Yes boys and girls I have joined the iPod universe. Mr. Wonderful and I went on a bit of a shopping spree. I'm still feeling a bit irresponsible especially because I have never spent this kind of money just on a whim. Thank you Visions for having this nice sale and a very eager sales man cutting us some extra deals due to our multiple purchases. Did I mention that we were a bit irresponsible? Just so you know we have a plan. Isn't that something someone says when they are trying to rationalize their behavior? Oh well I'm 33 and I deserve a little indulgence now and then. So here I sit typing whilst listening to "The Old Apartment" by Barenaked Ladies on my new iPod nano. I'm not feeling much regret right now lets see how I feel in the morning, that's in about 5 min.
Nope don't feel any regret now either. Guess I have to sleep on it.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Lucy, You Got Some Splaining To Do.
My oldest was fortunate enough to have the most wonderful teacher for kindergarten. His experience was the best way to introduce a child to their academic career. She was well organized, beautiful, and most important she loved the children. I would brag to all my sisters that I had undoubtedly had the best kindergarten teacher in the world. I must admit that when D went to grade one I really missed her. I secretly wished she would just follow my kid up through the grades and be his teacher forever, but I know that's not right. I needed to share her with others and at least E would have her in two years.
Today we got the news, she is traveling for a year and will not be back till next year. I was at Jenthemom's house when the call came it went something like this.
Miss New Teacher: "Hello Jennifer."
Jenthemom: "Hello"
Miss New Teacher: "I am Jocelyn's new kindergarten teacher."
jenthemom: "What happened to Miss Smith?"
Alyson: Gasp and grab chest, cause all I heard was "What happened to Miss Smith?"
Miss New Teacher: "I've been getting that a lot."
Then she proceeded to tell Jenthemom when we could meet her and when Miss Smith would be coming back. I know the kids will be fine, its the parents who will have a harder time getting over this. In fact I have contemplated getting a plane ticket to her place of refuge and collecting her myself, but between you and me I don't have the money to do it. Just know that's the only thing holding me back from making a spectacle in warmer then here land.
Shortly after, my husband took the phone call at our place of residence and chatted reasonably with her. He doesn't seem to think its that big a deal, and he is right (as always, I'm really getting tired of that). Anyway it turns out she was on mat leave a while ago and has come back this year to cover for Lucy. At least she has experience, because if she like graduated like last spring and is like totally excited to like be a teacher, my kid will walk all over her and then turn around and walk all over her again. He may look like an angel, but he knows he is cute and can be quite a devil.
One Last thing, I hope she is a blonde, because E is kinda partial to "Golden Hair" also then we wouldn't have to tell him and he wouldn't be the wiser.
Today we got the news, she is traveling for a year and will not be back till next year. I was at Jenthemom's house when the call came it went something like this.
Miss New Teacher: "Hello Jennifer."
Jenthemom: "Hello"
Miss New Teacher: "I am Jocelyn's new kindergarten teacher."
jenthemom: "What happened to Miss Smith?"
Alyson: Gasp and grab chest, cause all I heard was "What happened to Miss Smith?"
Miss New Teacher: "I've been getting that a lot."
Then she proceeded to tell Jenthemom when we could meet her and when Miss Smith would be coming back. I know the kids will be fine, its the parents who will have a harder time getting over this. In fact I have contemplated getting a plane ticket to her place of refuge and collecting her myself, but between you and me I don't have the money to do it. Just know that's the only thing holding me back from making a spectacle in warmer then here land.
Shortly after, my husband took the phone call at our place of residence and chatted reasonably with her. He doesn't seem to think its that big a deal, and he is right (as always, I'm really getting tired of that). Anyway it turns out she was on mat leave a while ago and has come back this year to cover for Lucy. At least she has experience, because if she like graduated like last spring and is like totally excited to like be a teacher, my kid will walk all over her and then turn around and walk all over her again. He may look like an angel, but he knows he is cute and can be quite a devil.
One Last thing, I hope she is a blonde, because E is kinda partial to "Golden Hair" also then we wouldn't have to tell him and he wouldn't be the wiser.
Out Dang Spot!
By a show of hands, how many of you out there have a leopard carpet? Yah me neither. Unfortunately, at first glance you wouldn't know that it was a nice grey/ blue. Instead it looks like Tarzan killed Sabor skinned him and laid him on my floor. My poor abused carpet has been bombarded by ketchup, chocolate, juice box juice, markers and mud, to name a few.
So I was vacuuming the living room, and seeing not much improvement, I pulled out the spot shot. Now in the past spot shot has worked but not on everything. The youngest wonderling puked every time he ate until the age of 11 months (thanks to acid reflux) so I've put it through rigorous testing. I think I got the spots out about 80% of the time. Well this new spot shot was a fresh new bottle in new packaging. What I'm saying is it was new. I wasn't expecting much, these spots have been there for a while.
As I was saying, I pulled out the bottle, got on my hands and knees and did my best impression of Lady Macbeth. I was able to get out everything I have tried so far except the high lighter.
I still have a lot more carpet to go, but right now Spot Shot, you are my best friend.
So I was vacuuming the living room, and seeing not much improvement, I pulled out the spot shot. Now in the past spot shot has worked but not on everything. The youngest wonderling puked every time he ate until the age of 11 months (thanks to acid reflux) so I've put it through rigorous testing. I think I got the spots out about 80% of the time. Well this new spot shot was a fresh new bottle in new packaging. What I'm saying is it was new. I wasn't expecting much, these spots have been there for a while.
As I was saying, I pulled out the bottle, got on my hands and knees and did my best impression of Lady Macbeth. I was able to get out everything I have tried so far except the high lighter.
I still have a lot more carpet to go, but right now Spot Shot, you are my best friend.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Love, Uncertainty and Misunderstanding
I missed love Thursday last week and was going to post one this week but again I missed it. So here is my representation of love on Sunday.
This is a picture of my sister and her son. It took 5 years for her to get him. She is a great mother, a really good example to me.
**********
This week (month) has been a time of ups and downs. Friends have lost babies and job offers have removed then given then removed again. We are at a stage of life where the future is uncertain. I know that we will have a home, and food to eat, but when you have made plans for the last 9 years working towards a goal and now find it unattainable its hard. Its hard to be back at square one not knowing what we will be doing, and not being able to get ahead.
**********
I still haven't really decided what I am going to do while the wonderlings are in school. I would love to pursue my me time and such but we are still waiting for word on some jobs Mr. Wonderful has applied for. Thank you to all for the "Two Cents".
**********
On a Lighter note:
D: "You can't have that E, you stink."
Cue whining
Dad: "E come here, tell D he has Halitosis."
E: "D you can't have Halitosis, Dad Said."
D: "that's not fair."
As we all know its more about the telling, and the possessing something that someone else doesn't have, then about truly being insulted.
***********
This is a picture of my sister and her son. It took 5 years for her to get him. She is a great mother, a really good example to me.
**********
This week (month) has been a time of ups and downs. Friends have lost babies and job offers have removed then given then removed again. We are at a stage of life where the future is uncertain. I know that we will have a home, and food to eat, but when you have made plans for the last 9 years working towards a goal and now find it unattainable its hard. Its hard to be back at square one not knowing what we will be doing, and not being able to get ahead.
**********
I still haven't really decided what I am going to do while the wonderlings are in school. I would love to pursue my me time and such but we are still waiting for word on some jobs Mr. Wonderful has applied for. Thank you to all for the "Two Cents".
**********
On a Lighter note:
D: "You can't have that E, you stink."
Cue whining
Dad: "E come here, tell D he has Halitosis."
E: "D you can't have Halitosis, Dad Said."
D: "that's not fair."
As we all know its more about the telling, and the possessing something that someone else doesn't have, then about truly being insulted.
***********
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Kidco
My little entrepreneurs have moved on to a much bigger task. Remember how they worked collecting bottles for over a year to get two discounted (second hand) gameboys totaling ~ $120. They have now decided they will collect bottles for a Disneyland trip totaling $2300. Judging by the rate we went last year we should be in Disneyland in the year 2026. Do you want to make plans to meet us there?
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Crossroads
Its that time of the year again. School is fast approaching and I will have two wonderlings enrolled in and institution of learning. For two to three hours a day I will have time to myself. I am wondering what to do with that time. The choices are many:
1. I could use that time to clean my house and catch of on my morning talk shows.
2. I could go to the gym and obtain the hard body that I have always dreamed of.
3. I could get a job and help raise our standard of living and eventually get us in a house.
4. I could get pregnant and use that time to sleep and puke in private.
5. Start my own business
6. Go back to school
Each decision has its ups and down (like most). I would like to volunteer at my kids school as much as possible, but if I take on a job that may not be possible. My husband is having a hard time finding a job that will pay well enough to get us ahead so that we can save for retirement, home etc. (do you like how I put retirement and home together?) This factor also affects whether or not I will afford the gym pass and the hard body that I want. Then the kid thing. I am really looking forward to having time to myself to do as I please. I'm not sure what I please is gestating and eventually giving up that time for another 5 years making it that much harder to enter the work force, but I'm getting older and I'm not entirely sure that my family is complete. Going back to school and starting a business scares me because of the debt it might incur and for the past few years we have been almost crippled by debt. We are out of it for now, but I am really hesitant on going back there. Some of these decisions could be done concurrently says the optimist in me , but the realist says not likely.
So as you can see I am at a quandary and am seeking the advice of interneters everywhere. What would you do with a situation similar to this, or have you been in a similar situation? Do you have any ideas for making money (jobs etc.) If you have gone back to school what did you take and how long was your program?
1. I could use that time to clean my house and catch of on my morning talk shows.
2. I could go to the gym and obtain the hard body that I have always dreamed of.
3. I could get a job and help raise our standard of living and eventually get us in a house.
4. I could get pregnant and use that time to sleep and puke in private.
5. Start my own business
6. Go back to school
Each decision has its ups and down (like most). I would like to volunteer at my kids school as much as possible, but if I take on a job that may not be possible. My husband is having a hard time finding a job that will pay well enough to get us ahead so that we can save for retirement, home etc. (do you like how I put retirement and home together?) This factor also affects whether or not I will afford the gym pass and the hard body that I want. Then the kid thing. I am really looking forward to having time to myself to do as I please. I'm not sure what I please is gestating and eventually giving up that time for another 5 years making it that much harder to enter the work force, but I'm getting older and I'm not entirely sure that my family is complete. Going back to school and starting a business scares me because of the debt it might incur and for the past few years we have been almost crippled by debt. We are out of it for now, but I am really hesitant on going back there. Some of these decisions could be done concurrently says the optimist in me , but the realist says not likely.
So as you can see I am at a quandary and am seeking the advice of interneters everywhere. What would you do with a situation similar to this, or have you been in a similar situation? Do you have any ideas for making money (jobs etc.) If you have gone back to school what did you take and how long was your program?
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Introducing Mr. And Mrs. MH1
On Friday my youngest sister got married. She is the last one. My parents are finished. The sister closest in age to me and I were discussing how chic this wedding was and how "homemade" ours were. W realized tat in order for her to have the beautiful wedding complete with photographer extrodinaire, we had to have the ones with all of the mistakes in them. I hope she appreciates our sacrifice.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LOVELY COUPLE
Have a great honeymoon, and be safe whilst moving to the ends of the earth.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LOVELY COUPLE
Have a great honeymoon, and be safe whilst moving to the ends of the earth.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
Don't You Wish Your Mommy Was Hot Like Me?
As you can tell I'm suffering from a little bit of insomnia due to my 2.5 hour nap I took at 5:00pm. So here I sit putting mindless posts together. I don't post pictures of myself, due to the lack of good picture and privacy, but earlier today my hair was working and my face looked slimmer so I decided to make an exception. Now after seeing the picture I think it looks like I was trying out for America's (Canada's) Next Overly Ripe Washed Up Model. I was also taking it in the mirror because alas my husband wasn't around to take the picture and he would ask why are you doing that with your face?
Sunday, August 13, 2006
SSSSTHINK OR SSSTHWIM
This was a long time coming. After going through Kindergarten and grade one (first grade for those who don't speak Canadian) and seeing all his friends and their money from the Tooth Fairy, I'm surprised he didn't grab Mr. Wonderful's pliers and rip out his first tooth. What a trooper and now he has a shiney Loonie to show for it.
**********
In Other News...
My boys have finished their swimming lessons and they both passed. Yay!
Friday, August 11, 2006
A Camping We Had Went
So many things have been happening this week that I haven't had time to post about our camping trip. Basically I'm still trying to recover from said camping trip. I have yet to catch up with my laundry, and since this is our last one for the year, I have to rearrange the storage room, a project that is taking longer than I thought. A women's work is never done. But enough complaining.
Our story begins with a family setting out on an adventure to go a camping in Waterton Lakes National Park. Mr W got off work at 1:30pm and was home by 2:00pm. I had already started the packing the van process in an attempt to get us off earlier. You see the campsites at Waterton and surrounding area are a first come first serve, so we had to be stealth and we had to be fast. Unfortunately upon arrival the campgrounds were full. Oh the lament of our children. If this were biblical times, they would have rent their clothes and been covered in sack cloth and ashes for sure. They couldn't get over it.
"What do you mean they are full?"
"Can't we just stay over there?", they would ask pointing to a grassy spot right next to the highway. We tried to explain the random camping was not aloud. We told them that we would try to get a campsite close to Waterton. The reasoning wasn't helping relieve their fear of a cancelled trip all together.
Our first attempt at a campsite proved less than fruitful. All they had left was their green space, normally set aside for running children, on which they were letting people randomly place their tents their for $10 a night. That would just not do.
Fortunately for us the next campground was much more pleasing. By the time we got their they only had four tenting spots left. Mr. W in his wisdom picked site with trees to shelter us from the all to common southern Alberta wind which inevitably comes. Thanks Mr. Wonderful.
Upon completion of setting up camp we proceeded to make our dinner. Top Dogs Hot dogs. D ate one and complained of a tummy ache. He said he wasn't going to throw up, but alas that was not the case. As I was off to fill a pot with wash water, I hastened back to the site by a concerned and reluctant husband. Reluctant to deal with the puke that is. A risky choice on his part seeing as I am normally a sympathy puker and the mess could have potentially multiplied 3 fold. His gamble paid off. Lucky man. The mess wasn't that bad and we were able to continue camping.
Here are some of the memories made.
peddle boating on Cameron Lake
The wonderlings learning to stier a peddle boat
Playing in the park
Throwing rocks in Waterton Lake
Ice Cream at Ye Old Lick & Nibble
Playing hatching dragon and erupting volcanoes at a park (poor villagers they didn't see it coming)
souvenir shopping (nothing bought)
Hiking at red rock canyon
Throwing rocks in Waterton Lake
Minnow hunting in the creek beside our campsite
Dipping D and E in Waterton Lake
Playing with Carly at the park. She had the best sand toys
And now for the rest of the story...
Our last night their I needed a nap so Mr. Wonderful took the boys to our favorite minnow hunting spot in the creek near by. They came back soaking wet. It seem they discovered that Waterton Riverside Campground was actually riverside. They were following some fish and hiked about 3 minutes from the spot were observing the minnows. They rounded a corner and discovered this huge river. Yay! After dinner we decided to beat the heat and float down the river. Due to the glacial temperatures we had warm chocolate and then went to bed. The temperature changes must have done something to E because he wet the bed.
All in all I would say it was a success. I shall post pictures later. I need to get back to my laundry.
Our story begins with a family setting out on an adventure to go a camping in Waterton Lakes National Park. Mr W got off work at 1:30pm and was home by 2:00pm. I had already started the packing the van process in an attempt to get us off earlier. You see the campsites at Waterton and surrounding area are a first come first serve, so we had to be stealth and we had to be fast. Unfortunately upon arrival the campgrounds were full. Oh the lament of our children. If this were biblical times, they would have rent their clothes and been covered in sack cloth and ashes for sure. They couldn't get over it.
"What do you mean they are full?"
"Can't we just stay over there?", they would ask pointing to a grassy spot right next to the highway. We tried to explain the random camping was not aloud. We told them that we would try to get a campsite close to Waterton. The reasoning wasn't helping relieve their fear of a cancelled trip all together.
Our first attempt at a campsite proved less than fruitful. All they had left was their green space, normally set aside for running children, on which they were letting people randomly place their tents their for $10 a night. That would just not do.
Fortunately for us the next campground was much more pleasing. By the time we got their they only had four tenting spots left. Mr. W in his wisdom picked site with trees to shelter us from the all to common southern Alberta wind which inevitably comes. Thanks Mr. Wonderful.
Upon completion of setting up camp we proceeded to make our dinner. Top Dogs Hot dogs. D ate one and complained of a tummy ache. He said he wasn't going to throw up, but alas that was not the case. As I was off to fill a pot with wash water, I hastened back to the site by a concerned and reluctant husband. Reluctant to deal with the puke that is. A risky choice on his part seeing as I am normally a sympathy puker and the mess could have potentially multiplied 3 fold. His gamble paid off. Lucky man. The mess wasn't that bad and we were able to continue camping.
Here are some of the memories made.
peddle boating on Cameron Lake
The wonderlings learning to stier a peddle boat
Playing in the park
Throwing rocks in Waterton Lake
Ice Cream at Ye Old Lick & Nibble
Playing hatching dragon and erupting volcanoes at a park (poor villagers they didn't see it coming)
souvenir shopping (nothing bought)
Hiking at red rock canyon
Throwing rocks in Waterton Lake
Minnow hunting in the creek beside our campsite
Dipping D and E in Waterton Lake
Playing with Carly at the park. She had the best sand toys
And now for the rest of the story...
Our last night their I needed a nap so Mr. Wonderful took the boys to our favorite minnow hunting spot in the creek near by. They came back soaking wet. It seem they discovered that Waterton Riverside Campground was actually riverside. They were following some fish and hiked about 3 minutes from the spot were observing the minnows. They rounded a corner and discovered this huge river. Yay! After dinner we decided to beat the heat and float down the river. Due to the glacial temperatures we had warm chocolate and then went to bed. The temperature changes must have done something to E because he wet the bed.
All in all I would say it was a success. I shall post pictures later. I need to get back to my laundry.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Over Exposed
A slight problem has developed over the past week. One I did not fore see. My youngest wonderling has decided that no underwear is best. It started 5 days ago when he forgot to put underwear in the backpack for swimming. As it turned out he went until Sunday without underwear before I noticed or remembered. When Mr. Wonderful asked me how long he had been going "commando", E heard the word and thought it was awesome.
Now he wants to be “commando” all of the time. Last night he slept "commando" and this morning he wants to eat "commando". I have no idea where he gets that from.
Now he wants to be “commando” all of the time. Last night he slept "commando" and this morning he wants to eat "commando". I have no idea where he gets that from.
Monday, August 07, 2006
HMMMM
We are back and tired and stinky. I will post more about our camping trip later. I am going to sleep in my bed. Right now I love my bed because it isn't an air mattress. Nothing like camping and freezing to make your 11 year old secondhand bed look really good.
Just one thing before I sign off. I was watching some celeb stuff and saw that Zach Braff is coming out with a "new" movie (the American version of an Italian movie). Anyway I saw some beautiful girls in there and thought to myself "Self, why does he get such hot women to act in his movies?" I know he is really funny in SCRUBS and I hear he was brilliant in Garden State (another movie with another beautiful girl) but I don't know, him and the hotties, is that believable? Am I the only one that wonders about this?
I tired. I go bed. I edit tomorrow
Just one thing before I sign off. I was watching some celeb stuff and saw that Zach Braff is coming out with a "new" movie (the American version of an Italian movie). Anyway I saw some beautiful girls in there and thought to myself "Self, why does he get such hot women to act in his movies?" I know he is really funny in SCRUBS and I hear he was brilliant in Garden State (another movie with another beautiful girl) but I don't know, him and the hotties, is that believable? Am I the only one that wonders about this?
I tired. I go bed. I edit tomorrow
Thursday, August 03, 2006
6 Down 365,456,297 To Go
This summer I have been so busy. Busy with my calling, my job, birthdays, family time and my sister's wedding. Tonight I just finished throwing my sister a wedding shower. Tomorrow we are leaving for camping. When we get back a full week of swimming lessons and getting things together for her wedding. E has a birthday three days after the wedding and then I have to coordinate enrichment flower arranging course and the potluck the following week. 4 days later is Tims's Elders quorum BBQ (the same night as my sister's second reception. Somewhere in there I am supposed to get my visiting teaching done and get the kids ready for school and plan the quarterly enrichment night that will be happening on the 12 of September. I don't see it letting up even if I get more help. AHHHHHHHH
I wish I could run away to a quiet place and not have to deal with this stuff anymore, but I'm too responsible. What happened to the days of sitting by the pool? I thought I was supposed to be simplifying my life. E is suffering. He still thinks in some twisted way that violence makes friends. Its not as bad as it sounds (E I mean) but I feel if I don't nip this now we could be in for some trouble. I need to simplify. I'm going to have to start saying no to things. People just don't take hints. Maybe its because hints aren't obvious, but I think its because they don't want to take the hint.
So until people understand what I'm saying and give me what I'm asking, you can find me plugging away doing substandard work because I'm spreading myself too thin or I will be saying No to everything. Neither way looks good.
I wish I could run away to a quiet place and not have to deal with this stuff anymore, but I'm too responsible. What happened to the days of sitting by the pool? I thought I was supposed to be simplifying my life. E is suffering. He still thinks in some twisted way that violence makes friends. Its not as bad as it sounds (E I mean) but I feel if I don't nip this now we could be in for some trouble. I need to simplify. I'm going to have to start saying no to things. People just don't take hints. Maybe its because hints aren't obvious, but I think its because they don't want to take the hint.
So until people understand what I'm saying and give me what I'm asking, you can find me plugging away doing substandard work because I'm spreading myself too thin or I will be saying No to everything. Neither way looks good.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Self Discovery
I've been off of some medication for almost a year. One of the reasons I went off of it was because there was this she devil that would bring all the powers of hell to my home once a month. Now that I have been off of "it", I find out that the she devil was really me and now I am a she devil with crappy skin. Just my luck.
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