicked! Has everything in it... everyone's commitments... all in different colors... dentist, eye, chiro, church, school, daycare, work, prof. dev ... you name it! and my xmas shopping list... to do list... etc. and of course friends and family bdays too!

The fall brought on a dear friend going through some very very painful difficult losses and this led me to some major reflection. She has been through so much so quickly and her strength amazes me.

Work has been great... fun as always... I work with some truly wonderful amazing women... we went and bought lots and lots of new equipment together for the center which while exhausting as always, was also fun and exciting... seeing the kids faces and the staff faces is always a delight. Our month of inspections took place and were great.

December arrived and I had been ahead of the game with shopping 95% completed by mid November... and then all of a sudden I was close to panic attacks... I did not have the house decorated by the same time as usual.. I did not have the xmas cards out on time... and had little D's bday and several other parties and some conflicting times...etc.

Little D had a wonderful bday... thanks to G and Mel for all their help! G went and got the party theme all geared up! and Mel was there helping with activities... cookie decorating!

I wanted most to have a lovely family dinner on Christmas... I got to have two! We had G's family here ... with two long tables put together... that turkey was divine! one of those Butterballs you put in the oven frozen and stuffed already! It melted in your mouth! I loved having everyone there! that is what Christmas is about. And the next day had Mom and Dad over for a dinner too! that was wonderful too... it was relaxing and quiet and enjoyable... missed my brother and his wife and beautiful daughter though as she had her very first cold and it was a doozy!

New Year's came in both quietly (as we were home) and exciting too! Several houses in the neighbourhood had fireworks and at one point you could see them over three houses all in close proximity to each other... I did not have a camera nearby!!!! We had friends over and played some games and kids stayed up and also had mom-in-law for our tradition of Chinese for supper... Yum!

surely when years start to speed by... that is yet another sign of advancing age... yes?

it is quite interesting when you work in the field of Early Childhood Education... the majority of people I work with are in their early twenties... so when I mention something from my childhood... they look at me like I am ancient... such as Get Smart, or Bionic Woman or something... but then... when you work and see the joy the gets experience everyday, that makes you feel young. And nowing you get to laugh at something every single day at work no matter what the day is like... that also makes you feel young!

So now 2007 is here...

what does it hold in store?

This month is another conference with me on the board still. G is going to continue on his Masters. I am taking ASL (starts at the end of the month). We will venture south in March to visit Gram and Gramps and the Mouse. June brings a national conference to Halifax which is so exciting and should be super busy! We would like to get healthy... I wonder how serious we are about it... hope we are really serious... and I turn 40! in August. I soooooo want to be fabulous and forty! I also want to be surrounded by friends and fam... HMMMMMMM.... those are both hard tasks to achieve...

well --- Happy 2007 to each and ever one of you!